Howick Village - Heritage Day

The tangata whenua (people of the land) who lived in the Howick area, were the Ngaitai people of Tainui descent. This local iwi (Maori Tribe) lived at Ohuia Rangi (Pigeon Mountain), Te Waiarohia (Musick Point) and Tuwakamana (Cockle Bay) for over 1,000 years. They named the area where Howick is located, Owairoa - "The place of the Long Water" as this area was originally a swamp which fed water into a nearby creek. William Thomas Fairburn, a missionary at Maraetai, bought 40,000 acres between the Tamaki and Wairoa Rivers from the local iwi to prevent attack by the Ngapuhi and Waikato Tribes. In 1840, following the Treaty of Waitangi, the Government took 36,000 acres which it used for the Fencible settlements. Most of the Wairoa Valley was returned to the Maori who welcomed the Fencibles to Howick, recognising the advantages of co-operation and trade. Howick village became a service centre for the prosperous farming community and later it became a retirement and seaside holiday location. In 1990 Howick became a ward within Manukau City which is part of South Auckland. Howick is named after Henry George Grey, 3rd Earl Grey, an English statesman who was known as Lord Howick.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Pictures always should have a special story behind it or a special

meaning to the photographer. - Anonymous