View source for Whenuapai

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2013}}
{{stack begin}}
{{Infobox New Zealand suburb
|name       = Whenuapai
|image      = Whenuapai Airfield From The Air.jpg
|caption1   = Aerial view of Whenuapai Airbase, looking eastward
|city1      = [[Auckland]]
|board      = {{hlist|[[Upper Harbour Local Board]]|[[Henderson-Massey Local Board]]}}
|council    = [[Auckland Council]]
|ward       = {{hlist|[[Albany ward (local government)|Albany ward]]|[[Waitākere ward]]}}
|area       = 1703
|areasource = <ref name="Area"/>
|population = {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Whenuapai|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Whenuapai West|y}}|R}}|0}}
|popdate    = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y}}
|popsource  = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2||||y}}
|airports   = [[RNZAF Base Auckland]]
|postcode   = 0618
|coordinates= {{coord|-36.7898|174.6303|region:NZ|display=inline,title}}
|map        = {{infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|-36.7898|174.6303}}|zoom=11}}
}}
{{Adjacent place
| west      = [[Kumeū]]
|northwest  = [[Riverhead, New Zealand|Riverhead]]
| centre    = Whenuapai
|north      = [[Pāremoremo]]
|northeast  = [[Greenhithe, New Zealand|Greenhithe]]
|east       = [[Hobsonville]]
|southeast  = [[West Harbour, Auckland|West Harbour]]
|southwest  = [[Westgate, New Zealand|Westgate]]
|south      = [[Massey, New Zealand|Massey]]
}}
{{stack end}}
'''Whenuapai''' is a suburb and [[aerodrome]] located in northwestern [[Auckland]], in the [[North Island]] of [[New Zealand]]. It is located on the shore of the [[Upper Waitematā Harbour]], 15 kilometres to the northwest of Auckland's city centre. It is one of the landing points for the [[Southern Cross Cable|Southern Cross telecommunications Cables]].

==Etymology==

The name Whenuapai was coined by resident Theophilus Wake,<ref name="Cambridge">{{cite web|url=https://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/RNZAF%20Stations%20Auckland%20area.htm |title=RNZAF Auckland Region |website=Wings Over Cambridge |access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref> a [[Māori language]] name meaning "good land".<ref>{{cite report|url=https://environment.govt.nz/assets/what-government-is-doing/fast-track/Whenuapai-Green/70.09-Archaeological-Assessment_Redacted.pdf |title=98-100 and 102-102A Totara Road, Whenuapai: Archaeological Assessment |first1=Jen |last1=Low |first2=Aaron |last2=Apfel |first3=Rod |last3=Clough |date=January 2021 |publisher=Clough & Associates Ltd |access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref> When Wake settled in the area in 1911, he chose the name {{lang|mi|Waimarie}}, meaning "calm waters". As the settlement grew, Wake applied for a post office to be established for the community. The post office service required a different name, due to another location named Waimarie, and Wake chose the name Whenuapai instead.<ref name="Cambridge"/> The name Whenuapai was officially adopted on 23 March 1914,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzlii.org/nz/other/nz_gazette/1914/60/27.pdf |title=The New Zealand Gazette 2541 |date=25 June 1914 |publisher=New Zealand Gazette |access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref> and the first references to Whenuapai in newspapers can be found from May 1914.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19140530.2.3.6 |via=Papers Past |title=Page 1 Advertisements Column 6 |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |volume=LI |issue=15622 |date=30 May 1914 |page=1}}</ref>

The traditional [[Te Kawerau ā Maki]] name for the area is {{lang|mi|Rarawaru}}, which is the name of the stream that flows north from Whenuapai to the [[Upper Waitematā Harbour]].<ref name="TrigRoad">{{cite report|url=https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Documents/Fast-track-consenting/Whenuapai-business-park/the-application/Appendix-9-Cultural-Impact-Assessment.pdf |title=Cultural Impact Assessment for Development at 69-71 Trig Road & 149-157 Brigham Creek Road, Whenuapai |publisher=Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust |date=September 2021|access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="LINZ">{{LINZ |id=38066 |name=Rarawaru Creek |access-date=2 February 2024}}</ref>

