64-647: The Belmont Viaduct was a railway viaduct in Paparangi , New Zealand . The viaduct was originally built by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company as part of the Wellington-Manawatu line . When opened in 1885, with its original kauri wood structure, it was the largest of its kind in New Zealand . At the time it was reputed to be the largest wooden viaduct in the world, however this claim
128-603: A Crown Grant of 332 acres of land in 1861. His widow Ceres Selina Drake sold the land to the Crown on 3 August 1897, and it was broken into small farms of the Paparangi Estate, as one of the Small Farms Settlements of Richard Seddon ’s Liberal Government . Working men got a 2 hectare (5 acre) lease-in-perpetuity section on which they could grow fruit and vegetables and keep pigs, bees and fowls. In
192-611: A block and tackle arrangement. The seasoned kauri timber used was milled in areas around the country, then brought by sea to Porirua . They were then transported to the construction site via teams of Bullock carts. The viaduct completed in November 1886. Standing at 38 m high and 104 m long, this was the largest wooden trestle bridge in New Zealand. In the early 1900s, the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company opted to reconstruct many of its wooden bridges and viaducts. While
256-541: A company of railway engineers, two sections of field engineers, and 26 signalers. Field engineers would be sent to Gallipoli with the New Zealand and Australian Division and then the Western front as part of the New Zealand Division . A total of four field engineer companies were raised during the war. In principle one field company was attached to each infantry brigade, but for the most part were under
320-616: A military organisation called the Defence Engineering Service Corps. The Corps of New Zealand Engineers suffered around 310 fatalities during the second world war. In 1947 the various administrative corps of the New Zealand Military forces were granted the prefix "Royal". It was argued by some generals that the earlier Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers had technically not been disbanded in 1908 and could be resurrected by simply transferring
384-452: A population density of 2,254 people per km . Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a larger boundary, covering 1.31 km (0.51 sq mi). Using that boundary, Paparangi had a population of 2,874 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 135 people (4.9%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 210 people (7.9%) since the 2006 census . There were 1,029 households, comprising 1,404 males and 1,467 females, giving
448-451: A sex ratio of 0.96 males per female. The median age was 35.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 612 people (21.3%) aged under 15 years, 540 (18.8%) aged 15 to 29, 1,377 (47.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 342 (11.9%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 63.4% European/ Pākehā , 10.2% Māori , 6.3% Pasifika , 27.6% Asian , and 3.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
512-658: A single New Zealand wireless troop and was part of India's Expeditionary Force D. The wireless troop was the only New Zealand unit to serve in the Mesopotamia Campaign . A number of other units were raised during the First World War with similar roles to, but not part of, the New Zealand Engineers. The New Zealand (Māori) Pioneer Battalion provided a general labour force for construction and entrenching work. Attempts were made to convert
576-469: A translation of "flat sky" for the Māori language name Paparangi . The suburb has a small local shopping-centre and a low-decile primary school. The area, formerly in small farms and part of Newlands , became a dormitory suburb of Wellington, with major subdivisions in the early 1960s adding about a hundred houses a year. Beazley Homes of Tauranga (owned by Barry Beazley) was a major developer. Some of
640-484: Is Sapper , rather than private which is used in most other corps. Additionally any member of the corps can be informally referred to as a sapper. The official motto of the Royal New Zealand Engineers is "ubique quo fas et gloria ducunt" (everywhere, where right and glory lead). In practice, however, the phrase is split into two separate mottos, "ubique" and "quo fas et gloria ducunt". The motto
704-776: Is based at Linton Camp, and contains the Technical Training Wing and the Combat Engineer Wing. Since 1995 the school also provides firefighting training to personnel from the Royal New Zealand Air Force . Although not a part of the RNZE organisation the Engineer Corps Memorial Centre , Library and Chapel are also based at Linton Camp. The most junior enlisted rank of the Royal New Zealand Engineers
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#1732794177686768-410: Is mounted on a 8x8 HX-77 MAN truck . The system can bridge a twelve meter gap in ten minutes and is strong enough to support the weight of an NZLAV . In the late 2000s 2nd Engineer Regiment operated a troop of NZLAVs to support the then mechanized 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment . The NZLAVs were transferred to Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles in the early 2010s when 1st Battalion
832-660: Is the administrative corps of the New Zealand Army responsible for military engineering . The role of the Engineers is to assist in maintaining friendly forces' mobility, deny freedom of movement to the enemy, and provide general engineering support. The corps has been involved in numerous conflicts over the course of its history including World War I , World War II , the Korean War , the Vietnam War and
