Coopers Beach

CountryNew Zealand

Electorates

Coopers Beach
Coopers Beach from Rangikapiti Pā
Interactive map of Coopers Beach
Coordinates: 34°59′35″S 173°30′32″E / 34.993°S 173.509°E / -34.993; 173.509
Country	New Zealand
Region	Northland Region
District	Far North District
Ward	Te Hiku
Community	Te Hiku
Subdivision	Doubtless Bay
Electorates	Northland Te Tai Tokerau
Government
• Territorial Authority	Far North District Council
• Regional council	Northland Regional Council
• Mayor of Far North	Moko Tepania^[1]
• Northland MP	Grant McCallum^[2]
• Te Tai Tokerau MP	Mariameno Kapa-Kingi^[3]
Area ^[4]
• Total	1.72 km² (0.66 sq mi)
Population (June 2025)^[5]
• Total	670
• Density	390/km² (1,000/sq mi)

Coopers Beach is a settlement on the southern side of Doubtless Bay in Northland, New Zealand. State Highway 10 runs through it. It is one of the Taipa-Mangonui string of settlements, separated from Cable Bay on the west by Otanenui Stream and from Mangōnui on the east by Mill Bay Road.^[6]

The settlement is named for coopers who build and repair barrels.^[7]

Taumarumaru Reserve on the western side of Coopers Beach contains three pā sites. Taumarumaru Pā is on the central ridge, with Ohumuhumu Pā and Otanenui Pā on the headland.^[8]

Rangikapiti Pā is a heritage site northeast of Coopers Beach which retains terraces and a defensive ditch around the pā.^[9]

Statistics New Zealand describes Coopers Beach as a rural settlement. It covers 1.72 km² (0.66 sq mi)^[4] and had an estimated population of 670 as of June 2025,^[5] with a population density of 390 people per km². Coopers Beach is part of the larger Doubtless Bay statistical area.^[10]

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	432	—
2013	462	+0.96%
2018	573	+4.40%
2023	648	+2.49%
Source: ^[11]^[12]

Coopers Beach had a population of 648 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 75 people (13.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 186 people (40.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 294 males and 351 females in 309 dwellings.^[13] 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 59.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 102 people (15.7%) aged under 15 years, 54 (8.3%) aged 15 to 29, 231 (35.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 258 (39.8%) aged 65 or older.^[12]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 77.8% European (Pākehā); 33.8% Māori; 5.6% Pasifika; 4.2% Asian; 0.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.7%, Māori language by 10.2%, Samoan by 0.9% and other languages by 6.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 38.4% Christian, 2.8% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 2.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 46.8%, and 7.4% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 93 (17.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 297 (54.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 135 (24.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $27,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 33 people (6.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 153 (28.0%) people were employed full-time, 75 (13.7%) were part-time, and 12 (2.2%) were unemployed.^[12]

Notes

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