Helensville, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Helensville is a town
in the North Island
of New Zealand
. It is sited 40 kilometres northwest of Auckland
, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour
. State Highway 16
passes through the town, connecting it to Waimauku
16 km to the south, and Kaukapakapa
about 12 km to the north-east. Parakai
is 2 km to the north-west. The Kaipara River
runs through the town and into the Kaipara Harbour
to the north.
The population was 2,532 in the 2006 Census
, an increase of 315 from 2001.
Helensville is also the name of an electorate seat
in the Parliament of New Zealand
. The current member for Helensville is John Key
for National
.
The area around Helensville was originally called Te Awaroa, meaning "The long path" or "The long river valley". The first European settlers in the district were Scottish
timber
millers named McLeod but who had actually come from Nova Scotia to New Zealand. John McLeod built a house which he named "Helen's Villa" in honour of his wife, and the name soon became that of the surrounding settlement.
Initial development of the town was around the kauri milling industry, but by the start of the 20th century dairy
ing was becoming of increasing importance. It was also becoming somewhat of a tourist centre, owing to the presence of hot springs
3 km to the west of the town at Parakai
.
A lot of the early history of Helensville is described in the book "Men Came Voyaging" written by Colleen Sheffield who lost her life in a bus accident before the book was completed.
and the Parakai Aerodrome
, and its proximity to Auckland. It has also seen positive effects from the nearby wine
producing region around Kumeu, 20 km to the south. There are also an increasing number of lifestyle blocks in the area.
is a secondary (years 9-15) school with a decile rating
of 7 and a roll of 650. The school began as Helensville District High School in 1924, and changed its name to Kaipara College in 1959.
Helensville Primary School is a full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 5 and a roll of 336. It was founded in 1877.
Tau Te Arohanoa Akoranga is a composite (years 1-12) school with a decile rating of 7 and a roll of 44. It is a private school offering a Christian-based education, operating from the Helensville Rugby Clubrooms.
All these schools are coeducational.
Helensville also had a Community Education scheme in association with Kaipara College
called the Rodney Community Learning Centre serving early school leavers and mature students. This consisted of two small TEC
funded sites, one in Helensville and another one in Wellsford
. This however closed down at the end of 2005.
is currently via buses to and from Westgate shopping centre in Waitakere City then on by rail or bus to uckland City]. Though at rush hours and express bus operates to Downtown.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is sited 40 kilometres northwest of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour is a large enclosed harbour estuary complex on the north western side of the North Island of New Zealand. The northern part of the harbour is administered by the Kaipara District and the southern part is administered by the Rodney District...
. State Highway 16
New Zealand State Highway 16
State Highway 16 is a New Zealand state highway linking Auckland City with Wellsford, via Auckland's Northwestern Motorway, Helensville and Kaukapakapa...
passes through the town, connecting it to Waimauku
Waimauku
Waimauku is a small locality in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is in the Western Ward of the Rodney District. Waimauku is approximately 4 kilometres west of Huapai on State Highway 16 at the junction with the road to Muriwai Beach. Helensville is 16 km to the north-west...
16 km to the south, and Kaukapakapa
Kaukapakapa
Kaukapakapa is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated in the Rodney district and is around 50 kilometres northwest of Auckland. State Highway 16 passes through the town, connecting it to Helensville about 12 km to the south-west, and Araparera about 14 km to the north....
about 12 km to the north-east. Parakai
Parakai
Parakai is a township in the North Island of New Zealand. It is sited 43 kilometres northwest of Auckland, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour...
is 2 km to the north-west. The Kaipara River
Kaipara River
The Kaipara River drains the area to the northwest of Auckland, New Zealand. It flows north from the northern foothills of the Waitakere Ranges, meandering past the town of Helensville...
runs through the town and into the Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour
Kaipara Harbour is a large enclosed harbour estuary complex on the north western side of the North Island of New Zealand. The northern part of the harbour is administered by the Kaipara District and the southern part is administered by the Rodney District...
to the north.
