Helensville ()
is a town in the
North Island
The North Island ( , 'the fish of Māui', historically New Ulster) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of , it is the List ...
of New Zealand. It is sited northwest of
Auckland
Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
, close to the southern extremity of the
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 Auck ...
.
State Highway 16 passes through the town, connecting it to
Waimauku to the south, and
Kaukapakapa
Kaukapakapa is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated in the Rodney ward of the Auckland Region and is around northwest of Auckland. New Zealand State Highway 16, State Highway 16 passes through the town, connecting it to Hele ...
about to the north-east.
Parakai is to the north-west. The
Kaipara River runs through the town and into the Kaipara Harbour to the north.
Tāmaki Māori settled the southern
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 Auck ...
in the 13th or 14th centuries, drawn by the marine and forest resources. The upper reaches of the
Kaipara River was the location of
Te Tōangaroa, a
portage
Portage or portaging ( CA: ; ) is the practice of carrying water craft or cargo over land, either around an obstacle in a river, or between two bodies of water. A path where items are regularly carried between bodies of water is also called a '' ...
where
waka could be hauled between the
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 Auck ...
and the
Waitematā Harbour
The Waitematā Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. The harbour forms the northern and eastern coasts of the Auckland isthmus and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It is matched on the southern side of the city ...
. By the 15th century, the area had become home to some of the earliest
pā
The word pā (; often spelled pa in English) can refer to any Māori people, Māori village or defensive settlement, but often refers to hillforts – fortified settlements with palisades and defensive :wikt:terrace, terraces – and also to fo ...
sites in the
Auckland Region
Auckland () is one of the 16 regions of New Zealand, which takes its name from the eponymous urban areas of New Zealand, urban area. The region encompasses the Auckland, Auckland metropolitan area, smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands o ...
. By the early 18th century,
Ngāti Whātua
Ngāti Whātua is a Māori iwi (tribe) of the lower Northland Peninsula of New Zealand's North Island. It comprises a confederation of four hapū (subtribes) interconnected both by ancestry and by association over time: Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa ...
, who had traditional ties to the area, had re-established themselves along the Kaipara River.
Helensville was established as a
kauri
''Agathis'', commonly known as kauri or dammara, is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees, native to Australasia and Southeast Asia. It is one of three extant genera in the family Araucariaceae, alongside '' Wollemia'' and ''Araucaria'' (being ...
logging settlement in 1862, developing into a regional centre for the south Kaipara by the 1870s. Helensville became a major centre for the dairy industry between 1911 and the 1980s.
Etymology
The name Helensville comes from early settler John McLeod, and is a version of Helen's Villa, his house, that he named after his wife Helen Alexander.
The
Māori language
Māori (; endonym: 'the Māori language', commonly shortened to ) is an Eastern Polynesian languages, Eastern Polynesian language and the language of the Māori people, the indigenous population of mainland New Zealand. The southernmost membe ...
name, ,
means "The Wide River",
and is the name of a tributary stream that meets the Kaipara River at Helensville.
Geography
Helensville is located on the eastern banks of the
Kaipara River, to the south of the
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 Auck ...
. The town is located between two tributaries of the river: the Awaroa Stream to the north,
and the Mangakura Stream in the south. The town is located on a spur in the hills slightly higher than the surrounding area, of which the highest point is a hill located to the south called Paehoka, at the junction between Kiwitahi Road and Old North Road.
The area has traditionally been a wetland and flood plain for the Kaipara River, until the late 19th century when the Kaipara River catchment was developed into farmland. Historically, the hills to the east of Helensville were a
kauri
''Agathis'', commonly known as kauri or dammara, is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees, native to Australasia and Southeast Asia. It is one of three extant genera in the family Araucariaceae, alongside '' Wollemia'' and ''Araucaria'' (being ...
-dominated forest.
History
Māori history
The
Auckland Region
Auckland () is one of the 16 regions of New Zealand, which takes its name from the eponymous urban areas of New Zealand, urban area. The region encompasses the Auckland, Auckland metropolitan area, smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands o ...
has been settled by
Māori
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
since around the 13th or 14th centuries.
