Waitākere, Auckland Region, North Island, New Zealand

🇳🇿 Waitākere is a small, mostly rural settlement to the north-west of Auckland, New Zealand.

History The settlement is in the traditional rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki. The many hills of the area were known as Ngā Rau Pou ā Maki, referring to the eponymous ancestor of the tribe.

During the latter 19th century, the King brothers established a flax mill at Waitākere. In 1881, the Waitākere railway station was opened, when the North Auckland Line was extended from New Lynn to Helensville.

Waitakere Road had two bridges constructed to bypass the now Township Road making it a dead-end or cul-de-sac.

Demographics Waitākere covers 14.79 km² (5.71 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,880 as of June 2023, with a population density of 127 people per km².

Before the 2023 census, the suburb had a larger boundary, covering 15.29 km² (5.90 sq mi). Using that boundary, Waitākere had a population of 1,935 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 123 people (6.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 180 people (10.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 657 households, comprising 975 males and 960 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female. The median age was 39.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 390 people (20.2%) aged under 15 years, 357 (18.4%) aged 15 to 29, 987 (51.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 201 (10.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 91.5% European/Pākehā, 14.6% Māori, 6.2% Pacific peoples, 4.0% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.2% had no religion, 27.3% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 321 (20.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 228 (14.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $41,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 381 people (24.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 915 (59.2%) people were employed full-time, 258 (16.7%) were part-time, and 48 (3.1%) were unemployed.

Education Waitakere School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 444 students as at February 2024. It was established in 1921.

Places • Waitakere RSA • Waitakere Dairy & Postshop; • Waitakere railway station • Waitakere Township Hall • Waitakere War Memorial Park • Waitakere Fire Station • Waitakere Kindergarten