Murrays Bay
Suburb
Looking down on Murrays Bay beach at low tide
Looking down on Murrays Bay beach at low tide
Coordinates: 36°43′49″S 174°44′55″E / 36.730317°S 174.748519°E / -36.730317; 174.748519
CountryNew Zealand
CityAuckland
Local authorityAuckland Council
Electoral wardAlbany ward
Local boardHibiscus and Bays
Established1880
Area
[1]
 • Land166 ha (410 acres)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total4,960
Postcode(s)
0630
Northcross Rothesay Bay (Hauraki Gulf)
Pinehill
Murrays Bay
 (Hauraki Gulf)
Windsor Park Mairangi Bay (Hauraki Gulf)

Murrays Bay is a small suburb in the East Coast Bays region, located in the North Shore of Auckland. The suburb is roughly the same size as Rothesay Bay, the suburb to the immediate north. It is primarily a residential area but does have a community centre, restaurant and café. Murrays Bay is regularly serviced by buses which go to Takapuna and the Auckland city centre.

Geography

Waitemata Group sandstone cliffs at Murrays Bay

Murrays Bay is located in the East Coast Bays of the North Shore, between Rothesay Bay and Mairangi Bay.[3] The bay itself is located between Tatarata Point, the headland to the east, and Mairangi Bay to the south.[4][5] A stream runs eastwards through the suburb, called the Taiorahi Creek.[6]

The land is primarily formed from clay and Waitemata sandstone, which can be seen in the cliffs along the coast.[7][8] Prior to human settlement, the inland Murrays Bay area was primarily a northern broadleaf podocarp forest, dominated by tōtara, mataī, miro, kauri and kahikatea trees. Pōhutukawa trees were a major feature of the coastline.[9] During the 19th century, the area was dominated by mānuka shrubland and harakeke flax.[10]

History

Māori history

Māori settlement of the Auckland Region began around the 13th or 14th centuries.[11][12] The North Shore was settled by Tāmaki Māori, including people descended from the Tainui migratory canoe and ancestors of figures such as Taikehu and Peretū.[13] Many of the Tāmaki Māori people of the North Shore identified as Ngā Oho.[14] While the poor soils around the East Coast Bays hindered dense settlement,[7] traditional resources in the area included fish, shellfish and marine birds.[15] The traditional name for the coast between Murrays Bay and Campbells Bay is Waipapa.[16][17]

The warrior Maki migrated from the Kāwhia Harbour to his ancestral home in the Auckland Region, likely sometime in the 17th century. Maki conquered and unified many the Tāmaki Māori tribes as Te Kawerau ā Maki, including those of the North Shore.[18][19] After Maki's death, his sons settled different areas of his lands, creating new hapū. His younger son Maraeariki settled the North Shore and Hibiscus Coast, who based himself at the head of the Ōrewa River. Maraeariki's daughter Kahu succeeded him, and she is the namesake of the North Shore, Te Whenua Roa o Kahu ("The Greater Lands of Kahu").[20][21] Many of the iwi of the North Shore, including Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāti Maraeariki, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Poataniwha, Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki and Ngāti Whātua, can trace their lineage to Kahu.[21][22]

By the 18th century, the Marutūāhu iwi Ngāti Paoa had expanded their influence to include the islands of the Hauraki Gulf and the North Shore.[23] After periods of conflict, peace had been reached by the 1790s.[24] The earliest contact with Europeans began in the late 18th century, which caused many Tāmaki Māori to die of rewharewha, respiratory diseases.[25] During the early 1820s, most Māori of the North Shore fled for the Waikato or Northland due to the threat of war parties during the Musket Wars. Most people had returned by the late 1820s and 1830s.[12][23][26]

European settlement

A holidayer at Murrays Bay beach in 1922. The Murrays Bay Wharf and the steamship Omana can be seen in the background
Boats and cars at Murrays Bay beach in the 1960s

In 1841, the Crown purchased the Mahurangi and Omaha blocks; an area that spanned from Takapuna to Te Ārai. The purchase involved some iwi with customary interests in the area, such as Ngāti Paoa, other Marutūāhu iwi and Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, but not others, such as Te Kawerau ā Maki or Ngāti Rango.[27][28][22][29] The Crown spent until 1873 rectifying this sale, by making further deals with stakeholders.[28][29]

The first Europeans to come to Murrays Bay were itinerant kauri gum diggers in the mid-19th century. Murrays Bay was the site of one of the largest gum diggers camps in the North Shore.[30] The area was known as Tommy's Bay, after the Māori owner of the land.[10] In 1880, the land was sold to English settler Thomas Murray, from Newcastle upon Tyne, who converted the mānuka and harakeke scrubland to a sheep and cattle farm, and planted crops including corn, wheat and English grasses. Murray was a lifelong bachelor and devout Christian, who taught Sunday school classes in Takapuna. Murray's farm grew to 174 acres in size, and the bay became known as Big Murrays Bay (Little Murrays Bay was the name for Mairangi Bay to the south).[10][31] Murray sold kauri gum as an additional source of income, constructed a windmill at the site of modern-day Scarboro Terrace, and developed orchards to supply the Auckland market with fruit.[32][33]

