Kaipara District

The Kaipara District is an administrative unit in the north of New Zealand's North Island. It is the southernmost of the three districts in the Northland region.

Geography

The district is located in the southwest of the Northland region. Grob is seen the area triangular in shape and includes the hilly area north of the Kaipara Harbour, one of the largest natural harbors in the world. The Kaipara Harbour, which is as deep from the Tasman Sea to the east in the interior, forms a narrow isthmus, which is the border to the Rodney District and the Auckland region. To the north of the Kaipara district extends up to the Waipoua Forest, one of the largest remaining kauri forests. These trees originally covered the entire North Auckland Peninsula, but were cut down over the last few centuries to a great extent. Here bordering the Kaipara District in the northernmost administrative division of the country, the Far North District. Although mainly in the east connects the district to the city of Whangarei, there is still an access to the east coast, so the South Pacific. The entire west coast is bordered by the Tasman Sea. Despite the extensive deforestation, the area is often referred to on the west coast as Kauricoast, so Kauri Coast.

The district is crossed by the Wairoa River, which runs from northeast to southwest.

Population

In the Kaipara District unusually large number of people live in rural areas. Of the approximately 18,000 inhabitants live only 4500 people in the administrative headquarters of the district, Dargaville, which also constitutes the largest town. More - a lot smaller - municipalities are Maungaturoto, Kaiwaka and Mangawhai who do not have over 1000 inhabitants.

The nearest major town, Whangarei, located about 45 kilometers northeast of Dargaville. The city of Auckland is about two and a half hours away by car.

In the area around Dargaville settled - as well as further south in Waitakere - unusually large number of people from Dalmatia.

Culture and sights

In Dargaville, the local Rotary Club annually organizes the Arts and Crafts Festival, will be presented at the Arts and various handicraft products. Of great awareness about the district boundaries is the Kauri Museum in Matakohe.