Huia, New Zealand
Huia | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 36°59′56″S 174°34′08″E / 36.999°S 174.569°E | |
Country | New Zealand |
City | Auckland Council |
Electoral ward | Waitākere |
Local board | Waitākere Ranges |
Area | |
• Land | 3.49 ha (8.62 acres) |
Population (June 2023)[2] | |
• Total | 680 |
(Waitākere Ranges) | (Waitākere Ranges) | (Waitākere Ranges) |
Little Huia |
Huia
|
Cornwallis |
Whatipu | (Manukau Harbour) | (Manukau Harbour) |
Huia is a western coastal settlement in West Auckland, New Zealand and forms part of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. The majority of houses in Huia are located along Huia Road, which arcs around Huia Bay and heads west towards Little Huia.
Geology and geography
A long time ago, tectonic forces between the
History
Huia was originally known as Te Huia as the area is thought to be named after a Waikato Tainui chief, Te Huia, who would seasonally live on the northern shores of the Manukau Harbour. Over time, Te Huia decided to remain at the bay, as he liked it so much.[5][6] A long form of the traditional name is Te Rau-o-te-Huia ("The Plumes of Te Huia", the plumes also being a metaphor for his pride in the location).[6] The English translation "The Huia" was used into the 1970s, but simply "Huia" has now become more commonplace.[7] Carbon dating of shell middens at Hinge Bay, Huia, showed occupancy of Huia by Tāmaki Māori from at least the year 1520.[8]
In 1853 the Gibbons family from
Construction on the Upper Huia Dam began in 1924, leading to wider development in the area as houses were constructed for workers' families.[11] Material for the dam was brought by barge to Huia, and then by tramway to the dam site.[11] The dam was completed in 1929, leading to an exodus of families who worked on the dam leaving the area.[12] The tramway remained operational until the 1960s.[11] After the construction of the dam, the area became popular with holidaymakers and retirees. As the Huia valley began to reforest, this fuelled a movement to develop the ranges as a regional park. The Centennial Memorial Park, a portion of which would later become the modern Waitākere Ranges, opened in 1940.[11]
In the mid-1950s, a whale stranded at Huia. An attempt was made to explode the whale using gelignite, however this was mostly unsuccessful.[13]
By the 1960s, a community of artists and poets had developed at Huia.[14] In 1971, the Lower Huia Dam was constructed adjacent to the township.[15]
Demographics
Huia is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers 3.49 km2 (1.35 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 680 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 195 people per km2. It is part of the Waitākere Ranges South SA2 statistical area.[16]
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
2006 | 546 | — |
2013 | 588 | +1.06% |
2018 | 639 | +1.68% |
Source: [17] |
Huia had a population of 639 at the
Ethnicities were 94.4% European/Pākehā, 19.7% Māori, 4.7% Pacific peoples, 3.3% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 70.4% had no religion, 19.2% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 141 (27.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 63 (12.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 297 (57.6%) people were employed full-time, 78 (15.1%) were part-time, and 12 (2.3%) were unemployed.[17]
Features
Alfreds Huia Store, the sole local
On the shores of Huia Bay is Huia Reserve, there are picnic tables, a BBQ, a small playground, basketball half-court and a half pipe for skating. It is close to the Lower Huia Dam, Upper Huia Dam and Karamatura Falls.
The Upper Huia Dam opened in 1929 and the Lower Huia Dam opened in 1971. Both reservoirs form part of the water supply for Auckland and are managed by Watercare Services.
The
Huia Settlers Museum opened in 1984, is located near the entrance to the Karamatura Park. It contains many relics of the
Jonesonian Institute, a small eclectic museum and art gallery modelled on Museum of Jurassic Technology, is also located in Huia.[22]
There are an abundance of walking tracks and beaches around the Huia area. The highest point in the Waitākere Ranges - Te Toiokawharu (474m), accessible via the Twin Peaks Track, is part of this valley.
As with much of the Waitākere Ranges, Huia contains a unique and fragile ecology made up of native birds, insects, bats and lizards. This unique eco-system is proudly served by the Huia Trapping Group with support of Auckland Council as part of New Zealand's Predator Free by 2050 target.
Huia's volunteer fire brigade serves the communities of Cornwallis, Huia and Whatipu. The Brigade currently has 17 members all of which are volunteers. The station has a Fire Appliance and a Medical First Response van.
Residents of Huia are served by the Huia-Cornwallis Community Groupwho manage the Huia Hall and organise numerous community events throughout the year.
Notes
- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
- ^ Hayward 2009, pp. 13–14, 21.
- Waitakere City Council. April 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Huia". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ a b Diamond & Hayward 1979, p. 42.
- ^ Laing, N. (1976). "Huia: an album from the past", Lodestar Press, Auckland.
- ^ Diamond & Hayward 1990, p. 33-41.
- ^ a b Harvey & Harvey 2009, p. 91.
- ^ a b Hayward, B. W.; Diamond, J. T. (1975). "Kauri Dam Sites in the Waitakere Ranges" (PDF). Tane. 6: 105–120. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d Harvey & Harvey 2009, pp. 93, 97.
- ^ "Huia Dam Township Now Being Removed". Vol. III, no. 788. Auckland Sun. 8 October 1929. p. 7. Retrieved 5 July 2022 – via Papers Past.
- ^ Harvey & Harvey 2009, p. 102.
- ^ Harvey & Harvey 2009, p. 103.
- ^ "Lower Huia Dam site". Auckland Libraries. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ 2018 Census place summary: Waitākere Ranges South
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7007108–7007110.
- ^ "Huia: Big adventure, little time". The New Zealand Herald. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- ^ "Our Parks: Huia". arc.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
- ^ "Huia Settlers Museum".
- ^ "Huia Settlers Museum on NZ Museums". nzmuseums.co.nz. Te Papa.
- ^ "Jonesonian Institute on NZ Museums". nzmuseums.co.nz. Te Papa.
References
- ISBN 9781877431210.
- ISBN 0-473-00983-8.
- Harvey, Bruce; Harvey, Trixie (2009). "That Noble Sheet of Water". In ISBN 9781869790080.
- ISBN 9781869790080.
External links
- Photographs of Huia held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.