Āwhitu Peninsula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Āwhitu Peninsula
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|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Auckland Region |
| Ward | Franklin Ward |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 2,919 |
The Āwhitu Peninsula is a long piece of land in the North Island of New Zealand. It stretches north from the mouth of the Waikato River to the entrance of Manukau Harbour.
On its western side, the peninsula has rugged cliffs facing the Tasman Sea. But it slopes gently towards the east. Here, you'll find low-lying farmland and swampy areas along the Waiuku River and Manukau Harbour. At its northern tip, the Manukau Heads rises about 285 meters (935 feet) above the harbor entrance. The old Manukau Heads Lighthouse nearby is one of the few lighthouses in New Zealand that you can visit!
Not many people live on the Āwhitu Peninsula, even though it's only about 30 kilometers (19 miles) northeast of Auckland city. The biggest town close to the peninsula is Waiuku.
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History of Āwhitu Peninsula
The northern part of the Āwhitu Peninsula, around the Manukau Heads, is one of the oldest known places where people lived in the Auckland area. When European settlers arrived, much of the native New Zealand bush on the peninsula was changed into farmland.
Who Lives on the Peninsula?
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In 2018, about 2,919 people lived in Āwhitu. This was an increase of 408 people since 2013. There were slightly more males than females. The average age of people living here was 47.4 years old. About 18% of the people were under 15 years old.
Most people living on the peninsula are of European background (about 89.6%). About 12.8% are Māori, and smaller numbers are from Pacific Islands or Asia. About 17% of the people were born outside New Zealand. Many people (60.7%) said they had no religion, while 26.5% were Christian.
Learning and Schools
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There are two main schools on the peninsula: Awhitu District School and Waipipi School. Both are primary schools for students in years 1 to 8.
Amazing Nature: Snails!
The Āwhitu Peninsula is a special place for native New Zealand land snails. You can find more than 70 different kinds of native snail species living together in just a small area of bush! In other parts of the world, finding 15 different snail species in one spot would be considered a lot. However, things like farm animals grazing and other changes to their homes can harm these amazing snail communities.
Images for kids
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The historic Manukau Heads lighthouse.
