Kaukapakapa

Infobox Settlement
name = Kaukapakapa
population_total = 2979
population_as_of = 2006
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 = 36
lats = 58
latNS = S
longd = 174
longm = 29
longs = 29
longEW = E

Kaukapakapa is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated in the Rodney district and is around 50 kilometres northwest of Auckland. State Highway 16 passes through the town, connecting it to Helensville about 12 km to the south-west, and Araparera about 14 km to the north. The North Auckland Line also passes through Kaukapakapa. The Kaukapakapa River flows from the town to the Kaipara Harbour to the west. [cite book|title=Reed New Zealand Atlas|year=2004|isbn=0-7900-0952-8|author=Peter Dowling (editor)|publisher=Reed Books|pages=map 11] [cite book|title=The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand|year=2005|isbn=1-877333-20-4|author=Roger Smith, GeographX|publisher=Robbie Burton|pages=map 34]

"Kaukapakapa" is a Māori name meaning "to swim with much splashing" [Reed, A.W. (1996) "The Reed Dictionary of Mǎori Place Names: Te Papakupu Ingoa Wǎhi Mǎori a Reed" (3rd ed.) Reed Books: Auckland, New Zealand] The town is commonly known to the locals in its shortened form "Kaukap".Pronounced Cow-Cop-ah-Cop-ah, Or correctly Koh-Cup-a-Cup-a.

The population of Kaukapakapa and the surrounding district was 2,979 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 711 from 2001. [cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/census/2006-census-data/final-counts/auckland-region.htm|title=Final counts – census night and census usually resident populations, and occupied dwellings - Rodney District|publisher=Statistics New Zealand]

History

European settlement of the area began in 1860 when the Government bought land from local Māori. [cite book|title=Tall Spars, Steamers & Gum|last=Ryburn|first=Wayne|year=1999|isbn=0-473-06176-7|pages=p 25] Small number of settlers arrived from England and Scotland, and a Methodist church was built in 1872. A monthly boat service operated between Kaukapakapa and the northern Kaipara from 1863. [Ryburn, p 30] The population of the area was 311 in 1881. The town developed split between the northern and southern banks of the river. Although roads connected the town to Riverhead, Tauhoa and Helensville by the early 1880s, they were of poor quality, and most access was by the river. [Ryburn, pp 49-50, 86-87, 89] The roads were still mostly unmetalled in 1920. [Ryburn, pp 187-188]

The kauri timber industry was responsible for developing the area, with logs floated down the Kaukapakapa River to the Kaipara Harbour, where they were loaded onto ships for export. Gum-digging (beginning in 1873-74 and continuing until at least 1914) [Ryburn, pp 42, 201] and flax processing (in the 1880s) [Ryburn, p 139] were also significant early industries. A shipyard operated from 1864 and into the 1880s. [Ryburn, pp 43-44, 138]

The North Auckland railway line reached Kaukapakapa in 1889. [Ryburn, pp 83-84] A creamery was built next to the railway station to service the developing dairy industry. [Ryburn, p 62] [cite web|url=http://www.helensvillemuseum.org.nz/districts/kaukapakapa.htm|title=Kaukapakapa|publisher=Helensville Museum|accessdate=2008-09-06]

Genesis Energy has proposed to build a gas-fired power station at Kaukapakapa. The proposal is opposed by the Kaukapakapa Residents & Ratepayers Association and Kaipara Forest and Bird. [cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10528336|title=Parties warming up on power station hearing|publisher=The New Zealand Herald|date=22 August 2008|last=Thompson|first=Wayne]

Education

Kaukapakapa School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 8 and a roll of 263. [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1326|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Kaukapakapa School|publisher=Ministry of Education] The school celebrated its 125th reunion in 1998. [cite journal|url=http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/notices.php/notices.php?action=view&id=52703|title=Jubilees & reunions - Kaukapakapa School|journal=Education Gazette New Zealand|volume=77|issue=13|date=3 August 1998]

Famous people from Kaukapakapa

* Tony Woodcock - Current All Black prop
* Clint Brown - former TV3 News Anchor
* Grant Kirby - ONE Auckland Chairman

References