# Waikeria

Waikeria is a rural community in the Otorohanga District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.
Waikeria Prison, one of New Zealand's largest prisons, is located on a 1,200-hectare (3,000-acre) site on Waikeria Road.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "dug-out water" for Waikeria.

## Marae

The local Whakamārama Marae is a meeting place of the Ngāti Raukawa hapū of Ngāti Puehutore. It includes Te Rangimoeakau meeting house.

## Demographics

Waikeria settlement and the prison are in two SA1 statistical areas which cover 55.80 km$^2$ (21.54 sq mi). The SA1 areas are part of the larger Puniu statistical area.
The SA1 areas had a population of 534 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 60 people (12.7%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 174 people (−24.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 84 households, comprising 435 males and 96 females, giving a sex ratio of 4.53 males per female, with 48 people (9.0%) aged under 15 years, 165 (30.9%) aged 15 to 29, 294 (55.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 21 (3.9%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 55.6% European/Pākehā, 47.2% Māori, 5.6% Pacific peoples, 2.8% Asian, and 1.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.5% had no religion, 26.4% were Christian, 7.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.7% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 5.1% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (6.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 72 (14.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 45 people (9.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 183 (37.7%) people were employed full-time, 54 (11.1%) were part-time, and 24 (4.9%) were unemployed.

### Puniu statistical area

Puniu statistical area covers 674.02 km$^2$ (260.24 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,580 as of June 2023, with a population density of 2.3 people per km$^2$.
Puniu had a population of 1,488 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 81 people (5.8%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 12 people (−0.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 408 households, comprising 933 males and 555 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.68 males per female. The median age was 33.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 291 people (19.6%) aged under 15 years, 366 (24.6%) aged 15 to 29, 726 (48.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 108 (7.3%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 76.2% European/Pākehā, 27.4% Māori, 2.8% Pacific peoples, 4.2% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 10.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.7% had no religion, 27.0% were Christian, 2.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 3.6% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 135 (11.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 225 (18.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 165 people (13.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 642 (53.6%) people were employed full-time, 171 (14.3%) were part-time, and 42 (3.5%) were unemployed.

## Education

Korakonui School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school. It has a roll of 142 as of August 2024. The school opened in 1911.

## Climate

Climate data for Waikeria (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1957–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32.2 (90.0) | 32.1 (89.8) | 32.8 (91.0) | 28.2 (82.8) | 24.9 (76.8) | 21.1 (70.0) | 18.7 (65.7) | 21.8 (71.2) | 25.0 (77.0) | 28.0 (82.4) | 29.7 (85.5) | 31.3 (88.3) | 32.8 (91.0) |
| Mean maximum °C (°F) | 28.6 (83.5) | 29.0 (84.2) | 27.8 (82.0) | 24.8 (76.6) | 21.0 (69.8) | 18.3 (64.9) | 17.2 (63.0) | 18.0 (64.4) | 20.1 (68.2) | 22.0 (71.6) | 24.4 (75.9) | 27.0 (80.6) | 29.9 (85.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 25.0 (77.0) | 25.5 (77.9) | 23.6 (74.5) | 20.5 (68.9) | 17.1 (62.8) | 14.5 (58.1) | 14.0 (57.2) | 14.9 (58.8) | 16.6 (61.9) | 18.3 (64.9) | 20.3 (68.5) | 22.8 (73.0) | 19.4 (67.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.8 (65.8) | 19.3 (66.7) | 17.1 (62.8) | 14.6 (58.3) | 11.8 (53.2) | 9.4 (48.9) | 8.8 (47.8) | 9.6 (49.3) | 11.4 (52.5) | 13.1 (55.6) | 14.9 (58.8) | 17.3 (63.1) | 13.8 (56.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.5 (54.5) | 13.1 (55.6) | 10.6 (51.1) | 8.6 (47.5) | 6.5 (43.7) | 4.3 (39.7) | 3.7 (38.7) | 4.3 (39.7) | 6.2 (43.2) | 8.0 (46.4) | 9.5 (49.1) | 11.9 (53.4) | 8.3 (46.9) |
| Mean minimum °C (°F) | 5.7 (42.3) | 6.0 (42.8) | 3.6 (38.5) | 0.6 (33.1) | −0.8 (30.6) | −3.0 (26.6) | −3.2 (26.2) | −2.2 (28.0) | −0.6 (30.9) | 1.7 (35.1) | 3.0 (37.4) | 5.1 (41.2) | −4.0 (24.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 1.2 (34.2) | 1.3 (34.3) | −1.8 (28.8) | −3.1 (26.4) | −5.6 (21.9) | −5.9 (21.4) | −6.7 (19.9) | −6.6 (20.1) | −8.4 (16.9) | −2.8 (27.0) | −0.3 (31.5) | −0.9 (30.4) | −8.4 (16.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 74.1 (2.92) | 68.9 (2.71) | 78.2 (3.08) | 79.3 (3.12) | 98.8 (3.89) | 113.5 (4.47) | 116.9 (4.60) | 115.1 (4.53) | 93.9 (3.70) | 101.6 (4.00) | 82.1 (3.23) | 92.5 (3.64) | 1,114.9 (43.89) |
| Source: NIWA (rain 1981–2010) ||||||||||||||