Peka Peka
Rural locality in Wellington Region, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Peka Peka, sometimes spelled Pekapeka, is a seaside locality[6] on the Kāpiti Coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is located just off State Highway 1 and the North Island Main Trunk railway between Waikanae and Te Horo.
Peka Peka | |
|---|---|
Peka Peka Beach, looking north | |
 Interactive map of Peka Peka | |
| Coordinates: 40.8327°S 175.0581°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Wellington Region |
| Territorial authority | Kāpiti Coast District |
| Ward | Waikanae Ward |
| Community | Waikanae Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Kāpiti Coast District Council |
| • Regional council | Greater Wellington Regional Council |
| • Kāpiti Coast Mayor | Janet Holborow[1] |
| • Ōtaki MP | Tim Costley[2] |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 10.02 km2 (3.87 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 730 |
| • Density | 73/km2 (190/sq mi) |
Peka Peka was briefly internationally famous when a young emperor penguin, nicknamed Happy Feet,[7] appeared on Peka Peka beach on 21 June 2011.[8] Emperor penguins are usually only found in the Antarctic.[9] It had been 44 years since the species was last spotted in the wild in New Zealand.[10]
Peka Peka Beach is a clothing-optional beach by custom.[11] New Zealand has no official nude beaches, as public nudity is legal on any beach where it is "known to occur".[12]
Demographics
Peka Peka statistical area covers 10.02 km2 (3.87 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 730 as of June 2025, with a population density of 72.85 people per km2.
Peka Peka had a population of 702 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 90 people (14.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 198 people (39.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 345 males and 354 females in 276 dwellings.[15] 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 54.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 81 people (11.5%) aged under 15 years, 72 (10.3%) aged 15 to 29, 330 (47.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 216 (30.8%) aged 65 or older.[13]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.7% European (Pākehā), 7.3% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, 3.4% Asian, and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.3%, Māori by 2.6%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 8.5%. No language could be spoken by 0.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 25.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[13]
Religious affiliations were 26.1% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 1.3% Islam, 1.3% Buddhist, 0.9% New Age, 0.4% Jewish, and 0.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.5%, and 4.7% of people did not answer the census question.[13]
Of those at least 15 years old, 201 (32.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 309 (49.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 99 (15.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 144 people (23.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 264 (42.5%) full-time, 105 (16.9%) part-time, and 6 (1.0%) unemployed.[13]