Kiripaka

Kiripaka statistical area covers 72.02 km² (27.81 sq mi)^[5] and had an estimated population of 1,180 as of June 2025,^[6] with a population density of 16.4 people per km².

Kiripaka statistical area had a population of 1,107 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 114 people (11.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 219 people (24.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 519 males and 588 females in 357 dwellings.^[9] 1.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 234 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 156 (14.1%) aged 15 to 29, 528 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 189 (17.1%) aged 65 or older.^[8]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 82.4% European (Pākehā); 25.7% Māori; 3.5% Pasifika; 2.4% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.6%, Māori language by 6.5%, and other languages by 7.0%. No language could be spoken by 0.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 26.0% Christian, 2.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.4%, and 6.5% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 147 (16.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 489 (56.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 177 (20.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 117 people (13.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 417 (47.8%) people were employed full-time, 129 (14.8%) were part-time, and 27 (3.1%) were unemployed.^[8]

A coal mine was opened at Kiripaka in 1893^[10] and produced "first-class steam coal".^[11] A second mine was opened across the river in 1899.^[12] One of the mines closed in late 1904, as it was no longer profitable.^[13] The remaining mine was closed in 1912 in response to miners taking a day off to support the Waihi miners' strike.^[14] The mine reopened at the end of 1914^[15] although coal output didn't begin until August 1915.^[16] After industrial disputes and flooding, the mine closed permanently in June 1921^[17] although fire clay was extracted from 1923^[18] and there was some further coal mining at the end of the decade.^[19]