Rodney District
Encyclopedia
The Rodney District of New Zealand was a local government area in the northernmost part in New Zealand
's Auckland Region
, created in 1989 from the amalgamation of Helensville Borough
and Rodney County. The seat of the district council is at Orewa
, and the district includes Kawau Island to the north. The district was, in its last period, led by mayor Penny Webster
and 12 councillors. The area now generally composes the Rodney Ward and Rodney Local Board and is governed by Auckland Council
since 1 November 2010.
Rodney stretches from the spectacular black volcanic sand beaches of Muriwai
in the west to the holiday resorts of the Hibiscus Coast in the east. The area includes a number of regional park
s or areas of special interest. On the eastern tip of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula
is the Shakespear Regional Park, while north of Orewa are Wenderholm Regional Park and Mahurangi Regional Park. Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve
, which surrounds Goat Island
, was New Zealand's first marine reserve
, officially opened in 1977. It covers a coastline of about 5 km (3 mi), extends out in sea by 800 m, and encompasses 5 km² (2 sq mi), inside which all marine life is protected.
Towns in the south of the district are becoming dormitory districts for Auckland, which is now accessible largely by motorway, although they retain their origins and character as holiday resorts. Further north, communities are more rural. Some have become famous for particular activities such as Puhoi
and its cheese factory, or Waiwera
and its geothermal hot pools. Warkworth
is a good base to explore the Kowhai Coast, which includes historic Kawau Island, the home of New Zealand's former Governor Sir George Grey
, where Mansion House is now a museum.
The dominant feature of the western side of Rodney is Kaipara Harbour
, the largest enclosed harbour in the Southern Hemisphere
, with a perimeter of about 3000 km (1,864 mi). The area was once famous for its kauri timber mills.
Kumeu, Matakana
, and Huapai
are becoming well known for their wineries, a number of which provide sampling, cellar-door sales, and restaurants.
The district is divided into three wards, each containing a number of towns and settlements:
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...
's Auckland Region
Auckland Region
The Auckland Region was one of the sixteen regions of New Zealand, named for the city of Auckland, the country's largest urban area. With one third of the nation's residents, it was by far the biggest population and economy of any region of New Zealand, but the second-smallest land area.On 1...
, created in 1989 from the amalgamation of Helensville Borough
Helensville, New Zealand
Helensville is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is sited 40 kilometres northwest of Auckland, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour. State Highway 16 passes through the town, connecting it to Waimauku 16 km to the south, and Kaukapakapa about 12 km to the...
and Rodney County. The seat of the district council is at Orewa
Orewa
Orewa, a town in New Zealand's North Island lies on the Hibiscus Coast, just north of the base of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and 40 kilometres north of central Auckland. Orewa's population was 7,326 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 1,692 from 2001. It is a popular holiday destination...
, and the district includes Kawau Island to the north. The district was, in its last period, led by mayor Penny Webster
Penny Webster
Penny Webster is a councillor on the Auckland Council and former mayor of Rodney District, Auckland, New Zealand. As mayor of Rodney she headed one of the six main local government entities generally considered as making up the Auckland metropolitan area , with her district being the...
and 12 councillors. The area now generally composes the Rodney Ward and Rodney Local Board and is governed by Auckland Council
Auckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
since 1 November 2010.
Rodney stretches from the spectacular black volcanic sand beaches of Muriwai
Muriwai
Muriwai, also called Muriwai Beach, is a coastal community located on the west coast of North Island, New Zealand. It is also home to a large colony of gannets.- Location :...
in the west to the holiday resorts of the Hibiscus Coast in the east. The area includes a number of regional park
Regional park
Regional park is a term used for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, recreational use or other reason, and under the administration of a form of local government.-Definition:...
s or areas of special interest. On the eastern tip of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula
Whangaparaoa Peninsula
Whangaparaoa Peninsula is a peninsula and suburban area, around 25 km north of Auckland, New Zealand. Part of Rodney District, as of 2006, it had 22,788 residents, many of them in the eponymous town of Whangaparaoa on its southern side.-Geography:...
is the Shakespear Regional Park, while north of Orewa are Wenderholm Regional Park and Mahurangi Regional Park. Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve
Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve
Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve is a protected area in the North Island of New Zealand. Goat Island lies within the reserve and Leigh is the closest town. Auckland University operate a marine laboratory at the reserve...
