medium lowest (versus 25% nationwide), 21% in the medium highest (versus 25% nationwide), and 9.4% earned income over $109,431 which put them in the highest quartile (versus 25% nationwide). Whitianga scored 1008 on the Social Deprivation Index. Education Mercury Bay Area School is a coeducational composite (years 1–13) school with a roll of as of The first primary school opened in the area in 1872. A District High School opened in 1951 and moved to the present site two years later. In February 1981 it became an area school. Transport Whitianga is served by State Highway 25, the main highway looping around the Coromandel Peninsula. It is also served by the small Whitianga Aerodrome, which receives flights by Air Auckland with their Cessna 172 and 206 on a regular basis, FlyStark with their Cessna 172 and GippsAero GA8 Airvan aeroplanes and Sunair with their Cessna 172 and Piper Aztec planes. InterCity buses and Go Kiwi Shuttle serve the community with transportation to Whitianga from Thames, Auckland and other locations around the Coromandel Peninsula and North Island. Media Whitianga is served by The Mercury Bay Informer, The Hauraki Herald, and Coromandel's More FM. Events An annual scallop festival is held in September every year to celebrate seafood, particularly scallops. The Whitianga Speed Festival was held in 2009 and 2010. A New Year's Eve festival and concert, known as Coromandel Gold, was held from 2009 to 2012. References External links Local website MBBA Website Local newspaper Thames-Coromandel District Populated places in Waikato