72-563: The Wainuiomata Tunnel was planned to improve access to the Wainuiomata Valley in the Wellington region of New Zealand ’s North Island as part of a scheme to commence residential development there in the 1930s. Construction started in 1932 but was halted a couple of years later when only partly completed due to a lack of funds brought about by economic depression. The tunnel was never opened to road traffic, and other than
144-482: A brief stint of military service during World War II , remained unused until sold in 1975. Thereafter it was completed as a utility tunnel, initially carrying only a water pipe, but later other services were added. Wainui-o-Mata Development Limited was formed for the purpose of developing the Wainuiomata Valley through the acquisition of land, subdivision, and sale of residential lots. An important part of
216-601: A coalition of the United Party and the Reform Party , the United–Reform Coalition . United and Reform had traditionally been enemies – United was a revival of the old Liberal Party , a progressive party with a strong urban base, while Reform was a conservative party with a strong rural base. When the 1928 elections left United and Reform with an equal number of seats, United managed to obtain support from
288-552: A factory in Wainuiomata which operated between the 1960s and 1980s. By 1976, the factory had 200 workers and was said to be the largest employer in Wainuiomata. Tatra went into receivership in 1988, after a downturn in business due to competition from cheap imported leather goods. Feltex opened a textile mill in Wainuiomata in 1974. The factory was bought by Alliance Textiles in December 1996 and closed shortly after, with
360-470: A gradient of 1 in 15 to emerge at the foot of the hills in Wainuiomata near the existing hill road. It was to be 26 feet 6 inches (8.08 m) wide, 18 feet (5.5 m) high, and have a length of 49 chains (3,200 ft; 990 m). The footpath would be 4 feet (1.2 m) wide, 3 feet (0.91 m) above the floor of the tunnel. The Railways Department became particularly interested in
432-502: A highly-efficient pyroclastic stove. Brugger retired in 1986 and the factory changed ownership, before closing in 1998. Bata opened a factory in Wainuiomata in 1967, producing gumboots , sandals and Bata bullets (a popular canvas sneaker). The company faced challenges in the 1980s after the government changed its regulation of imported footwear, and the Wainuiomata factory closed in 1992. Tatra, founded by Frederick Turnovsky , produced leather accessories such as belts and wallets at
504-591: A loading dock to facilitate the transfer of goods to and from the trucks. The Public Works Department handed over the completed magazine to the Army on 8 June 1942. Early termination of the lease was requested when the Quartermaster-General advised the Company that the Army intended to vacate the site effective 15 September 1944. This date was missed, and it was not until 26 February 1945 that possession
576-711: A population density of 1,587 people per km . Wainuiomata had a population of 17,910 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 1,203 people (7.2%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 1,266 people (7.6%) since the 2006 census . There were 5,880 households, comprising 8,811 males and 9,093 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female, with 4,059 people (22.7%) aged under 15 years, 3,915 (21.9%) aged 15 to 29, 7,932 (44.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 2,001 (11.2%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 66.6% European/ Pākehā , 30.4% Māori , 15.9% Pasifika , 8.5% Asian , and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
648-699: A population of 1,803 at the 2018 New Zealand census , an increase of 123 people (7.3%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 168 people (10.3%) since the 2006 census . There were 609 households, comprising 858 males and 942 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.91 males per female. The median age was 36.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 390 people (21.6%) aged under 15 years, 351 (19.5%) aged 15 to 29, 801 (44.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 264 (14.6%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 67.2% European/ Pākehā , 28.0% Māori , 14.6% Pasifika , 10.3% Asian , and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
720-466: A rail tunnel. By the 1970s, replacement of the water supply pipe that was running through the Waiwhetu Tunnel had become necessary. The Wellington Regional Water Board purchased Wainuiomata Tunnel from Wainuiomata Development Company in 1975, intending to use it for a much larger, replacement water pipe. Even after this acquisition there was opposition to the proposal to lay a water main through
792-521: A road connecting Upper Fitzherbert Road, Wainuiomata, via a tunnel, to Seddon Street in Naenae. Greater Wellington Regional Council is responsible for the tunnel, and also maintains the water supply pipe that runs through it. The tunnel also now carries a sewer pipeline and telecommunications cables. When the Hutt City Council wanted to construct a new wastewater treatment plant at Seaview in
