106-534: Te Atatū Peninsula (formerly Te Atatu North ) is a waterfront suburb of West Auckland surrounded by the Waitematā Harbour . The area was home to brickworks and farmland until the Northwestern Motorway was constructed in the 1950s, after which Te Atatū developed a low and medium-cost suburb. The area south of the motorway became known as Te Atatū South . The Auckland Harbour Board intended to develop
212-465: A Te Kawerau ā Maki chief's body was laid on this rock. Whakatū is the traditional name for the Tasman Sea and the beaches south of Te Henga / Bethells Beach. It is a shortening of the name Nga Tai Whakatū a Kupe ("The Upraised Seas of Kupe"), referring to Kupe 's visit to the west coast and his attempts to evade people pursuing him, by chanting a karakia to make the west coast seas rough. Te Wao Nui
318-687: A Tiriwa, the Great Forest of Tiriwa, references the name of Tiriwa, a chief of the supernatural Tūrehu people. The name refers to all of the forested areas of the Waitākere Ranges south from Muriwai and the Kaipara Harbour portage to the Manukau Harbour . The modern use of West Auckland to refer to areas such as New Lynn and Henderson was popularised in the 1960s and 1970s. Prior to this, West Auckland or Western Auckland mostly referred to
424-421: A kauri logging sawmill on Te Wai-o-Pareira / Henderson Creek. Communities developed around the kauri logging business at Riverhead and Helensville, which were later important trade centres for the kauri gum industry that developed in the Waitākere Ranges foothills. Between 1840 and 1940, 23 timber mills worked the Waitākere Ranges, felling about 120,000 trees. By the 1920s there was little kauri forest left in
530-555: A location for the capital of the colony of New Zealand. This location became the modern city of Auckland . Many further tuku and land purchases were made; the earliest in West Auckland were organised by Ngāti Whātua, without the knowledge or consent of the senior rangatira of Te Kawerau ā Maki, however some purchases in the 1850s involved the iwi. In 1844, 18,000 acres (7,300 ha) of land at Te Atatū and Henderson were sold to Thomas Henderson and John Macfarlane, who established
636-589: A musket pā at Te Henga / Bethells Beach. The earliest permanent European settlement in the Auckland Region was the Cornwallis , which was settled in 1835 by Australian timber merchant Thomas Mitchell. Helped by William White of the English Wesleyan Mission , Mitchell negotiated with the chief Āpihai Te Kawau of Ngāti Whātua for the purchase of 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) of land in West Auckland on
742-513: A nature reserve. The Auckland Centennial Memorial Park, which opened in 1940, was formed from various pockets of land that had been reserved by the Auckland City Council starting in 1895. Titirangi resident Arthur Mead, the principal engineer who created the Waitākere Ranges dams, lobbied the city council and negotiated with landowners to expand the park. Owing to the efforts of Mead, the park had tripled in size by 1964, when it became
848-676: A number of association football teams, including Bay Olympic who as of 2022 play in the Northern League . The Trusts Arena , a multi-purpose stadium in Henderson, regularly hosts large-scale sporting events and concerts. The Avondale Racecourse is both a venue for Thoroughbred racing , and the home of the Avondale Sunday Markets, one of the largest regular markets in New Zealand. Other large amenities in West Auckland include
954-564: A number of co-educational secondary schools , including Avondale College , one of the largest high schools in New Zealand with a roll of 2834 students. Other state co-educational schools include Massey High School (1839 students), Henderson High School (1056 students), Waitakere College (1828 students), Rutherford College (1432 students), Hobsonville Point Secondary School (854 students) and Green Bay High School (1761 students). The first private secondary school in West Auckland, ACG Sunderland School and College , opened in 2007 at
1060-643: A part of the Waitemata City , an area which covered most of West Auckland , excluding the boroughs of Henderson , Glen Eden and New Lynn . With the 1989 local government reforms, the Waitemata City merged with these boroughs to form Waitakere City , and in November 2010, all cities and districts of the Auckland Region were amalgamated into a single body, governed by the Auckland Council . Te Atatū Peninsula
1166-654: A population of 13,344 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 858 people (6.9%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 1,656 people (14.2%) since the 2006 census . There were 4,353 households, comprising 6,525 males and 6,816 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female, with 3,120 people (23.4%) aged under 15 years, 2,361 (17.7%) aged 15 to 29, 6,339 (47.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,524 (11.4%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 65.0% European/ Pākehā , 19.6% Māori , 14.9% Pacific peoples , 17.8% Asian , and 3.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
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#17330854986441272-674: A population of 282,129 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 29,562 people (11.7%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 45,675 people (19.3%) since the 2006 census . There were 87,870 households, comprising 140,004 males and 142,122 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female, with 59,559 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 60,672 (21.5%) aged 15 to 29, 130,470 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 31,434 (11.1%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 54.5% European/ Pākehā , 13.4% Māori , 16.6% Pacific peoples , 27.4% Asian , and 3.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
