Lucky no. 34!

My house was built in 1934 and the house number is 34!

My little Bulls

I've lived in Bulls my whole life and I've learnt all the stories about my little town and watched people come and go from my little park bench at school, drawing pictures of people as they go! Alison, age 13.

My first snowman!

18 July 2013.
It snowed in Wellington. It was so awesome. It was August 2011. I got to make my first snowman yay yay. We tabogganed down the street. Shout out to Kelly my bff.

Rangiātea Church

Te rauporaha gave poaro pohoteraha and honoiti ranapiri (my tupuna) his sword and asked them to build Rangiatia Church in Ōtaki. [sic]

Visiting dad

Our family is visiting Wellington from Christchurch. We are here to visit my dad buried at Taita Cemetery. What a beautiful city full of character and life. Brooke.

Grandparent tales

I am a visitor from Liverpool in the UK. in 1953, my grandfather and grandmother worked as a driver and a conductor on the city trams, and stayed until 1961. I have always remembered their stories of living here, and the kindness of the family who housed them. It means more than money or gold to me, to see the city they loved so.

Kilbirnie Pool!

Kilbirnie Pool! Kilbirnie Pools is cool! I like it. Me and my dad go there aaaaaaaaaall the time and we play splash together!! Bela (one l).

Waterfront memories

 

My name is Sarah. I was born in Thailand but I now live in Wellington. The waterfront is my favourite place in Wellington. My dad takes me on walks and we would always end up buying ice-cream!

One-way navigation

Hello! My story relates to the crazy 1[one]-way roads in Welly... I ended up driving in a bus lane twice! Aaaaah! It was sad.

Shortest stay ever in a hotel

Down from Rotorua. Felt the earthquake in a hotel on the 11th floor. The building shook, then swayed. The shortest stay ever of about 10 seconds in a hotel. Love Wellington Maritime Museum, Deanna.
  

Tasting both sides of the law

My grandfather, Alfred Saunders, was one of the first off the boats settling Nelson, as well as the first judge and then prisoner when he disagreed with the law. 

Toffee pops and french cheese

 

In the 70s, we sometimes visited from ChCh [Christchurch] - my uncle and aunt lived in a big Welly villa. They had chandeliers and ate Toffee Pops after dinner. They were into French cheese and Beaujolais. They were marvelous!

A historic wedding today!

Our names are Tracey and Jason. We are in Wellington for the first Australian-same sex marriage to take place in NZ. Our best friends, Trent and Paul, will marry in 2 days at Te Papa. We are [a] brides-maid and best-man and could not be more proud. Thank you NZ for making this possible for our beautiful friends. Forever grateful 17.08.13.
     

Suspicious activity down Oriental Parade

Well, I'm named after a bird and no-one will let me forget it! Better a tui than a kakapo! Funniest thing that's happened to me since I moved here has to be moving a TV back to where we lived by carrying it from Oriental Parade - very suspicious-looking!

The best beach!

Titahi Bay. My story is about the land of the long white cloud [and] the best family spot in Wellington. Titahi Bay beach was the best beach to grow up on, the boat-sheds were iconic and an important part of my childhood. Long live the land of the long white cloud.

Shorts in winter?!

I moved here from Wales and I remember being shocked at all the students [wearing] shorts, even in the dead of winter! I also thought that 'mufti' meant scarf, so on Mufti Day in summer, you can guess how they laughed at me!

Family spuds and onions

My Poppa moved to the Hutt Valley with his parents and brother in the early 1900's (from Italy). He was a market gardener in the Hutt and after World War One, he moved to Levin where he continued growing spuds and onions. My family still grows spuds and onions in the Levin area.

Wahine naming

April is my birthday which is the day [month] the Wahine sank in the Wellington harbour. My middle name is 'Wahine'. I am 5 yrs old.

Unwelcome alarms

This is my second day in Wellington, never been before. Loving it so far, just not the aftershocks waking me up in the night, very scary! One to tell the grand-kids that's for sure. off to Queenstown next, stay safe Wellingtonians x

Eyes down at the monastery

In November 1983 I had afternoon tea at St. Gerade's Monastery. We sat in the window seat and looked out at the wonderful view. I was then taken on a personalised guided tour - everywhere! The kitchen, the chapel and even where the brothers slept! I was told by my guide to 'keep my eyes down!' as I was probably the first Protestant woman to visit!

Shakes and shouts

On Sunday there was a ginormous earthquake. I was just chilling on the couch, when suddenly, a monstrous earthquake shook our house. 'Go under the table!!' I shouted to my brother Flynn and we held there for what seemed like a million years.

Flat tyre or earthquake?

Hi I'm Flynn. A. Rand. Last Sunday, the day of the 'double earthquake' - the one in the morning, I went under the table. The second one, I was in the car and dad thought we had a flat tire and he stopped. It was still shaking so he guessed it was an earthquake. That night I was too busy freaking out about earthquakes that I couldn't go to sleep!

Wellington taniwha

2 Taniwhas [sic] lived in a lake that's now the Wellington harbour.

What you can't see...

When Dame Cath Tizard officially opened Onslow College's new gym, there was not time to complete the building. Only the walls she could see were painted!

A rare snowfall

It snowed in Wellington on August 2011. Storm hits [sic] Northern Suburbs - scary, freaky!!

Wrong gate

Once we were going to Queenstown and we heard a flight announcement. We gave the lady our boarding passes. What we didn't realise is that the line was to fly to Auckland! Whoops!

Downhill learning

My name is Dave. I won the Bennetts-Hurley Award for top student at Berhampore School in 1974. It was all downhill from there. 1974: brainy. 2013: Dumb.

Lost at Te Papa

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Once I got lost in Te Papa. It was very scary & slightly exciting. Eventually the staff found me & contacted my parents. I was lost for around 10 minutes.

Sharing the good word like Samuel

We came to Wellington to share the good news of Jesus with people here. I (Ben) came from the same village that 199 yrs ago, Samuel Marsden came from in England. He was the first missionary to NZ - he brought 'Good news [&] great joy for all people' which was that 'Jesus came into the world to save sinners.'

The octopus bully

 I broke my arm on an octopus in the Botanic Gardens in 2004 when I was 2. It hurt :(

More on Maui

Maui's waka is the South Island of NZ - he used his jaw bone to fish up the North Island. 
Te upoko o te ika a Maui - The head of the fish that Maui caught.