Wai o Taiki Bay is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand under the local governance of Auckland Council. Glen Innes, Glendowie, and the Tamaki River estuary are neighbouring suburbs.
The suburb’s name is derived from the Tamaki River’s original name, Te Wai o Taiki, which translates as “The Waters of Taiki.” Taiki is a shortened version of Taikehu, the name of Ngāi Tai’s ancestor. The suburb is made up of a mix of state houses and architecturally designed houses built by developers.
According to the 2018 New Zealand census, the statistical area of Glen Innes East-Wai O Taiki Bay had a population of 3,447 people and 915 households.
Tahuna Torea Reserve
Tahuna Torea is a 25-hectare nature reserve with mangrove lagoons and swampland located on a long sandbank extending into the Tamaki Estuary. Tahuna Torea, which means ‘gathering place of the oystercatcher,’ is rich in Māori history and home to native birds and vegetation.
There are three main walking trails that take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to complete, but you can enjoy a stroll around the bush tracks or the lagoon in as little as 40 minutes.
Wai-O-Taiki Nature Reserve
Wai-O-Taiki Nature Reserve is a bushy reserve that runs along the Tamaki Estuary and is linked to the larger Tahuna Torea reserve by a track. A brand new playground for children of all ages can be found in a grassy area off Fernwood Place. For protection, the playground is fully fenced and has a bark play surface.