Waitahora is a locality in the Tararua District of New Zealand's North Island. It is located between the Mangatoro and Mangatokoto streams, close to the junction of the Waitahora Stream with the Mangatokoto.
The Waitahora Wind Farm was a proposed wind farm for the area, which was abandoned without construction having started.[3]
Demographics
Waitahora statistical area covers 538.22 km2 (207.81 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 710 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 1.3 people per km2.
Waitahora had a population of 609 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 39 people (6.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 12 people (2.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 228 households, comprising 312 males and 297 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female. The median age was 37.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 156 people (25.6%) aged under 15 years, 99 (16.3%) aged 15 to 29, 297 (48.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 60 (9.9%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 90.6% European/Pākehā, 18.2% Māori, 0.5% Pasifika, 1.5% Asian, and 0.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 7.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.7% had no religion, 32.5% were Christian, 2.0% had Māori religious beliefs and 0.5% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 78 (17.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 81 (17.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 54 people (11.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 267 (58.9%) people were employed full-time, 72 (15.9%) were part-time, and 9 (2.0%) were unemployed.[4]
Education
Waitahora School opened in 1903.[5][6] It merged to Awariki School in 2002.[7]
Motea School opened in 1916[8] and also closed in 2002.[9]
