Waiwera - Misplaced Pages

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
• Whangaparāoa MP	Mark Mitchell
• Te Tai Tokerau MP	Mariameno Kapa-Kingi
Area
• Total	0.55 km (0.21 sq mi)
Population
• Total	230
• Density	420/km (1,100/sq mi)

Waiwera is a small town in the north of the Auckland Region in New Zealand. 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

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

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. This resort was destroyed by fire in 1939. During the late 19th century there was a regular steam ferry service from Auckland. The bath house was torn down in 1951. The commercial hot pools closed in 2018.

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Waiwera as a rural settlement, which covers 0.55 km (0.21 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 230 as of June 2024, with a population density of 418 people per km. Waiwera is part of the larger Wainui-Waiwera statistical area.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	192	—
2013	237	+3.05%
2018	240	+0.25%
2023	252	+0.98%
Source:

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. 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.

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.