Editing Onehunga

{{Other uses}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox New Zealand suburb
| name           = Onehunga
| image          = Onehunga Mall In Onehunga.jpg
| caption1       = Onehunga Mall viewed from near the southern end
| map            = {{infobox mapframe|zoom=13}}
| caption2       = 
| location_map   =
| coordinates    = {{Coord|-36.9223|174.7838|display=it|format=dms}}
| city1          = [[Auckland]]
| ward           = [[Maungakiekie-Tāmaki ward]]
| board          = [[Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board]]
| sub_board      = Maungakiekie
| council        = [[Auckland Council]]
| established    = 1843 (European)
| area           = 563
| arearef        = <ref name="Area"/> 
| population     = {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Onehunga West|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Onehunga North|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Onehunga Central|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Onehunga-Te Papapa Industrial|y}}|R}}|0}}
| popdate        = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y}}
| popref         = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2||||y}}
| trainstations  = [[Onehunga railway station]]
| ferryterminals =
| airports       =
| hospitals      =
}}
{{Adjacent place
| centre = Onehunga
| north          = [[One Tree Hill, New Zealand|One Tree Hill]]
| northeast      = [[Oranga]]
| east           = [[Te Papapa]]
| southeast      = ([[Manukau Harbour]])
| south          = (Manukau Harbour), [[Māngere Bridge (suburb)|Māngere Bridge]]
| southwest      = (Manukau Harbour)
| west           = [[Hillsborough, Auckland|Hillsborough]]
| northwest      = [[Royal Oak, New Zealand|Royal Oak]]
}}
'''Onehunga''' is a suburb of [[Auckland]] in [[New Zealand]] and the location of the [[Port of Onehunga]], the city's small port on the [[Manukau Harbour]]. It is {{convert|8|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on}} south of the [[Auckland CBD|city centre]], close to the [[volcano|volcanic]] cone of [[Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill]].

Onehunga is a residential and light-industrial suburb. There are almost 1,000 commercial and industrial businesses in the area.<ref name="BUS"/> Onehunga stretches south from [[Royal Oak, New Zealand|Royal Oak]] to the northern shore of the Manukau Harbour. To the east are the areas of [[Oranga]] and [[Te Papapa]]; to the west, [[Hillsborough, Auckland|Hillsborough]]. On the southern shore of the Manukau Harbour, and linked to Onehunga by [[Māngere Bridge (bridges)|two bridges]], is the suburb of [[Māngere Bridge (suburb)|Māngere Bridge]].

== Geography ==
Onehunga lies on the [[Auckland isthmus]], on the northern shore of Mangere Inlet, an arm of the [[Manukau Harbour]], and just south of the [[volcanic cone]] of [[Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill]]. The Port of Onehunga, on Manukau Harbour, is now much smaller than Auckland's east coast port on the [[Waitematā Harbour]], but in the 19th century it was the larger. The wharves are located on reclaimed land bordering a low volcanic crater called [[Te Hopua]], once occupied by a tidal lagoon opening to the southwest, but which has also been reclaimed.<ref>{{cite book |last=Searle |first=Ernest J. |title=City of Volcanoes: A geology of Auckland |year=1964 |isbn=0-582-71784-1}}</ref>

Onehunga's southwestern side, near the Manukau Harbour, lost its direct waterfront access when the [[Southwest Motorway]] was built there in the 1970s. Only a tidal lagoon remains on the city side, though in 2008, there were proposals that the motorway (which was to be widened) could be sunk into a trench to provide direct access to the harbour again.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dearnaley|first=Matthew|title=Preparatory work starts on Onehunga duplication|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10535074|access-date=25 October 2013|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=1 October 2008|page=A7}}</ref> In 2013, a project was underway to restore the Onehunga foreshore,<ref>{{cite news |last=Thompson|first=Wayne|title=Work begins on Onehunga's $28m harbourside parkland|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10848398|access-date=25 October 2013|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=19 November 2012}}</ref> to be connected to the city-side park by a pedestrian and cycle bridge over State Highway 20.

A substantial [[aquifer]] flows underground beneath Onehunga, fed by rainwater soaking through the lava flows around Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill. Up to 21 million litres of [[drinking water|potable water]] a day is pumped from the Onehunga aquifer and treated in a local plant before being supplied to Onehunga as part of the Auckland water supply network.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.watercare.co.nz/Water-and-wastewater/Where-your-water-comes-from/Groundwater-and-springs |title=Groundwater and springs |publisher=Watercare |access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref> While most of Auckland's potable water comes from reservoirs in the Hunua and Waitākere Ranges, or from the Waikato River, the Onehunga aquifer provides around 5%. In contrast, while the isthmus's other major aquifer, the [[Western Springs Reserve|Western Springs]] aquifer, is also fed by water seeping through lava fields, it is no longer used as a source of potable water.

==History==

===Etymology===
The name ''Onehunga'' is from the [[Māori language]] and means a "beach composed of mixed sand and mud" or "alluvial soil", according to Williams's ''Dictionary of the Maori Language''.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Williams |first=Herbert W. |author-link=Herbert Williams (bishop) |title=One |dictionary=A Dictionary of the Maori Language |date=1971 |publisher=A. R. Shearer, Government Printer |location=Wellington |edition=7th}}</ref>