896-544: The 1999 East Timorese crisis New Zealand deployed a battalion group, which contained an engineer troop, to East Timor as part of INTERFET . Following renewed unrest in 2006, the engineer were once again deployed to East Timor, eventually leaving in 2012. In 2003 New Zealand deployed the provincial reconstruction team to Afghanistan . Despite the name, the provincial reconstruction team was intended to provide security to Bamyan Province and thereby enable reconstruction by other organizations. The engineers deployed as part of
960-639: The 1st Commonwealth Division . Engineers were also attached to the battalions of the New Zealand Regiment stationed in Malaya during the 1960s and supported various units of the 1st Australian Task Force during the Vietnam War . The engineers were also stationed in Singapore as part of a forward presence in Asia. The New Zealand engineers were initially part of the 28th ANZUK Field Squadron in
1024-489: The 2011 drought and set up water filtration and reverse osmosis systems. The RNZE has also been active in disaster relief within New Zealand. The engineers were deployed to Christchurch within two hours following the 2011 earthquake . The RNZE were immediately tasked with repairing the city's water supply, but also supported the stabilization, repair and demolition of buildings and other infrastructure. The corps also assisted in clearing slips along State Highway 70 following
1088-521: The 2016 Kaikōura earthquake . The primary role of the Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers is to provide mobility and counter mobility capabilities to the New Zealand Army. More generally, the corps provides military engineering support including construction, water purification and reticulation, CBRN defense , bridging, firefighting and demolitions. When not fulfilling an engineering role,
1152-528: The 2nd New Zealand Division . The field companies first saw action in 1941 during the battles of Greece , and Crete and were mostly involved in the demolition of infrastructure to try and slow the German advance. During Operation Crusader the engineers mostly operated as infantry, but following the axis counter attack in 1942, were employed in the construction of minefields at the El Alamein line. During
1216-628: The New Zealand Corps of Signals and the railway battalions were disbanded. In the same year the Corps of New Zealand Engineers were retitled as the Regiment of New Zealand Engineers, but reverted to the former name in 1923. During the Second World War the Corps of New Zealand Engineers provided engineering support to the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force . Three field companies, one for each brigade, were formed as part of
1280-558: The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade . The field engineers role involved constructing and repairing trenches, fortifications, bridges and digging wells. The Battle of the Somme in 1916 had shown that road transport was inadequate to move supplies and ammunition to the front line and to evacuate wounded. The Engineers were therefore required to build a light railway system close to the front line and in 1917
1344-574: The North Island Main Trunk by the New Zealand Railways Department . By 1937, the line between Johnsonville and Tawa was rapidly reaching its operating limits due to its steep and winding layout. The line was replaced with the new 8.38 mile (13.49 km) double tracked Tawa Flat Deviation tunnel . The tunnel bypassed the viaduct completely, tunneling underground between Ngauranga and Tawa . With
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#17327941776861408-604: The Royal cypher , "E II R", standing for " Elizabeth II Regina", encircled by a garter adorned with the motto "honi soit qui mal y pense" (shame on him who thinks evil of it) taken from the Order of the Garter . The collar badge worn by the Royal New Zealand Engineers is a grenade with a scroll inscribed with "ubique". The New Zealand Tunneling Company instead used the Maāri translation of
1472-534: The Second Battle of El Alamein , the engineers played a vital role in clearing German minefields for the allied forces to advance through. The primary role of the engineers continued to be mine clearing during the allied advance across the Western desert and into Tunisia in late 1942 and early 1943. Other non-divisional engineer companies were also formed to support logistics and transportation. By 1940 seven railway companies had been formed and were involved in
1536-545: The war in Afghanistan . The corps consists of a single regiment, 2nd Engineer Regiment, primarily based at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North . The first New Zealand European military engineering unit was an 82 man militia detachment employed as pioneers during the Flagstaff War in 1845-1846. It would be twenty years until the concept of military engineering was revisited by the colonial forces with
1600-651: The 1920s and 1930s there were five dairy farms in Newlands and Paparangi, supplying town milk to Wellington. Sam Styles had a 90-acre (36 ha) dairy farm, Ocean View Farm in Horokiwi Road, Paparangi supplying milk and cream. He was a Makara County Councillor, and later ran 200 sheep on 200 acres (80 ha) at the top of Horokiwi. The farm was sold to Mr McKinley after Styles' death in 1935. Paparangi statistical area covers 1.26 km (0.49 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 2,840 as of June 2024, with
