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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name             = Parakai
|image_skyline    = Parakai, Helensville, NZ.JPG
|image_caption    = Parakai
|image_map        = {{infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|36|39|49|S|174|26|10|E}}|zoom=11}}
|coordinates      = {{coord|-36.660441|174.432660|region:NZ|display=inline, title}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = New Zealand
|subdivision_type1= Region
|subdivision_name1= [[Auckland Region]]
|subdivision_type2= District
|subdivision_name2= Parakai
|subdivision_type3= Local board
|subdivision_name3= [[Rodney Local Board]]
|subdivision_type4= Subdivision
|subdivision_name4= Kumeū subdivision
|leader_title     = Territorial Authority
|leader_name      = [[Auckland Council]]
|leader_title2    = [[Mayor of Auckland]]
|leader_name2     = {{NZ officeholder data|Auckland Mayor|y}}
|leader_title3    = [[Kaipara ki Mahurangi|Kaipara ki Mahurangi MP]]
|leader_name3     = {{NZ officeholder data|Kaipara ki Mahurangi MP|y}}
|leader_title4    = [[Te Tai Tokerau|Te Tai Tokerau MP]]
|leader_name4     = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tokerau MP|y}}
|seat_type        = Electorates
|seat             = {{ubl|[[Kaipara ki Mahurangi]]|[[Te Tai Tokerau]]}}
|area_total_km2   = 1.45
|area_footnotes   = <ref name="Area"/>
|population_total = {{NZ population data 2018||y}}
|population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}
|population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}}
|population_density_km2 = auto
}}

'''Parakai''' is a town in the  [[North Island]] of New Zealand, sited {{convert|43|km|mi|abbr=off}} northwest of [[Auckland]], close to the southern extremity of the [[Kaipara Harbour]]. [[Helensville]] is about {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the south-east, and [[Waioneke]] is {{convert|22|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the north-west.<ref>{{cite book|title=Reed New Zealand Atlas|year=2004|isbn=0-7900-0952-8|editor=Peter Dowling |publisher=Reed Books|at=map 10}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand|year=2005|isbn=1-877333-20-4|author=Roger Smith, GeographX|publisher=Robbie Burton|at=map 34}}</ref>

The surrounding area, particularly to the north and west, consists of dairy farming, sheep farming and deer farming community. [[West Auckland Airport]], a [[general aviation]] airfield, is 2&nbsp;km north of Parakai. It is a popular airfield for [[parachuting]].

==History and culture==

===Pre-European history===

The [[Auckland Region]] has been settled by [[Māori people|Māori]] since around the 13th or 14th centuries.<ref name="Waikōwhai Coast">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/about-auckland-council/how-auckland-council-works/local-boards/all-local-boards/puketapapa-local-board/docsheritagestudies/waikowhai-coast-heritage-study.pdf |title=Waikōwhai Coast Heritage Study |first1=Elizabeth |last1=Pishief |first2=Brendan |last2=Shirley|date=August 2015|publisher=[[Auckland Council]]|access-date=14 February 2023}}</ref> The traditional name for the area was {{lang|mi|Kaipātiki}}, referring to the swampy flat land where [[New Zealand sand flounder|flounder]] could be harvested.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sheffield |first=C. M. |date=2011 |edition=4th |title=Men Came Voyaging |publisher=Longley Printing Company Ltd |location=Auckland |isbn=978-0-473-18059-1|page=27}}</ref> Parakai is within the ''[[rohe]]'' (tribal area) of [[Ngāti Whatua o Kaipara]].

===European settlement===
The settlement was originally known as the Helensville Hot Springs in the early 20th century,<ref name="Linz">{{LINZ |id=35400 |name=Parakai |access-date=1 February 2024}}</ref> when a hot spring resort was developed, becoming a tourist destination.<ref name="History">{{cite web|url=https://www.helensville.co.nz/general/history.htm |title=Helensville History |website=helensville.co.nz |access-date=22 January 2024}}</ref> As the resort, a new name was needed to differentiate it from Helensville in the south, when a post office was being established. The name Kaipara was favoured by residents, but due to the similarly named [[Kaipara Flats]], a different name was needed, and the residents chose Parakai (a flipped version of Kaipara).<ref name="Linz"/> The first references in newspapers to Parakai date from 1908.<ref>{{cite news|via=Papers Past|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19080205.2.17.2 |title=Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |volume=XLV |issue=13665 |date=5 February 1908 |page=4}}</ref> At one point in time the name ''Babylon Flats'' was used before being changed to Parakai.<ref>{{cite book | last=Bioletti | first=Harry | title=Rodney Coast to Coast | date=1992 | isbn=0-473-01296-0 |page=82}}</ref>

Parakai Rugby Club existed between 1918 and 1937, before amalgamating with the Helensville Rugby club in 1943.