Māori legends describe supernatural beings, the
Tūrehu, as being the inhabitants of the area prior to Māori settlement.
The
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 Auck ...
is associated with the Tūrehu Tumutumuwhenua and his wife Kui, of whom
Ngāti Whātua
Ngāti Whātua is a Māori iwi (tribe) of the lower Northland Peninsula of New Zealand's North Island. It comprises a confederation of four hapū (subtribes) interconnected both by ancestry and by association over time: Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa ...
(the modern-day
iwi
Iwi () are the largest social units in New Zealand Māori society. In Māori, roughly means or , and is often translated as "tribe". The word is both singular and plural in the Māori language, and is typically pluralised as such in English.
...
of the harbour) consider to be ancestors.
One of the earliest known
iwi
Iwi () are the largest social units in New Zealand Māori society. In Māori, roughly means or , and is often translated as "tribe". The word is both singular and plural in the Māori language, and is typically pluralised as such in English.
...
to settled in the area are Te Tini o Maruiwi, who descend from Maruiwi, captain of the ''
Kahutara'', one of the first
migratory waka, and migrated north into the Kaipara Harbour.
Ngāti Whātua
Ngāti Whātua is a Māori iwi (tribe) of the lower Northland Peninsula of New Zealand's North Island. It comprises a confederation of four hapū (subtribes) interconnected both by ancestry and by association over time: Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa ...
traditions tell of the ''
Māhuhu-ki-te-rangi
In Māori tradition, ''Māhuhu-ki-te-rangi'' (also known as ''Māhuhu'') was one of the great ocean-going, voyaging canoes that was used in the migrations that settled New Zealand.
According to Māori traditions, the waka ''Māhuhu-ki-te-ran ...
''
migratory waka arriving at the Kaipara Harbour. Some of the crew members, including Rongomai, Mawete and Po, settled at
Tāporapora, with the descendants of
Toi
Toi or TOI may refer to:
Places
* Toi Market, in Nairobi, Kenya
* Toi, Niue, a village in Niue
* Toi, Shizuoka (土肥町 Toi-chō), Japan
* Toi Toi, a suburb of Nelson, New Zealand
People and characters
* Toi (Bible), a Biblical figure
* ...
, who already lived in the area.
Tāporapora was a fertile sandy land that gradually eroded west of the Okahukura Peninsula, of which
Manukapua Island is a remnant.
People were drawn to the southern Kaipara Harbour due to its rich resources from the harbour and surrounding
kauri
''Agathis'', commonly known as kauri or dammara, is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees, native to Australasia and Southeast Asia. It is one of three extant genera in the family Araucariaceae, alongside '' Wollemia'' and ''Araucaria'' (being ...
-dominated forests.
Based on archaeological findings, many of the earliest people to come to the area caught
moa
Moa are extinct giant flightless birds native to New Zealand.
Moa or MOA may also refer to:
Arts and media
* Metal Open Air, a Brazilian heavy metal festival
* MOA Museum of Art in Japan
* The Moas, New Zealand film awards
People
* Moa ...
. The southern Kaipara was an important transportation node due to
Te Tōangaroa, a
portage
Portage or portaging ( CA: ; ) is the practice of carrying water craft or cargo over land, either around an obstacle in a river, or between two bodies of water. A path where items are regularly carried between bodies of water is also called a '' ...
where
waka could be hauled between the
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 Auck ...
and the
Waitematā Harbour
The Waitematā Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. The harbour forms the northern and eastern coasts of the Auckland isthmus and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It is matched on the southern side of the city ...
, via the
Kaipara River and
Kumeū River
The Kumeū River drains the northern Waitākere Ranges near Auckland, New Zealand, running past the town of Kumeū before merging into the Kaipara River.
Description
The river begins north of the Te Henga Road ridge, north of the Waitākere ...
.
Major settlements in the area were typically upland of the Kaipara River, due to the swampy ground immediately beside the river, and the Ohirangi wetlands ( were used to trap
moa
Moa are extinct giant flightless birds native to New Zealand.
