Ahipara

Ahipara
Ahipara
Coordinates: 35°10′17″S 173°9′12″E / 35.17139°S 173.15333°E / -35.17139; 173.15333
Country New Zealand
Region Northland Region
District Far North District
Population (2013)
 • Total 1,065
Postcode 0481
Ahipara Bay
Wharenui, Auahi Kore marae

Ahipara is a town and locality in Northland, New Zealand at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach, with the Tauroa Peninsula to the west and Herekino Forest to the east. Ahipara Bay is to the north west. Kaitaia is 14 km to the north east,[1] and Pukepoto is between the two.

The population was 1,065 in the 2013 Census, a decrease of 57 from 2006.[2]

The name comes from the Māori language words ahi, meaning fire, and para, a large fern, and can be translated as "a fire at which para was cooked". Prior to the late 18th century, the area was called Wharo, which means "stretched out". That name originated when the chief Tohe ordered a slave to measure the distance the tide had receded, by counting the number of arm-spans from the high water level.[3]

The area was popular with kauri gum-diggers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[4] The Ahipara Gumfields Historic Reserve is to the south of the town.

Shipwreck Bay (Te Kōhanga in Māori), at the southern point of Ahipara Bay, contains a number of wrecks visible at low tide.[5]

Ahipara Bay was once well known for its toheroa shellfish, but gathering these is restricted due to their near-extinction.[6][7] Both Ahipara and Shipwreck Bays are popular surfing spots.[8]

Education

Ahipara School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 3 and a roll of 241.[9] It was founded in 1872 as a mission school, and moved to its present site in 1901.[10]

Coordinates: 35°10′0″S 173°9′0″E / 35.16667°S 173.15000°E / -35.16667; 173.15000

Notes

  1. ↑ "Northland places". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  2. ↑ 2013 Census QuickStats about a place:Ahipara
  3. ↑ A W Reed (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. p. 5. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.
  4. ↑ "The Kauri Gum Industry". ahipara.co.nz. 2004. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  5. ↑ "Top of the North - Ahipara". Destination Northland.
  6. ↑ "Aquaculture Bill Submission". Ahipara Online. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  7. ↑ Orange, Claudia (2 March 2009). "Northland places - Aupōuri Peninsula". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  8. ↑ Discover New Zealand - A Wises Guide (9th ed.). Wises Publications. 1994. p. 1.
  9. ↑ Te Kete Ipurangi schools database: Ahipara school
  10. ↑ "Ahipara Primary School - School Description" (pdf).

External links

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