| Auckland is located on New Zealand's
North
Island. The population is about 1.3 million, making it the largest
city in New Zealand,
with one third of the country's entire population. The city is affectionately
known as the City of Sails. The city is regularly voted in the top
five cities worldwide in terms of lifestyle and was recently voted
the
most entrepreneurial city in the OECD.
INDIGENOUS
Tamaki Makaurau, the original Maori name for Auckland, can be
translated as 'the bride sought by a hundred suitors.' It was first
settled by Maori people sometime in the 14th century and has been,
like the name suggests, much-sought-after as a strategic location,
abundant food source (especially kai moana or seasfood) and great
climatic conditions.
The narrow Auckland isthmus has two harbours providing access
to the sea on both the west and east coasts and occupies a strategic
position through which people must pass on the way to or from Northland.
Maori constructed terraced pa (fortified villages) on some of the
48 volcanic peaks that form the Auckland volcanic field. The volcanic
cones became settlements (pas) and some of the best known lookouts
including Mount Eden and One Tree Hill provide evidence of these
times.
We have received good reports about ITBW Award nominee TIME
Unlimited (which means 'To Integrate Maori Experiences'). They
provide a variety of Maori
Trips in the region. Co-founder Ceillhe Tewhare Teneti Hema
Sperath is a direct descendant of the Maori chief Patuone
('The Peacemaker') who is buried on Mount Victoria in Devonport,
Auckland.
Other Maori tourism options are profiled online Tourism
Auckland. Of special note here is the beautiful Auckland
Museum which showcases Auckland’s rich Maori history.
GEOGRAPHY
Auckland is growing up to be a super city that stretches from
the town of Wellsford in the north to the rolling Bombay Hills in
the south. It is surrounded by three harbours: the Waitemata, the
Manukau and the Kaipara. Administratively it is divided into four
cities (Auckland, Manukau, North Shore and Waitakere) and three
districts (Franklin, Rodney and Papakura).
PARKS
The 75-hectare Auckland
Domain is the city's oldest park developed around the cone of
an extinct volcano. The 'tuff rings' created by volcanic activity
can be seen in the land contours and forms a natural amphitheater
with about 10 hectares developed as sports fields. Inside the park
is the stately Auckland War
Memorial Museum which stands at the Domain's highest point.
There is saltwater swimming in the Parnell
Baths.
Parks
in Auckland - Auckland City Council
Our
Parks - Auckland Regional Council
CULTURAL WORLD
Auckland's War Memorial
Museum tells the story of New Zealand, from unique flora and
fauna to the national military history. The museum also has an impressive
collection of Maori and Polynesian artifacts.
The Sky Tower is the tallest of its kind in the southern hemisphere,
towering 328 meters.
Among the city's art galleries - Soca.
Viaduct Harbor is home
to the National Maritime Museum on Hobson Wharf.
North Shore hosts
an outdoor concert series in February and March.
MARKETS
Otara
Markets are the most famous in the city.
Occupying the largest open-air inner city space with its trademark
blue and white tents, Aotea
Square Market is Auckland's most popular market. The market
is located on Queen Street.
SPORTS
Auckland has a number of rugby and cricket grounds. Eden
Park is the main sports ground used for rugby union during winter
and cricket in summer. The stadium is three kilometers southwest
of downtown, between the Kingsland and Mount Eden suburbs.
Rugby teams include the Super14 side Blues
and league team Warriors.
Auckland club rugby league is grassroots sport at its best –
and for the first time the region's premier grade competition will
be available around the world. Maori
Television, in association with Auckland Rugby League, is screening
the Fox
Memorial Shield.
RECENT HISTORY
European settlement took place in 1840 when New Zealand's first
governor, Captain William Hobson, chose Auckland as the capital,
naming the site after his former commander Lord Auckland.
NEARBY
North Harbour is 12 kilometers north of downtown.
Helensville is a 40 minute drive north of town.
Waitakere Ranges and Muriwai Regional Parks are wilderness areas
within an hour's drive from downtown. Details on Auckland
Regional Council.
Waitakere
Ranges Regional Park includes more than 16,000 hectares of native
rainforest and coastline. Its 250 kilometers of walking and tramping
tracks provide access to beaches, breathtaking vistas, spectacular
rocky outcrops, streams, waterfalls and farms overlooking the wild
west coast. Check out Arataki
Visitor Centre and get
directions with Google Maps. More info online Intranet
Mapping.
A drive three hours north leads to Waitangi.
Tiritiri Matangi is an island sanctuary that provides a pest-free
habitat for many rare native bird species.A restoration project
carried out by the Department of Conservation in the 1980s and 90s
involved the removal of predators and the introduction of several
endangered native bird species. Several of the birds were close
to extinction and can now often be spotted on the island. These
include the saddleback, takahe, parakeet, North Island robin, kokako,
little spotted kiwi and brown teal duck. Visitors are welcome to
explore Tiritiri Matangi and see some of New Zealand's most endangered
birds in the wild. Ferry services run on a regular basis. |
