The town was named after timber merchant and politician Joseph Dargaville. Founded during the 19th-century kauri gum and timber trade, it briefly had New Zealand's largest population. The area became known for a thriving industry that included gum digging and kauri logging, which was based mainly at Te Kōpuru, several kilometres south of Dargaville on the banks of the Northern Wairoa river. The river was used to transport the huge logs downstream to shipbuilders and as a primary means of transport to Auckland. Dalmatian migrants were particularly prominent in the kauri gum extraction. Te Houhanga Marae and Rāhiri meeting house is a traditional meeting place for Te Roroa and the Ngāti Whātuahapū of Te Kuihi and Te Roroa.
Demographics
Dargaville had a population of 4,794 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 543 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 339 people since the 2006 census. There were 1,812 households. There were 2,325 males and 2,469 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.94 males per female. Of the total population, 936 people were aged up to 15 years, 840 were 15 to 29, 1,785 were 30 to 64, and 1,233 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding. Ethnicities were 70.7% European/Pākehā, 35.7% Māori, 7.4% Pacific peoples, 4.4% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.3, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 41.1% had no religion, 43.9% were Christian, and 6.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 282 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 1,161 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $22,200. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,440 people were employed full-time, 549 were part-time, and 171 were unemployed.
Geography
The nearby Ripiro Beach has the longest unbroken stretches of sand beach in New Zealand, and is largely drivable from one end to the other. This beach is home of the famous local shellfish delicacy called the toheroa. Overexploitation in the 1950s and 1960s caused the population of the shellfish to decline enough that public gathering of the shellfish is now prohibited. Dargaville is also the gateway to the Waipoua Forest, a protected national park and home of the biggest specimens of Kauri tree in New Zealand, Tāne Mahuta being chief amongst them. Dargaville is situated by the Wairoa River, with boat moorings adjacent to the town centre. The river is tidal when it passes through Dargaville.
Climate
classifies its climate as oceanic with warm summers and mild winters.
Transport
Dargaville is on the junction of State Highways 12 and 14. North of the town, the Donnellys Crossing Sectionrailway was established to provide access to other logging activities. The first portion of this line was opened in 1889, it reached its greatest extent in 1923, and after operating isolated from the national rail network for decades, it was connected with the North Auckland Line by the Dargaville Branch in 1940. The Donnelly's Crossing Section closed in 1959, but the Dargaville Branch remains in use by a tourist venture, having been closed by KiwiRail since October 2014. The area around Dargaville is now predominantly a farming region and supports extensive dairy, beef, and sheep farms, as well as a thriving plantation forest industry. Other attractions are the Kai Iwi lakes some 25 kilometres north of the town, and Pouto Peninsula. Baylys Beach is the local beach, just 13 kilometres from the township, and offers over 90 kilometres of rugged west coast surf.
Education
Dargaville High School is a secondary school with a roll of students. The school opened in 1921, but was destroyed by fire in 1937 and rebuilt the following year. Dargaville Intermediate is an intermediate school with a roll of students. Dargaville Primary School and Selwyn Park School are contributing primary schools with rolls of students and students respectively. Dargaville Primary was established by 1877. In 1879, it had a roll of 16, which grew to 155 in 1899. Selwyn Park celebrates its 50th Jubilee in 2008. St Joseph's School is a full primary school with a roll of students. It is a state integrated Catholic school. All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of NorthTec polytechnic also has a campus in Dargaville.