Claims have been made for other names and meanings. Ethnographer [[George Graham (ethnographer)|George Graham]] was told by one [[Māori people|Māori]] informant that the name was ''Ōnehunga'', with the etymology of ''ō'' (the place of) ''nehunga'' (burial), but Graham said that was later contradicted.<ref name="Graham">{{cite Q|Q58677091|page=20}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Reed |first1=A. W. |author-link1=Alexander Wyclif Reed |last2=Dowling |first2=Peter |year=2016 |title=Maori Place Names: Their Meanings and Origins |edition=4th |location=Oratia, Auckland |publisher=Oratia Books |page=75}}</ref> He said that the name was actually ''Oneunga'' (''Oneūnga'' in modern orthography), meaning ''one'' (beach or sand) ''ūnga'' (landing), in reference to canoes being drawn up there. He also said that ''Onehunga'' meant "friable" or "pulverous soil" and that this was "a very correct name".<ref>{{cite Q|Q58677089|page=4}}</ref>

The [[New Zealand Geographic Board]] approved ''Onehunga'' as the official name in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/33688 |title=Onehunga |work=New Zealand Gazetteer |publisher=[[New Zealand Geographic Board]] |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2019-ln2814 |title=Notice of Approved Official Geographic Names |author=New Zealand Geographic Board |author-link=New Zealand Geographic Board |date=21 June 2019 |work=[[New Zealand Gazette]] |publisher=New Zealand Gazette Office |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref>

=== Māori origins ===

Onehunga was close to one of the richest areas of the Auckland isthmus, and saw many battles between Māori groups in pre-European times.<ref name="BUS">[http://www.onehunga.net.nz/Art++Heritage.html?id=XuFq4gWF Discover Onehunga]{{Dead link|date=April 2025|fix-attempted=yes}} (from the 'onehunga.net.nz' website. Accessed 2008-02-10)</ref> In the late 1830s, before Europeans arrived in larger numbers in the area, it was the main settlement for [[Ngāti Whātua]], who had moved back to the northern shore of the Manukau Harbour after retreating to the Waikato during the [[Musket Wars]].<ref name=SOLDIERS/>

=== Early European town ===
{{Multiple image
| image1 = Onehunga, Manukau (circa 1863) 1.jpg
| image2 = Onehunga, Manukau (circa 1863) 2.jpg
| footer = Watercolour sketches of Onehunga by [[William Fox (politician)|William Fox]], circa 1863
| direction = horizontal
}}

The European village of Onehunga was founded as a [[Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps|Fencible]] settlement by [[George Grey|Governor Grey]]. The Fencibles were former soldiers, many of them Irish, who were granted land to settle on, with the implied understanding that if Māori threatened the Auckland isthmus, they would defend it.<ref name=SOLDIERS/> Onehunga was the first village for Fencibles in New Zealand. Grey chose the site in 1846<ref>{{cite web |url= https://onehungagrotto.wordpress.com/the-history-of-the-grotto/ |title=The history of the grotto |work=The Onehunga Grotto |date=21 April 2008 |access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref> and the Fencibles arrived in 1847.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.maristmessenger.co.nz/2017/05/02/more-on-the-fencibles-2/ |title=More on the Fencibles (2) |first=Merv |last=Duffy |date=2 May 2017 |work=Marist Messenger |access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref>

European settlement of the Manukau Harbour area was begun from and long focused on Onehunga. When the [[New Zealand Wars]] later occurred, it was mostly fought with regular soldiers rather than Fencibles.<ref name=SOLDIERS>{{cite news|title=Auckland: Soldiers of fortune|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/panmure/news/article.cfm?l_id=356&objectid=10667027|access-date=28 July 2020 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=26 August 2010}}</ref> Naval volunteers based at Onehunga raided Māori territories on the south side of the harbour during the wars.<ref name="TE ARA3">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Manukau Harbour: European settlement |first=Frederick Ernest |last=Bowen |editor-first=A.H. |editor-last=McLintock |encyclopedia=[[An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand]] |date=1966 |url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/manukau-harbour/page-3 |via=[[Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Onehunga_Borough_map.jpg|thumb|Map of Onehunga, 1911]]
During the [[Invasion of the Waikato]] in 1863 many women and children from small European settlements arrived in Onehunga as refugees. The [[Onehunga Ladies' Benevolent Society]] was formed to care for the refugees.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Limbrick |first1=Warren |title=Saint Bride's Church, Mauku: A Frontier Church in the Midst of Conflict |journal=Anglican Historical Society newsletter |date=April 2011 |issue=46 |url=https://www.historyanglican.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/St-Brides-Church-Mauku.pdf |publisher=The Anglican Historical Society of New Zealand}}</ref>
It was the oldest surviving women's organisation in New Zealand at the time of its deregistration in 2017.<ref name="nzhistory.govt.nz">{{cite web |last1=Tennant |first1=Margaret |last2=Else |first2=Anne |title=Onehunga Ladies' Benevolent Society |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/women-together/onehunga-ladies-benevolent-society |website=New Zealand History |date=2018}}</ref>

During the 19th century most shipping between New Zealand and Great Britain came to Onehunga, via South Africa and Australia. While some shipping entered the [[Waitematā Harbour]] and docked at Auckland, much of it entered the [[Manukau Heads]] and docked at Onehunga, thus saving several days sailing around North Cape. The Manukau Harbour was treacherous however (as evidenced by the sinking of [[HMS Orpheus (1860)|HMS ''Orpheus'']] in 1863, killing 180 people) but the coastal steamship lines carried virtually all passenger and freight trade between Auckland and Wellington via Wanganui and Onehunga.<ref name="nzhistory.govt.nz"/>

