Titirangi, Waitakere City Community and Real Estate market information

About Titirangi:

Titirangi (translation from Maori, meaning “The Fringe of Heaven”) is a beautiful natural area in the south east of the Waitakere Ranges, bordering the Manuakau Harbour and the suburbs of Glen Eden, New Lynn and Green Bay, with Laingholm to the west, and marks the end of Auckland’s urban sprawl.

“If I didn’t live in Titirangi, I wouldn’t live in Auckland. If I didn’t live in Auckland, I probably wouldn’t live in New Zealand. If I ....” so wrote great New Zealand author Maurice Shadbolt. Other greats who lived in Titirangi include painter Colin McCahon, while cricketers Jeff and Martin Crowe attended Titirangi School.

Pre-European, Titirangi was divided between the Te Kawerau a Maki and Ngati Whatua tribes. An early English settler was John Kelly, the first to legally buy land in the area in 1848. Others followed including Thomas Bray (my great, great grandfather), who bought 73 acres in 1853, William Brimner 220 acres in 1854 and Hybernia Smyth, who aggregated 550 acres on the slopes beneath Mt Atkinson between 1854-57.

By the late 1850's, all the timber was cut in the east where the whole Whau was slowly being turned into farmland. A letter to 'The New Zealander' in January 1860 describes the view from the top of Mt Atkinson looking back toward Auckland as "...clay showing everywhere with hardly a tree or cultivated field..." The view west was still at least partially forested. Some of this cleared land is now within the suburbia boarders of Titirangi...

Later, Henry Atkinson (1838-1921), an early conservationist, pitied the plight of the natural landscape and donated large chunks of land for water catchment areas, native bush parklands and Titirangi Beach.

The landmark Titirangi Hotel was opened in 1930. It was billed as the Ideal Mountain Guest House featuring 63 luxury rooms. Plenty of beds but no liquor license! It was quickly dubbed the "Pub with no beer". Later, renamed Lopdell House, it was a school for the deaf, and since 1986, an arts centre and theatre. Henry Atkinson’s statue stands outside.

Titirangi has always been described as a haven, far from the madding crowds, for potters, artists, weavers, writers etc, but today, half the workforce are professionals or managers. Living in Titirangi offers a very laid-back lifestyle away the hustle and bustle of the city.
Expansive architectural homes stand alongside original cottages in beautiful native bush settings, some with panoramic city or Manukau Harbour views. Although urbanised, mostly the natural character is dominant over the built environment. Average house size is around 158m2 and land size average is over 1700m2.

Recreation can be had at the beaches, Titirangi, Wood Bay or French Bay, by way of swimming, boating or board sailing. A shallow bank just off Titirangi Beach was once a favourite spot to collect scallops, without diving or dredging, at low tide.

Five primary schools serve the area including a Rudolf Steiner, Kaurilands (decile 9), Konini (6), Woodlands Park (9) and Titirangi (10). Older students bus to Glen Eden Intermediate or Green Bay High.

According to the latest census (2006), Titirangi had a population of 9291 people, living in 3270 dwellings, with 7.3% over 65 and 23.5% under 15 and 82.8% European. People living here have a higher post school education, lower unemployment rate and higher earning rate than the average for all Auckland. Home ownership is also higher than the average at 70.2%.

Titirangi Shopping:

Around 40 shops and other businesses are crammed into the little available space on the ridge line that is Titirangi Village. Everything is here from a supermarket, florist, bookshop, hair salons, dentist, lawyers, doctors, accountants, giftshop, health shop, liquor store, two banks, post shop and stationers, travel agent and pharmacy. Just around the corner in South Titirangi Rd is the community centre, library, kindergarten, fire station, RSA and bowling club.

Transport:

Titirangi is well serves by public transport, no one is far from a bus stop. All bus services link up with the mid-western bus terminal at New Lynn, conveniently located by the New Lynn train station, giving you a choice of bus or train to Auckland CBD. The bus-train journey to town is very popular with commuters.

Transport Link:

www.maxx.co.nz

Eating Out:

From the early days, Titirangi had tearooms to serve the many who ventured for a day out motoring the Scenic Drive. Now, for eating out, you are spoilt for choice! Cafes and restaurants include Takehe, Hardware Cafe, La Vinci, Turkish, The Toby Jug (the first in the area) and the soon to be opened, Masala Indian restaurant. Takeaways include Chinese, Hells Pizzas, fried chicken and hot bread shop.

Information Supplied by:

Clive Bray