93-569: The suburb of Plimmerton lies in the northwest part of the city of Porirua in New Zealand , adjacent to some of the city's more congenial beaches . State Highway 59 and the North Island Main Trunk railway line pass just east of the main shopping and residential area. Plimmerton has its modern origins as a late 19th century seaside resort. It is named after John Plimmer , an English settler and entrepreneur who, through
186-724: A church, a medical centre, Plunket rooms, a craft shop, a beauty salon, real estate agents, a grocery store and several eateries. To the north alongside the railway line is Plimmerton Domain, comprising 3 football fields, home to the Mana Archery Club, Wellington 29th Boys' Brigade and the Mana Arts Society. Beyond is the Plimmerton Industrial Estate, which includes numerous businesses, the Plimmerton Croquet Club, and
279-409: A deed for the sale of 69,000 acres for £2,000, comprising almost the entire area from Mākara in the south to Paekākāriki in the north. Three reserves totalling 10,000 acres were left aside for Ngāti Toa. Ngāti Toa hold that the deed was coerced by the holding of Te Rauparaha and that the chiefs signing sought his release. In the 19th century, a small European settlement grew up, partly because of
372-746: A full Sandhills Expressway on the old designation won by 2009, although opposed by Jenny Rowan the Green Party Mayor of Kapiti Coast . Transmission Gully was approved by a Board of Inquiry. Construction started in 2014, and, although delayed by Covid-19 restrictions, opened in 2022; as did the Pekapeka to Otaki section. But the Otaki to Levin section was cancelled and then rescheduled by the Sixth Labour Government , and has not restarted. So on 15 December 2009 Joyce announced
465-572: A large waterfowl population. Another popular beach is Karehana Bay , at the foot of the Airlie Road/Cluny Road valley about 1.5 kilometres north-west of the shops. Poet Denis Glover mentioned the settlement in his poem Threnody: "In Plimmerton, in Plimmerton, the little penguins play, and one dead albatross was found at Karehana Bay". Plimmerton School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with
558-639: A local road, again constructed along with the motorway, that provides access to the Porirua City Centre , before the motorway terminates at Linden on the boundary of Porirua and Wellington City , where it merges on to the older Johnsonville–Porirua Motorway . The length is 27 kilometres (17 miles), with a maximum grade of about 8.3 percent between the Paekākāriki Interchange and the Wainui Saddle. The Transmission Gully route
651-549: A new route between the Kāpiti Coast and Wellington. From its northern terminus at Mackays Crossing , the route proceeds a short distance to an interchange providing access to Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay before rising steeply inland to the Wainui Saddle, and then gently descends through Transmission Gully following the Horokiri Stream to Pāuatahanui, where an interchange with State Highway 58 provides access to and from
744-586: A plaque. In 1847, most of Ngāti Toa’s land in Porirua was sold to the Crown for the New Zealand Company by a group of eight chiefs, and Taupō was retained as part of a Māori reserve (one of three) that extended from Paremata to Paekākāriki . However, the following year Te Rauparaha was released and retired to Ōtaki; by 1850 Taupō pā was deserted. The area continued to be referred to as Taupō, after
837-763: A population density of 414.73 people per km. Plimmerton had a population of 2,142 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 27 people (1.3%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 90 people (4.4%) since the 2006 census . There were 840 households, comprising 1,062 males and 1,080 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age was 44.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 399 people (18.6%) aged under 15 years, 339 (15.8%) aged 15 to 29, 1,026 (47.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 378 (17.6%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 90.2% European/ Pākehā , 13.4% Māori , 3.1% Pasifika , 3.2% Asian , and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
930-900: A population of 59,445 in the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 2,886 people (5.1%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 7,728 people (14.9%) since the 2013 census . There were 29,052 males, 30,183 females and 210 people of other genders in 19,134 dwellings. 3.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age was 35.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 13,128 people (22.1%) aged under 15 years, 11,352 (19.1%) aged 15 to 29, 27,252 (45.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 7,710 (13.0%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 60.1% European ( Pākehā ); 23.0% Māori ; 26.5% Pasifika ; 11.5% Asian ; 1.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English
1023-615: A roll of 428 as of August 2024. St Theresa's School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 6 students, with a roll of 207. Plimmerton also has a kindergarten. Porirua Porirua , ( Māori : Pari-ā-Rua ) a city in the Wellington Region of the North Island of New Zealand, is one of the four cities that constitute the Wellington metropolitan area . The name 'Porirua'
