Waitangirua

Waitangirua
Suburb
Coordinates: 41.129°S 174.880°E / -41.129; 174.880
Country	New Zealand
City	Porirua City
Local authority	Porirua City Council
Electoral ward	Onepoto General Ward Porirua Māori Ward
Established	1960s
Area
• Land	122 ha (301 acres)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	4,620

Ascot Park		Whitby
Aotea	Waitangirua
Cannons Creek

Waitangirua is a suburb of Porirua City approximately 22km north of Wellington in New Zealand.

Waitangirua was established during the 1960s, almost exclusively as a Government housing development for New Zealand's burgeoning working class immigrant population. As such the ethnic demographic of Waitangirua at the time of establishment comprising primarily Pacific Island, Scottish, Indian, Irish, English and Chinese as well as Māori. Many of the original settling families still live in Waitangirua today.

The hilly suburb until the late 90s was almost semi-rural surrounded by farmland with Whitby to the North East, Pauatahanui Inlet and Estuary further to the North, and the Belmont hills and Hutt Valley to the East.

The diverse multi-racial nature of Waitangirua makes for a colourful community dominated by a vibrant and exuberant youth culture.

Several scenes from the Taika Waititi film Eagle vs Shark were shot on location in Waitangirua.

Demographics

Waitangirua statistical area covers 1.22 km² (0.47 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 4,620 as of June 2023, with a population density of 3,787 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	4,071	—
2013	4,020	−0.18%
2018	4,398	+1.81%
Source:

Waitangirua had a population of 4,398 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 378 people (9.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 327 people (8.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,044 households, comprising 2,097 males and 2,301 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.91 males per female. The median age was 26.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 1,323 people (30.1%) aged under 15 years, 1,128 (25.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,599 (36.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 345 (7.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 22.0% European/Pākehā, 28.8% Māori, 66.0% Pasifika, 8.3% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 29.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 23.7% had no religion, 62.2% were Christian, 2.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 1.8% were Muslim, 1.2% were Buddhist and 0.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 219 (7.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 843 (27.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $19,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 111 people (3.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,230 (40.0%) people were employed full-time, 390 (12.7%) were part-time, and 297 (9.7%) were unemployed.

Education

Corinna School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students, with a roll of 149 as of February 2024.

Natone Park School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students, with a roll of 88.

Tairangi School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of 151.

Te Kura Maori O Porirua is a co-educational state Māori language immersion primary school for Year 1 to 13 students, with a roll of 318.

External links

• Waitangirua Community Profile at Statistics NZ