metres tall, the 2.5 ton bird is constructed of ferro-cement. The sculpture is by local artist Tony Johnston and represents the mother of all oystercatchers. In Māori 'torea mangu' means black oystercatcher. Erected facing north east, the direction of prevailing winds, the sculpture symbolises the wildlife of The Firth of Thames. Demographics Kaiaua is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers . It is part of the wider Miranda-Pūkorokoro statistical area. Kaiaua had a population of 429 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 18 people (4.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 90 people (26.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 183 households, comprising 216 males and 210 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female, with 66 people (15.4%) aged under 15 years, 30 (7.0%) aged 15 to 29, 192 (44.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 138 (32.2%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 82.5% European/Pākehā, 35.0% Māori, 0.7% Pacific peoples, and 0.7% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.9% had no religion, 30.8% were Christian, 2.1% had Māori religious beliefs and 0.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (9.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 108 (29.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 42 people (11.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 144 (39.7%) people were employed full-time, 51 (14.0%) were part-time, and 9 (2.5%) were unemployed. Education Kaiaua School was first established in 1883. It is a co-educational state primary school, with a roll of as of The EcoQuest Education Foundation is a Private Training Establishment established in 1999. It provides residential courses for US students through a partnership with the University of New Hampshire in the United States of America. Its campus is located in Whakatīwai. Māori Kaiaua is located within the traditional homelands of the iwi (tribe) called Ngāti Paoa. They maintain a marae (tribal centre including a carved meeting house) called Wharekawa at Whakatīwai. This is shared with the closely related people of Ngāti Whanaunga whose lands are located to the north of Kaiaua. Māori settlement has been continuous and unbroken in the Kaiaua area and coast for over 600 years. The ocean going ancestral vessel called Tainui travelled from