Wairau Valley, Auckland

The suburb is named after the Wairau Creek, which flows through it. The name Wairau in Māori means "Waters Gathered by a Net". ==History==

The Wairau Valley was primarily swampland and farmland in the early 20th century, including some areas that were leased to Chinese market gardeners. In 1959, the Auckland Harbour Bridge opened, leading to rapid suburbanisation on the North Shore. The Wairau Valley developed stormwater runoff problems as the surrounding greenspaces were developed, and the Waitemata County Council began plans to line the Wairau Valley waterways with concrete. From 1970, Wairau Valley was redeveloped as an industrial area, and only a few years later became the largest industrial area on the North Shore. ==Demographics==

Wairau Valley covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Wairau Valley had a population of 120 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 84 people (−41.2%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 48 people (−28.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 63 males and 54 females in 45 dwellings. 2.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 24 people (20.0%) aged under 15 years, 15 (12.5%) aged 15 to 29, 69 (57.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 15 (12.5%) aged 65 or older. ==Education and recreation==

Wairau Valley Special School is a coeducational special school, with a roll of students as of It caters for students up to 21 years old with intellectual disabilities. The North Shore Events Centre, an indoor arena, is in Wairau Valley. ==Local government==

The North Shore Highway District was the first local government body in the Wairau Valley from 1868, administering projects including roads from Birkenhead north to the Ōkura River. On 1 August 1974, the Waitemata County was dissolved, and Wairau Valley was incorporated into Takapuna City. In 1989, Wairau Valley was merged into the North Shore City. North Shore City was amalgamated into Auckland Council in November 2010. Within the Auckland Council, Wairau Valley is a part of the Kaipātiki local government area governed by the Kaipātiki Local Board. It is a part of the North Shore ward, which elects two councillors to the Auckland Council. ==References==