Ngunguru
Encyclopedia
Ngunguru is a coastal settlement in Northland, New Zealand
. Whangarei
is 26 km to the south west. The Ngunguru River flows between the settlement and a long low sandspit into Ngunguru Bay, which stretches southwards. North of Ngunguru are Tutukaka and Matapouri
The population was 1425 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 138 from 2001.
Ngunguru means "rumbling tides" in the Māori language
.
Tūnui-ā-rangi
, which brought Ngāi Tāhuhu to New Zealand according to traditional accounts, visited Ngunguru on its way from the Bay of Islands
to Whangarei. The area was named by Puhi, captain of another waka, Mataatua
.
In pre-European times, there was a substantial Māori population in the area. The Ngunguru sandspit was the scene of a battle between southern tribes and Te Waiariki in 1838.
The first chart of "Nongodo" was drawn by Captain N. C. Phillips of the HMS Buffalo
in 1836. James Busby
, Gilbert Mair
and W. J. Lewington bought 40000 acres (16,187.4 ha) at Ngunguru in 1840, although the government disputed the sale for the next 30 years and attempted to buy the land itself from the original Māori owners. They established one of the earliest sawmills in the country at Ngunguru in 1840 to take advantage of the abundant kauri
timber. It was water-powered. The mill failed financially in 1844, but others succeeded in the industry and Ngunguru exported timber and especially roofing shingles for many years.
The Melanesian Mission ship Southern Cross
was wrecked in Ngunguru Bay in 1860.
A bullock track was built to Whangarei in the 1860s. In 1892, coal was discovered at Kiripaka, at the headwaters of the Ngunguru River. 620000 long ton were mined until 1921.
The beach settlement developed after roading was improved in the 1950s. An attempt to sell the Ngunguru sandspit for property development in 2005 attracted considerable local opposition, and no buyers. In August 2011 the government purchased the spit from the Todd Property Group. The Department of Conservation will administer the reserve, which is one of a small number of sand spits that are relatively intact from an ecological perspective. Four separate assessments have ranked the spit as nationally significant
of 7 and a roll of 196. The school celebrated its centennial in 1970.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
is 26 km to the south west. The Ngunguru River flows between the settlement and a long low sandspit into Ngunguru Bay, which stretches southwards. North of Ngunguru are Tutukaka and Matapouri
The population was 1425 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 138 from 2001.
Ngunguru means "rumbling tides" in the Māori language
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
.
History
The wakaWaka (canoe)
Waka are Māori watercraft, usually canoes ranging in size from small, unornamented canoes used for fishing and river travel, to large decorated war canoes up to long...
Tūnui-ā-rangi
Tunui-a-rangi
In Māori tradition, Tūnui-ā-rangi was one of the great ocean-going, voyaging canoes that was used in the migrations that settled New Zealand. The waka is linked to the Ngāi Tāhuhu iwi from the Auckland and Northland regions....
, which brought Ngāi Tāhuhu to New Zealand according to traditional accounts, visited Ngunguru on its way from the Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, it is close to the northern tip of the country....
to Whangarei. The area was named by Puhi, captain of another waka, Mataatua
Mataatua
In Māori tradition, Mataatua was one of the great voyaging canoes by which Polynesians migrated to New Zealand. Māori traditions say that the Mataatua was initially sent from Hawaiki to bring supplies of kūmara to Māori settlements in New Zealand...
.
In pre-European times, there was a substantial Māori population in the area. The Ngunguru sandspit was the scene of a battle between southern tribes and Te Waiariki in 1838.
The first chart of "Nongodo" was drawn by Captain N. C. Phillips of the HMS Buffalo
HMS Buffalo (1813)
HMS Buffalo was a storeship of the Royal Navy, originally built in India as the merchant vessel Hindostan. She later served as a convict ship and as transport for immigrants to Australia before being wrecked in 1840.-Launch and purchase:...
in 1836. James Busby
James Busby
James Busby is widely regarded as the "father" of the Australian wine industry, as he took the first collection of vine stock from Spain and France to Australia. Later he become a British Resident who traveled to New Zealand, involved in the drafting of the Declaration of the Independence of New...
, Gilbert Mair
Gilbert Mair (trader)
Gilbert Mair was a sailor and a merchant trader who visited New Zealand for the first time when he was twenty, and lived there from 1824 till his death. He married Elizabeth Gilbert Puckey. They had twelve children. Among them were "famous New Zealanders" like Captain Gilbert Mair and Major...
and W. J. Lewington bought 40000 acres (16,187.4 ha) at Ngunguru in 1840, although the government disputed the sale for the next 30 years and attempted to buy the land itself from the original Māori owners. They established one of the earliest sawmills in the country at Ngunguru in 1840 to take advantage of the abundant kauri
Agathis australis
Agathis australis, commonly known as the kauri, is a coniferous tree found north of 38°S in the northern districts of New Zealand's North Island. It is the largest but not tallest species of tree in New Zealand, standing up to 50 m tall in the emergent layer above the forest's main canopy. The...
timber. It was water-powered. The mill failed financially in 1844, but others succeeded in the industry and Ngunguru exported timber and especially roofing shingles for many years.
The Melanesian Mission ship Southern Cross
Southern Cross (ship)
Southern Cross has been the name of a succession of ships serving the Melanesian Mission of the Anglican Church and the Church of the Province of Melanesia. She succeeded the Undine, a 21-ton schooner built at Auckland and in service from 1849 to 1857...
was wrecked in Ngunguru Bay in 1860.
A bullock track was built to Whangarei in the 1860s. In 1892, coal was discovered at Kiripaka, at the headwaters of the Ngunguru River. 620000 long ton were mined until 1921.
The beach settlement developed after roading was improved in the 1950s. An attempt to sell the Ngunguru sandspit for property development in 2005 attracted considerable local opposition, and no buyers. In August 2011 the government purchased the spit from the Todd Property Group. The Department of Conservation will administer the reserve, which is one of a small number of sand spits that are relatively intact from an ecological perspective. Four separate assessments have ranked the spit as nationally significant
Education
Ngunguru School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile ratingSocio-Economic Decile
Decile, Socio-Economic Decile or Socio-Economic Decile Band is a widely used measure in education in New Zealand used to target funding and support to more needy schools....
of 7 and a roll of 196. The school celebrated its centennial in 1970.