Far North District

The Far North District is the northernmost territorial authority district of New Zealand, consisting of the northern part of the Northland Peninsula in the North Island. It stretches from North Cape and Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua in the north, down to the Bay of Islands, the Hokianga and the town of Kaikohe.

Far North District
CountryNew Zealand
RegionNorthland Region
DistrictFar North District Council
WardsBay of Islands/Whangaroa
Kaikohe/Hokianga
Te Hiku
SeatKaikohe
Government
  MayorJohn Carter
Area
  Total7,323.86 km2 (2,827.76 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2019)[1]
  Total68,500
  Density9.4/km2 (24/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
  Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)
Area code(s)09
WebsiteFNDC.govt.nz

Geography

The Far North, while generally a pleasant climate, can also be affected by the sometimes stormy maritime weather of the country, especially at places like Cape Reinga.

The Far North District is the largest of three territorial authorities making up the Northland Region. The district stretches from the capes and bays at the northern tip of the Aupouri Peninsula past Ninety Mile Beach to the main body of the Northland Peninsula, where it encompasses the Parengarenga Harbour, Whangaroa Harbour and Bay of Islands (on the east coast) and Hokianga (on the west coast).

It borders on the Kaipara and Whangarei Districts, which are the other two territorial authorities in the Northland Region.

Population

The district has 68,500 people (June 2019),[1] of whom 40 percent are Māori.

The northernmost town in the district is Kaitaia (population 5,870). There is a cluster of towns on the east coast around the Bay of Islands: Kerikeri (6,960), Moerewa (1,580), Kawakawa (1,510), Paihia (1,510), Opua (1,210) and Russell (720). Kaikohe (4,490) is centrally situated to the west of them, and there is a cluster of small settlements on the west coast surrounding the Hokianga Harbour: Omapere, Opononi, Rawene, Panguru, Kohukohu, and Horeke.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200655,845    
201355,734−0.03%
201865,250+3.20%
Source: [2]

The Far North District had a population of 65,250 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 9,516 people (17.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 9,405 people (16.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 22,761 households. There were 32,595 males and 32,655 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female. Of the total population, 14,079 people (21.6%) were aged up to 15 years, 10,353 (15.9%) were 15 to 29, 28,191 (43.2%) were 30 to 64, and 12,624 (19.3%) were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.

Ethnicities were 64.2% European/Pākehā, 48.3% Māori, 4.8% Pacific peoples, 3.0% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 14.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 45.6% had no religion, 37.7% were Christian, and 8.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 6,771 (13.2%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 10,965 (21.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $22,600. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 20,163 (39.4%) people were employed full-time, 7,824 (15.3%) were part-time, and 3,387 (6.6%) were unemployed.[2]

Local government

The Far North District Council was formed by the amalgamation of the counties of Mangonui, Hokianga, Whangaroa and Bay of Islands and the boroughs of Kaitaia and Kaikohe. The district has three wards: Te Hiku (in the north), Kaikohe/Hokianga (in the west), Bay of Islands/Whangaroa (in the east). The council seat is in Kaikohe.

John Carter, a former local Member of Parliament, was elected mayor in 2013 and re-elected for a third term in 2019.[3]

References

  1. "Subnational Population Estimates: At 30 June 2019". Statistics New Zealand. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  2. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Far North District (001). 2018 Census place summary: Far North District
  3. de Graaf, Peter (12 October 2019). "Local elections: Carter returned for third term as Far North mayor". Northland Age. Retrieved 17 January 2020 via The New Zealand Herald.

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