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#17328008294831116-496: A route to kiwi populations. After the highway was completed, the amount of ferrets found in traps increased. In some cases, half of kiwi populations had been killed within weeks. Some opponents of the Transmission Gully project believed that its overall cost was too high, and that the region had insufficient funds to spend on it, with a benefit/cost ratio of 0.6. Then Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast , described
1209-596: A separate name for the northern part of the Tawa district met and chose " Linden ", from "Linden Vale", the name of the home of Mr Stuart Duncan and the name "Linden" was adopted in 1940. In 1948, the Tawa Flat and Linden Progressive Associations and Porirua interests, led by Arthur Carman and Percy Clark , made a representation to the Local Government Commission asking for a single borough covering
1302-634: A series of public hearings, the EPA-appointed board of inquiry into the Transmission Gully proposal stated in a draft decision that it would grant resource consents for the project. On 22 June 2012, the Environmental Protection Authority released the Transmission Gully Board of Inquiry's final report. The Board of Inquiry approved the resource consents and the notices of requirement required for
1395-612: A storage facility for the New Zealand Film Archive . The Mainline Steam railway preservation group have their extensive restoration facilities located behind Plimmerton Railway Station. North of the industrial area is the Taupō Swamp , a flax swamp, one of the largest of its type in the southern half of the North Island . Taupō Stream passes south through the swamp, along the east edge of Plimmerton Domain, between Steyne Avenue and St Andrews Road, and then flows into
1488-483: A variant of pari-rua ("two tides"), a reference to the two arms of the Porirua Harbour. In the 19th century, the name designated a land-registration district that stretched from Kaiwharawhara (or Kaiwara) on the north-west shore of Wellington Harbour northwards to and around Porirua Harbour. The road climbing the hill from Kaiwharawhara towards Ngaio , Khandallah , Johnsonville and Tawa still bears
1581-535: Is a 27-kilometre-long (17-mile), four-lane motorway north of Wellington , New Zealand; it is part of the State Highway 1 route. Construction began on 8 September 2014 and completion was originally scheduled for April 2020, but contractual negotiations as well as difficulties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays. The motorway was officially opened on 30 March 2022 and opened to public traffic
1674-416: Is a corruption of 'Pari-rua', meaning "the tide sweeping up both reaches". It almost completely surrounds Porirua Harbour at the southern end of the Kāpiti Coast . As of 2023, Porirua has a population of 62,400 people, and is a diverse city with 26.5% of the population identifying as Pasifika and 23.0% of the population identifying as Māori . The name "Porirua" has a Māori origin: it may represent
1767-420: Is a vital key to the future economic performance and prosperity of the whole region, and the Transmission Gully highway is a vital link in that chain". Opponents of Transmission Gully stated that there were better ways to improve access to Wellington. The highway would require an extremely steep gradient on its northernmost end and many opponents consider that it would thus not actually offer any improvement over
1860-681: Is reduced in size. From Paremata to Mana, the track was realigned to the West of the original track and a new double-track bridge was built across the entrance to the Pauatahanui Inlet. The original single-track railway bridge, built in 1885, was removed to allow room for the construction of a second road bridge in 2004. The railway stations at Porirua, Paremata, and Dolly Varden were replaced with new stations, with Dolly Varden station renamed Mana. Mana to Plimmerton double track and automatic signalling were completed on 16 October 1961, completing
1953-746: The 2018 census , and an increase of 7,662 people (15.2%) since the 2013 census . There were 28,353 males, 29,517 females and 204 people of other genders in 18,663 dwellings. 3.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age was 35.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 12,891 people (22.2%) aged under 15 years, 11,136 (19.2%) aged 15 to 29, 26,565 (45.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 7,491 (12.9%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 59.3% European ( Pākehā ); 23.3% Māori ; 27.1% Pasifika ; 11.7% Asian ; 1.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English
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#17328008294832046-604: The British Empire took place before Te Rangihaeata retreated to Poroutawhao in the Horowhenua District . The motorway opened to motorists on the morning of 31 March 2022. On opening day, a Holden VF Commodore police car drove into the northbound truck arrester bed due to driver error. It was repaired and continued in service until it reached the end of its service life in May that year. After being retired
2139-561: The Centennial Highway . This route began construction in 1936 and opened on 4 November 1939, with the section north from Pukerua Bay running along a narrow strip of coastline below the Paekakariki escarpment. Despite this, in the succeeding years public interest remained, and consideration was still given to constructing the route through the Wainui Saddle as Field had envisaged. A popular rumour persisted for many years that
