Medlands Beach

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Medlands Beach
Medlands Beach, Great Barrier Island.jpg
Medlands Beach, seen from the Sugar Loaf hill
Medlands Beach
Coordinates: 36°15′57″S175°29′37″E / 36.2658°S 175.4937°E / -36.2658; 175.4937
Country New Zealand
Region Auckland Region
Ward Waitematā and Gulf ward
Local board Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial Authority Auckland Council
Area
[1]
 • Total6.04 km2 (2.33 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023) [2]
 • Total90
 • Density15/km2 (39/sq mi)

Medlands Beach is in Oruawharo Bay on the east coast of Great Barrier Island in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. [3] Auckland Council describes it as the most accessible beach on the island. [3] It is one of the island's main tourist areas but is little developed. [4] The small settlement of Medlands consists of permanent houses and holiday baches, some behind the dunes, sheltered from winds from the sea, and others elevated for a view. [3]

Contents

Medlands Beach is directly south of Kaitoke Beach, with the Sugar Loaf hill and Pitokuku Island in-between. Sugar Loaf hill offers great views of the beach but is a privately owned farm with cattle and bulls and cannot be climbed without permission from the landowners - the Blackwells. Alternatively good views of the beach is offered from the road connecting Medlands to Claris. The beach is a "sweep of white sand" [4] 2.1 kilometres long that can be walked both ways in 90 minutes. Halfway along the beach is Memory Rock, also called Medlands Rock, with a short informal walking track to the summit, where there are views across the bay. [3]

At the northern end of the beach is an exposed beach surf break [5] that offers reliable surfing conditions during most of the year. [4] At the south-eastern end of the beach is Shark Alley, a sheltered spot for swimming and launching boats. It has a small stream with several pāteke (brown teal ducks) [3] and a Department of Conservation campsite which can host up to 120 people from Christmas until mid-February. [6]

The settlement has Great Barrier Island's only traditional church building, St John's Community Church, which is used ecumenically. [7] Medlands has a number of accommodation providers, but no grocery stores or food retailers. It is a 4-kilometre drive from Great Barrier Aerodrome and Claris, which has a general store, a New Zealand Post shop, a petrol station and other facilities. [4]

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Medlands Beach as a rural settlement, which covers 6.04 km2 (2.33 sq mi) [1] and had an estimated population of 90 as of June 2023, [2] with a population density of 15 people per km2. Medlands Beach is part of the larger Barrier Islands statistical area. [8]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200696—    
201387−1.40%
201875−2.92%
Source: [9]

Medlands Beach had a population of 75 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 12 people (−13.8%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 21 people (−21.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 48 households, comprising 48 males and 27 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.78 males per female. The median age was 53.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 9 people (12.0%) aged under 15 years, 9 (12.0%) aged 15 to 29, 45 (60.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 15 (20.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 92.0% European/Pākehā, 4.0% Māori, and 4.0% other ethnicities. Percentages may add up to more than 100% as people may identify with multiple ethnicities.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.0% had no religion and 24.0% were Christian.

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (18.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 15 (22.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $19,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 3 people (4.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 21 (31.8%) people were employed full-time, 9 (13.6%) were part-time, and 6 (9.1%) were unemployed. [9]

Education

Kaitoke School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school [10] with a roll of 42 students as of April 2023. [11] The school was established in 1988, replacing an earlier Kaitoke School. [12]

Notable Residents

Jim Allen and Pamela Allen [13] - sculptor and child's book author.

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References

  1. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Medlands Beach Path". aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Auckland Council.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Waters, Laura (8 September 2020). "Off-grid and slow travel adventures on Great Barrier Island". New Zealand Herald . New Zealand Media and Entertainment.
  5. ↑ "Medlands Beach". greatbarrierisland.nz. Destination Great Barrier Island.
  6. ↑ "Medlands Beach Campsite". doc.govt.nz. Department of Conservation.
  7. ↑ "St John's Community Church, Great Barrier Island". Catholic Diocese Of Auckland. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  8. ↑ 2018 Census place summary: Barrier Islands
  9. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7001134.
  10. ↑ Education Counts: Kaitoke School
  11. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  12. ↑ "A Bit of History". Kaitoke School. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "Great Barrier Island History". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
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