Waiau, Bay of Plenty

Waiau covers 36.09 km² (13.93 sq mi)^[5] and had an estimated population of 330 as of June 2025,^[6] with a population density of 9.1 people per km².

Waiau had a population of 330 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 3 people (−0.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 3 people (0.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 174 males and 153 females in 108 dwellings.^[12] 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 52.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 45 people (13.6%) aged under 15 years, 51 (15.5%) aged 15 to 29, 150 (45.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 84 (25.5%) aged 65 or older.^[10]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 79.1% European (Pākehā), 31.8% Māori, 6.4% Pasifika, 0.9% Asian, and 0.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 99.1%, Māori by 8.2%, and other languages by 5.5%. No language could be spoken by 0.9% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 14.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[10]

Religious affiliations were 24.5% Christian, 3.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.9%, and 10.0% of people did not answer the census question.^[10]

Of those at least 15 years old, 36 (12.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 159 (55.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 84 (29.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $29,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 21 people (7.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 129 (45.3%) full-time, 42 (14.7%) part-time, and 15 (5.3%) unemployed.^[10]