Auckland
Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, having a population approaching 1,300,000. By virtue of its unique location astride a narrow neck of land between two harbours, the city is almost surrounded by water. On the north and Pacific side is the Waitemata Harbour, while the Manukau Harbour is on the south and Tasman side. A notable feature of Auckland's landscape is the numerous extinct volcanic cones which rise above the skyline–Mount Eden, Mount Hobson, Mount Albert, One Tree Hill, and Mount Wellington. Rangitoto Island, also an extinct volcano, stands as a sentinel at the entrance of the Waitemata Harbour. Through north and south the city extends for 20 miles–from the east coast bays on the North Shore, and over the Harbour Bridge to the dormitory suburbs of Papatoetoe, Papakura, and Manurewa, south of the city. The city has a far-ranging importance as the chief centre for the rich farming land of the Waikato to the south and of the lesser developed Northland to the north. Even greater is its importance as a manufacturing centre, port, and centre of overseas communications.
History
The town of Auckland was founded on 18 September 1840 on a site selected by Governor William Hobson. Hobson was influenced in his choice of site by four factors: its central position between the then two main areas of European settlement, Port Nicholson (Wellington) and Kororareka, and the two main areas of Maori population, the Waikato and Northland; the great facility of internal water communication to north and south; the facility and safety of its port, and the proximity of several smaller ports abounding with valuable timber; and the natural fertility of the soil for agriculture. The settlement was named after George Eden, Earl of Auckland, Governor-General of India, a friend of Hobson's under whom he had served.
Climate
During summer Auckland rainfall averages about 3½ in. a month. It becomes more frequent towards the end of autumn, reaching a maximum in June and July, each averaging 5½ in. of rain and 20 rain days, compared with only 10 rain days both in January and in February. The mean annual rainfall is 47–50 in., increasing to 55 in. near the Waitakeres. Rain days average 185 per annum and 100 of these have at least 0·1 in. of rain. Once in 20 years a fall of 5·5 in. may occur within 24 hours and 1·8 in. in one hour. In the last 90 years the longest period without rain was 39 days. Although the most frequent winds are from west and south-west, winds from other directions are common; a relatively large proportion of the strongest winds are from the north-east. Strong gales, with gusts over 60 mph, occur about twice a year. February, with a mean temperature of 67°F, is the warmest month and July (51°) is the coldest. In July the mean daily maximum and minimum temperatures are 57° and 46 respectively compared with a mean daily range from 74° to 61 in February. Temperatures normally reach 80° on only five days a year, but there are many days with maximum temperatures over 75° (45 per annum). These, too, are rather oppressive, due to the high humidity prevailing. Frosts generally occur only in sheltered low-lying parts of the city. There is no snow in winter. Sunshine averages 2,100 hours per annum; it is 50 per cent of the possible amount in summer, but only 42 per cent in June and July. Fog in the city occurs about eight times a year, mostly in autumn and winter, but almost invariably is confined to the night and early morning. Hail occurs about four days a year, mostly in winter, but causes negligible damage. Thunder is heard about nine days a year.
