View source for Castlepoint

{{Short description|Beachside settlement in New Zealand}}
{{About|the settlement in New Zealand|other uses|Castle Point (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Castlepoint
| native_name             = Rangiwhakaoma
| native_name_lang        = mi
| settlement_type         = Town
| image_skyline           = Deliverance Cove and Castlepoint lighthouse.jpg
| image_alt               = Deliverance Cove towards Castlepoint and lighthouse, residential houses from the Castlepoint village visible on the left
| image_caption           = Deliverance Cove towards Castlepoint and lighthouse
| image_map1              = 
| mapsize1                = 
| map_caption1            = 
| image_map               = {{infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|40|53|55|S|176|13|14|E}}|zoom=9}}
| mapsize                 = 
| map_caption             = 
| coordinates             = {{coord|40|53|55|S|176|13|14|E|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint           = 
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = New Zealand
| subdivision_type1       = [[Regions of New Zealand|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Wellington Region]] 
| subdivision_type2       = [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand|Territorial authority]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Masterton District]]
| subdivision_type3       = Ward
| subdivision_name3       = {{ubl|Masterton/Whakaoriori General Ward|Masterton/Whakaoriori Māori Ward}}
| seat_type               = [[New Zealand electorates|Electorates]]
| seat                    = {{ubl|[[Wairarapa (New Zealand electorate)|Wairarapa]]|[[Ikaroa-Rāwhiti]] ([[Māori electorates|Māori]])}}
| government_footnotes    =
| leader_title            = Territorial Authority
| leader_name             = [[Masterton District Council]]
| leader_title1           = Regional council
| leader_name1            = [[Greater Wellington Regional Council]]
| leader_title2           = [[Mayor of Masterton]]
| leader_name2            = {{NZ officeholder data|Masterton District Mayor|y}}
| leader_title3           = [[Wairarapa (New Zealand electorate)|Wairarapa MP]]
| leader_name3            = {{NZ officeholder data|Wairarapa MP|y}}
| leader_title4           = [[Ikaroa-Rāwhiti|Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP]]
| leader_name4            = {{NZ officeholder data|Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP|y}}
| established_title       = 
| established_date        = 
| founder                 = 
| unit_pref               = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| elevation_m             = 
| area_total_km2          = 0.81
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="Area"/>
| population_footnotes    = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}}
| population_total        = {{NZ population data 2018|Castlepoint|y}}
| population_as_of        = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}
| population_density_km2  = auto
| website                 = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| official_name           = 
}}
'''Castlepoint''' is a small [[beach]]side settlement on the [[Wairarapa]] coast of the [[Wellington Region]] of [[New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Castlepoint Travel Guide|url=http://www.jasons.co.nz/castlepoint|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213164256/https://www.jasons.co.nz/castlepoint|archive-date=13 February 2020|access-date=28 February 2021|website=www.jasons.co.nz|publisher=[[Jasons Travel Media]]}}</ref>  It is home to a lighthouse which stands near the top of the northern end of a reef. The reef is about one kilometre long. At the southern end of the reef, there is an island known locally as "seagull island", due to its large population of seagulls. The southern side of Castle Rock is known as Christmas Bay. Castlepoint is approximately one hour's drive from [[Masterton]].

Castlepoint was so named in 1770 by [[Captain Cook]] who was struck by the similarities of Castle Rock to the battlements of a castle.<ref name="doc">{{cite web
|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/wairarapa/wairarapa/castlepoint-scenic-reserve/
|title=Castlepoint Scenic Reserve
|publisher=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]]
|accessdate=2012-11-18
}}</ref>  The Maori name for the area is Rangiwhakaoma, which translates as 'where the sky runs'. Smaller [[cetacean]]s such as [[dolphin]]s frequent around Castlepoint while larger whales such as [[southern right whale]]s and [[humpback whales]] may be visible from the shores during their migration seasons. A book chronicling the history of Castlepoint, including Castlepoint Station, Castle Point Lighthouse and the local fishing industry was published in October 2010 by Hedleys Books of [[Masterton]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://hedleysbooks.co.nz/castlepoint.html
|title=Castlepoint, Coastal Station and Settlement
|accessdate=2012-11-18
|publisher=Hedleys Books
}}</ref>

Castle Rock is a landmark in Castlepoint and is 162m high.<ref name="doc"/> It includes a walk through woods and over bridges and is approximately 45 minutes long.
 
