Waikuku facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waikuku
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Rural settlement
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Waikuku Methodist Church
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Waimakariri District |
| Ward | Kaiapoi-Woodend Ward |
| Community | Woodend-Sefton Community |
| Electorates |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 1.60 km2 (0.62 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 170 |
| • Density | 106/km2 (275/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode |
7473
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| Area code(s) | 03 |
Waikuku is a small town in the Canterbury area of New Zealand. It is about 28 kilometers north of Christchurch. Waikuku is located on State Highway 1. It sits 11.8 km south of Leithfield and 3 km north of Woodend.
In 1901, 86 people lived in Waikuku. By 2018, the population had grown to 156 people. Many people who live here travel to Christchurch for work each day. It is also a popular spot for holiday homes.
Waikuku used to have a factory that made rope and twine. This business used flax from the local swamps. It closed down in 1987. The nearby sandy beach and pine forests are popular places. People enjoy surfing, swimming, camping, and horse riding there. The large estuary of the Ashley River is home to many different kinds of birds.
Just south of Waikuku, on Preeces Road, you can find the remains of the Kaiapoi Pa. This was an important trading center for the Ngāi Tahu people in the 1700s.
Keeping Roads Safe
The part of State Highway 1 that goes through Waikuku is known for being a busy road. To make it safer, the speed limit in Waikuku town is being lowered. From December 2020, the speed limit changed from 80-100 km/h to 60 km/h. This change helps to reduce the risk of accidents. Local people have asked for bigger road improvements. They hope for an extension of the Christchurch Northern Motorway in the future.
Who Lives in Waikuku?
Waikuku is a rural settlement. It covers an area of 1.60 square kilometers. In 2018, Waikuku had a population of 156 people. This means there were about 98 people living per square kilometer.
The population of Waikuku has been growing.
- In 2006, there were 105 people.
- In 2013, there were 120 people.
- In 2018, there were 156 people.
This shows an increase of 36 people since 2013.
In 2018, there were 54 households in Waikuku. There were 81 males and 75 females. The average age of people living in Waikuku was 46.3 years. About 13.5% of the people were under 15 years old.
Most people in Waikuku are of European or Pākehā background (96.2%). Some people are also Māori (13.5%) or Asian (1.9%).
When asked about religion, 57.7% of people said they had no religion. About 28.8% were Christian. A small number were Buddhist (1.9%) or had other religions (3.8%).
For those aged 15 and older, 13.3% had a university degree or higher. About 17.8% had no formal school qualifications. The average income was $41,400. Most people (57.8%) worked full-time. Some (24.4%) worked part-time, and a few (2.2%) were unemployed.
Learning in Waikuku
Waikuku does not have its own school anymore. It used to have Waikuku School, which taught students from Year 1 to Year 8. This school opened in 1872.
The school grew too big for its old site. In April 2014, it moved to a new location in Pegasus, New Zealand. It was then renamed Pegasus Bay School. The old school site is now a shopping area called Old School Collective.
Today, primary school students in Waikuku go to Pegasus Bay School. Older students, who are in secondary school, go to Kaiapoi High School in Kaiapoi.
