Riwaka

The settlement's name, Riwaka, is a corruption of the Māori name Riuwaka, which derives from riu meaning bilge or interior, and waka meaning canoe.[8] The name can be interpreted as the hull of the canoe.[9]

The name of the nearby river was officially altered from Riwaka River to Riuwaka River in August 2014,[10] following the Treaty of Waitangi settlements between the Crown and local iwi Ngāti Rārua and Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui.

Riwaka is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 5.49 km² (2.12 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 800 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 146 people per km². It is part of the larger Kaiteriteri-Riwaka statistical area]].

Riwaka Memorial Hall

Riwaka had a population of 765 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 108 people (16.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 135 people (21.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 270 households, comprising 396 males and 372 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female, with 168 people (22.0%) aged under 15 years, 117 (15.3%) aged 15 to 29, 366 (47.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 111 (14.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 92.5% European/Pākehā, 14.1% Māori, 1.6% Pasifika, 2.0% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 66.3% had no religion, 21.2% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.4% were Buddhist and 3.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 96 (16.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 114 (19.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 69 people (11.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 333 (55.8%) people were employed full-time, 96 (16.1%) were part-time, and 12 (2.0%) were unemployed.[11]

Kaiteriteri-Riwaka statistical area

Kaiteriteri-Riwaka statistical area, which also includes Mārahau and Kaiteriteri, covers 28.57 km² (11.03 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,970 as of June 2023,[12] with a population density of 69 people per km².

Historical population for Kaiteriteri-Riwaka

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,464	—
2013	1,539	+0.72%
2018	1,761	+2.73%
Source: [13]

Kaiteriteri-Riwaka had a population of 1,761 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 222 people (14.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 297 people (20.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 591 households, comprising 915 males and 846 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 44.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 297 people (16.9%) aged under 15 years, 273 (15.5%) aged 15 to 29, 888 (50.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 306 (17.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.5% European/Pākehā, 10.4% Māori, 4.9% Pasifika, 1.4% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

St Barnabas Anglican Church, Riwaka

The percentage of people born overseas was 23.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 62.5% had no religion, 26.1% were Christian, 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.5% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 240 (16.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 258 (17.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 162 people (11.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 747 (51.0%) people were employed full-time, 279 (19.1%) were part-time, and 36 (2.5%) were unemployed.[13]

The Saint Barnabas Anglican church is located on Main Road, Riwaka.[14]

Riwaka School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[15][16] with a roll of 177 as of April 2023.[17] The school, opened in 1848, is one of the oldest schools in New Zealand.[9]