1664-607: The 1st and 2/1st Battalions of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, respectively. The 3rd Field Squadron is based at Burnham Military Camp , while the and Emergency Response Squadron has one troop based at each of Linton, Burnham and Waiouru camps . The emergency response troops were formerly the camp fire brigades and provide emergency services to the military camps and the surrounding area. 25th Engineer Support Squadron provides disaster relief and civil support. The School of Military Engineering
1728-631: The 5th Light Railway Operating Company was formed to specialise in these tasks. The New Zealand Tunnelling Company was also raised in 1915 and was the first New Zealand unit deployed to the Western Front, arriving in March 1916. It was initially involved in counter-mining at Vimy ridge and later dug out tunnels at Arras . During the Hundred Days Offensive the tunnelling company was retasked with bridge building, which included
1792-611: The Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers on 7 January 1903 (backdated to 15 October 1902). This first rendition of the Royal New Zealand Engineers was short-lived and on 26 March 1908 the engineers were absorbed into the Electric light section of the Royal New Zealand Artillery. The New Zealand Engineer Volunteers continued to exist until 5 October 1911 when they became the Corps of New Zealand Engineers as part of
1856-615: The advance of the 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade . The 3rd New Zealand Division , which served in the Pacific , also contained three field companies, even though the division's third brigade was never fully formed. These units were generally engaged in the construction of infrastructure behind the front line, although they did support the landing at the Battle of the Green Islands where they suffered their only combat casualties of
1920-750: The armed constabulary was converted into the Permanent Militia, establishing the first New Zealand regular military force. The Permanent Militia was much smaller than the Volunteer Force and in 1888 consisted of only two companies: the Permanent Artillery and the Torpedo Corps. The Torpedo Corps became the Submarine Mining Branch in 1896 and then No. 2 Service Company in 1897. It was finally retitled as
1984-466: The battalion into an engineering unit, but this proved to be impractical due to a shortage of adequately educated Maori officers. Three entrenching battalions were also formed in February 1918 from the recently disbanded 4th Infantry Brigade . The entrenching battalions were a reserve manpower pool for the remaining infantry brigades, but also provided a general labour force to the engineers. During
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2048-550: The construction and operation of railways in Egypt and Libya. In 1942 the New Zealand engineers laid 400 km of new track across the western desert in 265 days and operated the first train to cross the El Alamein line following the breakout. Three forestry companies were formed in 1940 and were sent to England to fell and mill timber. By September 1942 the output of the New Zealand Forestry group exceeded that of all
2112-731: The construction of a 240 foot bridge across the Canal du Nord . Signals units, which were part of the Corps of New Zealand Engineers at this time, were attached to most units of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The Divisional Signal Company served with the New Zealand Infantry, while the mounted signal troop was assigned to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade. The 1st ANZAC Wireless Signal Squadron also contained
2176-580: The control of the divisional CRE . A small number of field engineers also served in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign . These sappers served in D troop (later NZ troop) of the 1st Field Squadron of the Australian Engineers . As part of the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division , they initially provided an engineering capability to the 2nd Light Horse Brigade , but were later assigned to
2240-775: The conversion of the Volunteer force into the Territorial Force. The New Zealand Railway Corps and the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Corps were both formed as independent corps in October 1911, but were brought under the Corps of New Zealand Engineers umbrella in July 1913. The first units of the New Zealand Engineers to be sent overseas as part of the Samoa Expeditionary Force , including
2304-542: The course of the war the New Zealand Engineers suffered around 400 fatalities. Two members of the corps, Cyril Bassett (Divisional Signal Company) and Samuel Forsyth (attached to 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment ) were awarded the Victoria Cross . Following the war the Corps of New Zealand Engineers was restructured. In 1921 the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Corps became a separate corps,
2368-399: The early 70s, but were later attached to 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment stationed in Singapore until 1989. The primary unit of the RNZE based in New Zealand during the 1950s was 1st Field Engineer Regiment which was to support the division sized 3rd New Zealand Expeditionary Force . With the end of compulsory military training in 1958 and the downsizing of the RNZE,
2432-577: The form of several concrete foundations. The building was designed by the British civil engineer Harry Higginson , based on experience constructing railway lines in British India . He appointed as assistants Arthur Fulton and James Fulton , brothers from Dunedin. Construction of the viaduct was then appointed to Morton Danaker. The viaduct was built in prefabricated sections on the ground with each structure being lifted section by section using
