Orakei
Encyclopedia
Orakei is a suburb of Auckland
city, in the North Island
of New Zealand
. It is located on a peninsula five kilometres to the east of the city centre, close to the shore of the Waitemata Harbour
, which lies to the north, and Hobson Bay and the Orakei Basin, two arms of the Waitemata, which lie to the west and south. To the east are the suburbs of Kohimarama and Mission Bay
.
The mouth of the Waitemata is to the immediate north of Orakei, lying between Bastion Point
and North Head, the latter of which is in Devonport
.
The suburb achieved national attention in 1977 when Māori protestors occupied vacant land at Bastion Point. Land which had formerly belonged to the Ngāti Whātua
iwi
had been acquired cheaply for public works many decades before, and members of the tribe occupied the land demanding its return. The site was largely returned to the iwi after a long and not entirely bloodless occupation.
Orakei is home to some of Auckland's most expensive real estate. Paritai Drive in Orakei is generally regarded as the most expensive street in Auckland, and most probably New Zealand. House prices on this street start at $3m and range to $12m. The local secondary schools are Auckland Grammar School
, Selwyn College
, Baradene College of the Sacred Heart
and St Peter's College
.
Bastion Point is also the location of the Tomb and Memorial Garden (the Savage Memorial) for Michael Joseph Savage
, one of New Zealand's most popular Prime Minister
s. Michael Joseph Savage (23 March 1872 – 27 March 1940) was the first Labour
Prime Minister of New Zealand. This magnificent Art Deco ensemble by Tibor Donner and Anthony Bartlett was officially opened in March 1943 and affords remarkable views of the Waitemata Harbour.
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...
city, 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 located on a peninsula five kilometres to the east of the city centre, close to the shore of the Waitemata Harbour
Waitemata Harbour
The quite famous Waitemata Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. For this reason it is often referred to as Auckland Harbour, despite the fact that it is only one of two harbours surrounding the city, and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The Waitemata forms the north...
, which lies to the north, and Hobson Bay and the Orakei Basin, two arms of the Waitemata, which lie to the west and south. To the east are the suburbs of Kohimarama and Mission Bay
Mission Bay, New Zealand
Mission Bay is a suburb of Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located seven kilometres to the east of the city centre, on the southern shore of the Waitemata Harbour. At the census of 2001, Mission Bay was reported to have a population of 5235.The Mission Bay district has been...
.
The mouth of the Waitemata is to the immediate north of Orakei, lying between Bastion Point
Bastion Point
Bastion Point is a coastal piece of land in Orakei, Auckland, New Zealand, overlooking the Waitemata Harbour. The area has significance in New Zealand history for its role in 1970s Māori protests against forced land alienation by non Māori New Zealanders.-History:The land was occupied by Ngāti...
and North Head, the latter of which is in Devonport
Devonport, New Zealand
Devonport is a harbourside suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located on the North Shore, at the southern end of a peninsula that runs southeast from near Lake Pupuke in Takapuna, forming the northern side of the Waitemata Harbour...
.
The suburb achieved national attention in 1977 when Māori protestors occupied vacant land at Bastion Point. Land which had formerly belonged to the Ngāti Whātua
Ngati Whatua
Ngāti Whātua is a Māori iwi of New Zealand. It consists of four hapu : Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa, Te Taoū, and Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei....
iwi
Iwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
had been acquired cheaply for public works many decades before, and members of the tribe occupied the land demanding its return. The site was largely returned to the iwi after a long and not entirely bloodless occupation.
Orakei is home to some of Auckland's most expensive real estate. Paritai Drive in Orakei is generally regarded as the most expensive street in Auckland, and most probably New Zealand. House prices on this street start at $3m and range to $12m. The local secondary schools are Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It had a roll of 2,483 in 2008, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand...
, Selwyn College
Selwyn College, Auckland
Selwyn College is a co-educational public secondary school in the Eastern Suburbs of Auckland, New Zealand.Selwyn offers the NCEA qualification, and a Certificate in Performing Arts...
, Baradene College of the Sacred Heart
Baradene College of the Sacred Heart
Baradene College of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic high school for girls aged between 11 to 18 located in Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand.Established 1909, Baradene celebrated its 100th year in 2009....
and St Peter's College
St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...
.
Bastion Point is also the location of the Tomb and Memorial Garden (the Savage Memorial) for Michael Joseph Savage
Michael Joseph Savage
Michael Joseph Savage was the first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand.- Early life :Born in Tatong, Victoria, Australia, Savage first became involved in politics while working in that state. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1907. There he worked in a variety of jobs, as a miner, flax-cutter and...
, one of New Zealand's most popular Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
s. Michael Joseph Savage (23 March 1872 – 27 March 1940) was the first Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
Prime Minister of New Zealand. This magnificent Art Deco ensemble by Tibor Donner and Anthony Bartlett was officially opened in March 1943 and affords remarkable views of the Waitemata Harbour.