Moa or MOA may also refer to:
Arts and media
* Metal Open Air, a Brazilian heavy metal festival
* MOA Museum of Art in Japan
* The Moas, New Zealand film awards
People
* Moa ...
in ancient times).
Known traditional names for the area include , which describes the meandering Kaipara River near Helensville, and further upstream near the Helensville Bridge was known as .
Over time, many
Tāmaki Māori developed the tribal identity
Ngā Oho
Ngā Oho, also known as Ngā Ohomatakamokamo-o-Ohomairangi, is the name of a historical iwi (tribe) of Māori who settled in the Auckland Region. In the 17th century, Ngā Oho and two other tribes of shared heritage, Ngā Riki and Ngā Iwi, form ...
.
Around the 15th century, a group known as Ngāti Awa who descended from the ''
Mātaatua
''Mātaatua'' was one of the great voyaging canoes by which Polynesians migrated to New Zealand, according to Māori tradition. Māori traditions say that the ''Mātaatua'' was initially sent from Hawaiki to bring supplies of kūmara to Māori ...
'' waka settled
Te Korowai-o-Te-Tonga Peninsula, led by Tītahi. The iwi were prominent constructors of terraced
pā
The word pā (; often spelled pa in English) can refer to any Māori people, Māori village or defensive settlement, but often refers to hillforts – fortified settlements with palisades and defensive :wikt:terrace, terraces – and also to fo ...
.
Over 18 pā sites can be found in the Helensville area,
which likely represent some of the earliest fortified pā in Auckland. Ōtakanini pā, located near Parkhurst northwest of Helensville, has been dated to at least 1400AD.
By the mid-17th century, Ngāti Awa and Ngā Oho struggled to control territory. A descendant of Tītahi, Hauparoa, asked his relative Maki, a renowned warrior who lived at the
Kāwhia Harbour
Kawhia Harbour () is one of three large natural inlets in the Tasman Sea coast of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located to the south of Raglan Harbour, Ruapuke and Aotea Harbour, 40 kilometres southwest of Hamilton. ...
, to help Ngāti Awa secure the region. Maki conquered and unified many of the Tāmaki Māori tribes, including Ngā Oho of the south Kaipara and
West Auckland.
After an incident where Maki unsuccessfully asked a slave steal
kūmara
The sweet potato or sweetpotato (''Ipomoea batatas'') is a dicotyledonous plant in the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Its sizeable, starchy, sweet-tasting tuberous roots are used as a root vegetable, which is a staple food in parts of the ...
from Hauparoa's storage pits, Maki attacked Ngāti Awa. Over time, Maki's descendants became known as
Te Kawerau ā Maki
Te Kawerau ā Maki, Te Kawerau a Maki, or Te Kawerau-a-Maki is a Māori ''iwi'' (tribe) of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. Predominantly based in West Auckland (Hikurangi also known as Waitākere), it had 251 registered adult members as of J ...
; a name that references the kūmara incident. Maki chose the southern Kaipara as his base of operations, and his children migrated to different areas of the northern and western Auckland Region.
Return of Ngāti Whātua and the Musket Wars
In the 17th and early 18th centuries,
Ngāti Whātua
Ngāti Whātua is a Māori iwi (tribe) of the lower Northland Peninsula of New Zealand's North Island. It comprises a confederation of four hapū (subtribes) interconnected both by ancestry and by association over time: Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa ...
tribes began returning to the southern Kaipara Harbour area from
Northland, primarily on the waka Te Potae o Wahieroa and Te Wharau.
Initially relations between the iwi were friendly, and many important marriages were made. Hostilities broke out and Ngāti Whātua asked for assistance from
Kāwharu, a famed
Tainui
Tainui is a tribal waka (canoe), waka confederation of New Zealand Māori people, Māori iwi. The Tainui confederation comprises four principal related Māori iwi of the central North Island of New Zealand: Hauraki Māori, Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapo ...
warrior from Kawhia. Kāwharu's repeated attacks of the Waitākere Ranges settlements became known as Te Raupatu Tīhore, or the stripping conquest. Lasting peace between Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Whātua was forged by Maki's grandson Te Au o Te Whenua, who fixed the
rohe
The Māori people of New Zealand use the word ' to describe the territory or boundaries of tribes (, although some divide their into several .
