Northland Region
The Northland Region is the northernmost of New Zealand's 16 local government regions. New Zealanders sometimes call it the Winterless North because of its mild climate. The main population centre is the city of Whangārei, and the largest town is Kerikeri.
Geography
The Northland Region occupies the northern 80% of the 330 km Northland Peninsula, the southernmost part of which is in the Auckland Region. Stretching from a line at which the peninsula narrows to a width of just 15 km a little north of the town of Wellsford, Northland Region extends north to the tip of the Northland Peninsula, covering an area of 13,940 km2, a little over five per cent of the country's total area. It is bounded to the west by the Tasman Sea, and to the east by the Pacific Ocean. The land is predominantly rolling hill country. Farming and forestry occupy over half of the land and are two of the region's main industries.Although many of the region's kauri forests were felled during the 19th century, some areas still exist where this rare giant grows tall. New Zealand's largest tree, Tāne Mahuta, stands in the Waipoua Forest south of the Hokianga Harbour. These kauri forests are also home to Te Raupua, the highest point in the region. Northland has many endemic plant and invertebrate species such as the endangered snail pūpū harakeke, stick insects and the Northland green tree gecko.
The western coast is dominated by several long straight beaches, the most famous of which is the inaccurately-named 88 km stretch of Ninety Mile Beach in the region's far north. The slightly longer Ripiro Beach lies further south. Two large inlets are also located on this coast, the massive Kaipara Harbour in the south, which Northland shares with the Auckland Region, and the convoluted inlets of the Hokianga Harbour.
The east coast is more rugged, and is dotted with bays and peninsulas. Several large natural harbours are found on this coast, from Parengarenga close to the region's northern tip, then Whangaroa Harbour, and past the famous Bay of Islands down to Whangārei Harbour, on the shores of which is situated the largest population centre. Numerous islands dot this coast, notably the Cavalli Islands, the Hen and Chicken Islands, Aorangaia Island and the Poor Knights Islands.
The northernmost points of the North Island mainland lie at the top of Northland. These include several points often confused in the public mind as being the country's northernmost points: Cape Maria van Diemen, Spirits Bay, Cape Reinga, and North Cape. The northernmost point of the North Island is actually the Surville Cliffs, close to North Cape although the northernmost point of the country is further north, in the Kermadec chain of islands. Cape Reinga and Spirits Bay, however, have a symbolic part to play as the end of the country. In Māori mythology, it is from here that the souls of the dead depart on their journey to the afterlife.
Northland is New Zealand's least urbanised region, with 50% of the population of living in urban areas. Whangārei is the largest urban area, with a population of The region's population is largely concentrated along the east coast. During the five-year period up to 2006, Northland recorded a population growth of 6.0 percent, slightly below the national average. Northland includes one of the fastest growing towns in New Zealand, Mangawhai, which is expanding rapidly because of residential and subsequent commercial development.
| Urban area | Population ( | % of region |
| Whangārei | % | |
| Kerikeri | % | |
| Kaitaia | % | |
| Dargaville | % | |
| Kaikohe | % | |
| Ruakākā | % | |
| One Tree Point | % | |
| Mangawhai Heads | % | |
| Hikurangi | % | |
| Moerewa | % | |
| Kawakawa | % | |
| Opua | % | |
| Paihia | % |
Climate
The region of Northland has an oceanic climate, but a subtropical climate in the Trewartha climate classification with warm humid summers and mild wet winters. Due to its latitude and low elevation, Northland has the country's highest average annual temperature. However, as with other parts of New Zealand, climate conditions are variable. In summer, temperatures range from 22 °C to 26 °C, occasionally rising above 30 °C. In winter, maximum temperatures vary between 13 °C and 19 °C, while minima vary between 6 °C and 11 °C.Ground frosts are rare due to the region being encircled by the moderating Pacific and Tasman waters; however, light frosts do occur infrequently around Dargaville in the lowlands. The hottest months are January and February. In January 2009, excessive sunlight hours and below-average rainfall resulted in the region being declared a drought zone.
Typical annual rainfall for the region is 1500–2000 mm but varies at different altitudes. Northland has an average of 2000 sunshine hours annually. Winds are predominantly from the southwest. Occasionally in summer, the region experiences stormy conditions from former cyclones which generally become much weaker once they leave tropical latitudes.
