WAITAKI DISTRICT STATISTICAL PROFILE
M AY 2014
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
1
This profile was compiled in May 2014
by Family and Community Services, Ministry of Social Development, Wellington
using the latest statistics available at the time.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
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CONTENTS
1. Land and people ........................................................................................................ 5
Location .................................................................................................... 5
Population ................................................................................................ 5
2021 and 2031 ......................................................................................... 6
Ethnic diversity ......................................................................................... 6
Iwi affiliation ............................................................................................ 11
Māori language speakers ....................................................................... 11
Birthplace ............................................................................................... 11
Age groups ............................................................................................. 13
Families .................................................................................................. 14
Household composition .......................................................................... 16
2. Economic Situation ................................................................................................. 17
Socio-economic deprivation .................................................................... 17
Personal income ..................................................................................... 19
Household income .................................................................................. 20
Income support ....................................................................................... 21
Household facilities................................................................................. 25
3. Employment ............................................................................................................. 26
Location of employment.......................................................................... 26
Industry .................................................................................................. 27
Employment in 2013 ............................................................................... 28
Occupation ............................................................................................. 29
Unpaid work and volunteering ................................................................ 30
4. Housing .................................................................................................................... 31
Tenure .................................................................................................... 31
Non-private dwellings ............................................................................. 31
Sector of landlord ................................................................................... 32
State housing ......................................................................................... 32
Rents ...................................................................................................... 32
Accommodation supplement (AS) .......................................................... 34
5. Education ................................................................................................................. 35
Educational qualifications ....................................................................... 35
Early childhood education....................................................................... 35
Waitaki District Schools .......................................................................... 37
Truancy .................................................................................................. 38
Stand downs and suspensions ............................................................... 39
Exclusions and expulsions ...................................................................... 40
School leavers with little or no formal attainment .................................... 40
Early leaving exemptions ........................................................................ 41
Tertiary destinations ............................................................................... 41
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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6. Health ....................................................................................................................... 43
Births ...................................................................................................... 43
Plunket information ................................................................................. 44
Immunisation .......................................................................................... 45
Cigarette smoking................................................................................... 45
Road accidents ....................................................................................... 45
Public hospital discharges ...................................................................... 46
Mental health .......................................................................................... 48
Deaths .................................................................................................... 49
Suicides .................................................................................................. 50
7. Crime ........................................................................................................................ 51
Recorded criminal offences .................................................................... 51
Apprehensions ....................................................................................... 53
Resolution of apprehensions .................................................................. 55
Child, Youth and Family (CYF) involvement ........................................... 56
Family violence investigations ................................................................ 56
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
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1. LAND AND PEOPLE
LOCATION
Waitaki District is located on the east coast of the lower South Island. With Pacific
Ocean coastline forming its eastern boundary, Waitaki has six territorial authority
neighbours: Westland District to the north, Mackenzie and Waimate Districts to the
north-east, Dunedin City to the south, and Central Otago and Queenstown-Lakes
Districts to the west.
POPULATION
2013
The 2013 Population Census recorded a resident population of around 20,830 in
Waitaki District – a 3.0% increase on the 2006 usually-resident total, following a
0.7% increase between 2001 and 2006. The almost-610 people gained over the
seven years between 2006 and 2013 mainly went to the Maheno area unit (an
increase of 190), Ardgowan (160 more) and Oamaru North (140 more).
U SUALLY - RESIDENT POPULATION C OUNT OF W AITAKI D ISTRICT BY
AREA UNIT , M ARCH 2001, 2006 AND 2013
Area unit
2001
2006
2013
Maheno
3,573
3,705
3,897
Oamaru North
3,192
3,153
3,291
Oamaru South
2,892
2,892
2,913
Oamaru Central
2,502
2,520
2,475
Orana Park
2,499
2,367
2,367
Weston
705
765
807
Palmerston
807
801
795
Aviemore
540
663
762
Waihemo
633
675
705
Ardgowan
459
501
660
Kakanui
411
414
375
Cape Wanbrow
261
291
321
Kurow
387
339
312
Hampden
306
297
300
Omarama
279
231
267
Pukeuri
183
192
210
Otematata
243
189
186
Nenthorn
93
93
93
Duntroon
Total
120
114
90
20,085
20,220
20,829
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
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The 2013 usually-resident population of the 19 inhabited area units in Waitaki
District is shown in the table above, along with the totals at the 2001 and 2006
censuses. In 2013, the five most populous area units were home to 72% of the
district’s residents. The Maheno area unit had almost 3,900 (19% of the district’s
total), followed by Oamaru North (3,290 or 16%), Oamaru South (2,910 residents
or 14%), Oamaru Central (2,475 or 12%) and Orana Park (2,370 or 11%).
2021 AND 2031
Statistics New Zealand projects that Waitaki District’s population will continue to
increase until 2016, and will then begin to fall. A resident population of 19,900 is
projected for 2021, falling to 18,550 by 2031.1
ETHNIC DIVERSITY
From an ethnic perspective, Waitaki District’s population is much less diverse than
nationally. At the 2013 Census:

91% of the district’s residents identified as ‘European’ compared with a
considerably smaller 74% nationally, and

2% identified as ‘New Zealanders’, the same proportion as nationally.2
All other ethnic groups were under-represented in the district compared with their
national presence:
1

Māori accounted for a little under 7% of residents compared with almost
15% nationwide

Asian ethnic groups made up 3% of the population (12% nationally)

Pacific peoples accounted for 2% compared with 7% nationally, and

other ethnic groups made up less than 0.5% - around one-half of the
national proportion.
These population projections assume medium rates of fertility, mortality and migration.
2
Percentages total more than 100 because an individual can identify with more than one ethnic group
and all are counted.
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
The youth population of Waitaki is slightly more ethnically diverse than the district’s
population as a whole. In 2013:

Māori made up 9% of 12-14 year-olds, and 11% of 15-19 and 20-24 yearolds, compared with 7% across the district’s total population
 5% of the district’s 15-19 year-olds and 4% of 20-24 year-olds were Asian
compared with 3% of the district’s total, and
 3% of 15-19 year-olds and 4% of 20-24 year-olds were Pacific peoples
compared with 2% across the district.
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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IWI AFFILIATION
The table below lists the six iwi identified by the largest numbers of people of Māori
descent in Waitaki District at the 2013 Census. Ngāi Tahu / Kāi Tahu was by far
the largest with 495 affiliates.
MAIN IWI IDENTIFIED BY PEOPLE OF MĀORI DESCENT IN W AITAKI
D ISTRICT , 2013
Iwi
Ngāi Tahu / Kāi Tahu
Ngāpuhi total
Count
495
192
Ngāpuhi
186
Ngāpuhi ki Whaingaroa-Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa
6
Ngāti Porou
108
Ngāti Tūwharetoa
69
Ngāti Kahungunu total
63
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa
30
Ngāti Kahungunu, region unspecified
24
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa
6
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga
3
Waikato total
48
Waikato
45
Waikato/Te Rohe Pōtae (Waikato/King Country) Region, not further defined
Don't know
Total Waitaki residents who answered iwi question in 2013 Census
3
444
1,596
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
In 2013, 28% of the Māori descendants in Waitaki District who answered the iwi
question in the census did not know their iwi – a considerably larger proportion
than the 17% nationally.
M ĀORI LANGUAGE SPEAKERS
In 2013, around 200 Waitaki District residents reported being able to hold a
conversation in te reo Māori (1% of the district’s population compared with 4%
nationally). The number of people speaking Māori in the district was slightly lower
than those speaking Tongan (210) and slightly higher than those speaking French
(160), German or Tagalog (around 150 each).
BIRTHPLACE
In 2013, 12% of Waitaki’s residents were born overseas compared with 24%
nationally.
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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The most common overseas birthplaces in the district were:









