Waikawa Beach
{{Short description|Settlement in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Waikawa Beach
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| settlement_type = Rural settlement
| image_skyline = Waikawa beach.jpg
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| image_caption = Sand dunes at Waikawa beach
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| image_map = {{infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|-40.688|175.149}}|zoom=10}}
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| pushpin_label_position = bottom
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| coordinates = {{coord|-40.688|175.149|display=inline,title}}
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = New Zealand
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = Manawatū-Whanganui region
| subdivision_type2 = Territorial authority
| subdivision_name2 = Horowhenua District
| subdivision_type3 = Wards
| subdivision_name3 = {{ubl|Waiopehu General Ward|Horowhenua Māori Ward}}
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| seat_type = Electorates
| seat = {{ubl|Ōtaki|Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)}}
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| leader_title = Territorial Authority
| leader_name = Horowhenua District Council
| leader_title1 = Regional council
| leader_name1 = Horizons Regional Council
| leader_title2 = Horowhenua Mayor
| leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Horowhenua District Mayor|y}}
| leader_title3 = Ōtaki MP
| leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Ōtaki MP|y}}
| leader_title4 = Te Tai Hauāuru MP
| leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Hauāuru MP|y}}
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| area_total_km2 = 1.50
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| population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}}
| population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|Waikawa Beach|y}}
| population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}
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Waikawa 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 at the mouth of Waikawa Stream, 7.5 kilometres northwest of Manakau, and 19 kilometres southwest of Levin, both distances being by road.
Hank Edwards Reserve is a small park adjacent to a footpath over Waikawa Stream.{{cite web|url=https://www.horowhenua.govt.nz/Places-Events/Parks-Reserves-Recreation/Hank-Edwards-Reserve-and-Waikawa-Beach-Foreshore-Waikawa-Beach|title=Hank Edwards Reserve and Waikawa Beach Foreshore, Waikawa Beach|publisher=Horowhenua District Council|accessdate=7 May 2021}}
In Hank Edwards Reserve is a defibrillator (AED) on the street-facing wall of the facilities block. The toilet block was originally built in the late 1960s. In 2022 it was extensively remodelled at a cost of at least $369,687 plus GST.{{cite web |title=LGOIMA reference – 2022/839 (555 KB PDF) |url=https://www.horowhenua.govt.nz/files/assets/public/lgoima-responses/environmentparksreserves/hdc-lgoima-response-30-march-2022-waikawa-beaches-new-toilets-and-changing-shed-at-hank-edwards-reserve.pdf |publisher=Horowhenua District Council |access-date=30 May 2023}} The Facilities Block now offers two accessible toilets, a family changing room, and storage for use by the Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association. There are also outdoor showers, a gas barbecue and picnic tables under cover, and drinking fountain.{{cite web |title=Plans for new toilet block at Hank Edwards Reserve |url=https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2021/plans-for-new-toilet-block-at-hank-edwards-reserve |publisher=Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association |access-date=30 May 2023}}{{cite web |title=Documentary photos of the 'old' toilet block |url=https://waikawabeach.org.nz/2022/documentary-photos-of-the-old-toilet-block |publisher=Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association |access-date=30 May 2023}}
On Monday 13 October 2008 a concrete boat ramp was laid next to the footbridge by volunteers from the community. The ramp is suitable for kayaks and small boats.{{cite web|url=https://waikawabeach.org.nz/about/boat-ramp/|title=About the Boat Ramp|publisher=Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association|accessdate=30 May 2023}}
Erosion near the stream mouth has been a problem since the 1930s and particularly from February 2018.{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/105458436/waikawa-beach-residents-cut-off-from-beach-since-february?rm=a|title=Waikawa Beach residents cut off from beach since February as councils pass buck|newspaper=Manawatū Standard|date=14 July 2018|first=Karoline|last=Tuckey}}{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/113334621/waikawa-beach-erosion-solutions-at-least-two-years-away|title=Waikawa Beach erosion solutions at least two years away|publisher=Stuff|date=8 June 2019|first=Jono|last=Galuszka}}
Bird Life
Waikawa Beach includes rural landscape, river, beach, wetlands and a couple of small freshwater lakes, Waimarie and Te Puna a te Ora. This allows for a wealth of birdlife including gulls, terns, dotterels, herons, shovelers, spoonbills, the Nationally Critical bittern, shags, godwits and dozens of other species.
Demographics
Waikawa Beach is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers {{Convert|1.50|km2||abbr=on}}. It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Waikawa Beach|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Waikawa Beach|y}}|R}}/1.50|0}} people per km2. It is part of the larger Waikawa statistical area.
{{Historical populations|2006|114|2013|102|2018|132|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Waikawa Beach|source=}}
Waikawa Beach had a population of 132 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (29.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 18 people (15.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 66 households, comprising 66 males and 63 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female. The median age was 56.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 12 people (9.1%) aged under 15 years, 6 (4.5%) aged 15 to 29, 78 (59.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 36 (27.3%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 88.6% European/Pākehā, 15.9% Māori, and 2.3% Pasifika. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.3% had no religion, 29.5% were Christian and 6.8% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (20.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 24 (20.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 21 people (17.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 45 (37.5%) people were employed full-time, 27 (22.5%) were part-time, and 6 (5.0%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|7018988}}
=Waikawa=
Waikawa statistical area, which also includes Hokio Beach, covers {{Convert|62.16|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=28 January 2024|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Waikawa (Horowhenua district)|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Waikawa (Horowhenua district)|y}}|R}}/62.16|0}} people per km2.
{{Historical populations|2006|756|2013|738|2018|750|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Waikawa statistical area|source=}}
The statistical area had a population of 750 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (1.6%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 6 people (−0.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 321 households, comprising 378 males and 369 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female. The median age was 51.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 90 people (12.0%) aged under 15 years, 114 (15.2%) aged 15 to 29, 390 (52.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 159 (21.2%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 84.8% European/Pākehā, 23.2% Māori, 3.2% Pasifika, 1.6% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 12.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.4% had no religion, 28.8% were Christian, 0.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.8% were Buddhist and 3.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 93 (14.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 141 (21.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 72 people (10.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 294 (44.5%) people were employed full-time, 114 (17.3%) were part-time, and 36 (5.5%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|Waikawa (Horowhenua District) (234500)|waikawa-horowhenua-district|Waikawa (Horowhenua District)}}