{{Short description|Bay and nearby residential area at the western end of Plimmerton, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox New Zealand suburb | name = Karehana Bay | image = Karehana Bay at Sunset.jpg | caption1 = Karehana Bay at sunset | city1 = Porirua | council = [[Porirua City Council]] | ward = {{ubl|Pāuatahanui General Ward|Porirua Māori Ward}} | established = | area = 68 | areasource = <ref name="Area"/> | population = 1086 | popdate = 2023 census | popsource = <ref name="Census 2023"/> | population_density_km2 = auto | trainstations = | ferryterminals = | airports = | hospitals = | coordinates = {{coord|-41.074|174.860|region:NZ_WGN|display=it}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 10 | caption2 = }} '''Karehana Bay''' is a bay and nearby residential area at the western end of [[Plimmerton]], a northern coastal locality of [[Porirua]]. It is located near the entrance to the [[Porirua Harbour]], to the south-east of [[Hongoeka]]. It is about 5 minutes drive to Karehana Bay from the [[New Zealand State Highway 59|State Highway 59]] turnoff to Plimmerton. The area looks out towards [[Mana Island, New Zealand|Mana Island]] and across [[Cook Strait]] to the [[South Island]].
Karehana Bay is the site of a fine sediment beach, the Plimmerton Boating Club (since 1925<ref>Plimmerton Boating Club, Club History, http://www.plimmertonboatingclub.org.nz/history.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208025130/http://plimmertonboatingclub.org.nz/History.htm |date=2013-02-08 }}</ref>), Karehana Park and the Karehana Bay Scenic Reserve.
== Name == The bay and the adjacent residential area are named after Whakataki Karehana, a [[Ngāti Toa]] chief who lived in the area up until the 1890s.<ref name="scenicpaper">Porirua City Council, Karehana Bay Scenic Reserve Management Plan, December 2001, https://web.archive.org/web/20170509111757/http://pcc.govt.nz/DownloadFile/Publications/Leisure-and-Recreation-Plans/GetImage.aspx?imageid=a39f94fe-ad74-4498-948e-6c175d181b70&downloadnow=true</ref> The name "Karehana Bay" was assigned to the area by the [[Hutt County Council]] in 1923.<ref>"Plimmerton Extension - Large enough for a name", [[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|''Evening Post'']], Volume CV, Issue 85, 10 April 1923, Page 8, http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19230410.2.101&srpos=3&e=-------10--1----0%22plimmerton+extension%22--</ref> The name has appeared in maps and survey plans since 1952, and the Karehana Bay residential area was first labelled as a separate suburb (distinct from Plimmerton) in [[Department of Lands and Survey]] maps in 1965. The suburb name continues to appear in [[Land Information New Zealand]] (LINZ) topographical maps, along with the bay.<ref>Land Information New Zealand, Geographic Name Proposal - Submission Report: Plimmerton, http://www.linz.govt.nz/sites/default/files/docs/placenames/submission-reports/nzgb-submission-report-plimmerton-20111103.pdf {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130214144923/http://www.linz.govt.nz/sites/default/files/docs/placenames/submission-reports/nzgb-submission-report-plimmerton-20111103.pdf |date= 2013-02-14 }}</ref> However, in 2011 the [[New Zealand Geographic Board]] accepted a [[Porirua City Council]] proposal to amalgamate the recorded names of "Karehana Bay" and "Plimmerton" under the official name "Plimmerton".<ref>Land Information New Zealand, Consultation on proposed names: Plimmerton, {{cite web|url= http://www.linz.govt.nz/placenames/consultation-decisions/a-to-z/plimmerton |title= Plimmerton | Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) - Toitū te whenua |accessdate=2014-08-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20140830133319/http://www.linz.govt.nz/placenames/consultation-decisions/a-to-z/plimmerton |archivedate=2014-08-30 }} </ref>
== History == Karehana Bay was the site of Motuhara Pā, which may have predated the arrival of [[Ngāti Toa]] in the 1820s.<ref name=colourful>Bob Maysmor, Plimmerton: A colourful history</ref> Archaeological finds suggest that prior to the Ngäti Toa occupation it was a small [[kāinga]] with associated [[urupā]] (burial ground).<ref name=painporirua /> [[Te Rauparaha|Te Rauparaha's]] canoe, ''Te Ahu a Tūranga'', landed at Motuhara.<ref>Plimmerton Community Web Site, "Taupō Plimmerton Heritage Trail – Site 28: Motuhara Block", https://www.plimmerton.nz/early-maori/motuhara-block/</ref> When Te Rauparaha was seized from Taupo Village in 1846, Motuhara, along with Hongoeka, was also searched. And when he was being taken to HMS Driver, he called out for help from Motuhara.<ref name=painporirua />
Ownership of the surrounding Motuhara Block was investigated by the [[Māori Land Court|Native Land Court of New Zealand]] in 1871<ref>Native Land Court of New Zealand, Wellington Minute Book No.1H, https://collections.library.auckland.ac.nz/mlcmbi/item/114178</ref> and resulted in individual title over the block being issued to a group of Ngāti Toa: Ropata Hurumutu, Te Karehana Te Weta, Te Horo Hawea, Piripi Poutini, Te Karina Tuhaia, Hoani Warena, Pene Koti Te Teka, Wiremu Nera Te Kauae and Wi Parata.<ref>Certificate of Title: MOTUHARA at Porirua in the District of Wellington in the Province of Wellington, https://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=25286465</ref> Te Karira Tuhaia died around 1875, and ownership passed to Raiha Prosser. By the 1890s, Te Karehana Whakataki was described as living alone at Motuhara, and by 1894 he had moved to [[Takapūwāhia]].<ref name=painporirua>Pat Stodart, “Pā in Porirua: social settlements”, ''Tuhinga'' 26: 1–19, https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/sites/default/files/tuhinga.26.2015.pt1_.p1-19.stodart.lowres.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217201309/https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/sites/default/files/tuhinga.26.2015.pt1_.p1-19.stodart.lowres.pdf |date=2023-02-17 }}</ref>
