Kaitaia
Encyclopedia
Kaitaia is a town in the far north region of New Zealand
, at the base of the Aupouri Peninsula
which is about 160 km northwest of Whangarei
. It is the last major settlement on the main road north to the capes and bays on the peninsula. Ahipara Bay, the southernmost part of Ninety Mile Beach
, is five kilometres west of the town.
The main industries of the town are forestry
and tourism
. The town has a population of 5,202 (2006 census) which makes it second largest in the FNDC
area, behind Kerikeri
.
The name Kaitaia means plenty of food (Kai being the Maori word for food).
.
, subtropical climate. On average, it is the warmest place in New Zealand.
In the mid-1980s, a large meteorological observatory was built on the hill behind Kaitaia providing surface observations and upper air radar and radiosonde measurements. However, with the change in government policies at this time, especially the impact of Rogernomics
, the full potential of the observatory was never realised and it was closed in the late 1990s. The upper air component of the observatory was moved to the Whenuapai Air Base, northwest of Auckland
.
railway to Kaitaia and construction was undertaken in the 1920s, but with the line nearly complete to Rangiahua
, a review in 1936 determined that the branch line would not be viable and construction was abandoned. The line therefore terminated in Okaihau
until it was closed on 1 November 1987. Despite the failure of the railway to reach Kaitaia, D 221, a tank
steam locomotive
of the NZR D class
, has been on static display at Centennial Park since 1967.
A bus service also runs regularly from Auckland to Kaitaia.
receives regular Air New Zealand services from Auckland as well as from other private jet companies.
It is claimed that the illicit trade of marijuana growing flourishes in Kaitaia and the Far North.
of 1, and the others have a decile of 2. The rolls are 277, 253, and 862 respectively.
Pompallier School is a Catholic full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 3 and a roll of 126.
Kaitaia Abundant Life School is a Christian composite school (years 1-13) with a decile rating of 2 and a roll of 211. It was established in 1988 as a private primary school, and extended to secondary students in 1992. It became a state integrated school in 1996.
Oturu School is an outlying primary school serving years 1-8. The school, north east of Kaitaia, has a decile rating of 1 and a roll of 63.
There are also Pukepoto School and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Pukemiro located in Pukepoto
to the south-west.
All these schools are co-educational.
NorthTec
polytechnic also has a campus in Kaitaia.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, at the base of the Aupouri Peninsula
Aupouri Peninsula
The Aupouri Peninsula is a tombolo at the northern tip of the North Island of New Zealand. It projects between the Tasman Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east...
which is about 160 km northwest of Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
. It is the last major settlement on the main road north to the capes and bays on the peninsula. Ahipara Bay, the southernmost part of Ninety Mile Beach
Ninety Mile Beach, New Zealand
Ninety Mile Beach is a beach located on the western coast of the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. It stretches from just west of Kaitaia towards Cape Reinga along the Aupouri Peninsula. It begins close to the headland of Reef Point, to the west of Ahipara Bay, sweeping briefly...
, is five kilometres west of the town.
The main industries of the town are forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
. The town has a population of 5,202 (2006 census) which makes it second largest in the FNDC
Far North District
The Far North District of New Zealand, as its name suggests, is the northernmost district within New Zealand, consisting of the northern tip of the North Island. The current mayor is Wayne Brown.-Geography:...
area, behind Kerikeri
Kerikeri
Kerikeri, the largest town in the Northland Region of New Zealand, is a popular tourist destination about three hours drive north of Auckland, and 80 km north of Whangarei...
.
The name Kaitaia means plenty of food (Kai being the Maori word for food).
History
The Kaitaia Mission Station was first established in 1834 by the missionaries Joseph Matthews and William Gilbert PuckeyWilliam Gilbert Puckey
William Gilbert Puckey , born in Penryn, England, was a prominent missionary in New Zealand. He accompanied his parents to New Zealand at the age of 14 and quickly learned the Māori language, speaking it fluently by age 16, and becoming widely regarded as one of the best interpreters of Māori in...
.
Climate
Kaitaia has an oceanicOceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
, subtropical climate. On average, it is the warmest place in New Zealand.