, which surrounds Goat Island
Goat Island, Auckland
Goat Island is a tiny island in New Zealand located close to the North Island coast, north of Auckland, northeast of Warkworth, and directly west of Little Barrier Island...
, was New Zealand's first marine reserve
Marine reserve
For the United States Marine Corps Reserve see: Marine Forces ReserveA marine reserve is an area of the sea which has legal protection against fishing or development. This is to be distinguished from a marine park, but there is some overlap in usage...
, officially opened in 1977. It covers a coastline of about 5 km (3 mi), extends out in sea by 800 m, and encompasses 5 km² (2 sq mi), inside which all marine life is protected.
Towns in the south of the district are becoming dormitory districts for Auckland, which is now accessible largely by motorway, although they retain their origins and character as holiday resorts. Further north, communities are more rural. Some have become famous for particular activities such as Puhoi
Puhoi
Puhoi is a settlement located approximately 50 km north of Auckland, New Zealand. Puhoi is probably a Maori word which may be translated as "Slow water"....
and its cheese factory, or Waiwera
Waiwera
Waiwera is a locality situated in the north of the Auckland Region in New Zealand. The name is of Māori origin and means "Hot Water" . Its main claim to fame are the hot water springs which were well-known in pre-European times and reputedly visited by Māori from as far away as Thames...
and its geothermal hot pools. Warkworth
Warkworth, New Zealand
Warkworth is a town in the upper North Island of New Zealand, within the Rodney District and lying at the far north of the Auckland Region but just south of the Northland Region...
is a good base to explore the Kowhai Coast, which includes historic Kawau Island, the home of New Zealand's former Governor Sir George Grey
George Edward Grey
Sir George Grey, KCB was a soldier, explorer, Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony , the 11th Premier of New Zealand and a writer.-Early life and exploration:...
, where Mansion House is now a museum.
The dominant feature of the western side of Rodney is Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour is a large enclosed harbour estuary complex on the north western side of the North Island of New Zealand. The northern part of the harbour is administered by the Kaipara District and the southern part is administered by the Rodney District...
, the largest enclosed harbour in the Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
, with a perimeter of about 3000 km (1,864 mi). The area was once famous for its kauri timber mills.
Kumeu, Matakana
Matakana
Matakana is a small town in the Rodney District of New Zealand. Warkworth is about 9 km to the south-west, Snells Beach the same distance to the south, Omaha is about 7 km to the east, and Leigh is about 13 km to the north-east. The Matakana River flows through the town and into...
, and Huapai
Huapai
Huapai is a locality north-west of Auckland, New Zealand. State Highway 16 and the North Auckland Line pass through it. Kumeu is to the east, Riverhead to the north-east, and Waimauku to the west....
are becoming well known for their wineries, a number of which provide sampling, cellar-door sales, and restaurants.
The district is divided into three wards, each containing a number of towns and settlements:
- Western Ward: HelensvilleHelensville, New ZealandHelensville is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is sited 40 kilometres northwest of Auckland, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour. State Highway 16 passes through the town, connecting it to Waimauku 16 km to the south, and Kaukapakapa about 12 km to the...
, Kumeu, and Kaipara HarbourKaipara HarbourKaipara Harbour is a large enclosed harbour estuary complex on the north western side of the North Island of New Zealand. The northern part of the harbour is administered by the Kaipara District and the southern part is administered by the Rodney District...
. - Eastern Ward (Hibiscus Coast): Gulf HarbourGulf HarbourGulf Harbour is a development some 4 km from the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, towards the northern end of Auckland, New Zealand. It has one of the country's largest marinas, one of the country's top golf courses, and is regarded as a retreat for Auckland's well-off...
, Whangaparaoa PeninsulaWhangaparaoa PeninsulaWhangaparaoa Peninsula is a peninsula and suburban area, around 25 km north of Auckland, New Zealand. Part of Rodney District, as of 2006, it had 22,788 residents, many of them in the eponymous town of Whangaparaoa on its southern side.-Geography:...
, and Orewa. - Northern Ward: WarkworthWarkworth, New ZealandWarkworth is a town in the upper North Island of New Zealand, within the Rodney District and lying at the far north of the Auckland Region but just south of the Northland Region...
and Wellsford.