Wainui Beach
Area total1.40 km²
Population total873
Population as of2023 Census
CountryNew Zealand
RegionGisborne District
WardTairāwhiti General Ward
Territorial authorityGisborne District Council
Electorates
Coordinates38.6889°S 178.0722°E

Wainui Beach is a small settlement on the coast of New Zealand's North Island, located just to the north of Tuaheni Point, some 8 km to the east of Gisborne, to which it is linked by State Highway 35.

The beach is one of the NZ Automobile Association's 101 Must-do places for Kiwis.[1] It is noted for its consistent surf breaks.[2] Wainui Beach's most notable residents have been the Quinn family, which contains three national champion surfers - brothers Maz and Jay, and sister Holly.

Demographics

Wainui Beach covers 1.40 km2 (0.54 sq mi).[3] It is part of the Wainui-Okitu statistical area.[4]

Historical population for Wainui Beach
YearPop.±%
2006672—
2013720+7.1%
2018819+13.8%
2023873+6.6%

[5][6]

Wainui Beach had a population of 873 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 54 people (6.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 153 people (21.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 429 males and 435 females in 318 dwellings.[7] 1.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 201 people (23.0%) aged under 15 years, 99 (11.3%) aged 15 to 29, 390 (44.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 183 (21.0%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.3% European (Pākehā); 19.6% Māori; 1.4% Pasifika; 3.1% Asian; 2.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.9%, Māori by 5.2%, and other languages by 10.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 22.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 30.9% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 1.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, 0.7% Jewish, and 1.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.0%, and 6.5% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 288 (42.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 300 (44.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 75 (11.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 141 people (21.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 327 (48.7%) full-time, 120 (17.9%) part-time, and 15 (2.2%) unemployed.[5]

Wainui-Okitu statistical area

Wainui-Okitu statistical area, which also includes Okitū, covers 6.20 km2 (2.39 sq mi)[8] and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of /6.20 people per km2.

Historical population for Wainui-Okitu
YearPop.±%
20061,356—
20131,500+10.6%
20181,755+17.0%
20232,004+14.2%

The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 5.36 km2.

Wainui-Okitu had a population of 2,004 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 249 people (14.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 504 people (33.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 999 males, 1,005 females, and 3 people of other genders in 729 dwellings.[9] 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 456 people (22.8%) aged under 15 years, 258 (12.9%) aged 15 to 29, 933 (46.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 357 (17.8%) aged 65 or older.[10]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.6% European (Pākehā); 22.9% Māori; 1.8% Pasifika; 3.0% Asian; 3.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori by 4.0%, and other languages by 10.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 22.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[10]

Religious affiliations were 29.5% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.4% Jewish, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.0%, and 6.6% of people did not answer the census question.[10]

Of those at least 15 years old, 642 (41.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 723 (46.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 186 (12.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $52,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 294 people (19.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 828 (53.5%) full-time, 276 (17.8%) part-time, and 27 (1.7%) unemployed.[10]

Parks

Wainui Beach has two main park areas. Wainui Reserve is a sports ground. Wainui Beach and Lysnar Reserve includes the main beach, a boat ramp and boat fishing area, a dog walking area, and an area for horse riding and kite surfing.[11]

Education

Wainui Beach School is Year 1–6 co-educational state primary school with a roll of students as of [12] It opened in 1962.[13]

References

  1. ^ NZAA website
  2. ^ surf-forecast.com
  3. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  5. ^ [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_012&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.7015738%2B7015739%2B7015740%2B7015744%2B7015745.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7015738, 7015739, 7015740, 7015744 and 7015745. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ^
  7. ^ [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_009&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.7015738%2B7015739%2B7015740%2B7015744%2B7015745.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003 "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  9. ^ [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%2Bdo1.207301.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003 "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  10. ^ [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.207301.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Wainui-Okitu (207301). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Gisborne Parks and Reserves". gdc.govt.nz. Gisborne District Council
  12. ^
  13. ^ "Lifetime of giving". Gisborne Herald. 18 March 2023. I ... got talked into going to Wainui Beach School when it opened in 1962