cutting off the Foxton loop of the river and causing great outcry at the time. The Ministry of Works said this was unintentional, but some residents felt it was done purposefully. The Foxton Loop now only has a tidal flow and is not connected to the river at its top end, the upper end of the Loop having silted up during a flood in 1953. Though the Whirokino Cut is sometimes claimed as the reason Foxton failed to operate as a port, the dangerous bar and persistent silting were already providing problems and by the time the Cut was in place most shipping was already avoiding Foxton – it had already ceased to function as a port as early as 1942. What always has remained though, is Foxton's unique natural environment. The nearby Foxton Beach offers wetlands of international significance with godwits and multiple species of other rare birdlife, and a beach with plenty of surf, swimmers and fishermen and women. Demographics Foxton is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area and covers . Foxton, comprising the statistical areas of Foxton North and Foxton South, had a population of 3,147 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 261 people (9.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 189 people (6.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,260 households. There were 1,536 males and 1,617 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 627 people (19.9%) aged under 15 years, 516 (16.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,275 (40.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 729 (23.2%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 79.1% European/Pākehā, 35.1% Māori, 3.6% Pacific peoples, 2.8% Asian, and 1.0% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). The proportion of people born overseas was 9.6%, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 55.0% had no religion, 31.4% were Christian, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.4% were Buddhist and 3.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 201 (8.0%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 864 (34.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 930 (36.9%) people were employed full-time, 321 (12.7%) were part-time, and 162 (6.4%) were unemployed. Kere Kere The Kere Kere statistical area covers and surrounds but does not include Foxton or Foxton Beach.