Waikawa Beach

Waikawa Beach
Rural settlement
Sand dunes at Waikawa beach
Coordinates: 40°41′17″S 175°08′56″E / 40.688°S 175.149°E / -40.688; 175.149
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui region
Territorial authority	Horowhenua District
Wards	Waiopehu General Ward Horowhenua Māori Ward
Electorates	Ōtaki Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Horowhenua District Council
• Regional council	Horizons Regional Council
• Horowhenua Mayor	Bernie Wanden
• Ōtaki MP	Tim Costley
• Te Tai Hauāuru MP	Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Area [1]
• Total	1.50 km2 (0.58 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	190
• Density	130/km2 (330/sq mi)

Waikawa Beach is a small settlement in the Horowhenua District of the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located on the South Taranaki Bight at the mouth of Waikawa Stream, 7.5 kilometres northwest of Manakau, and 19 kilometres southwest of Levin, both distances being by road.

Hank Edwards Reserve is a small park adjacent to a footpath over Waikawa Stream.^[3]

In Hank Edwards Reserve is a defibrillator (AED) on the street-facing wall of the facilities block. The toilet block was originally built in the late 1960s. In 2022 it was extensively remodelled at a cost of at least $369,687 plus GST.^[4] The Facilities Block now offers two accessible toilets, a family changing room, and storage for use by the Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association. There are also outdoor showers, a gas barbecue and picnic tables under cover, and drinking fountain.^[5][6]

On Monday 13 October 2008 a concrete boat ramp was laid next to the footbridge by volunteers from the community. The ramp is suitable for kayaks and small boats.^[7]

Erosion near the stream mouth has been a problem since the 1930s and particularly from February 2018.^[8][9]

Waikawa Beach includes rural landscape, river, beach, wetlands and a couple of small freshwater lakes, Waimarie and Te Puna a te Ora. This allows for a wealth of birdlife including gulls, terns, dotterels, herons, shovelers, spoonbills, the Nationally Critical bittern, shags, godwits and dozens of other species.

Waikawa Beach is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 1.50 km² (0.58 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 190 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 127 people per km². It is part of the larger Waikawa statistical area.

Waikawa Beach had a population of 132 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (29.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 18 people (15.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 66 households, comprising 66 males and 63 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female. The median age was 56.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 12 people (9.1%) aged under 15 years, 6 (4.5%) aged 15 to 29, 78 (59.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 36 (27.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.6% European/Pākehā, 15.9% Māori, and 2.3% Pasifika. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.3% had no religion, 29.5% were Christian and 6.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (20.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 24 (20.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 21 people (17.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 45 (37.5%) people were employed full-time, 27 (22.5%) were part-time, and 6 (5.0%) were unemployed.^[10]

Waikawa statistical area, which also includes Hokio Beach, covers 62.16 km² (24.00 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 880 as of June 2024,^[11] with a population density of 14 people per km².

The statistical area had a population of 750 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (1.6%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 6 people (−0.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 321 households, comprising 378 males and 369 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female. The median age was 51.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 90 people (12.0%) aged under 15 years, 114 (15.2%) aged 15 to 29, 390 (52.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 159 (21.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 84.8% European/Pākehā, 23.2% Māori, 3.2% Pasifika, 1.6% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.4% had no religion, 28.8% were Christian, 0.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.8% were Buddhist and 3.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 93 (14.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 141 (21.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 72 people (10.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 294 (44.5%) people were employed full-time, 114 (17.3%) were part-time, and 36 (5.5%) were unemployed.^[12]