Kaiaua | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 37°06′40″S175°17′46″E / 37.111°S 175.296°E | |
Country | New Zealand |
Region | Waikato region |
District | Hauraki District |
Ward | Plains Ward |
Electorates | |
Government | |
• Territorial Authority | Hauraki District Council |
• Regional council | Waikato Regional Council |
Area | |
• Total | 4.67 km2 (1.80 sq mi) |
Population (2018) [2] | |
• Total | 429 |
• Density | 92/km2 (240/sq mi) |
Postcode(s) | 2473 |
Kaiaua is a small coastal settlement on the Seabird Coast, on the western shore of the Firth of Thames, in the Hauraki District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is 80km (60 minutes drive) from Auckland.
The name of the settlement is of Māori origin, meaning "Eating mullets" (kai: to eat; aua: mullet or herrings) [3] relating to the good fishing grounds in the area. [4] Kaiaua was known as 'New Brighton' by the early settlers but the name was changed to Kaiaua in 1897. [5]
The township of Kaiaua is located upon a larger block of land called Ōpita. [6] This block commences at the foreshore in front of the Kaiaua settlement and reaches inland to a point called Ōpita, the elevated inland area behind Kaiaua township (on the road to Mangatangi). The Ōpita block was first investigated by the Native Land Court in 1869 following an application by Hamiora Te Rangituaatea of Ngāti Paoa in 1868. A certificate of title was subsequently awarded to Te Rangituaatea and others of Ngāti Paoa.
During the 1870s, the block was sold to two brothers: Thomas Edmund Smith and William Alfred Smith. Following this sale, the establishment of Kaiaua township began. By 1885, various survey plans show a hotel, a race course and other amenities. By 1888, a small school had been established.
The sale of the Ōpita block included an agreement to set aside and protect a ’burial ground’ near the mouth of the Hauārahi stream. Unfortunately, this agreement was not observed as the burial ground was included in the Ōpita block and in later land transactions. This prompted approaches by Pōkaitara Wikiriwhi of Ngāti Paoa to the Native Minister in the 1930s seeking protection. [6]
The Hauraki Rail Trail officially starts at Kaiaua and traces the coastline south along the Firth of Thames, over chenier shell banks and through wetlands of international significance. It is one of the Great Rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail system [7] The route incorporates a coastal bird watching area and Miranda Hot Springs. [8]
The area is popular with campers and there is a designated freedom camping area just north of the Kaiaua village. [9]
A boat-ramp is also available for fishing enthusiasts. [10]
The Torea Mangu Oystercatcher sculpture is the world's largest sculpture of an oystercatcher. It stands between the Pink Shop Seaside Store and Kaiaua School. Over 4 metres long and 3.5 metres tall, the 2.5 ton bird is constructed of ferro-cement. The sculpture is by local artist Tony Johnston and represents the mother of all oystercatchers. In Māori 'torea mangu' means black oystercatcher. Erected facing north east, the direction of prevailing winds, the sculpture symbolises the wildlife of The Firth of Thames. [11]
Kaiaua is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 4.67 km2 (1.80 sq mi). [1] It is part of the wider Miranda-Pūkorokoro statistical area. [12]
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
2006 | 339 | — |
2013 | 411 | +2.79% |
2018 | 429 | +0.86% |
Source: [2] |
Kaiaua had a population of 429 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 18 people (4.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 90 people (26.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 183 households, comprising 216 males and 210 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female, with 66 people (15.4%) aged under 15 years, 30 (7.0%) aged 15 to 29, 192 (44.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 138 (32.2%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 82.5% European/Pākehā, 35.0% Māori, 0.7% Pacific peoples, and 0.7% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.9% had no religion, 30.8% were Christian, 2.1% had Māori religious beliefs and 0.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (9.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 108 (29.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 42 people (11.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 144 (39.7%) people were employed full-time, 51 (14.0%) were part-time, and 9 (2.5%) were unemployed. [2]
Kaiaua School was first established in 1883. [13] It is a co-educational state primary school, [14] with a roll of 27 as of February 2023. [15] [16]
The EcoQuest Education Foundation is a Private Training Establishment established in 1999. It provides residential courses for US students through a partnership with the University of New Hampshire in the United States of America. Its campus is located in Whakatīwai.
Kaiaua is located within the traditional homelands of the iwi (tribe) called Ngāti Paoa. They maintain a marae (tribal centre including a carved meeting house) called Wharekawa at Whakatīwai. This is shared with the closely related people of Ngāti Whanaunga whose lands are located to the north of Kaiaua.
Māori settlement has been continuous and unbroken in the Kaiaua area and coast for over 600 years. The ocean going ancestral vessel called Tainui travelled from central Polynesia and landed at Waihīhī, north of Kaiaua, in approximately 1350AD. Tainui peoples have lived in the area since that time leading to the presence of Ngāti Paoa and Ngāti Whanaunga today (both Tainui tribes).
Notable pā (traditional villages) of the district include Tikiore on the Whakatīwai stream, Hauārahi in Kaiaua itself and Rangipō to the south of Kaiaua. There are many more.
Other sites of significance include the Tauwhare Koiora reserve at the mouth of the Hauārahi stream and numerous urupā (cemeteries) located along the coast both on low lying sites adjacent to the sea (such as the Whakatīwai urupā) and on inland, elevated areas.
Hauraki District is a territorial authority within the Hauraki region of New Zealand. The seat of the council is at Paeroa.
Panmure is an east Auckland suburb, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 11 kilometres southeast of the Auckland CBD, close to the western banks of the Tāmaki River and the northern shore of the Panmure Basin. To the north lies the suburb of Tāmaki, and to the west is the cone of Maungarei / Mount Wellington.
