Waitemata Harbour.

Using Te Ara -

The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

1. Waitemata Harbour

L.I. Develop our knowledge of Auckland and the Tamaki River.

Familiarise ourselves with an online NZ encyclopaedia.

Use our skimming and scanning skills.

Use this link to open Te Ara

Enter Waitemata into the search box and use that page to answer these questions.

What sort of landform is the Waitemata harbour?

It is a drowned river valley.

Why was it chosen to be New Zealand’s capital?

It stretches from Riverhead in the north-west to tamaki River in the east.

What does Waitemata mean?

Obsidian water.

Tell me one interesting fact about each of these features of the Waitemata:

Auckland’s chief port - It was vital to the progress of the city.

Viaduct basin - It was redeveloped in the mid-1990.

Westhaven - It is the largest managed marina in australia.

Harbour bridge - It was opened at 1959 to link the Auckland Isthmus.

Greenhithe bridge - The Greenhithe bridge was built in 1975 as an alternative harbour.

Natural features - It was formed by lava flowing from the three kings eruption.