Onehunga was also the main route to and from the south, as most shipping routes were shorter via the western coast of the North Island than around the east coast to the Waitematā Harbour. Until 1908 a steamer from Onehunga was the fastest means of travel from Auckland to [[Wellington]], the capital of the colony (initially the sea journey went all the way, then later it connected to the [[New Plymouth Express]] instead).<ref name="SOLDIERS"/><ref name="TEARASHIP">[http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/SeaAndAirTransport/Shipping/2/en The era of steam – Saving time] (from [[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]. Retrieved 2008-03-10.)</ref> In 1909 a typical coastal freight connection was a steamer from Onehunga to locations such as [[Raglan, New Zealand|Raglan]], [[Kawhia]] and [[Waitara, New Zealand|Waitara]].<ref>[http://www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=HNS19100126.2.13.2&cl=&srpos=0&st=1&e=-------en--1----0-all Page 4 Advertisements Column 2] (from the ''Hawera & Normanby Star'', volume LVIII, issue LVIII, 26 January 1910, via the [[National Library of New Zealand|National Library]] website. Accessed 2008-03-10.)</ref> Onehunga was the [[Northern Steamship Company|Northern Steamship]]'s base for serving the west coast, including also [[Āwhitu Peninsula|Āwhitu]], [[Hokianga]] and [[Waiuku]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Nov 1913 |title=Northern Steamship Co., Ltd. |work=[[New Zealand Herald]] |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19131115.2.3.3 |access-date=2022-12-01 |via=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref>

By the First World War Onehunga was no longer an important commercial port. This was partly because of a general increase in the size of ships, which meant the Waitematā Harbour was favoured, especially as it was wider and deeper. More significant however was the completion of the [[North Island Main Trunk]] railway in 1908 – this effectively made the coastal passenger and freight steamship trade on both coasts of the country largely unprofitable. Coastal shipping did continue at Onehunga until the 2010s. The port still serves some local fishing, and a cement and sand company maintains facilities there.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.poal.co.nz/about_us/history_onehunga.htm|title=POAL – Our Story}}</ref>

In 1874, the town of Onehunga had 2,044 inhabitants, compared with Wellington's 10,547, reflecting the importance of the smaller port towns during an age when New Zealand was booming, but internal transport links were still rudimentary.<ref name="NZHA53">''New Zealand Historical Atlas'' – McKinnon, Malcolm (Editor); David Bateman, 1997, Plate 53</ref> In 1877, Onehunga was declared a borough with a mayor and 16 councillors.<ref name=SOLDIERS/><ref>{{cite book | last=Bloomfield | first=Gerald Taylor | title=The Evolution of Local Government Areas in Metropolitan Auckland, 1840–1971 | publisher=Auckland University Press | publication-place=Auckland | date=1973 | isbn=0-19-647714-X |page=107 }}</ref>

From 1883, until around 1903 when it was partially demolished, the [[Onehunga Ironworks]] was situated in the town.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18830511.2.16 |title=The Onehunga Iron Works |date=1883-05-01|via=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz |work=Colonist |volume=XXVI |issue=3766|page=4|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19030110.2.81.2 |title=Sales By Auction |date=1903-10-01 |via=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz |work=[[New Zealand Herald]] |volume=XL |issue=12165 |page=8|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref> It operated until around 1895.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18950831.2.9|title=The Tariff Commission|date=1895-08-31|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|series=Otago Daily Times, Issue 10453|page=2|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref> The ironworks was located opposite the original [[Onehunga railway station#History|Onehunga railway station]].<ref name=":0" /> Its chimney and some structures survived into the late 1960s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/?p=r&collection=p20062coll1&id=53397|title=Photograph: Old iron works, Onehunga|last=Diamond|first=John Thomas|date=July 1968|website=kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz|access-date=2019-07-30}}</ref>

From 1885, the town became known for its wool industry (several firms maintained factories here including one which produced blankets). This weaving industry saved the area from more serious decline when the shipping trade reduced after 1908. As the centre of the Auckland isthmus became covered by suburban developments the Onehunga foreshore became an attraction for families from Mount Eden, Epsom and One Tree Hill. The beach at Onehunga became popular after the electric tram route was completed in 1906 and the Tea Rooms situated at the tram terminus, overlooking the harbour were an attraction in their own right.

After the Municipal Abattoir was relocated from [[Freeman's Bay]] to [[Westfield, New Zealand|Westfield]] and [[Southdown, New Zealand|Southdown]], Onehunga started to suffer from the toxic discharges the freezing works pumped into the harbour.<ref name=SOLDIERS/> This effectively put an end to Onehunga's emerging role as a seaside resort and also made it a less attractive place to live. By the late 1930s the water quality of the harbour was poor, with a discernible downturn in fish and wildlife numbers. It became unsafe to eat any shellfish for example and fish numbers dwindled. The installation of a large sewerage treatment plant in the harbour in the 1960s only made things worse. Since the decommissioning of the freezing works at Westfield and Southdown and a redesign of the Manukau Sewerage Treatment Works, the quality of the water has increased significantly.

In 1893, [[Elizabeth Yates (mayor)|Elizabeth Yates]] became mayor of Onehunga. While she was defeated at the polls only one year later, she was the first woman in the British Empire to hold such a post.<ref name="DNZB">{{DNZB|Mogford|Janice C.|2y1|Yates, Elizabeth 1840–1848?–1918|7 April 2011}}</ref>

===Merging with Auckland===
While in 1891 Onehunga was one of the "25 most populous urban areas/towns of New Zealand", with about 5,000 inhabitants,<ref name="NZHA65">''New Zealand Historical Atlas'' – McKinnon, Malcolm (Editor); [[David Bateman]], 1997, Plate 65</ref> by the First World War it had ceased to be a port of importance. It gained a new role as a shopping and service centre as it was engulfed by the suburban development of Auckland, and was amalgamated with [[Auckland City]] in 1989.

