Riwaka (Māori: Riuwaka) is a small settlement in the Tasman District of New Zealand's South Island. It lies beside Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere, five kilometres north of Motueka, and close to the mouth of the Riuwaka River. The land where the town is based was a swamp known as Tureauraki.^[3] Europeans first settled in Riwaka in May 1842.^[4] The Riwaka economy has been based around growing tobacco and hops.^[5][6][7]

The settlement's name, Riwaka, is a corruption of the Māori name Riuwaka, which derives from riu meaning bilge or interior, and waka meaning canoe.^[8] The name can be interpreted as the hull of the canoe.^[9]

The name of the nearby river was officially altered from Riwaka River to Riuwaka River in August 2014,^[10] following the Treaty of Waitangi settlements between the Crown and local iwi Ngāti Rārua and Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui.

Riwaka is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 5.49 km² (2.12 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 800 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 146 people per km². It is part of the larger Kaiteriteri-Riwaka statistical area]].

Riwaka had a population of 765 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 108 people (16.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 135 people (21.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 270 households, comprising 396 males and 372 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female, with 168 people (22.0%) aged under 15 years, 117 (15.3%) aged 15 to 29, 366 (47.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 111 (14.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 92.5% European/Pākehā, 14.1% Māori, 1.6% Pasifika, 2.0% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 66.3% had no religion, 21.2% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.4% were Buddhist and 3.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 96 (16.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 114 (19.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 69 people (11.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 333 (55.8%) people were employed full-time, 96 (16.1%) were part-time, and 12 (2.0%) were unemployed.^[11]

The Saint Barnabas Anglican church is located on Main Road, Riwaka.^[14]

Riwaka School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[15][16] with a roll of 172 as of February 2024.^[17] The school, opened in 1848, is one of the oldest schools in New Zealand.^[9]