Parakai is a town in the North Island of New Zealand, sited 43 kilometres (27 miles) northwest of Auckland, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour. Helensville is about 3 km (2 miles) to the south-east, and Waioneke is 22 km (14 miles) to the north-west. 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 km north of Parakai. It is a popular airfield for parachuting. History and culture Pre-European history Parakai is within the rohe (tribal area) of Ngāti Whatua. They may have settled the area as early as 1370. European settlement In the early 1900s a small milk processing factory known as Ambury and English's Creamery existed in Parakai at the corner of Fordyce road and the main road to South Head. 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 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, and features Ngā Tai i Turia ki te Maro Whara meeting house. Demographics Parakai covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Parakai had a population of 1,098 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 78 people (7.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 267 people (32.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 375 households, comprising 546 males and 552 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 37.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 261 people (23.8%) aged under 15 years, 171 (15.6%) aged 15 to 29, 489 (44.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 177 (16.1%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 79.2% European/Pākehā, 24.0% Māori, 6.6% Pacific peoples, 6.6% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 19.4, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.0% had no religion, 25.7% were Christian, 2.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.4% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.4% had other religions. Of those at least 15