Parnell is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is one of New Zealand's most affluent suburbs, consistently ranked within the top three wealthiest, and is often billed as Auckland's "oldest suburb" since it dates from the earliest days of the European settlement of Auckland in 1841. It is characterised by its mix of tree-lined streets with large estates; redeveloped industrial zones with Edwardian town houses and 1920s bay villas; and its hilly topography that allows for views of the port, the Waitematā Harbour, Rangitoto Island and the Auckland Domain. To its west lies the Auckland Domain, to the south Newmarket, and to the north the Ports of Auckland. Parnell Rise and Parnell Road make up the main road through Parnell. Parnell Rise leads to the central business district to the west; Parnell Road runs from Parnell Rise uphill to the top of the suburb, and then bends almost 90 degrees and continues towards Newmarket in the south-east. Parnell Road ends at the intersection of George and Sarawia Streets, where it becomes Broadway. Early European settlers knew Parnell Road as "Manukau Road" until well after the formation of Khyber Pass Road in 1845.

History

The Parnell area has a long history of settlement by Tāmaki Māori. Point Resolution was the location of Taurarua pā, occupied by the Waiōhua confederation. The name Taurarua ("annoying chant") refers to a battle between Waiōhua and Ngāti Whātua where Waiohua warriors goaded Ngāti Whātua to attack using mocking chants. This was one of the final strongholds of this iwi before it was taken by Ngāti Whātua in the 1740s, when twin brother chiefs Humataitai and Hupipi were defeated by Ngāti Whātua. Prior to European settlement, Parnell was occupied by Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei. The Domain was known as Pukekawa, which translates to 'hill of bitter memories.' This is in reference to the battles that occurred between Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Whatua during the Musket Wars. The Government acquired the area from Ngāti Whātua as part of a 3000 acre land deal in 1840. Robert Tod purchased 3 acre from the Government on 1 September 1841. He quickly subdivided it into 36 sections, which he advertised for sale on 4 September 1841 as the "Village of Parnell". In the early 1830s Tod had supplied copies of the Bible to a Plymouth Brethren mission in Baghdad, one of whose members was John Vesey Parnell. Streets in the village of Parnell were named Groves, Cronin and Calman after other missionaries to Baghdad, Anthony Norris Groves, Edward Cronin and Erasmus Scott Calman. These were later renamed Eglon, Fox and Marston Streets. The Borough of Parnell, established in 1877, was amalgamated into the Auckland City Council area in 1913. The Parnell Road Board administered the area before the borough was established. The following served as mayors of the Borough of Parnell until its incorporation into Auckland City:

Demographics

Parnell covers 2.88 km2 and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Parnell had a population of 7,563 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 471 people (6.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,044 people (16.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,021 households, comprising 3,627 males and 3,933 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.92 males per female, with 756 people (10.0%) aged under 15 years, 2,145 (28.4%) aged 15 to 29, 3,597 (47.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,065 (14.1%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 77.2% European/Pākehā, 4.8% Māori, 2.1% Pacific peoples, 19.3% Asian, and 4.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 39.7, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.1% had no religion, 35.6% were Christian, 0.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.3% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 2.0% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 3,384 (49.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 267 (3.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 2,478 people (36.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,702 (54.4%) people were employed full-time, 1,014 (14.9%) were part-time, and 219 (3.2%) were unemployed.

Political representation

Parliament

Parnell forms part of the Epsom Electorate for parliamentary representation. Parnell represents approximately 20% of the population in the electorate. The Member of Parliament for Epsom, David Seymour, represents ACT New Zealand.

Local government

Parnell forms part of the Ōrākei Ward within Auckland Council.

Notable buildings and landmarks

Lower Parnell Road

Parnell Road

Saint Stephen's Corner

Northern area of Parnell

Southern area of Parnell

During the early 1970s the suburb became rather dilapidated. Les Harvey, a local businessman, bought up several properties cheaply and created "Parnell Village", encouraging others to follow his lead. This revitalised the area as a weekend tourist shopping destination. This involved Parnell re-inventing itself as a set of "Ye Olde Worlde Shoppes". As many other Victorian buildings underwent demolition in Auckland at the time, period materials became available cheaply, and the buildings of Parnell village emerged altered, extended and tarted up in a somewhat fanciful but fun ersatz Victorian style. Much of this restyling remains in evidence within Parnell Village and around the Parnell Road shopping area, partly because of the ongoing ownership of the Harvey family's company, City Construction. Along the upper part of Parnell Road stand a number of 19th-century houses, most of them now used by law firms, accountancy firms, shops, and a few restaurants. The lower part of Parnell has a larger concentration of Edwardian retail buildings, including a number of fashionable boutiques, nightclubs and bars. The streets to each side of Parnell Road remain mainly residential in character, with some townhouses and apartments, especially towards St Georges Bay Road. At the bottom of Parnell Rise runs Beach Road, so-called because it ran around the beach-front of the now-reclaimed Mechanics Bay and Official Bay. St Georges Bay disappeared at the same time. Here stands the former Auckland Railway Station, an impressive brick 1930 structure, designed by Gummer and Ford. The City Fathers relocated the Auckland train terminus here from the bottom of Queen Street in 1930. The building ceased to operate as a station in 2003 when Britomart Transport Centre became the new Auckland terminus at the former Queen Street site.

Parks

Parnell has several parks and reserves.

Infrastructure

Until 2017 Parnell never had a dedicated railway station. Parnell Railway Station was opened to the public in March 2017. It serves the Western and Southern Lines. It was built near the Mainline Steam Depot at the west of the Parnell commercial area, and north of the Parnell Tunnel, which has been located beneath the suburb since 1873.

Education

Parnell lies within easy reach of two universities (University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology) and of some significant State secondary schools: Auckland Grammar School, Epsom Girls' Grammar School, St Peter's College and Baradene College of the Sacred Heart. ACG Parnell College is a private composite school (years 1–13) with a roll of as of Parnell District School is a state full primary school (years 1–8) with a roll of as of Both these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of

Notable residents

Panorama