Onehunga had for a short time Auckland's first [[zoo]]. However, the zoological garden that [[John James Boyd]] created near today's [[Royal Oak, New Zealand|Royal Oak]] did not meet with local approval – mainly due to concerns about the smells and crowds. Eleven years after its November 1911<ref>{{cite web|last=Truttman|first=Lisa J.|title=J. J. Boyd's Royal Oak Zoo|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/27580903/J-J-Boyds-Royal-Oak-Zoo|access-date=2 September 2012}}</ref> opening, the animals were bought and transferred to the new [[Auckland Zoo]] at [[Western Springs (Auckland suburb)|Western Springs]].<ref>[http://aucklandzoo.co.nz/Homepage/The-Zoo/History/ How it all began...] (from the [[Auckland Zoo]] website. Accessed 2008-03-10.)</ref>

Although the area was a predominantly working-class suburb for much of the 20th century, it has undergone some [[gentrification]] since the 1990s.<ref>[http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/auckland-places/14 South-Eastern Suburbs: Industrial Heartland] (from Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 2011-03-31.)</ref> In recent times, many of the bungalows of the 1920s (along with the earlier villas) have undergone restoration. Secondary schools located conveniently are [[Onehunga High School]], [[One Tree Hill College]] and [[Marcellin College, Auckland|Marcellin College]]. Some boys also attend [[St Peter's College, Auckland|St Peter's College]].<ref>When the Onehunga suburban line reopened in 2010, there were St Peter's boys on the first trains: {{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10674952|title=Rail link puts fun back into getting to school|author=Matthew Dearnaley|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=21 September 2010}}</ref>

== Local government ==
The first local government for the settlement was the [[Hundred (county division)|Hundred of Onehunga]], formed in 1848. This was replaced with the Township of Onehunga Highway District in 1868, which in turn was replaced with the Borough of Onehunga in 1877. The borough expanded northwards via annexation of part of the [[One Tree Hill Road District]] in 1911–1916 and 1925 as well as an annextion of part of the [[Mount Roskill Road District]] in 1936.<ref>{{cite book | last=Bloomfield | first=Gerald Taylor | title=The Evolution of Local Government Areas in Metropolitan Auckland, 1840-1971 | publisher=Auckland University Press | publication-place=Auckland | date=1973 | isbn=0-19-647714-X |page=113}}</ref> The borough governed Onehunga until it was abolished as part of the [[1989 local government reforms]].<ref name=":2"/>

=== Mayors of Onehunga Borough Council === 
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2025}}
* John Dickenson Jackson, 1877–1877
* James William Waller, 1877–1878
* Thomas George Blakey, 1878–1879
* George Codlin, 1879–1880
* Thomas George Blakey, 1880–1881
* George Codlin, 1881–1883
* Dr. William George Scott, 1883–1884
* John Dickenson Jackson, 1884–1885
* Dr. William George Scott, 1885–1886
* Dr. William Robert Close Erson, 1886–1887
* Charles Colville Fleming, 1887–1888
* Captain Michael Yates, 1888–1892
* Dr. William Robert Close Erson, 1892–1893
* [[Elizabeth Yates (mayor)|Elizabeth Yates]], 1893–1894
* Donald Alexander Sutherland, 1894–1897
* Frederick William Court, 1897–1898
* Dr. William Robert Close Erson, 1898–1901
* Donald Alexander Sutherland, 1901–1904
* Angus William Gordon, 1905–1905
* John Rowe, 1906–1917
* John James Boyd, 1917–1917
* John Stoupe, 1917–1919
* [[John Park (architect)|John Park]], 1919–1923
* James Edward Cowell, 1923–1927
* William Charles Coldicutt, 1927–1929
* Edward Morton, 1929–1935
* John Park, 1935–1938
* [[Archer Garside]], 1944–1959
* [[Leo Manning|Leon Abraham Manning]], 1959–1968
* Thomas Victor Gerrard Beeson, 1968–1974
* Leon Abraham Manning, 1974–1980
* [[Laurie Henderson|John Lawrence Henderson]], 1980–1986
* [[Graham Mountjoy|Graham Johnson Mountjoy]], 1986–1989

==Demographics==
Onehunga comprises four statistical areas. Onehunga West, North and Central are primarily residential/commercial. Onehunga-Te Papapa Industrial is primarily industrial.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Individual statistical areas
|-
!Name !! Area<br/>(km<sup>2</sup>) !! Population !! Density<br/>(per km<sup>2</sup>) || Dwellings !! Median age !! Median<br/>income
|-
| Onehunga North || style="text-align:right;"|0.77 || style="text-align:right;"|3,771 || style="text-align:right;"|4,897 || style="text-align:right;"|1,392 || 36.5 years || $50,600<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.144300.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Onehunga North}}</ref>
|-
| Onehunga West || style="text-align:right;"|0.97 || style="text-align:right;"|3,261 || style="text-align:right;"|3,362 || style="text-align:right;"|1,227 || 37.7 years || $56,100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.144101.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Onehunga West}}</ref>
|-
| Onehunga Central || style="text-align:right;"|0.86 || style="text-align:right;"|3,045 || style="text-align:right;"|3,541 || style="text-align:right;"|1,251 || 37.3 years || $51,600<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.145000.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Onehunga Central}}</ref>
|-
| Onehunga-Te Papapa Industrial || style="text-align:right;"|3.03 || style="text-align:right;"|1,134 || style="text-align:right;"|374 || style="text-align:right;"|537 || 34.8 years || $54,300<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.145500.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Onehunga-Te Papapa Industrial}}</ref>
|-
! New Zealand !! !! !! !! !! 38.1 years !! style="text-align:left;"| $41,500
|}

