- Source: Western Heights, Rotorua
Western Heights is a suburb of Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island.
Demographics
Western Heights covers 2.38 km2 (0.92 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 4,900 as of June 2024, with a population density of 2,059 people per km2.
Western Heights had a population of 4,404 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 582 people (15.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 312 people (7.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,365 households, comprising 2,151 males and 2,256 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 1,263 people (28.7%) aged under 15 years, 1,005 (22.8%) aged 15 to 29, 1,725 (39.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 408 (9.3%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 48.9% European/Pākehā, 62.7% Māori, 10.0% Pacific peoples, 4.2% Asian, and 1.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 9.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.1% had no religion, 31.5% were Christian, 6.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.1% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 258 (8.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 768 (24.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 165 people (5.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,317 (41.9%) people were employed full-time, 459 (14.6%) were part-time, and 345 (11.0%) were unemployed.
Education
Western Heights has two co-educational state primary schools for Year 1 to 6 students: Western Heights School, with a roll of 425}; and Aorangi School, with a roll of 128.
St Michael's Catholic School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 6 students, with a roll of 103.
Kaitao Intermediate is a co-educational state intermediate school, with a roll of 290.
Western Heights High School is a co-educational state primary school, with a roll of 1155.