Whangamata

Whangamata is a small town on the southeastern coast of the base of the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 30 km north of Waihi and north of the westernmost point of the Bay of Plenty.

The population is returned with 2006 3.555 inhabitants compared to the 2001 census, with 3,963 inhabitants at that time by more than 10 %. For the holiday season, the number of residents, however, greatly increases. The New Year celebrations in 2008 25.855 people were estimated, but this is a strong decrease from 48.385 to the year 2003/ 2004.

Off the coast there are four small islands. The largest and most northerly, Hauturu Iceland (also Clark Iceland ) can be reached at low tide by wading. Whenuakura Iceland (also donut Iceland ) is located about one kilometer east of the southern part of Whangamata Beach ( Otahu Beach). On the island lived a few years ago tuatara. On Whenuakura Iceland there is a large collapse in sea cave, which forms a small beach inside the ring-shaped island, hence the alternative name. The southern end of the islands forming Rawengaiti Iceland. The small river Wentworth River that leads west to Whangamata along. In the hinterland west of the town is mountainous Coromandel Range.

The place has two safe for bathing and surfing ocean beaches. Protected boat harbors are located in the entrance to the natural harbor Whangamata Harbour on the northern end of the village and in another arm of the sea at the southern end. Both also serve as a bathing opportunity. About nine kilometers to the south lies the beach of Whiritoa, other beaches are located north of the village at Onemana and Opoutere.

The name of the place is a Shibboleth: People who are familiar with the pronunciation of place names of Māori, stress the penultimate syllable, the final "a" is a schwa ( as the pronunciation of Waitemata and Matamata ). Whangamata is opted by a clear emphasis on the "a". The name comes from the Mata - stones ( obsidian ), which were found on the coast, " Whanga " means " bay ", " Mata " a hard stone.

The Provincial Highway 25 leads to the west of the town along and connects it to Waihi in the south and the Coromandel Peninsula in the north.

The Whangamata Area School is a coeducational " Kompositschule " for the 1st to 13th school year with a decile rating of 4 and 414 students (as of 01 /2009).