Misplaced Pages

Belmont Regional Park

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
#104895

46-728: Belmont Regional Park is a regional park located between Lower Hutt and Porirua , in the Wellington Region at the southern end of New Zealand's North Island . It is administered by Wellington Regional Council . It was the first park in New Zealand to include land for recreation, conservation, and farming. The park covers about 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Wellington Harbour to Haywards and 10 kilometres (6 mi) to Porirua. It contains farm land, native bush, and peaks up to 456 metres (1,496 ft) (Belmont Trig). The hills were originally covered in rimu and northern rata , over

92-441: A canopy of tawa and hinau . Some pockets of native forest have remained, particularly around Korokoro Valley, which has been used for water collection. European settlers took private ownership of the area in the late 18th century, clearing the dense bush for farmland. The New Zealand Government purchased some of the land for water during the early 19th century. The first two concrete gravity dams in New Zealand were built on

138-687: A city. It incorporated Normandale in 1957. In 1987–1989 the New Zealand Government forced local authorities to consolidate, which led to Lower Hutt amalgamating with the adjacent Boroughs of Petone and Eastbourne and with the Wainuiomata District (which had its independence for barely a year), and to the abolition of the Hutt County Council. The area of Lower Hutt is covered by two general electorates ( Hutt South and Remutaka ) and by two Māori electorates ( Ikaroa-Rāwhiti in

184-502: A month-long early 2019, with sentencing occurring in 2020. A body was discovered next to a burnt car in the park in February 2016. A helicopter with specialist thermal gear was used to find a missing beagle in the park in April 2018. In August 2018, children found an explosive shell in the regional park that appeared to be from World War II. Wellington Regional Council consulted on the future of

230-399: A population density of 307 people per km . The city's population has remained stable from the 1990s to the 2013 census. In the five years between the 2013 and 2018 censuses, the population grew steadily across the city with an increasing amount of homes being purchased and the area seen as more affordable comparable to the rest of the region. Lower Hutt City had a population of 107,562 in

276-522: A population of 115,500. The total area administered by the council is 376.4 km (145 sq mi) around the lower half of the Hutt Valley and along the eastern shores of Wellington Harbour , of which 78.54 km (30 sq mi) is urban. It is separated from the city of Wellington by the harbour, and from Upper Hutt by the Taita Gorge. Lower Hutt is unique among New Zealand cities, as

322-612: Is also often simply called "the Hutt". Before European settlement, thick forest covered most of the Hutt Valley, with areas of marshland close to the river's mouth. Māori inhabited the shoreline, with a pā at each end of Petone beach. Māori welcomed the arrival of the New Zealand Company ship Tory in 1839, and William Wakefield (the company's agent) negotiated with some local chiefs to allow settlement. The first immigrant ship,

368-497: Is formed from water seeping underground from the Hutt River near Taitā. It flows underground down the Hutt Valley and out under Wellington Harbour. Some early Māori nations ( iwi ) of the region were Ngāi Tara, Muaūpoko , Rangitāne , Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō and Ngāti Ira . These iwi descended from the sons of Whātonga, Taraika and Tautoki-ihu-nui-a-Whātonga, who migrated through the lower North Island with some descendants settling in

414-422: Is still visible, notably at Hutt Central School. On New Year's Day 1859 the first permanent lighthouse to be built in New Zealand was lit at Pencarrow Head. New Zealand's only female lighthouse keeper, Mary Jane Bennett , became the inaugural operator of the lighthouse. The railway line from central Wellington reached Lower Hutt station (subsequently Western Hutt ) in April 1874, with the line running north up

460-514: Is the large area of fairly flat land in the Hutt River valley in the Wellington region of New Zealand . Like the river that flows through it, it takes its name from Sir William Hutt , a director of the New Zealand Company in early colonial New Zealand. The river flows roughly along the course of an active geologic fault , which continues to the south to become the main instrument responsible for

506-471: Is used by trampers and mountainbikers. There is also a cheap camping site in the park. Lower Hutt Lower Hutt ( Māori : Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai ) is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. Administered by the Hutt City Council , it is one of the four cities that constitute the Wellington metropolitan area . If considered a city it is New Zealand's sixth most populous , with

SECTION 10

#1733093451105

552-797: The 2018 census , and an increase of 9,213 people (9.5%) since the 2013 census . There were 52,563 males, 53,505 females and 465 people of other genders in 38,895 dwellings. 3.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age was 37.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 20,415 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 19,740 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 50,733 (47.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 15,642 (14.7%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 64.1% European ( Pākehā ); 19.7% Māori ; 12.3% Pasifika ; 18.7% Asian ; 2.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English

