Waingaro

Rural community in Waikato, New Zealand

Hamlet in Waikato, New Zealand

Waingaro

Hamlet

Waingaro hot pools and hydroslide viewed from hotel

Coordinates: 37°41′24″S 174°59′57″E﻿ / ﻿37.68992°S 174.99915°E﻿ / -37.68992; 174.99915
Country| New Zealand
Region| Waikato
District| Waikato District
Wards|

* Western Districts General Ward
* Tai Runga Takiwaa Maaori Ward

Electorates|

* Port Waikato
* Taranaki-King Country
* Hauraki-Waikato (Māori)

Government

• Territorial Authority| Waikato District Council
• Regional council| Waikato Regional Council
• Mayor of Waikato| Jacqui Church[1]
• Port Waikato MP and Taranaki-King Country MP| Andrew Bayly[2] and Barbara Kuriger[3]
• Hauraki-Waikato MP| Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke[4]
Area

[5]

• Territorial

| 265.38 km2 (102.46 sq mi)
Elevation

| 30 m (100 ft)
Population

(2023 Census)[6]

• Territorial

| 564
• Density| 2.1/km2 (5.5/sq mi)
Time zone| UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+13 (NZDT)

Waingaro is a rural community in the Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island, on the banks of the Waingaro River, where it is fed by a hot spring.[7]

## Demographics

[edit]

Waingaro covers a total area of 265.38 km2 (102.46 sq mi), which overlaps with Glen Massey.[5] It is part of the larger Te Ākau statistical area.[8]

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

2006| 510| —
2013| 477| −0.95%
2018| 531| +2.17%
2023| 564| +1.21%
The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 251.18 km2.
Source: [6][9]

Waingaro had a population of 564 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people (6.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 87 people (18.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 309 males and 252 females in 201 dwellings.[10] 0.5% of people identified as LGBTQ+. There were 105 people (18.6%) aged under 15 years, 90 (16.0%) aged 15 to 29, 273 (48.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 93 (16.5%) aged 65 or older.[6]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 78.2% European (Pākehā), 33.5% Māori, 5.3% Pasifika, 1.6% Asian, and 1.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.8%, Māori language by 8.5%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 4.3%. No language could be spoken by 2.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.[6]

Religious affiliations were 22.3% Christian, 4.3% Māori religious beliefs, 1.6% New Age, and 0.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.8%, and 7.4% of people did not answer the census question.[6]

Of those at least 15 years old, 84 (18.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 252 (54.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 123 (26.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 42 people (9.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 222 (48.4%) people were employed full-time, 66 (14.4%) were part-time, and 15 (3.3%) were unemployed.[6]

## Marae

[edit]

Waingaro Paa (Marae) is the meeting place of the local Waikato Tainui hapū of Ngaati Tamainupoo, Ngaati Te Huaki and Ngaati Toa Kotara.[11] It includes Ngaa Tokotoru the meeting house. The naming of the wharenui reflects the three Haapu and the Tuupuna that bear their names.[12]

In October 2020, the Government committed $2,584,751 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and 7 other Waikato Tainui marae, creating 40 jobs.[13]

## Education

[edit]

Waingaro School is a co-educational state primary school,[14][15] with a roll of 8 as of March 2025.[16] The school opened in 1892.[17]

## Waingaro Hot Spring

[edit]

Waingaro Hot Spring was closed in 2014,[18] until improvements were made and it reopened in 2016.[19] It has dilute alkaline NaCl-type (salty), 37 to 54 °C (99 to 129 °F),[20] thermal water flowing from early Jurassic basement rocks at about 350 litres (92 US gal) per minute,[21] probably originating at least 3 kilometres (2 mi) deep[22] and sharing a source with Naike and Waikorea, as they all have similar chemical composition.[23]

In 1921 this description was given:

> Waingaro/ on the coach-road from Ngaruawhahia to the west coast, has waters of the most strictly simple 'thermal' type, containing only 22 grains of solids to the gallon. It is not a 'spa,' though it is used locally and had at one time a great reputation among the Maoris. The outflow of water is very large and the temperature is high. There is a large simple immersion bath, with hotel accommodation alongside.

