Taumarere was at the head of navigable tidal water on the Kawakawa River and a natural landing place, so a township developed here. It would likely have become the main town in the area, but after coal was discovered at Kawakawa in 1864, a new town developed there, becoming more important than Taumarere. On 2 March 1868 a bush tramway line opened between Kawakawa and Taumarere wharf at what is now known as Derrick Landing to carry coal for export. It was built to the international and motive power was provided by horses that hauled wagons along wooden rails. It was converted into a metal railway in 1870. In 1875, the government purchased the line and converted it to gauge two years later. The line was extended to Opua in 1884 and called the Opua Branch. In 1925, it became part of the North Auckland Line. This line has since become a part of the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, a tourist-oriented heritage railway. St. Andrew's Church originally stood on the site of the Church Missionary Society's Paihia Mission Station. In 1927 the building was transported by barge and bullock waggon to its present site.
Demographics
The statistical area of Matawaia-Taumarere, which at 411 square kilometres is considerably larger than the locality, surrounds but does not include the towns of Kawakawa and Moerewa. It had a population of 1,374 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 228 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 150 people since the 2006 census. There were 441 households. There were 714 males and 663 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. Of the total population, 330 people were aged up to 15 years, 222 were 15 to 29, 609 were 30 to 64, and 213 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding. Ethnicities were 48.5% European/Pākehā, 65.1% Māori, 4.6% Pacific peoples, 1.3% Asian, and 1.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.3, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 45.2% had no religion, 40.2% were Christian, and 6.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 117 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 252 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $22,900. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 471 people were employed full-time, 153 were part-time, and 66 were unemployed.
