The city lies between theHauraki Gulf to the east, theHunua Ranges to the south-east, theManukau Harbour to the south-west, and theWaitākere Ranges and smaller ranges to the west and north-west. The surrounding hills are covered inrainforest and the landscape is dotted with 53 volcanic centres that make up theAuckland Volcanic Field. The central part of the urban area occupies a narrowisthmus between the Manukau Harbour on theTasman Sea and theWaitematā Harbour on the Pacific Ocean. Auckland is one of the few cities in the world to have a harbour on each of two separate major bodies of water.
TheAuckland isthmus was first settledc. 1350 and was valued for its rich and fertile land. TheMāori population in the area is estimated to have peaked at 20,000 before the arrival of Europeans.[5] After aBritish colony was established in New Zealand in 1840,William Hobson, then Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand, chose Auckland as its newcapital.Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei made a strategic gift of land to Hobson for the new capital. Māori–European conflict over land in the region led to war in the mid-19th century. In 1865, Auckland was replaced byWellington as the capital, but continued to grow, initially because of its port and the logging and gold-mining activities in its hinterland, and later because of pastoral farming (especially dairy farming) in the surrounding area, and manufacturing in the city itself.[6] It has been the nation's largest city throughout most of its history. Today,Auckland's central business district is New Zealand's leading economic hub.
WhileEuropeans continue to make up the plurality of Auckland's population, the city became multicultural andcosmopolitan in the late 20th century, withAsians accounting for 34.9% of the city's population in 2023.[7] Auckland has the fourth largestforeign-born population in the world, with 39% of its residents born overseas.[8] With its sizeable population ofPasifika New Zealanders, the city is also home to the largest ethnicPolynesian population in the world.[9]
TheMāori-language name for Auckland isTāmaki Makaurau, meaning "Tāmaki desired by many", in reference to the desirability of its natural resources and geography.[14] There are various theories of the origin of the name "Tāmaki", which is also used to refer to an eastern suburb of Auckland. It is regarded by some to be the isthmus between the two harbours of the area, which is variously said to be named after a son of Maruiwi fromTaranaki, a line of chiefs from the southern Taranaki, or a female leader ofNgāti Te Ata. Other versions of the name includeTāmakinui (great Tāmaki) orTāmaki-herehere-ngā-waka (Tāmaki that binds many canoes).[15][16]
TheAuckland isthmus was settled byMāori around 1350, and was valued for its rich and fertile land. Manypā (fortified villages) were built, mainly on the volcanic peaks. By the early 1700s,Te Waiohua, a confederation of tribes such asNgā Oho, Ngā Riki and Ngā Iwi, was the main tribal group on the Auckland isthmus,[24][25] with major pā atMaungakiekie / One Tree Hill,Māngere Mountain andMaungataketake.[26] The confederation came to an end around 1741 whenparamount chiefKiwi Tāmaki was killed in battle by Te Waha-akiaki, a chief of theNgāti WhātuahapūTe Taoū.[27] From the 1740s,Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei were the main tribe on the Auckland isthmus.[24] The Māori population in the area is estimated to have been about 20,000 before the arrival of Europeans.[28][29] The introduction of firearms at the end of the eighteenth century, which began inNorthland, upset the balance of power and led to devastatingintertribal warfare beginning in 1807, causingiwi who lacked the new weapons to seek refuge in areas less exposed to coastal raids. As a result, the region had relatively low numbers of Māori when settlement byEuropean New Zealanders began.[30][31]
Print of a painting of Auckland port, 1857
On 20 March 1840 in theManukau Harbour area where Ngāti Whātua farmed, paramount chiefApihai Te Kawau signed theTreaty of Waitangi.[32] Ngāti Whātua sought British protection fromNgāpuhi as well as a reciprocal relationship with theCrown and theChurch. Soon after signing the treaty, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei made a strategic gift of 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of land on theWaitematā Harbour to the new Governor of New Zealand,William Hobson, for the newcapital, which Hobson named forGeorge Eden, Earl of Auckland, thenViceroy of India.[33][34][35] Auckland was founded on 18 September 1840 and was officially declared New Zealand's capital in 1841,[36][37] and the transfer of the administration from Russell (nowOld Russell) in the Bay of Islands was completed in 1842. However, even in 1840Port Nicholson (later renamedWellington) was seen as a better choice for an administrative capital because of its proximity to theSouth Island, and Wellington became the capital in 1865. After losing its status as capital, Auckland remained the principal city of theAuckland Province until the provincial system was abolished in 1876.[38]
In response to the ongoing rebellion byHōne Heke in the mid-1840s, the government encouraged retired but fit British soldiers and their families to migrate to Auckland to form a defence line around the port settlement as garrison soldiers. By the time the firstFencibles arrived in 1848, theNorthern War had concluded. Outlying defensive towns were then constructed to the south, stretching in a line from the port village ofOnehunga in the west toHowick in the east. Each of the four settlements had about 800 settlers.[40]
In the early 1860s, Auckland became a base against theMāori King Movement,[41] and the 12,000 Imperial soldiers stationed there gave a strong boost to local commerce.[42] This, andcontinued road building towards the south into theWaikato region, enabledPākehā (European New Zealanders) influence to spread from Auckland. The city's population grew fairly rapidly, from 1,500 in 1841 to 3,635 in 1845,[42] then to 12,423 by 1864. The growth occurred similarly to othermercantile-dominated cities, mainly around the port and with problems of overcrowding and pollution. Auckland's population of ex-soldiers was far greater than that of other settlements: about 50 per cent of the population was Irish, which contrasted heavily with the majority English settlers in Wellington,Christchurch orNew Plymouth. The majority of settlers in the early period were assisted by receiving cheap passage to New Zealand.[43]
