Kennedy Bay facts for kids

Kennedy Bay (also known as Kennedy's Bay or Harataunga) is a small place on the north-eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand. Two streams, the Harataunga and Omoho, flow from the Coromandel Range mountains. They pass by the settlement and empty into the bay on the eastern side.

In Kennedy Bay, several companies are involved in aquafarming. This means they raise seafood like pāua (a type of abalone), lobster, and mussels in the water.

History and Culture of Kennedy Bay

Early Māori History and Land Ownership

The land around Kennedy Bay originally belonged to the Ngāti Huarere people. They later gave it to Ngāti Tamaterā. This was a thank you for their help after a fight with another group, Ngāti Hei.

Later, the Ngāti Tamaterā gave the land to the Ngāti Porou tribe. The Ngāti Porou had often used Kennedy Bay as a safe place to stop during their trading trips to Auckland. They received the land as a thank you for helping Ngāti Tamaterā against the Ngā Puhi tribe. This happened during the Musket Wars in the early 1800s.

Early European Encounters

In July 1815, two ships, the Brothers and the Trial, were attacked by local Māori. Several crew members from both ships were lost. This event might have happened because a captain named Hovell had traded unfairly earlier.

Te Paea o Hauraki Marae

Te Paea o Hauraki Marae is an important meeting place located at Kennedy Bay. It is a tribal gathering ground for the Ngāti Tamaterā people. The marae includes a special meeting house called Te Paea.

Education in Kennedy Bay

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Harataunga School

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Harataunga is a school in Kennedy Bay. It is a coeducational school, meaning both boys and girls attend. The school teaches students from year 1 to year 8 (ages 5 to 13).

It is a Kura Kaupapa Māori school, which means all lessons are taught completely in the Māori language. The school first opened its doors in 1996. As of February 2024. , it has 24 students.

People of Kennedy Bay

Population and Demographics

The Kennedy Bay area had a population of 219 people at the 2018 New Zealand census. This was an increase of 57 people since the 2013 census. There were 60 households in the area.

There were 117 males and 102 females living in Kennedy Bay. The average age of people was 44.8 years old. About 16.4% of the population was under 15 years old.

Ethnic Backgrounds

People in Kennedy Bay come from different backgrounds. About 52.1% identified as European/Pākehā. A larger group, 74.0%, identified as Māori. About 6.8% identified as Pacific peoples. Some people identified with more than one ethnic group.

Religious Beliefs

When asked about their religious beliefs, many people (52.1%) said they had no religion. About 30.1% were Christian. Some people (5.5%) followed Māori religious beliefs. Smaller numbers identified as Hindu (1.4%), Buddhist (1.4%), or other religions (4.1%).