Mangawhai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mangawhai
Mangawhai Tavern, 2019
Country	New Zealand
Region	Northland Region
District	Kaipara District
Ward	Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Ward
Electorates	Northland Te Tai Tokerau
Area
• Total	1.89 km2 (0.73 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	1,370
• Density	725/km2 (1,877/sq mi)

Mangawhai is a town in the Northland Region of New Zealand. It sits at the south-west end of the Mangawhai Harbour, which is also called the Mangawhai Estuary.

Just 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) north-east of Mangawhai is another town called Mangawhai Heads. Other nearby towns include Kaiwaka, about 13 kilometers (8 miles) south-west, and Waipu, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north-west of Mangawhai Heads.

Because more people are moving to the area, a new part of town called Mangawhai Central was planned in 2018. This new area was meant to help with the growing population and create more space for businesses. The business part of Mangawhai Central was mostly finished by 2022, but the homes planned for the area haven't been built yet. There are also plans for a new housing area called Mangawhai Hills, located west of the current town.

History of Mangawhai

Mangawhai gets its name from the traditional Māori name for the area. It means "mangawhai" (stingray) and refers to the stingrays that live in the harbour.

Early Travel and Trade

In the early to mid-1800s, Mangawhai Harbour was a very important way to get to the Kaipara Harbour. The Ngāti Whātua people used to pull their canoes from Kaiwaka to Mangawhai. In 1825, a Ngā Puhi war party even landed at Mangawhai. They then traveled inland to fight the Ngāti Whātua near Kaiwaka.

Later in the 1800s, settlers would travel by boat from Auckland to Mangawhai. From there, they would walk to Kaiwaka and then travel by water again across the Kaipara Harbour. By the early 1860s, a road for horse-drawn carts (called a dray road) connected Mangawhai and Kaiwaka. In the late 1800s, digging for kauri gum became a big business in the area.

Sand Mining and the Harbour

Sand mining started at the entrance of Mangawhai Harbour before 1940. In 1978, the harbour was closed for five and a half years. This happened because sand dunes collapsed, which many believed was caused by the sand mining.

From 1993 to 2004, companies used special machines to suck sand from the sandbars at Mangawhai Heads. In 2004, a group called the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society won a court case. This decision stopped new permits for sand mining. Companies like McCallum Brothers tried to get new permits, but their requests were turned down in 2005. In 2008, another request to mine sand in the Mangawhai Forest was heard by the Environment Court.

Population of Mangawhai

Mangawhai township covers about 1.89 square kilometers (0.73 square miles). As of 2023, it has an estimated population of 1,370 people. This means there are about 725 people living in each square kilometer.

In the 2023 New Zealand census, Mangawhai had 1,206 residents. This was a big increase of 270 people (28.8%) since the 2018 census. It was an even bigger increase of 699 people (137.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 585 males and 624 females living in 528 homes. The average age in Mangawhai was 50.6 years. About 18.9% of the people were under 15 years old, and 33.1% were 65 or older.

Most people in Mangawhai are European (94.3%). About 12.4% are Māori, and smaller numbers are from other ethnic groups. English is spoken by most people (98.0%). About 20.6% of the people in Mangawhai were born outside of New Zealand.

Population in Rural Areas

The area around Mangawhai, called Mangawhai Rural, covers about 91.56 square kilometers (35.35 square miles). As of 2023, it has an estimated population of 3,260 people.

In the 2023 census, Mangawhai Rural had 2,940 residents. This was an increase of 840 people (40.0%) since the 2018 census. The average age in Mangawhai Rural was 49.7 years. About 17.6% of the people were under 15 years old, and 24.7% were 65 or older.

Similar to the township, most people in Mangawhai Rural are European (94.1%). About 12.3% are Māori. English is spoken by most people (98.1%). About 19.9% of the people in Mangawhai Rural were born outside of New Zealand.

Education in Mangawhai

Mangawhai has a school for younger students.

Mangawhai Beach School

Mangawhai Beach School is a school for both boys and girls. It teaches students from Year 1 to Year 8 (which is like elementary and middle school). The school has a decile rating of 6. As of February 2024. , it has 617 students.

Mangawhai Hills College

Mangawhai Hills College is a new private school. It is planned to open in February 2025. This school will teach students from Year 7 to Year 13 (which is like middle and high school). The Mangawhai Education Trust is setting up this new college.