Trams and railway lines shaped Auckland's rapid expansion in the early first half of the 20th century. However, after the Second World War, the city's transport system and urban form became increasingly dominated by the motor vehicle.[40] Arterial roads and motorways became both defining and geographically dividing features of the urban landscape. They also allowed further massive expansion that resulted in the growth of suburban areas such as theNorth Shore (especially after the construction of theAuckland Harbour Bridge in the late 1950s), andManukau City in the south.[44]
Economic deregulation in the mid-1980s led to very dramatic changes to Auckland's economy, and many companies relocated their head offices from Wellington to Auckland. The region was now the nerve centre of the entire national economy. Auckland also benefited from a surge in tourism, which brought 75 per cent of New Zealand's international visitors through its airport. Auckland's port handled 31 per cent of the country's container trade in 2015.[45]
The face of urban Auckland changed when the government's immigration policy began allowing immigrants from Asia in 1986. This has led to Auckland becoming a multicultural city, with people of all ethnic backgrounds. According to the 1961 census data, Māori and Pacific Islanders comprised 5 per cent of Auckland's population; Asians less than 1 per cent.[46] The city became home to the world's largest Polynesian population by the 1990s.[citation needed] By 2006, the Asian population had reached 18.0 per cent in Auckland, and 36.2 per cent in the central city. New arrivals from Hong Kong,Taiwan andKorea gave a distinctive character to the areas where they clustered, while a range of other immigrants introduced mosques,Hindu temples,Buddhist temples,halal andkosher butchers and ethnic restaurants to the suburbs.[45]
The Auckland urban area lies within theAuckland Region, an administrative region that takes its name from the city. The region encompasses the city centre, as well as suburbs, surrounding towns, nearshore islands, and rural areas north and south of the urban area.[48]
Bridges span parts of both harbours, notably theAuckland Harbour Bridge crossing the Waitematā Harbour west of the central business district. TheMāngere Bridge and theUpper Harbour Bridge span the upper reaches of the Manukau and Waitematā Harbours, respectively. In earlier times,portages crossed the narrowest sections of the isthmus.[51][52]
Several islands of the Hauraki Gulf are administered as part of the Auckland Region, though they are not part of the Auckland urban area. Parts ofWaiheke Island effectively function as Auckland suburbs, while various smaller islands near Auckland are mostly zoned 'recreational open space' or are nature sanctuaries.[citation needed]
Snowfall is extremely rare: the most significant fall since the start of the 20th century was on 27 July 1939, when snow fell just before dawn and five centimetres (2 in) of snow reportedly lay onMount Eden.[56][57] Snowflakes were also seen on 28 July 1930 and 15 August 2011.[58][59][60]
Frosts in Auckland are infrequent and often localised. Henderson Riverpark receives an annual average of 27.4ground frosts per year, while Auckland Airport receives an annual average of 8.7 ground frosts per year.[55]
Averagesea temperature around Auckland varies throughout the year. The water temperature is warmest in February when it averages 21 °C (70 °F), while in August, the water temperature is at its coolest, averaging 14 °C (57 °F).[61]
Prevailing winds in Auckland are predominantly from the southwest. The mean annual wind speed for Auckland Airport is 18 kilometres per hour (11 mph).[62] During the summer months there is often asea breeze in Auckland which starts in the morning and dies down again in the evening.[63] The early morning calm on the isthmus during settled weather, before the sea breeze rises, was described as early as 1853: "In all seasons, the beauty of the day is in the early morning. At that time, generally, a solemn stillness holds, and a perfect calm prevails...".[64]
Fog is a common occurrence for Auckland, especially in autumn and winter. Whenuapai Airport experiences an average of 44 fog days per year.[65]
Auckland occasionally suffers from air pollution due tofine particle emissions.[66] There are also occasional breaches of guideline levels ofcarbon monoxide.[67] While maritime winds normally disperse the pollution relatively quickly it can sometimes become visible as smog, especially on calm winter days.[68]
Climate data forAuckland Airport (17km S of Auckland, 7m ASL, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1962–present)
The city of Auckland straddles theAuckland Volcanic Field, an area which in the past, produced at least 53 smallvolcanic centres over the last ~193,000 years, represented by a range of surface features includingmaars (explosion craters),tuff rings,scoria cones, andlava flows.[81][82] It is fed entirely bybasalticmagma sourced from themantle at a depth of 70–90 km below the city,[81] and is unrelated to the explosive,subduction-driven volcanism of theTaupō Volcanic Zone in the Central North Island region of Aotearoa, New Zealand, ~250 km away. The Auckland Volcanic Field is considered to be amonogenetic volcanic field, with each volcano erupting only a single time, usually over a timeframe of weeks to years before cessation of activity.[82] Future eruptive activity remains a threat to the city, and will likely occur at a new, unknown location within the field.[81] The most recent activity occurred approximately 1450 AD at theRangitoto Volcano.[81] This event was witnessed byMāori occupants of the area, making it the only eruption within the Auckland Volcanic Field thus far to have been observed by humans.
