Last updated October 2026
Regent is a central suburb of Whangārei, on the northern side of the city along Bank Street. It is mainly a residential neighbourhood, with a local shopping strip, state schools and a green edge on the Hātea River at Mair Park.
Bank Street is also where the road network splits toward Kamo, or northeast toward Glenbervie and the Tūtūkākā coast, so the suburb sits on a practical route between the city centre and those roads.
Older houses, mature trees and newer infill sit close to the shops. For visitors the interest is everyday rather than dramatic: a riverside park, a short link toward the Town Basin, and the ordinary rhythm of an inner suburb.
Official Suburb Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 1,960, down 2% since 2018
- Land area
- 1.19 km²
- Location
- 1.1 km north of central Whangārei
- Council
- Whangarei District Council
- Neighbouring suburbs
- Kensington, Riverside, Whangārei, Avenues, Parahaka
- Ward or local board
- Whangārei Urban General Ward
- Getting there
- Bank Street is the main road. CityLink buses serve Regent on weekdays and Saturdays, with no Sunday or public holiday service.
- Main shopping
- Bank Street strip, including New World Regent at 167 Bank Street
- Schools
- Whangārei Girls’ High School, Lupton Avenue; Whangarei School, Bank Street
- Nearby landmarks
- Mair Park; Hātea River walkway; Parihaka Scenic Reserve; Keyte’s Barn (Former), Aubrey Street
Who Lives in Regent
About 1,960 residents in 830 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
In Regent
Places and businesses inside the official Regent boundary.
Places
Businesses
About Regent
Regent reads as an inner suburb rather than a separate settlement. Streets are mostly lined with standalone houses, with some newer infill among the older homes. It is close enough to the city centre for a short trip to the Town Basin, and far enough out that Bank Street still functions as a local high street rather than a city arterial only.
Bank Street carries the suburb’s shops. Food outlets, other retail and parking sit among the houses, and New World Regent at 167 Bank Street is the clearest supermarket. The strip is a suburban centre for groceries and daily errands, not a second town centre. Larger city shopping is a short drive or bus ride south.
Mair Park, on Rurumoki Street, is the public space that gives the suburb its character. Whangarei District Council records that the land was part of the estate of Robert Mair, who donated it to the city in 1914.
An old coach road runs through mature lowland forest to the Hātea River and a flat area of grass. A bridge crosses the river to Parihaka Scenic Reserve and the Hātea River walkway, so the park is a gateway as well as a local reserve.
Schools are part of daily life here. Whangārei Girls’ High School stands on Lupton Avenue, and Whangarei School, a state primary, is on Bank Street. Weekdays bring the school run as well as shop traffic.
The wider harbour has long associations with Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Wai, and earlier traditions link the head of the harbour with Te Parawhau. Those histories belong to Whangārei as a whole. Regent’s published record is strongest at the river edge and in one private heritage building on Aubrey Street.
Getting Around
Bank Street is the simplest way in and through. From the city it continues north and then branches toward Kamo, or northeast toward Glenbervie and the Tūtūkākā coast. CityLink, the urban bus service contracted to Northland Regional Council and operated by Ritchies, serves Regent along with other city suburbs.
Buses run Monday to Saturday, including services into the city centre, and do not run on Sundays or public holidays. Vehicles are wheelchair and pushchair accessible. Timetables and fares change, so check CityLink before you travel.
Getting Outdoors
Most easy time outside in Regent is at Mair Park. The council lists a children’s playground, toilets, a barbecue, seats, shaded areas, and both paved and unpaved walks. Parking is on Rurumoki Street.
Feeding ducks and fishing for sprats on the riverbank has been a local habit for generations, and the river is habitat for ducks, eels and other wildlife. The council notes that reserves can have hazards, so take the usual care on tracks and at the water.
The bridge from the park leads into Parihaka Scenic Reserve and onto the Hātea River walkway, which runs between the Town Basin and the falls further north. The park page lists dogs on a leash.
A separate council walks listing has described Mair Park as an off-leash exercise area, so check the council dog map before you let a dog off the lead. Rules can differ between the grass, the tracks and the bridge.
History and Heritage
Robert Mair was a son of Gilbert Mair, whose family moved to Whangārei in the 1840s and whose name is also attached to Mair’s Landing on the river. In 1914 Robert gave the bush and river land that became Mair Park to the city.
The gift kept a piece of lowland forest and a swimming and fishing edge in public hands as the town grew around it. The old coach road through the trees is still the way most people walk in.
A quieter listed place stands on Aubrey Street. Keyte’s Barn (Former), at 19 Aubrey Street, is a Category 2 historic place.
Heritage New Zealand links it with Richard Keyte, a carpenter, builder and the town’s first undertaker, who came to Whangārei in 1865. He bought land in Aubrey Street in the early 1890s, and the barn behind the house was long used as a workshop for the undertaking business, and at times as temporary accommodation.
Sources differ on whether the barn was built in the 1860s or later and then shifted, so a single construction year is not stated here. The building is private. It is not a museum and is not open for visits.
Near Regent
Just outside Regent, within 5 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Businesses
Where to Learn More
Whangarei District Council: Mair Park: Facilities, parking, dog access and the 1914 donation of the riverside reserve.
Heritage New Zealand: Keyte’s Barn (Former): Category 2 listing and history of the private barn at 19 Aubrey Street.
Whangarei District Council: Walks: Mair Park, the Hātea River walkway and other council walks from the central city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Regent in Whangārei?
Yes. Regent is a suburb of Whangārei in the Whangarei District, on the northern side of the city centre, in the Whangārei Urban General Ward.
How do I get to Regent?
Bank Street is the main road through the suburb and links the city with the roads toward Kamo and the Tūtūkākā coast. CityLink buses serve Regent on weekdays and Saturdays.
Where do people shop in Regent?
The main strip is Bank Street. New World Regent is at 167 Bank Street, with other food and retail shops nearby. City-centre shopping is a short trip south.
Which schools are in Regent?
Whangārei Girls’ High School is on Lupton Avenue. Whangarei School, a state primary, is on Bank Street. Check each school’s zone if you are enrolling, because boundaries do not always match suburb edges.
What is Mair Park?
Mair Park is a council reserve on Rurumoki Street, with a playground, toilets, a barbecue and walks through lowland forest to the Hātea River. A bridge links it to Parihaka Scenic Reserve and the Hātea River walkway. Robert Mair donated the land in 1914.
Can I take my dog to Mair Park?
The council park page lists dogs on a leash. A walks listing has also described an off-leash area, so check the Whangarei District Council dog map before you visit. Rules can differ between the grass, the tracks and the bridge.
Is Keyte’s Barn open to visitors?
No. Keyte’s Barn (Former) at 19 Aubrey Street is a private Category 2 historic place. It is associated with Richard Keyte, an early builder and undertaker, and it is not run as a visitor attraction.
Do buses run to Regent on Sundays?
No. CityLink buses in Whangārei run Monday to Saturday and do not run on Sundays or public holidays.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Explore Whangārei only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Regent is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.