Hihi or Hihi Beach is a village and rural community in the Far North District and Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island.[3]

Hihi
Coordinates: 34.973473°S 173.541525°E / -34.973473; 173.541525
Country	New Zealand
Region	Northland Region
District	Far North District
Ward	Te Hiku
Government
• Territorial Authority	Far North District Council
• Regional council	Northland Regional Council
Area [1]
• Total	1.43 km2 (0.55 sq mi)
Population  (2018 Census)[2]
• Total	171
• Density	120/km2 (310/sq mi)

The local Waitetoki Marae is a meeting place for the local Ngāti Kahu hapū of Ngāti Ruaiti.[4] Unlike many other marae, it does not have a meeting house.[5]

Hihi was visited by an American whaling ship in 1792.[6] It became a whaling centre between the 1820s and 1850s.[7]

Butler Point Whaling Museum, located in the village, includes artefacts from American and European whalers, and from Ngāti Kahu.[8]

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Hihi as a rural settlement. It covers 1.43 km² (0.55 sq mi).[1] Hihi is part of the larger Taemaro-Oruaiti statistical area.[9]

Hihi had a population of 171 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (9.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 3 people (1.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 63 households, comprising 93 males and 78 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.19 males per female. The median age was 57.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 21 people (12.3%) aged under 15 years, 18 (10.5%) aged 15 to 29, 81 (47.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 54 (31.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 75.4% European/Pākehā, 40.4% Māori, 1.8% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Of those people who chose to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.4% had no religion, 36.8% were Christian, 1.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.8% were Buddhist and 3.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (8.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 48 (32.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $21,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 9 people (6.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 42 (28.0%) people were employed full-time, 15 (10.0%) were part-time, and 9 (6.0%) were unemployed.[2]

References