England (760 people or 4% of the district’s residents)
Australia (330 or 2%)
Philippines (240 or 1%)
Tonga (170 or 1%)
Scotland (120, also 1%)
Netherlands (100)
South Arica (90)
United States of America (70), and
Germany, Fiji and the People’s Republic of China (50 each).
When asked to specify the ethnic groups with which they identified, 40% of Waitaki
District’s 2,490 overseas-born residents who answered the question said they were
‘New Zealand European’. The next largest ethnic groups were Filipino (8%),
Tongan (7%), English and Australian (5% each), British (not further defined) and
Dutch (4% each) and Chinese (not further defined) (3%).
In terms of the length of residence of migrants, the pattern in Waitaki District is a
little different from nationally. In 2013, Waitaki District had a similar proportion of
new migrants as the country as a whole (23% of the district’s migrants had been in
New Zealand for under five years, the same as nationally). However, the district
had a larger proportion who had been in New Zealand for 20 years or more (44%
compared with 32%).
As is evident across New Zealand, the birthplace of migrants in Waitaki District has
changed in recent years. The following graph shows that the largest proportion of
recent migrants in the district has come from Asia, whereas the majority of longterm migrants living in the district were born in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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AGE GROUPS
Waitaki’s population is older than average, with people under 45 years of age
under-represented compared with the country as a whole. At the time of the 2013
Census:

children under the age of 15 years made up 18% of the population
compared with 20% nationally

young adults (15-29 year-olds) were markedly under-represented in the
district, making up 14% of the population compared with 20% nationwide

those aged 30-44 years contributed 16% of the district’s population (20%
nationally)
 in contrast, 45-59 year-olds made up 22% of Waitaki residents compared
with 20% across the country
 60-74 year-olds accounted for 20% compared with 14% nationwide, and
 those aged 75 and over made up 10% locally and 6% nationally.
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
The following graph shows that Waitaki District’s Māori population has a young age
profile. In 2013, 36% were aged under 15 years and another 17% were aged 1524. The comparative figures for non-Māori were 17% and 9%. In 2013, just 10% of
the district’s Māori population were aged 60 years and over, compared with 31% of
non-Māori.
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
The 2013 Census recorded around 3,830 children under the age of 15 years living
in Waitaki District:

1,215 children under 5 years

1,270 aged 5 - 9 years, and

1,340 aged 10 - 14 years.
FAMILIES
In 2013, Waitaki District was home to almost 2,720 families with children (including
adult children) living in private households. Of those families, just over 2,000 (74%)
consisted of couples with children and around 720 (26%) contained one parent and
children. That made one-parent families less common in Waitaki District than
across the country as a whole, where 70% of families with children contained
couples and 30% contained one parent.
Of the Waitaki families that specified the number of dependent children, 19% had
only adult children (21%) nationally, 30% had one dependent child (33%
nationally), 32% had two dependent children (30% across the country), 13% had
three dependent children (11% nationally), and 6% had four or more dependent
children (4% nationally).
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
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Source: Statistics New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
The following graph shows the age distribution of the youngest children in Waitaki
families by type of family. It shows that the youngest children in families consisting
of couples with dependent children have a younger age distribution than those in
sole-parent families. In 2013, around 41% were aged under 5, 26% were aged 5-9,
24% were 10-14 and 10% were aged 15-17. In sole-parent families, the equivalent
proportions were 31%, 26%, 29% and 13%.
Source: Statistics New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
Of the one-parent families with dependent children in Waitaki District in 2013, 15%
were headed by men and 85% by women. Just 1% of sole parents in the district
were under 20 years of age, 19% were in their 20s, 29% were in their 30s, 39%
were in their 40s, and 9% were in their 50s.
Statistics New Zealand projects that couples without children in Waitaki District will
number 3,800 by 2021 and 3,600 in 2031. Two-parent families are also projected
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
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to fall in number (1,400 in 2021 and 1,200 in 2031), while one-parent families are
projected to stay static at 600 in both 2021 and 2031.
HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION
In 2013, there were around 8,810 private households in Waitaki District.

Almost two-thirds (66%) of them were one-family households – a slightly
smaller proportion than the 68% nationally.

Undoubtedly because of the older age of the district’s population, oneperson households were considerably more common than across the
country (30% compared with 24% nationwide).

Other multi-person households, the majority of which would be flats
containing unrelated people, accounted for 3% of the district’s total
compared with 5% across the country.

Multi-family households made up 1% locally and 3% nationwide.
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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2. ECONOMIC SITUATION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION
The NZDep2013 index of deprivation3 shows that Waitaki District is slightly more
socio-economically deprived than the country as a whole. Across New Zealand,
around equal numbers of people live in areas at each of the 10 levels of
deprivation. That means that at the time of the 2013 Census, 50% of the New
Zealand population lived in decile 1 to 5 areas (ie the less deprived areas in the
country). In Waitaki District, 48% of residents lived in areas judged to be in those
deciles.
Source: NZDep 2013 Index of Deprivation
The profile above shows a marked under-representation of Waitaki residents in
areas at both extremes of the deprivation scale. Just 4% of residents lived in decile
1 areas (i.e. among the 10% least socio-economically deprived in the country), 8%
lived in decile 2 areas, 10% in each of decile 3 and 5 areas, and 16% in areas
assessed as being decile 4.
3
Salmond C, Crampton P, Atkinson J, NZDep 2013 Index of Deprivation. NZDep2013 is an updated
version of the NZDep91, NZDep96, NZDep2001 and NZDep2006 indexes of socio-economic
deprivation. NZDep2013 combines nine variables from the 2013 Census, which reflect eight
dimensions of deprivation. In order of highest weighting, the variables used were the proportions of
people: aged under 65 with no access to the Internet at home; aged 18-64 receiving a means-tested
benefit; living in households with income below an income threshold adjusted for household size;
aged 18-64 unemployed; aged 18-64 without any qualifications; not living in own home; aged less
than 65 living in a single-parent family; living in households below a bedroom occupancy threshold
adjusted for household size; with no access to a car. NZDep2013 provides a deprivation score for
each meshblock in New Zealand. Meshblocks are geographical units defined by Statistics New
Zealand, containing a median of approximately 81 people in 2013.
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
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At the other end of the scale, just 2% of the district’s population lived in decile 10
areas (i.e. among the 10% most socio-economically deprived in the country), 8%
lived in decile 9 areas, 11% in decile 8 areas, and 16% in each of decile 6 and 7
areas.
Although the process of averaging can mask some substantial variation in
deprivation among small areas, it can be useful to look at average deprivation
scores for census area units. In 2013, Waitaki District consisted of 19 occupied
area units, none of which had an average deprivation score of 1. Three area units
(Weston, Ardgowan and Cape Wanbrow) had average deprivation scores of 2,
putting them among the 20% least socio-economically deprived areas in the
country. Omarama averaged out as decile 3, while five area units (Maheno,
Aviemore, Waihemo, Otematata and Nenthorn) had average deprivation scores of
4. Kakanui averaged out as decile 5.
In 2013, no Waitaki area units had average deprivation scores of 9 or 10. Orana
Park averaged out as decile 8, putting it among the 30% most socio-economically
deprived in the country. Four area units (Oamaru North, Oamaru Central, Kurow
and Hampden) had average deprivation scores of 7, and the remaining four area
units (Oamaru South, Palmerston, Pukeuri and Duntroon) averaged out as decile
6.
PERSONAL INCOME
In 2013, Waitaki District had a lower median personal income than nationally
($25,300 compared with $28,500 across the country). The median income for the
district’s men was $35,800 compared with $36,500 nationally, and the median
income of women was $20,200 locally compared with $23,100 nationwide.
In general, the distribution of income in the district showed higher-than-national
proportions of Waitaki adults with incomes of $50,000 and under, and smaller
proportions receiving more than $50,000. The exception to that was a smaller-thanaverage proportion of Waitaki residents with incomes of $10,000 or less (16%
compared with 20% nationally).
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Household incomes in Waitaki are lower than nationally. In 2013, the district’s
households living in private dwellings had a median income of $48,200, compared
with a much higher national median of $63,800. Waitaki families were as likely as
nationally to have incomes of $10,000 or less, more likely to have incomes
between $10,001 and $50,000, as likely to have incomes between $50,001 and
$70,000, and less likely to have incomes over $70,000. The largest difference
between household income distributions in the district compared with nationally
occurred in the top income band. Just 15% of Waitaki households had incomes
above $100,000 compared with 28% nationwide.
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
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INCOME SUPPORT
PEOPLE AGED 65 YEARS AND OVER
At the end of March 2014, just over 4,490 Waitaki District residents4 aged 65 years
and over were in receipt of New Zealand Superannuation.5 Of those New Zealand
Superannuitants, around 1,190 were also receiving a Disability Allowance and
almost 200 were in receipt of an Accommodation Supplement.
PEOPLE AGED 18 TO 64 YEARS
At the end of March 2014, just over 1,250 Waitaki District residents aged 18-64
years were receiving some form of income support. The largest groups consisted
of:

