Paraparaumu | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 | |
| 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 |
| • Ōtaki MP/Mana MP | Tim Costley/Barbara Edmonds |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer |
| Area | |
• Total | 28.38 km2 (10.96 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
• Total | 30,300 |
| • Density | 1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 5032 |
| Area code | 04 |
Paraparaumu (Māori:[ˈpaɾapaˈɾaʉmʉ])[a] is a town in the south-westernNorth Island ofNew Zealand. It lies on theKāpiti Coast, 55 kilometres (34 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 the nearbyRaumati Beach andRaumati 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.[3] 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 forcheese and the Lindale Barnyard petting farm.[4][5][6]
The oldState Highway 1 and theKapiti 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.[7]
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".[8] The name comes from an 1819–1820 expedition ofNgāpuhi andNgāti Toa, who on the west coast of the North Island fromKāwhia toCook Strait. As they arrived in the Kāpiti Coast, they found no useful resources.[9]
Paraparaumu is sometimes known by the names "Pram", "Paraparam" or "Pram-Pram".[9]
In August 1936, atrain derailed in Paraparaumu as it approached a land slide in rainy weather.[10]
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[11][12] | |||||||||||||
Paraparaumu is one of four places in New Zealand whereweather balloons are regularly launched forMetService.[13]
Paraparaumu is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a medium urban area and covers 28.38 km2 (10.96 sq mi),[1] which includesOtaihanga,Paraparaumu Beach,Raumati Beach andRaumati South. It had an estimated population of 30,300 as of June 2024, with a population density of 1,068 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 25,260 | — |
| 2013 | 26,835 | +0.87% |
| 2018 | 28,701 | +1.35% |
| Source:[14] | ||
Before the 2023 census, the town had a larger boundary, covering 28.61 km2 (11.05 sq mi).[1] Using that boundary, Paraparaumu had a population of 28,701 at the2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,866 people (7.0%) since the2013 census, and an increase of 3,441 people (13.6%) since the2006 census. There were 11,379 households, comprising 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%Pasifika, 5.1%Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 23.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.0% had no religion, 34.7% wereChristian, 0.4% hadMāori religious beliefs, 0.7% wereHindu, 0.1% wereMuslim, 0.6% wereBuddhist and 2.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 5,013 (21.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 3,876 (16.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 4,329 people (18.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. 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.[14]
| Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) | Households | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paraparaumu Beach North | 2.14 | 4,056 | 1,895 | 1,482 | 42.1 years | $32,300[15] |
| Paraparaumu Beach West | 1.59 | 2,364 | 1,487 | 1,017 | 50.5 years | $31,400[16] |
| Paraparaumu Beach East | 1.07 | 2,667 | 2,493 | 1,110 | 49.9 years | $27,900[17] |
| Otaihanga | 4.47 | 804 | 180 | 306 | 46.3 years | $37,800[18] |
| Paraparaumu North | 3.53 | 3,555 | 1,007 | 1,449 | 49.8 years | $29,300[19] |
| Paraparaumu Central | 4.46 | 3,996 | 896 | 1,695 | 44.8 years | $26,300[20] |
| Raumati Beach West | 1.75 | 2,865 | 1,637 | 1,155 | 45.8 years | $36,800[21] |
| Raumati Beach East | 1.42 | 2,376 | 1,673 | 948 | 47.2 years | $27,100[22] |
| Paraparaumu East | 2.51 | 2,265 | 902 | 801 | 41.7 years | $25,700[23] |
| Raumati South | 5.65 | 3,753 | 664 | 1,416 | 42.8 years | $36,900[24] |
| New Zealand | 37.4 years | $31,800 |
Coastlands Shopping Centre opened in Paraparaumu in 1969.[25] It has 1400 carparks and 94 shops, includingPak'nSave,The Warehouse,Farmers andCountdown.[26]
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.[27]
Paraparaumu Beach also has agolf course. It has hosted theNew Zealand Open a total of 12 times, a record unsurpassed by any other course.[28]
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,[29] 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 theKapiti 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 co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 Students with a roll of 311 as of March 2025.[30][31]
Paraparaumu Beach School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 Students with a roll of 474 as of March 2025.[30][32]
Kapiti School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[33][34] with a roll of 84 as of March 2025.[35]
Kenakena School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[36][37] with a roll of 518 as of March 2025.[30][38]
Our Lady of Kapiti School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[39][40] with a roll of 270 as of March 2025.[30][41] It is named after alarge statue of theVirgin Mary located near by.[42]
Three secondary schools are located near the Paraparaumu township:Paraparaumu College inParaparaumu Beach,[43]Kāpiti College inRaumati Beach[44] andŌtaki College inŌtaki.[45]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
