Kaeo (Māori: ''Kāeo'') is a

township A township is a form of human settlement or administrative subdivision. Its exact definition varies among countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, this tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Canad ...

in the

Far North District The Far North District is the northernmost Territorial authorities of New Zealand, territorial authority district of New Zealand, consisting of the northern part of the Northland Peninsula in the North Island. It stretches from North Cape (New ...

of New Zealand, located some northwest of

Kerikeri Kerikeri () is a town in the Bay of Islands, in the Far North District of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies at the head of Kerikeri Inlet, a northwestern arm of the Bay of Islands, where fresh water of the Kerikeri River enters the Paci ...

. The town's name comes from the Māori-language name of the New Zealand freshwater mussel, which is found in nearby rivers. Sanfords Fishery factory, one of the main employers in Kaeo, closed in December 2011. A new bridge on across the Kaio River was opened in February 2024 to reduce queuing and improve traffic safety.

History and culture

Pre-European settlement

Kaeo used to be a fortified village ''

pā The word pā (; often spelled pa in English) can refer to any Māori people, Māori village or defensive settlement, but often refers to hillforts – fortified settlements with palisades and defensive :wikt:terrace, terraces – and also to fo ...

'' of the Ngati Uru sub-tribe. This tribe arrived in the

Whangaroa Harbour Whangaroa Harbour (; ), previously spelled Wangaroa Harbour, is an inlet on the northern coast of Northland Region, Northland, New Zealand. Whangaroa Bay and the Pacific Ocean are to the north. The small settlements of Totara North and Saies ...

as late as 1770–1775, having been driven out of the Rawhiti area of the

Bay of Islands The Bay of Islands is an area on the east coast of the Far North District of the North Island of New Zealand. It is one of the most popular fishing, sailing and tourist destinations in the country, and has been renowned internationally for ...

, after killing and eating Captain

Marion du Fresne Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne (22 May 1724 – 12 June 1772) was a French privateer, East India captain, and explorer. The expedition he led to find the hypothetical ''Terra Australis'' in 1771 made important geographic discoveries in the sou ...

and his crew.

European settlement

Wesleydale, the first Wesleyan Methodist mission in New Zealand, was established by Samuel Leigh and William White at Kaeo in June 1823, then abandoned in 1827 after it was sacked by local Māori. A memorial cairn marks the site of the mission adjacent to the cemetery on the south side of the

Kaeo River The Kaeo River is a river of the far north of New Zealand's North Island. It flows through the north of the North Auckland Peninsula, reaching the sea at the Whangaroa Harbour. The small town of Kaeo sits on its banks, from the river's mouth. S ...

Flooding

Kaeo is built on the flood plain of the Kaeo River and has experienced destructive flooding. It came to national attention in 2007 when it took the brunt of three major floods within the space of a few months - in February, March and July. Water flooded homes and shops and destroyed the primary school's pool complex. The local rugby clubrooms also suffered, and the club received support from the whole country as it raised funds to lift the clubrooms off the ground to minimise the risk of damage from further flooding. Landslips, fallen power lines, and road closures resulted from heavy rain in February 2008. The Northland Regional Council scheduled flood-protection work for 2008, but in 2011 was still waiting on various consents. Floods occurred as a result of

Cyclone Wilma Severe Tropical Cyclone Wilma was a powerful tropical cyclone that affected the Samoan Islands, Tonga and New Zealand. Forming out of a trough of low pressure on 19 January 2011 to the northwest of Fiji, Cyclone Wilma initially tracked eastward ...

in January 2011, and 70 people had to be evacuated from Kaeo.

Notable buildings

The Kaeo Post Office is a wooden

Edwardian In the United Kingdom, the Edwardian era was a period in the early 20th century that spanned the reign of King Edward VII from 1901 to 1910. It is commonly extended to the start of the First World War in 1914, during the early reign of King Ge ...

building constructed in 1912. The building served many additional functions until it closed in May 1989 following the

Fourth Labour Government The Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand governed New Zealand from 26 July 1984 to 2 November 1990 (the period up to 8 August 1989 is also called the Lange Government). It was the first Labour government to win a second consecutive term si ...

's economic reforms. It was refurbished in 2012 and as of 2020 operates as a community centre and library.

Marae

The Kaeo area has two marae affiliated with multiple iwi: *Waihapa Marae and Te Tai Tokerau meeting house are affiliated with the

Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa are a Māori ''iwi'' (tribe) based at the Whangaroa Harbour harbour area in New Zealand's Northland Region. The iwi's rohe (tribal area) covers a coastal area from Kaeo and the Whangaroa Harbour in the east, to Oruai ...

hapū In Māori language, Māori and New Zealand English, a ' ("subtribe", or "clan") functions as "the basic political unit within Māori society". A Māori person can belong to or have links to many hapū. Historically, each hapū had its own chief ...

of Riwhi and Te Pania, and the

Ngāpuhi / Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa Ngāpuhi / Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa are a Maori iwi from the Whangaroa harbour area in Northland, New Zealand. The iwi's rohe (tribal territory) covers Two similarly named iwi ⁠— Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa ⁠— are also lo ...

hapū of Ngāti Rangimatamomoe and

Whānau Pani Whānau () is the Māori word for the basic extended family group. Within Māori society the ''whānau'' encompasses three or four generations and forms the political unit below the levels of hapū (subtribe), iwi (tribe or nation) and waka ...

