Burswood is a residential suburb of Auckland which is separated from the rest of the city by the Pakuranga Stream on its west, north and eastern sides, and the major road Ti Rakau Drive on its south. Population density is higher than in most of Auckland, with no quarter acre sections.[3]

Burswood
Map
Coordinates: 36°55′23″S 174°53′53″E / 36.923°S 174.898°E / -36.923; 174.898
CountryNew Zealand
CityAuckland
Local authorityAuckland Council
Electoral wardHowick ward
Local boardHowick Local Board
Area
 • Land53 ha (131 acres)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total1,790
Howick
Pakuranga
Burswood
Golflands
Highbrook East Tāmaki Huntington Park

Geography

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Burswood is a peninsula in East Auckland, surrounded by the estuarine Pakuranga Creek to the north, west and east. The southern banks of the creek around Burswood Reserve are formed by a lava flow from Styaks Swamp.[4] Ti Rakau Drive, a major arterial road in Auckland, is found to the south of the suburb.

History

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Burswood is part of the rohe of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, who descend from the crew of the Tainui migratory waka, who visited the area around the year 1300.[5] Burswood was the location of the kāinga Te Titoki and Mangatu.[5][6]

In 1973, Ti Rakau Drive was constructed, which included the construction of the Ti Rakau Bridge across the Pakuranga Creek.[7] A housing estate was established by Fletcher Homes in 1991, when the company constructed 500 homes in the area.[8]

The Eastern Busway began construction in 2022, which involved a deviation through the suburb, and the construction of a planned busway station.[9][10]

Demographics

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Burswood covers 0.53 km2 (0.20 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,790 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 3,377 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,734—    
20131,623−0.94%
20181,695+0.87%
Source: [11]

Burswood had a population of 1,695 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 72 people (4.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 39 people (−2.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 549 households, comprising 834 males and 861 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. The median age was 36.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 318 people (18.8%) aged under 15 years, 327 (19.3%) aged 15 to 29, 858 (50.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 195 (11.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 39.3% European/Pākehā, 6.4% Māori, 7.3% Pacific peoples, 50.8% Asian, and 5.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 56.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 39.8% had no religion, 38.4% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 5.0% were Hindu, 3.2% were Muslim, 3.2% were Buddhist and 2.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 423 (30.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 204 (14.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 243 people (17.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 780 (56.6%) people were employed full-time, 171 (12.4%) were part-time, and 45 (3.3%) were unemployed.[11]

Amenities

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  • Burswood Park is a suburban park located in the centre of the suburb, which features a playground and fitness equipment.[12]
  • Burswood Esplanade Reserve is a public nature reserve on the banks of the Pakuranga Creek. The reserve has a walking track, which has a bridge that connects over the creek to Frank Nobilo Reserve in Golflands to the east. A second bridge is planned to connect Burswood Park to Pakuranga Heights to the north.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "The NZ suburbs where the quarter-acre dream has all but died". Bay of Plenty Times. 18 July 2020.
  4. ^ La Roche, Alan 2011, pp. 322–325.
  5. ^ a b Green, Nathew (2011). "From Hawaīki to Howick – A Ngāi Tai History". Grey's Folly: A History of Howick, Pakuranga, Bucklands-Eastern Beaches, East Tamaki, Whitford, Beachlands and Maraetai. By La Roche, Alan. Auckland: Tui Vale Productions. pp. 16–33. ISBN 978-0-473-18547-3. OCLC 1135039710.
  6. ^ La Roche, Alan 2011, pp. 161.
  7. ^ "14 July 1973". Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. MJ_4671. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  8. ^ "17 August 1991". Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. MJ_6030. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Light speaks out against busway's path". Times Online. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Construction starting soon on the Eastern Busway from Pakuranga". OurAuckland. Auckland Council. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Burswood (152500). 2018 Census place summary: Burswood
  12. ^ "Burswood Park". Auckland Council. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  13. ^ Howick Local Board (November 2018). Howick Walking & Cycling Network (PDF) (Report). Auckland Council. Retrieved 25 June 2023.


Bibliography

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