Huia (place)

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Suburb: Huia
City: Waitakere
Island: North Island
Surrounded by

 - to the north-west
 - to the east
 - to the west
Karekare (6 km)

Titirangi (15 km)
Little Huia (1.5 km)


Huia is a suburb of Auckland and is part of Waitakere City Council. Huia was previously known as Te Huia [1] 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.[2] The English translation "The Huia" was used into the 1970s, however 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 (Huia Store), which celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2006. 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. Huia Reserve is safe for swimming or you can walk along the beach at low tide. It is close to the Lower Huia Dam walkway.

Lower Huia Dam was opened in 1929 and forms part of the water supply for Auckland.

The Auckland Regional 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.[4]


Huia Settlers Museum is located near the entrance to the Karamatura Park and is open on Sundays between 1.30pm and 4.30pm. Entry by donation. 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.

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 Waitakere Ranges - Te Toi o Kawharu (474m) [accessible via the Twin Peaks Track] is part of this valley.

[edit] 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 978-0790000404.
  3. ^ Laing, N. (1976). "Huia: an album from the past", Lodestar Press, Auckland.
  4. ^ Our Parks: Huia. arc.govt.nz. Retrieved on June 5, 2008.
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