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Waikuku

Coordinates: 43°17′31″S 172°41′06″E / 43.292°S 172.685°E / -43.292; 172.685
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Waikuku
Rural settlement
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Interactive map of Waikuku
Coordinates: 43°17′31″S 172°41′06″E / 43.292°S 172.685°E / -43.292; 172.685
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury
Territorial authorityWaimakariri District
WardKaiapoi-Woodend Ward
CommunityWoodend-Sefton Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityWaimakariri District Council
 • Regional councilEnvironment Canterbury
 • Mayor of WaimakaririDan Gordon[1]
 • Waimakariri MPMatt Doocey[2]
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
1.60 km2 (0.62 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)[5]
 • Total
160
 • Density100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
7473
Area code03

Waikuku is a small town in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, which sits 28 km north of central Christchurch. Waikuku lies 11.8 km (7.3 mi) south of Leithfield on state highway 1 and 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Woodend. In 1901 there were 86 people resident in Waikuku according to that year's census.[6] Waikuku settlement had a population of 156 people at the time of the 2018 Census.[7] It is popular with both those that commute into work in Christchurch each day and with owners of holiday houses.[8][9] Waikuku was home to rope and twine works. This business started off using flax from local swamps. It closed in 1987.[6][8] The nearby sandy beach and pine forests are popular with surfers, swimmers, campers and horse-riders, and the large estuary of the Ashley River hosts many species of birds.[10]

Just south of Waikuku, on Preeces Road, are the remains of the Kaiapoi Pa, an important trading centre for Ngāi Tahu in the 18th century.

Road safety

The section of State Highway 1 that runs through the middle of Waikuku has been described as "one of the most notorious roads in Canterbury" by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency noting that "In the ten years from 2009 to 2018, six people were killed and 33 were seriously injured in crashes" on State Highway in North Canterbury.[11] As a result, the speed limit through the Waikuku township is being reduced from between 80 km/h and 100 km/h to 60 km/h from December 2020.[11] This has led to frustration as the North Canterbury community have been requesting the road to be upgraded to the proposed but unfunded extension of the Christchurch Northern motorway (including the Woodend Bypass).[12]

Demographics

Waikuku is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement and covers 1.60 km2 (0.62 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 160 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 100 people per km2. Waikuku is part of the larger Waikuku statistical area.[13]

Historical population for Waikuku settlement
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006105—    
2013120+1.93%
2018156+5.39%
2023150−0.78%
Source: [14][7]

Waikuku had a population of 150 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−3.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 30 people (25.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 75 males, 69 females, and 3 people of other genders in 54 dwellings.[15] 2.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 51.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 21 people (14.0%) aged under 15 years, 24 (16.0%) aged 15 to 29, 78 (52.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 27 (18.0%) aged 65 or older.[14]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 94.0% European (Pākehā), 8.0% Māori, 4.0% Pasifika, 4.0% Asian, and 4.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.0%, Māori by 2.0%, and other languages by 4.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 16.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[14]

Religious affiliations were 32.0% Christian, 2.0% Buddhist, 4.0% New Age, and 2.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.0%, and 6.0% of people did not answer the census question.[14]

Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (16.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 78 (60.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 30 (23.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $43,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 15 people (11.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 66 (51.2%) full-time, 21 (16.3%) part-time, and 3 (2.3%) unemployed.[14]

Waikuku statistical area

Waikuku statistical areas, which also include Waikuku Beach and Ravenswood, covers 28.74 km2 (11.10 sq mi).[16] It had an estimated population of 3,660 as of June 2025,[17] with a population density of 127.3 people per km2.

Historical populations for Waikuku statistical areas
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,413—    
20131,455+0.42%
20181,632+2.32%
20232,847+11.77%
Source: [18][19]

The statistical areas had a population of 2,847 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,215 people (74.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 1,392 people (95.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,410 males, 1,422 females, and 15 people of other genders in 1,077 dwellings.[20] 3.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 588 people (20.7%) aged under 15 years, 522 (18.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,365 (47.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 378 (13.3%) aged 65 or older.[18]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.2% European (Pākehā); 11.7% Māori; 2.0% Pasifika; 7.4% Asian; 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.6%, Māori by 2.2%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 10.7%. No language could be spoken by 2.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 22.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.[18]

Religious affiliations were 27.6% Christian, 0.8% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 0.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.9% New Age, and 2.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 59.3%, and 7.5% of people did not answer the census question.[18]

Of those at least 15 years old, 504 (22.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,317 (58.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 438 (19.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 219 people (9.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,278 (56.6%) full-time, 321 (14.2%) part-time, and 57 (2.5%) unemployed.[18]

Individual statistical areas
Name Area
(km2)		 Population Density
(per km2)		 Dwellings Median age Median
income
Waikuku 25.47 624 24 234 45.4 years $41,300[21]
Ravenswood 1.75 1,152 658 435 31.0 years $54,100[22]
Waikuku Beach 1.52 1,071 705 408 44.4 years $41,600[23]
New Zealand 38.1 years $41,500

Education

Waikuku presently has no schools. The town previously had one full primary (Year 1–8) school, Waikuku School, which opened in 1873.[24] The school outgrew its site in the late 2000s and early 2010s, and in April 2014 was relocated to a new site in Pegasus, New Zealand and renamed Pegasus Bay School. The site is now used as an outdoor shopping mall called Old School Collective.[25]

Primary school students today are zoned for Pegasus Bay School; secondary school students are zoned for Kaiapoi High School in Kaiapoi.

References

  1. ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Waimakariri - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Waikuku | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7024062.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Kaiapoi district". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  9. ↑ Barclay, Chris (9 November 2020). "Buyers snap up quintessential Canterbury baches". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  10. ↑ "Ashley-Rakahuri". Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group. Retrieved 12 April 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (20 November 2020). "Safer Speed Limits For SH1 Waikuku To Lineside Road, North Canterbury". www.scoop.co.nz.
  12. ↑ "'Notorious' road validates community fight for four-lane motorway – MP". Otago Daily Times. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Urban Rural Areas – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Waikuku (2097). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  15. ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  16. ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Waikuku (314701), Ravenswood (314702) and Waikuku Beach (314703). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  19. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Waikuku (314700). 2018 Census place summary: Waikuku
  20. ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  21. ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Waikuku. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  22. ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Ravenswood. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  23. ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Waikuku Beach. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  24. ↑ "Celebrating 140 Years" (PDF). Waikuku School. p. 14. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  25. ↑ "Cafe Chat: Waikuku's Old School Collective Office Cafe open to the public". Stuff. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2020.

Bibliography

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This page contains text imported from the English Wikipedia (source revision 1377160953). Its authors are credited under CC BY-SA 4.0: see the attribution record.