It has a general store, petrol/diesel refueling station, cafe, commercial holiday park, electric vehicle charging station and airstrip, all of which are the northernmost in New Zealand.[1][2][3] The airstrip is used by Salt Air for excursions from the Bay of Islands to Cape Reinga.[4][5] The petrol station and general store burnt down on 8 October 2011[6] and were rebuilt and reopened on 22 December 2011.[7]
A side-road runs eastward from Waitiki Landing to Te Hāpua, the northernmost settlement in New Zealand. Five kilometres north-west on the highway, another side-road leads south-west to Te Paki Sand Dunes, beside Ninety Mile Beach.
The SA1 statistical area had a population of 177 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−3.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 9 people (5.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 93 males, and 84 females in 63 dwellings.[11] 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 39 people (22.0%) aged under 15 years, 30 (16.9%) aged 15 to 29, 78 (44.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 30 (16.9%) aged 65 or older.[10]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 27.1% European (Pākehā), 83.1% Māori, 13.6% Pasifika, and 1.7% Asian. English was spoken by 96.6%, Māori language by 44.1%, and other languages by 3.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 11.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 42.4% Christian, 30.5% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.7% Jewish. People who answered that they had no religion were 20.3%, and 5.1% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 9 (6.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 84 (60.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 45 (32.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $27,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (4.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 60 (43.5%) people were employed full-time, 18 (13.0%) were part-time, and 6 (4.3%) were unemployed.[10]
References
^"Far North Cycleway". Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
