Whangārei facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Whangārei Whangārei-Terenga-Parāoa (Māori)
City
Whangārei Harbour from Mt Parihaka, with Onerahi, Sherwood Rise, Parahaki and Port Whangārei in view
Nickname(s):  The Rei, Whangas
Motto(s):  Non Nobis Solum, Love It Here, City of 100 Beaches
Whangārei Location in Northland Region Show map of Northland Region Whangārei Location in New Zealand Show map of New Zealand
Country	New Zealand
Region	Northland
Territorial Authority	Whangarei District
Pre 1989	Whangārei County and Whangārei City
Named for	Reipae, a Waikato Princess
NZ Parliament	Te Tai Tokerau (Māori) Whangārei
Population  (June 2023)
• Urban	56,900
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode	0110, 0112 (urban)
Area code(s)	09

Whangārei (Māori: [faŋaːˈɾɛi]) is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. It is part of the Whangarei District, a local body created in 1989 from the former Whangārei City, Whangārei County and Hikurangi Town councils, to administer both the city proper and its hinterland. The city population was estimated to be 56,900 in June 2023, an increase from 47,000 in 2001.

History

The Māori iwi Ngāpuhi occupied Whangarei from the early 19th century, and the Te Parawhau hapū lived at the head of the harbour. Captain James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour were the first Europeans to sight the Whangarei Harbour entrance. On 15 November 1769 they caught about a hundred fish in the harbour, which they classified as "bream" (probably snapper), prompting Cook to name the area Bream Bay.

In the 1820s the area was repeatedly attacked by Waikato and Ngāti Paoa raiders during the Musket Wars. The first European settler was William Carruth, a Scotsman and trader who arrived in 1839 and was joined six years later by Gilbert Mair and his family. Relations between the settlers and local Māori were generally friendly, but in February 1842, all settler farms were plundered in revenge for transgressions of tapu. In April 1845, during the Flagstaff War, all settlers fled from Whangarei. Most of the original settlers never returned, but by the mid-1850s there were a number of farmers and orchardists in the area. From 1855, a small town developed, driven by the kauri gum trade. Today's 'Town Basin' on the Hatea River was the original port. Early exports included kauri gum and native timber, followed later by coal from Whau Valley, Kamo, and Hikurangi. Coal from the Kiripaka field was exported via the Ngunguru River. By 1864, the nucleus of the present city was established.

View of Whangarei from the foot of Mt Parihaka, showing the Hatea River in the foreground and a timber mill across the river. By Albert Percy Godber in 1911

Fire bricks made from fire clay deposits near the Kamo mines supported a brickworks over several decades. Good quality limestone was quarried at Hikurangi, Portland and Limestone Island, and initially sold as agricultural lime, and later combined with local coal to produce Portland cement at the settlement of Portland on the south side of the harbour. Local limestone is still used in cement manufacture, but the coal is now imported from the West Coast of the South Island.

Whangarei was the most urbanised area in Northland towards the end of the 19th century, but grew slowly in the 20th century. The district slowly exhausted most of its natural resources but was sustained by agriculture, especially dairying. Shipping was the main transport link until the North Auckland railway line reached the town in 1925, and the road from Auckland was not suitable for travel in poor weather until 1934. These terrestrial travel routes forced a rapid decline in coastal shipping but stimulated Whangarei to become the service centre for Northland. The population was 14,000 in 1945, but grew rapidly in the 1960s, incorporating Kamo and other outlying areas. In 1964, Whangarei was declared a city. Its population the following year was 31,000.

The second half of the twentieth century brought the establishment and expansion of the oil refinery at Marsden Point on Bream Bay, the adjacent development of timber processing and the establishment of Northland Port, which is mainly focused on timber exporting.

Future

Building of the Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery commenced in 2018 after the funding target of $20.97 million was raised by a volunteer team in time for a June 2017 deadline.

A container port could follow, linked by rail to Auckland. The extensive, flat undeveloped land around Northport is a suggested solution to excess population growth in Auckland and the associated lack of industrial land.

Geography

Panorama of Whangarei from Mt Parihaka

Geographical features

Whangarei Falls

Mt Parihaka is a volcanic dome rising 259 metres (850 ft) to the northeast of the city centre. It is about 20 million years old, and part of the Harbour Fault, which also includes Parakiore near Kamo, and Hikurangi near the town of the same name. The dome is surrounded by the Parihaka Scenic Reserve. There is road access to the summit of Parihaka and walking tracks through the reserve, and a bridge linking it to Mair Park. The dome is frequently called Mount Parahaki, but the original Māori spelling of Parihaka was confirmed by the government in 2005.

The Hatea River flows south through the city and empties into Whangarei Harbour. The river has a spectacular 26 metres (85 ft) waterfall in Tikipunga, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of the city.

Matakohe, or Limestone Island, lies in the harbour close to the city. Owned by Whangarei District, it is subject to ecological island restoration by the Friends of Matakohe/Limestone Island Society.

