Waitematā Local Board Explained

Waitematā Local Board
Native Name:Maori: Te Poari ā-Rohe o Waitematā
Settlement Type:Local board of Waitematā
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:New Zealand
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Auckland
Subdivision Type2:Territorial authority
Subdivision Name2:Auckland
Subdivision Type3:Ward
Subdivision Name3:Waitematā and Gulf ward
Established Title:Legislated
Established Date:2010
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Land Km2:19.42
Population Density Km2:auto
Local Board Members
Leader1 Type:Chairperson
Leader1:Genevieve Sage
Party1:C & R
Leader2 Type:Deputy chairperson
Leader2:Greg Moyle
Party2:C & R
Political Groups1:
Members:7
Term Length:3 years
Last Election1:2022
Next Election1:2025
Meeting Place:Council Chambers, Auckland Town Hall, 301-317 Queen Street, Auckland

The Waitematā Local Board is one of the 21 local boards of the Auckland Council, and is one of the three boards overseen by the council's Waitematā and Gulf Ward councillor.

The Waitematā board, named after the Waitematā Harbour which forms its northern boundary, covers the Auckland central business district, and the suburbs of Arch Hill, Eden Terrace, Freemans Bay, Grafton, Grey Lynn, Herne Bay, Mechanics Bay, Newmarket, Newton, Parnell, Ponsonby, Saint Marys Bay, Western Springs, and Westmere.[1]

The board is governed by seven board members elected at-large.

Demographics

Waitematā Local Board Area covers 19.42km2[2] and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Waitematā had a population of 81,546 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 1,320 people (−1.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 4,410 people (5.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 46,197 dwellings. The median age was 33.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 7,206 people (8.8%) aged under 15 years, 26,775 (32.8%) aged 15 to 29, 39,333 (48.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 8,229 (10.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 59.9% European/Pākehā, 8.4% Māori, 5.8% Pasifika, 31.5% Asian, 4.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders, and 0.8% other. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.[3]

Waitematā Local Board Area had a population of 82,866 at the 2018 New Zealand census. There were 34,521 households. There were 41,799 males and 41,070 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female.

The proportion of people born overseas was 50.7%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 54.2% had no religion, 28.4% were Christian, 4.9% were Hindu, 2.4% were Muslim, 2.3% were Buddhist and 3.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 34,839 (46.4%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 3,501 (4.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $39,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 20,538 people (27.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 41,883 (55.8%) people were employed full-time, 11,553 (15.4%) were part-time, and 3,225 (4.3%) were unemployed.

2022-2025 term

The current board members, elected in the 2022 Auckland local elections, in election order are:

!!Affilitation!Candidate!Votes
City VisionAlexandra Bonham9,152
C&RSarah Trotman8,975
City VisionAnahera Rawiri8,691
City VisionRichard Northey8,656
C&RGenevieve Sage8,359
C&RAllan Matson8,305
C&RGreg Moyle8,130

2019–2022 term

The current board members, elected in the 2019 local body elections, in election order:[4]

Alexandra Bonham, City Vision (7547 votes)

Adriana Christie, City Vision (7405 votes)

Sarah Trotman, C&R Communities and Residents (6888 votes) (resigned in 2021, replaced by Glenda Fryer [5])

Richard Northey, City Vision (6857 votes)

Julie Sandilands, City Vision (6773 votes)

Kerrin Leonie, City Vision (6767 votes)

Graeme Gunthorp, City Vision (6529 votes)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Waitemata local board map. PDF . Aucklandcouncil.govt.nz . 2010-07-23.
  2. Web site: ArcGIS Web Application. 25 February 2022. statsnz.maps.arcgis.com.
  3. Web site: 2023 Census national and subnational usually resident population counts and dwelling counts. Microsoft Excel. Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa. 29 May 2024.
  4. Web site: Local board members. 18 October 2019. 16 November 2019. Auckland Council.
  5. Web site: Auckland politician quits before conduct hearing, says local government is broken. stuff.nz. 2022-02-11.