Ruawai is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Kaipara, one of 21 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Ruawai is the 9th largest suburb of Kaipara in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Ruawai provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1880 - 1889. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1950 - 1959. Residential housing stock in Ruawai is made up of approximately 68% residential housing , 2% residential investment housing and 30% lifestyle properties.