Tangiteroria


Tangiteroria is a small rural community in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located halfway between Whangārei and Dargaville on State Highway 14 on the banks of the Northern Wairoa river.
It consists of a primary school, pub, Catholic Church, petrol station, marae, and a sports complex/community centre. The sports complex and community centre were destroyed by a fire in the early hours of January 16, 2020.
The local cricket team play either Kirikopuni or Pukehuia once a week through the summer.
Kirikopuni and Pukehuia both had railway stations on the Dargaville Branch for the movement of stock throughout Northland and a passenger service.

History and culture

A Wesleyan mission station was set up by James Wallis in 1836, and then run by James Buller. The station lasted until 1853. Kauri logs were sent down the river to be milled in the mid-1860s. A flax mill operated in the late 19th century.
A steamer service up the Wairoa River was established to Tangiteroria by the Tangihua in 1878, and Watson's Landing and store flourished there in 1881. The S.S. Blanche ran a service between Dargaville and Tangiteroria in 1891-2, and the S.S. Ethel was doing the run twice a week in 1896. It was replaced by the S.S. Naumai from 1903-1920. The service finished in 1929. Road access was established in the 1890s.

Marae

The local Tangiterōria Marae and Tirarau meeting house are a traditional meeting place for the Ngāpuhi hapū of Te Parawhau and Te Uriroroi, and the Ngāti Whātua hapū of Te Kuihi and Te Parawhau.

Demographics

The statistical area of Maungaru, which at 691 square kilometres is much larger than Tangiteroria, had a population of 1,800 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 114 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 87 people since the 2006 census. There were 672 households. There were 906 males and 897 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female. Of the total population, 375 people were aged up to 15 years, 276 were 15 to 29, 852 were 30 to 64, and 300 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.
Ethnicities were 91.8% European/Pākehā, 21.3% Māori, 2.8% Pacific peoples, 1.7% Asian, and 1.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 8.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 54.3% had no religion, 34.2% were Christian, and 2.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 144 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 366 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,900. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 744 people were employed full-time, 246 were part-time, and 45 were unemployed.

Education

Tangiteroria School is a coeducational full primary school with a roll of students as of The school was established in 1886.