Whakakī
Settlement in Hawke's Bay Region, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Whakakī is a settlement east of Wairoa within the Wairoa District and Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island. State Highway 2 runs through it.
Whakakī | |
|---|---|
Settlement | |
 Interactive map of Whakakī | |
| Coordinates: 39.037°S 177.586°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Hawke's Bay Region |
| Territorial authority | Wairoa District |
| Ward |
|
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Wairoa District Council |
| • Mayor of Wairoa | Craig Little[1] |
| • Napier MP | Katie Nimon[2] |
| • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP | Cushla Tangaere-Manuel[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 95.27 km2 (36.78 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[5] | |
• Total | 114 |
| • Density | 1.20/km2 (3.10/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 4196 |
Whakakī Lake, southwest of the settlement, is the largest freshwater lagoon on the east coast of the North Island.[6][7]
Demographics
Whakakī and its surrounds cover 95.27 km2 (36.78 sq mi).[4] It is part of the Whakaki statistical area.[9]
Whakakī had a population of 114 in the 2023 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2018 census, and an increase of 18 people (18.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 60 males and 54 females in 45 dwellings.[11] 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 48.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 18 people (15.8%) aged under 15 years, 21 (18.4%) aged 15 to 29, 48 (42.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 27 (23.7%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 36.8% European (Pākehā), and 73.7% Māori. English was spoken by 97.4%, and Māori by 34.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 2.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 2.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 42.1% Christian, 10.5% Māori religious beliefs, and 2.6% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 42.1%, and 5.3% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (15.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 54 (56.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 30 (31.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $31,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3 people (3.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 42 (43.8%) full-time, 12 (12.5%) part-time, and 9 (9.4%) unemployed.[5]
Whakakī statistical area
Whakakī statistical area, which also includes Tuhara, covers 183.47 km2 (70.84 sq mi)[12] and had an estimated population of 710 as of June 2025,[13] with a population density of 3.9 people per km2.
Whakakī statistical area had a population of 687 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (1.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 15 people (2.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 360 males and 327 females in 228 dwellings.[16] 1.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 43.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 132 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 111 (16.2%) aged 15 to 29, 303 (44.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 144 (21.0%) aged 65 or older.[14]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 41.9% European (Pākehā); 72.5% Māori; 2.6% Pasifika; 0.9% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 0.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.6%, Māori by 24.0%, and other languages by 1.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 3.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[14]
Religious affiliations were 35.8% Christian, 0.9% Islam, 17.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% New Age, and 0.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 38.9%, and 6.1% of people did not answer the census question.[14]
Of those at least 15 years old, 60 (10.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 330 (59.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 159 (28.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $31,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 24 people (4.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 255 (45.9%) full-time, 63 (11.4%) part-time, and 36 (6.5%) unemployed.[14]
Marae
Whakakī is a marae (meeting place) and wharenui (meeting house) for the Ngāi Te Ipu hapu (subtribe) of Ngāti Kahungunu iwi.(tribe).[17]
Education
Whakaki Native School was established in 1912. It was damaged in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake[18] and (as Whakaki Maori School) celebrated its golden jubilee in 1962.[19][20] It closed in 2004.[21]