Waiotahe

Waiotahe (formerly written Waiotahi) is a beach, settlement and rural community in the Ōpōtiki District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, near the mouth and lowermost stretch of the Waiotahe River.

It includes a beach that attracts swimmers, surfers and anglers during the summer months, and river mouths that people fish from year-round. The beach is more dangerous during low tide due to stronger rips, but has natural hazards in all conditions.

Ōpōtiki District Council has banned vehicles from the mudflats of the Waiotahe estuary and a section of Waiotahe Beach. The council allows vehicles at other beaches, unlike most other New Zealand councils.

The town's official name reverted from ''Waiotahi'' back to the original Māori name ''Waiotahe'' in August 2015, following a decision by Land Information Minister Louise Upston, upheld by the New Zealand Geographic Board.

History

In July 2013, a couple in their 60s were attacked and held captive in their Waiotahe home by a former soldier who had spent the previous night sleeping rough near the town hall. The perpetrator fled the scene in their ute and was shot dead by police in Auckland. The couple were hospitalised for injuries to their hands and reported being traumatised by their ordeal.

The first case of '' Mycoplasma bovis'' in the Bay of Plenty was recorded in a farm in Waiotahe in January 2020.

Demographics

Stats NZ describes Waiotahe as a rural settlement, which covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km². The settlement is part of the Waiotahe statistical area.

Waiotahe settlement had a population of 228 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 18 people (−7.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 69 people (43.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 111 males and 114 females in 105 dwellings. 1.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 57.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 27 people (11.8%) aged under 15 years, 18 (7.9%) aged 15 to 29, 114 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (28.9%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 76.3% European (Pākehā), 35.5% Māori, 3.9% Pasifika, 3.9% Asian, and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori by 10.5%, Samoan by 1.3%, and other languages by 3.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 13.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 30.3% Christian, 3.9% Māori religious beliefs, 1.3% Buddhist, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.9%, and 9.2% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 39 (19.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 126 (62.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 39 (19.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 24 people (11.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 84 (41.8%) full-time, 27 (13.4%) part-time, and 3 (1.5%) unemployed.

Waiotahe statistical area

Waiotahe statistical area, which also includes Ōhiwa, covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km².

Waiotahe had a population of 1,602 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 72 people (4.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 234 people (17.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 828 males, 771 females, and 6 people of other genders in 708 dwellings. 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 52.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 252 people (15.7%) aged under 15 years, 204 (12.7%) aged 15 to 29, 723 (45.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 423 (26.4%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 71.2% European (Pākehā); 41.6% Māori; 2.6% Pasifika; 3.2% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.9%, Māori by 11.6%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 4.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 28.5% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 5.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% Buddhist, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.9%, and 7.1% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 228 (16.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 786 (58.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 339 (25.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 111 people (8.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 609 (45.1%) full-time, 189 (14.0%) part-time, and 51 (3.8%) unemployed.

Education

Waiotahe Valley School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of The school opened in 1921.

Notable people

Kayaker Lisa Carrington was raised in the valley and went to the local school, where both of her parents are teachers. She regularly visits the area.

References

{{Ōpōtiki District
Ōpōtiki District
Populated places in the Bay of Plenty Region