Waikiwi is a small suburb in Southland with a population of 3,528 and a median age of 51. Median personal income is $35K per year. The main ethnic groups are European, Māori, Asian. Southland population estimates moved +1.2% in the year ended June 2024, after averaging +0.8% a year from 2018 to 2023, which should be read as a broader regional movement backdrop rather than suburb-level migration precision. The resident employment base moved from 1,539 in 2018 to 1,605 in 2023 (+4.3%), which should be read as a census-to-census employment backdrop rather than a live jobs series. Te Waihanga's December 2025 Pipeline snapshot tracked over 12,000 NZ infrastructure initiatives, with more than 2,700 under construction and transport taking 52% of projected 2026 pipeline spend, which should be read as a broader national delivery backdrop rather than a suburb-specific project list.
Livability indicators for Waikiwi: NZDep decile 4 (moderate deprivation); 2 schools with avg EQI 434.
In 2026, Waikiwi recorded 5 building approvals (5 houses, 0 units), down 82.1% year-on-year.