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#1732783605456864-623: A study commissioned by Wellington Regional Council and conducted by Jim Lynch , the founder of Zealandia , found that establishing a wildlife sanctuary in the Wainuiomata Water Collection Area was "technically and practically feasible". The name given to the proposed sanctuary is Puketahā . Wainuiomata is situated in a basin surrounded by hills. The topography reduces local wind-flow, resulting in lower minimum temperatures in winter and higher maximum temperatures in summer than in most other parts of Wellington and
936-412: A term covering the duration of the war plus six months, to which the Company was agreeable, on the proviso that the Company be able to terminate the agreement with six months notice if they decided to resume work on the tunnel and it was not required for “essential war purposes”. The lease covered the land and buildings at the tunnel, at a rate of £156 per annum, commencing on 2 April 1942. Having obtained
1008-414: A working-class community. This influx of young families earned the community the nickname of "Nappy Valley" in the 1950s. New Zealand's first kōhanga reo opened in Wainuiomata in 1982. Gary McCormick 's 1994 documentary series Heartland featured an episode about Wainuiomata. The programme angered many local people because it focussed on negative aspects and ignored many positive things going on in
1080-566: Is a golf course on the Coast Road to the south of Wainuiomata, opened at its current location in 1970. Wainuiomata has clubs for rugby union , rugby league and football . Rugby league was particularly prominent in the 1980s and 1990s, with the Wainuiomata Lions team winning a national title three times, but its popularity has waned since then. The Wainuiomata Hill Road is the only road into and out of Wainuiomata, connecting
1152-426: Is called Wainuiomata Little Theatre and has been operating since 1956. Bruce Mason was the patron when it started. Wainuiomata has a large outdoor swimming pool complex. It was completely funded by the community, through raffles, fundraising and an annual Christmas parade, and opened in 1967. The main pool was extended to Olympic length in the early 1970s, and after more community fundraising, an 80 metre hydroslide
1224-643: Is often abbreviated to Wainui by locals. Wainuiomata occupies a basin at the headwaters of the Wainuiomata River , between the eastern Hutt hills and the Orongorongo Range. There are conflicting reports about the evidence of Māori occupation of the basin prior to European settlement. One source says there is evidence Māori were in Wainuiomata from the moa-hunting period and the iwi Rangitane , Ngāti Ira and Kahungunu were all settled there. The earliest European settlements grew up around
1296-401: Is piped from Wainuiomata to supply Wellington City with fresh water. The Orongorongo Valley , accessed via the Wainuiomata Valley, features bush walks and native-forest scenery. Wainuiomata Central statistical area covers 1.26 km (0.49 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 2,120 as of June 2024, with a population density of 1,683 people per km . Wainuiomata Central had
1368-568: The 2019 local elections , the ward has been represented by Keri Brown. At the national level, Wainuiomata falls in the Hutt South general electorate and the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti Māori electorate. Since 2023 , Lower Hutt resident and National Party MP Chris Bishop represents Hutt South. Wainuiomata has traditionally been a dormitory suburb : most residents work outside the valley. Several factories that operated in Wainuiomata during
1440-591: The Country Party and the Ratana movement, both of which won two seats. Four independents were elected, Harry Atmore , David McDougall , Charles Wilkinson and Robert Wright . The independents were tactically supported by one of the major parties who did not stand a candidate against them, and they generally voted with that party; Wilkinson and Wright supported the coalition while Atmore and McDougall supported Labour. Labour also did not stand candidates against
1512-534: The Great Depression : the year after the election, the United and Reform parties merged to form the modern National Party . The election was originally scheduled to be held in 1934, in keeping with the country's three-year election cycle, but the governing coalition postponed the election by one year hoping that the economic conditions would improve by 1935. Since 1931, New Zealand had been governed by
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#17327836054561584-572: The 1990s, they attempted to secure access to the Wainuiomata Tunnel to build the sewer pipeline to connect the new plant to Wainuiomata. As this wasn’t an option at the time, they were offered, and accepted, the alternative of the nearby smaller, and much older, Waiwhetu Tunnel that had previously been used for a water supply pipe. In 2001, negotiations between the Regional Council and Hutt City Council resulted in an agreement for
1656-482: The 76 European electorates, between two and six per electorate ( Wellington East had six candidates, and there was a contest in all electorates), i.e. an average of 3.2 candidates per electorate. 919,798 people were registered to vote in European electorates (enrolment data for Māori electorates are only available since the 1954 election ), and there was a turnout of 90.75%. This turnout was considerably higher than
