Ātiu Creek Regional Park
Ātiu Creek Regional Park is a regional park located south of Oruawharo River in the Kaipara Harbour in New Zealand's North Island. It is located west of Wellsford and east of Tapora on the Okahukura Peninsula, in Rodney in the Auckland Region and is run by Auckland Council.[2]
| Ātiu Creek Regional Park | |
|---|---|
 Ātiu Creek Regional Park in 2009 | |
  | |
| Location | Rodney, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 36.3306711°S 174.3643446°E |
| Area | 843 ha (2,080 acres)[1] |
| Operated by | Auckland Council |
Environment
The park is primarily farmland, on the Okahukura Peninsula on the eastern shores of the Kaipara Harbour, near the town of Wellsford.[1]
History
The park, alongside the other areas of the Okahukura Peninsula, have had a long history of occupation by Tāmaki Māori. In addition to the numerous archaeological sites found in the park, the eastern edge of the park was the location of the Opou portage, an important link between the Oruawharo and the Tauhoa rivers, two estuarial arms of the Kaipara Harbour. At the Opou portage, waka could be hauled a short distance between the two water bodies.[3] The mana whenua of the area are Te Uri-o-Hau, a tribe of the Ngāti Whātua people. Members of Te Uri-o-Hau have erected a number of carved pou at the regional park.[3]
During the colonial era of New Zealand, the park was forested. Most of the trees were milled for timber, and after World War I, the land was subdivided into farm blocks.[3]
The park was gifted to the Auckland Regional Council by Pierre and Jackie Chatelanat in 2006, whose family had first acquired the land in 1951.[3] This was the largest block of land gifted to the council since John Logan Campbell gifted Cornwall Park in 1901.[1] It was officially opened as a regional park two years later in April 2008.[3] Since opening, the regional park has continued to be run as a working sheep and cattle farm.[3]
References
- Janssen, Peter (January 2021). Greater Auckland Walks. New Holland Publishers. p. 35-36. ISBN 978-1-86966-516-6. Wikidata Q118136068.
- "Council profile". aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Auckland Council.
- Cameron, Ewen; Hayward, Bruce; Murdoch, Graeme (2008). A Field Guide to Auckland: Exploring the Region's Natural and Historical Heritage. Random House New Zealand. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-86962-1513.
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