In 1910, the name for the area was changed from Big Murrays Bay to Murrays Bay.[17] The area was subdivided and sold in 1912.[32] After the Murrays Bay Wharf was constructed in 1916,[10] the area became a popular spot for holidays and day trippers from Auckland, who arrived by ferry.[34] Housing began to be built shortly after the area was subdivided, but due to the outbreak of World War I, construction was paused for five years. By 1920, holiday homes had been constructed at Murrays Bay, and in 1926 two shops had opened in the suburb.[10] In the 1930s, Murrays Bay became a refuge for children during the polio epidemic.[10] During World War II, pillboxes were constructed at Murrays Bay, at the beach and on the clifftops to the north of the suburb.[35]

The suburb grew in the 1950s, after World War II.[32] In 1956, a new high school was opened in the suburb, Murray's Bay High School. Later renamed Rangitoto College, the school grew to become the largest high school in New Zealand.[35] In 1958, the Murrays Bay Sailing Club was founded,[36] and in 1973 the old Murrays Bay wharf was replaced.[10]

Local government

From 1876 until 1954, the area was administered by the Waitemata County, a large rural county north and west of the city of Auckland.[37] In 1954, the area split from the county, forming the East Coast Bays Borough Council,[37] which became East Coast Bays City in 1975.[38] In 1989, the city was merged into the North Shore City.[38] North Shore City was amalgamated into Auckland Council in November 2010.[39]

Within the Auckland Council, Murrays Bay is a part of the Hibiscus and Bays local government area governed by the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board. It is a part of the Albany ward, which elects two councillors to the Auckland Council.

Demographics

Murrays Bay covers 1.66 km2 (0.64 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 4,960 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 2,988 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20064,581—    
20134,704+0.38%
20184,764+0.25%
Source: [40]

Murrays Bay had a population of 4,764 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 60 people (1.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 183 people (4.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,554 households, comprising 2,322 males and 2,442 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 867 people (18.2%) aged under 15 years, 960 (20.2%) aged 15 to 29, 2,310 (48.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 627 (13.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 71.2% European/Pākehā, 4.3% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 25.8% Asian, and 3.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 45.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.9% had no religion, 35.1% were Christian, 0.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% were Hindu, 0.8% were Muslim, 1.4% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,458 (37.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 264 (6.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,104 people (28.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,929 (49.5%) people were employed full-time, 642 (16.5%) were part-time, and 138 (3.5%) were unemployed.[40]

Individual statistical areas
NameArea (km2)PopulationDensity (per km2)HouseholdsMedian ageMedian income
Murrays Bay West0.962,6282,73882237.7 years$36,200[41]
Murrays Bay East0.702,1363,05173243.1 years$44,200[42]
New Zealand37.4 years$31,800

Amenities

A popular public walkway passes through coastal Murrays Bay, connecting Campbells Bay to Browns Bay in the north. The walkway passes sections of exposed Waitemata sandstone.[8]

Murrays Bay beach has a wharf that people jump off and fish in the Spring/Summer. There is a sailing club that sails from the beach regularly.

Education

Murrays Bay School is a contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 733 students as at April 2023,[43][44] Murrays Bay Intermediate is an intermediate (years 7–8) school with a roll of 1119 students as at April 2023,[43][45] which first opened in 1958.[46] Both schools are coeducational, and have a decile rating of 10Z. The two schools share a site, and were established in 1957 and 1958 respectively.[47][46]

