Tikipunga is one of the biggest suburbs in Whangārei, New Zealand. It is in the north-east part of the city and has the landmark Whangārei Falls nearby.
Demographics
Tikipunga covers 5.75 km2 (2.22 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 8,440 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 1,468 people per km2.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
2006
5,763
—
2013
5,484
−0.71%
2018
6,903
+4.71%
2023
7,725
+2.28%
The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 5.48 km2 Source: [3][4]
Tikipunga had a population of 7,725 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 822 people (11.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 2,241 people (40.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 3,645 males, 4,065 females and 18 people of other genders in 2,841 dwellings.[5] 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,659 people (21.5%) aged under 15 years, 1,395 (18.1%) aged 15 to 29, 2,925 (37.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,749 (22.6%) aged 65 or older.[4]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 67.7% European (Pākehā); 41.0% Māori; 6.1% Pasifika; 8.1% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.7%, Māori language by 10.6%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 8.7%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Of those at least 15 years old, 747 (12.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 3,363 (55.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,737 (28.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $33,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 342 people (5.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,619 (43.2%) people were employed full-time, 699 (11.5%) were part-time, and 192 (3.2%) were unemployed.[4]
The nearby Whangārei Falls have since the 1940s been in public ownership.[8]
Education
Tikipunga High School is a state coeducational year 7–13 secondary school on Corks Road, with a roll of 332 students as of November 2024.[9][10] The school opened in 1971.
Tikipunga Primary School is a contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 365 students as of November 2024.[9][11]
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rawhiti Roa is a composite (years 1–15) school with a roll of 201 students as of November 2024.[9][12]
All these schools are coeducational.
Whangārei Falls as seen from a walkway over the river.
Falls from below.
Amenities
The Paramount Plaza shopping centre on Paramount Parade serves the suburb and is anchored by a large Woolworths Supermarket. It contains a service station, several food outlets, a liquor store, a pharmacy, a video store and a medical centre. Nearby is the Tikipunga branch of the Whangārei Libraries. There is also a smaller suburban shopping strip on the corner of Kiripaka Road and Spedding Road.
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