Takapuna
Encyclopedia
Takapuna is a central, coastal suburb of North Shore City, located in the northern North Island
of New Zealand
, at the beginning of a south-east-facing peninsula forming the northern side of the Waitemata Harbour
. While very small in terms of population, it was the seat of the North Shore City Council before the amalgamation of Auckland in 2010 and contains substantial shopping and entertainment areas, being considered the CBD
of North Shore City.
The population of the census area of "Takapuna Central" was 2,811 in the 2006 Census
, an increase of 291 from 2001. The census area does not include some streets to the west of the CBD which are often considered as part of Takapuna.
Takapuna is located on the isthmus of a peninsula which extends south into the northern waters of the Waitemata at the harbour's eastern end. As such, the suburb has a coastline on Shoal Bay, an arm of the Waitemata to the southwest, as well as having a coast on the Hauraki Gulf
to the northeast. The northern end of the suburb is dominated by the large volcanic crater
of Lake Pupuke
. Some points in Takapuna are less than 500 metres from all three of these bodies of water. The Hauraki coastline includes a kilometer long crescent shaped beach (Takapuna Beach) which is a popular recreation area for the local area.
To the southeast of Takapuna lies the six-kilometre-long peninsula which contains the suburbs of Belmont
and Devonport
. To the west lie the suburbs of Hillcrest
and Northcote
. The suburb of Milford
lies to the north, on the far shore of Lake Pupuke.
The Lake Hotel at Takapuna was built on the shores of Lake Pupuke in 1887 to the design of R.J. Roberts. It was an elegant two storied structure with many verandahs and an octagonal turret. Although its owner, Edwin Harrow, envisaged it as a family hotel and marine pension, it also possessed a licence to sell liquor. Following the destruction by fire in the early years of the 20th century, this licence was transferred to a boarding house in nearby Takapuna Beach, the Mon Desir. This establishment was one of Auckland's most popular and notorious places of resort during the 20th century until it was recently redeveloped as apartments.
A local history archive is maintained by the New Zealand Collection of Takapuna Public Library. It includes an index of the local newspapers, archives, photographs, oral histories, and historical material relating to Takapuna.
, Smales Farm or Auckland CBD
. In turn, residential development in the area has increased, especially for more up-market residential apartments (such as in the Sentinel
), often marketed with the cultural opportunities and beach lifestyle considered typical of Takapuna. Takapuna's residential population is expected to double to around 8,000 in the next 15 years, but will also increase in age.
The Takapuna Beach area is the nightlife hub and boutique shopping centre of the North Shore, having more than 60 bars, restaurants, and cafes and over 400 retail shops. The most recent addition to the cultural life of the Takapuna Beach area is the Bruce Mason Centre, a performing arts complex named in memory of a local writer. Bruce Mason's most famous play, The End of the Golden Weather, is set in Takapuna. Shania Twain
's 2003 music video for When You Kiss Me was also shot in Takapuna.
Having been hit hard by recession in the late 2000s, which forced the closure of over 40 retail businesses in the area, the Takapuna centre is trying to establish itself as a fashionable upmarket shopping destination, and in one month of 2009 alone saw the opening of 19 new retail outlets, most in a new department store.
.
is a boys' secondary (years 7-13) school with a roll of 978. St Joseph's School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 341. They are state integrated Catholic schools located adjacent to each other. Rosmini College was founded in 1962, and St Joseph's in 1894.
Takapuna Normal Intermediate is a coeducational intermediate (years 7-8) school with a roll of 625. It was established in 1970.
Takapuna School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 268. It celebrated its 125th jubilee in 2004. All these schools have a decile rating
of 9.
Takapuna Grammar School
is in Belmont
, to the southeast of Takapuna.
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...
, at the beginning of a south-east-facing peninsula forming the northern side 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...
. While very small in terms of population, it was the seat of the North Shore City Council before the amalgamation of Auckland in 2010 and contains substantial shopping and entertainment areas, being considered the CBD
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of North Shore City.
The population of the census area of "Takapuna Central" was 2,811 in the 2006 Census
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
, an increase of 291 from 2001. The census area does not include some streets to the west of the CBD which are often considered as part of Takapuna.
Geography
Hauraki Gulf
The Hauraki Gulf is a coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It has a total area of 4000 km², and lies between the Auckland Region, the Hauraki Plains, the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island...
to the northeast. The northern end of the suburb is dominated by the large volcanic crater
Volcanic crater
A volcanic crater is a circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity. It is typically a basin, circular in form within which occurs a vent from which magma erupts as gases, lava, and ejecta. A crater can be of large dimensions, and sometimes of great depth...
of Lake Pupuke
Lake Pupuke
Lake Pupuke is a heart-shaped freshwater lake occupying a volcanic explosion crater between the suburbs of Takapuna and Milford on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. The heart shape is a result of its formation by the linking of two circular craters - a larger one forming most of the lake...
. Some points in Takapuna are less than 500 metres from all three of these bodies of water. The Hauraki coastline includes a kilometer long crescent shaped beach (Takapuna Beach) which is a popular recreation area for the local area.
To the southeast of Takapuna lies the six-kilometre-long peninsula which contains the suburbs of Belmont
Belmont, Auckland
Belmont is an Auckland suburb. The name, which means "good view or hill" derives from a farm estate called "Belmont" subdivided in 1885.The population of the "Seacliffe" statistical area, which is substantially the same as Belmont, was 3,297 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 162 from 2001...
and Devonport
Devonport, New Zealand
Devonport is a harbourside suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located on the North Shore, at the southern end of a peninsula that runs southeast from near Lake Pupuke in Takapuna, forming the northern side of the Waitemata Harbour...
