Geography
Medlands Beach is located on the shores of Oruawharo Bay, 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 are offered from the road connecting Medlands to Claris. The beach is a "sweep of white sand" [7] 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. [6]
At the northern end of the beach is an exposed beach surf break [8] that offers reliable surfing conditions during most of the year. [7] 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) [6] and a Department of Conservation campsite which can host up to 120 people from Christmas until mid-February. [9]
History
In November 1888, photographer Henry Winkelmann purchased 200 acres (81 ha) at Medlands Beach, naming the property Ti Tree Flat. [10]
The settlement has Great Barrier Island's only traditional church building, St John's Community Church, which is used ecumenically. [11] 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. [7]
Demographics
Statistics New Zealand describes Medlands Beach as a rural settlement, which covers 6.04 km2 (2.33 sq mi) [4] and had an estimated population of 100 as of June 2025, [5] with a population density of 17 people per km2. Medlands Beach is part of the larger Barrier Islands statistical area. [12]
Historical population| Year | | |
|---|
| 2006 | 96 | — |
|---|
| 2013 | 87 | −1.40% |
|---|
| 2018 | 75 | −2.92% |
|---|
| 2023 | 105 | +6.96% |
|---|
| Source: [13] [14] |
Medlands Beach had a population of 105 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (40.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 18 people (20.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 57 males and 45 females in 60 dwellings. [15] 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 58.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 6 people (5.7%) aged under 15 years, 12 (11.4%) aged 15 to 29, 48 (45.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 39 (37.1%) aged 65 or older. [14]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.4% European (Pākehā); 8.6% Māori; 2.9% Asian; and 2.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA). English was spoken by 97.1%, and other languages by 8.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 22.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 25.7% Christian, 2.9% Hindu, and 2.9% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.7%, and 5.7% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (18.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 48 (48.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 21 (21.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $31,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (6.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 24 (24.2%) people were employed full-time, 24 (24.2%) were part-time, and 3 (3.0%) were unemployed. [14]
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