598-818: The 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 3,030 people (2.9%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 9,324 people (9.5%) since the 2013 census . There were 53,082 males, 54,009 females and 468 people of other genders in 39,279 dwellings. 3.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age was 37.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 20,595 people (19.1%) aged under 15 years, 19,896 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 51,261 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 15,807 (14.7%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 64.3% European ( Pākehā ); 19.6% Māori ; 12.2% Pasifika ; 18.6% Asian ; 2.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English

644-636: The Aurora , arrived on 22 January 1840, an event still commemorated every year on the Monday closest as Wellington's Anniversary Day . A settlement, Britannia, grew up close to the mouth of the Hutt River ( Te Awa Kairangi in Māori language), and settlers set up New Zealand's first newspaper and bank. The city takes its name from the English name given to the river, named after one of the founding members, director and chairman of

690-638: The Māori language means "river of food from the sky". Lower Hutt occupies the lower regions of the flood plain of the river, one of the most significant features of the city. In the 20th century the Hutt River Board built stopbanks to contain the river, but the threat of flooding from heavy rainfall persists. In 1985 the river burst its banks, and since then floods have been on a smaller scale. Smaller streams and storm-water drains have also caused occasional problems when rainfall exceeds average levels. Much of

736-631: The Remutaka Range . Lower Hutt's boundaries also include the islands in Wellington Harbour, the largest of which is Matiu / Somes Island . Lower Hutt has a wet oceanic climate ( Köppen climate classification : Cfb ), which is similar to nearby Wellington, with relatively warm summers and mild winters with the occasional storm. A single major aquifer dominates the lower Hutt Valley: the river , originally named Heretaunga, and since 2010 known as "Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River". Awakairangi in

782-475: The Wairarapa over the Remutaka Range and through Pākuratahi river . Before the 1855 Wairarapa earthquake large Māori boats (waka) could travel as far Pākuratahi river, and European ships could also go up the valley 'almost' to Silverstream. The lower valley contains the city of Lower Hutt , administered by Hutt City Council , while the adjacent, larger but less populous city of Upper Hutt has its centre on

828-461: The Hutt River, in what is now Alicetown , formed the village then known as Aglionby. In 1846 conflict arose between European settlers and Māori , which led to armed conflict in the Hutt Valley Campaign . The 1855 Wairarapa earthquake (in the range of magnitude 8.1 to 8.3) raised part of the lower valley, allowing reclamation of land from swamp. The fault escarpment from the earthquake

874-454: The Hutt Valley. The name Heretaunga is often applied to the Hutt Valley from the name of the 'house of Whātonga at Nukutaurua vollage ( pā )'. In 1846 there was fighting between Māori tribes and the Government, known as the Hutt Valley Campaign . The Hutt River also has the name Te Awa Kairangi, and was a major arterial route for Māori . There was a trail linking Wellington Harbour and

920-737: The Korokoro Stream in 1903 and 1904. Designed by engineer Samuel Jickell they were the Korokoro Dam, a dam to supply water for Petone, and a dam for the Wellington Woollen Mill Manufacturing Company. The New Zealand Army also purchased land for ammunition magazines during the World War II , to store munitions used in the Pacific Ocean theatre . The park was established in 1986, under the name Waitangirua Farm. It

966-514: The New Zealand Company, Sir William Hutt . The dual name of Hutt River Te Awa Kairangi has been used since 2010. Within weeks of settlement the Hutt River flooded, and in March 1840 the majority of Britannia settlers decided to move to Thorndon , (as of 2013 in the heart of Wellington city), though some settlers remained at the north end of the harbour. In the 1840s an area on the west bank of

SECTION 20

#1733093451105

1012-473: The Taitā Gorge at the northern end of Lower Hutt, separating the city from neighbouring Upper Hutt. Lower Hutt includes the cluster of small settlements that extend down the eastern coast of Wellington Harbour . These include the two large townships of Wainuiomata and Eastbourne . The city also includes a large area of sparsely-populated land to the east of the harbour, extending to Pencarrow Head and into

1058-637: The algal blooms as the cause of death of a small number of dogs swimming in the river, as well as of skin reactions in the case of swimmers. Seven bridges cross the Hutt River within the city of Lower Hutt, with several other bridges built and replaced from the 1850s onwards. Tributaries of the Hutt River within Lower Hutt include: Here are listed the following suburbs of Lower Hutt City (unofficial suburbs are in italics ). Notes: Lower Hutt City covers 376.40 km (145.33 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 115,500 as of June 2024, with

