Riverhead, New Zealand

Infobox Settlement
name = Riverhead
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = New Zealand
subdivision_type1= Region
subdivision_name1= Auckland Region
subdivision_type2= District
subdivision_name2= Rodney District
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = top
latd = 36
latm = 45
lats = 31
latNS = S
longd = 174
longm = 35
longs = 32
longEW = E

Riverhead is a small, historically predominantly working-class town located at the head of the Waitemata Harbour, in the north-west of Auckland, New Zealand. The region around Riverhead and the neighbouring towns of Kumeu and Huapai is known for its vineyards.

Riverhead was briefly a railway terminus in the 19th century, located at the eastern end of the isolated Kumeu-Riverhead Section. The line operated from 1875 and 1881 as a link from Auckland to regions north, with Riverhead acting as the transition point from ferry to railway. When the North Auckland Line connected Kumeu with Auckland via rail in 1881, the coastal shipping became unnecessary, and with no reason to continue operating, the railway to Riverhead was closed.

The region features a pine plantation forest that is popular with walkers, horse riders (http://bridleways.googlepages.com/riverhead), mountain cyclists (http://www.wcrc.co.nz) and motor cyclists (http://www.waitematamcc.co.nz). Riverhead Forest is operated by Matariki Forests, under Crown Licence. The forest was originally planted on poor kauri gum fields.

Education

Riverhead School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 8 and a roll of 252. [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1464|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Riverhead School|publisher=Ministry of Education] The school was built in 1872, and substantially rebuilt in 1960. [cite web|url=http://www.riverhead.school.nz/index.php?page=2|title=The Riverhead School History Page|publisher=Riverhead School|accessdate=2008-09-13]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.riverhead.school.nz/ Riverhead School website]