Population 5,000

• In the 1880s Dargaville was established as rural town when timber and Kauri gum were important extractive industries. Today many people in town and the wider district have long term connections and family history directly relating to this early period.
• In 2012 our town is a local Mecca for the farming community set in a wonderful pastoral community that boasts opportunities for a relaxed lifestyle which has proven attractive to retirees and
  young families wanting to raise their children in a healthy environment.
• Home of the Northland Agricultural Field Days and Kaipara Kai Festival, Dargaville is privileged to have an Olympic sized outdoor heated swimming pool, as well as several parks and playgrounds.
• There are three primary schools and one local high school.
• Our community is blessed with access to the crystal clear waters of the Kai Iwi Lakes, Ripiro Beach the longest driveable of New Zealands's West Coast beaches is just 15 minutes away from town, native forests and a river conjoining the Kaipara Harbour which is the largest natural harbour in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Saltwater and Shell fish are available in many of the Kaipara Harbour bays (scallops in season).
• The Northern Wairoa River may be muddy but it's big and wide and it's ours and is home to the local boating club which hosts an annual regatta amongst other activities!
• Rugby, cricket, tennis and netball are popular sports while the harbour and surf casting keep local fisher people entertained.
• Taha Awa Riverside Gardens are the town's lovely community garden.
• We have a fine Maritime and Pioneer Museum along with an excellent vintage machinery club.
• We have a fine hospital and excellent medical centre, staffed by passionate, dedicated locals who give us brilliant service and care in our times of need.
• X-ray, laboratory, physiotherapy are all available here.
• Dental services are also available in our town
• We are well catered for by the local St Johns Ambulance and have a dedicated Fire Brigade. Whangarei Base Hospital is our regions largest hospital and is located only 45 minutes away by road or a short helicopter ride.
• We are pleased to have retained our Courthouse and Police Station, Maori Wardens do a fine job patrolling the Central Business District in Dargaville.
• Countdown, 4 Square, The Warehouse, butchers shops, lumber yards, and all manner of businesses and clubs supply the needs of Dargaville & its' environs.
• Silverfern Farms is the local meat works and the single largest employer here
• Farmer's Market is held each Thursday all year round
• Amongst other things not already mentioned we have our very own community radio station, Big River fm 96.2, a local airfield where one can train to fly a micro light or other small aircraft, a local branch of CAB, a local Visitor Industry Network and Information Centre, an excellent library and a thriving Kumara growing Industry.