Riwaka
Riwaka
Riuwaka (Māori) | |
|---|---|
 The Riwaka Hotel | |
 Interactive map of Riwaka | |
| Coordinates: 41°5′S 173°0′E / 41.083°S 173.000°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Territorial authority | Tasman |
| Ward | Motueka Ward |
| Community | Motueka Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Tasman District Council |
| • Mayor of Tasman | Tim King[1] |
| • West Coast-Tasman MP | Maureen Pugh[2] |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.49 km2 (2.12 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 740 |
| • Density | 130/km2 (350/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Area code | 03 |
Riwaka (Māori: Riuwaka) is a small settlement in the Tasman District of New Zealand's South Island. It lies beside Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere, five kilometres north of Motueka, and close to the mouth of the Riuwaka River. The land where the town is based was a swamp known as Tureauraki.[6] Europeans first settled in Riwaka in May 1842.[7] The Riwaka economy has been based around growing tobacco and hops.[8][9][10]
Etymology
[edit]The settlement's name, Riwaka, is a corruption of the Māori name Riuwaka, which derives from riu meaning bilge or interior, and waka meaning canoe.[11] The name can be interpreted as the hull of the canoe.[12]
The name of the nearby river was officially altered from Riwaka River to Riuwaka River in August 2014,[13] following the Treaty of Waitangi settlements between the Crown and local iwi Ngāti Rārua and Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui.
Demographics
[edit]Riwaka is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 5.49 km2 (2.12 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 740 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 135 people per km2. It is part of the larger Kaiteriteri-Riwaka statistical area.[14]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 630 | — |
| 2013 | 660 | +0.67% |
| 2018 | 765 | +3.00% |
| 2023 | 756 | −0.24% |
| Source: [15][16] | ||
Rīwaka had a population of 756 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 9 people (−1.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 96 people (14.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 381 males, 375 females, and 3 people of other genders in 273 dwellings.[17] 3.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 123 people (16.3%) aged under 15 years, 138 (18.3%) aged 15 to 29, 354 (46.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 138 (18.3%) aged 65 or older.[15]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 87.3% European (Pākehā); 14.7% Māori; 5.2% Pasifika; 3.2% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 5.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.4%, Māori by 2.4%, Samoan by 2.4%, and other languages by 7.1%. No language could be spoken by 0.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[15]
Religious affiliations were 19.8% Christian, 0.4% Islam, 0.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, and 2.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 67.5%, and 9.5% of people did not answer the census question.[15]
Of those at least 15 years old, 84 (13.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 369 (58.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 177 (28.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 42 people (6.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 333 (52.6%) full-time, 96 (15.2%) part-time, and 12 (1.9%) unemployed.[15]
Kaiteriteri-Riwaka statistical area
[edit]Kaiteriteri-Riwaka statistical area, which also includes Mārahau and Kaiteriteri, covers 29.48 km2 (11.38 sq mi)[18] and had an estimated population of 2,020 as of June 2025,[19] with a population density of 69 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,464 | — |
| 2013 | 1,539 | +0.72% |
| 2018 | 1,770 | +2.84% |
| 2023 | 1,992 | +2.39% |
| The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 28.57 km2. Source: [20][21] | ||
Kaiteriteri-Rīwaka had a population of 1,992 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 222 people (12.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 453 people (29.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,053 males, 933 females, and 3 people of other genders in 729 dwellings.[22] 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 267 people (13.4%) aged under 15 years, 315 (15.8%) aged 15 to 29, 933 (46.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 474 (23.8%) aged 65 or older.[20]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.9% European (Pākehā); 10.5% Māori; 10.2% Pasifika; 2.4% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.7%, Māori by 2.1%, Samoan by 2.9%, and other languages by 13.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 28.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.[20]
Religious affiliations were 28.9% Christian, 0.2% Islam, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% Buddhist, 1.1% New Age, and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.1%, and 7.5% of people did not answer the census question.[20]
Of those at least 15 years old, 306 (17.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 882 (51.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 534 (31.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 117 people (6.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 810 (47.0%) full-time, 264 (15.3%) part-time, and 48 (2.8%) unemployed.[20]
Church
[edit]The Saint Barnabas Anglican church is located on Main Road, Riwaka.[23]
Education
[edit]Riwaka School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[24][25] with a roll of 125 as of March 2026.[26] The school, opened in 1848, is one of the oldest schools in New Zealand.[12]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Election results". Tasman District Council. 17 October 2025.
- ↑ "West Coast-Tasman - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ↑ "Riwaka | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ↑ "Wakefield's Memorial Riwaka and Puketawai Pā". www.theprow.org.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ↑ "Hops, tobacco and hemp". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ↑ "Riwaka | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ↑ "Reaping The Harvest - Nelson Photo News - No 101 : April 5, 1969". photonews.org.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ↑ "Place name detail: Riwaka". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand.
- 1 2 "Our History & Community". Riwaka School. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ↑ "NZGB decisions". Land Information New Zealand. August 2014. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
- ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Urban Rural Areas – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Rīwaka (2009). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7022557, 7022560–7022562 and 7022566.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Kaiteriteri-Rīwaka (300801). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Kaiteriteri-Riwaka (300800). 2018 Census place summary: Kaiteriteri-Riwaka
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Motueka Anglican Parish | St Thomas, Motueka – St Barnabas, Riwaka Village Church – St James, Ngatimoti". Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ↑ "Riwaka School Official School Website". riwaka.school.nz.
- ↑ "Riwaka School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ↑ "Riwaka School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