2232-543: The Green Party and the lobby group Option 3, believed that the money would be better spent on improving Wellington's public transport , particularly the existing rail line. They argued that the original choice between building Transmission Gully or upgrading the coastal route was a false dichotomy , and that in reality neither option was necessary or desirable. In October 2023 it was reported that pests such as possums, stoats, and ferrets were using Transmission Gully as
2325-654: The Hutt County . In 1908, a smaller Makara County with offices in Porirua was formed from the Mākara and Porirua Ridings or the south-western part of the Hutt County. The new Makara County included Porirua, Tītahi Bay , Tawa Flat, and all of the area to the south lying to the west of Wellington City and outside the areas covered by Wellington City and the new and independent boroughs of Miramar, Karori, Onslow, and Johnsonville. In 1939, northern Tawa valley residents seeking
2418-536: The Hutt Valley . It continues south around the eastern edge of the Porirua suburbs of Whitby , Waitangirua and Cannons Creek , with an interchange providing access to local roads constructed at the same time as the motorway that link with these suburbs, before crossing the Te Ara a Toa Bridge, a 90-metre-high (300-foot) structure spanning 300 metres (980 feet) across Cannons Creek. A subsequent interchange links to
2511-907: The North Island Main Trunk railway. The railway provided regular passenger services between Wellington and Porirua and linked Porirua to other North Island centres. A shunting service from Wellington delivered goods wagons to sidings at Porirua, Paremata, Plimmerton, and Pukerua Bay and brought timber for the construction of houses in the area. The Tawa Flat railway deviation providing double-track railway with double line automatic signalling as far as Tawa opened to passenger services on 19 June 1937, reducing travel time for passenger trains from Wellington to Porirua by 15 minutes, to 27 minutes rather than 43 to 48 minutes. During 1940, Centralised Train Control (CTC), which allowed direct control of signals and train movements by Train Control in Wellington,
2604-632: The US Marines stationed on the Kāpiti coast during World War II made an offer to the New Zealand government to build the road, but there is no evidence of the offer having been made. Construction of the Transmission Gully route eventually commenced in November 2014. The Transmission Gully route complements the previous Centennial Highway route (now State Highway 59 ) along the coast, and provides
2697-521: The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company , helped to fund and direct construction of the railway line. The estimated population is 2,140 as of June 2024. The area was first settled by the Māori people early in their occupation of New Zealand. Ngāi Tara and then Ngāti Ira settled south of Kāpiti , and a number of other tribes may have lived in the area including Muaūpoko , Ngāti Apa , Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Hotu . Ngāti Toa people took control of
2790-515: The Borough of Porirua. Four years later, the population was officially estimated at over the 20,000 threshold then necessary for Porirua to be declared a city. On 1 April 1973, large areas to the north-east (and a few elsewhere) were transferred to the city from Hutt County by popular vote. Mana Island was added to the city at the same time. In 1988, a further addition was the Horokiri riding of
2883-556: The Council were in favour of Transmission Gully, and the Council has changed its stance in response. Opponents of upgrading the coastal route said that doing so would cause significant disruption to the communities it passes through, whereas Transmission Gully avoids urban areas. The former Mayor of Porirua, Jenny Brash , has said that an upgrade would generate large numbers of complaints from Porirua residents, and would therefore have difficulty receiving resource consent. Others, such as
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2976-752: The Government's commitment to the project as one of seven Roads of National Significance , with a predicted project cost of NZ$ 1.025 billion. On 15 August 2011, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), Porirua City Council, and Transpower jointly applied to the Environmental Protection Authority (New Zealand) (EPA) for notices of requirement and resource consents for the Transmission Gully Proposal. On 4 May 2012, after
3069-679: The Native Land Court and then sold, transferred to the Public Trustee or taken for public works and reserves. When the Horokiwi Valley Road was opened fewer travellers followed the Taua Tapu track through Taupō to Pukerua Bay . So Pāuatahanui grew at the expense of Taupō until the railway line was opened in 1885. In the 1880s the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company decided to build a railway link from
3162-675: The North Island south of the Patea River and the whole of the South Island. The British Parliament passed the first New Zealand Constitution Act in 1846 which reformed the provinces and the Porirua area became part of New Ulster which now included all of the North Island. The provinces were reformed again when the New Zealand Constitution Act of 1852 established six provinces, with Porirua included in
