Titirangi | |
|---|---|
 Lopdell House, formerly the Hotel Titirangi | |
 | |
| Coordinates:36°56′16″S174°39′25″E / 36.93778°S 174.65694°E /-36.93778; 174.65694 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Auckland |
| Local authority | Auckland Council |
| Electoral ward | |
| Local board | |
| Area | |
| • Land | 1,218 ha (3,010 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 15,370 |
| Konini | Glen Eden | New Lynn |
| Oratia |   Titirangi  | Green Bay |
| Laingholm | (Manukau Harbour) | (Manukau Harbour) |
Titirangi is asuburb ofWest Auckland in theWaitākere Ranges local board area of the city ofAuckland in northern New Zealand. It is an affluent, residential suburb located 13 km (8.1 mi) to the southwest of the Auckland city centre, at the southern end of theWaitākere Ranges.[3] In theMāori language "Titirangi" means "hill reaching up to the sky".[4]
Titirangi is bordered to the south by Manukau Harbour, to the west and north west by the rest of the Waitākere Ranges' native bush clad hills consisting of the large Centennial Memorial Park and water catchment areas which supply much of Auckland's water. The main road into the Waitākeres,Scenic Drive, begins in Titirangi. To the east and north are a number of more urban suburbs.
The Waitākere Ranges lie on the west coast of the North Island in the path of the prevailing winds from the Tasman and consequently attract a high rainfall. The native bush is home to many native birds, such as thefantail,tūī,kererū or "wood pigeon",morepork, andwhite-eye as well as geckos and rare native frogs. The landscape of Titirangi ranges from Titirangi Beach on theManukau Harbour to 400 metres (1,300 ft) high parts of the Waitākere Ranges.[citation needed]
Mt Atkinson is in the foothills of Titirangi, not far from the village centre. In the early 20th century, this was known as Bishop's Hill.[5] There is a short scenic walk, with expansive views of Titirangi Village and the Manukau and Waitemata harbours. There is also 'Zig Zag Track' walk, which winds its way through native bush from the village centre to Titirangi Beach. Exhibition Drive, a well-formed track very popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists, is located 1.5 km (0.93 mi) from the village centre.
The area is within the traditionalrohe ofTe Kawerau ā Maki, aniwi that traces their ancestry to some of the earliest inhabitants of theAuckland Region.[6] According toMaori oral history, the nameTītīrangi was chosen for the area byRakataura, the seniortohunga of theTainuimigratory canoe. It was used to describe the area between the Motukaraka sandbank of theManukau Harbour andLittle Muddy Creek, and was named in commemoration of a hill in his Pacific homeland,[7][8] and can be translated as "hill reaching up to the sky".[4] Other translations of the name include "long streaks of cloud in the sky" and "fringe of heaven".[9][10]
In the mid-19th century, theManukau Harbour shoreline was primarily used forkauri logging.[11] In December 1855, John Bishop and Thomas Canty acquired 227 acres of land from John Langford, a land dealer who acquired the area from aCrown grant.[5] Most of thekauri forest was harvested for wood by the early settlers.[12]
The first landowner at Titirangi was John Kelly, who bought 103 acres (42 ha) in 1848.[11] Most of Titirangi and the surrounding area was developed as farmland in the 1860s. For communities in the south of Titirangi, most contact to the outside world was through docks along the Manukau Harbour, which linked the settlements to the port ofOnehunga.[13] In 1902 at the suggestion of local engineer Henry Atkinson, the wooden precursor to theUpper Nihotupu Dam was constructed, to supply Auckland with a more constant water supply.[13][14] Atkinson donated land at Titirangi for the project, which involved piping water from the dam to Titirangi, and then on to Auckland City.[13] The dam finished construction in 1923.[13]
Titirangi remained primarily farmland until the advent ofWorld War I, when the number of farm workers in the area plummeted and native plants began to recolonise the area.[15] The Titirangi township greatly developed in the 1910s, because of a need for the laborers working onScenic Drive (then known as Exhibition Drive) to have lodgings.[16] Exhibition Drive opened on 24 January 1914.[16] In the early 20th century, Wood Bay,French Bay and other Manukau Harbour beaches became popular destinations for Aucklanders.[11]
In 1930, the Hotel Titirangi (now known asLopdell House) was established as a modern hotel,[17] however the hotel faced difficulties securing a liquor license due to theprohibition of alcohol in West Auckland, and closed less than six months later.[18][19]
As road access improved in the 1960s, the community became increasingly suburban.[20] ArtistColin McCahon lived at Otitori Bay in Titirangi in the 1950s, during which he painted a number of artworks inspired by the Titirangi landscape.[20] McCahon House is an artists residency. Artists includeTanu GogoEmily Karaka,Cora-Allan Wickliffe,Judy Millar,Luise Fong,Eve Armstrong,Lisa Reihana andAva Seymour.[21]
