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Papakura

Coordinates: 37°3′45″S 174°56′31″E / 37.06250°S 174.94194°E / -37.06250; 174.94194
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This article is about the suburb. For the past territorial authority, see Papakura District. For the current local board area, see Papakura (local board area). For the local board, see Papakura Local Board.

Papakura
Suburb
Aerial view of Papakura and the Auckland Southern Motorway
Aerial view of Papakura and the Auckland Southern Motorway
Map
Coordinates: 37°3′45″S 174°56′31″E / 37.06250°S 174.94194°E / -37.06250; 174.94194
CountryNew Zealand
CityAuckland
Local authorityAuckland Council
Electoral wardManurewa-Papakura ward
Local boardPapakura Local Board
Established1845
Area
[1]
 • Land1,034 ha (2,555 acres)
Population
 (June 2022)[2]
 • Total27,680
Train stationsPapakura railway station
HospitalsCounties Manukau District Health Board
Wattle Downs Takanini Ardmore
(Towards Manukau Harbour)
Papakura
 Red Hill
Pahurehure, Rosehill Drury Ōpaheke

Papakura is a southern suburb of Auckland, in northern New Zealand. It is located on the shores of the Pahurehure Inlet, approximately 32 kilometres south of the Auckland CBD. It is under the authority of the Auckland Council.

Papakura is a Māori word believed to have originated from papa, meaning earth or flat (abbreviation of Papatūānuku) and kura meaning red,[3] reflecting the rich, fertile soil upon which the community was founded.

History

A village was established at Papakura in the late 1840s by a small group of settler families who sought to farm in the area. Among these early settlers was George Cole, a Welsh immigrant whose legacy in the town has been preserved through Coles Crescent, one of the major thoroughfares in the town centre. The tract of land that was initially purchased was subdivided in 1853, with the street layout that was built initially remaining largely in place today.[4]

In 1862, construction of the Great South Road, from Auckland to the Waikato, commenced.[5] The road passed through Papakura and was constructed during the New Zealand Wars to transport supplies to the colonial militias and British Army forces fighting in the Invasion of the Waikato. It was guarded by armed constabulary and was a designated military road. It remains the primary north-south thoroughfare through Papakura and part of the road forms the main street of the Papakura town centre.

In 1875, Papakura railway station opened, linking the town to Auckland to the north and Hamilton to the south. In 1882, the Papakura Town District was established, for many years the only such district within what is now the southern portion of the Auckland urban area. In spite of this, the town was not particularly developed, and by 1914 had a population of just 700.[4]

In the latter 19th century, Papakura was an important location for the kauri gum trade. Papakura township was adjacent to the large Ardmore Gumfield (also known as the Papakura Gumfield), which stretched from Manurewa to Clevedon. By the 1900s, the gumfields started being converted into farmland and orchards.[6]

In 1911, the first controlled powered flight in New Zealand took place in Papakura. The flight took place inside a single paddock within the racecourse of the now-defunct Papakura Racing Club. The flight was piloted by Vivian Walsh and was carried out in a Howard Wright 1910 Biplane, the parts for which were imported from England in 1910 and assembled by members of the Auckland Aeroplane Syndicate.[7]

The Papakura Military Camp was established on the outskirts of the town in 1939 and remains an important base for the New Zealand Army, being the home of the New Zealand Special Air Service.[8] The camp was initially built by the Stevenson family construction business.[9] In the early 2000s some land was set aside for new housing developments.

During the major reformation of local government in 1989, Papakura became a district. Prior to 1989, a smaller area was known as Papakura City. The new district included parts of the surrounding rural countryside that had previously been part of Manukau City. The newly amalgamated area was known as the Papakura District. Instead of being an independent city, as Papakura had been previously, the district became a part of the also newly-created Auckland Regional Council area.

From October 2010, after a review of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance, the various cities and districts of the Auckland Region were amalgamated into a single unitary authority, governed by the Auckland Council. As well as the Papakura District, the other cities and districts within the Auckland Region, such as the neighbouring Manukau City, as well as the regional council itself, were abolished with the entire area merged into a single authority. Papakura and the other suburbs of the former Papakura District are now in the Papakura Local Board within the Manurewa-Papakura Ward of the Auckland Council. The entirety of Papakura and the former district is included as part of the Auckland urban area for statistical purposes, forming part of its southern boundary.

