William Wright Falls is a 28m waterfall on Orokawa Stream, in the northern part of the area, accessible by a walking track from Waihi Beach.[4] The track passes through Orokawa Bay.[5]
Demographics
Waiau covers 36.09 km2 (13.93 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 360 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 10.0 people per km2.
Waiau had a population of 333 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (1.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 57 people (20.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 123 households, comprising 171 males and 162 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female. The median age was 48.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 54 people (16.2%) aged under 15 years, 48 (14.4%) aged 15 to 29, 153 (45.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 75 (22.5%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 82.9% European/Pākehā, 28.8% Māori, 4.5% Pacific peoples, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 10.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.5% had no religion, 28.8% were Christian, 1.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 45 (16.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 60 (21.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 45 people (16.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 126 (45.2%) people were employed full-time, 51 (18.3%) were part-time, and 3 (1.1%) were unemployed.[6]