around 450 people receiving Jobseeker Support (36% of all income support
recipients in the district aged 18-64 years)

435 (35%) receiving a Supported Living Payment

just over 240 recipients of Sole Parent Support (19%), and

around 110 Non-beneficiaries6 (9%).
4
The statistics included in this section have been produced by the geocoding of MSD client addresses.
The figures represent all clients who lived within Waitaki District boundaries at the end of March
2014. This method of assigning a geographic location to a client based on their address is different
from the method used to produce figures for many earlier reports. Those earlier reports relied on
identifying service centres within territorial authority boundaries and assigning a geographic location
to clients with claims managed in those relevant service centres.
5
New Zealand Superannuation is not income tested for recipients aged 65 years and over.
Supplementary benefits (eg Accommodation Supplement, Disability Allowance) are, however,
subject to an income test, so their receipt indicates clients with low incomes.
6
Non Beneficiaries are low-income people who are not receiving an income-tested benefit or a pension
from Work and Income, but who do receive a Work and Income supplementary benefit (eg an
Accommodation Supplement, a Childcare Subsidy).
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
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Source: Ministry of Social Development
At the end of March 2014, Waitaki District’s income support recipients aged 18-64
years were responsible for around 770 children, of whom almost 450 were in the
families of recipients of Sole Parent Support. Of those Sole Parent Support
recipients:

56% had youngest children aged under 5 years

32% had youngest children aged 5 to 9 years, and

12% had youngest children aged between 10 and 13 years.
PEOPLE AGED 17 YEARS AND UNDER
At the end of March 2014, around 10 Waitaki District teenagers under the age of 18
were receiving income support. Most were in receipt of a Youth Payment.
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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HOUSEHOLD FACILITIES
In 2013, the percentages of Waitaki households with access to a telephone, the
Internet, or a vehicle were as follows:

88% had a landline telephone (86% nationally)

82% had access to a cell phone or mobile phone (84% nationally)

69% had Internet access (77% nationally), and

93% had access to a motor vehicle (92% nationwide).
In 2013, Waitaki’s youth under the age of 18 years had higher rates of Internet
access at home than their counterparts across the country, while those aged 18
and over were less likely than average to have the resource. Around 86% of 10-11
year-olds, 87% of 12-14 year-olds, 82% of 15-19 year-olds and 67% of 20-24 yearolds in the district lived in households with access to the Internet. Across the
country, the equivalent rates were 81%, 82%, 81% and 77% respectively.
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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3. EMPLOYMENT
At the time of the 2013 Census, 9,870 Waitaki residents were employed. That was
61% of the population aged 15 and over compared with 62% nationally. Around
45% of the district’s adults worked full time and 16% were employed part time
(48% and 14% nationally).
The 2013 Census recorded 2.5% of the Waitaki labour force as unemployed, a
considerably smaller proportion than the 4.8% national rate at the time. In March
2013, that equated to almost 400 people unemployed in the district (around 80
aged 15-19 years, 75 in their 20s, 60 in their 30s, 70 each in their 40s and 50s, and
50 aged 60 or over).
In 2013, Waitaki’s youth were much more likely to be employed than their
counterparts across the country. Around 22% of the district’s 15-19 year-olds were
in full-time work at the time of the 2013 Census (12% nationally), and another 28%
were working part time (21% nationwide). Among the district’s 20-24 year-olds,
almost two-thirds (66%) worked full time (47% nationally) and 11% were employed
part time (17% nationally). Around 7% of Waitaki’s 15-19 year-olds and 6% of the
20-24 year-olds were unemployed at the time of the Census, compared with 12%
and 10% respectively across the country.
LOCATION OF EMPLOYMENT
In 2013, around 8,070 Waitaki residents (91% of those who answered the
workplace question in the Census) were employed in the district. Dunedin City was
the next most popular work location, taking 3% of Waitaki’s employed residents,
while Christchurch City, Waimate and Timaru Districts each accounted for 1%.
MAIN LOCATIONS FOR W AITAKI D ISTRICT RESIDENTS TO BE
EMPLOYED , 2013
Location of employment
Number of Waitaki District
residents employed
Waitaki District
Dunedin City
8,073
246
Christchurch City
51
Waimate District
51
Timaru District
45
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
The 2013 Census recorded around 9,140 people employed within Waitaki District’s
boundaries. As well as the 8,070 workers sourced locally, Waitaki attracted 510
workers from Dunedin City, 180 from Waimate District and around 45 from each of
Central Otago and Timaru Districts.
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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INDUSTRY
The main industries employing Waitaki District residents are different from
nationally. In 2013, the largest employers were:

agriculture, forestry and fishing (20% of all employed residents in Waitaki
District – almost three times the 7% across New Zealand)

manufacturing (15% locally, 10% nationally)

the retail trade (11% in the district and 10% nationally)

health care and social assistance, and construction (8% each, compared
with 10% and 8% respectively nationwide), and

accommodation and food services and education and training – each
employing 6% of the district’s working residents compared with 6% and 8%
respectively across the country.
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
In 2013:

the largest employers of Waitaki District’s 15-19 year-olds were the retail
trade (23% of all employed in that age group), agriculture, forestry and
fishing (19%), accommodation and food services (17%), manufacturing
(14%) and construction (8%)

many of the same industries featured on the list of main employers of
Waitaki’s 20-24 year-olds (with 24% of all employed in that age group
working in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 19% in manufacturing, 12% in
the retail trade, 9% in accommodation and food services, and 7% in
construction).
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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EMPLOYMENT IN 2013
Statistics New Zealand’s Business Directory shows that in February 2013, the
largest industries in terms of the number of ‘employees’7 in Waitaki District were:

manufacturing (19% of all wage and salary earners in the district, including
12% of all employees across the district engaged in meat and meat product
manufacturing)

agriculture, forestry and fishing (15%, with agriculture accounting for 12%
of the district’s total). Within the agriculture industry, the largest employers
were dairy cattle farming (6% of wage and salary earners in the district),
and sheep, beef cattle and grain farming (3%).

the retail trade (11%)

health care and social assistance (10%)

accommodation and food services (7%)

education and training, and construction (6% each), and

mining (5%).
In terms of the number of ‘geographic units’8 or individual work places operating in
the district, the largest numbers were in agriculture (31% of the district’s total,
including 18% in sheep, beef cattle and grain farming and 7% in dairy cattle
farming), rental, hiring and real estate services (19%), construction (8%), the retail
trade (6%) and accommodation and food services (5%).
The following table shows the number of geographic units and employees in
Waitaki District over the last seven years, covering the period from before the
global recession took effect in 2008.

