Waikuku Beach is a small settlement on the coast of Canterbury region of New Zealand, about 3 km east of the settlement of Waikuku.

Waikuku Beach
Rural settlement
Waikuku beach
Coordinates: 43.287°S 172.716°E / -43.287; 172.716
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
Territorial authority	Waimakariri District
Ward	Kaiapoi-Woodend Ward
Area [1]
• Total	1.30 km2 (0.50 sq mi)
Population  (2018)[2]
• Total	912
• Density	700/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode	7402
Area code(s)	03

The sandy beach is popular with surfers and swimmers, and the large estuary of the Ashley River hosts many species of birds.[3] The Waikuku beach has been rated as one of the ten best to learn to surf at.[4]

Demographics

Waikuku Beach is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 1.30 km² (0.50 sq mi).[1] It is part of the wider Waikuku statistical area.[5]

Waikuku Beach had a population of 912 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (1.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 54 people (6.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 342 households. There were 468 males and 444 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female, with 168 people (18.4%) aged under 15 years, 141 (15.5%) aged 15 to 29, 477 (52.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 126 (13.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.4% European/Pākehā, 13.2% Māori, 1.3% Pacific peoples, 1.0% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 62.2% had no religion, 28.3% were Christian, 0.3% were Muslim and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 147 (19.8%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 144 (19.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 402 (54.0%) people were employed full-time, 132 (17.7%) were part-time, and 18 (2.4%) were unemployed.[2]

References