110-520: Frank Kitts Park is a public park situated between Jervois Quay and the Lambton Harbour waterfront in Wellington , New Zealand. It is named after Sir Frank Kitts , New Zealand politician and mayor of Wellington. The park was formed in 1976 on reclaimed land and an area alongside Jervois Quay formerly used for wharf sheds, and was originally known as Marine Park. In 1978 a pedestrian bridge
220-412: A herbarium of about 250,000 dried specimens ( Index Herbariorum code WELT ); a collection of about 70,000 specimen of New Zealand birds; significant amphibians , reptiles and mammals . The museum has the world's largest specimen of the rare colossal squid ( Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni ). It weighs 495 kilograms (1,091 lb) and is 4.2 metres (14 ft) long. The squid arrived at
330-519: A 1,400 square-metre exhibition focusing on New Zealand's natural environment. The exhibition retains several features of the old exhibits, such as an earthquake house simulation and a 495 kilogram (1,091 lb) Colossal squid . In 2022, the Manu Rere Moana exhibition was renewed to reflect the developments in traditional navigation since its initial installation. A full list of exhibitions can be found here . Te Aka Matua Library, previously
440-602: A 19th-century Te Papa-owned painting that the museum planned to lend to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth in 2019. Te Papa said it hoped the piece, View of Mt Egmont, Taranaki, New Zealand, taken from New Plymouth, with Maoris driving off settlers' cattle , painted by William Strutt , would spark a conversation about historical perspectives. In 2019, the museum faced criticism from farmers, and National Party MP Todd Muller over
550-419: A Council-owned organisation charged with waterfront management and development, and reopened in 1990. Horizon Paving Company won an award for Best Public Project in the 1992 New Zealand Landscape Guild Awards for its work on Frank Kitts Park. The company was praised for its craftsmanship, precision and attention to detail in the complex project of paving the park. The south end of the redeveloped park consists of
660-464: A behind-the-scenes tour of some of Te Papa's collections in 2010 had some questioning if this was appropriate inclusiveness for a national museum. A Te Papa spokeswoman at the time said the policy was in place because of Māori beliefs surrounding the taonga collection included in the tour "for their own safety". This generated outrage, with claims that Te Papa was overbearing in terms of political correctness. Taranaki tribal elders raised objections to
770-404: A ceremony led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley , Sir Peter Blake , and two children. Māori traditional instrumentalist Richard Nunns co-led the musicians at a dawn ceremony on opening day. The museum had one million visitors in the first five months of operation, and between 1 and 1.3 million visits have been made in each subsequent year. In 2004, more space was devoted to exhibiting works from
880-659: A colonial outpost, and from there to an Australasian capital that has experienced a "remarkable creative resurgence". Wellington takes its name from Arthur Wellesley , the first Duke of Wellington and victor of the Battle of Waterloo (1815): his title comes from the town of Wellington in the English county of Somerset . It was named in November 1840 by the original settlers of the New Zealand Company on
990-408: A container of brown dyed water which was part of a display in the museum's Te Taiao Nature exhibition. This water was labelled as "water from a typical farm stream" with an image of a cow defecating in a waterway, and was classed as undrinkable. Te Papa spokeswoman Kate Camp also told Stuff that the bottles had been created for display purposes only and were not samples. Camp stated that, "this display
1100-416: A covered public carpark for 99 cars with the roof of the carpark forming a large area of lawn. The carpark, which also hosted an 'underground' market in the weekends, was closed in 2021 due to earthquake risk. The north end of the park has a lawn and popular children's play area which features a lighthouse-shaped slide. The slide was closed in 2021 after three incidences of pre-schoolers breaking their legs. In
1210-407: A decision made by the insurer. Two of the buildings demolished were about eleven years old – the seven-storey NZDF headquarters and Statistics House at Centreport on the waterfront. The docks were closed for several weeks after the earthquake. Steep landforms shape and constrain much of Wellington city. Notable hills in and around Wellington include: Averaging 2,055 hours of sunshine per year,
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#17327985796071320-510: A fale malae, a Pacific-focused venue for hosting corporate and cultural events, meetings and gatherings, at Frank Kitts Park. This would entail demolition of the closed carpark and loss of open space on the waterfront. Design concepts for the fale were released in April 2022, showing that the carpark and the footbridge over Jervois Quay would be removed. Plans for redeveloping the park and playground go back to 2006. The playground at Frank Kitts Park
1430-463: A five-month period in 1993, the hotel was jacked off its foundations onto numerous rail bogies and transported 200 metres (660 ft) down and across the road to a new site, where it is now the Museum Hotel . Once the site was clear, the soft reclaimed land was compacted to a depth of 16 metres by dropping weights of up to 30 tonnes from a height of up to 30 metres in a criss-cross pattern on
1540-525: A hub for information technology and innovation, with two public research universities. Wellington is one of New Zealand's chief seaports and serves both domestic and international shipping. The city is chiefly served by Wellington International Airport in Rongotai , the country's third-busiest airport . Wellington's transport network includes train and bus lines which reach as far as the Kāpiti Coast and
