Pukerua Bay

Pukerua Bay is a small sea-side community at the southern end of the Kapiti Coast, New Zealand. In local government terms it is the northernmost suburb of Porirua City. It is 12 km north of the Porirua City Centre on State Highway 1, and 30 km north of central Wellington, and has two train stops along the main trunk railway line. The original railway station was "Pukerua" until changed because of confusion with "Pukerau" in the South Island.

Related Topics:
Kapiti Coast - New Zealand - Porirua - Porirua City Centre - Wellington - South Island

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The majority of Pukerua Bay's residential area is situated in a saddle between hills, about 60-80m above sea level, offering sea views (and views of Kapiti Island in the north) from most houses. The coast around Pukerua Bay is fairly steep, with only a few houses nestled behind the two sandy beach areas. There are two walks between Pukerua Bay and Plimmerton (5 km south), one around the rocky coast, and one inland (part of a longer cycleway) along the railway.

Related Topics:
Kapiti Island - Plimmerton

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Pukerua Bay is perhaps internationally best known as the birthplace of film director Peter Jackson. Jackson's first film, Bad Taste, was filmed there.

Related Topics:
Peter Jackson - Bad Taste

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A prominent current resident is poet Alistair Campbell.

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According to Statistics New Zealand, the community's population was 1,692 people in 2001, and there were 89 businesses. Pukerua Bay has a Kindergarten, a pre-school, and the Pukerua Bay School, which caters for ages 5-12.

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In Māori, the word pukerua literally means two hills.

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