Wellsford
Encyclopedia
Wellsford is a town in the northern North Island
of New Zealand
. The town is the northernmost major settlement in the Auckland Region, and is 114 kilometres northwest of Auckland City
..
Wellsford is located close to a narrowing of the North Auckland Peninsula
caused by an arm of the Kaipara Harbour on the west coast extending inland for 20 kilometres from the body of the harbour, stretching to within 15 kilometres of the east (Pacific Ocean
) coast.
Although the town's population is only 1,671 it is a major regional centre, being located at the junction of State Highways 1 and 16
. Its location almost exactly halfway between Auckland and the northern city of Whangarei
also makes it a more notable regional centre.
An alternate view is that the name is not derived from names of families but derives from the original location of Wellsford at tidal creek before it relocated to gum ridge when the rail head meet the main road north, the original location (name) being a ford across a creek.
, on the Kaipara Coast about 10 kilometres west of Wellsford. These settlers called themselves the Albertlanders, after Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort. They were a "breakaway group from the Anglican Church looking for a new world"
However, not many of the settlers arrived at Port Albert and the ones who did found it difficult to make a living. The majority of the Albertlanders moved inland, to more fertile areas in the region. As a result, Wellsford was founded.
of 4 and a roll of 321. Wellsford School is a full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 4 and a roll of 343. Rodney College's Board of Trustees was dismissed in August 2008 and a ministry of education commissioner appointed.
Living Way Christian School is a composite (years 1-13) school with a decile rating of 6 and a roll of 34. It is a private school which provides an education based on a "God-centred, Biblical perspective".
Tapora School is a full primary (Years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 6 with a roll of 45. The roll is split into Three classroom's, Room 3 (Years 1-3), Room 2 (Years 4-5), Room 1 (Years 6-8) each with one teacher supervising. It is a public school located west of Wellsford.
All these schools are coeducational.
, netball
, cricket
, tennis
and athletics
being amongst the more popular sports played. If looking for a more low key game, the Wellsford Golf
Club is popular among the locals and also houses squash
courts. Rollerskating, Archery
and bowling
, (indoors and outdoors) are also available. Equestrian
is also popular in the area.
is 27 kilometres from Wellsford boasting five beaches within 15 minutes of each other and plenty of local shops teeming with local merchandise.
Lake Tomarata and Lake Spectacle are found 20 kilometres northeast of Wellsford. Because of Lake Tomarata have the best vehicle access of the two lakes, it is generally the more popular of the two, although both are extremely popular with water skiers. Also, Lake Tomarata has a safe, fenced of section near the lake shore for young children to swim in. "It also offers a boat ramp, changing shed, toilet, barbecue and picnic tables." (Rodney District, 2008, para 5)
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...
. The town is the northernmost major settlement in the Auckland Region, and is 114 kilometres northwest of Auckland City
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...
..
Wellsford is located close to a narrowing of the North Auckland Peninsula
North Auckland Peninsula
The North Auckland Peninsula, frequently referred to simply as the Northland Peninsula, is located in the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. The peninsula is easily confused with, though not the same as Northland Region, which occupies the top 80% of the peninsula...
caused by an arm of the Kaipara Harbour on the west coast extending inland for 20 kilometres from the body of the harbour, stretching to within 15 kilometres of the east (Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
) coast.
Although the town's population is only 1,671 it is a major regional centre, being located at the junction of State Highways 1 and 16
New 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...
. Its location almost exactly halfway between Auckland and the northern city of Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
also makes it a more notable regional centre.
Etymology
According to local tradition, the origin of the name Wellsford is believed to be an acronym based on the surnames of the first families who settled in the region. These names were as follows: Watson, Edger, Lester, Levet, Simpson, Foster, Oldfield, Ramsbottom and Dibble.An alternate view is that the name is not derived from names of families but derives from the original location of Wellsford at tidal creek before it relocated to gum ridge when the rail head meet the main road north, the original location (name) being a ford across a creek.
History
In the early 1860s, English settlers arrived, establishing themselves at Port AlbertPort Albert, New Zealand
Port Albert is situated on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour approximately 8 kilometres west of Wellsford, and was the last major European settlement in New Zealand. It was initially called Albertland...
, on the Kaipara Coast about 10 kilometres west of Wellsford. These settlers called themselves the Albertlanders, after Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort. They were a "breakaway group from the Anglican Church looking for a new world"
However, not many of the settlers arrived at Port Albert and the ones who did found it difficult to make a living. The majority of the Albertlanders moved inland, to more fertile areas in the region. As a result, Wellsford was founded.
Education
Rodney College is a secondary (years 9-13) school with a decile ratingSocio-Economic Decile
Decile, Socio-Economic Decile or Socio-Economic Decile Band is a widely used measure in education in New Zealand used to target funding and support to more needy schools....
of 4 and a roll of 321. Wellsford School is a full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 4 and a roll of 343. Rodney College's Board of Trustees was dismissed in August 2008 and a ministry of education commissioner appointed.
Living Way Christian School is a composite (years 1-13) school with a decile rating of 6 and a roll of 34. It is a private school which provides an education based on a "God-centred, Biblical perspective".
Tapora School is a full primary (Years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 6 with a roll of 45. The roll is split into Three classroom's, Room 3 (Years 1-3), Room 2 (Years 4-5), Room 1 (Years 6-8) each with one teacher supervising. It is a public school located west of Wellsford.
All these schools are coeducational.
Sport
Being a rural town, sport plays a big part in Wellsford's day to day life with rugbyRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
, cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
and athletics
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
being amongst the more popular sports played. If looking for a more low key game, the Wellsford Golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
Club is popular among the locals and also houses squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
courts. Rollerskating, Archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
and bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
, (indoors and outdoors) are also available. Equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
is also popular in the area.
Things To Do
MangawhaiMangawhai
Mangawhai is a locality in Northland, New Zealand around the Mangawhai Harbour. The township of Mangawhai is at the south west extent of the harbour, and the township of Mangawhai Heads is 5 km north east...
is 27 kilometres from Wellsford boasting five beaches within 15 minutes of each other and plenty of local shops teeming with local merchandise.
Lake Tomarata and Lake Spectacle are found 20 kilometres northeast of Wellsford. Because of Lake Tomarata have the best vehicle access of the two lakes, it is generally the more popular of the two, although both are extremely popular with water skiers. Also, Lake Tomarata has a safe, fenced of section near the lake shore for young children to swim in. "It also offers a boat ramp, changing shed, toilet, barbecue and picnic tables." (Rodney District, 2008, para 5)