The Auckland Volcanic Field has contributed greatly to the growth and prosperity of the Auckland Region since the area was settled by humans. Initially, themaunga (scoria cones) were occupied and established aspā (fortified settlements) by Māori due to the strategic advantage their elevation provided in controlling resources and keyportages between theWaitematā andManukau harbours.[82] The rich volcanic soils found in these areas also proved ideal for the cultivation of crops, such askūmara. Following European arrival, many of the maunga were transformed into quarries to supply the growing city with aggregate and building materials, and as a result were severely damaged or entirely destroyed.[82] A number of the smaller maar craters and tuff rings were also removed during earthworks. Most of the remaining volcanic centres are now preserved within recreational reserves administered byAuckland Council, theDepartment of Conservation, and theTūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority.
The Auckland urban area, as defined by Statistics New Zealand, covers 605.67 km2 (233.85 sq mi).[1] The urban area has an estimated population of 1,547,200 as of June 2025, 29.1 percent ofNew Zealand's population. The city has a population larger than the entireSouth Island (1,256,700).[2]
The urban area had a population of 1,402,275 in the2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 56,442 people (4.2%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 178,734 people (14.6%) since the2013 census. There were 692,490 males, 704,607 females and 5,178 people ofother genders in 454,239 dwellings.[83] 4.9% of people identified asLGBTIQ+.[84] The median age was 35.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 270,384 people (19.3%) aged under 15 years, 307,065 (21.9%) aged 15 to 29, 651,645 (46.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 173,178 (12.3%) aged 65 or older.[7]
Of those at least 15 years old, 290,814 (25.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 464,022 (41.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 298,851 (26.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 160,164 people (14.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 605,601 (53.5%) people were employed full-time, 132,180 (11.7%) were part-time, and 39,441 (3.5%) were unemployed.[7]
Many ethnic groups, since the late 20th century, have had an increasing presence in Auckland, making it by far the country's mostcosmopolitan city. Historically, Auckland's population has been of majorityEuropean origin, though the proportion of those of Asian or other non-European origins has increased in recent decades due to theremoval of restrictions directly or indirectly based on race. Europeans continue to make up the plurality of the city's population, but no longer constitute a majority after decreasing in proportion from 54.6% to 48.1% between the 2013 and 2018 censuses.Asians now form the second-largest ethnic group, making up nearly one-third of the population. Auckland is home to the largest ethnicPolynesian population of any city in the world, with a sizeable population ofPacific Islanders (Pasifika) and indigenousMāori people.[9][85]
In the 2023 census, where people could identify as more than one ethnicity, the results were 44.0%European (Pākehā); 12.2%Māori; 18.7%Pasifika; 34.9%Asian; 2.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 91.5%, Māori language by 2.7%, Samoan by 5.3% and other languages by 32.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk).New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 44.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[7]
At the2023 census the Pasifika population formed the majority in theMāngere-Ōtāhuhu local board area and the plurality in theŌtara-Papatoetoe andManurewa local board areas. The Asian population formed the majority in theHowick andPuketāpapa local board areas and the plurality in theWhau local board area. Europeans formed the plurality in theHenderson-Massey,Maungakiekie-Tāmaki andPapakura local board areas, and formed the majority in the remaining 11 local board areas. Māori did not form a majority or plurality in any local board area but are in the highest concentrations in the Manurewa and Papakura local board areas.[86]
Immigration to New Zealand is heavily concentrated towards Auckland (partly for job market reasons). This strong focus on Auckland has led the immigration services to award extra points towards immigration visa requirements for people intending to move to other parts of New Zealand.[87] Immigration from overseas into Auckland is partially offset by the net emigration of people from Auckland to other regions of New Zealand.[88] In 2021 and 2022, Auckland recorded its only decreases in population, primarily due to theCOVID-19 pandemic and the associated lack of international migration.[89][90]
