Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
By 1850 Wellington was a thriving settlement of around 5500 people, despite a short-
age of flat land. Originally the waterfront was along Lambton Quay, but reclamation of
parts of the harbour began in 1852. In 1855 a significant earthquake raised many parts of
Wellington, including the lower Hutt Valley and the land on which the modern Hutt Rd
now runs.
MAORI NZ: WELLINGTON
In legend the mouth of Maui's Fish, and traditionally known as Te Whanganui-a-
Tara, the Wellington area became known to Maori in the mid-19th century as
'Poneke' (a transliteration of Port Nicholas, its European name at the time).
The major iwi(tribes) of the region were Te Ati Awa and Ngati Toa. Ngati Toa was
the iwiof Te Rauparaha, who composed the now famous 'Ka Mate' haka. Like most
urban areas the city is now home to Maori from many iwi,sometimes collectively
known as Ngati Poneke.
NZ's national museum, Te Papa (
Click here
)
, presents excellent displays on
Maori culture, traditional and modern, as well as a colourful marae(meeting
house). In its gift store you can see excellent carving and other crafts, as you can in
both Kura (
Click here
)
and Ora (
Click here
)
galleries nearby.
Kapiti Island Nature Tours (
Click here
)
offers an intimate insight into the Maori
culture of the Wellington area, as does Kiwi Coastal Tours (
Click here
)
.
In 1865 the seat of government was moved from Auckland to Wellington, although it
took until the turn of the century for the city to really flourish. In the early 1900s the port
prospered, while producer boards and banks sprung up in its surrounds. Other industries
developed, pushing urban sprawl further afield into the Hutt Valley, Porirua, and the
Kapiti Coast.
In modern times, the capital remains a stronghold of the public service, despite ongo-
ing trims. It also boasts a good quotient of technology and creative industries.
