Paraparaumu

Paraparaumu
Town
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Coordinates: 40°55′S 175°01′E / 40.917°S 175.017°E / -40.917; 175.017Coordinates: 40°55′S 175°01′E / 40.917°S 175.017°E / -40.917; 175.017
Country	New Zealand
Region	Wellington
Territorial authority	Kapiti Coast District
Ward	Paraparaumu Ward Raumati Ward
Area [1]
• Total	28.61 km2 (11.05 sq mi)
Population  (June 2020)[2]
• Total	30,100
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	5032
Area code(s)	04

Paraparaumu (Māori: [ˈpaɾapaˈɾaʉmʉ])^[3] is a town in the south-western North Island of New Zealand. It lies on the Kapiti Coast, 55 kilometres (34 mi) north of the nation's capital city, Wellington.

Like other towns in the area, it has a partner settlement at the coast called Paraparaumu Beach, which lies directly opposite Kapiti Island. The two towns form part of the Kapiti Coast District. Together with the nearby Raumati Beach and Raumati South they are among the fastest-growing urban areas in New Zealand, and are major dormitory towns with workers commuting to the cities that make up the Wellington urban area. The four towns between them have a 2012 population of over 49,000 people.^[4] Inland behind Paraparaumu is the Maungakotukutuku area.

"Paraparaumu" is a Māori-language name meaning "scraps from an earth oven"; "parapara" means "dirt" or "scraps", and "umu" means "oven".^[5]

The village of Lindale is a located just north of the Paraparaumu town centre. It began as a Tourist and Agricultural Centre, but later gained a reputation for cheese and the Lindale Barnyard petting farm.^[6][7][8]

The old State Highway 1 and the North Island Main Trunk railway both pass through Lindale. The railway line was formerly owned by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, and construction of the line was completed when the ends from Wellington and Longburn (Palmerston North) met near Lindale in Otaihanga in 1886. There are proposals to extend the commuter train service, operated by Transdev Wellington to a new station at Lindale, subject to Wellington Regional Council funding.^[9]

Climate[]

Paraparaumu has an oceanic climate typical of New Zealand, with moderately warm summers and mild winters. It has a quite high rainfall frequency year round, although it is drier than many other coastal areas in the country.

Demographics[]

Paraparaumu is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a medium urban area and covers 28.61 km² (11.05 sq mi),^[1] which includes Otaihanga, Paraparaumu Beach, Raumati Beach and Raumati South. It had an estimated population of 30,100 as of June 2020, with a population density of 1,052.08 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	25,260	—
2013	26,835	+0.87%
2018	28,701	+1.35%
Source: [12]

Paraparaumu had a population of 28,701 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,866 people (7.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 3,441 people (13.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 11,379 households. There were 13,560 males and 15,138 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.9 males per female, with 5,199 people (18.1%) aged under 15 years, 4,302 (15.0%) aged 15 to 29, 12,489 (43.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 6,708 (23.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 89.1% European/Pākehā, 12.5% Māori, 3.1% Pacific peoples, 5.1% Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 23.5%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 54.0% had no religion, 34.7% were Christian, 0.7% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 2.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 5,013 (21.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 3,876 (16.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 10,368 (44.1%) people were employed full-time, 3,333 (14.2%) were part-time, and 918 (3.9%) were unemployed.^[12]

Individual statistical areas

Name	Population	Households	Median age	Median income
Paraparaumu Beach North	4,056	1,482	42.1 years	$32,300[13]
Paraparaumu Beach West	2,364	1,017	50.5 years	$31,400[14]
Paraparaumu Beach East	2,667	1,110	49.9 years	$27,900[15]
Otaihanga	804	306	46.3 years	$37,800[16]
Paraparaumu North	3,555	1,449	49.8 years	$29,300[17]
Paraparaumu Central	3,996	1,695	44.8 years	$26,300[18]
Raumati Beach West	2,865	1,155	45.8 years	$36,800[19]
Raumati Beach East	2,376	948	47.2 years	$27,100[20]
Paraparaumu East	2,265	801	41.7 years	$25,700[21]
Raumati South	3,753	1,416	42.8 years	$36,900[22]
New Zealand			37.4 years	$31,800

Economy[]

Retail[]

Coastlands Shopping Town opened in Paraparaumu in 1969.^[23] It has 1400 carparks and 94 shops, including Pak'nSave, The Warehouse, Farmers and Countdown.^[24]

Sport[]

Paraparaumu was formerly represented in soccer by Paraparaumu United. They merged with the Raumati Hearts in 2003 to create Kapiti Coast United, which is based at Weka Park in Raumati.

The local athletics club is Paraparaumu Track and Field Club, which has both junior and senior members in conjunction with Athletics Wellington and Athletics New Zealand age grades. The club is based at the Paraparaumu Domain.^[25]

Transport[]

Airport[]

Kapiti Coast Airport has a few scheduled commercial flights and is a popular recreational airfield, hosting the Kapiti Aero Club. Air Chathams will have daily flights between the airport and Auckland from 20 August 2018,^[26] and Sounds Air operate to Blenheim and Nelson. Now defunct, locally based Air2there used operate to Blenheim and Nelson also.

Public transport[]

Paraparaumu is located on the North Island Main Trunk Railway (NIMT), on the Kapiti Line of Wellington's commuter railway network operated by Transdev under the Metlink brand. Electrified commuter services were extended to Waikanae on 20 February 2011. Korean built by Hyundai Rotem, FP/FT class electric multiple units operate the commuter trains.

Beyond Waikanae, KiwiRail's Tranz Scenic operates two diesel-hauled long distance passenger services: the Capital Connection between Palmerston North and Wellington, and the Northern Explorer between Auckland and Wellington. Both trains stop at Paraparaumu. There are also feeder and local commuter bus services.

Education[]

Primary schools[]

Paraparaumu Beach School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 Students with a roll of 682 students.^[27]

Kapiti School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[28][29] with a roll of 174 as of March 2021.^[30]

Kenakena School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[31][32] with a roll of 533.^[33]

Our Lady of Kapiti School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[34][35] with a roll of 229.^[36]

Secondary schools[]

Three secondary schools are located near the Paraparaumu township: Paraparaumu College in Paraparaumu Beach, Kapiti College in Raumati Beach and Otaki College in Ōtaki.

Notable residents[]

Born in Paraparaumu[]

• Christian Cullen – Rugby union footballer
• Stephen Kearney – Rugby league footballer and coach
• Wayne McIndoe – Field hockey player
• Drew Neemia – C4's Select Live host
• Andrew Niccol – Film director

Educated in Paraparaumu[]

• Peter Jackson at Kapiti College – Film Director
• Dane Coles at Paraparaumu College - All Blacks Player
• Karl Kippenberger at Kapiti College - Bass Player Shihad

Notes[]