1650-678: A magnitude 7 quake, but as it happens slowly, there is no damage. During July and August 2013 there were many earthquakes, mostly in Cook Strait near Seddon. The sequence started at 5:09 pm on Sunday 21 July 2013 when the magnitude 6.5 Seddon earthquake hit the city, but no tsunami report was confirmed nor any major damage. At 2:31 pm on Friday 16 August 2013 the Lake Grassmere earthquake struck, this time magnitude 6.6, but again no major damage occurred, though many buildings were evacuated. On Monday 20 January 2014 at 3:52 pm
1760-504: A major fault, the Wellington Fault , running through the centre of the city and several others nearby. Several hundred minor faults lines have been identified within the urban area. Inhabitants, particularly in high-rise buildings, typically notice several earthquakes every year. For many years after the 1855 earthquake, the majority of buildings were made entirely from wood. The 1996-restored Government Buildings near Parliament
1870-583: A major work by Colin McCahon was at one stage juxtaposed with a 1950s refrigerator in a New Zealand culture exhibition. The Māori name of the museum has caused controversy. In 1989 the Māori iwi Te Āti Awa , located near Wellington, requested that the Ngāti Whakaue iwi grant a name to the museum, which resulted in the Ngāti Whakaue bestowing the name Kuru Tongarerewa , an ancient ceremonial name important to
1980-732: A member of the board that set up the Museum of New Zealand and a member of its interim board, has been a consistent critic of Te Papa at different times referring to it as a "theme park", the "cultural equivalent to a fast-food outlet" and "not even a de facto national gallery", but seemed to moderate his opinion later when making a case for exhibition space on the Auckland waterfront . Staff restructuring at Te Papa since 2012 has generated significant controversy. In October 2018, Te Papa management promised to review restructuring plans, indicating that plans would be scaled back. In February 2019,
2090-636: A part of the newly built National War Memorial . In 1985 a temporary exhibition space venue was added to the National Art Gallery. Shed 11 the Temporary/Contemporary was situated on the Wellington waterfront in a converted industrial warehouse built in 1905 and exhibited contemporary art, both local and international, until 1992. Eru D. Gore was secretary-manager from 1936 until his death in 1948 when Stewart Maclennan
2200-400: A population density of 1,900 people per km . The urban area had a population of 201,708 in the 2023 New Zealand census , a decrease of 84 people (−0.0%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 11,595 people (6.1%) since the 2013 census . There were 97,143 males, 101,898 females and 2,667 people of other genders in 77,472 dwellings. 9.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age
2310-510: A population density of 743 people per km . This comprises 214,200 people in the Wellington urban area and 1,100 people in the surrounding rural areas. Wellington City had a population of 202,689 in the 2023 New Zealand census , a decrease of 48 people (−0.0%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 11,733 people (6.1%) since the 2013 census . There were 97,641 males, 102,372 females and 2,673 people of other genders in 77,835 dwellings. 9.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age
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#17327985796072420-650: A public art gallery in Wellington was gathering support, and the Science and Art Act of 1913 paved the way for a national art gallery in the same building. Following the passing of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum Act in 1930, the two institutions shared a single board of trustees. In 1934, the National Art Gallery moved into the Dominion Museum building and incorporated the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts , which sold its land and donated
2530-582: A publicly accessible library, is now open only to researchers by appointment between 10am-5pm, Monday-Friday. The library is a major research and reference resource, with particular strengths in New Zealand, Māori, natural history, art, photography and museum studies. It is located on the fourth floor of the main building. Mahuki was Te Papa's innovation accelerator. It was an in-residence programme in which 10 teams developed solutions to challenges facing cultural institutions. The museum has sometimes been
2640-413: A research position for a molluscan curator and awarded the job to an alternative candidate to Bruce Marshall. The advertisement and decision to not offer the job to Bruce Marshall was criticised harshly by outside experts, prompting moa expert Trevor Worthy to end his 30-year research association with the museum in protest. British artist Tania Kovats ' exhibition, Pictura Britannica, particularly
2750-411: A rolling 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the lower North Island 15 km east of Eketāhuna and was felt in Wellington, but little damage was reported initially, except at Wellington Airport where one of the two giant eagle sculptures commemorating The Hobbit became detached from the ceiling. At two minutes after midnight on Monday 14 November 2016, the 7.8 magnitude Kaikōura earthquake , which
2860-501: A series of interconnected grid plans , expanding along valleys and lower hill slopes. The Wellington urban area , which only includes urbanised areas within Wellington City, has a population of 214,200 as of June 2024. The wider Wellington metropolitan area , including the cities of Lower Hutt , Porirua and Upper Hutt , has a population of 440,700 as of June 2024. The city has served as New Zealand's capital since 1865,
2970-559: A status that is not defined in legislation, but established by convention; the New Zealand Government and Parliament , the Supreme Court and most of the public service are based in the city. Wellington's economy is primarily service -based, with an emphasis on finance, business services, government, and the film industry. It is the centre of New Zealand's film and special effects industries, and increasingly
