Paraparaumu | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Interactive map of Paraparaumu | |
| Coordinates:40°54′52″S175°00′20″E / 40.91444°S 175.00556°E /-40.91444; 175.00556 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Wellington Region |
| Territorial authority | Kāpiti Coast District |
| Ward |
|
| Community |
|
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Kāpiti Coast District Council |
| • Regional council | Greater Wellington Regional Council |
| • Kāpiti Coast Mayor | Janet Holborow[1] |
| • Ōtaki MP/Mana MP | Tim Costley[2]/Barbara Edmonds[3] |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[4] |
| Area | |
• Total | 28.38 km2 (10.96 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[6] | |
• Total | 29,900 |
| • Density | 1,050/km2 (2,730/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 5032 |
| Area code | 04 |
Paraparaumu[a] is a town in the south-westernNorth Island ofNew Zealand. It lies on theKāpiti Coast, 51 kilometres (32 mi) north of the nation's capital city,Wellington. It is also known to residents asPram orParaparam.[b]
Like other towns in the area, it has a partner settlement at the coast calledParaparaumu Beach, which is directly oppositeKapiti Island. The two towns form part of theKāpiti Coast District. Together with nearbyRaumati Beach andRaumati South, Paraparaumu serves in part as a commuter town for people working in Wellington City and the wider Wellington metropolitan area. Inland behind Paraparaumu is theMaungakotukutuku area.
The village of Lindale is 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.[8][9][10]
The oldState Highway 1 and theKāpiti Line section of theNorth Island Main Trunkrailway both pass through Lindale. The railway line was formerly owned by theWellington and Manawatu Railway Company, and construction of the line was completed when the ends from Wellington andLongburn (Palmerston North) met near Lindale inOtaihanga in 1886. There were proposals to extend the commuter train service operated by Transdev Wellington to a new station at Lindale, subject toWellington Regional Council funding, but these were dropped when electrification for the commuter service was extended from Paraparaumu toWaikanae.[11]
The majority of shops are located close to the town centre in the Coastlands Mall, close to the train station.
Paraparaumu is aMāori-language name meaning "scraps from an earth oven";parapara means "dirt" or "scraps", andumu means "oven".[12] The name comes from an 1819–1820 expedition ofNgāpuhi andNgāti Toa, who travelled down the west coast of the North Island fromKāwhia toCook Strait. As they arrived in the Kāpiti Coast, they found no useful resources.[13]
Paraparaumu is sometimes known by the names "Pram", "Paraparam" or "Pram-Pram".[13]
In August 1936, atrain derailed in Paraparaumu as it approached a land slide in rainy weather.[14]
Paraparaumu has anoceanic 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.
| Climate data for Paraparaumu (Kapiti Coast Airport) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1953–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 29.0 (84.2) | 30.0 (86.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 26.3 (79.3) | 23.2 (73.8) | 20.0 (68.0) | 19.2 (66.6) | 21.0 (69.8) | 21.8 (71.2) | 25.6 (78.1) | 26.2 (79.2) | 29.3 (84.7) | 30.0 (86.0) |
| Mean maximum °C (°F) | 25.3 (77.5) | 25.3 (77.5) | 24.5 (76.1) | 21.7 (71.1) | 19.3 (66.7) | 17.3 (63.1) | 16.0 (60.8) | 16.5 (61.7) | 17.9 (64.2) | 19.4 (66.9) | 21.3 (70.3) | 23.9 (75.0) | 26.5 (79.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 21.3 (70.3) | 21.7 (71.1) | 20.3 (68.5) | 17.9 (64.2) | 15.9 (60.6) | 13.7 (56.7) | 12.9 (55.2) | 13.5 (56.3) | 14.7 (58.5) | 16.0 (60.8) | 17.6 (63.7) | 19.7 (67.5) | 17.1 (62.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.4 (63.3) | 17.6 (63.7) | 16.1 (61.0) | 13.8 (56.8) | 12.0 (53.6) | 9.9 (49.8) | 9.0 (48.2) | 9.6 (49.3) | 11.1 (52.0) | 12.6 (54.7) | 13.9 (57.0) | 16.1 (61.0) | 13.3 (55.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.5 (56.3) | 13.5 (56.3) | 11.8 (53.2) | 9.6 (49.3) | 8.2 (46.8) | 6.2 (43.2) | 5.0 (41.0) | 5.8 (42.4) | 7.5 (45.5) | 9.1 (48.4) | 10.3 (50.5) | 12.4 (54.3) | 9.4 (48.9) |
| Mean minimum °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 5.8 (42.4) | 4.3 (39.7) | 2.1 (35.8) | 0.2 (32.4) | −1.5 (29.3) | −2.2 (28.0) | −1.4 (29.5) | −0.4 (31.3) | 1.0 (33.8) | 2.6 (36.7) | 5.5 (41.9) | −3.0 (26.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) | 2.9 (37.2) | 0.8 (33.4) | −0.5 (31.1) | −3.3 (26.1) | −4.4 (24.1) | −4.8 (23.4) | −4.1 (24.6) | −3.8 (25.2) | −1.7 (28.9) | −0.4 (31.3) | 1.7 (35.1) | −4.8 (23.4) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 59.7 (2.35) | 67.6 (2.66) | 66.7 (2.63) | 80.5 (3.17) | 97.1 (3.82) | 108.6 (4.28) | 103.7 (4.08) | 95.5 (3.76) | 90.2 (3.55) | 107.8 (4.24) | 80.9 (3.19) | 88.8 (3.50) | 1,047.1 (41.23) |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 234.4 | 212.6 | 202.5 | 158.7 | 134.5 | 104.0 | 123.0 | 153.9 | 151.9 | 178.3 | 204.5 | 206.2 | 2,064.5 |
| Source: NIWA[15][16] | |||||||||||||
Paraparaumu is one of four places in New Zealand whereweather balloons are regularly launched forMetService.[17]
Paraparaumu is described by Stats NZ as a medium urban area, which covers 28.38 km2 (10.96 sq mi),[5] which includesOtaihanga,Paraparaumu Beach,Raumati Beach andRaumati South. It had an estimated population of 29,900 as of June 2025, with a population density of 1,054 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 25,260 | — |
