Waipapakauri

Waipapakauri
Coordinates: 35°01′30″S 173°13′30″E / 35.02500°S 173.22500°E / -35.02500; 173.22500
CountryNew Zealand
RegionNorthland Region
DistrictFar North District
WardTe Hiku
CommunityTe Hiku
SubdivisionNorth Cape
Electorates
Government
  Territorial AuthorityFar North District Council
  Regional councilNorthland Regional Council
  Mayor of Far NorthMoko Tepania
  Northland MPGrant McCallum
  Te Tai Tokerau MPMariameno Kapa-Kingi
Area
  Total
9.63 km2 (3.72 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 census)
  Total
225
  Density23/km2 (61/sq mi)

Waipapakauri is a small settlement in the Far North District of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 1 at the isthmus of the Aupouri Peninsula. The larger settlement of Awanui lies to the southeast. Waipapakauri is some 12 kilometres to the north of Kaitaia, the nearest town.

The small Waipapakauri Creek crosses SH1 just to the east, flowing north to reach the broad mudflats of Rangaunu Harbour. Several small lakes lie to the southwest of the settlement, the largest of them being Lake Ngatu. Waipapakauri is located close to Ninety Mile Beach and has long beek known for shellfish harvesting. Flax milling was also formerly carried out at Waipapakauri. The settlement was the site of an airforce base, RNZAF Station Waipapakauri, during World War II. There is a memorial site at Waipapakauri for the base.

The name Waipapakauri is Māori for "Swamp where the kauri grow".

The Waipapakauri Hotel on State Highway 1 is a Category 2 Historic Place. The current single story building (formally called the Commercial Hotel) replaced a two story hotel which was demolished in 1926.

Noted people connected with Waipapakauri include former All Blacks Percy Erceg (who was born in the settlement), Peter Jones (who spent his last years there), former MP John Carter is a resident of Waipapakauri and Edward Te Whiu, 82nd person to be judicially executed in New Zealand.