Hicks Bay

Hicks Bay or Wharekahika is a bay and coastal area in the Gisborne District of the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated 150 km east of Ōpōtiki and 186 km north of Gisborne city, along State Highway 35 between Potaka and Te Araroa.
The area is named after Zachary Hickes, second-in-command of James Cook's Endeavour, which sailed along the East Cape on 31 October 1769. On 10 June 2019, the name of the bay was officially changed to Wharekahika / Hicks Bay.

Demographics

Stats NZ describes Hicks Bay as a rural settlement, which covers. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km². It is part of the larger East Cape statistical area.
Hicks Bay had a population of 186 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 33 people since the 2013 census. There were 90 males, 93 females, and 3 people of other genders in 48 dwellings. 1.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 25.7 years. There were 60 people aged under 15 years, 39 aged 15 to 29, 63 aged 30 to 64, and 21 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 19.4% European, 95.2% Māori, 3.2% Pasifika, 1.6% Asian, and 3.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.5%, Māori by 38.7%, and other languages by 3.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 3.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 27.4% Christian, 3.2% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.9%, and 3.2% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 12 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 63 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 48 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $23,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 48 full-time, 15 part-time, and 3 unemployed.

Climate

Marae

The local Hinemaurea ki Wharekahika Marae is a meeting place for the Ngāti Porou hapū of Ngāti Tuere, Te Whānau a Te Aotakī and Te Whānau a Tuwhakairiora. It includes the Tūwhakairiora meeting house.
In October 2020, the Government committed $520,760 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Hinemaurea ki Wharekahika Marae and Pōtaka Marae, creating 12 jobs.

Education

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti is a Year 1–13 Māori language immersion school. It had a roll of as of The school opened in 2006.
Wharekahika Native School opened in 1887 and became part of the main school system in 1967. It closed in 2004.
Matakaoa, north of Hicks Bay, had a school from 1921 to 1939.