Кайпараның шығыс бөлігінің тарихы мен этнографиясы

The eastern Kaipara Harbour has been settled by Māori since the 13th or 14th centuries, who utilised the inland forests and marine resources of the Kaipara Harbour. The area became home to the Ngāti Whātua collective Te Uri o Hau by the mid 17th century, with hapū including Ngāti Mauku, Ngāti Tahuhu and Ngāti Rongo being established from the descendants of Haumoewhārangi, and by strategic marriages with Te Kawerau hapū. Wellsford was established by the Albertlanders in 1862, a group of Baptist tradespeople and farmers from the Birmingham area who settled the southern Oruawharo River, developing into a timber and kauri gum. By the early 20th century, the area developed into a regional centre for dairy farming, in part due to the opening of Wellsford railway station in 1909, linking the town to Auckland.

The settlement was originally known by its Māori name Whakapirau, which is the name of the local creek flowing into the Kaipara Harbour. The settlers disliked the name, which they interpreted to mean "stinking canoe", and began searching for a new name. The name was changed to Wellsford at a public meeting sometime between the late 1860s and early 1870s. The name was suggested by resident D. R. Lester, allegedly by creating an acronym from the surnames of settler families in the area. The earliest known references in print to Wellsford date to 1874. The modern site of Wellsford township was often referred to as the Gum Ridge in the 1870s. Other early known settlers in the eastern Kaipara area include descendants of Te Tahinga, Te Tahuhu and Kura, sons of Hotunui of the Tainui migratory waka. Ngāti Tahinga, who descend from Te Tahinga, settled the Oruawharo River area. People of the eastern Kaipara Harbour moved between different kāinga, based on what resources were seasonally available, including the marine resources of the Kaipara Harbour and inland forest resources. The upper Oruawharo River was linked by an overland path (ara) to the Mangawhai Harbour to the northeast. In the mid 17th century, the warrior Maki migrated from the Kāwhia Harbour to his ancestral home in the Auckland Region. Maki conquered and unified many of the Tāmaki Māori tribes, including those of the West Auckland, the North Shore, and unified these peoples under the name Te Kawerau. Ngāti Manuhiri formed as a tribal identity along the Hōteo River, when Maki's son Manuhiri migrated northeast along the river to the Whangateau Harbour area.

By the mid 18th century, Ngāti Whātua peoples of Northland migrated south to the Kaipara Harbour. The northern and eastern Kaipara, including Wellsford, were controlled by Te Uri o Hau, a Ngāti Whātua tribal grouping led by Haumoewhārangi. Ngāti Rongo developed as a hapū in the area through the union between Haumoewhārangi's granddaughter Moerangaranga and Maki's son Ngāwhetu, Te Uri o Hau, including the hapū Ngāti Mauku and Ngāti Tahuhu, lived seasonally along the Oruawharo River. In the 1820s during the Musket Wars, the eastern Kaipara was depopulated, as people sought refuge in other parts of the country. Under a Special Settlement Scheme by the Government, the Oruawharo Block became a planned settlement, predominantly settled by Baptist tradespeople and farmers from the Birmingham area, who settled between 1862 and 1865 at Tāpora, Port Albert and Wellsford. Wellsford was originally known by the name Whakapirau, In 1979, Irwin Industrial Tools was established in Wellsford, constructing circular saw blades and growing to be a major local employer, before closing in 2009. The local Ōruawharo Marae is a traditional meeting ground for Te Uri o Hau and the Ngāti Whātua hapū of Ngāti Mauku and Ngāti Tahuhu. It includes the Rangimārie meeting house. In 1990, the Albertland Heritage Museum opened in Wellsford. By the 21st century, tourism and lifestyle blocks has increasingly drawn people to Wellsford. and housing developments in the 2020s have been predicted to increase the size of the town by more than 800 houses.

Rodney College is a secondary (years 9–13) school with a roll of students. Wellsford School is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of students. Rodney College's Board of Trustees was dismissed in August 2008 and a Ministry of Education commissioner appointed. By 2016, the college was performing well. Living Way Christian School closed at the end of 2018 due to falling rolls. Wellsford, Tauhoa, Pākiri, Tāpora, Tomarata and Mangawhai Primary Schools all cater for students from year 1–8, and collectively contribute to the annual in take of roughly 80 year 9 students at Rodney College. All the schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of

Being a rural town, sport plays a big part in Wellsford's day to day life with rugby, soccer, netball, cricket, tennis and athletics being amongst the more popular sports played. The Wellsford Golf Club is popular among the locals and also houses squash courts. Rollerskating, archery and bowling, (indoors and outdoors) are also available, while equestrian is also popular in the area.

With the abolition of the provinces of New Zealand in 1876, Wellsford became part of the newly formed Rodney County. From 1989 to 2010, Wellsford was part of Rodney District. In November 2010, all city and district councils in the Auckland Region were merged into a single unitary authority, Auckland Council, with Warkworth in the Rodney Local Board area. Electors in Wellsford vote for the seven member Rodney Local Board, and also a Rodney ward councillor, who represents the area on the Auckland Council.