The rediscovery of the Saturday market was a very pleasant experience with samplings of fresh goat camembert cheese and a wonderful range of Croatian salamis and cured meats, the latter produced in New Lynn.
Howick Village reminds me very much of small town New Zealand, the way it was and it is to the resident's credit that the historic buildings are cherished and maintained.
Howick is an old pioneering settlement with missionary beginnings circa 1836, although local Maori, Ngai Tai, had occupied sites for several hundred years before this date.
It is named after the third Earl Grey, formerly Lord Howick, who was Secretary for the Colonies in the British Parliament and was responsible for the Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps immigration scheme. His family home is Howick Hall, Northumberland, England.
There were about 250 Fencibles in Howick. The word 'Fencible' comes from the word 'defence' which this detachment of retired soldiers were required to do as opposed to a unit of fighting men.
The is an active living history museum called the Howick Historic Village which, while not in Howick Village, is situated nearby.
Howick once has its own borough council before being merged with Manukau City. Today Aucklanders vote for councillors for an even larger, merged, conurbation the Super City of Auckland.
According to the New Zealand Herald, Howick is also a new Super City ward with the highest concentration of immigrants, where nearly half of the population (48.1 per cent) is overseas born.
With the median family income of nearly $73,000, Howick residents are financially better off than others in New Zealand.
I should also add that today we bought and consumed some of this season's fresh asparagus which is grown in the market gardens nearby. At $1.99 per bunch it was good value and I had forgotten after four years in South East Asia, just how memorable fresh asparagus is. We microwave it with a little sesame oil and oyster sauce - delicious!
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