Whakakī Lake, southwest of the settlement, is the largest freshwater lagoon on the east coast of the North Island.

The percentage of people born overseas was 4.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 31.1% had no religion, 43.6% were Christian, 16.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Muslim, and 0.4% were Buddhist.

[6] Whakakī is a marae (meeting place) and wharenui (meeting house) for the Ngāi Te Ipu hapu (subtribe) of Ngāti Kahungunu iwi.(tribe).

It was damaged in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake[8] and (as Whakaki Maori School) celebrated its golden jubilee in 1962.