3080-638: A time when New Zealand's population was 1.6 million. Wellington is at the south-western tip of the North Island on Cook Strait , separating the North and South Islands. On a clear day, the snowcapped Kaikōura Ranges are visible to the south across the strait. To the north stretch the golden beaches of the Kāpiti Coast . On the east, the Remutaka Range divides Wellington from the broad plains of
3190-512: A time) on the flat area at the mouth of the Hutt River . Within months that area proved swampy and flood-prone, and most of the newcomers transplanted their settlement across Wellington Harbour to Thorndon in the present-day site of Wellington city. Wellington was declared a city in 1840, and was chosen to be the capital city of New Zealand in 1865 . Wellington became the capital city in place of Auckland , which William Hobson had made
3300-462: A wooden display panel showing an English version of the Treaty of Waitangi at the museum's Signs of a Nation Te Tiriti o Waitangi exhibition was damaged and partially blacked out with spray paint and an angle grinder by protesters from a group calling itself Te Waka Hourua. The group had demanded the panel's removal from display for allegedly misleading visitors into thinking that it was a translation of
3410-486: Is about telling the story of New Zealand waterways. It's based on robust research that shows that many waterways in New Zealand—in urban and rural areas—aren't fit to drink or to swim in". In 2020, several children were exposed to mature content without sufficient warning messages. Te Papa head of art Charlotte Davy said the museum would be making warning signs more obvious and installing new ones. On 11 December 2023,
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3520-614: Is available between its harbour and the surrounding hills. It has very few open areas in which to expand, and this has brought about the development of the suburban towns. Because of its location in the Roaring Forties and its exposure to the winds blowing through Cook Strait , Wellington is the world's windiest city, with an average wind speed of 27 km/h (17 mph). Wellington's scenic natural harbour and green hillsides adorned with tiered suburbs of colonial villas are popular with tourists. The central business district (CBD)
3630-501: Is close to Lambton Harbour, an arm of Wellington Harbour , which lies along an active geological fault , clearly evident on its straight western shore. The land to the west of this rises abruptly, meaning that many suburbs sit high above the centre of the city. There is a network of bush walks and reserves maintained by the Wellington City Council and local volunteers. These include Otari-Wilton's Bush , dedicated to
3740-466: Is notorious for its southerly blasts in winter, which may make the temperature feel much colder. It is generally very windy all year round with high rainfall; average annual rainfall is 1,250 mm (49 in), June and July being the wettest months. Frosts are quite common in the hill suburbs and the Hutt Valley between May and September. Snow is very rare at low altitudes, although snow fell on
3850-401: Is now part of the central business district. For this reason, the street named Lambton Quay is 100 to 200 metres (325 to 650 ft) from the harbour – plaques set into the footpath mark the shoreline in 1840 , indicating the extent of reclamation. The 1942 Wairarapa earthquakes caused considerable damage in Wellington. The area has high seismic activity even by New Zealand standards, with
3960-600: Is the Rongomaraeroa marae with unusual whakairo in its wharenui, Te Hono ki Hawaiki . Te Papa charges an entrance fee of $ 35 for international visitors (as of September 2024) however it remains free entry for all New Zealanders. Some temporary exhibitions are ticketed, but may have occasional free days. In 2018, the Mountains to Sea and Awesome Forces exhibits were closed, with Te Taiao Nature taking their place. This new exhibit opened on 11 May 2019, with
4070-471: Is the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. While masonry and structural steel have subsequently been used in building construction, especially for office buildings, timber framing remains the primary structural component of almost all residential construction. Residents place their confidence in good building regulations , which became more stringent in the 20th century. Since
4180-543: The Chatham Islands . The Waitangi Tribunal has found that at the time of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, Te Ātiawa, Taranaki, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Tama, and Ngāti Toa held mana whenua interests in the area, through conquest and occupation. Steps towards European settlement in the area began in 1839, when Colonel William Wakefield arrived to purchase land for the New Zealand Company to sell to prospective British settlers. Prior to this time,
4290-593: The City Gallery , and the former Post and Telegraph Building ; and the curves and vibrant colours of post-modern architecture in the CBD. Te Papa The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is New Zealand 's national museum and is located in Wellington . Usually known as Te Papa ( Māori for ' the treasure box '), it opened in 1998 after the merging of the National Museum of New Zealand and
4400-574: The Dominion Museum received a bequest of some of Fernside Homestead 's finest antiques from Ella Elgar 's will. Until 1992 these antiques were displayed in period rooms at the Dominion Museum, and objects from the Elgar Collection are currently exhibited throughout Te Papa. The archives are located in a separate building on 169 Tory Street and are open for researchers by appointment. There are two categories of archive collections:
4510-698: The National Archives , the National Library , New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa and numerous theatres. It plays host to many artistic and cultural organisations, including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Royal New Zealand Ballet . Its architectural attractions include the Old Government Buildings – one of the largest wooden buildings in the world – as well as the iconic Beehive ,
