Parakai
Encyclopedia
Parakai is a township in the North Island
of New Zealand
. It is sited 43 kilometres northwest of Auckland
, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour
. Helensville
is about 3 km to the south-east, and Waioneke
is 22 km to the north-west.
The population of Parakai and its surrounds was 1,371 in the 2006 Census
, an increase of 189 from 2001.
Parakai is noted for its hot spring
s with geothermal mineral water
occurring naturally. There is a complex of mineral pools and recreational activities.
The main population of Parakai sits in the vicinity of Parkhurst Rd, the main road leading out to South Head. South Head incorporates a significant agricultural, dairy farming, sheep farming and deer farming community. Closer to the town centre is the Fordyce farming community which is mostly agricultural.
The small Maori village situated at Haranui Marae is about 25 km from Parakai and is an integral part of the Parakai community.
A major attraction of Parakai is West Auckland Airport
, which has a 7m x 880m runway, of which 760m is sealed. Hangarage, maintenance, fuel and other services are available to visiting or local aviators and Skydiving draws people from all over the greater Auckland area. A wide range of light aviation activity has been carried out from the airport since the 1960s and it is available for General Aviation
use.
Parakai Rugby Club existed between 1918 and 1937 before amalgamating with the Helensville Rugby club in 1943.
In the early 1900s a small milk processing factory known as Ambury and English's Creamery existed in Parakai at the corner of Fordyce road and the main road to South Head.
of 3 and a roll of 181. The school opened in 1958, and celebrates its 50th jubilee in 2008. A major programme of rebuilding in 2002-2004 has seen the school totally modernised.
The Parakai School community catchment area reaches from the immediate flats surrounding the Kaipara River
and up the South Kaipara Heads Peninsula.
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is sited 43 kilometres northwest of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour is a large enclosed harbour estuary complex on the north western side of the North Island of New Zealand. The northern part of the harbour is administered by the Kaipara District and the southern part is administered by the Rodney District...
. Helensville
Helensville, New Zealand
Helensville is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is sited 40 kilometres northwest of Auckland, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour. State Highway 16 passes through the town, connecting it to Waimauku 16 km to the south, and Kaukapakapa about 12 km to the...
is about 3 km to the south-east, and Waioneke
Waioneke
Waioneke is a locality on the South Head peninsula of the Kaipara Harbour, in the Rodney District of New Zealand. Parakai is 22 km to the south-east, and the road continues another 14 km to the north-west...
is 22 km to the north-west.
The population of Parakai and its surrounds was 1,371 in the 2006 Census
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
, an increase of 189 from 2001.
Parakai is noted for its hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
s with geothermal mineral water
Mineral water
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
occurring naturally. There is a complex of mineral pools and recreational activities.
The main population of Parakai sits in the vicinity of Parkhurst Rd, the main road leading out to South Head. South Head incorporates a significant agricultural, dairy farming, sheep farming and deer farming community. Closer to the town centre is the Fordyce farming community which is mostly agricultural.
The small Maori village situated at Haranui Marae is about 25 km from Parakai and is an integral part of the Parakai community.
A major attraction of Parakai is West Auckland Airport
West Auckland Airport
West Auckland Airport Parakai West Auckland Airport is a general aviation airfield on the North Western edge of Auckland, New Zealand, within the Auckland City Local body area...
, which has a 7m x 880m runway, of which 760m is sealed. Hangarage, maintenance, fuel and other services are available to visiting or local aviators and Skydiving draws people from all over the greater Auckland area. A wide range of light aviation activity has been carried out from the airport since the 1960s and it is available for General Aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
use.
Parakai Rugby Club existed between 1918 and 1937 before amalgamating with the Helensville Rugby club in 1943.
In the early 1900s a small milk processing factory known as Ambury and English's Creamery existed in Parakai at the corner of Fordyce road and the main road to South Head.
Education
Parakai School is a coeducational full primary school catering for years 1-8, with a decile ratingSocio-Economic Decile
Decile, Socio-Economic Decile or Socio-Economic Decile Band is a widely used measure in education in New Zealand used to target funding and support to more needy schools....
of 3 and a roll of 181. The school opened in 1958, and celebrates its 50th jubilee in 2008. A major programme of rebuilding in 2002-2004 has seen the school totally modernised.
The Parakai School community catchment area reaches from the immediate flats surrounding the Kaipara River
Kaipara River
The Kaipara River drains the area to the northwest of Auckland, New Zealand. It flows north from the northern foothills of the Waitakere Ranges, meandering past the town of Helensville...
and up the South Kaipara Heads Peninsula.