Remuera
Encyclopedia
Remuera is a residential suburban area within Auckland
city, in the North Island
of New Zealand
. It is located four kilometres to the southeast of the city centre. According to the 2001 census, Remuera has a population of 6,969.
The suburb extends from Hobson Bay and the Orakei Basin (two arms of the Waitemata Harbour
) to the north and east, to the main thoroughfare of State Highway 1
in the southwest. It is surrounded by the suburbs of Newmarket, Greenlane and Meadowbank.
Traditionally occupied by the higher-income bracket, especially on its "Northern Slopes" (a term that refers to the part of Remuera north of Remuera Road) the suburb has become regarded as the stereotypical retreat of the rich in popular New Zealand thought, and is therefore used as a name to describe this income group - usually in disparaging tones. The term 'Remuera tractor', for example, is a common nickname for upmarket SUV vehicles. Remuera is home to many well known New Zealanders including Paul Holmes
and the late Sir Edmund Hillary. Also the famous racing driver/constructor Bruce McLaren
was born here.
for Boys, Saint Kentigerns School, Remuera Intermediate, Baradene
, St Michaels Primary and Corran School for Girls to name a few. The area is also well-endowed with good State secondary schools including: Auckland Grammar School
, St Peter's College
(both for boys) and (for girls) Epsom Girls Grammar School and Baradene College of the Sacred Heart
.
for Parliamentary representation, and since the 2010 Auckland local body elections
, Remuera is part of the new Orakei ward. Remuera represents approximately 50% of the population in each political area. The current Member of Parliament for Epsom is John Banks
from ACT New Zealand, and all local councillors are from the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket. The current Community Constable for Remuera is Tye Tahuriorangi of the Newmarket Police.
or Remu-wera. Eventually the Wai-o-hua gave way to the Ngāti Whātua
who are now considered the local iwi
.
When early European settlers moved into Remuera it quickly became one of the most exclusive places to live. The first shops opened in Remuera in 1890.
The infamous Bassett Road machine gun murders
took place in Remuera in 1963.
Remu-wera literally translates to "burnt buttocks", commemorating a cannibal feast where a chieftainess of Hauraki was captured and eaten. Although the most common definition in reference literature, the accuracy of this definition has been described as "highly doubtful". An alternative, less common definition of Remuera has it meaning "burnt hem of a garment".
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...
city, in the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of 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...
. It is located four kilometres to the southeast of the city centre. According to the 2001 census, Remuera has a population of 6,969.
The suburb extends from Hobson Bay and the Orakei Basin (two arms of the Waitemata Harbour
Waitemata Harbour
The quite famous Waitemata Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. For this reason it is often referred to as Auckland Harbour, despite the fact that it is only one of two harbours surrounding the city, and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The Waitemata forms the north...
) to the north and east, to the main thoroughfare of State Highway 1
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 southwest. It is surrounded by the suburbs of Newmarket, Greenlane and Meadowbank.
Traditionally occupied by the higher-income bracket, especially on its "Northern Slopes" (a term that refers to the part of Remuera north of Remuera Road) the suburb has become regarded as the stereotypical retreat of the rich in popular New Zealand thought, and is therefore used as a name to describe this income group - usually in disparaging tones. The term 'Remuera tractor', for example, is a common nickname for upmarket SUV vehicles. Remuera is home to many well known New Zealanders including Paul Holmes
Paul Holmes (broadcaster)
Paul Holmes CNZM is a radio and television broadcaster in New Zealand. he hosts Q+A on TV ONE, and the Saturday morning radio show on Newstalk ZB, where for 23 years until December 2008 he hosted the weekday breakfast show, the long-standing number one rating breakfast show...
and the late Sir Edmund Hillary. Also the famous racing driver/constructor Bruce McLaren
Bruce McLaren
Bruce Leslie McLaren , born in Auckland, New Zealand, was a race-car designer, driver, engineer and inventor....
was born here.
