Albany, New Zealand
Albany is a northern suburb of North Shore City, one of several cities in the North Island of New Zealand which form the metropolitan area of Auckland. It lies north of the Waitemata Harbour and 15 km north- west of the center of Auckland.
To the north lie the Albany Heights, the east, the suburb of Pinehill. South of Albany are Brookfield, southwest and west Rosedale The Landing.
The city has long been an independent municipality, and was only a few years ago a suburb. Many residents therefore do not really feel at North Shore City proper, which lies to the southeast. Large parts of the area north of Albany are still characterized partly rural.
The name of the Māori for the area was Okahukura ( lit. ' place of the Rainbow ' or ' place of the butterflies '). The place was originally called Lucas Creek, but was renamed in 1890 in Leopold George, Duke of Albany. The pronunciation of the name is a shibboleth: English-language strangers talk to him often wrongly called " Aulbany " from.
The town experienced major growth and had the Census 1996 only 663 inhabitants, the Census 2001, there were 945, already 2,169 at the 2006 census
Extensive development
Albany is home to the northern campus of Massey University and one of the newest sports facilities of the Auckland Region, the North Harbour Stadium. The area ( the future ' Albany Town Centre ') is growing rapidly in population and development. These are based on planning and land sales, the state government and local government in the 1980s and 1990s. During the 1990s, extensive areas of industry and trade were developed, which include the majority of domestic and foreign enterprises and used by them. In the late 199ern also opened a shopping area, which has since been expanded. Westfield Albany was charged with opening at the end of 2007, the largest shopping center in New Zealand.
The extension of the Northern Motorway passes through the area has also facilitated the development of extensive residential space. The inhabitants are, as in all other North Shore area, mainly European and Asian descent, added a considerable number of migrate from other areas of New Zealand and from abroad.
Although in 2005 a bus station was opened, as most areas outside Auckland 's central business district is Albany but poorly developed by public transport. His planning was carried out assuming a car driving population.
The Kell Park Reserve next to the new library of Albany is known for its free-roaming bantam chickens and a pirate ship playground.
In contrast to the bourgeois orientation of the suburb is New Zealand's most important high-security prison at Paremoremo, 5 km west of Albany. Also this area is, however, increasingly inhabited by higher income groups.
Albany has a junior high school for grades 7-10 since 2005. For grades 11-13, the Albany Senior High School opened in 2009.
Sports
In the North Harbour Stadium find 2008 Games of the U-17 World Cup Women 2008. The stadium has a seating capacity of 25,000 and is the home ground of National Rugby Union Team Auckland Blues.
Swell
- AW Reed: The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Reed Books, Auckland 2002, ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.