{{Short description|Suburb of Wellington City, New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox New Zealand suburb | name = Hataitai | image = Mount Victoria Climb 2 (cropped).jpg | caption1 = Looking east from Mt Victoria, with Hataitai in the foreground, Evans Bay and Miramar behind it | location_map = | coordinates = {{Coord|41|18|12|S|174|47|47|E|display=inline,title|region:NZ_type:city}} | city1 = Wellington City | council = Wellington City Council | ward = {{ubl|Motukairangi/Eastern Ward|Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward}} | established = | area = 184 | arearef = <ref name="Area"/> | population = {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Hataitai North West|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Hataitai North East|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Evans Bay|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Hataitai South|y}}|R}}|0}} | popdate = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y}} | popsource = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2||||y}} | population_density_km2 = auto | trainstations = | ferryterminals = | airports = | hospitals = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 13 | caption2 = }} {{Adjacent place | centre = Hataitai | north = Oriental Bay, Roseneath | northeast = | east = Evans Bay | southeast = | south = Kilbirnie | southwest = Newtown | west = Mount Cook | northwest = Mount Victoria }}
'''Hataitai''' is an inner-city suburb of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, 3.5 kilometres southeast of the city centre. The suburb extends over the southeastern flank of Mount Victoria and down a valley between the Town Belt and a ridge along the shoreline of Evans Bay. Hataitai is bounded by Hepara Street, Grafton Road and the suburb of Roseneath in the north, Wellington Harbour in the east, Cobham Drive, Wellington Road and Crawford Road in the south, and Alexandra Road in the west.
Hataitai is on important transport links between the central city and Wellington Airport, to the south of Evans Bay on the isthmus at Rongotai. It is at the eastern end of the Mount Victoria Tunnel and the bus-only Hataitai Tunnel, built in 1907 for trams, making Hataitai a popular place to live.
==Origin of name== The earliest European pioneers in Wellington knew the area that became Hataitai as "Jenkins Estate". The name ''Hataitai'' originated with the syndicate which sub-divided it for building in 1901, and derives from {{lang|mi|Whātaitai}}, the name of one of the two brother taniwha (sea monsters) that formed Te Whanganui-a-Tara (The Great Harbour of Tara/Wellington Harbour). However, it is Miramar Peninsula that is thought to be the petrified remains of the great taniwha Whātaitai.
The story goes that when the taniwha Ngake broke through the mountains that separated the then-lake from the Cook Strait, the waters rushed out, leaving his older brother Whātaitai stranded on the rocks as he tried to escape after him. An earthquake later lifted Whātaitai's body completely out of the water, causing him to dry out and pass away. With his body having turned to earth, Whātaitai's spirit manifested into a bird that flew to the top of Tangi Te Keo (Mount Victoria) to mourn never being able to be with his brother again.<ref> [http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/historic/by-region/wellington-kapiti/wellington/matiu-somes-island/ Historic Matiu/Somes Island] New Zealand Department of Conservation</ref>
==Settlement== Colonial settlement of the area dates from 1841, with land used mainly for farming and grazing. Robert Jenkins acquired a hundred acres of hill pasture. In order to reach it he made a road up Mount Victoria, fenced much of his land and used it for breeding horses. Population was minimal until the late 19th century. In the early days the area was part of Kilbirnie in the Evans Bay district – so the school opened in Moxham Ave in 1884 was called Kilbirnie School. In 1901 the Hataitai Land Company was formed to sell sections on the hillsides north from Waitoa Road, and the area became known as Hataitai. In 1902 the new suburb was advertised by the cutting of gigantic letters spelling 'HATAITAI' in the turf of the town side of Mount Victoria. Many of the streets in Hataitai are named after native trees: Hinau Road, Konini Road, Matai Road, Rata Road, Rewa Road etc.
Significant development took place from the early 20th century into the 1950s, spurred by improved access via the Hataitai tram (now bus) tunnel (opened in 1907) and the Mt Victoria tunnel (1931). The population increased slightly between 2001 and 2006, a result of new dwellings being added to the area.
==Demographics== Hataitai covers {{Convert|1.84|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 3 2023 (generalised)|access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Hataitai North West|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Hataitai North East|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Evans Bay|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Hataitai South|y}}|R}}|0}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|({{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Hataitai North West|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Evans Bay|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Hataitai North East|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Hataitai South|y}}|R}})/1.84|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.