Education
There are several schools in Remuera, most highly regarded for their education standards. Many of the schools within and close to Remuera are private schools, often with a religious component to their curriculum. Remuera Primary, Victoria Avenue Primary School, Dilworth Primary School, King's SchoolKing's School (Auckland)
King's School is a primary school for boys from Years 1 to 8 . It is situated in Auckland, New Zealand, and it also has strong links to the Anglican church; the Anglican Bishop of Auckland and the Dean of Auckland are permanent members of the school's Board Of Governors...
for Boys, Saint Kentigerns School, Remuera Intermediate, Baradene
Baradene College of the Sacred Heart
Baradene College of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic high school for girls aged between 11 to 18 located in Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand.Established 1909, Baradene celebrated its 100th year in 2009....
, St Michaels Primary and Corran School for Girls to name a few. The area is also well-endowed with good State secondary schools including: Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It had a roll of 2,483 in 2008, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand...
, St Peter's College
St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...
(both for boys) and (for girls) Epsom Girls Grammar School and Baradene College of the Sacred Heart
Baradene College of the Sacred Heart
Baradene College of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic high school for girls aged between 11 to 18 located in Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand.Established 1909, Baradene celebrated its 100th year in 2009....
.
Shopping
Remuera's main business and shopping area stretches along Remuera Road from Armadale Road to St Vincent's Avenue. Smaller shopping areas are situated at Upland Road and Benson Road. The shopping district Newmarket, while not in Remuera, is close enough for convenient shopping.Politics
Remuera is a part of the Epsom electorateEpsom (New Zealand electorate)
Epsom is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Epsom is Rodney Hide MP of the ACT Party. He has held this position since 2005.-Population centres:...
for Parliamentary representation, and since the 2010 Auckland local body elections
Auckland local elections, 2010
The Auckland local elections, 2010 took place from 17 September until 9 October and were conducted by postal vote. The elections were the first since the merger of the seven councils and elected the new Auckland Council, composed of the mayor, 20 members of the Governing Body, and 149 members of 21...
, Remuera is part of the new Orakei ward. Remuera represents approximately 50% of the population in each political area. The current Member of Parliament for Epsom is John Banks
John Banks
John Banks may refer to:*Sir John Banks, 1st Baronet , English merchant and Member of Parliament for several constituencies in Kent*John Banks , English playwright*John Banks *John Banks John Banks may refer to:*Sir John Banks, 1st Baronet (1627–1699), English merchant and Member of Parliament for...
from ACT New Zealand, and all local councillors are from the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket. The current Community Constable for Remuera is Tye Tahuriorangi of the Newmarket Police.
History
Remuera has had a long history of human occupation, starting back in the early 14th century when the Maori came to the area. They named the place O-hine-rangi - the place of Hinerangi (girl of the sky). It wasn't until some four hundred years later that it was named RemuweraMount Hobson, Auckland
Mount Hobson is a 143 m high volcanic cone in the Auckland Volcanic Field in Auckland, New Zealand.Located in the Remuera suburb, to the east of the Newmarket commercial suburb, it has been extensively modified by human use, first by Māori use as a Pā and later by being used as a quarry, pasture...
or Remu-wera. Eventually the Wai-o-hua gave way to the Ngāti Whātua
Ngati Whatua
Ngāti Whātua is a Māori iwi of New Zealand. It consists of four hapu : Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa, Te Taoū, and Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei....
who are now considered the local iwi
Iwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
.
The infamous Bassett Road machine gun murders
Bassett Road machine gun murders
The Bassett Road machine gun murders were the murders of two men with a .45 calibre Reising submachine gun on 7 December 1963, at 115 Bassett Road, in the Auckland suburb of Remuera in New Zealand. The crime received considerable media attention and captured the public imagination for many years...
took place in Remuera in 1963.
Remu-wera literally translates to "burnt buttocks", commemorating a cannibal feast where a chieftainess of Hauraki was captured and eaten. Although the most common definition in reference literature, the accuracy of this definition has been described as "highly doubtful". An alternative, less common definition of Remuera has it meaning "burnt hem of a garment".
Celebrity Residents
- Annabel LangbeinAnnabel LangbeinAnnabel Langbein is a New Zealand celebrity cook, food writer and publisher. She is also a regular radio guest and TV presenter, and has fronted her own TV series, Annabel Langbein The Free Range Cook, on the TV One network in New Zealand...
- cook and authoress - Sir Edmund Hillary - mountaineer, explorer