1378-406: A port on the peninsula for much of the 20th century. After plans for this were abandoned, the land was redeveloped into Footrot Flats Fun Park , an amusement park which operated in the 1980s. During the late 2010s, large-scale housing intensification led to the population of Te Atatū greatly expanding. The Te Atatū Peninsula is approximately four kilometres in length and two kilometres in width, and
1484-662: A proposed stadium adjacent to Te Wai-o-Pareira / Henderson Creek. Due to financial difficulties, the park stopped operating in 1989, and was formally shut down by the Waitakere City Council in 1991. The name "Te Atatū Peninsula" was officially adopted by the New Zealand Geographic Board on 5 May 1994, and was formally adopted by the Waitakere Council in 1997. "Te Atatu North" is still commonly used, particularly by older generations. Te Atatū Peninsula saw
1590-639: A second major period of growth during the late 2010s, after changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan led to major intensive townhouse developments in the suburb. In 2024, construction will begin on the Te Atatū busway station , a planned stop on the Northwestern Busway , connecting Westgate to the Auckland City Centre along the Northwestern Motorway . An urban marae is planned to be developed at
1696-401: A type of copal (the name given to resin used in such a way). Kauri gum was particularly useful for this, and from the mid-1840s was exported to London and America. Tentative exports had begun a few years earlier, for use in marine glue and as fire-kindlers; gum was part of an export cargo to Australia in 1814. Since kauri gum would mix more easily with linseed oil at lower temperatures, by
1802-581: Is an 85 hectare reserve along the coast of the Te Atatu Peninsula. The reserve includes anti-aircraft gun emplacement constructed in 1943 over fears of Japanese invasion during World War II . Part of the park is leased by the Te Atatu Pony Club. The reserve also contains the Semadeni residence , the oldest extant building of Te Atatu Peninsula. In 2024 the local board approved a lease of 2.5 hectares of
1908-633: Is in the Henderson-Massey local board area. The residents of Henderson-Massey elect a local board, and two councillors from the Waitākere ward to sit on the Auckland Council. West Auckland, New Zealand West Auckland ( Māori : Te Uru o Tāmaki Makaurau or Māori : Tāmaki ki te Hauauru ) is one of the major geographical areas of Auckland , the largest city in New Zealand . Much of
2014-449: Is involved with the traditional story of the creation of Rangitoto Island , by uplifting it from Karekare on the west coast. The early Polynesian navigator Kupe visited the west coast. The Tasman Sea alongside the coast was named after Kupe, and traditional stories tell of his visit to Paratutae Island , leaving paddle marks in the cliffs of the island to commemorate his visit. The Tainui tohunga Rakataura (also known as Hape)
2120-628: Is surrounded by the Waitematā Harbour . The peninsula is composed of Waitemata Sandstone , which formed on the ocean floor 20 million years ago, overlayed with alluvial soil from ancient waterways. The peninsula is bound on the west by the Te Wai-o-Pareira / Henderson Creek and to the east by the Whau River , both of which are drowned valleys. During the Last Glacial Period approximately 17,000 years ago, sea levels were significantly lower, and
2226-585: Is volcanic material from Mount Taranaki (including the Pouakai Range and Sugar Loaf Islands volcanoes) which has drifted northwards, and potentially material from the Taupō Volcano and other central North Island volcanoes which travelled down the Waikato River as sediment. While much of West Auckland, especially the Waitākere Ranges, was historically dominated by kauri , northern rātā , rimu most of
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#17330854986442332-635: Is within the rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki , whose traditional names for the area were Hikurangi, Waitākere, and Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa, the latter of which refers to the forest of the greater Waitākere Ranges area. Most settlements and pā were centred around the west coast beaches and the Waitākere River valley. Two of the major waka portages are found in the area: the Te Tōanga Waka (the Whau River portage), and Te Tōangaroa (the Kumeū portage), connecting
2438-512: The Moekākara and Tainui . Māori settlement of the Auckland Region began at least 800 years ago, in the 13th century or earlier. Some of the first tribal identities that developed for Tāmaki Māori who settled in West Auckland include Tini o Maruiwi, Ngā Oho and Ngā Iwi. One of the earliest individuals associated with the area is Tiriwa, a chief of the supernatural Tūrehu people, who
2544-491: The Motu Manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserve to the south-east. The peninsula is within the traditional rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki , and has traditional significance to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei . During pre-European times, there were two Te Kawerau ā Maki kāinga at the mouth of Te Wai-o-Pareira / Henderson Creek on the peninsula, known as Ōrukuwai and Ōrangihina , named after ancestors Rukuwai and Rangihina. Rangihina
2650-608: The North Auckland railway line in 1880 and the Northwestern Motorway in the 1950s. West Auckland is not a strictly defined area. It includes the former Waitakere City , which existed between 1989 and 2010 between the Whau River and Hobsonville , an area which includes major suburbs such as Henderson , Te Atatū , Glen Eden , Titirangi and New Lynn . West Auckland typically also includes Avondale , and Blockhouse Bay . The Whau River and Te Tōanga Waka (the Whau portage ) marked
2756-492: The North Island of New Zealand, before early settlers caused the forests to retreat, causing several areas to revert to weeds, scrubs , and swamps . Even afterwards, ancient kauri fields and the remaining forests continued to provide a source for the gum. Between 1820 and 1900, over 90% of Kauri forests were logged or burnt by Europeans. Kauri gum forms when resin from kauri trees leaks out through fractures or cracks in
