| Tūranga Creek | |
|---|---|
 View of Tūranga Creek fromWhitford | |
 Route of the Tūranga Creek | |
  Mouth of the Tūranga Creek Show map of Auckland.png)  Tūranga Creek (New Zealand) Show map of New Zealand | |
| Native name | Tūranga (Māori) |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Auckland Region |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • coordinates | 36°59′09″S174°56′56″E / 36.9859°S 174.949°E /-36.9859; 174.949 |
| Mouth | Tāmaki Strait |
• coordinates | 36°53′34″S174°57′33″E / 36.8929°S 174.9592°E /-36.8929; 174.9592 |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Tūranga Creek →Tāmaki Strait →Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana →Pacific Ocean |
| Landmarks | Wade Island,Whitford |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Mangemangeroa Creek |
Tūranga Creek, also known as theTūranga River orTūranga Estuary, is a stream and tidal estuary in theAuckland Region ofNew Zealand'sNorth Island. The township ofWhitford was founded at the navigable headlands of the creek.
Tūranga Creek is adrowned valley system.[1] The creek begins inFlat Bush near the intersection of Michael Bosher Way and Redoubt Road, flowing northwards to Whitford and out to theHauraki Gulf.[2] Wade Island is located in the estuary at the mouth of the creek, named after the early European settlers Isaac and Eve Wade, who purchased the island in 1852.[3]
The eastern coast ofAuckland was visited by theTainui migratory waka around the year 1300. The waka landed at Tūranga Creek, tethered to a volcanic rock in the shape of a man. This gave rise to the name of the creek, Tūranga, which means "Anchorage".[4] The anchor can still be found today, and is a 1.5 metre in diametersiliceous sinter found in the mudflats near Clifton Road.[5] Tainui followers of Manawatere, who identified asNgā Oho, decided to settle the area between the Pōhutukawa Coast and Tūwakamana (Cockle Bay).Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, themana whenua of the area, descend from these early settlers.[6][7] Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki traditional stories talk about the land already being occupied by the supernaturalTūrehu people, and many place names in the area reference Tūrehu figures, such as Hinerangi and Manawatere.[6] Tūranga became the name of the hill overlooking the west bank of the estuary, and the name was applied to thepā andkāinga of the estuary.[8]
The creek area was known as a traditional source for eels (tuna),lampreys (kanakana) andflounder (pātiki).[9] WhenWilliam Thomas Fairburn visited the area in 1833, it was mostly unoccupied due to the events of theMusket Wars, as most members of Ngāi Tai had fled to temporary refuge in theWaikato.[6][10] In 1836, Fairburn purchased 40,000 acres betweenŌtāhuhu and Umupuia (Duders Beach), including much of the catchment of the Wairoa River.[10] Fairburn's Purchase was investigated by theNew Zealand Land Commission in 1841 and 1842 and found to be excessive and reduced in size. The disallowed parts of his purchase were not returned to Ngāi Tai, however in 1854 a reserve was created for Ngāi Tai aroundUmupuia.[10]
The town ofWhitford was established on the creek in the 1840s by European settlers. The creek was the main transport link for the town to the outside world until the 1920s, when road transport became more popular.[11] In the late 1870s, John Granger established a brickworks along the shores of the creek.[12] DuringWorld War II, home guard soldiers dug trenches along the creek.[13]
Wades Walkway, also known as the Whitford Path, starts in Whitford, and follows the western banks of Tūranga Creek.[14][15]
Data related toTūranga Creek at Wikidata