Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Howick & Beyond Visitors Guide 2017

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Past, present and future are all represented within this diverse ward. From early Maori occupation and European settler roots to a new multicultural community, the greater Howick Ward has a great deal to offer visitors.

The old suburb of Howick, from which the new ward takes its name, is a truly historic precinct with much to see and do for visitors of all persuasions. What’s more, most of it is free!

  

  

  

Information

* Howick Information Service, in the heart of Howick Village has information on all the local attractions. Open weekdays 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am-12noon.

Art Galleries

* Uxbridge – Howick’s Art & Culture Centre, Uxbridge Rd, Howick, for exhibitions, classes, cafe and art gallery.

* Howick Art Group – Green Gables Gallery, Cook St, Howick, (next to All Saints Church). Open Friday-Sunday, 10am-3pm.

* Monterey Art Gallery – Contemporary New Zealand art. 5 Cook St, Howick.

* A Piece of Work – 96 Picton St, Howick. Open Thursday-Tuesday, 9am-3pm.

* Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts, Pakuranga – a nationally significant regional art gallery. 13 Reeves Rd, Pakuranga.

  

Attractions

* Safe and sandy beaches for swimming, sailing and water sports.

* All Saints Church (second oldest church in NZ and oldest building in the Manukau area). Cnr of Selwyn Rd and Cook St, Howick.

* Howick Historical Village – an extensive collection of 30 original buildings dating from the time of early Howick settlement by the Fencibles (Irish regiment). Admission charge.

* Musick Point, Bucklands Beach peninsula –  Ngai Tai Pa at Te Waiarohia (Musick Point) or East Head as the first European settlers called it, was a Maori stronghold in the 1820s. Its European name is in honour of pioneer aviator, Captain Edwin C Musick. Extensive views of the Waitemata Harbour, Tamaki Strait, and Hauraki Gulf.

  

* Polish Heritage Trust Museum – Open Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm. Established by one of the original Polish refugees who arrived in NZ.

* ‘Classy Crafts’ Market – Inside All Saints Church Hall, 30 Cook St, Howick.  Every first and third Saturday of the month, 9am-1pm.

* Howick Village Markets for fresh food, plants and original gifts. Every Saturday 8am-12.30pm. Picton St, Howick Village.

* Night Markets – stalls, ethnic food, entertainment. From 5.30pm until midnight: Pakuranga – every Saturday night, located in the covered carpark under The Warehouse, Reeves Rd; Botany – every Wednesday night, located under Hoyts, Botany Town Centre.

      

Exploring on foot

* An extensive network of walkways are ideal for nature lovers to explore the whole area and see native birds and flora (See routes marked on map).

* Barry Curtis Park – a 94 hectare park in Flat Bush, one of the biggest parks in New Zealand with walkways, playgrounds, skateparks and great venue for special events.

* Lloyd Elsmore Park and community swimming pool, Cascades Rd, Pakuranga (also access from Bells Rd). Principally a sporting venue and leisure park with skateboard bowl.

* Murphy’s Bush – explore one of the last and most extensive areas of lowland native Kahikatea forest remaining in the Auckland region. Tracks and picnic area.

  

 

Shopping

* Howick Village for an intimate, boutique shopping experience, great cafes and its own radio station 88.1FM.

* Botany Town Centre – one of the largest shopping complexes in NZ with library and amenties. Radio station 107.1FM.

* Pakuranga Plaza – a shopping mall with a wide variety of shops, food court and library.

* Highland Park (Pakuranga Rd), Meadowlands (cnr Chapel Rd and Meadowlands Dr), Botany Junction (cnr Ormiston Rd & Te Irirangi Dr) and Bishop’s Gate Business Centre (cnr Bishop Dunn Pl & Te Iririangi Dr) are smaller convenience shopping complexes.

Maori Culture

* Umupuia Marae – the ancestral home of the Ngai Tai people who are the Mana Whenua of the area. The marae falls outside the Howick Ward and is in the Pohutukawa Coast loop.

* Te Tahawai Marae. Edgewater College grounds, Edgewater Dr, Pakuranga. Larger Maori meeting house and marae.

* Garden of Memories, Uxbridge Rd, Howick. Maori whare set in the gardens bequeathed by Emilia Maud Nixon to commemorate Howick’s pioneer days.

Asian Culture

* Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, cnr Stancombe and Chapel Rds, Flat Bush. Guided tours held daily, except Mondays. Exhibition space and vegetarian cafe.

Pick up your printed copy from one of the mentioned businesses today!

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