Kaitaia is a town in the Far North District of New Zealand, at the base of the Aupouri Peninsula, about 160 km northwest of Whangarei. It is the last major settlement on State Highway 1. Ahipara Bay, the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach, is 5 km west. The main industries are forestry and tourism. The population is 4,887 (2013 census), which makes it the second largest town in the Far North District, after Kerikeri. The name Kaitaia means ample food, kai being the M?ori word for food.