Kaiaua is a small coastal settlement on the Seabird Coast, on the western shore of the Firth of Thames, in the Hauraki District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is 80km (60 minutes drive) from Auckland.
Kaiaua | |
|---|---|
 Coastline at Whakatīwai, with Kaiaua in far distance | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 37°06′40″S 175°17′46″E / 37.111°S 175.296°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Waikato region |
| District | Hauraki District |
| Ward | Plains Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Hauraki District Council |
| • Regional council | Waikato Regional Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.67 km2 (1.80 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
| • Total | 470 |
| • Density | 100/km2 (260/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 2473 |
Name
editThe name of the settlement is of Māori origin, meaning "Eating mullets" (kai: to eat; aua: mullet or herrings) [3] relating to the good fishing grounds in the area.[4] Kaiaua was known as 'New Brighton' by the early settlers but the name was changed to Kaiaua in 1897.[5]
History
editThe township of Kaiaua is located upon a larger block of land called Ōpita.[6] This block commences at the foreshore in front of the Kaiaua settlement and reaches inland to a point called Ōpita, the elevated inland area behind Kaiaua township (on the road to Mangatangi). The Ōpita block was first investigated by the Native Land Court in 1869 following an application by Hamiora Te Rangituaatea of Ngāti Paoa in 1868. A certificate of title was subsequently awarded to Te Rangituaatea and others of Ngāti Paoa.
During the 1870s, the block was sold to two brothers: Thomas Edmund Smith and William Alfred Smith. Following this sale, the establishment of Kaiaua township began. By 1885, various survey plans show a hotel, a race course and other amenities. By 1888, a small school had been established.
The sale of the Ōpita block included an agreement to set aside and protect a ’burial ground’ near the mouth of the Hauārahi stream. Unfortunately, this agreement was not observed as the burial ground was included in the Ōpita block and in later land transactions. This prompted approaches by Pōkaitara Wikiriwhi of Ngāti Paoa to the Native Minister in the 1930s seeking protection.[6]
Tourism
editThe Hauraki Rail Trail officially starts at Kaiaua and traces the coastline south along the Firth of Thames, over chenier shell banks and through wetlands of international significance. It is one of the Great Rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail system [7] The route incorporates a coastal bird watching area and Miranda Hot Springs.[8]
The area is popular with campers and there is a designated freedom camping area just north of the Kaiaua village.[9]
A boat-ramp is also available for fishing enthusiasts.[10]
Notable features
edit
The Torea Mangu Oystercatcher sculpture is the world's largest sculpture of an oystercatcher. It stands between the Pink Shop Seaside Store and Kaiaua School. Over 4 metres long and 3.5 metres tall, the 2.5 ton bird is constructed of ferro-cement. The sculpture is by local artist Tony Johnston and represents the mother of all oystercatchers. In Māori 'torea mangu' means black oystercatcher. Erected facing north east, the direction of prevailing winds, the sculpture symbolises the wildlife of The Firth of Thames.[11]
Demographics
editKaiaua is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement which includes Whakatīwai. It covers 4.67 km2 (1.80 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 470 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 101 people per km2. It is part of the larger Miranda-Pūkorokoro statistical area.[12]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 339 | — |
| 2013 | 411 | +2.79% |
| 2018 | 429 | +0.86% |
| Source: [13] | ||
Kaiaua had a population of 429 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 18 people (4.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 90 people (26.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 183 households, comprising 216 males and 210 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female, with 66 people (15.4%) aged under 15 years, 30 (7.0%) aged 15 to 29, 192 (44.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 138 (32.2%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 82.5% European/Pākehā, 35.0% Māori, 0.7% Pacific peoples, and 0.7% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.9% had no religion, 30.8% were Christian, 2.1% had Māori religious beliefs and 0.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (9.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 108 (29.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 42 people (11.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 144 (39.7%) people were employed full-time, 51 (14.0%) were part-time, and 9 (2.5%) were unemployed.[13]
Education
editKaiaua School was first established in 1883.[14] It is a co-educational state primary school,[15] with a roll of 30 as of August 2024.[16][17]
The EcoQuest Education Foundation is a Private Training Establishment established in 1999. It provides residential courses for US students through a partnership with the University of New Hampshire in the United States of America. Its campus is located in Whakatīwai.
Māori
editKaiaua is located within the traditional homelands of the iwi (tribe) called Ngāti Paoa. They maintain a marae (tribal centre including a carved meeting house) called Wharekawa at Whakatīwai. This is shared with the closely related people of Ngāti Whanaunga whose lands are located to the north of Kaiaua.
Māori settlement has been continuous and unbroken in the Kaiaua area and coast for over 600 years. The ocean going ancestral vessel called Tainui travelled from central Polynesia and landed at Waihīhī, north of Kaiaua, in approximately 1350AD. Tainui peoples have lived in the area since that time leading to the presence of Ngāti Paoa and Ngāti Whanaunga today (both Tainui tribes).
Notable pā (traditional villages) of the district include Tikiore on the Whakatīwai stream, Hauārahi in Kaiaua itself and Rangipō to the south of Kaiaua. There are many more.
Other sites of significance include the Tauwhare Koiora reserve at the mouth of the Hauārahi stream and numerous urupā (cemeteries) located along the coast both on low lying sites adjacent to the sea (such as the Whakatīwai urupā) and on inland, elevated areas.
References
edit- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "1000 Māori place names".
- ^ "Infomap 346-01 Te Ika a Māui Edition 1 1995". Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand.
- ^ Startup, R.M. (1993). New Zealand Post Offices, Whenuapai. p. 105.
- ^ a b Cleaver, Phillip (June 1999). "Kaiaua Township: A Scoping Report Commissioned by the Waitangi Tribunal for Wai 72" (PDF).
- ^ "Pūkorokoro-Miranda to Thames". haurakirailtrail.co.nz. New Zealand Cycle Trail.
- ^ "Kaiaua to Thames" (PDF). haurakirailtrail.co.nz. New Zealand Cycle Trail.
- ^ "Freedom Camping". Hauraki District Council.
- ^ "Boat ramps in Seabird Coast". Auckland Council. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ Woodley, Keith (February 2005). "Torea mangu" (PDF). Miranda News (56): 9. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ 2018 Census place summary: Miranda-Pūkorokoro
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7010813, 7010814 and 7010815.
- ^ Centennial Committee (1983). Kaiaua Miranda Schools Centennial, 1883–1983. p. 4.
- ^ Education Counts: Kaiaua School
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.