Discover Bastion Point
Bastion Point is located at the western end of Mission Bay in Auckland, near Downtown. The Point has an expansive grassy reserve and the striking Michael Joseph Savage Memorial. The memorial honours the Prime Minister who led New Zealand during the 1930s Great Depression and includes a beautiful garden.
The site also offers panoramic views of Tamaki Drive, the Waitematā Harbour, and the eastern end of Mission Bay. You can access Bastion Point via Hapimana Street from Tamaki Drive, and explore the reserve, including Takaparawha Point, which provides views over Ōkahu Bay.
Historical Significance
Bastion Point holds profound historical importance for Auckland. Before European settlement, it was a strategic site for Māori, with a pā located at Takaparawha Point to defend settlements at the entrance to the Waitematā Harbour.
Following the establishment of Auckland, the government acquired the land from Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei for defence purposes. Fort Bastion was constructed during the Russian Scare of the 1880s, with further enhancements made during World Wars I and II. You can still see remnants of old bunkers along the cliffs west of the memorial, as well as smaller searchlight station bunkers below the cliffs on Tamaki Drive. These defences were part of a network that included underground tunnels and ammunition storage, linked with facilities at Devonport's Torpedo Bay and Maungauika / North Head. During World War II, anti-aircraft gun bunkers were also built on Takaparawha.
The Michael Joseph Savage Memorial
Michael Joseph Savage, New Zealand's first Labour Party Prime Minister, is remembered for establishing the country's welfare state. After his death in 1940, Bastion Point was chosen for his memorial tomb. The Art Deco memorial was designed by Tibor Donner and Anthony Bartlett and features a sunken mirror pool and surrounding gardens. It was inaugurated in March 1943, and the views from the north side of the memorial are particularly impressive.
The 1977 Occupation
In 1977, Bastion Point became the focus of a significant Māori protest. Originally owned by Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei, the land was taken for defence works in the 1880s. Over the years, the government further reduced the iwi's land holdings, often through questionable means. In the 1970s, the government planned to sell the land around Ōrakei, which should instead have been returned to the iwi.
In response, Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei iwi members occupied Bastion Point for 507 days, drawing national attention. This protest was crucial in shaping the government's approach to Treaty of Waitangi breaches. In 1988, a partial settlement returned land at Bastion Point, Takaparawha Point, Okahu Bay, and Ōrakei to Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei, setting a precedent for resolving other historical grievances.
Getting to Bastion Point
To visit Bastion Point from Downtown Auckland, head to Hapimana Street from Tamaki Drive. This route provides access to the reserve and the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial.
You can continue along Tamaki Drive to visit the beach suburbs of Kohimarama and St Heliers, or head to the Parnell Rose Gardens and Judges Bay. Next to the gardens, look for the giant pōhutukawa.
