162-589: The Waitākere Ranges is a mountain range in New Zealand. Located in West Auckland between metropolitan Auckland and the Tasman Sea , the ranges and its foothills and coasts comprise some 27,720 hectares (68,500 acres) of public and private land. The area, traditionally known to Māori as Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa (The Great Forest of Tiriwa), is of local, regional, and national significance. The Waitākere Ranges includes
324-479: A Mediterranean climate . The south-east ranges from oceanic (Tasmania and coastal Victoria) to humid subtropical (upper half of New South Wales), with the highlands featuring alpine and subpolar oceanic climates . The interior is arid to semi-arid . Driven by climate change , average temperatures have risen more than 1°C since 1960 . Associated changes in rainfall patterns and climate extremes exacerbate existing issues such as drought and bushfires . 2019
486-511: A belt of Brigalow grasslands lie between the coast and the mountains, while inland of the dividing range are large areas of grassland and shrubland. These include the western plains of New South Wales, and the Mitchell Grass Downs and Mulga Lands of inland Queensland. The northernmost point of the mainland is the tropical Cape York Peninsula . The landscapes of the Top End and
648-793: A large wave of immigration from across Europe , with such immigrants referred to as " New Australians ". This required a relaxation of the white Australia policy , which was justified to Australians using the slogan "populate or perish". A member of the Western Bloc during the Cold War , Australia participated in the Korean War and the Malayan Emergency during the 1950s and the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1972. During this time, tensions over communist influence in society led to unsuccessful attempts by
810-560: A tuku (strategic gift) of land on the Waitematā Harbour to William Hobson , the first Governor of New Zealand, as 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
972-606: A chain of hills in the Auckland Region , generally running approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) from north to south, 25 km west of central Auckland. The ranges are part of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park . From 1 May 2018 the forested areas of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park were closed, with some exceptions, while Auckland Council upgraded the tracks to dry foot standard protect
1134-461: A date which later became Australia's national day . Most early settlers were convicts , transported for petty crimes and assigned as labourers or servants to "free settlers" (willing immigrants). Once emancipated , convicts tended to integrate into colonial society. Convict rebellions and uprisings were suppressed under martial law, which lasted for two years following the 1808 Rum Rebellion , Australia's only successful coup d'état . During
1296-481: 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 the rohe (border) between Muriwai Beach and Rangitōpuni ( Riverhead ). In the 1740s, war broke out between Ngāti Whātua and Waiohua ,
1458-512: 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 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
1620-513: 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
1782-409: A nature reserve. The Auckland Centennial Memorial Park opened in 1940, commemorating 100 years since the establishment of Auckland. It 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
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#17330863328031944-622: 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
2106-564: 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
2268-642: A population of 2,385 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 234 people (10.9%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 348 people (17.1%) since the 2006 census . There were 873 households, comprising 1,206 males and 1,179 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female, with 456 people (19.1%) aged under 15 years, 396 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,230 (51.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 300 (12.6%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 92.3% European/ Pākehā , 12.5% Māori , 4.2% Pacific peoples , 3.6% Asian , and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
2430-674: 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
2592-582: A process of increasing autonomy from the United Kingdom, highlighted by the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 , and culminating in the Australia Acts of 1986. Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories . Its population of more than 28 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Canberra
2754-455: A ridge of high points along the eastern ranges, connecting the communities of Titirangi , Waiatarua and Swanson . Along this ridge are some of the more notable peaks of the ranges, including Ruaotuwhenua , known for its radome and adjacent television mast, and Pukematekeo , the northernmost of the ranges which looks out over metropolitan Auckland. In the Holocene prior to human settlement,
2916-568: A settlement was established in Van Diemen's Land (present-day Tasmania ), and in 1813, Gregory Blaxland , William Lawson and William Wentworth crossed the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, opening the interior to European settlement. The British claim extended to the whole Australian continent in 1827 when Major Edmund Lockyer established a settlement on King George Sound (modern-day Albany ). The Swan River Colony (present-day Perth )
3078-548: A short distance off the north-east coast and extends for more than 2,000 km (1,200 mi). Mount Augustus , claimed to be the world's largest monolith, is located in Western Australia. At 2,228 m (7,310 ft), Mount Kosciuszko is the highest mountain on the Australian mainland. Even taller are Mawson Peak , at 2,745 m (9,006 ft), on the remote Australian external territory of Heard Island , and, in
3240-525: 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 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
3402-411: A wide variety of landscapes, with tropical rainforests in the north-east, mountain ranges in the south-east, south-west and east, and desert in the centre. The desert or semi-arid land commonly known as the outback makes up by far the largest portion of land. Australia is the driest inhabited continent; its annual rainfall averaged over continental area is less than 500 mm. The population density
