| Mangawhai | |
|---|---|
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Mangawhai
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Northland Region |
| District | Kaipara District |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 1,665 |
Mangawhai is a locality in Northland, New Zealand around the Mangawhai Harbour. The township of Mangawhai is at the south west extent of the harbour, and the township of Mangawhai Heads is 5 km north east. Kaiwaka is 13 km south west, and Waipu is 20 km north west of Mangawhai Heads.[1][2]
The population for the Mangawhai statistical district was 813 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 189 from 2001. The statistical district covers a significantly larger area than the township.[3] The population for Mangawhai Heads was 852 in 2006, up 132 from 2001.[4]
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In the early and mid 19th century, Mangawhai Harbour was one of the main access points for the Kaipara. Ngāti Whātua used to drag waka from Kaiwaka to Mangawhai.[5] A Ngā Puhi war party landed at Mangawhai in February 1825 (memorial plinth, Mangawhai Museum and all publications regarding Mangawhai early history) and moved 12 km inland to confront the Ngāti Whātua at Te Ika-a-ranga-nui near Kaiwaka.[6][7]
Later in the 19th century, settlers would travel by boat from Auckland to Mangawhai, walk to Kaiwaka, and then travel on the water again across the Kaipara Harbour. By the early 1860s, a dray road existed between Mangawhai and Kaiwaka.[8]
Sand mining began at the Mangawhai Harbour entrance pre 1940 (Eye witness accounts by all that resided at Mangawhai).[9] In 1978 the collapse of sand dunes closed the harbour, and it took five and a half years before it was reopened.[10] The Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society believes the sand mining caused the collapse.[9][11]
From 1993 to 2004, sand was commercially suction-dredged from the sandbars of Mangawhai Heads.[12][13] In 2004, the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society won an Environment Court decision to stop the issue of new licences.[11] The companies such as McCallum Brothers, re-applied to the Auckland Regional Council for resource consent but the application was turned down in 2005.[14]
An application to sand mine in the Mangawhai Forest is currently[update] being heard by the Environment Court.[15]
Mangawhai Beach School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 6 and a roll of 285.[16]