Ngataki is a community on the Aupouri Peninsula in Northland, New Zealand. State Highway 1 runs through the area. To the east is Rarawa Beach, a mile-long strip of clean silver sand, gently shelving and backed by sand dunes.[2] To the north-east is the Great Exhibition Bay and Rarawa Bay and to the south-west is the long Ninety Mile Beach coastline.[3]
Marae
The local Waiora Marae and meeting house are a traditional meeting place for Ngāti Kurī.[4][5]
Demographics
Ngataki is in two SA1 statistical areas which cover 219.98 km2 (84.93 sq mi)[1] and include Rarawa Beach and the peninsula on the east side of Houhora Harbour and part of Ninety Mile Beach on the west side of Aupouri Peninsula. The SA1 area is part of the larger North Cape statistical area.[6]
The SA1 areas had a population of 249 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (2.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 54 people (27.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 138 males, and 117 females in 102 dwellings.[8] 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 39 people (15.7%) aged under 15 years, 33 (13.3%) aged 15 to 29, 120 (48.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 51 (20.5%) aged 65 or older.[7]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 56.6% European (Pākehā), 66.3% Māori, 4.8% Pasifika, and 4.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.8%, Māori language by 21.7%, Samoan by 1.2% and other languages by 4.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 7.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 28.9% Christian, and 18.1% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 43.4%, and 13.3% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (11.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 135 (64.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 48 (22.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 6 people (2.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 99 (47.1%) people were employed full-time, 33 (15.7%) were part-time, and 12 (5.7%) were unemployed.[7]
Education
Ngataki School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school[9] with a roll of 41 students as of August 2024.[10] The school was founded about 1911.[11]
Attractions
Rarawa Beach is located near Ngataki, on the eastern Pacific coast.[12]
In December 2008, school students planted one hundred and twenty rare coastal Holloway's Crystalwort – Atriplex hollowayi plants, small native herbs that grow near high tide level on sandy beaches. In 2009, Ngataki School and the New Zealand Department of Conservation worked together to help restore the beach, a home to dotterels and oystercatchers, because the ecosystem was under threat as a result of natural and man-made causes.[13]
In September 2010, fourteen rescued pilot whales swam strongly out to sea at Rarawa Beach after being rescued from a mass whale stranding at Spirits Bay.[14] The transportation of the whales to Rarawa Beach was considered to be the largest whale transport ever attempted.[15]
In 2011, day four of the National Scholastic Surfing Championship was held at Rarawa Beach.[16]
