Waikanae
Waikanae | |
|---|---|
Medium urban area | |
Kapiti Island seen from Waikanae Beach | |
| Coordinates: 40°52′30″S 175°03′50″E / 40.87500°S 175.06389°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Wellington Region |
| Territorial authority | Kāpiti Coast District |
| Ward | Waikanae Ward |
| Community | Waikanae Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Kāpiti Coast District Council |
| • Regional council | Greater Wellington Regional Council |
| • Kāpiti Coast Mayor | Janet Holborow |
| • Ōtaki MP | Tim Costley |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer |
| Area | |
• Total | 19.59 km2 (7.56 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024) | |
• Total | 13,300 |
| • Density | 680/km2 (1,800/sq mi) |
Waikanae (English: /ˌwaɪkəˈnaɪ/, Māori pronunciation: [ˈwaikaˈnae] ⓘ) is a town on the Kāpiti Coast, 60 km (37 mi) north of the Wellington, New Zealand. The name is a Māori word meaning "waters" (wai) "of the grey mullet".
The area surrounding the town is notable for its 2.4-kilometre-long (1.5 mi) beach, the Waikanae River estuary, the Kapiti Marine Reserve, and Kapiti Island, which lies 4 km (2.5 mi) offshore in the Tasman Sea. The town is considered one of the top retirement destinations in the Wellington Region, because of it having year-round mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and less wind than Wellington.
The town is 8 km (5.0 mi) northeast of Paraparaumu, and 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Ōtaki. The Waikanae railway station is the northernmost station in the Metlink passenger rail network, linking with Wellington railway station in Central Wellington.