Whangaparaoa Peninsula

The Whangaparāoa Peninsula is a suburban area about 30–50 km north of Auckland, New Zealand. It had 33,390 residents in 2018,[1] It stretches from Red Beach, where it connects to Kingsway, Orewa and Silverdale, and extends to Army Bay in the Hauraki Gulf. It is part of the Hibiscus Coast. The area is populated by residents who work on the peninsula, or commute from the area to other parts of the Hibiscus Coast, the North Shore, Rodney District, Auckland CBD and beyond for work. They travel by vehicle, or via the Gulf Harbour ferry at Gulf Harbour Marina, or the Hibiscus Coast Bus Station at Silverdale. There is one main road (Whangaparaoa Road) along its entire length, which is accessible from State Highway 1 via Hibiscus Coast Highway at Silverdale, or from Hibiscus Coast Highway at Orewa via Red Beach. It is popular as a tourist destination for catching a ferry to Tiri Tiri Matangi,[2] and for visiting Shakespear Regional Park It has one open (Whangaparaoa Golf Club) and one closed (as of 20 July 2023) (closed ) golf club (Gulf Harbour Country Club), beaches, sporting and recreation facilities, a library, shops, businesses and public and private primary and secondary schools. The median age of the population is in the 30s-40's.[3]

"Whangaparaoa" redirects here. For other uses, see Whangaparaoa (disambiguation).
This article is about a suburban area. For electorate, see Whangaparāoa (New Zealand electorate).

Whangaparāoa Peninsula
"Bay of Whales"
Suburban area
Location of the Whangapāraoa Peninsula
Location of the Whangapāraoa Peninsula
Coordinates: 36°38′S 174°46′E
CountryNew Zealand
CityAuckland
Local authorityAuckland Council
Electoral wardAlbany Ward
Local boardHibiscus and Bays
SeatWhangaparāoa
Population
 • Total33,390
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Websitewww.whangaparaoa.info
In recent decades, the peninsula has been heavily suburbanised.
View of Stanmore Bay
Tindalls Beach in late winter
View of Arkles Bay

History

The Kawerau hapū Ngāti Kahu traditionally inhabited the peninsula, prior to the arrival of Europeans. Ngāti Kahu's major focuses of settlement were around Te Haruhi Bay and Army Bay.[4] A waka portage existed between Tindalls Beach and Matakatia, allowing travellers to bypass the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, who otherwise would have needed to travel around the entire peninsula.[5]

Whangaparāoa Peninsula was purchased by the government in 1853, after which settlers began developing the land for grazing.[4] Ngāti Kahu continued to live on the land until the 1890s.[4] The Shakespear family acquired many of the landholdings, and farmed the area until 1967, when they sold their land to the Auckland Regional Council, who established the Shakespear Regional Park at the far end of the peninsula.[4]

Geography

The peninsula is in the northern North Island, close to the base of the North Auckland Peninsula. The Māori language name Whangaparāoa means "Bay of Whales",[6] and pods of orca and dolphin are regularly spotted in the waters off the peninsula.[6] The peninsula is mostly urbanised and is in the Northern Auckland Zone of the Auckland urban area,[7] as defined by Statistics New Zealand. Since 2010, it has been part of the Albany Ward and the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board of the Auckland Region.[7][8] It is part of the General Electorate of Whangaparāoa.

A quickly growing area with new subdivisions being built, it is to be connected to State Highway 1 via a tolled bridge known as Penlink.

Auckland's Northern Motorway (State Highway One) was extended to Orewa at the end of the 1990s,[9] reducing journey time into the city and making it more popular for commuters. The under construction Penlink road (including a bridge over the Weiti River from Stanmore Bay to Stillwater) will provide a quicker route between the peninsula and central Auckland.[10][11]

The peninsula stretches east for 11 kilometres into the Hauraki Gulf, to the north of East Coast Bays.[7] Tiritiri Matangi Island is three kilometres off its eastern tip.

Communities include Red Beach, Stanmore Bay, Manly, Tindalls Beach, Army Bay, Gulf Harbour, Matakatia, and Arkles Bay. At the end of the peninsula is Shakespear Regional Park.

