Lake Hāwea (town)

Lake Hāwea is a small settlement at the southern end of a lake, also named Lake Hāwea, in New Zealand's South Island.^[3][4] It is 18 kilometres to the northeast of Wānaka.^[5]

Lake Hāwea
Town
Coordinates: 44°36′41″S 169°15′48″E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Otago
Territorial authority	Queenstown-Lakes District
Ward	Wānaka-Upper Clutha Ward
Community	Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community
Electorates	Waitaki Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Government
• Territorial authority	Queenstown-Lakes District Council
• Regional council	Otago Regional Council
• Mayor of Queenstown-Lakes	Glyn Lewers
• Waitaki MP	Miles Anderson
• Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris
Area [1]
• Total	3.66 km2 (1.41 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	2,190
• Density	600/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Postcode	9382

Demographics

Lake Hawea covers 3.66 km² (1.41 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 2,190 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 598 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	552	—
2013	798	+5.41%
2018	1,200	+8.50%
Source: [6]

Before the 2023 census, Lake Hāwea had a smaller boundary, covering 2.39 km² (0.92 sq mi).^[1] Using that boundary, Lake Hāwea had a population of 1,200 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 402 people (50.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 648 people (117.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 444 households, comprising 630 males and 570 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female. The median age was 39.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 264 people (22.0%) aged under 15 years, 156 (13.0%) aged 15 to 29, 621 (51.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 159 (13.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.0% European/Pākehā, 8.5% Māori, 0.2% Pasifika, 2.5% Asian, and 3.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 25.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 66.2% had no religion, 25.0% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs and 2.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 258 (27.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 96 (10.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 132 people (14.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 519 (55.4%) people were employed full-time, 162 (17.3%) were part-time, and 15 (1.6%) were unemployed.^[6]

Climate

Climate data for Lake Hawea, elevation 350 m (1,150 ft), (1981–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	21.3 (70.3)	21.3 (70.3)	19.0 (66.2)	15.5 (59.9)	11.6 (52.9)	8.1 (46.6)	7.5 (45.5)	10.1 (50.2)	12.9 (55.2)	15.4 (59.7)	17.7 (63.9)	19.8 (67.6)	15.0 (59.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)	16.2 (61.2)	15.9 (60.6)	13.7 (56.7)	10.7 (51.3)	7.3 (45.1)	4.2 (39.6)	3.7 (38.7)	5.5 (41.9)	8.1 (46.6)	10.3 (50.5)	12.5 (54.5)	14.5 (58.1)	10.2 (50.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	11.0 (51.8)	10.5 (50.9)	8.4 (47.1)	5.9 (42.6)	3.1 (37.6)	0.4 (32.7)	−0.2 (31.6)	0.7 (33.3)	3.3 (37.9)	5.2 (41.4)	7.2 (45.0)	9.2 (48.6)	5.4 (41.7)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	66.2 (2.61)	45.3 (1.78)	59.3 (2.33)	54.0 (2.13)	71.2 (2.80)	84.0 (3.31)	65.6 (2.58)	97.2 (3.83)	91.2 (3.59)	73.7 (2.90)	80.5 (3.17)	88.7 (3.49)	876.9 (34.52)
Source: NIWA (rain 1991–2020)[7]