Pipitea, New Zealand

Pipitea is a central suburb of Wellington, in the Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island.

The new suburb of Pipitea was created and its boundaries were fixed at a meeting of the full Wellington City Council on 20 August 2003. After that time suburb changes must receive the further consent of the New Zealand Geographic Board.

The territory

The territory is the sites of Pipitea Pā and Old St Paul's on the inland side of Thorndon Quay, the reclaimed land east and south of Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road from along the shoreline from Kaiwharawhara to Whitmore Street, and the Government Centre bounded by Kate Sheppard Place (formerly Sydney Street East), Hill Street, Sydney Street West, Bowen Street and the reclaimed land.

Pipitea, comprising the statistical areas of 7021520, 7034858, 7034859 and 7034927, covers 1.40 km² (0.54 sq mi).^[1] It is part of the larger Pipitea-Kaiwharawhara statistical area.^[3]

Pipitea had a population of 567 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 72 people (−11.3%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 63 people (−10.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 291 males, 270 females, and 9 people of other genders in 288 dwellings.^[5] 9.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 30 people (5.3%) aged under 15 years, 186 (32.8%) aged 15 to 29, 279 (49.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (11.6%) aged 65 or older.^[2]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 72.5% European (Pākehā); 10.1% Māori; 4.8% Pasifika; 19.6% Asian; 2.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.4%, Māori by 3.7%, and other languages by 22.8%. No language could be spoken by 0.5% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 34.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[2]

Religious affiliations were 25.9% Christian, 3.2% Hindu, 1.1% Māori religious beliefs, 1.6% Buddhist, and 2.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.7%, and 5.8% of people did not answer the census question.^[2]

Of those at least 15 years old, 273 (50.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 207 (38.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 63 (11.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 153 people (28.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 387 (72.1%) full-time, 60 (11.2%) part-time, and 12 (2.2%) unemployed.^[2]

Pipitea-Kaiwharawhara statistical area also includes the largely industrial suburb of Kaiwharawhara and covers 2.22 km² (0.86 sq mi).^[6] It had an estimated population of 950 as of June 2025,^[7] with a population density of 428 people per km².

Pipitea-Kaiwharawhara had a population of 933 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 27 people (−2.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 84 people (9.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 459 males, 459 females, and 18 people of other genders in 411 dwellings.^[10] 9.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 84 people (9.0%) aged under 15 years, 276 (29.6%) aged 15 to 29, 456 (48.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 117 (12.5%) aged 65 or older.^[8]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 75.2% European (Pākehā); 12.2% Māori; 3.9% Pasifika; 20.6% Asian; 2.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.7%, Māori by 2.6%, and other languages by 23.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 33.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[8]

Religious affiliations were 26.7% Christian, 5.5% Hindu, 0.6% Islam, 1.0% Māori religious beliefs, 1.3% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, 0.3% Jewish, and 2.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.6%, and 5.8% of people did not answer the census question.^[8]

Of those at least 15 years old, 453 (53.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 303 (35.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 90 (10.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $75,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 294 people (34.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 582 (68.6%) full-time, 96 (11.3%) part-time, and 15 (1.8%) unemployed.^[8]

The Capital Gateway Centre shopping precinct has 13 stores, including Freedom Furniture.^[11]