# Waikawau

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Settlement in Waitomo District, New Zealand

Locality in Waikato region, New Zealand

Waikawau Locality Interactive map of Waikawau Coordinates: 38°28′19″S 174°40′52″E / 38.472°S 174.681°E / -38.472; 174.681 Country New Zealand Region Waikato region Territorial authority Waitomo District Ward Rural Electorates Taranaki-King Country Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori) Government • Territorial Authority Waitomo District Council • Regional council Waikato Regional Council • Mayor of Waitomo John Robertson[1] • Taranaki-King Country MP Barbara Kuriger[2] • Hauraki-Waikato MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke[3] Population (2023 census) • Territorial 51 Time zone UTC+12 (NZST) • Summer (DST) UTC+13 (NZDT)

**Waikawau** is a rural community in the [Waitomo District](/source/Waitomo_District) and [Waikato](/source/Waikato) region of New Zealand's [North Island](/source/North_Island), beside [Waikawau River](/source/Waikawau_River_(Waitomo_District)).[4]

There are also small settlements of the same name on both the west[5] and east[6] coasts of [Coromandel](/source/Coromandel_Peninsula).

It features the only publicly accessible beach between [Marokopa](/source/Marokopa) and [Awakino](/source/Awakino). The only way to access the beach is through a walking track and farming tunnel,[7] which was dug through sandstone cliffs by three men in 1911.[8]

The New Zealand [Ministry for Culture and Heritage](/source/Ministry_for_Culture_and_Heritage) gives a translation of "water of the [shag](/source/Great_cormorant)" for *Waikawau*.[9]

The area has been a popular spot for [freedom camping](/source/Freedom_camping) during whitebait season and summer.[10] Signs were put in place in 2015, advising visitors it is illegal to camp on private land.[11]

The New Zealand endemic plant, *[Dracophyllum strictum](/source/Dracophyllum_strictum)*, grows extensively in the area.[12]

## Demographics

Waikawau is astride [meshblocks](/source/Meshblock) 1016301 and 1016400, which had a population of 51 people in the 2023 census.[13]

The Awakino-Waikawau locality covers 286.22 km2 (110.51 sq mi)[14] and is covered at [Awakino#Demographics](/source/Awakino#Demographics). The locality is part of the larger [Herangi statistical area](/source/Taharoa#Herangi_statistical_area).[15]

## Education

Whareorino School is a co-educational state primary school covering years 1 to 8,[16] with a roll of 8 as of March 2026.[17][18] The school was open by 1930.[19]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result"](https://www.electionz.com/LGE2025Results/ELT20WO25_Result.pdf) (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Taranaki-King Country - Official Result"](https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-50.html). [Electoral Commission](/source/Electoral_Commission_(New_Zealand)). Retrieved 8 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Hauraki-Waikato – Official Result"](https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-66.html). New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-hariss_4-0)** Hariss, Gavin. ["Waikawau, Waikato"](https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz52812/Waikawau/Waikato). *topomap.co.nz*. NZ Topo Map.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Waikawau, Waikato"](https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz8525/Waikawau/). *NZ Topo Map*. Retrieved 18 February 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Waikawau, Waikato"](https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz9057/Waikawau/). *NZ Topo Map*. Retrieved 18 February 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-waitomowalks_7-0)** ["Waitomo Walks"](http://www.waitomo.govt.nz/PageFiles/597/waitomo-kingcountry-walks%5B1%5D.pdf) (PDF). *waitomo.govt.nz*. [Waitomo District Council](/source/Waitomo_District_Council).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pollockk_8-0)** Pollock, Kerryn. ["Waikawau tunnel and beach"](https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34643/waikawau-tunnel-and-beach). *[Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand](/source/Te_Ara_-_the_Encyclopedia_of_New_Zealand)*. [Ministry for Culture and Heritage](/source/Ministry_for_Culture_and_Heritage).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["1000 Māori place names"](https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/1000-maori-place-names). New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nyika_10-0)** Nyika, Ruby (4 November 2018). ["Crackdown on freedom camping in Waitomo ahead of summer"](https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/108183628/crackdown-on-freedom-camping-in-waitomo-ahead-of-summer). [Stuff](/source/Stuff_(website)). [Waikato Times](/source/Waikato_Times).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-tuckerj_11-0)** Tucker, Jim (6 August 2015). ["Camper ban on whitebait fans"](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11493076). [New Zealand Media and Entertainment](/source/New_Zealand_Media_and_Entertainment). [The New Zealand Herald](/source/The_New_Zealand_Herald).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-winderv_12-0)** Winder, Virginia (2 May 2014). ["Rich in love and laughs"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/slider/10000488/Rich-in-love-and-laughs). [Stuff](/source/Stuff_(website)). [Taranaki Daily News](/source/Taranaki_Daily_News).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Stats NZ Geographic Data Service"](https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/). 2023 Census electoral population at meshblock level (2025 Meshblock). Retrieved 9 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Area_14-0)** ["Stats NZ Geographic Data Service"](https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/). Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 9 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Geographic Boundary Viewer"](https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b). Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-moe_16-0)** ["Whareorino School - Education Counts"](https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=2267). *www.educationcounts.govt.nz*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NZ_school_roll_data_17-0)** ["New Zealand Schools Directory"](https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/data-services/directories/list-of-nz-schools). New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ero_18-0)** ["Education Review Office Report"](http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=2267). *ero.govt.nz*. [Education Review Office](/source/Education_Review_Office).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Otorohanga—Grant for School "Bach""](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19300514.2.105.2?query=Whareorino+School). *[Waikato Times](/source/Waikato_Times)*. 14 May 1930.

v t e Waitomo District, New Zealand Seat: Te Kūiti Populated places Āria Awakino Maniaiti / Benneydale Māhoenui Marokopa Mōkau Piopio Rangitoto Taharoa Te Anga Te Kūiti Tiroa Waikawau Waitomo Geographic features Castle Craig Rock Gardner's Gut Lake Harihari Mangapohue Natural Bridge Marokopa Falls Rangitoto Range Ruakuri Cave Waitomo Glowworm Caves Facilities and attractions Kopaki railway station Mangapehi railway station Poro-O-Tarao railway station Puketutu railway station Te Kuiti railway station Wairere Power Station Waiteti railway station Waiteti Viaduct Waitomo Caves Hotel Government District Council Mayor Regional Council Organisations Piopio College

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Waikawau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waikawau) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waikawau?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.