Mataikona Sand Dunes are an area of large sand dunes approximately 30 minutes north of Castlepoint towards the Matakona River mouth.

==Demographics==
Castlepoint is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers {{Convert|0.81|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787|access-date=25 June 2023|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Castlepoint|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Castlepoint|y}}|R}}/0.81|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|27|2013|42|2018|57|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018"/>}}
[[File:Castlepoint, Wellington Region, New Zealand (6).JPG|thumb|275px|Two surfers and their surfboards in Deliverance Cove in front of Castle Rock]]
Castlepoint had a population of 57 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], an increase of 15 people (35.7%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 30 people (111.1%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|2006 census]]. There were 24 households, comprising 33 males and 21 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.57 males per female. The median age was 50.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 6 people (10.5%) aged under 15 years, 9 (15.8%) aged 15 to 29, 27 (47.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 12 (21.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.7% European/[[Pākehā]], and 5.3% [[Māori people|Māori]]. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 68.4% had no religion, and 21.1% were [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]].

Of those at least 15 years old, 9 (17.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 9 (17.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 27 (52.9%) people were employed full-time, and 6 (11.8%) were part-time.<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|7022198}}</ref>

Castlepoint is part of the larger [[Whareama#Demographics|Whareama]] statistical area.<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|whareama|Whareama}}</ref>

==Marae==

The local Whakataki marae is affiliated with the [[Ngāti Kahungunu]] hapū of [[Te Hika a Pāpāuma ki Wairarapa]]. Its [[wharenui]] burned down 1960.<ref name="tkmentry">{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=[[Te Puni Kōkiri]]}}</ref><ref name="maorimaps">{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}</ref>

== Annual horse races ==

Remote from other settlements Castlepoint's beach has been home since 1872 to an historic annual horse race meeting when "local station hands rode on farm hacks competing for bottles of rum and any stray coins".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6556282/Castlepoint-Beach-birds |title=Castlepoint Beach races return|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|date=2012-03-11|accessdate=2016-08-02}}</ref>

== Lighthouse ==
{{Main|Castle Point Lighthouse}}
{{original research section|date=January 2025}}

[[The Castle Point Lighthouse]] is a lighthouse near the village of Castlepoint in the Wellington Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand. In the early days of the 20th century Castle Point was one of the few lighthouses with easy access to a school. The Creamer family came there in 1918 or 1919 and the eldest son Eric had to complete five years of education in three years, so that he could go on to secondary school, there having been little education in previous locations where the family had been stationed. This aspect of the Keeper's lives seems to have been overlooked by the Marine Department. The light was built in 1913 and was originally fuelled by oil. In 1954 the oil lamp was replaced with an electric one powered by a local diesel generator. This was subsequently replaced by a connection to the mains grid in 1961. The lighthouse, is popular with holiday makers and the lighthouse itself is sometimes referred to as "The Holiday Light".

Completed on 12 January 1913, it was one of the last staffed lights built in New Zealand, but has been fully automated since 1988 and is now managed from a central control room in Wellington.<ref name="MNZ">[http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/commercial/shipping-safety/aids-to-navigation/lighthouses-of-nz/castle-point-lighthouse.asp  Castle Point Lighthouse Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117022032/http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Commercial/Shipping-safety/Aids-to-navigation/Lighthouses-of-NZ/Castle-Point-lighthouse.asp |date=17 November 2015 }} (from the [[Maritime New Zealand]] website)</ref> It is a popular tourist attraction for holidaymakers to the area, although it is not open to the public.

The lighthouse is built out of steel sheets riveted together.  This is an unusual method of construction for a lighthouse and the only one so built in New Zealand.

At sea, the light can be seen 22 miles away, and was used by sailors coming from South America to establish a point of reference when making for [[Wellington Harbour]].

A camera set up at the top of an outcrop looking down on the lighthouse gives people a chance to see it on live feed [http://castlepointlighthouse.com/history.html castlepointlighthouse.com].

