Aka Aka

Aka Aka
Locality
Coordinates: 37°17′35″S 174°47′33″E / 37.293°S 174.7926°E / -37.293; 174.7926
Country	New Zealand
Region	Waikato region
District	Waikato District
Ward	Awaroa ki Tuakau
Electorates	Port Waikato Hauraki-Waikato
Government
• Territorial Authority	Waikato District Council
• Regional council	Waikato Regional Council
Area [1]
• Territorial	186.94 km2 (72.18 sq mi)
Elevation	30 m (100 ft)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Territorial	3,590
• Density	19/km2 (50/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)

Aka Aka is a rural locality on the Aka Aka Stream, a tributary of the Waikato River. It lies about 7 km southeast of Waiuku.

The area was originally a swamp, drained in the late 19th century.^[3][4]

The New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company has a factory in Aka Aka,^[5] built in 1901.^[6][7]

The current Aka Aka Hall, opened in 2002, contains a Roll of Honour commemorating people from the area killed in the first and second world wars.^[8] The hall replaced one which was described as a "splendid new hall" in 1912.^[9]

Aka Aka statistical area covers all of the Waikato District north of the Waikato River and west of the Tutaenui Stream, and includes Otaua. It covers 186.94 km² (72.18 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 3,590 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 19 people per km².

Aka Aka had a population of 3,102 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 465 people (17.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 546 people (21.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,047 households, comprising 1,584 males and 1,518 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 42.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 639 people (20.6%) aged under 15 years, 573 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,479 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 408 (13.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 92.6% European/Pākehā, 11.7% Māori, 2.4% Pacific peoples, 4.2% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 15.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.0% had no religion, 30.8% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 381 (15.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 477 (19.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $39,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 615 people (25.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,485 (60.3%) people were employed full-time, 402 (16.3%) were part-time, and 36 (1.5%) were unemployed.^[10]

Aka Aka School is a co-educational state primary school covering years 1 to 8,^[11] with a roll of 65 as of August 2024.^[12]

There is also a primary school at Otaua.