# Thornton Bay

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Rural settlement in Waikato, New Zealand

Place in Waikato, New Zealand

Thornton Bay Bench seat at Thornton Bay Interactive map of Thornton Bay Coordinates: 37°03′47″S 175°31′26″E / 37.063°S 175.524°E / -37.063; 175.524 Country New Zealand Region Waikato District Thames-Coromandel District Ward Thames ward Community Board Thames Community Electorates Coromandel Hauraki-Waikato (Māori) Government • Council Thames-Coromandel District Council • Regional council Waikato Regional Council • Mayor of Thames-Coromandel Peter Revell[3] • Coromandel MP Scott Simpson[4] • Hauraki-Waikato MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke[5] Area [1] • Total 0.95 km2 (0.37 sq mi) Population (June 2025)[2] • Total 280 • Density 290/km2 (760/sq mi)

**Thornton Bay** is a settlement on the west coast of the [Coromandel Peninsula](/source/Coromandel_Peninsula) of [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand), between [Te Puru](/source/Te_Puru) to the north and Whakatete Bay to the south. [State Highway 25](/source/State_Highway_25_(New_Zealand)) runs through it.[6] Ngarimu Bay immediately to the south is considered to be part of the same urban area by Statistics New Zealand.

Thornton's Bay was named for R. Thornton, an orchardist who settled in the area in 1890.[7] Ngarimu Bay is named after [Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu](/source/Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa_Ngarimu), the first Māori person to be awarded the Victoria Cross.[8]

## Demographics

Thornton Bay-Ngārimu Bay is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.95 km2 (0.37 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 280 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 295 people per km2. Thornton Bay-Ngārimu Bay is part of the larger [Thames Coast statistical area](/source/Te_Puru#Thames_Coast_statistical_area).[9]

‹ The [template](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Template) *[Historical populations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Historical_populations)* is being [considered for merging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Templates_for_discussion/Log/2026_June_24#Template:Infobox_demographics). ›

Historical population Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2006 312 — 2013 276 −1.74% 2018 309 +2.28% 2023 285 −1.60% Source: [10][11]

Ngarimu Bay

Thornton Bay-Ngārimu Bay had a population of 285 in the [2023 New Zealand census](/source/2023_New_Zealand_census), a decrease of 24 people (−7.8%) since the [2018 census](/source/2018_New_Zealand_census), and an increase of 9 people (3.3%) since the [2013 census](/source/2013_New_Zealand_census). There were 141 males and 147 females in 123 dwellings.[12] 3.2% of people identified as [LGBTIQ+](/source/LGBTQ). The median age was 61.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 18 people (6.3%) aged under 15 years, 24 (8.4%) aged 15 to 29, 123 (43.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 120 (42.1%) aged 65 or older.[11]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 94.7% [European](/source/European_New_Zealanders) ([Pākehā](/source/P%C4%81keh%C4%81)); 11.6% [Māori](/source/M%C4%81ori_people); 1.1% [Pasifika](/source/Pasifika_New_Zealanders); 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.9%, Māori language by 3.2%, Samoan by 1.1%, and other languages by 3.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.1% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 16.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.[11]

Religious affiliations were 33.7% [Christian](/source/Christianity_in_New_Zealand), 1.1% [Buddhist](/source/Buddhism_in_New_Zealand), and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had [no religion](/source/Irreligion_in_New_Zealand) were 53.7%, and 10.5% of people did not answer the census question.[11]

