Auckland (/ˈɔːklənd/AWK-lənd;[6]Māori: Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about 1,478,800 (June 2023).[4] It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, and which has a total population of 1,739,300 as of June 2023.[4] It is the most populous city of New Zealand and the fifth largest city in Oceania. While Europeans continue to make up the plurality of Auckland's population, the city became multicultural and cosmopolitan in the late-20th century, with Asians accounting for 31% of the city's population in 2018.[7] Auckland has the fourth largest foreign-born population in the world, with 39% of its residents born overseas.[8] With its large population of Pasifika New Zealanders, the city is also home to the biggest ethnic Polynesian population in the world.[9] The Māori-language name for Auckland is Tāmaki Makaurau, meaning "Tāmaki desired by many", in reference to the desirability of its natural resources and geography. Tāmaki means "omen".[10][11]
Auckland lies between the Hauraki Gulf to the east, the Hunua Ranges to the south-east, the Manukau Harbour to the south-west, and the Waitākere Ranges and smaller ranges to the west and north-west. The surrounding hills are covered in rainforest and the landscape is dotted with 53 volcanic centres that make up the Auckland Volcanic Field. The central part of the urban area occupies a narrow isthmus between the Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea and the Waitematā Harbour on the Pacific Ocean. Auckland is one of the few cities in the world to have a harbour on each of two separate major bodies of water.
The Auckland isthmus was first settled c. 1350 and was valued for its rich and fertile land. The Māori population in the area is estimated to have peaked at 20,000 before the arrival of Europeans.[12] After a British colony was established in New Zealand in 1840, William Hobson, then Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand, chose Auckland as its new capital. Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei made a strategic gift of land to Hobson for the new capital. Hobson named the area after George Eden, Earl of Auckland, British First Lord of the Admiralty. Māori–European conflict over land in the region led to war in the mid-19th century. In 1865, Auckland was replaced by Wellington as the capital, but continued to grow, initially because of its port and the logging and gold-mining activities in its hinterland, and later because of pastoral farming (especially dairy farming) in the surrounding area, and manufacturing in the city itself.[13] It has been the nation's largest city throughout most of its history. Today, Auckland's central business district is New Zealand's leading economic hub. It also has a thriving culture that has influenced others across the world, built on its dynamic arts scene and a richly multicultural history.[14][15]
is the city's primary stadium and a frequent home for international rugby union and cricket matches, in addition to Super Rugby matches where the Blues play their home games. It is also the home ground of Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup, and Auckland in domestic cricket.
is Auckland's primary tennis venue, hosting international tournaments for men and women (ASB Classic) in January each year. ASB Bank took over the sponsorship of the men's tournament from 2016, the event formerly being known as the Heineken Open.
ASB Tennis Centre
previously known as Vector Arena, is an indoor auditorium primarily used for concerts and is the home of the New Zealand Breakers basketball team. It also hosts international netball.
is an indoor arena which hosts a variety of events, and is the home of the Northern Stars netball team of the ANZ Premiership.
Vodafone Events Centre
is a thoroughbred horse-racing venue that used to host a leg of the V8 Supercars series annually, along with other motorsports events. The most important horse-racing meeting is held annually at the end of November, featuring the Group 2 Counties Cup and three other stakes races.
Pukekohe Park Raceway
has since 1929 hosted speedway racing during the summer. It also hosts concerts, with many of New Zealand's largest-ever concerts having taken place at the stadium. It is also the home of Ponsonby RFC.
– an internationally significant atmospheric theatre built in 1929. It was renovated in 2000 to its original condition.
Auckland Civic Theatre
– a bridge which spans the Waitematā Harbour. It connects central Auckland and the North Shore, and is regarded as an iconic symbol of Auckland.
Auckland Harbour Bridge
– the city's town hall. Originally built for the Auckland City Council in 1911, it is now the ceremonial headquarters of the Auckland Council. The hall has a theatre which is known for the quality of its acoustics, and is regularly used for concerts and other live performances.
– a civic centre which was completed in 1989. It hosts exhibitions, concerts and other live performances.
Aotea Centre
– the main public transport centre in the CBD. It is an Edwardian building which was formerly the city's Chief Post Office.
Britomart Transport Centre
– the city's primary stadium and a frequent host of international rugby union and cricket matches. It hosted the 1987 and 2011 Rugby World Cup finals.[176]
Eden Park
– colloquially known as "K' Road", a street at the southern end of the CBD, adjacent to the suburb of Newton. It is now known locally for cafes and restaurants, bars, pubs, music venues and shops. Historically it was Auckland's red-light district.
Karangahape Road
– an aquarium and Antarctic environment in the eastern suburb of Mission Bay, built in a set of former sewage-storage tanks. It showcases a wide variety of marine animals.
– a museum which features exhibitions and collections relating to New Zealand maritime history. It is located at Hobson Wharf, adjacent to the Viaduct Harbour.
New Zealand Maritime Museum
– a suburb to the west of central Auckland, known for its range of independent cafes, restaurants, shops and extensive collection of Victorian and Edwardian housing.
Ponsonby
– the main commercial thoroughfare of the CBD, running from Karangahape Road downhill to the harbour.
Queen Street
– an amusement park with over 20 rides and attractions located adjacent to the Manukau CBD.
Rainbow's End
– the Catholic Cathedral of Auckland. It is a 19th-century Gothic building, which was renovated from 2003 to 2007 for refurbishment and structural support.
St Patrick's Cathedral
– the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere. It is 328 m (1,076 ft).
Sky Tower
– events centre in central Auckland completed in 2007. Holding 12,000 people, it is used for sporting events and concerts.
Spark Arena
– formerly an industrial harbour, the basin was re-developed as a marina and residential area in the 1990s. It served as a base for the America's Cup regattas in 2000 and 2003.
Tourist attractions and landmarks in Auckland include:
Advocates of the city sometimes like to quote 's invocation its remoteness: "Last, loneliest, loveliest, exquisite, apart", from his poem "The Song of the Cities" (1893).[177]