==History==
The poor soil quality around the Wallace and Waiarohia inlets dissuaded permanent settlement of the area until after European farming techniques were able to improve the soil quality.<ref name="waiarohia">{{cite report|title=Waiarohia Structure Plan Area: Archaeological Asessment|date=10 June 1999|first1=Rod|last1=Clough|first2=Don|last2=Prince}}</ref>

In {{circa}}1903 the Ockleston's established a pottery located at the tip of the Waiarohia inlet where the Whenuapai rubbish tip is now located.<ref name="DiamondBrick">{{Cite book| editor-first=James| editor-last=Northcote-Bade |title=West Auckland Remembers, Volume 2 |year=1992 |publisher=West Auckland Historical Society |isbn=0-473-01587-0 |chapter=The Brick and Pottery Industry in the Western Districts |first1=John T. |last1=Diamond |author-link1=J. T. Diamond |pages=47}}</ref><ref name="waiarohia"/> The pottery ceased production in 1914, after the Ockleston's business had been bought out and merge with Clark's at Limeburners Bay in Hobsonville.<ref name="waiarohia"/> The bricks The area was settled by pacifist Theophilus Wake in 1911. Wake was joined by other like-minded pacifists in the 1910s, and a community developed at Whenuapai.<ref name="Cambridge"/>
===RNZAF facilities===
{{main|RNZAF Base Auckland}}
In 1938 under the Public Works Act, the New Zealand Government several hundred acres of land at Whenuapai, in order to create a base for [[Vickers Wellington|Wellington bomber]], prior to the onset of [[World War II]].<ref name="EvolvingAuckland9.2">{{Cite book| editor-first=John| editor-last=La Roche |editor-link=John La Roche |title=Evolving Auckland: The City's Engineering Heritage |year=2011 |publisher=Wily Publications |chapter=Auckland International Airport |first1=Mike |last1=Lancaster |pages=206–210 |isbn=9781927167038}}</ref><ref name="Cambridge"/>

Post World War II Auckland became a centre for [[RNZAF]] transport and maritime squadrons. From 1945 to 1965 Whenuapai was also Auckland's civil international airport. Whenuapai and [[Hobsonville]] bases were integrated in 1965 to form [[RNZAF Base Auckland]]. Hobsonville is now closed, with the RNZAF continuing to lease a few remaining facilities.

Today, with a personnel strength of around 1100, Base Auckland is the home for:

* [[No. 5 Squadron RNZAF|No. 5 Squadron]] ([[P-3 Orion|P-3K2 Orion]])
* [[No. 6 Squadron RNZAF|No. 6 Squadron]] ([[SH-2 Seasprite|SH-2G(I) Seasprite]])
* [[No. 40 Squadron RNZAF|No. 40 Squadron]] ([[C-130 Hercules]] and [[Boeing 757]])
* RNZAF Parachute Training and Support Unit,
* [[RNZAF Security Forces]] Military Working Dog Training School
* RNZAF Aviation Medicine Unit.
* RNZAF Operations Squadron
* RNZAF Police

===Whenuapai Airport 1945&ndash;65===
In 1945 the government made the RNZAF Station at Whenuapai available for civil airline operations on a temporary basis and with RNZAF activities to take precedence.<ref name="EvolvingAuckland9.2"/> That "temporary basis" lasted twenty years and the RNZAF had to give up their two smaller hangars and move to the north apron of their own airfield. In the 1940s Whenuapai was one of three aerodromes in the country with sealed runways, the others being [[Paraparaumu Airport|Paraparaumu]] and [[RNZAF Base Ohakea|Ohakea]]. Whenuapai was adopted as the international airport for Auckland, despite the benefits of the location of the [[Mangere Aerodrome]], due to its ongoing use by the RNZAF meaning there were no additional costs for the [[Auckland City Council]].<ref name="EvolvingAuckland9.2"/>

