{{short description|Town in Southland, New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2022}} {{For|the native fish|black mudfish}} {{Infobox settlement <!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields that may be available --> | name = Waikaka | official_name = | native_name = | settlement_type = Town <!-- e.g. Town, Village, City, etc. --> | image_skyline = | imagesize = | image_caption = | area_total_km2 = 21.20 | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | population_as_of = 2018 Census | population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2018"/> | population_total = 117 | population_density_km2 = auto | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Southland region | subdivision_type2 = Territorial authorities of New Zealand | subdivision_name2 = Gore District | subdivision_type3 = Ward | subdivision_name3 = Waikaka Ward | seat_type = Electorates | seat = {{ubl|Southland|Te Tai Tonga (Māori)}} | leader_title = {{nowrap|Territorial authority}} | leader_name = Gore District Council | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = Southland Regional Council | leader_title2 = Mayor of Gore | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Gore District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = Southland MP | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Southland MP|y}} | leader_title4 = Te Tai Tonga MP | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP|y}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 6 | coordinates = {{coord|45|55|S|169|01|E|display=inline,title|region:NZ_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki}} }}
'''Waikaka''' is a town in Southland, New Zealand. It was a gold-mining town in the 19th century, starting in 1867 when gold was found. Over NZ£1,000,000 equivalent of gold was eventually extracted from this location.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2021-01-30|title=Waikaka|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/keyword/waikaka|website=nzhistory.govt.nz}}</ref> The town was served by the Waikaka branch railway.
==Demographics== Waikaka is in an SA1 statistical area which covers {{Convert|21.20|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=6 March 2024|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> The SA1 area is part of the larger Waikaka statistical area.
{{Historical populations|2006|132|2013|132|2018|117|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population of Waikaka town and surrounds|source=<ref name="Census 2018"/>}} The SA1 statistical area had a population of 117 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 15 people (−11.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 15 people (−11.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 48 households, comprising 63 males and 57 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female. The median age was 46.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 24 people (20.5%) aged under 15 years, 18 (15.4%) aged 15 to 29, 57 (48.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 21 (17.9%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 97.4% European/Pākehā, 2.6% Māori, and 5.1% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 41.0% had no religion, 43.6% were Christian, and 5.1% were Hindu.
Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (12.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 21 (22.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 12 people (12.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 54 (58.1%) people were employed full-time, and 21 (22.6%) were part-time.<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|7029390}}</ref>
===Waikaka statistical area=== Waikaka statistical area covers {{Convert|586.75|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area"/> and also includes Chatton and Mandeville. It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Waikaka|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Waikaka|y}}|R}}/586.75|1}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.
{{Historical populations|2006|1,560|2013|1,554|2018|1,560|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for the statistical area|source=<ref name="Census 2018 W"/>}} The statistical area had a population of 1,560 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (0.4%) since the 2013 census, and unchanged since the 2006 census. There were 582 households, comprising 840 males and 717 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female. The median age was 39.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 348 people (22.3%) aged under 15 years, 252 (16.2%) aged 15 to 29, 762 (48.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 192 (12.3%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 90.0% European/Pākehā, 6.0% Māori, 0.4% Pasifika, 7.5% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 12.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 42.1% had no religion, 47.5% were Christian, 1.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 195 (16.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 246 (20.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $41,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 198 people (16.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 771 (63.6%) people were employed full-time, 216 (17.8%) were part-time, and 15 (1.2%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2018 W">{{NZ census 2018|Waikaka (359600)|waikaka|Waikaka}}</ref>
==Education== Waikaka School is a full primary school for years 1 to 8<ref>{{TKI|4037|Waikaka School}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|4037|y}} students as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}} The school opened in 1883.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.ilibrary.co.nz/repositories/2/archival_objects/7322|title=Waikaka School 75th Jubilee, 1958|publisher=Invercargill Archives|access-date=5 February 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Gore District}} Category:Populated places in the Southland Region