The number of geographic units in the district rose in 2008 and 2009, then
fell in the following two years. In 2012, the total rose by 45, slipping by 5 in
2013.

The number of employees in the district fell between 2007 and 2008, then
grew in each of the following four years. In 2013, 340 fewer employees
were recorded in the district.
7
Wage and salary earners
8
Individual work locations (e.g. a supermarket, a factory, a petrol station, a warehouse)
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Waitaki District, May 2014
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N UMBER OF GEOGRAPHIC UNITS AND EMPLOYEES IN W AITAKI
D ISTRICT , F EBRUARY 2007 - 2013
Year
Geographic Units
Number of employees
2007
2,853
9,330
2008
2,880
9,300
2009
2,919
9,440
2010
2,879
9,490
2011
2,844
9,720
2012
2,889
9,900
2013
2,884
9,560
Source: Statistics New Zealand Business Directory
OCCUPATION
In 2013, the distribution of occupations in Waitaki was different from the country as
a whole, reflecting the importance of farming in the district.

Managers, the occupation to which farmers are coded, accounted for 22%
of all employed residents in the district compared with 19% nationally.

Labourers made up 21% locally – almost twice the 11% nationally.

Technicians and trades workers made up 12%, both in the district and
across the country.

Professionals also made up 12% of Waitaki District’s employed compared
with a much larger 22% nationally.

Clerical and administrative workers made up 9% in Waitaki (12%
nationwide).

Sales workers also accounted for 9% of the Waitaki total, the same
proportion as nationally.

Community and personal service workers made up 8% locally and 9%
nationally.

Machinery operators and drivers made up 7% in the district compared with
5% nationwide.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
29
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
In 2013, the importance of farming as an employer in Waitaki District was reflected
in the occupations of Waitaki’s youth. At the time of the census:

36% of Waitaki’s employed 15-19 year-olds were labourers compared with
27% nationally, 23% were sales workers (28% nationally), 12% were
community and personal service workers (16% nationally), 9% were
managers (5% nationwide), and another 9% were technicians and trades
workers (the same as across the country)

the most common occupations among the district’s employed 20-24 yearolds were labourers (29% compared with 15% nationally), technicians and
trades workers (17% compared with 14% nationally), managers (16%
locally and 10% nationally), and professionals and sales workers (11%
each compared with 15% and 17% respectively nationwide).
UNPAID WORK AND VOLUNTEERING
The 2006 and 2013 Censuses asked about people’s unpaid work activities. In
Waitaki District, the results were very similar in both years. In the four weeks before
the 2013 Census:






86% of Waitaki adults (15 years and over) had done household work,
cooking, repairs, gardening, etc. for their own household
26% had looked after a child who was a household member
20% had done other helping or voluntary work for or through an
organisation, group or marae
16% had looked after a child who did not live in the household
10% had helped someone who was ill or who had a disability who did not
live in the household, and
7% had looked after a household member who was ill or disabled.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
30
4. HOUSING
TENURE
In 2013, Waitaki District households had a higher rate of home ownership than
households across the country. Around 56% of the district’s private households
owned their dwelling (50% nationally), and 17% had their homes held in family
trusts (15% nationally). That left 28% of Waitaki households that did not own the
dwelling in which they lived, compared with 35% of households nationwide.
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
In 2013, Waitaki’s 15-19 year-olds were more likely than their counterparts across
New Zealand to live in homes owned by their household (56% lived in dwellings
owned by household members compared with 45% nationally), and 13% lived in
homes held in family trusts (14% nationally). People aged 20-24 were also less
likely than that age group across the country to live in homes not owned by
household members (55% locally compared with 59% nationwide).
NON-PRIVATE DWELLINGS
At the 2013 Census, 1,140 Waitaki District residents were living in non-private
dwellings. The largest numbers lived in:




hotels, motels or guest accommodation (540 or 47% of the total)
residential care for older people (240 or 21%)
educational institutions (135 or 12%), and
motor camps or camping grounds (around 90 people or 8%).
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
31
SECTOR OF LANDLORD
The 2013 Census showed that, as is the case across the country, the private
sector owns the overwhelming majority (88%) of the properties rented by Waitaki
households (84% nationally). Housing New Zealand Corporation accounted for 6%
(half the national proportion), and the District Council contributed 5% (3%
nationally). State-owned corporations, enterprises, departments or ministries other
than Housing New Zealand Corporation made up the final 1%, both locally and
nationwide.
STATE HOUSING
At the end of 2013, Housing New Zealand Corporation managed just over 120
properties in Waitaki District. The Oamaru North area unit contained the large
majority (97 or 80% of the district’s total State housing stock). Oamaru Central
contained 15 (12%), and Orana Park, Oamaru South and Palmerston shared the
remainder.
Across Waitaki’s state housing stock, a little under one-half (46%) were threebedroomed properties, 36% had two bedrooms, 9% had one, and the remaining
9% had four or more.
RENTS
Recent Tenancy Services data shows that rents in Waitaki District are considerably
lower than average. Over the six months ending February 2014, houses with three
bedrooms were the most common type of rental property in Waitaki District. The
average weekly rent for a three-bedroomed house in the district was $264
compared with $370 across the country. Two-bedroomed houses, the second most
common type of rental property in the district, were rented out at an average of
$228 per week compared with $315 nationwide.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
32
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
33
ACCOMMODATION SUPPLEMENT (AS)
At the end of March 2014, around 1,030 Waitaki District residents9 were being paid
the Accommodation Supplement. The largest groups were:

just over 300 people receiving Jobseeker Support (29% of all AS recipients
in the district)

around 220 recipients of a Supported Living Payment (21%)

almost 200 New Zealand Superannuitants (19%)

around 190 Sole Parent Support recipients (18%), and

just over 100 Non-beneficiaries10 (10%).
Source: Ministry of Social Development
In March 2014, fewer than 10 (1%) of the district’s Accommodation Supplement
recipients were under the age of 18 years, around 820 (80%) were aged 18-64
years, and just over 200 (20%) were aged 65 or over.
9
The statistics included in this section have been produced by the geocoding of MSD client addresses.
The figures represent all clients who lived within Waitaki District boundaries at the end of March
2014. This method of assigning a geographic location to a client based on their address is different
from the method used to produce figures for many earlier reports. Those earlier reports relied on
identifying service centres within territorial authority boundaries and assigning a geographic location
to clients with claims managed in those relevant service centres.
10
Non Beneficiaries are low-income people who are not receiving an income-tested benefit or a pension
from Work and Income, but who do receive a Work and Income supplementary benefit (e.g. an
Accommodation Supplement, a Childcare Subsidy).
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
34
5. EDUCATION
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
The distribution of educational qualifications across Waitaki’s population aged 15
years and over is a little different from the national picture. In 2013:

a larger-than-average 30% of the district’s adult population had no
educational qualification compared with 21% nationally

just over one-half (51%) had Level 1 to 4 certificates or overseas
secondary school qualifications, similar to the 50% nationwide

