Forest Lakes | |
|---|---|
Rural locality | |
 | |
| Coordinates:40°43′55″S175°10′44″E / 40.732°S 175.179°E /-40.732; 175.179 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Wellington Region |
| Territorial authority | Kāpiti Coast District |
| Ward | Ōtaki Ward |
| Community | Ōtaki Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Kāpiti Coast District Council |
| • Regional council | Greater Wellington Regional Council |
| • Ōtaki MP | Tim Costley |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 34.63 km2 (13.37 sq mi) |
Forest Lakes is a rural locality in theKāpiti Coast District of theWellington Region ofNew Zealand'sNorth Island. It is located betweenŌtaki and the northern boundary of Kāpiti Coast. Forest Lakes Road runs west fromState Highway 1. The area containsLake Waitawa,Ngatotara Lagoon, and several smaller lakes.Lake Kopureherehere is just north of the district border.[4]
Forest Lakes Station flourished in the area from the 1870s[5] to the 1920s.[6] The Forest Lakes Homestead is now part of a camping and conference centre.[7]
The statistical area of Forest Lakes covers 34.63 km2 (13.37 sq mi),[2] and also includes an area east ofWaitohu. It had an estimated population of 630 as of June 2024, with a population density of 18.19 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 591 | — |
| 2013 | 624 | +0.78% |
| 2018 | 663 | +1.22% |
| Source:[8] | ||
Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a larger boundary, covering 38.09 km2 (14.71 sq mi)[2] and including part ofWaitohu. Using that boundary, Forest Lakes had a population of 663 at the2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 39 people (6.2%) since the2013 census, and an increase of 72 people (12.2%) since the2006 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% wereChristian, 0.5% hadMāori religious beliefs, 0.5% wereMuslim 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.[8]