Horeke


Horeke is a settlement in the upper reaches of the Hokianga Harbour in Northland, New Zealand. Kohukohu is just across the harbour. The Horeke basalts are located near the town, and can be viewed on an easy stroll through the Wairere Boulders, a commercial park.
The town is at the western end of the km Pou Herenga Tai - Twin Coast Cycle Trail from Opua, which opened fully in 2017.

History and culture

European settlement

The town was initially called Deptford after the Royal Navy shipyard in England. It was one of the first places settled by Europeans in New Zealand, with shipbuilding established in the late 1820s.
David Ramsay and Gordon Davies Browne came from Sydney to set up a trading post and shipbuilding settlement about 1826. Three ships were built - a 40-ton schooner called Enterprise, a 140-ton brigantine called New Zealander, and the 394 -ton barque Sir George Murray, but the firm went bankrupt in 1830.
The Wesleyan missionary John Hobbs opened a mission at Mangungu, about a mile from the shipyard, in 1828.
Thomas McDonnell's station in Horeke was the centre of timber trading in the Hokianga in the 1830s.

Marae

Horeke has six Ngāpuhi marae:
The Maraeroa community, east of Horeke, has two Ngāpuhi marae:
Horeke's meshblock had these census results -
YearPopulationMedian ageHouseholdsAverage incomeNational average
200117123.751$8,800$18,500
20061083439$13,300$24,100
201311439.545$12,500$27,900

The statistical area of Omahuta Forest-Horeke, which at 464 square kilometres is much larger than the town, covers the upper Hokianga Harbour. Omahuta Forest-Horeke had a population of 1,056 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 168 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 39 people since the 2006 census. There were 333 households. There were 522 males and 531 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. Of the total population, 264 people were aged up to 15 years, 159 were 15 to 29, 462 were 30 to 64, and 171 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.
Ethnicities were 50.9% European/Pākehā, 65.1% Māori, 3.7% Pacific peoples, 1.7% Asian, and 0.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 6.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 40.6% had no religion, 35.2% were Christian, and 15.6% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 69 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 192 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $18,600. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 264 people were employed full-time, 117 were part-time, and 75 were unemployed.

Education

Horeke School is a coeducational contributing primary school has a roll of students as of