Kiripaka is a locality in Northland, New Zealand. The settlement of Glenbervie lies to the southwest, and Ngunguru is to the northeast.

"Kiripaka" means flint, schist or asbestos in the Māori language.^[1]

Demographics

Kiripaka statistical area covers 72.02 km² (27.81 sq mi)^[2] and had an estimated population of 1,100 as of June 2023,^[3] with a population density of 15.3 people per km².

Kiripaka statistical area had a population of 993 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 105 people (11.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 276 people (38.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 333 households, comprising 498 males and 495 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female. The median age was 43.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 228 people (23.0%) aged under 15 years, 114 (11.5%) aged 15 to 29, 513 (51.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 141 (14.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 85.2% European/Pākehā, 22.7% Māori, 3.3% Pacific peoples, 2.1% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 13.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.0% had no religion, 29.9% were Christian, 1.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 168 (22.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 114 (14.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 156 people (20.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 411 (53.7%) people were employed full-time, 132 (17.3%) were part-time, and 36 (4.7%) were unemployed.^[4]

Mining

A coal mine was opened at Kiripaka in 1893^[5] and produced "first-class steam coal".^[6] A second mine was opened across the river in 1899.^[7] One of the mines closed in late 1904, as it was no longer profitable.^[8] The remaining mine was closed in 1912 in response to miners taking a day off to support the Waihi miners' strike.^[9] The mine reopened at the end of 1914^[10] although coal output didn't begin until August 1915.^[11] After industrial disputes and flooding, the mine closed permanently in June 1921^[12] although fire clay was extracted from 1923^[13] and there was some further coal mining at the end of the decade.^[14]

Notes