Ruakākā is a small town in the north of New Zealand approximately 30 kilometres south of Whangārei in the Bream Bay area.

Originally a small beachside community, Ruakākā saw development in the 1980s as a result of the expansion of the nearby Marsden Point, New Zealand's sole oil refinery.

A recently established timber processing plant at Marsden Point has further stimulated growth.

Other Bream Bay localities such as One Tree Point, Takahiwai and even Waipu are often included in general conversation regarding the area.

It is primarily a residential area made up of a mixture of permanent homes and beach shacks.

The Ruakākā Township was developed off the back of the Marsden Point Oil Refinery expansion in the 1980s where services were required to support the large influx of workers from all over the world involved in the project.

The bay has beautiful sandy white beaches looking out towards Bream Head, the Hen and Chicken Islands, Mount Manaia and Sail Rock.

[7] The region's geographical location results in warm humid summers and mild winters.

The area of Ruakākā is located in Bream Bay which was named by Captain Cook during his first voyage to New Zealand when he visited the region on 25 November 1769.

It was named due to the ease of capture of 90–100 fish (likely snapper), that he identified as bream, soon after anchoring.

This Marsden Point Branch will primarily serve freight interests, but the Northland Regional Land Transport Committee has suggested that passenger trains for commuters between Ruakākā and Whangārei are a long-term option.