69-652: The Waiwhetu artesian aquifer, sometimes referred to as the Hutt aquifer , is a pressurized zone of water-retaining sand, gravel and boulders beneath the Hutt Valley and Wellington Harbour in New Zealand. The aquifer provides about 40% of the public fresh water supply for Lower Hutt and Wellington city. Water from the Hutt River begins to flow underground south from Taita Gorge, then becomes pressurized under
138-839: A bore on the Knights Road spine showed contamination with e. coli , the first time since 1980 that a positive test had occurred. The water supply was temporarily chlorinated while further tests were carried out. It was suspected that the contamination was a result of ground disturbance caused by the Kaikōura earthquake on 14 November, but an investigation by Wellington Water did not reach a firm conclusion. Tests at other bore locations in February and April 2017 also returned results positive for e. coli. After comprehensive testing and investigation, Greater Wellington Regional Council decided to continue chlorination permanently and install UV filters at
207-533: A cross-harbour pipeline became the preferred option. Hutt Valley The Hutt Valley (or 'The Hutt') is the large area of fairly flat land in the Hutt River valley in the Wellington region of New Zealand . Like the river that flows through it, it takes its name from Sir William Hutt , a director of the New Zealand Company in early colonial New Zealand. The river flows roughly along
276-552: 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
345-502: 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
414-711: 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
483-699: 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
552-558: A public water supply fed from artesian bores. Wellington and Lower Hutt also built dams and used water taken from rivers. Over the years, bores and pumping stations have been installed in various areas in the Hutt Valley. For example, a bore field and pumping station were built near Hutt Park in 1946-47. This closed in 1981 after Waterloo was built. Another pumping station was built at Buick Street in Petone in 1963 after water supply from
621-427: A seal of clay. Water is extracted from the pressurized area for public use, but concerns about overuse and damage by earthquakes have led to investigations of alternative sources of fresh water. The Waiwhetu aquifer covers a wedge-shaped area of 75 km² under the Hutt Valley and Wellington Harbour, and by size is the fifth-largest in New Zealand. The harbour basin contains massive quantities of gravel washed down from
690-554: A severe drop in pressure in the aquifer throughout the Hutt Valley. Pressure was restored by filling the hole made by the dredging with excavated material, and with material carried down the river by flooding. In 2000, a study of the aquifer raised the possibility that the Lynx , a fast ferry, was disturbing the sea bed near the Falcon Shoals and thus causing water to leak from the aquifer. In 2015 CentrePort, which manages shipping in
759-524: A steep-sided gorge near Taitā , before the land opens up into a long triangular plain close to the outflow into Wellington Harbour . The Waiwhetu Aquifer is formed from water seeping underground from the Hutt River near Taitā. It flows underground down the Hutt Valley and out under Wellington Harbour. Some early Māori nations ( iwi ) of the region were Ngāi Tara, Muaūpoko , Rangitāne , Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō and Ngāti Ira . These iwi descended from
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#1732775611571828-623: 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
897-414: 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
966-477: Is a bore at Hutt Hospital for use in emergencies. Other bores into the aquifer are used mainly for industrial purposes. A 2014 report identified 13 private bores in the Hutt Valley and Petone area, five of which had consents to take 1,000 cubic metres or more of water from the aquifer each day.At the time of its sale in 2014, the Unilever soap factory in Petone had consent to take 900,000 cubic metres of water from
1035-566: 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
1104-426: 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
1173-643: 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
1242-470: 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
1311-572: Is reached regularly during summer. Water has fallen to the second level (2.3 metres above mean sea level) for short periods several times since 2002, and in March 2016 water in the aquifer briefly got as low as the third level (2 metres above mean sea level). Matiu / Somes Island gets its fresh water from a bore sunk into the aquifer just off shore at the main wharf. In February 2016 the Department of Conservation temporarily restricted visitor access to
1380-568: 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
1449-577: The Petone foreshore and 20 years to get as far as Matiu / Somes Island . The water level in Wellington Harbour was much lower 20,000 years ago, and the ancient Hutt River used to flow down a paleochannel to the east of Matiu / Somes Island as far as the present-day Miramar Peninsula . Much of the water in the Waiwhetu aquifer moves under the sea bed from the direction of the Hutt River to
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#17327756115711518-640: The 1980s, eight bores drawing from the aquifer were put in along Knights Road and nearby streets in Lower Hutt (known as the 'Knights Road spine'), and these feed into the Waterloo pumping station for treatment and public distribution as drinking water. The Waterloo plant serves Hutt Central, Naenae , the Western Hills, Eastbourne , Gracefield and Petone. Water is also sent into the main from Wainuiomata that goes via Gear Island to Wellington. There
1587-538: The 20th century. A small remnant of the early podocarp forest is preserved in Barton's Bush in Upper Hutt. 41°09′57″S 174°58′23″E / 41.1657°S 174.973°E / -41.1657; 174.973 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