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4620-467: The Wahine disaster reads in part: "Hundreds survived due to the efforts of a large rescue mission. This plaque is dedicated to all those who assisted in that rescue. You saved us from disaster and took us to a safe place." If development of the park goes ahead, the mast will be retained but moved to a new location within the park. Water Whirler is a kinetic sculpture by Len Lye that was installed on
4730-462: The Wairarapa , a wine region of national notability. With a latitude of 41° 17' South, Wellington is the southernmost capital city in the world . Wellington ties with Canberra , Australia, as the most remote capital city, 2,326 km (1,445 mi) apart from each other. Wellington is more densely populated than most other cities in New Zealand due to the restricted amount of land that
4840-529: The Wairarapa Fault to the north and east of Wellington. It was probably the most powerful earthquake in recorded New Zealand history, with an estimated magnitude of at least 8.2 on the Moment magnitude scale . It caused vertical movements of two to three metres over a large area, including raising land out of the harbour and turning it into a tidal swamp. Much of this land was subsequently reclaimed and
4950-498: The Wellington 500 car races and includes spaces underneath for small retail outlets. Tanya Ashken 's Albatross fountain sits at the south end of Frank Kitts Park next to Whairepo Lagoon . It was commissioned by the Wellington Sculpture Trust and installed in 1986. One of the masts from the ship Wahine forms a memorial near the amphitheatre at the park. A plaque placed there on behalf of survivors of
5060-442: The nickname of "Windy Wellington". Legends recount that Kupe discovered and explored the region in about the 10th century. Before European colonisation, the area in which the city of Wellington would eventually be founded was seasonally inhabited by indigenous Māori . The earliest date with hard evidence for human activity in New Zealand is about 1280. Wellington and its environs have been occupied by various Māori groups from
5170-400: The 12th century. The legendary Polynesian explorer Kupe, a chief from Hawaiki (the homeland of Polynesian explorers, of unconfirmed geographical location, not to be confused with Hawaii ), was said to have stayed in the harbour from c. 925 . A later Māori explorer, Whatonga, named the harbour Te Whanganui-a-Tara after his son Tara. Before the 1820s, most of the inhabitants of
5280-620: The 2002 New Zealand Festival, then bought by Lambton Harbour Management and permanently installed at the park. Near Fruits of the Garden is a sundial by Charles Stone. It was commissioned by the Lambton Harbour Development Project in 1990 and commemorates Mayor Frank Kitts and the opening of the redeveloped park. Numerous plaques have been installed on the wall along the promenade. These commemorate various events, organisations and people, including for example
5390-568: The Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 , earthquake readiness has become even more of an issue, with buildings declared by Wellington City Council to be earthquake-prone, and the costs of meeting new standards. Every five years, a year-long slow quake occurs beneath Wellington, stretching from Kapiti to the Marlborough Sounds . It was first measured in 2003, and reappeared in 2008 and 2013. It releases as much energy as
5500-557: The Collection Manager of Fishes Andrew Stewart and the Collection Manager of Molluscs Bruce Marshall were made redundant. Numerous museum experts and scientists in New Zealand and worldwide criticised the move, with researchers including Steve O'Shea advocating a boycott. In March 2019, the redundancies were delayed. In April 2019, the museum reversed the decision for Andrew Stewart, offering him an alternative job. Between April and May 2019, Te Papa advertised
5610-508: The Mercer worldwide Cost of Living Survey. In 2019, Mercer ranked cities on personal safety, including internal stability, crime levels, law enforcement, limitations on personal freedom, relationships with other countries and freedom of the press. Wellington shared ninth place internationally with Auckland. In addition to governmental institutions, Wellington accommodates several of the nation's largest and oldest cultural institutions, such as
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#17327985796075720-1056: The Museum Archive and the Collected Archives. The Museum Archive goes back to the founding of the Colonial Museum in 1865 and comprises the archives of James Hector. The archives of the National Art Gallery of New Zealand are also part of these archives. The Collected Archives fall into two groups: Te Papa's exhibits range from long-term exhibitions on New Zealand's natural environment and social history, to cultural spaces and touring/temporary exhibitions. Most are hands-on and interactive. The long term exhibitions of cultural objects focus on New Zealand history , Māori culture and New Zealand's natural world. The hands-on and interactive exhibitions focus on engaging young visitors and include out-door areas built and planted for Te Papa. The key cultural space
5830-587: The Māori inhabitants had had contact with Pākehā whalers and traders. European settlement began with the arrival of an advance party of the New Zealand Company on the ship Tory on 20 September 1839, followed by 150 settlers on the Aurora on 22 January 1840. Thus, the Wellington settlement preceded the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (on 6 February 1840). The 1840 settlers constructed their first homes at Petone (which they called Britannia for
5940-403: The National Art Gallery. An average of more than 1.1 million people visit every year, making it the 58th-most-visited art gallery in the world in 2023. Te Papa operates under a bicultural philosophy, and emphasises the living stories behind its cultural treasures. The first predecessor to Te Papa was the Colonial Museum, founded in 1865, with Sir James Hector as founding director. The museum
