Did you know that Clendon Park has a fascinating story behind its name? Here we are in Clendon Park a suburb of Auckland in northern New Zealand. It sits west of Manurewa and north of Weymouth. This suburb is part of the Manurewa-Papakura ward. It is one of Auckland Council’s 21 local boards.
Clendon Park gets its name from Captain James Reddy Clendon. In 1840 he made a significant trade with the New Zealand Government. He exchanged land he owned in the Bay of Islands. In return he received 10000 acres of land south of Auckland CBD.
The name Clendon Park was officially chosen in October 1976. The Manukau City Council made this decision. Development began at Finlayson Avenue. The Clendon Park Community House opened there in April 1979. The first stage of the Clendon Park Shopping Centre opened in 1984. Later development expanded south towards Weymouth.
Clendon Park covers 1.81 square kilometers. As of June 2024 its estimated population was 9540. This equals a population density of 5271 people per square kilometer.
In the 2023 New Zealand census Clendon Park had 8463 residents. That’s a decrease of 411 people since 2018. However it is an increase of 672 people since 2013. The median age here was 27.7 years compared to the national median of 38.1 years.
Clendon Park is a diverse community. In the 2023 census many people identified with multiple ethnicities. 15.3% identified as European. 29.2% identified as Māori and 54.7% as Pasifika. 19.5% identified as Asian.
English is widely spoken here. 91% of people speak it. Other languages include Māori and Samoan.
Regarding education Clendon Park has several schools. Waimahia Intermediate School serves years 7 to 8. Clendon Park School Te Matauranga and Roscommon School are primary schools. Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Manurewa is a full primary school that teaches in the Māori language.
So as we stand here in Clendon Park remember its rich history. From Captain Clendon’s land trade to its vibrant multicultural community this suburb has a unique story to tell.