. To the west lie the suburbs of Hillcrest
Hillcrest, Auckland
Hillcrest is a suburb of North Shore City, one of several cities in the Auckland metropolitan area in northern New Zealand. It is surrounded by Glenfield, Wairau Valley, Northcote and Birkenhead. The Auckland Northern Motorway passes to the east...
and Northcote
Northcote, New Zealand
Northcote is a suburb of North Shore City, one of several cities in the Auckland metropolitan area in northern New Zealand. It is located on the north shore of the Waitemata Harbour, four kilometres northwest of the Auckland city centre....
. The suburb of Milford
Milford, New Zealand
Milford is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. Located on Auckland's North Shore and part of North Shore City, Milford is located on the northern side of Lake Pupuke. It also has a popular swimming beach, which runs some two kilometers from Black Rock in the south to Castor Bay in the...
lies to the north, on the far shore of Lake Pupuke.
History
The earliest subdivisions of farmland for suburban development were the "Hurstmere" estate in 1886 and the "Pupuke" Estate in 1889. The Takapuna and Milford Beach areas, as well as the land surrounding Lake Pupuke soon became popular spots for wealthy businessmen building summer homes to entertain in a rural surrounding, and eventually, many moved here permanently, commuting to work in Auckland via ferry.The Lake Hotel at Takapuna was built on the shores of Lake Pupuke in 1887 to the design of R.J. Roberts. It was an elegant two storied structure with many verandahs and an octagonal turret. Although its owner, Edwin Harrow, envisaged it as a family hotel and marine pension, it also possessed a licence to sell liquor. Following the destruction by fire in the early years of the 20th century, this licence was transferred to a boarding house in nearby Takapuna Beach, the Mon Desir. This establishment was one of Auckland's most popular and notorious places of resort during the 20th century until it was recently redeveloped as apartments.
A local history archive is maintained by the New Zealand Collection of Takapuna Public Library. It includes an index of the local newspapers, archives, photographs, oral histories, and historical material relating to Takapuna.
Today
Takapuna is increasingly losing its office developments to other areas of greater Auckland such as AlbanyAlbany, New Zealand
Albany is a northern suburb of Auckland, one of the several cities in northern New Zealand. The name derives from Alba and its Latinisation. It is located to the north of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres northwest of the Auckland city centre. The suburb is in the Albany ward, one of the...
, Smales Farm or 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...
. In turn, residential development in the area has increased, especially for more up-market residential apartments (such as in the Sentinel
Sentinel (building)
The Sentinel is a luxury residential skyscraper in Takapuna, the central business area of North Shore City, New Zealand. The largest and currently only real skyscraper in the city, it has 30 levels and is 150 m tall including spire...
), often marketed with the cultural opportunities and beach lifestyle considered typical of Takapuna. Takapuna's residential population is expected to double to around 8,000 in the next 15 years, but will also increase in age.
The Takapuna Beach area is the nightlife hub and boutique shopping centre of the North Shore, having more than 60 bars, restaurants, and cafes and over 400 retail shops. The most recent addition to the cultural life of the Takapuna Beach area is the Bruce Mason Centre, a performing arts complex named in memory of a local writer. Bruce Mason's most famous play, The End of the Golden Weather, is set in Takapuna. Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
's 2003 music video for When You Kiss Me was also shot in Takapuna.
Having been hit hard by recession in the late 2000s, which forced the closure of over 40 retail businesses in the area, the Takapuna centre is trying to establish itself as a fashionable upmarket shopping destination, and in one month of 2009 alone saw the opening of 19 new retail outlets, most in a new department store.
Association football
Takapuna is home to Takapuna AFC who compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1ALotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1
The Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1 is a New Zealand Association football semi-professional status league competition that is run by the Auckland Football Federation and includes soccer clubs located in the northern part of the North Island, New Zealand...
.
Education
Rosmini CollegeRosmini College
Rosmini College is a state integrated Catholic secondary school for boys, situated in Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand. The school caters to Years 7-13 , and currently has a cosmopolitan roll of approximately 960....
is a boys' secondary (years 7-13) school with a roll of 978. St Joseph's School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 341. They are state integrated Catholic schools located adjacent to each other. Rosmini College was founded in 1962, and St Joseph's in 1894.
Takapuna Normal Intermediate is a coeducational intermediate (years 7-8) school with a roll of 625. It was established in 1970.
Takapuna School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 268. It celebrated its 125th jubilee in 2004. All these schools have a decile rating
Socio-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 9.
Takapuna Grammar School
Takapuna Grammar School
Takapuna Grammar School is a decile 10 secondary school located in the suburb of Belmont, North Shore City, Auckland, New Zealand. Established in 1927, TGS currently has a roll of around 1600 students from the North Shore. It serves many communities such as Bayswater, Belmont, Devonport, Takapuna...
is in Belmont
Belmont, Auckland
Belmont is an Auckland suburb. The name, which means "good view or hill" derives from a farm estate called "Belmont" subdivided in 1885.The population of the "Seacliffe" statistical area, which is substantially the same as Belmont, was 3,297 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 162 from 2001...
, to the southeast of Takapuna.
External links
- Takapuna Beach (website of the local business association)
- Hurstmere Road (website of the local business association)