Background
In 1793, chief Tuki Te Terenui Whare Pirau who had been brought to Norfolk Island drew ...
(border) between
Muriwai
Muriwai, also called Muriwai Beach, is a coastal community on the west coast of the Auckland Region in the North Island of New Zealand. The black-sand surf beach and surrounding area is a popular recreational area for Aucklanders. The Muriwai ...
Beach and Rangitōpuni (
Riverhead). Ngāti Whātua divided the land among different
hapū
In Māori language, Māori and New Zealand English, a ' ("subtribe", or "clan") functions as "the basic political unit within Māori society". A Māori person can belong to or have links to many hapū. Historically, each hapū had its own chief ...
, including
Te Taoū
Te Taoū is a Māori iwi (tribe) of Northland and the Auckland Region in New Zealand. Together with Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa and Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei, it comprises the iwi (tribe) of Ngāti Whātua. The four iwi can act together or separate ...
, who were a major power in the
Kaipara River catchment.
Around the year 1740, war broke out between Ngāti Whātua and
Waiohua
Te Waiohua or Te Wai-o-Hua is a Māori people, Māori iwi (tribe) confederation that thrived in the early 17th century. The rohe (tribal area) was primarily the central Auckland, Tāmaki Makaurau area (the Auckland isthmus) and they had pā (for ...
, the confederation of Tāmaki Māori tribes centred to the southeast, on the
Tāmaki isthmus
The Auckland isthmus, also known as the Tāmaki isthmus, is a narrow stretch of land on the North Island of New Zealand in the Auckland Region, and the location of the central suburbs of the city of Auckland and the Auckland CBD, central busi ...
.
Kiwi Tāmaki
Kiwi Tāmaki (died ) was a Māori people, Māori warrior and paramount chief of the Waiohua confederation in Auckland region, Tāmaki Makaurau (modern-day Auckland isthmus). The third generation paramount chief of Waiohua, Kiwi Tāmaki consolid ...
, paramount chief of Waiohua, led a surprise attack in the south Kaipara during an uhunga (funeral rite commemoration), in response for past grievances and to assist a Ngāti Whātua faction who were opposed to Te Taoū.
Kiwi Tāmaki's party pursued the survivors south to the pā at Te Mākiri (Te Awaroa / Helensville), confronting Tuperiri and Waha-akiaki, two prominent members of Te Taoū who managed to survive.
By 1741, Ngāti Whātua had successfully fought against
Kiwi Tāmaki
Kiwi Tāmaki (died ) was a Māori people, Māori warrior and paramount chief of the Waiohua confederation in Auckland region, Tāmaki Makaurau (modern-day Auckland isthmus). The third generation paramount chief of Waiohua, Kiwi Tāmaki consolid ...
, and members of Te Taoū established themselves on the Auckland isthmus.
An early skirmish between Te Taoū and
Ngāpuhi
Ngāpuhi (also known as Ngāpuhi-Nui-Tonu or Ngā Puhi) is a Māori iwi associated with the Northland regions of New Zealand centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands, and Whangārei.
According to the 2023 New Zealand census, the estimate ...
during the
Musket Wars
The Musket Wars were a series of as many as 3,000 battles and raids fought throughout New Zealand (including the Chatham Islands) among Māori people, Māori between 1806 and 1845, after Māori first obtained muskets and then engaged in an inte ...
occurred at Paehoka, south of Helensville, likely in the late 18th century. Conflict continued through the early 19th century, and in 1818 English missionary
Samuel Marsden
Samuel Marsden (25 June 1765 – 12 May 1838) was an English-born priest of the Church of England in Australia and a prominent member of the Church Missionary Society. He played a leading role in bringing Christianity to New Zealand. Marsden w ...
witnessed Ngāti Whātua of the Kaipara River being attacked from the north.
