Waimana

The Waimana settlement is based around a wide, straight main road, dating back to its heyday before motor vehicles were introduced and goods roads were opened to other towns.[4]

The Waimana-Nukuhou North Memorial Hall was opened on the main road in 1953. A plaque above the fireplace in the hall lists two local men who died in World War I and 17 local men in World War II. A display board near the fireplace names the 12 local men who served in World War I, the 74 local men in served in World War II, and the 36 ex-servicemen who moved to the district after 1945.

A framed bronze plaque was erected at the entrance to the hall in 1964, commemorating "the original pioneers of the Waimana settlement from 2nd Sept 1907 to 28th Sept 1909" with a list of 27 names.[5]

The Waimana Gorge Road was partially closed in early July 2019 after part of the road was blocked by a slip.[6] It was completely closed in early August due to heavy rain.[7] The slip was cleared and the road was fully reopened later that month.[8]

The valley is the rohe (tribal area) of the Tuhoe people. It has several marae:[9]

• Piripari Marae and Tamaikaimoana meeting house, affiliated with Tamakaimoana and Ngāi Tātua, established in 1962
• Pouahinau Marae and Tūranga Pikitoi meeting house, affiliated with Tūranga Pikitoi, established in 1933
• Rāhiri Marae and Rāhiri ō te Rangi meeting house, affiliated with Ngāti Rere, established between 1875 and 1880
• Raroa Marae and Te Poho ō Tānemoeahi meeting house, affiliated with Ko Tamaruarangi, established in 1925
• Tanatana Marae and Te Poho ō Tuhoe meeting house, affiliated with Ngāti Rere, established in 1919
• Tataiāhape Marae and Takutai ō Terangi meeting house, affiliated with Ngāti Raka, established in 1906
• Tauanui Marae and Te Poho ō Tamatea meeting house, affiliated with Whakatāne Hapū, established in 1933
• Tāwhana Marae and Ngā Tau E Maha meeting house, affiliated with Ngā Maihi, established in 1935

In October 2020, the Government committed $508,757 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Tataiāhape Marae, Piripari Marae, Matahi Marae and Tanatana Marae. It also committed $622,833 to upgrade Raroa Marae and two other marae.[10]

Waingarara-Waimana statistical area covers 1,448.07 km² (559.10 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 2,680 as of June 2023,[11] with a population density of 1.9 people per km².

Waingarara-Waimana had a population of 2,361 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 105 people (4.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 165 people (7.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 651 households, comprising 1,185 males and 1,179 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female. The median age was 30.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 711 people (30.1%) aged under 15 years, 450 (19.1%) aged 15 to 29, 951 (40.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 252 (10.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 36.6% European/Pākehā, 75.2% Māori, 4.7% Pacific peoples, 0.8% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 4.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 40.3% had no religion, 23.4% were Christian, 28.7% had Māori religious beliefs and 1.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 222 (13.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 336 (20.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $21,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 108 people (6.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 693 (42.0%) people were employed full-time, 237 (14.4%) were part-time, and 144 (8.7%) were unemployed.[12]