{{Historical populations|2006|6,099|2013|6,288|2018|6,615|2023|6,465|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/><ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Hataitai North (253100), Evans Bay (253200) and Hataitai South (253400)}}</ref>}} Hataitai had a population of 6,465 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 150 people (−2.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 177 people (2.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 3,141 males, 3,204 females, and 123 people of other genders in 2,502 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.55940%2B253101%2B253102%2B253200%2B253400.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 11.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 32.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 783 people (12.1%) aged under 15 years, 2,079 (32.2%) aged 15 to 29, 2,979 (46.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 624 (9.7%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.4% European (Pākehā); 9.6% Māori; 3.9% Pasifika; 12.2% Asian; 2.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori by 2.6%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 19.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 30.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Religious affiliations were 22.3% Christian, 1.9% Hindu, 0.5% Islam, 0.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 66.1%, and 5.5% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Of those at least 15 years old, 3,144 (55.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,001 (35.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 540 (9.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $61,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,497 people (26.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 3,702 (65.2%) full-time, 756 (13.3%) part-time, and 174 (3.1%) unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.55940.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Hataitai (55940)}}</ref>
{{table alignment}} {| class="wikitable defaultright col1left" |+Individual statistical areas |- !Name !! Area<br/>(km<sup>2</sup>) !! Population !! Density<br/>(per km<sup>2</sup>) || Dwellings !! Median age !! Median<br/>income |- | Hataitai North West || 0.61 || 1,728 || 2,833 || 660 || 30.5 years || $60,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.253101.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Hataitai North West}}</ref> |- | Hataitai North East || 0.45 || 2,175 || 4,833 || 801 || 33.8 years || $62,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.253102.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Hataitai North East}}</ref> |- | Evans Bay || 0.35 || 1,128 || 3,223 || 450 || 35.3 years || $62,700<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.253200.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Evans Bay}}</ref> |- | Hataitai South || 0.43 || 1,434 || 3,335 || 594 || 33.2 years || $60,100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.253400.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Hataitai South}}</ref> |- ! New Zealand !! !! !! !! !! style="text-align:right;"|38.1 years !! style="text-align:right;"| $41,500 |}
==Amenities== A small shopping village is centred on Moxham Avenue and Waitoa Road. In 2011 Wellington City Council added Hataitai Village shops to its District Plan list of heritage buildings. The heritage listings mean the buildings are recognised and protected for their heritage value and any major changes to the outside of listed buildings, or demolition of them, would require resource consent. Most of the buildings at the village date from the 1910s and 1920s and together they form a historic streetscape that is rare in Wellington.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hataitai Shopping Centre – Wellington Heritage – Absolutely Positively Wellington City Council Me Heke Ki Poneke|url=https://www.wellingtoncityheritage.org.nz/areas/36-hataitai-shopping-centre|access-date=2021-07-22|website=www.wellingtoncityheritage.org.nz}}</ref>
Sports facilities include the Badminton Hall on Ruahine Street and Hataitai Park on the Town Belt. Hataitai Park has a velodrome, tennis courts and rugby fields. Other community facilities include a community centre and bowling club, both of which offer venues for community activities, a medical centre, three churches (All Saints Anglican, Hataitai Methodist, Latter-day Saints) and the Treasure Grove and Waipapa Road Play Areas. In addition, the Alexandra Road Play area is accessible from Hepara Street, with a 180 degree view from Wellington Harbour's Eastbourne to Lyall Bay in the South and only a short walk to the Mount Victoria summit.
==Education==
===Primary schools===
Hataitai School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="official2854">{{cite web |title=Hataitai School Official School Website |url=http://www.hataitai.school.nz |website=hataitai.school.nz}}</ref><ref name="ero2854">{{cite web |title=Hataitai School Education Review Office Report |url=https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/2854/hataitai-school |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office |access-date=31 December 2025}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2854|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}<ref name="moe2854">{{cite web |title=Hataitai School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=2854 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}}</ref> It opened in 1921 as Roseneath Side School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hataitai.school.nz/|title=Hataitai School|publisher=Hataitai School|access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
Kilbirnie School is also a co-educational state primary school, for Year 1 to 6 students,<ref name="official2880">{{cite web |title=Kilbirnie School Official School Website |url=http://www.kilbirnie.school.nz |website=kilbirnie.school.nz}}</ref><ref name="ero2880">{{cite web |title=Kilbirnie School Education Review Office Report |url=https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/2880/kilbirnie-school |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2880|y}}.<ref name="moe2880">{{cite web |title=Kilbirnie School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=2880 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}}</ref> It opened in 1884.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/21965102|title=Kilbirnie School, Wellington : the first one hundred years|publisher=Kilbirnie School. Centenary Committee|year=1984|via=National Library of New Zealand|access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>
===Other education===
The nearest intermediate school is Evans Bay Intermediate School in Kilbirnie.<ref name="moe">{{cite web |title=Find schools in Wellington City |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/schools?district=47 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}}</ref>
The nearest state secondary schools are Rongotai College (single-sex boys' school) in Rongotai, and Wellington East Girls' College (single-sex girls' school) in Mt Victoria.<ref name="moe" /> There are also two state-integrated Catholic secondary schools nearby: St Patrick's College (for boys) and St Catherine's College (for girls), both in Kilbirnie.
The suburb also has a playcentre and two kindergartens.
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Subject bar|auto=y|d=y}} *{{cite web|url= https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/14594 |title= Trams emerging from Htaitai Tram Tunnel (photo, undated) |publisher= WCC Archives |date= 2022}}
{{Suburbs of Wellington City}}
Category:Suburbs of Wellington City Category:Populated places around the Wellington Harbour