Suburbs

Whangārei Central is the main business district. The city's urban area spreads through the valleys of the surrounding area. The suburbs are:

• Northern: Kamo, Springs Flat, Tikipunga, Three Mile Bush, Otangarei, Mairtown, Regent, Kensington and Whau Valley
• Southern/Western: Morningside, Raumanga, Maunu, Horahora, Woodhill, and The Avenues
• Eastern: Riverside, Port Whangārei, Sherwood Rise, Onerahi, and Parahaki.

Climate

Whangarei has an oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb). Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows. Summer days occasionally exceed 30 °C, and there is plentiful rainfall spread relatively evenly throughout the year. Using the Trewartha classification Whangarei is firmly a maritime subtropical climate due to its absence of winter cold.

Transport

State Highway 1 from Auckland to Cape Reinga passes through Whangarei. State Highway 14 from Dargaville connects to State Highway 1 in Whangarei.

Whangarei Airport is located 7.4 kilometres (4.6 mi) southeast of the city centre, in the suburb of Onerahi.

In July 2013 a second road crossing of the Hatea River was opened, in the form of a bascule bridge.

There are several cycle/walk ways under development connecting the city centre with outer suburbs. These include Kamo (currently under construction), Onerahi (completed) and Raumanga/Maunu (several sections completed). The Hatea Loop (Huarahi o te Whai) is a central mixed space walkway connecting the Town Basin, Hihiaua Peninsula, Okara, Pohe Island and Riverside areas of the central city.

Whangarei is served by Northport, a sea port at Marsden Point. It was previously served by Port Whangarei, in the upper harbour near the city, which was operated by the Northland Harbour Board until 1988, when it was transferred to the Northland Port Corporation. The first two berths at Marsden Point opened in 2002, and Port Whangarei closed to commercial shipping in 2007 when the remaining cargo operations were transferred to Marsden Point.

Bus

Northland Regional Council organises the CityLink bus service. This bus service runs eight urban bus routes, with bicycle racks from 1 October 2018. On 20 November 2019 Whangārei became the first city to use Bee cards. 2% of arrivals and 3% of departures in the Whangārei Central census area were by public bus in 2018. In other neighbouring census areas even fewer used buses.

Intercity operate 3 buses a day from Whangārei, taking about 3 hours for the 158 km (98 mi) to Auckland and 1hr 45mins to Kerikeri.

Whangarei Railway Station in 2017

Railway

Whangārei is connected to Auckland and Otiria by the North Auckland line, which carries freight only, the container transfer depot being at 33 Porowini Ave.

Station

The railway station lost its passenger service on 15 September 1975, but restoration by its Men's Shed occupant began in 2014 and was largely complete by 2020. Its Type C design was protected by a NZHPT Category II listing on 24 March 2006 (List Number 7646). The station was opened by the Minister for Railways, Gordon Coates, on 11 March 1925. Predecessor stations had been opened in 1880 and 1903. The 1880 station was about 500 m (1,600 ft) to the north, near Walton Street.

In 1929 the fastest train took 6hrs 14mins from Whangārei to Auckland. From 1956, railcars reduced the journey to 4hrs 10mins. In 1943 the distance was measured as 129 mi 31 ch (208.2 km).

Arts and culture

The Whangarei Art Museum is located in the Town Basin. Artisan markets are held at the nearby Canopy Bridge.

The Hundertwasser Arts Centre is planned to be built on the site of the former Northland Harbour Board building.

The Quarry Arts Centre is located on the edge of the Western Hills in the Avenues.

The Hātea Loop walkway is an accessible, circular walkway which connects Town Basin, William Fraser Memorial Park,Te Matau a Pohe, Canopy Bridge, Clapham’s Clocks and Reyburn House gallery. The walkway offers marina views and various family friendly outdoor activities.

The Whangarei Theatre Company (formerly WOADS) has been staging theatre productions in Whangarei since 1946. They have currently made their home at the Riverbank Centre in the town basin.

Disruptive Performers (Theatre Group) was formed in 2019 and they staged their first production in November 2020.

Whangārei is home to many music organisations such as Whangārei Youth Music, the Northland Sinfonia, and Sistema Whangārei.

Education

Tertiary education

NorthTec, with its main campus located in the Whangarei suburb of Raumanga, is the chief provider of tertiary education in the Northland Region. It offers degrees, diplomas and certificates in a wide variety of academic, professional and technical fields. The degrees are nationally monitored for quality and so can lead to postgraduate study at universities and other institutions. NorthTec has around 23,000 students studying either part-time or full-time.

The University of Auckland maintains a campus in the city centre. There are also a number of private tertiary educational organisations that provide technical and vocational training.

Schools

There are several schools which offer secondary schooling education within the urban area. Most suburbs have their own primary school.

Secondary schools

• Whangarei Boys' High School, a boys' secondary school with a roll of 1345 (April 2023).
• Whangarei Girls' High School, a girls' secondary school with a roll of 1542 (April 2023).

These two secondary schools have a decile rating of 5 and cover years 9–13. Both schools opened in 1881.

• Kamo High School, which accommodates years 9–13.
• Tikipunga High School, which caters for years 7–13.

Both of these are co-educational secondary schools serving the northern suburbs.

