The northernmost region of New Zealand projects out as a long peninsula some 200 miles in length (from the Waitemata Harbour) and not much more than 50 miles at its widest point. The region is usually referred to as North Auckland, but the use of the shortened Northland is gaining a wider currency. Altogether there are eight counties which, with their interior boroughs and cities, form the basic units for the collection of statistics: Mangonui, Whangaroa, Hokianga, Bay of Islands, Hobson, Whangarei, Otamatea, Rodney. Waitemata County is treated elsewhere as part of the Auckland region because it has been effectively incorporated by the rapidly expanding urban area. Whangarei (urban area population 1961, 21,790) is the largest town of North Auckland. In 1961 the region registered a total population of 94,152 (3·89 per cent of the national total) 23·62 per cent of which were classified as Maoris. In November 1964 Whangarei was proclaimed a city.