All Location

Wai Whauwhaupaku is located towards the end of Tram Valley Road. It has long been known locally as the Swanson Conservation Area and is located at the head of the Swanson stream, however the traditional Te Kawerau name is Wai Whauwhaupaku. This land was part of Te Kawerau ā Maki’s 2014 Treaty Settlement. The area takes its name from the Whauwhaupaku, or the five-finger shrub which once grew in profusion in the area. The stream and its margins provided a wide range of food resources, tuna (eels), and harakeke (flax) used for weaving and the production of cordage. In drier Read more [...]

Henderson Valley Scenic Reserve is part of the wider locality known as Opareira, ‘the dwelling place of Pareira’. This ancestress was the niece of the famed early Maori voyager Toi Te Hautahi who visited the Auckland region over six centuries ago. When Toi Te Hautahi and his people explored the Waitemate Harbour, Pareira decided to settle at Wai o Pareira near the mouth of what is now the Henderson Creek. She and her people also occupied the Henderson Valley area seasonally to harvest the resources of the forest. Their settlement in this area was named Opareira. As one of the Read more [...]

Named after Kandia in Greece. Lot of NZer’s fought there in WW II Originally, the roads in the Henderson gumfields were only numbered: – No 1 became Coulter rd (named after a family) – No 2 became Candia rd – No 3 became Vineyard Road (named after grapes planted by W. Russell, very early vineyard) – No 4 became Top of Coulter Road. (? Not sure of that one) Ballot system for this land by; Land and Survey Dept. 1914 for “Lease to own “ Both of my Grandparents had their name in the ballot system, and each got a Read more [...]

– Archeological site [CHI 1266] [Historic Sites of the Waitakere Ranges]

– Archeological site of (unfinished) concrete house – Chimney stack remaining – Build 1890s (CHI), 1912-1920s (RD) [Rugged Determination, p84] [CHI 1731] [Historic Sites of the Waitakere Ranges]

– Sawmill of Petrie family – Kauri stumps / gum reserve [Rugged Determination, p148]

– Fuel tank, removed steel, bricks still there   On private land, not visible from road. Please respect the privacy of the property owners.

– known as ‘North trunk line’ – Tunnel to Waitakere build in 1881 – Bricks to line tunnel dug from local clay, kilns supposedly still exist to left of tunnel (not visible from road) – Gradient ease deviation build started in 1930s, finished 1981 ! – At the moment to expensive to enlarge the tunnel, that is why electric trains terminate at Swanson [Rugged Determination, p57-62] [CHI 1428 + 1676 + 1712] [Historic Sites of the Waitakere Ranges]

– Old wooden bridge over Swanson stream near Swanson rd no longer exists. – Gradient ease deviation build started in 1930s, finished 1981 ! – Current concrete Bridge build in 1930s [Rugged Determination, p57-62] [CHI 1428 + 1676 + 1712] [Historic Sites of the Waitakere Ranges]

– Archeological site of Timber dam – aka. ‘Cassels Stream driving dam’ and ‘Swanson Stream Rafter dam’ – build 1850s – beyond end of Tram valley rd, under Kitewaho rd [CHI 1323] [Historic Sites of the Waitakere Ranges]