Kaeo

Kaeo (Māori: Kāeo) is a township in the Far North District of New Zealand, located some 22 km (14 mi) northwest of Kerikeri. The town takes its name from the kāeo or New Zealand freshwater mussel, which is found in the nearby rivers.

For the 14th century Queen of Lang Xang, see Nang Keo Phimpha.

Kaeo
Kāeo (Māori)
Motto(s): 
Small town, big spirit
Coordinates: 35°6′S 173°47′E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionNorthland Region
DistrictFar North District
WardBay of Islands/Whangaroa
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityFar North District Council
 • Regional councilNorthland Regional Council
Area
[1]
 • Total1.39 km2 (0.54 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total260
 • Density190/km2 (480/sq mi)
Postcode
0478

Sanfords Fishery factory, one of the main employers in Kaeo, closed in December 2011.[3]

History and culture

Pre-European settlement
Pā site Pohue-nui of the Ngati Uru tribe. As seen behind an old house from the east, near SH 10, in February 2013.

Kaeo used to be a fortified village pā of the Ngati Uru sub-tribe. This tribe arrived in the Whangaroa Harbour as late as 1770–1775, having been driven out of the Rawhiti area of the Bay of Islands, after killing and eating Captain Marion du Fresne and his crew.[4]

European settlement

Wesleydale, the first Wesleyan Methodist mission in New Zealand, was established by Samuel Leigh and William White at Kaeo in June 1823, then abandoned in 1827 after it was sacked by local Māori.[5] A memorial cairn marks the site of the mission adjacent to the cemetery on the south side of the Kaeo River.

Flooding

Kaeo is built on the flood plain of the Kaeo River and has experienced destructive flooding. It came to national attention in 2007 when it took the brunt of three major floods within the space of a few months - in February, March and July. Water flooded homes and shops and destroyed the primary school's pool complex. The local rugby clubrooms also suffered, and the club received support from the whole country as it raised funds to lift the clubrooms off the ground to minimise the risk of damage from further flooding.[6]

Landslips, fallen power lines, and road closures resulted from heavy rain in February 2008. The Northland Regional Council scheduled flood-protection work for 2008, but as of 2011 it was still waiting on various consents.[6][7] Floods occurred as a result of Cyclone Wilma in January 2011, and 70 people had to be evacuated from Kaeo.[8]

Marae

The Kaeo area has two marae affiliated with multiple iwi:

There are two marae affiliated with Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa hapū:

There are seven marae affiliated with Ngāpuhi / Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa hapū:

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Kaeo as a rural settlement. It covers 1.39 km2 (0.54 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 260 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 187 people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Kaeo statistical area.

Historical population for Kaeo settlement
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006171—    
2013180+0.74%
2018228+4.84%
Source: [12]

Kāeo settlement had a population of 228 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 people (26.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 57 people (33.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 78 households, comprising 114 males and 114 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female. The median age was 32.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 66 people (28.9%) aged under 15 years, 45 (19.7%) aged 15 to 29, 84 (36.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 36 (15.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 44.7% European/Pākehā, 73.7% Māori, and 9.2% Pacific peoples. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.7% had no religion, 28.9% were Christian, 17.1% had Māori religious beliefs and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (7.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 60 (37.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $21,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 6 people (3.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 54 (33.3%) people were employed full-time, 24 (14.8%) were part-time, and 18 (11.1%) were unemployed.[12]

Kaeo statistical area

Kaeo statistical area covers 255.58 km2 (98.68 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,360 as of June 2022,[13] with a population density of 5.3 people per km2.

Historical population for Kaeo statistical area
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,077—    
20131,005−0.98%
20181,191+3.45%
Source: [14]

Kaeo statistical area had a population of 1,191 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 186 people (18.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 114 people (10.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 405 households, comprising 624 males and 567 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female. The median age was 42.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 273 people (22.9%) aged under 15 years, 192 (16.1%) aged 15 to 29, 525 (44.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 201 (16.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 65.2% European/Pākehā, 50.9% Māori, 4.3% Pacific peoples, 0.8% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.4% had no religion, 27.7% were Christian, 9.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 96 (10.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 210 (22.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $21,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 48 people (5.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 357 (38.9%) people were employed full-time, 165 (18.0%) were part-time, and 63 (6.9%) were unemployed.[14]

Education

Whangaroa College, a coeducational secondary (years 7-15) school,[15] has a roll of 146 students as of April 2023.[16] The principal since 2015 is Jack Anderson.

Kaeo School, a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school,[17] has a roll of 112 students as of April 2023.[16] The school dates from 1877; it moved to its current site some years later. In 1941 it became Kaeo District High School, taking both primary and secondary students. After the opening of Whangaroa College in 1969, Kaeo School became a primary school.[18] The current principal is Paul Barker.

Notable people

Famous people from Kaeo include Eric Rush, New Zealand rugby sevens player and Heather Mansfield of The Brunettes. Rahera Windsor (1925–2004), British Māori spiritual leader and founding member of Ngāti Rānana, was born in Pupuke near Kaeo.[19]

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  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. "66 jobs to go at Kaeo oyster plant". The Northern Advocate. 6 December 2011.
  4. "The Peopling of the North". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 5 (Supplement). 1896.
  5. "Wesleyan mission established". New Zealand History. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  6. "Call to stop town flooding a fourth time". The New Zealand Herald. 26 February 2008.
  7. "Kaeo people frustrated by continual flooding". Radio New Zealand. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  8. "Wilma departs leaving big clean up". The New Zealand Herald. 29 January 2011.
  9. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  10. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  11. "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  12. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7000132.
  13. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  14. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Kaeo (101900). 2018 Census place summary: Kaeo
  15. Education Counts: Whangaroa College
  16. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  17. Education Counts: Kaeo School
  18. "Our school". Kaeo Primary School. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  19. Wilson, Susan (22 June 2004). "Rahera Windsor, London Māori leader". The Independent. London.
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