History
In 1910 the area was used for growing potatoes. [3] In 1917 a son of businessman and politician, Robert Gillies, Arthur William Gillies, [4] started the development of Kawaha Point, when he offered an area for a hospital, on condition that the government improve the road. A loan to improve the road was approved in 1924. [4] Land was sold in 1927 [5] and more in 1929. [6] Initially development was only on the south side of the point. [7] The area to the north was built between about 1966 [8] and 2000. [9]
In 2023, Kāinga Ora proposed the replacement of six state houses on Kawaha Point Road with 16 modern houses of between two and five bedrooms. [10] Later the same year, Rotorua Lakes Council voted to develop council-owned land on Kawaha Point Road, creating about 30 sections, with more sections being likely on an adjoining rugby field. [11]
Demographics
Kawaha statistical area, which corresponds to this suburb, covers 1.03 km2 (0.40 sq mi) [1] and had an estimated population of 1,980 as of June 2025, [2] with a population density of 1,922 people per km2.
Historical population| Year | | |
|---|
| 2006 | 1,641 | — |
|---|
| 2013 | 1,773 | +1.11% |
|---|
| 2018 | 1,902 | +1.41% |
|---|
| 2023 | 1,905 | +0.03% |
|---|
| Source: [12] [13] |
Kawaha had a population of 1,905 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 3 people (0.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 132 people (7.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 915 males, 987 females, and 6 people of other genders in 684 dwellings. [14] 3.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 378 people (19.8%) aged under 15 years, 357 (18.7%) aged 15 to 29, 843 (44.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 330 (17.3%) aged 65 or older. [12]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 62.4% European (Pākehā); 40.8% Māori; 7.4% Pasifika; 10.7% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.6%, Māori by 14.3%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 13.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.5, compared with 28.8% nationally. [12]
Religious affiliations were 32.9% Christian, 1.7% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 2.7% Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.3%, and 7.6% of people did not answer the census question. [12]
Of those at least 15 years old, 369 (24.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 759 (49.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 396 (25.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 168 people (11.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 711 (46.6%) full-time, 237 (15.5%) part-time, and 54 (3.5%) unemployed. [12]
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Kawaha Point
