Waiotahe (for a time, Waiotahi) is a beach, settlement and rural community in the Ōpōtiki District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, near the mouth and lowermost stretch of the Waiotahe River.
Waiotahi | |
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Town | |
![]() Te Ara Ki Te Rawhiti - The pathway to the sunrise | |
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Coordinates: | |
Country | New Zealand |
Region | Bay of Plenty |
Territorial authority | Ōpōtiki District |
Ward | Waioeka-Waiotahe |
Population (2018) | |
• Total | 1,518 |
Postcode(s) | 3198 |
It includes a beach that attracts swimmers, surfers and anglers during the summer months, and river mouths that people fish from year-round. The beach is more dangerous during low tide due to stronger rips, but has natural hazards in all conditions.[1]
Ōpōtiki District Council has banned vehicles from the mudflats of the Waiotahe estuary and a section of Waiotahe Beach.[2] The council allows vehicles at other beaches, unlike most other New Zealand councils.[3]
The town's official name reverted from Waiotahi back to the original Māori name Waiotahe in August 2015, following a decision by Land Information Minister Louise Upston, upheld by the New Zealand Geographic Board.[4]
In July 2013, a couple in their 60s were attacked and held captive in their Waiotahe home by a former soldier who had spent the previous night sleeping rough near the town hall.[5] The perpetrator fled the scene in their ute and was shot dead by police in Auckland.[6] The couple were hospitalised for injuries to their hands and reported being traumatised by their ordeal.[7]
The first case of Mycoplasma bovis in Bay of Plenty was recorded in a farm in Waiotahe in January 2020.[8]
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
2006 | 1,368 | — |
2013 | 1,368 | +0.00% |
2018 | 1,518 | +2.10% |
Source: [9] |
The statistical area of Waiotahi, which covers 142 square kilometres, had a population of 1,518 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 150 people (11.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 150 people (11.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 603 households. There were 759 males and 756 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female. The median age was 48.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 267 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 225 (14.8%) aged 15 to 29, 690 (45.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 333 (21.9%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 74.5% European/Pākehā, 40.3% Māori, 1.8% Pacific peoples, 3.0% Asian, and 1.2% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).
The proportion of people born overseas was 9.9%, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 53.2% had no religion, 27.7% were Christian, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 9.5% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 204 (16.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 270 (21.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 576 (46.0%) people were employed full-time, 195 (15.6%) were part-time, and 69 (5.5%) were unemployed.[9]
Waiotahe Valley School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[10] with a roll of 106 as of March 2022.[11] The school opened in 1921.[12]
Kayaker Lisa Carrington was raised in the valley and went to the local school, where both of her parents are teachers. She regularly visits the area.[13]
Ōpōtiki District, New Zealand | |
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Seat: Ōpōtiki | |
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