===Residential area===
The residential/commercial area of Onehunga covers {{Convert|2.60|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=17 January 2025}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Onehunga West|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Onehunga North|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Onehunga Central|y}}|R}}|0}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|({{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Onehunga West|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Onehunga North|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Onehunga Central|y}}|R}})/2.60|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|9,618|2013|9,804|2018|10,446|2023|10,077|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for the residential area|source=<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Onehunga West (144100), Onehunga North (144300) and Onehunga Central (145000)}}</ref><ref name="Census 2023"/>|footnote=The 2006 population is for a larger area of 2.75 km<sup>2</sup>.}}
Onehunga residential areas had a population of 10,077 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], a decrease of 369 people (−3.5%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 273 people (2.8%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 4,872 males, 5,157 females and 45 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 3,870 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.144300%2B144101%2B145000.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 4.6% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. There were 1,716 people (17.0%) aged under 15 years, 1,896 (18.8%) aged 15 to 29, 5,250 (52.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,212 (12.0%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 56.2% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 11.3% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 17.5% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 26.9% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 3.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.3%, Māori language by 2.1%, Samoan by 3.7%, and other languages by 25.9%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 38.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 37.1% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 3.8% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 1.8% [[Islam in New Zealand|Islam]], 0.6% [[Māori religious beliefs]], 1.4% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 0.4% [[New Age]], 0.1% [[Judaism in New Zealand|Jewish]], and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 47.5%, and 5.3% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 3,225 (38.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 3,228 (38.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,893 (22.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 1,518 people (18.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 4,944 (59.1%) people were employed full-time, 927 (11.1%) were part-time, and 219 (2.6%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.144300%2B144101%2B145000.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Onehunga North (144300), Onehunga West (144101) and Onehunga Central (145000)}}</ref>

===Industrial area===
Onehunga-Te Papapa Industrial covers {{Convert|3.03|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area"/> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Onehunga-Te Papapa Industrial|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Onehunga-Te Papapa Industrial|y}}|R}}/3.03|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|618|2013|840|2018|870|2023|1,134|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for the industrial area|source=<ref name="Census 2018 I">{{NZ census 2018|Onehunga-Te Papapa Industrial (145500)}}</ref><ref name="Census 2023 I"/>|footnote=The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 2.94 km<sup>2</sup>.}}
Onehunga-Te Papapa Industrial had a population of 1,134 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 264 people (30.3%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 294 people (35.0%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 570 males, 558 females and 9 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 537 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.145500.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 4.8% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 34.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 198 people (17.5%) aged under 15 years, 225 (19.8%) aged 15 to 29, 570 (50.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 141 (12.4%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023 I"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 50.3% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 17.2% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 23.3% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 23.8% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 3.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 92.1%, Māori language by 1.6%, Samoan by 6.3%, and other languages by 23.3%. No language could be spoken by 2.9% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 38.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023 I"/>

Religious affiliations were 40.5% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 3.4% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 2.4% [[Islam in New Zealand|Islam]], 0.8% [[Māori religious beliefs]], 1.6% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 0.5% [[New Age]], 0.5% [[Judaism in New Zealand|Jewish]], and 1.6% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 43.4%, and 5.8% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023 I"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 345 (36.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 363 (38.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 219 (23.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $54,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 135 people (14.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 588 (62.8%) people were employed full-time, 66 (7.1%) were part-time, and 24 (2.6%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023 I">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.145500.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Onehunga-Te Papapa Industrial (145500)}}</ref>

== Foreshore ==
[[File:Onehunga Foreshore Western Side.jpg|thumb|right|The current (2009) foreshore, dominated by man-made breakwaters and thus relatively inhospitable]]

Onehunga's shore is heavily modified by human use. The old volcanic basin that used to link to the Manukau Harbour was filled in, with shorelines reclaimed and straightened for human use ([[Port of Onehunga]], industrial uses and sports fields). The [[New Zealand State Highway 20]] extension further disrupted Onehunga's connection to the shore in the 1970s.<ref name=ONEHUNGAFORESHORECOUNCIL/>

This loss of amenity and space was one of the major complaints of local groups during negotiations over further motorway widening connected to the [[Māngere Bridge (bridges)|Māngere Bridge]] duplication. Proponents of a restored beach eventually won a $18 million commitment from Transit New Zealand (now [[NZ Transport Agency]]), which was topped up by a further $10 million from [[Auckland City Council]]. The sum is to fund a large-scale new shoreline west of the motorway, connected to downtown Onehunga with new pedestrian/cyclebridges, and creating 11ha of new beach and headland landscape. Three designs out of seven initial competitors have been shortlisted for further work as of late 2009, and it is hoped to complete the restoration of the foreshore by mid-2014.<ref name="REJUVE">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10617681&pnum=0|title=$28m to rejuvenate Onehunga Bay|date=29 December 2009|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=20 March 2010|first=Mathew|last=Dearnaley}}</ref>

In mid-2011, the plans for the restoration works were clarified further, and provided for public comment, setting out a {{convert|6.4|hectare|acre|adj=on}} reclamation area with sanded beaches, new green open space and several new headlands. The area is to receive a new boat ramp, and walk and cycleways including a new walking and cycling bridge over the motorway to Onehunga. Construction has started on 19 November 2012.<ref name=ONEHUNGAFORESHORECOUNCIL>{{cite news|title=Onehunga Foreshore|work=Our Auckland|date=July 2011|agency=Auckland Council|page=4}}</ref>

The newly named Taumanu Reserve was officially opened to the public on 14 November 2015, in an event attended by over a thousand people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Great turnout for Onehunga foreshore opening|url=http://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2015/11/great-turnout-for-onehunga-foreshore-opening/|access-date=19 December 2015|date=16 November 2015}}</ref>

== Transport ==

[[Onehunga Line]] rail services carry passengers between [[Onehunga railway station]] and central Auckland's [[Britomart Transport Centre]] along the [[Onehunga Branch]] line to a junction with the main line at [[Penrose railway station, Auckland|Penrose station]]. The [[Campaign for Better Transport (New Zealand)|Campaign for Better Transport]] campaigned to have the line extended south from Onehunga across the SH20 Manukau Harbour second crossing bridge to [[Auckland Airport]]. Former Auckland Mayor [[Len Brown]] also campaigned for this [[Auckland Airport Line]], though it will likely only be developed after the [[City Rail Link]] is completed.

