History of Auckland

1888 German map of Auckland.
1841 survey map of the planned Auckland township, showing the original coastline and Waihorotiu Stream, and planned areas such as the reclamation of the Auckland waterfront, and the Trafalgar Circus, located at modern-day Albert Park and University of Auckland.

The human history of the Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau) metropolitan area stretches from early Māori settlers in the 14th century to the first European explorers in the late 18th century, over a short stretch as the official capital of (European-settled) New Zealand in the middle of the 19th century to its current position as the fastest-growing and commercially dominating metropolis of the country.