Living in Waikanae: rents, schools, census and property titles
The 4,971 live property titles in Waikanae, Kapiti Coast District are almost all freehold (82%), as recorded by LINZ on 30 September 2026. Cross-lease titles number 627 (12.6%), above the national share of 8.7%.
- Cross-lease titles
- 627
- Share of live titles
- 12.6%
- Live titles in total
- 4,971
- Kapiti Coast District share
- 10.5%
- New Zealand share
- 8.7%
- Rank by share in Kapiti Coast District
- 3 of 9
- Rank by share in New Zealand
- joint 261 of 644
Waikanae at a glance
Where Waikanae differs most from suburbs across New Zealand: median age (higher than 99% of NZ suburbs).
Higher or lower is not better or worse. Sources and limits
Start here
What the data tells you
Recorded facts
- Waikanae is listed under Kapiti Coast District.
- 4,971 live titles are recorded here, including 627 cross-lease titles (12.6%).
- The page includes 2023 Census context for the statistical area that represents this suburb.
- The page includes MBIE new-tenancy rent figures for April–June 2026.
Contextual observations
- Cross-lease titles make up 12.6% of the recorded title mix. That describes the suburb, not any particular home.
- Unit titles account for 1.8% of recorded titles, so title structure can vary within the suburb.
- Public-transport figures describe how recorded titles sit near mapped stops. They do not describe a service from a particular property.
- Coast distance is a suburb-level map measure, not a flood or hazard assessment.
Questions worth investigating
- For any cross-lease property you consider, do the current title, flats plan and lease match what is built today?
- What do the LIM, council property file and a suitable inspection add for the specific address?
No data held for this suburb
- The core title, Census, rent, transport and coast measures used by this page are available.
Title mix in Waikanae
| Title type | Live titles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 4,056 | 81.6% |
| Cross lease | 627 | 12.6% |
| Unit title | 89 | 1.8% |
| Leasehold | 153 | 3.1% |
| Other record types | 46 | 0.9% |
| Total | 4,971 | 100% |
Counts are titles, not homes; the register can lag conversions, so check the certificate of title. Sources and limits
How Waikanae compares
Nationally, 8.7% of live titles are cross-lease; Waikanae is higher than the national share (8.7%).
Across Kapiti Coast District as a whole, the share is 10.5%; Waikanae is higher than the overall Kapiti Coast District share (10.5%).
Its cross-lease share is 3rd highest of 9 in Kapiti Coast District (among suburbs with an indexed page on this site).
How cross-leases in Waikanae are set up
Three-flat schemes are less common here (1%, against 12% nationally).
Fewer schemes have four or more flats on one section (2%, against 11% nationally), up to 8.
More leases include a garage (52% of schemes, against 28% nationally).
| Scheme structure | Waikanae | Kapiti Coast District | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-lease schemes (shared sections) | 317 | 1,446 | 87,651 |
| Two-flat schemes | 96.8% | 92.4% | 76.2% |
| Three-flat schemes | 1.3% | 3.6% | 12.2% |
| Four or more flats | 1.9% | 3.8% | 11.4% |
| Typical section size (from the titles, not a survey) | 857 m² | 852 m² | 908 m² |
| Typical land per flat | 427 m² | 420 m² | 408 m² |
| Schemes with a garage written into a lease | 52.4% | 38.2% | 28.4% |
| Schemes with a carport in a lease | 9.1% | 9.3% | 13.3% |
| Schemes with a separate exclusive-use area | 3.2% | 4.4% | 4.5% |
| Schemes referring to more than one flats plan (usually redrawn; not by itself a problem) | 30.3% | 40.3% | 35.6% |
| Median year of earliest current title | 1982 | 1988 | 1988 |
| Two-flat schemes on 700 m² or more | 305 | 1,274 | 54,978 |
Unit titles and leasehold in Waikanae
Unit titles are 2% of Waikanae's titles, well below Kapiti Coast District (3%) and well below New Zealand (8%). They belong to 3 developments, each run by a body corporate; half have 30 units or fewer.
153 titles (3.1%) are leasehold, well above the national share (1.2%).
3 of them have a stated term that has ended or has under 10 years to run, which is worth reading closely in the lease.
Stated lease terms, as at 30 September 2026:
| Stated lease term | Titles |
|---|---|
| Stated term has ended | 2 |
| Under 10 years left | 1 |
| 10 to 50 years left | 0 |
| More than 50 years left | 144 |
| Term mentions renewal (including perpetually renewable) | 6 |
| Term not stated or not readable | 0 |
New titles in Waikanae since 2020
639 of Waikanae's current titles (13%) were first issued since 2020, well above Kapiti Coast District's suburbs with new-title figures taken together (8%) and slightly above New Zealand (12%).
