Peka Peka

Peka Peka
Peka Peka Beach, looking north
Peka Peka Beach, looking north
Map
Coordinates: 40°49′58″S 175°03′29″E / 40.8327°S 175.0581°E / -40.8327; 175.0581
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
 • Total
10.02 km2 (3.87 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total
710
 • Density71/km2 (180/sq mi)

Peka Peka, sometimes spelled Pekapeka, is a seaside locality[3] on the Kāpiti Coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is located just off State Highway 1 and the North Island Main Trunk railway between Waikanae and Te Horo.

Peka Peka was briefly internationally famous when a young emperor penguin, nicknamed Happy Feet,[4] appeared on Peka Peka beach on 21 June 2011.[5] Emperor penguins are usually only found in the Antarctic.[6] It had been 44 years since the species was last spotted in the wild in New Zealand.[7]

Peka Peka Beach is a clothing-optional beach by custom.[8] New Zealand has no official nude beaches, as public nudity is legal on any beach where it is "known to occur".[9]

Demographics

Peka Peka statistical area covers 10.02 km2 (3.87 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 710 as of June 2024, with a population density of 70.86 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006357—    
2013504+5.05%
2018612+3.96%
Source: [10]

Peka Peka had a population of 612 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 108 people (21.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 255 people (71.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 246 households, comprising 303 males and 309 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age was 52.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 99 people (16.2%) aged under 15 years, 66 (10.8%) aged 15 to 29, 300 (49.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 144 (23.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.1% European/Pākehā, 6.4% Māori, 2.0% Pasifika, 3.4% Asian, and 3.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 24.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.8% had no religion, 31.4% were Christian, 0.5% were Hindu, 1.0% were Muslim, 1.0% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 168 (32.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 54 (10.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $42,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 159 people (31.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 219 (42.7%) people were employed full-time, 99 (19.3%) were part-time, and 15 (2.9%) were unemployed.[10]

The demographics for Peka Peka are also incorporated in Waikanae#Demographics.

References

  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Place name detail: 20 May 2021". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board.
  4. ^ "New Zealand penguin Happy Feet may have been eaten". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Kapiti's rare visit from emperor penguin". The Dominion Post Wellington. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Emperor penguin from Antarctic visits New Zealand beach". BBC News Asia Pacific. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  7. ^ Associated Press (4 September 2011). "Happy Feet the penguin released into Southern Ocean after New Zealand trip". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Wellington Region". Free Beaches NZ Inc. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  9. ^ Ceramalus v Police, AP No 76/91 (High Court of New Zealand 5 July 1991).
  10. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Peka Peka (236900). 2018 Census place summary: Peka Peka