3255-401: The Porirua coast in the 1820s. In the 1840s the area where Plimmerton is situated was the home of Te Rauparaha , who had his main residence at Taupō pā . Te Rauparaha was captured by 200 British troops and police on 23 July 1846 near the southern end of Motuhara Road. A tiny historic reserve contains a cabbage tree that may be descended from the one he was said to have been captured near, and
3348-525: The Sandhills motorway from Raumati to Waikanae, the previous government had proposed allowing it to be used by the local district council for a new local road. Using the old highway route through the Paraparaumu and Waikanae shopping areas would require bulldozing houses and splitting the two towns in half. The NZTA proposed other options like the existing highway route at several community meetings, but
3441-575: The Transmission Gully Proposal. On 16 May 2013, national grid owner Transpower applied for consent to the Kāpiti Coast District Council to rebuild its Valley Road, Paraparaumu substation to 220 kV and build two short transmission lines to connect it to the two Bunnythorpe to Haywards 220 kV lines to the east. This would allow Transpower to demolish the existing 110 kV line between Pāuatahanui and Paraparaumu through Transmission Gully, rather than having to relocate it around
3534-778: The Wellington Province. In 1876, the Provincial Government was abolished and replaced with 36 borough councils and 63 county councils and the Porirua area became the Porirua Riding of the Hutt County , formed in 1877. The Hutt County covered all the area south of the Waikanae River and West of the Remutaka Ranges that lay outside of Wellington City. As the population of local areas grew, a number of local boroughs were split off from
3627-437: The about-to-be-abolished county, containing most of the new Whitby suburb and substantial rural areas. The city and its council have remained (with changes of personnel and ward boundaries) into the 21st century, despite proposals to change the name to "Mana" and several small movements for amalgamation with Wellington. The city of Porirua first adopted a flag in 1978 following a competition for designs among local schools, with
3720-551: The alleged purchase, including Porirua, was invalid. However, rising tensions with European settlers led to Ngāti Toa chief Te Rauparaha being captured by 200 British troops and police in July 1846. Shortly afterwards, the Hutt Valley campaign led to chief Te Rangihaeata 's retreat to Poroutawhao in the Horowhenua . In April 1847, eight remaining chiefs, including Tamihana Te Rauparaha, Matene Te Whiwhi and Rawiri Puaha, signed
3813-426: The capital, Wellington , to Longburn , near Palmerston North . Several towns, including Plimmerton, were established along the way to encourage settlements that would contribute to the line's business. John Plimmer , after whom Plimmerton was named, was a director of the company. In 1885 the first excursion train journeyed from Wellington to Plimmerton on 3 September, and regular services began from 10 October. With
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3906-568: The car was preserved at the Southward Car Museum . Developing a Transmission Gully road has been a topic of considerable debate in Wellington politics for some time, even as far back as 1919. Supporters claimed that it will improve access to Wellington City , arguing that the existing coastal route is too congested, is accident-prone, and could be damaged in a serious earthquake. Peter Dunne , former MP for Ohariu, says that "[i]mproving Wellington City's northern access and egress
3999-423: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 8,946 (19.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 23,064 (51.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 10,356 (22.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 46,900, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 7,491 people (16.6%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
4092-423: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 9,192 (19.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 23,664 (51.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 10,509 (22.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 47,200, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 7,842 people (16.9%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
4185-762: The city's harbour and land. The canton optionally features the coat of arms. Porirua is largely formed around the arms of the Porirua Harbour , and the coastline facing out to Cook Strait and the north-eastern parts of the South Island . Most of the populated areas of Porirua are coastal: Camborne, Karehana Bay, Mana, Onepoto, Papakōwhai, Paremata, Pāuatahanui, Plimmerton, Pukerua Bay, Takapūwāhia, Tītahi Bay and Whitby all have direct access to coastal parks and recreation reserves. Several suburbs without direct coastal access, including Aotea, Ascot Park and Ranui Heights, have substantial portions with good views over
4278-481: The completion of a highway from Pukerua Bay to Paekākāriki. A second bridge was built in 2004 allowing two lanes of traffic in each direction. In the late 1960s, reclamation work began to the east of the 1960 rail reclamation from Porirua to Paremata, allowing the construction of a four-lane expressway alongside the railway. The expressway opened in the early 1970s, with room allowed for a future interchange at Whitford Brown Avenue. The reclamation work largely eliminated
