Waikare

Waikare is a locality in Northland, New Zealand. The Waikare River flows from the Russell Forest past Waikare and into the Waikare Inlet, which leads into the Bay of Islands.^[4][5]

Waikare
Coordinates: 35°20′20″S 174°14′0″E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Northland Region
District	Far North District
Ward	Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Ward
Community	Bay of Islands-Whangaroa
Subdivision	Russell-Ōpua
Electorates	Northland Te Tai Tokerau
Government
• Territorial Authority	Far North District Council
• Regional council	Northland Regional Council
• Mayor of Far North	Moko Tepania[1]
• Northland MP	Grant McCallum[2]
• Te Tai Tokerau MP	Mariameno Kapa-Kingi[3]

The population is largely of the Te Kapotai hapū and Ngāti Pare iwi.^[6]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "rippling waters" for Waikare.^[7]

Demographics

Waikari is in an SA1 statistical area which covers 85.80 km² (33.13 sq mi).^[8] The SA1 area is part of the larger Russell Forest-Rawhiti statistical area.^[9]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	138	—
2013	153	+1.48%
2018	171	+2.25%
2023	213	+4.49%
Source: [10][11]

The SA1 statistical area had a population of 213 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (24.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 60 people (39.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 111 males and 102 females in 57 dwellings.^[12] 1.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 32.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 60 people (28.2%) aged under 15 years, 42 (19.7%) aged 15 to 29, 84 (39.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 27 (12.7%) aged 65 or older.^[11]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 21.1% European (Pākehā), 93.0% Māori, and 7.0% Pasifika. English was spoken by 95.8%, and Māori language by 46.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 1.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 36.6% Christian, 5.6% Māori religious beliefs, and 0.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 47.9%, and 9.9% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 6 (3.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 96 (62.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 51 (33.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $28,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 60 (39.2%) people were employed full-time, 12 (7.8%) were part-time, and 18 (11.8%) were unemployed.^[11]

Marae

Waikare or Te Tūruki Marae and Te Huihuinga or Te Aranga o te Pā meeting house is a meeting place for the Ngāpuhi hapū of Ngāti Pare and Te Kapotai.^[13][14]

Education

Te Kura o Waikare, also called Waikare School, is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 83 students as of July 2025.^[15][16] It is a Designated Special Character school with the Māori language as the principal language of instruction. The school replaced the previous Waikare School in 2004.^[17]