===Marae===
Haranui Marae, also known as Otakanini Marae, is located 6&nbsp;km north of Parakai. It is a traditional meeting ground for the [[Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara]] and [[Ngāti Whātua]] [[hapū]] of [[Ngāti Whātua Tūturu]] and [[Te Taoū]],<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> and features Ngā Tai i Turia ki te Maro Whara meeting house.<ref name="maorimaps">{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}</ref>

==Demographics==
Statistics New Zealand describes Parakai as a small urban area, which covers {{convert|1.45|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Urban Rural 2023 (generalised)|access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Parakai|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Parakai|y}}|R}}/1.45|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|831|2013|1,020|2018|1,098|2023|1,083|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Parakai (112200)|parakai|Parakai}}</ref><ref name="Census 2023"/>}}
Parakai had a population of 1,083 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], a decrease of 15 people (−1.4%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 63 people (6.2%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 540 males, 534 females and 6 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 360 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_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.1081.2023&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> 3.3% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 36.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 228 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 192 (17.7%) aged 15 to 29, 483 (44.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 177 (16.3%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 79.2% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 25.8% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 8.9% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 8.0% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.0%, Māori language by 4.7%, Samoan by 0.8%, and other languages by 5.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 23.8% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 1.1% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 0.3% [[Islam in New Zealand|Islam]], 3.0% [[Māori religious beliefs]], 0.3% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 62.3%, and 8.3% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 81 (9.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 459 (53.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 297 (34.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 51 people (6.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 426 (49.8%) people were employed full-time, 117 (13.7%) were part-time, and 21 (2.5%) were 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_008&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%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.1081.2013%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=Parakai (1081)}}</ref>

==Governance==
Parakai is part of the Local Government [[Rodney Ward]] of Auckland Council and is part of the Kumeu Subdivision of the [[Rodney Local Board]]. It is in the [[Kaipara ki Mahurangi]] general electorate and the [[Te Tai Tokerau]] [[Māori electorate]].

==Education==
Parakai School is a co-educational full primary school catering for years 1–8, with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1432|y}} students as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}<ref>{{TKI|1432|Parakai School}}</ref> The Parakai School community catchment area reaches from the immediate flats surrounding the [[Kaipara River]] and up the South Kaipara Heads Peninsula.

==Geothermal mineral pools==
Parakai is noted for its [[hot springs]] with geothermal [[mineral water]] occurring naturally. There is a complex of mineral pools and recreational activities, such as Parakai Springs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jasons.co.nz/parakai|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826072221/http://www.jasons.co.nz/parakai|url-status=usurped|archive-date=26 August 2010|title=Parakai Travel Guide|publisher=[[Jasons Travel Media]]}}</ref> These pools are fed from bores which draw from a geothermal aquifer which lies in the fractured Waitemata sandstone and compacted alluvial sediments.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Auckland Regional Council|date=1993|title=Parakai Geothermal Groundwater Resource Statement and Management Plan|url=http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/documents/technicalpublications/TP25%20Draft%20Parakai%20geothermal%20groundwater%20resource%20statement%20and%20management%20plan%201993.pdf|journal=Auckland Regional Council Environment Technical Publication|volume=25}}</ref>

There is little recorded history of Māori using these springs, though it is to be assumed that they were known as the local iwi [[Ngāti Whātua|Ngāti Whatua]] had made use of the springs in the neighbouring Helensville.<ref name=":0" />

In 1864 Robert Mair "discovered" the hot springs, which at the time consisted of one natural hot pool. In 1905 a bore was sunk 20 metres and a year later a new bathhouse was built. This began twenty-five years of tourism and investment in the hot pools (and Parakai more widely) which, at its peak, included a Reserve which contained a Massage Institute, 24 private baths, and men's and women's swimming baths.<ref name=":0" /> The economic downturn of [[Great Depression|the Depression]] and onset of [[World War II]] caused visitor numbers to dwindle, and by 1958 two of the boarding houses had burned down, and the swimming baths were closed.<ref name=":0" />

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.parakai.com}}

{{Rodney Local Board Area Kumeū Subdivision}}

[[Category:Populated places in the Auckland Region]]
[[Category:Hot springs of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Landforms of the Auckland Region]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Kaipara River]]
[[Category:Populated places around the Kaipara Harbour]]
[[Category:Rodney Local Board Area]]