A shimmering expanse of water greets you. This is Hobson Bay. Its calm surface reflects the Auckland sky. But this tranquil scene hides a rich history.
Hobson Bay is more than just a pretty picture. It’s a tidal inlet of the Waitemata Harbour. Parnell Remuera and Orakei suburbs surround it. The Pourewa Creek and Orakei Creek flow into this bay. A significant volcanic maar the Orakei Basin lies nearby.
For centuries this bay was known as Te Waitaramoa. This Maori name means “the bay of the first rays of sun” or refers to the bush lawyer plant. Te Waitaramoa was vital for fishing for the Tamaki Maori. Two Waiohua pa stood on its headlands. Twin brothers Hupiku and Humataitai lived there in the early 1700s. Ngati Whatua conquered these pa in the 1700s. Ngati Whatua rangatira Te Tinana had a settlement south of Hobson Bay. This area became part of the Oinerau Block sold to the Crown in 1851.
The bay’s name changed during the colonial era. It was named after William Hobson New Zealand’s first governor. In 1885 Fort Resolution was built at Point Resolution. This was due to fears of a Russian invasion. The fort sadly destroyed the Taurarua pa site.
A sewage plant opened near Hobson Bay in 1908. This caused significant pollution. It also silted up the bay. The Eastern Line was built through the middle of the bay in 1925. Tamaki Drive a road connecting Parnell and Orakei followed in 1926.
Mayor John Banks proposed a new motorway through Hobson Bay in the 2000s. This was either a tunnel or an above-ground motorway. The aging sewage tunnels were reconstructed in 2010.
Today you can stroll along the Hobson Bay Walkway. It was built in 2006. The walkway is part of Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai a shared path. This path stretches from Hobson Bay to Glen Innes. Hobson Bay a place of beauty and history continues to evolve. Its past echoes in its present a testament to its enduring significance.