Rodney County, New Zealand

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Rodney County
County of New Zealand
1876–1989
Capital Warkworth, Orewa (after amalgamation with Waitemata ridings)
Population 
 1970
7,320 [1]
History 
 Established
1876
 Disestablished
1989
Today part of Auckland Council

Rodney County was one of the counties of New Zealand in the North Island, from 1876 until 1989. It came into existence in November 1876, when the provinces were abolished. [2] In the 1989 local government reforms, it merged with Helensville Borough to create Rodney District.

Contents

Geography

In 1970 Rodney County covered an area of 310,400 acres (125,600 ha). [1]

The southern boundary with Waitemata County was along the Makarau River, whilst the northern boundary with Otamatea County was along the Hakaru River. [3]

History

In 1877 the Kaukapakapa Highway District was transferred from Rodney to Waitemata County. In 1883 the Wainui Road District was transferred to Waitemata County. [4] The northern part of Rodney County (Mangawai and Whakapirau road districts) was transferred to the nascent Otamatea County in 1887. [5]

Following the Counties Act 1949 Rodney County established two county towns: Wellsford in 1953 and Leigh in 1954. [6]

In 1961 the Rodney County Council moved from their Alnwick Street address to a new building on Baxter Street, Warkworth. [7]

In 1974, after absorbing the four rural ridings of Waitemata County the County would double the size and triple its population. [8] Following this amalgamation it was decided to build a new council building in Orewa which opened on the 6th of October, 1977. [9]

In the early 1980s the county experienced an economic and population boom. Kiwifruit prices had hit $8.02 per tray and the county was the fastest growing in population with a 17.9% increase, helped by a 22.5% increase in the Hibiscus Coast. The economy of Rodney during this period would be largely based on meat cattle and other forms of agriculture. [10]

As part of the local government reforms the county was abolished and replaced by Rodney District. The borders would remain largely the same aside from the incorporation of Helensville Borough and Taupaki from the newly formed Waitakere City, and a slight change to the border at Mangawhai. [11]

Ridings

Rodney County initially had 6 ridings: Kaukapakapa, Puhoi, Mahurangi, Tauhoa, Mangawai, and Albert. [12]

List of county chairmen

The Rodney County Council was presided over by a chairman. The following is a complete list of officeholders: [13] [14]

NameTerm of office
1Nathaniel Wilson1877–1878
2Henry Palmer1878–1881
(1)Nathaniel Wilson1881–1885
3Josiah Hill Hudson1885–1887
4Edward Browne1885–1892
5George Moor1892
6John Morison King1892–1893
7Thomas Adams Gubb1893–1899
(1)Nathaniel Wilson1899–1905
8Lewis Philip Becroft1905–1911
9George Wyatt Thompson1911–1917
10John Alfred Shepherd1917–1920
11John Morison1920–1923
12Frederick Hodgson1923–1926
13William John Schollum1926–1932
14Walter Kenneth Becroft1932–1938
15William Robinson Grant1938–1947
(13)William John Schollum1947–1953
16Thomas Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins1953–1963
17John James Granville1963–1973
18 Gordon Mason 1973–1989

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Bloomfield 1973, p. 29.
  2. Mabbett 1977, p. 394.
  3. Bloomfield 1973, pp. 88.
  4. Bloomfield 1973, pp. 60–61.
  5. Bloomfield 1973, pp. 21, 104.
  6. Bloomfield 1973, pp. 78.
  7. Bioletti 1992, pp. 10.
  8. Bioletti 1992, pp. 8–9.
  9. Bioletti 1992, pp. 11–12.
  10. Bioletti 1992, pp. 15.
  11. Bioletti 1992, pp. 28–29.
  12. Bloomfield 1973, pp. 56.
  13. Mabbett 1977, pp. 397–438.
  14. Stuff 2010.

References

36°35′06″S174°41′42″E / 36.585°S 174.695°E / -36.585; 174.695