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
Town
Te Ara Ki Te Rawhiti - The pathway to the sunrise
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]

History

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]

Demographics

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]

Education

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]

Notable people

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]

References