At the 2018 Census, in the local board areas of Upper Harbour, Waitematā, Puketāpapa and Howick, overseas-born residents outnumbered those born in New Zealand.[91] The most common birthplaces of overseas-born residents were mainland China (6.2%), India (4.6%), England (4.4%), Fiji (2.9%), Samoa (2.5%), South Africa (2.4%), Philippines (2.0%), Australia (1.4%), South Korea (1.4%), and Tonga (1.3%).[92] A study from 2016 showed Auckland has the fourth largestforeign-born population in the world, only behindDubai, Toronto andBrussels, with 39% of its residents born overseas.[93]
Recent[when?] immigration from Asia has added to the religious diversity of the city, increasing the number of people affiliating withBuddhism,Hinduism,Islam andSikhism, although there are no figures on religious attendance.[94] There is also a small,long-established Jewish community.[95]
Auckland is experiencing substantial population growth via immigration (two-thirds of growth) and natural population increases (one-third),[96] and is set to grow to an estimated 1.9 million inhabitants by 2031[97][98] in a medium-variant scenario. This substantial increase in population will have a huge impact on transport, housing and other infrastructure that are, particularly in the case of housing, that are considered to be under pressure already. The high-variant scenario shows the region's population growing to over two million by 2031.[99][needs update]
In July 2016, Auckland Council released, as the outcome of a three-year study and public hearings, its Unitary Plan for Auckland. The plan aims to free up to 30 percent more land for housing and allows for greater intensification of the existing urban area, creating 422,000 new dwellings in the next 30 years.[100]
In 1851, Auckland was constituted as an independent borough, the first in the country.[101]: 78 The borough was 58,000 acres (23,000 ha) in size and went as far west as theWhau River and as far east asHowick. The large boundary included 4,000 Europeans in the urban areas; 2,500 in the Fencible settlements; and 1,500 in the rural parts. An inability to collect rates and a divide between urban and rural interests led to the borough becoming defunct in 1852. In 1854, theAuckland Provincial Council established Auckland City under the Auckland City Council Act. This city had boundaries equivalent to theCity of Auckland electorate. The legality of this city was challenged and it was later dissolved in March 1855 before finally being repealed by an act in April 1856. AnAuckland Harbour Board was also established and repealed during the same period. In 1863, the Town of Auckland was incorporated within the same boundaries of the East Town, Middle Town, and West Town wards of the borough.[102] On 24 April 1871, Auckland became a city underThe Municipal Corporations Act, 1867.[101]: 80
The Auckland Council is thelocal authority with jurisdiction over the city of Auckland, along with surrounding rural areas, parkland, and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf.[103]
From 1989 to 2010, Auckland was governed by several city and district councils, with regional oversight byAuckland Regional Council. In the late 2000s, New Zealand's central government and parts of Auckland's society felt that this large number of councils, and the lack of strong regional government (with the Auckland Regional Council having only limited powers), were hindering Auckland's progress.[citation needed]
ARoyal Commission on Auckland Governance was set up in 2007;[104][105] in 2009, it recommended a unified local governance structure for Auckland by amalgamating the councils.[106] The government subsequently announced that a "super city" would be set up with a single mayor by the time of New Zealand's local body elections in 2010.[107][108]
In October 2010,Manukau City mayorLen Brown was elected mayor of the amalgamatedAuckland Council. He was re-elected for a second term in October 2013. Brown did not stand for re-election in the2016 mayoral election, and was succeeded by successful candidatePhil Goff in October 2016.[109] Twenty councillors comprise the remainder of the Auckland Council governing body, elected from thirteen electoral wards.
The twin towers of theNational Bank Centre are among the tallest buildings in Auckland.
In 1891, the three main items exported from Auckland's port were:kauri gum, gold, and wool. These exports were collectively worth almost a million pounds.[112]
Auckland is the major economic and financial centre of New Zealand. It has an advancedmarket economy with strengths in finance, commerce, and tourism. Most major international corporations have an Auckland office; the most expensive office space is around lowerQueen Street and theViaduct Basin in theAuckland CBD, where many financial and business services are located, which constitute a large percentage of the CBD economy.[113] The largest commercial and industrial areas of the Auckland Region are Auckland CBD and the western parts ofManukau, mostly bordering theManukau Harbour and theTāmaki River estuary.
