Shelly Beach, New Zealand

Shelly Beach, officially known as Aotea / Shelly Beach, is a settlement and beach located on the eastern side of Te Korowai-o-Te-Tonga Peninsula and the southwest side of Kaipara Harbour, North Auckland. In 2018, a seawall and five groynes were constructed to fight erosion.

History

The traditional Tāmaki Māori name for the area, Te Aukahanga o Aotea, recalls the visit of the Aotea migratory waka before the crew left for the south.
In 1884, a Ngāti Whātua parliament was held at Aotea / Shelly Beach, chaired by Paora Tūhaere.

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Shelly Beach as a rural settlement, which covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km². Shelly Beach is part of the larger South Head statistical area.
Shelly Beach had a population of 273 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 42 people since the 2013 census. There were 138 males and 138 females in 105 dwellings. 2.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 48.7 years. There were 51 people aged under 15 years, 24 aged 15 to 29, 144 aged 30 to 64, and 57 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.0% European ; 17.6% Māori; 6.6% Pasifika; 2.2% Asian; and 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders. English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori language by 2.2%, Samoan by 1.1%, and other languages by 7.7%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 17.6% Christian, 1.1% Islam, 1.1% Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% Buddhist, and 1.1% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 67.0%, and 12.1% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 18 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 138 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 66 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 30 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 108 people were employed full-time, 30 were part-time, and 6 were unemployed.