1728-465: The Company’s permission, the Army authorised modifications to be made at the tunnel for the preparation of the magazine on 8 April 1942. Work included installation of electric lighting, an upgrade of the drainage, erection of a security fence enclosing the entire tunnel section with a gate allowing truck access, levelling inside the tunnel to make it suitable for stacking the explosives, and the building of
1800-669: The Hutt Valley. The valley floor is 86 m above sea level, and the highest point of the Wainuiomata Hill Road is 195 m above sea level. Wainuiomata River flows through the southern part of Wainuiomata, draining to the sea at Baring Head to the south. Two major tributaries join Wainuiomata River in the Homedale area: Wainuiomata Stream from Moore's Valley, and Black Creek, from north Wainuiomata. Water
1872-713: The Wellington School of Business and Government Judge’s Choice Award at the ExportNZ ASB Wellington Export Awards. Wainuiomata has a marae, officially opened in 1988, and various churches. The Coast Road Church was built in 1866 and in use until 1958. It is listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 2 historic place, and can be hired for weddings or other functions. Wainuiomata hosts the annual Wellington Folk Festival over Labour Weekend in October. The community theatre society
1944-420: The case if they had worked downhill from the Wainuiomata end). It was noted, however, that if needed up to three 8-hour shifts per day could be deployed at both ends of the tunnel to improve progress. The men working in the tunnel found that the ground they were excavating was not ideal for tunnelling, and often encountered soft earth or “rotten” rock. The first pass on the tunnel shaft was not to excavate down to
2016-470: The congregation outgrew it and moved to the new St Stephens Church in 1957. With the clearing of the forests, sheep- and dairy-farming became an important part of the local economy. The settlement started to grow in the 1920s. In 1928 Wainui-o-Mata Development Limited formed for the purpose of developing the Wainuiomata Valley through the acquisition of 1,600 hectares (4,000 acres) of land, its subdivision and its sale as residential lots. An important part of
2088-431: The development company were represented to consider the future of the tunnel. It was agreed that the tunnel, in its present form, was unsuitable for use either by road or rail traffic. The amount of space allowed for the roadway was not wide enough for the requirements of contemporary road traffic. It was estimated that the tunnel could be completed to suit requirements for around £600,000 (in 1966), which would likely involve
2160-530: The figures were 92.85% with men 93.43% and women 92.27%. As the Māori electorates did not have electoral rolls they could not be included. The following table shows the detailed results: Key Labour Independent United Reform United/Reform Democrat Ratana Country Party Table footnotes: A number of local by-elections were required due to
2232-564: The forests around the Wainuiomata River. In the 1850s Sir William Fitzherbert started a flax-milling business in the north of the valley, but this proved economically unviable. In 1866 the Methodist Wainuiomata Coast Road Church was built on land donated by settler Richard Prouse. The oldest Methodist church and the third-oldest church in the Wellington region, it was used for regular services until
Wainuiomata Tunnel - Misplaced Pages Continue
2304-401: The full depth of the completed tunnel. Rather, an additional 3 feet (0.91 m) of earth was to be removed before the sealed roadway could be laid through the tunnel. Various reports from the early 1930s noted steady progress. However, as the financing of works related to the Wainuiomata development relied in part on the sale of land in the valley, the effect of economic depression at the time
2376-416: The growing Labour Party , but in 1931, the worsening depression prompted a dispute over economic policy, and Labour withdrew its backing. Reform then agreed to go into coalition with United, fearing that an election would lead to significant gains for the " socialistic " Labour. The coalition held on to power in the 1931 elections , but the ongoing economic troubles made the government deeply unpopular, and by
2448-804: The horizon') cost $ 12.9 million and was funded by Hutt City Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency. On the Wainuiomata side, the path goes up the valley side of the road. At the top of the hill is the Pukeatua pedestrian bridge, completed in 2015, and then the path continues down the harbour side of the road to Gracefield. The path also links to mountain bike trails in the surrounding hills. Two regular bus routes serve Wainuiomata: 160 Wainuiomata North and 170 Wainuiomata South . Both bus routes travel to Lower Hutt Queensgate via Waterloo Interchange , where they connect with Hutt Valley Line train services to Wellington. Route 160 serves
2520-571: The improvement of access to Wainuiomata including work on both the widening of the hill road and the driving of the tunnel through the hill. The Quartermaster-General approached the Wainuiomata Development Company in 1942 on behalf of the New Zealand Army to lease the tunnel. Their intention was to use the tunnel primarily for the storage of explosives but potentially also as an air raid shelter. They sought
2592-488: The latter to be able to use the Wainuiomata Tunnel and some associated land for which an easement was granted for the installation of their sewer pipe. The tunnel is occasionally opened to the public for organised tours. Wainuiomata Wainuiomata ( / ˌ w aɪ n uː i ˈ ɔː m ɑː t ə / ) is a large dormitory suburb of Lower Hutt , in the Wellington metropolitan area in New Zealand. Its population
