Waikà Âwhai is an Auckland suburb, under the local governance of the Auckland Council. Waikà Âwhai has the largest block of native forest left on the Auckland isthmus. The block was considered the too infertile for farming and subsequently not cleared but given to the Wesley Mission. Today the forest block hosts a valuable sample of Auckland's original fauna and flora. Waikà Âwhai Walkway extends for linking Onehunga to Lynfield Cove.
The name Waikà Âwhai (sometimes spelt Waikowai) is mentioned on early European maps of the area and in newspapers from the 1850s. The meaning of the name in MÃÂori is unclear, either meaning kà Âwhai tree waters, or yellow water.
The southern Auckland isthmus has been settled by TÃÂmaki MÃÂori since at least the 13th century. A traditional trail existed at Waikà Âwhai, linking Te Tà Âanga Waka (the Whau River portage) in the west to Onehunga in the east. The iwi and hapà « of the Manukau Harbour moved seasonally between different areas, collecting seasonal resources and farming. By the early 18th century, the area was within the rohe of Waiohua. After the defeat of Kiwi TÃÂmaki, the paramount chief of the iwi, the area became part of the rohe of NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua (modern-day NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua à ÂrÃÂkei). There are two known sites of significance in the Waikà Âwhai area, that are recorded on the 1853 map of the Manukau Harbour by Commander B. Drury: the Cape Horn headland is the recorded location of a fortified pàcalled Matengarahi, and the modern day Wattle Bay area, a site where many shell middens have been found, was called Taunahi.
The land at Waikà Âwhai was purchased through Robert FitzRoy's pre-emptive waiver scheme on 26 March 1844, as a part of Deed 208. Most of the modern suburb of Waikà Âwhai was land gifted to the Wesleyan Methodist Church by the Crown in 1850, for the use of the Wesleyan mission. The land was used by the mission for fishing and swimming by the pupils.
Waikà Âwhai Bay was a popular destination for swimmers, day-trippers and picnickers in Auckland during the early 20th century. Gradually the bay lost popularity in the 1930s, due to increased pollution in the Manukau Harbour.
In 1927, the Wesley Trust began developing and subdividing the land at Waikà Âwhai for suburban housing, which was followed by government housing developments from the 1940s onwards.
In the 1950s and 1960s, a rubbish tip and landfill was established at Waikà Âwhai Park, which negatively impacted the area; causing pollution and blocking access to Waikà Âwhai Bay.
Waikà Âwhai covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km<sup>2</sup>.
Waikà Âwhai had a population of 1,971 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 66 people (âÂÂ3.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 225 people (12.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,017 males, 948 females and 6 people of other genders in 621 dwellings. 3.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 288 people (14.6%) aged under 15 years, 426 (21.6%) aged 15 to 29, 981 (49.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 273 (13.9%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 36.5% European (PÃÂkehÃÂ); 4.4% MÃÂori; 9.1% Pasifika; 54.3% Asian; 4.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 92.2%, MÃÂori language by 0.6%, Samoan by 2.3%, and other languages by 40.8%. 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 54.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 30.6% Christian, 16.9% Hindu, 8.4% Islam, 0.2% MÃÂori religious beliefs, 2.1% Buddhist, 0.2% Jewish, and 2.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 33.0%, and 6.2% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 729 (43.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 603 (35.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 354 (21.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $54,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 300 people (17.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 990 (58.8%) people were employed full-time, 213 (12.7%) were part-time, and 42 (2.5%) were unemployed.
Waikowhai Intermediate School is an intermediate school (years 7âÂÂ8) with a roll of . It opened in 1964, and was originally used as a campus for the North Shore Teachers Training College.
Waikowhai School is a contributing primary school (years 1âÂÂ6) with a roll of , which opened in 1956.
Both schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of
Secondary schools in the area are Lynfield College and Mount Roskill Grammar School. Catholic secondary schools serving the area are Marcellin College and St Peter's College.