- Rodney District
- The Rodney District of New Zealand is the northernmost area in
Rodney District Name Rodney District Population 89,562 (2006 census) Land area 2,427.01 km² (937.07 sq mi) Extent Muriwai to Hibiscus Coast;
south to HelensvilleNew Zealand 'sAuckland Region , created in1989 from the amalgamation of Helensville Borough and Rodney County. The seat of the district council is atOrewa , and the district includes Kawau Island to the north. The district is led by mayor Penny Webster and 12 councillors.Rodney stretches from the spectacular black volcanic sand beaches of
Muriwai in the west to the holiday resorts of the Hibiscus Coast in the east. The area includes a number ofregional park s or areas of special interest. On the eastern tip of theWhangaparaoa Peninsula is the Shakespear Regional Park, while north of Orewa are Wenderholm Regional Park and Mahurangi Regional Park. Goat Island Marine Reserve, also known as the Cape Rodney to Okakari Point marine reserve, was New Zealand's firstmarine reserve , officially opened in1977 . It covers a coastline of about 5 km, extends out in sea by 800 m, and encompasses 5 km², inside which area all marine life is protected.Towns in the south of the district are becoming dormitory districts for Auckland, which is now accessible largely by motorway, although they retain their origins and character as holiday resorts. Further north, communities are more rural. Some have become famous for particular activities such as
Puhoi and its cheese factory, orWaiwera and its geothermal hot pools. Warkworth is a good base to explore theKowhai Coast , which includes historic Kawau Island, the home of New Zealand's former Governor Sir George Grey, where Mansion House is now a museum.The dominant feature of the western side of Rodney is
Kaipara Harbour , the largest enclosed harbour in theSouthern Hemisphere , with a perimeter of about 3,000 km. The area was once famous for itskauri timber mills.Kumeu,
Matakana , andHuapai are becoming well known for their wineries, a number of which provide sampling, cellar-door sales, and restaurants.The district is divided into three wards, each containing a number of towns and settlements:
* "Western Ward:" Helensville, Kumeu, andKaipara Harbour .
* "Eastern Ward (Hibiscus Coast):"Gulf Harbour ,Whangaparaoa Peninsula , and Orewa.
* "Northern Ward:" Warkworth and Wellsford.ee also
*
List of regions in New Zealand
*Territorial Authorities of New Zealand .External links
* [http://www.rodney.govt.nz/ The district council's site]
* [http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/web/CommProfiles.nsf/FindInfobyArea/004-ta Statistics NZ's 2001 Census results for Rodney]
* [http://www.seafriends.org.nz/issues/res/gi/ Information about Goat Island Marine Reserve]
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