Huia, New Zealand

Huia is a western coastal settlement of Waitakere City, Auckland, New Zealand and forms part of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. The approximate population is 580.

Huia
Suburb
Looking north-west from Huia look-out over Huia bay towards the Lower Huia Dam.
CountryNew Zealand
Local authorityAuckland Council
(Waitākere Ranges) (Waitākere Ranges) Waitākere Ranges
Little Huia
Huia
 (Parau)
(Manukau Heads) (Manukau Harbour) (Manukau Harbour)

Huia was originally known as Te Huia as the area is thought to be named after a Māori chief, Te Huia, who stayed in the bay and was so taken by the area that he remained there.[1][2] The English translation "The Huia" was used into the 1970s, but simply "Huia" has now become more commonplace.[3]

The majority of houses in Huia are located along Huia Road, which arcs around Huia Bay and heads west towards Little Huia.

Huia has a single store/cafe (Huia Store), which celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2006.[4] Huia is also served by the Huia Volunteer Fire Brigade.

On the shores of Huia Bay is Huia Reserve, there are picnic tables, a BBQ, a small playground, basketball half-court and a half pipe for skating. It is close to the Lower Huia Dam, Upper Huia Dam and Karamatura Falls.

The Upper Huia Dam opened in 1929 and the Lower Huia Dam opened in 1971. Both reservoirs form part of the water supply for Auckland and are managed by Watercare Services.

The Auckland Council operates several accommodation facilities in the area including the Kiwanis Huia camp, Huia Lodge (which comprises the old school building), Barr cottage (situated on the waterfront in LIttle Huia) and a camping area known as Barn Paddock in the Karamatura farm.[5]

Huia Settlers Museum is located near the entrance to the Karamatura Park. The museum contains many relics of the Kauri felling and milling and artefacts from the wreck of HMS Orpheus.

Old Huia School is past the museum. The school opened in 1894 and closed in 1961 due to dwindling numbers. It is now Huia Lodge. The local state secondary school is Green Bay High School.

There are an abundance of walking tracks around the Huia area and there are numerous camp sites in the Karamatura Valley. The highest point in the Waitākere Ranges - Te Toi o Kawharu (474m) [accessible via the Twin Peaks Track] is part of this valley.

References
  1. Laing, N. (1985). "The settlement of the Huia: a history of the Huia and adjacent parts of the Manukau Harbour", Auckland.
  2. Reed, A.W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand place names, Reed Publishing, Auckland. ISBN 978-0-7900-0040-4.
  3. Laing, N. (1976). "Huia: an album from the past", Lodestar Press, Auckland.
  4. "Huia: Big adventure, little time". The New Zealand Herald. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  5. "Our Parks: Huia". arc.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 June 2008.

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