Wairakei#Geothermal field

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Wairakei

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| settlement_type = Rural locality

| image_skyline = Craters of the Moon.JPG

| image_alt =

| image_caption = The Craters of the Moon, a steamfield close by, created by the use of geothermal energy changing the underground pressure situation.

| etymology =

| nickname =

| image_map = {{Infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|-38.619|176.103}}|zoom=9}}

| pushpin_map =

| pushpin_map_caption =

| coordinates = {{coord|-38.619|176.103 |type:landmark_region:NZ|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = New Zealand

| subdivision_type1 = Region

| subdivision_name1 = Waikato region

| subdivision_type2 = District

| subdivision_name2 = Taupō District

| subdivision_type3 = Ward

| subdivision_name3 = Taupō East Rural Ward

| leader_title = Territorial Authority

| leader_name = Taupō District Council

| leader_title1 = Regional council

| leader_name1 = Waikato Regional Council

| seat_type = Electorates

| seat = {{ubl|Taupō|Waiariki (Māori)}}

| area_footnotes =

| area_total_km2 = 0.36

| population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}}

| population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}

| population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|Wairakei Village|y}}

| population_density_km2 = auto

| postal_code_type = Postcode(s)

| postal_code = 3332

| website =

}}

Wairakei is a small settlement, and geothermal area 8-kilometres (5 mi) north of Taupō, in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand, on the Waikato River. It is part of the Taupō Volcanic Zone and features several natural geysers, hot pools, boiling mud pools, and the Wairakei Power Station, a major geothermal electric power generating station.

The station was the second large-scale geothermal facility worldwide, and was commissioned in 1958. It was listed in the book 70 Wonders Of The Modern World published in 2000 by Reader's Digest to record The Eventful 20th Century.Antony Mason, 70 Wonders Of The Modern World, {{ISBN|0-86449-376-2}}

The settlement, referred to as Wairakei Village, was constructed to house the workers of both the power station and the neighbouring Aratiatia hydro power station.

From 31 October 2022 it had buses to Taupō, Mondays to Fridays.{{Cite web |date=31 October 2022 |title=38 Wairakei to Taupō |url=https://busit.co.nz/assets/Busit/Bus-alerts/OCTOBER-2022/wairakei.PNG |website=BusIt}}

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Wairakei Village as a rural settlement, which covers {{Convert|0.36|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=13 November 2022|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Wairakei Village|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Wairakei Village|y}}|R}}/0.36|0}} people per km². The settlement is part of the larger Wairakei-Broadlands statistical area.

{{Historical populations|2006|465|2013|453|2018|507|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Wairakei Village|source=}}

Wairakei Village had a population of 507 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 54 people (11.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 42 people (9.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 132 households, comprising 267 males and 240 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female, with 153 people (30.2%) aged under 15 years, 114 (22.5%) aged 15 to 29, 204 (40.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 36 (7.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 68.6% European/Pākehā, 47.9% Māori, 6.5% Pacific peoples, 1.8% Asian, and 0.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 69.2% had no religion, 18.3% were Christian, and 3.6% had Māori religious beliefs.

Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (5.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 87 (24.6%) people had no formal qualifications. 27 people (7.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 174 (49.2%) people were employed full-time, 54 (15.3%) were part-time, and 36 (10.2%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|7013315–7013317}}

=Wairakei-Broadlands statistical area=

Wairakei-Broadlands statistical area covers {{Convert|410.00|km2||abbr=on}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Wairakei-Broadlands|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Wairakei-Broadlands|y}}|R}}/410.00|1}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|1,092|2013|1,152|2018|1,236|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Wairakei-Broadlands|source=}}

File:Dragon's Mouth geyser at Wairakei ATLIB 313207.png

Wairakei-Broadlands had a population of 1,236 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 84 people (7.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 144 people (13.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 387 households, comprising 648 males and 588 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female. The median age was 31.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 315 people (25.5%) aged under 15 years, 261 (21.1%) aged 15 to 29, 555 (44.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 105 (8.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 74.8% European/Pākehā, 36.7% Māori, 4.4% Pacific peoples, 3.6% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 64.1% had no religion, 22.3% were Christian, 2.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 0.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (8.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 210 (22.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 117 people (12.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 516 (56.0%) people were employed full-time, 138 (15.0%) were part-time, and 51 (5.5%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|Wairakei-Broadlands (188200)|wairakei-broadlands|Wairakei-Broadlands}}

