Eureka, New Zealand

Eureka is on the former Piako Swamp, described in 1876 as deep.^[8] Following the invasion of the Waikato, it was part of the area confiscated from Ngāti Hauā in 1864.^[9][10] Captain William Steele, who brought militia-settlers from Sydney to Hamilton in 1864,^[11] persuaded Thomas Russell and Frederick Whitaker to form a company to buy land and drain it. In 1874 the government sold the 86,502 acres (350.06 km²) Eureka Estate, extending from Te Hoe to Tauwhare, Tamahere, Gordonton and the 35 km (22 mi) confiscation line, to New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Limited.^[10] The sale required 25 mi (40 km) of road to be built over the swamp. Drains were dug up to 3.5 m (11 ft) wide and 3 m (9.8 ft) deep. The expense of drainage contributed to bankruptcy and the sale of small parcels in 1902. The population then increased, so that a school was built in May 1904, a dairy factory in 1905, a hall in 1914 (replaced in January 1969), a post office opened in 1915, a store in 1925 and a garage in 1928. However, by 1981 all the early buildings had gone.^[10]

Eureka covers 30.42 km² (11.75 sq mi).^[4] Eureka is part of the larger Eureka-Tauwhare statistical area.^[12]

Eureka had a population of 543 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 30 people (−5.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 39 people (7.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 264 males and 279 females in 192 dwellings.^[14] 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 111 people (20.4%) aged under 15 years, 96 (17.7%) aged 15 to 29, 270 (49.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 78 (14.4%) aged 65 or older.^[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.2% European (Pākehā), 8.3% Māori, 0.6% Pasifika, 6.6% Asian, and 5.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.3%, Māori language by 2.2%, and other languages by 6.6%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 12.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[5]

Religious affiliations were 23.8% Christian, 1.1% Hindu, 1.1% Māori religious beliefs, 1.7% Buddhist, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 61.9%, and 9.9% of people did not answer the census question.^[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 93 (21.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 264 (61.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 78 (18.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 63 people (14.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 249 (57.6%) people were employed full-time, 75 (17.4%) were part-time, and 6 (1.4%) were unemployed.^[5]

The 2001-13 censuses counted a Eureka area of 122.19 km² (47.18 sq mi). In 2018 Eureka lost the area on the Hamilton border to a new area, Hamilton Park, and was grouped in the Eureka-Tauwhare statistical area, which covers 135.57 km² (52.34 sq mi) and also includes Tauwhare.^[15] Eureka-Tauwhare had an estimated population of 2,260 as of June 2025,^[16] with a population density of 17 people per km².

Eureka-Tauwhare had a population of 2,154 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (0.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 237 people (12.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,065 males, 1,083 females and 3 people of other genders in 699 dwellings.^[19] 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 486 people (22.6%) aged under 15 years, 375 (17.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,035 (48.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 261 (12.1%) aged 65 or older.^[17]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 87.2% European (Pākehā); 13.4% Māori; 1.5% Pasifika; 7.7% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.9%, Māori language by 3.1%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 10.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[17]

Religious affiliations were 28.6% Christian, 1.0% Hindu, 0.6% Islam, 0.7% Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, and 3.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.8%, and 7.4% of people did not answer the census question.^[17]

Of those at least 15 years old, 444 (26.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 924 (55.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 297 (17.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $52,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 282 people (16.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 990 (59.4%) people were employed full-time, 270 (16.2%) were part-time, and 30 (1.8%) were unemployed.^[17]