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#17330863328033564-406: A year later. Tracks in the ranges have slowly begun to be reopened, after extensive work on tracks to incorporate boardwalks and gravel as protective measures for kauri. Some of the ranges' main attractions are: the four popular surf beaches, Piha , Muriwai , Te Henga (Bethells Beach) , Karekare ; an extensive network of bush walks and tracks; and panoramic views of the east and west coasts and
3726-436: Is 3.4 inhabitants per square kilometre, although the large majority of the population lives along the temperate south-eastern coastline. The population density exceeds 19,500 inhabitants per square kilometre in central Melbourne. In 2021 Australia had 10% of the global permanent meadows and pastureland. Forest cover is around 17% of Australia's total land area. The Great Barrier Reef , the world's largest coral reef, lies
3888-413: Is a constitutional monarchy , a parliamentary democracy and a federation . The country has maintained its mostly unchanged constitution alongside a stable liberal democratic political system since Federation in 1901. It is one of the world's oldest federations, in which power is divided between the federal and state governments. The Australian system of government combines elements derived from
4050-464: 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 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
4212-569: Is now Southeast Asia. It is uncertain how many waves of immigration may have contributed to these ancestors of modern Aboriginal Australians. The Madjedbebe rock shelter in Arnhem Land is possibly the oldest site showing the presence of humans in Australia. The oldest human remains found are the Lake Mungo remains , which have been dated to around 41,000 years ago. Aboriginal Australian culture
4374-609: Is one of only two pristine Archaean 3.6–2.7 Ga (billion years ago) crusts identified on the Earth. Having been part of all major supercontinents , the Australian continent began to form after the breakup of Gondwana in the Permian , with the separation of the continental landmass from the African continent and Indian subcontinent. It separated from Antarctica over a prolonged period beginning in
4536-560: 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 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
4698-460: Is one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth. At the time of first European contact, Aboriginal Australians belonged to wide range of societies, with diverse economies spread across at least 250 different language groups . Estimates of the Aboriginal population before British settlement range from 300,000 to 3 million. Aboriginal Australians cultures were (and remain) deeply connected with
4860-416: Is regarded as one of or maybe the best multi day hike in the north of the country. The statistical areas making up Waitākere Ranges, which include the populated areas of Huia and Karekare but not Piha or Te Henga / Bethells Beach , cover 188.35 km (72.72 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 2,500 as of June 2024, with a population density of 13.3 people per km. Waitākere Ranges had
5022-446: Is the nation's capital, while its most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne , both with a population of more than 5 million. Australia's culture is diverse, and the country has one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world . It has a highly developed market economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally . Its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations are crucial to
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5184-411: Is unique. About 85% of flowering plants, 84% of mammals, more than 45% of birds , and 89% of in-shore, temperate-zone fish are endemic . Australia has at least 755 species of reptile, more than any other country in the world. Besides Antarctica, Australia is the only continent that developed without feline species. Feral cats may have been introduced in the 17th century by Dutch shipwrecks, and later in
5346-731: The Colonial Office that it be formally adopted. In 1824, the Admiralty agreed that the continent should be known officially by that name. The first official published use of the new name came with the publication in 1830 of The Australia Directory by the Hydrographic Office . Colloquial names for Australia include " Oz ", " Straya " and " Down Under ". Other epithets include "the Great Southern Land", "the Lucky Country" (from
5508-579: The Gulf Country —with their tropical climate—include forest, woodland, wetland, grassland, rainforest and desert. At the north-west corner of the continent are the sandstone cliffs and gorges of The Kimberley , and below that the Pilbara . The Victoria Plains tropical savanna lies south of the Kimberley and Arnhem Land savannas, forming a transition between the coastal savannas and the interior deserts. At
5670-542: The Indian Ocean Dipole and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation , which is correlated with periodic drought , and the seasonal tropical low-pressure system that produces cyclones in northern Australia. These factors cause rainfall to vary markedly from year to year. Much of the northern part of the country has a tropical, predominantly summer-rainfall ( monsoon ). The south-west corner of the country has
5832-529: The Iraq War from 2003 to 2009. The nation's trade relations also became increasingly oriented towards East Asia in the 21st century, with China becoming the nation's largest trading partner by a large margin. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic , several of Australia's largest cities were locked down for extended periods and free movement across the national and state borders was restricted in an attempt to slow
5994-556: 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 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
6156-685: 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 the Te Atatū Peninsula , including Ōrukuwai and Ōrangihina. In the early 1600s, members of Ngāti Awa from the Kawhia Harbour , most notably
