The Waimea Plains is a small but fertile area of low-lying land southwest of the port city of Nelson, situated on Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere in the South Island of New Zealand. It is irrigated by the Waimea River from the Waimea Inlet in the north and bounded by the town of Brightwater in the south. The fertile soil promotes the growth of kiwifruit, apples and vineyards.

The temperate climate allows for the growth of crops such as hops and grapes.

The Waimea West statistical area covers the part of the Waimea Plains west of the Waimea River, with an area of 60.07 km (23.19 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 1,230 as of June 2024, with a population density of 20.5 people per km. Demographics of the Waimea Plains east of the river are covered at Appleby

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,038	—
2013	1,089	+0.69%
2018	1,137	+0.87%
Source:

Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a smaller boundary, covering 59.17 km (22.85 sq mi). Using that boundary, Waimea West had a population of 1,137 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 people (4.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 99 people (9.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 402 households, comprising 579 males and 558 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 47.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 195 people (17.2%) aged under 15 years, 189 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 576 (50.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 177 (15.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 96.0% European/Pākehā, 6.1% Māori, 0.5% Pasifika, 1.3% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 16.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.7% had no religion, 34.8% were Christian, 0.5% were Buddhist and 2.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 213 (22.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 132 (14.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 195 people (20.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 510 (54.1%) people were employed full-time, 183 (19.4%) were part-time, and 24 (2.5%) were unemployed.