2862-494: The Northwestern Motorway led to suburban development of the peninsula, beginning with the Ramlea Park Estate, which was constructed in the early 1950s on the former farm of John Thomas. The motorway split the peninsula into two areas: Te Atatū North (now known as Te Atatū Peninsula) and Te Atatū South. The population of the area boomed, as the area was seen as inexpensive and accessible to the rest of Auckland. The peninsula
2968-658: The Paradice Ice Skating rink in Avondale, West Wave Pool and Leisure Centre in Henderson, and the Titirangi Golf Club. In the 1980s, Te Atatū Peninsula was the site of Footrot Flats Fun Park , a large-scale amusement park that closed in 1989. Kauri gum Kauri gum is resin from kauri trees ( Agathis australis ), which historically had several important industrial uses. It can also be used to make crafts such as jewellery. Kauri forests once covered much of
3074-637: The RNZAF Base Auckland at Hobsonville from attack. During the 1940s, the Auckland Harbour Board proposed that a new port be constructed in the central Waitematā Harbour , to relieve pressure from the Port of Auckland . In the early 1950s under the Public Works Act, the board acquired Motumānawa / Pollen Island , and 162 hectares of eastern Te Atatū. During the same period, the construction of
3180-481: The South Island goldfields in the 1860s. They were transient workers, rather than settlers, and much of their income was sent out of the country, resulting in resentment from the local workforce. In 1898, the "Kauri Gum Industry Act" was passed, which reserved gum-grounds for British subjects , and requiring all other diggers to be licensed. By 1910, only British subjects could hold gum-digging licences. Gum-digging
3286-644: The Te Atatū Peninsula , including Ōrukuwai and Ōrangihina. In the early 1600s, members of Ngāti Awa from the Kawhia Harbour , most notably the rangatira Maki and his brother Matāhu, migrated north to the Tāmaki Makaurau region, where they had ancestral ties. Maki conquered and united Tāmaki Māori people of the west coast and northern Auckland Region. Within a few generations, the name Te Kawerau ā Maki developed to refer to this collective. Those living on
Te Atatū Peninsula - Misplaced Pages Continue
3392-686: The Waitematā , Manukau and Kaipara harbours. European settlement of the region began in the 1840s, centred around the kauri logging trade. Later industries developed around kauri gum digging, orchards, vineyards and the clay brickworks of the estuaries of the Waitematā Harbour, most notably at New Lynn on the Whau River. Originally isolated from the developing city of Auckland on the Auckland isthmus , West Auckland began to expand after being connected to
3498-564: The Waitākere Ranges Regional Park . By the early 1950s, four major centres had developed to the west of Auckland: New Lynn, Henderson, Helensville and Glen Eden. These areas had large enough populations to become boroughs with their own local government, splitting from the rural Waitemata County. Over the next 20 years, the area saw an explosion in population, driven by the construction of the Northwestern Motorway and
3604-520: The banded dotterel and the grey-faced petrel , and the korowai gecko is endemic to the west coast near Muriwai . The catchments of the Te Wai-o-Pareira / Henderson Creek and the Whau River are home to marine species including the New Zealand longfin eel , banded kōkopu , common galaxias ( īnanga ) and the freshwater crab Amarinus lacustris . The area was settled early in Māori history , by people arriving on Māori migration canoes such as
3710-423: The puha thistle ). Highly flammable, the gum was also used as a fire-starter , or bound in flax to act as a torch. Burnt and mixed with animal fat, it made a dark pigment for moko tattooing. Kauri gum was also crafted into jewellery, keepsakes and small decorative items. Like amber , kauri gum sometimes includes insects and plant material. Kauri gum was used commercially in varnish , and can be considered
3816-545: The rohe (border) between Muriwai Beach and Rangitōpuni ( Riverhead ). In the 1740s, war broke out between Ngāti Whātua and Waiohua , the confederation of Tāmaki Māori tribes centred to the east, on the Tāmaki isthmus . While Te Kawerau ā Maki remained neutral, the battle of Te-Rangi-hinganga-tahi, in which the Waiohua paramount chief Kiwi Tāmaki was killed, was held at Paruroa ( Big Muddy Creek ) on Te Kawerau ā Maki lands. In
3922-451: The 1890s 70% of all oil varnishes made in England used kauri gum. It was used to a limited extent in paints during the late 19th century, and from 1910 was used extensively in manufacturing linoleum . From the 1930s, the market for gum dropped as synthetic alternatives were found, but there remained niche uses for the gum in jewellery and specialist high-grade varnish for violins . Kauri gum
4028-474: The 1910s and 1950s, most members of Te Kawerau ā Maki moved away from their traditional rohe, in search of employment or community with other Māori. After the construction of the dams, the Nihotupu and Huia areas reforested in native bush. The native forest left a strong impression on residents who lived in these communities, and was one of the major factors that sparked the campaign for the Waitākere Ranges to become
4134-508: The Auckland Region was lowered 2,000–3,000 metres (6,600–9,800 ft) below sea level, forming a sedimentary basin. Approximately 20 million years ago, this subduction led to the formation of the Waitākere volcano , a partially submerged volcano located to the west of the modern Auckland Region. The volcano is the largest stratovolcano in the geologic history of New Zealand, over 50 kilometres (31 mi) in diameter and reaching an estimated height of 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) above
