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Regional parks – from zero to heroic 28 in 50 years

But in that time the population tripled, and there’s no budget for future acquisitions
Mahurangi Coastal Trail high-tide Seaweek walk

Mahurangi Coastal Trail high-tide Seaweek walk

Last year’s was a low-tide walk, and wade, with the odd wallow. Partly to demonstrate that the Pūhoi River can be readily be crossed at low tide, and partly to avoid the need to arrange for craft to ferry folk across, the Mahurangi Coastal Trail was…

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Low-tide walk to sample low-hanging fruit

Low-tide walk to sample low-hanging fruit

Mahurangi can best ease the region’s growing pains by not housing its share of Aucklanders. According to the introductory video on the new unitary plan website, Aucklanders want a high quality, more compact city, in the face of the expected 30-year growth rate…

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Ten minutes and local board agrees to walk

Ten minutes and local board agrees to walk

A coastal trail, for the most part, should be built close to the water. But not only is it necessary to skirt the steep and cliff sections of the coast, the elevation gained rewards walkers with views that more than compensate for the slight exertion involved. The…

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After a century or more ferrymen to work Sunday

After a century or more ferrymen to work Sunday

Once, they were an essential part of the roading infrastructure. Ferrymen were paid the princely retainer of £15, or more if they were very lucky, to be on hand to transport travellers across the region’s various rivers. Pūhoi River ferryman George Ryan received £20…

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Road would ruin future for Mahurangi coastal trail

Road would ruin future for Mahurangi coastal trail

The grandest entrance to the harbour is from the sea, under sail. Coming a sublime second is to discover the Mahurangi on foot, from Waiwera. Currently, this requires closely judging the tide and some determined wading, to cross the Pūhoi. Once across the…

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A unique role for Mahurangi and public transport

A unique role for Mahurangi and public transport

The public transport needs of the Mahurangi, in most ways, are unremarkable. Warkworth and Mahurangi East have long needed both a local bus service as well as better connectivity to Auckland’s bus system. But what is unique about the…

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Te Muri acquisition key to coastal trail

Te Muri acquisition key to coastal trail

It was to have formed part of a scenic coastal road. In 1973, when the regional council secured 63.8 hectares of coastal land at Te Muri for that purpose, such car‑centric thinking went unchallenged. Subsequently, the regional council’s ardour for the coastal road…

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Captain Jones’ legacy complete at Te Muri

Captain Jones’ legacy complete at Te Muri

Captain Jones had first tried to secure Ōrewa Beach. But £10‍ ‍000 was too rich for the government of the day, and so most of the land between the highway sea was subdivided—with a single beach house now fetching the several million dollars that that figure equates to...

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Planting day at Sullivans Bay – Think national, act local

Planting day at Sullivans Bay – Think national, act local

Regional councillor Christine Rose said to the writer on her arrival, “I couldn’t resist your email!” …notifying ‘Mahurangi and friends’ of the planting. Neighbouring Mitapronounced: me-tuh Bay is the councillor’s favourite family holiday campsite. With the recent attacks by the district council…

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Success after three decades bleatin’ into submission

Success after three decades bleatin’ into submission

The locals’ vehicle-free concept blew the regional council’s plans for a road bridge across Te Muri out of the estuary. It was 1986 and test drilling in the bed of the estuary had rudely reminded locals that the splendid isolation Te Muri enjoyed was about to…

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Origins of Auckland’s regional parks

Origins of Auckland’s regional parks

I was a member of the Auckland Regional Planning Authority from 1960 until 1962. Each territorial local authority in the region appointed a member of the planning authority and I had been appointed by the Mt Albert Borough Council. The function…

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