Northland (area)

The area of Northland (in māori: Te Tai-tokerau or Te Hiku-O-you-Ika , the tail of fish ) is most septentrional of the areas of New Zealand.

Geography

The area is located in what the New Zealanders call the Far North , or (because of its soft climate), the The Winterless North . It is the 80% superior of the Péninsule North Auckland; the south of this peninsula is in the area of Auckland.

Energy of a particularly narrow part of the peninsula close to the town of Wellsford, Northland extends until the end from the peninsula and recovers a surface of: 13789 km ², are approximately 5% of the entire surface of New Zealand. It is bordered by the Mer of Tasman in the west and by the Pacific Ocean in the east. She is traversed innumerable hills. Thus, the zones devoted to agriculture and the forests cover half of surface.

Although the major part of the forests of Kauri were destroyed at the 19th century, one finds still today these trees of an impressive size. The largest tree of New Zealand, Spot Mahuta, pushes in the forest of Waipoua, in the south of Hokianga.

The west coast is traversed by long beaches, of which famous the Ninety Mile Beach , which measures actually 88 km. One also finds there two large Anse S and immense the Baie of Kaipara in the south, which the areas of Northland and Auckland share, as well as the small complicated handles of the Baie of Hokianga.

The east coast is made up many bays and peninsulas. One finds there several large bays natural, of Parengarenga close to the extreme north of the area, while passing by the Bay off Islands, until the Baie of Whangarei, on which Auckland is located. Many islands are off this coast, in particular the islands Cavalli, the island Aorangaia, the islands Hen and Chicken and the islands Poor Knights.

The northern point of the island of North east in the extreme north of the area of Northland. Several places are known as being the northern point of the island, of which the Cape Maria von Diemen, Spirits Bay, the Cape Reinga, or North Cape, but the true northern point is with cliffs of Surville Cliffs, close to North Cape.

The extreme north of all the country is with the islands Kermadec.

The course Reinga and Spirits Bay, are, according to mythology māori, the starting point of the hearts after death, for the voyage towards beyond.

Climate

Because of lattitude of the area, it has a hot and wet summer and soft climate the winter. The temperatures rise of 22 °C with 26 °C (of 72 °F with 79 °F) the summer and are located enters 14 °C and 17 °C (of 57 °F with 63 °F) the winter. It almost never freezes in the cities but some time in the campaigns. The hottest months are January and February.

Annual precipitations oscillate between: 1500 and: 2000 mm per annum.

The prevalent winds come from south-west, although the area must face the tempètes due to the passages of Cyclone S coming from the Pacific Ocean.

Administration

The Northland Regional Council is located at Whangarei. There are three authority territorial:

Far North District Council , based with Kaikohe
Whangarei District Council
Kaipara District Council , based with Dargaville

Population

Only 50% of the population of: 149600 lives in urban area. Thus, it is the most rural area of New Zealand. Whangarei is the most important city with: 48700 inhabitants. Seven other cities have a population of more than: 1000 inhabitants: Kaitaia, Dargaville, Kaikohe, Paihia, Kerikeri, Taipa-Mangonui and Kawakawa.

The population is primarily concentrated along the east coast. Between 2001 and 2006, the area recorded an increase in the population from approximately 6%, figure slightly lower than the national average. It shelters one of the cities with the strongest growth of the country, Mangawhai.

Approximately a third of the population is of origin māori, the remainder being mainly of European origin, especially Britannique, as in the remainder of this country, old British colony, but also of other European countries, in particular of the Croatian area of Dalmatie.

History

According to the legend māori, the island of the North of New Zealand is an enormous fish which was caught by Maui. Thus, Northland is sometimes called the tail of fish : Te Hiku O You Ika .

The Iwi of Northland claim that Kupe would have arrived to New Zealand where one finds Hokianga today (others claim that it is with Taipa), and thus that this area was born first of New Zealand. Traces of old villages of Māori sinners were found at different places.

It was also the first known area of Europeans. The tradesmen and the hunters of whale and with auxphoques were the first Europeans to be settled there. Colonization accelerated with the exploitation of the wood of Kauri. Kerikeri can be regarded as the first European colony of New Zealand and one can see the oldest building always there: Stone Blind .

Waitangi, close to Kerikeri, played a part even more important in the history of this nation: one saw there the signature of the Traité of Waitangi between the tribes māori and England, which marked the birth of New Zealand, the February 6th 1840.

Economy

The economy of the area is based on the Agriculture, mainly the breeding of Bœuf, the Sylviculture, the fishing and the Horticulture. The principal cultures are the orange S, the Citron S, the Tamarille S, the lawyer S and the olives.

The forests being very present on this territory, the industry of the Paper and wood occupies an important place in the economy.

Northland is a destination snuffed of the tourists, particularly Bay off Islands and Kerikeri. The diving and fishing are the most practiced activities, especially in Bay off Islands and the islands Poor Knights.

The area also has the only oil refinery of the country, close to Whangarei, with the Pointe Marsden close to Whangarei.

Appendices

References

'' Subnational Estimates Population: At 30 June 2006 '', Statistics New Zealand

External bonds

'' Regional Northland Council ''

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