4240-666: The Auckland city centre. West Auckland is home to a number of large urban parks, including Parrs Park , Moire Park, Henderson Park, Tui Glen Reserve and Olympic Park. Many professional and amateur sports teams are based in West Auckland, including: the Waitakere Cricket Club ; rugby league teams Glenora Bears , the Waitemata Seagulls and Te Atatu Roosters ; an ice hockey team, the West Auckland Admirals ; and
4346-492: The Harbourview-Orangihina Park. The Auckland Council plans to revegetate the Harbourview-Orangihina Park with native plants, and to create a network of walking and cycling paths along the western shores of the Whau River. Te Atatū Peninsula covers 5.46 km (2.11 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 15,200 as of June 2024, with a population density of 2,784 people per km. Te Atatū Peninsula had
Te Atatū Peninsula - Misplaced Pages Continue
4452-577: The Lincoln Road, Swanson Road and Sturges Road areas had developed into orchards run primarily by Dalmatian families, and in the 1940s these families began establishing vineyards at Kumeū and Huapai . In the 1920s and 1930s, flat land throughout Hobsonville and Whenuapai was the site of an airfield development for the New Zealand Air Force . Whenuapai became the main airport for civilian aviation between 1945 and 1965. The Northwestern Motorway
4558-669: The Northwestern Motorway when the Waterview Connection opened to traffic in July 2017. The first stages of the Northwestern Busway , a project that was first envisioned as a light rail line adjacent to the Northwestern Motorway, are currently under construction. In addition to the motorways, major roads in West Auckland include Great North Road , Don Buck Road, Lincoln Road, West Coast Road, Swanson Road, Scenic Drive and Portage Road. Two ferry terminals in West Auckland, at West Harbour and Hobsonville, operate commuter ferry services to
4664-471: The Park was established as an open sanctuary to reintroduce native species to the Waitākere Ranges. Whiteheads ( pōpokatea ), North Island robin ( toutouwai ) and kokako have all been successfully re-established in the area, and between 2014 and 2016 brown teals ( pāteke ) were reintroduced to the nearby Matuku Reserve. The west coast beaches are nesting locations for many seabird species, including
4770-564: The Tasman Sea shoreline was over 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of its current location. The mouths of the rivers of West Auckland flooded, forming into large estuaries. Tidal mudflats formed at the Manukau Harbour river mouths, such as Huia , Big Muddy Creek and Little Muddy Creek . Sand dunes formed along the estuaries of the west coast, creating beaches such as Piha and Te Henga / Bethells Beach . The black ironsand of these beaches
4876-592: The Te Atatū area are the Te Atatū Tennis Club, Waitakere Cricket Club , Waitakere rugby union club, Waitemata Football Club, Te Atatū Football Club, West City Baseball Club, Te Atatū softball club, Waitemata Rowing Club, and Te Atatū Boating Club. From 1876 until 1974, Te Atatū Peninsula was administered by the Waitemata County , a large rural county north and west of the city of Auckland. In 1974, Swanson became
4982-517: The Waitākeres, and the area continued to be used to search for kauri gum until the early 20th century. The first brick kiln in West Auckland was built by Daniel Pollen in 1852, on the Rosebank Peninsula along the shores of the Whau River. Brickworks and the pottery industry became a major industry in the area, with 39 brickworks active along the shores of the Waitematā Harbour, primarily on
5088-459: The area include Hikurangi, Waitākere, Whakatū and Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa. Hikurangi referred to the central and western Waitākere Ranges south of the Waitākere River , and was originally a name given by Rakatāura , the tohunga of the Tainui migratory canoe to a location south of Piha . Hikurangi is a common placename across Polynesia , and likely marked the point on the coast where the last light of
5194-559: The area is dominated by the Waitākere Ranges , the eastern slopes of the Miocene era Waitākere volcano which was upraised from the ocean floor, and now one of the largest regional parks in New Zealand. The metropolitan area of West Auckland developed between the Waitākere Ranges to the west and the upper reaches of the Waitematā Harbour to the east. It covers areas such as Glen Eden , Henderson , Massey and New Lynn . West Auckland
5300-402: The area. Unlike most defensive pā found on the Auckland isthmus, not many Waitākere pā used defensive ditchwork, instead preferring natural barriers. Few settlements were found in the central Waitākere Ranges or in the modern urban centres of West Auckland. Some notable exceptions were near the portages where waka could be hauled between the three harbours of West Auckland: Te Tōangaroa ,
5406-545: The areas directly adjacent to the Waitematā Harbour, such as New Lynn, Te Atatū and Hobsonville, are formed from rhyolitic clays and peat , formed from eroding soil and interactions with the harbour. The modern topography of West Auckland began to form approximately 8,000 years ago when the sea level rose at the end of the Last Glacial maximum . Prior to this, the Manukau and Waitematā harbours were forested river valleys, and
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#17330854986445512-403: The bark, hardening upon exposure to air. Lumps commonly fall to the ground and can be covered with soil and forest litter, eventually fossilising . Other lumps form as branches forked or trees are damaged, releasing the resin. The Māori had many uses for the gum, which they called kapia . Fresh gum was used as a type of chewing gum (older gum was softened by soaking and mixing with juice of
5618-406: The border between the former Waitakere and Auckland cities, a border which was first established between Eden County on the Auckland isthmus and Waitemata County in 1876. This border originally existed much earlier than, as the rohe marker between Te Kawerau ā Maki and Tāmaki isthmus iwi. Avondale and Blockhouse Bay are east of the Whau River on the Auckland isthmus , but are included in