1656-416: The Falcon Shoals area (between Karaka Bay and Worser Bay ) at the harbour mouth via the paleochannel. The characteristics of the aquifer between Matiu / Somes Island and the harbour mouth are not as well studied as the portion to the north of the island. NIWA's 2023 study stated that the southern limit of the aquifer is still debatable, but thought to be around the Falcon Shoals. Wellington Water manages
1725-575: The Gear Island pumping station. Water from the aquifer going to 74,000 people in Petone, Hutt Central, Naenae and Eastbourne was not chlorinated. In August 2016 there was a major outbreak of gastroenteritis in Havelock North caused by public water supply contamination. As a precautionary measure, Wellington Water responded by changing its regime of water testing from the Waiwhetu aquifer. On 1 December 2016, routine testing of water from
1794-419: The Hutt River, in some places hundreds of metres deep. Above the gravel is a layer of mud and silt which seals fresh water within the gravel, creating an artesian aquifer . There are several aquifers in the area in different layers underground, but the Waiwhetu aquifer is the largest and most productive one. Water flows down into the aquifer from a five-kilometre stretch of the Hutt River south of Taita Gorge, at
1863-609: 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
1932-659: The Korokoro Stream deteriorated. It was shut down in 1999. After several years of negotiations in the 1930s between the councils of Lower Hutt, Petone and Wellington, Wellington City Council gained the right to sink bores and build a pumping station at Gear Island. Gear Island pumping station opened in 1936, sending artesian water into a water main that also brought water from the Orongorongo River in Wainuiomata to Wellington city. Water from Gear Island
2001-537: The Waiwhetu aquifer and the Moera aquifer which lies in a deeper layer below it. The first bore was put in about 800 metres from the Miramar peninsula, and the second was about halfway between the peninsula and Eastbourne, to the south of Matiu / Somes Island. Although fresh water was found, the investigation concluded that the quantity and quality of the water was not suitable for an emergency supply for Wellington. Instead,
2070-536: The Waiwhetu aquifer. Lime is added to aquifer water coming in to the Waterloo station, to adjust its pH level so that the pipes are not damaged. Apart from this, prior to 2016, water from the aquifer was not treated because its long period filtering underground meant the water was free from bacteria and viruses. Water from the aquifer going to Wellington (but not the Hutt) was treated with chlorine as it mixed with chlorinated water coming from Wainuiomata and passed through
2139-467: The Waterloo plant. In April 2017 the unchlorinated bore supply available to the public at Te Puna Wai Ora and the Dowse Art Museum were shut down after returning positive results. These were reopened to the public after a system of filtering the water and treating it with UV light was installed. A new pipe system for water diversion was also installed along Knights Road, through Lower Hutt to
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2208-713: 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
2277-531: The adjacent, larger but less populous city of Upper Hutt has its centre on the smaller plain above the Taita Gorge. The valley forms a major dormitory suburban area for Wellington , and is a location for manufacturing and heavy industry , educational and recreational facilities, and the region's motor camps. Petone , on the Wellington Harbour shoreline, was proposed as the initial site for
2346-469: The aquifer each year. In 2017, Hutt City Council granted Waiwhetu Marae $ 150,000 to install a bore, and the bore was opened for use in 2020. This bore is unchlorinated, but treated with UV light. Two other bores provide free unchlorinated water from the aquifer direct to the public. One is at the Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt, where a small park with a water feature was created in 2012, and
2415-413: The aquifer include accidental piercing of the aquifer, dredging and disturbances to the sea floor caused by shipping movements. For example, in 1929, workers driving piles for a wharf at Point Howard pierced the aquifer, causing a large spring to form. The spring was so strong that a diver sent to investigate had trouble approaching the hole. Dredging activities at the mouth of the Hutt River in 1937 caused
2484-470: 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
2553-478: The course of an active geologic fault , which continues to the south to become the main instrument responsible for the uplift of the South Island 's Southern Alps . For this reason, the land rises abruptly to the west of the river; to the east two floodplains have developed. The higher of these is between 15–22 km (9.3–13.7 mi) from the mouth of the river. Beyond this, the river is briefly confined by
2622-564: 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
2691-486: The harbour floor. This is known as saline intrusion , and could make water in the aquifer undrinkable. Greater Wellington Regional Council controls the amount of water extracted and monitors the level of water in the aquifer (and therefore the pressure) with three bores on the Petone foreshore, and others further inland in the Hutt Valley. If the water level drops, extraction can be reduced. There are three warning levels. The first warning level (2.5 metres above mean sea level)
2760-404: The harbour, completed by the end of 2017. The project won an award from Civil Contractors NZ Wellington/Wairarapa. Water pressure within the aquifer keeps sea water out, but the pressure can drop due to too much water being extracted, or due to less water in the aquifer in dry spells when the Hutt River and rainfall are low. If the pressure drops then sea water may get into the aquifer via vents on
