Kawhia Harbour

Kawhia
The harbour with Tiritirimatangi Peninsula at centre
The harbour with Tiritirimatangi Peninsula at centre
Map
Coordinates: 38°6′S 174°48′E / 38.100°S 174.800°E / -38.100; 174.800
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato Region
DistrictŌtorohanga District
WardKāwhia-Tihiroa Ward
CommunityKāwhia Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityŌtorohanga District Council
 • Regional councilWaikato Regional Council
Area
 • Total0.93 km2 (0.36 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total410
 • Density440/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
2451
Area code07

Kawhia Harbour (Māori: Kāwhia) is one of three large natural inlets in the Tasman Sea coast of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located to the south of Raglan Harbour, Ruapuke and Aotea Harbour, 40 kilometres southwest of Hamilton. Kawhia is part of the Ōtorohanga District[3] and is in the King Country. It has a high-tide area of 68 km2 (26 sq mi) and a low-tide area of 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi).[4] Te Motu Island is located in the harbour.

The settlement of Kawhia is located on the northern coast of the inlet, and was an important port in early colonial New Zealand.[5] The area of Kawhia comprises 16 to 20 hectares (40 to 50 acres) and is the town block that was owned by the New Zealand Government. The government bought it from the Europeans in 1880 "not from the original Māori owners, but from a European who claimed ownership in payment of money owed by another European".[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "2006 Census data".
  4. ^ "Mapping residence times in west coast estuaries of the Waikato region". Waikato Regional Council. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Kawhia Harbour History". Retrieved 18 April 2016.