Waipā District

Waipa 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
Territorial authority district
Te Kawa from Kakepuku
Te Kawa from Kakepuku
Location of Waipa District
Coordinates: 38°00′37″S 175°19′33″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato
WardsTe Awamutu
Cambridge
Pirongia
Maungatautari
Kakepuku
SeatTe Awamutu
Government
 • MayorSusan O'Regan
 • Territorial authorityWaipa District Council
Area
[1]
 • Land1,470.07 km2 (567.60 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Territorial61,100
Postcode(s)
Map of postcodes
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

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

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

Waipa District covers 1,470.07 km2 (567.60 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 61,100 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 42 people per km2. 21,800 people live in Cambridge and 14,000 in Te Awamutu.

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

Waipa District had a population of 53,241 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 6,573 people (14.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 10,740 people (25.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 19,518 households, comprising 26,067 males and 27,171 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female. The median age was 40.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 10,995 people (20.7%) aged under 15 years, 9,252 (17.4%) aged 15 to 29, 23,535 (44.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 9,456 (17.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 87.7% European/Pākehā, 14.9% Māori, 1.8% Pacific peoples, 4.3% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.6% had no religion, 36.9% were Christian, 0.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 8,175 (19.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 8,130 (19.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 8,256 people (19.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 21,927 (51.9%) people were employed full-time, 6,345 (15.0%) were part-time, and 1,269 (3.0%) were unemployed.[12]

Individual wards
NameArea (km2)PopulationDensity (per km2)HouseholdsMedian ageMedian income
Pirongia Ward439.148,76619.962,99139.2 years$40,500
Cambridge Ward73.6720,472277.897,72842.4 years$34,900
Maungatautari Ward437.264,1919.581,46139.0 years$43,200
Te Awamutu Ward55.2815,891287.465,97340.4 years$30,700
Kakepuku Ward464.723,9188.431,36236.4 years$38,900
New Zealand37.4 years$31,800

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  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. "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
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