Waikanae

Waikanae
Medium urban area
Kapiti Island seen from Waikanae Beach
Kapiti Island seen from Waikanae Beach
Map
Coordinates: 40°52′30″S 175°03′50″E / 40.87500°S 175.06389°E / -40.87500; 175.06389
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWellington Region
Territorial authorityKāpiti Coast District
WardWaikanae Ward
CommunityWaikanae Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityKāpiti Coast District Council
 • Regional councilGreater Wellington Regional Council
 • Kāpiti Coast MayorJanet Holborow
 • Ōtaki MPTim Costley
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer
Area
 • Total19.59 km2 (7.56 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total13,150
 • Density670/km2 (1,700/sq mi)

Waikanae (English: /ˌwkəˈn/, Māori pronunciation: [ˈwaikaˈnaɛ]) is a town on the Kāpiti Coast, 60 km (37 mi) north of the Wellington, New Zealand.[3] The name is a Māori word meaning "waters" (wai) "of the grey mullet".[4]

The area surrounding the town is notable for its 2.4-kilometre-long (1.5 mi) beach, the Waikanae River estuary, the Kapiti Marine Reserve, and Kapiti Island, which lies 4 km (2.5 mi) offshore in the Tasman Sea. The town is considered one of the top retirement destinations in the Wellington Region, because of its year-round mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and less wind than Wellington.[3]

The town is 8 km (5.0 mi) northeast of Paraparaumu, and 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Ōtaki. The Waikanae railway station, is the northernmost station in the Metlink passenger rail network linking with Wellington railway station in Central Wellington.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b Harris, Catherine (9 June 2012). "Satellite City". Dominion Post.
  4. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.