Arakura

Arakura
Suburb
Interactive map of Arakura
Coordinates: 41°14′20″S 174°56′49″E / 41.239°S 174.947°E / -41.239; 174.947
CountryNew Zealand
CityLower Hutt City
Local authorityHutt City Council
Electoral wardWainuiomata
Community boardWainuiomata Community
Area
[1]
 • Land196 ha (480 acres)
Population
 (June 2025)[2]
 • Total
3,020
 • Density1,540/km2 (3,990/sq mi)
Gracefield
Arakura
Parkway Glendale

Arakura is a northern suburb of Wainuiomata, part of Lower Hutt city situated in the lower (southern) North Island of New Zealand.[3] It was developed in the 1950s and 1960s, when farmland was subdivided for state and private housing.[4]

Location

The location of Arakura hasn't been officially designated and usage of the name varies between a north-south and an east-west split with Glendale. For pest control, population and crime statistics, Arakura lies to the west of Black Creek, Glendale is to the east and both are north of Parkway and Nelson Crescent.[5][6][7] For local councils and as an unofficial name used by the New Zealand Geographic Board, Arakura is to the north of Glendale,[8][3] the boundary being about Devon Street to Thirlmere Street;[9] Devon Street was the limit of development, as shown in the 1954 image below.

  • Arakura in 1954
  • in 2025

Demographics

Arakura statistical area covers 1.96 km2 (0.76 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 3,020 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 1,541 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20062,469—    
20132,445−0.14%
20182,793+2.70%
20232,844+0.36%
Source: [10][11]

Arakura had a population of 2,844 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 51 people (1.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 399 people (16.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,419 males, 1,419 females, and 9 people of other genders in 960 dwellings.[12] 3.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 33.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 657 people (23.1%) aged under 15 years, 582 (20.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,323 (46.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 285 (10.0%) aged 65 or older.[10]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 61.3% European (Pākehā); 33.2% Māori; 17.9% Pasifika; 13.8% Asian; 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.0%, Māori by 8.9%, Samoan by 5.4%, and other languages by 11.3%. No language could be spoken by 3.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[10]

Religious affiliations were 31.8% Christian, 3.1% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 1.9% Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 2.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.6%, and 5.9% of people did not answer the census question.[10]

Of those at least 15 years old, 330 (15.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,278 (58.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 582 (26.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 162 people (7.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,284 (58.7%) full-time, 240 (11.0%) part-time, and 81 (3.7%) unemployed.[10]

Education

Arakura School is a coeducational state primary school for years 1 to 6[13] with a roll of 153 as at October 2025.[14] It opened in 1964.[15] Arakura translates as pathway to learning, a name suggested by Īhāia Puketapu[16] in 1965. A fire lit at the school on 16 October 1991 cost about $500,000 for five classrooms, a storage room and a boiler room.[17][18]

Across the road from the school is Arakura Kindergarten,[19] which provides for about 40 children.[20]

Pencarrow Primary School was at 110 Wise Street from 1966 to 2001, now redeveloped for housing as Fraser Colman Grove.[21] It merged with Glendale School to form Pukeatua Primary School in 2002.[22][23]

Tracks

A rough track for cyclists and horses links the school to Kōnini Firebreak Track, on the ridge above.[24] and another links Hastings Grove to the Kōnini Track. Kōnini is a fruit of the kōtukutuku tree. They link on what was a Māori Track, to Parkway and to a 1959 concrete reservoir on Round Hill.[25]

Parks

Arakura Park has a late 20th century recreational building and a children's playground.[25] It takes its name from the school, is beside Black Creek Reserve and was used as a soccer ground for many years but is now used as a recreation park.[26]

Black Creek has water poor quality.[27] It flows to the Wainuiomata River. Its dark staining is from tannins released from the swamp which covered the valley floor until the 1880s. What is now Fitzherbert and Upper Fitzherbert Road ran alongside the creek and were known as Swamp Road. This area housed a flax mill and residential buildings at the base of the hills.[28]

Grimsby Grove Recreation Reserve dates from the 1980s.[26]

Mary Crowther Park was called Russell Road Park until renamed in 1964. Mary Ursula Crowther (1869–1958) lived in the neighbouring Moores Valley. It is used as a rugby ground, with 1969 changing rooms and toilets. Black Creek Reserve runs beside the park.[26] Mary Crowther kept diaries and donated land for Brookfield scout camp.[29]

Buses

Arakura is served by Hutt Valley buses. From 11 April 2004 Arakura and Glendale was served by route 170, generally running every 30 minutes and 160 to the end of Wellington Road.[30] Now only 160 serves Ahakura.[31]

Shops

Norfolk Street is an early 1960s local neighbourhood retail strip between Arakura and Pencarrow, including a small supermarket or superette and takeaway food outlets. By 1967 Norfolk Street was mentioned in public records as a shopping area.[4] In 1986 $19,000 was stolen from the post office.[32] A 615 signature petition failed to keep it open[33] and it closed from 5 February 1988 when Postmaster-General, Richard Prebble, closed or reduced 580 offices.[34]

References

  1. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Glendale". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b Johnson, David (14 January 1964). "The History of Norfolk Street". WAINUIOMATA .NET. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  5. ^ "Predator Free Wainuiomata-Arakura | Trap.NZ". www.trap.nz. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Place and ethnic group summaries - Stats NZ". tools.summaries.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Arakura Crime Stats". Crime Stats New Zealand. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Black Creek map" (PDF). Greater Wellington.
  9. ^ "Arakura Map". Have your say - Hutt City Council. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Arakura (246600). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Arakura (246600). 2018 Census place summary: Arakura
  12. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Arakura School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  14. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Arakura School Photographs" (PDF). Wainuiomata Historical Museum. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Arakura School". www.arakura.school.nz. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Cost of school fires $33.2m. Press". 5 November 1991.
  18. ^ "Wainuiomata museum timeline". 2019.
  19. ^ "Ministry of Education - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  20. ^ "Arakura Kindergarten | Education Review Office". www.ero.govt.nz. 18 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  21. ^ Jeremy Foster (2022). "Wainuiomata School Locations" (PDF).
  22. ^ "Pencarrow School".
  23. ^ "Decision on Wanuiomata Schools". www.beehive.govt.nz. 22 June 2001. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  24. ^ "Trails". WAINUIOMATA TRAIL PROJECT. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  25. ^ a b Jeremy Foster (2025). "Wainuiomata Central Place Names" (PDF).
  26. ^ a b c Jeremy Foster (2022). "Wainuiomata Parks Reserves Locations" (PDF). nzpictures.co.
  27. ^ "Black Creek at Rowe Parade end River Quality". Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  28. ^ "Black Creek". wainuiomata.net.
  29. ^ "Crowther, Mary Ursula, 1869-1958".
  30. ^ "Committee Passenger Transport report" (PDF). Greater Wellington. 22 March 2004.
  31. ^ "Bus 160". www.metlink.org.nz. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  32. ^ "Robbers take $19,000 from postmistress. Press,". 6 August 1986.
  33. ^ "The day in Parliament. Press,". 13 November 1987.
  34. ^ "List of P.O. closings and modifications". The Press. 16 October 1987. Retrieved 13 October 2024 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.

Photos

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.