Kaitaia (Māori: Kaitāia) is a town in the Far North District of New Zealand, at the base of the Aupōuri Peninsula, about 160 km northwest of Whangārei.

Ahipara Bay, the southern end of Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē / Ninety Mile Beach, is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west.

[3] The Muriwhenua are a group of six northern Māori iwi occupying the northernmost part of the North Island surrounding Kaitaia.

The Kaitaia Mission Station was established between 1833 and 1834 after a series of visits by Church Missionary Society (CMS) representatives including Samuel Marsden, and at different times, Joseph Matthews and William Gilbert Puckey.

They formed a tight band, initially living together in raupo huts, and then in houses they built.

Both families grew and intermarried, forming the basis of the early Pākehā settler community.

At one point, the Church Missionary Society decided that either Puckey or Matthews should move to a new location to the south to facilitate the spread of the word, but Nōpera Panakareao wrote a heartfelt letter to the CMS committee, pleading not to take away 'one of the two candlesticks'.

[5] In 1852 arguments developed between one chief and his tribe, however the impact of the missionaries meant that the old ways of settling disputes had passed.

Joseph Matthews, arrived in the Bay of Islands in December 1835 and for a time, joined his brother in Kaitaia.

Richard Matthews had been a lay missionary on the second voyage of HMS Beagle with Charles Darwin.

[9] There are five marae located within 10kms of Kaitāia In October 2020, a fire occurred at the former Kaitaia Bowling Club on Matthews Avenue.

Precipitation is heavy year round in the form of rain, which peaks during the months of May – September.

[23] Community Business & Environment Centre (CBEC) runs a service called Busabout to Ahipara, Mangonui and Pukenui.

It is near to popular tourist destinations such as Ahipara and is on State Highway 1 which leads up to Cape Reinga.

The area supports dairy and dry stock farming, predominantly sheep and beef.

Further north of Kaitaia, the avocado industry flourishes, with orchards dispersed throughout the immediate area.

[35] Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Pukemiro is a full primary (years 1–8) school[36] with a roll of 157.

The school’s Trust believed that it was no longer possible to offer an education determined by their beliefs due to government and Ministry legislation, policy, and curriculum initiatives.