te atatu peninsula is located at the western extremity of the waitemata harbour, and is flanked by the henderson creek to the west and by the whau river to the east, both estuarial arms of the harbour, which extend southwest from the harbour itself. the relatively flat peninsula thus formed is four kilometres in length and two kilometres in width, and is joined to the main part of the north island at its southern end. a motorway effectively cuts the peninsula off from the mainland and, with only one road in and out, the area has an almost island-like feel. its population of about 12,474 (as of 2016) is closely matched by the population of te atatu south, the adjoining suburb.