Waitoa

The statistical area of Waitoa-Ngarua, which at 107 square kilometres is much larger than this settlement, had a population of 1,170 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 18 people (1.6%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 126 people (-9.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 432 households. There were 615 males and 555 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female. The median age was 35.9 years, with 255 people (21.8%) aged under 15 years, 231 (19.7%) aged 15 to 29, 552 (47.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 135 (11.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 79.2% European/Pākehā, 13.3% Māori, 3.1% Pacific peoples, 9.7% Asian, and 3.3% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 16.9%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 52.3% had no religion, 33.6% were Christian, 2.6% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 3.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 96 (10.5%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 240 (26.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,500. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 498 (54.4%) people were employed full-time, 135 (14.8%) were part-time, and 36 (3.9%) were unemployed.[2]

The settlement of Waitoa is covered by two meshblocks, which had a combined total of 195 people in 2018.[3]

Waitoa had a primary school between 1904 and 2015. It opened as Waitoa Valley School and reached a roll of 222 students in 1959. The roll fell subsequently, and there were 18 students in the final year.[4]