[[New Zealand AM class electric multiple unit|Electric services]] began running between Britomart and Onehunga on 28 April 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11245293|title='Stunning' electric trains launched – but soon face delays|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=28 April 2014|access-date=11 November 2016}}</ref>

Queen St, named after [[Queen Victoria]], led onto the 1920s [[Māngere Bridge (bridges)|Māngere Bridge]] and thence to the [[Māngere Bridge (suburb)|suburb of the same name]]. This was one of the main land routes south out of Auckland and the usual route to the airport until the motorway and regional road system in the 1970s diverted the through traffic away from the Onehunga and Mangere Bridge.

In 1973, Queen St was closed to through traffic, and on 2 April 1973 was renamed Onehunga Mall and reopened as a pedestrian shopping precinct. In 1996, Onehunga Mall was reopened to traffic.<ref>{{cite web|title=Discover Onehunga's Rich History|url=http://www.onehunga.net.nz/onehunga-heritage/onehunga-history/|work=Onehunga Business Association|access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Famous Firsts in Onehunga|url=http://www.onehunga.net.nz/onehunga-heritage/famous-firsts-in-onehunga/|work=Onehunga Business Association|access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref>

Until 1956, a tram line ran all the way from the [[Auckland CBD]] to Onehunga.<ref name=SOLDIERS/>

==Notable buildings==
=== Onehunga Post Office (former) ===
The Onehunga Post Office was built in 1901–2, in an Edwardian Baroque post office style, during a boom in post office construction throughout New Zealand in the early 20th century.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-05-11 |title=Landmark a trophy investment - Property News |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/landmark-a-trophy-investment/ZCROGD5HVI7XF5MYZRSXC7A7AE/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Designed by Government Architect [[John Campbell (architect)|John Campbell]], it is one of the earliest examples of the work of this prolific architect.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Heritage New Zealand |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/5473/Listing |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Welcome to Heritage New Zealand |language=en}}</ref> Construction was completed on 3 February 1902, opening officially on 14 February 1902 and attended by a number of members of Parliament including [[Joseph Ward|Sir Joseph Ward]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wanganui Chronicle |date=15 February 1902 |title=Onehunga Post Office |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19020215.2.28.8?query=Onehunga+Post+Office&snippet=true |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> The building hosted essential public services such as mail, banking, and telegraph facilities.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Auckland Council’s Heritage Unit |date=December 2013 |title=Onehunga Heritage Survey Report |url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/arts-culture-heritage/heritage/heritagesurveys/onehunga-heritage-survey.pdf}}</ref> The former Post Office is located on the corner of Princes Street & Onehunga Mall Road (formerly Queen Street).<ref name=":1" /> By the 1990s the building was neglected and set for demolition, this was until the local community rallied and the building was refurbished in 1994–5.<ref name=":2" /> Since, it has hosted multiple hospitality businesses. The Onehunga Post Office is the oldest surviving building in Onehunga's business district and was appointed a Heritage Place Category 2 in July 1993.<ref name=":1" /><gallery mode="packed">
File:Onehunga Post Office Opening.jpg|The opening of the new Onehunga Post Office, 1902
File:Stately Older Post Office Onehunga Mall.jpg|Former Onehunga Post Office, 2011
</gallery>

=== St Peter's Church ===
[[St Peter's Church, Onehunga|St Peter's Church]] is an [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] church located on the corner of Onehunga Mall Road and Church Street. The [[Selwyn church]] built in 1848 has been relocated.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Knight, Cyril Roy.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/596619|title=The Selwyn churches of Auckland|date=1972|publisher=A.H. & A.W. Reed|isbn=0-589-00705-X|location=Wellington [N.Z.]|pages=28|oclc=596619}}</ref> The existing building dates from the 1980s and incorporates a gothic revival tower from the 1930s. The churchyard contains the graves of many of Onehunga's early settlers such as first woman Mayor of the British Empire, [[Elizabeth Yates (mayor)|Elizabeth Yates]] and some of the dead from the [[HMS Orpheus (1860)|Wreck of the HMS Orpheus.]]<ref>{{Citation |title=St Peter's Church, Onehunga |date=2025-01-02 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Peter's_Church,_Onehunga |access-date=2025-02-18 |language=en}}</ref><gallery mode="packed">
File:St. Peter's Church, Onehunga 1928.gif|St Peter's church, 1928
File:St Peter's Anglican Church, Onehunga 20240630 115846 01.jpg|St Peter's Church, 2024
</gallery>

=== Carnegie Free Library (former) ===
Located on Princes Street, the Carnegie Free Library was built in 1911-12 and funded by American industrialist, [[Andrew Carnegie]] who supported the construction of free libraries throughout the world.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Heritage New Zealand |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/4796/4796 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Welcome to Heritage New Zealand |language=en}}</ref> It was one of [[List of Carnegie libraries in Africa, the Caribbean, and Oceania#New Zealand|eighteen in New Zealand]] built with his financial support. The building was designed by local Architect, John Park, who later served as Mayor of Onehunga. The classical [[Edwardian architecture|Edwardian style]] building opened on 11 September 1912 and operated as a library for close to 60 years.<ref name=":3" /> In 1957, the name of the building was changed, with the word 'Free' being removed, it became known as the Onehunga Public Library.<ref name=":2" /> By 1967 the library moved to Church Street and the building was vacated. The building faced threats of demolition, with opposition from the local community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Save the Carnegie Library! |url=https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/discover/collections/record/974720?f=subject_category:Carnegie |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Auckland War Memorial Museum |language=en}}</ref> It was then purchased in 1988 and used as a community space until it was sold privately in 1998. Since then it has housed multiple restaurants and bars. In 1987 it was appointed a Historic Place Category 1 listing.<ref name=":3" /><gallery mode="packed">
File:Carnegie Library, Onehunga 1912.jpg|Carnegie Library, Onehunga 1912
File:NZ AK Carnegie Free Library (2).jpg|Carnegie Library building, 2023
</gallery>

