Whangārei Heads

Whangārei Heads is a locality and volcanic promontory on the northern side of the Whangārei Harbour in Northland, New Zealand. Whangārei is 29 km (18 mi) to the north-west, and Ocean Beach is 8 km (5.0 mi) to the south-east, with Taurikura between the two. Mount Manaia rises to 420 metres (1,380 feet) to the east.[3][4]

Whangārei Heads
Mt Aubrey viewed across McLeod Bay
Mt Aubrey viewed across McLeod Bay
Coordinates: 35°49′2″S 174°30′14″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionNorthland Region
DistrictWhangārei District
WardWhangarei Heads Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityWhangarei District Council
 • Regional councilNorthland Regional Council
Area
[1]
 • Total5.16 km2 (1.99 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total1,100
 • Density210/km2 (550/sq mi)

Immediately to the west is McLeod Bay, which is about 2 km (1.2 mi) long. The McDonald sandbank lies a few metres offshore at low tide. The promontory to the south of the settlement consists of a hill, Mount Aubrey, and a small gravel beach about 200 metres wide, Reotahi Bay.[5]

Geology

The heads contain the remnants of a number of extinct volcanoes with the dominant rocks being andesite or dacite. They were formed between 16 and 22 million years ago during the early Miocene.[6] They are part of a 50 km2 (19 sq mi) stratovolcano that extended to the Hen and Chickens Islands.[7]

History

Gilbert Mair purchased the entire peninsula - everything south of a line running from McLeod Bay to the Pacific Coast, about 10,000 acres (40 km2) – from the Māori chief Te Tao, in 1839. He intended to resell it to Captain Bernard, but the latter was lost with his ship. The chief Te Tirarau claimed compensation of three horses because his ancestor had had blood spilt on the land, but settled for two horses in 1844. The government review of the land purchase in 1844 awarded Mair only 414 acres (1.7 km2), but Mair had sold his interest in the land to Logan Campbell.[8] Campbell pursued his claim to the remainder of the land.

A group of settlers from Nova Scotia, led by the Rev. Norman McLeod, settled at McLeod Bay in about 1855 although the ownership of the land had not been settled. In 1861, Campbell received the right to buy 1,800 acres (10 km2) at 10/- an acre, and was granted 910 acres (3.7 km2) which he sold to the Nova Scotians.[9]

On 8 February 1907 a tugboat named Awarua, belonging to the Devonport Steam Ferry Company, struck an unchartered rock and sunk near the Whangārei Heads. She left for Kauri Mount to pick up logs to be delivered to Auckland. The ship was built in Blackwall, England in 1884 and weighed 159 tons. The crew all survived.[10][11]

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Whangārei Heads as a rural settlement. The settlement covers 5.16 km2 (1.99 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,100 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 213 people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Bream Head statistical area.

Historical population for Whangārei Heads
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006723—    
2013759+0.70%
2018969+5.01%
Source: [12]

Whangārei Heads had a population of 969 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 210 people (27.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 246 people (34.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 408 households, comprising 492 males and 477 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female, with 162 people (16.7%) aged under 15 years, 78 (8.0%) aged 15 to 29, 453 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 276 (28.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 92.9% European/Pākehā, 11.5% Māori, 2.5% Pacific peoples, 2.2% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 61.0% had no religion, 28.8% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 210 (26.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 105 (13.0%) people had no formal qualifications. 156 people (19.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 321 (39.8%) people were employed full-time, 111 (13.8%) were part-time, and 24 (3.0%) were unemployed.[12]

Bream Head statistical area

Bream Head statistical area covers 52.18 km2 (20.15 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,570 as of June 2022,[13] with a population density of 30 people per km2.

Historical population for Bream Head
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,062—    
20131,110+0.63%
20181,392+4.63%
Source: [14]

Bream Head had a population of 1,392 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 282 people (25.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 330 people (31.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 570 households, comprising 699 males and 696 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female. The median age was 51.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 237 people (17.0%) aged under 15 years, 123 (8.8%) aged 15 to 29, 687 (49.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 348 (25.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.2% European/Pākehā, 12.7% Māori, 2.2% Pacific peoples, 2.2% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 24.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 63.4% had no religion, 27.2% were Christian, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.4% were Buddhist and 2.6% had other religions.

Whangarei Heads school

Of those at least 15 years old, 306 (26.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 147 (12.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 201 people (17.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 477 (41.3%) people were employed full-time, 183 (15.8%) were part-time, and 36 (3.1%) were unemployed.[14]

Education

Whangarei Heads School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 168 students as of April 2023.[15][16] The school was established in 1858, and is the second oldest school still in operation on its original site in the country.[17]

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 28 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. Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. map 8. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  4. Smith, Roger (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. map 28. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  5. Parkes, W. F. (1992). Guide to Whangarei City and District. Whangarei, N.Z.: Printed, published and distributed by Rossiter Printing. pp. 29–31. ISBN 0-473-01639-7.
  6. Booden, Mathijs A.; Smith, Ian E.M.; Black, Philippa M.; Mauk, Jeffrey L. (2011). "Geochemistry of the Early Miocene volcanic succession of Northland, New Zealand, and implications for the evolution of subduction in the Southwest Pacific". Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 199 (1–2): 25–37. doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.10.006. ISSN 0377-0273.
  7. Hayward, Bruce; Smith, Ian (2002). "Field Trip 3-5: Introduction to Whangarei geology" (PDF). In Smith, Vicki; Grenfell, Hugh (eds.). Field Trip Guides, GSNZ Annual Conference "Northland 2002". Geological Society of NZ Miscellaneous Publication 112B. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2006. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  8. Pickmere, Nancy Preece (1986). Whangarei: The Founding Years. pp. 26–27.
  9. Pickmere, pp. 76–77.
  10. "WRECK OF THE AWARUA". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 February 1907. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  11. "A TUG-BOAT LOST". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 February 1907. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  12. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7000938–7000939 and 7000941–7000946.
  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. Bream Head (108900). 2018 Census place summary: Bream Head
  15. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  16. Education Counts: Whangarei Heads School
  17. "Whangarei Heads 150th Jubilee – Funding Application". Whangarei District Council. 20 November 2006.
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