1104-425: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 19,026 (22.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 41,766 (48.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 19,980 (23.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 47,800, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 12,957 people (15.0%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15

1150-425: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 19,188 (22.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 42,231 (48.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 20,148 (23.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 47,800, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 13,125 people (15.1%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15

1196-694: The land adjacent to the river is protected as reserve by the City Council and managed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council to provide popular recreational areas. From the river mouth, walking and cycling trails and grassed areas occur at various points along both sides of the river up the Hutt Valley to Te Mārua , 28 km further north in Upper Hutt. With lower river-levels in mid-summer, algal blooms have contributed to making slow-flowing areas anoxic. The Regional Council has cited

1242-559: The land instead. When Landcorp's lease ended in June 2016, part of the land was allowed to revert to native vegetation. The remainder was opened to commercial farming licenses. The construction of Transmission Gully between 2016 and 2022 further reduced the available grazing area in the park. The company in charge of building Transmission Gully was convicted and fined for discharging sentiment into streams in Belmont Regional Park over

1288-414: The main line between Lower Hutt and Petone. Two years later the railway workshops moved from Petone to a new larger site off the new branch at Woburn . In the late 1940s new suburbs of state housing developed along the eastern side of the Hutt Valley, from Waiwhetū to Taitā (then known as Taita), to alleviate nationwide housing shortages and to cater for the booming population . Between 1946 and 1954

1334-479: The name of the council does not match the name of the city it governs. Special legislation has since 1991 given the council the name "Hutt City Council", while the name of the place itself remains "Lower Hutt City". This name has led to confusion, as Upper Hutt is administered by a separate city council, the Upper Hutt City Council. The entire Hutt Valley includes both Lower and Upper Hutt cities. Lower Hutt

1380-468: The north and Te Tai Tonga in the south). The city centres on the lower southern valley of the Hutt River , to the northeast of the city of Wellington . The valley widens into a delta as the river nears its mouth, so the central urban area of the city forms a triangle with its longest side along the shoreline. In the upper reaches of the city the Western and Eastern Hutt Hills become closer, culminating in

1426-534: The park in 2020, opting reduce stock grazing and increase native bush and wetlands. In 2021, there were reports of deer turning up in the regional park and nearby suburbs. Planting was due to take place in western parts of the park in 2022, as part of New Zealand's largest ever plant restoration project. There are several entrances from the Hutt Valley side and two on the Porirua side. Some tracks permit mountain biking and horse riding. The 6-7 hour 'Puke Ariki' traverse,

Belmont Regional Park - Misplaced Pages Continue

1472-539: The railway line from Waterloo extended through these new suburbs to Haywards , becoming the main line in 1954 when the existing main line between Haywards and Melling closed. By the end of the 1950s, Lower Hutt had a population of 80,000. The Hutt City Council comprises a mayor and 12 councillors. Campbell Barry became New Zealand's youngest mayor and was first elected in 2019, succeeding Ray Wallace . The city's six electoral wards (Northern, Western, Central, Eastern, Harbour and Wainuiomata) each elect one councillor, with

1518-445: The remaining six councillors elected at-large. Mayor and councillors elected in the 2022 local-body elections: Neighbouring councils are Wellington City Council (adjoining to the west), Porirua City Council to the north, Upper Hutt City Council to the north-east and South Wairarapa District Council to the east. The boundaries of the Lower Hutt city local body have evolved from a series of amalgamations and boundary changes over

1564-473: The smaller plain above the Taita Gorge. The valley forms a major dormitory suburban area for Wellington , and is a location for manufacturing and heavy industry , educational and recreational facilities, and the region's motor camps. Petone , on the Wellington Harbour shoreline, was proposed as the initial site for the settlement of Wellington by the New Zealand Company . However, as the chosen site

1610-720: The studios were eventually sold off in 2012 to a consortium of Wellington investors. Avalon continues to operate independently with seven film and television studios used as primarily as a feature film production base. A large proportion of Lower Hutt's residents commute to the mainly commercial, service and government offices in Wellington City 12 km to the south-west. The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA) has its headquarters in Aviation House in Petone , Lower Hutt. Hutt Valley The Hutt Valley (or 'The Hutt')

