Maungakaramea is a locality in Northland, New Zealand. Whangārei is to the northeast. Local features include Tangihua Forest, Maungakaramea Sports Club and Mid Western Rugby Club. The name Maungakaramea was given to the area by local Māori. There are two interpretations of the meaning of the name, one is that "Karamea" means speargrass, hen…Maungakaramea is a locality in Northland, New Zealand. Whangārei is to the northeast. Local features include Tangihua Forest, Maungakaramea Sports Club and Mid Western Rugby Club. The name Maungakaramea was given to the area by local Māori. There are two interpretations of the meaning of the name, one is that "Karamea" means speargrass, hence the "speargrass mountain", the other is that Karamea is a coloured clay of a reddish type used for war paint on the face and body. A safe interpretation is "Red Ochre Mountain".