Auckland

Auckland , city (1996 pop. 345,768; urban agglomeration pop. 991,796), N North Island, New Zealand. It is situated on an isthmus and is the largest urban region and chief port of the country. The chief exports are frozen meats, dairy products, wool, hides, and iron and steel. Petroleum, iron and steel products, wheat, sugar, and fertilizers are the leading imports. Auckland is also New Zealand's leading industrial center. The chief industries are engineering (including shipbuilding and boilermaking), motor vehicle and chemical manufacturing, and food processing. It is also a fishing port and the chief base of the New Zealand navy. Maoris and persons of Maori ancestry comprise roughly one seventh of the populace, giving the city the largest Polynesian population in the world. Auckland was founded in 1840 and was the capital of New Zealand from 1841 to 1865. Educational institutions include the Univ. of Auckland and the Auckland Institute of Technology. The Auckland War Memorial Museum has a collection of Maori art. Other sights include a maritime museum and the 1,076-ft (328-m) Sky Tower. The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, based in Auckland, won the America 's Cup in 1995 and successfully defended in 2000, but lost in 2003. In the area of the city are many extinct volcano cones, including Mt. Eden (within the city) and Rangitoto (offshore).

Auckland Largest city, chief port, and region of New Zealand, lying on an isthmus on nw North Island. The port, built on land purchased from the Maoris in 1840, handles around 60% of New Zealand's trade. The first immigrants arrived from Scotland in 1842 and in 1854 the first New Zealand parliament opened here. It remained the capital until 1865. It is the chief base of New Zealand's navy and contains the War Memorial Museum. Within the city there are many volcanic cones. Industries: vehicle assembly, boatbuilding, footwear, food canning, chemicals. Auckland has the largest Polynesian population (c.65,000) of any city in the world. Pop. (2001) 367,734; 1,158,891 (region).

Auckland, George Eden, 1st earl (1784–1849). Auckland was a Whig who served as president of the Board of Trade under Grey and as 1st lord of the Admiralty under Melbourne. In 1835, he was appointed governor‐general of India. Auckland pursued commercial expansion from India into Afghanistan and central Asia and was responsible for undertaking the first Afghan War, which initially was prosecuted with success and gained him an earldom. However, incautious policies towards ‘the tribes’ soon stirred revolt. In the winter of 1841–2, British forces were obliged to retreat and were shot down or frozen to death. Of 16,000 men who set out from Kabul only one, Dr Brydon, survived to proclaim himself, famously, ‘the army of the Indus’. Lord Auckland was recalled in disgrace in February 1842.