{{Short description|Settlement in Waitomo District, New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Waikawau | map_caption = | mapsize = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 6 | image_skyline = | image_caption = | imagesize = | pushpin_map = | motto = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of New Zealand|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Waikato region]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand|Territorial authority]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Waitomo District]] | subdivision_type3 = [[Ward (country subdivision)|Ward]] | subdivision_name3 = Rural | leader_title = Territorial Authority | leader_name = [[Waitomo District Council]] | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = [[Waikato Regional Council]] | leader_title2 = [[Mayor of Waitomo]] | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Waitomo District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = [[Taranaki-King Country|Taranaki-King Country MP]] | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Taranaki-King Country MP|y}} | leader_title4 = [[Hauraki-Waikato|Hauraki-Waikato MP]] | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Hauraki-Waikato MP|y}} | seat_type = [[New Zealand electorates|Electorates]] | seat = {{ubl|[[Taranaki-King Country]]|[[Te Tai Hauāuru]] ([[Māori electorates|Māori]])}} | total_type = Territorial <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows --> | settlement_type = Locality <!-- e.g. Town, Village, City, etc.--> | pushpin_map_caption = | utc_offset_DST = +13 | website = | area_code = | postal_code = | postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> | coordinates = {{coord|-38.472|174.681|region:NZ_type:city|display=it}} | timezone_DST = NZDT | pushpin_label_position = bottom | utc_offset = +12 | timezone = [[Time in New Zealand|NZST]] | population_total = 51 | population_as_of = 2023 census | elevation_m = | pushpin_mapsize = | official_name = }}
'''Waikawau''' is a rural community in the [[Waitomo District]] and [[Waikato]] region of New Zealand's [[North Island]], beside [[Waikawau River (Waitomo District)|Waikawau River]].<ref name="hariss">{{cite web |last1=Hariss |first1=Gavin |title=Waikawau, Waikato |url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz52812/Waikawau/Waikato |website=topomap.co.nz |publisher=NZ Topo Map}}</ref>
There are also small settlements of the same name on both the west<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz8525/Waikawau/|title=Waikawau, Waikato|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref> and east<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz9057/Waikawau/|title=Waikawau, Waikato|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref> coasts of [[Coromandel Peninsula|Coromandel]].
It features the only publicly accessible beach between [[Marokopa]] and [[Awakino]]. The only way to access the beach is through a walking track and farming tunnel,<ref name="waitomowalks">{{cite web |title=Waitomo Walks |url=http://www.waitomo.govt.nz/PageFiles/597/waitomo-kingcountry-walks%5B1%5D.pdf |website=waitomo.govt.nz |publisher=[[Waitomo District Council]]}}</ref> which was dug through sandstone cliffs by three men in 1911.<ref name="pollockk">{{cite web |last1=Pollock |first1=Kerryn |title=Waikawau tunnel and beach |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34643/waikawau-tunnel-and-beach |website=[[Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]]}}</ref>
The New Zealand [[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]] gives a translation of "water of the [[great cormorant|shag]]" for {{lang|mi|Waikawau}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/1000-maori-place-names|title=1000 Māori place names|publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage|date=6 August 2019}}</ref>
The area has been a popular spot for [[freedom camping]] during whitebait season and summer.<ref name="nyika">{{cite news |last1=Nyika |first1=Ruby |title=Crackdown on freedom camping in Waitomo ahead of summer |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/108183628/crackdown-on-freedom-camping-in-waitomo-ahead-of-summer |agency=[[Waikato Times]] |publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=4 November 2018}}</ref> Signs were put in place in 2015, advising visitors it is illegal to camp on private land.<ref name="tuckerj">{{cite news |last1=Tucker |first1=Jim |title=Camper ban on whitebait fans |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11493076 |agency=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |publisher=[[New Zealand Media and Entertainment]] |date=6 August 2015}}</ref>
The New Zealand endemic plant, ''[[Dracophyllum strictum]]'', grows extensively in the area.<ref name="winderv">{{cite news |last1=Winder |first1=Virginia |title=Rich in love and laughs |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/slider/10000488/Rich-in-love-and-laughs |agency=[[Taranaki Daily News]] |publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=2 May 2014}}</ref>
==Demographics== Waikawau is astride [[meshblock]]s 1016301 and 1016400, which had a population of 51 people in the 2023 census.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=2023 Census electoral population at meshblock level (2025 Meshblock)|access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
The Awakino-Waikawau locality covers {{Convert|286.22|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised)|access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref> and is covered at [[Awakino#Demographics]]. The locality is part of the larger [[Taharoa#Herangi statistical area|Herangi statistical area]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b|title=Geographic Boundary Viewer|publisher=Stats NZ|at=Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}</ref>
==Education== Whareorino School is a co-educational state primary school covering years 1 to 8,<ref name="moe">{{TKI|2267|Whareorino School}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2267|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}<ref name="ero">{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=2267 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]]}}</ref> The school was open by 1930.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19300514.2.105.2?query=Whareorino+School|newspaper=[[Waikato Times]]|date=14 May 1930|title=Otorohanga—Grant for School "Bach"}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Waitomo District}} [[Category:Waitomo District]] [[Category:Populated places in Waikato]]