Parakeet perch. That’s the English translation of Paekākāriki. This town in the Kāpiti Coast District has a rich history. It is one of the northernmost towns of the wider Wellington region.
Paekākāriki’s story begins long before European settlement. Māori groups like Rangitāne and Muaūpoko contested this land. In the 1820s, Te Rauparaha conquered these groups. He claimed the region for Ngāti Toa and their allies. Ngāti Haumia built their pā by the Wainui Stream. This stream is at the northern end of Paekākāriki.
Te Rauparaha died in 1849. A road connecting Paekākāriki with Porirua was completed that same year. In 1850, the New Zealand Government resettled Wainui’s inhabitants. They merged their pā with the new settlement of Paekākāriki.
Paekākāriki’s history is tied to the railway. The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company line was completed in 1886. It ran from Wellington to Longburn. Paekākāriki became an important stop. In 1908, the line became part of the national network. It became part of the North Island Main Trunk. This linked Wellington and Auckland.
During World War I, dining cars were removed from passenger trains. Paekākāriki became a refreshment stop in 1917. This lasted until the 1960s.
From 1940, the line south to Wellington was electrified. Engines were changed at Paekākāriki. A steam engine depot was built here. Electrified commuter services extended to Paekākāriki. The locomotive depot declined. Today, only “Matangi” class electric units are stabled here.
The old steam locomotive depot is now “The Engine Shed”. It is the base of Steam Incorporated. This is a railway preservation society. The Paekakariki Station Precinct Trust manages the station area. This includes the museum and Steam Incorporated’s depot. It is now a historical and tourist attraction.
During World War II, Paekākāriki was a major base for US Marines. They were fighting in the Pacific Campaign. There were three main camps. They were in or near today’s Queen Elizabeth Park. At its peak, over 20,000 Americans were stationed here. They outnumbered the locals. The camps were for training. They were also for rest for those returning from combat. Paekākāriki’s hills were used for marching and mortar practice. The beaches staged amphibian invasions.
In June 1943, tragedy struck. A landing craft was swamped by a wave during a night exercise. Nine men drowned. Local rumour said the toll was higher. The incident was not reported due to wartime censorship.
The American base had a lasting impact. Tarawa Street commemorates a bloody battle. Marines fought in this battle after leaving the camps in 1943.
Paekākāriki has a population of around 1,800. It is a vibrant community with a rich past. It is a place where history and natural beauty meet.
So as you stand here, remember the Māori who first settled here. Think of the railway workers. Remember the US Marines. Paekākāriki is a town with many stories. It is a place that has played a significant role in New Zealand’s history.