Five thousand eight hundred and thirty souls. That’s how many people call Point England home. Imagine a place where history whispers on the breeze. Point England is more than just a suburb of Auckland. It’s a living testament to a rich past.
Point England sits nestled on the Tamaki River. For centuries Ngati Paoa thrived here. They fished the waters. They cultivated the fertile land. Their presence shaped this very landscape long before European arrival. Around 1780 they established a strong foothold. Missionaries John Butler and Samuel Marsden documented their extensive settlements and agriculture around 1820. Butler was awestruck by the sheer scale of cultivation. He witnessed twenty villages from Maungarei Mount Wellington. He described the area as having the greatest amount of cultivated land he had ever seen in New Zealand. Marsden marveled at the quality of their homes and the abundance of their stores.
Captain D’Urville visited in 1827. He encountered Ngati Paoa chiefs Tawhiti and Te Rangui. He observed Ourouroa village bustling with activity. He saw people gathering shellfish and fishing. It was a vibrant scene. A testament to the area’s natural bounty.
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed here in 1840. Sixteen Ngati Paoa rangatira signed at Karaka Bay. This significant event marked a turning point. The Crown’s acquisition of land caused conflict. Ngati Paoa faced injustice. They were denied land and compensation. A wrong that was eventually acknowledged in 2021 with a Deed of Settlement.
Point England almost became an air base in the 1920s. The cost of the land proved prohibitive. The area was already subdivided. A quarter-acre plot cost around 450 pounds. Later an airport was proposed. This too was abandoned in favor of a site at Manukau Harbour.
Today Point England is part of the Tamaki Regeneration Company’s redevelopment. This ambitious project aims to transform the area. Social housing will be replaced. The population is expected to double. Point England’s future is bright. It’s a story of resilience. A story of transformation. A story that’s still being written. Remember the past as you look towards the future of this remarkable place.