Government
The Northland Region has been governed by the present Northland Regional Council since 1989. The seat of the council is in Whangārei.Regional council members represent 7 constituencies: Te Hiku, Coastal North, Coastal Central, Coastal South, Whangārei City, Kaipara and Hokianga-Kaikohe.
There are three territorial authorities in the region:
- Far North District Council, based in Kaikohe
- Whangarei District Council, based in the city centre.
- Kaipara District Council, based in Dargaville
A proposal to merge the three district councils and the regional council into a unitary authority to be known as the Northland Council was rejected by the Local Government Commission in June 2015.
Demography
Northland Region had a population of 179,076 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 27,387 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 30,606 people since the 2006 census. There were 64,257 households. There were 88,701 males and 90,375 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. Of the total population, 37,620 people were aged up to 15 years, 28,836 were 15 to 29, 77,595 were 30 to 64, and 35,025 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.Ethnicities were 73.1% European/Pākehā, 36.0% Māori, 4.2% Pacific peoples, 3.9% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 15.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 49.7% had no religion, 35.6% were Christian, and 7.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 20,622 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 30,210 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $24,800. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 60,396 people were employed full-time, 21,138 were part-time, and 7,380 were unemployed.
Māori refer to Northland – and by extension its Māori people – as Te Taitokerau and Māori language and traditions are strong there. Major tribal groups include Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Kurī and Ngāti Whātua. Several of these tribes form a loose association known as the Muriwhenua.
Approximately one third of the region's population are Māori; the majority of the remainder is of European lineage. Compared to the rest of the country, Pacific Islanders are under-represented in Northland. Although most of the region's European population are British, certain other ethnicities are represented as well. These include a sizeable Croatian community from the Dargaville area north, particularly around Kaitaia.
History
According to Māori legend, the North Island of New Zealand was an enormous fish, caught by the demigod Māui. For this reason, Northland is sometimes referred to as "The tail of the fish", Te Hiku o Te Ika.Northland iwi claim that Kupe made landfall at the Hokianga in the northwest of Northland, and thus the region claims that it was the birthplace of New Zealand. Some of the oldest traces of Māori kāinga can be found here.
If the Māori regard the region as the legendary birthplace of the country, there can be no doubt that it was the European starting-point for the modern nation of New Zealand. Traders, whalers and sealers were among the first arrivals, and the gum and timber of the mighty kauri trees brought more colonisers.
In the Bay of Islands, Russell, formerly known as Kororareka, was the first permanent European settlement and Kerikeri contains many historic buildings, including the Stone Store, New Zealand's oldest extant building. The nearby settlement of Waitangi was of even more significance, as the signing place of New Zealand's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi between the Māori tribes and the British Crown, on 6 February 1840.
Economy
The subnational gross domestic product of Northland was estimated at NZ$7.86 billion in the year to March 2019, 2.6% of New Zealand's national GDP. The regional GDP per capita was estimated at $42,104 in 2019, the lowest of all New Zealand regions. In the year to March 2018, primary industries contributed $984 million to the regional GDP, goods-producing industries contributed $1.59 billion, service industries contributed $4.30 billion, and taxes and duties contributed $645 millionThe region's economy is based on agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture. Northland has of horticultural land as of 2017. Significant crops include avocadoes, kumara, kiwifruit, citrus fruit and olives.
Extensive forests are a feature of the Northland landscape. For this reason wood and paper manufacturing industries also make a large contribution to the region's economy. The railway system, which once ran as far north as Donnellys Crossing, has been historically important for the transport of timber via Dargaville to Auckland.
Northland is a favourite tourist destination, especially to the Bay of Islands and the historic town of Kerikeri. Diving and fishing are also popular visitor activities, especially around the Bay of Islands and the Poor Knights Islands.
Northland is home to New Zealand's only oil refinery, at Marsden Point, close to Whangārei. New Zealand's natural fuel resources in Taranaki account for a little under half of the refinery's intake, with the rest coming predominantly from the Middle East. The nearby Marsden A thermal power station originally utilised heavy oil from the refinery for electricity production, but no longer does so.