Considering the name “Huia Bay”, does it conjure images of plumes waving proudly in the breeze? The original name of this area was Te Rau-o-te-Huia. It means “The Plumes of Te Huia”. The plumes are a metaphor for a chief’s pride in this location.
Welcome to Huia Bay. It is a western coastal settlement in West Auckland. Huia forms part of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. For centuries, this bay has been a place of significance. Its story encompasses Māori heritage, pioneering settlers and the natural beauty.
Let’s start with its name. Huia was originally known as Te Huia. It is thought to be named after a Waikato Tainui chief. Te Huia seasonally lived on the northern shores of the Manukau Harbour. He liked it so much that he decided to stay. Over time, the name evolved. “The Huia” was used into the 1970s. Now, “Huia” is commonplace.
Archaeological evidence reveals a rich history. Carbon dating of shell middens at Hinge Bay shows that Tāmaki Māori occupied Huia from at least 1520. Imagine the daily life. They were fishing and gathering resources from these very shores.
The European settlement brought change. In 1853, the Gibbons family arrived from Newfoundland. They established a mill for kauri logging. The Karamatura Stream was one of the first in the Waitākere Ranges to be dammed for this purpose. The Gibbons family was followed by the Kilgours. William and Mary Kilgour established a farm. The Foote family also came from Newfoundland.
The Huia area’s landscape is distinctive. Tectonic forces uplifted the Waitākere Ranges and subsided the Manukau Harbour. The Huia Creek and valley are likely part of a fault line. After the Last Glacial Maximum, the river mouths flooded. Huia became tidal mudflats, due to a lack of sand. The area is now dominated by warm lowlands pūriri forest. A diverse pōhutukawa and rātā forest fringes the shores of Huia Bay.
In 1924, construction began on the Upper Huia Dam. This led to wider development. Houses were built for the workers’ families. Material was brought by barge to Huia. Then it travelled by tramway to the dam site. The dam was completed in 1929. Many families then left the area. The tramway remained operational until the 1960s. After the dam’s construction, Huia became popular with holidaymakers and retirees.
The Huia valley began to reforest. This fuelled a movement to develop the ranges as a regional park. The Centennial Memorial Park opened in 1940. It later became part of the modern Waitākere Ranges.
Even whales have played a part in Huia’s story. In the mid-1950s, a whale stranded here. People tried to explode it with gelignite. However, the attempt was unsuccessful.
By the 1960s, Huia had become a haven for artists and poets. The Lower Huia Dam was constructed in 1971.
Today, Huia is a rural settlement with a population of approximately 670. It covers 3.49 square kilometers.
On the shores of Huia Bay, you’ll find Huia Reserve. There are picnic tables, a BBQ, a playground, and a basketball half-court. It is close to the Lower and Upper Huia Dams and Karamatura Falls.
Huia Lodge was the schoolhouse of Huia School. It operated between 1894 and 1961. The Huia Settlers Museum opened in 1984. It contains relics of kauri felling and milling. It also has artifacts from the wreck of HMS Orpheus.
Huia Bay’s story is still unfolding. Its blend of natural beauty and rich history makes it a special place. As you explore, remember the stories. From the Māori chief to the kauri loggers. From the artists to the holidaymakers. They all contribute to the unique identity of Huia.