Waitohu

Waitohu
Settlement
Waitohu Valley Road Waitohu Valley Road
Coordinates:
Country	New Zealand
Region	Wellington Region
Territorial authority	Kāpiti Coast District
Ward	Ōtaki Ward
Community	Ōtaki Community
Electorates	Ōtaki Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Kāpiti Coast District Council
• Regional council	Greater Wellington Regional Council
• Kāpiti Coast Mayor	Janet Holborow
• Ōtaki MP	Tim Costley
• Te Tai Hauāuru MP	Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Area
• Total	4.16 km2 (1.61 sq mi)
Population  (June 2025)
• Total	1,330
• Density	320/km2 (828/sq mi)

Waitohu is a settlement in the Kāpiti Coast District of the Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located east of Ōtaki, separated by the North Island Main Trunk railway line. Waitohu Valley Road runs southeast from State Highway 1 along the Waitohu Stream, and then leaves the stream and turns northeast.

Demographics

Waitohu covers 4.18 km² (1.61 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 1,330 as of June 2025, with a population density of 318 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	813	—
2013	927	+1.89%
2018	1,011	+1.75%
Source:

Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a smaller boundary, covering 0.74 km² (0.29 sq mi). Using that boundary, Waitohu had a population of 1,011 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 84 people (9.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 198 people (24.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 396 households, comprising 471 males and 540 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.87 males per female. The median age was 47.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 174 people (17.2%) aged under 15 years, 159 (15.7%) aged 15 to 29, 405 (40.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 270 (26.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 77.2% European/Pākehā, 28.8% Māori, 3.0% Pasifika, 5.6% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 15.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.3% had no religion, 38.6% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 141 (16.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 195 (23.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $26,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 96 people (11.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 336 (40.1%) people were employed full-time, 147 (17.6%) were part-time, and 27 (3.2%) were unemployed.

Education

Waitohu School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students with a roll of 250 as of July 2025. The school opened in 1963.