Waiwera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Waiwera
Waiwera Road
Country	New Zealand
Region	Auckland Region
Ward	Albany ward
Local Board	Hibiscus and Bays Local Board
Electorates	Whangaparāoa Te Tai Tokerau
Area
• Total	0.55 km2 (0.21 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	230
• Density	418/km2 (1,080/sq mi)

Waiwera is a small town in the northern part of the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It is located about 35 km from the Auckland City centre.

Waiwera is 6 km north of Orewa and 6 km south-east of Puhoi. It is also 23 km south-east of Warkworth. The town sits where the Waiwera River meets the sea. Just north of Waiwera, you can find the turn-off to Wenderholm Regional Park. This park is on the other side of the headland, north of the river's mouth.

History of Waiwera

What Does Waiwera Mean?

The name Waiwera comes from the Māori language. It means "Hot Water." The word "Wai" means water, and "Wera" means hot. The full traditional name was Waiwerawera, which was later shortened.

The Famous Hot Springs

Waiwera was well-known for its hot water springs. Māori people visited these springs long before Europeans arrived. They came from places as far away as Thames.

The first European to promote the springs was Robert Graham. He opened a health resort there in 1848. Sadly, this resort was destroyed by fire in 1939.

In the late 1800s, a steam ferry service regularly brought people from Auckland to Waiwera. The main bath house was taken down in 1951. The commercial hot pools closed in 2018.

People of Waiwera

Population and Homes

Waiwera is a rural settlement that covers about 0.55 square kilometres. In 2018, about 240 people lived there. This means there were about 436 people for every square kilometre.

The population has grown over time. In 2006, there were 192 people. By 2013, it grew to 237 people. In 2018, the population was 240, which was a small increase from 2013.

There were 150 households in Waiwera in 2018. There were slightly more males (123) than females (120).

Age and Background

The average age in Waiwera in 2018 was 54.8 years. This is older than the national average of 37.4 years.

• About 8.8% of people were under 15 years old.
• About 8.8% were between 15 and 29 years old.
• About 52.5% were between 30 and 64 years old.
• About 30.0% were 65 years or older.

Most people in Waiwera (86.2%) are European/Pākehā. Other groups include Māori (8.8%), Asian (6.2%), and Pacific peoples (1.2%). Some people identify with more than one ethnic group.

Beliefs and Work

When asked about religion, 42.5% of people said they had no religion. About 35.0% were Christian. Smaller numbers followed other religions, including Māori religious beliefs, Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist faiths.

Many adults in Waiwera have higher education. About 21.9% of people aged 15 and over had a bachelor's degree or higher. About 12.3% had no formal qualifications.

The average income in Waiwera was $30,100. This was a bit lower than the national average of $31,800.

In terms of work, about 41.1% of people aged 15 and over worked full-time. About 13.7% worked part-time, and 4.1% were unemployed.

Images for kids

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  Watercolour of Waiwera around the 1860s by John Hoyte

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  Waiwera in the 1940s

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  Mahurangi Island and Waiwera Beach

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  Waiwera Hot Pools in 2006