Point England is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is under the local governance of the Auckland Council.
Pūkorokoro / Miranda is a historical fort and small village in the Firth of Thames, New Zealand. The locality is mostly known for the Pūkorokoro Miranda Naturalists' Trust, a charitable trust to encourage people to visit the coastline and appreciate its wide range of flora and fauna.
The first Christian mission is established at Rangihoua. The Hansen family, the first non-missionary family also settles there. Samuel Marsden explores the Hauraki Gulf and travels to within sight of Tauranga Harbour. The first book in Māori is published in Sydney. The first European is born in New Zealand.
Hauraki-Waikato is a New Zealand parliamentary Māori electorate first established for the 2008 election. It largely replaced the Tainui electorate. Nanaia Mahuta of the Labour Party, formerly the MP for Tainui, became MP for Hauraki-Waikato in the 2008 general election and was re-elected in 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2020.
Ngāti Maru is a Māori iwi (tribe) of the Hauraki region of New Zealand. The stronghold of Ngāti Maru has been the Thames area. Ngāti Maru are descendants of Te Ngako, also known as Te Ngakohua, the son of Marutūāhu, after whom the tribe is named.
Ngāti Pāoa is a Māori iwi (tribe) that has extensive links to the Hauraki and Waikato tribes of New Zealand. Its traditional lands stretch from the western side of the Hauraki Plains to Auckland. They also settled on Hauraki Gulf islands such as Waiheke.
Ngāti Tamaterā is a Māori iwi (tribe) of the Hauraki region of New Zealand, descended from Tamaterā, the second son of Marutūāhu. It is a major tribe within the Marutūāhu confederation and its leaders have been prominent in Hauraki history and Marutūāhu tribal affairs. It is one of five tribes of the Marutūāhu confederation, the others being Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Rongoū and Ngāti Whanaunga. The Marutūāhu tribes are all descended from Marutūāhu, a son of Hotunui, who is said to have arrived in New Zealand on the Tainui canoe. The Marutūāhu tribes are therefore part of the Tainui group of tribes. The Marutūāhu confederation is also part of the Hauraki collective of tribes.
Ngāti Whanaunga is a Māori iwi (tribe) of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand, descended from Whanaunga, the third son of Marutūāhu.
Ōtara is a suburb of South Auckland, New Zealand, situated 18 kilometres to the southeast of the Auckland CBD. Ōtara lies near the head of the Tamaki River, which extends south towards the Manukau Harbour. Contemporary Ōtara is surrounded by the suburbs of Papatoetoe, East Tāmaki, Clover Park and Flat Bush. The suburb is noted for its proportion of Pacific Islander residents, who make up 78% of the Ōtara population, and its unusually low number of European New Zealanders (Pākehā) residents (10%).
Te Patukirikiri is a Māori iwi of the Hauraki area of New Zealand.
Ngāti Rongoū is a Māori iwi (tribe) of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand.
Marutūāhu, Marutūahu or Marutuahu is a collective of the Māori iwi (tribe) of the Hauraki region of New Zealand. The confederation is made up of the tribes of Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Whanaunga and Ngāti Rongoū.
Tāmaki Māori are Māori iwi and hapū who have a strong connection to Tāmaki Makaurau, and whose rohe was traditionally within the region. Among Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau, also known as the Tāmaki Collective, there are thirteen iwi and hapū, organised into three rōpū (collectives), however Tāmaki Māori can also refer to subtribes and historical iwi not included in this list.
Pikiao was a Maori rangatira (chieftain) of the Te Arawa tribal confederation based at Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, who was the ancestor of Ngāti Pikiao in Te Arawa, of Ngāti Mahuta in the Tainui confederation, and of Ngāti Pāoa in the Marutūāhu confederation. He probably lived in the early seventeenth century.
Waharau Regional Park is a regional park situated in the Hauraki District and the Waikato Region of New Zealand's North Island, four kilometres north of Whakatīwai Regional Park. It is just south of the border with the Auckland Region, and is owned and operated by Auckland Council. It runs from the eastern side of the Hunua Ranges, where it adjoins Hunua Ranges Regional Park, down to the Firth of Thames coast.
Whakatīwai is a locality on the Seabird Coast on the western shore of the Firth of Thames, in the Hauraki District, New Zealand. Whakatīwai is the location of Wharekawa Marae, which holds importance for Ngāti Paoa and Ngāti Whanaunga. Whakatīwai Regional Park is just north of Whakatīwai. Until 2010, Whakatīwai was a part of the Franklin District. Because it was previously considered a part of the Auckland region, the Whakatīwai Regional Park continues to be owned and operated by the Auckland Council.
Hotunui was a Maori rangatira (chieftain) of the Tainui tribal confederation of Waikato, New Zealand. Through his son Marutūāhu he is the ancestor of four tribes of the Hauraki Gulf: Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Rongoū, Ngāti Tamaterā, and Ngāti Whanaunga. He probably lived in the latter half of the sixteenth century.
Tūroa Kiniwe Royal D.Litt. (Hon) QSO ED is a Māori educationist. Born in 1935, Royal dedicated his long career to improving Māori educational achievement and was involved in numerous innovations in New Zealand education utilising aspects of Māori culture, language and ideas. He was a teacher at Tāmaki College, Auckland, a Department of Education Inspector of Māori and Island Education, and principal of Wellington High School for eight years. Educational institutes he was part of founding are Whitireia Polytechnic in Porirua north of Wellington and Te Wānanga-o-Raukawa in Ōtaki. He was also heavily involved in the establishment of the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium.