Capturing Panmure’s past About the AMETI transport projects As AMETI progresses and the Panmure area is transformed, we take a look back at the history The Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI) is a group of transport projects of one of Auckland’s first settlements….. for the south east (Panmure, Mt Wellington, Pakuranga, Howick and Botany). Key North south road NewsletterAuckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative. AMETI October 2013 Phase 1 Panmure Merton Rd extension l North/South Rd l New Panmure Station A p i The University of r Auckland a n Phase 2 Panmure to Pakuranga a Makeover for historic lagoon A l New Panmure Intersection Quarry v e l Busway Lagoon Dr & Pakuranga Rd Stonefields Link Rd l New Panmure Bridge Work gets underway on a major makeover for a forgotten corner of Panmure. M l New Reeves Rd Flyover orr i n R d A forgotten and neglected historic corner of Panmure Watercare is also carrying out a stormwater Future developments is getting a major makeover as part of one of Auckland’s pipe upgrade. South Eastern Connections biggest transport projects. Study Just off Mt Wellington Highway, Van Damme’s Lagoon New north-south road Pillkington Rd H obson Work is underway on upgrading and has been through a number of changes in its history. Panmure Station St s new bus/rail D re unn C revitalising Van Damme’s Lagoon and reserve Rd es interchange Mo Coat un (story continues on page three) ta in Gre as part of AMETI. E R en Rd llersl d ie Pan mu re Jellicoe Rd Hwy Pleas New Panmure ant V Mt Wellington iew Mt Wellington intersection Shopping Centre Panmure to Pakuranga y Ellerslie-Panmure Highway Bridge opens w d Major milestone – R north side busway H and Panmure n el L o r a t I g o o lling e n W D In 1841, the government purchased what was then known More than 2500 men, women and children arrived in t r M as the Kohimarama block from Ngati Paoa. Soon after, a New Zealand between 1847 and 1852. They settled in the Van Damm Lagoon local surveying company divided the area into 37 farms now south and eastern suburbs of Auckland, including Panmur Additional Panmure Reeves Rd totalling 3856 acres. Onehunga, Otahuhu, Panmure and Howick. In return for Bridge Flyover e Bridge Bus Countdown availability in case of attack and attendance at parades, Waip Station Part of this area, between Mt Wellington and the Tamaki una Rd 10A the Fencibles were provided with a cottage and an acre River, then became the settlement of Panmure. Sylvia Park bus route W Pakuranga Rd of land which they would own after seven years of service. ai p d un improvements a R B Pakuranga rid s One of the traditional transportation routes between ge Reeve y s Rd d U Panmure was initially favoured to be the new capital of Sylvia Park 10 the Waitemata Harbour and the Manukau Harbour was Shopping Centre New Zealand but Governor William Hobson decided located approximately five kilometres up the Tamaki Pakuranga to r D otherwise, and Auckland was established further to the r River. Maori would beach their waka at the end of a small Botany central e m a west along the shores of the Waitemata Harbour. busway s s creek (that now passes under the southern motorway) o G and drag them overland to the Manukau Harbour. Panmure subsequently became a Fencible settlement, Gossamer intersection where retired soldiers were required to give 12 days 1 Mokoia Pa, on the headland where Panmure Bridge improvements Trugood intersection military service per year and parade on Sunday in full T i Ra is now, was visited in 1820 by the missionary Samuel kau improvements military attire. Dr Marsden. During the musket wars in September 1821 B otany T Mokoia Pa was the scene of severe fighting as the In 1851, the Fencibles were called to arms when a flotilla ru g To Botany o o d d R D area was invaded by 4000 musket carrying warriors from of 20 waka carrying 350 warriors landed in Mechanics Bay s r i r r a The new Ellerslie-Panmure Highway bridge has been open Auckland Transport Chairman Lester Levy says AMETI is the north. to attack Auckland. The Panmure Fencibles were issued H to traffic since August. Auckland Transport’s largest construction project which with ammunition to defend the Tamaki River and stop any The fighting devastated what had been the Ngati Paoa on completion will see the delivery of the first major armed Maori attack. One of the area’s busiest roads, the bridge completion population centre of the Auckland Isthmus during pre- infrastructure in the area for a number of years. is a major milestone in the Auckland Manukau Eastern European times, which had a population of approximately Panmure was an important town and port as it was The aim is to give