4371-601: The demand for housing development in Porirua. In 1940, the Centennial Highway developments saw the opening of a four-lane high-speed highway in Ngauranga Gorge bypassing the slower routes through Ngaio and Khandallah. During the 1950s, the high-speed Johnsonville–Porirua Motorway was built through Tawa on the eastern side of the valley. The first section from Johnsonville to the Tawa turnoff at Takapu Road at
4464-442: The development of Porirua as a satellite city of Wellington. The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company opened a railway line through Johnsonville from Wellington to Porirua in 1885. The railway reached Longburn (south of Palmerston North) in 1886 to connect with the Government's lines to Taranaki and Napier. With the acquisition of the company by the government in 1908, the line to Porirua and northward to Longburn became part of
4557-431: The double track and automatic signalling continued with the Porirua to Mana section opened on 7 November 1960. The work involved harbour reclamation to construct a straight tack from Porirua to Papakōwhai , just south of Paremata, eliminating the tight curves as the former railway followed the coastline, and creating three lagoons on the eastern side of the harbour. The central lagoon, now known as Aotea Lagoon , remains but
4650-603: The double track and automatic signalling from Wellington to South Junction, and allowing more frequent train services north of Porirua station. Crossovers at Plimmerton allowed some trains to terminate at Plimmerton and return to Wellington during peak periods. By 2016, the introduction of electric multiple units with more rapid acceleration, EM/ET class from 1982 and Matangi FP class from 2010, had reduced rail travel time for stopping trains between Wellington and Porirua by another 6 minutes to 21 minutes, despite extra stops at Redwood, Linden, and Kenepuru which each add 48 seconds to
4743-537: The existing coastal highway. The route that the highway must take is along the major fault line of the region, which would make it at least as earthquake prone as the existing coastal highway. Some suggested that the existing coastal route should be upgraded, rather than building a completely new route. This was the original recommendation of the Regional Council, and was put forward as the primary alternative to building Transmission Gully. Public submissions to
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#17328008294834836-601: The existing coastal route, but changed its position after public consultation. In 2009 Steven Joyce was Minister of Transport in the Fifth National Government , and was lobbied by MPs Peter Dunne and Nathan Guy for Transmission Gully as part of the Levin to Airport Road of National Significance. It had been proposed for years, but delayed as too expensive. When he flew over the route by helicopter, alternatives from engineers were stacking one direction of
4929-496: The following day. A highway connecting the Kāpiti Coast to Pāuatahanui through the Wainui Saddle was first proposed in 1919 by William Hughes Field , the MP for Ōtaki at the time, as one of two alternatives to the steep, narrow and windy Paekakariki Hill Road between Paekākāriki and Pāuatahanui. His alternative proposal would become the main route north of Wellington from Ngauranga to Paekākāriki through Pukerua Bay , known as
5022-492: The following decade, Ashley Wallpapers developed the former UEB property and after favourable negotiations with the government, Todd Motors (later Mitsubishi) moved from Petone to Porirua. Todd Motors was a vehicle assembly company which moved from Petone and opened a large factory in Porirua in 1975. The factory covered 5.2 hectares (13 acres) on a 33-hectare (82-acre) site known as Todd Park. At its peak there were 1500 employees building 22,000 vehicles per year. The company
5115-432: The growth of the Porirua area by reducing travel times, making it possible to live in the Porirua area and work in Wellington, and by making day-trips from Wellington to the beaches at Paremata , and Plimmerton relatively easy. Since the 1940s, Porirua has grown to a city population approaching 57,000, with state housing no longer in the majority. Major territorial additions to the city occurred in 1973 and 1988 as part of
5208-409: The harbour. Elsdon, formerly known as Prosser Block, lost access to the harbour as a result of reclamation work, especially during the 1960s. Much of the existing city centre, north of Parumoana Street and east of Titahi Bay Road, was built upon this landfill. Transmission Gully Motorway Transmission Gully Motorway The Transmission Gully Motorway ( Māori : Te Ara Nui o Te Rangihaeata )
5301-426: The highway on top of the other along the bottom of the cliff at Pukerua Bay, or wiping out much of Pukerua Bay village, and taking off the end of the bluff at Plimmerton . So Transmission Gully was the only option. But if it rejoined the old highway at Paekakariki traffic would come to a screeching halt at the Paraparaumu or Waikanae traffic lights. While a planner with foresight 50 years earlier had designated land for
5394-483: The late 1830s, European settlers began to express interest in the Porirua region, culminating in the controversial sale of most of the region in 1847. In 1839, the New Zealand Company signed an agreement with Ngāti Toa from which it claimed to have acquired the entire southern part of the North Island. Following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi , an inquiry by Land Claims Commissioner William Spain found that most of
