Kensington, Whangārei

Suburb in Whangārei, New Zealand

Kensington

Suburb

Kensington Park Grandstand

Coordinates: 35°42′36″S 174°18′50″E﻿ / ﻿35.710°S 174.314°E﻿ / -35.710; 174.314
Country| New Zealand
City| Whangārei
Local authority| Whangarei District Council
Electoral ward| Whangārei Urban Ward
Area

[1]

• Land| 311 ha (768 acres)
Population

(June 2023)[2]

• Total| 3,410

| Whau Valley | Otangarei

|
|

Kensington

| Mairtown
| Woodhill | Regent

Kensington (Māori: Tawatawhiti) is a suburb of Whangārei, in Northland Region, New Zealand. It is about 2 kilometres north of the city centre. State Highway 1 runs through Kensington, The Western Hills form a boundary on the west, and Hātea River on the east.[3]

The area includes Whangarei Quarry Gardens,[4] a 24 hectare public garden set around an artificial lake.[5]

## History

[edit]

In 2018, Whangarei District Council completed improvements to the Kensington Avenue and Kamo Road intersection, following delays since 2014 in acquiring properties.[6]

In April 2020, Police investigated the death of a five-month-old baby at a home in Kensington.[7]

The following month, Police recovered a stolen vehicle with a baby inside from a property in Kensington.[8] The vehicle had been stolen from a nearby petrol station before being abandoned.[9]

A major storm struck Kensington in July 2018.[10] It caused extensive damage to the Whangarei Quarry Gardens,[4] and at least one home was evacuated.[10]

In August 2020, the first stage of a $15.5 million development opened in Kensington. The complex includes a medical centre, gym, physio, food outlets and an early childhood centre.[11] The property was owned by Northland Regional Council,[12] and was previously the site of a Woolworths and Countdown supermarket,[13] but had been vacant since 2014.[14]

## Demographics

[edit]

Kensington covers 3.11 km2 (1.20 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 3,410 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 1,096 people per km2.

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

2006| 3,201| —
2013| 3,012| −0.87%
2018| 3,240| +1.47%
Source: [15]
Lake at Whangarei Quarry Gardens Scene at Whangarei Quarry Gardens

Kensington had a population of 3,240 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 228 people (7.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 39 people (1.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,389 households, comprising 1,527 males and 1,713 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.89 males per female. The median age was 46.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 480 people (14.8%) aged under 15 years, 570 (17.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,443 (44.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 747 (23.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 75.3% European/Pākehā, 27.4% Māori, 4.3% Pacific peoples, 8.2% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 19.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 45.1% had no religion, 41.0% were Christian, 2.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.6% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.9% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 486 (17.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 588 (21.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 321 people (11.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,200 (43.5%) people were employed full-time, 378 (13.7%) were part-time, and 123 (4.5%) were unemployed.[15]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
2. ^ a b "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
3. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. map 24. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
4. ^ a b Pearse, Adam (22 July 2020). "Northland storm: Whangārei Quarry Gardens facing potential $100,000 bill". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Northern Advocate.
5. ^ "Whangarei Quarry Gardens". NZ Gardens Trust. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
6. ^ Lambly, Annette (24 October 2018). "New suburban retail and health centre for Kensington's old supermarket site". stuff.co.nz. Stuff Northland.
7. ^ Clent, Danielle (28 April 2020). "Death of 5-month-old baby in Northland investigated by police". stuff.co.nz.
8. ^ Ali, Imran (21 August 2020). "Whangārei carjacking second in just over three months". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Northern Advocate.
9. ^ Kronast, Hannah (6 May 2020). "Horrifying ordeal as baby taken in a vehicle stolen from Whangarei petrol station". MediaWorks New Zealand. Newshub.
10. ^ a b Williams, Caroline (18 July 2020). "'It will be extensive and expensive': Civil Defence surveys Northland's clean-up job after flooding and slips". stuff.co.nz.
11. ^ "$15.5m redevelopment of former Whangārei supermarket site opens first stage". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Northern Advocate. 11 August 2020.
12. ^ "Planned Whangarei medical and retail hub". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald. 5 December 2018.
13. ^ "Former Whangārei supermarket site gets $15.5m upgrade". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Northern Advocate. 28 August 2019.
14. ^ Laird, Lindy (29 September 2018). "Development of high profile Kensington site planned". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Northern Advocate.
15. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Kensington (Whangarei District) (106600). 2018 Census place summary: Kensington (Whangarei District)

* v
* t
* e

Whangarei District, New Zealand

Seat: Whangarei Central

Populated places|

| Hikurangi-Coastal|

* Glenbervie
* Hikurangi
* Hūkerenui
* Kauri
* Matapouri
* Matarau
* Ngunguru
* Ōakura
* Tutukaka
* Whakapara
* Whangaruru

|

Whangārei Heads|

* Bream Head
* Kiripaka
* McLeod Bay
* Ocean Beach
* Parua Bay
* Pataua
* Taiharuru
* Tamaterau
* Taurikura
* Urquharts Bay
* Waikaraka
* Whareora

Whangarei City|

* Avenues
* Horahora
* Te Kamo
* Kensington
* Mairtown
* Maunu
* Morningside
* Onerahi
* Otangarei
* Parahaki
* Port Whangārei
* Raumanga
* Regent
* Riverside
* Sherwood Rise
* Springs Flat
* Three Mile Bush
* Tikipunga
* Whangārei Central
* Whau Valley
* Woodhill

Mangakahia-Maungatapere|

* Kokopu
* Maungatapere
* Nukutawhiti
* Pakotai
* Parakao
* Pipiwai
* Poroti
* Purua
* Titoki

Bream Bay|

* Bream Bay
* Langs Beach
* Marsden Bay
* Marsden Point
* Maungakaramea
* One Tree Point
* Otaika
* Portland
* Ruakākā
* Tauraroa
* Waiotira
* Waipu
* Waipu Cove

Geographic features|

| Islands|

* Aorangaia Island
* Arakaninihi Island
* Hen and Chicken Islands
* Motu Matakohe
* Poor Knights Islands

|

Lake|

* Ora

Landforms|

* Bream Head
* Hurupaki Mountain
* Mount Manaia
* Whangārei Harbour

Facilities and attractions|

* Cobham Oval
* Hundertwasser Art Centre
* International Rally of Whangarei
* Mair Park
* Marsden Point Railway Branch
* Okara Park
* Onerahi Railway Branch
* Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve
* Whangārei Falls
* Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve

Government|

* District Council
* Mayor
* Northland Regional Council

Organisations|

* Marsden Point Oil Refinery

Sport|

* Hora Hora (rugby union)
* North Force (association football)
* Northland Nightmares (roller derby)

*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate
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