The population was 2,532 in the 2006 Census
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
, an increase of 315 from 2001.
Helensville is also the name of an electorate seat
Helensville (New Zealand electorate)
Helensville is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Helensville is John Key, leader of the National Party and Prime Minister of New Zealand. He has held this electorate since 2002...
in the Parliament of New Zealand
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
. The current member for Helensville is John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
for National
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
.
Early history
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
millers named McLeod but who had actually come from Nova Scotia to New Zealand. John McLeod built a house which he named "Helen's Villa" in honour of his wife, and the name soon became that of the surrounding settlement.
Initial development of the town was around the kauri milling industry, but by the start of the 20th century dairy
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
ing was becoming of increasing importance. It was also becoming somewhat of a tourist centre, owing to the presence of hot springs
Hot Springs
Hot Springs may refer to:* Hot Springs, Arkansas** Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas*Hot Springs, California**Hot Springs, Lassen County, California**Hot Springs, Modoc County, California**Hot Springs, Placer County, California...
3 km to the west of the town at Parakai
Parakai
Parakai is a township in the North Island of New Zealand. It is sited 43 kilometres northwest of Auckland, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour...
.
A lot of the early history of Helensville is described in the book "Men Came Voyaging" written by Colleen Sheffield who lost her life in a bus accident before the book was completed.
Economy
Although it is no longer a forestry or dairy centre, the town is still a tourist attraction, largely because of its many historic buildings, the Hot Springs at ParakaiParakai
Parakai is a township in the North Island of New Zealand. It is sited 43 kilometres northwest of Auckland, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour...
and the Parakai Aerodrome
Parakai Aerodrome
West Auckland Airport Parakai The facility previously known as Parakai Airfield was renamed as West Auckland Airport in 2011.-External links:*...
, and its proximity to Auckland. It has also seen positive effects from the nearby wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
producing region around Kumeu, 20 km to the south. There are also an increasing number of lifestyle blocks in the area.
Education
Kaipara CollegeKaipara College
Kaipara College is a secondary school in Helensville, New Zealand. The current principal is John Grant.The school began as Helensville District High School in 1924, and changed its name to Kaipara College in 1959...
is a secondary (years 9-15) school with a decile rating
Socio-Economic Decile
Decile, Socio-Economic Decile or Socio-Economic Decile Band is a widely used measure in education in New Zealand used to target funding and support to more needy schools....
of 7 and a roll of 650. The school began as Helensville District High School in 1924, and changed its name to Kaipara College in 1959.
Helensville Primary School is a full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 5 and a roll of 336. It was founded in 1877.
Tau Te Arohanoa Akoranga is a composite (years 1-12) school with a decile rating of 7 and a roll of 44. It is a private school offering a Christian-based education, operating from the Helensville Rugby Clubrooms.
All these schools are coeducational.
Helensville also had a Community Education scheme in association with Kaipara College
Kaipara College
Kaipara College is a secondary school in Helensville, New Zealand. The current principal is John Grant.The school began as Helensville District High School in 1924, and changed its name to Kaipara College in 1959...
called the Rodney Community Learning Centre serving early school leavers and mature students. This consisted of two small TEC
TEC
-Companies and organizations:* TEC , a Belgian company* Telecommunication Engineering Center, an Indian government agency* Toyo Engineering Corporation, a Japanese company...
funded sites, one in Helensville and another one in Wellsford
Wellsford
Wellsford is a town in the northern North Island of New Zealand. The town is the northernmost major settlement in the Auckland Region, and is 114 kilometres northwest of Auckland City.....
. This however closed down at the end of 2005.
Buses
With the withdrawal of the regular train service the only public transport between Helensville and Auckland CityAuckland City
Auckland City was the city and local authority covering the Auckland isthmus and most of the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, in the North Island of New Zealand. On 1 November 2010 it was amalgamated into the wider Auckland Region under the authority of the new Auckland Council...
is currently via buses to and from Westgate shopping centre in Waitakere City then on by rail or bus to uckland City]. Though at rush hours and express bus operates to Downtown.