Tapora

Early history of Maori tells how the western shores of Okahukura once extended to the entrance of the Kaipara Harbour as sand dunes with two channels into the harbour instead of one, as it is now. This portion of land that was more or less sand dunes was known as Tapora, and was inhabited by the Maori. Great storms gradually caused the sand dunes to drift away, allowing the sea to encroach, leaving only sand bars in the harbour where there was once a whare or large temple on the original sand dunes.

The name Okahukura refers to Kahukura, one of the rangatira who arrived to New Zealand aboard the Tākitimu migratory waka.[3]

For ten generations the land of Okahukura remained in the possession of Ngati Whatua. For more than ten years after the Government had purchased the neighbouring land known as Albertland, the peninsula was occupied by the Ngati Whatua tribe.

About the year 1876 T. E. FitzGerald purchased the land from Ngati Whatua which included the Okahukura point and 24,000 acres (97 km²) of land. FitzGerald built his first homestead around 1880 on a ridge overlooking Oruawharo River. Here he built a jetty for small boats for access when there was sufficient high tide, but there was a main landing point in deeper water for any tide. Due to the large number of kauri trees, FitzGerald leased the rights of this land to gum-diggers. Due to old age FitzGerald had to retire and terminate his twenty years of occupancy at Okahukura.

Following FitzGerald's retirement A. H. Walker leased this land for two and a half years and dramatically changed the landscape by re-fencing and sowing grass. T.C. Williams now leased the land with W. Williams taking over management. For the next ten years Williams and his workers spent many days cutting and burning down bush to allow for sowing grasslands, while opening gumfields and a store at one of FitzGerald's old homes. In the year 1910 Williams was in the process of transferring the management of the block to C. Kemp, when he accidentally fatally shot himself. Kemp took over management of Okahukura, continuing with the development of boundary fences. Nearer the end of 1910 Okahukura was sold to Messrs Bowron and Smith of Christchurch. Kemp was still manager of the Okahukura property and split the property up, selling sections to others and developed roads for access into the new sections as well as communications through a telephone line. The land changed ownership numerous times between World War One and World War Two.

Farm scene from Okahukura Road, Tapora

Okahukura Road near the Junction with Journey's End, Tapora

During World War Two the United States Marines set up camp on 'the run' (Sea View) and used the greater area for target practice. The New Zealand Government then took over Okahukura to use as a soldier rehabilitation settlement in April 1945. The name Okahukura was then changed to Tapora to avoid confusion with another Okahukura elsewhere in New Zealand.

The Minister of 'Land and Returned Services' Association brokered a pact to develop the Okahukura peninsula for returned servicemen through ballots. A community to be called Tapora was planned with a shop, school, church and workers' houses (only the school and a few houses were constructed).[4] The ballots for the Returned Services' Association were created in 1947 and Tapora turned into a dairy farming settlement.

In 2006 Pierre and Jackie Chatelanat gifted Atiu Creek Regional Park to the Auckland Regional Council.[5]

In 2013 a substantial fire which began near Okahukura Road burned through 85ha of land at Tapora, much of it wild pines, Gorse, Pampas Grass and coastal scrub/conservation land.[6][7][8]

In recent years, many of the Dairy Farms in Tapora were converted to Orchards, with tens of thousands of Avocado Trees planted.[9][10][11]

Tapora is in an SA1 statistical area which also includes Birds Beach and covers 42.72 km² (16.49 sq mi).[12] The SA1 area is part of the larger Okahukura Peninsula statistical area.

The SA1 statistical area had a population of 123 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 9 people (7.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 6 people (5.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 36 households, comprising 66 males and 57 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.16 males per female. The median age was 35.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 27 people (22.0%) aged under 15 years, 24 (19.5%) aged 15 to 29, 54 (43.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 15 (12.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 80.5% European/Pākehā, 31.7% Māori, 4.9% Pacific peoples, and 2.4% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 63.4% had no religion, 24.4% were Christian and 2.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 3 (3.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 27 (28.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 12 people (12.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 48 (50.0%) people were employed full-time, 12 (12.5%) were part-time, and 3 (3.1%) were unemployed.[13]

• Atiu Creek Regional Park
• Bird's Beach
• Tapora Golf Club
• Tapora Hall
• Tapora Reserve (playground, seating and Tennis Courts)
• Tapora School

Tapora School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school[16] with a roll of 13[17] as of April 2023.[17] The school was founded in 1956.[18]