Piha is 39 kilometres west of Auckland city centre, on the Tasman Sea coast to the north of the Manukau Harbour, on the western edge of the Waitākere Ranges.

The area is traditionally a part of rohe of the Tāmaki Māori tribe Te Kawerau ā Maki.

[6] Archaeological surveys have shown the remains of platforms, midden and terraces on Lion Rock, as well as fragments of traditional textiles, dating back to a time before European contact.

[7] The English language name references Andrew Mercer, an Auckland settler who received Crown grant in June 1866.

[7] At the turn of the 20th century, holidaymakers would travel by coach from Glen Eden to stay at guest houses in Piha.

[8] In February 1939, two Australian visitors to Auckland, G R Mackey and J A Talbot, committed arson at a Piha bach.

The fire was lit as a part of an insurance scam, and a body of a recently buried soldier was taken from Waikumete Cemetery and placed inside the bach.

[10] Since 1992, six people have disappeared from or in the area of Piha with no trace, with one of the more publicised cases being Iraena Asher and the most recent being French teenager Eloi Rolland in 2020.

[11] Piha suffered floods and slips from Cyclone Gabrielle in early 2023,[12] and the main road out was closed to non-residents until May 2023.

Due to the spread of the incurable kauri dieback disease large parts of the Waitākere Ranges were closed from 2018 until further notice.

[17] Piha is a well known black sand beach, due to the high iron content, which originated from Mount Taranaki and earlier volcanoes in the area.

Both clubs provide patrolled areas designated by red and yellow flags as is the custom with Surf Lifesaving in New Zealand and many other countries.