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Waitaria Bay

Waitaria Bay
Map
Interactive map of Waitaria Bay
Coordinates: 41°9′26″S 174°2′54″E / 41.15722°S 174.04833°E / -41.15722; 174.04833
CountryNew Zealand
RegionMarlborough
Ward
  • Marlborough Sounds General Ward
  • Marlborough Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
  Territorial AuthorityMarlborough District Council
  Marlborough District MayorNadine Taylor[1]
  Kaikōura MPStuart Smith[2]
  Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris[3]
Area
  Total
232.24 km2 (89.67 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 census)[5]
  Total
165
  Density0.710/km2 (1.84/sq mi)

Waitaria Bay is a locality in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. It lies on the northern side of Kenepuru Sound in the Marlborough Sounds.[6][7]

The town is one of the most isolated in the South Island to have a school. The nearest shop is about 50 minutes drive, the nearest small town, Havelock, is two hours drive, and the nearest main centre, Blenheim, is two and a half hours drive.[8][9]

Demographics

[edit]

Waitaria Bay locality, which includes Manaroa, Crail Bay and Nopera, covers 232.24 km2 (89.67 sq mi).[4] It is part of the larger Marlborough Sounds East statistical area.[10]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006246    
2013156−6.30%
2018153−0.39%
2023165+1.52%
The 2006 population is for a larger area of 396.98 km2.
Source: [5][11]

Waitaria Bay had a population of 165 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (7.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 9 people (5.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 90 males and 72 females in 78 dwellings.[12] The median age was 60.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 21 people (12.7%) aged under 15 years, 3 (1.8%) aged 15 to 29, 75 (45.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (40.0%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.9% European (Pākehā); 3.6% Māori; 1.8% Pasifika; 1.8% Asian; 1.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 10.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori by 1.8%, and other languages by 10.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 27.3% Christian, and 1.8% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.7%, and 16.4% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (22.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 75 (52.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 33 (22.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $27,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 15 people (10.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 51 (35.4%) full-time and 33 (22.9%) part-time.[5]

Education

[edit]

Waitaria Bay School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school[13] with a roll of 12 (as of March 2026).[14]. The school opened in 1897 but closed in 1924 as there were no students. It reopened about 1944.[15]

Nopera Bay School opened in 1909.[16] It closed and merged to Waitaria Bay in 1970.[15]

References

[edit]
  1. "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  2. "Kaikōura - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  3. "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7035325. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 61. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  7. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 133. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  8. "Welcome". Waitaria Bay School.
  9. "Sounds parents to pay teacher's salary". The Marlborough Express. 22 May 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-10-03.
  10. "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  11. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023252.
  12. "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.
  13. "Waitaria Bay School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  14. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  15. 1 2 "History". Waitaria Bay School. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  16. "Pelorus Sounds" (PDF). Wairarapa School History. p. 83. Retrieved 31 May 2026.