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SECTION 3 THE DISTRICT OF 3.1 FORM OF THE DISTRICT 3.2 POPULATION 3.2.1 Trends 3.2.2 Age Structure 3.2.3 Ethnic Structure 3.3 HOUSING 3.3.1 Building Permits 3.3.2 Tenure 3.3.3 Pensioner Housing 3.4 PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES 3.4.1 General 3.4.2 Objectives 32

3.0 THE DISTRICT OF OTAHUHU

3.1 FORM OF THE DISTRICT

The District of Otahuhu is located at the narrowest part of the isthmus, at the point where only a narrow piece of land, used historically as a portage by the Maori people, separates the upper waters of the Waitemata Harbour and those of the Harbour. This land bridge of just over l km in width is traversed in an east-west direction by a canal reserve. To the north of the District lies the District of Mount Wellington. To the south and west the adjoining local authorities are Borough and .

The only significant topographical feature in the District is the low profile volcano of Mount Richard. The majority of the District is characterised by relatively flat land or gentle undulations which mostly fall towards the and the Otahuhu Creek.

The District is now largely developed. A substantial central commercial area lies astride the Great South Road and Atkinson Avenue junction. The industrial areas are mainly concentrated in the north- wes t ern part of the District, adjacent to the Main Trunk Railway. Much of the remainder of the District consists of well-established residential areas. There is some variation in character and upkeep, with many pleasant areas, particularly those with views over the Otahuhu Creek and Tamaki River.

The southern part of the District contains large areas of private open space - the grounds of Kings College and the Auckland Golf Course, the latter abutting the site. 33

TABLE 1 : POPULATION CHANGES (1945 - 1986)

Census Total Population Intercensal % Increase Increase

1945 7,161 921 12.9 1951 8,082 473 5.9 1956 8,555 220 2.6 1961 8,775 1,046 11.9 1966 9,821 95 1 1971 9,916 642 6.5 1976 10,558 -260 -2.5 1981 10,298 - 48 -0.5 1986 11,002 704 6.8

Sources: Census statistics, Department of Statistics

A notable feature of the Borough is the difference between the resident population and the daytime population. Because there are approximately 10,000 jobs within the District, there is a significant rise in daytime population.

The vigorous commercial and industrial development of recent years has been mainly due to the strateg1c location of Otahuhu on main transport links between North Auckland and the remainder of the North Island. The Great South Road is still a heavily used arterial route and the eastern part of the District is bisected by the Auckland-Hamilton motorway. The Railway constitutes the long western boundary to the District. The District therefore serves as a gateway to the isthmus of Auckland. 34

3.2 POPULATION

3.2.1 Trends

Between 1971 and 1976 the population of Otahuhu increased by 6.5%. This trend was reversed by the time of the 1981 Census - during the period 1976 - 1981 the population had decreased by 2.5%. The latest Census shows Otahuhu's population is again growing; between 1981 and 1986 the population had increased by 6.8% (see Table 1). As a comparison, the population in the Auckland Central area over the intercensal period 1981 - 1986 increased by 2.6%.

3.2.2 Age Structure

TABLE 2 AGE STRUCTURE (1976 AND 1981)

Age Group % % % in Years 1976(1) of Total 1981(2) of Total 1986(3) of Total

0-4 901 8.5 960 9.4 1,038 9.5 5-14 1,482 14.0 1,239 12.1 1,383 12.7 15- 17 819 7.7 702 6.9 645 5.9 18-19 589 5.7 603 5.9 462 4.3 20-29 2,204 20.9 2,286 22.3 2,568 23.6 30-39 1,100 10.4 1,803 10.6 1,344 12.4 40-49 ( 1,959 18.6 903 8.8 981 9.0 50-59 ( 912 8.9 867 8.0 60-64 441 4.2 378 3.7 375 3.4 65 and over 1,054 10.0 1,170 11.4 1,167 10.7 Not Specified 48 0.4

10,558 100 10,236 100 10,878 100.0

Sources: ( 1) 1976 Census of Population and Dwellings (Bulletin No. 4 Central Auckland Statistical Area). 35

(2) Census of Population and Dwellings, 1981. (3) Provisional Totals, New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings, 1986.

Table 2 indicates there has been little change in the age structure of the popu lation between the 1981 and 1986 Census. The proportions in each group are similar.

The 20-29 year age group continues to dominate Otahuhu I s age structure, although the 5-14, 30-39 and 65 and over age categories also contain a significant proportion of the total population.

