The Hibiscus Coast is a populated area on a stretch of the Hauraki Gulf coast in New Zealand's Auckland Region. It has a population of making it the 10th most populous urban area in New Zealand, and the second most populous in the Auckland Region, behind Auckland itself.
As an urban area delineated by Statistics New Zealand, the Hibiscus Coast consists of Hatfields Beach, Orewa, Silverdale and Whangaparaoa Peninsula. It includes several small suburban residential and commercial areas such as Stanmore Bay, Arkles Bay, Army Bay, Manly, Red Beach, Gulf Harbour, Tindalls Beach and Matakatia.
The Hibiscus Coast is part of the Albany ward of the Auckland Council region. It is also in the Hibiscus Coast Subdivision of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area, the other subdivision being East Coast Bays, to the south. The Hibiscus Coast Subdivision extends beyond the Statistics New Zealand area to include Waiwera to the north, and through Stillwater to the south as far as the Okura River. From 1989 to 2010 the Hibiscus Coast was part of Rodney District, until Rodney District Council became part of the amalgamated Auckland Council.
History
Early History
Prior to the arrival of the first humans, the area was covered by dense kauri forest.
Ngāti Kahu inhabited the region peacefully for many years due to relationships with neighbouring iwi in the area. Several Pa sites are located across the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.
Travellers frequently used a waka portage over the low-lying land between Tindalls Bay and Matakatia, allowing people to avoid travelling around the entire peninsula.
Following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, between 1841 and 1865, the Crown purchased much of what would later become the Hibiscus Coast and surrounding areas as part of the Mahurangi Purchases.
Six years after the construction of New Zealand's first lighthouse, the Tiritiri Matangi Lighthouse was built in 1864. It remains New Zealand's oldest working lighthouse.
In 1869, Silverdale Primary School opened, becoming the areas first school.
Then in 1875, the Waiwera Hotel was established by entrepreneur and politician Robert Graham.
Modern History
In the early 20th century, the Hibiscus Coast's population began to rise as developments were undertaken, opening up vast subdivisions over the coast.
During the night of the 27th of September 1939, a fire broke out in the Waiwera Hotel, seeing the building burnt to the ground. The fire was reportedly visible from Auckland City. The hotel's two only guests were able to escape the building safely.
Following the start of World War II, the threat of Japanese invasion saw the end of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, chosen as one of two Auckland defence sites. Coastal defences were subsequently established in what was then the Shakespear family farm. Eleven pillboxes, and a number of other army barracks were built on the land. By 1961, the batteries and much of the other military equipment had been decommissioned. The base, remains active into the 21st century as part of the Royal New Zealand Navy as the RNZN Tamaki Training Centre.
Following pressure to protect areas of Auckland, Wenderholm became the Auckland Region's first regional park in 1965. Not long after, in 1967, what would become the Shakespear Regional Park was sold to the Auckland Regional Council.
In 1971, the Hibiscus Coast became formally adopted as the name for the area.
On the 20th of December 1999, the Northern Motorway was extended to Silverdale. This created a major link for the area back to the city.
In 2018, the Waiwera Hot Pools closed for renovations; however it never reopened. In 2023, the derelict water park was demolished.
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan in 2020, any New Zealanders who were located there, were required to quarantine upon return to New Zealand at the RNZN facility. As the pandemic continued, the facility was not used further in favour of quarantine hotels and facilities closer to the international airports.
In 2023 work began on O Mahurangi Penlink.
Geography
The Hibiscus Coast sits north of Auckland and stretches along part of the region's eastern shoreline bordering the Hauraki Gulf. The area encompasses several townships, suburbs and islands. It includes Orewa, Stillwater, the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, Tiritiri Matangi and two smaller islands off the mainland.
The area is home to six rivers, estuaries and streams: the Waiwera Estuary to the north, Otanerua Stream, Nukumea Stream, Orewa River, Weiti River, and Okura River to the south.