Wainuiomata
Encyclopedia
Wainuiomata is a suburban town located within the city limits of Lower Hutt
- and part of the greater Wellington
urban area - in the lower North Island
of New Zealand
. It is located six kilometres to the southeast of the Lower Hutt CBD
, and has a population of around 16,000.
Wainuiomata is isolated enough from the rest of the city by the Eastern Hutt Hills to be considered a town in its own right by most New Zealanders, and was officially a separate district for about a year until local government reorganisation in 1989.
The isolated nature of the Wainuiomata valley was a problem for early settlers. Narrow hill routes into the settlement were the only access during the 1850s and 1860s. Later proposals were made for rail access
to the valley, but never realised. The town's economy in these early days was largely based around timber milling from the forests around the Wainuiomata River
. A flax
mill was based around the north of the town, but this proved to be economically unviable.
Once the forests started to be cleared, sheep and dairy farming became an important part of the local economy. The settlement started to grow into a proper town in the 1920s, but the major growth was after World War II
, when many young couples moved to the valley, attracted by the affordable housing.
The town is surrounded on three sides by hills. The topography reduces local wind flow resulting in lower minimum temperatures in winter and higher maximum temperatures in summer, than most other parts of Wellington and the Hutt Valley.
Wainuiomata maintains a very strong community spirit, and residents can access a wide range of local retail and community services.
The town is known for its enthusiasm for sports, particularly rugby. The Australian NRL
Grand Final in 2005 saw each team containing a former member of the Wainuiomata Rugby League Club
. The town's sports enthusiasts related to an incident that attracted national media attention in April 2009 when a Palmerston North
motelier banned all Wainuiomata residents. This came after a series of misdemeanours by visitors from there. The town is also known widely for the first series of Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby
, which was shot in the old Wainuiomata College with many cast members being local residents.
The Orongorongo Valley is accessed via the Wainuiomata Valley and is well known for its bush walks and native scenery.
Amongst the many sports stars originating from Wainuiomata are rugby union All Blacks Piri Weepu
, Neemia Tialata
and Tana Umaga
. As well as London New Zealand Rugby Team Captain Leo Waenga, and former captain David Va'a.
Wainuiomata has a volunteer fire brigade, established in 1944, following a major house fire in 1943. The first superintendent was Mr J.S.Dunn. The first station was built in 1945 on land opposite Wainuiomata Primary School. The land and timber was donated by the Wainuiomata Development Company, with other brigades and companies donating hose, standpipes and ladders. A Gwynne Trailer pump was supplied by the Stokes Valley brigade. In the early days, the pump and trailer were towed to calls by any vehicle that was available. 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 was an ex Air Force tender and 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 affect. The Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade joined the United Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand (UFBA) in 1944.
Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Its council has adopted the name Hutt City Council, but neither the New Zealand Geographic Board nor the Local Government Act recognise the name Hutt City. This alternative name can lead to confusion, as there are two cities in the...
- and part of the greater Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
urban area - in the lower North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is located six kilometres to the southeast of the Lower Hutt CBD
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
, and has a population of around 16,000.
Wainuiomata is isolated enough from the rest of the city by the Eastern Hutt Hills to be considered a town in its own right by most New Zealanders, and was officially a separate district for about a year until local government reorganisation in 1989.
The isolated nature of the Wainuiomata valley was a problem for early settlers. Narrow hill routes into the settlement were the only access during the 1850s and 1860s. Later proposals were made for rail access
Wainuiomata Railway Proposals
Multiple proposals have been made for a branch line railway to Wainuiomata. Any such railway would have been part of the Wellington commuter railway network. Despite strong local pressure at times during the 20th century, none of the proposals have come to fruition.- Background :Wainuiomata is in...
to the valley, but never realised. The town's economy in these early days was largely based around timber milling from the forests around the Wainuiomata River
Wainuiomata River
The Wainuiomata River runs southwest through the Wainuiomata Valley located in the southern Rimutaka Ranges in the North Island, New Zealand.-Origin of Name:...
. A flax
New Zealand flax
New Zealand flax describes common New Zealand perennial plants Phormium tenax and Phormium cookianum, known by the Māori names harakeke and wharariki respectively...
mill was based around the north of the town, but this proved to be economically unviable.
Once the forests started to be cleared, sheep and dairy farming became an important part of the local economy. The settlement started to grow into a proper town in the 1920s, but the major growth was after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when many young couples moved to the valley, attracted by the affordable housing.
The town is surrounded on three sides by hills. The topography reduces local wind flow resulting in lower minimum temperatures in winter and higher maximum temperatures in summer, than most other parts of Wellington and the Hutt Valley.
Wainuiomata maintains a very strong community spirit, and residents can access a wide range of local retail and community services.
The town is known for its enthusiasm for sports, particularly rugby. The Australian NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
Grand Final in 2005 saw each team containing a former member of the Wainuiomata Rugby League Club
Wainuiomata Lions
The Wainuiomata Lions are a New Zealand rugby league club based in Wainuiomata, Wellington. They compete in the Wellington Rugby League competition.-Noted Players:...
. The town's sports enthusiasts related to an incident that attracted national media attention in April 2009 when a Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
motelier banned all Wainuiomata residents. This came after a series of misdemeanours by visitors from there. The town is also known widely for the first series of Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby
Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby
Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby is a satirical New Zealand television series, created and written by Danny Mulheron , Dave Armstrong and Tom Scott. It stars David McPhail as the titular Mr Gormsby, whose politically incorrect attitudes and "old school" teaching style clash and contrast with the...
, which was shot in the old Wainuiomata College with many cast members being local residents.
The Orongorongo Valley is accessed via the Wainuiomata Valley and is well known for its bush walks and native scenery.
Amongst the many sports stars originating from Wainuiomata are rugby union All Blacks Piri Weepu
Piri Weepu
Piri Awahou Tihou Weepu is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays scrum-half for the All Blacks on international level, Wellington Lions in the National Provincial Championship and the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby. He first won national honours against Wales in 2004...
, Neemia Tialata
Neemia Tialata
Neemia Stanley Tialata is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. As well as representing New Zealand, he also plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup when available....
and Tana Umaga
Tana Umaga
Jonathan Ionatana Falefasa "Tana" Umaga, ONZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. He played for the Hurricanes starting with the Super 12's inception in 1996 and took over the captaincy in 2003...
. As well as London New Zealand Rugby Team Captain Leo Waenga, and former captain David Va'a.
Wainuiomata has a volunteer fire brigade, established in 1944, following a major house fire in 1943. The first superintendent was Mr J.S.Dunn. The first station was built in 1945 on land opposite Wainuiomata Primary School. The land and timber was donated by the Wainuiomata Development Company, with other brigades and companies donating hose, standpipes and ladders. A Gwynne Trailer pump was supplied by the Stokes Valley brigade. In the early days, the pump and trailer were towed to calls by any vehicle that was available. 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 was an ex Air Force tender and 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 affect. The Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade joined the United Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand (UFBA) in 1944.