1656-515: The uplift of the South Island 's Southern Alps . For this reason, the land rises abruptly to the west of the river; to the east two floodplains have developed. The higher of these is between 15–22 km (9.3–13.7 mi) from the mouth of the river. Beyond this, the river is briefly confined by a steep-sided gorge near Taitā , before the land opens up into a long triangular plain close to the outflow into Wellington Harbour . The Waiwhetu Aquifer

1702-546: The west side of the Hutt River to Silverstream opening two years later. Before the Second World War of 1939–1945, urban settlement in the lower Hutt Valley concentrated mainly on Petone , central Lower Hutt and Eastbourne, with a total population of 30,000. In 1927 the Public Works Department completed the construction of a branch railway line to Waterloo on the east side of the river; the route diverging from

1748-559: The world. Over the past 25 years service, distribution, and consumer-oriented sectors have increased. Lower Hutt remains the main location for light industrial activity in the Wellington Region. Until post-war housing development took over, the central and northern areas of the city were largely market gardens. In 2010 the lower reaches of the Waiwhetū Stream was cleaned up to remove toxins from decades of industry use. The channel

1794-545: The years. The Hutt County Council , established in 1877, covered the region from Wellington's south coast up to Waikanae , excluding the Wellington City Council area. As the region grew, urban parts of the Hutt County became autonomous boroughs: Petone in 1888, Lower Hutt in 1891, Eastbourne in 1906, Johnsonville in 1908, Upper Hutt in 1908, Porirua in 1962 and Kapiti in 1974. In 1941 Lower Hutt became

1840-681: Was also widened to better protect against floods and native plantings and management has seen native waterlife and birds return to their habitat. Petone's Jackson Street and neighbouring areas have seen a resurgence in to one of Wellington's most popular retail and hospitality area. Lower Hutt has one of the greatest proportion of science, technology and high value manufacturing businesses in New Zealand. Crown research institute GNS Science and New Zealand's innovation centre and business accelerator Callaghan Innovation are based in Lower Hutt, along with over 800 research organisations in high-end manufacturing, research and technology. The suburb of Avalon

1886-501: Was home to New Zealand's television industry from 1975 until the late 1980s. The Avalon film and television studios were New Zealand's first purpose-built television studios, and is the largest television studio complex in Australasia. The studios were home to Television One from 1975 to 1980, when it merged with South Pacific Television to form Television New Zealand (TVNZ). After 1989 most of TVNZ's operations moved to Auckland, and

Belmont Regional Park - Misplaced Pages Continue

1932-554: Was renamed Belmont Regional Park in 1989, becoming the first park in New Zealand to combine land for recreation, conservation and farming. Landcorp took ownership of part of the park from June 1986 to June 2016, which it used to run a sheep and beef breeding farm. Landcorp attempted to sell a third of the park to private farmers in 2005. After a local campaign against the sale, the New Zealand Government , Wellington Regional Council and Porirua City Council intervened to buy

1978-557: Was spoken by 95.1%, Māori language by 5.1%, Samoan by 4.2% and other languages by 17.8%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 27.6, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 33.9% Christian , 4.5% Hindu , 1.4% Islam , 1.1% Māori religious beliefs , 1.3% Buddhist , 0.4% New Age , 0.1% Jewish , and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 49.6%, and 6.1% of people did not answer

2024-557: Was spoken by 95.1%, Māori language by 5.1%, Samoan by 4.3% and other languages by 17.9%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 27.7, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 34.0% Christian , 4.5% Hindu , 1.4% Islam , 1.1% Māori religious beliefs , 1.3% Buddhist , 0.4% New Age , 0.1% Jewish , and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 49.4%, and 6.1% of people did not answer

2070-567: Was that 47,736 (55.4%) people were employed full-time, 10,263 (11.9%) were part-time, and 2,679 (3.1%) were unemployed. Historically, Petone, Seaview and Gracefield have been the main area for industry in the Wellington region, with industries including meat processing and freezing, motor vehicle assembly, and timber processing. As business have taken advantage of global manufacturing efficiencies, much of this large scale industry has changed to smaller design-led and medium-sized industries exporting to

2116-422: Was that 48,201 (55.4%) people were employed full-time, 10,395 (12.0%) were part-time, and 2,694 (3.1%) were unemployed. Lower Hutt's urban area covers 78.54 km (30.32 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 114,500 as of June 2024, with a population density of 1,458 people per km . Lower Hutt had a population of 106,530 in the 2023 New Zealand census , an increase of 2,985 people (2.9%) since

#104895