Demographics

Papakura covers 10.34 km2 (3.99 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 27,680 as of June 2022,[2] with a population density of 2,677 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200617,667—    
201319,224+1.21%
201822,500+3.20%
Source: [10]

Papakura had a population of 22,500 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 3,276 people (17.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 4,833 people (27.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 6,636 households, comprising 11,085 males and 11,412 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female, with 5,745 people (25.5%) aged under 15 years, 5,238 (23.3%) aged 15 to 29, 9,279 (41.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 2,232 (9.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 46.3% European/Pākehā, 34.2% Māori, 21.6% Pacific peoples, 16.9% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 25.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 40.9% had no religion, 37.6% were Christian, 3.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 5.0% were Hindu, 1.4% were Muslim, 0.9% were Buddhist and 4.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 2,346 (14.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 3,885 (23.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,857 people (11.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 8,463 (50.5%) people were employed full-time, 1,833 (10.9%) were part-time, and 1,119 (6.7%) were unemployed.[10]

Most of Papakura is residential, with a commercial area on the western side. The area southeast of Papakura is almost entirely industrial.

Individual statistical areas
Name Area
(km2)		 Population Density
(per km2)		 Households Median age Median
income
Papakura West 0.56 1,788 3,193 642 42.0 years $27,300[11]
Papakura North 1.25 4,185 3,348 1,293 30.6 years $31,000[12]
Papakura Central 1.57 3,207 2,043 1,191 35.4 years $28,900[13]
Papakura North East 1.49 2,535 1,701 750 30.6 years $33,600[14]
Papakura Kelvin 1.02 4,515 4,426 1,095 26.8 years $23,000[15]
Papakura Massey Park 0.89 2,862 3,216 789 28.2 years $24,600[16]
Papakura East 2.02 3,204 1,586 825 30.3 years $31,500[17]
Papakura Industrial 1.54 204 132 51 32.7 years $26,800[18]
New Zealand 37.4 years $31,800

Education

The following schools are located in Papakura (schools in Takanini and other adjacent suburbs are excluded):

Papakura High School is a secondary school (years 9–13) with a roll of 1063.[19] The school was established in 1954.[20] In 2020, Māori students were 59% of the roll and Pacific Islands students were 29%.[21]

Papakura Intermediate is an intermediate school (years 7–8) with a roll of 294.[22] The school opened in 1962. From 2000 to 2017 it was called Mansell Senior School.[23] In 2018, Māori students were 74% of the roll and Pacific Islands students were 22%.[24]

Papakura Normal School and Edmund Hillary School are full primary schools (years 1–8) with rolls of 774 and 208 students, respectively.[25][26] Papakura Normal opened as Papakura North School in 1953, and changed to its current name when it affiliated to Ardmore Teachers College in 1958.[27] Edmund Hillary opened in 1963. Its name pays tribute to the mountaineer.[28]

Papakura Central School, Kelvin Road School and Cosgrove School are contributing primary schools (years 1–6) with rolls of 426, 494 and 578 students, respectively.[29][30][31] Papakura Central traces its origins back to 1876.[32] Kelvin Road opened in 1968.[33] Cosgrove opened in 1959.[34]

All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of August 2024.[35]

Facilities

Government

In addition to the Local Council Chambers, Papakura is served by a large police station (one of Auckland's busiest), a District Court, and a WINZ office. In the Pitcairn sexual assault trial of 2004, the Papakura Courthouse was where the Pitcairn Supreme Court sat to hear the case.