5724-409: The condition of the original tree. It also depended on where the gum had formed and how long it had been buried. Colours ranged from chalky-white through red-brown to black. The most prized was pale gold, as it was hard and translucent. The size of each lump also varied greatly. Swamps tended to yield the small nuggets known as "chips", whereas hillsides tended to produce larger lumps. The majority were
5830-510: The day reached. The name Wai-tākere ("cascading water") originated as a name for a rock at Te Henga / Bethells Beach found at the former mouth of the Waitākere River, which was later applied to the river, Ranges , and West Auckland in general. The name refers to the action of the water striking the rock as the waves came into shore, and became popularised in the early 18th century during Te Raupatu Tihore ("The Stripping Conquest"), when
5936-436: The definition due to their strong historical ties. Towns in southwestern Rodney , such as Helensville , Riverhead , Waimauku , Kumeū and Huapai are also often described as West Auckland. Occasionally a stricter definition of West Auckland is used in reports and scientific literature, which includes just the Henderson-Massey , Waitākere Ranges and Whau local board areas. The traditional Tāmaki Māori names for
6042-498: The development of low-cost housing at Te Atatū, Rānui and Massey . By this time, the area was no longer seen as scattered rural communities, and had developed into satellite suburbs of Auckland. The post-war years saw widespread migration of Māori from rural areas to West Auckland. This happened a second time in the 1970s, as urban Māori communities moved away from the inner suburbs of Auckland to areas such as Te Atatū. In 1980, Hoani Waititi Marae opened in West Auckland, to serve
6148-560: The farmers for potatoes gave rise to the name "The Pits", a colloquial name given to the peninsula by European settlers. On 12 March 1894, Henderson Point was subdivided and sold as the Henderson Mill Estate. Many of the purchasers of the land parcels were the Māori families who had lived in the area. In the early 1900s, the area was renamed Te Atatū ("the dawn") by Reverend Thomas Jackson Bennett (father of Frederick Bennett ), referencing
6254-413: The fields around Birkenhead , causing damage to public roads and private farms, and leading to local council management of the problem. Most gum was dug from the ground using gum-spears (pointed rods to probe for gum) and "skeltons", defined as blade-edged spades for cutting through old wood and roots as well as soil. Once the gum was retrieved it would need to be scraped and cleaned. Digging in swamps
6360-445: The former site of the Waitakere City Council buildings, and has a roll of 828 students. West Auckland is also home to four single-sex secondary schools: Kelston Boys' High School (745 students) and Kelston Girls' College (503 students), and the state-integrated Catholic schools Liston College and St Dominic's College , which have rolls of 841 and 805 students, respectively. West Auckland has been served by railway since
6466-570: The kauri trees were felled as a part of the kauri logging industry. One plant species is native to West Auckland, Veronica bishopiana , the Waitākere rock koromiko. A number of other plant species are primarily found in coastal West Auckland, including Sophora fulvida , the west coast kōwhai and Veronica obtusata , the coastal hebe. Sophora fulvida is a common sight in West Auckland; other species of kōwhai are not allowed to be planted west of Scenic Drive . The Waitākere Ranges are known for
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#17330854986446572-669: The land for non-industrial purposes. In 1982, Leisureland (later known as the Footrot Flats Fun Park ) opened, alongside other ventures such as the Te Atatu Grand Prix Minicar Park. The mayor of Waitemata City , Tim Shadbolt , was a fan of the complex, and wanted the Waitemata City Council to further develop the peninsula into a major entertainment district in order to attract more rates for the council. This scheme included conference centres and Kiwidome,
6678-442: The late 18th and early 19th centuries, Te Kawerau ā Maki were only rarely directly contacted by Europeans, instead primarily receiving European products such as potatoes and pigs through neighbouring Tāmaki Māori tribes. Significant numbers of Te Kawerau ā Maki lost their lives due to influenza and the Musket Wars of the 1820s. After a period of exile from the region, Te Kawerau ā Maki returned to their lands, primarily settling at
6784-492: The late 19th century. The North Auckland Line first opened in 1880, and was extended to Helensville by 1881. The train line is operated as the Western Line , which operates passenger services between Swanson and Britomart in the Auckland city centre . The Northwestern Motorway opened between central Auckland and Te Atatū in 1952, encouraging growth around the western Waitematā Harbour. The Southwestern Motorway , which borders West Auckland, became connected directly to
6890-415: The modern suburb of Henderson ) to process kauri logs. Te Atatū Peninsula was known as Henderson Point during this period. In the 1880s, Te Atatū Peninsula was cleared of vegetation, and developed into farmland. The north-western side of the peninsula was a site where Māori farmers grew potatoes, kūmara (sweet potatoes), and dug for kauri gum during the 19th century. The rua (storage pits) made by
6996-531: The morning sunrise views of the Waitematā Harbour seen from the peninsula. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Te Atatū was the location of two brick and pottery yards adjacent to Te Wai-o-Pareira / Henderson Creek and one on the Whau River , however the major brick industries in West Auckland were located to the south, closer to New Lynn . The Henderson Brick and Tile Syndicate operated between 1903 and 1912 at end of Wharf Road, and produced distinctive bricks with backwards "S" design. The other brickworks on
