{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox settlement |name = Hikuai |image_skyline = Tairua River.jpg |image_caption = Tairua River at Hikuai |population_total = |population_as_of = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = [[New Zealand]] |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_name1 = [[Waikato]] |subdivision_type2 = District |subdivision_name2 = [[Thames-Coromandel District]] |subdivision_type3 = Ward |subdivision_name3 = South Eastern ward |subdivision_type4 = Community Board |subdivision_name4 = Tairua-Pauanui Community |leader_title = Council |leader_name = [[Thames-Coromandel District Council]] |leader_title1 = Regional council |leader_name1 = [[Waikato Regional Council]] |leader_title2 = [[Mayor of Thames-Coromandel]] |leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Thames-Coromandel District Mayor|y}} |leader_title3 = [[Coromandel (New Zealand electorate)|Coromandel MP]] |leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Coromandel MP|y}} |leader_title4 = [[Hauraki-Waikato|Hauraki-Waikato MP]] |leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Hauraki-Waikato MP|y}} |seat_type = Electorates |seat = {{ubl|[[Coromandel (New Zealand electorate)|Coromandel]]|[[Hauraki-Waikato]] (Māori)}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 |coordinates = {{coord|-37.075|175.782|region:NZ|display=it}} }}
'''Hikuai''' is a small community on the [[Tairua River]] near the base of the [[Coromandel Peninsula]] in the [[North Island]] of New Zealand. It lies {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=off}} north of [[Waihi]] and {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=off}} southwest of [[Tairua]], close to the junction of [[New Zealand State Highway 25|State Highways 25 and 25A]], the latter of which is a winding road cutting across the steep [[Coromandel Range]] of hills. It is a tourist hot spot at times such as New Zealand Labour Day weekend, the Christmas and New Year holiday, and especially when [[Tairua]] and [[Pauanui]] are busy.
It is prone to heavy precipitation and floods (accelerated by the nearby Tairua River) which occasionally causes impassibility.{{cn|date=March 2025}} The cellphone and electricity coverage is patchy but is intact. It has a large colonial and gold mining history making it a special place to explore.{{cn|date=March 2025}} Various adventure operators exist and they provide an interesting glance at history and lifestyle.
==Demographics== Hikuai statistical area covers an area of the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula which surrounds but does not include [[Tairua]] and [[Pauanui]]. It has an area of {{Convert|284.15|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Hikuai|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Hikuai|y}}|R}}/284.15|1}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.
{{Historical populations|2006|231|2013|219|2018|237|2023|270|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for the statistical area|source=<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Hikuai (167900)|hikuai|Hikuai}}</ref><ref name="Census 2023"/>}} Hikuai statistical area had a population of 270 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 33 people (13.9%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 51 people (23.3%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 135 males and 135 females in 90 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%2Bdo1.167900.2023&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> 4.4% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 45.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 51 people (18.9%) aged under 15 years, 27 (10.0%) aged 15 to 29, 141 (52.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 51 (18.9%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 94.4% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 18.9% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 3.3% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 1.1% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; and 2.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA). English was spoken by 97.8%, Māori language by 5.6%, and other languages by 7.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.1% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 13.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Religious affiliations were 22.2% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 2.2% [[Māori religious beliefs]], and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 63.3%, and 8.9% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Of those at least 15 years old, 42 (19.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 123 (56.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 51 (23.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 15 people (6.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 105 (47.9%) people were employed full-time, 42 (19.2%) were part-time, and 3 (1.4%) were 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.167900.2013%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=Hikuai (167900)}}</ref>
==Education== Hikuai School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1737|y}} students as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y}}.<ref>{{TKI|1737|Hikuai School}}</ref> The school was built on the present site in 1897.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our beginnings |url= https://www.hikuai.school.nz/our-beginnings/ |publisher=Hikuai School |access-date=31 January 2023}}</ref>
==Notes== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.hikuai.school.nz/ Hikuai School]
{{Thames-Coromandel District}}
[[Category:Thames-Coromandel District]] [[Category:Populated places in Waikato]]