| Forest Lakes | |
| Settlement Type: | Rural locality |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Coordinates: | -40.732°N 175.179°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | New Zealand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Type2: | Territorial authority |
| Subdivision Name2: | Kāpiti Coast District |
| Subdivision Type3: | Ward |
| Subdivision Name3: | Ōtaki Ward |
| Subdivision Type4: | Community |
| Subdivision Name4: | Ōtaki Community |
| Seat Type: | Electorates |
| Leader Title: | Territorial Authority |
| Leader Name: | Kāpiti Coast District Council |
| Leader Title1: | Regional council |
| Leader Name1: | Greater Wellington Regional Council |
| Leader Title2: | Kāpiti Coast Mayor |
| Leader Title3: | Ōtaki MP |
| Leader Title4: | Te Tai Hauāuru MP |
| Area Total Km2: | 34.63 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
Forest Lakes is a rural locality in the Kāpiti Coast District of the Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located between Ōtaki and the northern boundary of Kāpiti Coast. Forest Lakes Road runs west from . The area contains Lake Waitawa, Ngatotara Lagoon, and several smaller lakes. Lake Kopureherehere is just north of the district border.[1]
Forest Lakes Station flourished in the area from the 1870s[2] to the 1920s.[3] The Forest Lakes Homestead is now part of a camping and conference centre.[4]
The statistical area of Forest Lakes covers 34.63km2,[5] and also includes an area east of Waitohu. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.
Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a larger boundary, covering 38.09km2[5] and including part of Waitohu. Using that boundary, Forest Lakes had a population of 663 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 39 people (6.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 72 people (12.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 255 households, comprising 315 males and 348 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.91 males per female. The median age was 52.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 99 people (14.9%) aged under 15 years, 96 (14.5%) aged 15 to 29, 306 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 159 (24.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 90.0% European/Pākehā, 16.3% Māori, 1.8% Pasifika, 3.2% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 15.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.2% had no religion, 33.0% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Muslim and 1.4% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 138 (24.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 111 (19.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 105 people (18.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 270 (47.9%) people were employed full-time, 90 (16.0%) were part-time, and 18 (3.2%) were unemployed.