Northland Region
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The Northland region, on of the regions of New Zealand, is, as the name suggests, the northernmost of New Zealand's administrative regions.
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Geography
Northland is located in what is often referred to by New Zealanders as the Far North, or, because of its temperate climate, The Winterless North. It occupies the upper 80% of the 285 kilometre-long North Auckland Peninsula, the southernmost part of which is in the Auckland Region.
Stretching from a narrowing of the peninsula close to the town of Wellsford, Northland extends north to the tip of the North Auckland Peninsula, covering an area of 13,940 km2, a little over five per cent of the country's total area. It is bounded to the west by the Tasman Sea, and to the east by the Pacific Ocean. The land is predominantly rolling hill country. Farming and forestry occupy over half of the land, and are two of the region's main industries.
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Although many of the region's kauri forests were felled during the 19th century, some areas still exist where this rare giant grows tall. New Zealand's tallest tree, Tane Mahuta, stands in the Waipoua Forest south of the Hokianga Harbour.
The western coast of the region is dominated by several long straight beaches, the most famous of which is the inaccurately named 80 kilometre-long stretch of Ninety Mile Beach in the region's far north. Two large inlets are also located on this coast, the massive Kaipara Harbour in the south, which Northland shares with the Auckland Region, and the convoluted inlets of the Hokianga Harbour.
The east coast is more rugged, and is dotted with bays and peninsulas. Several large natural harbours are found on this coast, from Parengarenga close to the region's northern tip, past the famous Bay of Islands down to Whangarei Harbour, on the shores of which is situated the region's largest population centre. Numerous small islands also dot this coast, notably the Cavalli Islands, the Hen and Chickens Islands and the Poor Knights Islands.
The northernmost points of the North Island mainland lie at the top of Northland. These include several points often confused in the public mind as being the country's northernmost points: Cape Maria van Diemen, Spirits Bay, Cape Reinga, and North Cape. The northernmost point of the North Island is actually the Surville Cliffs, close to North Cape, although the northernmost point of the country is further north in the Kermadec chain of islands. Cape Reinga and Spirits Bay do, however, have a symbolic part to play as the end of the country. In Maori folklore, it is from here that the souls of the dead depart on their journey to the afterlife.
Climate
The region's sub-tropical location results in warm humid summers and mild winters. Typical summer maxima range from 22° C to 26° C (72° F to 79° F). In winter, maxima are between 14° C and 17° C (57° F and 63° F). Ground frosts are virtually unknown. The hottest months are January and February. Typical annual rainfall for the region is 1500 - 2000mm. Winds year-round are predominantly from the southwest, although the region can suffer the last storms of fading tropical cyclones from the central Pacific Ocean.
Administration
The seat of the Northland Regional Council is in Whangarei. There are three territorial authorities in the Northland region:
- Far North District Council, based in Kaikohe
- Whangarei District Council
- Kaipara District Council, based in Dargaville
Population
Northland is New Zealand's least urbanised region, with only some 50% of the population of 147,600 living in urban areas. Of these areas, Whangarei is the largest, with a population of 45,000. Seven other centres have populations of over 1000: Kaitaia, Dargaville, Kaikohe, Paihia, Kerikeri, Taipa-Mangonui, and Kawakawa. The population is largely concentrated along the region's east coast. During the five year period up to 2001 Northland recorded a population growth of 8.1 percent, slightly above the national average.
Over the last 10 years Northland's population has defied national (and worldwide) trends by becoming increasingly rural. Approximately one third of the region's population are Maori, the majority of the remainder being of European lineage. Compared to the rest of the country Pacific Islanders are under-represented in Northland. Although most of the region's European population are of British stock (as is true with the rest of the country), certain other ethnicities have left their mark on the Northland racial mix. Of these the most influential have probably been the Dalmatian community around the Dargaville area.
History
According to Maori legend, the North Island of New Zealand was an enormous fish, caught by the adventurer Maui. For this reason, Northland sometimes goes by the nickname of "The tail of the fish", Te Hiku o Te Ika.
Northland iwi claim that Kupe made landfall at the Hokianga in the northwest of Northland, and thus the region claims that it was the birthplace of New Zealand. Some of the oldest traces of Maori kainga (fishing villages), can be found here.
If the Maori regard the region as the legendary birthplace of the country, there can be no doubt that it was the European starting-point for the modern nation of New Zealand. Traders, whalers and sealers were among the first arrivals, and the gum and timber of the mighty kauri trees brought more colonisers.
Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands can lay claim to being the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand, and contains many historic buildings, including the Stone Store, New Zealand's oldest extant building. The nearby settlement of Waitangi was of even more significance, as the signing place of New Zealand's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi between the Maori tribes and the British Crown, on February 6, 1840.
Economy
The region's economy is based on agriculture (notably beef cattle), fishing, forestry, and horticulture. Citrus fruit makes up the majority of the latter industry, with lemons, oranges, and tamarillos all being produced.
Extensive forests are a feature of the Northland landscape. For this reason wood and paper manufacturing industries also make a large contribution to the region's economy.
Northland is a favourite tourist destination, especially to the Bay of Islands and the historic town of Kerikeri. Diving and fishing are also popular visitor activities, especially around the Bay of Islands and the Poor Knights island chain.
Northland is home to New Zealand's only oil refinery, at Marsden Point, close to Whangarei. New Zealand's natural fuel resources in Taranaki account for a little under half of the refinery's intake, with the rest coming predominantly from the Middle East. The nearby Marsden A thermal power station utilises heavy oil from the refinery for electricity production.
External links
- The regional council's site (http://www.nrc.govt.nz/)
- About Northland (http://www.northland.org.nz/about/index.htm)
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