Medlands Beach is in Oruawharo Bay on the east coast of Great Barrier Island in the Auckland Region of New Zealand.[3] Auckland Council describes it as the most accessible beach on the island.[3] It is one of the island's main tourist areas but is little developed.[4] The small settlement of Medlands consists of permanent houses and holiday baches, some behind the dunes, sheltered from winds from the sea, and others elevated for a view.[3]
Medlands Beach | |
|---|---|
 Medlands Beach, seen from the Sugar Loaf hill | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 36°15′57″S 175°29′37″E / 36.2658°S 175.4937°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Auckland Region |
| Ward | Waitematā and Gulf ward |
| Local board | Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Auckland Council |
| • Mayor of Auckland | Wayne Brown |
| • Auckland Central MP | Chlöe Swarbrick |
| • Te Tai Tokerau MP | Mariameno Kapa-Kingi |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.04 km2 (2.33 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
• Total | 110 |
| • Density | 18/km2 (47/sq mi) |
Medlands Beach is directly south of Kaitoke Beach, with the Sugar Loaf hill and Pitokuku Island in-between. Sugar Loaf hill offers great views of the beach but is a privately owned farm with cattle and bulls and cannot be climbed without permission from the landowners - the Blackwells. Alternatively, good views of the beach are offered from the road connecting Medlands to Claris. The beach is a "sweep of white sand"[4] 2.1 kilometres long that can be walked both ways in 90 minutes. Halfway along the beach is Memory Rock, also called Medlands Rock, with a short informal walking track to the summit, where there are views across the bay.[3]
At the northern end of the beach is an exposed beach surf break[5] that offers reliable surfing conditions during most of the year.[4] At the south-eastern end of the beach is Shark Alley, a sheltered spot for swimming and launching boats. It has a small stream with several pāteke (brown teal ducks)[3] and a Department of Conservation campsite which can host up to 120 people from Christmas until mid-February.[6]
The settlement has Great Barrier Island's only traditional church building, St John's Community Church, which is used ecumenically.[7] Medlands has a number of accommodation providers, but no grocery stores or food retailers. It is a 4-kilometre drive from Great Barrier Aerodrome and Claris, which has a general store, a New Zealand Post shop, a petrol station and other facilities.[4]
Demographics
editStatistics New Zealand describes Medlands Beach as a rural settlement, which covers 6.04 km2 (2.33 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 110 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 18 people per km2. Medlands Beach is part of the larger Barrier Islands statistical area.[8]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 96 | — |
| 2013 | 87 | −1.40% |
| 2018 | 75 | −2.92% |
| 2023 | 105 | +6.96% |
| Source: [9][10] | ||
Medlands Beach had a population of 105 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (40.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 18 people (20.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 57 males and 45 females in 60 dwellings.[11] 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 58.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 6 people (5.7%) aged under 15 years, 12 (11.4%) aged 15 to 29, 48 (45.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 39 (37.1%) aged 65 or older.[10]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.4% European (Pākehā); 8.6% Māori; 2.9% Asian; and 2.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA). English was spoken by 97.1%, and other languages by 8.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 22.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 25.7% Christian, 2.9% Hindu, and 2.9% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.7%, and 5.7% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (18.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 48 (48.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 21 (21.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $31,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (6.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 24 (24.2%) people were employed full-time, 24 (24.2%) were part-time, and 3 (3.0%) were unemployed.[10]
Education
editKaitoke School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school[12] with a roll of 46 students as of August 2024.[13] The school was established in 1988, replacing an earlier Kaitoke School.[14]
Notable Residents
editJim Allen and Pamela Allen[15] - sculptor and child's book author.
References
edit- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Medlands Beach Path". aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Auckland Council.
- ^ a b c d Waters, Laura (8 September 2020). "Off-grid and slow travel adventures on Great Barrier Island". New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Media and Entertainment.
- ^ "Medlands Beach". greatbarrierisland.nz. Destination Great Barrier Island.
- ^ "Medlands Beach Campsite". doc.govt.nz. Department of Conservation.
- ^ "St John's Community Church, Great Barrier Island". Catholic Diocese Of Auckland. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ 2018 Census place summary: Barrier Islands
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7001134.
- ^ a b c "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Medlands Beach (1107). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Education Counts: Kaitoke School
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ "A Bit of History". Kaitoke School. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Great Barrier Island History". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 23 August 2023.