6050-608: The New Zealand art collection in a long-term exhibition called Toi Te Papa: Art of the Nation . Filmmakers Gaylene Preston and Anna Cottrell documented the development of Te Papa in their film Getting to Our Place . The main Te Papa building is built on reclaimed land on Cable Street which formerly belonged to the Wellington Harbour Board . The site was previously occupied by a modern five-storey hotel. Over
6160-542: The Wairarapa , and ferries connect the city to the South Island . Often referred to as New Zealand's cultural capital, the culture of Wellington is a diverse and often youth-driven one which has wielded influence across Oceania . One of the world's most liveable cities , the 2021 Global Livability Ranking tied Wellington with Tokyo as fourth in the world. From 2017 to 2018, Deutsche Bank ranked it first in
6270-594: The Wellington region were Whatonga's descendants. At about 1820, the people living there were Ngāti Ira and other groups who traced their descent from the explorer Whatonga, including Rangitāne and Muaūpoko . However, these groups were eventually forced out of Te Whanganui-a-Tara by a series of migrations by other iwi (Māori tribes) from the north. The migrating groups were Ngāti Toa , which came from Kāwhia , Ngāti Rangatahi, from near Taumarunui , and Te Ātiawa , Ngāti Tama , Ngāti Mutunga , Taranaki and Ngāti Ruanui from Taranaki . Ngāti Mutunga later moved on to
6380-523: The builders, Armstrong Downes Commercial, went into liquidation. In December 2022 the Council announced that the cost of the playground redevelopment would increase to about $ 9 million and the playground might reopen by summer 2023. The playground was redesigned to fit a smaller budget and reopened in February 2024. Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand . It is located at
6490-566: The building was empty. The capital city is also the location of the highest court, the Supreme Court of New Zealand , and the historic former High Court building (opened 1881) has been enlarged and restored for its use. The Governor-General's residence, Government House (the current building completed in 1910) is situated in Newtown , opposite the Basin Reserve . Premier House (built in 1843 for Wellington's first mayor, George Hunter ),
6600-600: The capital in 1841 . The New Zealand Parliament had first met in Wellington on 7 July 1862, on a temporary basis; in November 1863, the Prime Minister of New Zealand , Alfred Domett , placed a resolution before Parliament in Auckland that "... it has become necessary that the seat of government ... should be transferred to some suitable locality in Cook Strait [region]." There had been some concerns that
6710-425: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 62,259 (36.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 66,273 (38.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 24,219 (14.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 55,400, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 40,632 people (23.5%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
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#17327985796076820-425: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 62,484 (36.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 66,657 (38.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 24,339 (14.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 55,500, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 40,872 people (23.6%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
6930-425: The central area of the park is a small amphitheatre which has been used for many public events including Carols by Candlelight, festivals and concerts, and which is a popular lunch spot for city workers. The seaward side of the park consists of a broad promenade partially bordered by a high wall between the promenade and amphitheatre. The wall was included in the 1990 redevelopment as a safety barrier for people watching
7040-458: The centre of controversy. The siting of significant collections at the water's edge on reclaimed land next to one of the world's most active faults has resulted in concern by some people. There has been criticism of the "sideshow" nature of some exhibits, primarily the Time Warp section, which has closed. There has also been criticism that some exhibits were not given due reverence. For example,
7150-651: The city and many other parts of the Wellington region during separate events on 25 July 2011 and 15 August 2011. Snow at higher altitudes is more common, with light flurries recorded in higher suburbs every few years. On 29 January 2019, the suburb of Kelburn (instruments near the old Metservice building in the Wellington Botanic Garden ) reached 30.3 °C (87 °F), the highest temperature since records began in 1927. Wellington City covers 289.91 km (111.93 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 215,300 as of June 2024, with
7260-421: The climate of Wellington is temperate marine , ( Köppen : Cfb , Trewartha : Cflk ), generally moderate all year round with mild summers and cool to mild winters, and rarely sees temperatures above 26 °C (79 °F) or below 4 °C (39 °F). The hottest recorded temperature in the city is 31.1 °C (88 °F) recorded on 20 February 1896 , while −1.9 °C (29 °F) is the coldest. The city
7370-657: The executive wing of Parliament Buildings as well as internationally renowned Futuna Chapel . The city's art scene includes many art galleries, including the national art collection at Toi Art at Te Papa. Wellington also has many events such as CubaDupa , Wellington On a Plate , the Newtown Festival , Diwali Festival of Lights and Gardens Magic at the Botanical Gardens. Wellington's urban area covers 112.71 km (43.52 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 214,200 as of June 2024, with
7480-502: The first time on 26 July 1865. At that time, the population of Wellington was just 4,900. The Government Buildings were constructed at Lambton Quay in 1876. The site housed the original government departments in New Zealand . The public service rapidly expanded beyond the capacity of the building, with the first department leaving shortly after it was opened; by 1975 only the Education Department remained, and by 1990
