Parengarenga Harbour

Parengarenga Harbour is a natural harbour close to the northernmost point on the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the northern end of the Aupouri Peninsula, [cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/Places/Northland/NorthlandPlaces/1/en|title=Aupōuri Peninsula|encyclopedia=Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand] it extends inland for over 10 kilometres, almost severing the northern tip of the island from the rest of the peninsula. The island's northernmost point, at the Surville Cliffs is only three kilometres north of the harbour. Te Hapua is a settlement at the western side of the harbour. [cite book|title=Reed New Zealand Atlas|year=2004|id=ISBN 0-7900-0952-8|author=Peter Dowling (editor)|publisher=Reed Books|pages=map 2]

The sandspit at the southern arm of Parengarenga Harbour is among only a handful of sites in New Zealand that is a source of sand with a high silica content and very few impurities (less than 2%), that is highly valued in the manufacture of glass. The sand is brilliantly white. [cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/MineralResources/RockLimestoneAndClay/3/en|title=Rock, limestone and clay - sources and uses|encyclopedia=Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand]

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