References

  1. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Murrays Bay". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "Murrays Bay". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Tatarata Point". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  6. ↑ "Taiorahi Creek". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  7. 1 2 Heritage Consultancy Services (1 July 2011). North Shore Heritage - Thematic Review Report Volume 1 (PDF) (Report). Auckland Council. ISBN 978-1-927169-21-6. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  8. 1 2 Janssen, Peter (January 2021). Greater Auckland Walks. New Holland Publishers. p. 43-44. ISBN 978-1-86966-516-6. Wikidata Q118136068.
  9. ↑ Veart, Dave (2018). The Māori Archaeology of Te Raki Paewhenua/North Shore (Report). Auckland North Community and Development. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-9941358-4-1.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Willis 2018, pp. 20–21.
  11. ↑ Pishief, Elizabeth; Shirley, Brendan (August 2015). "Waikōwhai Coast Heritage Study" (PDF). Auckland Council. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  12. ↑ Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki (April 2016). Cultural Values Assessment Report to New Zealand Transport Agency for Northern Corridor Improvements Project (NCI) (PDF) (Report). NZ Transport Agency. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  13. ↑ Mossman, Sarah (August 2018). Cultural Values Assessment for America's Cup 36 - Wynyard and Hobson Planning Application (PDF). Te Kawerau Iwi Tribunal Authority (Report). Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  14. ↑ McKenzie, Fiona (June 2016). Cultural Impact Assessment for the NZ Transport Agency's Northern Corridor Improvements (PDF). Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust (Report). NZ Transport Agency. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  15. ↑ Boffa Miskell (August 2018). Strategic Parks Service Assessment (PDF) (Report). Auckland Council. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  16. 1 2 Willis 2018, pp. 22.
  17. ↑ "Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area" (PDF). Auckland Council. December 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  18. ↑ Murdoch, Graeme (1990). "Nga Tohu o Waitakere: the Maori Place Names of the Waitakere River Valley and its Environs; their Background History and an Explanation of their Meaning". In Northcote-Bade, James (ed.). West Auckland Remembers, Volume 1. West Auckland Historical Society. p. 13-14. ISBN 0-473-00983-8.
  19. ↑ Ngāti Manuhiri; The Crown (21 May 2011). "Deed of Settlement of Historical Claims" (PDF). New Zealand Government. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  20. 1 2 Whaanga, Mel (March 2022). "He taonga o te rohe". Restore Hibiscus & Bays. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  21. 1 2 Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki and the Trustees of the Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki Trust and the Crown (7 November 2015). "Deed of settlement schedule documents" (PDF). NZ Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  22. 1 2 New Zealand Government; Ngāti Paoa (20 March 2021). "Ngāti Pāoa and the Trustees of the Ngāti Pāoa Iwi Trust and The Crown Deed of Settlement of Historical Claims" (PDF). New Zealand Government. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  23. ↑ "Wenderholm Regional Park: Our History" (PDF). Auckland Council. 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  24. ↑ McKenzie, Fiona (May 2017). "Cultural Values Assessment for the Warkworth North Structure Plan and Associated Development" (PDF). Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust. Auckland Council. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  25. ↑ Ngāti Manuhiri; The Crown (21 May 2011). "Deed of Settlement of Historical Claims" (PDF). New Zealand Government. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  26. ↑ Rigby, Barry (August 1998). The Crown, Maori and Mahurangi 1840-1881 (PDF) (Report). Waitangi Tribunal. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  27. 1 2 Stone 2001, pp. 188.
  28. 1 2 Te Kawerau ā Maki; The Trustees of Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust; The Crown (22 February 2014). "Deed of Settlement of Historical Claim" (PDF). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  29. ↑ Willis 2018, pp. 2.
  30. ↑ Verran, David (20 April 2010). "Our history, East Coast Bays (Part one)". Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  31. 1 2 3 Cass 1989, pp. 8.
  32. ↑ Verran, David 2010, pp. 37.
  33. ↑ Verran, David 2010, pp. 111.
  34. 1 2 Lutz, Heike; Chan, Theresa (2011). North Shore heritage – North Shore area studies and scheduled items list: volume 2 parts 6+ (PDF). Heritage Consultancy Services (Report). Auckland Council. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  35. ↑ Verran, David 2010, pp. 247.
  36. 1 2 Reidy, Jade (2009). "How the West Was Run". In Macdonald, Finlay; Kerr, Ruth (eds.). West: The History of Waitakere. Random House. pp. 238–239. ISBN 9781869790080.
  37. 1 2 Mace, Tania (October 2006). "Browns Bay Heritage Walk" (PDF). North Shore City Council. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  38. ↑ Blakeley, Roger (2015). "The planning framework for Auckland 'super city': an insider's view". Policy Quarterly. 11 (4). doi:10.26686/pq.v11i4.4572. ISSN 2324-1101.
  39. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Murrays Bay West (119500) and Murrays Bay East (120000).
  40. ↑ 2018 Census place summary: Murrays Bay West
  41. ↑ 2018 Census place summary: Murrays Bay East
  42. 1 2 "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  43. ↑ Education Counts: Murrays Bay School
  44. ↑ Education Counts: Murrays Bay Intermediate
  45. 1 2 Verran, David 2010, pp. 84.
  46. ↑ "Murrays Bay School and Murrays Bay Intermediate". Safe School Community International Accreditation Programme. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2009.

Bibliography

  • Cass, David (1989). ECB – the Years to 1989. East Coast Bays City Council.
  • Stone, R. C. J. (2001). From Tamaki-makau-rau to Auckland. Auckland University Press. ISBN 1869402596.
  • Verran, David (2010). The North Shore: An Illustrated History. North Shore: Random House. ISBN 978-1-86979-312-8. OCLC 650320207. Wikidata Q120520385.
  • Willis, Jenny (2018). Early History of East Coast Bays (Second ed.).
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