The history of Auckland

Maori people first settled in the Auckland area about 650 years ago. Auckland was a good place to live because of its rich and fertile land. The name given by the early Maori for the area was 'Tamaki', meaning 'battle'. The volcanic cones that are dotted all over Auckland became natural sites for pas, or fortified Maori settlements. Several of the best known lookout areas in Auckland, such as Mount Eden and One Tree Hill, show trenches where these pas were built. Because the Maori people settled in the area were fighting each other so much, there was little organized Maori resistance to European settlement. By 1840 the British had either beaten or bought out (generally for a few trinkets) the Ngati Whatua tribe.

Europeans started settling in the area from about 1840. New Zealand's first governor, Captain William Hobson, chose Auckland as the capital of New Zealand. Hobson decided to call the place Auckland, in honour of his patron and former commander, Lord Auckland (who was at that time, the viceroy of India). Twenty five years later, the capital was moved down to Wellington.

Many of the other place names in Auckland bear the influence of Hobson's patron. Lord Auckland's family name was Eden, and a great many parts of the city have this name.

Now Auckland is so big it has traffic problems - click here to read about them.