According to the 2013 census, the primary employment industries of Auckland residents are professional, scientific and technical services (11.4 percent), manufacturing (9.9 percent), retail trade (9.7 percent), health care and social assistance (9.1 percent), and education and training (8.3 percent). Manufacturing is the largest employer in the Henderson-Massey, Howick, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Manurewa and Papakura local board areas, retail trade is the largest employer in the Whau local board area, while professional, scientific and technical services are the largest employer in the remaining urban local board areas.[114]
The GDP of Auckland in 2024 was estimated at approximately $159.74 billion NZD, which saw a 2.1% increase from 2023.[115] The per-capita GDP of Auckland was estimated at $88,878 at the end of 2024, the second-highest in the country after the Wellington region, and above the national average of $78,233.[116][117]
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Landmark House
Auckland has a diversity of architectural styles, resulting from its early beginnings as a settlement, theVictorian period, the 20th century and through to the contemporary era of the 21st century. Legislation is in effect to protect the remaining heritage, with the key piece being the Resource Management Act of 1991.[118] Prepared under this legislation is the Auckland Unitary Plan, which indicates how land can be used or developed. Prominent historic buildings in Auckland include theDilworth Building, theAuckland Ferry Terminal, Guardian Trust Building, Old Customs House, Landmark House, theAuckland Town Hall and theBritomart Transport Centre – many of these are located on Queen Street, the main street.[citation needed]
Housing varies considerably, between suburbs that havestate-owned housing in lower income neighbourhoods, to larger waterfront homes, especially in areas close to theWaitematā Harbour. Traditionally, the most common residence of Aucklanders was a standalone dwelling on a 'quarter acre' (1,000 m2).[97] However, subdividing such properties with 'infill housing' has long been the norm. Auckland's housing stock has become more diverse in recent decades, with many more apartments being built since the 1970s, particularly since the 1990s in the CBD.[119] Nevertheless, the majority of Aucklanders live in single dwelling housing and are expected to continue to do so, even with most of future urban growth being through intensification.[97]
Auckland has been described as having "the most extensive range of timbered housing with its classical details and mouldings in the world", many of them built in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.[120] In some areas, the Victorianvillas have been torn down to make way for redevelopment. The demolition of the older houses is being combated through increased heritage protection for older parts of the city.[121]
Auckland's housing is amongst the least affordable in the world, based on comparing average house prices with average household income levels[122][123] and house prices have grown way well above the rate of inflation in recent decades.[119] In August 2022, the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) reported the median house price in the Auckland Region was $1,100,000, ranging from $900,000 in the former Papakura District area to $1,285,000 in the former North Shore City area, This is compared to a median price of $700,000 outside of Auckland.[124] There is significant public debate around why Auckland's housing is so expensive, often referring to a lack of land supply,[119] the easy availability of credit for residential investment[125] and Auckland's high level of liveability.
In the lead-up to 2010, a housing crisis began in Auckland, with the market not being able to sustain the demand for affordable homes. The Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 mandated that a minimum of 10 percent of new builds in certain housing areas be subsidised to make them affordable for buyers who had incomes on par with the national average. In a new subdivision atHobsonville Point, 20 percent of new homes were reduced to below $550,000.[126] Some of the demand for new housing at this time was attributed to the 43,000 people who moved into Auckland between June 2014 and June 2015.[96] Research has found that Auckland is set to become even more densely populated in future which could ease the burden by creating higher density housing in the city centre.[127][128] From around November 2021 to May 2022, house prices dropped 11.68%.[129] It has continued to fall since due to inflation, bank interest rates, and a variety of other factors.[130][131][132][133]
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Pedestrians on Vulcan Lane in the CBD
Positive aspects of Auckland life are its mild climate, plentiful employment and educational opportunities, as well as numerous leisure facilities. Meanwhile, traffic problems, the lack of good public transport, and increasing housing costs have been cited by many Aucklanders as among the strongest negative factors of living there,[134] together with crime that has been rising in recent years.[135] Nonetheless, Auckland ranked third in a survey of the quality of life of 215 major cities of the world (2015 data).[136]
One of Auckland's nicknames, the "City of Sails", is derived from the popularity of sailing in the region.[21] 135,000yachts andlaunches are registered in Auckland, and around 60,500 of the country's 149,900 registered yachtsmen are from Auckland,[137] with about one in three Auckland households owning a boat.[138] TheViaduct Basin, on the western edge of the CBD, hosted threeAmerica's Cup challenges (2000 Cup,2003 Cup and2021 Cup).[citation needed]
TheWaitematā Harbour is home to several notable yacht clubs and marinas, including theRoyal New Zealand Yacht Squadron andWesthaven Marina, the largest of theSouthern Hemisphere.[137] The Waitematā Harbour has several swimming beaches, includingMission Bay andKohimarama on the south side of the harbour, and Stanley Bay on the north side. On the eastern coastline of the North Shore, where the Rangitoto Channel divides the inner Hauraki Gulf islands from the mainland, there are popular swimming beaches at Cheltenham and Narrow Neck inDevonport,Takapuna,Milford, and the various beaches further north in the area known as East Coast Bays.[citation needed]
While most volcanic cones in theAuckland volcanic field have been affected by quarrying, many of the remaining cones are now within parks, and retain a more natural character than the surrounding city. Prehistoric earthworks and historic fortifications are in several of these parks, includingMaungawhau / Mount Eden,North Head andMaungakiekie / One Tree Hill.