6318-638: The Menzies Government to ban the Communist Party of Australia , and a bitter split in the Labor Party in 1955. As a result of a 1967 referendum , the federal government gained the power to legislate with regard to Indigenous Australians, and Indigenous Australians were fully included in the census . Pre-colonial land interests (referred to as native title in Australia) was recognised in law for
6480-659: 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 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
6642-473: 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 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
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6804-627: 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 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
6966-755: The Pacific Community ; the Commonwealth of Nations ; and the defence and security organisations ANZUS , AUKUS , and the Five Eyes . It is also a major non-NATO ally of the United States. The name Australia (pronounced / ə ˈ s t r eɪ l i ə / in Australian English ) is derived from the Latin Terra Australis ( ' southern land ' ), a name used for a hypothetical continent in
7128-574: 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. Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia , is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent ,
7290-520: The Permian and continuing through to the Cretaceous . When the last glacial period ended in about 10,000 BC, rising sea levels formed Bass Strait , separating Tasmania from the mainland. Then between about 8,000 and 6,500 BC, the lowlands in the north were flooded by the sea, separating New Guinea, the Aru Islands , and the mainland of Australia. The Australian continent is moving toward Eurasia at
7452-640: 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 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 ,
7614-663: The Territory of Papua and New Guinea in 1949 and gained independence from Australia in 1975. In 1914, Australia joined the Allies in fighting the First World War, and took part in many of the major battles fought on the Western Front . Of about 416,000 who served, about 60,000 were killed and another 152,000 were wounded. Many Australians regard the defeat of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) at Gallipoli in 1915 as
7776-514: The Torres Strait Islands . The Dutch charted the whole of the western and northern coastlines and named the island continent " New Holland " during the 17th century, and although no attempt at settlement was made, a number of shipwrecks left men either stranded or, as in the case of the Batavia in 1629, marooned for mutiny and murder, thus becoming the first Europeans to permanently inhabit
7938-492: 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
8100-508: 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 the border between the former Waitakere and Auckland cities, a border which was first established between Eden County on
8262-621: The bombing of Darwin and other Japanese attacks on Australian soil , led to a widespread belief in Australia that a Japanese invasion was imminent , and a shift from the United Kingdom to the United States as Australia's principal ally and security partner. Since 1951, Australia has been allied with the United States under the ANZUS treaty. In the decades following World War II, Australia enjoyed significant increases in living standards, leisure time and suburban development. Governments encouraged
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#17330863328038424-426: The emu and the kookaburra . Australia is home to many dangerous animals including some of the most venomous snakes in the world. The dingo was introduced by Austronesian people who traded with Indigenous Australians around 3000 BCE . Many animal and plant species became extinct soon after first human settlement, including the Australian megafauna ; others have disappeared since European settlement, among them
8586-584: The governor-general at the federal level and by the governors at the state level, who by section 63 of the Constitution and convention act on the advice of their ministers. Thus, in practice the governor-general acts as a legal figurehead for the actions of the prime minister and the Cabinet. The governor-general may in some situations exercise reserve powers : powers exercisable in the absence or contrary to ministerial advice. When these powers may be exercised
8748-419: The interior and tropical rainforests along the coast . The ancestors of Aboriginal Australians began arriving from south-east Asia 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, during the last glacial period . By the time of British settlement, Aboriginal Australians spoke 250 distinct languages and had the oldest living culture in the world. Australia's written history commenced with Dutch exploration of most of
8910-522: The iwi Te Kawerau ā Maki , whose most intensive settlements were traditionally around the Waitākere River and Te Henga / Bethells Beach being major focal points for settlement. Much of the coastline and river valleys were settled due to the resource-rich forests and coastline, with over 550 recorded archaeological sites recorded in the area. The warm, sheltered valleys of the west coast streams were well suited for growing crops such as kūmara , taro , hue (calabash) and aruhe (bracken fern) , and were
9072-483: The "baptism of fire" that forged the new nation's identity . The beginning of the campaign is commemorated annually on Anzac Day , a date which rivals Australia Day as the nation's most important. From 1939 to 1945, Australia joined the Allies in fighting the Second World War. Australia's armed forces fought in the Pacific , European and Mediterranean and Middle East theatres . The shock of Britain's defeat in Singapore in 1942, followed soon after by
9234-503: The "island continent" and is sometimes considered the world's largest island . Australia has 34,218 km (21,262 mi) of coastline (excluding all offshore islands), and claims an extensive exclusive economic zone of 8,148,250 square kilometres (3,146,060 sq mi). This exclusive economic zone does not include the Australian Antarctic Territory . Mainland Australia lies between latitudes 9° and 44° south , and longitudes 112° and 154° east . Australia's size gives it
9396-412: 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 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
9558-428: The 18th century by European settlers. They are now considered a major factor in the decline and extinction of many vulnerable and endangered native species. Seafaring immigrants from Asia are believed to have brought the dingo to Australia sometime after the end of the last ice age—perhaps 4000 years ago—and Aboriginal people helped disperse them across the continent as pets, contributing to the demise of thylacines on
9720-439: 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. 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 five reservoirs continue to operate today, supplying water. Combined,
9882-423: 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
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#173308633280310044-410: The 1950s almost all Te Kawerau ā Maki land in the Waitākere Ranges had been partitioned and sold. In the 18th century, significant areas of the Waitākere Ranges were forested with kauri . Tāmaki Māori tribes had traditionally felled kauri wood to construct waka , and early European visitors in the 1790s likely began harvesting young kauri trees for sailing ship spars. During the early colonial era,
10206-407: The 1964 book of the same name ), "the Sunburnt Country", and "the Wide Brown Land". The latter two both derive from Dorothea Mackellar 's 1908 poem " My Country ". Indigenous Australians comprise two broad groups: Human habitation of the Australian continent is estimated to have begun 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, with the migration of people by land bridges and short sea crossings from what
10368-416: The 2018 Environmental Performance Index . There are more than 1,800 animals and plants on Australia's threatened species list, including more than 500 animals. Paleontologists discovered a fossil site of a prehistoric rainforest in McGraths Flat , in South Australia, that presents evidence that this now arid desert and dry shrubland / grassland was once home to an abundance of life. Australia
10530-437: The Auckland Council. First established in 2002 by volunteers, the project began with a gated area of 200 hectares (490 acres) within the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park that was regularly trapped by volunteers. By 2019, this area had grown to 2,270 hectares (5,600 acres), and led to reintroductions of New Zealand bird species, including the whitehead ( pōpokatea ), North Island robin ( toutouwai ) and North Island kōkako ;
10692-426: 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
10854-494: 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 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
11016-500: The Australian Antarctic Territory, Mount McClintock and Mount Menzies , at 3,492 m (11,457 ft) and 3,355 m (11,007 ft) respectively. Eastern Australia is marked by the Great Dividing Range , which runs parallel to the coast of Queensland, New South Wales and much of Victoria. The name is not strictly accurate, because parts of the range consist of low hills, and the highlands are typically no more than 1,600 m (5,200 ft) in height. The coastal uplands and
11178-438: The Australian mainland. The first ship and crew to chart the Australian coast and meet with Aboriginal people was the Duyfken , captained by Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon . He sighted the coast of Cape York Peninsula in early 1606, and made landfall on 26 February 1606 at the Pennefather River near the modern town of Weipa on Cape York. Later that year, Spanish explorer Luís Vaz de Torres sailed through and navigated
11340-459: 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
11502-425: 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 is volcanic material from Mount Taranaki (including the Pouakai Range and Sugar Loaf Islands volcanoes) which has drifted northwards, and potentially material from
11664-730: 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
11826-696: The Southern Hemisphere since ancient times. Several 16th-century cartographers used the word Australia on maps, but not to identify modern Australia. When Europeans began visiting and mapping Australia in the 17th century, the name Terra Australis was applied to the new territories. Until the early 19th century, Australia was best known as New Holland , a name first applied by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1644 (as Nieuw-Holland ) and subsequently anglicised. Terra Australis still saw occasional usage, such as in scientific texts. The name Australia
11988-467: 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 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,
12150-692: The Waitākere Ranges area became popular for sightseers, notably the Waitākere Falls and the Gap at Piha. In 1894 a group led by Sir Algernon Thomas (the first professor of natural sciences at Auckland University College, now the University of Auckland ) persuaded the Auckland City Council to preserve 3,500 acres (14 km) in the Nihotupu area of the ranges as a bush reserve. In 1895 the national Government vested
12312-512: 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 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
12474-409: The Waitākere Ranges had been infected with a distinct oomycete disease. After the disease had begun to increasingly impact kauri in the ranges, Te Kawerau ā Maki announced a rāhui in 2017, asking for members of the public to not enter the ranges as a measure to protect the trees against kauri dieback . This was followed by a formal vote by Auckland Council to restrict access to the Waitākere Ranges
12636-460: 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 the western portions of the old Auckland City , such as Ponsonby and Kingsland . The name Auckland
12798-432: The Waitākere Ranges was a densely forested podocarp-broadleaf forest, dominated by kauri , northern rātā and rimu . The ranges are home to one endemic species, Veronica bishopiana , the Waitākere rock koromiko, and additionally some species which are rare outside of coastal West Auckland, including Sophora fulvida , the west coast kōwhai and Veronica obtusata , the coastal hebe. The Waitākere Ranges are known for
12960-482: The Waitākere Ranges were a major source for kauri wood. Kauri trees near the Manukau Harbour were first felled in the 1830s. Between 1840 and 1940, 23 timber mills worked the Waitākere Ranges. Approximately 70 dams were constructed along the waterways of the Waitākere Ranges, which loggers would break in order for kauri to be sent downstream with the flood of water. A major sawmill was constructed at Whatipu , and in
