Hilltop is a suburb of Taupō in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.
Hilltop | |
|---|---|
 Hilltop Shopping Centre | |
 Interactive map of Hilltop | |
| Coordinates: 38°42′01″S 176°05′36″E / 38.700310°S 176.093236°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Taupō |
| Local authority | Taupō District Council |
| Electoral ward | Taupō General Ward |
| Area | |
| • Land | 368 ha (910 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 5,080 |
| • Density | 1,380/km2 (3,580/sq mi) |
| Taupō Central | Tauhara | |
| (Lake Taupō) |
  Hilltop  |
|
| Two Mile Bay | Waipahihi | Maunganamu |
The suburb is close to Lake Taupō, Taupō Central and several schools.[3] It includes high-value homes with lake views.[3][4]
Part of the suburb suffered a major power surge in January 2018.[5]
Demographics
editBird Area-Hilltop covers 3.68 km2 (1.42 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 5,080 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 2,032 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 4,656 | — |
| 2013 | 4,500 | −0.49% |
| 2018 | 4,959 | +1.96% |
| 2023 | 4,974 | +0.06% |
| Source: [6][7] | ||
Bird Area-Hilltop had a population of 4,974 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (0.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 474 people (10.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,403 males, 2,550 females, and 18 people of other genders in 1,905 dwellings.[8] 2.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 44.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 927 people (18.6%) aged under 15 years, 786 (15.8%) aged 15 to 29, 2,115 (42.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,146 (23.0%) aged 65 or older.[6]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 80.5% European (Pākehā); 23.1% Māori; 3.2% Pasifika; 6.3% Asian; 1.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.3%, Māori by 4.9%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 8.6%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.[6]
Religious affiliations were 31.1% Christian, 1.4% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 2.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.9%, and 7.9% of people did not answer the census question.[6]
Of those at least 15 years old, 813 (20.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,298 (56.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 930 (23.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 432 people (10.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,986 (49.1%) full-time, 627 (15.5%) part-time, and 75 (1.9%) unemployed.[6]
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird Area | 1.18 | 2,193 | 1,858 | 897 | 45.5 years | $43,300[9] |
| Hilltop | 1.61 | 1,950 | 1,211 | 711 | 46.0 years | $40,800[10] |
| Invergarry | 0.89 | 828 | 930 | 294 | 37.5 years | $39,100[11] |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
Education
editReferences
edit- 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 3 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- 1 2 Siobhan (11 January 2017). "Life in a resort town: Great Lake Taupo". Stuff. Destinations.
- ↑ Steven, Robert (3 August 2018). "Taupō house built from beautiful wood and plugged into geothermal water". Stuff. Waikato Times.
- ↑ Steven, Robert (25 January 2018). "Lines glitch blows neighbourhood's electronics". Stuff. Waikato Times.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Bird Area-Hilltop (53210). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Bird Area (189000) and Hilltop (Taupo District) (189100).
- ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Bird Area. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Hilltop (Taupo District). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Invergarry. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Hilltop School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ↑ "Hilltop School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ "History Kōrero o mua". Hilltop School. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ↑ "Taupo Intermediate Official School Website". taupointermediate.co.nz.
- ↑ "Taupo Intermediate Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ↑ "Taupo Intermediate Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ↑ "History". Taupo Intermediate. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.