Of those at least 15 years old, 63 (23.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 138 (51.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 63 (23.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $30,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 21 people (7.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 99 (37.1%) people were employed full-time, 48 (18.0%) were part-time, and 3 (1.1%) were unemployed.[11]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Area_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Area_1-1) ["Stats NZ Geographic Data Service"](https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/). Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 24 February 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NZ_population_data_2018_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NZ_population_data_2018_2-1) ["Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer"](https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/?fs%5b0%5d=Society%2C1%7CPopulation%20estimates%23CAT_POPULATION_ESTIMATES%23%7CSubnational%20population%20estimates%23CAT_SUBNATIONAL_POPULATION_ESTIMATES%23&pg=0&bp=true&snb=10&isAvailabilityDisabled=false). [Statistics New Zealand](/source/Statistics_New_Zealand). Retrieved 29 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Declaration of Results of Election and Poll"](https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/files/assets/public/v/1/our-council/public-notices/governance-pn/thames-coromandel-district-council-declaration-notice-tcdc.pdf) (PDF), *www.tcdc.govt.nz*, Thames-Coromandel District Council, 17 October 2025

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Coromandel - Official Result"](https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-07.html). [Electoral Commission](/source/Electoral_Commission_(New_Zealand)). Retrieved 27 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Hauraki-Waikato – Official Result"](https://archive.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-66.html). New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Harriss, Gavin (March 2022). "NZ Topo Map" (Map). [*Thornton Bay, Waikato*](https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz7862/Thornton-Bay/Waikato).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** *Discover New Zealand - A Wises Guide* (9th ed.). Wises Publications. 1994. p. 146.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Monin, Paul (15 December 2010). ["Thames—Thames Coast"](https://teara.govt.nz/en/hauraki-coromandel-places/page-2). *[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand](/source/Te_Ara%3A_The_Encyclopedia_of_New_Zealand)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [2018 Census place summary: Thames Coast](https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-place-summaries/thames-coast)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Census_2018_10-0)** ["Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census"](https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/statistical-area-1-dataset-for-2018-census-updated-march-2020). Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7010692 and 7010695.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Census_2023_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Census_2023_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Census_2023_11-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Census_2023_11-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Census_2023_11-4) ["Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"](https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs%5b0%5d=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df%5bds%5d=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df%5bid%5d=CEN23_TBT_008&df%5bag%5d=STATSNZ&df%5bvs%5d=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.1140.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to%5bTIME%5d=false&ly%5brw%5d=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly%5bcl%5d=CEN23_YEAR_001). Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Thornton Bay-Ngārimu Bay (1140). Retrieved 3 October 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"](https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs%5b0%5d=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df%5bds%5d=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df%5bid%5d=CEN23_TBT_005&df%5bag%5d=STATSNZ&df%5bvs%5d=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.1140.2023&ly%5brw%5d=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003). Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.

v t e Thames-Coromandel District, New Zealand Seat: Thames Populated places Coromandel-Colville Ward Cape Colville Colville Coromandel Kennedy Bay Manaia Motutakapu Mercury Bay Ward Cooks Beach Coroglen Hahei Hot Water Beach Kūaotunu Matarangi New Chums Beach Otama Beach Rings Beach Te Rerenga Whangapoua Whenuakite Whitianga Thames Ward Hikutaia Kauaeranga Valley Kopu Matatoki Ngarimu Bay Puriri Tapu Te Mata Te Puru Thames Thornton Bay Waiomu South West Ward Whangamatā C.B. Onemana Opoutere Whangamata Tairua-Pauanui C.B. Hikuai Pauanui Tairua Islands Aldermen Islands Castle Island Mahurangi Island / Goat Island Mercury Islands Motueka Island / Pigeon Island Motukawao Islands Poikeke Island Slipper Island Whanganui Island Geographic features Cape Colville Castle Rock Cathedral Cove / Te Whanganui-A-Hei Colville Channel Firth of Thames Hauraki Gulf Kauaeranga Valley Mercury Bay Moehau Range Thames Valley Whangapoua Harbour Facilities and attractions Coromandel Forest Park Driving Creek Railway Hauraki Rail Trail Kopu Bridge Pauanui Aerodrome Siamese Kauri Square Kauri Thames Aerodrome Thames railway station Thames School of Mines Whangamata Beach Hop Whitianga Aerodrome Whitianga Festival of Speed Government District Council Mayor Regional Council Organisations The Mercury Bay Informer Ngāti Rongoū Thames High School

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Thornton Bay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thornton_Bay) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thornton_Bay?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.