Burbush is a semi-rural suburb in western Hamilton in New Zealand. It is one of the future urban zones of Hamilton, [3] The southern part of Burbush includes Baverstock. Burbush was taken into Hamilton with the 10th city extension in November 1989. [4] Until then it had been in the Waipa County Council area. [5]
Prior to the 1863 invasion of the Waikato the area was occupied by Ngāti Koura, Ngāti Ruru and Ngāti Ngamurikaitaua, [4] all being Tainui hapū. [6]
The Burbush-Baverstock statistical area, which was called Rotokauri-Waiwhakareke in the 2018 census), covers 7.10 km2 (2.74 sq mi) [1] and had an estimated population of 1,300 as of June 2024, [2] with a population density of 183 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 375 | — |
| 2013 | 333 | −1.68% |
| 2018 | 546 | +10.40% |
| 2023 | 1,029 | +13.51% |
| Source: [7] [8] | ||
Burbush-Baverstock had a population of 1,029 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 483 people (88.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 696 people (209.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 507 males, 519 females and 3 people of other genders in 327 dwellings. [9] 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 33.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 237 people (23.0%) aged under 15 years, 183 (17.8%) aged 15 to 29, 483 (46.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 123 (12.0%) aged 65 or older. [7]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 58.6% European (Pākehā); 21.6% Māori; 7.3% Pasifika; 27.4% Asian; 1.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.6%, Māori language by 6.1%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 22.4%. No language could be spoken by 3.2% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 32.4, compared with 28.8% nationally. [7]
Religious affiliations were 31.2% Christian, 8.2% Hindu, 2.9% Islam, 0.9% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, 0.3% Jewish, and 6.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 43.7%, and 5.8% of people did not answer the census question. [7]
Of those at least 15 years old, 243 (30.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 405 (51.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 150 (18.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $54,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 99 people (12.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 456 (57.6%) people were employed full-time, 96 (12.1%) were part-time, and 15 (1.9%) were unemployed. [7]
Waiwhakareke, or Horseshoe Lake (neither name is official) [10] is the second largest lake in Hamilton, covering 3 ha (7.4 acres). It is a peat lake in Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park, 60 ha (150 acres) bought by the City Council in 1975. Like most of Waikato it would have been inundated by a flood of water and ignimbrite debris from Lake Taupō about 22,000 years ago. [11] A peat bog formed in the hollow and restricted drainage. Work to restore the natural qualities of the park began in 2004. The lake drains north into a stream, which feeds Lake Rotokauri. [4]
