# Waiau Pa

Waiau Pa is a small settlement south of Auckland, New Zealand. It is in the Franklin Ward of Auckland Council. The name means "river of swirling currents" in the Māori language.

## Geography

The Taihiki River runs south and southwest of Waiau Pa, and the Manukau Harbour is to the north.

## History

The Waiau Pa Presbyterian Church on the corner of McKenzie Road and Seagrove Road was built in 1914.

## Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Waiau Pā as a rural settlement, which covers 2.79 km$^2$ (1.08 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 540 as of June 2024, with a population density of 194 people per km$^2$. Waiau Pā is part of the larger Karaka Creek statistical area
Waiau Pā had a population of 480 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (6.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 153 people (46.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 237 males and 243 females in 159 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 90 people (18.8%) aged under 15 years, 66 (13.8%) aged 15 to 29, 249 (51.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 75 (15.6%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 85.0% European (Pākehā); 8.8% Māori; 3.8% Pasifika; 11.2% Asian; 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori language by 1.9%, and other languages by 11.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 23.8% Christian, 2.5% Hindu, 0.6% Islam, and 4.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 61.2%, and 6.9% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 69 (17.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 252 (64.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 66 (16.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $56,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 90 people (23.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 216 (55.4%) people were employed full-time, 60 (15.4%) were part-time, and 15 (3.8%) were unemployed.

### Karaka Creek

Karaka Creek statistical area covers 35.04 km$^2$ (13.53 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,750 as of June 2024, with a population density of 50 people per km$^2$.
Karaka Creek had a population of 1,611 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 36 people (2.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 255 people (18.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 822 males, 783 females and 3 people of other genders in 561 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 46.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 285 people (17.7%) aged under 15 years, 222 (13.8%) aged 15 to 29, 798 (49.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 306 (19.0%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 87.2% European (Pākehā); 9.7% Māori; 4.1% Pasifika; 8.8% Asian; 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.6%, Māori language by 0.9%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 10.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 19.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 28.7% Christian, 2.0% Hindu, 0.6% Islam, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 3.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.4%, and 8.0% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 267 (20.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 780 (58.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 282 (21.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $52,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 291 people (21.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 729 (55.0%) people were employed full-time, 195 (14.7%) were part-time, and 36 (2.7%) were unemployed.

## Education

Waiau Pa School is a coeducational full primary school (years 1–8) with a roll of 334 as of November 2024. The school was founded in 1890, and held a reunion in 2015 to celebrate 125 years.