Whangamatā
Town in Waikato, New Zealand
title: "Whangamatā" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["thames-coromandel-district", "populated-places-in-waikato", "surfing-locations-in-new-zealand", "beaches-of-waikato"] description: "Town in Waikato, New Zealand" topic_path: "geography/new-zealand" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whangamatā" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Town in Waikato, New Zealand ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Whangamatā |
| image_skyline | Whangamata.JPG |
| image_caption | A view of Whangamatā |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | New Zealand |
| subdivision_type1 | Region |
| subdivision_name1 | Waikato |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Thames-Coromandel District |
| subdivision_type3 | Ward |
| subdivision_name3 | South Eastern ward |
| subdivision_type4 | Community Board |
| subdivision_name4 | Whangamatā Community |
| leader_title | Council |
| leader_name | Thames-Coromandel District Council |
| leader_title1 | Regional council |
| leader_name1 | Waikato Regional Council |
| leader_title2 | Mayor of Thames-Coromandel |
| leader_name2 | |
| leader_title3 | Coromandel MP |
| leader_name3 | |
| leader_title4 | Hauraki-Waikato MP |
| leader_name4 | |
| seat_type | Electorates |
| seat | |
| area_footnotes | |
| area_total_km2 | 8.46 |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_total | |
| population_as_of | |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| mapframe | yes |
| mapframe-zoom | 9 |
| coordinates | |
| postal_code_type | Postcode(s) |
| postal_code | 3620 |
| :: |
| name = Whangamatā | image_skyline = Whangamata.JPG | image_caption = A view of Whangamatā | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Waikato | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Thames-Coromandel District | subdivision_type3 = Ward | subdivision_name3 = South Eastern ward | subdivision_type4 = Community Board | subdivision_name4 = Whangamatā Community | leader_title = Council | leader_name = Thames-Coromandel District Council | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = Waikato Regional Council | leader_title2 = Mayor of Thames-Coromandel | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = Coromandel MP | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = Hauraki-Waikato MP | leader_name4 = | seat_type = Electorates | seat = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 8.46 | population_footnotes = | population_total = | population_as_of = | population_density_km2 = auto | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | coordinates = | postal_code_type = Postcode(s) | postal_code = 3620 | official_name =
The town of Whangamatā is on the southeast coast of the Coromandel Peninsula in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 30 kilometres north of Waihi, to the north of the western extremity of the Bay of Plenty.
In holiday times the population swells considerably: New Year's celebrations fill the town to over 25,000 though this falls soon after New Year's Day.
A number of off-shore islands can be seen from the beach. Hauturu or Clark Island is accessible by wading at low tide and is popular in summer months for rock-pool fossickers and kayakers. Whenuakura, sometimes known as Donut Island, sits about a kilometre east of the southern part of Whangamatā beach (Otahu Beach). Tuatara roamed on Whenuakura until fairly recently. Whenuakura Island has a large collapsed blow hole which has formed a small beach inside the island – hence the alternative name.
The town has two ocean beaches, both of which are extremely safe for swimming and surfing. There is a safe boating harbour at the North end of the town and another estuary at the South end. 15 minutes drive south of Whangamatā is the quietly popular beach Whiritoa. Other beaches just north of Whangamatā are Onemana and Opoutere.
Place name
The Māori name 'Whangamatā' comes from the words 'whanga', which means bay, and 'matā', which means a hard stone, in reference to the obsidian which washes up on the beach. Areas along the coast such as Onemana were locations where matā (chert) and matā tūhua (obsidian) were found and processed into stone tools.
Demographics
Stats NZ describes Whangamatā as a small urban area. It covers 8.46 km2 and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.
Whangamatā had a population of 4,269 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 195 people (4.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 753 people (21.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,100 males, 2,151 females and 15 people of other genders in 1,926 dwellings. 1.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 59.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 519 people (12.2%) aged under 15 years, 405 (9.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,623 (38.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,719 (40.3%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.4% European (Pākehā); 14.8% Māori; 2.2% Pasifika; 2.5% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.6%, Māori language by 1.8%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 5.1%. No language could be spoken by 0.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 28.2% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 59.9%, and 9.3% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 624 (16.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,190 (58.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 936 (25.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $30,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 267 people (7.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,236 (33.0%) people were employed full-time, 588 (15.7%) were part-time, and 63 (1.7%) were unemployed.
::data[format=table title="Individual statistical areas"] | Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) || Dwellings | Median age | Median income | New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Whangamatā West | 2.28 | 1,053 | 462 | 429 | 58.8 years | $29,800 | | | | Whangamatā East | 6.18 | 3,213 | 520 | 1,503 | 59.9 years | $30,700 | | | ::
Rural area
Whangamatā Rural statistical area, which includes Onemana and Opoutere, covers 153.67 km2 and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Whangamata_Beach_(9993001275).jpg" caption="Whangamatā Beach"] ::
Whangamatā Rural had a population of 522 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 90 people (20.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 165 people (46.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 261 males and 258 females in 231 dwellings. 1.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 53.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 69 people (13.2%) aged under 15 years, 60 (11.5%) aged 15 to 29, 237 (45.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 153 (29.3%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.2% European (Pākehā); 23.0% Māori; 0.6% Pasifika; 1.7% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.7%, Māori language by 7.5%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 7.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 19.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 25.9% Christian, 1.1% Hindu, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% New Age, and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.4%, and 7.5% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 99 (21.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 252 (55.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 102 (22.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $33,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 39 people (8.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 171 (37.7%) people were employed full-time, 87 (19.2%) were part-time, and 9 (2.0%) were unemployed.
