Waitomo District
Waitomo District is a territorial authority, located in the Waikato region, at the north of the King Country area in the North Island of New Zealand. A small part of the district, the locality of Tiroa, however, lies in the Manawatū-Whanganui region.
Waitomo District | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Waikato region |
| Seat | Te Kuiti |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | John Robertson |
| • Deputy Mayor | Guy Whitaker |
| Population (June 2020)[1] | |
| • Total | 9,710 |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode(s) | |
| Website | waitomo.govt.nz |
The District covers the west coast from Te Maika, on Kawhia Harbour, to the north of Taharoa, to Mokau in the south and extends inland to Maniaiti / Benneydale and Mount Pureora.[2]
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 9,438 | — |
| 2013 | 8,907 | −0.82% |
| 2018 | 9,303 | +0.87% |
| Source: [3] | ||
Waitomo District had a population of 9,303 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 396 people (4.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 135 people (-1.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,384 households. There were 4,695 males and 4,605 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female. Of the total population, 2,082 people (22.4%) were aged up to 15 years, 1,701 (18.3%) were 15 to 29, 4,071 (43.8%) were 30 to 64, and 1,446 (15.5%) were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.
Ethnicities were 63.5% European/Pākehā, 44.8% Māori, 3.7% Pacific peoples, 3.7% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 10.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 53.2% had no religion, 31.6% were Christian, and 6.6% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 783 (10.8%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 1,932 (26.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,300. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,597 (49.8%) people were employed full-time, 1,263 (17.5%) were part-time, and 282 (3.9%) were unemployed.[3]
District council
The seat of the Waitomo District Council is at Te Kuiti, which had a population of 4,770 in June 2020. No other village in the district has a population of over 500. The district has a land area of 3,546.76 km2 (1,369 sq mi), 94.87% of which lies in the Waikato Region and only 5.13% in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region. The Waitomo district was declared in 1976. The current district mayor is John Robertson, who defeated incumbent Brian Hanna in the 2019 New Zealand local elections.
Industry and tourist attractions
The district is a rural, predominantly dairy farming, region. The area's main industries include sheep farming, forestry, and limestone quarrying. The area is known for the popular Waitomo Caves, a karstic system with stalactites, stalagmites and glowworms 12 kilometres northwest of Te Kuiti. Waitomo also has an old style hotel first built in 1908 and added onto in the 1930s. Waitomo Caves Hotel overlooks Waitomo Village.
Te Anga Road, a winding road from State Highway 3 in the Marokopa River area, leads past the Waitomo Caves, Mangapohue Natural Bridge, Piripiri Caves, and Marokopa Falls. Numerous other limestone caves are found throughout the Waitomo district.
References
- "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- "IntraMaps". waitomo.intramaps.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
- "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Waitomo District (020). 2018 Census place summary: Waitomo District