Beachlands is an outer suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, established in the 1920s, where development increased in the 1950s due to its popularity as a beach holiday destination.

Beachlands is located adjacent to the Tāmaki Strait, in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand, 20 kilometres east of the Auckland City Centre.

Tainui followers of Manawatere, who identified as Ngā Oho, decided to settle the area between the Pōhutukawa Coast and Tūwakamana (Cockle Bay).

Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, the mana whenua of the area, descend from these early settlers.

[6] The area was one of the most densely gardened and fished places in the Pōhutukawa Coast, and has a high concentration of archaeological middens, pits and terraces.

[8] When William Thomas Fairburn visited the area in 1833, it was mostly unoccupied due to the events of the Musket Wars, as most members of Ngāi Tai had fled to temporary refuge in the Waikato.

[3][9] In 1836, Fairburn purchased 40,000 acres between Ōtāhuhu and Umupuia (Duders Beach), including much of the catchment of the Wairoa River.

[9] Fairburn's Purchase was investigated by the New Zealand Land Commission in 1841 and 1842 and found to be excessive and reduced in size.

For the remainder of the war, Ngāi Tai were designated as a "friendly" people by the Crown, and remained neutral in the fighting.

[11] In 2017, the Pohutukawa Coast Shopping Centre opened in Beachlands, despite opposition from members of the community.

[13][14] Many English migrants and increasing numbers of South Africans have moved into the area in recent years.

The housing ranges from cliff top mansions to rambling and somewhat run down baches.

The newer areas of Pine Harbour, Spinnaker Bay and Pony Park contain modern houses, generally with smaller gardens than in old Beachlands.

A gym, tennis, sports fields and a large indoor arena provide a cultural centre that unites Beachlands and neighbouring Maraetai into 'the Pohutukawa Coast' community.

The Te Puru Centre was initiated by local effort and fundraising and completed with a 50% grant from former Manukau City Mayor Sir Barry Curtis.

[citation needed] The first local government in the area was the Maraetai Highway Board, which was designated in 1867 and began operating in 1875.