7590-438: The grounds of "blasphemous libel", a 1961 Crimes Act offence against "religion, morality and public welfare". Te Papa staff also became the target of abusive and threatening phone calls and letters. The exhibit was guarded after being physically attacked, and following that, a guard working at the site was assaulted. Te Papa responded by refusing to remove the offending artwork. The museum welcomed protestors back, stating that
7700-497: The harbour is to the east of the Miramar Peninsula, and contains the dangerous shallows of Barrett Reef , where many ships have been wrecked (notably the inter-island ferry TEV Wahine in 1968 ). The harbour has three islands: Matiu/Somes Island , Makaro/Ward Island and Mokopuna Island . Only Matiu/Somes Island is large enough for habitation. It has been used as a quarantine station for people and animals, and
7810-399: The harbour. Wellington's status as the capital is a result of constitutional convention rather than statute. Wellington is New Zealand's political centre, housing the nation's major government institutions. The New Zealand Parliament relocated to the new capital city, having spent the first ten years of its existence in Auckland. A session of parliament officially met in the capital for
7920-404: The iwi evoking spiritual, historical, and cultural importance. However, the name eventually adopted by the museum caused offense by being a modification in the form of Te Papa Tongarewa . Meetings between the museum's board and the Ngāti Whakaue led to promises that the name would be changed to Te Papa Kuru Tongererewa , but the change did not occur. New Zealand art commentator Hamish Keith ,
8030-459: The many images of Kovaks' Virgin in a Condom that were published in papers up and down the country. With the help of TV3 Te Papa organised a panel discussion including protesters to try and defuse the situation. Curator Ian Wedde also undertook to consider a more cautious approach with contemporary art exhibitions, ‘In future, we may have to say there's a risk management factor to consider.' Advice for pregnant and menstruating women to avoid
8140-469: The more populous South Island (where the goldfields were located) would choose to form a separate colony in the British Empire . Several commissioners (delegates) invited from Australia, chosen for their neutral status, declared that the city was a suitable location because of its central location in New Zealand and its good harbour ; it was believed that the whole Royal Navy fleet could fit into
8250-403: The museum had a fine-dining restaurant called Icon, but this later closed. The museum also incorporates outdoor areas with artificial caves, native bushes and wetlands. A second building on Tory Street is a scientific research facility and storage area, and is not open to the public. The design process of the building followed bicultural principles based on the Treaty of Waitangi . This process
8360-599: The museum in March 2007 after being captured by New Zealand fishers in the Ross Sea off Antarctica. The cultural collections include collections on photography, Māori taonga (cultural treasures), and Pacific cultures. The Museum of New Zealand is also home to the Elgar Collection , a valuable collection of English and French furniture and paintings, the oldest of which date back to the seventeenth century. In 1946
8470-672: The museum include: CEOs of Te Papa include: The History Collection includes many dresses and textiles, the oldest of which date back to the sixteenth century. The History Collection also includes the New Zealand Post Archive with around 20,000 stamps and related objects, and the Pacific Collection with about 13,000 historic and contemporary items from the Pacific Islands . There are significant collections of fossils and archaeozoology ;
8580-428: The museum's aim was not to offend, but to stimulate debate as a forum. However, they stipulated that debate would not concern the removal of the artwork, but only its meanings and interpretation, claiming that, "the people of New Zealand would want the museum to take a strong position on this, not to succumb to intimidation as some other museums have". The move sought to align Te Papa with other art museums that have taken
8690-507: The needs and concerns of Wellingtonians. Their work resulted in The Wellington Waterfront Framework , published in 2001 by Wellington City Council, which laid out a vision, themes and policy for the future of the waterfront. The themes identified were historical and contemporary culture, city to water connections, promenade, open space and diversity. About Frank Kitts Park specifically, the report stated that
8800-461: The new name was at once adopted". In the Māori language , Wellington has three names: The legendary Māori explorer Kupe , a chief from Hawaiki (the homeland of Polynesian explorers, of unconfirmed geographical location, not to be confused with Hawaii ), was said to have stayed in the harbour prior to 1000 CE. Here, it is said he had a notable impact on the area, with local mythology stating he named
8910-597: The official residence of the prime minister , is in Thorndon on Tinakori Road. Over six months in 1939 and 1940, Wellington hosted the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition , celebrating a century since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi . Held on 55 acres of land at Rongotai, it featured three exhibition courts, grand Art Deco-style edifices and a hugely popular three-acre amusement park. Wellington attracted more than 2.5 million visitors at
9020-500: The park in its current form. Objections often focused on the fact that a walled garden locked at night would remove access for many people and reduce open space in the heart of the city. The Environment Court gave resource consent for the Chinese Garden in 2016, but lobby group Waterfront Watch appealed the decision. As of October 2024 construction had not begun. In September 2021 Wellington City Council approved construction of
9130-519: The park was a large green park and centre for outdoor activities on and off the water. The report suggested that the Jervois Quay edge of the park could be made safer and access to the water improved, and concluded: "While no major work is proposed for the main part of the park, it is recognised as major green open space. It provides visual relief from the predominantly hard surfaces of the adjacent central city". In spite of this document acknowledging
