Baylys Beach

The Battle of Moremonui was fought between the Ngāti Whātua and Ngāpuhi iwi about 6 km northwest of Baylys Beach in 1807 or 1808.^[7]

The coast saw many shipwrecks during the 19th century. Aurora was wrecked in 1840 when leaving Kaipara Harbour^[8] and the French corvette L'Alcméne was wrecked in 1851 with the loss of 12 lives.^[9]

The beach may have been named after an early settler named Bayly who owned 20 km of the shoreline.^[10] The name has been in use since at least 1918.^[11]

Statistics New Zealand describes Baylys Beach as a rural settlement, which covers 0.56 km² (0.22 sq mi)^[4] and had an estimated population of 390 as of June 2025,^[5] with a population density of 696 people per km². Baylys Beach is part of the larger Kaipara Coastal statistical area.^[12]

Baylys Beach had a population of 387 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 78 people (25.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 78 people (25.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 186 males and 204 females in 165 dwellings.^[15] 3.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 50.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 63 people (16.3%) aged under 15 years, 36 (9.3%) aged 15 to 29, 195 (50.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 93 (24.0%) aged 65 or older.^[14]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.7% European (Pākehā); 22.5% Māori; 4.7% Pasifika; 5.4% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 7.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.9%, Māori language by 3.1%, and other languages by 10.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 21.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 31.8% Christian, 1.6% Islam, 0.8% New Age, and 3.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.7%, and 10.1% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 51 (15.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 174 (53.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 81 (25.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 27 people (8.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 141 (43.5%) people were employed full-time, 57 (17.6%) were part-time, and 6 (1.9%) were unemployed.^[14]