13122-556: The Waitākere Ranges. In the creation legend of the Auckland volcanic field , the Waitākere Ranges was home to a tribe of supernatural beings known as Tahurangi (called patupaiarehe in other traditions), who battled with the patupaiarehe of the Hunua Ranges. The Māori language name of the Waitākere Ranges, Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa, refers to Tiriwa, a chief of the Tūrehu patupaiarehe. The coastline of
13284-544: 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 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
13446-468: The area. Cornwallis was advertised as idyllic and fertile to Scottish settlers, and after 88 plots of land had been sold, 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
13608-446: The cause of many early wars in the area. Te Kawerau ā Maki benefited from the abundant seafood found on the coast, as well as resources found deeper within the Waitākere Ranges, such as moa, seasonal berries, eels, crayfish and other birds. Over 50 pā were located around the Waitākere Ranges, and many caves and rock shelters were used as refuges during times of war between the 16th and 18th centuries, including Lion Rock at Piha , which
13770-473: 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 , 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
13932-560: The centre and Phanerozoic sedimentary basins , metamorphic and igneous rocks in the east. The Australian mainland and Tasmania are situated in the middle of the tectonic plate and have no active volcanoes, but due to passing over the East Australia hotspot , recent volcanism has occurred during the Holocene , in the Newer Volcanics Province of western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. Volcanism also occurs in
14094-518: The chief Āpihai Te Kawau of Ngāti Whātua for the purchase of 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) of land in West Auckland on 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
14256-473: The city. A road, aptly named Scenic Drive , runs a good portion of the length of the ranges from Titirangi to Swanson. Auckland City Council operates an information centre on Scenic Drive, called Arataki Visitor Centre . The beaches are typical of west coast beaches north of Taranaki in that they are all black sand beaches. They have a reputation of being dangerous for swimmers due to rips and large swells. Surf Life Saving Clubs patrol designated areas of
14418-585: 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 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
14580-542: The cliffs of the island to commemorate his visit. The Tainui tohunga Rakataura (also known as Hape) 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
14742-483: The coastline in the 17th-century. British colonisation began in 1788 with the establishment of the penal colony of New South Wales . By the mid-19th century, most of the continent had been explored by European settlers and five additional self-governing British colonies were established, each gaining responsible government by 1890. The colonies federated in 1901, forming the Commonwealth of Australia. This continued
14904-477: The colonies was achieved after a decade of planning, constitutional conventions and referendums , resulting in the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia as a nation under the new Australian Constitution . After the 1907 Imperial Conference , Australia and several other self-governing British settler colonies were given the status of self-governing dominions within the British Empire. Australia
15066-707: 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 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
15228-807: The continent. In 1770, Captain James Cook sailed along and mapped the east coast, which he named " New South Wales " and claimed for Great Britain. Following the loss of its American colonies in 1783, the British Government sent a fleet of ships, the First Fleet , under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip , to establish a new penal colony in New South Wales . A camp was set up and the Union Flag raised at Sydney Cove , Port Jackson , on 26 January 1788,
15390-583: The convict system culminated in its abolition in the eastern colonies by the 1850s. Initially a free colony, Western Australia practised penal transportation from 1850 to 1868. The six colonies individually gained responsible government between 1855 and 1890, thus becoming elective democracies managing most of their own affairs while remaining part of the British Empire . The Colonial Office in London retained control of some matters, notably foreign affairs. In
15552-702: The country's economy. It ranks highly for quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties and political rights. Australia is a middle power , and has the world's thirteenth-highest military expenditure . It is a member of international groups including the United Nations; the G20 ; the OECD ; the World Trade Organization ; Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ; the Pacific Islands Forum ;
15714-498: 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
15876-487: 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 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
16038-451: The earliest individuals associated with the area is Tiriwa, a chief of the supernatural Tūrehu people, who 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
16200-459: The early 2010s after the 2000s Australian drought . Although most of Australia is semi-arid or desert, the continent includes a diverse range of habitats from alpine heaths to tropical rainforests . Fungi typify that diversity—an estimated 250,000 species—of which only 5% have been described—occur in Australia. Because of the continent's great age, extremely variable weather patterns, and long-term geographic isolation, much of Australia's biota
16362-528: The eastern slopes of the volcano, which were uplifted from the sea floor between 3 and 5 million years ago. Much of the rock that forms the ranges, such as the Piha Formation and Nihotupu Formation, are volcanic and marine conglomerate rocks. Many of the features of the ranges, such as Karekare , Te Toka-Tapu-a-Kupe / Ninepin Rock and Pukematekeo , are remnants of volcanic vents and plugs. The western coastline of
