Whangaruru is a rural community and harbour on the east coast of Northland, New Zealand. Mokau, Helena Bay, Whakapara, Hikurangi and Whangarei are to the south and the Bay of Islands is to the northwest. The Whangaruru area includes the villages of Punaruku west of the harbour, Whangaruru north of the harbour, and Whangaruru North east of the harbour. The area was reputedly named by Puhimoanariki who was sailing up the coast. After searching for a long time he found shelter from bad weather there. The name "Whangaruru" is a Māori-language word meaning "sheltered harbour", and is a direct linguistic cognate with "Honolulu" in the related Hawaiian language.
The statistical area of Whangaruru, which at 469 square kilometres is much larger than this community, had a population of 2,520 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 420 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 453 people since the 2006 census. There were 858 households. There were 1,323 males and 1,197 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female. Of the total population, 525 people were aged up to 15 years, 396 were 15 to 29, 1,170 were 30 to 64, and 432 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding. Ethnicities were 77.1% European/Pākehā, 35.7% Māori, 3.2% Pacific peoples, 1.1% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.5, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 54.6% had no religion, 33.6% were Christian, and 3.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 267 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 426 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $24,300. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 867 people were employed full-time, 306 were part-time, and 132 were unemployed.
Education
Whangaruru School is a coeducational full primary school with a roll of students as of The school was founded in 2005 to replace Punaruku, Ngaiotonga Valley and Helena Bay Schools. It is on the site of the old Punaruku School. Te Kura Hourua ki Whangaruru was a secondary partnership school opened in 2014, and closed in 2016.