3.2.3 TABLE 3 ETHNIC STRUCTURE

Otahuhu District Auckland Urban A 1976 1981 1981

Category Number 0 Number % 0

European 7,463 70.7 6,393 62.5 80.4 NL Maori 1,561 14.8 1,797 17.6 8.1 Pacific Island Polynesian 887 8.4 1,440 14.1 7.4 Chinese 25 0.2 84 0.8 1.1 Indian 219 2 .1 243 2.4 1.0 Other and not Specified 403 3.8 279 2.6 2.0

Total 10,558 100.0 10,236 100.0 100

Source: Census of Population and Dwellings 1976 and 1981. 36

Otahuhu District Auckland Urban Area

1986

Category Number % %

European 5,241 48.2 74.3 NZ Maori 1,863 17.1 7.8 Pacific Island Polynesian(l) 1,986 18.3 7.8 European/NZ Maori 348 3.2 2.5 European/Pacific Island/Polynesian(l) 105 1.0 0.8 3 ethnic origins(2) 72 0.7 0.4 0therOY' 849 7.8 4.7 Not Specified 330 3.0 1.3

10 ,872 100 100

(1) Comprises Samoans, Cook Island Maoris, Niueans and Tongans.

(2) Includes all combinations of three ethnic origins except those cases where one or more of the ethnic origins are in the 'Chinese', 'Indian• or 'Other' categories. (ie. European/NZ Maori/Pacific Island Polynesian as above).

(3) Includes all persons where one or more of the ethnic origins specified was 'Chinese', 'Indian• or 'Other' (eg. Japanese, Fijian, Vietnamese).

Source: Provisional Totals, New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings; 1986. 37

Otahuhu has a diversity of ethnic groupings present. Although the European component is st i 11 the largest, the percentage of Europeans continues to decrease, while the percentages of Maori and Polynesians are increasing.

The percentages of Maori and Polynesians are twice as high as those for the Auckland Urban area as a whole. This has implications in terms of the differing social and cultural aspirations, values and needs of Maoris and Polynesians for planning in the District.

3.2.4 Table 4 Employment Status - 1986

Category Nulllber

Self Employed with employees 144 2.8 Self Employed without employees 228 4.4 Wage or salary earner 4,224 81.5 Relative assisting unpaid 33 0.6 Unemployed/seeking work 507 9.8 Not specified 51 1.0

5,187 100

Source: Provisional Totals, New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings, 1986.

The above table indicates that wage and salary earners dominate the employment character of 0tahuhu. This is probably a reflection of the types of employment opportunities available within the District. The unemployed and seeking work category includes a significant proportion of the population. 38

3.3.1 Building Permits

1981-82 1982-3 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86

New Dwellings 8 7 2 2 28 Alterations & Additions No figure 208 242 201 269 New Flats 1 3 14 19

Source: Building Statistics Bulletins: Department of Statistics.

The number of permits for new houses increased dramatically in 1985/86. There has also been a considerable increase in permits issued for new flats between 1984 and 1986.

3.3.2 Tenure

1976 1981

Owner Occupied 1,461 1,458 Rented or leased 1,702 1,746

There has been little change in relative numbers of owner occupied and rented or leased accommodation during the 1976-81 period. Otahuhu has a high proportion of rental housing compared with other Auckland urban areas.

3.3.3 Pensioner Housing

Otahuhu District has 145 pensioner units which are rental units. There is a considerable demand for these units and 39

this is likely to continue as the population continues to age.

3.4 PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

3.4.1 The Council is concerned to maintain the essentially residential character of Otahuhu, whilst recognising the need to accommodate a demand for growth and change in the commercial centre and in the adjacent commercial service and industrial areas. Since these generate significant employment opportunities for residents in Otahuhu, it is important that the potential for development and redevelopment within the District can be realised.

Thus the Council has endeavoured to derive a number of broad objectives that will achieve a balanced approach between the desires of the residents and the demands of development interests, while achieving a high standard of environment and level of services within the District.

3.4.2 Objectives

1. To maintain and enhance the existing residential areas in the District.

2. To provide a level of density of residential development appropriate to the locality and its environmental character.

3. To encourage redevelopment opportunities within the commercial centre for retail and office use.

4. To encourage the expansion of commercial service uses in the commercial areas peripheral to the central core of the commercial centre. 40

5. To encourage further employment opportunities within the industrial and connnercial areas of the District.

6. To contain industrial activities within the existing industrial zones.

7. To protect workers and residents from any detrimental effects of industrial activities by means of performance standards and controls.

8. To ensure high standards of development in all zones by means of amenity controls.

9. To prepare a recreational planning strategy for the development of recreation and open space areas in the District.

10. To promote the further provision of community and social facilities in the District, as well as the multi-purpose use of such facilities .

11. To continue to improve provisions for the movement of traffic in the District for the safety, efficiency and convenience of the public and to relate adjoining land uses to the roading classification.

12. To protect and enhance areas of public open space within the District by means of planting programmes.