Takapuna

Takapuna, comprising the statistical areas of Takapuna West, Takapuna Central and Takapuna South, had a population of 8,343 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 594 people (7.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,479 people (21.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,558 households. There were 3,933 males and 4,410 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.89 males per female, with 1,086 people (13.0%) aged under 15 years, 1,524 (18.3%) aged 15 to 29, 3,696 (44.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 2,037 (24.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 72.5% European/Pākehā, 4.4% Māori, 1.8% Pacific peoples, 23.2% Asian, and 4.6% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 42.7%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 47.5% had no religion, 41.5% were Christian, and 5.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 2,862 (39.4%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 600 (8.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,297 (45.4%) people were employed full-time, 1,011 (13.9%) were part-time, and 204 (2.8%) were unemployed.[1]

Takapuna from the water

Takapuna beach

The Sentinel under construction.

Takapuna is located on the isthmus of a peninsula which extends south into the northern waters of the Waitemata at the harbour's eastern end. As such, the suburb has a coastline on Shoal Bay, an arm of the Waitemata to the southwest, as well as having a coast on the Hauraki Gulf to the northeast. The northern end of the suburb is dominated by the large volcanic crater of Lake Pupuke. Some points in Takapuna are less than 500 metres from all three of these bodies of water. The Hauraki coastline includes a kilometre long crescent shaped beach (Takapuna Beach) which is a popular recreation area.

To the southeast of Takapuna lies the six-kilometre-long peninsula which contains the suburbs of Belmont and Devonport. To the west lie the suburbs of Hillcrest and Northcote. The suburb of Milford lies to the north, on the far shore of Lake Pupuke.

The Māori place name Takapuna originally referred to a freshwater spring that flowed from the base of North Head into a swamp behind Cheltenham Beach.[2] In 1841 the wife of Eruera Maihi Patuone sold 9500 acres of Auckland's North Shore to the Crown.[3] Referred to as Takapuna Parish, the North Shore was surveyed and subdivided in 1844.[4] In 1851 Governor Grey gifted back to Patuone 110 acres between the inlet beside Barry's Point Road and Takapuna Beach to use until his death (1872). This area included a Māori settlement known as Waiwharariki, on the small Shoal Bay headland now crossed by Esmonde Road.[5]

The earliest subdivisions of farmland for suburban development were the "Hurstmere" estate in 1886[6] and the "Pupuke" Estate in 1889. The Takapuna and Milford Beach areas, as well as the land surrounding Lake Pupuke soon became popular spots for wealthy businessmen building summer homes to entertain in a rural surrounding, and eventually, many moved here permanently, commuting to work in Auckland via ferry.[7]

A local history archive is maintained by the New Zealand Collection of Takapuna Public Library. It includes an index of the local newspapers, archives, photographs, oral histories, and historical material relating to Takapuna.[8]

Takapuna had a local government like other suburbs in Auckland at that time. The local government was called Takapuna Borough Council, which started in 1913 and merged into Takapuna City Council in 1961. Then it merged into North Shore City Council in 1989, eventually amalgamating into Auckland Council in November 2010.

Takapuna is home to Takapuna AFC who compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 1A. Since 1974 Takapuna Rugby Football Club has been located at Onewa Domain, which is in the neighbouring suburb of Northcote. Prior to that the club were located at Taharoto Park which is located on Taharoto Rd in Takapuna.

Rosmini College is a boys' secondary (years 7-13) school with a roll of 1113.[12] St Joseph's School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 407.[13] They are state integrated Catholic schools located adjacent to each other. Rosmini College was founded in 1962,[14] and St Joseph's in 1894.[15]

Takapuna Normal Intermediate is a coeducational intermediate (years 7-8) school with a roll of 592.[16] It was established in 1970.[17] Takapuna School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 442.[18] It celebrated its 125th jubilee in 2004.[19]

Rolls are as of March 2020.[20]

Takapuna Grammar School is in Belmont, to the southeast of Takapuna. It is the main public secondary school in the area.

• Lorde - singer-songwriter
• Winston Reid - West Ham United footballer
• Pamela Stephenson - TV personality, Psychologist, Comedian
• Deborah Pullen - female footballer

The Block NZ's first season took place in Takapuna.[21]

Shania Twain's 2003 music video for When You Kiss Me was also shot in Takapuna.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Takapuna.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Takapuna.

• Takapuna Beach (website of the local business association)
• Photographs of Takapuna held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.