Innovative Capital - History - Wellington

The earliest name for Wellington, from Maori legend, is 'Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui', or 'the head of Maui's fish'. Caught and pulled to the surface by the Polynesian navigator Maui, the fish became the North Island.

Polynesian Exploration

The Polynesian voyagers Kupe and Ngahue are credited with the first discovery of Wellington when they camped at the southern end of the harbour 1000 years ago.

Later visitors were Tara and Tautoki, the sons of Whatonga from the Mahia Peninsula, whose encouraging reports led Whatonga to establish a settlement here. Thus the area became known as 'Te Whanganui-a-Tara' (the great harbour of Tara), which is still one of the Maori names for Wellington.

People have visited and lived here since the 10th century but Wellington's establishment dates from the mid-nineteenth century.

European Arrival

In 1839, when the first European settlers arrived by ship in Wellington harbour, they found a number of Maori settlements on its shores. These were predominantly of the Taranaki Whanui and Ngati Toa tribes who, because of their continuous occupation and rights through ohaki (gifting) and conquest, remain the recognised tangata whenua (people of the land) of Wellington.

St Gerard's Monastery - one of Wellington's most distinctive landmarks

The new arrivals founded the planned town of Wellington in 1840. In 1865, it was made the capital, and Wellington has been the centre of New Zealand government ever since. One of its early innovations was to set aside extensive parklands around the town, now called the Town Belt. City status was conferred on Wellington in 1886.

Capital

As the capital, Wellington has been at the heart of many of New Zealand's groundbreaking social and economic reforms.

In 1840, Wellington was a leader in the 40-hour week movement introduced as a result of the stand of an immigrant carpenter, a movement that took another 100 years to become standard in other places. In 1893, New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant women the vote.

There have been numerous other State-led innovations over the past century - from the sweeping social welfare reforms of the 1930s to the radical economic restructuring of the 1980s and early 1990s. Each in its time was much studied and admired abroad. Wellington's public service continues this tradition today.

Commerce

Throughout its history, Wellington has also been a city of commerce, with a busy port and airport, and thriving industrial and commercial sector. The opening up of the economy to international competition in the 1980s led to the loss of many heavy manufacturing enterprises. In their place, new sunrise industries have appeared including 'Wellywood' - New Zealand's film capital where Peter Jackson has state-of-the-art film production facilities.

Today, Wellington retains its reputation for independent thinking, bold change and intelligent stewardship of the nation's interests.

Polynesian Exploration

European Arrival

Capital

Commerce

Related Links