The name Karori, meaning “the rope of bird snares” in Māori, whispers of a time when the area teemed with birds. Today, Karori is a bustling suburb at the western edge of Wellington, its history intertwined with the feathered friends that once called this valley home.
Karori has a rich tapestry of stories, from the European settlers who arrived in the 1840s to the gold rush that saw miners delve deep into the earth for riches. This area also housed Wellington’s first mental asylum, echoing a harsh truth about the past. The first European settler in Karori cleared 20 acres of forest, advertising its sale in December 1841, and by 1845, the suburb counted 215 inhabitants, 109 of them children. The asylum opened its doors in 1854, housing and caring for those with mental disorders. Karori was then a rural village, isolated by a poor road.
Today, traces of that past remain, with several churches and Karori Cemetery, which is the second-largest cemetery in New Zealand. The chapel boasts beautiful stained glass windows designed by Wilhelmina Geddes. A visit to the cemetery offers not only a glimpse into the past but also a chance to pay respects to the 267 Commonwealth service personnel of World War I and the 123 of World War II who are buried there.
Karori has grown and evolved, transforming itself from a rural outpost to a modern suburb. The creation of the Karori Tunnel in 1901 helped connect the suburb with Wellington. The Karori, or the rope of bird snares, a symbol of the suburb’s past, has become a testament to its enduring spirit.