Whau Ward
CountryNew Zealand
IslandNorth Island
RegionAuckland Region
Area land26.85 km²

Whau Ward is an Auckland Council ward which elects one councillor and covers the Whau local board area. The current councillor is Sarah Paterson-Hamlin.

Demographics

Whau ward covers 26.85 km2 (10.37 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of /26.85 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
200669,171—
201372,594+4.9%
201879,356+9.3%
202381,273+2.4%

[2][3]

Whau ward had a population of 81,273 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,917 people (2.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 8,679 people (12.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 40,752 males, 40,188 females and 336 people of other genders in 26,526 dwellings.[4] 3.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 35.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 15,258 people (18.8%) aged under 15 years, 16,602 (20.4%) aged 15 to 29, 38,805 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 10,608 (13.1%) aged 65 or older.[3]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 37.6% European (Pākehā); 11.0% Māori; 19.7% Pasifika; 42.2% Asian; 3.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 90.7%, Māori language by 2.4%, Samoan by 5.9%, and other languages by 34.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 47.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[3]

Religious affiliations were 33.7% Christian, 11.1% Hindu, 6.4% Islam, 0.7% Māori religious beliefs, 2.2% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 37.6%, and 6.1% of people did not answer the census question.[3]

Of those at least 15 years old, 20,430 (30.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 26,292 (39.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 19,290 (29.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6,933 people (10.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 34,935 (52.9%) people were employed full-time, 7,344 (11.1%) were part-time, and 2,433 (3.7%) were unemployed.[3]

Councillors

Whau ward
PostWhau Ward councillor
BodyAuckland
IncumbentKerrin Leoni
Incumbentsince2022
InauguralNoelene Raffills
TermlengthThree years
Formation1 November 2010
Websitewww.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
ElectionCouncillors electedAffiliationVotesNotes
2010Noelene RaffillsCitizens & Ratepayers7518
2013Ross ClowLabour6227
2016[5]Ross ClowLabour6895[6]
2019Tracy MulhollandCommunities and Residents5853[7]
2022Kerrin LeoniLabour8373[8]
2025Sarah Paterson-HamlinLabour5171[9]

Election results

Election Results for the Whau Ward:

2025 Election Results

NameAffiliationVotes%
1Sarah Paterson-HamlinLabour5,17134.1%
Craig LordCommunities and Residents3,37622.3%
Anjana Subramaniam IyerGreen1,92212.7%
Paul DavieVoice of the People1,88212.4%
Morgan Luxton1,3018.6%
Bruce XuIndependent9556.3%
Blank5290.2%
Informal303.5%
Turnout15,166

[9]

2022 Election Results

NameAffiliationVotes%
1Kerrin LeoniLabour8,37346.7%
Tracy MulhollandCommunities and Residents8,01144.6%
Blank1,5528.6%
Informal70.04%
Majority3622.0%
Turnout17,943

[8]

2019 Election Results

NameAffiliationVotes%
1Tracy MulhollandCommunities and Residents5,85332.3%
Ross ClowLabour5,66331.3%
Jessamine FraserGreen2,24112.4%
Paul DavieCommunity Independents1,7749.8%
Anna Degia-PalaIndependent1,3367.4%
Blank1,1686.4%
Informal660.4%
Majority1901.0%
Turnout18,101

[7]

2016 Election Results

NameAffiliationVotes%
1Ross ClowLabour6,89536.1%
Duncan MacDonaldCommunity First3,56318.7%
Mark BrickellAuckland Future2,92915.3%
Anna Degia-PalaIndependent2,10611.0%
Wayne DavisShadbolt's Independent1,1956.3%
John HubscherUnited Future6193.2%
Blank1,7409.1%
Informal550.3%
Majority3,33217.4%
Turnout19,102

[10]

References

  1. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Ward 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  2. ^
  3. ^ [https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.w_07606.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Whau Ward (w_07606). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  4. ^ [https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.w_07606.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003 "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Local body election nominations close". Radio New Zealand. 2016-08-12. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Ward councillors – Whau Ward confirmed". Auckland Council. 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Local board members". Auckland Council. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Local Elections 2022 - Official Results". Auckland Council. 15 October 2022. Archived 17 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Local Elections 2025 - Official Results". Auckland Council. 18 October 2025. Archived 12 November 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Declaration of Results of Election for the Auckland Council 2016 elections". Auckland Council. 14 October 2016. Archived 4 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 August 2025.