Whangārei is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the largest settlement of the Northland Region. It is part of the Whangarei District, created in 1989 from the former Whangarei City, Whangarei County and Hikurangi Town councils to administer both the city and its hinterland. The city population was estimated to be 56,100 in June 2025, an increase from 47,000 in 2001.
Northland (Māori: Te Tai Tokerau), officially the Northland Region, is the northernmost of New Zealand's 16 local government regions. The region is known for its warm weather. The major population centre is the city of Whangārei, and the largest town is Kerikeri. At the 2018 New Zealand census, Northland recorded a population growth spurt of 18.1% since the previous 2013 census, placing it as the fastest growing region in New Zealand, ahead of other strong growth regions such as the Bay of Plenty Region (2nd with 15%) and Waikato (3rd with 13.5%).
The North Island (Māori: Te Ika-a-Māui [tɛ i.kɐ ɐ mɑː.ʉ.i], lit. 'the fish of Māui', historically New Ulster) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of 113,729 km (43,911 sq mi), it is the world's 14th-largest island, constituting 43% of New Zealand's land area. It has a population of 4,067,400 (June 2025), which is 76% of New Zealand's residents, making it the most populous island in Polynesia and the 28th-most-populous island in the world.
Twelve main urban areas are in the North Island. From north to south, they are Whangārei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Hastings, Whanganui, Palmerston North, and New Zealand's capital city Wellington, which is located at the south-west tip of the island.
Ngāpuhi (also known as Ngāpuhi-Nui-Tonu or Ngā Puhi) is a Māori iwi associated with the Northland regions of New Zealand centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands, and Whangārei.
According to the 2023 New Zealand census, the estimated population of Ngāpuhi is 184,470. This compares to 125,601 in 2001, 102,981 in 2006, 122,214 in 2013. and 165,201 in 2018. It is formed from 150 hapū or subtribes, with 55 marae.
Waitangi is a locality on the north side of the Waitangi River in the Bay of Islands, 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of Whangārei, on the North Island of New Zealand. Here, two documents pivotal to New Zealand history were signed: the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand, on 28 October 1835, and the Treaty of Waitangi, on 6 February 1840.
Waitangi is close to the town of Paihia, to which it is connected by a bridge near the mouth of the Waitangi River estuary. While Statistics New Zealand and NZ Post consider the southern boundary of Waitangi to be the river and estuary, with the area further south being part of Paihia, the area by Te Tī Bay, immediately south of the river, is sometimes referred to as part of Waitangi.
The Bay of Islands (Māori: Te Pēwhairangi) is an area on the east coast of the Far North District of the North Island of New Zealand. It is one of the most popular fishing, sailing and tourist destinations in the country, and has been renowned internationally for its big-game fishing since American author Zane Grey publicised it in the 1930s. It is 60 km (37 mi) north-west of the city of Whangārei. Cape Reinga, at the northern tip of the country, is about 210 km (130 mi) by road further to the north-west.