> ANALYSIS Grains per gallon.

>     Sodium chloride 6-43
>     Silica 7-80
>     Total solids 22-66
>     Temperature. 130 °F.[24]

In 1942 a corrugated iron shelter, which had covered the spring on the north side of the road, was swept away by a flood. After that the hot water was piped under the road and the present complex of baths built.[25]

Spring  | Date sampled  | TD°C  | pH(20 °C)  | Li | Na | K | Ca | Sr  | Ba  | B  | HCO3 | SiO2 | SO4 | F  | Cl  | I  | ΔD ‰  | δ18O ‰  | T (SiO2) °C

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Waingaro well  | 12/05/2005  | 54.7  | 9.2  | 0.05  | 79  | 0.73  | 1.2  | 0.005  | 0.0004  | 4.9  | 44  | 55  | 8.3  | 3.5  | 49  | 0.029  | -31.5  | -5.74  | 83

[26]

## Waingaro Landing

[edit]

Mail coach at Waingaro Landing advert from 1915 guidebook

The narrow, 2 km (1.2 mi) gravel road from Ohautira Rd to the boat ramp and whitebait stands at Waingaro Landing now sees little traffic, but was once much more important.

Just south of the point where the Waingaro joins the Kerikeri River, there is a record of Waingaro Landing being used by Rev A N Brown in 1834 to travel from Bay of Islands to Kawhia.[27] Little changed for another half century.

About 1883 a Crown Grant of 1,000 acres (400 ha) on the banks of the Waingaro stream was taken on by M. Barton or Patene, then Mr Clarke, then by Sam Picken. Most of it was in heavy bush. Clarke had started clearing it, employing Arthur Moon and Johnnie Douglas.[28] Picken travelled to Huntly by train, crossing the Waikato by boat, then rode on a bridle track to Glen Afton and finally on a native track through heavy bush of rimu and mataī on the hills, and kahikatea on the flats. Within a year the native track had been turned into a bridle track.[27] Picken was joined by George Richards, Arthur Shilson, Ned Edmonds, Stevens, Arthur Richards and Pyne. The Crown then built a road from Ngāruawāhia to the landing. By 1893 most land had been bought, except 600 acres (240 ha) at the Hot Springs on a 21-year lease to Sam Wilson, who built the hotel.[28]

Charles Sutton bought the 30 ft (9.1 m) steam launch 'Vesta', which could tow a punt from Raglan to Waingaro in one hour. An experiment with the 40 ft (12 m) 'Amateur' was unsuccessful; it took 3 hours. In 1896 the 'Vesta' was repaired and took on the work again.[29]

For almost two decades the landing became a popular route to Raglan, when Captain Coge ran the S.S. 'Maori' between Raglan and the landing from 1903.[30] A coach from Ngāruawāhia brought mail and passengers.[30]

About 1903, the Ministry of Tourist and Health Resorts published these options for journeys from Auckland to Raglan:

* Auckland to Ngāruawāhia, 74 mi (119 km): Depart rail Auckland 10 a.m.
* Arrive Ngāruawāhia, 12.58 p.m. 1st class 8/10, 2nd 5/9.
* Ngāruawāhia to Waingaro, 16 mi (26 km). Coach departs Tuesday and Friday, 1.15 p.m. arrives 4 p.m. 6/- single, 10/- return.
* Waingaro to Raglan, 9 mi (14 km). Oil launch Tuesday and Friday. 2/6 single, 4/- return.
* Raglan to Onehunga 115 mi (185 km). N.S.S. (Northern Steamship) Steamer weekly. 20/- single, 30/- return. Saloon.
* Onehunga to Auckland, 8 mi (13 km). Rail frequently. First I/-, 2nd 9 pence.
* Raglan to Hamilton, 35 mi (56 km). Coach M.W. and Fridays. Departs 7 a.m. Arrives 1.10 p.m.
* Hamilton to Raglan. Coach Tues., Thurs., and Saturdays. Depart Hamilton 9 a.m. Arrives 4 p.m. Single 12/-, return 20/-.

