Kihikihi, a small town located in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand, serves as a satellite community of Te Awamutu, five kilometres to the north, and lies 35 kilometres south of Hamilton. The estimated population was 3,760 as of June 2024.[5]
Kihikihi is a Māori-language word meaning "cicada"; the name imitates the sound made by the insect.[6]
History
Kihikihi in the 19th century was described as a "border settlement" or a "frontier town" by James Cowan, ruined in the 1880s by the "Great Wet Peace" with the partition of the King Country and land-buying from Māori.[7]
Demographics
Kihikihi covers 8.80km2 (3.40sqmi)[4] and had an estimated population of 3,760 as of June 2024,[5] with a population density of 427 people per km2.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
2006
2,361
—
2013
2,409
+0.29%
2018
2,754
+2.71%
2023
3,456
+4.65%
The 2006 population is for a larger area of 10.09 km2. Source: [8][9]
Kihikihi Star Hotel (c.1883)The Kihikihi cicada statue
Kihikihi had a population of 3,456 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 702 people (25.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 1,047 people (43.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,698 males, 1,749 females, and 9 people of other genders in 1,212 dwellings.[10] 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 777 people (22.5%) aged under 15 years, 690 (20.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,494 (43.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 498 (14.4%) aged 65 or older.[8]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 79.3% European (Pākehā); 30.1% Māori; 3.6% Pasifika; 5.2% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.8%, Māori by 6.9%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 6.9%. No language could be spoken by 2.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.[8]
Of those at least 15 years old, 462 (17.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,554 (58.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 666 (24.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 243 people (9.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,533 (57.2%) full-time, 321 (12.0%) part-time, and 66 (2.5%) unemployed.[8]
Kihikihi School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[25] with a roll of 189 as of March 2025[26] Kihikihi is a dual medium Kura, meaning there is an Aoraki stream taught in English, and a Rumaki stream taught entirely in Te Reo Māori. It opened in 1873, and moved to its current site in 1884. It was destroyed by fire in 1938, and rebuilt in 1952.[27]
Transport
Kihikihi is on SH3. An infrequent bus service operated by GoBus links it to Te Awamutu and Hamilton.[28] The Kihikihi Trail cycleway to Te Awamutu[29] opened in 2017.[30]
↑ Reed, A. W. (1975). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Max Cryer. Auckland: Reed (published 2002). p.250. ISBN0790007614. Lit. cicada or tree-locust (Amphipsalta cingulata), a name that imitates its strident song.
a - formerly an independent electoral ward until 2022
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