people in the area better transport Panmure to Pakuranga (Phase Two) – new intersection Transport Initiative (AMETI). “It’s fantastic to see this project taking shape and my 7,000 people. Although 3000 men took part in the strategically placed near the narrowest part of the choices by improving public transport, walking and to replace Panmure roundabout, busway from Panmure congratulations go out to the AMETI team who have defence of the pa, Ngati Paoa was defeated by the isthmus. Even after the railway reached Auckland in 1908, cycling facilities and reducing traffic congestion. Other Station to Pakuranga town centre, walking and cycle The bridge, a key part of the first phase of AMETI, was worked hard to get the bridge completed ahead of combined northern alliance. Panmure continued as a transport hub. major aims are to create jobs by unlocking the economic paths, Reeves Rd flyover in Pakuranga. officially opened at the beginning of August. potential of the area, improve transport for freight and schedule. This major project will see an integrated Other future developments: Sylvia Park bus interchange In 1848, 80 Fencible families arrived from Ireland and In the early twentieth century, Panmure remained a business traffic and to promote good urban design. Since the old Ellerslie-Panmure Highway Bridge was approach to improving transport - with work on roads, and route improvements, busway extended to England on the ship Clifton and established a prosperous but mostly rural area despite being the demolished during the Christmas period, traffic had been public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure. Panmure Phase One: New road linking Mt Wellington Botany along the centre of Ti Rakau Dr, East-West link settlement with 99 raupo huts on the eastern shores of smallest Auckland borough. temporarily using a new bridge built for a future busway. “When the new Panmure Station building is completed, Highway and Morrin Rd, Panmure Station upgrade, Van improvements, extension of new AMETI Rd to Merton Rd. Panmure Lagoon. Work is now underway on completing the busway bridge. commuters and residents will benefit from a much easier It was only after World War II with the construction of Damme’s Lagoon improvements, walking and cycling The NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Council are transfer between buses and trains.” The Fencibles were retired soldiers from Britain better bridges to Pakuranga that Panmure grew and paths, busway bridge and two bridge replacements. and Ireland who enlisted as a military reserve to act became a commercial centre. major funders of AMETI. as a defence force for the protection of the early settlers Find out more: (09) 355 3553 in Auckland. or visit aucklandtransport.govt.nz 2125_AMETI newsletter_Oct 13.indd 1,3 7/10/13 3:32 PM From the Project Director Makeover for historic lagoon (continued) Stay up to date As we move into the final months of From the 1870s the lagoon provided water for steam engines and boilers for the Ireland brothers’ tannery, which 2013, it gives me great pleasure to Auckland Transport is committed processed 90 per cent of the Auckland province’s leather. Mr Van Damme bought the property in the 1930s, reflect on the progress we have made to keeping the community up to transforming it with landscaping and planting as well as stocking the ponds with goldfish and carp. so far this year. date on the AMETI project. We are also aiming to get the balance At the beginning of August, the new It was later used as a rubbish dump by a company that “By working together with Auckland Council and right between making progress Ellerslie-Panmure Highway Bridge bought the land, until the local council bought it in 1975 Watercare, we’re taking a holistic approach. With a and minimising the impacts. was opened thanks to the hard work and restored it to a nature reserve. In recent years the large transport project like this, it is crucial to look at of all involved. This was a key milestone Auckland Transport has a water quality has declined and it is difficult to access. the overall picture to provide the community with an attractive reserve to enjoy as well as providing better in Phase One of AMETI and we Stakeholder Management Auckland Transport will improve the stormwater quality transport choices.” were delighted to have Transport Specialist, Greg Horne, who is and environment while providing an enhanced reserve for Minister Gerry Brownlee attend the focused on working with directly the community to enjoy. It will be close to the new AMETI Other Van Damme’s Lagoon enhancements include: official opening. affected properties and others in road linking Mt Wellington Highway and Morrin Rd.