5487-466: The latest, during the "moa hunter" period of Māori history . The forests, sea, estuaries and swamps provided abundant food and materials. The Porirua area came to be occupied by a succession of tribes, including Ngāti Tara and Ngāti Ira . Ngāti Toa people migrated south from Kawhia , and took control of the Porirua coast in the 1820s. By the 1840s they had established 12 pā , with Takapūwāhia and Hongoeka still occupied by marae today. From
5580-515: The lower speed road through Tawa. The Johnsonville bypass connecting the south end of the motorway to the top of Ngauranga Gorge opened about 1958, completing the four-lane road link between Wellington and Porirua. On 3 October 1936, a road bridge was opened across the entrance to the Pauatahanui Inlet connecting Paremata to Dolly Varden, known as Mana from 1960, eliminating a 22-kilometre journey around Pauatahanui Inlet to Plimmerton. The bridge became part of SH 1 when centennial highway developments saw
5673-506: The majority of locomotive-hauled passenger trains and allowed a more frequent and faster train service. The duplication of the line from Plimmerton to South Junction allowed a more frequent train service between Porirua and Paekākāriki. Duplication of the track from Tawa to Porirua station opened on 15 December 1957. This completed double line automatic signalling from Wellington distant junction, just south of Kaiwharawhara , to Porirua, and eliminated CTC between Tawa and Porirua. This work and
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#17328008294835766-538: The motorway. In spite of significant opposition, construction of the four-lane motorway began on 8 September 2014 with completion originally scheduled for April 2020. Delays due to contractual disputes and difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the budget out and the opening was scheduled for late 2021. In mid-December 2021, it was announced that the road would not be open by Christmas. On 30 March 2022, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern officially opened
5859-743: The motorway. The road was officially gifted the name Te Ara Nui o Te Rangihaeata / Great Path of Te Rangihaeata by the Ngati Toa tribe in honour of Te Rangihaeata, a chief who played a leading role in the Wairau Affray and the Hutt Valley Campaign in the New Zealand Wars . The motorway passes to the side of the location of the Battle of Battle Hill , where the final stand-off between Te Rangihaeata and forces loyal to
5952-420: The name " Old Porirua Road ". Tradition holds that, prior to habitation, Kupe was the first visitor to the area, and that he bestowed names of significant sites such as Te Mana o Kupe ki Aotearoa ( Mana Island ). In addition, it is said that Kupe left his anchor stone, Te Punga o Matahouroa at Whitireia , which is now held at Te Papa Tongarewa . There is evidence of human habitation in Porirua since 1450 at
6045-678: The need for a ferry across the harbour. The 1880s and 1890s saw the establishment of the Porirua Lunatic Asylum on the hill south-west of Porirua village. Following the Mental Defectives Act of 1911, the Asylum became Porirua Mental Hospital. In the late 1940s state planning envisaged Porirua becoming a satellite city of Wellington with state housing . This required improved rail and road links with Wellington and rail and road development has contributed much to
6138-406: The north and south lagoons created by the rail reclamation on the east side of the harbour and reduced the size of the central lagoon, known as Aotea Lagoon. An intersection between SH 1 and Mungavin Avenue remained at Porirua until 1989 when the intersection was replaced with a grade-separated roundabout interchange with State Highway 1 passing under the interchange. The Transmission Gully Motorway
6231-507: The project as "unaffordable". It was suggested that making Transmission Gully a toll road would help resolve this problem and tolls would only cover a fraction of the funds necessary to build the highway. In May 2012, Julie Anne Genter , the Greens' spokeswoman on transport, described the motorway as incurring costs of $ 1 billion when the official business case benefits were $ 600 million, in order to ease congestion for an unlikely projected growth of 1500 vehicles per day. In February 2020 it
6324-412: The provision of additional signals between Kaiwharawhara and Tawa, allowed close following of trains and more frequent and faster train services between Wellington and Porirua. During peak periods, many multiple unit trains were now terminated at Porirua and returned to Wellington to provide a more frequent service between Wellington and Porirua than was provided for stations north of Porirua. Extension of
6417-402: The pā, and was leased by Ngāti Toa for farming by European settlers over the following decades. These included William Cooper, Canington (possible Carrington), and then Levi Tandy (from 1859). James Walker farmed from Paremata to Plimmerton beginning in 1875. In the late 19th Century Ngāti Toa’s land holdings around Taupō began to rapidly decline as land was by converted to individual title by
