Wairakei | |
|---|---|
Rural locality | |
 TheCraters of the Moon, a steamfield close by, created by the use of geothermal energy changing the underground pressure situation. | |
 | |
| Coordinates:38°37′08″S176°06′11″E / 38.619°S 176.103°E /-38.619; 176.103 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Waikato region |
| District | Taupō District |
| Ward | Taupō East Rural General Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Taupō District Council |
| • Regional council | Waikato Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Taupō | John Funnell[1] |
| • Taupō MP | Louise Upston[2] |
| • Waiariki MP | Rawiri Waititi[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.36 km2 (0.14 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 490 |
| • Density | 1,400/km2 (3,500/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 3332 |
Wairakei is a small settlement andgeothermal area 8-kilometres (5 mi) north ofTaupō, in the centre of theNorth Island ofNew Zealand, on theWaikato River. It is part of theTaupō Volcanic Zone and features several natural geysers, hot pools, boiling mud pools, and theWairakei Power Station, a major geothermal electric power generating station.
The station was the second large-scale geothermal facility worldwide, and was commissioned in 1958. It was listed in the book70 Wonders Of The Modern World published in 2000 by Reader's Digest to recordThe Eventful 20th Century.[6]
The settlement, referred to as Wairakei Village, was constructed to house the workers of both the power station and the neighbouringAratiatia hydro power station.
From 31 October 2022 it had buses to Taupō, Mondays to Fridays.[7]
Statistics New Zealand describes Wairakei Village as a rural settlement, which covers 0.36 km2 (0.14 sq mi).[4] and had an estimated population of 490 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 1,361 people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Wairakei-Broadlands statistical area.[8]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 465 | — |
| 2013 | 453 | −0.37% |
| 2018 | 510 | +2.40% |
| 2023 | 480 | −1.21% |
| Source:[9][10] | ||
Wairākei Village had a population of 480 in the2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 30 people (−5.9%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 27 people (6.0%) since the2013 census. There were 246 males, 234 females, and 3 people ofother genders in 147 dwellings.[11] 2.5% of people identified asLGBTIQ+. The median age was 32.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 123 people (25.6%) aged under 15 years, 93 (19.4%) aged 15 to 29, 222 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 45 (9.4%) aged 65 or older.[9]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 71.9%European (Pākehā); 46.2%Māori; 3.1%Pasifika; 1.9%Asian; 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.2%, Māori by 7.5%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 5.6%. No language could be spoken by 2.5% (e.g. too young to talk).New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[9]
Religious affiliations were 17.5%Christian, 0.6%Hindu, 5.6%Māori religious beliefs, and 1.2%New Age. People who answered that they hadno religion were 63.8%, and 11.9% of people did not answer the census question.[9]
Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (8.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 210 (58.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 114 (31.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 18 people (5.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 189 (52.9%) full-time, 60 (16.8%) part-time, and 6 (1.7%) unemployed.[9]
Wairakei-Broadlands statistical area covers 410.00 km2 (158.30 sq mi)[12] and had an estimated population of 1,230 as of June 2025,[13] with a population density of 3.0 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,092 | — |
| 2013 | 1,152 | +0.77% |
| 2018 | 1,236 | +1.42% |
| 2023 | 1,182 | −0.89% |
| Source:[14][15] | ||
Wairākei-Broadlands had a population of 1,182 in the2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 54 people (−4.4%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 30 people (2.6%) since the2013 census. There were 621 males, 558 females, and 3 people ofother genders in 417 dwellings.[16] 2.3% of people identified asLGBTIQ+. The median age was 35.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 258 people (21.8%) aged under 15 years, 216 (18.3%) aged 15 to 29, 567 (48.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 138 (11.7%) aged 65 or older.[14]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 77.7%European (Pākehā); 36.5%Māori; 2.8%Pasifika; 3.3%Asian; 1.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.7%, Māori by 5.3%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 5.8%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk).New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.[14]
Religious affiliations were 20.8%Christian, 0.8%Hindu, 3.6%Māori religious beliefs, 0.5%Buddhist, 0.8%New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they hadno religion were 62.2%, and 10.7% of people did not answer the census question.[14]
Of those at least 15 years old, 105 (11.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 549 (59.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 270 (29.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 78 people (8.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 540 (58.4%) full-time, 138 (14.9%) part-time, and 15 (1.6%) unemployed.[14]
Wairakei School is a co-educational state primary school,[17][18] with a roll of 332 as of July 2025.[19][20] The school opened in 1959.[21]
| Climate data for Wairakei (1962–1987 normals, extremes 1952–1988) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32.9 (91.2) | 34.0 (93.2) | 30.0 (86.0) | 26.9 (80.4) | 21.2 (70.2) | 18.3 (64.9) | 17.8 (64.0) | 18.8 (65.8) | 23.0 (73.4) | 28.3 (82.9) | 28.0 (82.4) | 31.2 (88.2) | 34.0 (93.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.5 (74.3) | 23.7 (74.7) | 21.7 (71.1) | 18.4 (65.1) | 14.4 (57.9) | 11.9 (53.4) | 11.4 (52.5) | 12.5 (54.5) | 14.3 (57.7) | 16.8 (62.2) | 19.2 (66.6) | 21.6 (70.9) | 17.5 (63.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.9 (62.4) | 16.9 (62.4) | 15.4 (59.7) | 12.2 (54.0) | 9.0 (48.2) | 6.8 (44.2) | 6.3 (43.3) | 7.3 (45.1) | 9.1 (48.4) | 11.2 (52.2) | 13.3 (55.9) | 15.5 (59.9) | 11.7 (53.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.3 (50.5) | 10.2 (50.4) | 9.1 (48.4) | 6.1 (43.0) | 3.5 (38.3) | 1.9 (35.4) | 1.0 (33.8) | 2.1 (35.8) | 3.9 (39.0) | 5.6 (42.1) | 7.4 (45.3) | 9.3 (48.7) | 5.9 (42.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −0.5 (31.1) | −1.1 (30.0) | −2.6 (27.3) | −6.4 (20.5) | −5.9 (21.4) | −6.8 (19.8) | −7.0 (19.4) | −7.1 (19.2) | −6.6 (20.1) | −4.6 (23.7) | −3.2 (26.2) | −1.5 (29.3) | −7.1 (19.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 83.3 (3.28) | 85.6 (3.37) | 98.0 (3.86) | 80.4 (3.17) | 99.5 (3.92) | 110.2 (4.34) | 118.2 (4.65) | 119.3 (4.70) | 111.4 (4.39) | 94.3 (3.71) | 93.2 (3.67) | 123.8 (4.87) | 1,217.2 (47.93) |
| Source: NIWA[23] | |||||||||||||
| International | |
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| National | |
