Residents of Paekākāriki have recently confirmed the presence of Argentine ants in the village and they may have been here, spreading, for several years already. Argentine ants are an invasive species from, you guessed it, South America. They got to New Zealand from Australia via an unknown … [Read more...] about Invasive Argentine ants have established in Paekākāriki
The 1996 Paekākāriki Whale Stranding: A Poem
Nearly thirty years ago, on 17 March 1996, on one of the wildest day imaginable, three massive sperm whales / parāoa stranded along the length of Paekākāriki beach. This story is published on Reading Room. Paekākāriki storyteller and poet Apirana Taylor, recipient of the 2024 Prime Minister's … [Read more...] about The 1996 Paekākāriki Whale Stranding: A Poem
The Last Dance Band Gig in the old Paekākāriki Hotel
A Paekākāriki story set in the early 1970s when the village was still predominantly working class. The old pub was great. Denis Glover drank there. We had Bullocky Jack who used to clear sections, Squadron Leader Evett with his big Bomber Command moustache, and a little guy who'd sailed in … [Read more...] about The Last Dance Band Gig in the old Paekākāriki Hotel
Paekākāriki’s Legendary Book Fair 2025
We need your books! It’s that time of year again – the Paekākāriki Book Fair has been a regular July event for several years. We time it to coincide with school holidays as the children’s section is a highlight of the Fair. This year opening night, another highly anticipated community event, … [Read more...] about Paekākāriki’s Legendary Book Fair 2025
Paragliding and hang gliding Paekākāriki style
Members of the Wellington Hang Gliding & Paragliding Club have been flying the escarpment between the village and Pukerua Bay since 1973. Solomon Amery Zwartz and Sven Ericksen take us flying. "The steep, towering escarpment that cuts off Paekākāriki to the south," writes Solomon … [Read more...] about Paragliding and hang gliding Paekākāriki style
Te Āhuru Mōwai to Build 10 Rental Houses in Paekākāriki
Waipuna Grace, Press Release April 2025 Hui 6pm on Wednesday May 7th at St Peters Village Hall New Zealand’s largest Māori-owned Community Housing Provider (CHP), Te Āhuru Mōwai, is excited to announce the development of 10 new rental homes on Beach Rd, Paekākāriki. The project aims to increase the … [Read more...] about Te Āhuru Mōwai to Build 10 Rental Houses in Paekākāriki
ANZAC Day 2025 Memorial Address
Ian McGibbon, ONZM 25 April 2025 I am honoured to give the memorial address at this ceremony on the 110th anniversary of the Anzac landing at Gallipoli in 1915. It is important to recognise those who served and fell in this first major campaign fought by New Zealanders, and those that served … [Read more...] about ANZAC Day 2025 Memorial Address
ANZAC Day 2025: A glorious day for a commemoration
David Apare plays a conch and Rob Pearce carries a photo of his grandfather at the Paekākāriki ANZAC Day service. - Photo Bob ZuurOn a perfect autumn day in Paekākāriki, residents joined a parade of Scouts and Army personnel to march along the seafront to the Memorial Hall, where they were … [Read more...] about ANZAC Day 2025: A glorious day for a commemoration
Book review: Sea Change by Jenny Pattrick
When Jude asked me if I would review Jenny Pattrick's novel "Sea Change" a tsunami of anxiety washed over me. Hell's teeth! Jenny Pattrick! She's a cornerstone of that terrifying cohort of super-intelligent, over-achieving Paekākāriki wāhine toa and I'm well... just... So I read the book, or … [Read more...] about Book review: Sea Change by Jenny Pattrick
The ship in a bottle
In a ship-in-a-bottle tale, long-time Paekākāriki resident and former journalist Mark Te One gives us a glimpse of old village life through the story of a local character with a unique talent. More than a decade ago my wife Sarah and two friends were at the Paekakariki School Annual Fair, … [Read more...] about The ship in a bottle