97-556: Te Henga , or Bethells Beach , is a coastal community in West Auckland , New Zealand . The Māori name for the area, "Te Henga", is in reference to the long foredunes which run along the beach and look like the Henga or gunwale of an upturned waka hull. This name originally applied to a wide area of the lower Waitakere River valley, but during the early 1900s the area became popular with visiting European immigrants who began to refer to
194-465: 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
291-687: 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
388-668: A four-month shoot for award-winning drama series Children of Fire Mountain (1979). Other shoots include the music video for Shania Twain 's single " Forever and for Always "(2003), " Out of the Woods " for Taylor Swift , TV series The New Adventures of Black Beauty and The Wilds , Brit/New Zealand TV movie The Man Who Lost His Head , and episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess , Young Hercules , and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys . Battle scenes for New Disney Channel Original movie Avalon High were also filmed there. In addition, K-pop singer Taeyeon 's first solo music video I, and
485-462: A freshwater lake during the same time period as the three remaining lakes. The lake was destroyed in 1910 with the construction of the Waitākere Dam and Reservoir , which made water-levels rise and the water to become more silty. The wetlands began forming in the mid-1920s. The Waitākere River catchment consists of roughly 70 km of the bush-clad Waitākere Ranges . Located on the west coast of
582-421: 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
679-525: A letter of 23 September 1853, Henry Waterhouse of Waiti described the wreck of the barque Helena, near the mouth of the Waitakere River at Te Henga. Heavy seas and the incoming tide had caused the barque to break in two, resulting in the loss of seven lives including the captain. Four survivors were rescued by two Kawerau Māori men returning from pig hunting, who cared for them for several days before escorting them to Auckland. John Bethell negotiated with
776-555: 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
873-589: 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
970-513: 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
1067-676: 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
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#17330928530841164-564: 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
1261-610: A part of the Waitākere River tidal estuary. Over time, Tasman Sea sand accumulated at Te Henga, forming sand dunes and freshwater lakes. The sand dunes have accumulated in several phases over the last 4,500 years. These sands contain quantities of black titanomagnetite derived from the volcanic rocks of Taranaki and carried north by coastal currents. The dunes continually move in a dynamic coastal process. There are three dune-impounded lakes: Lake Wainamu , Lake Kawaupaku and Lake Waiataru. The Te Henga wetlands originally formed as
1358-674: 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
1455-428: A rural settlement, which covers 5.37 km (2.07 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 280 as of June 2024, with a population density of 52 people per km. The settlement is part of the larger Muriwai Valley-Bethells Beach statistical area. Bethells Beach had a population of 264 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 9 people (3.5%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 3 people (1.1%) since
1552-454: Is for the census usually-resident population count. New Zealanders who declare Māori descent. 18.5% of New Zealanders have at least some Māori descent. Data is for the census usually-resident population count. The largest age group is people aged 25 to 29, who comprise 7.3% of the population. Data is the census usually-resident population count. Data is the census usually-resident population count. Declared sex of New Zealanders Data
1649-411: Is for the census usually-resident population count. Results add up to over 100% due to people declaring multiple ethnicities. Most New Zealanders, 48.5% of the population, identify as being irreligious. Data is for the census usually-resident population count. The vast majority of New Zealanders, 95.4%, speak English; in second place is Māori, with 4.0% of the population being able to speak it. Data
1746-449: 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)
1843-580: Is rated the 4th most dangerous beach in New Zealand to swim at due to its strong rips and currents. There have been many fatalities including in 2009, Rugby League star Sonny Fai , who was never located. It experiences a population explosion over summer with thousands of visitors. This has put a lot of pressure on the local infrastructure and environment with an increase in rubbish and parking issues. The Te Henga Valley shows evidence of human settlement dating back many centuries. Carbon dating of midden shells at Kauwahaia Island date settlement back to at least
1940-495: Is the best person to finish the remediation work". The 2018 census collected data on the following topics: Statistics New Zealand annually conducts population projections for New Zealand as a whole, which are based on data from the previous census (in this case, the 2013 census) and calculated using a cohort-component method. Population projections also take into consideration births, deaths, and net migration. In 2016, New Zealand's population at
2037-585: 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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#17330928530842134-512: 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
2231-451: The 2006 census . There were 117 households, comprising 132 males and 138 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female, with 39 people (14.8%) aged under 15 years, 42 (15.9%) aged 15 to 29, 159 (60.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 21 (8.0%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 96.6% European/ Pākehā , 10.2% Māori , 4.5% Pacific peoples , and 3.4% Asian . People may identify with more than one ethnicity. Although some people chose not to answer
2328-680: The 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 159 people (16.8%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 279 people (33.8%) since the 2006 census . There were 372 households, comprising 564 males and 540 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 39.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 237 people (21.5%) aged under 15 years, 177 (16.0%) aged 15 to 29, 570 (51.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 120 (10.9%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 96.5% European/ Pākehā , 10.1% Māori , 3.0% Pacific peoples , 1.6% Asian , and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