In the mid-1980s, a large meteorological observatory was built on the hill behind Kaitaia providing surface observations and upper air radar and radiosonde measurements. However, with the change in government policies at this time, especially the impact of Rogernomics
Rogernomics
The term Rogernomics, a portmanteau of "Roger" and "economics", was coined by journalists at the New Zealand Listener by analogy with Reaganomics to describe the economic policies followed by Roger Douglas after his appointment in 1984 as Minister of Finance in the Fourth Labour Government...
, the full potential of the observatory was never realised and it was closed in the late 1990s. The upper air component of the observatory was moved to the Whenuapai Air Base, northwest of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
.
Transport
There were plans to extend the Okaihau BranchOkaihau Branch
The Okaihau Branch, sometimes known as the Kaikohe Branch and rarely the Rangiahua Branch, was a branch line railway that joined the North Auckland Line of the national rail network of New Zealand at Otiria. It was the most northerly line in New Zealand and was intended to run all the way to Kaitaia...
railway to Kaitaia and construction was undertaken in the 1920s, but with the line nearly complete to Rangiahua
Rangiahua
Rangiahua is a small locality near the Hokianga Harbour in the Northland Region of New Zealand. State Highway 1 passes through it. Umawera is to the west, and Okaihau to the east.Rangiahua nearly became New Zealand's most northern railway terminus...
, a review in 1936 determined that the branch line would not be viable and construction was abandoned. The line therefore terminated in Okaihau
Okaihau
Okaihau is a small town in the Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island, just north of Kaikohe. State Highway 1 passes through the town. The 2006 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings recorded Okaihau's population as 717, an increase of 30 people since the 2001 census.- Transport...
until it was closed on 1 November 1987. Despite the failure of the railway to reach Kaitaia, D 221, a tank
Tank locomotive
A tank locomotive or tank engine is a steam locomotive that carries its water in one or more on-board water tanks, instead of pulling it behind it in a tender. It will most likely also have some kind of bunker to hold the fuel. There are several different types of tank locomotive dependent upon...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
of the NZR D class
NZR D class (1874)
The NZR D class was a class of tank steam locomotives that operated on New Zealand's national railway network. The first members of the class entered service in 1874, and all had left the service of NZR by the end of 1927, which allowed the D classification to be used again in 1929.- Introduction...
, has been on static display at Centennial Park since 1967.
A bus service also runs regularly from Auckland to Kaitaia.
Kaitaia airport
Kaitaia AirportKaitaia Airport
Kaitaia Airport is located at Kaitaia in the Northland Region, of New Zealand. It's about 4 hours drive from Auckland and a 45 minute flight from Auckland International Airport....
receives regular Air New Zealand services from Auckland as well as from other private jet companies.
Agriculture
The avocado industry flourishes around Kaitaia, with orchards dispersed throughout the immediate area. Wine is a growing commodity. One of the largest vineyards is the Karikari Estate.It is claimed that the illicit trade of marijuana growing flourishes in Kaitaia and the Far North.
Education
Kaitaia Primary School, Kaitaia Intermediate and Kaitaia College are the main primary, intermediate and secondary schools for the town of Kaitaia. The primary school has a decile ratingSocio-Economic Decile
Decile, Socio-Economic Decile or Socio-Economic Decile Band is a widely used measure in education in New Zealand used to target funding and support to more needy schools....
of 1, and the others have a decile of 2. The rolls are 277, 253, and 862 respectively.
Pompallier School is a Catholic full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 3 and a roll of 126.
Kaitaia Abundant Life School is a Christian composite school (years 1-13) with a decile rating of 2 and a roll of 211. It was established in 1988 as a private primary school, and extended to secondary students in 1992. It became a state integrated school in 1996.
Oturu School is an outlying primary school serving years 1-8. The school, north east of Kaitaia, has a decile rating of 1 and a roll of 63.
There are also Pukepoto School and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Pukemiro located in Pukepoto
Pukepoto
Pukepoto is a town in Northland, New Zealand. It lies south west of Kaitaia and north east of Ahipara. The Herekino Forest lies to the south east.-Education:...
to the south-west.
All these schools are co-educational.
NorthTec
NorthTec
NorthTec is the largest tertiary education provider in northern New Zealand. NorthTec is the only Northland-based Tertiary Education Institute that provides programmes ranging from foundation, certificate, diploma and degree levels....
polytechnic also has a campus in Kaitaia.