The coastal area around Plimmerton, including Karehana Bay, began to be developed in the late 19th and early 20th century. In 1905 George Troup purchased 365 acres of the Motuhara Block.<ref>James Veitch. 'Troup, George Alexander - Biography', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Sep-10, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/2t49/1</ref> In the following years, Troup subdivided a large area of Karehana Bay and laid out several of its roads, including Cluny, Gordon, Airlie and Ogilvie roads.<ref name=scenicpaper /> At that time the subdivision was known as the Plimmerton Extension, with the first auction of the land held on 26 January 1909.<ref>'Plimmerton Extension', Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 21, 26 January 1909, Page 6, http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19090126.2.68</ref> A further auction of 100 properties was held on 6 March 1912.<ref>"Advertisements", Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1372, 24 February 1912, Page 9, http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=DOM19120224.2.90.1&srpos=6&e=-------10--1----0%22plimmerton+extension%22--</ref> Early baches were owned by Ernest Gyton and Frederick Bilton.<ref>Pataka Museum, Plimmerton - A colourful history: Teacher's notes, http://www.pataka.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Plimmerton-Exhibition-v2-2012.pdf{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
After World War I, sales increased and the Plimmerton Extension developed rapidly. By the 1920s and 1930s, Karehana Bay was a separate community from Plimmerton, with a popular beach. St Paul's Presbyterian Church opened in 1924, and held its final service in 2007. A sea wall was completed along the foreshore in 1938.<ref>Plimmerton Community Web Site, "Taupō Plimmerton Heritage Trail: Site 31 - Karehana Bay", https://www.plimmerton.nz/heritage-trail/site-31/</ref>
==Demographics== The suburb of Karehana Bay covers {{Convert|0.68|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised)|access-date=26 January 2026}}</ref> It is part of the larger [[Plimmerton#Demographics and census information|Plimmerton statistical area]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b|title=Geographic Boundary Viewer|publisher=Stats NZ|at=Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}</ref>
{{Historical populations|2006|1,122|2013|1,146|2018|1,119|2023|1,086|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/><ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|7019617, 7019618, 7019619, 7019620, 7019621, 7019637, 7019638, 7019639 and 7019641}}</ref>}} Karehana Bay had a population of 1,086 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], a decrease of 33 people (−2.9%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and a decrease of 60 people (−5.2%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 534 males, 549 females, and 3 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 441 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_009&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.7019617%2B7019618%2B7019619%2B7019620%2B7019621%2B7019637%2B7019638%2B7019639%2B7019641.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 2.8% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. There were 171 people (15.7%) aged under 15 years, 138 (12.7%) aged 15 to 29, 531 (48.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 249 (22.9%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.5% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 11.9% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 3.3% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 3.0% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.6%, Māori by 3.6%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 9.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.1% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 26.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Religious affiliations were 32.0% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.6% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 0.6% [[New Age]], 0.3% [[Judaism in New Zealand|Jewish]], and 1.7% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 58.8%, and 6.4% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Of those at least 15 years old, 411 (44.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 387 (42.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 102 (11.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 276 people (30.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 492 (53.8%) full-time, 141 (15.4%) part-time, and 21 (2.3%) unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_012&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.7019617%2B7019618%2B7019619%2B7019620%2B7019621%2B7019637%2B7019638%2B7019639%2B7019641.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=7019617, 7019618, 7019619, 7019620, 7019621, 7019637, 7019638, 7019639 and 7019641}}</ref>
== Notable references and events == The bay features in the poem by [[Denis Glover]], Threnody: "In Plimmerton, in Plimmerton, the little [[penguin]]s play, and one dead [[albatross]] was found at Karehana Bay"<ref>Glover Denis,'Threnody', in Hogan, Helen M, ''Nowhere Far From The Sea'', Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd, Christchurch, 1971</ref>
Karehana Bay has hosted Plimmerton Kindergarten's annual Plimmerton Mid-Winter Dip fund raiser since 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.plimmertonwinterdip.com/ |title=Welcome to the 18th annual Plimmerton Mid Winter Dip! |access-date=2012-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627032534/http://plimmertonwinterdip.com/ |archive-date=2013-06-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Porirua}}
[[Category:Bays of the Wellington Region]]