Waitarere Beach

Waitārere Beach is a small settlement in the Horowhenua District of the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located on the South Taranaki Bight, 14 kilometres northwest of Levin, and 17 kilometres southwest of Foxton, both distances being by road.

Demographics

Waitārere Beach is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km². It is part of the larger Waitārere statistical area.
Waitārere Beach had a population of 960 in the 2023 [New Zealand census], an increase of 219 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 351 people since the 2013 census. There were 477 males, 474 females, and 9 people of other genders in 459 dwellings. 4.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 55.0 years. There were 132 people aged under 15 years, 78 aged 15 to 29, 480 aged 30 to 64, and 273 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.2% European ; 15.3% Māori; 3.1% Pasifika; 0.9% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori by 3.8%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 7.8%. No language could be spoken by 2.2%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 30.6% Christian, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% New Age, 0.3% Jewish, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 59.7%, and 7.2% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 189 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 444 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 198 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $38,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 96 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 357 full-time, 123 part-time, and 18 unemployed.

Waitārere

Waitārere statistical area, which also includes part of Koputaroa, covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km².
Waitārere had a population of 2,463 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 321 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 588 people since the 2013 census. There were 1,233 males, 1,218 females, and 9 people of other genders in 1,035 dwellings. 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 52.7 years. There were 366 people aged under 15 years, 291 aged 15 to 29, 1,164 aged 30 to 64, and 645 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.7% European ; 21.3% Māori; 3.5% Pasifika; 2.8% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 2.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.6%, Māori by 4.9%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 6.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.5%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 30.0% Christian, 0.1% Hindu, 1.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.8%, and 8.4% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 375 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,179 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 543 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $38,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 216 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 954 full-time, 327 part-time, and 45 unemployed.

Climate

Lord of the Rings location

The Waitārere Forest was used as the location of Trollshaw Forest and Osgiliath Wood in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Hydrabad Wreck

The Hydrabad was a Scottish cargo vessel used primarily as a cargo vessel between Australia, England and India, serving for ten shipments before crashing onto Waitārere Beach 600 meters away from the township in 1878 during an intense storm that damaged the ship.
As of 2024 it has been nearly completely buried due to growing dunes. A marker has been rooted to indicate its location.