Kumeu, New Zealand

Story

Kumeu is a small town 25 km north-west of the Auckland City centre in New Zealand. State Highway 16 and the North Auckland Line pass through the town. Huapai lies to the west, Riverhead to the north, Whenuapai to the east, West Harbour to the south-east, and Taupaki to the south.The population was 6,603 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 933 from 2001.Settlement and statisticsThe district was originally settled by immigrants from the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, many of whom were part of traditional winegrowing families. At the 2006 Census, the median income of people in the Kumeu area unit was $30,600, compared with $26,800 for the whole Auckland Region. The unemployment rate in Kumeu was 2.9 percent, compared with 5.6 percent for Auckland.IndustryAreas surrounding the Kumeu district produce labels such as Kumeu River, Cooper's Creek and Soljans Estate Winery have gained a good reputation for their Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc wines. The wine growing district is the main industry in both Kumeu itself and the smaller nearby settlements of Huapai and Waimauku. Kumeu River Wines, established in 1944. Coopers Creek, established in 1980. Landmark Estate, founded in 1937. Matua Valley, established in 1966. Matua Valley closed its doors in 2016. Nobilos was established in 1943 by Nikola Nobilo and remained family owned until the late 1990s. Now known as Nobilo Wine Group, the company is New Zealand's second largest wine company. Soljans Estate Winery was established in 1932 in Henderson, West Auckland. As the company grew they later moved to Kumeu in 2002