Karaka Bays

"Karaka Bay" redirects here. For the bay in Glendowie, Auckland, see Karaka Bay (Auckland).

Karaka Bays is a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. It lies on the northeast coast of the Miramar Peninsula, 6 km east-south-east of the city centre, and has an expansive view of Wellington Harbour. It takes its name from a New Zealand native tree, the karaka or New Zealand laurel.

Karaka Bays
Suburb
Scorching Bay, part of Karaka Bays
Coordinates: 41°18′12″S 174°49′52″E
Country	New Zealand
City	Wellington City
Local authority	Wellington City Council
Electoral ward	Motukairangi/Eastern Ward Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward
Area
• Land	67 ha (166 acres)
Population  (June 2024)
• Total	1,580

	Maupuia
Maupuia	Karaka Bays
Miramar	Worser Bay

The suburb consists of residential properties close to the shores of two bays, Scorching Bay in the north and Karaka Bay in the south. Nearby suburbs are Miramar and Maupuia. Prominent features of Karaka Bays include the Scorching Bay Domain and a recreational park at the northern end of the suburb. The Cook Strait ferry passes the coast of Karaka Bay on its way between Picton and Wellington.

The area was historically connected with whaling - Coombe Rocks, a series of rocky islets off the coast, were used as a watching-place for cetaceans. In recent years marine mammals have returned to the area, with seals commonly sighted along the coast and orca occasionally visible offshore.

Demographics

Karaka Bay-Worser Bay statistical area, which includes Worser Bay, covers 0.67 km² (0.26 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 1,580 as of June 2024, with a population density of 2,358 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,419	—
2013	1,443	0.24%
2018	1,503	0.82%
2023	1,560	0.75%
Source:

Karaka Bay-Worser Bay had a population of 1,503 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 60 people (4.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 84 people (5.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 863 households, comprising 747 males and 756 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 44.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 273 people (18.2%) aged under 15 years, 207 (13.8%) aged 15 to 29, 777 (51.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 243 (16.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 91.0% European/Pākehā, 6.0% Māori, 2.0% Pasifika, 7.2% Asian, and 2.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 31.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.7% had no religion, 30.3% were Christian, 1.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 1.2% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 645 (52.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 78 (6.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $60,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 537 people (43.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 669 (54.4%) people were employed full-time, 183 (14.9%) were part-time, and 45 (3.7%) were unemployed.