Overlooking the estuarial mouth of Oruamo or Hellyers Creek lies Sunset Bay. It is more than just a scenic spot. Sunset Bay is a place where history and natural beauty converge.
Oruamo or Hellyers Creek begins as a freshwater stream. It flows south-west from Albany Highway. This section is also known as the Waikahikatoa Stream or the Lignite Stream. The Kaipātiki Creek flows north-west and joins as a major tributary. Eventually the creek meets the Upper Waitematā Harbour. Sunset Bay graces the southern shore of this meeting point.
The area around Sunset Bay has a rich Māori history. The traditional Tāmaki Māori name for the creek is Ōruamo. It is a contraction of Ō-rua-ā-Mōkai-ō-Kahu. This refers to a guardian taniwha. The taniwha was associated with Kahumatamomoe of the Arawa migratory canoe.
A rock near Sunset Bay at the mouth of the creek is named Te Ure tū ā Hape. It marks the visit of Rakatāura. He was the tohunga of the Tainui migratory canoe. Archaeological sites show Oruamo was an important transportation node. It served the North Shore area.
In the early 19th century Te Kawerau ā Maki settled the headlands of Oruamo and Lucas Creek. This area was one of the most densely settled by Tāmaki Māori. The northern headland of the creek in Greenhithe was Tauhinu. It was a fortified pā.
Other traditional names exist around Oruamo. Ngā Ngutuko means “The Pouted Lips”. It refers to the entrance of the creek. Te Wharauakae means “The Shed of Kae”. This bay east of Greenhithe marks where a Te Kawerau ancestor was killed. Te Okoaratanga is the headland east of Greenhithe.
During the 1820s the Musket Wars caused most Te Kawerau people to flee. They sought refuge temporarily. Years later they returned to the Waitākere Ranges and Te Henga / Bethells Beach.
The creek near Sunset Bay was a source of shellfish. Archaeological middens have been found on the shores of the Kaipātiki Creek. These middens tell of generations sustained by the sea.
The southern shores of the creek were among the first sold to European settlers. William Webster purchased 320 acres in 1837. He bought it from Ngāti Whātua chiefs Nanihi and Tuire. Webster then sold the land to Thomas Hellyer. Hellyer established a kauri mill and brewery. He named the property The Retreat.
The Retreat was one of the first permanent wooden houses on the North Shore. Sailors frequented the site. They sought fresh water and beer. Thomas Hellyer was found dead in 1841. The business then folded. William Crush Daldy purchased the land in 1845. For a short time, the creek was known as Daldy’s Creek.
During the early colonial era wharfs on the creek became vital. They were the main transportation for western North Shore communities. These communities included Greenhithe, Beach Haven and Glenfield. Glenfield was then known as Mayfield.
After the Auckland Harbour Bridge was built in the 1960s the eastern shores developed quickly. They turned into suburban housing. In 1969 the Waitemata County Council planned a landfill. It would have been on reclaimed land of Oruamo or Hellyers Creek. Residents protested widely. The New Zealand Airforce stopped the plans. No landfills could be near the RNZAF bases.
Today Oruamo or Hellyers Creek marks the border. It separates the Kaipātiki and Upper Harbour local board areas.
Sunset Bay offers a tranquil escape. It also serves as a window into Auckland’s past. It connects visitors to stories of Māori settlement. It tells of early European industry. It highlights community resilience. As you stand here remember the layers of history beneath your feet. Appreciate the beautiful present surrounding you at Sunset Bay.