Rodney, as it is today was formed in 1989 as part of a Local Government reform throughout New Zealand which saw the amalgamation of the Helensville Borough with the former Rodney County.
In the first 100 odd years of European settlement in the area, development was moderate and based around Warkworth, Wellsford, Helensville, and Orewa.
The region appears to have taken its name from Cape Rodney, a headland at the north of the curve of Omaha Bay, 2km north-east of Leigh on the east coast. The cape was named by Captain James Cook, on 24 November 1769, after the British admiral, Sir George Bridges Rodney (1719–92), later the 1st Baron Rodney, who won several important naval battles against French, Spanish, and Dutch forces.
Rodney covers an area of 2,475 square kilometres and has a growing population, estimated in June 2006 to be 89,559 and is estimated to reach 102,000 people by 2016.
About the Rodney region today
Rodney has become one of the fastest growing regions in New Zealand.
In the first 100 odd years of European settlement, development was very moderate and it was based around Warkworth, Wellsford, Helensville, and Orewa.
With the rapid growth and expansion of the Auckland region there has been a subsequent growth in Rodney as people move away from the city. By 2016 Rodney expects to be home to 102,000 people - 30,000 more than are here now.
Rodney's close proximity to the city of Auckland also makes it an attractive area to live within easy commuting distance of major employers. Add, a stunning natural landscape, including 1,426 kilometres of coastline and safe swimming beaches and Rodney offers a unique lifestyle alternative to inner-city living.
Eastern Rodney (Hibisicus Coast)
Historically, the Hibiscus Coast grew up as a retirement area and as a holiday "playground" for Aucklanders. The many beautiful and safe beaches make the coast a popular attraction. Gulf Harbour on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, is host to the second largest marina in the Southern Hemisphere with 996 berths as well as a well renowned international golf course. The Hibiscus Coast is now a well established and sought after urban area with a population of 28,390 and growing, but it retains a high proportion of retired folk living within it.
With the northern motorway extension to Orewa making commuting to Auckland more appealing and a burgeoning North Shore, the Hibiscus Coast is continuing to develop rapidly. Nearly half the workforce travel out of the District to their places of employment daily. However, we are determined to keep the Coast separate from the North Shore by maintaining a "green belt" of rural land within which "lifestyle blocks" continue to be in popular demand.
Central Rodney
The idyllic central rodney area contains the communities of Coatesville and Waitoki. Central Rodney offers all the benefits of rural lifestyle living, whilst being in easy reach of Auckland.
Western Rodney
The south-western part of Rodney includes the communities of Helensville and Kumeu/Huapai, as well as the smaller settlements of Riverhead and Waimauku. As a result of its proximity to Auckland, lifestyle blocks are very popular but horticulture, winemaking and forestry are also important to the local economy. The Western ward can also boast The Kaipara Harbour, the largest enclosed harbour in the southern hemisphere.
Northern Rodney
The northern part of Rodney contains the Warkworth, Wellsford and Snells/Algies Bay communities and there are a number of smaller coastal and inland settlements. Lifestyle blocks, retirement housing and holiday batches are features of the north but primary production (including dairying) is still very significant and forestry occupies about 29,579 hectares.
Managing future growth
The steady growth and development which most New Zealand communities have enjoyed over the last 100 years has been condensed in Rodney's case to about 40 years. The "pressure cooker" atmosphere that exists here means that managing growth is far and away the Council's main focus.
For the Council this means providing a clear regulatory and planning framework, ensuring that there is an appropriate financial strategy in place to achieve desired objectives, and regularly monitoring the effects of growth and the effectiveness of the Council's policies.