Kaiwaka is located on an ancient Maori portage between the East and West Coasts, the narrowest point between the Auckland Isthmus and the far North.

It is an easy 1½ hours north from Auckland or 45 minutes south from Whangarei, and is only a short distance east to Mangawhai or west to the Kaipara Harbour (quick access to water activities/fishing, boating).

Kaiwaka is a friendly community with a range of amenities - primary school, play centre, kohanga reo, community centre, health centre, St John Ambulance, Fire Brigade, the southern Kaipara District Council Service and Information Centre, various businesses and a modern sports complex set in the native bush of the Kaiwaka Domain.

Kaiwaka was settled by Europeans in 1859. At first they existed by subsistence agriculture supplemented by bush felling and gum digging. Then from the 1880's to 1900 one of the largest stands of the Kauri in the North was felled and conveyed by tramline to the Kaiwaka River. As many as six sailing ships at a time loaded logs in the Otamatea River.
Around 1900 a fire burned over Pukekaroro Mountain - this is now a reserve showing Kauri regeneration of ninety years. Traces of the bush tramway and booms described by Jane Mander in "The Story of a New Zealand River" may still be seen.

Dairy Farming then developed. Cream went to the Hakaru Dairy Factory or by launch to Maungaturoto and later by rail to Helensville. The rail reached Kaiwaka in 1913 and transport by water declined.

Large scale land development after World War II introduced a time of sheep and dairy farming prosperity. Now the smaller farms are being subdivided, which should contribute to the continued growth in Kaiwaka.