South Waikato District


South Waikato District is a local government district in the Waikato Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located between the cities of Hamilton to the north, Rotorua to the east, Taupō to the south and Ruapehu District to the west.
The seat of the South Waikato District Council is at Tokoroa, the biggest town. The other main towns are Putāruru, Tīrau and Arapuni.

Population

The district's population in was, of whom % lived in Tokoroa. Putāruru's population was. The region's population decreased markedly during the 1990s, dropping over 4000 since the 1991 census.
Ngāti Raukawa is the Maori tribe of the area and goes back 20–25 generations. There are 32 marae in the district, Papa te Aroha marae, Aotearoa marae, Pikitu marae, Pōhara marae, Whakaaratamaiti marae, Mangakaretu marae, Ngatira marae, Tarukenga marae, Mokai marae, Ongaroto marae, Paparamu marae, Te Ruapeka marae, among others

Populated places

South Waikato District consists of the following towns, localities, settlements and communities:
1 - partly shared with Rotorua Lakes

Demographics

South Waikato District had a population of 24,042 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,971 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,401 people since the 2006 census. There were 8,511 households. There were 11,982 males and 12,060 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. Of the total population, 5,526 people were aged up to 15 years, 4,479 were 15 to 29, 10,077 were 30 to 64, and 3,963 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.
Ethnicities were 68.7% European/Pākehā, 35.3% Māori, 12.8% Pacific peoples, 4.2% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 13.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 50.7% had no religion, 35.2% were Christian, and 5.9% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,722 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 5,100 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $24,900. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 8,259 people were employed full-time, 2,541 were part-time, and 1,164 were unemployed.

Economy

The district's main industries are forestry and timber production, however land previously in plantation forest is increasingly being converted to dairy production. Several hydroelectric projects are located at the district's western edge.