# Waitarere Beach

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 5.45 km$^2$ (2.10 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 930 as of June 2024, with a population density of 171 people per km$^2$. It is part of the larger Waitarere statistical area.
Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a smaller boundary, covering 1.63 km$^2$ (0.63 sq mi). 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.

### Waitarere

Waitarere statistical area, which also includes Koputaroa, covers 94.70 km$^2$ (36.56 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 2,470 as of June 2024, with a population density of 26 people per km$^2$.
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.

## Climate

Climate data for Waitarere Forest (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1962–1989) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 29.9 (85.8) | 29.6 (85.3) | 29.7 (85.5) | 26.2 (79.2) | 22.1 (71.8) | 19.6 (67.3) | 16.8 (62.2) | 20.0 (68.0) | 22.5 (72.5) | 26.1 (79.0) | 27.9 (82.2) | 29.5 (85.1) | 29.9 (85.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 21.4 (70.5) | 21.9 (71.4) | 20.5 (68.9) | 18.0 (64.4) | 15.7 (60.3) | 13.4 (56.1) | 12.7 (54.9) | 13.6 (56.5) | 15.0 (59.0) | 16.1 (61.0) | 17.9 (64.2) | 20.0 (68.0) | 17.2 (62.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.3 (63.1) | 17.3 (63.1) | 15.7 (60.3) | 13.1 (55.6) | 11.1 (52.0) | 9.1 (48.4) | 8.2 (46.8) | 9.0 (48.2) | 10.8 (51.4) | 12.2 (54.0) | 13.7 (56.7) | 16.0 (60.8) | 12.8 (55.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.2 (55.8) | 12.7 (54.9) | 10.8 (51.4) | 8.1 (46.6) | 6.6 (43.9) | 4.9 (40.8) | 3.7 (38.7) | 4.4 (39.9) | 6.5 (43.7) | 8.3 (46.9) | 9.6 (49.3) | 12.0 (53.6) | 8.4 (47.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) | 1.0 (33.8) | −0.8 (30.6) | −2.4 (27.7) | −5.0 (23.0) | −6.5 (20.3) | −5.0 (23.0) | −5.2 (22.6) | −3.3 (26.1) | −4.1 (24.6) | −0.6 (30.9) | 1.7 (35.1) | −6.5 (20.3) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 61.8 (2.43) | 53.8 (2.12) | 65.9 (2.59) | 54.8 (2.16) | 100.5 (3.96) | 86.1 (3.39) | 101.7 (4.00) | 73.3 (2.89) | 74.8 (2.94) | 71.8 (2.83) | 55.7 (2.19) | 81.2 (3.20) | 881.4 (34.7) |
| Source: NIWA (rainfall 1971–2000) ||||||||||||||

## Lord of the Rings location

The Waitarere Forest was used as the location of Trollshaw Forest and Osgiliath Wood in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

## 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.