Muriwai, also called Muriwai Beach, is a coastal community located on the west coast of North Island, New Zealand. It is also home to a large colony of gannets.
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It is approximately 17km West of Kumeu, 42 kilometres Northwest of Auckland city, at the southern end of an unbroken 50 kilometre stretch of beach which extends up the Tasman Sea coast to the mouth of the Kaipara Harbour. One of several popular beaches in the area (others include Piha and Karekare), it experiences a population explosion in summer when Aucklanders head to the sea.
At the 2001 Census of Population and Dwellings: The census usually resident population count for Muriwai Beach was 2,037, a change of 14.3 percent since 1996.The median income of people in Muriwai Beach is $24,500, compared with $19,500 for Rodney District and $18,500 for all of New Zealand. The unemployment rate in Muriwai Beach was 5.3 percent, compared with Rodney District percent for 5.1 and 7.5 percent for all of New Zealand. [2]
Sand and Rock, Older volcanic material, with many concretions and layers in the cliff walls. A blowhole plays often. The shore platform is also well jointed, with the main rock type being piha conglomerate.
It is also unique because of its black sand, caused by the iron content derived from the ancient volcanoes in the area. The majority of the black mineral sand is carried up the west coast from Mt Taranaki through the process of longshore drift. This sand is igneous material that was eroded from the volcanic area. Despite this, the area has retained much of its natural beauty and isolation.
Much of the land at the southern end of the beach is part of the Muriwai Beach Regional Park. Maori Bay (to the south) is separated from Muriwai Beach by a steep cliffs and rocky nesting areas that are home to the region's only gannet colony.