Level 5 or 6 diplomas were held by 8% of Waitaki adults (9% nationally)

in contrast, smaller proportions than nationally had university-level
qualifications (8% had a bachelor’s degree or other level 7 qualification
compared with 14% nationwide, and 3% held post-graduate qualifications
compared with 6% nationally).
Source: Census of Population and Dwellings, 2013
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
At 1 July 2013, there were almost 760 children11 on the regular rolls of licensed
early childhood education service providers in Waitaki District. Excluding the small
number of enrolments of 5 year-olds, that was 62% of the estimated number of
children aged 0 to 4 years compared with 65% nationally.
11
Early childhood education statistics count enrolments and not children. It is possible for one child to
be enrolled in two services at the same time and be counted twice.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
35
Among children aged under 1 year, 1 and 2, the proportion of Waitaki District
children enrolled in early childhood education was lower than nationally. For 3 and
4 year-olds, the local proportion was higher than average.
Both in Waitaki and across the country, 3 and 4 year-olds made up the bulk of early
childhood education enrolments (32% and 34% of Waitaki enrolments in 2013
respectively compared with 30% and 31% nationally). Across the district, the
almost-250 enrolments by 3 year-olds and the almost-260 by 4 year-olds both
equated to more than the estimated number of children of those ages in the district.
That could have resulted from some children being enrolled with more than one
provider, or children from outside the district being enrolled with Waitaki services.
Source: Ministry of Education
In mid-2013, Waitaki District had four types of early childhood education providers:

five education and care centres12 were the largest provider type in the
district, with 52% of regular enrolments compared with 62% nationally

three kindergartens accounted for 22% of enrolments (17% nationally)

five Playcentres had 19% of enrolments – almost three times the national
proportion of 7%, and

one home-based service had 7% of enrolments (9% nationwide).
The district had no Köhanga Reo in mid-2013 whereas across the country 5% of
enrolments were with that type of service.
12
Education and care centres provide either sessional, all-day, or flexible hour programmes for children
from birth to school age. They can be privately owned, non-profit making, or operated as an adjunct
to the main purpose of a business or organisation.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
36
Source: Ministry of Education
WAITAKI DISTRICT SCHOOLS
Waitaki District contains 13 full primary schools, five contributing schools (offering
education up to intermediate school), one intermediate school, and four secondary
schools. In March 2014, the roll totals of those schools were as follows.
N UMBER OF W AITAKI D ISTRICT SCHOOLS BY TYPE AND ROLLS ,
MARCH 2014
School type
Number of
schools
Years
Rolls
Full primary
13
1–8
1,055
Contributing
5
1–6
719
Intermediate
1
7–8
289
Secondary
4
7 or 9 – 15
Total
23
1,536
3,599
Source: Ministry of Education
Across the district’s school student population, 77% were European/Pākehā, 11%
were Māori, 6% were Pasifika students, 4% were Asian, and the remaining 2%
were other ethnicities, including international students.13
13
The Ministry of Education counts only one ethnicity for each student.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
37
For funding purposes the Ministry of Education attaches a decile rating14 to each
school. This indicates the extent to which a school draws its students from low
socio-economic communities. Decile 1 schools are the 10% of schools with the
highest proportion of students from low socio-economic communities, whereas
decile 10 schools are the 10% of schools with the lowest proportion of these
students.
In March 2014, no school in Waitaki District was ranked in decile 1 or 2, one school
was assessed as decile 3 and another two schools as decile 4. Those three
schools, ranked as among the 40% of New Zealand schools with the highest
proportions of students from low socio-economic communities, between them had
just 9% of the district’s school students on their rolls. At the other end of the scale,
two Waitaki schools were ranked as decile 10, none as decile 9 and one as decile
8. Those three schools, described as among the 30% of schools with the lowest
proportion of students from low socio-economic communities, had just 8% of the
district’s students on their rolls. The large majority (17 out of 23) of the district’s
schools were ranked as decile 5, 6 or 7.
TRUANCY
In 2012, the Ministry of Education looked at unjustified non-intermittent absences of
students across the country and assessed the truancy rate in Waitaki schools as
slightly lower than the national rate (1.5% locally and 2.3% nationally).
As the graph below shows, there were differences in rates between some ethnic
groups.
14

Waitaki District’s Pasifika students recorded the highest truancy rate in the
district, but it was considerably below the national Pasifika rate (2.7%
compared with 3.5% nationally).

European/Päkehä students recorded the second highest rate, which was
very close to the national figure (1.5% versus 1.6% nationally).

Asian students recorded 1.4% locally compared with 1.2% nationally.

Mäori students in the district recorded a markedly lower truancy rate than
their counterparts across the country (1.1% compared with 4.1%
nationally).
From 1 January 2005, five factors have been used in determining a school's socio-economic indicator:
household income, parents' occupations, household crowding, parents' educational qualifications,
and parents receiving income support. These are based on families with school-age children within
the catchment area of the school.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
38
Source: Ministry of Education
STAND DOWNS AND SUSPENSIONS
Schools have a variety of methods available to deal with student behaviour, and
stand downs and suspensions are just two of the choices available. Both are seen
as a last resort when other options have proved unsuccessful, and only a small
number of schools in any territorial authority stand down or suspend students in
any one year.
From 2000 to 2012, the number of stand down cases in Waitaki District varied from
just over 50 in 2002 to around 110 in 2008 – an annual average of 77. In almost all
of the 13 years, the district’s stand down rate was lower than the national rate.
Most recently, in 2012, 19 stand down cases were recorded per 1,000 students in
Waitaki compared with 23 per 1,000 nationwide. Over the 13-year period, the most
common reasons for stand downs from Waitaki schools were physical assault on
other students (31% of the total), continual disobedience (24%) and verbal assault
on staff (19%).
Suspensions are far less common than stand downs. From 2000 to 2012, Waitaki
schools between them averaged around 26 suspension cases each year. Across
those 13 years, the suspension rate in Waitaki fluctuated above and below the
national rate. Most recently, in 2012, 1 suspension case was recorded in Waitaki
District per 1,000 students, compared with 5 per 1,000 nationwide. Across the 13
years, continual disobedience was the main reason for suspension (32% of all
cases), followed by drugs (including substance abuse) (17%), physical assault on
other students (16%), and alcohol (12%).
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
39
EXCLUSIONS AND EXPULSIONS
Following a suspension, a school’s Board of Trustees can lift the suspension (with
or without conditions), extend the suspension (with conditions), or terminate the
student's enrolment at the school. If the student is aged under 16, the board may
decide to exclude him or her from the school, with the requirement that the student
enrols elsewhere. If the student is aged 16 or over, the board may decide to expel
him or her from the school, and the student may enrol at another school.
From 2000 to 2012, Waitaki District experienced an average of 7 cases of
exclusion each year although fewer than 5 have been recorded in each of the last
two years. Across the 13 years, the most common reasons for exclusion were
continual disobedience (47% of the total), physical assault on other students or
staff (21%), drugs (including substance abuse) (17%), and verbal assault on other
students or staff (7%). Over the 13-year period, fewer than 10 expulsions were
recorded in the district in total. In most years, there were none.
SCHOOL LEAVERS WITH LITTLE OR NO FORMAL ATTAINMENT
In all of the years from 1993 to 2012, the proportion of students leaving Waitaki
secondary schools with little or no formal attainment was lower than nationally, and
in many of those years the gap was considerable. In 2001, the district recorded its
highest rate of just over 15% and came closest to the national rate (17%). Over the
last few years, both the national and local rates have fallen as more students have
been achieving under NCEA and efforts have been made to reduce the number of
early leaving exemptions. Most recently, in 2012, 5% of Waitaki school leavers had
little or no formal attainment compared with 6% across the country.
Source: Ministry of Education
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
40
EARLY LEAVING EXEMPTIONS
From 2000 to 2006, early leaving exemptions were granted to an average of 12
Waitaki students each year. In 2007, that number dropped below 10 and it has
been single digits ever since, including zero in 2008. Over the 11 years, around six
in every 10 of the district’s exempted students left to attend training provider
courses. A little under one-third left for full-time employment, and the remainder left
to enrol in polytechnic courses.
TERTIARY DESTINATIONS
The proportion of students leaving Waitaki District’s secondary schools to enrol in
tertiary education or training the following year is higher than the national average.
As the graph below shows, the difference between the two proportions has been
slight in some years, but substantial in others. Most recently, in 2012, the rates
were the same, with 52% of the previous years’ school leavers enrolled in tertiary
education or training, both in the district and across the country.
Source: Ministry of Education
The Waitaki District students who leave school for tertiary education tend to make
different choices from students nationwide. Nationally, between 2001 and 2012, the
largest proportions of first-year tertiary enrolments by people who were at school
the year before were at universities (48%), followed by polytechnics (32%) and
private training establishments (17%). The first-year tertiary enrolments of Waitaki
school leavers followed a different pattern, with polytechnic study proving the most
popular. Over the 12 years, 52% of Waitaki school leavers’ first-year tertiary
enrolments were at polytechnics, 34% were at universities, and 12% were at
private training establishments. Wānanga and the former colleges of education
accounted for the remainder.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
41
Particular institutions stood out as attracting the district’s students.