2496-541: The formation of the Volunteer Force in 1865. By the 1880s there were five volunteer engineer corps, including a torpedo corps ("torpedo" referred to undersea mines at this time). The engineers were disbanded in 1883, as adequate training could not be provided, but the Russian Scare of 1885 placed a new emphasis on costal fortifications and the engineer corps were revived. In 1887 the military component of
2560-404: The gully floor, with a length of 341 feet. The main uprights of the trestles and cross-spars were 14 inches by 14 inches of solid kauri, each 40-foot long. A total of 212,000 feet of seasoned kauri timber was used. A total of 35 tons of wrought iron bolts, nuts, washers and fastening braces were used. The uprights stood on 14 concrete foundations in the gully with piers sunk 20 feet into the bed of
2624-646: The motorway, but the Grenada Village Progressive Association expressed concerns about any increase in traffic and in car speeds. From 1994 the Wellington City Council consulted with residents, and in 2009 the Mayor opened the "Mark Avenue Extension" connecting the two areas. The area was settled by a farmer Thomas Drake from Devonshire who was a descendant of John Drake, brother to Sir Francis Drake. He obtained
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2688-595: The motto, "inga whai katoa", on their collar badges. The grenade badge has nine flames, in contrast to the very similar seven flame badge of the Royal New Zealand Artillery . The corps colours are purple navy and post office red which were reputedly the colours of the Board of Ordnance . They are also interpreted as representing the blue tunics worn by the Royal Engineers prior to 1813 and
2752-528: The opening of the new tunnel, the original WMR line was terminated at Johnsonville , with the viaduct being abandoned after 52 years of operation. In 1951, with concerns about public safety, it was decided to demolish the derelict viaduct. An arrangement was made with Army Territorial Engineers to deconstruct the bridge was part of a training exercise. The viaduct was blown up on 15 December 1951 using 97 lbs (44 kg) of TNT , after standing in place for 66 years. The original viaduct stood 125 feet above
2816-555: The original wooden trestle structure was still suitable for use, the company decided to proceed with the replacement due to the threat of fire. A new steel viaduct was prefabricated in the United States by the American Bridge Company , and shipped to Wellington for installation in 1903. The structure was built around the original wooden structure, inside the four existing pairs of timber trestles. When this
2880-425: The other forestry groups (British, Canadian and Australian) combined. Two of the forestry companies were disbanded in 1943 and the remaining one was sent to Algeria and then Italy, before also being disbanded in 1944. The 2nd New Zealand Division was deployed to Italy in 1943 and the new environment required the field companies to take on a new role as bridge builders. The New Zealand Engineers were soon proficient in
2944-481: The personnel of the New Zealand Engineers to it. This proposal was, however, rejected by the Army Board who determined that the RNZE had indeed been disbanded. The New Zealand Engineers were therefore granted the royal title on 12 July 1947, but due to a clerical error were listed by the abbreviated name, "New Zealand Engineers" (omitting "Corps of"), and subsequently became the Royal New Zealand Engineers. The error
3008-488: The provincial reconstruction team did not have any construction capability and only oversaw work by contractors from other governments and agencies. The provincial reconstruction team was withdrawn from Afghanistan in 2013. Although New Zealand did not join the American-led coalition which invaded Iraq in 2003, RNZE sappers were deployed to Iraq in 2004 to provide humanitarian and reconstruction support. A RNZE troop
3072-502: The rapid construction of both pontoon bridges and modular Bailey bridges . The construction of these bridges was critical to the advance of allied forces and instrumental in the crossing of major rivers such as the Sangro , Senio , Santerno and Po . In March 1945 an armoured engineer squadron was also formed. The squadron was equipped with a range of specially modified Sherman and Valentine tanks used for bridge laying and supported
3136-403: The red tunics which replaced them. The colours are reflected in the corps stable belt , which is red with two blue stripes, and the corps flag, which is similarly coloured and embroidered with the corps badge. The Colonel-in-Chief is the ceremonial head and patron of the corps. The position was first held by Lord Kitchener , who served in the role from 1911 until his death in 1916. Kitchener
3200-491: The regiment was disbanded in 1962. The RNZE were organised as independent squadrons until the formation of 2nd Engineer Regiment in 1993. Since the 1980s the RNZE has been primarily deployed on peace keeping and disaster relief missions. An engineer section was attached to the New Zealand company group deployed to Bosnia to quell ethnic conflict from 1994 till 1996. The engineers continued to be deployed to Bosnia until as late as 2001 to support reconstruction. In response to
3264-419: The secondary role of sappers is to act as infantry. To fulfil these duties the corps is equipped with a variety of engineering vehicles. At total of six JCB High Mobility Engineer Excavators have been acquired by the New Zealand Army, which include and armoured cab, enabling the corps to clear roads and obstacles in a combat environment. Bridging can be achieved using the rapidly emplaced bridging system which
