Thornton Bay
Rural settlement in Waikato, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thornton Bay is a settlement on the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand, between Te Puru to the north and Whakatete Bay to the south. State Highway 25 runs through it.[6] Ngarimu Bay immediately to the south is considered to be part of the same urban area by Statistics New Zealand.
- Coromandel
- Hauraki-Waikato (Māori)
Thornton Bay | |
|---|---|
Bench seat at Thornton Bay | |
 Interactive map of Thornton Bay | |
| Coordinates: 37.063°S 175.524°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Waikato |
| District | Thames-Coromandel District |
| Ward | Thames ward |
| Community Board | Thames Community |
| Electorates |
|
| Government | |
| • Council | Thames-Coromandel District Council |
| • Regional council | Waikato Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Thames-Coromandel | Peter Revell[1] |
| • Coromandel MP | Scott Simpson[2] |
| • Hauraki-Waikato MP | Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.95 km2 (0.37 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 280 |
| • Density | 290/km2 (760/sq mi) |
Thornton's Bay was named for R. Thornton, an orchardist who settled in the area in 1890.[7] Ngarimu Bay is named after Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu, the first Māori person to be awarded the Victoria Cross.[8]
Demographics
Thornton Bay-Ngārimu Bay is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.95 km2 (0.37 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 280 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 295 people per km2. Thornton Bay-Ngārimu Bay is part of the larger Thames Coast statistical area.[9]
Thornton Bay-Ngārimu Bay had a population of 285 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 24 people (−7.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 9 people (3.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 141 males and 147 females in 123 dwellings.[12] 3.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 61.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 18 people (6.3%) aged under 15 years, 24 (8.4%) aged 15 to 29, 123 (43.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 120 (42.1%) aged 65 or older.[11]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 94.7% European (Pākehā); 11.6% Māori; 1.1% Pasifika; 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.9%, Māori language by 3.2%, Samoan by 1.1%, and other languages by 3.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.1% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 16.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.[11]
Religious affiliations were 33.7% Christian, 1.1% Buddhist, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.7%, and 10.5% of people did not answer the census question.[11]
Of those at least 15 years old, 63 (23.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 138 (51.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 63 (23.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $30,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 21 people (7.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 99 (37.1%) people were employed full-time, 48 (18.0%) were part-time, and 3 (1.1%) were unemployed.[11]