Of the almost-1,550 first-year polytechnic enrolments by Waitaki students
who left school between 2000 and 2011, 38% were at Otago Polytechnic
and another 38% were at Aoraki Polytechnic. Telford Rural Polytechnic
(which merged with Lincoln University in 2011), Christchurch Polytechnic
and the Southern Institute of Technology were the next most popular
choices, respectively accounting for 7%, 6% and 5% of Waitaki school
leavers’ first-year polytechnic enrolments during the 12 years.

Of the almost-980 first-year university enrolments by Waitaki school leavers
over the same period, almost two-thirds (66%) were at the University of
Otago. Lincoln University accounted for 14% and the University of
Canterbury for 13%.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
42
6. HEALTH
BIRTHS
From 2003 to 2013, almost 2,450 live births were registered to women living in Waitaki
District – an average of 223 per year. The district exhibits a slightly older pattern of
childbearing than the country as a whole. Across New Zealand, women aged under 30
years were responsible for almost half (49%) of the live births registered between 2003
and 2013. In Waitaki, that age group produced a little under 51% of the new-borns.
Over the 11-year period, the age group producing the largest proportion of babies, both in
Waitaki and across the country, was 30-34 year-olds (30% of the live births registered to
women in the district and 29% nationally). Both in the district and across New Zealand,
the age group making the second-largest contribution to births was 25-29 year-olds (26%
locally and 25% nationally).
Source: Statistics New Zealand
From 2003 to 2013, teenagers accounted for 5% of live births registered to Waitaki
women. Nationwide, their contribution was 7%. The graph below shows that in ten
of the 11 years, the proportion of live births to teenage mothers was markedly
smaller in Waitaki District than across the country. Most recently, in 2013, the local
proportion was 2% compared with a little under 6% nationally.
Over the 11-year period, no live births were registered in Waitaki to girls under the
age of 15 years. Across the country, such births equated to a little under 0.1% of
the national total.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
43
Source: Statistics New Zealand
PLUNKET INFORMATION
The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society estimates that it provides well-child
services to around 92% of the country’s new-borns. In 2013, the society reported
just over 260 ‘new baby’ cases in Waitaki District, the same as the total live births
registered to mothers in the district that year). A little under 20 (6%) of the Plunket
babies in the district were Mäori, and 25 (10%) were Pacific.
Plunket records show that in 2013, 5% of their new-born clients in Waitaki were
living in an NZDep decile 10 area (among the 10% most socio-economically
deprived in the country). Another 19% were living in decile 8 or 9 areas.
In 2013, the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society made just over 410 formal, written
referrals in Waitaki. The most common reasons for referral were dental health
(41% of the total), parenting course15 (10%), development (7%), vision (6%) and
child health and illness (5%). Dental services received the largest proportion (40%)
of those referrals, followed by intensive support programmes16 (12%), other health
professionals (11%), and General Practice teams and other Plunket services17 (8%
each).
15
Includes discussion and information dissemination about available parenting courses for parents /
caregivers to improve parenting ability and knowledge.
16
Agencies that provide intensive services / programmes to high need families to address health,
education and welfare needs. Includes programmes such as Early Start, Strengthening Families
and Family Start.
17
May include Plunket additional contracts, mobile clinics (bus), car seat rental scheme, Plunketline, or
another Plunket staff member with specific skills (e.g. bi-lingual, or lactation consultant).
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
44
In addition, Plunket made 600 less formal recommendations in Waitaki in 2013.
The main reasons for these were dental health (46%), immunisation (15%), child
health and illness (11%), parenting course (8%) and maternal health (5%). The
main recipients of those recommendations were dental services (46%) and
General Practice teams (34%).
IMMUNISATION
Based on reports from parents and caregivers, Plunket assessed that, in 2013,
96% of the children in its client families in Waitaki were fully immunised. That was
considerably higher than the 87% national estimate. Another 2% had incomplete
immunisation (10% nationally).
CIGARETTE SMOKING
The last few censuses have asked people aged 15 years and over about their
cigarette smoking habits. Nationally, smokers dropped from 24% of the adult
population in 1996 to 21% in 2006, and then 15% in 2013. In Waitaki District, the
proportion of residents aged 15 years and over who reported being regular
cigarette smokers dropped from 22% in 1996 to 21% in 2006 and then 17% in
2013. In 2013, the district’s adult residents were:

slightly more likely than nationally to be regular cigarette smokers (17%
compared with 15% nationwide)

more likely to be ex-smokers (27% compared with 23%), and

less likely to have never smoked regularly (56% compared with 62%
nationwide).
In 2013, the census showed that Waitaki men were slightly more likely to smoke
than women (18% compared with 15%). The same situation existed across the
country (16% of men and 14% of women).
The district’s 15-19 year-olds exhibited similar smoking characteristics to that age
group across the country (11% were smokers, 2% were ex-smokers and 88% had
never smoked regularly). However, the district’s 20-24 year-olds were more likely
to smoke cigarettes regularly than their age group nationwide (26% compared with
21%). They were slightly more likely to be ex-smokers (13% compared with 10%),
and considerably less likely to have never smoked (61% versus 69% nationwide).
ROAD ACCIDENTS
Over the 11 years from 2002 to 2012, 3,505 drivers were involved in road
accidents in Waitaki District. Around 60% of those drivers were involved in noninjury accidents – a considerably smaller proportion than the 74% nationally.
In comparison with the country as a whole, the district’s youngest drivers (15-19
year-olds) made a larger contribution to fatal and minor-injury crashes in the
district, and a similar contribution to serious-injury crashes than their age group
nationwide. They accounted for 18% of the drivers in fatal crashes, 15% of drivers
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
45
in serious-injury crashes and 17% of drivers in minor-injury crashes (12%, 14% and
14% respectively across the country).
Young adults aged 20-24 years made up 12% of the drivers in Waitaki’s fatal road
accidents (13% nationally), 15% of drivers in serious-injury crashes (14%
nationally), and 13% of drivers in minor-injury accidents (14% nationwide).
Over the six years from 2007 to 2012, there were:

