Papakura District

City of Papakura
Name	PAPAKURA
Papakura District Population	44, 600
Papakura City Central Population	28,010
Population figures from 2006 census are provisional About the City Papakura is the name of a city and a district in Auckland, New Zealand, but can also be considered a suburb of Auckland. Now a satellite city of Auckland, it constitutes the southernmost part of the greater Auckland conurbation. Location The city of Papakura is located between the Manukau Harbour and the Franklin District, just south of the CBD of Auckland, on the southern boundary of Auckland City. Prior to the 1989 reorganisation of local government, Papakura has enjoyed city status for almost 2 decades now. Surrounding Suburbs Papakura City's surrounding suburbs: To the north: Takanini To the east: Red Hill To the south: Opaheke To the west: Pahurehure City / Countryside Originally a country town astride Great South Road, and now overtaken by Auckland's urban sprawl, Papakura is where city meets country. Takanini is the district's industrial suburb. The Takanini town center is full of Car Dealers hoping to make good business in the district. Takanini is known to Aucklanders as the Gateway to Auckland, because of all the highways beginning, and going through the suburb. Papakura's City Center is a typical retail hub, but rural tranquillity is nearby at the outskirts of the district. The nearby Hunua Ranges have a waterfall and forested walking tracks, where wild deer occasionally roam, however that area is operated by the Franklin District. Essential Services Papakura has no major river, but water is supplied from reservoirs in the Hunua Ranges' for many parts of Auckland City. Papakura has a substation for local electricity. This station is located in the suburb of Takanini. Different Households are with different power companies. Particularly popular in the region is Mercury Energy one of the several companies providing electricity to Auckland. Telecom is New Zealand's Telecommunications Business. Beaches Auckland is well-known for its exquisite beaches, most beaches are popular in the summertime. The famous West Coast of Auckland is a great surf spot, and excellent for family outings. Piha, one of Waitakere's best beaches is extremely rapid! With a strong current, and massive waves, the Piha Rescue Team are watching closely! Papakura has a few beaches in the district, which can't really be used due to pollution and endangered wildlife, these beaches are closely watched by regional government and conservational organizations. Citizens enjoy convenient access to beaches at Maraetai, Orere Point, Mission Bay and Tamaki Drive on the waterfront, Kawakawa Bay on the Hauraki Gulf, and Clarks Beach on the Manukau Harbour. History The indigeneous residents are Māori, who built a Pa named "Puke Kiwiriki", at the top of what is now known as one of Papakura's most picturesque suburbs, Red Hill. The site has a panoramic view of not only Papakura itself, but other parts of Auckland. Auckland's 'Sky Tower' can also be seen from Puke Kiwiriki. The city's name originates from Māori words papa-kura meaning "red earth", reflecting the rich, fertile soil upon which the community was founded. Local Education Papakura has several schools located throughout the city. ACG Strathallan - Karaka, Auckland Alfriston College - Alfriston, Auckland Alfriston School - Alfriston, Auckland Ardmore School - Ardmore, Auckland Conifer Grove - Conifer Grove, Auckland Cosgrovre Primary School - Papakura, Auckland Drury Christian School - Drury, Auckland Drury School - Drury, Auckland Edmund Hillary School - Papakura, Auckland Kelvin Road School - Papakura, Auckland Mansell Senior School - Papakura, Auckland Opaheke School - Opaheke, Auckland Papakura Central School - Papakura City, Auckland Papakura High School - Papakura, Auckland Papakura Normal School - Papakura, Auckland Papakura South School - Papakura, Auckland Park Estate School - Park Estate/Papakura, Auckland Red Hill School - Red Hill, Auckland Rosehill College - Papakura, Auckland Rosehill School - Papakura, Auckland St Mary's School (Papakura) - Papakura, Auckland Takanini School - Takanini, Auckland Main Features The district has many convenient facilities, like a competiton swimming pool, at the Massey Park Aquatic Center, which is the 'sister-center' to Mt Albert's PHILIPS Aquatic Center, a small hospital, a high quality athletics track, with a miniature sports stadium, several 'supermarkets' located in remote areas throughout the city, a Bus Depot for the local coaches: Stagecoach Auckland, a busy Police Department which is one of Auckland's main stations, an Airport in Ardmore which is the busiest aiport in Auckland due to the aero club members, a PAINTBALL reserve in nearby Hunua which gets crowded with the local teens, a large city library located in a mall in the city center, named after local celebrity: Sir Edmund Hillary, A Train Station which provides rail transport throughout Auckland, finally stopping at Britomart, (the main stop and the ONLY 'subway station' in Auckland), located Downtown in the CBD. Military Connection Papakura is also home to a New Zealand Army base where the NZ SAS special forces are located, with nearby Auckland Army Homes located on Dittmar Place, Russell Avenue, and Arimu Road. These homes are made from solid timber, and most of these homes are no longer used by the military. Local Celebrity One of Papakura's favourite sons is [[Sir Edmund Hillary]]; although born in Tuakau (south of Auckland), he spent most his time in Papakura. List of Suburbs Below is a list of suburbs in the Papakura District, put in no particular order. Alfriston Takanini Conifer Grove Longford Park Addison Eastern Heights Papakura Red Hill Middleton Ardmore Papakura City/Central Central Park Opaheke Park Estate Pahurehure Pahurehure Inlet Keri Hill Drury Hingaia Rosehill Karaka City Authority Seven councils administer the Auckland region: Rodney District Council North Shore City Council Waitakere City Council Auckland City Council Manukau City Council Papakura City Council Franklin District Council Papakura township is home of the Papakura City Council, serving a population of well over 40,500 as of the 2001 census. Wards The Papakura District is divided into four wards; Ardmore, Drury, Red Hill, and Pahurehure. Ardmore Ward is northernmost, including the suburbs: Ardmore, Takanini, Keri Hill, and Alfriston Pahurehure Ward is north and west, including the suburbs: Pahurehure, Conifer Grove, Longford Park, and Hingaia Drury Ward is southernmost, and bounded by the Franklin District. It includes Drury, the suburbs: Opaheke, Rosehill, Park Estate, and Karaka Finally Red Hill Ward lies mainly to the east, and includes the suburb of Red Hill, and routes to Hunua or Clevedon. External links [1] Papakura City Council [2] Auckland City Council [3] Manukau City Council [4] North Shore City Council [5] Waitakere City Council [6] Franklin District Council [7] Rodney District Council [8] WaterCare NZ [9] Mercuy Energy NZ [10] Telecom NZ [11] Massey Park Aquatic Centre, Papakura, Auckland [12] PHILLIPS Aquatic Centre, Mt Albert, Auckland [13] Stagecoach Auckland [14] NZ Police [15] Britomart Subway Station [16] Maxx-Auckland Trains [17] Ardmore Airport [18] Auckland International Airport [19] NZ Army [20] Piha Beach [21] Mission Bay [22] Kawakawa Bay [23] Auckland Regional Council [24] Department of Conservation [25] Puke Kiwiriki Pa Site, Red Hill [26] ACG Strathallan [27] Papakura Normal School [28] Opaheke Primary School [29] Sir Edmund Hillary Wises Street Map Area Map 2001 Census results for Papakura 2006 Census results (provisional) (Excel format) Some histories of Papakura Breakwater against the Tide, by Elsdon Craig (link to library catalogue). This book is the definitive history of Papakura. Rosehill College Rosehill College Papakura High School Papakura High School