Botany Downs

Botany Downs is located in the central peninsula of East Auckland, between the Tāmaki River and Tāmaki Strait of the Hauraki Gulf. The suburb is south of Howick.{{Cite web |url=https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/17056 |title=Botany Downs |website=New Zealand Gazetteer |publisher=Land Information New Zealand|access-date=26 June 2023}} Botany Creek runs west through the suburb to meet the Pakuranga Creek.{{Cite web |url=https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/544 |title=Botany Creek |website=New Zealand Gazetteer |publisher=Land Information New Zealand|access-date=22 June 2023}} The soil around Howick is primarily clay and sandstone.{{sfn|La Roche, Alan|2011|pp=61}} Botany Road is a major arterial road that runs north-south through Botany Downs, which intersects with Cascades Road to the south of the suburb.

File:Botany Downs, Auckland Region (1959).jpg

The Botany Downs area 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.{{cite book |contributor=Green, Nathew |contribution=From Hawaīki to Howick – A Ngāi Tai History |author=La Roche, Alan |date=2011 |title=Grey's Folly: A History of Howick, Pakuranga, Bucklands-Eastern Beaches, East Tamaki, Whitford, Beachlands and Maraetai |location=Auckland |publisher=Tui Vale Productions |isbn=978-0-473-18547-3 |oclc=1135039710 |language=en |pages=16–33}} Ōwairoa is the traditional name used to describe the swampy inland areas away from the coast.{{Cite web |url=https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/58086 |title=Waipaparoa / Howick Beach |website=New Zealand Gazetteer |publisher=Land Information New Zealand|access-date=21 June 2023}} The wider area was extensively cultivated, but as the area was relatively exposed, two fortified pā were constructed: Paparoa Pā at the south-eastern end of Waipaparoa / Howick Beach, and Tūwakamana Pā above Cockle Bay.{{Cite web|last=Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki and the Trustees of the Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki Trust and the Crown|date=7 November 2015|title=Deed of settlement schedule documents|url=https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/OTS/Ngai-Tai-ki-Tamaki/Ngai-Tai-ki-Tamaki-Documents-Schedule-Nov-2015.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=31 October 2021|website=NZ Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213154038/https://www.govt.nz/assets/Documents/OTS/Ngai-Tai-ki-Tamaki/Ngai-Tai-ki-Tamaki-Documents-Schedule-Nov-2015.pdf |archive-date=13 February 2020}} During the Musket Wars in the 1820s, Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki sought temporary refuge in the Waikato.{{cite web|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/9335/Te%20Naupata%20%2F%20Musick%20Point |title=Te Naupata / Musick Point |publisher=Heritage New Zealand |access-date=25 June 2023}} When English missionary William Thomas Fairburn visited the area in 1833, it was mostly unoccupied.{{Cite web| title = Duder Regional Park – Our History |url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/arts-culture-heritage/heritage-walks-places/Documents/duder-regional-park.pdf |author = Heritage Department of the Auckland Regional Council | publisher = Auckland Council| access-date = 30 August 2021}}

In 1836, William Thomas Fairburn brokered a land sale between Tāmaki Māori chiefs covering the majority of modern-day South Auckland, East Auckland and the Pōhutukawa Coast.{{cite web|url=https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/manukau/id/1384/rec/2 |title=13 June 1865 |at=MJ_0760 |publisher=Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections |access-date=19 June 2023}} The sale was envisioned as a way to end hostilities in the area, but it is unclear what the chiefs understood or consented to. Māori continued to live in the area, unchanged by this sale.{{cite report|url=https://waitangitribunal.govt.nz/assets/wt-theme-a-old-land-claims.pdf |title=Rangahaua Whanui National Theme A: Old Land Claims |first1=D |last1=Moore |first2=B |last2=Rigby |first3=M |last3=Russell |date=July 1997 |publisher=Waitangi Tribunal |access-date=5 March 2023}} In 1854 when Fairburn's purchase was investigated by the New Zealand Land Commission, a Ngāi Tai reserve was created around the Wairoa River and Umupuia areas, and as a part of the agreement, members of Ngāi Tai agreed to leave their traditional settlements to the west.{{Cite report| url=https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Documents/Fast-track-consenting/Beachlands/Application-/Appendix-Q-Archaeological-Assessment.pdf| title = 109 Beachlands Road, Beachlands, Auckland: Preliminary Archaeological Assessment |first1=Tom|last1=Clough|first2=Aaron|last2=Apfel|first3=Rod|last3=Clough |date=June 2020 |publisher=Environmental Protection Authority |access-date=21 October 2022}}