Coge soon gave up the boat service,[31] but by 18 November 1904 the Raglan Chronicle was advertising for cargo for the launch 'Nita' after 7 local men formed the co-operative, Raglan Launch Co, to take over, with land agent, A. R. Langley, as secretary.[32] With Mr B. Vercoe in charge, she continued trading until a fire in March, 1909,[27] with Frank Charlton in charge. However, the fire seems to have been extinguished[33] and the 'Nita' was later bought by Billy McQueen, who traded round the harbour till about 1920.[29] From time to time the Post Office invited tenders to carry mail on the route.[34] The County Council agreed to extend the shed and wharf in 1910, though not buy extra land for it.[35] The work was completed in 1913.[36]

The road to the landing was still being improved in 1905, when £100 was allocated.[37]

After 1920[27] the mail coach was replaced by a cream truck run by Bob Gibb on a Ngāruawāhia-Te Ākau mail run.[38]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Mayor and councillors". Waikato District Council. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
2. ^ "Port Waikato - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
3. ^ "Taranaki-King Country - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
4. ^ "Hauraki-Waikato – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
5. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 14 March 2025.
6. ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7011110, 7011117 and 7029890. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
7. ^ Hariss, Gavin. "Waingaro, Waikato". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
8. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
9. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7011108, 7011110 and 7011117.
10. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
11. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
12. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
13. ^ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
14. ^ "Official School Website". waingaro.school.nz.
15. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
16. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
17. ^ "Persevere & conquer : a history of the Waingaro School, 1892-1992 [catalogue entry]". Auckland Libraries. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
18. ^ Council closure notice
19. ^ "March 2016: Waingaro Hot Pools open". www.raglan23.co.nz. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
20. ^ list of hot pools, temperatures, flow rates, etc in Geothermal Resources In New Zealand An Overview: Trevor M. Hunt, Wairakei Research Centre, Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Ltd 1998
21. ^ Geological Survey Professional Paper, Volume 492 1965 page 242
22. ^ Naike Hot Springs: A Hot Spring System (N Island, New Zealand) S. Siswojo, A.S. Kasonta, M.P. Hochstein Geothermal Institute, University of Auckland 1985
23. ^ Hochstein, M.P.; Siswojo, S.; Kasonta, A.S. (1985). "Naike Hot Springs: A Hot Spring System" (PDF). Geothermal Institute University of Auckland.
24. ^ The Hot Springs of New Zealand: Arthur Stanley Herbert 1921
25. ^ The End of an Era: Gwyneth Jones 2010
26. ^ Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 2010 - Sources of solutes and heat in low-enthalpy mineral waters and their relation to tectonic setting, New Zealand: A.G. Reyes, B.W. Christenson, K. Faure
27. ^ a b c d Raglan County Hills and Sea 1876-1976. Wilson & Horton for Raglan County Council. 1976. pp. 33, 132, 152, 153.
28. ^ a b Vernon, R. T. (1981). Around Raglan. pp. 69–70.
29. ^ a b Vernon, R. T. (1984). Raglan. Rice. pp. 24, 25, 126.
30. ^ a b "Local And General News". The New Zealand Herald. 7 August 1903. pp. 4 5. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
31. ^ "News From Waingaro". The New Zealand Herald. 6 September 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
32. ^ "advert - Nita will run to Waingaro and Te Uku 6s per ton". Raglan County Chronicle. 19 November 1904.
33. ^ "Raglan". Waikato Argus. 16 March 1909. p. 2. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
34. ^ "Page 20 Advertisements Column 2". Observer. 18 September 1909. p. 20. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
35. ^ "Raglan County Council". Waikato Argus. 21 January 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
36. ^ "Raglan County Council". Waikato Times. 15 January 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
37. ^ "The Supplementary Estimates". The New Zealand Herald. 31 October 1905. p. 6. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
38. ^ Richards, Bill (1986). Off the Sheep's Back. Lindon Pub. p. 87\. ISBN 0864700148.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Waingaro River (Waikato).

