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Rodney County, New Zealand

Coordinates: 36°35′06″S 174°41′42″E / 36.585°S 174.695°E / -36.585; 174.695
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rodney County
County of New Zealand
1876–1989
CapitalWarkworth, Orewa (after amalgamation with Waitemata ridings)
History 
• Established
1876
• Disestablished
1989
Today part ofAuckland Council

Rodney County was one of the counties of New Zealand in the North Island, from 1876 until 1989. It came into existence in November 1876, when the provinces were abolished.[1] In the 1989 local government reforms, it merged with Helensville Borough to create Rodney District.

History

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In 1961 the Rodney County Council moved from their Alnwick Street address a new building on Baxter Street, Warkworth.[2]

In 1974, after absorbing the four rural ridings of Waitemata County the County would double the size and triple its population.[3] Following this amalgamation it was decided to build a new council building in Orewa which opened on the 6th of October, 1977.[4]

In the early 1980s the county experienced an economic and population boom. Kiwifruit prices had hit $8.02 per tray and the county was the fastest growing in population with a 17.9% increase, helped by a 22.5% increase in the Hibiscus Coast. The economy of Rodney during this period would be largely through meat cattle and other forms of agriculture.[5]

In 1989 as part of the local government reforms the county was abolished and replaced by Rodney District. The borders would remain largely the same aside from the incorporation of Helensville Borough and Taupaki from the newly formed Waitakere City, and a slight change to the border at Mangawhai.[6]

List of county chairmen

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The Rodney County Council was presided over by a chairman. The following is a complete list of officeholders:[7][8]

Name Term of office
1 Nathaniel Wilson 1877–1878
2 Henry Palmer 1878–1881
(1) Nathaniel Wilson 1881–1885
3 Josiah Hill Hudson 1885–1887
4 Edward Browne 1885–1892
5 George Moor 1892
6 John Morison King 1892–1893
7 Thomas Adams Gubb 1893–1899
(1) Nathaniel Wilson 1899–1905
8 Lewis Philip Becroft 1905–1911
9 George Wyatt Thompson 1911–1917
10 John Alfred Shepherd 1917–1920
11 John Morison 1920–1923
12 Frederick Hodgson 1923–1926
13 William John Schollum 1926–1932
14 Walter Kenneth Becroft 1932–1938
15 William Robinson Grant 1938–1947
(13) William John Schollum 1947–1953
16 Thomas Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins 1953–1963
17 John James Granville 1963–1973
18 Gordon Mason 1973–1989

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Mabbett 1977, p. 394.
  2. ^ Bioletti 1992, pp. 10.
  3. ^ Bioletti 1992, pp. 8–9.
  4. ^ Bioletti 1992, pp. 11–12.
  5. ^ Bioletti 1992, pp. 15.
  6. ^ Bioletti 1992, pp. 28–29.
  7. ^ Mabbett 1977, pp. 397–438.
  8. ^ Stuff 2010.

References

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  • Mabbett, H. (1977). The Rock and the Sky: the Story of Rodney County. Auckland: Wilson & Horton. ISBN 0-86864-018-2.
  • "Rodney's first mayor dies". Stuff. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  • Bioletti, Harry (1992). Rodney Coast to Coast. ISBN 0-473-01296-0.

36°35′06″S 174°41′42″E / 36.585°S 174.695°E / -36.585; 174.695