The beach is used for swimming, fishing and boating, and has views of Hauraki Gulf islands like Waiheke Island.[3]
Tawhitokino Beach is accessible via a small boat or kayak, or a 60-minute walk.[4]
Stoddart House was built c.1904. It would pass hands and eventually serve as an Anglican children's home.[5]
Kawakawa Bay-Orere
Kawakawa Bay is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 11.37km2 (4.39sqmi)[1] and had an estimated population of 610 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 54 people per km2. It is part of the larger Kawakawa Bay-Orere statistical area.
Kawakawa Bay had a population of 603 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 66 people (−9.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 3 people (0.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 288 males, 315 females and 3 people of other genders in 249 dwellings.[8] 2.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 51.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 84 people (13.9%) aged under 15 years, 87 (14.4%) aged 15 to 29, 288 (47.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 144 (23.9%) aged 65 or older.[7]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.5% European (Pākehā); 20.4% Māori; 5.5% Pasifika; 2.5% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 99.5%, Māori language by 3.0%, and other languages by 4.0%. No language could be spoken by 0.5% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 13.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[7]
Religious affiliations were 26.4% Christian, 1.0% Hindu, 0.5% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.2%, and 8.0% of people did not answer the census question.[7]
Of those at least 15 years old, 84 (16.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 288 (55.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 144 (27.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 78 people (15.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 276 (53.2%) people were employed full-time, 78 (15.0%) were part-time, and 9 (1.7%) were unemployed.[7]
Kawakawa Bay-Orere statistical area, which also includes Ōrere Point, covers 210.06km2 (81.10sqmi)[9] and had an estimated population of 2,030 as of June 2025,[10] with a population density of 9.7 people per km2.
Historical population for Kawakawa Bay-Orere
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
2006
1,746
—
2013
1,761
+0.12%
2018
2,016
+2.74%
2023
2,001
−0.15%
The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 208.78 km2. Source: [11][12]
Kawakawa Bay-Orere had a population of 2,001 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 15 people (−0.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 240 people (13.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,002 males, 999 females and 6 people of other genders in 813 dwellings.[13] 2.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 49.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 318 people (15.9%) aged under 15 years, 273 (13.6%) aged 15 to 29, 966 (48.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 447 (22.3%) aged 65 or older.[12]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.9% European (Pākehā); 18.3% Māori; 4.9% Pasifika; 2.8% Asian; 0.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.8%, Māori language by 3.4%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 6.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[12]
Of those at least 15 years old, 363 (21.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 918 (54.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 405 (24.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $43,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 258 people (15.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 849 (50.4%) people were employed full-time, 273 (16.2%) were part-time, and 39 (2.3%) were unemployed.[12]
