The first attack in the invasion of the Waikato took place on 17 July 1863, when about 15 Māori defenders were killed at Koheroa (a kilometre north – see 1:50,000 map). The village was named after Captain Henry Mercer, who was killed at Rangiriri in November 1863.[3][4] The navy river gun-boat Pioneer was wrecked on the Manukau bar in 1866 and one of the gun turrets forms part of the war memorial.[5]
The North Island Main Trunk railway opened to Mercer station on 20 May 1875. A crash in 1940 killed the driver and fireman. Until 1958 many trains stopped for refreshments.[6] The station closed in 1986.
The beached hulls of steamers operated until 1976 by Caesar Roose can be seen on the west bank of the river just south of Mercer.[3]W. Stevenson & Sons Ltd bought the remains of the Roose sand dredging business in the mid 1980s[7] and, after dredging ended in 1997, redeveloped 2.5 ha (6.2 acres) of its yard with a petrol station and a food court.[8]
Bridge
Mercer Bridge
In 1965 Roose offered $100,000 towards the $343,000 bridge to replace the Mercer ferry. The 480 ft (150 m) long single span concrete [9] Caesar Roose Bridge was opened on 18 November 1972[10] by Roose's daughter, Jeanette Thomas, with the Minister of Works, Percy Allen.[11]
Mercer had a population of 123 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 9 people (7.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 18 people (17.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 45 households, comprising 66 males and 57 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.16 males per female. The median age was 41.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 24 people (19.5%) aged under 15 years, 21 (17.1%) aged 15 to 29, 66 (53.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 12 (9.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 63.4% European/Pākehā, 41.5% Māori, and 4.9% Pacific peoples. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.2% had no religion, 24.4% were Christian, 4.9% had Māori religious beliefs, and 2.4% were Muslim.
Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (12.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 27 (27.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 15 people (15.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 51 (51.5%) people were employed full-time, 12 (12.1%) were part-time, and 9 (9.1%) were unemployed.[2]
Education
Te Paina School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[13][14] with a roll of 66 as of February 2024.[15][16] The school was founded in 1876 as Mercer School,[17] and changed its name to Te Paina in 1921.[18]
^Vennell, C. W.; Williams, Susan; Raglan County Council. Raglan County Hills and Sea: a centennial history 1876–1976. Wilson & Horton. p. 184. ISBN0868640026.