Leigh, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leigh
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Fishing boats in Leigh Harbour
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Auckland Region |
| Ward | Rodney ward |
| Community board | Rodney Local Board |
| Subdivision | Warkworth subdivision |
| Electorates |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 1.12 km2 (0.43 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 660 |
| • Density | 589/km2 (1,526/sq mi) |
Leigh (pronounced /ˌliː-/) is a small town on the coast in the northern Auckland Region of New Zealand. It sits on the western side of Omaha Cove, which is a small inlet within Ōmaha Bay. Leigh is about 13 km from Matakana, 21 km from Warkworth, and 92 km north of Auckland City.
Leigh is the closest town to the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve. This reserve surrounds Te Hāwere-a-Maki / Goat Island. It was the first marine reserve ever created in New Zealand. The University of Auckland's Marine Laboratory is also located here.
Contents
Exploring Leigh's Geography
Leigh is located in the Rodney area of the northeastern Auckland Region. It is found near Cape Rodney and Goat Island. Two bays are next to the town: Te Kohuroa / Mathesons Bay to the west and Omaha Cove to the east.
The Kohuroa Stream flows west of Leigh. It reaches Te Kohuroa / Mathesons Bay. You can find beautiful waterfalls along this stream. They are part of the Matheson Bay Bush Walk.
What's the Weather Like in Leigh?
Leigh has a mild climate. Here's a quick look at the average temperatures and rainfall:
| Climate data for Leigh (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.5 (74.3) |
24 (75) |
22.9 (73.2) |
20.9 (69.6) |
18.7 (65.7) |
16.5 (61.7) |
15.6 (60.1) |
15.8 (60.4) |
17 (63) |
18.4 (65.1) |
20 (68) |
22 (72) |
19.6 (67.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 20 (68) |
20.6 (69.1) |
19.6 (67.3) |
17.8 (64.0) |
15.8 (60.4) |
13.7 (56.7) |
12.8 (55.0) |
12.9 (55.2) |
13.9 (57.0) |
15.1 (59.2) |
16.5 (61.7) |
18.5 (65.3) |
16.4 (61.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 16.5 (61.7) |
17.3 (63.1) |
16.3 (61.3) |
14.7 (58.5) |
12.8 (55.0) |
10.9 (51.6) |
10 (50) |
9.9 (49.8) |
10.7 (51.3) |
11.8 (53.2) |
12.9 (55.2) |
15 (59) |
13.2 (55.8) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 66.9 (2.63) |
70.5 (2.78) |
90.4 (3.56) |
82.4 (3.24) |
94.9 (3.74) |
112.5 (4.43) |
129.7 (5.11) |
119.8 (4.72) |
94.9 (3.74) |
79 (3.1) |
64.4 (2.54) |
81.1 (3.19) |
1,086.5 (42.78) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 250.4 | 180.6 | 158.3 | 166.5 | 142.9 | 108.3 | 147.5 | 153.0 | 146.6 | 180.7 | 180.3 | 221.8 | 2,036.9 |
| Source: NIWA (sun 1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Leigh? (Demographics)
Statistics New Zealand describes Leigh as a rural settlement. It covers about 1.12 km2 (0.43 sq mi). In June 2023, Leigh had an estimated population of 660 people. This means there were about 589 people living in each square kilometer.
| Historical population for Leigh | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 501 | — |
| 2013 | 570 | +1.86% |
| 2018 | 606 | +1.23% |
| 2023 | 600 | −0.20% |
In the 2023 New Zealand census, Leigh had 600 residents. This was a small decrease from 2018 but an increase since 2013. There were 300 males and 297 females living in 273 homes. The average age in Leigh was 54.8 years. About 13% of the people were under 15 years old.
Most people in Leigh are of European (Pākehā) background (89.5%). About 16% identified as Māori. English is spoken by almost everyone (98%). About 23.5% of people were born outside New Zealand.
Cape Rodney Area Population
Leigh is part of a larger area called Cape Rodney. This area also includes Ti Point and Whangateau. It stretches north towards the Kaipara District. The Cape Rodney area covers 370.68 km2 (143.12 sq mi). In June 2023, it had an estimated population of 4,000 people.
| Historical population for Cape Rodney | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 2,760 | — |
| 2013 | 3,096 | +1.65% |
| 2018 | 3,525 | +2.63% |
| 2023 | 3,735 | +1.16% |
In the 2023 New Zealand census, Cape Rodney had 3,735 residents. This was an increase from both the 2018 and 2013 censuses. The average age was 48.6 years. About 16.6% of people were under 15 years old.
Most people in Cape Rodney are of European (Pākehā) background (91%). About 16.9% identified as Māori. English is spoken by 98.2% of residents. About 18% of people were born overseas.
Fun Things to Do in Leigh (Recreation)
The Leigh area offers many activities for sports and outdoor fun.
- Sports: You can find places for rugby, golf, touch rugby, and football. The local rugby team, the "Rodney Rams," is based nearby in Whangateau.
- Beaches: There are several beaches close to Leigh. These include Te Hāwere-a-Maki / Goat Island, Mathesons Bay, Whangateau, Pākiri, and Ōmaha.
- Fishing and Seafood: The area is great for fishing and finding seafood.
- Goat Island Marine Reserve: This special reserve offers amazing ways to see marine life. You can go on glass-bottom boat trips or try scuba-diving. Remember, fishing is not allowed here to protect the sea creatures.
- Surfing: "Daniel's Reef" is a very popular surfing spot in the Leigh area.
- Local Events:
* The Leigh Carnival is held every Easter Sunday on the Leigh School field. It helps raise money for the school. * The Leigh Volunteer Fire Brigade hosts an annual fishing competition.
Leigh in the News (Media)
Leigh has its own community newspaper called the Leigh Rag. You can also read the Mahurangi Matters and Rodney Times newspapers in the area.
Ōmaha Marae: A Special Meeting Place
The local Ōmaha Marae is a traditional meeting ground. It is important for the Ngāti Manuhiri people and their related iwi (tribe), Ngātiwai. The marae includes a special meeting house called Te Kiri.
Learning in Leigh (Education)
Leigh School is the local primary school. It teaches children from Year 1 to Year 6. As of February 2024, it has a roll of 51 students. The school first opened in 1874.
Next to the school is Leigh Community Preschool. It accepts children from 6 months to 5 years old. The two schools work together to help children move smoothly into primary school. Some children from Leigh also attend Matakana Primary, which is 10 km away. Homeschooling is also a popular choice in the Leigh area.
For high school, students go to Mahurangi College in Warkworth or Rodney College in Wellsford. There are no intermediate schools in the area. So, students go straight to these colleges after primary school.
Leigh's Economy
Leigh is mainly a fishing village. It sends fresh fish to places all over New Zealand and even to other countries.
