Our Region

Pohutukawa Coast History

Maraetai Beach Estate, now known as Maraetai Beach, was developed and was surveyed by Harrison Grierson Surveyors in 1923. This Estate covered the area of Rewa Road, Carlton Crescent and Maraetai Drive along the waterfront.

At the time, waterfront sections could be bought for £295! As a proper road was yet to be formed, the sections largely sold to wealthy Auckland families, who built holiday beach houses and would sail from Auckland to Maraetai Beach during the summer holiday period.

The area now known as Omana was later developed in the 1930's through to the late 1950's. The Craig's', a farming family owned most of the land before it was developed into the residential settlement as it is today.

Beachlands saw its first major development in the 1920's and was gradually built up over the next 30 years. As the area was very much a holiday destination it was covered with Kiwi style fibrolight baches, which over time, were converted into more long term residences using the original buildings thus forming the unique character of the area.

Up until the mid 1990's the Pohutukawa Coast relied on septic tanks for sewerage control, while many properties still used long drops! Since then, a localized sewer treatment plant has lead the area into a more modern era.

Once a holiday destination, it then became a retirement mecca. Today, lifestyle prevails, but working families make up the largest percentage of full time residents around the area.

Despite recent development and some boundary re-alignment the Pohutukawa Coast still retains the charm of yesteryear, where lifestyle is number one. Such an area as this can only be found elsewhere, outside of Auckland, which makes it a very desirable place to live.