Te Hopua a Rangi

According to Mogford, during Edward Morton's term of office as Mayor of Onehunga Borough, 1929–1935: ...the controversial decision was made to use the old crater near the wharf for a council rubbish tip.

There was some protest that this unique geological formation was to be destroyed and lost forever in this reclamation, but the authorities and general public were not so environmentally aware of our heritage as they are today.

In the span of a few years the crater was cut off by road, filled in, levelled, grassed and renamed with due ceremony Gloucester Park in honour of the King's brother, the Duke of Gloucester, who had paid a goodwill visit to New Zealand at the end of 1934.Gloucester Park speedway was opened on 5 January 1935 by the Governor-general.

[citation needed] The army occupied Te Hopua a Rangi between 1941 and 1946, building barracks along its western side close to the sea, and occupying the MYMBC club house until 1945, when the MYMBC celebrated the return of the building with a grand re-opening dance on 21 July 1945.

During the army occupation the Speedway was closed, but reopened again after this and was still active in 1961. the 2016 Auckland Council Unitary Plan defined Te Hopua a Rangi as an Outstanding Natural Feature as follows.