Following the battle of
Te Ika a Ranganui at
Kaiwaka
Kaiwaka, known as "the little town of lights", is a settlement in Northland, New Zealand. The Kaiwaka River runs from the east through the area and joins with the Wairau River to form the Otamatea River, which drains into the Kaipara Harbour ...
, Ngāti Whātua fled the area, except for a small contingent who remained for
ahi kā (visible land occupation). Ngāti Whātua began returning to the Kaipara River from 1828, and were fully re-established by 1835.
Early colonial era
After the
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi (), sometimes referred to as ''Te Tiriti'', is a document of central importance to the history of New Zealand, Constitution of New Zealand, its constitution, and its national mythos. It has played a major role in the tr ...
was signed in 1840, Ngāti Whātua operated coastal trading vessels, supplying goods to early European settlers at
Auckland
Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
.
Large areas of the southern Kaipara harbour were purchased by
the Crown
The Crown is a political concept used in Commonwealth realms. Depending on the context used, it generally refers to the entirety of the State (polity), state (or in federal realms, the relevant level of government in that state), the executive ...
between 1853 and 1865, in part due to Ngāti Whātua's hope that this would lead to Europeans settlements developing and stimulate the economy of the area.
In 1862,
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...
n settler John McLeod established a
kauri
''Agathis'', commonly known as kauri or dammara, is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees, native to Australasia and Southeast Asia. It is one of three extant genera in the family Araucariaceae, alongside '' Wollemia'' and ''Araucaria'' (being ...
timber mill on the eastern banks of the Kaipara River, at the modern-day site of Helensville.
McLeod named his house "Helen's Villa", after his wife, which became the name for the township that developed around the timber mill.
McLeod milled the kauri on the lands adjacent to his timber mill,
and after a few years, Ngāti Whātua established a
kāinga
A kāinga ( southern Māori: ''kaika'' or ''kaik'') is the traditional form of village habitation of pre-European Māori in New Zealand. It was unfortified or only lightly fortified, and over time became less important than the well-fortified ...
on the opposite banks.
The town grew based on the kauri timber industry and
kauri gum
Kauri gum is resin from kauri trees (''Agathis australis''), which historically had several important industrial uses. It can also be used to make crafts such as jewellery. Kauri forests once covered much of the North Island of New Zealand, bef ...
collection.
In 1865, the road from Riverhead to Helensville was improved,
and pastoral farms were developed in the 1870s.
By 1870, Helensville had become the main trading centre and transportation junction for the Kaipara Harbour settlements to the north. From 1875 to 1881, a short-lived section of railway operated between
Kumeū
Kumeū is a town in the Auckland Region, situated north-west of the Auckland CBD, City Centre in New Zealand. New Zealand State Highway 16, State Highway 16 and the North Auckland Line pass through the town. Huapai lies to the west, Riverhead, N ...
, south of Helensville, and the village of
Riverhead, on the upper shores of the
Waitematā Harbour
The Waitematā Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. The harbour forms the northern and eastern coasts of the Auckland isthmus and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It is matched on the southern side of the city ...
. This led to increased economic activity in Helensville, which developed into a township and became an economic hub.
In 1881, the
North Auckland Line
The North Auckland Line (designation NAL) is a major section of New Zealand's Rail transport in New Zealand, national rail network, and is made up of the following parts: the portion of track that runs northward from Westfield Junction to Newm ...
was extended to Helensville, leading to the opening of the
Helensville railway station.
In 1879, St Matthew's Anglican Church was established in Helensville. This was the first church in the wider southern Kaipara area, serving the surrounding rural communities such as
Kumeū
Kumeū is a town in the Auckland Region, situated north-west of the Auckland CBD, City Centre in New Zealand. New Zealand State Highway 16, State Highway 16 and the North Auckland Line pass through the town. Huapai lies to the west, Riverhead, N ...
and
Waimauku. In 1882, the first bridge across the Kaipara River was constructed at Te Horo Point, with the intention of this opening up farmland to the west.
