Shelly Park

Shelly Park is located on the eastern edges of metropolitan East Auckland, along the Hauraki Gulf coast.[3] Shelly Park Beach is located to the south of the suburb, and is found along the shores of the estuarial Mangemangeroa Creek.[4]

The Shelly Park area is part of the rohe of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, who descend from the crew of the Tainui migratory waka, who visited the area around the year 1300.[5] Many Ngāi Tai and Ngāti Pāoa pā sites, middens and other archaeological sites can be found in the Mangemangeroa Valley, which was known for Spiny dogfish pioke found in the estuary.[6] The area was cultivated by Ngāi Tai, and protected by the Tūwakamana Pā at Cockle Bay.[5]

In 1836, English Missionary William Thomas Fairburn brokered a land sale between Tāmaki Māori chiefs covering the majority of modern-day South Auckland, East Auckland and the Pōhutukawa Coast.[7] The sale was envisioned as a way to end hostilities in the area, but it is unclear what the chiefs understood or consented to. Māori continued to live in the area, unchanged by this sale.[8]

In 1843, early settlers George and William Trice arrived at Shelly Park. Moananui, chief of the Ngāi Tai at Shelly Park, suggested that the Trices buy land across the creek, near Clifton Road.[9] In 1847, Howick township was established as a defensive outpost for Auckland, by fencibles (retired British Army soldiers) and their families.[10] Early settlers in the area shot the kūaka and huahou found in the estuary, and carpenter Lauchlan McInnes harvested the forest behind Shelly Park Beach, which then was known as McInnes' Bush.[9] In 1854 when Fairburn's purchase was investigated by the New Zealand Land Commission, a Ngāi Tai reserve was created around the Wairoa River and Umupuia areas, and as a part of the agreement, members of Ngāi Tai agreed to leave their traditional settlements to the west, near Howick.[11][12]

They Shelly Park Beach sandspit was a popular point for ferries to disembark passengers headed for Howick,[13][14] and a wharf was constructed at the end of the sandspit around the year 1880.[9]

In December 1923, Shelly Park was subdivided into 42 sections, primarily sold as holiday baches. A holidaying community developed around Shelly Beach, and was active until the 1970s, when the area transitioned into a suburb of Auckland.[9]

Shelly Park covers 1.23 km² (0.47 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 2,880 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 2,341 people per km².

Shelly Park had a population of 2,850 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 39 people (1.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 90 people (3.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 933 households, comprising 1,392 males and 1,458 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. The median age was 40.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 552 people (19.4%) aged under 15 years, 543 (19.1%) aged 15 to 29, 1,350 (47.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 405 (14.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 78.9% European/Pākehā, 4.8% Māori, 2.3% Pacific peoples, 17.9% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 44.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.2% had no religion, 40.6% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.4% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 0.9% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 678 (29.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 219 (9.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $42,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 690 people (30.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,227 (53.4%) people were employed full-time, 348 (15.1%) were part-time, and 75 (3.3%) were unemployed.[15]

Shelly Park Primary School is a contributing primary school (Year 1-6) with a roll of 399,[16] which opened in June 1979.[17]

Shelly Park Beach is located in the suburb, and is known for its sandspit to the east.[18] Shelly Park Cruising Club (SPCC) is a yacht club that formed in 1959.[9] The club offers dry docking facilities and the beach is an access point to the estuary where boats are moored.

The beach is also one end of a nature walkway, Mangemangeroa Shelly Park Beach Path, which runs from there to Somerville Road.[18]

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  Shelly Park Beach & Yacht Club
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  Shelly Park Estuary

• La Roche, Alan (2011). Grey's Folly: A History of Howick, Pakuranga, Bucklands-Eastern Beaches, East Tamaki, Whitford, Beachlands and Maraetai. Auckland: Tui Vale Productions. ISBN 978-0-473-18547-3. OCLC 1135039710. Wikidata Q118286377.