Te Henga / Bethells Beach | |
|---|---|
 Sunset at Bethells Beach | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 36°53′25″S 174°27′05″E / 36.89028°S 174.45139°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Auckland |
| Ward | Waitākere ward |
| Local board | Waitākere Ranges Local Board |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Auckland Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.37 km2 (2.07 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
| • Total | 280 |
| • Density | 52/km2 (140/sq mi) |
Te Henga, or Bethells Beach, is a coastal community in West Auckland, New Zealand. The Māori name for the area, "Te Henga", is in reference to the long foredunes which run along the beach and look like the Henga or gunwale of an upturned waka hull.[3] This name originally applied to a wide area of the lower Waitakere River valley, but during the early 1900s the area became popular with visiting European immigrants who began to refer to the area as "Bethells Beach" after the Bethell Family who live there and still own much of the area. In 1976 the New Zealand Geographic Board officially named the area "Te Henga (Bethells Beach)".[4]
The beach is approximately 37 km (23 mi) west of Auckland City, at the mouth of the Waitakere River where it flows into the Tasman Sea. One of several popular resorts in the area (others include Muriwai, Piha and Karekare), it is rated the 4th most dangerous beach in New Zealand to swim at due to its strong rips and currents. There have been many fatalities including in 2009, Rugby League star Sonny Fai, who was never located. It experiences a population explosion over summer with thousands of visitors. This has put a lot of pressure on the local infrastructure and environment with an increase in rubbish and parking issues.[citation needed]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Areawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ TKITA-2013-0062 Cultural Values Assessment for Te Henga Local Area Plan, prepared by Te Kawerau Iwi Tribal Authority
- ^ "Te Henga Park Reserve Management Plan: Description of Te Henga Park" (PDF). Waitakere City Council. June 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011.