| Karori | |
|---|---|
| Basic information | |
| Local authority | Wellington City |
| Date established | 1840 |
| Population | 14,013[1] (2006) |
| Facilities | |
| Surrounds | |
| Northeast | Wilton |
| East | Northland |
| Southeast | Highbury, Taitville |
| Northwest | Makara |
Karori is a suburb located at the western edge of the urban area of Wellington, New Zealand, some 4 km from the city centre.
Karori is significantly larger than most other Wellington suburbs, having a population of over 14,000 at the time of the 2006 census.[1]
Before the arrival of European settlers, the valley of Karori was considered to be good hunting grounds for various types of birds. The name Karori is believed to derive from a Māori term related to snares.
The first settlers came to Karori in 1840, having bought the land from the New Zealand Company. Karori was originally established as a separate settlement, not an extension of Wellington proper. As such, it had a separate political existence, and was officially established as a borough in 1891. Both Wellington and Karori expanded towards each other, the two urban areas becoming gradually connected (aided by the construction of the Karori tunnel in 1901), and the Borough of Karori was amalgamated into the City of Wellington in 1920.[2]
Karori is home to ZEALANDIA (formerly called the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary), an enclosed restoration project focusing on the flora and fauna that inhabited the valley before human settlement. Other conservation activities in Karori are undertaken by FROKS - Friends and Residents of Karori Stream.[3] a volunteer group restoring the banks of Karori Stream. Several other parks and reserves can be found on the hills surrounding Karori, as well as the headwaters of the Kaiwharawhara Stream.[4] Wrights Hill Fortress, a network of tunnels and gun emplacements overlooking the valley, is an important historical site.
The centre of Karori contains a shopping mall, new public library and café, and other amenities. Karori is also home to a campus of Victoria University of Wellington, formerly the Wellington College of Education, and Helen Lowry Hall of Residence. There are three state primary schools in Karori. St Teresa's School, which is an integrated school, serves the Catholic population of the suburb. Karori Normal School in Donald Street serves the eastern and central part of the suburb and Karori West Normal School in Allington Road, serving the western end of the suburb. All three schools are ranked as high decile schools by the New Zealand Ministry of Education. Karori Normal School, founded in 1857, is one of the largest primary schools in New Zealand. The author Katherine Mansfield attended the school from 1895-98 and there is a memorial to her at the school, located in front of a tree she wrote about in one of her stories. Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, a private girls' school, is also in Karori.
The full length of Karori Road is served by the Karori Park trolley bus route, which replaced the former tram service in 1954. For many years vehicles ran as route 12 to Courtenay Place, but are now designated route 3 and through-routed to and from Lyall Bay via the city. The weekday service is every 10 minutes, the most-frequent of all Wellington routes.
Karori Cemetery is second largest cemetery in New Zealand. Opened in 1891, it replaced the cemetery at Bolton Street as the main burial ground for the inhabitants of Wellington. It covers 100 acres / 40 hectares. The Small Chapel contains excellent stained glass windows designed by Wilhelmina Geddes. Karori Cemetery "closed" in 1965 for the establishment of new burial plots but interments in established graves continues.
Futuna Chapel, located in Karori, is one of New Zealand's most significant pieces of 20th century architecture, having been recognised by the New Zealand Institute of Architects.