For a short time, Auckland had three aerodromes—the seaplane aerodrome at [[Mechanics Bay]] where [[Tasman Empire Airways Limited]] (TEAL) operated from 1940&ndash;54; the city's domestic airport—at the then small grass airstrip at [[Māngere]], on the site of the present [[Auckland Airport]]; and weekly Pan American and British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines (the latter's services originally operated by Australian National Airways) services with [[Douglas DC-4|DC-4s]] from Whenuapai.  Also immediately post-war; the RNZAF operated many of the civil services while [[National Airways Corporation (New Zealand)|National Airways Corporation]] (NAC) was being organised, and to add to the confusion; some of Auckland's domestic services departed from Whenuapai as well. Hills adjacent to the Whenuapai site limited the ability of new generation aircraft to use the site.<ref name="EvolvingAuckland9.2"/>

In 1947 the government closed Māngere to all but light aircraft citing safety concerns, and NAC moved to Whenuapai. (At the same time, the government closed Wellington's [[Wellington International Airport|Rongotai Airport]], for the same reasons, and NAC had to move to Paraparaumu, 35 miles from the city.)

In addition to domestic services, NAC flew a [[Douglas DC-3|DC-3]] weekly to [[Norfolk Island]] from Whenuapai, and fortnightly on a route that took a week each way; Whenuapai—Norfolk Island—[[Nadi International Airport|Nadi]]—[[Faleolo International Airport|Apia]]—[[Fua'amotu International Airport|Tongatapu]]—[[Aitutaki]]—[[Rarotonga International Airport|Rarotonga]].  The Norfolk Island service continued until 1955 when Qantas, chartered to TEAL, took over the route with a DC-4; and the Pacific Service was handed over to TEAL in 1952.

The next major development at Whenuapai was in May 1954, when [[British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines]] was wound up, its [[Douglas DC-6|DC-6s]] given to TEAL, and that airline sold all except two of its flying boats and moved to Whenuapai. It kept one [[Short Solent|Solent]] in reserve and sent the other to Suva to fly the leg to Tahiti, which didn't get a landplane airport until 1960.  The first part of the Coral Route was then operated by DC-6 from Whenuapai to Nadi.

Airport diagram for [https://www.flickr.com/photos/12530375@N08/8153392893/sizes/h 1956]

Despite problems with its runway Whenuapai continued as Auckland's international airport through the 1950s. In 1960 the longest runway was 6590 feet (6664&nbsp;ft a few years later) which allowed [[British Overseas Airways Corporation|BOAC]] [[De Havilland Comet|Comet]] flights, but larger jet airliners such as the [[Douglas DC-8|DC-8]] and the [[Boeing 707|B707]] demanded a new international airport and work on [[Auckland Airport]] began. The first international flight from Auckland Airport was on 24 November 1965 and it officially opened on Anniversary Weekend (29–31 January), 1966 after which Whenuapai Airport reverted to purely military use as an Aerodrome.

===Reverting to Military Aerodrome and recent developments===
The operational tempo at Whenuapai continues at the level it has been at for the last forty years, although the closure of the adjacent Hobsonville base has seen the departure of rotary operations (primarily the UH1H Iroquois) to RNZAF Base Ohakea.  With the budget for moving the base to Ohakea exceeding one billion dollars, the previously scheduled closure by the New Zealand Labour government (originally by 2007, then 2010 or, at latest, 2014) was cancelled by the incoming National government of 2008. There were suggestions that it be used as Auckland's second international Airport. Reasons put forward in favour were that more people in the Auckland region already lived closer to the aerodrome than to [[Auckland Airport|Māngere Airport]] and that it was projected that within 15 years Whenuapai would be closer for more than a million Aucklanders.<ref>{{cite report|publisher=Waitakere City Council|title=The Case for Whenuapai Airport|date=January 2004|url=http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/abtcit/whenuapai/pdf/submission-partone.pdf|access-date=9 January 2007|archive-date=27 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201537/http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/abtcit/whenuapai/pdf/submission-partone.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The three local authorities that comprised the north west sector of the Auckland Region, [[Rodney District|Rodney District Council]], [[North Shore City Council]] and [[Waitakere City Council]] all favoured the second airport concept at one time or another and at least one poll, by the Waitakere City Council in late 2006, indicated 77% support and 22% opposition by the public.<ref>{{cite report |publisher=TNS|title=A Study of the views of Residents of North/West, Central and Southern Region of Greater Auckland Area in Respect of a proposal By Waitakere City and Infratil to Develop Whenupai Airport for Commercial Flights|date=September 2006}}</ref>

