Super fancy public toilets

This one time in Courtenay Place, I used the super fancy public toilets and almost cried because the toilet was so hi-tech, that it started telling me how long I had before it unlocked and displayed itself as 'vacant!'

My Grandfather the toll man

My grandfather worked in [the] Wellington toll office. So cool to see his penmanship in the book, showing when ships berthed.

Family ties to King Street

My name is Lily. A few years ago my dad told me that King street in Petone is named after my relatives from years ago.

A day to mimic the occassion

My husband and I got married at Knox Church, Lower Hutt in September 1999. We had our photos on the Petone waterfront. It was a stunning day with blue clear sky and warm wind. The harbour and the hills looked amazing - Wellington at its best.
 

The wide open spaces of Eketahuna

My story began in Surrey, UK. It's current chapter centres around Eketahuna, just north of Wairarapa. Me and my family have space & freedom, so often missing in our world, and we have the wonderful city of Wellington to visit. Kia Ora!

Urban penguins

Once I found what I believed to be a very sick penguin under the city bridge. I called almost every animal related organisation and only the SPCA answered. They wanted me to bring the bird to its Newtown branch but the only available transport was a bus. In the end, I found out that penguins just nest and sleep from time to time (under bridges).

Downhill ice-creams

I used to drive a Mr Whippy van and would sometimes put my mountain bike in it and drive up to the wind turbine, hand out snow cones to other bikers and then take on the awesome downhill.

Seeing the Wahine go down

10 April 1968. Aged 12 living in Eastb[ourne], Muritai Rd, when the Wahine sunk and watching out [the] upstairs lounge window as landrovers, ambulances and cars drove past with legs of people hanging out the back. Going to Muritai School on Tues[day] morning the school hall smelling of fear and death.

Days Bay and Summer

Living in Eastbourne and spending summers at Days Bay. Going in moth yachts over to Ward Island with our young male friends (age 11, 12, 13). The thrill of jumping off the Days Bay Wharf and riding our push bikes around Eastbourne and the bays.

Bumpy applause

Flying into Welly from CH-CH in a howling northerly, a tad lumpy and bumpy and when the pilot touched down after 1[sic] aborted attempt and two bounces, the plane passengers and crew erupted in applause. My 5-yr old said 'better than a roller-coaster...

Taking on the mighty wind

I'm a Wellingtonian. On Thursday 21 July 2013, I was nearly blown away in the storm. I was outside Te Papa at 7.15pm and complete strangers linked arms so we could all prevail against the mighty winds of 180-200kph.

New World Orphan

When I was 8 my Mum left me at Whitby New World and drove home without me. I walked home the 4km and she laughed when I walked in and said she left me at the shops.

A stormy wedding

My sister was supposed to get married on 21/6/13 but then the worst [storm] since the Wahine storm happened, and the wedding had to be postponed. They made the paper twice though!

Perfecting hill-starts

I learnt to drive a manual car in Wellington. You get real good at hill-starts real quick. Some of my friends back home still can't do them properly.

Botanical Gardens - a favourite

My favourite place to play in Wellington is [in] the Botanical Gardens because two people can play on the slide in one go.

Antinatal and the storm

The Wellington storm hit, and the two of us, soon to be the three of us were at an antinatal class in Porirua. The wind blew and the room shook and still we listened... We did think that hopefully Matilda won't arrive tonight...

A city by the sea where the wind blows constantly.

Being here for several months I fell in love with this small city with a lot of heart. Sharing this city with the love of my life now is just a dream made real. Only in Wellington.

The headmasters uniform

When I was in college I attended Queen Margaret College. The uniform was more pleasing to the eye back in the day. We all loved it. Now it needs updating!

The Dase cafie (Days Bay Cafe)

Last weekend me, mum, dad and my sister went to the Dase cafie (Days Bay Cafe), we had a wodful (wonderful) time.

Whitby's remarkable tunnels

I used to go visit my dad and siblings in Whitby. I would go for long walks through the tunnels under the roads. There are so many pathways and tunnels that you can just about walk from one side of Whitby to the other without crossing the street!

Appreciation of fine things

I love museums because there were crown jewels and on the crowns had sparkly gems. They had gold.

30 visits, and only 3 years old

Georgia and Alex love coming to the Museum of Wellington City and Sea. They are 6 and 3 years old respectively. In that time they must have come here 30 times! Their favourites are the cat who waves his tail at the rat, the captain's cabin, the rope-pull and the diving suit. They also love the new art centre where they draw pictures.

Kids on the wharf

When we were kids our dad worked as a fisherman off the Seaway birthed at Queens Wharf. They worked away for a week or more at a time. When they came in they would spend a day unloading and we kids would play on the wharves - it gave mum a break!

The University of Oriental Bay

Before I moved to Wellington to live, I thought the big church above Oriental Bay was actually a University... Now I know that it is a church.

Hataitai School

Hataitai School was set up because Roseneath School had too many pupils.

A sheltered life back home

 

I am Filipino-Chinese, born and raised in the Philippines. I had a sheltered life back home, my family is rich. I never learned how to cook, to wash the dishes, to ride public transportation or wash my clothes. 

I left my country about a month ago and I've been learning all these things since then. It's hard, but now I live in a foreign country, meeting a lot of interesting people and I am happy and contented [sic].

A New Years Eve rescue

On new years eve my partner jumped off a wharf in the dark to rescue a lady from drowning - he managed to get her to safety and she recovered... he was a bit tired after and keeps resolving to do more swimming and get fitter.

Remembering the Lyttleton ferry

It's so lovely to be in Wellington and come to this wonderful museum. I remember many sailings on the ferry to Lyttleton - it was always rough, but the tea and biscuits were good!

The place people seldom go...

 The best parts of Wellington are the places people seldom go. Walk in the hills and you'll see what I see.

Red brick houses of Kiln Street

There is a street in Silverstream called Kiln Street where all the houses are identical and built of red brick. This is where all the workers from the old brick factory used to live.

Grumpy Scot's

My friend and I are two young girls from Scotland who have been traveling for a few months. We were in Tauranga, ran out of money and had no jobs. 

We drove the 10 hours straight to Wellington. We were tired and feeling helpless. We argued all the way - right down Vivian Street - Grumpy guts. We were sure we were going to hate it here, but we've been here for 5 months now, and love the place and the people more than ever!