Population
Population: 155,800 June 2009 estimate
Northland is New Zealand's least urbanised region, with only some 50% of the population of 155,800 living in urban areas. Of these areas, Whangarei is the largest, with a population of 51,400 (June 2009 estimates). In the rest of the region only eight other centres have populations of more than 1000: Russell, Kaitaia, Dargaville, Kaikohe, Paihia, Kerikeri, Taipa-Mangonui, and Kawakawa. The population is largely concentrated along the region's east coast. During the five years up to 2006, Northland recorded a population growth of 6.0 percent, slightly below the national average but conversely the region includes one of the fastest-growing towns in New Zealand, the coastal paradise of Mangawhai, which is expanding rapidly due to residential and consequent commercial development. Over the last 10 years Northland's population has defied national (and worldwide) trends by becoming increasingly rural. Approximately one-third of the region's population is Māori, the majority of the remainder being of European lineage. Compared to the rest of the country Pacific Islanders are under-represented in Northland. Although most of the region's European population are of British stock (as is true with the rest of the country), certain other ethnicities have left their mark on the Northland racial mix. Of these the most influential have probably been the Dalmatian community from the Dargaville area north, with a particularly strong heritage around Kaitaia.
Land Area: 13,789 km²
Main Centres: Whangarei, Paihia, Russell, Kerikeri, Kaikohe, Kaitaia, Hokianga.
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