Pakaraka

Pakaraka is a settlement in Northland, New Zealand, at the junction of State Highway 1 and 10, in the district the Ngāpuhi tribe called Tai-a-mai.[1]

Not to be confused with the town near Whanganui, Pākaraka.

Pakaraka
Coordinates: 35°21′27″S 173°57′23″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionNorthland Region
DistrictFar North District
WardBay of Islands/Whangaroa
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityFar North District Council
 • Regional councilNorthland Regional Council

Demographics

Pakaraka statistical area covers 72.34 km2 (27.93 sq mi)[2] and had an estimated population of 760 as of June 2022,[3] with a population density of 10.5 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006507—    
2013555+1.30%
2018666+3.71%
Source: [4]

Pakaraka had a population of 666 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 111 people (20.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 159 people (31.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 222 households, comprising 333 males and 333 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female. The median age was 40.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 147 people (22.1%) aged under 15 years, 96 (14.4%) aged 15 to 29, 333 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 93 (14.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 80.2% European/Pākehā, 34.2% Māori, 0.9% Pacific peoples, and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.4% had no religion, 32.0% were Christian, 1.4% had Māori religious beliefs, and 0.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 96 (18.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 90 (17.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 78 people (15.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 264 (50.9%) people were employed full-time, 84 (16.2%) were part-time, and 24 (4.6%) were unemployed.[4]

History and culture
Henry Williams' Holy Trinity Church, Pakaraka

Pre-European history

A pā was located at the base, and on the slopes, of Pouerua, a 270 metres (890 ft) high basaltic scoria cone. The pā was studied during a major archeological project in the 1980s.[5]

Parts of the Flagstaff War were fought around Pakaraka in 1845.[6] After the Battle of Ōhaeawai on 23 June 1845 the British troops destroyed Te Haratua's pā at Pakaraka on 16 July 1845.[7]

Modern history

Mount Pouerua is registered with the Heritage New Zealand as a traditional site. Holy Trinity Church. The Retreat and the Store are also registered with the trust.[8]

Marae

The local Kahukura Ariki Marae and Kahukura Ariki meeting house are affiliated with the Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa hapū of Hāhi Katorika, and the Ngāpuhi / Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa hapū of Ngāti Kohu.[9][10]

Education

Pakaraka School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 31 students as of April 2023.[11][12] In 2018, all but one of the students was Māori.[13] The school opened in 1911.[14]

Notable people
  • Hōne Heke, a Ngāpuhi chief, was born at Pakaraka in about 1807 or 1808.[15] He was buried here in secret in August 1850. In 2011 his remains were removed due to possible development of the land around the burial site.
  • The missionary Henry Williams retired to Pakaraka and built a church in 1850–51. The church that now stands on the site was opened on 27 November 1873,[16] the church was constructed by Williams' wife and family as a memorial to his life.[17] The church is named Holy Trinity Church as Trinity Sunday was the day on which Henry was ordained by the Bishop of London, and Trinity Sunday was also the last day that Henry and Marianne Williams spent at Paihia before moving to Pakaraka. They lived by the church in a house known as The Retreat, that still stands.[18]
  • The first and third sons of the missionary Henry Williams, Edward & Henry farmed here.
  • Gravestones of Henry and Marianne Williams, Holy Trinity Church
    Gravestones of Henry and Marianne Williams, Holy Trinity Church
  • Interior of the Holy Trinity
    Interior of the Holy Trinity
  • A plaque in the church
    A plaque in the church
  • Gravestones of Henry and Marianne Williams
    Gravestones of Henry and Marianne Williams

Notes
  1. Best, Elsdon (1927). "Old Forts of the Taiamai District, Bay of Islands". The Pa Maori. Whitcombe and Tombs Limited.
  2. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  3. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  4. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Pakaraka (103600). 2018 Census place summary: Pakaraka
  5. Sutton, Doug G.; Furey, Louise; Marshall, Yvonne M. (2003). The archaeology of Pouerua. Auckland University Press. ISBN 978-1-86940-292-1.
  6. Reverend Robert Burrows (1886). "Extracts from a Diary during Heke's War in the North in 1845".
  7. Cowan, James (1922). "Volume I: 1845–1864". The New Zealand Wars: a history of the Maori campaigns and the pioneering period. Wellington: R.E. Owen. pp. 73–144.
  8. "New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero". Historic Places Trust. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  9. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  10. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  11. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  12. Education Counts: Pakarata School
  13. "Pakaraka School". Education Review Office. 1 March 2018.
  14. De Graaf, Peter (15 November 2011). "Stalwarts return to school for centenary". Northern Advocate.
  15. "Heke Pokai, Hone Wiremu". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
  16. "The Church Missionary Gleaner, May 1874". Opening of a new church in New Zealand. Adam Matthew Digital. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  17. "Holy Trinity, Pakaraka, Northland". Don Donovan.
  18. "The Retreat (Pakaraka)". Henry and William Williams Memorial Museum Trust. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
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