2664-508: The loss of about 70 jobs. The building later housed a church, and in 2013 Big Save Furniture set up a distribution centre in the former factory. Tom & Luke is a snack food manufacturer based in Wainuiomata that sells its products in New Zealand and exports to Australia, Asia and the United States. It was founded by Tom Dorman and Luke Cooper in 2013. The company employs around 45 people, mostly locals. In 2022 Tom & Luke won
2736-553: The northern neighbourhoods of Parkway, Arakura and Glendale, while route 170 serves the southern neighbourhoods of Fernlea and Homedale; both routes serve the shopping centre. Previously, two peak-hour services, 80N and 80S, followed routes 160 and 170 within Wainuiomata respectively, but travelled via Gracefield and Petone express to central Wellington however these were cancelled in 2022 and there are currently no direct bus services between Wainuiomata and Wellington City. A branch commuter railway line (see Wainuiomata railway proposals )
2808-401: The parties to the following: Wainuiomata Development called for tenders to construct the tunnel in October 1931 and awarded a contract for the same to Templeton Tunnel Construction Company. Work commenced on 25 January 1932 using subsidised labour from a work relief scheme to find employment for those affected by the economic depression. A workers camp was erected; flat land was cleared around
2880-468: The population decreased, but since about 2020 there has been a housing boom and corresponding increase in population. Wainuiomata is noted for being the origin of New Zealand's kōhanga reo (Māori-language immersion preschool) movement. The word 'Wainui-o-mata' is a Māori name made up of the words Wai = water, Nui = big, O = of, and Mata – which could refer to a woman's name. The origins of the word are disputed, but one commonly accepted translation refers to
2952-413: The portal on which buildings were erected for the workshop and powerhouse. Plant included an electric motor for running air compressors, ventilation, and the equipment used to apply the concrete lining to the completed tunnel walls. Formwork for the tunnel portal was assembled and the hillside prepared for the building of the portal. Additional men were due to start work at the site after 1 February. Unlike
Wainuiomata Tunnel - Misplaced Pages Continue
3024-626: The project involved the construction of the Wainuiomata Tunnel linking the Hutt Valley and Wainuiomata Valley for improving access to the new settlement. Construction of the tunnel commenced in 1932, but the Depression bought a halt to construction, with many investors in the company losing money. The tunnel was never completed. After World War II ended in 1945, major growth occurred due to affordable housing developments attracting many young couples, which transformed Wainuiomata into
3096-441: The project was the construction of a tunnel linking the Hutt Valley and Wainuiomata Valley for improving access to the new settlement. Like the then recently completed Mount Victoria Tunnel in Wellington , the Wainuiomata Tunnel was designed to allow for two lanes of opposing general vehicular traffic with a raised pedestrian pathway on the north side. Starting from a point near the industrial park at Gracefield , it would rise on
3168-457: The removal of the existing lining so the size of the bore could be increased. During the 1963 general election campaign, the Labour candidate for Petone , Michael Moohan , stated that the issue of the Wainuiomata Tunnel was a “dead duck”. In response to a question from a constituent, he noted that the tunnel was not wide enough for modern traffic requirements and was too steep to be turned into
3240-599: The river, where timber mills supplied the Wellington region when the demand was great in the 1850s and '60s. Today this area is known as "The Village" or "Homedale" . The isolated location of Wainuiomata proved a problem for early settlers. Narrow hill-routes into the settlement were the only access during the 1850s and 1860s. By the end of the 19th century there were two roads in the valley: Main Road and Fitzherbert Road (known locally as "Swamp Road"). The town's economy in these early days largely depended on timber milling from
3312-497: The second half of the twentieth century closed down in the late 1980s and 1990s after changes in government regulation of imported goods. Wainuiomata entered a long period of economic stagnation and population decline, but since around 2020 the suburb has seen new development, including a revamped town centre, a new retirement village and a building boom as new areas are opened up for housing and older bungalows are demolished to make way for medium density townhouses. Wainuiomata Mall
3384-440: The south–east of the suburb. Wainuiomata has a popular mountain biking venue at Waiu Park in the hills in the north-west of the suburb. The Wainuiomata Trail Park was developed as a joint initiative by a volunteer group and the Hutt City Council. The park allows for mixed use by runners, walkers and mountain bikers. As of 2024, it includes 57 trails of varying difficulty with a total trail length of 55 km (34 mi). There
