Karangahape Road


Karangahape Road is one of the main streets in the central business district of Auckland, New Zealand. The massive expansion of motorways through the nearby inner city area – and subsequent flight of residents and retail into the suburbs from the 1960s onwards – turned it from one of Auckland's premier shopping streets into a marginal area with the reputation of a red light district. Now considered to be one of the cultural centres of Auckland, since the 1980s–1990s it has been undergoing a slow process of gentrification, and is now known for off-beat cafes and boutique shops.
It runs west–east along a ridge at the southern edge of the Auckland CBD, perpendicular to Queen Street, the city's main street. At its intersection with Ponsonby Road in the west, Karangahape Road becomes Great North Road, at its eastern end it connects to Grafton Bridge.

Etymology

Karangahape is a word from the Māori language. Before Europeans appeared Auckland was occupied by several Māori iwi each of whom apparently used the same name for the Karangahape Ridge but with slightly different meanings.
The original meaning and origin of the word is uncertain; there are several interpretations – ranging from "winding ridge of human activity" to "calling on Hape". Hape was a Māori chief of some importance living over on the Manukau Harbour in a place also called Karangahape. As the ridge was a walking route and was known as Te Ara o Karangahape – The Path of Karangahape – the name possibly indicates the route that was taken to visit him.
Until the mid 20th century Karangahape Road was the only street in central Auckland with a Māori name, undoubtedly due to its use as a thoroughfare in pre-European times. Its Māori name proved difficult for many European settlers to pronounce and as it was the only major thoroughfare in the central area demarcated as a "road" during the 19th century it was apparently often referred to as "The Road".
In 1908 there was a movement to replace the long Māori name with something more urbane, European and modern. Although there were several public meetings and much discussion in the newspapers at the time, the city council was unmoved and the name survived. The topic re-emerged in 1913 but was again unsuccessful, probably because of the advent of the First World War. Just before the Royal Tour in 1953 there was another push to rename the road; this time as "Elizabeth Street" but again the original name survived. From the early 20th century it has become widely known as "K Road", even outside of Auckland.

Demographics

The statistical area of Karangahape, which includes the streets between Hopetoun and Beresford Streets to the north and the northwestern motorway to the south, had a population of 2,307 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 504 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 894 people since the 2006 census. There were 1,074 households. There were 1,260 males and 1,047 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.2 males per female. The median age was 32.6 years, with 105 people aged under 15 years, 846 aged 15 to 29, 1,179 aged 30 to 64, and 174 aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 61.9% European/Pākehā, 5.5% Māori, 3.3% Pacific peoples, 29.6% Asian, and 7.3% other ethnicities.
The proportion of people born overseas was 56.7%, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 57.5% had no religion, 26.5% were Christian, and 12.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 987 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 69 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $43,800. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,413 people were employed full-time, 291 were part-time, and 78 were unemployed.