6510-433: The railway's arrival, Plimmerton became accessible to holidaymakers, and evolved into a seaside resort. Plimmerton House, a two-storied hotel, was built alongside the railway station in 1886 (and burnt down in 1907). Sections began to be sold in 1888 and by the late 1890s Plimmerton had become a popular holiday destination. In 1900 Plimmerton consisted of 30 summer cottages, two private hotels and one general store. Plimmerton
6603-452: The reduction and eventual abolition of Hutt County . On 7 June 1976, New Zealand's first McDonald's restaurant opened in Porirua, on the corner of Cobham Court and Hagley Street. The original restaurant closed on 24 April 2009, and the store relocated to Kenepuru Drive. Substantial industrial areas, generally west of the city centre, have evolved. During the 1960s Kodak , UEB Industries and many small businesses opened at Elsdon. During
6696-564: The sea at the north end of South Beach. Plimmerton Library, which was part of Porirua City Council's library system, closed on 27 July 2012. It opened in the late 1940s and operated from a single-room building near the school from November 1951 until December 2007. It then shifted to the Plimmerton Pavilion, opposite the Plimmerton Volunteer Fire Brigade building, until its closure. South-west of
6789-632: The shopping area is Plimmerton Beach, a fairly sheltered, gently graded beach, which has been a popular recreation area for over a century. It is popular with windsurfers; some world champions have trained there. At the southern end is South Beach. Recreational water quality at Plimmerton Beach is rated "fair" by the Greater Wellington Regional Council; water quality at South Beach is rated "poor", however, due to periodic faecal contamination. This contamination may originate from Taupō Swamp (via Taupō Stream), which often supports
6882-551: The southern entrance to Tawa opened on 15 December 1951, broadly following the line of the old North Island Main Trunk railway. It reduced road travel times and considerably improved access between Wellington and Porirua by eliminating the need to use the narrow, winding road through the bottom of the Tawa valley in the Glenside area. The second section, from Takapu Road to Porirua, opened about 1956 and allowed through traffic to bypass
6975-674: The travel time. For non-stopping trains, the time had reduced to 17 minutes. Off-peak passenger services between Wellington and Porirua stations ran every thirty minutes, with more frequent services during peak periods and a less frequent during the night. From 15 July 2018, off-peak day services were increased to one every twenty minutes. Wellington and Porirua are linked by the Johnsonville–Porirua Motorway , part of State Highway 59 within Porirua and State Highway 1 beyond Porirua. Road improvements have progressively reduced travel times between Wellington and Porirua and increased
7068-697: The whole of the Porirua Basin. The Commission did not accept this proposal but responded by giving the Tawa Flat-Linden area the status of a Town District, with the first Tawa Flat Town Board elected on 16 May 1951. With continued urbanisation and population growth in the Tawa valley, the population reached 3,900 in 1953 and the upgrade of the Town District to a borough was approved in October 1953. Rapid urbanisation and population growth
7161-419: The winning design being submitted by John Mansfield of Papakowhai School. This flag consisted of a yellow cross on a green background with the coat of arms superimposed over it. After the 1989 local government reforms , the new Porirua City Council did not seek to continue use of this flag. The present flag of Porirua was adopted on 30 September 1998. It has several blue stripes, and a green shape to symbolise
7254-505: Was $ 47,500, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 582 people (33.4%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 969 (55.6%) people were employed full-time, 252 (14.5%) were part-time, and 42 (2.4%) were unemployed. State Highway 59 , here named St Andrews Road, passes through Plimmerton, as does the North Island Main Trunk railway line A shopping area about two blocks long adjoins Plimmerton Railway Station on Steyne Avenue and includes
7347-466: Was 23.0, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.5% had no religion, 32.6% were Christian , 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.3% were Hindu , 0.6% were Muslim , 0.4% were Buddhist and 2.0% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 687 (39.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 150 (8.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income
7440-582: Was announced that the expected cost of $ 850m had been increased by another $ 191m. In March 2021 the road was reported to cost a projected $ 1.25 billion by its then-expected opening date in September 2021, and would not include a planned extra merge lane at the Linden interchange to relieve congestion. There had been claims that the route of Transmission Gully is problematic due to steep gradients, environmental damage and earthquake hazards. The route passes near
7533-516: Was constructed between 2014 and 2021, providing an eastern bypass of Porirua. On 7 December 2021, shortly before its opening, SH 1 was shifted to the Transmission Gully Motorway and the former SH 1 route through Porirua was renumbered SH 59. Porirua City covers 174.80 km (67.49 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 62,000 as of June 2024, with a population density of 355 people per km . Porirua City had
