The adjacent township of Mangawhai Heads is 5 km north-east, on the lower part of the harbour.

[5] The business area was largely complete by the end of 2022[6] but the residential development stalled.

[7] A new residential area called Mangawhai Hills is planned west of the existing settlement.

[8] Mangawhai is the traditional Māori name for the area, referring to the stingrays which live in the harbour.

[9] In the early and mid 19th century, Mangawhai Harbour was one of the main access points for the Kaipara.

[10] A Ngā Puhi war party landed at Mangawhai in February 1825 and moved 12 km inland to confront the Ngāti Whātua at Te Ika-a-ranga-nui near Kaiwaka.

[13] In the latter 19th century, the kauri gum digging trade became an important industry in the area.

[20] In 2004, the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society won an Environment Court decision to stop the issue of new licences.

[18] The companies such as McCallum Brothers, re-applied to the Auckland Regional Council for resource consent but the application was turned down in 2005.

[21] In January 2008 another application to sand mine in the Mangawhai Forest was being heard by the Environment Court.

[29][30] Mangawhai Hills College is an independent private school due to open in February 2025.

This school will serve students from Years 7 to 13 and is being established by the Mangawhai Education Trust.