The traditional Tāmaki Māori name for the area, Te Aukahanga o Aotea ("The Lashing of the Top Boards to the Hull of the Aotea"), recalls the visit of the Aotea migratory waka before the crew left for the south.[5][6]
Statistics New Zealand describes Shelly Beach as a rural settlement, which covers 0.31 km2 (0.12 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 260 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 839 people per km2. Shelly Beach is part of the larger South Head statistical area.[7]
Shelly Beach had a population of 273 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people (9.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 42 people (18.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 138 males and 138 females in 105 dwellings.[10] 2.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 48.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 51 people (18.7%) aged under 15 years, 24 (8.8%) aged 15 to 29, 144 (52.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 57 (20.9%) aged 65 or older.[9]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.0% European (Pākehā); 17.6% Māori; 6.6% Pasifika; 2.2% Asian; and 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA). English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori language by 2.2%, Samoan by 1.1%, and other languages by 7.7%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (8.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 138 (62.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 66 (29.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 30 people (13.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 108 (48.6%) people were employed full-time, 30 (13.5%) were part-time, and 6 (2.7%) were unemployed.[9]
