Kaitaia

Kaitaia (Māori: Kaitāia) is a town in the Far North District of New Zealand, at the base of the Aupouri Peninsula, about 160 km northwest of Whangarei. It is the last major settlement on State Highway 1. Ahipara Bay, the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach, is 5 km west.

Kaitaia
Kaitaia
Kaitaia
Coordinates: 35°6′45″S 173°15′46″E
Country New Zealand
IslandNorth Island
RegionNorthland
Territorial authorityFar North District
WardNorthern
Population
 (June 2020)[1]
 • Total6,300
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)
0410
Area code(s)09

The main industries are forestry and tourism. The population is 5,871 (2018 census[2][3]), which makes it second-largest town in the Far North District, after Kerikeri.

The name Kaitaia means ample food, kai being the Māori word for food.[4]

The Muriwhenua are a group of six northern Māori iwi occupying the northernmost part of the North Island surrounding Kaitaia.

History and culture

European settlement

The Kaitaia Mission Station was established between 1833 and 1834 after a series of visits by Church Missionary Society (CMS) representatives including Samuel Marsden, and at different times, Joseph Matthews and William Gilbert Puckey.[5] Puckey and Matthews had married two sisters, Matilda and Mary Ann Davis respectively, (daughters of Richard Davis, a lay missioner based at Waimate). They formed a tight band, initially living together in raupo huts, and then in houses they built.

As Puckey and the sisters were fluent in Maori, (Puckey having arrived in New Zealand in 1819 with his father, William Puckey, and the Davis family in 1823), they spoke Maori when together, to help Joseph pick up the language. Both families grew and intermarried, forming the basis of the early Pakeha settler community. At one point, the Church Missionary Society decided that either Puckey or Matthews should move to a new location to the south to facilitate the spread of the word, but Nōpera Panakareao wrote a heartfelt letter to the CMS committee, pleading not to take away 'one of the two candlesticks'.

In February 1841, about 500 Maori were present at a CMS service.[6] In 1852 arguments developed between one chief and his tribe, however the impact of the missionaries meant that the old ways of settling disputes had passed.[7]

Richard Matthews, the brother of Rev. Joseph Matthews, arrived in the Bay of Islands in December 1835 and for a time, joined his brother in Kaitaia. Richard Matthews had been a lay missionary on the second voyage of HMS Beagle with Charles Darwin.[8] Richard Matthews served the CMS as a lay catechist at Kaitaia. In 1838 he married Johanna Blomfield, the sister of Mrs Martha Blomfield Clarke, whose husband George was a CMS missionary at Te Waimate mission. In 1840 Richard and Johanna Matthews helped set up a missionary station at Whanganui.[9]

There were plans to extend the Okaihau Branch railway to Kaitaia and construction was started in the 1920s, but with the line nearly complete to Rangiahua, a review in 1936 determined that the line would not be viable and construction was abandoned. The line terminated in Okaihau until it was closed on 1 November 1987. D 221, a steam tank locomotive, has been on static display at Centennial Park since 1967.[10]

Marae

Kaitaia has four Ngāti Kahu marae:

  • Karikari Marae is affiliated with Te Whānau Moana.
  • Mangataiore Marae is affiliated with Ngāti Taranga.
  • Ōturu Marae and Kia Mataara meeting house is affiliated with Ngāi Tohianga.
  • Te Paatu Marae and Piri ki Te Paatu meeting house is affiliated with Te Paatu ki Pamāpūria.[11][12]

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20065,202—    
20134,887−0.89%
20185,871+3.74%
Source: [13]

Kaitaia had a population of 5,871 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 984 people (20.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 669 people (12.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,881 households. There were 2,799 males and 3,072 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.91 males per female. Of the total population, 1,590 people (27.1%) were aged up to 15 years, 1,179 (20.1%) were 15 to 29, 2,196 (37.4%) were 30 to 64, and 909 (15.5%) were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.

Ethnicities were 49.9% European/Pākehā, 65.9% Māori, 7.9% Pacific peoples, 5.2% Asian, and 1.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 9.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 36.7% had no religion, 41.5% were Christian, and 13.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 348 (8.1%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 1,203 (28.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,452 (33.9%) people were employed full-time, 531 (12.4%) were part-time, and 483 (11.3%) were unemployed.[13]

Climate

Kaitaia has a humid subtropical climate (Cfbl) according to the Trewartha climate classification system or an oceanic climate (Cfb) according to Köppen system. Summers are usually warm, while winters are usually wet and mild. Precipitation is heavy year round in the form of rain, which peaks during the months of May - September.[14]

