About Tāmaki
A RICH PAST
The tides of the Tāmaki River have sustained human life for almost a thousand years, bearing waka to the fishing grounds of the Waitemata harbour and beyond. On the river’s western shore, Māori pioneers encountered a mature subtropical forest covering today’s suburbs of Pt. England, Glen Innes and Panmure.
The area was highly prized for its fertile soil and its food basket of trees, birds, and seafood. Gardens of kumara, taro and yams, and oceans of snapper, stingray, flounder, and shellfish provided sustenance for generations of human existence. The abundance of food was so apparent in early years that Tāmaki people could harvest oysters clinging to mangroves.
The Tāmaki Estuary was also an important portage point for Māori to carry their canoes from one coast to the other – avoiding the long trip around North Cape. Today’s Portage Road traces that route from the upper Tāmaki Estuary to Onehunga.
TĀMAKI TODAY
Tāmaki consists of Glen Innes, Panmure and Point England
18,000 residents
A multicultural society of Europeans, Pacific Islanders, Māori, Asian people and many more
About 30% of people are under the age of 15 (compared to 19% in wider Auckland)
A supportive and welcoming community
Approximately 12km from Auckland’s CBD
Direct train link to CDB – about 12 to15 minutes
11 schools
Many parks and playgrounds
Two libraries and several other community facilities
Two supermarkets
A diverse number of local businesses
Regular markets and other community events
AN EXCITING FUTURE
Tāmaki will go through a massive programme of regeneration that will make it an even better place to live, work and raise a family. This includes building 7,500 new houses. With our partners, TRC will develop other new facilities as well as creating social and economic opportunites for all.