3456-446: The standard practice for tunnel construction in which at least two faces are advanced simultaneously (either end of the tunnel), it was decided in the case of the Wainuiomata Tunnel that work would only take place from the western end towards Wainuiomata. This was done for drainage; on such a steep grade it was easier to work uphill and let the water that flowed into the tunnel drain out naturally rather than have to pump it out (as would be
3528-470: The suburb with Gracefield and Waiwhetu . Four lanes wide (two in each direction), it is one of the steepest roads in the Wellington region; on the Lower Hutt side, the road climbs 195 metres in 1.9 km, resulting in an average grade of 10.3%. In 2019 a four-metre wide shared walking and cycling path over the Wainuiomata Hill Road was completed. The path, called Te Hikoi Arawera ('Pathway to
3600-606: The time of the 1935 elections, Labour's support was soaring. The Dominion , a Wellington newspaper, printed anti-Labour advertisements and editorials. On Sunday 24 November, shortly before the election, an address by Colin Scrimgeour ("Uncle Scrim") on the Friendly Road radio station, which was expected to urge listeners to vote Labour, was jammed by the Post Office . The number of electorates being contested
3672-450: The tunnel and realised it would be advantageous for them to obtain the right to access the tunnel before their competitors were able to establish competing services. To this end, they entered into an agreement on 1 October 1928 with Wainuiomata Development for the sole right to operate “motor or electrical passenger transportation” through the tunnel between Wainuiomata and Wellington City, Lower Hutt , or Petone . The agreement also committed
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#17327836054563744-565: The tunnel construction site having completed 17 chains (1,100 ft; 340 m) (roughly one third) of its total length, with about 15 chains (990 ft; 300 m) of that lined. During the 1935 general election campaign in November of that year, the Labour candidate for the Hutt electorate , Walter Nash , criticised his opponent for supporting the expenditure of unemployment subsidies on
3816-465: The tunnel, as such action would preclude its completion as a road tunnel at some point in the future. A contract for the completion of the tunnel was let to Codelfa Construction NZ Limited. They started work early in 1980, reaching Wainuiomata in September of that year. The section of tunnel excavated at this time was completed to a smaller width of 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in). After the tunnel
3888-625: The turnout in the previous election (84.26%) and the highest turnout so far, but still about average for the next decades. Elsie Andrews (1888–1948) was one of only three women who stood for election in this year. The 1935 election saw a massive win for the opposition Labour Party , which won fifty-three seats, and formed the First Labour Government . The governing coalition won only nineteen, and three ministers were defeated (in Hamilton, Tauranga and Waitaki). This difference
3960-537: The two Country Party members. Many commentators blamed the coalition's failure to win seats on vote splitting by the Democrat Party , an "anti-socialist" group founded by a former organiser for the governing coalition, Albert Davy , and headed by Thomas Hislop , the Mayor of Wellington . Perhaps as many as eight seats were an unexpected bonus to Labour because of the three-way split. The Democrats won 7.8% of
4032-439: The valley. One resident featured on the programme was Chloe Reeves, who for a time became known as 'Chloe of Wainuiomata'. In April 2009 a Palmerston North hotelier banned all Wainuiomata residents after a series of misdemeanours by visitors from there. The first series of the television production Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby was shot in the old Wainuiomata College with many local residents as cast members. In 2022,
4104-521: The vote, but no seats. Two future National MPs stood unsuccessfully: Frederick Doidge stood as an Independent for Rotorua and came second, and Matthew Oram stood for the Democrats in Manawatu and came fourth. An analysis of men and women on the rolls against the votes recorded showed that in 1935 90.75% of those on the European rolls voted; men 92.02% and women 89.46%. In the 1938 election
4176-612: The women who came over the Wainuiomata Hill to evade marauding tribes from the north, and who sat wailing by the stream after the slaughter of their menfolk. From this we have 'faces streaming with water' or 'tears' although it could equally refer to the large pools of water which lay over the swampy surface (face) of the northern end of the Valley, or the river itself which is known to flood the Wainui (Coast Road) valley. The town
4248-543: Was $ 29,400, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 153 people (10.8%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 717 (50.7%) people were employed full-time, 168 (11.9%) were part-time, and 87 (6.2%) were unemployed. The full suburb of Wainuiomata, comprising the statistical areas of Arakura, Wainuiomata West, Glendale, Wainuiomata Central, Homedale East and Homedale West, covers 12.76 km (4.93 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 20,250 as of June 2024, with