Between 1865 and 1900, the
Native Land Court
Native may refer to:
People
* '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood
* '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth
* Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory
** Nati ...
individuated collectively-owned Ngāti Whātua lands, a gradual process which led to land alienation. By 1900, almost the entire southern Kaipara area had been alienated from Ngāti Whātua, and only 10% of their traditional
rohe
The Māori people of New Zealand use the word ' to describe the territory or boundaries of tribes (, although some divide their into several .
Background
In 1793, chief Tuki Te Terenui Whare Pirau who had been brought to Norfolk Island drew ...
had been retained.
Dairy industry and tourism
The Kauri logging and gum industries went into decline by 1900, disappearing by 1920.
The Helensville Show, an annual
agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event exhibiting the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show (a judged event or display in which selective breeding, bree ...
, was established in 1900, becoming a major part of life at Helensville, and drawing people from the surrounding areas to the town. In 1911, the Kaipara Dairy Company was established in Helensville, becoming the town's largest employer,
and the town flourished due to the dairy industry and sheep farms. Additionally, tourists were drawn to Helensville in the early 20th century, due to the
Parakai thermal springs.
In 1927, St Matthew's Anglican Church was rebuilt after a new larger church was required. During the 1930s, an exotic pine forest called the
Woodhill Forest was established on the
Te Korowai-o-Te-Tonga Peninsula, becoming an important industry for the area.
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the 15th Battalion of the
Home Guard
Home guard is a title given to various military organizations at various times, with the implication of an emergency or reserve force raised for local defense.
The term "home guard" was first officially used in the American Civil War, starting ...
was based at Helensville.
The dairy factory closed in the late 1980s, due to a decline in farming profitability in the area.
The sand extraction industry became a major employer in the town, after Mt Rex and Winstone established processing facilities near the town in the 1990s.
In 2009, the
Helensville railway station was closed for passenger services.
Demographics
Statistics New Zealand describes Helensville as a small urban area, which covers
and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km
2.
Helensville had a population of 3,279 in the
2023 New Zealand census
The 2023 New Zealand census, which took place on 7 March 2023, was the thirty-fifth national census in New Zealand. It implemented measures that aimed to increase the Census' effectiveness in response to the issues faced with the 2018 census, i ...
, an increase of 459 people (16.3%) since the
2018 census, and an increase of 606 people (22.7%) since the
2013 census. There were 1,611 males, 1,650 females and 21 people of
other genders in 1,182 dwellings. 2.9% of people identified as
LGBTIQ+. The median age was 36.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 708 people (21.6%) aged under 15 years, 582 (17.7%) aged 15 to 29, 1,521 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 471 (14.4%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 84.1%
European
European, or Europeans, may refer to:
In general
* ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe
** Ethnic groups in Europe
** Demographics of Europe
** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe and other West ...
(
Pākehā
''Pākehā'' (or ''Pakeha''; ; ) is a Māori language, Māori-language word used in English, particularly in New Zealand. It generally means a non-Polynesians, Polynesian New Zealanders, New Zealander or more specifically a European New Zeala ...
); 21.0%
Māori
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
; 7.7%
Pasifika; 5.7%
Asian; 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.4%, Māori language by 3.5%, Samoan by 1.0%, and other languages by 7.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.7% (e.g. too young to talk).
New Zealand Sign Language
New Zealand Sign Language or NZSL () is the main language of the deaf community in New Zealand. It became an official language of New Zealand in April 2006 under the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. The purpose of the act was to create rights ...
was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 19.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 25.7%
Christian
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
, 0.9%
Hindu
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
, 0.3%
Islam
Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
, 1.6%
Māori religious beliefs
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
, 0.7%
Buddhist
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
, 0.8%
New Age
New Age is a range of Spirituality, spiritual or Religion, religious practices and beliefs that rapidly grew in Western world, Western society during the early 1970s. Its highly eclecticism, eclectic and unsystematic structure makes a precise d ...
, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had
no religion were 61.6%, and 7.3% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 381 (14.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,446 (56.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 633 (24.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 267 people (10.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,374 (53.4%) people were employed full-time, 369 (14.4%) were part-time, and 63 (2.5%) were unemployed.
Rural surrounds
Helensville Rural statistical area surrounds the settlement and covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km
2.
Helensville Rural had a population of 1,620 in the
2023 New Zealand census
The 2023 New Zealand census, which took place on 7 March 2023, was the thirty-fifth national census in New Zealand. It implemented measures that aimed to increase the Census' effectiveness in response to the issues faced with the 2018 census, i ...
, an increase of 129 people (8.7%) since the
2018 census, and an increase of 318 people (24.4%) since the
2013 census. There were 816 males, 801 females and 3 people of
other genders in 528 dwellings. 2.6% of people identified as
LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 288 people (17.8%) aged under 15 years, 291 (18.0%) aged 15 to 29, 813 (50.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 228 (14.1%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.7%
European
European, or Europeans, may refer to:
In general
* ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe
** Ethnic groups in Europe
** Demographics of Europe
** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe and other West ...
(
Pākehā
''Pākehā'' (or ''Pakeha''; ; ) is a Māori language, Māori-language word used in English, particularly in New Zealand. It generally means a non-Polynesians, Polynesian New Zealanders, New Zealander or more specifically a European New Zeala ...
); 12.0%
Māori
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
; 3.5%
Pasifika; 4.4%
Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.2%, Māori language by 1.5%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 6.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk).
New Zealand Sign Language
New Zealand Sign Language or NZSL () is the main language of the deaf community in New Zealand. It became an official language of New Zealand in April 2006 under the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. The purpose of the act was to create rights ...
was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 22.0%
Christian
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
, 0.2%
Hindu
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
, 0.4%
Islam
Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
, 0.2%
Māori religious beliefs
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
, 0.9%
Buddhist
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
, 0.6%
New Age
New Age is a range of Spirituality, spiritual or Religion, religious practices and beliefs that rapidly grew in Western world, Western society during the early 1970s. Its highly eclecticism, eclectic and unsystematic structure makes a precise d ...
, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had
no religion were 65.4%, and 8.9% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 201 (15.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 783 (58.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 297 (22.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $47,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 216 people (16.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 762 (57.2%) people were employed full-time, 213 (16.0%) were part-time, and 27 (2.0%) were unemployed.
Government
Local
From 1876 until 1947, Helensville was administered by the
Waitemata County
The Waitemata County, historically also known as Waitamata County, was one of the counties of New Zealand in the North Island. Established in 1876, the county covered West Auckland, New Zealand, West Auckland, Rodney (local board area), Rodney a ...
, a large rural county north and west of the city of Auckland.
In 1883, the Helensville Town Board was formed to administer the area, within the Waitemata County. In 1947, Helensville split from the country to form an independent borough. In 1989, the borough merged with
Rodney County, forming the
Rodney District Council. Rodney District Council was amalgamated into
Auckland Council
Auckland Council () is the local government council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority that also has the responsibilities, duties and powers of a regional council and so is a unitary authority, according to t ...
in November 2010.
Within the Auckland Council, Helensville is a part of the
Rodney local government area governed by the
Rodney Local Board
Rodney Local Board is one of the 21 local boards of Auckland Council, and is administered by the ward councillor representing Rodney Ward. Located in the northern part of the Auckland region, it is named after the former Rodney District which ...
. It is a part of the
Rodney ward, which elects one councillor to the Auckland Council.
Chairmen of the Helensville Town Board
Below is a list of the 18 people who served as the chairman of the Helensville Town Board, the longest of whom was Charles S. West, who served from 1922 to 1924, and again from 1929 to 1938. The final chairman, Reg Screaton, became the first Mayors of the Helensville Borough in 1947.
