Waikeria is a rural community in the Otorohanga District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.

Waikeria Prison, one of New Zealand's largest prisons, is located on a 1,200-hectare (3,000-acre) site on Waikeria Road.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "dug-out water" for Waikeria.

The local Whakamārama Marae is a meeting place of the Ngāti Raukawa hapū of Ngāti Puehutore. It includes Te Rangimoeakau meeting house.

Waikeria settlement and the prison are in two SA1 statistical areas which cover 55.80 km (21.54 sq mi). The SA1 areas are part of the larger Puniu statistical area.

Historical population of the SA1 areas

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	708	—
2013	474	−5.57%
2018	534	+2.41%
Source:

The SA1 areas had a population of 534 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 60 people (12.7%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 174 people (−24.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 84 households, comprising 435 males and 96 females, giving a sex ratio of 4.53 males per female, with 48 people (9.0%) aged under 15 years, 165 (30.9%) aged 15 to 29, 294 (55.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 21 (3.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 55.6% European/Pākehā, 47.2% Māori, 5.6% Pacific peoples, 2.8% Asian, and 1.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.5% had no religion, 26.4% were Christian, 7.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.7% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 5.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (6.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 72 (14.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 45 people (9.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 183 (37.7%) people were employed full-time, 54 (11.1%) were part-time, and 24 (4.9%) were unemployed.

Puniu statistical area covers 674.02 km (260.24 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,540 as of June 2024, with a population density of 2.3 people per km.

Historical population of Puniu

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,500	—
2013	1,407	−0.91%
2018	1,488	+1.13%
Source:

Puniu had a population of 1,488 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 81 people (5.8%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 12 people (−0.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 408 households, comprising 933 males and 555 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.68 males per female. The median age was 33.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 291 people (19.6%) aged under 15 years, 366 (24.6%) aged 15 to 29, 726 (48.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 108 (7.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 76.2% European/Pākehā, 27.4% Māori, 2.8% Pacific peoples, 4.2% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 10.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.7% had no religion, 27.0% were Christian, 2.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 3.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 135 (11.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 225 (18.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 165 people (13.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 642 (53.6%) people were employed full-time, 171 (14.3%) were part-time, and 42 (3.5%) were unemployed.

Korakonui School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school. It has a roll of 142 as of August 2024. The school opened in 1911.