Waitākere, Auckland
History
The settlement is in the traditional rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki. The many hills of the area were known as Ngā Rau Pou ā Maki, referring to the eponymous ancestor of the tribe.
During the latter 19th century, the King brothers established a flax mill at Waitākere. In 1881, the Waitākere railway station was opened, when the North Auckland Line was extended from New Lynn to Helensville.
Waitakere Road had two bridges constructed to bypass the now Township Road making it a dead-end or cul-de-sac.
Demographics
Waitākere covers 14.79 km (5.71 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,890 as of June 2024, with a population density of 128 people per km.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,755 | — |
| 2013 | 1,674 | −0.67% |
| 2018 | 1,818 | +1.66% |
| 2023 | 1,812 | −0.07% |
| The 2006 population is for a larger area of 15.29 km Source: | ||
Waitākere had a population of 1,812 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−0.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 138 people (8.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 906 males, 900 females and 9 people of other genders in 612 dwellings. 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 41.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 360 people (19.9%) aged under 15 years, 282 (15.6%) aged 15 to 29, 933 (51.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 237 (13.1%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.7% European (Pākehā); 14.6% Māori; 7.6% Pasifika; 5.5% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.0%, Māori language by 2.6%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 7.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 22.0% Christian, 1.0% Hindu, 0.7% Islam, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, and 1.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.6%, and 7.6% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 249 (17.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 798 (55.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 306 (21.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $51,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 234 people (16.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 861 (59.3%) people were employed full-time, 216 (14.9%) were part-time, and 33 (2.3%) were unemployed.
Education
Waitakere School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 456 students as at August 2024. It was established in 1921.
List of places within Waitakere township
- Waitakere RSA
- Waitakere Dairy & Postshop there was an armed robbery in 2017.
- Waitakere railway station
- Waitakere Township Hall
- Waitakere War Memorial Park
- Waitakere Fire Station
- Waitakere Kindergarten
Notable people
- Arthur "Artie" Campbell Jonkers Artie was a well known figure on the family farm in Waitakere township where he worked tirelessly farming sheep.
See also
References
- ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 25 December 2024.
- ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area (PDF) (Report). Auckland Council. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ "'There will be nails': Local's sinister threat in note left outside West Auckland primary school". The New Zealand Herald. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ Te Kawerau ā Maki; The Trustees of Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust; The Crown (22 February 2014). "Te Kawerau ā Maki Deed of Settlement Schedule" (PDF). Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ Diamond, John T.; Hayward, Bruce W. (1990). "Prehistoric Sites in West Auckland". In Northcote-Bade, James (ed.). West Auckland Remembers, Volume 1. West Auckland Historical Society. pp. 14, 18. ISBN 0-473-00983-8.
- ^ Dunsford, Deborah (2002). Doing It Themselves: the Story of Kumeu, Huapai and Taupaki. Huapai-Kumeu Lions Club. p. 50. ISBN 0-473-08969-6.
- ^ Scoble, Juliet (2010). "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
- ^ Railway Stations of Auckland's Western Line (2004) by Sean Millar
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Waitakere (118000). 2018 Census place summary: Waitakere
- ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Waitākere (118001). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ Education Counts: Waitakere School
- ^ "Waitakere School golden jubilee 1921-1971 (record)". National Museum of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Police backing dairy owners but robberies on the rise". stuff.co.nz. Stuff. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Grevel, Louise. "Waitakere Township Hall". aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Auckland Council. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Waitakere Kindergarten". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Wigmore, Caryn (20 February 2014). "Old soldier a hard worker". stuff.co.nz. Stuff. Retrieved 30 June 2020.