Waitarere 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 = Waitarere Beach
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type = Rural settlement
| image_skyline = Bones of the 'Hydrabad' - panoramio.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Remains of the Hydrabad on Waitarere Beach
| image_flag =
| nickname =
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| image_map = {{infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|-40.550|175.200}}|zoom=10}}
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| pushpin_label_position = bottom
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| coordinates = {{coord|-40.550|175.200|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| 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 = Ward
| subdivision_name3 = {{ubl|Waiopehu General Ward|Horowhenua Māori Ward}}
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| seat_type = Electorates
| seat = {{ubl|Ōtaki|Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)}}
| government_footnotes =
| 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 = 5.45
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| population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}}
| population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|Waitarere Beach|y}}
| population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}
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Waitarere 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
Waitarere Beach is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers {{Convert|5.45|km2||abbr=on}}. It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Waitarere Beach|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Waitarere Beach|y}}|R}}/5.45|0}} people per km2. It is part of the larger Waitarere statistical area.
{{Historical populations|2006|591|2013|588|2018|681|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Waitarere Beach|source=}}
Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a smaller boundary, covering {{Convert|1.63|km2||abbr=on}}. Using that boundary, Waitarere Beach had a population of 681 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 93 people (15.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 90 people (15.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 315 households, comprising 339 males and 339 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female, with 75 people (11.0%) aged under 15 years, 81 (11.9%) aged 15 to 29, 312 (45.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 204 (30.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 91.6% European/Pākehā, 16.3% Māori, 0.9% Pasifika, 0.9% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.4% had no religion, 35.2% were Christian, 0.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% were Buddhist and 0.4% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 102 (16.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 153 (25.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 72 people (11.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 240 (39.6%) people were employed full-time, 81 (13.4%) were part-time, and 18 (3.0%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|7018958, 7018959, 7018960, 7018961 and 7018962}}
=Waitarere=
Waitarere statistical area, which also includes Koputaroa, covers {{Convert|94.70|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=20 May 2024|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Waitarere|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Waitarere|y}}|R}}/94.70|0}} people per km2.
{{Historical populations|2006|1,875|2013|1,875|2018|2,142|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Waitarere statistical area|source=}}
Waitarere had a population of 2,142 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 267 people (14.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 267 people (14.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 882 households, comprising 1,077 males and 1,068 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female. The median age was 53.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 303 people (14.1%) aged under 15 years, 258 (12.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,014 (47.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 561 (26.2%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 88.1% European/Pākehā, 18.2% Māori, 2.0% Pasifika, 1.8% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.9% had no religion, 34.2% were Christian, 1.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 270 (14.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 453 (24.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 276 people (15.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 828 (45.0%) people were employed full-time, 288 (15.7%) were part-time, and 66 (3.6%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|Waitarere (234400)|waitarere|Waitarere}}
Climate
{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|collapsed = Y
|location = Waitarere Forest (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1962–1989)
| Jan record high C = 29.9
| Feb record high C = 29.6
| Mar record high C = 29.7
| Apr record high C = 26.2
| May record high C = 22.1
| Jun record high C = 19.6
| Jul record high C = 16.8
| Aug record high C = 20.0
| Sep record high C = 22.5
| Oct record high C = 26.1
| Nov record high C = 27.9
| Dec record high C = 29.5
| year record high C =
|Jan record low C = 2.0
|Feb record low C = 1.0
|Mar record low C = -0.8
|Apr record low C = -2.4
|May record low C = -5.0
|Jun record low C = -6.5
|Jul record low C = -5.0
|Aug record low C = -5.2
|Sep record low C = -3.3
|Oct record low C = -4.1
|Nov record low C = -0.6
|Dec record low C = 1.7
|year record low C =
|Jan high C = 21.4
|Feb high C = 21.9
|Mar high C = 20.5
|Apr high C = 18.0
|May high C = 15.7
|Jun high C = 13.4
|Jul high C = 12.7
|Aug high C = 13.6
|Sep high C = 15.0
|Oct high C = 16.1
|Nov high C = 17.9
|Dec high C = 20.0
| year high C =
|Jan mean C = 17.3
|Feb mean C = 17.3
|Mar mean C = 15.7
|Apr mean C = 13.1
|May mean C = 11.1
|Jun mean C = 9.1
|Jul mean C = 8.2
|Aug mean C = 9.0
|Sep mean C = 10.8
|Oct mean C = 12.2
|Nov mean C = 13.7
|Dec mean C = 16.0
| year mean C =
|Jan low C = 13.2
|Feb low C = 12.7
|Mar low C = 10.8
|Apr low C = 8.1
|May low C = 6.6
|Jun low C = 4.9
|Jul low C = 3.7
|Aug low C = 4.4
|Sep low C = 6.5
|Oct low C = 8.3
|Nov low C = 9.6
|Dec low C = 12.0
| year low C =
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 61.8
|Feb rain mm = 53.8
|Mar rain mm = 65.9
|Apr rain mm = 54.8
|May rain mm = 100.5
|Jun rain mm = 86.1
|Jul rain mm = 101.7
|Aug rain mm = 73.3
|Sep rain mm = 74.8
|Oct rain mm = 71.8
|Nov rain mm = 55.7
|Dec rain mm = 81.2
|year rain mm =
|source 1 = NIWA (rainfall 1971–2000)
{{cite web
|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz
|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Waitarere Forest
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 14 Sep 2024}}
}}
Lord of the Rings location
File:Waitarere Forest - panoramio.jpg
The Waitarere Forest was used as the location of Trollshaw Forest and Osgiliath Wood in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.{{Cite book |last=Brodie |first=Ian |title=The Lord of the Rings location guidebook |publisher=Harper Collins |year=2004 |edition=2nd |location=Auckland |page=37}}
Hydrabad Wreck
The Hydrabad (1865-1878) was a Scottish cargo vessel used primarily as a cargo vessel between Australia, England and India, serving for ten shipments before crashing onto Waitarere 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.{{Cite web |date=6 June 2011 |title=Welcome to Heritage New Zealand |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/9559/Listing |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=Welcome to Heritage New Zealand |language=en-NZ}}{{Horowhenua District}}