Waiau is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Hurunui, one of 26 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Waiau is the 8th largest suburb of Hurunui in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Waiau provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1890 - 1899. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1950 - 1959. Residential housing stock in Waiau is made up of approximately 84% residential housing , 2% residential investment housing and 14% lifestyle properties.