That rate is joint 2nd highest of 9 in Kapiti Coast District.
| Title type | Since 2020 | Since 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 571 | 253 |
| Unit title | 39 | 39 |
| Cross-lease | 8 | 3 |
| Leasehold | 1 | 1 |
| Other | 20 | 2 |
New titles include cross-leases converted to freehold and titles re-issued; they are not a count of new homes. Sources and limits
The lie of the land in Waikanae
The typical building in Waikanae stands on ground sloping 1.0° (read on an 8 m grid, so short steep banks may be understated), joint flattest of 9 in Kapiti Coast District.
The land rises from about 1 m to 533 m, and 32% of all of it, including reserves and gullies, is 15° or steeper.
Slope is not a measure of ground stability. Sources and limits
Distance to the coast from Waikanae
0% of Waikanae's titles are within 200 m of the sea or harbour edge, 0% within 500 m and 1% within 1 km. The typical title is 3.1 km away.
Measured in a straight line from the centre of each title's land to the coastline on LINZ's 1:50k topographic map, which follows harbours and estuaries as well as the open coast; lakes and rivers are not included. Distance says nothing about beach access, views or exposure to coastal hazards; council hazard maps and the LIM describe those.
Who lives around Waikanae: 2023 Census
Waikanae's titles fall in 6 census areas (Stats NZ statistical areas). The 3 shown below hold 98% of its titles; their figures are shown side by side and are not added together.
More residents are 65 or over in Waikanae West than across Kapiti Coast District: 43.7% against 26.7%.
More households have no car in Waikanae West than across Kapiti Coast District: 8.7% against 5.9%.
Household incomes are lower in Waikanae West than across Kapiti Coast District: $59,900 against $85,200.
| Measure | Waikanae West 47% of titles | Waikanae East 25% of titles | Waikanae Park 25% of titles | Kapiti Coast District whole council |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residents | 4,755 | 2,535 | 2,427 | 55,914 |
| Change since 2018 | +8.7% | +6.0% | +16.4% | +4.2% |
| Change since 2013 | +37.5% | +18.3% | +24.3% | +13.9% |
| Median age | 59.9 | 50.7 | 55.1 | 48.8 |
| Households | 2,190 | 1,014 | 1,053 | 22,845 |
| Own or part-own their home (including family trusts) | 83.6% | 82.2% | 87.7% | 77.7% |
| Not owned and not in a family trust (mostly renting) | 16.6% | 17.8% | 12.3% | 22.3% |
| Median household income | $59,900 | $100,100 | $84,800 | $85,200 |
| Median weekly rent, renting households | $500 | $520 | $516 | $474 |
| Dwellings unoccupied on census night | 6.3% | 7.7% | 9.4% | 11.8% |
| Ages | ||||
| Under 15 | 12.7% | 16.0% | 14.7% | 16.2% |
| 15 to 29 | 9.3% | 11.8% | 10.0% | 13.7% |
| 30 to 64 | 34.2% | 43.0% | 36.7% | 43.4% |
| 65 and over | 43.7% | 29.2% | 38.7% | 26.7% |
| Where people came from | ||||
| Born overseas | 26.9% | 27.4% | 25.6% | 23.7% |
| Of those born overseas, arrived in the last 5 years | 14.2% | 12.7% | 11.3% | 14.1% |
| Lived elsewhere in New Zealand 5 years ago (of all residents, including children born since) | 43.9% | 39.0% | 47.5% | 40.8% |
| Lived overseas 5 years ago (of all residents) | 3.4% | 4.5% | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| Moved here in the last year (of all residents) | 15.6% | 15.4% | 15.0% | 15.1% |
| Work and study (people 15 and over) | ||||
| Bachelor degree or higher | 28.1% | 31.9% | 33.1% | 27.8% |
| Employed full-time | 33.6% | 45.0% | 36.6% | 44.5% |
| Unemployed (share of everyone 15 and over, not the unemployment rate) | 1.3% | 1.7% | 1.3% | 2.3% |
| Managers and professionals (of those employed) | 46.9% | 52.6% | 52.0% | 49.0% |
| Median personal income | $33,400 | $40,000 | $38,400 | $39,100 |
| Getting to work (of those employed) | ||||
| Work from home | 23.3% | 24.4% | 26.3% | 23.5% |
| Car, truck or van | 60.5% | 59.8% | 61.7% | 62.5% |
| Bus, train or ferry | 10.2% | 11.2% | 9.5% | 8.8% |
| Walk or cycle | 5.5% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 4.4% |
| Households and families | ||||
| One-person households | 37.5% | 25.2% | 31.1% | 28.9% |
| Average people per household | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| Households with no motor vehicle | 8.7% | 3.8% | 4.7% | 5.9% |
| Crowded households (need one or more extra bedrooms) | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.5% | 3.1% |
| Couples with children (of families) | 28.9% | 37.6% | 32.3% | 35.3% |
| Couples without children | 59.2% | 50.8% | 58.3% | 49.9% |
| One-parent families | 12.1% | 11.2% | 9.4% | 14.8% |
| Homes | ||||
| Separate (stand-alone) houses | 69.7% | 89.4% | 89.8% | 83.9% |
| Average bedrooms | 2.8 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 3 |
| Heated with a heat pump | 70.2% | 66.9% | 66.4% | 61.2% |
| Damp, always or sometimes | 6.7% | 11.3% | 7.0% | 10.8% |
| Mould over A4 size, always or sometimes | 6.0% | 8.2% | 6.0% | 8.2% |
Rents around Waikanae
New tenancies in Waikanae West in the April–June 2026 quarter had a median rent of $670 a week (up 11.7% on a year earlier). That is slightly above the typical suburb in Kapiti Coast District ($610), and slightly above the national median ($600); 2nd highest of 8 in Kapiti Coast District.