9240-604: The piece Virgin in a Condom , infuriated many in the Christian community and sparked protests and counter protests a month after Te Papa opened its doors in 1998. A nationwide petition was circulated calling for the work's removal. Protesters congregated on the forecourt outside, increasing in number after The Christian Action group took out a full-page advertisement in The Dominion newspaper inviting people to join their protest. They threatened to take Te Papa to court on
9350-468: The proceeds to the new organisation together with an initial collection. The early holding consisted largely of donations and bequests, including those from Harold Beauchamp , T. Lindsay Buick , Archdeacon Smythe, N. Chevalier , J. C. Richmond , William Swainson , Bishop Monrad , John Ilott and Rex Nan Kivell . In 1936, a new building to house both the collections opened in Buckle Street as
9460-613: The protection and propagation of native plants. The Wellington region has 500 square kilometres (190 sq mi) of regional parks and forests. In the east is the Miramar Peninsula , connected to the rest of the city by a low-lying isthmus at Rongotai , the site of Wellington International Airport . Industry has developed mainly in the Hutt Valley, where there are food-processing plants, engineering industries, vehicle assembly and oil refineries. The narrow entrance to
9570-572: The region in about the 10th century. The area was initially settled by Māori iwi such as Rangitāne and Muaūpoko . The disruptions of the Musket Wars led to them being overwhelmed by northern iwi such as Te Āti Awa by the early 19th century. Wellington's current form was originally designed by Captain William Mein Smith , the first Surveyor General for Edward Wakefield 's New Zealand Company , in 1840. Smith's plan included
9680-465: The ship Pamir and its crew, Polish refugee children of Pahiatua , US Marines, and New Zealand forces who served in the Korean War. The Waterfront Leadership Group was a council-appointed group of citizens who came together in 2000 to consider the future of Wellington's waterfront. They held meetings, considered submissions, presentations and reports and commissioned market research to understand
9790-613: The side of artistic freedom in spite of well publicised protest (the statuette was banned in Adelaide, stolen in Sydney, and dropped from its British tour). The leader of the Christian Heritage Party claimed that the sacrilegious display of the statuette was hypocritical, given that the museum is careful not to offend sensitivities about Māori spirituality. Strangely at no time did any of the protesters complain about
9900-742: The site. Over 50,000 weights were dropped, causing noise and vibration problems for those in surrounding buildings. Te Papa was designed by Jasmax Architects and built by Fletcher Construction . The 36,000-square-metre (390,000 sq ft) building had cost NZ$ 300 million by its opening in 1998. Earthquake strengthening of the Cable Street building was achieved through the New Zealand-developed technology of base isolation . The building contains six floors of exhibitions, cafés and gift shops dedicated to New Zealand's culture , history and environment. When it opened in 1998,
10010-516: The south-western tip of the North Island , between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range . Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand, and is the administrative centre of the Wellington Region . It is the world's southernmost capital of a sovereign state . Wellington features a temperate maritime climate, and is the world's windiest city by average wind speed . Māori oral tradition tells that Kupe discovered and explored
10120-453: The suggestion of the directors of the same, in recognition of the Duke's strong support for the company's principles of colonisation and his "strenuous and successful defence against its enemies of the measure for colonising South Australia". One of the founders of the settlement, Edward Jerningham Wakefield , reported that the settlers "took up the views of the directors with great cordiality and
10230-412: The two islands in the harbour after his daughters, Matiu (Somes Island) , and Mākaro (Ward Island) . In New Zealand Sign Language , the name is signed by raising the index, middle, and ring fingers of one hand, palm forward, to form a "W", and shaking it slightly from side to side twice. The city's location close to the mouth of the narrow Cook Strait leaves it vulnerable to strong gales, leading to
10340-432: The value of open and public space, there have been multiple proposals from Wellington City Council to enclose or build on the open space at Frank Kitts Park. Cost and controversy over the proposed Chinese Garden have stalled redevelopment plans. By June 2020 the proposed cost of redevelopment was $ 30 million, and by February 2021 the forecasted cost was more than $ 40 million. In October 2024 Wellington City Council announced it
10450-474: The waterfront near the children's play area, adjacent to the promenade, in 2006. It oscillates and sprays water from many jets. In 2018 the sculpture was badly damaged by a man trying to swing from it, and in April 2023 another vandal damaged it again. The repaired sculpture was reinstalled in October 2024. Fruits of the Garden is a bronze sculpture by Paul Dibble . It was exhibited at Frank Kitts Park during
10560-552: The world for both livability and non-pollution. Cultural precincts such as Cuba Street and Newtown are renowned for creative innovation, " op shops ", historic character, and food . Wellington is a leading financial centre in the Asia-Pacific region, being ranked 46th in the world by the Global Financial Centres Index for 2024. The global city has grown from a bustling Māori settlement, to