The New Zealand Defence Force owns part of this area. The base has been used as a resettlement camp for refugees, such as in 2001 when 130 refugees lived there.[12] In 2020 it was being used to quarantine New Zealanders who left Wuhan, China during the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

Economy

Whangaparāoa Town Centre and Coast Plaza

In the past twenty years the township has developed on the high land above Stanmore Bay, including a shopping centre (Coast Plaza),[14] a movie theatre, a bowling alley, a library and community centre.[15][16]

Coast Plaza has 350 carparks,and is anchored by Countdown.[14]

Stanmore Bay Shopping Complex

The Stanmore Bay shopping complex opened in 2015,[17] replacing the previous complex. The new centre includes 16 retail spaces[18] and is anchored by New World[17] When completed, the Stanmore Shopping complex will mark the end of the Penlink motorway connection.[19]

Manly Village

The Manly Village is home to many of the coast's restaurants and shops.[20] Plans were lodged for upgrades to part of the complex in 2017 which would have increased retail spaces and added more apartments but have not progressed.[21]

Gulf Harbour Marina, shops and restaurants

Opening in the late 1980s the Gulf Harbour Marina is home to a variety of boat maintenance services, and retail.[22] The marina provides for vessels up to 55 metres and has in excess of 1050 berths.[23]

Climate

Whangaparāoa is a warm temperate oceanic climate (Cfb) on the Köppen Climate Classification System.

Climate data for Whangaparāoa (2010-2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 28.65
(83.57)		 27.66
(81.79)		 26.68
(80.02)		 22.72
(72.90)		 20.75
(69.35)		 17.78
(64.00)		 16.8
(62.2)		 17.78
(64.00)		 19.76
(67.57)		 21.74
(71.13)		 22.72
(72.90)		 26.68
(80.02)		 28.65
(83.57)
Average high °C (°F) 21.66
(70.99)		 22.25
(72.05)		 20.94
(69.69)		 18.93
(66.07)		 16.69
(62.04)		 14.7
(58.5)		 13.61
(56.50)		 13.97
(57.15)		 14.61
(58.30)		 16.19
(61.14)		 18.07
(64.53)		 20.71
(69.28)		 17.65
(63.77)
Daily mean °C (°F) 19.89
(67.80)		 20.33
(68.59)		 19.12
(66.42)		 17.32
(63.18)		 15.31
(59.56)		 13.54
(56.37)		 12.29
(54.12)		 12.54
(54.57)		 13.11
(55.60)		 14.52
(58.14)		 16.34
(61.41)		 18.45
(65.21)		 16.06
(60.91)
Average low °C (°F) 16.63
(61.93)		 17.28
(63.10)		 16.38
(61.48)		 15.19
(59.34)		 13.47
(56.25)		 11.94
(53.49)		 10.54
(50.97)		 10.66
(51.19)		 10.9
(51.6)		 11.87
(53.37)		 13.12
(55.62)		 15.27
(59.49)		 13.6
(56.5)
Record low °C (°F) 11.86
(53.35)		 11.86
(53.35)		 10.87
(51.57)		 10.87
(51.57)		 4.94
(40.89)		 5.93
(42.67)		 5.93
(42.67)		 3.95
(39.11)		 4.94
(40.89)		 5.93
(42.67)		 4.94
(40.89)		 10.8
(51.4)		 3.95
(39.11)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 85.35
(3.36)		 92.54
(3.64)		 96.2
(3.79)		 116.12
(4.57)		 143.69
(5.66)		 157.72
(6.21)		 132.52
(5.22)		 144.99
(5.71)		 135.34
(5.33)		 85.51
(3.37)		 98.28
(3.87)		 103.59
(4.08)		 115.99
(4.57)
Average rainy days 9.07 11.05 11.59 13.2 15.18 15.45 15.26 17.15 15.81 13.29 12.21 11.5 13.4
Source: Weather and Climate[24]

