Kaeo is a township in the Far North District of New Zealand, located some northwest of Kerikeri. The town takes its name from the kāeo or New Zealand freshwater mussel, which is found in the nearby rivers. Sanfords Fishery factory, one of the main employers in Kaeo, closed in December 2011.
Demographics
The statistical area of Kaeo, which at 256 square kilometres is much larger than the town, had a population of 1,191 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 186 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 114 people since the 2006 census. There were 405 households. There were 624 males and 567 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female. Of the total population, 273 people were aged up to 15 years, 192 were 15 to 29, 525 were 30 to 64, and 201 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding. Ethnicities were 65.2% European/Pākehā, 50.9% Māori, 4.3% Pacific peoples, 0.8% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.8, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 52.4% had no religion, 27.7% were Christian, and 11.6% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 96 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 210 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $21,400. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 357 people were employed full-time, 165 were part-time, and 63 were unemployed.
History and culture
Pre-European settlement
Kaeo used to be a fortified village pā of the Ngati Uru sub-tribe. This tribe arrived in the Whangaroa Harbour as late as 1770–1775, having been driven out of the Rawhiti area of the Bay of Islands, after killing and eating Captain Marion du Fresne and his crew.
European settlement
Wesleydale, the first Wesleyan Methodist mission in New Zealand, was established at Kaeo in June 1823, then abandoned in 1827 after it was sacked by local Māori. A memorial cairn marks the site of the mission adjacent to the cemetery on the south side of the Kaeo River.
Flooding
Kaeo is built on the flood plain of the Kaeo River and has experienced destructive flooding. It came to national attention in 2007 when it took the brunt of three major floods within the space of a few months - in February, March and July. Water flooded homes and shops and destroyed the primary school's pool complex. The local rugby clubrooms also suffered, and the club received support from the whole country as it raised funds to lift the clubrooms off the ground to minimise the risk of damage from further flooding. Landslips, fallen power lines, and road closures resulted from heavy rain in February 2008. The Northland Regional Council scheduled flood-protection work for 2008, but as of 2011 it was still waiting on various consents. Floods occurred as a result of Cyclone Wilma in January 2011, and 70 people had to be evacuated from Kaeo.
Whangaroa College, a coeducational secondary school, has a roll of students as of The principal since 2015 is Jack Anderson. Kaeo School, a coeducational contributing primary school, has a roll of students as of The school dates from 1877; it moved to its current site some years later. In 1941 it became Kaeo District High School, taking both primary and secondary students. After the opening of Whangaroa College in 1969, Kaeo School became a primary school.
