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**Blockhouse Bay **

Kia Ora! Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena kouto, katoa!

Welcome to Blockhouse Bay,welcome to visitors, greetings to all who live in this area And community.


 * **This suburb is characterised by ridges and valleys, tidal inlets and streams. We have little flat land, but numerous streets with views of habour, hill or the plains of Avondale. There are many parks and playing fields. Blockhouse Bay itself is typical of the tidal bays of the Manukau. **
 * ** During the mid-Tertiary phase in the geology of Auckland, there were two distinct sites of major activity where different process were occurring at the same time. In the east the sedimentary processes were laying down sandstones, mudstones and other beds. IN the west volcanoes poured out material that formed the manukau Breccia. There was a considerable interface between the two areas, volcanic ash being deposited in the east, and underwater mud-flows (lahars) traveled very great distances across the sea floor. Masses of debris were suddenly deposited by underwater avalanches along with the normal mudstones and sandstones. The sheets of sedimentary rocks were crumpled and broken by the arrival of such deposits, known as "delta dumping" or "intraformation folding". Examples of these geological phenomena are evident in the rock formations of Blockhouse Bay. **
 * **The local climate is characterised by warm humid summers and mild winters. The annual rainfall is 1200 to 1400mm. Our proximity to the Waitakere Ranges with their 1400-200mm annual rainfall has some effect on Blockhouse Bay. **
 * **The vegetation is all modified by human habitation. The many trees that now grace the streets and reserves make it a more attractive place than that described by early visitors. GUm diggers worked the area, further altering the natural landscape. **
 * **The Manakau Habour, together with the Kaipara Habour and Firth of thames form the most important wintering grounds for wading birds in New Zealand and the South West pacific. The forests of the Waitakere Ranges, together with the habout shore, support a rich bird population and we enjoy many birds in our parks and gardens. **
 * **The Blockhouse Bay beach reserve is home to a large colony of blue heron. Oyster catchers, Kingfishers, Shags, a variety of Gulls, Ducks, Swallows and Fantails are all to be seen. Tui, Wood Pigeons, Yellow Hammers and magpies join with the gamiliar garden birds Thrush, Mynahs and the Sparrows also share our enviroment. At night the cakk if the friendly Morepork frequently echoes through the parks and beach. **
 * **Unfortunately we can no longer gather shellfish for food as the pollution of the Manukau harbour has made them unfit to eat. The water is, however, clean enough for swimming and we hope it will improve as harbour pollution is addressed. **

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Emilylenz