Conifer Grove

Conifer Grove
Basic information
Local authority	Auckland City
Electoral ward	Manurewa-Papakura
Date established	1960
Population	4,581 (2006)
Facilities
Surrounds
North	Manurewa East
Northeast	Takanini
East	Takanini
Southeast	Papakura North
South	(Manukau Harbour)
Southwest	(Manukau Harbour)
West	(Manukau Harbour), Wattle Downs
Northwest	Wattle Downs

Conifer Grove is a suburb of Auckland, in northern New Zealand. Located on the eastern shores of the Pahurehure Inlet, on the Manukau Harbour, under authority of the Auckland Council. The suburb makes up the western side of the Takanini urban area and is in the Manurewa-Papakura ward of Auckland city.

History

Conifer Grove was constructed around 1965-1970. Conifer Grove's modern area (including Keywella Drive, Aristoy Close and Chippewa Place) was previously a dairy farm owned by the Strevens family, which connected onto Great South Road and is now the Manukau Golf Course. The names Walter Strevens Drive and Walter Strevens reserve come from the name of the patriarch of that family at the time it was sold - Walter John Strevens.

During the major reformation of local government in 1989, Conifer Grove was re-zoned and the area was included into the Papakura District boundaries.

From October 2010, after a review of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance, the entire Auckland Region was amalgamated into a single city authority. As well as the current Papakura District, other territorial authorities have been abolished and the entire area has been dissolved into a single Auckland city council. The suburb of Conifer Grove is now be in the Manurewa-Papakura Ward of the Auckland Council.

People

The most common ethnic group in Conifer Grove is European as at 2006, with 66.2 percent. Maori residents make up 17.7 percent of the suburb, and Asian residents consisting of 10.3 percent.

According to the 2006 New Zealand census, (for residents aged 15 years and older) the most common occupational group in Conifer Grove is Managers, and the least common group is Community and personal service workers, with an unemployment rate of 5.1 percent of the Conifer Grove population.

Fraser Thomas were commissioned to design the subdivision and to manage its construction. Fraser Thomas were awarded Certificates of Merit by both the Association of Consulting Engineers NZ and the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors.

Facilities

Conifer Grove has a small shopping centre with two restaurants, a hair dressers, clothing boutique, real estate agent, architect, chemist, fish and chip shop and dairy. Located in the grove is also conifer grove primary school and kindergarten. There are various parks/reserves such as Brylee Drive Reserve with two tennis courts and playground. This links to a board walk which goes around the waters/mangroves edge, which is enjoyed by many of the residents. This walk has been extended to connect the boardwalk through to Walter Strevens Drive reserve.

Conifer Grove has an old part before the bridge, and newer areas on the other side of the bridge. Most of the streets are cul-de-sacs. Due to the suburbs design pattern, there is only one way in and out of the newer area of Conifer Grove. This roundabout also has a security camera which records vehicle movement in and out of the area.

External links

• Papakura District Council
• New Auckland Council
• (Conifer Grove School Website)
• Photographs of Conifer Grove held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collcetions.