Tamarau is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Gisborne. It is located to the southeast of the city centre.

Tamarau covers 1.11 km (0.43 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 2,730 as of June 2024, with a population density of 2,459 people per km.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	2,265	—
2013	2,244	−0.13%
2018	2,367	+1.07%
Source:

Tamarau had a population of 2,367 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 123 people (5.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 102 people (4.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 696 households, comprising 1,104 males and 1,263 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.87 males per female. The median age was 29.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 687 people (29.0%) aged under 15 years, 519 (21.9%) aged 15 to 29, 927 (39.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 234 (9.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 36.0% European/Pākehā, 77.7% Māori, 6.2% Pacific peoples, 1.1% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 5.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.0% had no religion, 35.9% were Christian, 8.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu and 1.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 183 (10.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 417 (24.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $21,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 75 people (4.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 756 (45.0%) people were employed full-time, 240 (14.3%) were part-time, and 114 (6.8%) were unemployed.

Heath Johnston Park, located in Tamarau, is a public sports ground, one of several owned and operated by Gisborne District Council.