In December 2017 the lighthouse was controversially installed with multi-colour LED up-lights which would light the exterior of the lighthouse all year round at a cost of $35,000. Many Wairarapa region residents feel the lights are 'gaudy' and a source of unnecessary light pollution.[https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/99806400/lighthouse-getting-lit-on-christmas-eve]

==Climate==

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location = Castlepoint (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1972–present)
| Jan record high C = 32.2
| Feb record high C = 31.5
| Mar record high C = 29.5
| Apr record high C = 27.3
| May record high C = 23.7
| Jun record high C = 22.0
| Jul record high C = 20.0
| Aug record high C = 21.4
| Sep record high C = 23.2
| Oct record high C = 25.0
| Nov record high C = 28.0
| Dec record high C = 29.7
| year record high C = 
| Jan avg record high C  = 28.3
| Feb avg record high C  = 27.9
| Mar avg record high C  = 26.3
| Apr avg record high C  = 23.9
| May avg record high C  = 20.7
| Jun avg record high C  = 18.4
| Jul avg record high C  = 16.7
| Aug avg record high C  = 18.2
| Sep avg record high C  = 20.4
| Oct avg record high C  = 22.2
| Nov avg record high C  = 24.3
| Dec avg record high C  = 26.4
| year avg record high C = 29.3
|Jan high C = 	22.0
|Feb high C = 	21.9
|Mar high C = 	20.5
|Apr high C = 	18.4
|May high C = 	16.2
|Jun high C = 	14.0
|Jul high C = 	13.2
|Aug high C = 	13.8
|Sep high C = 	15.5
|Oct high C = 	17.1
|Nov high C = 	18.6
|Dec high C = 	20.5
| year high C = 	
|Jan mean C = 	18.1
|Feb mean C = 	18.2
|Mar mean C = 	16.9
|Apr mean C = 	14.8
|May mean C = 	13.0
|Jun mean C = 	10.9
|Jul mean C = 	10.2
|Aug mean C = 	10.6
|Sep mean C = 	12.0
|Oct mean C = 	13.4
|Nov mean C = 	14.8
|Dec mean C = 	16.8
| year mean C = 	
|Jan low C = 	14.2
|Feb low C = 	14.5
|Mar low C = 	13.3
|Apr low C = 	11.3
|May low C = 	9.7
|Jun low C = 	7.9
|Jul low C = 	7.3
|Aug low C = 	7.5
|Sep low C = 	8.6
|Oct low C = 	9.8
|Nov low C = 	11.0
|Dec low C = 	13.1
| year low C = 	
| Jan avg record low C  = 7.9
| Feb avg record low C  = 8.9
| Mar avg record low C  = 7.7
| Apr avg record low C  = 5.6
| May avg record low C  = 4.3
| Jun avg record low C  = 2.6
| Jul avg record low C  = 2.1
| Aug avg record low C  = 2.3
| Sep avg record low C  = 2.8
| Oct avg record low C  = 3.8
| Nov avg record low C  = 5.1
| Dec avg record low C  = 7.1
| year avg record low C = 1.0
|Jan record low C  = 5.0
|Feb record low C  = 6.2
|Mar record low C  = 5.6
|Apr record low C  = 2.5
|May record low C  =  1.0
|Jun record low C  = 0.6
|Jul record low C  = -0.3
|Aug record low C  = 0.0
|Sep record low C  = 0.5
|Oct record low C  = 0.5
|Nov record low C  = 0.8
|Dec record low C  = 4.7
|year record low C = 
|rain colour = green	
|Jan rain mm = 	80.1
|Feb rain mm = 	59.8
|Mar rain mm = 	74.3
|Apr rain mm = 	84.4
|May rain mm = 	90.1
|Jun rain mm = 	104.1
|Jul rain mm = 	123.9
|Aug rain mm = 	91.8
|Sep rain mm = 	64.2
|Oct rain mm = 	80.4
|Nov rain mm = 	67.4
|Dec rain mm = 	60.4
|year rain mm = 	
|source 1 = NIWA<ref name= NIWA>
{{cite web
|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz
|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Castlepoint	
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 20 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/
|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 2591, 2592, 9874)
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 15 Sep 2024}}</ref>
}}

== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
|File:Deliverance Cove and Castle Rock at Castlepoint.jpg|Deliverance Cove and Castle Rock
|File:Castlepoint lighthouse from the beach.jpg|Castlepoint Lighthouse from the beach at Castlepoint
|File:Castlepoint Lighthouse from the north.jpg|Castlepoint Lighthouse looking towards Castle Rock
|File:Arctocephalus forsteri (cropped).jpg|[[New Zealand fur seal]] on a rock at Castle point
}}

== References ==
{{Commons}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Masterton District, New Zealand}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in the Wellington Region]]
[[Category:Masterton District]]
[[Category:Surfing locations in New Zealand]]