2425-723: 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
2522-620: 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. 2018 New Zealand census The 2018 New Zealand census , which took place on Tuesday 6 March 2018, was the thirty-fourth national census in New Zealand . The population of New Zealand
2619-644: 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
2716-686: 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
2813-564: 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
2910-631: 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
3007-545: 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
Te Henga / Bethells Beach - Misplaced Pages Continue
3104-474: 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
3201-675: The 2013 census and the planned release date for census information was changed from October of the same year to March 2019. This drop, which already amounted to the lowest census response rate for fifty years, was blamed on a 'digital-first' policy for the census. An independent review was initiated by the Government Statistician in October 2019, and in November Statistics NZ announced that release of census data would be pushed back to at least April 2019 due to "the complex nature of
3298-450: The 94% census percent target and a nine percent drop from the previous 2013 New Zealand census . On 13 August 2019 the report was released to the public and Liz MacPherson offered her resignation, taking ultimate responsibility for the results, stating "I'm sorry, the buck stops with me." State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes agreed with her assessment, and asked MacPherson to remain in her role until Christmas of 2019, noting that "she
3395-555: The Auckland Region approximately 75% of the catchment consists of native vegetation in spite of extensive milling, farming and settlement. The major features of the catchment are: The Waitakere River has two main tributaries, the Mokoroa and Waiti streams. The headwaters of the river are in the vast and steep Waitākere Ranges and drain out at the Bethell's Beach river mouth. In comparison with other North Island beaches, and to some extent even
3492-559: 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
3589-666: 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
3686-537: The Government Statistician, the Minister of Statistics and the State Services Commissioner , reporting that too little attention had been paid to the non-digital aspects of the census, but also blamed operational complexity and flaws in management. Due to a decision to conduct the census primarily online, the census attracted only an 83% response rate, even lower than the 90% earlier reported, and well short of
3783-577: 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
3880-730: 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
3977-471: 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
Te Henga / Bethells Beach - Misplaced Pages Continue
4074-564: 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
4171-514: The Te Henga (Bethells Beach) area, however these sites are now all in private ownership and housing. Currently the iwi are in negotiations with Auckland Council to set up a new marae at Te Henga so they can return to their ancestral heartland. 7,000 years ago, when sea-levels rose after the Last Glacial Maximum , Te Henga / Bethells Beach and the surrounding area including Lake Wainamu formed
4268-500: The Waitakere County Council to sell the land that is now known as Te Henga Park. The Council considered the beach and park area would provide excellent recreation facilities for residents of Auckland. Te Henga was recognised as a place of regional significance. Te Henga / Bethells Beach was the location where feminist artist Juliet Batten performed 100 Women Performance . Statistics New Zealand describes Bethells Beach as
4365-517: 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
4462-533: The added data into account. Population counts for regions of New Zealand . All figures are for the census usually-resident population count. In 2018, 3,370,122 people (71.7%) were born in New Zealand, with 1,329,633 (28.3%) born overseas. Data is for the census's usually-resident population. Birthplace of New Zealanders There was no change in the top five ethnicities between the 2013 and 2018 censuses, which are New Zealand European (64.1%), Māori (16.5%), Chinese (4.9%), Indian (4.7%), and Samoan (3.9%). Data
4559-631: The area as "Bethells Beach" after the Bethell Family who live there and still own much of the area. In 1976 the New Zealand Geographic Board officially named the area "Te Henga (Bethells Beach)". The beach is approximately 37 km (23 mi) west of Auckland City, at the mouth of the Waitakere River where it flows into the Tasman Sea . One of several popular resorts in the area (others include Muriwai , Piha and Karekare ), it
4656-459: 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
4753-505: 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
4850-402: 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 ,
4947-545: 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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#17330928530845044-406: 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
5141-433: The census's question about religious affiliation, 67.0% had no religion, 17.0% were Christian , 1.1% had Māori religious beliefs , 2.3% were Buddhist and 3.4% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 78 (34.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 21 (9.3%) people had no formal qualifications. 48 people (21.3%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
5238-402: The competing water and soil resource demands within the catchment in terms of "conservation, allocation, use and quality of natural water and in terms of soil conservation and preventing damage from flooding." Although this document reached its quarter-century in 2015, many of its principles still apply. The beach has been used as a filming location for several projects, one of the earliest being
5335-414: The country on census night (6 March 2018), and excludes overseas visitors and New Zealand residents who are temporarily overseas. Due to the high rate of non-response in the census, the published results combine answers from census forms with data from the 2013 Census and from government administrative data. Reports from an External Data Quality Review Panel include quality ratings for each variable, taking
5432-510: 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
5529-494: 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
5626-498: 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
5723-548: The end scenes of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny were also filmed here. 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 the area is dominated by the Waitākere Ranges , the eastern slopes of the Miocene era Waitākere volcano which
