Tutukaka (Māori: Tūtūkākā)[3] is a locality on the east coast of Northland, New Zealand, in an area commonly referred to as the Tutukaka Coast which includes Ngunguru and Matapouri.[4] The city of Whangārei is to the southwest. The residential areas of Tutukaka fringe the hills surrounding Tutukaka Harbour, which has a history as a local fishing port and hosts Tutukaka's marina. The Māori name comes from the term tūtū kākā, which means a parrot (kākā) snaring tree (tūtū).[5][6]
As the closest marina to the Poor Knights Islands, Tutukaka is the base for boat tours for diving and snorkelling in the waters around these islands, a protected marine reserve. At the peak of the busy summer months, Tutukaka's population swells from around 600 permanent residents to over 2,400.[7] A walking track leads from Tutukaka to a small lighthouse at Tutukaka Head (South Gable).
Demographics
Statistics New Zealand describes Tutukākā as a rural settlement. The settlement covers 6.98 km2 (2.69 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 840 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 120 people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Matapouri-Tutukākā statistical area.[8]
Tutukākā had a population of 798 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 66 people (9.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 192 people (31.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 396 males and 405 females in 357 dwellings.[11] 0.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 54.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 102 people (12.8%) aged under 15 years, 87 (10.9%) aged 15 to 29, 390 (48.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 225 (28.2%) aged 65 or older.[10]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.7% European (Pākehā); 14.7% Māori; 1.1% Pasifika; 2.6% Asian; 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.5%, Māori language by 3.4%, and other languages by 9.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 23.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 27.8% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 0.8% New Age, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.0%, and 7.5% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 177 (25.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 363 (52.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 99 (14.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 108 people (15.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 300 (43.1%) people were employed full-time, 135 (19.4%) were part-time, and 6 (0.9%) were unemployed.[10]
