| Waitomo District | |
| Settlement Type: | Territorial authority district |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | New Zealand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Waikato region |
| Subdivision Type2: | Wards |
| Subdivision Name2: | Te Kuiti Ward Waitomo Rural Ward |
| Seat: | Te Kūiti |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | John Robertson |
| Leader Title1: | Deputy Mayor |
| Leader Name1: | Guy Whitaker |
| Leader Title2: | Territorial authority |
| Leader Name2: | Waitomo District Council |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Land Km2: | 3534.84 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | NZST |
| Utc Offset1: | +12 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | NZDT |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +13 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postcode(s) |
| Postal Code: | Map of postcodes |
| Website: | waitomo.govt.nz |
Waitomo District is a territorial authority, located in the Waikato region, at the north of the King Country area in the North Island of New Zealand. A small part of the district, the locality of Tiroa, however, lies in the Manawatū-Whanganui region.
The District covers the west coast from Te Maika, on Kawhia Harbour, to the north of Taharoa, to Mokau in the south and extends inland to Maniaiti / Benneydale and Mount Pureora.[1]
Waitomo District covers 3534.84km2[2] and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.
Waitomo District had a population of 9,585 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 282 people (3.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 678 people (7.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 4,845 males, 4,722 females and 21 people of other genders in 3,588 dwellings.[3] 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 2,022 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 1,668 (17.4%) aged 15 to 29, 4,197 (43.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,698 (17.7%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 62.6% European (Pākehā); 45.3% Māori; 4.4% Pasifika; 5.0% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.4%, Māori language by 12.0%, Samoan by 1.1% and other languages by 5.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 28.2% Christian, 0.8% Hindu, 0.8% Islam, 4.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 0.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.1%, and 8.1% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 759 (10.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 4,152 (54.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 2,448 (32.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 438 people (5.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,792 (50.1%) people were employed full-time, 1,020 (13.5%) were part-time, and 270 (3.6%) were unemployed.[4]
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) | Dwellings ! | Median age | Median income | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waitomo Rural Ward | 3,530.06 | 5,019 | 1.4 | 1,977 | 41.5 years | $38,700[5] | |
| Te Kuiti Ward | 4.78 | 4,566 | 955.2 | 1,608 | 37.3 years | $31,700[6] | |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
The seat of the Waitomo District Council is at Te Kūiti, which had a population of in . No other village in the district has a population of over 500. The district has a land area of 3534.84abbr=onNaNabbr=on, 94.87% of which lies in the Waikato Region and only 5.13% in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region. The Waitomo district was declared in 1976. The current district mayor is John Robertson, who defeated incumbent Brian Hanna in the 2019 New Zealand local elections.
The district is a rural, predominantly dairy farming, region. The area's main industries include sheep farming, forestry, and limestone quarrying. The area is known for the popular Waitomo Caves, a karstic system with stalactites, stalagmites and glowworms 12 kilometres northwest of Te Kūiti. Waitomo also has an Edwardian hotel, built in 1908 and added onto in the 1930s. The hotel overlooks the Waitomo Caves village.
Te Anga Road, a winding road from State Highway 3 in the Marokopa River area, leads past the Waitomo Caves, Mangapohue Natural Bridge, Piripiri Caves, and Marokopa Falls. Numerous other limestone caves are found throughout the Waitomo district.