Waiau Pa

Waiau Pa Waiau Pā
Looking across Taikiki River to Waiau Pa
Coordinates: 37°08′17″S 174°45′11″E / 37.138°S 174.753°E / -37.138; 174.753
Country	New Zealand
Region	Auckland Region
Territorial authority	Auckland Council
Ward	Franklin ward
Board	Franklin Local Board
Electorates	Port Waikato Hauraki-Waikato
Area [1]
• Total	2.79 km2 (1.08 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	540
• Density	190/km2 (500/sq mi)

Waiau Pa is a small town of Auckland, New Zealand. It is in the Franklin Ward of Auckland Council. The name means "River of swirling currents" in the Māori language.^[3]

The Waiau Pa Presbyterian Church on the corner of McKenzie Road and Seagrove Road was built in 1914.^[4]

The Taihiki River runs south and southwest of Waiau Pa, and the Manukau Harbour is to the north.

Statistics New Zealand describes Waiau Pā as a rural settlement, which covers 2.79 km² (1.08 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 540 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 194 people per km². Waiau Pā is part of the larger Karaka Creek statistical area

Waiau Pā had a population of 453 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 129 people (39.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 195 people (75.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 147 households, comprising 228 males and 225 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female, with 84 people (18.5%) aged under 15 years, 66 (14.6%) aged 15 to 29, 255 (56.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 45 (9.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 86.8% European/Pākehā, 9.9% Māori, 5.3% Pacific peoples, 7.3% Asian, and 2.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.3% had no religion, 33.1% were Christian, 1.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 2.0% were Hindu and 2.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 63 (17.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 51 (13.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 129 people (35.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 237 (64.2%) people were employed full-time, 60 (16.3%) were part-time, and 6 (1.6%) were unemployed.^[5]

Karaka Creek statistical area covers 35.04 km² (13.53 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 1,750 as of June 2024,^[6] with a population density of 50 people per km².

Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a smaller boundary, covering 34.78 km² (13.43 sq mi).^[1] Using that boundary, Karaka Creek had a population of 1,539 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 213 people (16.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 273 people (21.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 519 households, comprising 792 males and 747 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female. The median age was 44.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 303 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 219 (14.2%) aged 15 to 29, 804 (52.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 213 (13.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.3% European/Pākehā, 9.2% Māori, 2.9% Pacific peoples, 6.0% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 17.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.7% had no religion, 31.2% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 2.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 231 (18.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 180 (14.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $45,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 378 people (30.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 717 (58.0%) people were employed full-time, 231 (18.7%) were part-time, and 18 (1.5%) were unemployed.^[7]

Waiau Pa School is a coeducational full primary school (years 1–8) with a roll of 316 as of August 2024.^[8][9] The school was founded in 1890, and held a reunion in 2015 to celebrate 125 years.^[10]