16524-755: The first time when the High Court of Australia held in Mabo v Queensland (No 2) that Australia was neither terra nullius ( ' land belonging to no one ' ) or "desert and uncultivated land" at the time of European settlement. Following the abolition of the last vestiges of the White Australia policy in 1973, Australia's demography and culture transformed as a result of a large and ongoing wave of non-European immigration, mostly from Asia. The late 20th century also saw an increasing focus on foreign policy ties with other Pacific Rim nations. The Australia Acts severed
16686-475: The forested areas south from Muriwai and the Kaipara Harbour portage to the Manukau Harbour , while the name Hikurangi referred to the central and Western Waitākere Ranges, south of the Waitākere River . The rugged upstanding topography is formed from erosion-resistant ancient volcanic conglomerate and lava flows laid down in eruptions from the large Waitākere volcano to the west 12–25 million years ago. The Waitākere Ranges and land south from Muriwai are
16848-508: 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 the sea floor. Between 3 and 5 million years ago, tectonic forces uplifted the Waitākere Ranges and central Auckland, while subsiding
17010-509: 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
17172-606: The four most popular beaches during the summer months. Piha Surf Life Saving Club is the oldest of these, being founded in 1934. On 11 January 2010, the Auckland Regional Council opened the Hillary Trail, a 77 km trail running roughly south–north from the Arataki Visitor Centre to Muriwai through the Waitākere Ranges, named in honour of the New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary . The Hilary Trail
17334-605: 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 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
17496-412: The heart of the country are the uplands of central Australia . Prominent features of the centre and south include Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock), the famous sandstone monolith, and the inland Simpson , Tirari and Sturt Stony , Gibson , Great Sandy, Tanami , and Great Victoria deserts, with the famous Nullarbor Plain on the southern coast. The Western Australian mulga shrublands lie between
17658-470: The interior deserts and Mediterranean-climate Southwest Australia . Lying on the Indo-Australian Plate , the mainland of Australia is the lowest and most primordial landmass on Earth with a relatively stable geological history. The landmass includes virtually all known rock types and from all geological time periods spanning more than 3.8 billion years of the Earth's history. The Pilbara Craton
17820-511: The island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands . Australia has a total area of 7,688,287 km (2,968,464 sq mi), making it the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest country by area in Oceania . It is the world's oldest, flattest, and driest inhabited continent, with some of the least fertile soils. It is a megadiverse country , and its size gives it a wide variety of landscapes and climates including deserts in
17982-417: The island of New Guinea (considered geologically as part of the Australian continent), and in the Australian external territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands . Seismic activity in the Australian mainland and Tasmania is also low, with the greatest number of fatalities having occurred in the 1989 Newcastle earthquake . The climate of Australia is significantly influenced by ocean currents, including
18144-620: The land and the environment, with stories of The Dreaming maintained through oral tradition , songs , dance and paintings. Certain groups engaged in fire-stick farming , fish farming , and built semi-permanent shelters . These practices have variously been characterised as " hunter-gatherer ", " agricultural ", "natural cultivation" and "intensification". Torres Strait Islander people first settled their islands at least 2,500 years ago. Culturally and linguistically distinct from mainland Aboriginal peoples, they were seafarers and obtained their livelihood from seasonal horticulture and
18306-475: The land, and several other smaller areas of the ranges, in the City Council as "reserves for the conservation of native flora and fauna". After the construction of the dams in the 1920s, the Nihotupu and Huia areas reforested in native bush. This 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
18468-546: 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
18630-405: The latter 19th century a wharf was constructed on the north-east side of Paratutae Island for the industry. A tramway was constructed along the west coast gradually between the 1870s and 1914 linking to the sawmill and wharf, eventually being extended as far as Anawhata . The wharf was used until 1921, and was demolished in 1950. The 1920s signalled the end of the kauri logging industry, as there
18792-655: The latter having last been seen in the ranges in the 1950s. In 2008, the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act was produced, as formal legislation to ensure the protection of the park. The Waitākere Ranges Regional Park covers about 60% of the area protected by the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act of 2008. The act protects approximately 27,700 ha of both public (the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park) and privately owned land. In March 2006, entomologist Peter Maddison noticed many mature kauri in
18954-494: The location for the future federal capital of Canberra . While it was being constructed, Melbourne served as the temporary capital from 1901 to 1927. The Northern Territory was transferred from the control of South Australia to the Commonwealth in 1911. Australia became the colonial ruler of the Territory of Papua (which had initially been annexed by Queensland in 1883) in 1902 and of the Territory of New Guinea (formerly German New Guinea ) in 1920. The two were unified as
19116-448: The mainland. Australia is also one of 17 megadiverse countries. Australian forests are mostly made up of evergreen species, particularly eucalyptus trees in the less arid regions; wattles replace them as the dominant species in drier regions and deserts. Among well-known Australian animals are the monotremes (the platypus and echidna ); a host of marsupials , including the kangaroo , koala , and wombat , and birds such as
19278-466: The mid-19th century, explorers such as Burke and Wills charted Australia's interior. A series of gold rushes beginning in the early 1850s led to an influx of new migrants from China , North America and continental Europe, as well as outbreaks of bushranging and civil unrest; the latter peaked in 1854 when Ballarat miners launched the Eureka Rebellion against gold license fees. The 1860s saw
