Port Waikato
Town
A view overlooking the Port Waikato township. The Waikato river is visible in the background with forestry on the opposite bank.
A view overlooking the Port Waikato township
Nickname: 
The Port
Coordinates: 37°23′24″S 174°43′44″E / 37.390°S 174.729°E / -37.390; 174.729
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato
DistrictWaikato District
WardOnewhero-Te Akau Ward
CommunityOnewhero-Tuakau Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityWaikato District Council
 • Regional councilWaikato Regional Council
Area
[1]
 • Total3.78 km2 (1.46 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total600
 • Density160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Aerial view of Port Waikato

Port Waikato is a New Zealand town that sits on the south bank of the Waikato River, at its outflow into the Tasman Sea, in the northern Waikato.[3]

Port Waikato is a well-known surfing and whitebaiting destination and a popular holiday spot. Fish can be caught off the rocks and surf beach, and off the sand dunes that border the river mouth. Flounder and mullet are also plentiful using drag nets. Port Waikato is a location where sedimentary rock formations of 65–85 million years' antiquity are found,[4] and a Jurassic-period dinosaur fossil was found there.[5] Weathertop footage from the Lord of the Rings was filmed in limestone outcrops just south of the town.

The Port has a Wharf Store, established 1893, a take-away shop, café, campground, library, community hall, fire station, surf lifesaving club, yachting club and an active fishing club.[3] A school camp was established near the town in the 1920s, which boasts a well-formed BMX track. Port Waikato also serves as a popular wedding destination.[6]

History

Port Waikato was an important port during the New Zealand Wars of the 19th century.[7] It was the first of the colonial settlements to be constructed after the wars, being started in 1863. It had until then been called Putataka,[8] but soon the present name was in general use.[7] The Māori name remains for the 354 m (1,161 ft) hill above the town.[9]

For many years Port Waikato was the transhipment point between ships of the Northern Steamship Co and the river steamers of the Waikato Shipping Co, run by Caesar Roose.[10] The frequency increased to twice a week in 1924.[11] At the same time a Cambridge to Port Waikato excursion was being run two or three times a year, taking 12 to 14 hours downstream and a few hours longer upstream.[12] Now the only public transport is a morning and afternoon bus from Pukekohe on Thursdays.[13]

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Port Waikato as a rural settlement, which covers 3.78 km2 (1.46 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 600 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 159 people per km2. Port Waikato is part of the larger Port Waikato-Waikaretu statistical area.

Historical population for Port Waikato settlement
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006486—    
2013471−0.45%
2018528+2.31%
Source: [14]

Port Waikato had a population of 528 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 57 people (12.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 42 people (8.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 219 households, comprising 261 males and 261 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female, with 84 people (15.9%) aged under 15 years, 90 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 255 (48.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 96 (18.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 74.4% European/Pākehā, 35.2% Māori, 4.5% Pacific peoples, 1.7% Asian, and 3.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.5% had no religion, 26.1% were Christian, 2.8% had Māori religious beliefs and 2.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 66 (14.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 123 (27.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 48 people (10.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 204 (45.9%) people were employed full-time, 57 (12.8%) were part-time, and 24 (5.4%) were unemployed.[14]

Port Waikato-Waikaretu statistical area

Port Waikato-Waikaretu statistical area, which also includes Waikaretu, covers 210.14 km2 (81.14 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 890 as of June 2023,[15] with a population density of 4.2 people per km2.

Historical population for the statistical area
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006729—    
2013732+0.06%
2018783+1.36%
Source: [16]

Port Waikato-Waikaretu had a population of 783 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 51 people (7.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 54 people (7.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 330 households, comprising 384 males and 396 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. The median age was 46.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 144 people (18.4%) aged under 15 years, 120 (15.3%) aged 15 to 29, 384 (49.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 132 (16.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 69.3% European/Pākehā, 39.8% Māori, 3.8% Pacific peoples, 1.9% Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 9.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.6% had no religion, 29.1% were Christian, 1.9% had Māori religious beliefs and 1.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 87 (13.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 186 (29.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 72 people (11.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 309 (48.4%) people were employed full-time, 78 (12.2%) were part-time, and 27 (4.2%) were unemployed.[16]

Marae

The local Ōraeroa Marae and its Whareroa meeting house is meeting place for the Waikato Tainui hapū of Ngāti Tāhinga and Ngāti Tiipa.[17][18]

Education

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Puaha o Waikato is a co-educational state Māori immersion primary school,[19] with a roll of 41 as of April 2023.[20]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Port Waikato.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. 1 2 "Port Waikato". www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Kiwi fossil hunter's very big find". The New Zealand Herald. 24 June 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "Dinosaur hunter: Joan Wiffen". Stuff.co.nz. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  6. ↑ "Port Waikato School Camp". Port Waikato School Camp. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Port Waikato". New Zealand Herald. 9 December 1863. p. 3. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "Waikato". Otago Daily Times. 19 January 1864. p. 6. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  9. ↑ "Putataka, Waikato - NZ Topo Map". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Page 1 Advertisements Column 4". Waikato Times. 27 September 1916. p. 1. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "Waikato River Trade". New Zealand Herald. 31 March 1926. p. 12. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  12. ↑ Scenic River Trip - New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18947, 19 February 1925, Page 9
  13. ↑ "Southern Bus Timetable" (PDF). AT. 26 August 2018.
  14. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7011054–7011057.
  15. ↑ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  16. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Port Waikato-Waikaretu (170400). 2018 Census place summary: Port Waikato-Waikaretu
  17. ↑ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  18. ↑ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  19. ↑ Education Counts: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Puaha o Waikato
  20. ↑ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
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