• Huanui College, a private secondary school just out of the urban area in Glenbervie.
• Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rāwhitiroa. A Māori language immersion school catering for primary and secondary students.

Intermediate and primary schools

There are two intermediate schools (years 7–8) in the urban area. Several primary schools offer education from years 1–8.

• Whangarei Intermediate is an intermediate (years 7–8) school with a roll of 639.
• Kamo Intermediate is a popular intermediate school serving the northern suburbs.

Primary schools in the urban area include Hurupaki School, Kamo Primary School, Totara Grove School (formerly Kamo East School), Tikipunga Primary School, Otangarei School, Whau Valley School, Whangarei School, a contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 577, Maunu School, Horahora School, Morningside School, Manaia View School (formerly Raumanga Primary and Raumanga Middle schools, amalgamated), Raurimu Avenue School, and Onerahi School.

Religious and state-integrated schools

Pompallier Catholic College (opened in 1971) is a Catholic state integrated co-educational secondary school (years 7 to 13) with a roll of 560 and a decile ranking of 7, located in the suburb of Maunu. It is the only Catholic secondary school in Northland serving the wider district.

Saint Francis Xavier Catholic School, the city's Catholic primary school, located in the suburb of Whau Valley adjacent to the Catholic Parish.

Christian Renewal School is a composite state integrated co-educational secondary and primary (years 1–13) school with a roll of 201. Around 110 of those students are in high school (years 9–13), as of June 2018. The school was established in 1993 and integrated into the state system in 1997. The secondary half of the school is situated upstairs, and the primary downstairs. The school operates in the Christian Renewal buildings, beside the Renew Church work buildings and auditorium.

Excellere College, a Christian school (years 1–13) located in the northern suburb of Springs Flat. One half of the school is secondary, and the other half being primary. There are 205 students at this school.

The Whangarei Adventist Christian School, located at Whau Valley Road, has been operating for some 50 years and is the second oldest of the independent Christian schools in Whangarei as well. It was formerly called the Whangarei Seventhday Adventist School. Over 30 students attend the school, as of June 2018.

Special school

Blomfield Special School and Resource Centre provides education and care to students between the ages of five and twenty-one years, and has a roll of 68. The school operates from five locations, four in Whangarei and one in Kaitaia.

Infrastructure and services

Healthcare

Whangarei is within the Northland District Health Board. The single primary health care organisation (PHO), Te Kaupapa Mahitahi Hauora Papa O Te Raki Trust, commonly known as Mahitahi Hauora, was created in 2019 through a process of coming together with the previous Northland PHOs. Whangarei Hospital (formerly Northland Base Hospital) is Northland DHB's largest and provides secondary specialist care to all of Northland. It has 246 inpatient beds, and is based in the suburb of Horahora.

Mercy Hospital was established in 1963 by the Sisters of Mercy.

Kensington Hospital, opened in March 2001, is a private healthcare facility.

Utilities

Northpower owns and operates the local electricity distribution network servicing the city, with electricity supplied from Transpower's national grid at the Maungatapere substation southwest of the city. There is very little generation in Northland and Auckland, so most of the city's electricity is transmitted from the Waikato.

Natural gas arrived in Whangarei in 1983, with the completion of the high-pressure pipeline north from Auckland to the city, now operated by First Gas. First Gas also operates the gas distribution network within the city.

Sports

Whangārei is home to the Northland rugby union team, a professional side competing in the ITM Cup, the highest level of provincial rugby in New Zealand. They play out of Okara Park (currently known as "Toll Stadium" due to a sponsorship agreement), the largest stadium in the region, which also hosted two matches during Rugby World Cup 2011. The city also hosted a match on 3 June between a Provincial XV team (NZ Provincial Barbarians) and the British and Irish Lions during their 2017 tour.

Cobham Oval has hosted Black Caps one-day international cricket matches with the first taking place in 2012.

The football (soccer) club North Force who compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 are based in Whangārei.

Whangārei has a Field Hockey facility that hosted several international matches. Several hockey players from Northland have been selected for the Black Sticks Women since 2000.

Whangārei is home to the northernmost parkrun in New Zealand. This is a free, weekly, timed 5 km (3 mile), held every Saturday at 8am. The start and finish is under Te Matau o Pohe bridge.

The International Rally of Whangarei is based in the region with competitors from Australia, India, China, Japan, South East Asia and Pacific Islands racing on dirt roads in the districts surrounding Whangārei. It is the season opening event for both the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship and the New Zealand Rally Championship and is New Zealand's second largest international motorsport competition, second only to the world championship event, Rally New Zealand. Whangarei Speedway attracts drivers from outside the Northland region.

Northland is also represented at the highest national domestic level in Golf.

The Northland rugby league team, representing the Northland Region in New Zealand Rugby League competitions, is based in Whangārei. They currently compete in the Albert Baskerville Trophy as the Northern Swords. Between 2006 and 2007 they were part of the Bartercard Cup, playing under the name the Northern Storm. Northland was originally known as North Auckland and has previously used the nickname the Wild Boars.

Notable people

See also

In Spanish: Whangarei para niños