10670-566: Was 34.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 28,986 people (14.4%) aged under 15 years, 54,912 (27.2%) aged 15 to 29, 94,272 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 23,541 (11.7%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 72.0% European ( Pākehā ); 9.8% Māori ; 5.7% Pasifika ; 20.5% Asian ; 3.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English
10780-510: Was 34.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 29,142 people (14.4%) aged under 15 years, 55,080 (27.2%) aged 15 to 29, 94,806 (46.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 23,664 (11.7%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 72.1% European ( Pākehā ); 9.8% Māori ; 5.7% Pasifika ; 20.4% Asian ; 3.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English
10890-572: Was an internment camp during World War I and World War II. It is a conservation island, providing refuge for endangered species , much like Kapiti Island farther up the coast. There is access during daylight hours by the Dominion Post Ferry. Wellington is primarily surrounded by water, but some of the nearby locations are listed below. Wellington suffered serious damage in a series of earthquakes in 1848 and from another earthquake in 1855. The 1855 Wairarapa earthquake occurred on
11000-571: Was appointed the first director. This was the first appointment in New Zealand of a full-time art gallery director. Other past directors of the gallery include: Te Papa was established in 1992 by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Act 1992. Part of the remit for Te Papa was to explore the national identity of New Zealand. Te Papa Tongarewa translates literally to 'container of treasures' or in full 'container of treasured things and people that spring from mother Earth here in New Zealand'. The official opening took place on 14 February 1998, in
11110-454: Was built around 1989 and featured a slide shaped like a lighthouse. In September 2021 Wellington City Council voted to remove the slide after reports of very young children injuring themselves using it in spite of notices advising of the recommended minimum age for users. In January 2022 the whole playground was demolished and a $ 6 million redevelopment began, but construction stopped in May 2022 when
11220-405: Was built on Museum Street, roughly in the location of the present day Defence House Office Building. The museum prioritised scientific collections but also acquired a range of other items, often by donation, including prints and paintings, ethnographic curiosities, and items of antiquity. In 1907, the Colonial Museum was renamed the Dominion Museum and took on a broader focus. The idea of developing
11330-507: Was built over Jervois Quay linking the park to the city. Wellington City Council renamed the park Frank Kitts Park in May 1979, in memory of Sir Frank Kitts who had died two months earlier. Kitts was mayor of Wellington from 1956 to 1974 and a member of the Harbour Board at the time of his death, and the Council wished to acknowledge his long association with the city and harbour. The park was redeveloped by Lambton Harbour Management,
11440-545: Was centred between Culverden and Kaikōura in the South Island, caused the Wellington CBD, Victoria University of Wellington , and the Wellington suburban rail network to be largely closed for the day to allow inspections. The earthquake damaged a considerable number of buildings, with 65% of the damage being in Wellington. Subsequently, a number of recent buildings were demolished rather than being rebuilt, often
11550-535: Was going ahead with plans to redevelop the park, with a budget of $ 42 million. In 2001 when the Wellington Waterfront Framework was published, it mentioned a proposal for a traditional walled Chinese garden to be constructed near Te Papa . However, in 2016 a controversial proposal was announced to use part of Frank Kitts Park for the garden. Many Wellingtonians were upset at this announcement and over 3000 signed an online petition to keep
11660-527: Was led by Cliff Whiting working alongside Cheryll Sotheran and Ken Gorbey . The museum is run by a board appointed by the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage . Board members have included: Wira Gardiner , Fiona Campbell, Sue Piper , Judith Tizard , John Judge, Miria Pomare, Michael Bassett , Christopher Parkin, Sandra Lee , Ngātata Love , Ron Trotter , Glenys Coughlan, Judith Binney , Philip Carter , Wendy Lai and Api Mahuika . Directors of
11770-557: Was spoken by 96.3%, Māori language by 2.7%, Samoan by 1.7% and other languages by 23.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 34.4, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 26.9% Christian , 3.8% Hindu , 1.8% Islam , 0.4% Māori religious beliefs , 1.7% Buddhist , 0.5% New Age , 0.3% Jewish , and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.7%, and 5.2% of people did not answer
11880-557: Was spoken by 96.3%, Māori language by 2.7%, Samoan by 1.8% and other languages by 23.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 34.4, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 26.9% Christian , 3.8% Hindu , 1.8% Islam , 0.4% Māori religious beliefs , 1.7% Buddhist , 0.5% New Age , 0.3% Jewish , and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.6%, and 5.2% of people did not answer
11990-745: Was that 101,892 (59.0%) people were employed full-time, 24,063 (13.9%) were part-time, and 5,268 (3.0%) were unemployed. Wellington showcases a variety of architectural styles from the past 150 years – 19th-century wooden cottages, such as the Italianate Katherine Mansfield Birthplace in Thorndon; streamlined Art Deco structures such as the old Wellington Free Ambulance headquarters, the Central Fire Station, Fountain Court Apartments,
12100-515: Was that 102,369 (59.0%) people were employed full-time, 24,201 (13.9%) were part-time, and 5,283 (3.0%) were unemployed. Wellington ranks 12th in the world for quality of living, according to a 2023 study by consulting company Mercer. Of cities in the Asia–Pacific region, Wellington ranked third behind Auckland and Sydney. In 2024, Wellington was ranked as a highly affordable city in terms of cost of living , coming in at 145th out of 226 cities in
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