7102-410: The name Crown Lynn , the company developed into the largest pottery in the Southern Hemisphere. In 1963, LynnMall opened, becoming the first American-style shopping mall in New Zealand. It quickly became a major centre for retail in Auckland. The Henderson Borough Council wanted to replicate this success, and in 1968 opened Henderson Square, now known as WestCity Waitakere . In 1975, West Auckland
7208-439: The old kauri fields, most of which were then covered by swamp or scrub, digging for gum. Much of the population was transient, moving from field to field, and they lived in rough huts or tents (which were called " whares ", after the Maori for 'house'). It was extremely hard work and not well paid, but it attracted many Maori and European settlers, including women and children. There were many Dalmatians , who had first come to work
7314-515: The park for a controversial development involving houses, a Marae , and other buildings. The pony club will be required to surrender land for this development. There are also a number of inland parks, the largest of which is Te Atatū Peninsula Park, a large playing field surrounded by a cycleway. Te Atatū is home to several sports clubs. Perhaps the most successful is the Te Atatu Roosters rugby league team who were national champions in 1988. They are based at Jack Colvin Park. Other teams who play in
7420-475: The peninsula was a highland above the Waitematā river valley. The modern peninsula formed approximately 6,500 years ago, when sea levels rose and the Waitematā river valley drowned and became a harbour. The peninsula is located in the Tāmaki Ecological District. Within this, the majority of the peninsula is a part of the Warm Lowlands Ecosystem, which was originally dominated by a forest of kauri , rimu , rātā , kahikatea and rewarewa trees. The northern end of
7526-400: The peninsula were Hartshorn Brickworks (1895–1917) and the Auckland Brick and Tile Company on the Whau River (1884–1886). After the closure of the brickworks, the peninsula was primarily used as farmland, producing dairy, pigs, poultry and fruit from small orchards for the city of Auckland. During World War II , gun emplacements were installed on the eastern side of the peninsula, to protect
7632-399: The peninsula, and the south-western area adjacent to Te Wai-o-Pareira / Henderson Creek has a Harbour Coastline Ecosystem, which was originally a diverse lowland forest, including trees such as pōhutukawa , pūriri , nīkau palms, mamangi and kōwhai . The saltmarsh on the eastern side of the peninsula is an ecologically significant area for native plant life and bird species, and links to
7738-483: The peoples (some of which formed the Ngāti Whātua hapū Ngāti Rongo). Hostilities broke out and Ngāti Whātua asked for assistance from Kāwharu , a famed Tainui warrior from Kawhia. Kāwharu's repeated attacks of the Waitākere Ranges settlements became known as Te Raupatu Tīhore, or the stripping conquest. Lasting peace between Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Whātua was forged by Maki's grandson Te Au o Te Whenua, who fixed
7844-624: The portage linking the Kaipara Harbour in the north to the Waitematā Harbour via the Kaipara River and Kumeū River ; and Te Tōanga Waka , the Whau River portage linking the Waitematā Harbour to the Manukau Harbour in the south. Defensive pā and kāinga (villages) were found close to the portages and the major walking tracks across the area, including at the Opanuku Stream and the Huruhuru Creek. A number of settlements also existed on
7950-442: The region. The west coast was well known for its abundant seafood and productive soil, where crops such as kūmara , taro , hue (calabash/bottle gourd) and aruhe could be grown, and for the diversity of birds, eels, crayfish and berries found in the ranges. Archaeological investigations of middens show evidence of regional trade between different early Māori peoples, including pipi , cockles and mud-snail shells not native to
8056-448: The sea floor. Between 3 and 5 million years ago, tectonic forces uplifted the Waitākere Ranges and central Auckland, while subsiding the Manukau and inner Waitematā harbours. The Waitākere Ranges are the remnants of the eastern slopes of the Waitākere volcano, while the lowlands of suburban West Auckland are formed of Waitemata Group sandstone from the ancient sedimentary basin. Many of
8162-461: The settler ship Brilliant left Glasgow in 1840. The settlement had collapsed by 1843, due to its remoteness, land rights issues and the death of Symonds, with many residents moving to Onehunga . In 1840 after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi , paramount chief Āpihai Te Kawau made a tuku (strategic gift) of land on the Waitematā Harbour to William Hobson , the first Governor of New Zealand, as
8268-521: The shores of the Manukau Harbour . After establishing a timber mill in 1836, Mitchell drowned only months later, and the land was sold to Captain William Cornwallis Symonds . Symonds formed a company to create a large-scale settlement at Cornwallis focused on logging, trading and shipping, subdividing 220 plots of land in the area. Cornwallis was advertised as idyllic and fertile to Scottish settlers, and after 88 plots of land had been sold,
8374-455: The shores of the Whau River. From 1853, rural West Auckland around Glen Eden and Oratia was developed into orchards. New Lynn developed as a trade centre after 1865 due to the port along the estuarial Whau River, which could only be used at high tide. The North Auckland Line began operating in March 1880, connecting central Auckland to stations at Avondale , New Lynn and Glen Eden . The line
