Waikaka

Town in Southland, New Zealand

Town in Southland region, New Zealand

Waikaka

Town

Coordinates: 45°55′S 169°01′E﻿ / ﻿45.917°S 169.017°E﻿ / -45.917; 169.017
Country| New Zealand
Region| Southland region
Territorial authorities of New Zealand| Gore District
Ward| Waikaka Ward
Electorates|

* Southland
* Te Tai Tonga (Māori)

Government

• Territorial authority| Gore District Council
• Regional council| Southland Regional Council
• Mayor of Gore| Ben Bell
• Southland MP| Joseph Mooney
• Te Tai Tonga MP| Tākuta Ferris
Area

[1]

• Total

| 21.20 km2 (8.19 sq mi)
Population

(2018 Census)[2]

• Total

| 117
• Density| 5.5/km2 (14/sq mi)

Waikaka is a town in Southland, New Zealand. It was a gold-mining town in the 19th century, starting in 1867 when gold was found. Over NZ£1,000,000 equivalent of gold was eventually extracted from this location.[3] The town was served by the Waikaka branch railway.

## Demographics

[edit]

Waikaka is in an SA1 statistical area which covers 21.20 km2 (8.19 sq mi).[1] The SA1 area is part of the larger Waikaka statistical area.

Historical population of Waikaka town and surroundsYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

2006| 132| —
2013| 132| +0.00%
2018| 117| −2.38%
Source: [2]

The SA1 statistical area had a population of 117 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 15 people (−11.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 15 people (−11.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 48 households, comprising 63 males and 57 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female. The median age was 46.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 24 people (20.5%) aged under 15 years, 18 (15.4%) aged 15 to 29, 57 (48.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 21 (17.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 97.4% European/Pākehā, 2.6% Māori, and 5.1% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 41.0% had no religion, 43.6% were Christian, and 5.1% were Hindu.

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (12.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 21 (22.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 12 people (12.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 54 (58.1%) people were employed full-time, and 21 (22.6%) were part-time.[2]

### Waikaka statistical area

[edit]

Waikaka statistical area covers 586.75 km2 (226.55 sq mi)[1] and also includes Chatton and Mandeville. It had an estimated population of 1,680 as of June 2024,[4] with a population density of 2.9 people per km2.

Historical population for the statistical areaYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

2006| 1,560| —
2013| 1,554| −0.06%
2018| 1,560| +0.08%
Source: [5]

The statistical area had a population of 1,560 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (0.4%) since the 2013 census, and unchanged since the 2006 census. There were 582 households, comprising 840 males and 717 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female. The median age was 39.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 348 people (22.3%) aged under 15 years, 252 (16.2%) aged 15 to 29, 762 (48.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 192 (12.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.0% European/Pākehā, 6.0% Māori, 0.4% Pasifika, 7.5% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 42.1% had no religion, 47.5% were Christian, 1.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 195 (16.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 246 (20.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $41,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 198 people (16.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 771 (63.6%) people were employed full-time, 216 (17.8%) were part-time, and 15 (1.2%) were unemployed.[5]

## Education

[edit]

Waikaka School is a full primary school for years 1 to 8[6] with a roll of 67 students as of July 2025.[7] The school opened in 1883.[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
2. ^ a b c "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7029390.
3. ^ "Waikaka". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
4. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
5. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Waikaka (359600). 2018 Census place summary: Waikaka
6. ^ Education Counts: Waikaka School
7. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
8. ^ "Waikaka School 75th Jubilee, 1958". Invercargill Archives. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

* v
* t
* e

Gore District, New Zealand

Seat: Gore

Populated places|

| Gore Ward|

* Gore

|

Kaiwera-Waimumu Ward|

* Charlton
* East Gore
* Kaiwera
* Te Tipua
* Waimumu
* Waitane

Mataura Ward|

* Mataura

Waikaka Ward|

* Chatton
* Knapdale
* Maitland
* Mandeville
* Otama
* Pukerau
* Waikaka

Geographic features|

* Hokonui Hills
* Mataura River

Facilities and attractions|

* Eastern Southland Gallery
* Gore Aerodrome
* Waikaka Rail Branch
* Waimea Plains Railway

Government|

* District Council
* Mayor
* Regional Council

Organisations|

* Excelsior Rugby Club
* Gore High School
* Gore Wanderers AFC
* Hokonui Radio
* St Peter's College
* The Ensign

*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template