Hobsonville
Encyclopedia
Hobsonville is a former Royal New Zealand Air Force
airfield (as well as a range of nearby rural areas) which are currently (2000s-2010s) being redeveloped as a new suburb of Auckland
, in the area of the former Waitakere City, New Zealand
. The Hobsonville area (or Hobsonville Corridor) lies between the North Western Motorway and State Highway 16
in the west and the Hobsonville Peninsula and Upper Harbour Bridge
in the east.
Originally Hobsonville was mainly an agricultural
and horticultural
area. During the early history of Auckland
, large clay
- and brickworks
operated in the area such as in Limeburners Bay and at the Clark's Brickworks. The brickworks clay piping production was used to reticulate much of the new Auckland city centre, bringing in much of Clark's wealth.
The latter was located on the shore to the southwest of Bannings Way, with Clark himself living in 'Clark House', currently occupied by the RNZAF Aviation Medicine Unit, on Clark Road. Servants quarters were located adjacent to the Hobsonville shopping centre and are in a design similar to Clark House, but single storied. The servants quarters have subsequently been used as a Plunket facility and Day Care Centre. There are stories that these two buildings are connected by an underground tunnel to facilitate normal service requirements of the day, including cooking and maid service.
Much of the land however was not built upon during this time. In 1920, the New Zealand Airforce built Hobsonville Airbase, covering a large part of what is nowadays defined as the Hobsonville Corridor. The airfield later joined with an airfield at Whenuapai
to become the RNZAF Base Auckland.
, about 3,000 homes are to be built (in addition to facilities such as parks and schools). Of the homes, 85% will be privately owned, while around 15% are to be state housing
social rentals financed by Housing New Zealand, dispersed throughout Hobsonville.
The setting aside of a good portion of land for state housing has been cricitised as an economic mistake by New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key, as this would lower land and house values in Hobsonville. His statements have in turn brought great criticism, including of hypocrisy, as Key himself grew up in state housing.
In 2011, work on some of the housing had begun, and two schools and a marine industry cluster (boat & yacht building) were also planned.
Economy
An area of 0.2 km² on Hobsonville Peninsula is to become a 'Marine Industry Cluster' for shipbuilding. A super yacht
builder is already occupying part of the headland, and it is hoped that this will become the nucleus of a local industry to provide up to 3,000 jobs. However, a later article in The New Zealand Herald
states that only 1,000 are expected to be created, though it also notes that in the meantime, three more boat building companies have already taken up residence in former aircraft hangars and old RNZAF buildings. The Marine Industry Association is pushing for the 'Marine Industry Cluster' zone change to safeguard these industries and allow further expansion.
Transport
The Upper Harbour Motorway
, connecting the Greenhithe bridge to the end of the Northwestern Motorway, was completed in August 2011, thus taking a considerable amount of through traffic away from the main local road. As part of the Western Ring Route
the motorway is intended to provide a faster link from the West to the North Auckland region. In 2009, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority and the Hobsonville Land Company were planning a major public transport terminal serving both bus and ferry services. In mid 2011, it was confirmed that ferry services were to start in 2012 from a new Hobsonville ferry terminal, with the journey to take approximately 20min to the Auckland CBD
, competitive with the motorway route. The construction of the ferry terminal is to start construction in October 2011, while the bus terminal construction was to start in September 2011.
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
airfield (as well as a range of nearby rural areas) which are currently (2000s-2010s) being redeveloped as a new suburb of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, in the area of the former Waitakere City, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The Hobsonville area (or Hobsonville Corridor) lies between the North Western Motorway and State Highway 16
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
in the west and the Hobsonville Peninsula and Upper Harbour Bridge
Upper Harbour Bridge
The Upper Harbour Bridge or Greenhithe Bridge is a motorway bridge , which spans over a reach of the Waitemata Harbour and connects Hobsonville and Greenhithe , New Zealand....
in the east.
History
Agriculture & airfield
Hobsonville was named after the first Governor of New Zealand. After landing by sea at the site, he originally selected the area as the seat of Government for New Zealand, before eventually settling on Russell after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.Originally Hobsonville was mainly an agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and horticultural
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
area. During the early history of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, large clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
- and brickworks
Brickworks
A brickworks also known as a brick factory, is a factory for the manufacturing of bricks, from clay or shale. Usually a brickworks is located on a clay bedrock often with a quarry for clay on site....
operated in the area such as in Limeburners Bay and at the Clark's Brickworks. The brickworks clay piping production was used to reticulate much of the new Auckland city centre, bringing in much of Clark's wealth.
