Red Beach, New Zealand Explained

Red Beach
Caption1:Red Beach in 2010
City1:Auckland
Ward:Albany ward
Area:431
Postcode:0932
Map:
Coordinates:-36.606°N 174.698°W
Council:Auckland Council
Board:Hibiscus and Bays

Red Beach is a suburb surrounding the beach of the same name on the Hibiscus Coast, Auckland, New Zealand, at the base of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. The suburb of Silverdale is to the south-west, and Orewa to the north.

Geography

The beach is on the Hauraki Gulf and the suburb is bounded by two estuaries, that of the Weiti River to the south and the Orewa River to the north. The beach is named for its reddish colour.[1] The sand is light brownish-grey in colour and its "red" colour is due to fragments of dark orange-brown, iron-stained, fossil shell. The majority of the iron-stained shells consists of highly fragmented bivalve shells, which are less than 2cm (01inches) across.[1] [2]

The Hibiscus Coast Highway runs through the suburb. This was previously State Highway 1[3] and then State Highway 17. The majority of highway traffic now travels along the Northern Motorway inland instead, as the motorway was redesignated as State Highway 1 when an extension was completed in 2009. All road access to the rest of Whangaparaoa Peninsula runs through the suburb.

History

Red Beach was named after the red shells found along the beach.[4]

The 44 hectare Peninsula Golf Course, established in 1956, was rezoned for residential development in 2013, despite local opposition[5] and Fletcher Living gained resource consent to build 520 houses on the site in December 2014.[6]

Demographics

Red Beach covers 4.31km2[7] and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Red Beach had a population of 8,346 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 795 people (10.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,923 people (29.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,027 households, comprising 3,975 males and 4,374 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.91 males per female, with 1,548 people (18.5%) aged under 15 years, 1,368 (16.4%) aged 15 to 29, 3,531 (42.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,908 (22.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.9% European/Pākehā, 7.5% Māori, 2.5% Pacific peoples, 7.3% Asian, and 2.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 29.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.5% had no religion, 42.6% were Christian, 0.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,554 (22.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 990 (14.6%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,488 people (21.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,177 (46.7%) people were employed full-time, 1,095 (16.1%) were part-time, and 174 (2.6%) were unemployed.

Individual statistical areas
Name Area (km2) Population Density (per km2) Households !Median age Median income
Kingsway 0.90 2,187 2,430 705 37.8 years $40,100
Red Beach West 1.84 2,136 1,161 789 50.3 years $25,100
Red Beach East 1.56 4,023 2,579 1,533 44.9 years $36,300
New Zealand 37.4 years $31,800

Landmarks and attractions

Popular attractions include:

Annual events

Education

Red Beach School is a contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of students. The school opened in 1989 covering years 1–8, but reduced its age range when Hibiscus Coast Intermediate opened in 1997 (the intermediate later became part of Whangaparaoa College).[8]

KingsWay School is a state integrated composite (years 1–13) school with a roll of students.[9] The school provides a non-denominational Christian-based education.[10]

Both schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of

External links

Notes and References

  1. Hayward, B.W., 2020. Mountains, volcanoes, coasts and caves: origins of Aotearoa New Zealand’s natural wonders Auckland, New Zealand, Auckland University Press. 384 pp.
  2. Hayward, B.W., 2023. Red Beach - What's in a name? Geocene. 32, pp. 16-17.
  3. Book: Reed New Zealand Atlas . 2004 . 0-7900-0952-8 . Peter Dowling . Reed Books. map 11.
  4. Book: Grover, Robin . Why the Hibiscus? Place Names of the Hibiscus Coast. 2008 . 978-0-473-13484-6 . Silverdale Printing . 27.
  5. News: 500-house development at Red Beach tees off locals. The Aucklander. 3 February 2012.
  6. News: Red Beach residential development moving. Rodney Times. 28 September 2015. Caralise. Trayes.
  7. Web site: ArcGIS Web Application. 23 December 2023. statsnz.maps.arcgis.com.
  8. Web site: About Our School – General Information. Red Beach School. 26 August 2008.
  9. Web site: Kingsway School - 08/11/2017. Education Review Office. en-NZ. 2019-07-19.
  10. Web site: Education Review Report – KingsWay School . April 2006 . Education Review Office . 26 August 2008 .