Nestled between State Highway One and the railway line at Paekākāriki, is a 1.6 hectare sliver of land that, with the help of Ngā Uruora and community volunteers, is emerging from invasive weeds to shine as an ecological treasure. Project by Paekākāriki School students, Ana Vieira and Audrey … [Read more...] about The Waikākāriki Wetland Restoration
Winter Wellness with Daisy Wood
Herbalist and naturopath Daisy Wood on winter wellness and life in Paekākāriki. Interviewed on Te Pae, Paekakariki 88.2FM with Mark Amery and Sylvia Bagnall, July 2020. Daisy is part of Winter Wellness and Homegrown Health, Paekākāriki School 2pm Sunday 2 … [Read more...] about Winter Wellness with Daisy Wood
A century of service
Paekākāriki Auto Services has closed its doors after 100 years of repairing the cars of locals and those needing urgent help while travelling on State Highway 1 north of Wellington. It's the end of an era for the 'oldest garage on the coast'. Owner Chris Clarke is retiring and the building … [Read more...] about A century of service
Paekākāriki Progress: community media 70 years ago
Found under the house of Paekākāriki's former chemist Mr Bill Carson during lockdown is a 1950 copy of a fortnightly community newspaper, Paekākāriki Progress. This is what a community website or newspaper (shades of Paekakariki Xpressed 2000-2010) looked like 70 years ago. With its hand-drawn … [Read more...] about Paekākāriki Progress: community media 70 years ago
Bubble Breakout!
A beautiful record of a community day and night 20 June at St Peters Hall Paekākāriki by photographer Bob Zuur with an array of musical talent and words from Gilbert Haisman. This night saw the hall's new floorboards given a thorough test. Here, we take the chance to remember a few of our people in … [Read more...] about Bubble Breakout!
Plant seeds in people
"It’s crucial that we make time for blue sky thinking." Sophie Handford imagines Paekākāriki in 50 years. The second in our series of stories by young residents on what we will, or could look like in the future. Images by Louve Pharand-Doucet. Louve Pharand-Doucet Paekākāriki is a special … [Read more...] about Plant seeds in people
The Lockdown Alphabet
Covid-19 punished many in the arts sector and yet it's art that we rest on and return to during crises. Paekākāriki printmaker Joe Buchanan of Diatom Press captured the human response from his garden studio resulting in an extraordinary series of hand-cut lino and letterpress prints. Drawing on his … [Read more...] about The Lockdown Alphabet
Diamond in the rough: One Eye Gallery
Gary Freemantle reflects on the time when Paekākāriki hosted a nationally acclaimed contemporary art gallery with a foreword by Mark Amery. New Zealand's regions are full of galleries representing the work of local artists. Rarer outside the cities are contemporary art gallery managers … [Read more...] about Diamond in the rough: One Eye Gallery
Paekākāriki Xpressed 2001-2011
Before there was Paekākāriki.nz there was Paekākāriki Xpressed. Paekākāriki Informed Community Incorporated have been publishers of both. It has been our inspiration: an award-winning community newspaper we consider, with total bias, to be one of the finest ever printed. Remarkably, it was packed … [Read more...] about Paekākāriki Xpressed 2001-2011
The last years of the Paekākāriki Pub
A photo essay from 2004 by photographer Andrew Ross with text by Mark Amery. This hotel no longer stands, yet it remains shimmering there in the mind's eye on Beach Road. Fully occupied with stories. Stories of wild nights, sunny afternoons, and crazy rides in and out of Paekākāriki town. … [Read more...] about The last years of the Paekākāriki Pub