New information just released by Statistics NZ shows that the Raglan population has increased markedly since 2006. From having 3,186 residents in 2006, the population of the Raglan community increased by 6.7% to 3,400 in 2011. The Raglan community population includes the area from Maungatawhiri Road to Raglan Town and out to Whale Bay. As no census was undertaken in 2011 because of the Christchurch earthquake, Statistics NZ updated the 2006 data using births, deaths, building consents, and net migration information that they continually track to provide this 2011 estimate.
This growth in population reverses the small decline from 2001 to 2006. The Raglan ward population is up even more from 4002 in 2001 to 4,330, a growth of 8.2% and is very close to the 4340 population that Waikato District Council had planned for the combined Raglan and Whaingaroa area in 2021. This new information on the increased population calls into question the data used for the draft Long Term Plan recently issued by the Waikato District Council as inadequate allowance has been made in that plan for Raglan’s growth.