Waitahanui

Waitahanui is a village in the Taupō District, Waikato region, New Zealand.^[6] The village is on the eastern shore of Lake Taupō, 14 km (9 mi) south of the district seat of Taupō.

Waitahanui
Village
Coordinates: 38.794°S 176.076°E / -38.794; 176.076
Country	New Zealand
Region	Waikato region
District	Taupō District
Ward	Taupō General Ward
Electorates	Taupō Waiariki (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Taupō District Council
• Regional council	Waikato Regional Council
• Mayor of Taupō	David Trewavas[1]
• Taupō MP	Louise Upston[2]
• Waiariki MP	Rawiri Waititi[3]
Area [4]
• Total	5.30 km2 (2.05 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[5]
• Total	600
• Density	110/km2 (290/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	3378

Waitahanui Marae and Pākira meeting house is a meeting place for the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū (subtribe) of Ngāti Hinerau and Ngāti Tutemohuta. The Waitahanui Bridge site is also a meeting place for the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū.^[7][8]

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Five Mile Bay-Waitahanui as a rural settlement, which covers 5.30 km² (2.05 sq mi).^[4] It had an estimated population of 600 as of June 2024,^[5] with a population density of 113 people per km². The settlement is part of the larger Waitahanui statistical area.

Historical population for Five Mile Bay-Waitahanui

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	453	—
2013	402	−1.69%
2018	543	+6.20%
2023	579	+1.29%
The 2006 population is for a larger area of 14.72 km2. Source: [9][10]

Five Mile Bay-Waitahanui had a population of 579 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 36 people (6.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 177 people (44.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 288 males, 285 females, and 3 people of other genders in 183 dwellings.^[11] 1.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 43.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 114 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 84 (14.5%) aged 15 to 29, 258 (44.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 117 (20.2%) aged 65 or older.^[9]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 48.7% European (Pākehā), 63.7% Māori, 5.2% Pasifika, 2.1% Asian, and 1.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.8%, Māori by 26.4%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 2.6%. No language could be spoken by 1.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 7.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[9]

Religious affiliations were 23.3% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 0.5% Islam, 24.9% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% New Age, and 0.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 42.0%, and 8.3% of people did not answer the census question.^[9]

Of those at least 15 years old, 54 (11.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 258 (55.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 147 (31.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $33,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 27 people (5.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 195 (41.9%) full-time, 63 (13.5%) part-time, and 15 (3.2%) unemployed.^[9]

Waitahanui statistical area

Waitahanui statistical area covers 120.64 km² (46.58 sq mi)^[12] and had an estimated population of 880 as of June 2024,^[13] with a population density of 7.3 people per km².

Historical population for the statistical area

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	690	—
2013	642	−1.02%
2018	795	+4.37%
2023	846	+1.25%
Source: [14][15]

Waitahanui statistical area had a population of 846 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 51 people (6.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 204 people (31.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 426 males, 417 females, and 6 people of other genders in 270 dwellings.^[16] 1.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 165 people (19.5%) aged under 15 years, 135 (16.0%) aged 15 to 29, 387 (45.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 159 (18.8%) aged 65 or older.^[14]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 60.3% European (Pākehā); 50.4% Māori; 3.5% Pasifika; 1.4% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.0%, Māori by 19.1%, Samoan by 0.7%, and other languages by 2.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 8.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[14]

Religious affiliations were 24.5% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 17.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 47.5%, and 8.9% of people did not answer the census question.^[14]

Of those at least 15 years old, 87 (12.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 399 (58.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 192 (28.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 57 people (8.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 321 (47.1%) full-time, 96 (14.1%) part-time, and 15 (2.2%) unemployed.^[14]

Education

Te Kura o Waitahanui is a co-educational state Māori immersion school serving years 1 to 6,^[17] with a roll of 74 as of March 2025.^[18][19] The Waitahanui Native School started in 1905.^[20]