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’.
Athough the earlier spelling was Pahautahanui
By looking at remains of camps archeologists have found out much about the way early inhabitants lived around Paremata Point Porirua and Pauatahanui 500 years ago ,their camps were surrounded by untouched foests and harbours
From the forest they were gathering such birds as the huia ,kaka,kiwi,takahe,New Zealand Hawk,tui,and seven species of moa
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,Mataitaua was converted into an Imperial Military post and garrisoned by detachments of regularregiments mainly of the 58th and 65th then moved to the adjacent hill where Pauatahanui school is now, The military presence allowing Europeans to settle around the harbour.
The army authorities then took Tom Wilsons house on section 64 for their own use and it was then used by Officers of the Regiments.It became known as "Officers Quaters"and the name remained for over a hundred years ,Barracks for the soldiers were built in the same year,1847,these were slightly south from the Officers quaters and on the same hill ,The hill was also known as Barrack Hill in the early days.both buildings were on section 64 .
Tom Wilson then moved up to Waikanae 1848 and established the Ferry Hotel at Arapawaiti at the mouth of the Waikanae river .This was a well known stopping place for coaches when they began to run,and was advertised in the Wellington Almanac1867 he extended a hearty invitation to call on him at the Waikanae hotel "an abundance of oats in the stable and grass in the paddocks and viands in the cupboards and grog in the cellar"
His large oil portrait was given to Porirua Museum .by Joe Boulton .
.Edward Boulton and Tom Wilson disolved their partnership 1859 and remained the best of friends ,Tom went on to open the Waikanae post office 1865.
One of the earliest settlers was my Great Great Grandfather Edward Boulton ,who built the first Inn 1847 in the area with Tom Wilson it was named the Boults and Wilsons Hotel{section 64} but was destroyed by fire.
Tom Wilsons house had been built on
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 Wharepoa}is today in Queen Elizabeth park},she died in childbirth at the hotel and was buried in the backyard of that property ,(section 65}That hotel burned down also in 1920.
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.
In June 1877 ,the contractors Blackey and Foster made a start on building St Josephs church ,to the plans of Mr Turnbull.There were apparently no time set ,and the builders worked as conveniant to themselves.All the timberwas milled locally by Woodman and Jones.(from NZ Tablet .May 10 1878 and Evening Post April 29 1878
On Sunday 28th April 1878,The quiet little town of Pahautahanui(old spelling}was the scene of an interesting ceremony.................................Older residents have related how the church was gaily decorated with ferns and evergreens and how Bishop entered the grounds through a glorious arch of ferns,festooned with creepers and glistening berries of various hues .Each family had their own pue and the church was proud of its stained glass windows and its own organ .
Pauatahanui had originally been ear marked as a train stop destination ,the population billowed into an awaiting expectant community .in the 1880s..{apparently} ..the day never came ..really ,until recent development and opening up of subdivisioned land that once was safe from over development because of rural land not being able to be subdivided ....thou developers and such have had their eyes on it since the late1960s-1970s
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 Wellingtons Municiple Milk Supply 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