Whareama

Last updated

Whareama
Locality
1800's Anglican Church on way to Riversdale Beach - panoramio.jpg
19th century Anglican Church at Whareama
Whareama
Interactive map of Whareama
Coordinates: 40°51′29″S176°02′02″E / 40.858°S 176.034°E / -40.858; 176.034
Country New Zealand
Region Wellington Region
Territorial authority Masterton District
Ward
  • Masterton/Whakaoriori General Ward
  • Masterton/Whakaoriori Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
  Territorial Authority Masterton District Council
  Regional council Greater Wellington Regional Council
   Mayor of Masterton Bex Johnson [1]
   Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick [2]
   Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel [3]
Area
[4]
  Total
1,596.08 km2 (616.25 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025) [5]
  Total
1,500
  Density0.94/km2 (2.4/sq mi)

Whareama is a rural area in the Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island. The Whareama River flows through the area. [6]

Contents

Marae

The community has two marae affiliated with the Ngāti Kahungunu hapū of Ngāi Tumapuhia-a-Rangi: Motuwairaka Marae, which lost its meeting house to fire in 2017, and Ngāi Tumapuhia a Rangi ki Okautete Marae, which is still constructing its meeting house by 2020. [7] [8]

In October 2020, the Government committed $2,179,654 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade both marae, alongside Pāpāwai, Kohunui, Hurunui o Rangi and Te Oreore marae. Together, the upgrades were expected to create 19.8 full time jobs. [9]

Demographics

Whareama statistical area covers 1,596.08 km2 (616.25 sq mi) [4] and also includes Bideford, Castlepoint, Riversdale Beach, Tauweru, Tīnui and Wainuioru. It had an estimated population of 1,500 as of June 2025, [5] with a population density of 0.94 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,290    
20131,281−0.10%
20181,410+1.94%
Source: [10]

Whareama had a population of 1,410 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 129 people (10.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 120 people (9.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 555 households, comprising 729 males and 681 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female. The median age was 43.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 291 people (20.6%) aged under 15 years, 204 (14.5%) aged 15 to 29, 726 (51.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 189 (13.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.0% European/Pākehā, 17.4% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, 0.6% Asian, and 1.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 10.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.0% had no religion, 35.5% were Christian, 1.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Buddhist and 0.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 192 (17.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 204 (18.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 153 people (13.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 612 (54.7%) people were employed full-time, 231 (20.6%) were part-time, and 30 (2.7%) were unemployed. [10]

Education

Whareama School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, [11] [12] with a roll of 53 as of July 2025. [13]

References

  1. "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  2. "Wairarapa - Official Result". Electoral Commission . Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  3. "Ikaroa-Rāwhiti – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  4. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. "Place name detail: Whareama River". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand . Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  7. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  8. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  9. "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Whareama (256500). 2018 Census place summary: Whareama
  11. "Whareama School Official School Website". whareama.school.nz.
  12. "Whareama School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  13. "Whareama School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.