- Est. Median Value
- $491K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $200/wk
- Safety Score
- 91/100
- Green Space
- 5%
- Current Weather
- 6.6°C
- Median Age
- 37 yrs
~34 crimes/1k/yr
overcast clouds
Living in Makarewa
Makarewa is a Southland locality on the Makarewa River north of Invercargill, where the river that drains the western Southland plain crosses under the Northern Motorway and the locality around the crossing has accumulated the settlement character of a place that the city's northern growth has been approaching for decades. Around 500 people live in the Makarewa area, in the farming and rural residential mix that the flat country north of the city produces when affordable land and highway access combine.
The Makarewa River is the locality's defining feature: a Southland lowland river running through the flat dairy and sheep farming country, providing the drainage network that the plain requires and the wildfowl and trout fishing that the river system supports. The river junction with the Oreti south of Makarewa is a significant feature of the lower Southland river system.
Invercargill's northern outskirts are essentially adjacent, making Makarewa the kind of locality where the city and the country negotiate the boundary every time a new subdivision application reaches the council. The Northern Motorway carries the city commute efficiently, and the flat Southland roads handle everything else.
Makarewa School serves the local primary years. Invercargill's secondary colleges are minutes south.
Is Makarewa a good place to live?
Makarewa is home to roughly 1,182 people across 49.5 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Makarewa scores 55 out of 100, with a safety score of 91/100 and 5% green space.
Schools: Makarewa has 5 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $491K, and weekly rent typically sits around $200.
Lifestyle: Makarewa has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 6.6°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Makarewa is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.
Map
Livability Breakdown
- Safety91
- Amenities18
- Schools76
- Housing Affordability76
- Green space16
- Community56
- Transport14
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $491K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $200/wk
- Median HH Income
- $106K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +1.0%
- Data Year
- 2023
Key Financial Indicators (NZD)
† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.
Nearby Suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Makarewa?
- Makarewa is on the Makarewa River north of Invercargill, where the Northern Motorway crosses the river in the flat farming country at the city's northern edge.
- What is Makarewa like?
- A rural residential and farming locality at Invercargill's northern fringe, with the Makarewa River alongside and the city's services a short drive south on the motorway.
- What is the Makarewa River?
- The Makarewa River drains the western Southland plain before joining the Oreti south of Makarewa, a lowland river providing drainage, wildfowl habitat and trout fishing for the locality.
- What schools are in Makarewa?
- Makarewa School is the local state primary, with secondary students attending Invercargill's colleges.
- How do I get from Invercargill to Makarewa?
- By car, a short drive north on the Northern Motorway from Invercargill.
- Which schools are in zone for Makarewa?
- Children living in Makarewa are in zone for Makarewa School, Verdon College, Southland Adventist Christian School, St John's Girls' School (Invercargill), James Hargest College. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.
- How do I check my school zone in Makarewa?
- Use the School Zone Checker on this page. Enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Makarewa
Schools in zone for Makarewa
Children living in Makarewa have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Makarewa School
Contributing · roll 149 · decile 9
Verdon College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 716 · decile 6
Southland Adventist Christian School
Full Primary · roll 123 · decile 4
St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)
Full Primary · roll 124 · decile 9
James Hargest College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 1893
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Makarewa. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.
Explore Makarewa
Things to do(1)
Makarewa Squash Club
Parks & green spaces
Parks and reserves for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Healthcare
Pharmacies and clinics for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Eat & Drink in Makarewa
Places to eat & drink(1)
My Short Eats
Tradies & Services in Makarewa
Tradies & services(3)
EXTRAA
Spot On Panel Repairs and Plastic Welding
Tree-Frog Phil
Shops in Makarewa
Shops(2)
Easy Big Trees
The Yoghurt Capsule
Beauty & Fitness in Makarewa
Beauty & fitness(3)
Calypso Beauty Studio
Makarewa Squash Club
Vertigo Urban Image Hair Salon
Makarewa Weather
Current conditions: 6.6°C, overcast clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 19.87 | 10.76 | 3.82 | 10.73 |
| ☀️ Feb | 18.69 | 10.3 | 4.1 | 10.19 |
| 🍂 Mar | 16.34 | 8.63 | 5.33 | 8.47 |
| 🍂 Apr | 15.23 | 8.08 | 3.02 | 7.05 |
| 🍂 May | 12.13 | 5.9 | 3.99 | 4.78 |
| ❄️ Jun | 10.15 | 2.81 | 3.29 | 5.6 |
| ❄️ Jul | 9.55 | 2.98 | 4.1 | 5.76 |
| ❄️ Aug | 10.73 | 3.47 | 2.78 | 6.78 |
| 🌸 Sep | 12.72 | 5.19 | 5.57 | 7.88 |
| 🌸 Oct | 13.84 | 5.74 | 4.36 | 8.27 |
| 🌸 Nov | 15.2 | 6.79 | 2.98 | 10.22 |
| ☀️ Dec | 17.96 | 9.8 | 5.36 | 9.77 |
Makarewa Community
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