Waterloo, New Zealand

Demographics

Waterloo, comprising the statistical areas of Waterloo West and Waterloo East, covers 1.81 km2. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Waterloo had a population of 5,379 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 255 people (5.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 243 people (4.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,013 households, comprising 2,598 males and 2,784 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.93 males per female, with 1,068 people (19.9%) aged under 15 years, 951 (17.7%) aged 15 to 29, 2,562 (47.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 801 (14.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 70.2% European/Pākehā, 10.2% Māori, 5.1% Pasifika, 22.2% Asian, and 2.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 29.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.2% had no religion, 37.1% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 5.1% were Hindu, 1.0% were Muslim, 1.3% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,410 (32.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 579 (13.4%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,089 people (25.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,274 (52.7%) people were employed full-time, 603 (14.0%) were part-time, and 156 (3.6%) were unemployed.

Education

Waterloo School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students, with a roll of as of .

The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand is in Waterloo.

Waiwhetū Stream

Main article: Waiwhetū Stream

The Waiwhetū Stream is a small watercourse that flows through Waterloo and drains the eastern side of the Hutt Valley. It enters Wellington Harbour at the Hutt River estuary. Development and urbanisation of the Hutt Valley since the arrival of settlers led to increasing pollution and degradation of the stream environment. The stream was diverted into concrete culverts in many sections in an attempt to reduce flooding. Industrial development in the area around the lower reaches of the stream led to that section becoming an industrial sewer. In 2010, the stream was described as one of the most polluted waterways in New Zealand.

Pressure from the community beginning around 2003 helped to trigger a major project to clean up the lower reaches. This project was declared complete in June 2010, after the removal of 56,000 tonnes of toxic waste. In 2010-11, a community group was formed to lead restoration of the upper reaches of the stream. Over a period of 10 years, volunteers cleared invasive aquatic weeds and rubbish from 6 km of the stream bed and established around 34,000 locally sourced native plants on the banks of the stream.

Infrastructure

Railway station

Main article: Waterloo railway station, Lower Hutt

Waterloo railway station (previously known as Waterloo Interchange or Hutt Central) is a dual-platform suburban railway station serving the suburbs of Waterloo, Lower Hutt Central and Woburn. The station is on the Hutt Valley section of the Wairarapa Line, 15.5 km north of Wellington. Waterloo serves as a major bus-rail interchange, connecting buses to and from central Lower Hutt, Naenae and Wainuiomata with trains to and from Wellington.

Water treatment plant

A large water treatment plant is located alongside the Waterloo Railway Station. The water treatment plant is a significant part of the water supply in the Wellington Region, and draws water from the Waiwhetu aquifer via a bore field of eight wells.

References

References

1. [http://www.teara.govt.nz/Places/Wellington/WellingtonPlaces/9/en Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand – Hutt Valley – central and west] Retrieved: 10 January 2009
2. "Hutt City Wards and Suburbs". Hutt City Council.
3. "ArcGIS Web Application".
4. {{NZ census 2018. Waterloo West (245500) and Waterloo East (246100)
5. {{NZ census place summary 2018. waterloo-west. Waterloo West
6. {{NZ census place summary 2018. waterloo-east. Waterloo East
7. "Waterloo School Official School Website".
8. "Waterloo School Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].
9. "Waterloo School Ministry of Education School Profile". [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
10. "Who We Are". Open Polytechnic.
11. (1 February 2010). "Budget blowout in cleanup of toxic Waiwhetu Stream". [[Dominion Post (New Zealand).
12. Boyack, Nicholas. (6 September 2023). "Friends win battle against South African invasive weeds".
13. "Waterloo Interchange Upgrade » Metlink".
14. "Water treatment plants".