Waikaretu
Waikāretu
Hamlet
Waikapakapa Stream waterfall, Waikaretu
Waikapakapa Stream waterfall, Waikaretu
Coordinates: 37°32′28″S 174°49′45″E / 37.54120°S 174.82918°E / -37.54120; 174.82918
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato
DistrictWaikato District
WardOnewhero-Te Akau Ward
CommunityOnewhero-Tuakau Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityWaikato District Council
 • Regional councilWaikato Regional Council
Area
[1]
 • Total133.47 km2 (51.53 sq mi)
Population
 (2018)[2]
 • Total141
 • Density1.1/km2 (2.7/sq mi)
Waikaretu Hall

Waikaretu (Māori: Waikāretu) is a rural community and caving area in the Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located 49 kilometres south-west of Tuakau.[3]

The area features the 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) long Nikau Cave, which has limestone pillars, stalactites and stalagmites.[3] Ninety minute guided tours are available, which are often wet and muddy.[4] There is a visitor cafe, and there are several accommodation options nearby.[5] A British analysis of TripAdvisor reviews in 2020 identified the cave as one of New Zealand's best secret tourist spots.[6][7]

A local farmstay also provides guided horse treks.[8]

Waikāretu translates as "waters of the kāretu grass"; wai means water; and kāretu is a sweet-scented grass.[9]

History

20th century

The current Waikaretu settlement was established with the opening of a local school in 1924.[10]

The Waikaretu War Memorial Hall was built in 1952. It has no Roll of Honour, but includes a plaque commemorating those who served in both World War I and World War II.[11]

Philip and Anne Woodward moved to the area in 1976, purchasing a 204 hectare sheep and dairy farm that included Nikau Cave. They opened the cave to the public in 1994, after their farming lease on a neighbouring 242 hectare block ended and they could no longer make enough money from farming and shearing services.[7][12]

21st century

By the 2010s the area featured several dairy farms, including the third-generation Whitford farm.[13]

In 2016, the Overseas Investment Office granted a Chinese company, Weihai Station, approval to buy 595 hectares of coastal land.[14] Part of the land will be used for a lodge and training facility, with the rest continuing to operate as a sheep and beef farm.[15] The company gave Waikaretu School $25,000 in grants between 2016 and 2020.[16]

Also in 2016, a secretive group began tunneling into the side of road searching for the skeletons of a mythical race of pre-Polynesian giants.[17] They called off the search in February 2020, after iwi, academics and the landowner raised concerns about the dig.[18]

Demographics

Waikaretu is in an SA1 statistical area which covers 133.47 km2 (51.53 sq mi).[1] The SA1 area is part of the larger Port Waikato-Waikaretu statistical area.[19]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006111—    
2013129+2.17%
2018141+1.79%
Source: [2]

Waikaretu had a population of 141 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (9.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 30 people (27.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 51 households, comprising 69 males and 72 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female. The median age was 35.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 33 people (23.4%) aged under 15 years, 24 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 75 (53.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 9 (6.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 57.4% European/Pākehā, 48.9% Māori, 2.1% Pacific peoples, 2.1% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 66.0% had no religion, 25.5% were Christian, 2.1% had Māori religious beliefs and 2.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (11.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 33 (30.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 12 people (11.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 63 (58.3%) people were employed full-time, 12 (11.1%) were part-time, and 6 (5.6%) were unemployed.[2]

Education

Waikaretu School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[20][21] with a roll of 32 as of April 2023.[22]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7011061.
  3. 1 2 Swarbrick, Nancy (11 June 2015). "Waikato places". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  4. ↑ Ell, Sarah (2 September 2017). "Into the deep caves". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Weekend Magazine.
  5. ↑ "Nikau Cave and Cafe". nikaucave.co.nz. Nikau Cave & Cafe – New Zealand Glowworm Cave.
  6. ↑ "Tourist data points to little-known island in Hauraki Gulf as New Zealand's top hidden gem". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. The New Zealand Herald. 9 January 2020.
  7. 1 2 Sabin, Brook (8 January 2020). "New Zealand's best secret spots revealed". Stuff. Stuff Travel.
  8. ↑ "Wild west weekend in Waikaretu Valley". Australian Provincial Newspapers. The New Zealand Herald. 15 June 2003.
  9. ↑ "Waikaretu". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  10. ↑ Blomfield, Bruce (1999). Waikaretu Celebrates 75 Years. Waikaretu.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ↑ "Waikāretu war memorial hall". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 17 February 2017.
  12. ↑ "An underground fantasyland". Stuff. Stuff Travel. 5 January 2017.
  13. ↑ Chivers, Luke (25 January 2019). "Sheep farming: it's in our nature". Global HQ. Farmers Weekly.
  14. ↑ Anthony, John (6 January 2016). "Chinese company Weihai Station to buy large farm west of Auckland". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  15. ↑ Reid, Catherin. "Case 201420087 – Weihai Station Limited". linz.govt.nz. Land Information New Zealand.
  16. ↑ "School Charter – Waikaretu School" (PDF). waikaretu.school.nz. Waikaretu School.
  17. ↑ Strongman, Susan (14 February 2020). "Concerns over secret search for giants' bones near Huntly". Radio New Zealand. rnz.co.nz.
  18. ↑ Strongman, Susan (17 February 2020). "Giant skeleton searchers call off dig". Radio New Zealand. rnz.co.nz.
  19. ↑ 2018 Census place summary: Port Waikato-Waikaretu
  20. ↑ "Official School Website". waikaretu.school.nz.
  21. ↑ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  22. ↑ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.

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