Warkworth () is a town on the Northland Peninsula in the upper North Island of New Zealand. It is in the northern part of the Auckland Region, north of Auckland and south of Whangārei, at the head of the Mahurangi River. The major streets of Warkworth were named after villages adjacent to Warkworth in England, or after major Northumbrian families.
Geography
thumb|left|The [[Mahurangi River is a major waterway that flows through Warkworth]]
thumb|left|The Warkworth area was a [[Agathis australis|kauri-dominated forest until the mid-19th century. Some remnant kauri trees can be found at Parry Kauri Park]]
The Warkworth area is at the upper navigable point of the Mahurangi River, which flows south-east towards the Mahurangi Harbour. Most of the town is located near the river, with the town centre being adjacent to the river bend. Most of Warkworth is undulating land. but it is rainier in winter.
History
The area that became Warkworth had limited Māori occupation. The Mahurangi River was the route between the Mahurangi and Kaipara Harbours for the local tribes. This route was later used by Europeans. The purchase was not finalised until 1853 and land was not subdivided nor resold until then, instead the Crown offered timber licences to settlers. The town developed slowly, primarily around the Mahurangi River wharf, where settlers could supply goods and services for the Auckland market. Bridge House Lodge, established on the site of John Anderson Brown's home next door to the Warkworth Bridge, is the oldest surviving building in Warkworth.
The Mahurangi Post Office and Library were established in 1859. Some of the 3rd Marine Division servicemen were stationed in Warkworth. The Warkworth Town Hall was used to stage entertainment for the servicemen. By 1944 when the United States Army had left, the New Zealand Army requisitioned many of the camps. By 2010, the facility had been redeveloped as an AUT radio observatory. opened in 1980.
Warkworth saw significant suburban housing growth between 2008 and 2018, with the population increasing by 61% between 2006 and 2018. Warkworth is expected to grow from around 5,000 residents to 25,000–30,000. The town is currently zoned for 7,500 dwellings. Warkworth is the largest town between Auckland and Whangarei.
Local government
The first local government for the township was the Upper Mahurangi Highway District, which was formed on 24 December 1864. It was one of the first highway districts to form north of the city of Auckland, and was formed to administer the road upkeep costs in the area. With the abolition of the provinces of New Zealand in 1876, Warkworth became part of Rodney County. From 1989 to 2010, Warkworth was part of Rodney District.
In November 2010, all city and district councils in the Auckland Region were merged into a single unitary authority, Auckland Council, with Warkworth in the Rodney Local Board area.
Demographics
Warkworth is described by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area. It covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km<sup>2</sup>.