#25 – Tarawa Street

During the 1960s a new sub-division was built in Paekākāriki. The first new streets were Tarawa Street and Porter Place. Tarawa Street was named after the Battle of Tarawa (in Kiribati) to commemorate the connection between the people of Paekākāriki and the 18.000 U.S. Marines of the Second Division, who fought in the battle during … Read more

#26 – Betty Perkins’ Way

Betty Perkins was married to John Perkins and they brought up their family at the farm on State Highway 1 known as Middle Run. John’s mother was Dorothy Smith, who married Richard Perkins in 1932. Dorothy was the granddaughter of Francis Wilson Smith who was the main landowner and farmer in the Paekākāriki area around … Read more

#27 – Paekākāriki School House

When Paekākāriki School opened in April 1886, it was one of the first on the Kāpiti Coast. At the time it opened, the village included a Railway Station, several railway workers’ cottages, a Post Office, a hotel, a Police Station and several shops. The railway line was to open later that year. The small schoolroom … Read more

Ngāti Haumia

After Te Rauparaha conquered the Muaupoko people. they left the area and headed for Horowhenua in the Manawatu. Te Rauparaha and his followers were allocated all the lands formally held by the Muaupoko. This was all the land from just south of the Otaki River to the southern tip of the North Island. Te Rauparaha … Read more