Our Patch – Kaiwaka: Locals talking

What makes Kaiwaka a great place to live?

Derek Christensen
“It’s small, it’s relaxed, it’s got beautiful surroundings with beaches nearby and native bush. We have good people in Kaiwaka, people that have been here a long time and put a huge amount of work into the community. It is changing. We are getting more people from Auckland who are working from home or commute part time. We also have people buying investment properties to rent out.”

Lee-Ann Hamilton
“It’s a perfect location. I run a business from home, I’m five minutes to the courier, 10 minutes to the medical centre, 20 minutes to the best surf beach, and 45 minutes to Whangarei. It’s got everything you need, but you feel like you’re 100 miles away in a beautiful rural area. We have a lifestyle block and our neighbour is a dairy farmer – we move cows around and he helps out when we don’t know what we are doing. People here help each other out.”

Mike Hay
“I live just out of Kaiwaka in a rural area. I love the kauri forests and the nearness to the beaches. There is a very strong sense of community here. Everybody realises that if you don’t get involved, you become isolated. I moved here from Palmerston North four years ago to be closer to my grand-children who are in Auckland.”

Bianca Hartley
“Kaiwaka is amazing for its cultural and lifestyle diversity. There is a very boutique feel about the whole township. I moved here from Auckland for those reasons. I liken our community to one large family – we may be spread out, but we are a close community. Kaiwaka is on one of the narrowest land strips in the country so we get to go to the east or west coast.”