7626-473: Was electrified, and double track completed from Plimmerton to South Junction, just north of Muri railway station. Electrification allowed the introduction of electric ED class locomotives, first introduced in 1938 for use on this line, to haul passenger and goods trains. Electric locomotives eliminated the smoke nuisance in the tunnels on the line and allowed longer trains to run. DM/D electric multiple units first ran to Porirua on 5 September 1949 and replaced
7719-496: Was established in Porirua in the 1960s or early 1970s. In 2001, the factory closed with the loss of 55 jobs, the result of declining hosiery sales worldwide. Whittaker's confectionery manufacturers moved their business from Wellington to Porirua in 1969 and as of 2022, have around 160 employees at the Porirua factory. The development of the rail through Porirua, part of the Kapiti Line , has contributed significantly to
7812-409: Was formally declared a motorway on 16 August 2021 with the declaration coming into force 28 days later. Although first proposed in 1919, it was only late in the first decade of the 21st century that serious steps were taken towards construction. The Greater Wellington Regional Council , in preparing its Western Corridor Plan, initially rejected Transmission Gully as unaffordable, preferring to upgrade
7905-590: Was now occurring in the Porirua Basin with the development of state housing in Tītahi Bay, Elsdon, and to the East of State Highway 59, and in 1961 the first municipality to have "Porirua" in its name, the Borough of Porirua, was formed when Makara County was abolished, with the mostly rural western part becoming the Makara Ward of Hutt County and the rapidly growing eastern urban portion (including Tītahi Bay) becoming
7998-531: Was originally part of Hutt County . On 1 April 1973 the still-growing area became one of the northern suburbs of Porirua . Though small, it was one of the most lively. For a time it had the only active Residents' Association in the city. The main state highway route through Plimmerton, previously part of SH 1 , was renumbered SH 59 on 7 December 2021 due to SH 1 being shifted to the Transmission Gully Motorway . The name Plimmerton
8091-410: Was progressively installed on the single line sections of track north of Tawa, replacing tablet working and allowing more efficient, flexible, and rapid control of train movements. CTC between Plimmerton and Paekākāriki applied from 25 February 1940, Paremata to Plimmerton from 30 June, and Tawa to Porirua from 4 December 1940. On 24 July 1940, the line through Porirua, from Wellington to Paekākāriki,
8184-510: Was sold to Mitsubishi in 1987 and the factory closed in 1998. Hills Hats (established in 1875) set up premises in Porirua in the 1950s. By 1996 it employed 80 people at Porirua and was exporting 75% of its production to 23 countries. The company was sold to overseas investors in 1997, then went into receivership and was bought by Wellington investors in 1998. In 2003, the company shifted from Porirua to Petone. Bonds Hosiery (later Hilton Bonds, then Sara Lee Apparel, part of Pacific Dunlop)
8277-557: Was spoken by 94.9%, Māori language by 5.8%, Samoan by 8.8% and other languages by 14.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 25.9, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 38.6% Christian , 2.0% Hindu , 1.4% Islam , 1.1% Māori religious beliefs , 1.2% Buddhist , 0.3% New Age , 0.1% Jewish , and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 47.4%, and 6.9% of people did not answer
8370-557: Was spoken by 94.9%, Māori language by 5.9%, Samoan by 9.0% and other languages by 14.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 26.0, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 38.9% Christian , 2.1% Hindu , 1.4% Islam , 1.1% Māori religious beliefs , 1.2% Buddhist , 0.3% New Age , 0.1% Jewish , and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 47.0%, and 6.9% of people did not answer
8463-526: Was that 24,753 (54.8%) people were employed full-time, 5,475 (12.1%) were part-time, and 1,668 (3.7%) were unemployed. The city is administered by Porirua City Council . The wider Wellington Region is administered by the Greater Wellington Regional Council. When New Zealand became a separate Colony from New South Wales in 1841, the Royal Charter established three provinces . The Porirua area became part of New Munster which included that part of
8556-418: Was that 25,401 (54.8%) people were employed full-time, 5,652 (12.2%) were part-time, and 1,689 (3.6%) were unemployed. Porirua's urban area covers 61.19 km (23.63 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 60,600 as of June 2024, with a population density of 990 people per km . The urban area had a population of 58,080 in the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 2,862 people (5.2%) since
8649-542: Was used in promoting the railway and advertising of sections for sale from the mid-1880s. Plimmerton was gazetted as an official geographic name on 3 November 2011. The suburb amalgamated the previous recorded suburb names of Plimmerton and Karehana Bay. It excludes the largely Māori (Ngāti Toa) settlement of Hongoeka to the west, which was gazetted on 16 December 2010. The Plimmerton statistical area covers 5.16 km (1.99 sq mi), and includes Hongoeka . It had an estimated population of 2,140 as of June 2024, with
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