Whangarei
From Free net encyclopedia
| Whangarei | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image:Whangarei.png | ||
| Urban Area | Population | 48,300 |
| Extent | Hikurangi to Portland Te Hihi to airport | |
| Territorial Authority | Name | Whangarei District Council |
| Population | 72,200 | |
| Extent | Whangaruru to Waipu; west to Wheki Valley | |
| Regional Council | Name | Northland Regional Council |
| Population estimates are as at 30 June 2004 Source: Statistics New Zealand | ||
Whangarei (the initial consonant is often pronounced F as in fong-a-ray) is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although Whangarei is commonly classified as a city, officially it is under the jurisdiction of the Whangarei District Council, a local body created in 1989 to administer both the city proper and its hinterland.
Whangarei has a subtropical climate and very few frosts. Summers rarely exceed 30°C, and there is plentiful rainfall, spread relatively evenly over the whole year.
Whangarei District
Whangarei district includes the town of Hikurangi, and the suburbs of Kamo, Tikipunga, Whau Valley, Otangarei, Kensington, Regent, Maunu, Morningside, Raumanga, and Onerahi as well as a large amount of rural land, including beaches such as Ngunguru, game fishing mecca Tutukaka, and a variety of beaches along Whangarei Harbour.
The district extends as far south as Bream Bay, north towards the Cape Brett peninsula, and west almost to the Waipoua Forest. It also includes the Hen and Chicken Islands and the Poor Knights Islands.
Famous people from Whangarei
- The actor Caleb Ross is from Whangarei. He is most famous for playing Lex in the television series The Tribe.
- Country singer Keith Urban was born here, but was raised in Australia, and has made his name in the United States.
- Clinton Eruwera, best known for his role in What becomes of the broken hearted, the sequel to Once were Warriors. He played the character of Sonny.
- Ted Salmon, a field hockey player who represented New Zealand twice at the Summer Olympics: 1968 and 1972.
- Arthur Parkin, a field hockey player who won the golden medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
- Suzie Muirhead, a field hockey defender who competed in two Summer Olympics (2000 and 2004).
- Winston Peters, a Cabinet Minister was born here in 1945.
External link