New Zealand - Bucklands Beach - Winter racing at Bucklands Beach - 2/71972 - Private Family Photo #602588 Bucklands Beach - This area of Auckland was populated by Maori of the Ngai Tai iwi until the start of the Musket Wars (sometimes called the Potato Wars) which started in 1807. The old pa at Musick point was called Te Waiarohia and was used perhaps as far back as 1450. The last chief to command this pa was Te Rangi-Tauhia from about 1790. The old Maori name for Eastern Beach was Okokino; for big Bucklands Beach Te Komiti and for little Bucklands Beach Waio-otaiki. All these areas show signs of being used for Maori crops of kumara and bracken fern. These same areas had extensive hangi sites. - The first European to farm this area was Fairburn, New Zealand's first architect. He sold 350 acres (1.4 km2) to William Mason in 1851 for 500 pounds, but the deed for the land was not processed until 6 September 1852. The land included most of the peninsula apart from what is now Musick Point, which was reserved for the crown. Originally Eastern Beach was named Masons Beach. He sowed fine English grasses and grazed mainly sheep. - Alfred Buckland, who had 21 children, bought the farm in 1861 for 2,500 pounds plus 150 pounds per annum to go to Mason and his wife Sarah, who lived another 35 years. Buckland was a successful businessman. The beach was named after him. At one stage he owned land in the area, and also owned land situated at what is now the commercial district of Newmarket. In the late 19th century and around the turn of the 20th century, Buckland farmed ostriches at Bucklands Beach. - In the early days before World War II the beach had a very small permanent population centred around five farms and a few retired people, though in summer the population would be much bigger as there were many baches. After World War II the population grew steadily as the Bucklands sold off parcels of land for subdivision. When the primary school started in 1955 with a roll of about 180, the population was about 1000. The biggest growth came with widespread subdivision between 1963 and 1970. Bucklands Beach is a northern suburb of the former Manukau City, which is part of the Auckland urban area. Bucklands Beach had a population of 2370 in the 2001 census. #bucklandsbeach