estate and high traffic volume by opening an Antique shop in the former Rose Bros. grocery store building. Many other businesses followed suit off the back of his success throughout the 1990s until today. Tīrau has built a reputation as a shopping destination for antiques, collectibles and other niche items. In 2005/06 the South Waikato District Council is working, on behalf of the Tīrau Ward, in conjunction with the community, to develop a concept plan for Tīrau's future. This project is taking the success of Tīrau's transformation over the past decade and linking it with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 new emphasis on the four well-beings, social, economic, environmental and cultural. Marae The local Paparāmu Marae and Te Apunga meeting house are affiliated with the Ngāti Raukawa hapū of Ngāti Mōtai and Ngāti Te Apunga. Demographics Statistics New Zealand describes Tīrau as a rural settlement, which covers . The settlement is part of the larger Tīrau statistical area. Tīrau had a population of 804 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 102 people (14.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 63 people (8.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 333 households, comprising 399 males and 402 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female, with 156 people (19.4%) aged under 15 years, 150 (18.7%) aged 15 to 29, 351 (43.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 153 (19.0%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 81.0% European/Pākehā, 27.6% Māori, 1.5% Pacific peoples, 3.0% Asian, and 1.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.7% had no religion, 29.9% were Christian, 1.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 66 (10.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 186 (28.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 81 people (12.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 333 (51.4%) people were employed full-time, 87 (13.4%) were part-time, and 27 (4.2%) were unemployed. Tīrau statistical area Tīrau statistical area covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Tirau had a population of 2,334 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 228 people (10.8%) since the 2013 census,