*1883–1886 Isaac McLeod
*1886–1888 Henry Ballans
*1888–1890 Daniel Stewart
*1890–1893 James McLeod
*1893–1894 Daniel Stewart
*1894–1898 Charles H. Spinley
*1898–1899 J. J. Reynolds
*1899–1902 Charles H. Spinley
*1902–1904 Alfred Becroft
*1904–1908 R. M. Cameron
*1908–1910 James McLeod
*1910–1912 James Stewart
*1912–1914 James McLeod
*1914–1916 E. T. Field
*1916–1918 J. T. Lambert
*1918–1922 James Stewart
*1922–1924 Charles S. West
*1924–1929 James Mackie
*1929–1938 Charles S. West
*1938–1941 A. H. Brackebnsh
*1941–1941 Dr F. Matheson
*1941–1944 J. A. Stanaway
*1944–1945 K. A. Snedden
*1945–1947 Reg Screaton
Mayors of the Helensville Borough Council
During the 42-year existence of Helensville Borough Council, it had eight mayors:
National
From 1978 until 2020, Helensville was in the
Helensville
Helensville () is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is sited northwest of Auckland, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour. State Highway 16 passes through the town, connecting it to Waimauku to the south, and Ka ...
general electorate. In 2020, this electorate was replaced by the
Kaipara ki Mahurangi
Kaipara ki Mahurangi is an electorate to the New Zealand House of Representatives. It was created for the .
Population centres
The electorate consists of a large northern section of the Auckland Region. It stretches from the border with Northla ...
electorate. Helensville is within the
Te Tai Tokerau
Te Tai Tokerau () is a New Zealand parliamentary Māori electorate that was created out of the Northern Maori electorate ahead of the first Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) election in 1996. It was held first by Tau Henare representing New Zea ...
Māori electorate
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
.
Economy
Formerly a forestry or dairy centre, Helensville is increasingly becoming a dormitory suburb of Auckland with an increasing number of lifestyle blocks in the area. There is some economic benefit from the wine producing region around
Kumeū
Kumeū is a town in the Auckland Region, situated north-west of the Auckland CBD, City Centre in New Zealand. New Zealand State Highway 16, State Highway 16 and the North Auckland Line pass through the town. Huapai lies to the west, Riverhead, N ...
, 20 km to the south. The principal tourist attraction is the hot springs at nearby
Parakai.
Helensville has its own locally produced monthly newspaper, the ''Helensville News''.
The township is in the North West Country Inc
business improvement district
A business improvement district (BID) is a defined area within whichever businesses elect to pay an additional fee (or assessment) in order to fund projects within the district's boundaries. A BID is not a tax, as taxes fund the government. BID f ...
zone which represents businesses from
Kaukapakapa
Kaukapakapa is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated in the Rodney ward of the Auckland Region and is around northwest of Auckland. New Zealand State Highway 16, State Highway 16 passes through the town, connecting it to Hele ...
to
Riverhead.
Education
Kaipara College is a secondary (years 9–13) school with a roll of as of . 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 roll of as of . It was founded in 1877.
Tau Te Arohanoa Akoranga is a satellite campus of the state-integrated Kingsway School, offering a Christian-based education.
All these schools are coeducational.
Transport
Helensville railway station is on the
North Auckland Line
The North Auckland Line (designation NAL) is a major section of New Zealand's Rail transport in New Zealand, national rail network, and is made up of the following parts: the portion of track that runs northward from Westfield Junction to Newm ...
but the station has been closed since 2009.
With the cessation of the passenger train service the only public transport between Helensville and
central Auckland is by buses to and from Westgate in
West Auckland then transfer to another bus route 110 to central Auckland. At rush hours an express bus operates to Downtown.
Notable people
*
Jim Sheddan (1918–2010),
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF; ) is the aerial warfare, aerial military service, service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed initially in 1923 as a branch of the New Zealand Army, being known as the New Zealand Perm ...
Second World War flying ace
References
Bibliography
*
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*
External links
Helensville & District Historical Society
{{Subject bar, auto=y, d=y
1862 establishments in New Zealand
Populated places in the Auckland Region
Populated places around the Kaipara Harbour
Populated places established in 1862
Populated places on the Kaipara River
Rodney Local Board Area