Sanfords Fishery factory, one of the main employers in Kaeo, closed in December 2011.[3]
History and culture
Pre-European settlement
Pā site Pohue-nui of the Ngati Uru tribe. As seen behind an old house from the east, near SH 10, in February 2013.
Kaeo used to be a fortified village pā of the Ngati Uru sub-tribe. This tribe arrived in the Whangaroa Harbour as late as 1770–1775, having been driven out of the Rawhiti area of the Bay of Islands, after killing and eating Captain Marion du Fresne and his crew.[4]
European settlement
Wesleydale, the first Wesleyan Methodist mission in New Zealand, was established by Samuel Leigh and William White at Kaeo in June 1823, then abandoned in 1827 after it was sacked by local Māori.[5] A memorial cairn marks the site of the mission adjacent to the cemetery on the south side of the Kaeo River.
Flooding
Kaeo is built on the flood plain of the Kaeo River and has experienced destructive flooding. It came to national attention in 2007 when it took the brunt of three major floods within the space of a few months - in February, March and July. Water flooded homes and shops and destroyed the primary school's pool complex. The local rugby clubrooms also suffered, and the club received support from the whole country as it raised funds to lift the clubrooms off the ground to minimise the risk of damage from further flooding.[6]
Landslips, fallen power lines, and road closures resulted from heavy rain in February 2008. The Northland Regional Council scheduled flood-protection work for 2008, but in 2011 was still waiting on various consents.[6][7] Floods occurred as a result of Cyclone Wilma in January 2011, and 70 people had to be evacuated from Kaeo.[8]
Marae
The Kaeo area has two marae affiliated with multiple iwi:
Statistics New Zealand describes Kaeo as a rural settlement. It covers 1.39 km2 (0.54 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 260 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 187 people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Kaeo statistical area.
Kāeo settlement had a population of 228 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 people (26.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 57 people (33.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 78 households, comprising 114 males and 114 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female. The median age was 32.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 66 people (28.9%) aged under 15 years, 45 (19.7%) aged 15 to 29, 84 (36.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 36 (15.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 44.7% European/Pākehā, 73.7% Māori, and 9.2% Pacific peoples. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.7% had no religion, 28.9% were Christian, 17.1% had Māori religious beliefs and 1.3% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (7.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 60 (37.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $21,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 6 people (3.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 54 (33.3%) people were employed full-time, 24 (14.8%) were part-time, and 18 (11.1%) were unemployed.[12]
Kaeo statistical area
Kaeo statistical area covers 255.56 km2 (98.67 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,350 as of June 2023,[13] with a population density of 5.3 people per km2.
Kaeo statistical area had a population of 1,191 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 186 people (18.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 114 people (10.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 405 households, comprising 624 males and 567 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female. The median age was 42.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 273 people (22.9%) aged under 15 years, 192 (16.1%) aged 15 to 29, 525 (44.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 201 (16.9%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 65.2% European/Pākehā, 50.9% Māori, 4.3% Pacific peoples, 0.8% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 12.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.4% had no religion, 27.7% were Christian, 9.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 96 (10.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 210 (22.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $21,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 48 people (5.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 357 (38.9%) people were employed full-time, 165 (18.0%) were part-time, and 63 (6.9%) were unemployed.[14]
Education
Whangaroa College, a coeducational secondary (years 7-15) school,[15] has a roll of 146 students as of April 2023.[16] The principal since 2015 is Jack Anderson.
Kaeo School, a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school,[17] has a roll of 112 students as of April 2023.[16]
The school dates from 1877; it moved to its current site some years later. In 1941 it became Kaeo District High School, taking both primary and secondary students. After the opening of Whangaroa College in 1969, Kaeo School became a primary school.[18] The current principal is Paul Barker.
