Rodney County was one of the

counties of New Zealand A system of counties of New Zealand was instituted after the country dissolved its provinces in 1876, and these counties were similar to other countries' systems, lasting with little change (except mergers and other localised boundary adjustmen ...

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 ...

, from 1876 until 1989. It came into existence in November 1876, when the provinces were abolished. In the

1989 local government reforms The 1989 New Zealand local government reform was the most significant reform of local government in New Zealand in over a century. Some 850 local bodies were amalgamated into 86 local authorities, on Regions of New Zealand, regional and Territo ...

, it merged with Helensville Borough to create

Rodney District Rodney District was a local government area in the northernmost part of New Zealand's Auckland Region from 1989 to 2010. It included Kawau Island. It was created from the amalgamation of Helensville Borough and Rodney County in 1989. The seat ...

Geography

In 1970 Rodney County covered an area of . The southern boundary with

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 ...

was along the Makarau River, whilst the northern boundary with

Otamatea County Otamatea County was one of the counties of New Zealand in the North Island, from 1887 until 1989. It was created by the Counties Act 1886, which came into effect on 1 January 1887, from parts of the existing Hobson, Rodney and Whangarei Count ...

was along the

Hakaru River The Hakaru River is a river in the Northland Region of New Zealand. It starts in the Brynderwyn Hills and flows south to join the Topuni River exiting in the Oruawharo River, which forms part of the Kaipara Harbour. The name literally means " ...

History

In 1877 the

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 ...

Highway District was transferred from Rodney to

. In 1883 the

Wainui Wainui is a locality in the Rodney Ward of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is north-east of Waitoki and west of Orewa. The Wainui Stream flows south-west through the area and into the Kaukapakapa River. Etymology Wainui is Māor ...

Road District was transferred to Waitemata County. The northern part of Rodney County (

Mangawai Mangawhai is a township at the south-west extent of the Mangawhai Harbour, or Mangawhai Estuary, in Northland, New Zealand. The adjacent township of Mangawhai Heads is 5 km north-east, on the lower part of the harbour. Kaiwaka is 13&nbs ...

and Whakapirau road districts) was transferred to the nascent

in 1887. Following the Counties Act 1949 Rodney County established two county towns:

Wellsford Wellsford () is a town on the Northland Peninsula in the northern North Island of New Zealand. It is the northernmost major settlement in the Auckland Region, and is northwest of the Auckland CBD. It is a major regional centre, being located at ...

in 1953 and

Leigh Leigh may refer to: Places In England Pronounced : * Leigh, Greater Manchester, Borough of Wigan ** Leigh (UK Parliament constituency) * Leigh-on-Sea, Essex Pronounced : * Leigh, Dorset * Leigh, Gloucestershire * Leigh, Kent * Leigh, Staffor ...

in 1954. In 1961 the Rodney County Council moved from their Alnwick Street address to a new building on Baxter Street, Warkworth. In 1974, after absorbing the four rural ridings of

the County would double the size and triple its population. Following this amalgamation it was decided to build a new council building in

Orewa Orewa () is a settlement in the northern Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is a suburb of the Hibiscus Coast, just north of the base of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula and north of central Auckland. The Auckland Northern Motorway, Northern Motor ...

which opened on the 6th of October, 1977. In the early 1980s the county experienced an economic and population boom.

Kiwifruit Kiwifruit (often shortened to kiwi), or Chinese gooseberry, is the edible berry (botany), berry of several species of woody vines in the genus ''Actinidia''. The most common cultivar group of kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa, ...

prices had hit $8.02 per tray and the county was the fastest growing in population with a 17.9% increase, helped by a 22.5% increase in the

Hibiscus Coast The Hibiscus Coast is a populated area on a stretch of the Hauraki Gulf coast in New Zealand's Auckland Region. It has a population of making it the List of New Zealand urban areas by population, 10th most populous urban area in New Zealand, ...

. The economy of Rodney during this period would be largely based on meat cattle and other forms of agriculture. As part of the local government reforms the county was abolished and replaced by

. The borders would remain largely the same aside from the incorporation of Helensville Borough and

Taupaki Taupaki is a locality in the Rodney District, which is a part of the Auckland Region in New Zealand. Kumeū lies to the north-west, Whenuapai to the north-east, West Harbour, Auckland, West Harbour to the east, Massey, New Zealand, Massey to the ...

from the newly formed

Waitakere City Waitakere City was a Territorial Authorities of New Zealand, territorial authority in West Auckland, New Zealand, West Auckland, New Zealand; it was governed by the Waitakere City Council from 1989 to 2010. It was New Zealand's fifth-largest ...

, and a slight change to the border at

Mangawhai Mangawhai is a township at the south-west extent of the Mangawhai Harbour, or Mangawhai Estuary, in Northland, New Zealand. The adjacent township of Mangawhai Heads is 5 km north-east, on the lower part of the harbour. Kaiwaka is 13 ...

Ridings

Rodney County initially had 6 ridings:

, Puhoi, Mahurangi,

Tauhoa Tauhoa is a rural community in the Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island. State Highway 16 runs through the area, connecting to Wellsford 15 km to the north-east and Glorit 12 km to the south. Te Pahi Stream flows through t ...

, and

Albert Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert Computers, Inc., a computer manufacturer in the 1980s * Albert Czech Republic, a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street mar ...

List of county chairmen

The Rodney County Council was presided over by a chairman. The following is a complete list of officeholders:

Notes

References