. In October 2020, the Government committed $180,904 from the

Provincial Growth Fund Shane Geoffrey Jones (born 3 September 1959) is a New Zealand politician and a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for the New Zealand First party. Jones' political career began 2005 New Zealand general election, in 2005 as a l ...

to upgrade Waihapa Marae, creating 12 jobs. *Mangawhero Marae and Te Aroha meeting house are affiliated with the

of Ngāti Rangimatamomoe and Te Hōia, and the

hapū of Kaitore, Ngāti Hōia and

Ngāti Rangi Ngāti Rangi or Ngāti Rangituhia is a Māori iwi (tribe) of New Zealand. Contemporary settlement is mainly around Waiouru, Ohakune, and the Upper Whanganui River in the central North Island. The iwi's ''rohe'' (tribal area) of interest extends ...

. There are two marae affiliated with

hapū: * Ōtangaroa (Mangawhero) Marae and Te Aroha meeting house are affiliated with the hapū of Ngāti Rangimatamomoe and Te Hōia. * Waitāruke Marae and Kahukura Ariki meeting house are affiliated with Hāhi Katorika. There are seven marae affiliated with

hapū: * Mangaiti Marae and Tau te Rangimarie meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Pākahi and Ngāti Uru. * Mangatōwai Marae is affiliated with

Ngāti Aukiwa Iwi () are the largest social units in New Zealand Māori society. In Māori, roughly means or , and is often translated as "tribe". The word is both singular and plural in the Māori language, and is typically pluralised as such in English. ...

. * Matangirau Marae and Karangahape meeting house are affiliated with

Ngāti Kawau-Kaitangata Iwi () are the largest social units in New Zealand Māori society. In Māori, roughly means or , and is often translated as "tribe". The word is both singular and plural in the Māori language, and is typically pluralised as such in English. ...

. * Pupuke Marae and Te Huia meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Pākahi, Ngāti Uru and

. * Tahawai Marae and Te Awaroa meeting house are affiliated with Tahaawai. * Te Pātūnga Marae and Te Watea meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Pākahi, Ngāti Uru, Te Aeto and

. * Whakaari Marae is affiliated with Ngāti Kawau.

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Kāeo as a rural settlement. It covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km². The settlement is part of the larger Kaeo statistical area. Kāeo had a population of 249 in the

2023 New Zealand census The 2023 New Zealand census, which took place on 7 March 2023, was the thirty-fifth national census in New Zealand. It implemented measures that aimed to increase the Census' effectiveness in response to the issues faced with the 2018 census, i ...

, an increase of 21 people (9.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 69 people (38.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 135 males and 114 females in 84 dwellings. 1.2% of people identified as

LGBTIQ+ LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The group is ...

. The median age was 32.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 72 people (28.9%) aged under 15 years, 36 (14.5%) aged 15 to 29, 105 (42.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 36 (14.5%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 50.6%

European European, or Europeans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe and other West ...

(

Pākehā ''Pākehā'' (or ''Pakeha''; ; ) is a Māori language, Māori-language word used in English, particularly in New Zealand. It generally means a non-Polynesians, Polynesian New Zealanders, New Zealander or more specifically a European New Zeala ...

), 73.5%

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

, 9.6% Pasifika, and 1.2% Asian. English was spoken by 95.2%, Māori language by 19.3%, and other languages by 1.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 6.0, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 20.5%

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

and 14.5%

Māori religious beliefs Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.6%, and 7.2% of people did not answer the census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 9 (5.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 105 (59.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 60 (33.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $29,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (3.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 72 (40.7%) people were employed full-time, 24 (13.6%) were part-time, and 9 (5.1%) were unemployed.

Kāeo statistical area

Kāeo statistical area covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km². Kāeo statistical area had a population of 1,299 in the

, an increase of 108 people (9.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 294 people (29.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 681 males, 615 females and 3 people of other genders in 438 dwellings. 1.8% of people identified as

. The median age was 44.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 276 people (21.2%) aged under 15 years, 180 (13.9%) aged 15 to 29, 600 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 240 (18.5%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 67.0%

(

); 51.5%

; 6.0% Pasifika; 1.6% Asian; 0.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.5%, Māori language by 15.2%, Samoan by 0.2% and other languages by 5.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk).

New Zealand Sign Language New Zealand Sign Language or NZSL () is the main language of the deaf community in New Zealand. It became an official language of New Zealand in April 2006 under the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. The purpose of the act was to create rights ...

was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.9, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 22.6%

, 0.2%

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

, 8.8%

, 0.5%

Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

, 0.9%

New Age New Age is a range of Spirituality, spiritual or Religion, religious practices and beliefs that rapidly grew in Western world, Western society during the early 1970s. Its highly eclecticism, eclectic and unsystematic structure makes a precise d ...

, and 0.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.0%, and 6.2% of people did not answer the census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 93 (9.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 582 (56.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 315 (30.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $27,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 27 people (2.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 387 (37.8%) people were employed full-time, 135 (13.2%) were part-time, and 33 (3.2%) were unemployed.

Education

Kaeo Public School was built in 1877. It moved to the current Kaeo School site some years later. In 1941 it became Kaeo District High School, taking both primary and secondary students. It became a primary school when Whangaroa College opened in 1969. Kaeo School is now a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school, with a roll of students as of The principal is Paul Barker. Whangaroa College is a coeducational secondary (years 7–15) school on a site adjacent to Kaeo School. It has a roll of students as of The principal since 2015 is Jack Anderson.

References

External links

Kaeo
, Whangaroa Community Development
Kaeo School
{{Far North District Far North District Populated places in the Northland Region