| 2013 | 26,838 | +0.87% |
| 2018 | 28,701 | +1.35% |
| 2023 | 28,938 | +0.16% |
| The 2006 population is for a larger area of 28.61 km2. Source:[18][19] | ||
Paraparaumu had a population of 28,938 in the2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 237 people (0.8%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 2,100 people (7.8%) since the2013 census. There were 13,749 males, 15,063 females, and 123 people ofother genders in 11,661 dwellings.[20] 3.6% of people identified asLGBTIQ+. The median age was 46.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 4,890 people (16.9%) aged under 15 years, 4,215 (14.6%) aged 15 to 29, 12,828 (44.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 7,005 (24.2%) aged 65 or older.[18]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 87.5%European (Pākehā); 13.5%Māori; 3.9%Pasifika; 7.3%Asian; 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.6%, Māori by 2.6%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 10.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk).New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 24.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.[18]
Religious affiliations were 30.9%Christian, 1.1%Hindu, 0.3%Islam, 0.4%Māori religious beliefs, 0.6%Buddhist, 0.6%New Age, 0.1%Jewish, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they hadno religion were 58.2%, and 6.6% of people did not answer the census question.[18]
Of those at least 15 years old, 6,114 (25.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 12,876 (53.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 5,055 (21.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3,468 people (14.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 11,175 (46.5%) full-time, 3,354 (13.9%) part-time, and 591 (2.5%) unemployed.[18]
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paraparaumu Beach | 5.12 | 9,213 | 1,799 | 3,765 | 47.9 years | $40,100[21] |
| Paraparaumu (further breakdown below) | 14.67 | 10,689 | 729 | 4,284 | 45.7 years | $38,100[22] |
| Raumati Beach andRaumati South | 8.59 | 9,036 | 1,052 | 3,612 | 45.7 years | $43,100[23] |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otaihanga | 4.16 | 855 | 206 | 309 | 44.9 years | $44,700[24] |
| Paraparaumu North | 3.53 | 3,576 | 1,013 | 1,431 | 48.6 years | $40,500[25] |
| Paraparaumu Central | 4.46 | 3,966 | 889 | 1,713 | 44.5 years | $36,300[26] |
| Paraparaumu East | 2.51 | 2,295 | 914 | 828 | 42.6 years | $35,900[27] |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
Coastlands Shopping Centre opened in Paraparaumu in 1969.[28] It has 1400 carparks and 94 shops, includingPak'nSave,The Warehouse,Farmers andWoolworths.[29]
Paraparaumu was formerly represented insoccer/football by Paraparaumu United. They merged with the Raumati Hearts in 2003 to createKapiti Coast United, which is based atWeka Park in Raumati.
The localathletics club is Paraparaumu Track and Field Club, which has both junior and senior members in conjunction with Athletics Wellington andAthletics New Zealand age grades. The club is based at the Paraparaumu Domain.[30]
Paraparaumu Beach also has agolf course. It has hosted theNew Zealand Open a total of 12 times, a record unsurpassed by any other course.[31]
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 andAuckland from 20 August 2018,[32] andSounds Air operate toBlenheim andNelson. Now defunct, locally basedAir2there used operate to Blenheim and Nelson also. Prior to the mid 2010s Air New Zealand used to have scheduled services to Kapiti Coast Airport with their ATR-42s and Q-400/ DHC-8s. This was then cancelled in the mid 2010s.
Paraparaumu is located on theNorth Island Main Trunk Railway (NIMT), on theKāpiti Line of Wellington's commuter railway network operated byTransdev under theMetlink brand. Electrified commuter services were extended toWaikanae on 20 February 2011. Korean built by Hyundai Rotem, FP/FT classelectric multiple units operate the commuter trains.
Beyond Waikanae,KiwiRail'sGreat Journeys New Zealand division operates twodiesel-hauled long distance passenger services: theCapital Connection betweenPalmerston North and Wellington, and theNorthern Explorer between Auckland and Wellington.
There are also feeder and local commuter bus service operated byMetlink.
Paraparaumu School is a state primary school for Year 1 to 8 Students with a roll of 330[33] It opened in a building "on skids" in 1889 and moved to a new building on the current site in 1890. A fire in 2014 caused extensive damage to the school.[34]
Kapiti School is a state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[35][36] with a roll of 92.[37] The school was open by 1973.[38]
Our Lady of Kapiti School is a state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[39][40] with a roll of 295[41] It is named after alarge statue of theVirgin Mary located near by.[42] The school opened in 2017, replacing St Patrick's School, which had opened in 1954.[43]
All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of October 2025.[44]
Paraparaumu Beach and Kenakena Schools are covered atParaparaumu Beach#Education. Raumati Beach School is covered atRaumati Beach#Education. Raumati South and Te Rā Schools are covered atRaumati South#Education.
Three secondary schools are located near the Paraparaumu township:Paraparaumu College inParaparaumu Beach,[45]Kāpiti College inRaumati Beach[46] andŌtaki College inŌtaki.[47]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
