Whitford, New Zealand

Whitford
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Country	New Zealand
Region	Auckland Region
Ward	Franklin Ward
Board	Franklin Local Board
Population  (2018)
• Total	3,015

Whitford is a suburb in south-east Auckland, New Zealand. There are multiple versions of how the town was named.^[1][2] It may be named after Richard Whitford, a man who operated a flax mill on the near Housons Creek^[1] and was the postman.^[2] Others think Whitford referred to the White-ford over the Turanga Creek at the end of Sandstone Road, where the salt dries when the tide is out.^[1][2] Another possibility is that it is named after part of a vast property belonging to was initially listed as ‘Whitefoord Park’ in for 1875–6, but by the time it went on sale for subdivision in 1903 it was known as Whitford Park.^[2]

The Pacific Coast highway near Whitford has views of the surrounding countryside, farms, and Hauraki Gulf.

Historical facts[]

• Whitford is traditionally home to the Māori of Ngāi Tai descendants of the Tainui waka which moored at the Turanga river. Ngāi Tai also had the Pā sites Mangemangeroa, Moananui and Awakarihi (above Whitford quarry).
• Whitford's first European settlers, George and William Trice, started a popular and productive farm on Clifton Road near the village settlement in 1843. Most of the following settlers arrived in the mid-1850s.^[1]
• The Nathans' “Whitford Park” estate provided feathers from its ostriches for use in the fashion trade from 1869 until the 1920s.^[2] Racehorses were also trained there; this practice still occurs today.^[1]
• The town's Granger's brickworks operated from the 1878 until 1920.^[2] The Trices goldmine was converted to a landfill. Today, metal is quarried from there.^[1]
• Transport usually occurred via water until the 1920s, when roads and motor transport were improved.^[1]
• Today, Whitford has a real estate agent, accountant, dentist, service station, restaurant, gift shop, a hair salon and a furniture restoration establishment. Lifestyle blocks for city workers now occupy some farms. Beef, sheep, dairy, and timber are the chief economic activities.^[1]
• Ayrlies Garden, one of New Zealand's best-known gardens, is located in Whitford. In the areas surrounding the gardens is a lifestyle estate subdivision expected to be completed in the year 2022.
• Due to modern advancements in infrastructure in the surrounding areas such as Beachlands and Ormiston, the Whitford village area has seen a substantial increase in traffic flow. This is expected to further increase in the future.

Demographics[]

The statistical area of Turanga includes Whitford but at 85 square kilometres is much larger, and includes Brookby. It had a population of 3,015 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 213 people (7.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 504 people (20.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 972 households. There were 1,506 males and 1,509 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female. The median age was 44 years, with 552 people (18.3%) aged under 15 years, 582 (19.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,449 (48.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 429 (14.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.5% European/Pākehā, 7.5% Māori, 2.0% Pacific peoples, 13.4% Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 28.2%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 51.6% had no religion, 37.7% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.8% were Muslim, 1.3% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 663 (26.9%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 273 (11.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $45,500. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,272 (51.6%) people were employed full-time, 468 (19.0%) were part-time, and 66 (2.7%) were unemployed.^[3]

References[]

Coordinates: 36°56′42″S 174°57′50″E / 36.945°S 174.964°E / -36.945; 174.964