Whareama

Whareama
Locality
19th century Anglican Church at Whareama
Interactive map of Whareama
Coordinates: 40°57′22″S 176°02′13″E / 40.956°S 176.037°E / -40.956; 176.037
Country	New Zealand
Region	Wellington Region
Territorial authority	Masterton District
Ward	Masterton/Whakaoriori General Ward Masterton/Whakaoriori Māori Ward
Electorates	Wairarapa Ikaroa-Rāwhiti (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Masterton District Council
• Regional council	Greater Wellington Regional Council
• Mayor of Masterton	Bex Johnson
• Wairarapa MP	TBD
• Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP	Cushla Tangaere-Manuel
Area
• Total	1,596.08 km2 (616.25 sq mi)
Population  (June 2025)
• Total	1,500
• Density	0.94/km2 (2.4/sq mi)

Whareama is a rural area in the Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island. The Whareama River flows through the area.

Marae

The community has two marae affiliated with the Ngāti Kahungunu hapū of Ngāi Tumapuhia-a-Rangi: Motuwairaka Marae, which lost its meeting house to fire in 2017, and Ngāi Tumapuhia a Rangi ki Okautete Marae, which is still constructing its meeting house by 2020.

In October 2020, the Government committed $2,179,654 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade both marae, alongside Pāpāwai, Kohunui, Hurunui o Rangi and Te Oreore marae. Together, the upgrades were expected to create 19.8 full time jobs.

Demographics

Whareama statistical area covers 1,596.08 km² (616.25 sq mi) and also includes Bideford, Castlepoint, Riversdale Beach, Tauweru, Tīnui and Wainuioru. It had an estimated population of 1,500 as of June 2025, with a population density of 0.94 people per km².

Whareama had a population of 1,431 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 21 people (1.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 150 people (11.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 753 males, 669 females, and 3 people of other genders in 603 dwellings. 1.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 246 people (17.2%) aged under 15 years, 201 (14.0%) aged 15 to 29, 672 (47.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 312 (21.8%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.9% European (Pākehā); 16.8% Māori; 2.7% Pasifika; 1.0% Asian; 0.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.1%, Māori by 2.3%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 4.6%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 27.7% Christian, 0.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, and 0.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.7%, and 8.2% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 222 (18.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 717 (60.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 243 (20.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 102 people (8.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 606 (51.1%) full-time, 201 (17.0%) part-time, and 30 (2.5%) unemployed.

Education

Whareama School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of 50 as of July 2026. It opened in 1897.

References