Education
Whangamata Area School is a coeducational composite school (years 1–13) with a roll of students as of
Marina
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Whangamata_Harbour_grey_morning.jpg" caption="Whangamatā Harbour"] ::
A controversial marina has been constructed on the Whangamatā estuary. An Environment Court hearing stipulated that the marina could go ahead as long as certain conditions were met. Chris Carter, a former Minister of Conservation, blocked the development but his decision was judicially reviewed by the marina developers.
The decision was sent back to Conservation Minister Chris Carter, who stated that in the interests of transparency he would then give the final decision to Environment Minister David Benson-Pope, who allowed the marina to go ahead provided that strict conditions were met regarding containment of dredged materials during construction and monitoring of the surf break at the estuary's entrance. The marina opened in November 2009.
Climate
|metric first=y |single line=y |location = Whangamatā (Tairua Forest) (1971–1993) | Jan record high C = 32.5 | Feb record high C = 31.7 | Mar record high C = 34.0 | Apr record high C = 26.3 | May record high C = 23.1 | Jun record high C = 21.8 | Jul record high C = 19.8 | Aug record high C = 20.0 | Sep record high C = 24.0 | Oct record high C = 25.5 | Nov record high C = 28.0 | Dec record high C = 29.0 | year record high C = | Jan avg record high C = 28.3 | Feb avg record high C = 27.8 | Mar avg record high C = 26.4 | Apr avg record high C = 23.9 | May avg record high C = 20.7 | Jun avg record high C = 18.9 | Jul avg record high C = 18.0 | Aug avg record high C = 18.4 | Sep avg record high C = 20.5 | Oct avg record high C = 22.2 | Nov avg record high C = 24.3 | Dec avg record high C = 26.5 | year avg record high C = 29.2 | Jan high C = 23.9 | Feb high C = 23.7 | Mar high C = 22.3 | Apr high C = 19.9 | May high C = 17.2 | Jun high C = 15.0 | Jul high C = 14.5 | Aug high C = 15.1 | Sep high C = 16.6 | Oct high C = 18.3 | Nov high C = 20.3 | Dec high C = 22.2 | year high C = | Jan mean C = 19.2 | Feb mean C = 19.1 | Mar mean C = 17.8 | Apr mean C = 15.2 | May mean C = 12.6 | Jun mean C = 10.6 | Jul mean C = 9.9 | Aug mean C = 10.6 | Sep mean C = 12.3 | Oct mean C = 13.9 | Nov mean C = 15.9 | Dec mean C = 17.5 | year mean C = | Jan low C = 14.4 | Feb low C = 14.5 | Mar low C = 13.2 | Apr low C = 10.5 | May low C = 8.0 | Jun low C = 6.2 | Jul low C = 5.3 | Aug low C = 6.0 | Sep low C = 8.0 | Oct low C = 9.4 | Nov low C = 11.4 | Dec low C = 12.8 | year low C = | Jan avg record low C = 8.3 | Feb avg record low C = 8.9 | Mar avg record low C = 6.7 | Apr avg record low C = 4.1 | May avg record low C = 1.7 | Jun avg record low C = 0.0 | Jul avg record low C = -0.4 | Aug avg record low C = -0.3 | Sep avg record low C = 1.9 | Oct avg record low C = 3.3 | Nov avg record low C = 5.3 | Dec avg record low C = 6.8 | year avg record low C = -1.9 |Jan record low C = 4.0 |Feb record low C = 4.9 |Mar record low C = 3.4 |Apr record low C = 0.5 |May record low C = -0.3 |Jun record low C = -3.2 |Jul record low C = -4.0 |Aug record low C = -4.5 |Sep record low C = -1.0 |Oct record low C = 1.2 |Nov record low C = -1.9 |Dec record low C = 0.6 |year record low C = |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 116.8 |Feb rain mm = 128.8 |Mar rain mm = 174.1 |Apr rain mm = 141.4 |May rain mm = 108.7 |Jun rain mm = 179.3 |Jul rain mm = 128.2 |Aug rain mm = 189.3 |Sep rain mm = 116.4 |Oct rain mm = 107.3 |Nov rain mm = 123.2 |Dec rain mm = 108.6 |year rain mm = |source 1 = Earth Sciences NZ (rainfall 1981–2010){{cite web |url = https://data.niwa.co.nz/ |title = Datahub (Agent number: 1534) |publisher = Earth Sciences New Zealand |access-date = 10 Nov 2025}}
References
References
- Mathew Grocott. (4 February 2008). "Whangamata loses its swell". [[Hauraki Herald]].
- {{Cite Q. Q58677406
- "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
- {{NZ census 2018. Whangamatā (168500). whangamata. Whangamatā
- "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
- "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
- "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
- "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
- "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
- {{NZ census 2018. Whangamatā Rural (168400). whangamata-rural. Whangamatā Rural
- "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
- "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
- {{TKI. 428. Whangamata Area School
- (22 November 2009). "Controversial Whangamata marina opens". [[Stuff (website).
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