Whareroa Village

Not to be confused with Whareroa, the Māori name for Hāwera.

Whareroa Village is a small community north of Kuratau, on Te Hape Bay on the western side of New Zealand's Lake Taupō. Whareroa Stream runs into the lake immediately north of the community.^[6]

Whareroa Village
Rural settlement
Coordinates: 38.860°S 175.779°E / -38.860; 175.779
Country	New Zealand
Region	Waikato region
District	Taupō District
Ward	Turangi-Tongariro 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	0.32 km2 (0.12 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[5]
• Total	50
• Density	160/km2 (400/sq mi)

A Ngāti Parekāwa pā or village was at Whareroa during the period from 1830 to 1880,^{[7]: 8, 9, 12 [8]} and likely much earlier. By 1965, there were only a few baches which were built about 60 years earlier. The subdivision of Whareroa Village began in the 1960s.^{[7]: 11, 12}

A plan to develop the north side of the stream, Whareroa North^[9] has not as of 2025^[update] been implemented.

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Whareroa Village as a rural settlement, which covers 0.32 km² (0.12 sq mi).^[4] It had an estimated population of 50 as of June 2024,^[5] with a population density of 156 people per km². The settlement is part of the larger Lake Taupō Bays statistical area.^[10]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2013	36	—
2018	36	+0.00%
2023	45	+4.56%
Source: [11]

Whareroa Village had a population of 45 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 9 people (25.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 9 people (25.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 24 males and 21 females in 27 dwellings.^[12] The median age was 68.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 18 people (40.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 30 (66.7%) aged 65 or older.^[11]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. All those responding were European (Pākehā). English was spoken by 100.0%, and other languages by 6.7%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 6.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[11]

The sole religious affiliation given was 60.0% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 33.3%, and 6.7% of people did not answer the census question.^[11]

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (26.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 33 (73.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 6 (13.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $33,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3 people (6.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 15 (33.3%) full-time, 3 (6.7%) part-time, and 3 (6.7%) unemployed.^[11]