2829-499: The harbour, proposed to dredge a 7km-long channel at the mouth of the harbour to enable large container ships to visit. This might have affected the aquifer. The project was later cancelled. Responding to the November 2016 Kaikōura earthquake , in 2017 Wellington Water began a project drilling into the harbour bed to look for fresh water that might supply the city in an emergency. After exploratory drilling, two bores were drilled into
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2898-804: 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
2967-470: The island because the long dry summer had lowered the volume and pressure of water in the aquifer, necessitating strict water conservation. The lowest recorded water level in the aquifer occurred in the summer of 1973, when the water level sank to 1.19 m above mean sea level and sea water started to enter the aquifer. Apart from the risk that over-extraction could lower the pressure in the aquifer and cause saline intrusion, other activities which threaten
3036-508: 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
3105-586: The name Te Awa Kairangi, and was a major arterial route for Māori . There was a trail linking Wellington Harbour and the Wairarapa over the Remutaka Range and through Pākuratahi river . Before the 1855 Wairarapa earthquake large Māori boats (waka) could travel as far Pākuratahi river, and European ships could also go up the valley 'almost' to Silverstream. The lower valley contains the city of Lower Hutt , administered by Hutt City Council , while
3174-553: 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 )
3243-520: The other is Te Puna Wai Ora (Spring of Life) in Buick Street, Petone , built in 2003. Moore Wilson's produce store in Wellington has an artesian bore that provided water to the public. It closed temporarily in 2017, after arsenic was detected in the water. Water in this bore comes from about 152 m deep, and the company states that it is believed to come from the Wairarapa. It is not connected to
3312-468: 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
3381-626: 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
3450-419: The rate of 1000 litres per second. Rainwater also contributes to the aquifer. South of Melling the aquifer becomes pressurized by the layer of mud and silt above the gravel layer holding the water in, meaning that if a bore is sunk into the aquifer, water will rise up the pipe. Water from the aquifer also reaches the surface through natural springs at various places around the harbour. In 2023, NIWA released
3519-470: The results of a project investigating the harbour floor. Instead of drilling, researchers used a combination of techniques including seawater sampling, acoustic measurements, visual observation via remote operated vehicles and sea floor sampling. Researchers discovered that the seafloor contains hundreds of depressions, known as ' pockmarks '. These vary in size from three metres to over 500 metres (1,600 ft) wide and up to 10 metres (33 ft) deep, and are
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#17327756115713588-599: 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
3657-497: 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
3726-407: The settlement of Wellington by the New Zealand Company . However, as the chosen site was soon seen to be prone to river flooding, early settlement was relocated to Wellington. A small settlement remained at the Petone site as the whole valley was believed to be well suited as farm land. Almost the whole valley was clearfelled and converted to pasture or market gardens before the urbanisation of
3795-550: The sons of Whātonga, Taraika and Tautoki-ihu-nui-a-Whātonga, who migrated through the lower North Island with some descendants settling in the Hutt Valley. The name Heretaunga is often applied to the Hutt Valley from the name of the 'house of Whātonga at Nukutaurua vollage ( pā )'. In 1846 there was fighting between Māori tribes and the Government, known as the Hutt Valley Campaign . The Hutt River also has
3864-433: The source of several hundred freshwater springs. Comparing the new data to previous studies, researchers determined that the pockmarks are long-lasting rather than temporary features. Pressure within the aquifer stops sea water from getting into the aquifer. Once in the aquifer, the water moves slowly. It takes several years for water in the underground aquifer to reach Waterloo from the Taita Gorge, about 10 years to reach
3933-508: 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
4002-411: 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
4071-439: 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,
4140-413: The water supply for Wellington and the Hutt Valley. The Waiwhetu aquifer provides water to 150,000 people in Wellington and Hutt City. This is around 40 percent of the Wellington region's annual water supply, and up to 70 percent in summer months. From the 1880s, residents and businesses in the Hutt Valley and Petone area sank wells into the aquifer for fresh water, and in 1908 Lower Hutt Borough introduced
4209-612: 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
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#17327756115714278-543: 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
4347-567: 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
4416-467: 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
4485-405: 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
4554-446: 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
4623-418: 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
4692-486: Was only used infrequently, to supplement Wellington's supply in periods of high demand. Gear Island was upgraded in 1976-77, served by three new bores on the Shandon Golf Course. Fluoridation was also introduced at that time. Since 1999, Gear Island has been maintained as a standby plant, run occasionally to maintain its operational status in case it is needed. The Waterloo pumping station opened in 1981. In
4761-405: 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
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