Orakei Basin improvements

Introduction | Current works | Current management approach | History and ecology

History and ecology

Water skier on Orakei Basin.

Orakei Basin was a flooded volcanic crater with mangrove forest connected to the Waitemata Harbour by Purewa Creek and Hobson Bay.

In the late 1920s the basin was isolated from Purewa Creek and Hobson Bay by the construction of the railway embankment. This helped create a very sheltered environment and altered the natural tidal flow in and out of the basin.

In the early 1930s a set of sluice gates was installed.

Auckland City Council then removed the mangroves to create an area for water-based activities. This use is reflected in the original lease over the seabed between the Crown and the council, due to expire in 2050. The lease requires that the basin be maintained as a public boating and associated water related activities area.

Orakei Basin was heavily used for 15 years for swimming and other water-based activities. Pollution from the adjacent catchments then resulted in a decrease in water quality and in use to current day levels.

Various flushing programmes have been used since the installation of the gates. At the recommendation of Auckland Healthcare, the current flushing regime is fortnightly flushing, to coincide with peak tides. 'Emergency' flushing occurs after heavy rainfall or when complaints are received from the community.

The flushing programme makes it difficult for both intertidal and subtidal species to colonise the area. This means that the species found in the basin are opportunistic species well adapted to disturbed environments.

Updated April 2010.