Paraparaumu

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Paraparaumu

Population:	22,000 (urban area) (2001)
Territorial Authority
Kapiti Coast District

Paraparaumu Airport

Paraparaumu 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. (Commonly abbreviated to "Para-PAram" by longer-term, particularly residents of European ethnicity and simply "Pram" by local youth; "Para-para-OO-moo" is closer to the native Maori pronunciation.)

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 in excess of 22,000.[1] 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 is one of the fastest growing towns in New Zealand, and is second only to Porirua in the lesser Wellington district in terms of population.

[edit] 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

[edit] 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.

The Overlander passenger train stops: (North Island Main Trunk Railway)
Auckland (Britomart) \| Middlemore \| Papakura \| Pukekohe \| Hamilton \| Otorohanga \| Te Kuiti \| Taumarunui \| National Park \| Ohakune \| Marton \| Feilding \| Palmerston North \| Levin \| Paraparaumu \| Porirua \| Wellington (Railway Station)

Capital Connection passenger train stops: (North Island Main Trunk Railway)
Palmerston North \| Paraparaumu \| Porirua \| Wellington (Railway Station)