Forest Lakes, Wellington

The statistical area of Forest Lakes covers 34.63 km² (13.37 sq mi),^[3] and also includes an area east of Waitohu. It had an estimated population of 650 as of June 2025, with a population density of 18.77 people per km².

Forest Lakes (Kapiti Coast District) had a population of 621 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 69 people (12.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 132 people (27.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 303 males, 312 females, and 3 people of other genders in 228 dwellings.^[10] 3.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 53.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 105 people (16.9%) aged under 15 years, 75 (12.1%) aged 15 to 29, 285 (45.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 153 (24.6%) aged 65 or older.^[8]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.4% European (Pākehā); 21.3% Māori; 1.4% Pasifika; 3.4% Asian; 1.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 5.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.1%, Māori by 8.2%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 4.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.0%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[8]

Religious affiliations were 28.0% Christian, 0.5% Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.0%, and 11.1% of people did not answer the census question.^[8]

Of those at least 15 years old, 144 (27.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 273 (52.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 96 (18.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 72 people (14.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 219 (42.4%) full-time, 96 (18.6%) part-time, and 18 (3.5%) unemployed.^[8]