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Muriwai, also called Muriwai Beach, is a coastal community on the west coast of the Auckland Region in the North Island of New Zealand. The black-sand surf beach and surrounding area is a popular recreational area for Aucklanders. The Muriwai Regional Park includes a nesting site for a large colony of gannets.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "water's end" for Muriwai.
Oaia Island is an island located off the coast of Muriwai.
Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Whātua fought over the area when the latter settled south of the Kaipara Harbour. Muriwai became known as the border between Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Whātua, when peace was struct by the Te Kawerau ā Maki chief Te Hawiti / Te Au o Te Whenua. The area was settled by Ngāti Te Kahupara, a Ngāti Whātua hapū with Kawerau ancestry, until the 20th century.
The southern Muriwai Beach area was also known as Paenga Tohorā, referring to the many whale strandings that happened in the location. Te Au o Te Whenua lived at Te Korekore, a headland pā located at the south end of the beach. He was known for collecting and drying Paphies ventricosa (toheroa) collected from the Muriwai area, which he would trade with other Tāmaki Māori iwi and hapū for delicacies. The gannet colony headland was known as Ōtakamiro, the location of a pā named after the ancestor Takamiro. Other pā and villages to the south-east of the beach included Matuakore, Te Toheriri, Ngārihariha and Tirikohua. The modern name, Muriwai, means "End of the Water". It refers to the Te Muriwai, a kāinga located upstream of the beach along Ōkiritoto Stream, which over time became a name for the river valley, and eventually for the wider area. (2025). 9781869621513, Random House New Zealand. ISBN 9781869621513
During the late 19th century, John Foster established a flax mill at Muriwai, stopping in 1893 when this became less economically viable. In 1894 Muriwai Valley School was established. The school only operated part-time, due to the school's rural location. At the turn of the century, politician and Mayor of Auckland City Edwin Mitchelson constructed a wooden mansion at Muriwai which he named Oaia, referencing adjacent Oaia Island.
During World War II, the New Zealand Government feared that the Japanese army could invade Auckland along the west coast, landing at Muriwai. During this period, a United States Marine Corps camp was established at Muriwai, in part due to these fears.
In 1962, Muriwai became the location where the COMPAC submarine communications cable connected Auckland to Sydney, and a repeater station was installed 3 km from Muriwai Beach. This was used until 5 October 1983, when a cable fault at Sydney caused the system to cease working. (2025). 9781927167038, Wily Publications. ISBN 9781927167038
Muriwai was badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. Two volunteer firefighters were killed by a landslip during the cleanup.
Muriwai is part of the Local Government Rodney Ward of Auckland Council and is part of the Kumeu Subdivision of the Rodney Local Board. Muriwai is in the Kaipara ki Mahurangi electorate. (Previously Helensville electorate.)
Muriwai had a population of 1,125 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 123 people (−9.9%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 6 people (−0.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 576 males, 546 females and 3 people of other genders in 285 dwellings. 2.4% of people identified as LGBTQ. The median age was 42.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 237 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 135 (12.0%) aged 15 to 29, 612 (54.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 141 (12.5%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 94.7% European (Pākehā); 12.8% Māori; 3.2% Pasifika; 3.2% Asian; 1.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.9%, Māori language by 2.1%, and other languages by 10.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 18.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 17.6% Christian, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 1.6% Buddhist, 1.1% New Age, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 72.8%, and 6.1% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 255 (28.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 414 (46.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 123 (13.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $52,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 198 people (22.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 471 (53.0%) people were employed full-time, 159 (17.9%) were part-time, and 30 (3.4%) were unemployed.
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