Whakaki

Not to be confused with Whakaeke.
Whakaki
Settlement
Interactive map of Whakaki
Coordinates: 39°02′13″S 177°35′10″E / 39.037°S 177.586°E / -39.037; 177.586
CountryNew Zealand
RegionHawke's Bay Region
Territorial authorityWairoa District
Ward
  • Wairoa General Ward
  • Wairoa Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authorityWairoa District Council
 • Mayor of WairoaCraig Little[3]
 • Napier MPKatie Nimon[4]
 • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MPCushla Tangaere-Manuel[5]
Area
[1]
 • Total
95.27 km2 (36.78 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)[2]
 • Total
114
 • Density1.20/km2 (3.10/sq mi)
Postcode(s)
4196

Whakaki is a settlement east of Wairoa within the Wairoa District and Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island. State Highway 2 runs through it.

Whakakī Lake, southwest of the settlement, is the largest freshwater lagoon on the east coast of the North Island.[6][7]

Whakakī is a Māori word meaning "to fill".[8]

Demographics

Whakaki and its surrounds cover 95.27 km2 (36.78 sq mi).[1] It is part of the Whakaki statistical area.[9]

Historical population for the settlement and its surrounds
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006144—    
201396−5.63%
2018114+3.50%
2023114+0.00%
Source: [2][10]

Whakaki had a population of 114 in the 2023 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2018 census, and an increase of 18 people (18.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 60 males and 54 females in 45 dwellings.[11] 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 48.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 18 people (15.8%) aged under 15 years, 21 (18.4%) aged 15 to 29, 48 (42.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 27 (23.7%) aged 65 or older.[2]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 36.8% European (Pākehā), and 73.7% Māori. English was spoken by 97.4%, and Māori by 34.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 2.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 2.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.[2]

Religious affiliations were 42.1% Christian, 10.5% Māori religious beliefs, and 2.6% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 42.1%, and 5.3% of people did not answer the census question.[2]

Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (15.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 54 (56.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 30 (31.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $31,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3 people (3.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 42 (43.8%) full-time, 12 (12.5%) part-time, and 9 (9.4%) unemployed.[2]

Whakaki statistical area

Whakaki statistical area, which also includes Tuhara, covers 183.47 km2 (70.84 sq mi)[12] and had an estimated population of 710 as of June 2025,[13] with a population density of 3.9 people per km2.

Historical population for the statistical area
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006726—    
2013672−1.10%
2018675+0.09%
2023687+0.35%
Source: [14][15]

Whakaki statistical area had a population of 687 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (1.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 15 people (2.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 360 males and 327 females in 228 dwellings.[16] 1.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 43.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 132 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 111 (16.2%) aged 15 to 29, 303 (44.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 144 (21.0%) aged 65 or older.[14]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 41.9% European (Pākehā); 72.5% Māori; 2.6% Pasifika; 0.9% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 0.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.6%, Māori by 24.0%, and other languages by 1.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 3.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[14]

Religious affiliations were 35.8% Christian, 0.9% Islam, 17.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% New Age, and 0.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 38.9%, and 6.1% of people did not answer the census question.[14]

Of those at least 15 years old, 60 (10.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 330 (59.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 159 (28.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $31,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 24 people (4.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 255 (45.9%) full-time, 63 (11.4%) part-time, and 36 (6.5%) unemployed.[14]

Marae

Whakakī is a marae (meeting place) and wharenui (meeting house) for the Ngāi Te Ipu hapu (subtribe) of Ngāti Kahungunu iwi.(tribe).[17]

Education

Whakaki Native School was established in 1912. It was damaged in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake[18] and (as Whakaki Maori School) celebrated its golden jubilee in 1962.[19][20] It closed in 2004.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7015768. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  3. ^ "RESULTS for Wairoa District Council Local Election 2025". Wairoa District Council. 17 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Napier - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 1 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Ikaroa-Rāwhiti – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Whakakī Lake". Hawke's Bay Regional Council. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Whakaki Lake and Wairoa River" (PDF). Hawke's Bay Regional Council. May 2017.
  8. ^ "Whakakī". Te Aka Online Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  10. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7015768.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Whakaki (207700). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Whakaki (207700). 2018 Census place summary: Whakaki
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "Whakakī". Māori maps. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Photograph, Earthquake damage, Whakaki Native School, near Nuhaka, Hawke's Bay". Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Golden Jubilee of the Whakaki Maori School 1912-1962". Wairo Star Print. 1962.
  20. ^ "School Jubilee". Gisborne Photo News. 19 April 1962. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  21. ^ Mallard, Trevor (13 May 2004). "Whakaki School (2735) Closure Notice". New Zealand Government.
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