4320-567: Was 17.8, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.5% had no religion, 37.1% were Christian , 1.8% had Māori religious beliefs , 2.3% were Hindu , 0.4% were Muslim , 0.7% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 1,611 (11.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 3,195 (23.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,545 people (11.2%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
4392-467: Was 19.3, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 43.4% had no religion, 40.4% were Christian , 1.3% had Māori religious beliefs , 3.3% were Hindu , 0.3% were Muslim , 1.0% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 165 (11.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 363 (25.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income
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#17327836054564464-411: Was 80, a number which had been fixed since the 1902 Electoral Redistribution. Four of those were Māori electorates , and those elections were held on 26 November. 19 candidates contested the four available positions, and in three out of four cases, the incumbents were returned. The election in the European electorates was held on the following day, a Wednesday. A total of 246 candidates contested
4536-565: Was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament 's 25th term . It resulted in the Labour Party 's first electoral victory, with Michael Joseph Savage becoming the first Labour Prime Minister after defeating the governing coalition , consisting of the United Party and the Reform Party , in a landslide. The governing coalition lost 31 seats, which was attributed by many to their handling of
4608-446: Was abandoned as a means of providing road access to Wainuiomata , other routes gained prominence. Wainuiomata Road was upgraded and presently is the main access route at the southern end of the valley. Another idea that gained popularity, especially as a way to provide a second road access route and an alternative to the hill road, is a link between Wainuiomata and the suburb of Naenae in the Hutt Valley. The most likely option would be
4680-405: Was added in 1984. Wainuiomata Regional Park adjoins Remutaka Forest Park , a protected forest park south of Wainuiomata. The park contains swimming spots, walking and cycling trails, as well as access to a disused dam which used to be part of the system supplying Wainuiomata and Wellington City with water. The Wainuiomata Water Collection Area is a restricted–access water catchment reserve to
4752-499: Was established in 1970. After struggling for several years the mall was demolished in 2020, to be made into a smaller shopping centre with a new Countdown supermarket . Frank Brugger began business in Petone and his company Brugger Industries established a factory in Wainuiomata in 1970, employing hundreds of local people. The company made car seats and other components for the domestic car assembly industry, and also manufactured
4824-418: Was estimated as being 20,250 as of June 2024, with a density of 1,600 people per km . European settlement of Wainuiomata began in the 1850s with timber-felling and farming and began to grow in the 1920s. After World War 2 there was rapid population expansion, with Wainuiomata earning the nickname 'Nappy Valley' because of the large number of families with young children. From the late 1980s the economy slowed and
4896-492: Was not so great in the popular vote, however, with Labour winning 45.7% to the coalition's 33.5%. Labour was more fortunate than its British namesake in not attaining office before the depression (thanks to Seddon's lengthy reign) "and so could hold the conservative coalition responsible if natural laws of economics behaved unnaturally". Apart from Labour and the coalition, the only two groups to win places in Parliament were
4968-543: Was proposed at times in the 20th century, but never proceeded. In 2021 a Christchurch-based property development company erroneously advertised new townhouses in Wainuiomata as: "In close proximity to Wainuiomata Train Station with trains departing to Lower Hutt and Wellington regularly makes for an effortless daily commute" . 1935 New Zealand general election George Forbes United/Reform Michael Joseph Savage Labour The 1935 New Zealand general election
5040-557: Was relinquished, once all stores had been removed and restoration works completed. After the suspension of construction on the tunnel in the 1930s, there was optimism through to the 1950s that it would be restarted at some point, particularly after residential development commenced at Wainuiomata in 1941. A conference was held around 1956 at which the Public Works Department, the Hutt City Council, and
5112-405: Was that 7,458 (53.8%) people were employed full-time, 1,695 (12.2%) were part-time, and 774 (5.6%) were unemployed. Since the 1989 New Zealand local government reforms , Wainuiomata (together with Petone, Eastbourne and Lower Hutt) has been governed by Hutt City Council . The Wainuiomata ward covers the suburb and the surrounding rural area, electing one councillor to the Hutt City Council. Since
5184-454: Was to deny the Company revenue from this source as real estate activity slowed, depriving it of the funds it needed to continue the development. Consequently, the Company temporarily suspended all work on the tunnel in April 1934 as it sought alternative finance to restart the project. These efforts were to no avail, and it was noted in 1936 that the Company had “ceased practically all activity” at
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