=== Our Lady of the Assumption Church ===
[[Our Lady of the Assumption, Auckland|Our Lady of the Assumption Church]], located at the corner of Church & Galway Streets is a Roman Catholic church built between 1887 and 1889. It was designed by Architect [[Thomas Mahoney (architect)|Thomas Mahoney]] in [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival style]] and built by local bricklayer William Kemp.<ref>{{Citation |title=Our Lady of the Assumption, Auckland |date=2025-02-06 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_the_Assumption,_Auckland |access-date=2025-02-18 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Next to the church building is a denominational cemetery which contains the graves of many of Onehunga's early settlers. In 1983 it was appointed a Historic Place Category 2 listing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Heritage New Zealand |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/523/523 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Welcome to Heritage New Zealand |language=en}}</ref><gallery mode="packed">
File:Interior of the Church of the Assumption, Auckland 1896 (cropped).jpg|Interior of Our Lady of the Assumption in Onehunga, 1896
File:Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (Catholic).jpg|Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, 2020
</gallery>

=== The Landing (formerly The Manukau Hotel) ===
The Landing building is located at 2 Onehunga Harbour Road. It was built in 1865 by George Hodge, to accommodate passengers arriving to the Onehunga Wharf.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-18 |title=Landmark refurbished Manukau waterfront property for sale |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/landmark-refurbished-manukau-waterfront-property-for-sale/YYA7MVVPIQ4CPUPO6FICUBNCW4/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=NZ Transport Agency |date=November 2016 |title=Technical Report 2 - Built Heritage Assessment |url=https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/projects/east-west-link-application-to-the-environmental-protection-authority-epa/Technical-Report-2-Built-Heritage.pdf}}</ref> It was known as the Manukau Hotel and was owned by Captain Henry Hardington from 1874. In June 1879, the hotel burnt down. A new hotel designed by architect James Wrigley, opened in December 1879 on the same site.<ref name=":4" /> The building has seen significant alteration since its construction, both in 1892 by J. Huntley Allen and by Charles Arnold in 1906. It has been in continuous use as a hotel and public house since its reconstruction in 1879.<ref name=":4" /> It now operates as a restaurant and is widely recognised as a historical and social landmark of the area.<ref name=":4" /><gallery mode="packed">
File:Manukau Hotel, Onehunga.jpg|Manukau Hotel Onehunga, 1900s
</gallery>

=== Arch of Remembrance ===
The Arch of Remembrance, is located in Jellicoe Park on Quadrant Road & Grey Street. The park itself opened in 1923 by the [[Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor General]], [[John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe|Lord Jellicoe]], and is the site of Onehunga's Public Swimming Pools which opened in 1956.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Onehunga war memorial |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/onehunga-war-memorial |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=nzhistory.govt.nz}}</ref> The Arch of Remembrance was officially unveiled on 20 October 1929 as a memorial for [[World War I|WWI]] and [[World War II|WWII]]. It is made from locally sourced [[scoria]] and its initial construction was overseen by John Park. Since its inception it has served as a commemorative site for the local community.<ref name=":2" /><gallery mode="packed">
File:Arch of Remembrance, Onehunga.jpg|The Arch of Remembrance at the entrance to Jellicoe Park in Onehunga.
</gallery>

=== Onehunga Blockhouse ===
[[Onehunga Blockhouse]] is a brick building relocated from Princes St, built in 1860 as a defense strongpost during the [[New Zealand Wars]], it is currently owned by the Onehunga Fencible and Historical Society.<ref>{{Citation |title=Onehunga Blockhouse |date=2025-02-04 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onehunga_Blockhouse |access-date=2025-02-18 |language=en}}</ref><gallery mode="packed">
File:Sketches near Onehunga, 1892 (cropped).jpg|Sketch of Onehunga Blockhouse, 1892
File:Onehunga Blockhouse Front 2024.jpg|Front of the Onehunga Blockhouse, 2024
</gallery>

=== Journey's End (replica) ===
Journeys End is a replica of a 1850 wooden [[Fencibles|Fencible]] cottage, opened in 1959 and moved to its current site in 1969.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Heritage New Zealand |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/91/Onehunga%20Blockhouse |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Welcome to Heritage New Zealand |language=en}}</ref><gallery mode="packed">
File:Journeys End.jpg|Journey's End, 2024
</gallery>

=== Laishley House ===
Laishley House was built in 1859–60 as a [[manse]] for the congregational church, at 44 Princes Street and later relocated to Jellicoe Park in 1985. The first minister was Rev. Richard Laishley, in which the house is named after.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Onehunga Fencible & Historical Society Inc |url=https://www.kotuia.org.nz/organisation-pages/org-page-3058/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.kotuia.org.nz |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref name=":5" /><gallery mode="packed">
File:Laishley House.jpg| Laishley House, 2024
</gallery>

