Te Atatu
Encyclopedia
Te Atatu is the name of two suburbs in western Auckland
, New Zealand
: Te Atatu Peninsula
and Te Atatu South
. They are located next to each other some 10 kilometres to the west of the Auckland city centre.
Formerly known as Te Atatu North, the suburb of Te Atatu Peninsula lies, as the name suggests, on a small peninsula. It is located at the western extremity of the Waitemata Harbour
, and is formed by the Henderson Creek, an estuarial
arm of the harbour, which extends southwest from the Harbour itself. The peninsula thus formed is four kilometres in length and two kilometres in width, and is joined to the main part of the North Island
at its southern end.
Te Atatu South is sited at the point where the peninsula meets the rest of the island, south of the motorway interchange, which bisects the formerly more closely linked areas. Both suburban areas are characterised by a well-established suburban neighbourhood, with two town centres providing shops, medical services and community facilities. Most inhabitants work in Waitakere City or Auckland City.
The Te Atatu electorate
, which covers both suburbs, was served in New Zealand Parliament by Chris Carter
, who was New Zealand's first openly gay
Cabinet Minister
.
in the east. Mangroves and other estuarine epifauna dominate the boundaries, with the geology composed mostly of marine and stream sediments.
) were opened along the coast of the Waitemata. This encouraged suburban settlements to the west of Auckland, and Te Atatu grew rapidly as a result. In the 2000s, the working-class suburb area became increasingly popular for luxury apartments and other higher-cost residential development.
was built to a clear height sufficient to allow large ships to pass under it. However, the port idea was never realised, and the land later released for subdivision, though legal fights with the former landowners continue(d).
runs along the motorway as well, and some locals like to use it to commute to their jobs in the Auckland CBD areas.
. Other convenient State secondary schools are Henderson High School, Liston College, and St Dominic's College. Local Intermediate schools are Te Atatu Intermediate and Rangeview Intermediate.
rugby league team who were national champions in 1988. They are based at Jack Colvin Park. Other teams who play in the Te Atatu area are the Waitakere Cricket Club
, Waitakere rugby union club and Te Atatu softball club.
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...
, 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...
: Te Atatu Peninsula
Te Atatu Peninsula
- to the south-west - to the west - to the north-west Te Atatu South Lincoln Massey West Harbour Te Atatu Peninsula, formerly known as "Te Atatu North", is an Auckland suburb...
and Te Atatu South
Te Atatu South
- to the south - to the south-west - to the north-west Te Atatu Peninsula Glendene Henderson Lincoln...
. They are located next to each other some 10 kilometres to the west of the Auckland city centre.
Formerly known as Te Atatu North, the suburb of Te Atatu Peninsula lies, as the name suggests, on a small peninsula. It is located at the western extremity 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...
, and is formed by the Henderson Creek, an estuarial
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
arm of the harbour, which extends southwest from the Harbour itself. The peninsula thus formed is four kilometres in length and two kilometres in width, and is joined to the main part of 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...
at its southern end.
Te Atatu South is sited at the point where the peninsula meets the rest of the island, south of the motorway interchange, which bisects the formerly more closely linked areas. Both suburban areas are characterised by a well-established suburban neighbourhood, with two town centres providing shops, medical services and community facilities. Most inhabitants work in Waitakere City or Auckland City.
The Te Atatu electorate
Te Atatu (New Zealand electorate)
rightTe Atatū is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Te Atatū is Chris Carter, who is formerly of the Labour Party, but is currently an Independent MP...
, which covers both suburbs, was served in New Zealand Parliament by Chris Carter
Chris Carter (politician)
Christopher Joseph Carter was an independent Member of Parliament in New Zealand, and a former member of the New Zealand Labour Party until his expulsion. Carter was a senior Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand, serving lastly as Minister of Education, Minister...
, who was New Zealand's first openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
Cabinet Minister
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
.
Geography
The peninsula (and to a large degree, the southern part of the suburb as well, is defined by Henderson Creek in the west, and the Whau RiverWhau River
The Whau River is an estuarial arm of the southwestern Waitemata Harbour within the Auckland metropolitan area in New Zealand. It flows north for 5.7 kilometres from its origin at the confluence of the Avondale Stream and Whau Stream to its mouth between the Te Atatu peninsula and the long, thin...
in the east. Mangroves and other estuarine epifauna dominate the boundaries, with the geology composed mostly of marine and stream sediments.
History
The two suburbs were relatively rural areas until the 1950s when the first stages of the Northwestern motorway (State Highway 16New Zealand State Highway 16
State Highway 16 is a New Zealand state highway linking Auckland City with Wellsford, via Auckland's Northwestern Motorway, Helensville and Kaukapakapa...
) were opened along the coast of the Waitemata. This encouraged suburban settlements to the west of Auckland, and Te Atatu grew rapidly as a result. In the 2000s, the working-class suburb area became increasingly popular for luxury apartments and other higher-cost residential development.
Proposed port
In the 1950s, there were plans to build a new deepwater port at the Te Atatu peninsula. Land was acquired under public works regulations, and later, the Auckland Harbour BridgeAuckland Harbour Bridge
The Auckland Harbour Bridge is an eight-lane box truss motorway bridge over the Waitemata Harbour, joining St Marys Bay in Auckland with Northcote in North Shore City, New Zealand. The bridge is part of State Highway 1 and the Auckland Northern Motorway...
was built to a clear height sufficient to allow large ships to pass under it. However, the port idea was never realised, and the land later released for subdivision, though legal fights with the former landowners continue(d).
Transport
The two suburbs are bisected by State Highway 16, connecting the west and Northwest of Auckland to Auckland City. The Te Atatu Interchange is being upgraded to the deal with increased traffic. The Northwestern CyclewayNorthwestern Cycleway
The Northwestern Cycleway is a 12 km mostly off-road cycle route connecting the Auckland CBD in Auckland City with Henderson, Waitakere City in New Zealand...
runs along the motorway as well, and some locals like to use it to commute to their jobs in the Auckland CBD areas.
Schools
The local State secondary school is Rutherford CollegeRutherford College, Auckland
Rutherford College is a co-educational state secondary school on the Te Atatu Peninsula, Auckland, New Zealand.- About :Rutherford College is a New Zealand Qualifications Authority accredited co-educational Year 9-13 State Secondary school, established in 1961. Named after the New Zealand-born...
. Other convenient State secondary schools are Henderson High School, Liston College, and St Dominic's College. Local Intermediate schools are Te Atatu Intermediate and Rangeview Intermediate.
Sports
Te Atatu is home to several sports teams. Perhaps the most successful is the Te Atatu RoostersTe Atatu Roosters
The Te Atatu Roosters is a rugby league club based in Te Atatu. The Roosters compete in the Fox Memorial, the premier division in Auckland Rugby League...
rugby league team who were national champions in 1988. They are based at Jack Colvin Park. Other teams who play in the Te Atatu area are the Waitakere Cricket Club
Waitakere Cricket Club
Waitakere Cricket Club is a cricket club based in Waitakere City. Based at Te Atatu Park on the Te Atatu Peninsula, the club has won the Auckland club championship three times.-History:...
, Waitakere rugby union club and Te Atatu softball club.