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#17327941776863328-429: The stream. Paparangi Paparangi , one of the northern suburbs of Wellington in New Zealand , lies approximately 10 km north of the city centre, north-east of Johnsonville , north-west of Newlands and south of Grenada and Woodridge . The population was 2,841 at the time of the 2013 census , an increase of 96 from the 2006 census population. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives
3392-471: The street names are the first names of children living in the area then or of children whose parents became involved in development of the suburb (Cara Crescent, Mark Avenue and Lynda Avenue take their names from children of Barry Beazley). In 1991 a new landfill opened in Grenada , with direct access via an overbridge to the adjacent motorway . A road extension would give Newlands and Paparangi access to
3456-432: The time of the viaduct differs significantly today, due to the construction of the Johnsonville–Porirua Motorway in the 1950s, the construction of the Mark Avenue road embankment, and the levelling of the surrounding hills for housing, creating the suburbs of Paparangi and Grenada Village . However, several remnants of the viaduct are visible at the bottom of Belmont Gully, visible from the Seton Nossiter walking track, in
3520-409: The war. A small number of officers were also seconded to the British Indian Army and took part in the Burma Campaign . A large number of engineering units were formed in New Zealand to defend against a potential Japanese invasion. A total of 13 companies were formed and attached to the 1st , 4th and 5th divisions . A further 19 companies were formed by mobilising the Public Works Department as
3584-490: Was $ 39,500, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 534 people (23.6%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,275 (56.4%) people were employed full-time, 300 (13.3%) were part-time, and 96 (4.2%) were unemployed. Paparangi School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students, with a roll of 261 as of August 2024. Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers The Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers
3648-467: Was 34.2, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 46.6% had no religion, 35.3% were Christian , 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs , 4.5% were Hindu , 3.2% were Muslim , 2.6% were Buddhist and 3.0% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 741 (32.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 240 (10.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income
3712-414: Was attached to 38th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers and repaired bridges, schools and water treatment plants in Basra . Over the last three decades RNZE sappers have deployed to a large number of pacific island nations, including the Cook Islands , Fiji , Samoa , Tonga and Vanuatu , to support disaster relief following cyclones . Additionally, the corps deployed to Tuvalu and Tokelau during
3776-432: Was completed, the plate-girder sections to carry the track were rolled out and dropped into place between the piers. This resulted in construction being able to proceed, without delaying rail traffic. A travelling gantry arrangement was erected over the track so trains could continue to pass underneath. In 1908, the Wellington-Manawatu line was purchased and nationalized by the New Zealand Government and incorporated into
3840-461: Was converted to light infantry , but the engineers continue to have access to engineering NZLAVs when necessary. The Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers currently consists of a single regiment, 2nd Engineer Regiment, based at Linton Military Camp and contains both regular and reserve components. It is organised as follows: 2nd Engineer Regiment The 2nd Field, and 3rd Field and Emergency Response Squadrons provide combat engineering support to
3904-414: Was himself a former Royal Engineer and some of the RNZE regimental silver comes from the Kitchener estate. The second Colonel-in-Chief was Prince George, Duke of Kent . The Duke of Kent held the position from 1938 until his death in 1942. The third and most recent Colonel-in-Chief was Queen Elizabeth II , who held the position from 1953 until her death in 2022. The Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers
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#17327941776863968-456: Was largely disputed. The viaduct played a role in the development of early infrastructure in Wellington, as it opened up the northern boundaries of the city, as well as providing access to the wider hinterlands of Horowhenua and Manawatu . The Belmont Viaduct formed part of the Wellington-Manawatu Line between Johnsonville and Tawa . The viaduct spanned over Belmont Gully, now the location of Seton Nossiter Park. The landscape present at
4032-480: Was originally granted to the Royal Engineers in 1832 and later adopted by the New Zealand Engineers. The badge of the New Zealand Engineers was a simple circle bearing the acronym "NZE" and the motto "quo fas et gloria ducunt", surmounted by the Royal crest . After attaining royal status in 1947 a cap badge identical to that of the Royal Engineers was adopted, except with the scroll inscribed with "Royal N.Z. Engineers" in place of "Royal Engineers". The badge contains
4096-416: Was rectified in 1953 and the formal name was changed to the Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers. Throughout the cold war the RNZE were deployed overseas alongside New Zealand and other Commonwealth forces. A company of engineers served with Jayforce as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force of Japan and during the Korean War an engineer section was attached to the 28th Engineer Regiment of
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