Whenuapai is located in Waitakere city, one of the cities which make up the conurbation of Auckland, in the northern North Island of New Zealand. It is located on the northwestern shore of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres to the northwest of Auckland's city centre. The name is Maori for good land. Waitakere City is in the west of metropolitan Auckland, New Zealands most populous urban area. ... A conurbation is an urban area comprising a number of cities or towns which, through population growth and expansion, have physically merged to form one continuous built up area. ... Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... North Island The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ... Auckland Harbour Bridge crossing the Waitemata Harbour Waitemata Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. ... Māori (or Maori) is a language spoken by the native peoples of New Zealand and the Cook Islands. ...

Construction of Whenuapai as a base for Wellington bomber aircraft began in 1937.

Post World War II Auckland became a centre for RNZAF transport and maritime squadrons. From 1945-1965 Whenuapai was also Auckland's civil international airport. Whenuapai and Hobsonville bases were integrated in 1965 to form RNZAF Base Auckland. Hobsonville is currently undergoing closure.

Today, with a personnel strength of around 1,100, Base Auckland is the home for:

 * No.5 Squadron (Orion) * No.6 Squadron - Naval Support Flight (Seasprite) * No.40 Squadron (Hercules and Boeing 757) * RNZAF Parachute Training and Support Unit, * training school for Air Force police dogs, * RNZAF Aviation Medicine Unit.