Education

Wairakei School is a co-educational state primary school,{{cite web |title=Wairakei School Official School Website |url=http://www.wairakei.school.nz |website=wairakei.school.nz}}{{cite web |title=Wairakei School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28®ion=5&school=2066 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2066|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}{{cite web |title=Wairakei School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=2066 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} The school opened in 1959.{{cite web|url=https://www.wairakeitaupo.school.nz/about-us/history/|title=History|publisher=Wairakei School|access-date=20 November 2020|archive-date=26 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126171249/https://wairakeitaupo.school.nz/about-us/history/|url-status=dead}}

Notable people

Louise Rennison, lived here as a teenager{{cite web|url=http://www.georgia-nicolson.co.uk/Louise_Rennison|title=Louise Rennison}}

Climate

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Wairakei (1962–1987 normals, extremes 1952–1988)

| Jan record high C = 32.9

| Feb record high C = 34.0

| Mar record high C = 30.0

| Apr record high C = 26.9

| May record high C = 21.2

| Jun record high C = 18.3

| Jul record high C = 17.8

| Aug record high C = 18.8

| Sep record high C = 23.0

| Oct record high C = 28.3

| Nov record high C = 28.0

| Dec record high C = 31.2

| year record high C = 34.0

| Jan high C = 23.5

| Feb high C = 23.7

| Mar high C = 21.7

| Apr high C = 18.4

| May high C = 14.4

| Jun high C = 11.9

| Jul high C = 11.4

| Aug high C = 12.5

| Sep high C = 14.3

| Oct high C = 16.8

| Nov high C = 19.2

| Dec high C = 21.6

| year high C =

| Jan mean C = 16.9

| Feb mean C = 16.9

| Mar mean C = 15.4

| Apr mean C = 12.2

| May mean C = 9.0

| Jun mean C = 6.8

| Jul mean C = 6.3

| Aug mean C = 7.3

| Sep mean C = 9.1

| Oct mean C = 11.2

| Nov mean C = 13.3

| Dec mean C = 15.5

| year mean C =

| Jan low C = 10.3

| Feb low C = 10.2

| Mar low C = 9.1

| Apr low C = 6.1

| May low C = 3.5

| Jun low C = 1.9

| Jul low C = 1.0

| Aug low C = 2.1

| Sep low C = 3.9

| Oct low C = 5.6

| Nov low C = 7.4

| Dec low C = 9.3

| year low C =

|Jan record low C = -0.5

|Feb record low C = -1.1

|Mar record low C = -2.6

|Apr record low C = -6.4

|May record low C = -5.9

|Jun record low C = -6.8

|Jul record low C = -7.0

|Aug record low C = -7.1

|Sep record low C = -6.6

|Oct record low C = -4.6

|Nov record low C = -3.2

|Dec record low C = -1.5

|year record low C = -7.1

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 83.3

|Feb rain mm = 85.6

|Mar rain mm = 98.0

|Apr rain mm = 80.4

|May rain mm = 99.5

|Jun rain mm = 110.2

|Jul rain mm = 118.2

|Aug rain mm = 119.3

|Sep rain mm = 111.4

|Oct rain mm = 94.3

|Nov rain mm = 93.2

|Dec rain mm = 123.8

|year rain mm =

|source = NIWA{{cite web

|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/

|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 1845, 1846)

|publisher = NIWA

|access-date = 15 May 2024}}

}}

References

External links

[http://www.ew.govt.nz/Environmental-information/Geothermal-resources/Geothermal-systems-map/Wairakei/ Wairakei] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015152402/http://ew.govt.nz/Environmental-information/Geothermal-resources/Geothermal-systems-map/Wairakei/ |date=15 October 2008 }} - information at Environment Waikato
[http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Gov08_03Rail-t1-body-d8.html Wairakei Geyser (1933 article)]

Category:Geysers of New Zealand

Category:Taupō District

Category:Landforms of Waikato

Category:Populated places on the Waikato River

Category:Whakamaru caldera complex