Pakaraka facts for kids

Pakaraka is a small community in the Northland area of New Zealand. It is located where two main roads, State Highway 1 and State Highway 10, meet. This area was known as Tai-a-mai by the Ngāpuhi Māori tribe.

Historic Places in Pakaraka

Pakaraka has several places that are important for their history. One of these is Pouerua mountain. It is officially recognized as a traditional Māori site.

Other important places listed by the Historic Places Trust include:

• Holy Trinity Church (Registration Number 65)
• The Retreat (Registration Number 70)
• The Store (Registration Number 419)

Pakaraka's Population

Pakaraka covers an area of about 72 square kilometers. In 2018, about 666 people lived here. This was an increase of 111 people since 2013. The population has grown quite a bit since 2006.

In 2018, there were 222 homes in Pakaraka. There were an equal number of males and females. The average age of people living there was about 40.7 years old. About 22% of the people were under 15 years old.

Most people in Pakaraka identify as European/Pākehā (80.2%). About 34.2% identify as Māori. Some people identify with more than one ethnic group. About 14% of the people living in Pakaraka were born outside New Zealand.

When asked about religion, many people (55.4%) said they had no religion. About 32% were Christian. A small number (1.4%) followed Māori religious beliefs.

Education in Pakaraka

Pakaraka School is a school for students from Year 1 to Year 8 (ages 5-13). It opened in 1911. Most of the students at the school are Māori.

Notable People from Pakaraka

Pakaraka is connected to some important historical figures:

Hone Heke

Hone Heke was a famous Ngāpuhi chief. He was born in Pakaraka around 1807 or 1808. He was secretly buried here in August 1850. His remains were later moved in 2011 to protect them from nearby building work.

Henry Williams

The missionary Henry Williams moved to Pakaraka after he retired. He built a church there in 1850–51. The church you see today was opened on November 27, 1873. Henry's wife, Marianne Williams, and their family built it to remember him.

The church is called Holy Trinity Church. This name was chosen because Trinity Sunday was the day Henry was ordained as a priest. It was also the last day Henry and Marianne spent in Paihia before moving to Pakaraka. They lived near the church in a house called The Retreat, which is still there today.

Henry Williams' first son, Edward, and third son, Henry, also farmed land in Pakaraka.

Gallery

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  Holy Trinity Church at Pakaraka

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  Gravestones of Henry and Marianne Williams, Holy Trinity Church

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  Interior of the Holy Trinity

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  A plaque in the church

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  Gravestones of Henry and Marianne Williams

See also

In Spanish: Pakaraka para niños