Wainui facts for kids

	Wainui

Wainui is a small place located in the Rodney Ward. This area is part of the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) northeast of Waitoki. Wainui is also 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of Orewa. The Wainui Stream flows through the area. It goes southwest and joins the Kaukapakapa River.

What Does Wainui Mean?

Wainui is a Māori word. It means 'big river'.

The area was once called Parakakau. This name was used for the forested areas near the upper Weiti River. This was back in the mid-1800s. The name Wainui comes from the Wainui Creek. This creek is a branch of the Waiwera River. It is located northeast along Weranui Road.

A Look Back at Wainui's History

Early Settlers and Land Use

People started settling in Wainui soon after 1841. This was when the New Zealand government bought the land. In the mid-1800s, people who dug for kauri gum often visited the area. Around 1850, families from England, Scotland, and Ireland settled here. These included the Hutson, Thick, King, Lloyd, and Jacobs families.

When early settlers arrived, they found lots of mānuka and fern plants. There were also large kauri forests. People made a living by cutting timber and digging for kauri gum. Around 1860, families began clearing land for farming. A famous New Zealand explorer, Charles Heaphy, owned much of the land. In 1862, he sold 104 acres to William Lamont, who made bricks.

Community Buildings and Growth

In 1867, the Wainui Presbyterian Church was built. It was the first public building in Wainui. The church quickly became a central meeting place. School lessons first started in homes around 1860. The official Wainui School was built in 1879. In 1894, a famous cartoonist named Trevor Lloyd married Emily Lamont at the church. She was William Lamont's daughter.

Wainui was mostly a farming area for a long time. In the 1960s, the local council allowed land to be divided. This created smaller plots for people to live on, known as lifestyle blocks.

Who Lives in Wainui?

The Wainui-Waiwera area covers about 62.24 square kilometers. As of 2023, about 1,686 people live here. This means there are about 27 people per square kilometer.

The population has been growing.

• In 2006, there were 1,326 people.
• In 2013, there were 1,323 people.
• In 2018, there were 1,557 people.
• In 2023, there were 1,686 people.

In 2023, there were 828 males and 852 females. The average age was 48.7 years old.

• About 14.6% of people were under 15 years old.
• About 16.5% were between 15 and 29 years old.
• About 48.4% were between 30 and 64 years old.
• About 20.6% were 65 years or older.

Most people in Wainui are European (92.5%). Some people also identify as Māori (9.4%). Other groups include Asian (4.1%) and Pasifika (1.6%). English is spoken by most people (98.0%).

Many people in Wainui have no religious beliefs (58.0%). About 33.5% identify as Christian.

Many adults in Wainui have a good education. About 20.2% have a university degree or higher. The average income in Wainui was $44,100. About 50.0% of people aged 15 and over work full-time.

Learning at Wainui School

Wainui School is a school for children in years 1 to 8. This means it teaches students from about age 5 to 13. As of 2024, the school has about 223 students.

The school first opened in 1879. In 2004, it celebrated its 125th anniversary.