5820-587: The exceptions of those in 1931 and 1941 and the one in 2011 which was cancelled due to the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch , which displaced many Canterbury residents from their homes only a few weeks before census day. It was rescheduled for March 2013, so the 2013 census is the previous census completed before this one. In July 2018, it was estimated that the 2018 census had a "full or partial" response for 90 percent of individuals, down from 94.5 percent in
5917-509: 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
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#17330928530846014-570: 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
6111-495: 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
6208-546: 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
6305-472: 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
6402-491: The native reserves was largely undermined by the Native Land Court, created in 1865, which was based on the settlers' legal system, and converted customary title to land into individual title. Over the following decades much of the land was sold to European immigrants. The arrival of Europeans in the 19th century led to major changes in the character and shape of Te Henga (Bethells Beach). The most significant of these changes
6499-468: The north-west of Ihumoana Island is the namesake of Wai-tākere ("cascading water"), which was later applied to the Waitākere River , Ranges , and West Auckland in general. In the mid 1800s, much of the area (1,180 hectares (2,900 acres)) was designated as the Waitakere and Puketotara Native Reserve. These native reserves were to be ‘inalienable’ for Kawerau people to live on in perpetuity. The provision of
6596-483: 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
6693-624: 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
6790-442: 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
6887-448: 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
6984-461: 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
7081-521: 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,
7178-455: 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
7275-456: 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
7372-480: 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
7469-433: The task". In early April 2019, the Government Statistician, Liz MacPherson was facing possible charges of contempt of parliament. She had twice refused, on 13 February and in early April, to disclose the number of partially and fully completed responses. On 9 April, she reported that one in seven New Zealanders, 700,000 people, failed to complete the census. In July 2019 the independent inquiry returned its findings to
7566-421: The time of the 2018 census was projected to be between 4,807,000 and 4,944,000. Data uses fixed random rounding to protect confidentiality; each data point is rounded either to the nearest multiple of 3 ( 2 ⁄ 3 chance) or the next-nearest multiple of 3 ( 1 ⁄ 3 chance). The census usually-resident population count of New Zealand is a count of all people who usually live in and were present in
7663-432: 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
7760-568: The west coast beaches of Muriwai and Piha, settlement at Bethells has been minor with most development revolving around horticulture and agriculture. With the exception of the Waitākere Reservoir the catchments resources have largely escaped development. In 1990 the Auckland Regional Water Board developed and prepared a Waitakere River Catchment Water and Soil Plan. This pre-Resource Management Act document aimed to deal with
7857-509: 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
7954-404: 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 ,
8051-414: 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
8148-411: The year 1600. The cultural history of the area is of archaeologically significant sites, including food gathering areas, pā (fortifications), walkways, canoe landings and sacred places. Te Henga and the Waitākere River have traditionally been major settled areas for the iwi Te Kawerau ā Maki , with many pā found around the islands, headland and inland areas close to Te Henga. A rock in the beach to
8245-404: Was $ 38,600, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 228 people (26.3%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 489 (56.4%) people were employed full-time, 168 (19.4%) were part-time, and 27 (3.1%) were unemployed. Te Henga is a tribal meeting ground for the local iwi of Te Kawerau a Maki . Historically there were several marae spread around
8342-427: Was 20.4, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 67.1% had no religion, 23.4% were Christian , 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 246 (28.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 90 (10.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income
8439-572: 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
8536-777: 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
8633-643: 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
8730-522: Was counted as 4,699,755 – an increase of 457,707 (10.79%) over the 2013 census . Results from the 2018 census were released to the public on 23 September 2019, from the Statistics New Zealand website. The most recent New Zealand census was held in March 2023. The Census Act 1877 required censuses to be held every fifth year and is well embedded in legislation and government systems. Since 1881, censuses have been held every five years, with
8827-399: 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,
8924-440: 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
9021-661: 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
9118-458: 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
9215-415: Was that 120 (53.3%) people were employed full-time, 39 (17.3%) were part-time, and 9 (4.0%) were unemployed. Muriwai Valley-Bethells Beach statistical area, which does not include Muriwai settlement, covers 35.36 km (13.65 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,210 as of June 2024, with a population density of 34 people per km. Muriwai Valley-Bethells Beach had a population of 1,104 at
9312-424: Was the clearing of the land for timber and pastoral farming which began in 1854 and continued until the 1920s. In addition, a dam was constructed on the Waitakere River in the 1920s, drastically altering the level of the riverbed and reducing the outflow of water to the sea. Prior to the dam being constructed, the Waitākere River catchment at Te Henga was a site where New Zealand flax was harvested. In excerpts from
9409-469: 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 is within the rohe of Te Kawerau ā Maki , whose traditional names for
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