{{for|the South Island settlement|Waiwera South}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Waiwera | image_skyline = Wairewa main street.jpg | image_caption = Waiwera Road | official_name = | area_total_km2 = 0.55 | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}} | population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}} | population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|Waiwera|y}} | population_density_km2 = auto | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | coordinates = {{coord|36|32|41|S|174|42|25|E|region:NZ|display=it}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[New Zealand]] | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = [[Auckland Region]] | subdivision_type2 = Ward | subdivision_name2 = [[Albany ward (local government)|Albany ward]] | subdivision_type3 = Local Board | subdivision_name3 = [[Hibiscus and Bays Local Board]] | leader_title = Territorial Authority | leader_name = [[Auckland Council]] | leader_title2 = [[Mayor of Auckland]] | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Auckland Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = [[Whangaparāoa (New Zealand electorate)|Whangaparāoa MP]] | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Whangaparāoa MP|y}} | leader_title4 = [[Te Tai Tokerau|Te Tai Tokerau MP]] | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tokerau MP|y}} | seat_type = Electorates | seat = {{ubl|[[Whangaparāoa (New Zealand electorate)|Whangaparāoa]]|[[Te Tai Tokerau]]}} }}

'''Waiwera''' is a small town in the north of the [[Auckland Region]] in [[New Zealand]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=NZGB Gazetteer {{!}} linz.govt.nz|url=https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/47291|access-date=2021-04-18|website=gazetteer.linz.govt.nz}}</ref> Waiwera is 6&nbsp;km north of [[Orewa]], 6&nbsp;km south-east of [[Puhoi, New Zealand|Puhoi]], 23&nbsp;km south-east of [[Warkworth, New Zealand|Warkworth]] and approximately 35&nbsp;km from the [[Auckland]] City centre. The settlement lies at the outlet of a river also called Waiwera. Less than 1 kilometre north of the Waiwera turn-off lies the turn-off to [[Wenderholm Regional Park]] which is situated on the far side of the headland to the north of the Waiwera River outlet.

==History==

The name is of [[Māori language|Māori]] origin and means "Hot Water" (Wai = Water and Wera = Hot),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jasons.co.nz/waiwera|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823040736/http://www.jasons.co.nz/waiwera|url-status=usurped|archive-date=23 August 2010|title=Waiwera Travel Guide |publisher=[[Jasons Travel Media]]}}</ref> and is a shortened version of the traditional name Waiwerawera.<ref name="FieldGuide2008">{{cite book |last1=Cameron |first1=Ewen |last2=Hayward |first2= Bruce |author-link2=Bruce Hayward |last3=Murdoch |first3= Graeme |title=A Field Guide to Auckland: Exploring the Region's Natural and Historical Heritage |isbn=978-1-86962-1513 |publisher=Random House New Zealand |year=2008 |page=122}}</ref>

Its main claim to fame was the [[Waiwera Hot Springs|hot water springs]] which were well known in pre-European times and reputedly visited by Māori from as far away as [[Thames, New Zealand|Thames]]. The first European settler to promote the springs was [[Robert Graham (New Zealand politician)|Robert Graham]] who established a health resort in 1848.<ref name="t"/> This resort was destroyed by fire in 1939.<ref name="coast">{{cite book | last=Bioletti | first=Harry | title=Rodney Coast to Coast | date=1992 | isbn=0-473-01296-0 |page=61}}</ref> During the late 19th century there was a regular steam [[ferry]] service from Auckland.<ref name="t">Wises New Zealand Guide. 1979. p. 490.</ref> The bath house was torn down in 1951.<ref name="coast"/> The commercial hot pools closed in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Caroline|date=24 May 2021|title=Million-dollar dumps: Waiwera's abandoned hot pools a 'taonga being wasted'|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/300313255/milliondollar-dumps-waiweras-abandoned-hot-pools-a-taonga-being-wasted|access-date=27 May 2022|website=Stuff}}</ref>

==Demographics== Statistics New Zealand describes Waiwera as a rural settlement, which covers {{Convert|0.55|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Urban Rural 2023 (generalised)|access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Waiwera|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Waiwera|y}}|R}}/0.55|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>. Waiwera is part of the larger [[Wainui#Demographics|Wainui-Waiwera statistical area]].<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|wainui-waiwera|Wainui-Waiwera}}</ref>

{{Historical populations|2006|192|2013|237|2018|240|2023|252|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|7001364}}</ref><ref name="Census 2023"/>}} Waiwera had a population of 252 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 12 people (5.0%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 15 people (6.3%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 117 males and 132 females in 141 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%2Bdo1.1089.2023&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> 1.2% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 58.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 15 people (6.0%) aged under 15 years, 21 (8.3%) aged 15 to 29, 126 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 90 (35.7%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.3% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 13.1% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 2.4% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 7.1% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; and 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA). English was spoken by 98.8%, Māori language by 4.8%, and other languages by 14.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.2% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 1.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 25.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 41.7% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 1.2% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 1.2% [[Māori religious beliefs]], 2.4% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 2.4% [[New Age]], 1.2% [[Judaism in New Zealand|Jewish]], and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 42.9%, and 6.0% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 48 (20.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 123 (51.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 60 (25.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 21 people (8.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 102 (43.0%) people were employed full-time, 27 (11.4%) were part-time, and 3 (1.3%) 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%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.1089.2013%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=Waiwera (1089)}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> -Waiwera- (48752551396).jpg|Watercolour of Waiwera c. 1860s drawn by [[John Hoyte]] Waiwera (AM 79550-1).jpg|Waiwera in the 1940s Mahurangi Island, Waiwera.jpg|[[Mahurangi Island]] and Waiwera Beach Waiwera Hot Pools P5140070.jpg|[[Waiwera Hot Pools]] in 2006 </gallery>

== References == {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|New Zealand}} {{Hibiscus Coast}} [[Category:Populated places in the Auckland Region]] [[Category:Beaches of the Auckland Region]] [[Category:Spa towns in New Zealand]] [[Category:Hibiscus Coast]]