Armed forces

Papakura once served a large military population, but now only the SAS special forces are based at Papakura.[36] Nearby houses were originally Army Homes, but are now in private hands. The army base was made much smaller in the 2010s and become a residential area for a large number of modern houses, both detached and terraced. The subdivision is called McLennan Housing Development next to McLennan Park, home of Papakura Football Club. McLennan being the name of the farming brothers that first settled in the area from Scotland.[37]

Transport

Overview of Papakura railway station, viewed from Clevedon Road

State Highway 1 and the North Island Main Trunk railway run through the Papakura District. State Highway 1 ran down Great South Road through central Papakura until 1965, when it was bypassed by the Auckland Southern Motorway.[38]

Public transport is provided by train and bus services, with frequent trains on the Southern Line between Papakura and the CBD (Britomart). Recent investment has focused on upgrading and refurbishing the region's trains and suburban railway stations, most recently with the opening of a modern station facility at the town centre. Papakura is the final stop for most southbound public transport in Auckland, and Papakura is the third busiest station on the rail network. Drawn by frequent services into and out of the city, rail commuters come from Papakura itself, Franklin County and the northern Waikato. Though the motorway and Great South Road flow relatively freely at peak times, road commuters are affected by the acute traffic congestion as they get closer to metropolitan Auckland.

Sport and recreation

Some notable sports facilities include an indoor-outdoor swimming pool, an international-quality athletics track, a sports stadium, and venues for rugby, netball, cricket, golf, tennis, badminton, soccer, and many other sports. The council also operates a library and a theatre. Papakura also has a number of skate parks, and a skate bowl.

Papakura is home to association football club Papakura City, who compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2, rugby union club Papakura RFC who are members of the Counties Manukau Rugby Union, rugby league club Papakura Sea Eagles, who compete in the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition (division 1), and Papakura Cricket Club who compete in the Counties Manukau Cricket Association competition. Papakura and the surrounding area is represented by the Counties Manukau Steelers in first-class rugby union and Northern Districts in first-class cricket.

Museum

The Papakura Museum showcases the area's local history.[39][40] It opened in 1972.[41]

Notable people

Main category: People from Papakura

Notable buildings

  • Christ Church (Anglican)[42] established in 1862 with Selwyn Chapel.

References

  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  3. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b Historic Heritage Evaluation: Papakura-Karaka War Memorial (PDF) (Report). Auckland Council. 2017.
  5. ^ "War in Waikato". nzhistory.govt.nz. New Zealand History. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  6. ^ Hayward, Bruce W. (1989). Kauri Gum and the Gumdiggers. The Bush Press. pp. 4–5, 44. ISBN 0-908608-39-X.
  7. ^ "New Zealand's first controlled powered flight". nzhistory.govt.nz. New Zealand History. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  8. ^ "17. – Auckland places – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Our History". Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Papakura West (162800), Papakura North (163000), Papakura Central (163200), Papakura North East (163300), Papakura Kelvin (163500), Papakura Massey Park (163600), Papakura East (163900) and Papakura Industrial (164100).
  11. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Papakura West
  12. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Papakura North
  13. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Papakura Central
  14. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Papakura North East
  15. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Papakura Kelvin
  16. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Papakura Massey Park
  17. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Papakura East
  18. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Papakura Industrial
  19. ^ Education Counts: Papakura High School
  20. ^ "About Papakura High School". Papakura High School. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Papakura High School - 03/02/2020". Education Review Office. 3 February 2020.
  22. ^ Education Counts: Papakura Intermediatel
  23. ^ "Our Journey". Papakura Intermediate. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Papakura Intermediate - 09/03/2018". Education Review Office. 9 March 2018.
  25. ^ Education Counts: Papakura Normal School
  26. ^ Education Counts: Edmund Hillary School
  27. ^ "Welcome". Papakura Normal School. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Our History". Edmund Hillary School. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  29. ^ Education Counts: Papakura Central School
  30. ^ Education Counts: Kelvin Road School
  31. ^ Education Counts: Cosgrove School
  32. ^ "The History of Papakura Central School". Papakura Central School. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  33. ^ "50 Year Jubilee Celebrations". Kelvin Road School. 27 October 2018.
  34. ^ "Cosgrove Primary School". Cosgrove School. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  35. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  36. ^ "Forces and Locations". New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
  37. ^ "About | McLennan". mclennan.co.nz. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  38. ^ "Auckland Motorways 2008" (PDF). New Zealand Transport Agency. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  39. ^ "Papakura Museum". Papakura Museum.
  40. ^ "Papakura Museum on NZ Museums". nzmuseums.co.nz. Te Papa.
  41. ^ Deeming, Wendy (August 2022). Papakura Museum: 50 Years. Papakura and Districts Historical Society.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  42. ^ "Old All Saints Church (Anglican)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
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