Pakuranga Creek

The Pakuranga Creek is the major catchment for the East Auckland area.^[1] It is one of the four major estuarial arms of the Tāmaki River.^[2] The freshwater creek flows south from Pakuranga Road, past Elm Park School.^[3] Botany Creek is a major tributary,^[4] and flows into the creek at the two metre-high Cascade Waterfalls.^[5]

The creek is in the traditional rohe of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki.^[6] The traditional name for the creek is Te Whārau, and the surrounding area was the site of extensive stonefield gardens.^[7] The southern banks of the creek around Burswood Reserve are formed by a lava flow from Styaks Swamp.^[5]

Fencible Captain C.H.M. purchased 95 acres adjacent to the creek in 1851, constructing a large two-storey house, which later became known as the Bell House.^[8] During the early colonial period, the volcanic basalt around Ti Rakau Drive at Burswood was quarried.^[5] Close to the quarry in East Tāmaki was the location of Allen's stone wharf, which was mainly used to transport farm produce to Auckland.^[5]

In 1973, Ti Rakau Drive was constructed, which included the construction of the Ti Rakau Bridge across the Pakuranga Creek.^[9]