Whangara
Town in Gisborne District, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Whangara (Māori: Whāngārā [ˈfaː.ŋaː.ɾaː]) is a small community in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island,[6] located between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay, five kilometres southwest of Gable End Foreland and two kilometres east of State Highway 35.
Whangara
Whāngārā (Māori) | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Interactive map of Whangara | |
| Coordinates: 38°34′14″S 178°13′45″E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Gisborne District |
| Ward | Tairāwhiti General Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Gisborne District Council |
| • Mayor of Gisborne | Rehette Stoltz[1] |
| • East Coast MP | Dana Kirkpatrick[2] |
| • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP | Cushla Tangaere-Manuel[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 74.05 km2 (28.59 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[5] | |
• Total | 159 |
| • Density | 2.15/km2 (5.56/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Area code | 06 |
The settlement features prominently in the early history of the Ngāti Porou iwi,[7] as the site where Tamatea, captain of the Tākitimu canoe settled on arriving in New Zealand. Canoe races were held at nearby Pikopiko-i-whiti, with the people watching from a hill called Puke-hapopo. The place name may be cognate with Fa'ara on Taha'a island in French Polynesia.[8]
Whangara was the location and setting for Witi Ihimaera's novel The Whale Rider and its film adaptation.[9]
Demographics
Whangara and its surrounds cover 74.05 km2 (28.59 sq mi).[4] It is part of the Wharekaka statistical area.[10]
Whangara had a population of 159 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (8.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 24 people (17.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 66 males and 93 females in 54 dwellings.[12] 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 35.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 48 people (30.2%) aged under 15 years, 21 (13.2%) aged 15 to 29, 69 (43.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 24 (15.1%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 47.2% European (Pākehā), 67.9% Māori, and 7.5% Pasifika. English was spoken by 94.3%, Māori by 34.0%, and other languages by 1.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 7.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 32.1% Christian, and 3.8% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.8%, and 11.3% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 27 (24.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 63 (56.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 24 (21.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 12 people (10.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 51 (45.9%) full-time, 24 (21.6%) part-time, and 6 (5.4%) unemployed.[5]
Parks
Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve is a marine reserve covering 2,450 hectares of coastline south of Whangara, which is managed by the Department of Conservation.[13] The name means "The footprints of Rongokako," referring to an ancestor of Ngati Kahungunu who is said to have left a footprint at the site.[14][15]
Marae
The local Whāngārā Marae is a meeting place for the Ngāti Porou hapū of Ngāti Konohi.[6][16] It includes a wharenui, known as Whitirēia or Waho Te Rangi.[17]
In October 2020, the Government committed $49,626 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, creating an estimated 3.4 jobs.[18]
