Kaukapakapa
Encyclopedia
Kaukapakapa is a town
in the North Island
of New Zealand
. It is situated in the Rodney district and is around 50 kilometres northwest of Auckland
. State Highway 16
passes through the town, connecting it to Helensville about 12 km to the south-west, and Araparera about 14 km to the north. The North Auckland Line also passes through Kaukapakapa. The Kaukapakapa River flows from the town to the Kaipara Harbour
to the west.
"Kaukapakapa" is a Māori
name meaning "to swim with much splashing".
The town is commonly known to the locals in its shortened form "Kaukap" .
The population of Kaukapakapa and the surrounding district was 2,979 in the 2006 Census
, an increase of 711 from 2001.
, Tauhoa
and Helensville by the early 1880s, they were of poor quality, and most access was by the river. The roads were still mostly unmetalled
in 1920.
The kauri
timber industry was responsible for developing the area, with logs floated down the Kaukapakapa River to the Kaipara Harbour, where they were loaded onto ships for export. Gum-digging
(beginning in 1873-74 and continuing until at least 1914) and flax
processing (in the 1880s) were also significant early industries. A shipyard operated from 1864 and into the 1880s.
The North Auckland railway line reached Kaukapakapa in 1889. A creamery was built next to the railway station to service the developing dairy industry.
Genesis Energy has proposed to build a gas-fired power station
near Kaukapakapa. The proposal is opposed by the Kaukapakapa Residents & Ratepayers Association and Kaipara Forest and Bird.
of 8 and a roll of 263. The school celebrated its 125th reunion in 1998.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
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...
. It is situated in the Rodney district and is around 50 kilometres 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...
. State Highway 16
New Zealand State Highway 16
State Highway 16 is a New Zealand state highway linking Auckland City with Wellsford, via Auckland's Northwestern Motorway, Helensville and Kaukapakapa...
passes through the town, connecting it to Helensville about 12 km to the south-west, and Araparera about 14 km to the north. The North Auckland Line also passes through Kaukapakapa. The Kaukapakapa River flows from the town to the Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour is a large enclosed harbour estuary complex on the north western side of the North Island of New Zealand. The northern part of the harbour is administered by the Kaipara District and the southern part is administered by the Rodney District...
to the west.
"Kaukapakapa" is a Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
name meaning "to swim with much splashing".
The town is commonly known to the locals in its shortened form "Kaukap" .
The population of Kaukapakapa and the surrounding district was 2,979 in the 2006 Census
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
, an increase of 711 from 2001.
History
European settlement of the area began in 1860 when the Government bought land from local Māori. Small number of settlers arrived from England and Scotland, and a Methodist church was built in 1872. A monthly boat service operated between Kaukapakapa and the northern Kaipara from 1863. The population of the area was 311 in 1881. The town developed split between the northern and southern banks of the river. Although roads connected the town to RiverheadRiverhead, New Zealand
Riverhead is a small, historically predominantly working-class town located at the head of the Waitemata Harbour in the north-west of Auckland, New Zealand. The region around Riverhead and the neighbouring towns of Kumeu and Huapai is known for its vineyards...
, Tauhoa
Tauhoa
Tauhoa is a locality in the Rodney District of New Zealand. State Highway 16 runs through it, connecting to Wellsford 15 km to the north-east and Glorit 12 km to the south...
and Helensville by the early 1880s, they were of poor quality, and most access was by the river. The roads were still mostly unmetalled
Metal (pavement)
The term road metal refers to the crushed rock used for road beds, surfaces, 'all-weather' walkways and paths, foundations, and railway embankments, among other things. The use of road metal dates back to antiquity.-History:...
in 1920.
The kauri
Agathis australis
Agathis australis, commonly known as the kauri, is a coniferous tree found north of 38°S in the northern districts of New Zealand's North Island. It is the largest but not tallest species of tree in New Zealand, standing up to 50 m tall in the emergent layer above the forest's main canopy. The...
timber industry was responsible for developing the area, with logs floated down the Kaukapakapa River to the Kaipara Harbour, where they were loaded onto ships for export. Gum-digging
Gum-digger
Kauri gum, a fossilized resin detracted from kauri trees, is used for chewing or tattooing, and often is made into jewellery. The gum comes from kauri trees found in Agathis australis forests. The trees once covered much of the New Zealand North Island, before Māori and European settlers caused...
(beginning in 1873-74 and continuing until at least 1914) and flax
New Zealand flax
New Zealand flax describes common New Zealand perennial plants Phormium tenax and Phormium cookianum, known by the Māori names harakeke and wharariki respectively...
processing (in the 1880s) were also significant early industries. A shipyard operated from 1864 and into the 1880s.
The North Auckland railway line reached Kaukapakapa in 1889. A creamery was built next to the railway station to service the developing dairy industry.
Genesis Energy has proposed to build a gas-fired power station
Rodney Power Station
The Rodney Power Station is a natural gas fired combined cycle power station proposed by Genesis Energy.The power station will be located on a 48 ha site midway between Helensville and Kaukapakapa on State Highway 16, near the Kaipara Harbour, north west of Auckland...
near Kaukapakapa. The proposal is opposed by the Kaukapakapa Residents & Ratepayers Association and Kaipara Forest and Bird.
Education
Kaukapakapa School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with 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 8 and a roll of 263. The school celebrated its 125th reunion in 1998.
Notable people
- Tony WoodcockTony Woodcock (rugby player)Tony Dale Woodcock is a New Zealand rugby union player. His position is loosehead prop, and he has played 83 tests for the national team, the All Blacks. He plays for North Harbour in the Air New Zealand Cup and for the Auckland Blues in the Super 14. He plays for North Harbour Marist in the North...
- Current All Black prop - Clint BrownClint BrownClint Brown is a former sports presenter for the TV3 in New Zealand. Considered one of the country's most talented sports broadcasters , Brown was with TV3 for 18 years, reporting and presenting.-Controversy and Resignation:...
- former TV3 News Anchor - Grant Kirby - ONE Auckland Chairman