Kauri Point

Kauri Point is a rural settlement in the Western Bay of Plenty District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is on a headland on the eastern side of Tauranga Harbour, opposite Matakana Island.^[6]

Kauri Point
Rural settlement
Coordinates: 37.512°S 175.975°E / -37.512; 175.975
Country	New Zealand
Region	Bay of Plenty
Territorial authority	Western Bay of Plenty District
Ward	Katikati-Waihi Beach Ward
Community	Katikati Community
Electorates	Coromandel Waiariki (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Western Bay of Plenty District Council
• Regional council	Bay of Plenty Regional Council
• Mayor of Western Bay of Plenty	James Denyer[1]
• Coromandel MP	Scott Simpson[2]
• Waiariki MP	Rawiri Waititi[3]
Area [4]
• Total	0.27 km2 (0.10 sq mi)
Population  (2023 Census)[5]
• Total	186
• Density	690/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	3170

A coastal walkway through Kauri Point Historic Reserve connects Kauri Point to Ongare Point.^[7] There are mature pōhutukawa trees and three pā sites in the reserve.^[8][9] A 200 metre long wooden jetty, built after 1947, provides fishing access to the harbour.^[10][11]

Dorothy Morris was a pioneer of the kiwifruit industry in New Zealand who she converted her dairy farm on Kauri Point Road to kiwifruit in the 1950s.^[12]

George Vesey Stewart, who organised settlement of Katikati in the 1870s, initially planned for the town to be established at Kauri Point.^[13] The settlement at Kauri Point did not eventuate until the 1970s.^[14]

Demographics

Ōngare Point-Kauri Point is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. Kauri Point covers 0.27 km² (0.10 sq mi).^[4] It is part of the larger Tahawai statistical area.^[15]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	189	—
2013	171	−1.42%
2018	177	+0.69%
2023	186	+1.00%
Source: [5][16]

Welcome sign at Kauri Point

Kauri Point had a population of 186 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 9 people (5.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 15 people (8.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 87 males and 102 females in 75 dwellings.^[17] 3.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 50.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 39 people (21.0%) aged under 15 years, 21 (11.3%) aged 15 to 29, 81 (43.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 48 (25.8%) aged 65 or older.^[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.3% European (Pākehā), 17.7% Māori, 1.6% Pasifika, and 3.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.4%, Māori by 4.8%, and other languages by 4.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.6% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 14.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[5]

Religious affiliations were 27.4% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.5%, and 8.1% of people did not answer the census question.^[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (20.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 87 (59.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 27 (18.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $33,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (6.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 60 (40.8%) full-time, 18 (12.2%) part-time, and 6 (4.1%) unemployed.^[5]