* [1], [2], [3] \- National Library 1910 photos of Waingaro Landing, Waingaro Bay (note the 1900 road to the Landing on the hillside) and Waingaro Estuary.
* 1955 Waingaro Landing aerial photo - the foreground shows part of the Kerikeri River arm of the harbour, which is over 3 km long. The Waingaro River joins the estuary in the middle left of the photo.
* Photo of oil launch 'Nita'.
* New Zealand Herald 17 June 1893 - description of hot springs and their history.

Neighbouring areas

| Glen Murray | Glen Afton | Rotowaro

|
|

|  |
Te Ākau |

Waingaro

| Glen Massey
|  |
Raglan | Te Uku | Te Kowhai

* v
* t
* e

Waikato District, New Zealand

Seat: Ngāruawāhia

Populated places|

| Awaroa ki Tuakau|

* Aka Aka
* Camerontown
* Harrisville
* Mercer
* Otaua
* Pōkeno
* Tuakau

|

Onewhero-Te Ākau|

* Glen Murray
* Onewhero
* Port Waikato
* Pukekawa
* Ruapuke
* Te Akau
* Te Kohanga
* Waikaretu
* Waingaro
* Whangape

Whangamarino|

* Mangatangi
* Mangatawhiri
* Maramarua
* Meremere
* Te Kauwhata

Hukanui-Waerenga|

* Gordonton
* Orini
* Waerenga
* Whitikahu

Huntly|

* Glen Afton
* Huntly
* Kimihia
* Ohinewai
* Pukemiro
* Rangiriri
* Rotowaro
* Ruawaro

Ngaruawahia|

* Glen Massey
* Horotiu
* Horsham Downs
* Ngāruawāhia
* Rotokauri
* Taupiri

Eureka|

* Eureka
* Newstead
* Pukemoremore
* Puketaha
* Tauwhare

Tamahere|

* Matangi
* Tamahere

Newcastle|

* Te Kowhai
* Whatawhata

Raglan|

* Raglan
* Te Mata
* Te Uku
* Waingaro
* Waitetuna

Geographic features|

* Aotea Harbour
* Hakarimata Range
* Hapuakohe Range
* Karioi
* Motutieke Island
* Bridal Veil Falls
* Whangamarino Wetland

| Lakes|

* Disappear
* Hakanoa
* Kimihia
* Opuatia
* Puketirini
* Rotongaro
* Waitamoumou
* Waahi
* Waikare
* Waitamoumou
* Whangape

|

Rivers|

* Awaroa
* Kerikeri
* Huriwai
* Mangatangi
* Mangatawhiri
* Opotoru
* Pakoka
* Tawatahi
* Waipā
* Waingaro
* Waitetuna
* Whangamarino

Facilities and attractions|

* Huntly Power Station
* Mercer Airfield
* Rotowaro Carbonisation Plant
* Te Uku Wind Farm
* Turangawaewae

| Railway stations|

* Amokura
* Horotiu
* Huntly
* Kimihia
* Mercer
* Ngaruawahia
* Ohinewai
* Rangiriri
* Taupiri
* Te Kauwhata
* Whangamarino
* Whangarata

|

Transport routes|

* Paeroa–Pōkeno Line
* State Highway 23
* State Highway 39

Government|

* District Council
* Mayor
* Regional Council

Organisations|

* Huntly College
* Ngaruawahia High School
* Raglan Chronicle
* Xtreme Waste

History|

* Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival
* Huntly rail bridge bombing
* Māori King movement
* Strawberry Fields

Sports|

* Huntly Thistle (soccer)
* Ngaruawahia United (soccer)
* Taniwharau (rugby league)

*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate
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