Waipa District (or Waipā District) is a municipality in the Waikato region of New Zealand that is administered by the Waipa District Council. Its most populous town is Cambridge. The seat of the council is at the second most populous town, Te Awamutu. The district is south and south-east of the city of Hamilton. It has five wards: Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Pirongia, Maungatautari and Kakepuku.

Waipa District
Te Kawa from Kakepuku
Te Kawa from Kakepuku
Waipā district within the North Island
Waipā district within the North Island
Coordinates: 38°00′37″S 175°19′33″E / 38.010278°S 175.325833°E / -38.010278; 175.325833
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato
WardsTe Awamutu-Kihikihi
Cambridge
Pirongia-Kakepuku
Maungatautari
Waipā (Māori)
SeatTe Awamutu
Government
 • MayorSusan O'Regan
 • Territorial authorityWaipa District Council
Area
 • Land1,470.08 km2 (567.60 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Territorial
62,700
Postcode(s)
Area code07
WebsiteWaipa District Council

Although the official name remains Waipa District,[3] the council sought in 2020 a simpler means of changing to Waipā District, which is the orthographic form it uses.[4]

History

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The District was formed from Waipa County Council and its town boroughs in 1989.[5] The county boundaries have varied since five ridings were formed in Waipa county in 1876: Newcastle, Hamilton, Mangapiko North and South,[6] Rangiaowhia,[7] and Pukekura.[8] In 1902, it covered 282 sq mi (730 km2) and had an additional riding, Tuhikaramea.[9]

In 1923, Waipa County covered 429 sq mi (1,110 km2) and had a population of 9,275, with 283 mi (455 km) of gravel roads, 506 mi (814 km) of mud roads and 153 mi (246 km) of tracks.[10]

Geography

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The Waikato River forms much of the eastern boundary of the district, before it flows north-westward through the district, past Cambridge. The Waipā River, the Waikato River's main tributary, flows northwards through the western part of the district;[11] the two rivers meet outside the district. The highest mountains are Mount Pirongia in the west and Maungatautari in the east.

The region's economy is based largely on dairy farming and cereal production. The southeastern corner of the district includes the hydroelectric project at Karapiro.

Demographics

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Waipā District covers 1,470.08 km2 (567.60 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 62,700 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 43 people per km2. 22,500 people live in Cambridge and 14,150 in Te Awamutu.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200642,501—    
201346,668+1.35%
201853,241+2.67%
202358,686+1.97%
Source: [12][13]

Waipa District had a population of 58,686 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 5,445 people (10.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 12,018 people (25.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 28,620 males, 29,886 females and 177 people of other genders in 21,795 dwellings.[14] 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 11,751 people (20.0%) aged under 15 years, 9,651 (16.4%) aged 15 to 29, 25,896 (44.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 11,388 (19.4%) aged 65 or older.[13]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.5% European (Pākehā); 15.9% Māori; 2.3% Pasifika; 6.1% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.2%, Māori language by 3.4%, Samoan by 0.2% and other languages by 8.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 19.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 32.2% Christian, 0.9% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 0.8% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.7%, and 7.8% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 7,965 (17.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 25,443 (54.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 10,878 (23.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6,432 people (13.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 24,564 (52.3%) people were employed full-time, 6,645 (14.2%) were part-time, and 891 (1.9%) were unemployed.[13]

 
Population density in the 2023 census
Individual wards
Name Area
(km2)
Population Density
(per km2)
Dwellings Median age Median
income
Pirongia-Kakepuku General Ward 860.64 12,549 14.6 4,386 39.7 years $50,500[15]
Cambridge General Ward 83.33 23,556 282.7 9,009 43.2 years $43,600[16]
Maungatautari General Ward 471.96 5,229 11.1 1,869 40.7 years $52,200[17]
Te Awamutu-Kihikihi General Ward 54.15 17,352 320.4 6,534 39.0 years $41,800[18]
New Zealand 38.1 years $41,500

References

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  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "NZGB Gazetteer". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Waipā wins support for te reo - Waipa District Council". www.waipadc.govt.nz. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Te Awamutu Borough Council". thecommunityarchive.org.nz. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Counties ridings". The New Zealand Herald. 27 November 1876. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Rangiaohia". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. 1902. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Pukekura". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. 1902. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Te Awamutu". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. 1902. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  10. ^ "KAWHIA SETTLER AND RAGLAN ADVERTISER Main Highways - Conference at Hamilton". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 August 1923. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Waipā River, Waikato". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Waipa District (017). 2018 Census place summary: Waipa District
  13. ^ a b c "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Waipa District (017). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Pirongia-Kakepuku General Ward. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Cambridge General Ward. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Maungatautari General Ward. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Te Awamutu-Kihikihi General Ward. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
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