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Waiatarua is a small settlement near the top of the Waitākere Ranges in West Auckland, close to the junction of Scenic Drive, West Coast Road and Piha Road to Piha and runs east until the junction of Scenic Drive and Mountain Road. Surrounded by native bush in the Centennial Memorial Park and the water catchment area, Waiatarua is over 300 metres above sea level and some houses are over 400 metres above sea level (higher than the Auckland Sky Tower). Waiatarua means “song of two waters”, possibly referring to the ability to see both the wild west coast, and the still, sparkling waters of the Manukau and Waitemata harbours from certain points in the area.


History

The area is within the traditional rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki, an iwi that traces their ancestry to some of the earliest inhabitants of the
Auckland Region Auckland () is one of the sixteen regions of New Zealand, which takes its name from the eponymous urban area. The region encompasses the Auckland Metropolitan Area, smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Containing ...
. The name Waiatarua originally referred to the upper reaches of the Big Muddy Creek and Nihotupu Stream, likely referencing the dual view of both the Waitematā and Manukau Harbours. During early European settlement, the area was interchangeably referred to as Waiatarua or Nihotupu. Waiatarua became the more popular name due to Scenic Drive resident Frederick Judson. Afterwards, the name Waiatarua was applied to a larger area. Rose Hellaby House is a historic building transformed into a museum. Large Kauri trees were milled in Waiatarua at Mander and Bradley's Mill close to Upper Nihotupu reservoir. At the turn of the century, holidaymakers would travel by coach from Glen Eden to stay at the Waiatarua guest house.


Demographics

The Waiatarua statistical area, which extends northeast of the settlement, covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Waiatarua had a population of 2,148 at the
2018 New Zealand census Eighteen or 18 may refer to: * 18 (number), the natural number following 17 and preceding 19 * one of the years 18 BC, AD 18, 1918, 2018 Film, television and entertainment * ''18'' (film), a 1993 Taiwanese experimental film based on the sho ...
, an increase of 72 people (3.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 159 people (8.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 735 households, comprising 1,089 males and 1,062 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 43.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 387 people (18.0%) aged under 15 years, 360 (16.8%) aged 15 to 29, 1,098 (51.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 300 (14.0%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 88.4% European/ Pākehā, 11.7% Māori, 5.0% Pacific peoples, 6.7% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 25.4, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.5% had no religion, 30.7% were
Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% were
Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
, 1.1% were
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
, 0.8% were Buddhist and 2.1% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 489 (27.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 210 (11.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $42,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 495 people (28.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 957 (54.3%) people were employed full-time, 282 (16.0%) were part-time, and 45 (2.6%) were unemployed.


Community facilities

Community facilities include a fire station, community hall, play centre, library, café and hotel.


Tourism

The nearby Arataki Information Centre proves information about the local flora, fauna and geology, and is the starting point for a number of well-maintained walking trails.


Tramping

The Waiatarua area includes the Upper and Lower Nihotupu water reservoirs. Leading to these reservoirs are scenic walking trails through native forest past waterfalls. These trails connect with the wider network of walking trails within Waitakere Regional Park. Many other tramping tracks are in the area. The nearest centres to Waiatarua are Titirangi village,
Swanson Swanson is a brand of TV dinners, broths, and canned poultry made for the North American and Hong Kong markets. The former "Swanson Company" was founded in Omaha, Nebraska, where it developed improvements of the frozen dinner. The TV dinner bu ...
, and the Henderson Valley.


Education

The local state primary schools are Oratia School and Henderson Valley School. The local state secondary schools are
Kelston Boys High School Kelston Boys' High School ("KBHS") (Te kura tuarua o nga tamatane o kerehana) is an all-boys state secondary school in Kelston, a suburb in the Waitakere region of Auckland, New Zealand. It was created in 1963 when the roll of Kelston High Scho ...
and
Kelston Girls' College Kelston Girls’ College (KGC) is a single-sex girls state secondary school in Kelston, a suburb in West Auckland, New Zealand. It was created in 1963 when the roll of Kelston High School (formed in 1954) became too large for the site on the co ...
. Catholic students usually attend St Dominic's College in Henderson (girls), Liston College in Henderson (boys) or commute by train from Henderson to Marist College in Mount Albert (girls) or St Peter's College in
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(boys). School buses departing from nearby Titirangi village service schools in central Auckland including
Epsom Girls' Grammar School , motto_translation = ''Through difficulties to greatness.'' , coordinates = , type = State Single Sex Girls Secondary (Year 9–13) with Boarding Facilities , established = 12 February 1917 , MOE = 64 , principal = Lorraine Pound , colo ...
,
St Cuthbert's College, Auckland St Cuthbert's College is a private (independent) Presbyterian-based day and boarding school for girls aged 4 to 18 (Years 0 to 13), located in Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand. The school was established in 1915 and has a roll of approximately 1 ...
and
Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland , type = Private, Girls, Composite (Year 1–13) with boarding facilities , denomination = Anglican , established = 1903; years ago , motto_translation = That we may serve , address ...
.


Radio and television mast

A transmission mast is located in the area. The Freeview UHF terrestrial service is transmitted to many areas in Auckland. A transmitter for Kordia's Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) trial is also located here. FM radio services used to be transmitted but these were transferred to the Auckland Sky Tower.


See also

*
New Zealand masts New Zealand Masts and Towers range in size from short flagpoles to high radio transmitter antenna structures. The highest mast is in Titahi Bay, being the highest structure in the Southern Hemisphere at time of construction. Later it became the ...


References

{{Waitākere Ranges Local Board Area Populated places in the Auckland Region Waitākere Ranges Local Board Area Waitākere Ranges