=== Manukau Yacht and Motor Boat Club (formerly) ===
Located on Onehunga Harbour Road, the now, Aotea Sea Scout Den, was built in 1911 by John Park for the Manukau Yacht and Motor Boat Club. The building was taken over by the Aotea Sea Scouts in 1977.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aotea Sea Scouts {{!}} PlaceMakers NZ |url=https://www.placemakers.co.nz/online/aotea-sea-scouts |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.placemakers.co.nz}}</ref> It is noted to be one of the oldest remaining yacht clubs in New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-19 |title=Historic Sea Scout hall may shift to make way for bridge |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/historic-sea-scout-hall-may-shift-to-make-way-for-bridge/QFVTCPNEFKDM6RWVKGMU5ZJLN4/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><gallery mode="packed">
File:Aotea Sea Scouts' Ship.png|Aotea Sea Scouts Den, 2016
</gallery>

=== Onehunga Primary School (formerly) ===
The former Onehunga Primary School was opened on 20 November 1901.<ref name=":2" /> The building was constructed by G M Hancock and designed by architects to the Auckland Education Board, John Mitchell and Robert Watt. Made from native [[Agathis|kauri]], in a [[Queen Anne style architecture|Queen Anne Revival style]], the building served as a school for 80 years and from 1981 used as a community space.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Heritage New Zealand |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/7109/7109 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Welcome to Heritage New Zealand |language=en}}</ref> It is listed as a Historic Place Category 1.<ref name=":6" /><gallery mode="packed">
File:Photos 173805 extralarge.jpg|The opening of the new school in Onehunga, November 20, 1901
File:NZ AK Onehunga Primary School (2).jpg|Onehunga Primary School (Former), 2023
</gallery>

=== Onehunga Railway Station ===
The former [[Onehunga railway station]] building, is now relocated to 38 Alfred Street serves as headquarters of the [[Railway Enthusiasts Society]] Inc. It was built in 1873. As one of the first train stations to be built under the Vogel Railway Acts of 1870s New Zealand.<ref name=":2" /><gallery mode="packed">
File:Onehunga Train Station 19th Century.jpg|The train station at Onehunga, sometime in the second half of the 19th Century.
</gallery>

==Commerce==

[[Dress Smart]] Auckland opened in Onehunga in 1995,<ref name="DressSmartSteeman">{{cite news |last1=Steeman |first1=Marta |title=Australian property giant Lendlease to sell two big Dress Smart outlets, Dunedin mall |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/116662217/australian-property-giant-lendlease-puts-two-big-dress-smart-outlets-and-a-dunedin-mall-on-the-market |publisher=[[stuff.co.nz]] |date=18 October 2019}}</ref> and expanded in 2005.<ref name="DressSmartExpansion">{{cite news |title=Dress-Smart Expansions Near Completion |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0510/S00321/dress-smart-expansions-near-completion.htm |publisher=Dress Smart |date=18 October 2005}}</ref> It now covers an area of 13,217 m<sup>2</sup>, with up to 101 tenancies and 735 carparks.<ref name="DressSmartSteeman" />

==Education==

[[Onehunga High School]] is a secondary school (years 9–13) with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|86|y}} students.<ref>{{TKI|86|Onehunga High School}}</ref>

Onehunga Primary School is a contributing primary school  (years 1–6)  with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1399|y}} students.<ref>{{TKI|1399|Onehunga Primary School}}</ref>

St Joseph's Catholic School is a state-integrated full primary school (years 1–8) with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1494|y}} students.<ref>{{TKI|1494|St Joseph's Catholic School}}</ref>

Golden Grove School is a private Montessori full primary school (years 1–8) with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|604|y}} students.<ref>{{TKI|604|Golden Grove School}}</ref>

All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}

== Sport ==
Waikaraka Park Speedway is a [[motorcycle speedway]] venue in Waikaraka Park, on 175-243 Neilson Street. The venue has hosted important events, including the North Island final round of the [[Speedway World Championship]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dlprezes.pl.tl/SPEEDWAY--_--Indywidualne-mistrzostwa-%26%23346%3Bwiata-----------k1-World-Speedway-Championship-k2-.htm |title=World Championship |website=Metal Speedway |access-date=13 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedway.org/history/ |title=World Championship  | website=Speedway.org |access-date=13 February 2024}}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
*[[Margaret Beveridge Stevenson]] (1865–1941), a New Zealand [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]]
*[[Annie Christina Morrison]], first headmistress of [[Epsom Girls' Grammar School]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stenson |first=Marcia |date=1996 |title=Morrison, Annie Christina |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3m62/morrison-annie-christina |access-date=8 September 2023 |website=[[Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*''The Lively Capital, Auckland 1840–1865''. Una Platts. Avon Fine Prints Limited New Zealand 1971.
*''Onehunga Art & Heritage Walks'', Onehunga Mainstreet Programme 2003.

==External links==
*[http://onehunga.net.nz Discover Onehunga – all about Onehunga] (site maintained by Onehunga Business Association)
*[http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=SEE_ALSO&QF0=Subjects&QI0==%22Onehunga%22&XC=/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aucklandcity.govt.nz%2Fdbtw-wpd%2FHeritageImages%2Findex.htm&TN=heritageimages&SN=AUTO7976&SE=1810&RN=0&MR=20&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=1&XP=&RF=HIOReport&EF=&DF=HIORecord&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=2&ID=&MF=WPEngMsg.ini&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=503&NR=1&NB=0&SV=0&SS=1&BG=&FG=&QS=index&OEX=ISO-8859-1&OEH=ISO-8859-1 Photographs of Onehunga] held in [[Auckland Libraries|Auckland Libraries']] heritage collections.

{{Onehunga}}
{{Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board Area}}

[[Category:Suburbs of Auckland]]
[[Category:Port cities in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Populated places around the Manukau Harbour]]
[[Category:Onehunga| *]]