Waitākere, New Zealand
Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Waitākere, often called Waitākere Township or Waitākere Town,[3][4] is a small, mostly rural settlement to the northwest of Auckland, New Zealand.
Waitākere Township | |
|---|---|
| |
 Interactive map of Waitākere Township | |
| Coordinates: 36.850°S 174.543°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Auckland |
| Local authority | Auckland Council |
| Electoral ward | Waitākere ward |
| Local board | Waitākere Ranges Local Board |
| Area | |
| • Land | 1,479 ha (3,650 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 1,830 |
| • Density | 124/km2 (320/sq mi) |
| Train stations | Waitakere railway station |
| Waimauku | Taupaki | Massey |
| Muriwai |
  Waitākere  |
Massey |
| Te Henga / Bethells Beach |
(Waitākere Ranges) | Swanson |
History
The settlement is in the traditional rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki.[5] The many hills of the area were known as Ngā Rau Pou ā Maki, referring to the eponymous ancestor of the tribe.[6]
During the latter 19th century, the King brothers established a flax mill at Waitākere.[7] In 1881, the Waitākere railway station was opened, when the North Auckland Line was extended from New Lynn to Helensville.[8][9]
Waitakere Road had two bridges constructed to bypass the now Township Road making it a dead-end or cul-de-sac.[citation needed]
Demographics
Waitākere covers 14.79 km2 (5.71 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,830 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 124 people per km2.
Waitākere had a population of 1,812 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−0.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 138 people (8.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 906 males, 900 females and 9 people of other genders in 612 dwellings.[12] 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 41.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 360 people (19.9%) aged under 15 years, 282 (15.6%) aged 15 to 29, 933 (51.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 237 (13.1%) aged 65 or older.[11]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.7% European (Pākehā); 14.6% Māori; 7.6% Pasifika; 5.5% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.0%, Māori language by 2.6%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 7.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 22.0% Christian, 1.0% Hindu, 0.7% Islam, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, and 1.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.6%, and 7.6% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 249 (17.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 798 (55.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 306 (21.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $51,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 234 people (16.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 861 (59.3%) people were employed full-time, 216 (14.9%) were part-time, and 33 (2.3%) were unemployed.[11]
Education
Waitakere School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 391 students as at March 2026.[13][14] It was established in 1921.[15]
List of places within Waitakere township
- Waitakere RSA [citation needed]
- Waitakere Dairy & Postshop there was an armed robbery in 2017.[16]
- Waitakere railway station
- Waitakere Township Hall[17]
- Waitakere War Memorial Park [citation needed]
- Waitakere Fire Station [citation needed]
- Waitakere Kindergarten[18]
Notable people
- Arthur "Artie" Campbell Jonkers Artie was a well known figure on the family farm in Waitakere township where he worked tirelessly farming sheep.[19]