Waikawau | |
|---|---|
Locality | |
 Interactive map of Waikawau | |
| Coordinates:38°28′19″S174°40′52″E / 38.472°S 174.681°E /-38.472; 174.681 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Waikato region |
| Territorial authority | Waitomo District |
| Ward | Rural |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Waitomo District Council |
| • Regional council | Waikato Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Waitomo | John Robertson[1] |
| • Taranaki-King Country MP | Barbara Kuriger[2] |
| • Hauraki-Waikato MP | Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke[3] |
| Population (2023 census) | |
• Territorial | 51 |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
Waikawau is a rural community in theWaitomo District andWaikato region of New Zealand'sNorth Island, besideWaikawau River.[4]
There are also small settlements of the same name on both the west[5] and east[6] coasts ofCoromandel.
It features the only publicly accessible beach betweenMarokopa andAwakino. The only way to access the beach is through a walking track and farming tunnel,[7] which was dug through sandstone cliffs by three men in 1911.[8]
The New ZealandMinistry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "water of theshag" forWaikawau.[9]
The area has been a popular spot forfreedom camping during whitebait season and summer.[10] Signs were put in place in 2015, advising visitors it is illegal to camp on private land.[11]
The New Zealand endemic plant,Dracophyllum strictum, grows extensively in the area.[12]
Waikawau is astridemeshblocks 1016301 and 1016400, which had a population of 51 people in the 2023 census.[13]
The Awakino-Waikawau locality covers 286.22 km2 (110.51 sq mi)[14] and is covered atAwakino#Demographics. The locality is part of the largerHerangi statistical area.[15]
Whareorino School is a co-educational state primary school covering years 1 to 8,[16] with a roll of 6 as of October 2025.[17][18] The school was open by 1930.[19]