19440-410: 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
19602-595: 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 the peoples (some of which formed the Ngāti Whātua hapū Ngāti Rongo). Hostilities broke out and Ngāti Whātua asked for assistance from Kāwharu ,
19764-602: The next two decades, social and economic reforms, together with the establishment of a Legislative Council and Supreme Court , saw the penal colony transition to a civil society. The indigenous population declined for 150 years following European settlement, mainly due to infectious disease. British colonial authorities did not sign any treaties with Aboriginal groups . As settlement expanded, tens of thousands of Indigenous people and thousands of settlers were killed in frontier conflicts while settlers dispossessed surviving Indigenous peoples of most of their land. In 1803,
19926-413: The northern end of the ranges, Otakamiro Point is the site of one of New Zealand's few mainland gannet breeding colonies. In the bush are many indigenous invertebrates , including kauri snail, wētā and oviparous velvet worms with 14 pairs of legs, and ovoviviparous species of 15 and 16 pairs of legs in the genus Peripatoides . A number of Tāmaki Māori are associated with the early settlement of
20088-499: The park. Owing to the efforts of Mead, the park had tripled in size by 1964, when it became the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. By 1992, the area had reached a size of 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres), and was formally consolidated into a single regional park. By this point, the park had become one of the regional parks in New Zealand, alongside the Hunua Ranges . Ark in the Park is a collaborative project between Forest and Bird and
20250-428: The political systems of the United Kingdom (a fused executive , constitutional monarchy and strong party discipline ) and the United States ( federalism , a written constitution and strong bicameralism with an elected upper house), resulting in a distinct hybrid. Federal government power is partially separated between three groups: Charles III reigns as King of Australia and is represented in Australia by
20412-572: The protection of threatened species. Numerous protected areas have been created under the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity to protect and preserve unique ecosystems; 65 wetlands are listed under the Ramsar Convention , and 16 natural World Heritage Sites have been established. Australia was ranked 21st out of 178 countries in the world on
20574-499: 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 the west coast retained the name Te Kawerau ā Maki, while those living at Mahurangi (modern-day Warkworth ) adopted
20736-464: The ranges and the Manukau Harbour is traditionally thought to be guarded by the taniwha Paikea, while the Waitākere River and northern ranges were the home to Te Mokoroa, a malevolent taniwha. The ranges were visited by Rakatāura , the senior tohunga (priest/navigator) of the Tainui migratory canoe , who named many of the locations along the west coast. The area is within the traditional rohe of
20898-490: The ranges consists of cliffs exceeding 300 metres (980 ft), interspersed infrequently with beaches. The ranges are covered in native forest, most of which is in the process of regeneration since extensive logging and farming in the mid–late 19th and early 20th centuries. The highest point in the Waitākere Ranges, at 474 metres (1,555 ft), is Te Toiokawharu , in the southern part of the ranges, about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north-east of Huia . The Scenic Drive follows
21060-475: The rate of 6 to 7 centimetres a year. The Australian mainland's continental crust , excluding the thinned margins, has an average thickness of 38 km, with a range in thickness from 24 km to 59 km. Australia's geology can be divided into several main sections, showcasing that the continent grew from west to east: the Archaean cratonic shields found mostly in the west, Proterozoic fold belts in
21222-533: The remaining constitutional ties between Australia and the United Kingdom while maintaining the monarch in her independent capacity as Queen of Australia . In a 1999 constitutional referendum , 55% of voters rejected abolishing the monarchy and becoming a republic. Following the September 11 attacks on the United States, Australia joined the United States in fighting the Afghanistan War from 2001 to 2021 and
21384-418: The reservoirs supply approximately 26% of Auckland's potable water demand. The ranges receive an average of over 2,000 mm (78.75 inches) of rainfall annually while the corresponding rate in the city is less than half that. As weather systems approach across the Tasman Sea , their path is blocked by the ranges causing a small uplift sufficient to trigger orographic rainfall . By the late 19th century,
21546-419: The resources of their reefs and seas. Agriculture also developed on some islands and villages appeared by the 1300s. By the mid-18th century in northern Australia, contact, trade and cross-cultural engagement had been established between local Aboriginal groups and Makassan trepangers , visiting from present-day Indonesia. The Dutch are the first Europeans that recorded sighting and making landfall on
21708-491: The rise of blackbirding , where South Sea Islanders were coerced or abducted into indentured labour, mainly by Queensland colonists. From 1886, Australian colonial governments began removing many Aboriginal children from their families and communities, justified on the grounds of child protection and forced assimilation policies. The Second Boer War (1899–1902) marked the largest overseas deployment of Australia's colonial forces . On 1 January 1901, federation of
21870-508: The roots and to prevent the spread of kauri dieback , bacteria that affect kauri trees and prevents them from getting nutrients, effectively killing them. There is no cure. But many are now marked as permanently closed, and their future is uncertain. The name Wai-tākere originally came from a rock located in Waitākere Bay near Te Henga (Bethells Beach). In Māori the name Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa ("The Great Forest of Tiriwa"), referred to all of
