Waiau is a rural locality in the Western Bay of Plenty District of New Zealand.

Waiau River and State Highway 2 run through it.

[3] William Wright Falls is a 28m waterfall on Orokawa Stream, in the northern part of the area, accessible by a walking track from Waihi Beach.

The percentage of people born overseas was 10.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.5% had no religion, 28.8% were Christian, 1.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions.