Wellsford
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use New Zealand English Template:Infobox settlement Wellsford (Template:Langx)<ref name="CentennialParkMasterplan">Template:Cite report</ref> is a town on the Northland Peninsula in the northern North Island of New Zealand. It is the northernmost major settlement in the Auckland Region, and is Template:Convert northwest of the Auckland CBD. It is a major regional centre, being located at the junction of State Highways 1 and 16, almost halfway between Auckland and the Northland city of Whangārei.
The eastern Kaipara Harbour has been settled by Māori since the 13th or 14th centuries, who utilised the inland forests and marine resources of the Kaipara Harbour. The area became home to the Ngāti Whātua collective Te Uri-o-Hau by the mid-17th century, with hapū including Ngāti Mauku, Ngāti Tahuhu and Ngāti Rongo being established from the descendants of Haumoewhārangi, and by strategic marriages with Te Kawerau hapū.
Wellsford was established by the Albertlanders in 1862, a group of Baptist tradespeople and farmers from the Birmingham area who settled the southern Ōruawharo River, developing into a timber and kauri gum. By the early 20th century, the area developed into a regional centre for dairy farming, in part due to the opening of Wellsford railway station in 1909, linking the town to Auckland.
Etymology
The settlement was originally known by its Māori name Whakapirau,<ref name="LINZ">Template:LINZ</ref> which is the name of the local creek flowing into the Kaipara Harbour.<ref name="Creek">Template:LINZ</ref> The settlers disliked the name, which they interpreted to mean "stinking canoe", and began searching for a new name.<ref name="RodneyCoast">Template:Cite book</ref> The name was changed to Wellsford at a public meeting sometime between the late 1860s and early 1870s. The name was suggested by resident D.R. Lester, allegedly by creating an acronym from the surnames of settler families in the area.<ref name="LINZ"/><ref name="Hoteo">Template:Cite report</ref> The earliest known references in print to Wellsford date to 1874.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The modern site of Wellsford township was often referred to as the Gum Ridge in the 1870s.<ref name="2019Heritage">Template:Cite report</ref>
Geography
Wellsford is close to a narrowing of the Northland Peninsula caused by an arm of the Kaipara Harbour on the west coast extending inland for Template:Convert from the body of the harbour, stretching to within Template:Convert of the east (Pacific Ocean) coast.
The town is located on hilltops at the junction between State Highway 1 and State Highway 16.<ref name="DesignFramework">Template:Cite report</ref> The upper reaches of the Whakapirau Creek are located to the north of the town,<ref name="Creek"/> while southern Wellsford is in the catchment of the Hōteo River.<ref name="Hoteo"/> The Whakapirau Creek is a tributary of the Ōruawharo River, an arm of the Kaipara Harbour.
The highest point in the town is a Template:Convert hill located east of the junction of Matheson Road and Worthington Road.<ref name="LINZ"/>
History
Māori history
During the mid-18th century, Ngāti Whātua peoples of Northland migrated south to the Kaipara Harbour. The northern and eastern Kaipara, including Wellsford, were controlled by Te Uri-o-Hau, a Ngāti Whātua tribal grouping led by Haumoewhārangi.<ref name="2019Heritage"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ngāti Rongo developed as a hapū in the area through the union between Haumoewhārangi's granddaughter Moerangaranga and Maki's son Ngāwhetu,<ref name="2019Heritage"/> and Ngāti Manuhiri developed ties with Te Uri-o-Hau.<ref name="ManuhiriWarkworth">Template:Cite report</ref> Te Uri-o-Hau, including the hapū Ngāti Mauku and Ngāti Tahuhu, lived seasonally along the Oruawharo River.<ref name="UrioHau">Template:Cite report</ref>
In the 1820s during the Musket Wars, the eastern Kaipara was depopulated, as people sought refuge in other parts of the country.<ref name="DesignFramework"/> Te Uri-o-Hau and Ngāti Rango gradually returned to the area by the late 1830s.<ref name="2019Heritage"/>
Early colonial era
The banks of the Ōruawharo River were purchased by the Crown in 1860, followed by the Hoteo Block to the south in 1868.<ref name="2019Heritage"/>
Under a Special Settlement Scheme by the Government, the Oruawharo Block became a planned settlement, predominantly settled by Baptist tradespeople and farmers from the Birmingham area, who settled between 1862 and 1865 at Tāpora, Port Albert and Wellsford.<ref name="DesignFramework"/> These settlers called themselves the Albertlanders, after Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort. They were a "breakaway group from the Anglican Church looking for a new world".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wellsford was originally known by the name Whakapirau,<ref name="LINZ"/> and settlers established a settlement between the Whakapirau Stream and the eastern borders of the Oruawharo Block.<ref name="2019Heritage"/>
Initial industry at Whakapirau was dominated by the timber trade, and in 1864 Nicholson's timber mill was established on the southern banks of the Ōruawharo River. Kauri gum diggers' camps were established across the area in the 1870s, including a Template:Convert area called the Wayby Kauri Gum Reserve that was set aside for the practice. The modern Wellsford township site was also dug for kauri gum, and was often referred to as The Gum Ridge.<ref name="2019Heritage"/> Members of Te Uri-o-Hau traded and intermingled with the Alberton settlers.<ref name="UrioHau"/> The settlement's modern name, Wellsford, was likely adopted in the early 1870s.<ref name="LINZ"/> Wellsford would move eastwards over time to its current location.<ref name="coast">Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1885, the Crown purchased the Pakiri Block from Ngāti Manuhiri, an area that included the areas immediately adjacent to Wellsford.<ref name="ManuhiriDeed">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="2019Heritage"/> This led to the expansion of Wellsford to the south, away from the Whakapirau Stream.<ref name="2019Heritage"/>
Establishment of the railway, modern development
By 1900, the timber and kauri gum trades had begun to recede, and settlers turned to dairy farming as a primarily source of income. The Wayby Co-operative Dairy Company established in 1902.<ref name="2019Heritage"/> In 1909, the North Auckland Line was extended north to Wellsford.<ref name="Hoteo"/> This led to economic development in Wellsford, especially dairy farming and sheep farming operations.<ref name="Hoteo"/> During this period, the town gradually moved away from the shores of the Whakapirau Stream, with the new centre of Wellsford developing near the train station.<ref name="2019Heritage"/>
Dairy farming in the region intensified further with the establishment of better roads in the 1930s.<ref name="DesignFramework"/> As roads improved, the town developed as a service stop for people travelling between Auckland and Whangārei along State Highway 1.<ref name="DesignFramework"/> Passenger train services to Wellsford ceased in 1975.<ref name="Rail Heritage Trust">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1979, Irwin Industrial Tools was established in Wellsford, constructing circular saw-blades and growing to be a major local employer, before closing in 2009.<ref name="Margaret">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The local Ōruawharo Marae is a traditional meeting ground for Te Uri-o-Hau and the Ngāti Whātua hapū of Ngāti Mauku and Ngāti Tahuhu.<ref name="tkmentry">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It includes the Rangimārie meeting house.<ref name="maorimaps">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1990, the Albertland Heritage Museum opened in Wellsford.<ref name="Albertland Heritage Museum">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="nzmuseums-Albertland Heritage Museum">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ljohnston">Template:Cite news</ref>
By the 21st century, tourism and lifestyle blocks has increasingly drawn people to Wellsford.<ref name="Hoteo"/> The Auckland Northern Motorway is planned to be extended from Warkworth to Wellsford in the future,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and housing developments in the 2020s have been predicted to increase the size of the town by more than 800 houses.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref>
Demographics
Wellsford is described by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area. It covers Template:Convert<ref name="Area">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and had an estimated population of Template:NZ population data 2018 as of Template:NZ population data 2018 with a population density of Template:Decimals people per km2.
Template:Historical populations Wellsford had a population of 2,037 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 63 people (3.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 294 people (16.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,035 males, 1,002 females and 3 people of other genders in 750 dwellings.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 2.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 36.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 453 people (22.2%) aged under 15 years, 381 (18.7%) aged 15 to 29, 855 (42.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 348 (17.1%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 78.5% European (Pākehā); 25.2% Māori; 6.6% Pasifika; 8.7% Asian; 0.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.4%, Māori language by 4.4%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 9.7%. No language could be spoken by 3.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 32.8% Christian, 1.2% Hindu, 0.7% Islam, 2.9% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.5%, and 6.8% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 138 (8.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 888 (56.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 504 (31.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 111 people (7.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 729 (46.0%) people were employed full-time, 216 (13.6%) were part-time, and 48 (3.0%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Education
Rodney College is a secondary (years 9–13) school with a roll of Template:NZ school roll data students.<ref>Template:TKI</ref> Wellsford School is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of Template:NZ school roll data students.<ref>Template:TKI</ref> Rodney College's Board of Trustees was dismissed in August 2008 and a Ministry of Education commissioner appointed.<ref name="Stuff.co.nz_640907">Template:Cite news</ref> By 2016, the college was performing well.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Living Way Christian School closed at the end of 2018 due to falling rolls.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Wellsford, Tauhoa, Pākiri, Tāpora, Tomarata and Mangawhai Primary Schools all cater for students from year 1–8, and collectively contribute to the annual in take of roughly 80 year 9 students at Rodney College.
All the schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of Template:NZ school roll data
Sport
Being a rural town, sport plays a big part in Wellsford's day-to-day life with rugby, soccer, netball, cricket, tennis and athletics being amongst the more popular sports played. The Wellsford Golf Club is popular among the locals and also houses squash courts. Rollerskating, archery and bowling, (indoors and outdoors) are also available, while equestrian is also popular in the area.<ref>Sports groups and clubs. Retrieved 16 March 2013.</ref>
Local government
With the abolition of the provinces of New Zealand in 1876, Wellsford became part of the newly formed Rodney County.<ref name="Bloomfield">Template:Cite book</ref> In 1953 the town committee for Wellsford was formed. This became the Wellsford County Borough Council in 1971 and in 1974 it became the Wellsford District Community Council.<ref name="coast"/>
From 1989 to 2010, Wellsford was part of Rodney District.
In November 2010, all city and district councils in the Auckland Region were merged into a single unitary authority, Auckland Council,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> with Warkworth in the Rodney Local Board area. Electors in Wellsford vote for the seven-member Rodney Local Board, and also a Rodney ward councillor, who represents the area on the Auckland Council.
References
External links
Template:Authority control Template:Rodney Local Board Area Wellsford Subdivision Template:Subject bar