The Titirangi Road District was formed on 30 April 1870, and was subsequently merged with the Manuaku[a] Road District and abolished 2 years later.[22]
Titirangi covers 12.18 km2 (4.70 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 15,370 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 1,262 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 11,808 | — |
| 2013 | 14,295 | +2.77% |
| 2018 | 15,171 | +1.20% |
| 2023 | 14,856 | −0.42% |
| The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 10.90 km2. Source:[25][26] | ||
Titirangi had a population of 14,856 in the2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 315 people (−2.1%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 561 people (3.9%) since the2013 census. There were 7,353 males, 7,425 females and 78 people ofother genders in 5,148 dwellings.[27] 4.3% of people identified asLGBTIQ+. The median age was 41.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 3,024 people (20.4%) aged under 15 years, 2,406 (16.2%) aged 15 to 29, 7,461 (50.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,965 (13.2%) aged 65 or older.[26]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 82.7%European (Pākehā); 10.4%Māori; 6.2%Pasifika; 13.9%Asian; 1.9% 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 97.1%, Māori language by 1.7%, Samoan by 0.8%, and other languages by 16.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk).New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 29.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 22.8%Christian, 2.6%Hindu, 1.1%Islam, 0.4%Māori religious beliefs, 1.1%Buddhist, 0.6%New Age, 0.2%Jewish, and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they hadno religion were 63.0%, and 6.9% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 4,536 (38.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 5,475 (46.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,824 (15.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $54,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 2,697 people (22.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 6,639 (56.1%) people were employed full-time, 1,785 (15.1%) were part-time, and 303 (2.6%) were unemployed.[26]
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Konini Road | 1.27 | 2,079 | 1,737 | 744 | 40.6 years | $55,100[28] |
| Waima-Woodlands Park | 3.48 | 2,634 | 757 | 873 | 40.1 years | $57,600[29] |
| Kaurilands | 1.46 | 3,099 | 2,123 | 1,071 | 39.8 years | $53,400[30] |
| Titirangi East | 1.22 | 3,243 | 2,658 | 1,074 | 39.0 years | $51,100[31] |
| Titirangi South | 4.74 | 3,798 | 801 | 1,389 | 45.5 years | $54,000[32] |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
Titirangi is characterised by houses built within the nativebush of the Waitākere Ranges, sometimes with views of the Manukau Harbour. Some of the residential properties are of unusual design. For instance, some houses were raised on poles so that they could be built in the bush without harming the roots of trees surrounding the house.[33]
The name "Titirangi" is often linked with Titirangi Golf Course. The course is actually located on the border of the nearby suburbs ofNew Lynn andGreen Bay. Other areas surrounding Titirangi includeOratia, Nihotupu,Glen Eden,Woodlands Park,Laingholm andWaiatarua.
For a long time the area had a reputation forbohemianism.[34] A number of well known New Zealand musicians, artists, writers and potters currently live or have lived in the area, including singer/songwriterTim Finn (who wrote the song "I Hope I Never" there), actressAlma Evans-Freake, authorMaurice Shadbolt, feminist artistAlexis Hunter, photographersBrian Brake andDavid Prentice, poetJohn Caselberg, potterLen Castle and glass artistAnn Robinson. The former house of painterColin McCahon has been preserved as a museum and residence for artists and writers since 1998.[35][36]
The sculpture on the round-about connecting Titirangi Road, Atkinson Road, Kohu Road, Scenic Drive and Huia Rd has been a symbol of Titirangi for many years, although it is a controversial presence. Designed by student artist-jeweller Lisa Higgins in 1993, it was originally erected with the intention of only being in place for five years but has remained permanently.[37] This was part of a Waitakere City Council programme of involving artists in public developments.[38] Its original pink colour was toned down to a teal green in 2009.[37]
An active local theatre, cinema, community art gallery and radio station are based in historicLopdell House.[39] Located next door,Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery is West Auckland's regional art gallery.[40] Many short walks or tramps in the Waitakeres start from Titirangi.
Titirangi School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 443 as of July 2025.[41][42] The school celebrated its centenary in 1972,[43] although the history of the school dates to around 1845.[44]
The nearest state secondary schools areGreen Bay High School,Kelston Boys' High School andKelston Girls' College.
The endemic New Zealand moth speciesHierodoris huia has only been identified as occurring in Titirangi, and was named after Huia Road.[45]