120 multi-vehicle, fatal and injury crashes at intersections in Waitaki District

61 fatal and injury crashes involving drivers with alcohol, and

6 fatal and injury crashes involving unlicensed drivers.
PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISCHARGES
In the financial year ending 30 June 2012, there were just over 5,200 public
hospital discharges of Waitaki District residents.18 That gave Waitaki a slightly
higher hospitalisation rate than nationally (249 discharges per 1,000 people
compared with 244 per 1,000 nationwide).
In 2011/12, the main reasons for Waitaki residents to be admitted to, and
discharged from, public hospital were as follows.
18

‘Factors influencing health status and contact with health services’
accounted for 21% of the Waitaki total (14% nationwide). This covers
circumstances other than a disease, injury or external cause, and includes
people encountering health services for examination, investigation, specific
procedures and health care.

‘Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings’ were
responsible for 9% both locally and nationally.

Accidental injury also accounted for 9% of the Waitaki total (10%
nationwide).

Diseases of the circulatory system and neoplasms (cancers) each made up
8% (7% and 6% respectively across the country).

Diseases of the digestive system and pregnancy and childbirth were each
behind 7% of the Waitaki total (8% and 9% respectively nationwide).

Diseases of the respiratory system accounted for 6% locally and 7%
nationally.

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue were behind
5% both locally and across the country.
These statistics count all discharge events rather than individuals, so if a person was discharged from
hospital several times during the reference year they will count more than once in the statistics.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
46
nec = not elsewhere classified
Source: New Zealand Health Information Service
The age distribution of Waitaki’s public hospital discharges in 2011/12 was different
from the country as a whole, reflecting the older age structure of the district’s
population. The discharges of people under 65 years of age made up smaller
proportions of the total than across the country. The largest differences were
among under-5s (9% of the district’s discharges compared with 13% nationally),
and 25-44 year-olds (14% compared with 21% nationwide). Those aged 65-84
years made a larger-than-average contribution to Waitaki’s discharges (36%
compared with 24%), while people aged 85 and over made up 12% locally and 6%
nationally.
The three main reasons for the hospitalisation of Waitaki children under the age of
5 years were the same as nationally, although the proportionate contribution of
each differed.

‘Factors influencing health status and contact with health services’ were
behind the large bulk (59%) of the discharges of that age group in Waitaki
in 2011/12 (43% nationally).

Diseases of the respiratory system contributed 10% in Waitaki (13%
nationally).

Certain perinatal conditions accounted for 6% locally and 11% nationwide.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
47
MENTAL HEALTH
In 2011, almost 860 Waitaki District residents commenced mental health treatment
in the public health system. Around 11% of those clients were Māori – a higher
proportion than the 7% of the population who identified as Māori in the 2013
Census.
The age distribution of the Waitaki residents who commenced mental health
treatment during 2011 was different from the country as a whole. The main
differences occurred at either end of the age spectrum.

Children under the age of 15 accounted for 14% of the district’s total
compared with 10% nationally.

15-29 year-olds contributed 32% compared with 34% nationwide.

Those aged 30-44 made up 24% (27% nationally).

Waitaki residents aged 45-59 made up 19% of the district’s total and 18%
across the country.

60-74 year-olds contributed 9% of the Waitaki total compared with 7%
nationally.

The district’s oldest residents aged 75 and over accounted for just 2% of
Waitaki clients compared with 5% across New Zealand.
Mental health teams had around 1,120 Waitaki clients commence treatment during
2011.19 The use of mental health teams in Waitaki was a little different from
nationally. In 2011:

the Community Team20 saw 40% of the Waitaki clients commencing
treatment (37% nationally)

Alcohol and Drug Teams, including those established to see specific age or
ethnic groups, saw 18% of Waitaki clients compared with 23% nationwide

the Child, Adolescent and Family Team21 saw 16% of Waitaki clients and
10% nationally

the Needs Assessment and Service Coordination Team22 saw 13% of
Waitaki clients compared with a considerably smaller 2% nationally.
19
One person can be seen by more than one team so the number of clients seen by teams will be larger
than the number of individual clients from a territorial authority.
20
Community teams provide non-residential assessment and treatment services, including outpatient
services.
21
Child, adolescent and family teams provide assessment and treatment services to people aged 0-19
years inclusive. Includes inpatient, residential or community based child, adolescent and family
teams.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
48
Source: New Zealand Health Information Service
DEATHS
From 2003 to 2013, an average of 225 Waitaki District residents died each year.
Over those 11 years, people under the age of 70 made smaller contributions to
deaths in the district than they did nationally (23% compared with 29%). Those
aged 85 and over showed the largest difference between the district and the
country as a whole, accounting for 35% of Waitaki deaths compared with 32%
nationwide.
Over the 14 years from 1998 to 2011, the main causes of death for Waitaki District
residents were similar to those experienced across the country. Diseases of the
circulatory system were the main killer, accounting for 43% of Waitaki deaths and
39% nationally. Neoplasms (cancers) were responsible for 30% both locally and
nationally. Respiratory diseases accounted for 9% of deaths both district and
countrywide.
22
Needs assessment and service coordination teams provide comprehensive assessment of needs and
facilitation of ongoing provision of services and support to people with psychiatric disabilities. The
assessment process meets the Standards for Needs Assessment for People with disabilities (MOH).
These teams are usually community based.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
49
SUICIDES
In the 19 years from 1992 to 2010, 52 Waitaki District residents took their own
lives. While that produced an average of 3 suicides per year, annual numbers
ranged from none in 1995 to 7 in 2004.
Between 1992 and 2010, 4 of those deaths (8% of Waitaki District’s suicide total)
were young people aged between 15 and 24 years. In 16 of the years, there were
no suicides of 15-25 year-olds in the district. In other years, numbers varied
between 1 and 2.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
50
7. CRIME
RECORDED CRIMINAL OFFENCES
Waitaki District is served by several police stations, of which five (Hampden,
Kurow, Oamaru, Omarama and Palmerston) are located in and mainly serve the
district rather than other territorial authorities.23 Over the five-year period from 2009
to 2013, the catchment areas of Waitaki’s five police stations were estimated to
have contained a mean resident population of 20,838 (0.5% of New Zealand’s
estimated population). Over those five years, Waitaki police stations recorded an
annual average of 1,774 criminal offences24 (0.4% of the country’s total).
Source: New Zealand Police
The number of offences recorded by Waitaki’s five police stations fell each year
between 2010 and 2012, from around 2,080 in 2009 to just over 1,910 in 2010,
1,680 in 2011 and around 1,580 in 2012. In 2013, a small rise was recorded, to just
under 1,620. As the graph above shows, the recorded offence rate in Waitaki was
slightly lower than nationally in all five years from 2009 to 2013. Most recently, in
2013, 769 offences were recorded per 10,000 people in the catchment areas of
Waitaki’s five police stations, compared with 806 per 10,000 across the country.
23
Police administrative boundaries do not necessarily match to territorial authority boundaries. The
statistics that follow are for Hampden, Kurow, Oamaru, Omarama and Palmerston police stations.
These have been used as the ‘scene stations’ (i.e. the police stations within whose boundaries
criminal offences were recorded by police). This area may not correspond exactly to Waitaki
District but it is the best fit available.
24
It is possible that multiple offences will be recorded in association with a single incident. For example,
where an occupant is assaulted during a burglary, offences of burglary and assault will both be
recorded.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
51
From 2009 to 2013, six offence types together made up the large bulk (87%) of
offences recorded by Waitaki’s police stations.

