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 General Ward

| leader_title = Territorial Authority

| leader_name = Taupō District Council

| leader_title1 = Regional council

| leader_name1 = Waikato Regional Council

| leader_title2 = Mayor of Taupō

| leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Taupō District Mayor|y}}

| leader_title3 = Taupō MP

| leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Taupō MP|y}}

| leader_title4 = Waiariki MP

| leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Waiariki MP|y}}

| 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=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Urban Rural 2023 (generalised)|access-date=17 May 2025}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b|title=Geographic Boundary Viewer|publisher=Stats NZ|at=Urban Rural – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}

{{Historical populations|2006|465|2013|453|2018|510|2023|480|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Wairakei Village|source={{NZ census 2018|7013315–7013317}}}}

Wairākei Village had a population of 480 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 30 people (−5.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 27 people (6.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 246 males, 234 females, and 3 people of other genders in 147 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.1212.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 2.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 32.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 123 people (25.6%) aged under 15 years, 93 (19.4%) aged 15 to 29, 222 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 45 (9.4%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 71.9% European (Pākehā); 46.2% Māori; 3.1% Pasifika; 1.9% Asian; 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.2%, Māori by 7.5%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 5.6%. No language could be spoken by 2.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 17.5% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 5.6% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.2% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.8%, and 11.9% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (8.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 210 (58.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 114 (31.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 18 people (5.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 189 (52.9%) full-time, 60 (16.8%) part-time, and 6 (1.7%) unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.1212.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Wairākei Village (1212)}}

=Wairakei-Broadlands statistical area=

Wairakei-Broadlands statistical area covers {{Convert|410.00|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=17 May 2025}} 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|2023|1,182|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Wairakei-Broadlands|source={{NZ census 2018|Wairakei-Broadlands (188200)|wairakei-broadlands|Wairakei-Broadlands}}}}

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

Wairākei-Broadlands had a population of 1,182 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 54 people (−4.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 30 people (2.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 621 males, 558 females, and 3 people of other genders in 417 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.188200.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 2.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 35.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 258 people (21.8%) aged under 15 years, 216 (18.3%) aged 15 to 29, 567 (48.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 138 (11.7%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 77.7% European (Pākehā); 36.5% Māori; 2.8% Pasifika; 3.3% Asian; 1.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.7%, Māori by 5.3%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 5.8%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 20.8% Christian, 0.8% Hindu, 3.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.2%, and 10.7% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 105 (11.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 549 (59.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 270 (29.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 78 people (8.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 540 (58.4%) full-time, 138 (14.9%) part-time, and 15 (1.6%) unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.188200.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Wairākei-Broadlands (188200)}}

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