Remuera

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Remuera is a suburban area within Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres to the southeast of the city centre. According to the 2001 census, Remuera has a population of 6324.

The suburb extends from Hobson Bay and the Orakei Basin (two arms of the Waitemata Harbour to the north and east, to the main thoroughfare of State Highway 1 in the southwest. It is surrounded by the suburbs of Newmarket, Greenlane and Meadowbank.

Traditionally occupied by the higher-income bracket, especially on its "Northern Slopes" (a term that refers to the part of Remuera north of Remuera Road) the suburb has become regarded as the stereotypical retreat of the rich in popular New Zealand thought, and is therefore used as a name to describe this income group - usually in disparaging tones. The term "Remuera tractor", for example, is a common nickname for SUV vehicles.

There are several schools in Remuera. Remuera Primary, Victoria Avenue Primary School, Dilworth Primary School, King's School for Boys, Saint Kentigerns School, Remuera Intermediate, Baradine, Sacred Heart, and Corran School for Girls to name a few.

Remuera's main business and shopping area stretches along Remuera Road from Armadale Road to St Vincent's Avenue. Smaller shopping areas are situated at Upland Road and Benson Road. Remuera is home to many well known New Zealanders including Paul Holmes and Sir Edmund Hillary.

Remuera is a part of the Epsom Electorate for Parliamentary representation, and the Hobson Ward for council representation. Remuera represents approximately 50% of the population in each political area. The current Member of Parliament for Epsom is Rodney Hide from ACT New Zealand, and the local councillors are from the Action Hobson and Citizens and Ratepayers Now tickets.

[edit] History of Remuera

Remuera has had a long history of occupation, starting back in the early 1300’s when the Maori came to the area. They named the place O-hine-rangi - the place of Hinerangi (girl of the sky).

It wasn’t until some four hundred years later that it was named Remu-wera – roughly translated as "burnt hem of a garment".

The Wai-o-hua are one of the first Maori tribes mentioned as having lived in the area. Their chief Kiwi Tamaki united (usually by conquest) the tribes of Auckland. Kiwi Tamaki had his main fortified village or pa based on Maungakeikei (One Tree Hill), while the rest of his tribe had pa on almost all of Auckland’s dormant volcano’s.

The Story is told that a young chieftainess from the plains of Hauraki was on her way to visit with Kiwi Tamaki, when she was set upon by the Wai-o-hua, she was killed,cooked and eaten(hence the name Remu-wera). Cannibalism was seen by the early Maori as a way to confer the power and mana –prestige- of the victim to the eaters.

Eventually the Wai-o-hua gave way to the Ngāti Whātua who are now considered the local iwi.

When early European settlers moved into Remuera, they too treasured the area, and it quickly became one of the most exclusive places to live.

Schools and Churches soon went up, but it took a little longer for Remuera to have shops, with Newmarket being the shopping district.

Around 1890 the first shops opened in Remuera. LJ Keys the grocer opened the Clonbern Store, on Clonbern Road, and further down Remuera Road on the corner of Armadale Road was Kings Sweet and Cake Shop which had a bake house behind it. By 1910 Mr. Keys had been joined by George Lawler Bootmaker, The Lancashire Dairy Co, The Post and Telegraph Office, F.G. Blott the Chemist, Miss A More Draper and Miss Cox Confectioner.

Of course the presence of these businesses was a great upset to the Newmarket shopkeepers, who were most indignant. In fact many of the Remuera locals, who had been served well by Newmarket, having goods delivered on horseback or in carts, were annoyed and refused to switch their patronage.

[edit] External links

• Remuera Online [1]