Taipa, New Zealand
Place in Northland Region, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Taipa is a settlement on the southern side of Doubtless Bay in Northland, New Zealand. State Highway 10 runs through it. It is the westernmost of the Taipa–Mangōnui string of settlements, and separated from the others by the Taipa River.[6]
Taipa | |
|---|---|
Taipa in 1992 | |
 Interactive map of Taipa | |
| Coordinates: 34.996°S 173.462°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Northland Region |
| District | Far North District |
| Ward | Te Hiku |
| Community | Te Hiku |
| Subdivision | Doubtless Bay |
| Electorates | |
| 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 | |
• Total | 0.54 km2 (0.21 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 160 |
| • Density | 300/km2 (770/sq mi) |
Taipa is the first landing place of Kupe, the Polynesian explorer of Aotearoa, according to Māori tradition. There is a memorial near the bridge over the Taipa River.[7]
The name may have originated as Taiapa, a fence between two disputed shellfish beds.[7]
Demographics
Statistics New Zealand describes Taipa as a rural settlement. It covers 0.54 km2 (0.21 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 160 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 296 people per km2. Taipa is part of the larger Doubtless Bay statistical area.[8]
Taipa had a population of 153 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−3.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 18 people (13.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 78 males and 78 females in 66 dwellings.[11] 3.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 53.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 21 people (13.7%) aged under 15 years, 18 (11.8%) aged 15 to 29, 60 (39.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 54 (35.3%) aged 65 or older.[10]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 68.6% European (Pākehā), 41.2% Māori, 9.8% Pasifika, and 5.9% Asian. English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori language by 17.6%, Samoan by 3.9% and other languages by 2.0%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 29.4% Christian, 3.9% Hindu, 5.9% Māori religious beliefs, and 2.0% Buddhist. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.9%, and 3.9% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (11.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 72 (54.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 39 (29.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $29,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 12 people (9.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 51 (38.6%) people were employed full-time, 12 (9.1%) were part-time, and 6 (4.5%) were unemployed.[10]
Education
Taipa Area School is a coeducational composite (years 1–15) school[12] with a roll of 433 students as of March 2026.[13] The school opened as Taipa District High School in 1956, and became an area school in 1976.[14]
A school existed at Taipa in 1883[15] and was eventually replaced by the District High School.[16]
Marae
The Taipa area has three Ngāti Kahu marae:
- Karepori Marae and meeting house, a meeting place of the hapū of Matakairiri / Pikaahu.
- Ko Te Ahua Marae and meeting house is a meeting place of the hapū of Ngāti Whata and Te Paatu.
- Parapara Marae and Te Manawa o Ngāti Tara meeting house is a meeting place of the hapū of Ngāti Tara ki Parapara.[17][18]