In 1847, Howick was established as a defensive outpost for Auckland, by fencibles (retired British Army soldiers) and their families.{{sfn|La Roche, Alan|2011|pp=48}}

Botany Downs was the name of a farm leased by Vern Carr from James Wilson. Carr named the farm after Botany Road. The "Downs" in the name was not a reference to the geography of the area, instead a reference to the economics of farming in the 1950s and 1960s.{{cite report|title=A History of Botany|first=Alan|last=La Roche|publisher=Auckland City Council |year=2011 |page=5}} The area was developed into suburban housing in the mid-1970s,{{cite web|url=https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/42959 |title=View from Somerville Road, Howick, 1977.|at=Footprints 02726 |publisher=Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections |access-date=26 June 2023}} and Botany Downs Primary School opened in 1975.{{cite web|url=https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/manukau/id/6689/rec/3 |title=26 May 1975 |at=MJ_4862 |publisher=Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections |access-date=26 June 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/eastern-courier/609072/Proud-moment-for-primary-school |title=Proud moment for primary school |date=31 January 2009 |website=Stuff |access-date=2 June 2023}} The school decided to name itself after Carr's former farm, a fact that displeased Carr.

In 1984, the Howick Club, a private social club, opened in Botany Downs,{{cite web|url=https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/manukau/id/6830/rec/13 |title=8 December 1984 |at=MJ_5561 |publisher=Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections |access-date=26 June 2023}} and in 1989 a new bridge on Botany Road was constructed over the Botany Creek.{{cite web|url=https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/manukau/id/6217/rec/5 |title=27 May 1989 |at=MJ_5882 |publisher=Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections |access-date=26 June 2023}} In the year 2000, a 153 unit condominium development called Sacramento was constructed in Botany Downs. The development was part of the leaky homes crisis, and led to a multi-million dollar lawsuit by the occupants.{{cite web|url=https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/manukau/id/1538/rec/9 |title=14 April 2000 |at=MJ_6652 |publisher=Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections |access-date=26 June 2023}}

Botany Downs covers {{Convert|1.70|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 3 2023 (generalised)|access-date=3 February 2025}} and had an estimated population of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Botany Downs West|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Botany Downs East|y}}|R}}|0}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|({{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Botany Downs West|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Botany Downs East|y}}|R}})/1.70|0}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|4,800|2013|5,385|2018|5,706|2023|5,772|percentages=pagr|align=left|source={{NZ census 2018|Botany Downs West (152200) and Botany Downs East (152900)}}|footnote=The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 1.49 km².}}

Botany Downs had a population of 5,772 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 66 people (1.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 387 people (7.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,835 males, 2,919 females and 18 people of other genders in 1,899 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.51780%2B152201%2B152900.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 3.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,074 people (18.6%) aged under 15 years, 966 (16.7%) aged 15 to 29, 2,787 (48.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 942 (16.3%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 52.1% European (Pākehā); 6.0% Māori; 6.5% Pasifika; 39.9% Asian; 2.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 89.9%, Māori language by 0.6%, Samoan by 1.6%, and other languages by 37.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 52.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 35.2% Christian, 3.0% Hindu, 1.5% Islam, 0.2% Māori religious beliefs, 2.3% Buddhist, 0.1% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 2.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 48.5%, and 6.9% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,407 (29.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,025 (43.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,269 (27.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 642 people (13.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,502 (53.3%) people were employed full-time, 600 (12.8%) were part-time, and 108 (2.3%) were unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.51780.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Botany Downs (51780)}}

Botany Downs School is a contributing primary school (years 1–6) with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1235|y}}.{{TKI|1235|Botany Downs School}} Elim Christian College is a state-integrated Christian composite school (years 1–13) with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1190|y}}.{{TKI|1190|Elim Christian College}} All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}} The main secondary schools for the area are Botany Downs Secondary College and Howick College.

{{Reflist}}

{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFLa Roche, Alan2011}}

• {{cite q|Q118286377}}

• [https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/search/searchterm/Botany%20Downs/field/title/ Photographs of Botany Downs] held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.

{{Howick Local Board Area}}

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Category:Suburbs of Auckland

Category:Howick Local Board Area

Category:East Auckland