Waimataitai

Waimataitai
Suburb
Aigantighe Art Gallery
Interactive map of Waimataitai
Coordinates: 44°22′55″S171°14′17″E / 44.382°S 171.238°E / -44.382; 171.238
Country	New Zealand
City	Timaru
Local authority	Timaru District Council
Electoral ward	Timaru
Area [1]
• Land	139 ha (340 acres)
Population  (June 2025) [2]
• Total	2,200
• Density	1,600/km2 (4,100/sq mi)

Marchwiel, New Zealand	Washdyke
Highfield	Waimataitai	(Caroline Bay)
West End	Seaview	Port Timaru

Waimataitai is a suburb of Timaru, in the South Canterbury district and Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.

Demographics

The statistical area of Waimataitai-Maori Hill covers 1.39 km² (0.54 sq mi) ^[1] and had an estimated population of 2,200 as of June 2025, ^[2] with a population density of 1,583 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,887	—
2013	1,902	+0.11%
2018	2,043	+1.44%
Source: [3]

Waimataitai-Maori Hill had a population of 2,043 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 141 people (7.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 156 people (8.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 912 households, comprising 969 males and 1,071 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.9 males per female. The median age was 45.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 318 people (15.6%) aged under 15 years, 342 (16.7%) aged 15 to 29, 903 (44.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 480 (23.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.7% European/Pākehā, 9.0% Māori, 2.1% Pasifika, 6.3% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 17.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.0% had no religion, 41.0% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 2.2% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 282 (16.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 423 (24.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 243 people (14.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 825 (47.8%) people were employed full-time, 246 (14.3%) were part-time, and 45 (2.6%) were unemployed. ^[3]

Economy

Retail

Northtown Mall opened at Waimataitai in the 1970s. ^[4] It was upgraded in 2016, and includes a Pak'nSave supermarket. ^[5]

A number of chain stores have their Timaru branches at Waimataitai, and there are a number of fast food outlets in the area.

Education

Waimataitai School is a coeducational primary serving years 1 to 8 ^[6] with a roll of 494 as of October 2025. ^[7] The school was established in 1882. ^[8]

References

1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
2. "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 29 October 2025.
3. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Waimataitai-Maori Hill (340600). 2018 Census place summary: Waimataitai-Maori Hill
4. Tatham, Helen (20 March 2017). "Upgrade of Pak 'n Save Timaru expected to be complete in July". stuff.co.nz. Timaru Herald.
5. "Timaru Pak 'n Save extension progresses". stuff.co.nz. Timaru Herald. 21 June 2016.
6. "Waimataitai School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
7. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
8. "South Canterbury Schools" (PDF). South Canterbury branch, New Zealand Society of Genealogists. Retrieved 18 November 2021.