History

As it was a travel route used by the pre-European Māori, Karangahape Road is an older thoroughfare than Queen Street, which was only developed by Europeans in the 1840s. The land was part of the parcel of 3000 acres sold by a local Māori to the government in 1841. The Karangahape ridge was the formal southern edge of Auckland City in the 19th century. In 1882 the ratepayers of Newton voted to become part of Auckland City.
From about 1900 to the early 1960s, K' Road was Auckland's busiest shopping street with a large range of clothing and shoe shops and several department stores. Most retail chain stores had branches here, often in preference to Queen Street. During the interwar period most of Auckland's main shops selling furniture, musical instruments, radios and household appliances were located here.
In 1908 the gas street lighting was replaced with electric lamps. In 1935 the whole street was lit by electric lights under the shop awnings to create a "Community Lighting" project referred to as the "Great White Way". Activated by the Mayor Sir Ernest Davis this created a mile of lit-up shop fronts which added to the glamour of late night shopping. In 1948 the second set of traffic lights in Auckland were installed at the Pitt Street intersection. In 1949 the street lamps were fitted with the first fluorescent street lights in New Zealand.
The Karangahape Road Business Association had begun in 1911 as an informal gathering of business people in the area. It officially dates from 1924 when it was registered as the Karangahape Road Businessmen's Association. Its first president was Mathew James Bennett, who ran a paint, wallpaper and interior decorating firm. Bennett was involved in a number of organisations including the Auckland Electric Power Board.
During the middle of the 20th century the Karangahape Road Area was a destination shopping centre, especially busy on late nights when family groups would travel in and clog the pavements. A line was painted down the centre of the footpaths to regulate foot traffic and police were posted at the Pitt Street intersection to stop people being pushed out into the traffic. A typical late-night outing included seeing a movie, shopping, a meal and promenading along the street window shopping and being seen. At this time the street had five cinemas and probably as many dance halls including the Druid's Hall in Galatos Street which is still in operation as a music venue.
K Road was the location of many shops aimed at the beauty and fashion trade; fabric, clothing, shoes, accessories and many specialist hair and beauty salons. There were several photographers' studios located along the ridge since the late Victorian period. In addition to a collection of some fairly upmarket dress emporiums and furriers, there were a number of establishments which specialised in bridal fashions and accessories.
As shops were not open on Saturdays or Sundays before the 1980s, the inner city was rather quiet during the day on the weekends. Karangahape Road was an exception, however. Most weddings take place on a Saturday and groups of women would loiter on K road outside the many photographers' studios to catch a glimpse of wedding parties as they arrived or departed from having their studio portraits taken. Sundays were a social event as well; up until the 1960s people attending church dressed up and there was interest in what people, especially women, were wearing.
The Karangahape Road area was the location of several major churches; The Baptist Tabernacle, The Pitt St Methodist Church, St James' Wellington Street, Congregationalist, St Benedicts, The Church of Christ Scientist, The Church of Christ, The Church of the Epiphany, Church of Jesus, Church of the Latter Day Saints, Chinese Presbyterian Church, the Salvation Army, Pacific Island Church, two Brethren Halls and after 1966, the main Synagogue. There was also the Higher Thought Temple, The Theosophical Society, The Foresters Hall, The Druids Hall, The Scots Hall, The Hibernian Society, The Irish Hall, three Freemasons Halls, several Trade Unions, the Maori Hall and the Old Folks Association. Any of these organisations were likely to be the location of a service, lecture or social event on any given day.
After 1965, K' Road lost most of its local customer base when construction of the inner-city motorway system resulted in over 50,000 people having to move out of the surrounding areas. The downturn in trade led to many shops closing and the relocating of businesses to other areas of Auckland. This accelerated the decline, and by the early 1970s the low rents in the western portion of the street meant it had acquired a rather seedy reputation as Auckland's red-light district although the adult industry never accounted for more than 4 percent of the businesses in the area at any time.
Since the early 1990s there has been a move away from this image largely due to newly constructed apartment blocks attracting residents back to the area, as well as a general gentrification of close by areas such as Ponsonby. Karangahape Road is probably the most notorious street in the country, as most people imagine it is lined with strip clubs, brothels and adult shops. The reality is different; despite the street's earlier reputation very few enterprises are connected with the adult industry; for example there are 150 shops along the main road, K Road, and only 8 of them are connected with the sex industry. This proportion of outre establishments to more ordinary businesses has remained fairly constant for almost 40 years.
K Road currently boasts an eclectic collection of shops, cafés and a nucleus of dealer art galleries. Since the early 1990s it has developed as a focus for nightlife; its restaurants, bars and nightclubs make it a major part of Auckland's social scene. This is largely due to redevelopment of the Queen Street valley in the 1980s as increased rents made many nightclub venues relocate to the K Road ridge. Since the mid 1990s K Road has become a centre for much of Auckland's bohemian scene, with many venues for alternative music and fringe art as well as the LGBT community. It is also known for its trendy op shops, and craft and art collectives.
The street received a major upgrade of its footpaths and street furniture which finished in 2006, at a cost of NZ$3.5 million. As of 2009, approximately 400 businesses were on K Road.
In 2011 the Karangahape Road overbridge had a $2.1 million upgrade as part of the Rugby World Cup Celebration. Designed by Opus Architecture and funded by Auckland Transport, it took 6 weeks to complete. Included in the design were three internally lit perspex pylons which act as entry markers for the bridge designed by the renowned Tongan artist Filipe Tohi.

Notable buildings and landmarks

Popular guided heritage walks are conducted on Karangahape Road. Notable buildings and sites include:

Symonds Street intersection

Karangahape Road was the location of two of the earliest radio stations in the country;
In 1923 Charles Pearson obtained a license for the first radio station in Auckland. Initially called 1YB this station was renamed 1ZB in 1931. Its frequency was 1090AM. Pearson's morning announcer was a young woman called Maud Basham who later became famous as Aunt Daisy.
The first broadcasting house in Auckland, The Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand, operated from 1925 to 1931 on France Street with large radio antennae on top of the George Courts building. It ran a commercial radio station with the call sign 1YA and the frequency 910AM until it was absorbed into the Government Broadcasting System as part of National Radio in the 1930s.
K Road has recently re-emerged as a film and audiovisual precinct. It has six independent film-makers and three screening venues. It was also the home of now defunct independent television station Alt TV.
Two radio stations, K FM Radio and Boosh.FM, operate from the street. K FM Radio broadcasts on the frequency 106.9 to most of the Auckland central business district and some of the inner-city suburbs. It plays reggae, dub, lounge, jazz, blues, funk and hip-hop in an attempt to reflect the diverse and alternative culture of Karangahape Road. Originally broadcasting from St.Kevin's Arcade, it is now based at 208 Karangahape Road.
The offices of Women in Film and Television are located at 1 Beresford Square.
The Auckland office of the New Zealand Film Archive is located in 300 Karangahape Road, where the institute has a reference library and exhibition space.

In popular culture

The song "Verona" by New Zealand rock band Elemeno P, from their album Love & Disrespect, refers to the café/restaurant/bar of the same name at 169 Karangahape Road. The current Verona building dates from 1923 and takes its name from the Victorian house that previously occupied the site, Mrs Bishop's "Verona" Boarding House.
Geddes Dental Renovations was a dental firm located in the K Road area on Queen Street. The company's radio jingle became a defining part of Auckland's culture; it was said it was possible to ascertain the presence of Aucklanders anywhere in the world by singing the Geddes' song.
Sung to the tune 'My Darling Clementine'
Broke my denture, broke my denture. Woe is me, what shall I do?
Take it in to Mr. Geddes, and he'll fix it just like NEW.
What's the address, what's the address? Hurry please, and tell me DO!
Top of Queen Street, on the corner, and the number's Four – Nine – TWO.
Arguably New Zealand's most famous commercial even though it hasn't been broadcast since the early 1980s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4G_Ne8YjR0

In Film & Television

A surprising number of nationally known shops and brand names started on Karangahape Road or had a branch there.

Victorian to World War I