Otahuhu

Otahuhu
Part of eastern Otahuhu from the air
300px
Basic information
Local authority	Auckland
Population	11,991 (2001)
Facilities
Train station(s)	Otahuhu Train Station
Surrounds
North	Mount Wellington
Northeast	(Tamaki River), Pakuranga
East	(Tamaki River), East Tamaki
Southeast	Otara
South	Middlemore, Papatoetoe
Southwest	Favona, Mangere East
West	(Mangere Inlet)
Northwest	Westfield

For the hill, see Mount Richmond.

Otahuhu is a suburb of Auckland 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) to the southeast of the city centre, on a narrow isthmus between an arm of the Manukau Harbour to the west and the Tamaki River estuary to the east. The isthmus is the narrowest connection between the North Auckland Peninsula and the rest of the North Island, being only some 1200 metres wide at its narrowest point, between the Otahuhu Creek and the Mangere Inlet. As the southernmost suburb of the former Auckland City it is considered part of South Auckland.

The suburb's name is taken from the Māori name of a volcanic cone also known as Mount Richmond. The name refers to eating uncooked huhu grubs. In colloquial speech locals typically shorten the name to "Otahu".

History

The suburb was established in 1847 as a fencible settlement, where soldiers were given land with the implied understanding that in wartime, they would be raised as units to defend it (however, the eventual fighting a decade later used professional soldiers instead). Most early features from this time have disappeared however, such as a stone bridge built by the fencibles that had to make way to a widening of Great South Road.

Otahuhu was home to the country's first supermarket, and Otahuhu College, to which several famous personalities went, including heavyweight boxing champion David Tua, former prime minister David Lange, and ex-Manukau City Mayor, Sir Barry Curtis.

Transport

Otahuhu, in its position on a narrow section of the Auckland Isthmus, is an important part of Auckland's southern transportation approaches for both road and rail, containing a major bus interchange and Otahuhu Train Station. The bus interchange, which was badly neglected, has received increased attention from early 2011 on, with Maori Wardens present, and increased vandalism/graffiti prevention measures.

The importance for transportation extended to pre-European times. The aptly named Portage Road runs across the isthmus in Otahuhu and was used by Māori to move their waka (canoes) between the Manukau and Waitemata harbours for raids and trading. In fact, the area, also known as Te Tō Waka, was considered the most important portage of all of New Zealand.

Sport and recreation

Otahuhu is home to the Otahuhu Rugby Football Club and the Otahuhu Leopards rugby league club.