Theft and related offences accounted for 23% of offences recorded by
Waitaki police stations compared with 33% nationally. Theft (except motor
vehicles) was the most common offence type in this category, with an
average 273 recorded by Waitaki police stations each year. That was
followed by motor vehicle theft and related offences with an annual average
of 123.

Property damage and environmental pollution also made up 23% of the
Waitaki total (13% nationally). Almost all offences in that category
consisted of property damage (an average 406 recorded each year).

Public order offences made up 13% of the local total and 11% nationally.
Disorderly conduct was the most common offence in that category (an
average 157 recorded in the district each year).

Acts intended to cause injury accounted for 10% of the local total (11%
nationally). Assault made up almost all offences in this category (an
average 181 annually).

Unlawful entry with intent / burglary, breaking and entering also
accounted for 10% locally (14% nationally). An average 171 such offences
were recorded by Waitaki police stations annually.

Illicit drug offences made up 8% of the Waitaki total compared with 5%
nationally. Possession and/or use of illicit drugs was the most common
offence type in this category with an average 45 annually.
Source: New Zealand Police
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
52
APPREHENSIONS
In 2013, Waitaki’s five police stations together recorded just over 940
apprehensions25 (0.5% of the country’s total). The age distribution of those
apprehensions differed from the country as a whole.

Children under the age of 14 years made up 4% of Waitaki apprehensions,
the same as nationally.

14-16 year-olds accounted for 20%, a considerably larger proportion than
the 11% nationwide.

17-20 year-olds also contributed 20%, the same as across the country.

People aged 21-30 years accounted for 23% of Waitaki apprehensions
(31% nationwide).

Those aged 31-50 years accounted for 28%, both locally and nationally.

People aged over 50 contributed 5% locally and 6% nationally.
Source: New Zealand Police
In 2013, 82% of the apprehensions recorded by Waitaki’s five police stations
involved Caucasians, 16% involved Māori and 2% involved Pacific Islanders.
When compared with apprehensions across New Zealand in 2013, Waitaki police
stations had a larger proportion relating to unlawful entry with intent/burglary,
breaking and entering, fraud, deception and related offences, and public order
25
The number of apprehensions is not the same as the number of offenders. Apprehensions do not
count distinct individuals as a person apprehended for multiple offences will be counted multiple
times in the data. An “apprehension” means that a person has been dealt with by police in some
manner to resolve an offence.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
53
offences, and a smaller proportion relating to illicit drug offences and acts intended
to cause injury. In Waitaki, the largest proportions of apprehensions in 2013 were
for:

public order offences (23% of the Waitaki total compared with 20%
nationally)

theft and related offences (19% locally and 18% nationwide)

acts intended to cause injury (13% locally and 18`% nationally)

unlawful entry with intent/burglary, breaking and entering (11% compared
with a considerably smaller 6% across the country)

property damage and environmental pollution (also 11% in Waitaki, 9%
nationwide), and

fraud, deception and related offences (7% locally and 3% nationally).
In the apprehension of adults (aged 17 and over) in 2013, the order of offences in
Waitaki was similar to nationally. The main offences behind adult apprehensions in
Waitaki were public order offences (26% of all adult apprehensions in the district),
acts intended to cause injury (16%), theft and related offences (15%), and property
damage and environmental pollution (10%). Across New Zealand, the largest
proportions of adult apprehensions were for public order offences (21%), acts
intended to cause injury (19%), theft and related offences (16%) and illicit drug
offences (10%).
Apprehensions of under-17 year-olds follow a different pattern to that of adults. In
2013, the most common reasons for the apprehension of that age group in Waitaki
were:

theft and related offences (33%, both across the district and the country as
a whole)

unlawful entry with intent / burglary, breaking and entering (28% locally – a
much larger proportion than the 13% nationally)

property damage and environmental pollution (13% locally and 15%
nationally), and

public order offences (also 13% locally compared with 14% nationwide).
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
54
Source: New Zealand Police
RESOLUTION OF APPREHENSIONS
In 2013, Waitaki police stations recorded a little under 720 apprehensions of adults
(aged 17 and over). In that year, the resolution of those apprehensions followed a
similar pattern to nationally: 69% resulted in prosecution compared with 66%
nationally, 30% were resolved through warning or cautioning (32% nationally), and
1% through ‘other’ means26 (2% nationally).
In 2013, Waitaki police stations recorded 225 apprehensions of children and young
people under the age of 17 years. Their pattern of resolution was different from
nationally.
26

Prosecution was the main method used to resolve the apprehensions of
under-17 year-olds in Waitaki in 2013, with 39% of those apprehensions
resulting in prosecution compared with a much smaller 23% nationwide.

Referral to Youth Aid was used to resolve 24% compared with a much
larger 47% nationally.

Just over one-fifth (21%) in Waitaki were resolved through warning or
cautioning, compared with 24% nationally.

Family Group Conferences Youth Justice were used to resolve 16% in
Waitaki in 2013 – a much larger proportion than the 5% nationwide.

‘Other’ means of resolution were not used in Waitaki (1% across the
country).
These means include all the ways police may deal with an apprehension other than the formal
categories. For example, they may find that the offender has a mental condition, is already in
custody or has died. In those cases, no further action is taken other to document the offence.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
55
CHILD, YOUTH AND FAMILY (CYF) INVOLVEMENT
In the year ended 30 June 2013, CYF’s Oamaru sub-site:



received 248 Care and Protection notifications and 15 Family Violence
referrals (of that 263 total, 200 (76%) were assessed as requiring further
action)
held a total of 33 Care and Protection family group conferences (28 new
and 5 reconvened)
had 15 Care and Protection out-of-home placements in force as at 30 June
2013.
During the 2012/13 year, the Oamaru CYF sub-site accepted two youth justice
referrals, and held two family group conferences youth justice (both new).
FAMILY VIOLENCE INVESTIGATIONS
In 2013, Police released statistics from a new, dynamic, operational family violence
data set that is still under development. The data covers the number of family
violence investigations undertaken, including those where an offence was found to
have occurred and those where no offence was detected.27
From 2009 to 2013, Waitaki’s police stations recorded almost 1,060 family violence
investigations – an average of 212 per year, although the number varied over the
five years. In 2009, Waitaki police stations undertook almost 200 family violence
investigations. The number dropped to a little under 190 in 2010, then jumped to
almost 250 the following year. In 2012, the number returned to around 190, before
rising to a little under 240 in 2013. It should be noted that many factors influence
police decisions to undertake family violence investigations and these change over
time. As a consequence, police advise against using their family violence
investigation statistics to draw any inferences about trends in the incidence of
family violence.
27
Family violence investigations are jobs Police deal with as ‘family violence’. A family violence
investigation may relate to one or more offences and/or non-offence incidents.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
56
Source: New Zealand Police
The above graph shows the number of family violence investigations by Waitaki
police stations where an offence was found to have occurred and the number
where no offence was detected. In each of the years from 2009 to 2012,
investigations detecting an offence considerably outnumbered investigations that
found no offence had occurred. 2013 was the only year in which that pattern was
reversed.
Across the five years, almost two-thirds (66%) of Waitaki’s family violence
investigations resulted in an offence being found – a considerably higher proportion
than the 48% across the country.
Community Statistical Profile
Waitaki District, May 2014
57