Railway lines serve the western, southern and eastern parts of the city from theWaitematā railway station, also known as Britomart.
During the 19th century the main forms of transport to and from Auckland were ferries and trains, with horses being used for shorter distances and trips within the city. From 1902 electric trams provided transport for the central isthmus and resulted in residential expansion in the area. Following the First World War car ownership started to increase and concrete and bitumen roads were built to accommodate this.[140]
TheAuckland Harbour Bridge, opened in 1959, is the main connection between theNorth Shore and the rest of Auckland.[142] The bridge provides eight lanes of vehicle traffic and has a moveable median barrier for lane flexibility, but does not provide access for rail, pedestrians or cyclists. TheCentral Motorway Junction, also called 'Spaghetti Junction' for its complexity, is the intersection between the two major motorways of Auckland (State Highway 1 and State Highway 16).[143]
Two of the longest arterial roads within the Auckland Region areGreat North Road andGreat South Road – the main connections in those directions before the construction of the State Highway network.[141] Numerous arterial roads also provide regional and sub-regional connectivity, with many of these roads (especially on the isthmus) previously used to operate Auckland'sformer tram network.
Auckland has four railway lines (Western,Onehunga,Eastern andSouthern). These lines serve the western, southern and eastern parts of Auckland from theWaitematā railway station in downtown Auckland, the terminal station for all lines, where connections are also available to ferry and bus services. Work began in late 2015 to provide more route flexibility and connect Britomart, now named Waitematā, more directly to the western suburbs on the Western Line via an underground rail tunnel known as theCity Rail Link project. A plan for alight rail network was cancelled in 2024.[144]
Auckland Airport, New Zealand's largest and busiest, is in the southern suburb of Māngere on the shores of the Manukau Harbour. It services both domestic and international flights. There are also several small regional airports.
Auckland's ports are the second largest in the country, behind thePort of Tauranga,[145] and a large part of both inbound and outbound New Zealand commerce travels through them, mostly via the facilities northeast of Auckland CBD. Freight usually arrives at or is distributed from the port via road, though the port facilities also have rail access. Auckland is a major cruise ship stopover point, with the ships usually tying up atPrinces Wharf. Auckland CBD is connected to the coastal suburbs, to the North Shore and to outlying islands by ferry.[citation needed]
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Private vehicles are the main form of transportation within Auckland, with around seven percent of journeys in the Auckland Region undertaken by bus in 2006,[146] and two percent undertaken by train and ferry.[146] For trips to the city centre at peak times, the use of public transport is much higher, with more than half of trips undertaken by bus, train or ferry.[147] In 2010, Auckland ranked quite low in its use of public transport, having only 46 public transport trips per capita per year,[147][148] while Wellington has almost twice this number at 91, and Sydney has 114 trips.[149] This strong dependence on roads results in substantialtraffic congestion during peak times.[150] This car reliance means 56% of the city's energy usage goes towards transportation, and CO2 emissions will increase by 20% in the next 10 years.[128]
Bus services in Auckland are mostly radial, with few cross-town routes. Late-night services (i.e. past midnight) are limited, even on weekends. A major overhaul of Auckland's bus services was implemented during 2016–18, significantly expanding the reach of frequent bus services: those that operate at least every 15 minutes during the day and early evening, every day of the week.[151] Auckland is connected with other cities through bus services operated byInterCity.
