Wainuiomata



Wainuiomata is a large dormitory suburb of Lower Hutt, in the Wellington metropolitan area in New Zealand. Its population was estimated as being as of  with a density of 1,600 people per km2. 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 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.

Origin of name
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 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 is often abbreviated to Wainui by locals.

History
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 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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.

Geography
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 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 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
Wainuiomata Central statistical area covers 1.26 km2. It had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2.

Wainuiomata Central had 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 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 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.

Greater Wainuiomata
The full suburb of Wainuiomata, comprising the statistical areas of Arakura, Wainuiomata West, Glendale, Wainuiomata Central, Homedale East and Homedale West, covers 12.76 km2. It had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2.

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 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 was that 7,458 (53.8%) people were employed full-time, 1,695 (12.2%) were part-time, and 774 (5.6%) were unemployed.

Government
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 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.

Economy
Wainuiomata has traditionally been a dormitory suburb: most residents work outside the valley. Several factories that operated in Wainuiomata during 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
Wainuiomata Mall 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.

Brugger Industries
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 a highly-efficient pyroclastic stove. Brugger retired in 1986 and the factory changed ownership, before closing in 1998.

Bata Shoe Company
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 Leather Goods
Tatra, founded by Frederick Turnovsky, produced leather accessories such as belts and wallets at 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 Carpets
Feltex opened a textile mill in Wainuiomata in 1974. The factory was bought by Alliance Textiles in December 1996 and closed shortly after, with 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
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 the Wellington School of Business and Government Judge’s Choice Award at the ExportNZ ASB Wellington Export Awards.

Venues
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.

Arts
Wainuiomata hosts the annual Wellington Folk Festival over Labour Weekend in October. The community theatre society is called Wainuiomata Little Theatre and has been operating since 1956. Bruce Mason was the patron when it started.

Recreation and sport
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 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 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.

There 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.

Transport
The Wainuiomata Hill Road is the only road into and out of Wainuiomata, connecting 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 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 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) 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".

For many years, debates have centred on whether or not a second access road into Wainuiomata should be built. It would connect north Wainuiomata to Naenae and would be valuable if the Wainuiomata Hill Road was unusable for any reason, as well as providing impetus for new housing on the flat land around upper Fitzherbert Road.

Shopping precinct
Queen Street is Wainuiomata's main shopping area, and there is also a public library and community centre with a large hall. The Queen Street area was revamped in 2022–2023 in the 'Wainuiomata Town Centre' project, which involved landscaping around the community centre. A new road has also been constructed to provide access to a new supermarket which was built after the mall was demolished.

Fire brigade
Wainuiomata has a volunteer fire brigade, established in 1944 following a major house-fire in 1943. The siren blasts twice in an emergency and can be heard clearly throughout the valley. The first superintendent was Mr J.S. Dunn. The first station was built in 1945 on land opposite Wainuiomata Primary School. The Wainuiomata Development Company donated land and timber to the brigade, with other brigades and companies donating hose, standpipes and ladders. The Stokes Valley brigade supplied a Gwynne Trailer pump.

In the early days any available vehicle would tow the pump and trailer to calls. Often this was a 30-seater bus, as one of the foundation members, Mr Artie Kilmister, was the local bus driver. In 1946 the brigade took delivery of its first "real" fire engine, a Ford V8 Marmon-Herrington 4-wheel-drive. This truck, an ex Air Force tender, remained in service until 1965. It had no flashing lights, only a siren and on occasions this failed: it was not unusual for members to yell from the truck "get out of the way", or words to that effect.

The Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade joined the United Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand (UFBA) in 1944.

Education
Between 2001 and 2005, six Wainuiomata schools closed due to falling rolls. Between 2008 and 2021 the population increased but there was a further drop of 818 students enrolled at Wainuiomata schools, with many parents choosing to send their children to schools outside the valley. In 2021, only 50% of local secondary students attended Wainuiomata schools, with the remainder educated outside the valley.

As of 2024, Wainuiomata has eight schools: six primary schools, an intermediate school and a secondary school.


 * Arakura School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school in Arakura, and has students as of
 * Fernlea School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school in Wainuiomata Central, and has students as of
 * Konini Primary School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school in Parkway, and has students as of  It was established in 2002 following the merger of Parkway School and Sun Valley School.
 * Wainuiomata Primary School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school in Homedale, and has students as of  It was established in 1857 and merged with Wood Hatton School in 2002.
 * Pukeatua Primary School is a state full primary (Year 1–8) school in Glendale, and has students as of  It was established in 2002 following the merger of Glendale School and Pencarrow School.
 * St Claudine Thevenet School is a state-integrated Catholic full primary (Year 1–8) school, and has students as of  It was established in 2005 following the merger of St Matthew's School and St Patrick's School.
 * Wainuiomata Intermediate School is a state intermediate (Year 7–8) school in Parkway, and has students as of  It was established in 2002 following the merger of Parkway Intermediate School and Wainuiomata Intermediate School.
 * Wainuiomata High School is a state secondary (Year 9–13) school in Parkway, and has students as of  It was established in 2002 following the merger of Parkway College and Wainuiomata College.

Kōhanga reo
The first kōhanga reo or language nest in New Zealand opened in Wainuiomata in April 1982 at Pukeatua Kōhanga Reo. It was a pilot programme in response to less than 5% of Māori schoolchildren speaking te reo Māori (the Māori language) fluently. Kōhanga reo is immersion early childhood education taught by fluent speakers. By 1994, not only had kura kaupapa (Māori-immersion primary and secondary schools) also been set up but there were there were 800 kōhanga reo nationwide. Iritana Te Rangi Tāwhiwhirangi and Wainuiomata resident Jean Puketapu started Pukeatua Kōhanga Reo together. The kōhanga reo model has been taken up by other communities around the world. By the 40th anniversary in 2022 Pukeatua Kōhanga Reo had moved to a bigger premises and was led by Kuini Garthwaite (Ngāti Porou).

Notable people

 * Margie Abbott, wife of former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott, grew up in Wainuiomata
 * Leo Auva'a, Leinster rugby player
 * Frank Brugger, OBE, businessman
 * Murray Chandler, Chess Grandmaster
 * David Collins (judge) Court of Appeal Judge and former Solicitor-General
 * Heath Davis, former Black Cap
 * Stephen Kós Supreme Court Judge and former President of the Court of Appeal
 * Ken Laban, rugby league player and local body politician
 * Winnie Laban, politician
 * Beth Mallard, Black Fern and daughter of Trevor Mallard
 * Trevor Mallard, MP and Speaker of the House
 * Ihakara Puketapu, former Secretary for Maori Affairs
 * Jean Puketapu, founder of kōhanga reo
 * Neemia Tialata, All Black rugby player
 * Tana Umaga, All Black rugby player
 * Piri Weepu, All Black rugby player