Climate data for Kaitaia
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 23.9
(75.0)		 24.6
(76.3)		 23.0
(73.4)		 20.9
(69.6)		 18.5
(65.3)		 16.4
(61.5)		 15.6
(60.1)		 15.8
(60.4)		 17.0
(62.6)		 18.1
(64.6)		 19.7
(67.5)		 21.9
(71.4)		 19.6
(67.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 19.5
(67.1)		 20.0
(68.0)		 18.6
(65.5)		 17.0
(62.6)		 14.8
(58.6)		 12.8
(55.0)		 12.1
(53.8)		 12.2
(54.0)		 13.4
(56.1)		 14.5
(58.1)		 15.8
(60.4)		 17.9
(64.2)		 15.7
(60.3)
Average low °C (°F) 15.1
(59.2)		 15.5
(59.9)		 14.2
(57.6)		 13.0
(55.4)		 11.1
(52.0)		 9.2
(48.6)		 8.5
(47.3)		 8.6
(47.5)		 9.7
(49.5)		 10.8
(51.4)		 11.9
(53.4)		 13.8
(56.8)		 11.8
(53.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 82.0
(3.23)		 92.5
(3.64)		 82.0
(3.23)		 97.7
(3.85)		 131.9
(5.19)		 149.1
(5.87)		 165.4
(6.51)		 140.0
(5.51)		 126.7
(4.99)		 97.8
(3.85)		 86.2
(3.39)		 99.6
(3.92)		 1,350.8
(53.18)
Source: NIWA Climate Data[15]

Transport

InterCity operates a daily bus service to and from Auckland via Kerikeri.[16] Community Business & Environment Centre (CBEC) runs a service called Busabout to Ahipara, Mangonui and Pukenui.[17]

Kaitaia Airport has services from Auckland and is the only airport in the upper Far North District. Air New Zealand discontinued their services in April 2015.[18] Barrier Air has since taken over services to Auckland.[19]

Economy

Tourism

Kaitaia is one of the main centres in the Far North of New Zealand. It is near to popular tourist destinations such as Ahipara and is on State Highway 1 which leads up to Cape Reinga. The town's slogan is "Where journeys begin".[20]

An annual Snapper Surf Casting Competition is held in March, on Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē (90 Mile Beach).

Forestry

The Aupouri Forest, to the North of Kaitaia, provides pine logs which are processed at the Juken Nissho Mill in Kaitaia.

Extraction of ancient swamp Kauri (Agathis australis), is a contentious industry.[21]

Agriculture, horticulture and viticulture

Kaitaia lies within the Awanui River catchment. The area supports dairy and dry stock farming, predominantly sheep and beef. Further north of Kaitaia, the avocado industry flourishes, with orchards dispersed throughout the immediate area.

Wine is a growing commodity. One of the largest vineyards in the area is the Karikari Estate.

Mānuka honey is another industry experiencing growth.[22]

Education

Kaitaia Primary School, Kaitaia Intermediate and Kaitaia College are the main primary, intermediate and secondary schools. The primary school has a decile rating of 1, the others 2. The rolls are 277,[23] 253,[24] and 862[25] respectively.

Pompallier School is a Catholic full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 3 and a roll of 126.[26]

Kaitaia Abundant Life School is a Christian composite school (years 1-13) with a decile rating of 2 and a roll of 211.[27] It was established in 1988 as a private primary school, and extended to secondary students in 1992. It became a state integrated school in 1996.[28]

Oturu School is a primary school to the north east serving years 1-8, with a decile rating of 1 and a roll of 63.[29]

Pukepoto School and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Pukemiro are in Pukepoto, to the south-west.

All these schools are co-educational.

NorthTec polytechnic also has a campus in Kaitaia.[30]

Notable people

Notable people who have lived in Kaitaia:

References
  1. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  2. "2018 Census place summaries | Stats NZ". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  3. "2018 Census place summaries | Stats NZ". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  4. "Welcome..." Archived from the original on 14 November 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  5. "Muriwhenua Land Report - The People and the Land" (PDF). Waitangi Tribunal. p. 48. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  6. Matthews, Joseph. "The Church Missionary Gleaner, August 1841". A Church Mission in New Zealand. Adam Matthew Digital. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  7. "The Church Missionary Gleaner, October 1853". Kaitaia. Adam Matthew Digital. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  8. Darwin, Charles. Journal of a Voyage Round the World, 1831-36
  9. "Richard Matthews". Pre-1839 foreigners in NZ. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014.
  10. "Weka Pass Railway's page on D 221". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  11. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  12. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  13. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Kaitaia East (100700) and Kaitaia West (100800). 2018 Census place summary: Kaitaia East 2018 Census place summary: Kaitaia West
  14. "WebCite query result". www.webcitation.org. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  15. "Climate Data". NIWA. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  16. "InterCity (Kaitaia)". Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  17. "Busabout North". Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  18. "Air NZ ends Auckland to Kaitaia flights as new airline steps in". TVNZ ONE News. 28 April 2015. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  19. Peter de Graaf (13 February 2015). "New air service inbound at Kaitaia". Northern Advocate. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  20. "Kia Ora: Kaitaia". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018.
  21. "Buried treasure". New Zealand Geographic. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  22. "Gold rush". New Zealand Geographic. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  23. "Te Kete Ipurangi". Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  24. "Te Kete Ipurangi". Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  25. "Te Kete Ipurangi". Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  26. "Te Kete Ipurangi". Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  27. "Te Kete Ipurangi". Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  28. "Abundant Life School Profile" (DOC). Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  29. "Te Kete Ipurangi". Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  30. "Kaitaia". NorthTec. Archived from the original on 12 March 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  31. Harris, Jan. "Sophia Louisa Taylor". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  32. "The sporting Yates family". National Library of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  • Ramsay, Olwyn. In the Shadow of Maungataniwha. ISBN 0-473-07554-7
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