Waipawa
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use New Zealand English Template:Infobox settlement Waipawa is the second-largest town in Central Hawke's Bay in the east of the North Island of New Zealand. It has a population of Template:NZ population data 2018
The town is located Template:Convert northeast of Waipukurau and Template:Convert southwest of Hastings, on the northern bank of the Waipawa River, a tributary of the Tukituki River.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Waipawa was settled in the early 1860s.
It holds the main office of the Central Hawke's Bay District Council, and is New Zealand's oldest inland European settlement.<ref name="jasons">Template:Cite web</ref>
Frederick Abbot was one of the early settlers<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Waipawa was originally called Abbotsford, when the township was being sold in 1859,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and there is still a children's home in Waipawa named Abbotsford.<ref name=discover>Template:Cite web</ref> However, it was often shown as Abbotsford, Waipawa<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Waipawa was more commonly used alone after the opening of the Waipawa railway station and Waipawa Mail in the late 1870s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
A local newspaper, the Waipawa Mail, was published for most of the period from 1878 to 1980. It was one of 45 started by Joseph Ivess. In 1980 it merged to become the CHB Mail,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which is now a free weekly paper, published in Waipukurau.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Demographics
Stats NZ describes Waipawa as a small urban area, which covers Template:Convert.<ref name="Area">Template:Cite web</ref> It had an estimated population of Template:NZ population data 2018 as of Template:NZ population data 2018 with a population density of Template:Decimals people per km2.
Template:Historical populations Waipāwa had a population of 2,334 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 249 people (11.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 363 people (18.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,098 males, 1,230 females, and 9 people of other genders in 891 dwellings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 2.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 41.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 507 people (21.7%) aged under 15 years, 318 (13.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,044 (44.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 465 (19.9%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 84.2% European (Pākehā); 26.3% Māori; 5.7% Pasifika; 1.9% Asian; 0.9% 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 97.4%, Māori by 5.5%, Samoan by 1.3%, and other languages by 4.9%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Religious affiliations were 27.8% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 1.9% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 61.4%, and 7.1% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Of those at least 15 years old, 282 (15.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,041 (57.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 501 (27.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 99 people (5.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 909 (49.8%) full-time, 240 (13.1%) part-time, and 48 (2.6%) unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">Template:Cite web</ref>
Marae
Waipawa has two marae affiliated with the iwi of Ngāti Kahungunu. The Mataweka Marae and Nohomaiterangi meeting house are affiliated with the hapū of Ngāi Toroiwaho and Ngāti Whatuiāpiti. The Tapairu Marae and Te Rangitahi or Te Whaea o te Katoa meeting house are affiliated with the hapū of Ngāti Mārau o Kahungunu.<ref name="tkmentry">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="maorimaps">Template:Cite web</ref>
In October 2020, the Government committed $887,291 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the two marae and three others, creating 12 jobs.<ref name="maraepgf">Template:Cite web</ref>
Education
Waipawa School is a Year 1-8 co-educational state primary school.<ref name="official">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="moe">Template:Cite web</ref> It is a decile 3 school with a roll of Template:NZ school roll data as of Template:NZ school roll data<ref name="ero">Template:Cite web</ref> The school opened in 1862.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Waipawa used to have a secondary school, Waipawa District High School. This was merged in 1959 with Waipukurau District High School to make Central Hawke's Bay College based in Waipukurau.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Waipawa has been home to several youth organisations. Namely, the New Zealand Cadet Forces's ATC branch, as well as a Scouts New Zealand branch. However, since 2000, both major youth organisations have gone into recess.
Waipawa railway station
From at least 1870<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Waipawa was served by mail coaches running between Napier and Waipukurau.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 6 December 1981 the station closed to passengers, it was an unattended station from 20 November 1983, closed to all but parcels on 18 August 1984 and closed completely on 2 November 1984. By 1987 only a platform and goods shed remained.<ref name=":234">Template:Cite web</ref> The platform, goods shed and a single track still remain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:S-start Template:S-note Template:Rail line Template:S-end