22032-642: 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 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
22194-657: The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus . Surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans, Australia is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas, with the Coral Sea lying off the Queensland coast, and the Tasman Sea lying between Australia and New Zealand. The world's smallest continent and sixth-largest country by total area , Australia—owing to its size and isolation—is often dubbed
22356-406: The thylacine. Many of Australia's ecoregions, and the species within those regions, are threatened by human activities and introduced animal, chromistan , fungal and plant species. All these factors have led to Australia's having the highest mammal extinction rate of any country in the world. The federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is the legal framework for
22518-466: 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 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
22680-432: 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
22842-445: 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 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
23004-597: 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 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
23166-419: 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 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
23328-412: 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 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. At
23490-561: Was 20.8, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 69.6% had no religion, 19.5% were Christian , 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.6% were Hindu , 0.1% were Muslim , 0.8% were Buddhist and 3.1% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 552 (28.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 216 (11.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 477 people (24.7%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
23652-572: 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
23814-615: Was Australia's warmest recorded year, and the 2019–2020 bushfire season was the country's worst on record . Australia's greenhouse gas emissions per capita are among the highest in the world. Water restrictions are frequently in place in many regions and cities of Australia in response to chronic shortages due to urban population increases and localised drought. Throughout much of the continent, major flooding regularly follows extended periods of drought, flushing out inland river systems, overflowing dams and inundating large inland flood plains, as occurred throughout Eastern Australia in
23976-777: 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
24138-643: 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
24300-535: 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 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
24462-413: Was established in 1829, evolving into the largest Australian colony by area, Western Australia . In accordance with population growth, separate colonies were carved from New South Wales: Tasmania in 1825, South Australia in 1836, New Zealand in 1841, Victoria in 1851, and Queensland in 1859. South Australia was founded as a free colony—it never accepted transported convicts. Growing opposition to
24624-399: 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,
24786-495: 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
24948-437: 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 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
25110-445: Was little kauri forest left in the Waitākeres. An estimated 120,000 trees were felled by the kauri logging industry, many of which were damaged and unable to be turned into timber, due inefficient logging techniques. By the late 19th century, Auckland 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
25272-565: Was one of the founding members of the League of Nations in 1920, and the United Nations in 1945. The Statute of Westminster 1931 formally ended the ability of the UK to pass federal laws without Australia's consent. Australia adopted it in 1942, but it was backdated to 1939 to confirm the validity of legislation passed during World War II. The Australian Capital Territory was formed in 1911 as
25434-428: 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 , the stereotype usually involves a macho, working class Pākehā with poor taste, and the mullet haircut. The Westie sub-culture
25596-418: Was popularised by the explorer Matthew Flinders , who said it was "more agreeable to the ear, and an assimilation to the names of the other great portions of the Earth". The first time that Australia appears to have been officially used was in April 1817, when Governor Lachlan Macquarie acknowledged the receipt of Flinders' charts of Australia from Lord Bathurst . In December 1817, Macquarie recommended to
25758-510: Was that 1,038 (53.8%) people were employed full-time, 354 (18.4%) were part-time, and 57 (3.0%) were unemployed. List of named peaks (either officially gazetted, informal or traditional) within the Waitākere Ranges, and major unnamed peaks over 400 metres in height. 36°58′S 174°31′E / 36.967°S 174.517°E / -36.967; 174.517 West Auckland, New Zealand West Auckland ( Māori : Te Uru o Tāmaki Makaurau or Māori : Tāmaki ki te Hauauru )
25920-400: 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
26082-428: Was the Waitākere Dam in the north-eastern Waitākere Ranges, which was completed in 1910. The Waitākere Dam was constructed overtop of the Waitākere Falls, which was a major tourist attraction in Auckland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 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
26244-616: Was the location of Whakaari pā, and the caves in Whatipu . The Waitākere Ranges sites have a large number of wood and fibre artefacts due to the weather conditions of the area. Surveys in the early 1900s uncovered traditional textile fragments such as fishing nets, baskets, cloak fragments, from locations such as Anawhata , Piha, Takatu Point, Karekare and Whatipu. In 1853 and 1854, the New Zealand government acquired around 100,000 acres of Te Kawerau ā Maki land, purchased from other iwi without consultation of Te Kawerau ā Maki. Reserves were created at Piha and Te Henga (Bethells Beach), however by
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