However, in the local body elections of October 2007, the pro-airport North Shore City mayor was defeated by an anti-airport mayoral candidate with indications that the airport issue was the most important of factors considered by voters.<ref>Crothers, Charles: "Candidates, Issues and Outcomes", AUT University.</ref>

Subsequently, North Shore City Council reversed support for a Whenuapai International Airport while the Waitakere City Council remained in favour. In 2010, all councils were amalgamated into the new [[Auckland Council]] and therefore support for a commercial airport was dropped. The proposal had also been opposed by the government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=9003013|access-date=17 July 2017|title=Government won't back Whenuapai airport proposal|date=13 December 2004|work=The New Zealand Herald}}</ref>

====Airlines of Whenuapai (Chronological Order)====
{|
|-
|Royal New Zealand Air Force (Civil Operations)||1945&ndash;47
|-
|Pan American World Airways                    ||1946&ndash;65
|-
|British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines (BCPA)  ||1947&ndash;53
|-
|New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC)||1947&ndash;65
|-
|Canadian Pacific Airlines                     ||1952&ndash;65
|-
|Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL)          ||1954&ndash;65
|-
|Transports Aeriens Intercontinentaux (TAI)    ||1957&ndash;63
|-
|South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand (SPANZ) ||1960&ndash;65
|-
|Qantas Empire Airways (QANTAS)                ||1961&ndash;65†
|-
|British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC)   ||1963&ndash;65
|}
:† This was as scheduled operations on its own account.  As QANTAS owned half of TEAL until 1961; before then its aircraft only appeared at Whenuapai if chartered by TEAL, or if its aircraft were chartered for a trip across to New Zealand, although it did occasionally appear at Whenuapai between 1956&ndash;61 with its Super Constellations at peak traffic times.
==Economy==
The initial main source of income in Whenuapai came from logging [[kauri]]. After the trees were cut down [[Kauri gum|gum diggers]] arrived. The gum diggers sold their gum at Sinton's store at Brigham Creek or in Hobsonville. After the gum diggers had left most land owners converted their property to pasture or for growing crops.<ref name="totara"/>