Rail services operate along four lines between the CBD and the west, south and south-east of Auckland, with longer-distance trains operating to Wellington only a few times each week.[152] Following the opening ofWaitematā railway station in 2003, major investment in Auckland's rail network occurred, involving station upgrades, rolling stock refurbishment and infrastructure improvements.[153] The rail upgrade has includedelectrification of Auckland's rail network, with electric trains constructed byConstrucciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles commencing service in April 2014.[154] A number of proposed projects to further extend Auckland's rail network were included in the 2012 Auckland Plan, including theCity Rail Link, theAuckland Airport Line, theAvondale-Southdown Line and rail to the North Shore.[citation needed]
Research atGriffith University has indicated that from the 1950s to the 1980s, Auckland engaged in some of the most pro-automobile transport policies anywhere in the world.[155] With public transport declining heavily during the second half of the 20th century (a trend mirrored in most Western countries, such as the US),[156] and increased spending on roads and cars, New Zealand (and specifically Auckland) now has the second-highest vehicle ownership rate in the world, with around 578 vehicles per 1000 people.[157] Auckland has also been called a very pedestrian- and cyclist-unfriendly city, though some efforts are being made to change this,[158] with Auckland being a major participant in the government's "Urban Cycleways" initiative, and with the "SkyPath" project for a walk and cycleway on the Auckland Harbour Bridge having received Council support, and planning consent.[159][160]
Ōtāhuhu Power Station's 404MW combined cycle turbine, known as Ōtāhuhu B, shutdown in 2015
Vector owns and operates the majority of the distribution network in urban Auckland,[161] with Counties Energy owning and operating the network south of central Papakura.[162] The city is supplied fromTranspower's national grid from thirteen substations across the city. There are no major electricity generation stations located within the city or north of Auckland, so almost all of the electricity for Auckland and Northland must be transmitted from power stations in the south, mainly fromHuntly Power Station and theWaikato River hydroelectric stations. The city had two natural gas-fired power stations (the 404 MWŌtāhuhu B and the 175 MWSouthdown), but both shut down in 2015.[163][164]
There have been several notable power outages in Auckland.[165] The five-week-long1998 Auckland power crisis blacked out much of the CBD after a cascade failure occurred on the four main underground cables supplying the CBD.[166] The2006 Auckland Blackout interrupted supply to the CBD and many inner suburbs after an earth wire shackle at Transpower's Otāhuhu substation broke and short-circuited the lines supplying the inner city.
In 2009, much of the northern and western suburbs, as well as all ofNorthland, experienced a blackout when a forklift accidentally came into contact with the Ōtāhuhu to Henderson 220 kV line, the only major line supplying the region.[167] Transpower spent $1.25 billion in the early 2010s reinforcing the supply into and across Auckland, including a400 kV-capable transmission line from the Waikato River to Brownhill substation (operating initially at 220 kV), and 220 kV underground cables between Brownhill and Pakuranga, and betweenPakuranga and Albany via the CBD. These reduced the Auckland Region's reliance on Ōtāhuhu substation and northern and western Auckland's reliance on the Ōtāhuhu to Henderson line.[citation needed]
Auckland was one of the original nine towns and cities in New Zealand to be supplied with natural gas when theKapuni gas field entered production in 1970 and a 340 km long high-pressure pipeline from the field in Taranaki to the city was completed. Auckland was connected to theMaui gas field in 1982 following the completion of a high-pressure pipeline from the Maui gas pipeline nearHuntly, via the city, to Whangārei in Northland.[168]
The high-pressure transmission pipelines supplying the city are now owned and operated byFirst Gas, withVector owning and operating the medium and low-pressure distribution pipelines in the city.[citation needed]
Eden Park, the largest stadium in Auckland by capacity with 50,000 seats
Eden Park is the city's primary stadium and a frequent home for international rugby union and cricket matches, in addition toSuper Rugby matches where theBlues play their home games. It is also the home ground ofAuckland in theMitre 10 Cup, andAuckland in domestic cricket.
ASB Tennis Centre is Auckland's primary tennis venue, hosting international tournaments for men and women (ASB Classic) in January each year. ASB Bank took over the sponsorship of the men's tournament from 2016, the event formerly being known as theHeineken Open.
Spark Arena, previously known as Vector Arena, is an indoor auditorium primarily used for concerts and is the home of theNew Zealand Breakers basketball team. It also hosts international netball.
Pukekohe Park Raceway is a thoroughbred horse-racing venue that used to host a leg of theV8 Supercars series annually, along with other motorsports events. The most important horse-racing meeting is held annually at the end of November, featuring the Group 2 Counties Cup and three other stakes races.
Western Springs Stadium has since 1929 hostedspeedway racing during the summer. It also hosts concerts, with many of New Zealand's largest-ever concerts having taken place at the stadium. It is also the home ofPonsonby RFC.
Major teams based in Auckland who compete in national or transnational competitions are:
Auckland's men's first class cricket team, theAuckland Aces, play their home matches at Eden Park, generally on the outer oval. The women's team, theAuckland Hearts, play at Melville Park inEpsom.
