Waikare facts for kids

Waikare is a small place in the Northland area of New Zealand. The Waikare River flows from the Russell Forest. It passes by Waikare and then enters the Waikare Inlet. This inlet eventually leads into the famous Bay of Islands.

Most of the people living in Waikare belong to the Te Kapotai hapū (a smaller group within a tribe) and Ngāti Pare iwi (a larger tribe). The name Waikare means "rippling waters" in the Māori language.

People and Population in Waikare

Waikare is part of a special area used for counting people, called an SA1 statistical area. This area covers about 85.80 square kilometers. It is also part of a bigger area known as the Russell Forest-Rawhiti statistical area.

In the 2023 New Zealand census, 213 people lived in this area. This was a good increase of 42 people since the 2018 census. It was an even bigger increase of 60 people since the 2013 census. There were 111 males and 102 females living in 57 homes.

The average age of people in Waikare was 32.6 years. This is younger than the national average of 38.1 years. About 28% of the people were under 15 years old. Around 20% were aged 15 to 29. About 39% were aged 30 to 64, and nearly 13% were 65 or older.

Ethnic Groups and Languages

People in Waikare can identify with more than one ethnic group. About 21% of residents were European (Pākehā). A large number, 93%, identified as Māori. About 7% were Pasifika.

Most people, about 96%, spoke English. A good number, 46.5%, also spoke the Māori language. Only a small number of people, 1.4%, could not speak any language, usually because they were too young. Only a small percentage of people, 1.4%, were born outside New Zealand. This is much lower than the national average of 28.8%.

Religious Beliefs

When it comes to religion, about 37% of people identified as Christian. About 6% followed Māori religious beliefs. Almost 48% said they had no religion. About 10% chose not to answer this question in the census.

Marae: A Special Meeting Place

Waikare is home to the Waikare or Te Tūruki Marae. A Marae is a very important meeting place for Māori people. It includes a special meeting house called Te Huihuinga or Te Aranga o te Pā. This Marae is a gathering spot for the Ngāpuhi hapū of Ngāti Pare and Te Kapotai. It is a place for important events, discussions, and celebrations.

Education in Waikare

The local school is called Te Kura o Waikare, also known as Waikare School. It is a school for both boys and girls. It teaches students from year 1 to year 8, which covers primary school ages.

This school is special because it focuses on the Māori language. Māori is the main language used for teaching. The current school building opened in 2004, replacing an older Waikare School.