Paraparaumu

Paraparaumu (typically pronounced "Para-para-oo-moo", although the correct pronunciation is "Para-pa-raow-moo" [In Maori vowels are run together, even when they are brought together by the creation of compound words. See for example [http://www.maorilanguage.info/mao_phon_desc1.html] ] ) is a town in the south-western North Island of New Zealand. It lies in the Kapiti Coast, 50 kilometres north of the nation's capital city, Wellington.

Like other towns in the area, it has a partner settlement at the coast called Paraparaumu Beach, which lies directly opposite Kapiti Island. The two towns form part of the Kapiti Coast District. Together with the nearby Raumati Beach and Raumati South they are among the fastest-growing urban areas in New Zealand, and are major dormitory towns with workers commuting to the cities that make up the Wellington urban area. The four towns between them have a population of over 25,000 people. [Kapiti Coast Distinct Council, Community Profile [http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/FEF38C62-2C46-47BA-929E-0E2207B08F91/39376/KapitiCoastCOMMUNITYPROFILE2006.pdf] ] Inland behind Paraparaumu is the Maungakotukutuku area.

Paraparaumu is home to the Kapiti Coast's largest secondary school, Paraparaumu College, with Kapiti College residing in nearby Raumati Beach and Otaki College in Otaki.

Paraparaumu was formerly represented in soccer by Paraparaumu United. They merged with the Kapiti Hearts in 2003 to create Kapiti Coast United, which is based at Weka Park in Raumati.

Paraparaumu means "scraps from an earth oven" in Māori. [Chris Maclean, "Wellington Places -- Kapiti Coast", Te Ara. [http://www.teara.govt.nz/Places/Wellington/WellingtonPlaces/15/en] ] It is commonly abbreviated to "Para-Param", particularly by longer-term residents of European ethnicity, and simply "Pram" by local youth.

Born in Paraparaumu

* Wayne McIndoe - Field Hockey Player
* Andrew Niccol - Film Director
* Christian Cullen - All Black
* Stephen Kearney - Rugby League Player
* John Henwood - Professional Runner, 2004 Olympian

Educated in Paraparaumu

* Peter Jackson at Kapiti College - Film Director

Paraparaumu Airport

Paraparaumu Airport is a popular recreational airfield and hosts the Kapiti Aero Club. Apart from fixed wing and glider training, local helicopter operator - Helipro carries out extensive helicopter pilot training.

Public Transport

Paraparaumu is located on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. It is the northern terminus of the electrified Wellington commuter railway network operated by Tranz Metro under the Metlink brand. This electrified portion between Wellington Railway Station and Paraparaumu Station is labelled the Paraparaumu Line, and proposals exist to extend the electrification and commuter services to Lindale and Waikanae. NZR EM class electric multiple units operate the commuter trains. Beyond Paraparaumu, Tranz Scenic operates two diesel-hauled long distance services: the Capital Connection between Palmerston North and Wellington, and the Overlander between Auckland and Wellington. Both trains stop at Paraparaumu.

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