Auckland FC are a professional football club that compete in theA-League Men competition, and will joinA-League Women in the 2025–26 season. The football club play their home games at Mt Smart Stadium
TheATP Auckland Open and theWTA Auckland Open (both known for sponsorship reasons as the ASB Classic), are men's and women's tennis tournaments, respectively, which are held annually at theASB Tennis Centre in January. The men's tournament has been held since 1956, and the women's tournament since 1986.
TheAuckland Marathon (and half-marathon) is an annual marathon It is the largest marathon in New Zealand and draws in the vicinity of 15,000 entrants. It has been held annually since 1992.
TheAuckland Anniversary Regatta is a sailing regatta which has been held annually since 1840, the year of Auckland's founding. It is held overAuckland Anniversary weekend and attracts several hundred entrants each year. It is the largest such regatta, and the oldest sporting event, in New Zealand.
Auckland Cup Week is an annualhorse racing carnival, which has been held in early March since its inception in 2006. It is the richest such carnival in New Zealand, and incorporates several of New Zealand's major thoroughbred horse races, including theAuckland Cup, held since 1874, andNew Zealand Derby, held since 1875.
TheAuckland Harbour Crossing Swim is an annual summer swimming event. The swim crosses theWaitematā Harbour, from the North Shore to theViaduct Basin covering 2.8 km (often with some considerable counter-currents). The event has been held since 2004 and attracts over a thousand mostly amateur entrants each year, making it New Zealand's largest ocean swim.[169]
Round the Bays is an annualfun-run. The course travels eastwards along the Auckland waterfront, with the run starting in theCBD and ending inSt Heliers, the total length being 8.4 km (5.2 mi). It is the largest fun-run in New Zealand and attracts tens of thousands of entrants each year, with the number of entrants reported to have peaked at 80,000 in 1982. It has been held annually since1972.[170]
The Auckland urban area has 340 primary schools, 80 secondary schools, and 29 composite (primary/secondary combined) schools as of February 2012, catering for roughly 250,000 students. The majority are state schools, but 63 schools are state-integrated and 39 are private.[176]
The city is home to some of the largest schools in terms of students in New Zealand, includingMt Albert Grammar School, the second-largest school in New Zealand with a student population of 3035,[177] andRangitoto College in the East Coast Bays area, the largest school in New Zealand with 4030 students as of July 2025.[178]
Auckland is a major centre of overseas language education, with large numbers of foreign students (particularly East Asians) coming to the city for several months or years to learn English or study at universities – although numbers New Zealand-wide have dropped substantially since peaking in 2003.[180] As of 2007[update], there are around 50New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) certified schools and institutes teaching English in the Auckland area.[181]
Advocates of the city sometimes like to quoteRudyard Kipling's invocation its remoteness: "Last, loneliest, loveliest, exquisite, apart", from his poem "The Song of the Cities" (1893).[182]
Auckland Council engages internationally through formal sister city relationships, strategic alliances and cooperation arrangements with other cities and countries, and participation in international city networks and forums. Auckland Council maintainsrelationships with the following cities and countries.[184][185]
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^Brenstrum, Erick (June 2003)."Snowstorms"(PDF).Tephra.20. Ministry of Civil Defence:40–52.Archived(PDF) from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved22 January 2016.
^"The snows of '39".New Zealand Geographic.Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved16 November 2021.
^Bloomfield, Gerald Taylor (1973).The Evolution of Local Government Areas in Metropolitan Auckland, 1840–1971. Auckland: Auckland University Press. pp. 41,44–45.ISBN0-19-647714-X.
^"Find my electorate". Electoral Commission.Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved29 December 2015.
^Laurenson, Helen (1 May 2019).The History of Mt Eden – The District and its People. Epsom & Eden District Historical Society. p. 50.ISBN9780473460013.
^Bloomfield, Gerald Taylor (1973).The Evolution of Local Government Areas in Metropolitan Auckland, 1840–1971. Auckland: Auckland University Press. pp. 21–22.ISBN0-19-647714-X.
^ab"Map list".www.nzta.govt.nz. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. Archived fromthe original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved12 August 2020.
^"Auckland's Transport Challenges"(PDF).ARTA. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 25 May 2010. (from the Draft 2009/10-2011/12 Auckland Regional Land Transport Programme), Page 8,ARTA, March 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
^Newsom, Margaret (September 1972)."Rudyard Kipling in New Zealand".Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved9 June 2021.The remark in the presentShell Guide to New Zealand, that 'there is still no poet as quotable about Auckland as Kipling,' seems correct. Without any prompting, I heard the first line of that verse – which is still true – three times in Auckland last year. (1971)
^Cowan, M. E., ed. (2003)."A Heinlein Concordance". The Heinlein Society.Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved9 June 2021.
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