Kaiwaka | |
|---|---|
 The Eutopia cafe building | |
| Nickname: The little town of lights[1] | |
 Interactive map of Kaiwaka | |
| Coordinates:36°9′40″S174°26′37″E / 36.16111°S 174.44361°E /-36.16111; 174.44361 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Northland Region |
| District | Kaipara District |
| Ward | Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Kaipara District Council |
| • Regional council | Northland Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Kaipara | Jonathan Larsen[4] |
| • Northland MP | Grant McCallum[5] |
| • Te Tai Tokerau MP | Mariameno Kapa-Kingi[6] |
| Area | |
• Total | 7.57 km2 (2.92 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[3] | |
• Total | 820 |
| • Density | 110/km2 (280/sq mi) |
Kaiwaka, known as "the little town of lights",[1] is a settlement inNorthland, New Zealand. The Kaiwaka River runs from the east through the area and joins with the Wairau River to form theOtamatea River, which drains into theKaipara Harbour.State Highway 1 passes through Kaiwaka. Kaiwaka is located 20 kilometres (12 mi) north ofWellsford.[7][8]
Kaiwaka was established in the 1850s during thekauri timber andgum trade. During the late 19th and early 20th century both the road and railway line north passed through the town.
The New ZealandMinistry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation ofeating the canoes for Kaiwaka.[9] The reference to food and canoe may reflect the historicMangapai portage route between Kaiwaka andMangawhai linking the east coast with theKaipara Harbour.[10]
Local tradition also speaks of a cloud that is only observed in this part of the Kaipara. It is seen as an omen that a high-ranking person is about to die.[11]Kaiwaka refers to threatening clouds on the horizon, and also to a sign of misfortune.[12]
In February 1825, during theMusket Wars, a major battle betweenNgāpuhi andNgāti Whātua was fought at Te Ika-a-ranga-nui, near Kaiwaka.[13]
Kaiwaka became a trading and commercial point from the late 1850s.[14] As thekauri timber andgum industries declined towards the end of the century, dairy farming became established. The Hakaru Dairy Company was formed to serve Kaiwaka farmers in 1902.[15]
From the 1880s, steamers provided regular service to Kaiwaka from the Otamatea. TheMinnie Casey ran a service every Tuesday from 1882. Services continued well into the 20th century.[16]
TheGreat North Road fromAuckland to Whangārei passed through Kaiwaka, but was only a line on a map for much of the 19th century. Attempts were made to improve the road from 1895, and by 1900 the worst places on the road between Kaiwaka and Whangārei were metalled.[17] In 1911, Kaiwaka had a population of 211.[18]
TheNorth Auckland railway line reached Kaiwaka in March 1913, although problems with the terrain, andWorld War I, meant that it was not extended significantly further north until the early 1920s.[19]
TheLands and Survey Department took over large blocks of unproductive land and developed them in the 1940s, and these were passed to returning soldiers in the early 1950s.[20]
Eutopia cafe was established in 2001. The cafe is decorated with artwork, coloured glass, and sculptures and has a distinct appearance.[21][22]
Kaiwaka's Te Pounga Marae and meeting house on the central peninsula of Kaipara Harbour are a traditional meeting place forTe Uri o Hau andNgāti Whātua.[23][24][non-primary source needed]
Statistics New Zealand describes Kaiwaka as a rural settlement, which covers 7.57 km2 (2.92 sq mi)[2] and had an estimated population of 820 as of June 2025,[3] with a population density of 108 people per km2. Kaiwaka is part of the larger Kaiwaka statistical area.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 525 | — |
| 2013 | 621 | +2.43% |
| 2018 | 744 | +3.68% |
| 2023 | 783 | +1.03% |
| The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 7.23 km2. Source:[25][26] | ||
Kaiwaka had a population of 783 in the2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 39 people (5.2%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 162 people (26.1%) since the2013 census. There were 390 males, 393 females and 3 people ofother genders in 285 dwellings.[27] 1.9% of people identified asLGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 165 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 138 (17.6%) aged 15 to 29, 366 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 114 (14.6%) aged 65 or older.[26]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 72.4%European (Pākehā); 28.4%Māori; 5.0%Pasifika; 12.3%Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.3%, Māori language by 5.4%, and other languages by 11.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 24.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 32.2%Christian, 1.5%Hindu, 0.4%Islam, 3.8%Māori religious beliefs, 0.4%New Age, 0.4%Jewish, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they hadno religion were 52.1%, and 6.5% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 63 (10.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 333 (53.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 186 (30.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $33,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 36 people (5.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 300 (48.5%) people were employed full-time, 105 (17.0%) were part-time, and 12 (1.9%) were unemployed.[26]
Kaiwaka statistical area covers 259.03 km2 (100.01 sq mi)[2] and had an estimated population of 2,680 as of June 2025,[28] with a population density of 10.3 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,452 | — |
| 2013 | 1,599 | +1.39% |
| 2018 | 2,139 | +5.99% |
| 2023 | 2,532 | +3.43% |
| Source:[29][30] | ||
Kaiwaka had a population of 2,532 in the2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 393 people (18.4%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 933 people (58.3%) since the2013 census. There were 1,263 males, 1,266 females and 6 people ofother genders in 945 dwellings.[31] 1.9% of people identified asLGBTIQ+. The median age was 43.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 477 people (18.8%) aged under 15 years, 354 (14.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,245 (49.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 456 (18.0%) aged 65 or older.[30]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 79.6%European (Pākehā); 26.1%Māori; 4.9%Pasifika; 6.9%Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.6%, Māori language by 6.4%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 9.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk).New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 26.9%Christian, 0.7%Hindu, 0.2%Islam, 4.5%Māori religious beliefs, 0.4%Buddhist, 1.2%New Age, 0.2%Jewish, and 1.7% other religions. People who answered that they hadno religion were 57.1%, and 7.9% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 276 (13.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,158 (56.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 543 (26.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $32,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 153 people (7.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 978 (47.6%) people were employed full-time, 318 (15.5%) were part-time, and 36 (1.8%) were unemployed.[30]
Kaiwaka School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 132 students as of October 2025.[34][35]
The school opened in September, 1871,[36] and the school celebrated its centennial in 1970.[37]
The Kaiwaka River is a prominent feature that begins near Kaiwaka township and flows West, where it joins the Wairau River to form the Otamatea River, which drains into the Kaipara Harbour.
Pukekaroro is a distinctive 1.5-kilometre-diameter (0.93 mi), forest-covered volcanic dome of dacite dated at 17 million years old rising to a height of 301 metres (988 ft), 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) north of Kaiwaka on State Highway 1.[38]
The maunga (mountain) Pukekaroro is of great importance toTe Uri o Hau. Pukekaroro was a key strategic site for Te Uri o Hau, as from the summit the Mangawhai Heads to the east and the Kaipara Harbour entrance to the west are both visible. Traditionally, Te Uri o Hau used the timber that grew on the mountain to build waka renowned for their seaworthiness.[39]
During the battle known as Te Ika Ranganui in 1825, Karoro, arangatira (chief) who had apā (settlement) site at the very top of the mountain, retrieved many Te Uri o Hau dead and wounded from the surrounding area and carried them up to the pā so they would not be found by the enemy. Pukekaroro is of special spiritual significance to Te Uri o Hau because of the many wāhi tapu (sacred sites) on the mountain. The mountain has been tapu (sacred) since that battle and remains so today.[39]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.