Wainui Beach
The beach is one of the NZ Automobile Association's 101 Must-do places for Kiwis. It is noted for its consistent surf breaks. Wainui Beach's most notable residents have been the Quinn family, which contains three national champion surfers - brothers Maz and Jay, and sister Holly.
Demographics
Wainui Beach is in five SA1 statistical areas which cover 1.40 km (0.54 sq mi). The SA1 areas are part of the Wainui-Okitu statistical area.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 672 | — |
| 2013 | 720 | +0.99% |
| 2018 | 819 | +2.61% |
| Source: | ||
Wainui Beach had a population of 819 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 99 people (13.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 147 people (21.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 288 households, comprising 399 males and 414 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female, with 201 people (24.5%) aged under 15 years, 90 (11.0%) aged 15 to 29, 405 (49.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 123 (15.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 92.3% European/Pākehā, 21.2% Māori, 1.5% Pacific peoples, 2.2% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.9% had no religion, 31.9% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu, 1.5% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 258 (41.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 27 (4.4%) people had no formal qualifications. 180 people (29.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 336 (54.4%) people were employed full-time, 120 (19.4%) were part-time, and 15 (2.4%) were unemployed.
Wainui-Okitu statistical area
Wainui-Okitu statistical area, which also includes Okitū, covers 6.20 km (2.39 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 2,040 as of June 2023, with a population density of 329 people per km.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,356 | — |
| 2013 | 1,485 | +1.31% |
| 2018 | 1,716 | +2.93% |
| Source: | ||
Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a smaller boundary, covering 5.35 km (2.07 sq mi). Using that boundary, Wainui-Okitu had a population of 1,716 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 231 people (15.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 360 people (26.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 624 households, comprising 846 males and 870 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. The median age was 41.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 426 people (24.8%) aged under 15 years, 180 (10.5%) aged 15 to 29, 876 (51.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 237 (13.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 89.3% European/Pākehā, 22.4% Māori, 1.2% Pacific peoples, 2.4% Asian, and 3.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 20.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.8% had no religion, 33.2% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.7% were Buddhist and 2.1% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 504 (39.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 78 (6.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $43,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 363 people (28.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 705 (54.7%) people were employed full-time, 243 (18.8%) were part-time, and 30 (2.3%) were unemployed.
Parks
Wainui Beach has two main park areas. Wainui Reserve is a sports ground. Wainui Beach and Lysnar Reserve includes the main beach, a boat ramp and boat fishing area, a dog walking area, and an area for horse riding and kite surfing.
Education
Wainui Beach School is Year 1–6 co-educational state primary school with a roll of 246 students as of February 2024.