Waiwera

For the South Island settlement, see Waiwera South.

Place in Auckland Region, New Zealand

Waiwera

Waiwera Road

Coordinates: 36°32′41″S 174°42′25″E﻿ / ﻿36.54472°S 174.70694°E﻿ / -36.54472; 174.70694
Country| New Zealand
Region| Auckland Region
Ward| Albany ward
Local Board| Hibiscus and Bays Local Board
Electorates|

* Whangaparāoa
* Te Tai Tokerau

Government

• Territorial Authority| Auckland Council
• Mayor of Auckland| Wayne Brown[1]
• Whangaparāoa MP| Mark Mitchell[2]
• Te Tai Tokerau MP| Mariameno Kapa-Kingi[3]
Area

[4]

• Total

| 0.55 km2 (0.21 sq mi)
Population

(June 2024)[5]

• Total

| 240
• Density| 440/km2 (1,100/sq mi)

Waiwera is a small town in the north of the Auckland Region in New Zealand.[6] Waiwera is 6 km north of Orewa, 6 km south-east of Puhoi, 23 km south-east of Warkworth and approximately 35 km from the Auckland City centre. The settlement lies at the outlet of a river also called Waiwera. Less than 1 kilometre north of the Waiwera turn-off lies the turn-off to Wenderholm Regional Park which is situated on the far side of the headland to the north of the Waiwera River outlet.

## History

[edit]

The name is of Māori origin and means "Hot Water" (Wai = Water and Wera = Hot),[7] and is a shortened version of the traditional name Waiwerawera.[8]

Its main claim to fame was the hot water springs which were well known in pre-European times and reputedly visited by Māori from as far away as Thames. The first European settler to promote the springs was Robert Graham who established a health resort in 1848.[9] This resort was destroyed by fire in 1939.[10] During the late 19th century there was a regular steam ferry service from Auckland.[9] The bath house was torn down in 1951.[10] The commercial hot pools closed in 2018.[11]

## Demographics

[edit]

Statistics New Zealand describes Waiwera as a rural settlement, which covers 0.55 km2 (0.21 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 240 as of June 2024,[5] with a population density of 436 people per km2. Waiwera is part of the larger Wainui-Waiwera statistical area.[12]

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

|
|

2006| 192| —
2013| 237| +3.05%
2018| 240| +0.25%
2023| 252| +0.98%
Source: [13][14]

Waiwera had a population of 252 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (5.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 15 people (6.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 117 males and 132 females in 141 dwellings.[15] 1.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 58.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 15 people (6.0%) aged under 15 years, 21 (8.3%) aged 15 to 29, 126 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 90 (35.7%) aged 65 or older.[14]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.3% European (Pākehā); 13.1% Māori; 2.4% Pasifika; 7.1% Asian; and 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA). English was spoken by 98.8%, Māori language by 4.8%, and other languages by 14.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 25.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 41.7% Christian, 1.2% Hindu, 1.2% Māori religious beliefs, 2.4% Buddhist, 2.4% New Age, 1.2% Jewish, and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 42.9%, and 6.0% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 48 (20.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 123 (51.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 60 (25.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 21 people (8.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 102 (43.0%) people were employed full-time, 27 (11.4%) were part-time, and 3 (1.3%) were unemployed.[14]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Watercolour of Waiwera c. 1860s drawn by John Hoyte

* Waiwera in the 1940s

* Mahurangi Island and Waiwera Beach

* Waiwera Hot Pools in 2006

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Mayor official results". Auckland Council. 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
2. ^ "Whangaparāoa – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
3. ^ "Te Tai Tokerau – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
4. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 14 December 2024.
5. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
6. ^ "NZGB Gazetteer | linz.govt.nz". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
7. ^ "Waiwera Travel Guide". Jasons Travel Media. Archived from the original on 23 August 2010.
8. ^ Cameron, Ewen; Hayward, Bruce; Murdoch, Graeme (2008). A Field Guide to Auckland: Exploring the Region's Natural and Historical Heritage. Random House New Zealand. p. 122\. ISBN 978-1-86962-1513.
9. ^ a b Wises New Zealand Guide. 1979. p. 490.
10. ^ a b Bioletti, Harry (1992). Rodney Coast to Coast. p. 61\. ISBN 0-473-01296-0.
11. ^ Williams, Caroline (24 May 2021). "Million-dollar dumps: Waiwera's abandoned hot pools a 'taonga being wasted'". Stuff. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
12. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Wainui-Waiwera
13. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7001364.
14. ^ a b c "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Waiwera (1089). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
15. ^ "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.

## External links

[edit]

Portal:

* New Zealand

Waiwera at Wikipedia's sister projects:

* Media from Commons
* Data from Wikidata

* v
* t
* e

Hibiscus Coast, Auckland, New Zealand

Populated places|

| Whangaparāoa Peninsula|

* Arkles Bay
* Army Bay
* Gulf Harbour
* Manly
* Matakatia
* Red Beach
* Stanmore Bay

|

* Hatfields Beach
* Milldale
* Millwater
* Orewa
* Silverdale
* Stillwater
* Waiwera

Geographic features|

* Karepiro Bay
* Mahurangi Island
* Ōkura River
* Ōrewa River
* Tiritiri Matangi Island
* Waiwera River
* Waiwera Hot Springs

Facilities and attractions|

* Alice Eaves Scenic Reserve
* Okura Bush Scenic Reserve
* Shakespear Regional Park
* Snowplanet
* Tiritiri Matangi Lighthouse

Infrastructure|

* Busway station
* O Mahurangi Penlink

Government|

* Auckland Council
* Hibiscus and Bays Local Board
* Albany Ward
* North Shore City Council (defunct)
* Rodney District Council (defunct)

Organisations|

* Hibiscus Coast AFC
* Hibiscus Coast Raiders
* Orewa College
* Wentworth College
* Whangaparāoa College

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