Northland Region facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Northland Region
Te Tai Tokerau
|
|
|---|---|
Northland landscape at Parua Bay
|
|
| Motto(s):
Our Northland - together we thrive
|
|
Northland within the North Island, New Zealand
|
|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Seat | Whangārei |
| Government | |
| • Type | Regional council |
| • Body | Northland Regional Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13,789 km2 (5,324 sq mi) |
| • Land | 12,507.89 km2 (4,829.32 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
|
|
| • Total | 203,900 |
| • Density | 14.787/km2 (38.299/sq mi) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | NZ$ 9.321 billion (2021) |
| • Per capita | NZ$ 46,611 (2021) |
| HDI (2021) | 0.904 very high · 14th |
The Northland Region (called Māori: Te Tai Tokerau in Māori) is the northernmost part of New Zealand. People sometimes call it the "Winterless North" because it has a mild climate all year round. The biggest city in Northland is Whangārei, and the largest town is Kerikeri. In 2018, Northland was the fastest-growing region in New Zealand. Its population grew by 18.1% since 2013.
Contents
Exploring Northland's Geography
Northland covers the northern 80% of the Northland Peninsula. This region is surrounded by water. The Tasman Sea is to the west, and the Pacific Ocean is to the east. Most of the land here has rolling hills. Farming and forestry are very important industries. They use more than half of the land.
Many giant kauri trees were cut down in the 1800s. But some areas still have these rare, tall trees. New Zealand's largest tree, Tāne Mahuta, stands in the Waipoua Forest. This forest is south of the Hokianga Harbour. These kauri forests are also home to Te Raupua, which is the highest point in the region at 781 meters. Northland has many special plants and insects. These include the endangered snail called pūpū harakeke and the Northland green tree gecko.
The western coast has long, straight beaches. The most famous is Ninety Mile Beach. It's actually 88 km long, not 90 miles! Further south is the even longer Ripiro Beach. There are also two big inlets on this coast. These are the huge Kaipara Harbour in the south and the winding Hokianga Harbour.
The east coast is more rugged. It has many bays and peninsulas. Several large natural harbours are found here. These include Parengarenga Harbour, Whangaroa Harbour, and the famous Bay of Islands. Further south is Whangārei Harbour, where the biggest city is located. Many islands are along this coast, like the Cavalli Islands and the Poor Knights Islands.
The very top of the North Island mainland is in Northland. Places like Cape Maria van Diemen, Spirits Bay, Cape Reinga, and North Cape are here. People sometimes think these are the northernmost points of New Zealand. But the true northernmost point of the North Island is the Surville Cliffs. The northernmost point of the whole country is even further north, in the Kermadec Islands. However, Cape Reinga and Spirits Bay are very important. In Māori mythology, these places are where the souls of the dead begin their journey to the afterlife.
Northland's Climate
Northland has a warm and humid climate. Summers are warm and wet, and winters are mild and wet. Because of its location, Northland has the highest average yearly temperature in New Zealand.
In summer, temperatures are usually between 22°C and 26°C. Sometimes they can go above 30°C. In winter, the highest temperatures are between 13°C and 19°C. The lowest temperatures are between 6°C and 11°C.
It rarely gets frosty on the ground. This is because the Pacific and Tasman waters around the region keep the air warm. The hottest months are January and February. In 2009, there was a drought because of too much sun and not enough rain.
Northland usually gets 1500–2000 mm of rain each year. The amount of rain changes depending on how high up the land is. The region gets about 2000 hours of sunshine every year. Winds mostly come from the southwest. Sometimes in summer, Northland can have stormy weather from old cyclones. These storms usually get much weaker when they leave tropical areas.
People and Population
The Northland Region covers about 12,508 square kilometers. As of 2018, it had an estimated population of about 179,076 people. This means there were about 14 people per square kilometer.
| Ethnicity | Population |
|---|---|
| New Zealand European |
141,594
|
| Māori |
72,612
|
| Pasifika |
9,486
|
| Asian |
9,345
|
| MELAA |
1,263
|
| Other |
2,208
|
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1991 | 126,786 | — |
| 1996 | 137,052 | +1.57% |
| 2001 | 140,133 | +0.45% |
| 2006 | 148,470 | +1.16% |
| 2013 | 151,689 | +0.31% |
| 2018 | 179,076 | +3.38% |
| 2023 | 194,007 | +1.61% |
In 2023, Northland's population was 194,007. This was an increase of 14,931 people since 2018. The average age was 43.2 years. About 19.6% of the people were under 15 years old.
