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Wainui Beach

Wainui Beach
Wainui Beach
Wainui Beach
Map
Coordinates: 38°41′20″S 178°04′20″E / 38.6889°S 178.0722°E / -38.6889; 178.0722
CountryNew Zealand
RegionGisborne District
WardTairāwhiti General Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authorityGisborne District Council
 • Mayor of GisborneRehette Stoltz[1]
 • East Coast MPDana Kirkpatrick[2]
 • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MPCushla Tangaere-Manuel[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
1.40 km2 (0.54 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)[5]
 • Total
873
 • Density620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)

Wainui Beach is a small settlement on the coast of New Zealand's North Island, located just to the north of Tuaheni Point, some 8 km to the east of Gisborne, to which it is linked by State Highway 35.

The beach is one of the NZ Automobile Association's 101 Must-do places for Kiwis.[6] It is noted for its consistent surf breaks.[7] Wainui Beach's most notable residents have been the Quinn family, which contains three national champion surfers - brothers Maz and Jay, and sister Holly.

Demographics

[edit]

Wainui Beach covers 1.40 km2 (0.54 sq mi).[4] It is part of the Wainui-Okitu statistical area.[8]

Historical population for Wainui Beach
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006672—    
2013720+0.99%
2018819+2.61%
2023873+1.29%
Source: [5][9]
Wainui Church

Wainui Beach had a population of 873 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 54 people (6.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 153 people (21.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 429 males and 435 females in 318 dwellings.[10] 1.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 201 people (23.0%) aged under 15 years, 99 (11.3%) aged 15 to 29, 390 (44.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 183 (21.0%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.3% European (Pākehā); 19.6% Māori; 1.4% Pasifika; 3.1% Asian; 2.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.9%, Māori by 5.2%, and other languages by 10.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 22.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 30.9% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 1.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, 0.7% Jewish, and 1.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.0%, and 6.5% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 288 (42.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 300 (44.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 75 (11.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 141 people (21.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 327 (48.7%) full-time, 120 (17.9%) part-time, and 15 (2.2%) unemployed.[5]

Wainui-Okitu statistical area

[edit]

Wainui-Okitu statistical area, which also includes Okitū, covers 6.20 km2 (2.39 sq mi)[11] and had an estimated population of 2,100 as of June 2024,[12] with a population density of 339 people per km2.

Historical population for Wainui-Okitu
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,356—    
20131,500+1.45%
20181,755+3.19%
20232,004+2.69%
The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 5.36 km2.
Source: [13][14]

Wainui-Okitu had a population of 2,004 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 249 people (14.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 504 people (33.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 999 males, 1,005 females, and 3 people of other genders in 729 dwellings.[15] 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 456 people (22.8%) aged under 15 years, 258 (12.9%) aged 15 to 29, 933 (46.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 357 (17.8%) aged 65 or older.[13]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.6% European (Pākehā); 22.9% Māori; 1.8% Pasifika; 3.0% Asian; 3.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori by 4.0%, and other languages by 10.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 22.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[13]

Religious affiliations were 29.5% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.4% Jewish, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.0%, and 6.6% of people did not answer the census question.[13]

Of those at least 15 years old, 642 (41.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 723 (46.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 186 (12.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $52,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 294 people (19.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 828 (53.5%) full-time, 276 (17.8%) part-time, and 27 (1.7%) unemployed.[13]

Parks

[edit]

Wainui Beach has two main park areas. Wainui Reserve is a sports ground. Wainui Beach and Lysnar Reserve includes the main beach, a boat ramp and boat fishing area, a dog walking area, and an area for horse riding and kite surfing.[16]

Education

[edit]

Wainui Beach School is Year 1–6 co-educational state primary school with a roll of 246 students as of July 2025.[17][18] It opened in 1962.[19]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Councillor contact details". Gisborne District Council. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  2. ^ "East Coast - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Ikaroa-Rāwhiti – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7015738, 7015739, 7015740, 7015744 and 7015745. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ^ NZAA website
  7. ^ surf-forecast.com
  8. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  9. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7015738–7015740 and 7015744–7015745.
  10. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Wainui-Okitu (207301). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Wainui-Okitu (207300). 2018 Census place summary: Wainui-Okitu
  15. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Gisborne Parks and Reserves". gdc.govt.nz. Gisborne District Council.
  17. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  18. ^ Education Counts: Wainui Beach School
  19. ^ "Lifetime of giving". Gisborne Herald. 18 March 2023. I ... got talked into going to Wainui Beach School when it opened in 1962