Sport

The peninsula is home to the Silverdale Seahawks rugby union[25] and also Hibiscus Coast Raiders rugby league, that are a part of Auckland Rugby League and compete in the Fox Memorial Championship. The peninsula is also home to football (soccer) club Hibiscus Coast AFC, which competes in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.[26]

Transportation

Hibiscus Coast is served by Auckland Transport bus routes operated by AT Metro to destinations including Hibiscus Coast Bus Station[27] and central Auckland. Commuter ferries operated by Auckland Transport and Fullers360 run between Gulf Harbour and central Auckland on week days.[28] Tourism services operate from Auckland City via Gulf Harbour to Tiritiri Matangi Island on select days.[29]

Education

Whangaparaoa College is the main college. It was formed from Hibiscus Coast Intermediate School in 2005, and first had all years 7 to 13 attending in 2009. Other schools:

See also

References
  1. "Search Statistical Areas from Red Beach to Army Bay (Army Bay, Gulf Harbour North, Gulf Harbour South, Tindalls-Matakatia, Manly-East, Manly-West, Stanmore Bay-East, Stanmore Bay-West, Whangaparāoa Central, Vipond, Red Beach-East, Red Beach-West, Inlets Other, Oceanic Auckland Region)". stats.govt.nz/. 30 July 2023.
  2. "Tiritiri Matangi Open Sanctuary". tiritirimatangi.org.nz. 30 July 2023.
  3. "Population Counts Median Age". stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-place-summaries/auckland-region#population-counts. 30 July 2023.
  4. Cameron, Ewen; Hayward, Bruce; Murdoch, Graeme (2008). A Field Guide to Auckland: Exploring the Region's Natural and Historical Heritage. Random House New Zealand. pp. 124–125. ISBN 978-1-86962-1513.
  5. Hooker, Brian (September 1997). "Portages of early Auckland - to and from the Waitemata Harbour: The hub of an ancient communications network". Auckland-Waikato Historical Journal (70): 39–40. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  6. "Whangaparaoa - NZ Tourism Guide". tourism.net.nz. 6 January 2023.
  7. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  8. FIELD, MICHAEL (11 March 2010). "Auckland super city boundaries unveiled". Stuff. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  9. Grimes, Arthur; Liang, Yun (2008). Bridge to Somewhere: The Value of Auckland's Northern Motorway Extensions (PDF).
  10. "Penlink". At.govt.nz.
  11. "O Mahurangi – Penlink | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency". nzta.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  12. "Accused rioters go back to camp". The New Zealand Herald. 2 October 2001. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  13. "No passengers from Wuhan test positive for novel coronavirus". Rnz.co.nz. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  14. "Coast Centre Info". Thecoast.co.nz.
  15. "Auckland Libraries: Whangaparāoa Library". Auckland Libraries. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  16. Whangaparaoa Centre Plan December 2018 (PDF). Auckland Council.
  17. Trayes, Caralise (10 September 2015). "Stanmore Bay shopping centre opening before Christmas". Stuff. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  18. "Stanmore Bay retail development | Babbage Projects". babbage.co.nz. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  19. "Key design refinements | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency". nzta.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  20. "Manly Village". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  21. Matters, Local (12 March 2017). "Consent lodged for Manly Village apartments". Local Matters. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  22. "Gulf Harbour Marina - Hauraki Gulf | NZ Marina of the Year 2020-21 | Home". Gulf Harbour Marina - Hauraki Gulf. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  23. "Gulf Harbour Marina - Auckland - Marinas - boatiesnz". boaties.co.nz. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  24. "Climate Whangaparāoa: Weather By Month". Weather and Climate. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  25. "Silverdale Rugby & Sports Club". silverdalerugby.co.nz. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  26. "About Hibiscus Coast AFSC". Hibiscus Coast Association Football Club. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  27. "Hibiscus Coast Bus Routes" (PDF). At.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  28. "Gulf Harbour". Fullers360. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  29. "Tiritiri Matangi Island Ferry Service | Island Wildlife Sanctuary | Hauraki Gulf | Explore". exploregroup.co.nz. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  30. "Wentworth Private School - Gulf Harbour Auckland - Cambridge Education". Wentworth.school.nz.
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