| April–June 2026 | Waikanae West 47% of titles | Waikanae East 25% of titles | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median weekly rent, new tenancies | $670 | $680 | $600 |
| Middle half of rents | $600–$780 | $610–$800 | $490–$700 |
| Change in median on a year earlier | +11.7% | +4.6% | +0.2% |
| Bonds lodged in the quarter | 15 | 15 | 40,827 |
Schools and hospitals near Waikanae
LINZ maps 2 school sites inside Waikanae, among them Kapakapanui School (Full Primary) and Waikanae School (Full Primary).
- Kapakapanui School (Full Primary)
- Waikanae School (Full Primary)
- Nearest school: Kapakapanui School (0.5 km)
- Nearest secondary school: Paraparaumu College (4.9 km)
- Nearest public general hospital: Kenepuru Hospital (35.7 km)
School enrolment zones in Waikanae: a guide
One secondary school has a home zone covering most of Waikanae's titles: Paraparaumu College.
- Our Lady of Kapiti School (primary, Years 1–8): all or nearly all titles
- Kapanui School (primary, Years 1–8): about 70% of titles
- Waikanae School (primary, Years 1–8): about 30% of titles
- Paraparaumu College (secondary): all or nearly all titles
A guide only: check the school's own zone map for any address. Zones as at 14 July 2026. Sources and limits
Public transport in Waikanae
85% of Waikanae's titles are within 400 m of a stop with a scheduled weekday service, slightly above Kapiti Coast District as a whole (77%).
11% are that close to a frequent stop (60 or more departures that day), above the council (9%).
32% are within 800 m of a train station or ferry wharf.
The typical title is 206 m in a straight line from its nearest stop.
Timetable of Wednesday 30 September 2026, Metlink (Greater Wellington Regional Council). Sources and limits
Places of worship near Waikanae
OpenStreetMap maps 3 places of worship inside Waikanae (3 Christian).
Nearest mapped place of each tradition within 10 km:
- Christian: Waikanae Presbyterian Church, under 1 km away
Listed as facilities for access; not an indicator of who lives here. Sources and limits
Other suburbs in Kapiti Coast District with many cross-leases
- Paraparaumu Beach: 715 cross-lease titles (17.5%)
- Paraparaumu: 540 cross-lease titles (11.2%)
- Raumati Beach: 439 cross-lease titles (18.3%)
- Ōtaki: 209 cross-lease titles (6.2%)
- Raumati South: 197 cross-lease titles (11.8%)
- Waikanae Beach: 103 cross-lease titles (4.8%)
- Ōtaki Beach: 74 cross-lease titles (5.8%)
- Paekākāriki: 49 cross-lease titles (5.7%)
All suburbs in Kapiti Coast District
Suburbs like Waikanae
The closest match on the measures on this site is Waihi Beach in Western Bay of Plenty District, nearest on unit-title share, distance to the coast, median age. Closeness is arithmetic, not a rating. Sources and limits
| Suburb | Council | Cross-lease share of titles | Median weekly rent, new tenancies | Median age | Closest on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waihi Beach | Western Bay of Plenty District | 4.1% | $620 | 58.8 | unit-title share, distance to the coast, median age |
| Waikanae Beach | Kapiti Coast District | 4.8% | $685 | 52.6 | distance to a hospital, land per flat, rent |
| Paraparaumu | Kapiti Coast District | 11.2% | $620 | 44.5 | commuting on foot or by bike, distance to the coast, new titles |
| Whangamatā | Thames-Coromandel District | 15.3% | $640 | 59.9 | median age, slope, schools |
| Waikawa, Marlborough District | Marlborough District | 4.8% | No data | 58.8 | children, population change, commuting on foot or by bike |
Questions
What is the rent in Waikanae?
New tenancies in Waikanae West (the rent area for part of Waikanae) had a median rent of $670 a week in the April–June 2026 quarter (MBIE bond data, all dwelling types). These are rents agreed for new tenancies, not asking rents. The middle half of those rents ran from $600 to $780.
What schools are in Waikanae?
LINZ maps 2 school sites inside Waikanae: Kapakapanui School and Waikanae School. The nearest secondary school to its centre is Paraparaumu College (4.9 km in a straight line). The secondary-school home zone covering most of its titles is Paraparaumu College; check the school's own zone map for any address.