Rothesay Bay

Rothesay Bay
Suburb
The beach at Rothesay Bay at low tide, with the Hauraki Gulf and Rangitoto in the distance
Coordinates: 36°43′16″S174°45′04″E / 36.721°S 174.751°E / -36.721; 174.751
Country	New Zealand
City	Auckland
Local authority	Auckland Council
Electoral ward	Albany ward
Local board	Hibiscus and Bays Local Board
Area [1]
• Land	86 ha (213 acres)
Population  (June 2023) [2]
• Total	3,050
Postcode(s)	0630

Northcross	Browns Bay
Oteha	Rothesay Bay	(Hauraki Gulf)
Pinehill	Murrays Bay

Rothesay Bay is a small suburb in Auckland's East Coast Bays region. The suburb is roughly the same size as Murrays Bay, the suburb to the immediate south.

Geography

Rothesay Bay beach in 1963

Rothesay Bay is located in the East Coast Bays of the North Shore, between Browns Bay and Murrays Bay. ^{[3] [4]} The bay looks out to the Hauraki Gulf and Coromandel Peninsula. ^[5] An unnamed stream flows north-east through the suburb to the Hauraki Gulf.

The soil is primarily formed from clay and Waitemata sandstone, which can be seen in the cliffs along the coast. ^{[6] [7]} Prior to human settlement, the inland Rothesay Bay area was primarily a northern broadleaf podocarp forest, dominated by tōtara, mataī, miro, kauri and kahikatea trees. Pōhutukawa trees were a major feature of the coastline. ^[8] During the 19th century, the area was dominated by mānuka shrubs. ^[9]

History

Māori history

Māori settlement of the Auckland Region began around the 13th or 14th centuries. ^{[10] [11]} The North Shore was settled by Tāmaki Māori, including people descended from the Tainui migratory canoe and ancestors of figures such as Taikehu and Peretū. ^[12] Many of the Tāmaki Māori people of the North Shore identified as Ngā Oho. ^[13] While the poor soils around the East Coast Bays hindered dense settlement, ^[6] traditional resources in the area included fish, shellfish and marine birds. ^[14]

The warrior Maki migrated from the Kāwhia Harbour to his ancestral home in the Auckland Region, likely sometime in the 17th century. Maki conquered and unified many the Tāmaki Māori tribes as Te Kawerau ā Maki, including those of the North Shore. ^{[15] [16]} After Maki's death, his sons settled different areas of his lands, creating new hapū. His younger son Maraeariki settled the North Shore and Hibiscus Coast, who based himself at the head of the Ōrewa River. Maraeariki's daughter Kahu succeeded him, and she is the namesake of the North Shore, Te Whenua Roa o Kahu ("The Greater Lands of Kahu"), ^{[17] [18]} Many of the iwi of the North Shore, including Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāti Maraeariki, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Poataniwha, Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki and Ngāti Whātua, can trace their lineage to Kahu. ^{[18] [19]}

By the 18th century, the Marutūāhu iwi Ngāti Paoa had expanded their influence to include the islands of the Hauraki Gulf and the North Shore. ^[20] After periods of conflict, peace had been reached by the 1790s. ^[21] The earliest contact with Europeans began in the late 18th century, which caused many Tāmaki Māori to die of rewharewha, respiratory diseases. ^[22] During the early 1820s, most Māori of the North Shore fled for the Waikato or Northland due to the threat of war parties during the Musket Wars. Most people had returned by the late 1820s and 1830s. ^{[11] [20] [23]}

European settlement

Rothesay Bay Beach circa 1968

In 1841, the Crown purchased the Mahurangi and Omaha blocks; an area that spanned from Takapuna to Te Ārai. The purchase involved some iwi with customary interests in the area, such as Ngāti Paoa, other Marutūāhu iwi and Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, but not others, such as Te Kawerau ā Maki or Ngāti Rango. ^{[24] [25] [19] [26]} The Crown spent until 1873 rectifying this sale, by making further deals with stakeholders. ^{[25] [26]}

Unlike the surrounding bays, most of Rothesay Bay was left as scrubland in the 19th century. ^[9] The main visitors to the area were itinerant kauri gum diggers, and small sections of land were part of cattle farms owned by the Vaughan family and by W. Hart. ^{[27] [28]} In the 1910s, Scottish immigrant and resident of Albany, John Knight, began developing the land to sell as a subdivision. ^[27] Construction on Rothesay Bay Road had begun by 1912, ^[29] and the land was subdivided for sale in 1915 and 1916. ^[27] While many historical sources describe Knight naming the subdivision after his hometown in Scotland, Knight did not come from Rothesay. The origin of the name is unknown, but it may have come from the Scottish song "Sweet Rothesay Bay", ^[28] which was referenced in some of the advertising material for the suburb. ^[30]

A small settlement of holiday homes developed during the 1920s, but even into the 1950s the area was sparsely populated and rural. ^[27] By 1945, ten families had permanently settled at Rothesay Bay, and a close-knit community developed. The families used the Rothesay Bay beach as a common area to socialise. ^[28] During World War II, a pillbox was installed at the Rothesay Bay Esplanade, ^[31] and gun emplacements were constructed on the nearby cliffs. ^[28]

Local government

From 1876 until 1954, the area was administered by the Waitemata County, a large rural county north and west of the city of Auckland. ^[32] In 1954, the area split from the county, forming the East Coast Bays Borough Council, ^[32] which became East Coast Bays City in 1975. ^[33] In 1989, the city was merged into the North Shore City. ^[33] North Shore City was amalgamated into Auckland Council in November 2010. ^[34]

Within the Auckland Council, Rothesay Bay is a part of the Hibiscus and Bays local government area governed by the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board. It is a part of the Albany ward, which elects two councillors to the Auckland Council.

Demographics

Rothesay Bay covers 0.86 km² (0.33 sq mi) ^[1] and had an estimated population of 3,050 as of June 2023, ^[2] with a population density of 3,547 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	2,613	—
2013	2,706	+0.50%
2018	2,886	+1.30%
Source: [35]

Rothesay Bay had a population of 2,886 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 180 people (6.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 273 people (10.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 960 households, comprising 1,407 males and 1,482 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. The median age was 39.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 558 people (19.3%) aged under 15 years, 561 (19.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,368 (47.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 399 (13.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 79.4% European/Pākehā, 4.7% Māori, 1.8% Pacific peoples, 17.9% Asian, and 2.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 43.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.7% had no religion, 33.9% were Christian, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 876 (37.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 165 (7.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $43,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 708 people (30.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,191 (51.2%) people were employed full-time, 420 (18.0%) were part-time, and 66 (2.8%) were unemployed. ^[35]

Amenities

A popular public walkway passes through coastal Rothesay Bay, connecting Campbells Bay to Browns Bay in the north. The walkway passes sections of exposed Waitemata sandstone. ^[7]

Notable residents

Chris Rankin who played Percy Weasley in the Harry Potter film series grew up in Rothesay Bay until he was 6 years old.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
2. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2023.
3. "Rothesay Bay". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
4. Harriss, Gavin (March 2022). "NZ Topo Map" (Map). Rothesay Bay, Auckland.
5. "Rothesay Bay". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
6. Heritage Consultancy Services (1 July 2011). North Shore Heritage - Thematic Review Report Volume 1 (PDF) (Report). Auckland Council. ISBN   978-1-927169-21-6 . Retrieved 29 June 2023.
7. Janssen, Peter (January 2021). Greater Auckland Walks. New Holland Publishers. p. 43-44. ISBN   978-1-86966-516-6. Wikidata   Q118136068.
8. Veart, Dave (2018). The Māori Archaeology of Te Raki Paewhenua/North Shore (Report). Auckland North Community and Development. p. 10. ISBN   978-0-9941358-4-1.
9. Sheehan 2019, pp. 6.
10. Pishief, Elizabeth; Shirley, Brendan (August 2015). "Waikōwhai Coast Heritage Study" (PDF). Auckland Council . Retrieved 14 February 2023.
11. Boffa Miskell. Penlink Cultural & Environmental Design Framework: Penlink Cultural and Environmental Context (PDF) (Report). Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency . Retrieved 4 July 2023.
12. Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki (April 2016). Cultural Values Assessment Report to New Zealand Transport Agency for Northern Corridor Improvements Project (NCI) (PDF) (Report). NZ Transport Agency . Retrieved 30 June 2023.
13. Mossman, Sarah (August 2018). Cultural Values Assessment for America's Cup 36 - Wynyard and Hobson Planning Application (PDF). Te Kawerau Iwi Tribunal Authority (Report). Retrieved 30 June 2023.
14. McKenzie, Fiona (June 2016). Cultural Impact Assessment for the NZ Transport Agency's Northern Corridor Improvements (PDF). Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust (Report). NZ Transport Agency . Retrieved 30 June 2023.
15. "Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area" (PDF). Auckland Council. December 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
16. Murdoch, Graeme (1990). "Nga Tohu o Waitakere: the Maori Place Names of the Waitakere River Valley and its Environs; their Background History and an Explanation of their Meaning". In Northcote-Bade, James (ed.). West Auckland Remembers, Volume 1. West Auckland Historical Society. pp. 13–14. ISBN   0-473-00983-8.
17. Ngāti Manuhiri; The Crown (21 May 2011). "Deed of Settlement of Historical Claims" (PDF). New Zealand Government . Retrieved 18 May 2022.
18. Whaanga, Mel (March 2022). "He taonga o te rohe". Restore Hibiscus & Bays. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
19. Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki and the Trustees of the Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki Trust and the Crown (7 November 2015). "Deed of settlement schedule documents" (PDF). NZ Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
20. New Zealand Government; Ngāti Paoa (20 March 2021). "Ngāti Pāoa and the Trustees of the Ngāti Pāoa Iwi Trust and The Crown Deed of Settlement of Historical Claims" (PDF). New Zealand Government . Retrieved 1 September 2021.
21. "Wenderholm Regional Park: Our History" (PDF). Auckland Council. 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
22. McKenzie, Fiona (May 2017). "Cultural Values Assessment for the Warkworth North Structure Plan and Associated Development" (PDF). Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust. Auckland Council . Retrieved 4 July 2023.
23. Ngāti Manuhiri; The Crown (21 May 2011). "Deed of Settlement of Historical Claims" (PDF). New Zealand Government . Retrieved 18 May 2022.
24. Rigby, Barry (August 1998). The Crown, Maori and Mahurangi 1840-1881 (PDF) (Report). Waitangi Tribunal . Retrieved 4 July 2023.
25. Stone 2001, pp. 188.
26. Te Kawerau ā Maki; The Trustees of Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust; The Crown (22 February 2014). "Deed of Settlement of Historical Claim" (PDF). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
27. Cass 1989, pp. 11–12.
28. Willis 2018, pp. 18–19.
29. "Country News". The New Zealand Herald . Vol. XLIX, no. 15066. 8 August 1912. p. 4 – via Papers Past.
30. "Page 2 Advertisements Column 5". The New Zealand Herald . Vol. VII, no. 15905. 30 April 1915. p. 2 – via Papers Past.
31. Lutz, Heike; Chan, Theresa (2011). North Shore heritage – North Shore area studies and scheduled items list: volume 2 parts 6+ (PDF). Heritage Consultancy Services (Report). Auckland Council . Retrieved 7 July 2023.
32. Reidy, Jade (2009). "How the West Was Run". In Macdonald, Finlay; Kerr, Ruth (eds.). West: The History of Waitakere. Random House. pp. 238–239. ISBN   9781869790080.
33. Mace, Tania (October 2006). "Browns Bay Heritage Walk" (PDF). North Shore City Council . Retrieved 4 July 2023.
34. Blakeley, Roger (2015). "The planning framework for Auckland 'super city': an insider's view". Policy Quarterly. 11 (4). doi: 10.26686/pq.v11i4.4572 . ISSN   2324-1101.
35. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Rothesay Bay (119000). 2018 Census place summary: Rothesay Bay

Bibliography

• Cass, David (1989). ECB – the Years to 1989. East Coast Bays City Council.
• Sheehan, Vanessa (2019). An Almost Complete History of the East Coast Bays.
• Stone, R. C. J. (2001). From Tamaki-makau-rau to Auckland. Auckland University Press. ISBN   1869402596.
• Willis, Jenny (2018). Early History of East Coast Bays (Second ed.).

External links

• Photographs of Rothesay Bay held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.