Greater Auckland with 1.2 million inhabitants is the largest city in New Zeeland, though not its capital. The city is situated by the Hauraki Gulf in the Pacific Ocean and by the Hunua Ranges. The first people to arrive here were the Maori around year 1350. Today the Maori comprise about 7% of the city’s population. Auckland as a city was founded in 1840 by the Europeans and was the capital until 1865 when Wellington took over.
The gay scene in Auckland is lively and every year in February the country’s largest Pride festivities take place there, called Hero.