# Aka Aka

Aka Aka is a rural locality on the Aka Aka Stream, a tributary of the Waikato River. It lies about 7 km southeast of Waiuku.
The area was originally a swamp, drained in the late 19th century.
The New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company has a factory in Aka Aka, built in 1901.
The current Aka Aka Hall, opened in 2002, contains a Roll of Honour commemorating people from the area killed in the first and second world wars. The hall replaced one which was described as a "splendid new hall" in 1912.

## Demographics

Aka Aka locality is in five SA1 statistical areas which cover 59.39 km$^2$ (22.93 sq mi) The SA1 areas are part of the larger Aka Aka statistical area.
The locality had a population of 699 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 21 people (3.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 123 people (21.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 357 males, 345 females and 3 people of other genders in 261 dwellings. 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 120 people (17.2%) aged under 15 years, 129 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 357 (51.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 96 (13.7%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.1% European (Pākehā), 14.6% Māori, 5.6% Pasifika, 4.3% Asian, and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori language by 2.6%, and other languages by 6.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.1% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 14.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 24.5% Christian, 0.9% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 0.4% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.8%, and 9.4% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 81 (14.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 375 (64.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 129 (22.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 90 people (15.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 342 (59.1%) people were employed full-time, 90 (15.5%) were part-time, and 6 (1.0%) were unemployed.

### Aka Aka statistical area

Aka Aka statistical area covers all of the Waikato District north of the Waikato River and west of the Tutaenui Stream, and includes Otaua. It covers 186.94 km$^2$ (72.18 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 3,590 as of June 2024, with a population density of 19 people per km$^2$.
Aka Aka had a population of 3,360 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 258 people (8.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 723 people (27.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,713 males, 1,641 females and 9 people of other genders in 1,170 dwellings. 2.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 41.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 645 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 564 (16.8%) aged 15 to 29, 1,617 (48.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 531 (15.8%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.2% European (Pākehā); 14.3% Māori; 3.5% Pasifika; 4.3% Asian; 0.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.9%, Māori language by 2.1%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 6.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 25.4% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 0.6% Islam, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.4%, and 8.7% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 429 (15.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,671 (61.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 612 (22.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $47,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 459 people (16.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,524 (56.1%) people were employed full-time, 429 (15.8%) were part-time, and 39 (1.4%) were unemployed.

## Education

Aka Aka School is a co-educational state primary school covering years 1 to 8, with a roll of 62 as of November 2024.
There is also a primary school at Otaua.