Waitohi
Farming locality in Canterbury, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Waitohi, Waitohi Flat and Upper Waitohi are small farming centres from 5 to 16 km west of Temuka and north of the Opihi river, South Canterbury in New Zealand. They are about 20 km north of Timaru.
Waitohi | |
|---|---|
Richard Pearse monument | |
 Interactive map of Waitohi | |
| Coordinates: 44°13′S 171°11′E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Timaru District |
| Ward | Pleasant Point-Temuka |
| Community | Temuka |
| Electorates |
|
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Timaru District Council |
| • Regional council | Environment Canterbury |
| • Mayor of Timaru | Nigel Bowen[1] |
| • Waitaki MP | Miles Anderson |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris[2] |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 7985 |
| Area code | 03 |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
It is the area where Richard Pearse, a pioneer aviator, lived and farmed. From 1902 to 1904, Richard Pearce built and flew experimental aircraft on his Waitohi farm and managed to achieve powered flight.
Demographics
The Waitohi statistical area includes Winchester and Milford Huts, and surrounds but does not include Temuka. It covers 371.78 km2 (143.55 sq mi)[3] and had an estimated population of 1,820 as of June 2025,[4] with a population density of 4.9 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,602 | — |
| 2013 | 1,737 | +1.16% |
| 2018 | 1,761 | +0.27% |
| Source: [5] | ||
The statistical area had a population of 1,761 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people (1.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 159 people (9.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 696 households, comprising 927 males and 834 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female. The median age was 38.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 366 people (20.8%) aged under 15 years, 318 (18.1%) aged 15 to 29, 828 (47.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 249 (14.1%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 85.2% European/Pākehā, 12.6% Māori, 1.0% Pasifika, 6.5% Asian, and 4.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 16.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.8% had no religion, 35.8% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 186 (13.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 327 (23.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 204 people (14.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 789 (56.6%) people were employed full-time, 213 (15.3%) were part-time, and 33 (2.4%) were unemployed.[5]