Discovering Britomart in Downtown Auckland
Britomart is a dynamic 6.5-hectare precinct located on the waterfront of Downtown Auckland, nestled between Spark Arena and Commercial Bay. This area, marked by Komititanga Plaza at the end of Queen Street, is a hub for shopping and dining, featuring a lively market every Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm. Britomart is also the starting point for two popular inner-city walks: one heading west along the harbour to Westhaven and another looping south to Karangahape Road.
Britomart's Historical Significance
Britomart's history is rich and varied. For Māori, it was known as Te Rerenga Ora Iti, a significant headland in the Waitematā Harbour and the site of a Ngāti Whātua pā. The name translates as "the leap of the few survivors," referring to a battle in 1680 in which Ngāti Whātua emerged victorious over Ngāti Huarere. The defeated survivors leapt from the cliff, choosing either freedom or death.
In the 1820s, Ngāti Whātua wrestlers were badly impacted by Ngāpui attacks during the Musket Wars. The Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 brought peace, and Ngāti Whātua rangatira Āpihai Te Kawau granted 3,000 hectares for British settlement, establishing Auckland. The founding ceremony took place at Te Rerenga Ora Iti, and the city was chosen as the new capital, initially intended for Okiato in the Bay of Islands, the centre of Ngāpuhi power.
European Influence and Development
The area was named Britomart Point in 1848 after HMS Britomart surveyed the harbour. Auckland's first church, St Paul's, was built on the point, followed by military barracks in 1842 and the larger Albert Barracks in 1846. These barracks closed in 1870 as the New Zealand Wars subsided.
In the 1870s and 1880s, Britomart Point was quarried to fill Mechanics Bay, creating land for the historic railway station and port expansion. Emily Reserve, accessible from Britomart on Emily Place, marks where the point once stood. The reserve features big, gnarled pōhutukawa trees and a monument to John Chruster, the first reverend at St Paul’s.
Commemorating Auckland's Founding
In 2018, Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei and Ports of Auckland established Te Toka o Āpihai Te Kawau on Quay Street, in front of Bledisloe Wharf. This memorial commemorates Auckland's founding and includes a mauri rock marking where Rerenga Ora Iti met the water. Nearby, you can also find a memorial to the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior.
Getting to Britomart
Brotomart lies between Customs Street East and Quay Street. The precinct is easily accessible by public transport, with Waitematā Train Station at the west end.
Other places to explore around the central city and within easy walking distance include Viaduct Harbour, the Maritime Museum and the Wynyard Quarter to the west, and Albert Park and the Art Gallery to the south.