8480-631: The site of the original kauri forests. Initially, the gum was readily accessible, commonly found lying on the ground. Captain Cook reported the presence of resinous lumps on the beach at Mercury Bay , Coromandel, in 1769, although he suspected it came from the mangroves , and missionary Samuel Marsden spoke of their presence in Northland in 1819. By 1850, most of the surface gum had been harvested, and people began digging for it. The hillsides yielded shallow-buried gum (about 1 m), but in swamps and beaches it
8586-566: The size of acorns, although some were found which weighed a few pounds . The largest (and rarest) were reported to weigh half a hundredweight . Kauri gum shares a few characteristics with amber , another fossilised resin found in the Northern Hemisphere . While amber can be millions of years old, carbon-dating suggests the age of most kauri gum is a few thousand years. Most of the gumfields were in Northland , Coromandel and Auckland ,
8692-456: The soils around Titirangi and Laingholm are more sedimentary than the Waitākere Ranges volcanic soil, tōtara was widespread, alongside kohekohe , pūriri , karaka and nīkau palm trees. The Waitākere Ranges are home to many native species of bird, the New Zealand long-tailed bat and Hochstetter's frog , which have been impacted by introduced predatory species including rodents , stoats , weasels , possums and cats. In 2002, Ark in
8798-480: The stereotype usually involves a macho, working class Pākehā with poor taste, and the mullet haircut. The Westie sub-culture was depicted in the New Zealand television series Outrageous Fortune (2005–2010), with particular attention to the distinctive fashion, musical preferences and interest in cars typical of this social group. Twenty-two million years ago, due to subduction of the Pacific Plate , most of
8904-432: The urban Māori population of West Auckland. By the mid-2000s, West Auckland had the largest Ngāpuhi population in the country outside of Northland . Similarly, areas such as Rānui and Massey developed as centres for Pasifika New Zealander communities. The New Zealand Brick Tile and Pottery Company diversified and expanded into china production to supply local markets and American troops during World War II . Under
9010-509: The west coast retained the name Te Kawerau ā Maki, while those living at Mahurangi (modern-day Warkworth ) adopted the name Ngāti Manuhiri , and Ngāti Kahu for the people who settled on the North Shore . In the early 1700s, Ngāti Whātua migrated south into the Kaipara area (modern-day Helensville). Initially relations between the iwi were friendly, and many important marriages were made between
9116-404: The western portions of the old Auckland City , such as Ponsonby and Kingsland . The name Auckland was originally given to the township of Auckland (now Auckland city centre ) in 1840 by William Hobson , after patron George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland . Westie is a term used to describe a sub-culture from West Auckland, acting also as a societal identifier. Similar to the word bogan ,
9222-414: The wide variety of fern species (over 110), as well as native orchids, many of which self-established from seeds carried by winds from the east coast of Australia . The areas of West Auckland close to the Waitematā Harbour, such as Henderson, Te Atatū Peninsula and Whenuapai , were formerly covered in broadleaf forest, predominantly kahikatea , pukatea trees, and a thick growth of nīkau palms . As
9328-455: Was Auckland 's main export in the second half of the 19th century, sustaining much of the early growth of the city. Between 1850 and 1950, 450,000 tons of gum were exported. The peak in the gum market was 1899, with 11,116 tons exported that year, with a value of £ 600,000 ( $ 989,700 US). The average annual export was over 5,000 tons, with the average price gained £63 ($ 103.91 US) per ton. The gum varied in colour depending on
9434-567: Was 28.2, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.6% had no religion, 35.6% were Christian , 1.3% had Māori religious beliefs , 2.3% were Hindu , 1.5% were Muslim , 1.4% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 2,802 (27.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,557 (15.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 2,352 people (23.0%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
9540-572: Was 38.0, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 44.0% had no religion, 36.5% were Christian , 0.8% had Māori religious beliefs , 5.8% were Hindu , 3.1% were Muslim , 1.7% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 56,526 (25.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 33,417 (15.0%) people had no formal qualifications. 38,691 people (17.4%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
9646-441: Was a popular place for Urban Māori , Pākehā and Pasifika families, however the area had poor infrastructure to serve the area's new inhabitants. Low and medium-income housing continued to be built on the peninsula during the 1960s and 1970s. In the late 1960s, Te Atatū Peninsula was the proposed site for Auckland Thermal No. 1, a large gas-fired power plant that was intended to make the Auckland power grid more resilient. There
9752-494: Was buried much deeper (4 m or below). Gum-diggers were men and women who dug for kauri gum in the old kauri fields of New Zealand at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The term may be a source for the nickname " Digger " given to New Zealand soldiers in World War I . In 1898, a gum-digger described "the life of a gum-digger" as "wretched, and one of the last [occupations] a man would take to." Gum-diggers worked in
9858-777: Was completed in 1910. Further reservoirs were constructed along the different river catchments in the Waitākere Ranges: the Upper Nihotupu Reservoir in 1923; the Huia Reservoir in 1929; and the Lower Nihotupu Reservoir in 1948. The construction of the Waitākere Dam permanently reduced the flow of the Waitākere River, greatly impacting the Te Kawerau ā Maki community at Te Henga / Bethells Beach. Between
