Although only a short distance away from Auckland, the country’s largest urban centre, Waiheke still remained remote from the mainland in many ways. The Island still had an independent local government, the Waiheke County Council, and the old, uncomfortable ferries that went between island and city still took well over an hour.
Locals were divided over whether closer ties with Auckland would be a positive or negative for the Island; they were to find out at the end of the eighties when a fast ferry service was introduced in 1987 and the Waiheke County Council was amalgamated with Auckland City in 1989.
With integration into Auckland City and easier accessibility to the city many people came to regard Waiheke as an island outpost of Auckland. The trip to the island now took just 35 minutes. Commuting to work in Auckland, which had once been for the hardy few, was now relatively straightforward and Waiheke subsequently became an attractive place to live for more people.
This led to an initial population burst in which the population grew by 25% between 1986 and 1991. The new arrivals were often white-collar, full-time workers and relatively affluent which saw the demographics of the Island begin to change with the proportion of beneficiaries and the elderly living on Waiheke decreasing with each subsequent census. Meanwhile, real estate prices began to climb, gradually at first before skyrocketing in the last few years.
Architecturally, island houses now range from older, simple wooden baches to huge, modern architect designed wonders (or monstrosities depending on your opinion).
Tourism remains as important as ever for Waiheke’s economy. The growth in the wine industry has been the single biggest change in this area. Wineries have proven to be very popular destinations for visitors and other new tourist industries have grown side by side with the vines. Waiheke is in demand as a venue for weddings and corporate functions and the island has also become a luxury destination for wealthier visitors. Expensive, high-quality accommodation has sprung up around the island catering for this demand. The olive industry and olive trees have also flourished on the island, with around 20,000 trees producing top quality olives and oil.
Oneroa today
Despite the increased affluence, the perceived ‘suburbanisation’ and the island’s current ‘trendiness’ Waiheke is not yet just another Auckland suburb. Indeed, there is still no reticulated sewage system or water supply other than rainwater tanks and the eastern end of the island is still sparsely populated and dominated by agricultural land. Although the first supermarket arrived in 1996, there are, as yet, no signs of some of the other common trappings of urban civilisation such as fast food restaurants and traffic lights.
Waiheke still retains a beautiful and relaxed semi-rural environment with a strong community focus and vigorous local democracy. Maintaining this community spirit and enviable environment under the pressure of increasing popularity and development demands is the island’s biggest challenge for the future. | 