Most people in Northland are of European background (73.0%). A large number are also Māori (37.4%). Other groups include Pasifika (4.9%) and Asian (4.8%). People can identify with more than one ethnicity.
In 2018, about 15.8% of people in Northland were born overseas. This is lower than the national average of 27.1%.
Many people (49.7%) said they had no religion. About 35.6% were Christian, and 3.9% had Māori religious beliefs.
Māori people call Northland "Te Taitokerau," which means "the northern tide." The Māori language and traditions are very strong here. Major Māori tribal groups (called iwi) include Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Kurī, and Ngāti Whātua. Some of these tribes work together in a group called the Muriwhenua.
Most of the European people in Northland are from Britain. But there is also a noticeable Croatian community, especially around Kaitaia and Dargaville.
Towns and Cities in Northland
Northland has fewer big cities than other regions in New Zealand. About half of its population lives in urban areas. Whangārei is the largest urban area in Northland. It has a population of about 56,800 people. Most of the people in Northland live along the east coast. This is because the west coast is more rugged and not as easy to build towns on.
| Urban area | Population (June 2023) |
% of region |
|---|---|---|
| Whangārei | 56,900 | 27.9% |
| Kerikeri | 8,270 | 4.1% |
| Kaitaia | 6,390 | 3.1% |
| Dargaville | 5,130 | 2.5% |
| Kaikohe | 4,980 | 2.4% |
| Ruakākā | 2,930 | 1.4% |
| One Tree Point | 3,070 | 1.5% |
| Mangawhai Heads | 2,800 | 1.4% |
| Moerewa | 2,090 | 1.0% |
| Hikurangi | 1,780 | 0.9% |
| Opua | 1,720 | 0.8% |
| Paihia | 1,720 | 0.8% |
| Kawakawa | 1,670 | 0.8% |
| Ngunguru | 1,270 | 0.6% |
| Haruru | 1,210 | 0.6% |
| Waipu | 1,350 | 0.7% |
Northland's Rich History
According to Māori legends, the North Island of New Zealand was a giant fish caught by the demigod Māui. Because of this, Northland is sometimes called "The tail of the fish," or Te Hiku o Te Ika.
Māori tribes (iwi) in Northland say that Kupe, a famous explorer, first landed at the Hokianga Harbour. This means Northland is seen as the birthplace of New Zealand by Māori. Some of the oldest signs of Māori fishing villages (called kāinga) are found here.
Northland was also the starting point for Europeans in New Zealand. Traders, whalers, and seal hunters were among the first to arrive. The valuable gum and timber from the huge kauri trees attracted more settlers.
In the Bay of Islands, Russell (once called Kororareka) was the first permanent European settlement. Kerikeri has many old buildings, including the Stone Store. This is New Zealand's oldest building that is still standing. The nearby town of Waitangi is even more important. It's where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6, 1840. This treaty was an agreement between Māori tribes and the British Crown, and it helped create modern New Zealand.
Between 1870 and 1920, digging for kauri gum was a major industry in Northland. This was especially true around the towns of Ahipara and Houhora.
Northland's Economy and Industries
Northland's economy was worth about NZ$7.86 billion in 2019. This was 2.6% of New Zealand's total economy. The average income per person in Northland was about $42,104 in 2019. This was the lowest among all New Zealand regions.
The main industries in Northland are farming (especially beef cattle and sheep), fishing, forestry, and growing plants (horticulture). In 2017, Northland had about 4,423 hectares of land used for growing crops. Important crops include avocadoes, kumara, kiwifruit, and citrus fruit.
Large forests are a key part of Northland's landscape. Because of this, wood and paper manufacturing are also big parts of the region's economy. The railway system used to be very important for moving timber from places like Dargaville to Auckland.
Northland is a popular place for tourists to visit. Many people especially enjoy the Bay of Islands and the historic town of Kerikeri. Diving and fishing are also popular activities, especially around the Bay of Islands and the Poor Knights Islands.
Northland used to have New Zealand's only oil refinery. It was located at Marsden Point, near Whangārei. This refinery processed oil from New Zealand and other countries, mainly the Middle East.
Images for kids
-
Northland landscape at Parua Bay
-
Northland within the North Island, New Zealand