9964-643: Was connected to the North Shore when the Upper Harbour Bridge was constructed across the Upper Waitematā Harbour . In the late 1980s, the Crown Lynn factory closed due to competition from overseas imports. West Auckland covers 578.20 km (223.24 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 334,476 as of June 2024, with a population density of 578 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,500 inhabitants per square mile). West Auckland had
10070-399: Was extended to Henderson by December, and to Helensville by July 1881. The railway encouraged growth along the corridor between Auckland and Henderson. The West Auckland orchards prospered in the early 1900s after immigrants from Dalmatia (modern-day Croatia ) settled in the area. In 1907, Lebanese New Zealander Assid Abraham Corban developed a vineyard at Henderson. By the 1920s,
10176-495: Was first developed as a way for passengers to more efficiently drive to the airport at Whenuapai, with the first section opening in 1952. By the late 19th century, Auckland City was plagued with seasonal droughts. A number of options were considered to counter this, including the construction of water reservoirs in the Waitākere Ranges. The first of these projects was the Waitākere Dam in the north-eastern Waitākere Ranges, which
10282-661: Was known to have visited the region after arriving in New Zealand, naming many locations along the west coast. He is the namesake of the Karangahape Peninsula at Cornwallis , as well as the ancient walking track linking the peninsula to the central Tāmaki isthmus (part of which became Karangahape Road ). Most Māori settlements in West Auckland centred around the west coast beaches and the Waitākere River valley, especially at Te Henga / Bethells Beach . Instead of living in permanent settlements, Te Kawerau ā Maki and other earlier Tāmaki Māori groups seasonally migrated across
10388-502: Was later mechanised. Gumdiggers generally sold their gum to local gumbuyers, who transported it to Auckland (generally by sea) for sale to merchants and exporters. There were six major export firms in Auckland who dealt in gum, employing several hundred workers who graded and rescraped the gum for export, packing them in cases made from kauri timber. As early as the 1830s and 1840s, merchants, including Gilbert Mair and Logan Campbell , were buying gum from local Māori for £5 ($ 8.25)
10494-403: Was more complicated. A longer spear (up to 8m) was often used, often fitted with a hooked end to scoop out the lumps. Scrub was often cleared first with fire; some became uncontrolled and swamp fires could burn for weeks. Holes were often dug by teams in both hills and swamps—often up to 12m deep—and some wetlands were drained to aid in the excavation of gum. As field gum became scarce, "bush gum"
10600-400: Was obtained by purposely cutting the bark of kauri trees and returning months later to retrieve the hardened resin. Due to the damage caused to the trees by the cutting the practice was banned in state forests in 1905. Gum chips, small lumps useful for the manufacture of linoleum, were difficult to find. By 1910, the process of washing and sieving to retrieve the chips became common. The process
10706-410: Was split into two major areas: the west, which became suburban housing, and the east, which was land earmarked for industrial land and the development of the port. Between 1945 and 1960, Te Atatū was the second fastest growing area in Auckland. During this period, the area gained the nickname Nappy Valley, referring to the large number of young families who settled in the area. The new working class suburb
10812-458: Was that 117,069 (52.6%) people were employed full-time, 29,490 (13.2%) were part-time, and 9,642 (4.3%) were unemployed. The first schools that began operating in West Auckland were Avondale School, which opened in 1860, a school held in the library of Henderson's Mill in 1873, and the New Lynn School, which opened on the modern site of Kelston Girls' College in 1888. West Auckland has
10918-571: Was that 5,532 (54.1%) people were employed full-time, 1,341 (13.1%) were part-time, and 417 (4.1%) were unemployed. Rutherford College , named after Ernest Rutherford , is a secondary (years 9–13) school with a roll of 1432 students. Te Atatū Intermediate School is for years 7–8, and has a roll of 466 students. Peninsula Primary School, Matipo Primary School and Rutherford Primary School are contributing schools (years 1–6) with rolls of 459, 464 and 325 respectively. All schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of August 2024. Harbourview-Orangihina Park
11024-421: Was the major source of income for settlers in Northland, and farmers often worked the gumfields in the winter months to subsidise the poor income from their unbroken land. By the 1890s, 20,000 people were engaged in gum-digging, of which 7000 worked full-time. Gum-digging was not restricted to settlers or workers in the rural areas; Auckland families would cross the Waitematā Harbour by ferry at weekends to dig in
11130-445: Was the wife of Te Au o Te Whenua, a prominent paramount chief of Te Kawerau ā Maki. To the south-east of the peninsula is Te Tōanga Waka , the Whau River portage, which allowed canoes to pass between the Waitematā Harbour and the Manukau Harbour . Thomas Henderson , a Scottish immigrant who purchased land from Ngati Whatua in 1844, and established a timber mill on the banks of Te Wai-o-Pareira / Henderson Creek circa 1847 (at
11236-546: Was wide-scale opposition to the plan, with over 1,000 people present at a meeting at Te Atatū Intermediate School in 1973, after which Prime Minister Norman Kirk announced that the project would be abandoned. In the early 1980s, the Auckland Harbour Board abandoned its plans for a port or industrial park on the peninsula. This was formalised by an act of parliament, the Auckland Harbour Board and Waitemata City Council (Te Atatu) Empowering Act 1983, which freed up use of
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