Wainui

Wainui is an old established area which saw people with English, Scottish and Irish roots settle around 1850. Among the first settlers were two farmers, Hutson and Thick followed by King, Lloyd and Jacobs. About 1860 the Lambert, Lamont, Fennell and Scott families started to clear further land for cultivation. When these settlers arrived Wainui consisted of teatree and fern with fairly extensive areas in virgin bush including magnificent kauris. The two main means of livelihood open to the settlers at that time were timber and gumdigging.

The statistical area of Wainui-Waiwera, which at 79 square kilometres is much larger than this locality, had a population of 1,674 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 261 people (18.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 348 people (26.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 612 households. There were 834 males and 840 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 45.6 years, with 291 people (17.4%) aged under 15 years, 276 (16.5%) aged 15 to 29, 819 (48.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 288 (17.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.0% European/Pākehā, 9.0% Māori, 2.0% Pacific peoples, 3.8% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 25.6%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 53.2% had no religion, 35.7% were Christian, and 3.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 294 (21.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 162 (11.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,400. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 711 (51.4%) people were employed full-time, 285 (20.6%) were part-time, and 39 (2.8%) were unemployed.[3]

Wainui School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 285 students as of March 2020.[4][5] The school opened in 1879[6] and celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2004.[7]

As early as the 1860s formal schooling was conducted, not in a schoolroom, but in the teacher’s own home. In 1870 the local Presbyterian church was built which is depicted on the Wainui School logo. By 1878 the need for a school was obvious so the schoolhouse was built, then the first classroom opened its door at the beginning of 1879 but the head teacher had to be shared with another school (Locknorrie) so schooling only lasted until lunchtime. It wasn’t until 1912 that Wainui became a full-time school with a roll of 20 pupils. At this time there was no transport to the nearest high school so pupils stayed on until they were 15 years of age. By 1946 another classroom was required as the roll had risen to 60 pupils and with more farms being developed in the area this was to be a continuing theme.

In 1969, the original old school room had become redundant as new classrooms were built. This building was removed from the school grounds. The original school room is now part of the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland.[6]

Over the proceeding years the roll has continued to grow and with more farms being sub-divided this will be a continuing trend. By the beginning of the new millennium the school had reached 200. While traditionally a farming area, the make-up of the area has changed somewhat. Most of the contributing families are now small holding “life-style block” owners, working in the local area, the North Shore or Auckland city.

• Wainui School
• Wainui Settlers' Church