The latter was located on the shore to the southwest of Bannings Way, with Clark himself living in 'Clark House', currently occupied by the RNZAF Aviation Medicine Unit, on Clark Road. Servants quarters were located adjacent to the Hobsonville shopping centre and are in a design similar to Clark House, but single storied. The servants quarters have subsequently been used as a Plunket facility and Day Care Centre. There are stories that these two buildings are connected by an underground tunnel to facilitate normal service requirements of the day, including cooking and maid service.
Much of the land however was not built upon during this time. In 1920, the New Zealand Airforce built Hobsonville Airbase, covering a large part of what is nowadays defined as the Hobsonville Corridor. The airfield later joined with an airfield at Whenuapai
Whenuapai
Whenuapai is a suburb and airport located in the western Waitakere area of Auckland City, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on the northwestern shore of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres to the northwest of Auckland's city centre. It is one of the landing points for the Southern...
to become the RNZAF Base Auckland.
Redevelopment
Near the end of the 20th century, residential areas sprung up at the fringes of the area, and rural farms became lifestyle blocks. The RNZAF sold the airfield back to the NZ Government (via Housing New Zealand) in 2002, although they retain a lease on much of the airfield. Since then, Waitakere City, in cooperation with various stakeholders, is planning the future of the area, and proceeding through the requisite steps (such as District Plan changes) to rezone the land. This process, which involves making a total of 4 square kilometres of land available for development, is expected to finish in 2007. On the 1.67 km² of Crown landCrown land
In Commonwealth realms, Crown land is an area belonging to the monarch , the equivalent of an entailed estate that passed with the monarchy and could not be alienated from it....
, about 3,000 homes are to be built (in addition to facilities such as parks and schools). Of the homes, 85% will be privately owned, while around 15% are to be state housing
State housing
State housing is the system of public housing offered to New Zealand residents on low to moderate incomes. Some 66,000 houses are managed by Housing New Zealand Corporation, most of which are owned by the government.-The Liberal Government:...
social rentals financed by Housing New Zealand, dispersed throughout Hobsonville.
The setting aside of a good portion of land for state housing has been cricitised as an economic mistake by New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key, as this would lower land and house values in Hobsonville. His statements have in turn brought great criticism, including of hypocrisy, as Key himself grew up in state housing.
In 2011, work on some of the housing had begun, and two schools and a marine industry cluster (boat & yacht building) were also planned.
Economy
An area of 0.2 km² on Hobsonville Peninsula is to become a 'Marine Industry Cluster' for shipbuilding. A super yacht
Luxury yacht
The term luxury yacht, “Superyacht” and "Large Yacht" refers to very expensive, privately owned yachts which are professionally crewed. Also known as a Super Yacht, a luxury yacht may be either a sailing or motor yacht.-History:...
builder is already occupying part of the headland, and it is hoped that this will become the nucleus of a local industry to provide up to 3,000 jobs. However, a later article in The New Zealand Herald
The New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
states that only 1,000 are expected to be created, though it also notes that in the meantime, three more boat building companies have already taken up residence in former aircraft hangars and old RNZAF buildings. The Marine Industry Association is pushing for the 'Marine Industry Cluster' zone change to safeguard these industries and allow further expansion.
Transport
The Upper Harbour Motorway
New Zealand State Highway 18
State Highway 18 is a State Highway linking North Shore City and Waitakere City in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the northern part of the Western Ring Route...
, connecting the Greenhithe bridge to the end of the Northwestern Motorway, was completed in August 2011, thus taking a considerable amount of through traffic away from the main local road. As part of the Western Ring Route
Western Ring Route
The Western Ring Route is a motorway system being constructed in Auckland, New Zealand. It runs along three existing state highways: the Southwestern Motorway , the Northwestern Motorway and the Upper Harbour Highway . When finished it will surpass the Southern Motorway to become the longest...
the motorway is intended to provide a faster link from the West to the North Auckland region. In 2009, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority and the Hobsonville Land Company were planning a major public transport terminal serving both bus and ferry services. In mid 2011, it was confirmed that ferry services were to start in 2012 from a new Hobsonville ferry terminal, with the journey to take approximately 20min to the Auckland CBD
Auckland CBD
The Auckland CBD is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area. Bounded by several major motorways and by the harbour coastline in the north, it is surrounded further out by mostly suburban areas...
, competitive with the motorway route. The construction of the ferry terminal is to start construction in October 2011, while the bus terminal construction was to start in September 2011.
External links
- Hobsonville (Waitakere City Council website)
- Hobsonville Land Company Limited (a Housing New Zealand subsidiary)