Leigh, New Zealand
Leigh is a coastal village in the north of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It lies on the west side of Omaha Cove, a small inlet within Ōmaha Bay to the south of Cape Rodney. It is 13 km from Matakana, 21 km from Warkworth.
Leigh is the nearest town to Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve surrounding Te Hāwere-a-Maki / Goat Island. The reserve, the first of its type in New Zealand, is also the location for the University of Auckland's Marine Laboratory.
Geography
Leigh is located in Rodney in the northeastern Auckland Region, northeast of Whangateau Harbour, near Cape Rodney and Goat Island. Two bays border the township: Mathesons Bay to the west, and Omaha Cove to the east.The Kohuroa Stream flows to the west of Leigh township, reaching Mathesons Bay. A series of cascades, the Kohuroa Stream Waterfalls, are found along the stream, accessible by the Matheson Bay Bush Walk.
Climate
History
In 1954 Leigh was made a county town of Rodney County.St Michael and All Angels Church, A Gothic Revival Anglican church, was constructed in 1915 and opened on October 29 the same year. The church is registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand.
Demographics
Statistics New Zealand describes Leigh as a rural settlement, which covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Leigh is part of the larger Cape Rodney statistical area.Leigh had a population of 600 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 30 people since the 2013 census. There were 300 males, 297 females and 3 people of other genders in 273 dwellings. 3.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 54.8 years. There were 78 people aged under 15 years, 63 aged 15 to 29, 264 aged 30 to 64, and 195 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.5% European ; 16.0% Māori; 4.0% Pasifika; 2.5% Asian; 1.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 3.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.0%, Māori language by 2.5%, and other languages by 11.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 23.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 22.0% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 0.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 66.0%, and 7.5% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 111 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 273 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 111 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $38,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 57 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 222 people were employed full-time, 90 were part-time, and 9 were unemployed.
Cape Rodney statistical area
Cape Rodney statistical area, which also includes Ti Point and Whangateau, stretches north to the border with Kaipara District and west almost to Wellsford. It covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.Cape Rodney had a population of 3,735 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 210 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 639 people since the 2013 census. There were 1,881 males, 1,842 females and 12 people of other genders in 1,446 dwellings. 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 48.6 years. There were 621 people aged under 15 years, 477 aged 15 to 29, 1,764 aged 30 to 64, and 873 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.0% European ; 16.9% Māori; 4.0% Pasifika; 2.2% Asian; 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 2.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori language by 2.6%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 7.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.6%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 25.9% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 1.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.6%, and 7.7% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 546 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,722 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 672 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $38,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 339 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,440 people were employed full-time, 606 were part-time, and 45 were unemployed.
Recreation
The Leigh district provides several venues for rugby, golf, touch rugby, football and other sports. The Rodney district's rugby team, the "Rodney Rams", is based at Whangateau with clubrooms at Whangateau Reserve. The reserve is also used for local touch rugby tournaments.There are a number of beaches close to Leigh including Te Hāwere-a-Maki / Goat Island, Mathesons Bay, Whangateau, Pākiri and Ōmaha. There are also numerous fishing spots and seafood hunting areas. Goat Island Marine Reserve provides several organised features including scenic marine observations, glass-bottom boat trips and scuba-diving; fishing is strictly prohibited.
"Daniel's Reef" is the most well known surfing spot in the Leigh area.
The Leigh Carnival is a fundraiser for the school and is held every Easter Sunday on the Leigh School field. The Leigh Volunteer Fire Brigade hosts an annual fishing competition.
Media
The Leigh community newspaper is the Leigh Rag.The Mahurangi Matters and Rodney Times newspapers are also delivered in the area.
Marae
The local Ōmaha Marae is a traditional meeting ground for Ngāti Manuhiri, and its associated iwi of Ngātiwai. It includes Te Kiri meeting house.Education
Leigh School is the local primary school. It is a coeducational contributing primary school with a roll of students as of The school was established in 1874. The adjacent Leigh Community Preschool accepts children from age 6 months to 5 years. The two schools work together to provide a seamless, minimally stressful transition for children entering school. A number of children living in Leigh attend the much larger Matakana Primary, 10 km distant. Homeschooling is also popular in the Leigh area.High school students are served by Mahurangi College in Warkworth and Rodney College in Wellsford. There are no intermediate schools in the Greater Warkworth District, therefore The Ministry of Education has referred intermediate students to the nearby colleges.