Ngauranga
Encyclopedia
Ngauranga is a suburb of New Zealand
's capital city, Wellington
, in the lower North Island
. Situated on the western bank of Wellington Harbour
, it lies to the north of the centre of the city. It is a Maori
name meaning "the landing place", and the original spelling was "Nga-Uranga". The Ngauranga Railway Station
was known as "Ngahauranga" when it opened in 1874.
It is lightly populated, and for statistical purposes is divided into Ngauranga East and Ngauranga West by Statistics New Zealand
. At the 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
, Ngauranga West registered a population of zero, while Ngauranga East had a population of 39. This represented an increase of 18.2% or 6 people since the previous census in 1996.
The low population is due to Ngauranga's rugged terrain. It includes the Ngauranga Gorge
, through which State Highway 1
passes on its route out of Wellington to Porirua
and the west coast. To the east, State Highway 2
runs wedged between hills and Wellington Harbour on its route from Wellington to the Hutt Valley, Wairarapa
, and beyond.
Alongside State Highway 2 is the Hutt Valley Line portion of the Wairarapa Line
railway, which includes a station
in Ngauranga served by frequent commuter trains. The North Island Main Trunk Railway also passes through Ngauranga, via two tunnels of the Tawa Flat deviation
, with a bridge between them crossing the Ngauranga Gorge.
The small amount of usable land in Ngauranga is primarily used for commercial and industrial activity, though there are some houses on the hill overlooking the motorway.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's capital city, Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, in the lower North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
. Situated on the western bank of Wellington Harbour
Wellington Harbour
Wellington Harbour is the large natural harbour at the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island. New Zealand's capital, Wellington, is on the western side of Wellington Harbour. The harbour was officially named Port Nicholson until it assumed its current name in the 1980s.In Māori the harbour is...
, it lies to the north of the centre of the city. It is a Maori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
name meaning "the landing place", and the original spelling was "Nga-Uranga". The Ngauranga Railway Station
Ngauranga Railway Station
thumb|left|The [[North Island Main Trunk]] line crossing the Hutt Road to enter the first tunnel of the [[Tawa Flat deviation]]. Ngauranga station is in the background, alongside [[State Highway 1 |State Highway 1]]....
was known as "Ngahauranga" when it opened in 1874.
It is lightly populated, and for statistical purposes is divided into Ngauranga East and Ngauranga West by Statistics New Zealand
Statistics New Zealand
Statistics New Zealand is the national statistical office of New Zealand.-Organisation:New Zealand's Minister of Statistics is Maurice Williamson who serves as a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives and holds several other posts within government...
. At the 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
, Ngauranga West registered a population of zero, while Ngauranga East had a population of 39. This represented an increase of 18.2% or 6 people since the previous census in 1996.
The low population is due to Ngauranga's rugged terrain. It includes the Ngauranga Gorge
Ngauranga Gorge
The Ngauranga Gorge is in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. State Highway 1 runs through the gorge, a vital link between Wellington City and the Kapiti Coast and the main route north out of Wellington. It is 2 kilometres long and has a grade of approximately 8%...
, through which State Highway 1
State Highway 1 (New Zealand)
State Highway 1 is the longest and most significant road in the New Zealand roading network, running the length of both main islands. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the...
passes on its route out of Wellington to Porirua
Porirua
Porirua is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand, immediately north of the city of Wellington, with their central business districts 20 km apart. A large proportion of the population commutes to Wellington, so it may be considered a satellite city. It almost completely surrounds...
and the west coast. To the east, State Highway 2
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
runs wedged between hills and Wellington Harbour on its route from Wellington to the Hutt Valley, Wairarapa
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
, and beyond.
Alongside State Highway 2 is the Hutt Valley Line portion of the Wairarapa Line
Wairarapa Line
The Wairarapa Line is a secondary railway line in the south-east of the North Island of New Zealand, connecting the capital city of Wellington with the Wairarapa region. The line ends at Woodville, where it joins the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line...
railway, which includes a station
Ngauranga Railway Station
thumb|left|The [[North Island Main Trunk]] line crossing the Hutt Road to enter the first tunnel of the [[Tawa Flat deviation]]. Ngauranga station is in the background, alongside [[State Highway 1 |State Highway 1]]....
in Ngauranga served by frequent commuter trains. The North Island Main Trunk Railway also passes through Ngauranga, via two tunnels of the Tawa Flat deviation
Tawa Flat deviation
The Tawa Flat deviation is a double-track section of the North Island Main Trunk Railway just north of Wellington, New Zealand. It includes two tunnels, Tawa No. 1 and Tawa No. 2 , separated by the Ngauranga Gorge. No. 2 tunnel passes under Newlands and comes out at Glenside, on the way to Tawa...
, with a bridge between them crossing the Ngauranga Gorge.
The small amount of usable land in Ngauranga is primarily used for commercial and industrial activity, though there are some houses on the hill overlooking the motorway.