Howick is a suburb of East Auckland, New Zealand. The area was traditionally settled by Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, and in 1847 Howick was established as a defensive settlement for Auckland, by veteran fencible soldiers of the British Army. Howick was a small agricultural centre until the 1950s, when it developed into a suburban area of Auckland. Modern Howick draws much of its character from the succeeding waves of Asian settlement that it has experienced since New Zealand's immigration reforms of the 1980s, with a strong Chinese New Zealander presence in the suburb's business and education sectors.
Howick village seen from above
Aerial view of the wider Howick area in 1970, showing the Tāmaki Strait, Musick Point and Rangitoto
Reconstruction of a settlers' raupō cottage at Howick Historical Village
Watercolour of Howick village and the Waitematā Harbour in 1862
East Auckland is one of the major geographical regions of Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. Settled in the 14th century, the area is part of the traditional lands of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki. The area was developed into farmland in the 1840s, and the town of Howick was established as a defensive outpost by fencibles to protect Auckland. Coastal holiday communities developed in the area from the 1910s, and from the 1950s underwent major redevelopment into a suburban area of greater Auckland. From the 1980s, the area saw significant Asian New Zealander migrant communities develop.
An aerial view of some of the suburbs traditionally considered East Auckland, including Bucklands Beach, Howick and Botany Downs.
The Tāmaki River is a major geographic feature of East Auckland
Ōhuiarangi / Pigeon Mountain was an important defended pā site for Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, surrounded by stonefield gardens
Watercolour of Howick village and the Waitematā Harbour in 1862