[[Tobacco]] was grown as a crop in Whenuapai and by 1929 more than 120,000 pounds of tobacco were produced at Whenuapai and nearby [[Riverhead, New Zealand|Riverhead]]. By 1940 however tobacco production would cease and [[Motueka]] became the main area for tobacco cultivation.<ref>{{cite report |first1=Ellen|last1=Cameron|first2=Jen|last2=Low|first3=Kirstin|last3=Roth |date=October 2022 |title=9 MCKEAN ROAD, 101 TOTARA ROAD AND 105-107 TOTARA ROAD, WHENUAPAI: ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT |url=https://environment.govt.nz/assets/what-government-is-doing/fast-track/Totara-Landing/115.04_archaeological_assessment_Redacted.pdf |publisher=Clough & Associates}}</ref> This was due to increasing taxes and increasing labour costs making tobacco cultivation unprofitable.<ref name="totara">{{cite report|url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/UnitaryPlanDocuments/15-pc109-app-m-archaeological-investigation-report.pdf|publisher=Clough and Associates|title=98-100 AND 102-102A TOTARA ROAD, WHENUAPAI: ARCHAEOLOGICAL/HISTORIC HERITAGE ASSESSMENT|first1=Rod|last1=Clough|date=October 2023|first2=Jen|last2=Low|first3=Aaron|last3=Aapfel|first4=Sarah|last4=Macready}}</ref>
==Demographics==
Whenuapai statistical area, which includes [[Herald Island, New Zealand|Herald Island]], covers {{Convert|17.03|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 3 2023 (generalised)|access-date=24 December 2024}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Whenuapai|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Whenuapai West|y}}|R}}|0}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|({{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Whenuapai|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Whenuapai West|y}}|R}})/17.03|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|3,639|2013|3,570|2018|3,696|2023|6,300|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Whenuapai (117000)|whenuapai|Whenuapai}}</ref><ref name="Census 2023"/>|footnote=The 2006 population is for a larger area of 19.68 km<sup>2</sup>}}
[[File:Whenuapai Village Hall (12096449134).jpg|thumb|Whenuapai Village Hall]]
Whenuapai had a population of 6,300 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 2,604 people (70.5%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 2,730 people (76.5%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 3,177 males, 3,105 females and 21 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 2,091 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=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%2Bdo1.50890%2B117001%2B117002.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 3.2% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 33.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,257 people (20.0%) aged under 15 years, 1,329 (21.1%) aged 15 to 29, 3,144 (49.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 573 (9.1%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 62.3% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 12.6% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 6.9% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 30.1% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 2.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.3%, Māori language by 2.2%, Samoan by 1.3%, and other languages by 24.9%. No language could be spoken by 3.4% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 35.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 28.0% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 4.0% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 2.4% [[Islam in New Zealand|Islam]], 0.4% [[Māori religious beliefs]], 1.5% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 0.3% [[New Age]], and 1.7% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 55.5%, and 6.1% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,461 (29.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,319 (46.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 882 (17.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $60,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,017 people (20.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,240 (64.2%) people were employed full-time, 585 (11.6%) were part-time, and 90 (1.8%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=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%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.50890.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Whenuapai (50890)}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Individual statistical areas
|-
!Name !! Area<br/>(km<sup>2</sup>) !! Population !! Density<br/>(per km<sup>2</sup>) || Dwellings !! Median age !! Median<br/>income
|-
| Whenuapai || style="text-align:right;"|12.75 || style="text-align:right;"|5,052 || style="text-align:right;"|396 || style="text-align:right;"|1,698 || 34.0 years || $61,300<ref>{{Cite web|url=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%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.117001.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Whenuapai}}</ref>
|-
| Whenuapai West || style="text-align:right;"|4.27 || style="text-align:right;"|1,248 || style="text-align:right;"|292 || style="text-align:right;"|390 || 32.3 years || $58,200<ref>{{Cite web|url=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%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.117002.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Whenuapai West}}</ref>
|-
! New Zealand !! !! !! !! !! 38.1 years !! style="text-align:left;"| $41,500
|}

