Overview
Ōtāhuhu is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand – to the southeast of the CBD, on a narrow isthmus between an arm of the Manukau Harbour to the west and the Tāmaki River estuary to the east. The Auckland isthmus is the narrowest connection between the North Auckland Peninsula and the rest of the North Island, being only some wide at its narrowest point, between the Ōtāhuhu Creek and the Māngere 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-language name of the volcanic cone known as Ōtāhuhu / Mount Richmond. The name refers to "the place of Tāhuhu" — the eponymous ancestor, Tāhuhu-nui-a-Rangi, of Ngāi Tāhuhu.
Demographics
Ōtāhuhu covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of . Ōtāhuhu had a population of 14,778 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 384 people (−2.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 1,212 people (8.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 7,719 males, 7,017 females and 45 people of other genders in 4,374 dwellings. 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 32.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 3,147 people (21.3%) aged under 15 years, 3,540 (24.0%) aged 15 to 29, 6,669 (45.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,419 (9.6%) aged 65 or older.
History
The area is named after Tāhuhunui-o-te-rangi, captain of the Moekākara waka, and who settled on Ōtāhuhu and in Northland, his descendants becoming the Ngāi Tāhuhu iwi. Portage Road, which runs between the Manukau Harbour and Ōtāhuhu Creek, was originally Te Tō Waka, a portage for waka between the Manukau and Waitemata harbours. Ōtāhuhu was established in 1848 with the arrival of the ship Ann as a fencible settlement, where soldiers were granted land with the implied understanding that in wartime, they would be raised as units to defend it (the eventual fighting in July 1863 well over a decade later used professional soldiers instead). All features excluding the street layout we see today from this time have disappeared such as the stone Tāmaki Bridge built by the fencibles that had to make way to a widening of Great South Road. Great South Road is one of the earliest roads in the region.
Surveying and construction commenced in 1843; by 1851 the road had been metalled as far as Ōtāhuhu. The first section of the Auckland to Drury Railway was opened in 1873, connecting the township of Auckland to Penrose. The Otahuhu station was opened on 20 May 1875. During World War II fortifications were constructed in case of Japanese Invasion. Anti-tank measures included concrete barriers on Great South Road and extensive ditches. Pillboxes were erected adjacent to Favona Road and in Sturges Park. Camp Euart was established nearby, housing 5000 American troops at its peak; this had positive economic effects on Ōtāhuhu. The first supermarket in the country was opened at present day 628 Great South Road, Ōtāhuhu on 18 June 1958, when the first Foodtown was opened by Tom Ah Chee, who pooled his resources with two other Auckland produce shop owners Norman Kent and John Brown.
Local government
The Otahuhu Borough Council was formed in 1912 from the earlier Otahuhu Road District, which had been formed in 1865. The Otahuhu Borough Council merged with Mt Wellington Borough Council into Tamaki City in 1986 which was a short lived affair. Further amalgamations of Otahuhu's local government affairs resulted them moving into Auckland City Council in 1990 and eventually amalgamated into Auckland Council in November 2010, where it has been part of the Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board area jurisdiction since 2010.
Mayors during Otahuhu Borough Council
*Alfred Sturges, 1912–1915 *James Atkinson, 1915–1917 *Alfred MacDonald, 1917–1921 *Robert Black Todd, 1921–1929 *Hubert Thomas Clements, 1929–1935 *Charles Robert Petrie, 1935–1944 *Albert Murdoch, 1944–1950 *James Deas, 1950–1954 *John "Jack" David Murdoch, 1954–1962 *Robert G. Ashby, 1962–1965 *Aubray Thayer Bedingfield, 1965–1970 *Claude H. D. Handisides, 1970–1977 *Niall Frederick Burgess, 1977–1985
Education
* Otahuhu College is a secondary school (years 9–13) with a roll of . * Otahuhu Intermediate is an intermediate school (years 7–8) with a roll of . * Otahuhu School and Fairburn School are contributing primary schools (years 1–6) with rolls of and students, respectively. * McAuley High School is a state-integrated Catholic girls secondary school (years 9–13) with a roll of . St Joseph's School is a state-integrated Catholic full primary school (years 1–8) with a roll of . The schools are across the street from each other. * King's College is a private Anglican secondary school (years 9–13) with a roll of . Years 9–11 are boys only, and years 12 and 13 are coeducational. * Mt Richmond School is a special school for students with intellectual disabilities. It has a roll of . All these schools are coeducational, except McAuley High School and King's College (as noted above). Rolls are as of
Community facilities
*Giac Nhien Temple, a Vietnamese Buddhist temple is located in the suburb.
Transport
Ōtāhuhu, 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 combined bus interchange and Ōtāhuhu railway station. The new bus-train interchange opened on 29 October 2016 as a joint Auckland Transport and NZ Transport Agency initiative costing NZ$28M. "The station is at the heart of the Southern New Network", said Auckland Transport's Chief AT Metro Officer, Mark Lambert. "Auckland is moving towards a more connected network of local feeder services connecting with frequent bus and train services.
Bus and train transport hubs like Ōtāhuhu are at the heart of this transformation." The old bus interchange, which was badly neglected, and had received increased attention from early 2011 on for vandalism/graffiti prevention measures is now closed and a smaller bus stop has been installed on the main road near the town centre.
Sport and recreation
Ōtāhuhu is home to the Ōtāhuhu Rugby Football Club and the Otahuhu Leopards rugby league club.
Notable people
* Bruce Cathie (1930-2013), National Airways Corporation pilot and ufologist * Efeso Collins (1974-2024), politician. Last residences were in Otahuhu * David Lange (1942-2005), lawyer, MP and former Prime Minister of New Zealand. Grew up in Otahuhu. * Many famous personalities went to Otahuhu College, including heavyweight boxing champion David Tua, former prime minister David Lange, and ex-Manukau City Mayor, Sir Barry Curtis.
External links
*Photographs of Ōtāhuhu held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections