Auckland Region
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Auckland is one of the 16 regions of New Zealand, named for Auckland City, the large city at its heart.
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[edit] Geography
On the mainland, the region extends from the mouth of the Kaipara Harbour in the north across the southern stretches of the North Auckland Peninsula, past the Waitakere Ranges and the isthmus of Auckland to the Hunua Ranges and low-lying land south of the Manukau Harbour. The region ends within a few kilometres of the mouth of the Waikato River. It is bordered in the north by the Northland Region, and in the south by the Waikato Region. It also includes the islands of the Hauraki Gulf.
In land area it is smaller than all the other regions and unitary authorities except Nelson. Its highest point is the summit of Little Barrier Island, at 722 metres.
[edit] Territorial waters
The Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea form the coastline around the Auckland region. The east coast is lapped by the waters of the Hauraki Gulf, an arm of the Pacific sheltered by a considerable number of small and large islands, notably Great Barrier Island in the northeast. An arm of the Hauraki, the Waitemata Harbour forms the main port of Auckland city. The mainland coastline is 1,613 km long. Much of the coastal marine area is comprised of sensitive tidal inlets and estuaries and semi-enclosed Waitemata, Manukau and Kaipara Harbours.
To the west lie two large natural harbours, the Kaipara and the Manukau. Both of these have treacherous entrances and are little used by shipping. The Kaipara Harbour (of which the southern half is in the Auckland region) is one of the world's largest natural harbours, covering an area of 530 km². The Manukau Harbour, located in the southwest part of the region, has a small port at Onehunga, but also suffers from difficult navigation - especially when the predominant southwesterly wind is blowing. Auckland International Airport is located on the edge of the Manukau Harbour The region is blessed with many fine beaches, especially on the Tasman coast south of the Kaipara. These include Muriwai and Piha beaches.
[edit] Volcanic field
Auckland lies on top of a dormant lava field. The region is dotted by 49 volcanoes of varying age with the oldest being in the region of 150,000 years old. All of the volcanoes are relatively small, some being less than 150 meters in height.
The most recent eruption occurred approximately 600 years ago. This formed Rangitoto Island.
Each volcanic eruption has tended to be bigger than the previous, with Rangitoto making up almost 60% of the entire volume of eruted material. Unfortunately a number of Auckland volcanoes have been decimated, quarried for use in roading and construction. However measures are now in place to preserve the remaining volcanoes.
[edit] People
Despite its small size, the region is by far the most populous in New Zealand, with a population of 1,337,000 (2005 estimate), about 32% of the country’s population. The Region is growing faster than any other part of the country, with its population increasing by over 240,000 in the past 10 years - and increase of over 22% (according to Census data from 1996, 2001 and 2006). According to the 2001 Census, the Auckland Region contains 26.3 percent of New Zealand's European population, 24.3 percent of the total Māori population, 66.7 percent of the total Pacific Peoples population, 63.7 percent of the total Asian population and 54.7 percent of the total population in the 'Other' ethnic groups category. These statistics highlight the ethnic diversity of the Auckland Region, especially in comparison to the rest of New Zealand.
The region encompasses the cities of the Auckland metropolitan area, smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf.
[edit] Local Government Structure
[edit] Region
The Auckland Region is governed by the Auckland Regional Council, successor of the Auckland Regional Authority. However, the Regional Council (known commonly as the ARC) has fairly limited controls over the city, focusing on environmental protection, public transport funding, and management of Regional Parks and coastal areas. Governance of other matters is devolved to Territorial Local Authorities (TLAs), of which there area seven in the Auckland Region, four cities and three districts.
[edit] Districts
To the north of the Auckland urban area lies Rodney District, which includes the towns of Helensville and Wellsford. To the south lies the district of Papakura, containing a suburb of the same name. Further south, the Auckland region covers the northern half of the Franklin District (the southern half is part of the Waikato region). Franklin contains the towns of Waiuku and Pukekohe.
[edit] Cities
Between the generally rural districts of Rodney and Franklin lies the sprawling urban development of the region's four main cities. The Auckland metropolitan area encircles the Waitemata Harbour and extends south from the Auckland Isthmus along the shores of the Manukau Harbour. It also extends north along the Hauraki Gulf coast to Waiwera.
Auckland City covers the bulk of the isthmus itself. Across the Waitemata from Auckland City lies North Shore City. To the west of Auckland City, nestling beneath the eastern foothills of the Waitakere Ranges, is Waitakere City. Finally, the city of Manukau extends to the south of Auckland, close to the eastern shore of the harbour which shares its name. Auckland International Airport is located in Manukau City.
The metropolitan area also extends somewhat beyond these four cities into the neighbouring parts of Papakura, Franklin and Rodney Districts.
[edit] Health Boards
Three District Health Boards (DHBs) cover the greater Auckland region. They are Waitemata Health, Auckland District Health Board, and Counties Manukau Health.
[edit] See also
Cities and districts:
- Auckland City
- North Shore City
- Waitakere City
- Manukau City
- Rodney District
- Papakura District
- Franklin District
[edit] External links
- Auckland Regional Council
- Auckland City Council
- Waitakere City Council
- North Shore City Council
- Manukau City Council
- Auckland's Volcanoes
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| North Island: |
Northland | Auckland | Waikato | Bay of Plenty | Gisborne¹ | Hawke's Bay | Taranaki | Manawatu-Wanganui | Wellington |
| South Island: |
Tasman¹ | Marlborough¹ | Nelson¹ | West Coast | Canterbury | Otago | Southland | Fiordland² |
| ¹ Unitary authorities ² Informal only; not an officially-recognised entity |