== Climate ==

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location = Whenuapai Aero (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1945–present)
| Jan record high C = 30.3
| Feb record high C = 32.4
| Mar record high C = 29.4
| Apr record high C = 27.0
| May record high C = 23.9
| Jun record high C = 21.6
| Jul record high C = 20.8
| Aug record high C = 21.2
| Sep record high C = 22.6
| Oct record high C = 24.1
| Nov record high C = 26.1
| Dec record high C = 29.1
| year record high C = 32.4
| Jan avg record high C  = 27.6
| Feb avg record high C  = 28.2
| Mar avg record high C  = 26.3
| Apr avg record high C  = 24.3
| May avg record high C  = 21.3
| Jun avg record high C  = 18.7
| Jul avg record high C  = 17.7
| Aug avg record high C  = 18.8
| Sep avg record high C  = 19.9
| Oct avg record high C  = 21.3
| Nov avg record high C  = 23.3
| Dec avg record high C  = 25.9
| year avg record high C = 28.6
| Jan high C  = 24.0
| Feb high C  = 24.7
| Mar high C  = 23.2
| Apr high C  = 20.5
| May high C  = 17.8
| Jun high C  = 15.5
| Jul high C  = 14.9
| Aug high C  = 15.5
| Sep high C  = 16.6
| Oct high C  = 17.9
| Nov high C  = 19.9
| Dec high C  = 22.1
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C  = 19.4
| Feb mean C  = 19.8
| Mar mean C  = 18.3
| Apr mean C  = 15.8
| May mean C  = 13.5
| Jun mean C  = 11.5
| Jul mean C  = 10.6
| Aug mean C  = 11.5
| Sep mean C  = 12.7
| Oct mean C  = 13.9
| Nov mean C  = 15.7
| Dec mean C  = 17.9
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C  = 14.7
| Feb low C  = 14.9
| Mar low C  = 13.4
| Apr low C  = 11.2
| May low C  = 9.1
| Jun low C  = 7.5
| Jul low C  = 6.3
| Aug low C  = 7.4
| Sep low C  = 8.8
| Oct low C  = 9.9
| Nov low C  = 11.5
| Dec low C  = 13.6
| year low C = 
| Jan avg record low C  = 8.8
| Feb avg record low C  = 9.2
| Mar avg record low C  = 7.5
| Apr avg record low C  = 4.6
| May avg record low C  = 1.8
| Jun avg record low C  = 0.1
| Jul avg record low C  = -1.0
| Aug avg record low C  = 1.4
| Sep avg record low C  = 2.1
| Oct avg record low C  = 4.2
| Nov avg record low C  = 5.4
| Dec avg record low C  = 7.9
| year avg record low C = -1.4
|Jan record low C  = 4.4
|Feb record low C  = 3.6
|Mar record low C  = 0.9
|Apr record low C  = -0.2
|May record low C  =  -2.3
|Jun record low C  = -4.9
|Jul record low C  = -4.2
|Aug record low C  = -3.4
|Sep record low C  = -1.6
|Oct record low C  = 0.7
|Nov record low C  = 0.2
|Dec record low C  = 1.3
|year record low C = -4.9
|rain colour = green	
|Jan rain mm = 73.5
|Feb rain mm = 67.7
|Mar rain mm = 96.4
|Apr rain mm = 107.9
|May rain mm = 105.3
|Jun rain mm = 139.4
|Jul rain mm = 150.5
|Aug rain mm = 135.2
|Sep rain mm = 120.4
|Oct rain mm = 98.2
|Nov rain mm = 91.8
|Dec rain mm = 101.3
|year rain mm = 	
|source = NIWA (rain 1970-1993)<ref name="niwa 1410 23976">{{cite web
|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/
|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 1410, 23976)
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 12 Jul 2024}}</ref>
}}Whenupai is one of four places in New Zealand where [[weather balloons]] are regularly launched for [[MetService]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 December 2014 |title=Weather balloons |url=https://blog.metservice.com/weather-balloons |access-date=2 February 2025 |work=[[MetService]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*The Auckland Scrapbook, Auckland City Library (microfiche)
*The New Zealand Scrapbook, Auckland City Library (microfiche)
*Auckland Municipal Airport Files, Auckland City Council Archives

==External links==
*[http://www.airforce.mil.nz/about-us/force-elements/units/ptsu.htm RNZAF Parachute Training and Support Unit]
*[http://www.airforce.mil.nz/about-us/force-elements/units/aviation-medicine-unit.htm RNZAF Aviation Medicine Unit]
*[http://www.wascnz.com/ Whenuapai Aviation Sports Club] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524180348/http://wascnz.com/ |date=24 May 2010 }}
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{{Upper Harbour Local Board Area}}
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[[Category:Suburbs of Auckland]]
[[Category:Upper Harbour Local Board Area]]
[[Category:Airports in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Populated places around the Waitematā Harbour]]
[[Category:West Auckland, New Zealand]]