A chief’s legacy whispers through the trees of Huia. Te Huia a Waikato Tainui chief loved this bay. He chose to stay. This place became known as Te Huia. Eventually it shortened to Huia. That’s the story of Huia’s name. A story passed down. A legacy echoing in the wind.
Huia is a coastal village. It rests in West Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. Most houses line Huia Road. The road curves around Huia Bay. It stretches west towards Little Huia. This beautiful place has seen much change.
Early Maori lived here. Shell middens prove it. They lived here at least from 1520. Later the Gibbons family arrived in 1853. They built a mill for kauri logging. Others followed. William and Mary Kilgour started a farm. The Foote family also settled there. They were related to the Gibbons.
The Upper Huia Dam’s construction began in 1924. It spurred growth. New homes were built for workers and their families. Materials arrived by barge then tramway. The dam finished in 1929. Many workers then left. The tramway lasted until the 1960s.
Later Huia attracted holidaymakers. It also became popular with retirees. The valley’s reforestation fueled a movement. This movement aimed to create a regional park. The Centennial Memorial Park opened in 1940. It later became part of the Waitakere Ranges.
A whale even stranded here. In the mid-1950s. They tried to explode it using gelignite. It wasn’t very successful. By the 1960s. Artists and poets found a home in Huia. The Lower Huia Dam opened in 1971. It’s near the town.
Today Huia thrives. It’s a blend of history. And modern life. Alfreds Huia Store. It’s a general store and cafe. It opened in 1886. Huia Reserve sits on the bay. It has picnic areas BBQs and a playground. The Upper and Lower Huia Dams supply water to Auckland. Watercare Services manages them.
The Auckland Council runs accommodations. There’s Kiwanis Huia camp. Huia Lodge was once a schoolhouse. Huia Settlers Museum opened in 1984. It showcases Kauri logging and the HMS Orpheus wreck. The Jonesonian Institute is a unique museum and art gallery.
Huia’s beauty is undeniable. The Waitakere Ranges rise behind it. The highest peak Te Toiokawharu is 474 meters high. The Twin Peaks Track leads to the summit. The area teems with native wildlife. The Huia Trapping Group protects it. They work with the Auckland Council. They are part of New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 goal.
Huia’s volunteer fire brigade serves the area. It protects Cornwallis Huia and Whatipu. The Huia-Cornwallis Community Group manages the Huia Hall. They organize many local events. Huia is more than a village. It’s a community. A place with a rich past. And a bright future. Huia’s spirit lives on. It thrives within its stunning natural beauty.