Pāuatahanui
2006 population: 948.
Porirua’s double harbour evolved from an ancient river system, which was drowned by the rising sea about 5,000 years ago. Pāuatahanui, the name of the northern arm, means ‘big shellfish’.
The battle for Pāuatahanui
In 1839, the London-based New Zealand Company acquired land around both arms of the harbour, and planned a township at Motukaraka on the Pāuatahanui Inlet. Ngāti Toa objected to the purchase of their land without their consent. In 1846, part of the tribe fought British troops in the Horokiri valley. Eventually their chief, Te Rangihaeata,who had built his fighting pa named Mataitaua where St Albans stands today,He found himself outnumbered and was forced to retreat withdrawing up the Horikiri valley to Battle Hill,British soldiers then moved on to Mataitaua then to the adjacent hill where Pauatahanui school is now, The military presence allowing Europeans to settle around the harbour.
One of the earliest settlers was my Great Great Grandfather Edward Boulton ,who built the first Inn in the area with Tom Wilson it was named the Boulton and Wilsons Hotel but was destroyed by fire.
The second Hotel was built in1860 ,The Gowan Brae ...complete with skittle alley and the first school lessons were taught at Edward Boultons hotel ,until 1939 when the presant school was built.this hotel stood where the little white house still stands today ,He was originally married to Huhanna of Ngati Maru decsent {they were based where Mckays crossing is today in Queen Elizabeth park},she died in childbirth at the hotel and was buried in the backyard of that property ,That hotel burned down also .
The first industry was in 1859 with a saw mill ,and in the late 1860s gold fever struck ,but the amount of gold was so small operations ceased after 18 months.
European settlement
As settlers cleared the bush, increased erosion filled the Pāuatahanui Inlet with sediment. A road was built round the southern shore, then through the Horokiri Valley to Paekākāriki. This route was used by the coach service from 1865. Pāuatahanui soon had three hotels catering for travellers.
From 1886 Pāuatahanui declined with the completion of the Wellington–Manawatū railway, which crossed the inlet at Paremata, reducing traffic through the settlement. The village’s eclipse was hastened in 1936 when the Paremata road bridge opened followed by the completion of a highway between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki. This removed the need to drive round the Pāuatahanui Inlet.
In 1927 the village store and post office was burned down ,and the store that operates today was established .My Great Grandmother Clara Boulton {Toms} worked in the post office ,and her husband John Sydney delivered milk into Wellington city on a two horse driven cart Clydesdales named Jess and Joss}
In 2006 Pāuatahanui remained a village, known for its tidal flats and the diverse bird life they attract.
Timeline of events:
1942