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Waitomo District facts for kids

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Waitomo District
Territorial authority
Waitomo Territorial Authority.PNG
Country New Zealand
Region Waikato region
Wards Te Kuiti Ward
Waitomo Rural Ward
Seat Te Kuiti
Area
 • Land 3,534.84 km2 (1,364.81 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)
 • Total 9,720
Time zone UTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)
Map of postcodes
Website waitomo.govt.nz

Waitomo District is a territorial authority, located in the Waikato region, at the north of the King Country area in the North Island of New Zealand. A small part of the district, the locality of Tiroa, however, lies in the Manawatū-Whanganui region.

The District covers the west coast from Te Maika, on Kawhia Harbour, to the north of Taharoa, to Mokau in the south and extends inland to Maniaiti / Benneydale and Mount Pureora.

Industry and tourist attractions

Waitomo Cave Entrance n
A cave entrance. The Waitomo District is known for its limestone caves.

The district is a rural, predominantly dairy farming, region. The area's main industries include sheep farming, forestry, and limestone quarrying. The area is known for the popular Waitomo Caves, a karstic system with stalactites, stalagmites and glowworms 12 kilometres northwest of Te Kuiti. Waitomo also has an old style hotel first built in 1908 and added onto in the 1930s. Waitomo Caves Hotel overlooks Waitomo Village.

Te Anga Road, a windy road from State Highway 3 towards Marokopa, leads past the Waitomo Caves, Mangapohue Natural Bridge, Piripiri Caves, and Marokopa Falls. Numerous other limestone caves are found throughout the Waitomo district.



Demographics

Waitomo District covers 3,534.84 km2 (1,364.81 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 9,720 as of June 2023, with a population density of 2.7 people per km2.

Historical population
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
2006 9,438 —    
2013 8,907 −0.82%
2018 9,303 +0.87%

Waitomo District had a population of 9,303 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 396 people (4.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 135 people (−1.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,384 households. There were 4,695 males and 4,605 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female. The median age was 38.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 2,082 people (22.4%) aged under 15 years, 1,701 (18.3%) aged 15 to 29, 4,071 (43.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,446 (15.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 63.5% European/Pākehā, 44.8% Māori, 3.7% Pacific peoples, 3.7% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 10.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 53.2% had no religion, 31.6% were Christian, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 5.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 783 (10.8%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 1,932 (26.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 684 people (9.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,597 (49.8%) people were employed full-time, 1,263 (17.5%) were part-time, and 282 (3.9%) were unemployed.

Individual wards
Name Area (km2) Population Density (per km2) Households Median age Median income
Waitomo Rural Ward 3,530.06 4,785 1.36 1,800 39.6 years $31,700
Te Kuiti Ward 4.78 4,515 944.56 1,584 36.6 years $24,000
New Zealand 37.4 years $31,800

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Waitomo para niños

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