Events In History
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20 June 1943US Navy tragedy at PaekākārikiTen United States Navy personnel were drowned off Paekākāriki near Wellington during a beach landing exercise. Read more...
Articles
US Forces in New Zealand
Seventy years ago, in June 1942, the first American soldiers landed on New Zealand soil, to begin an 'invasion' which would have a profound impact on both visitors and hosts over the next 18 months.
- Page 4 - The campsAmerican life in New Zealand between 1942 and 1944 was centred on the camps. Most of these were to be found within marching distance or a short train journey from Wellington or
Township on the narrow coastal strip on the Kapiti Coast, 42km north-east of Wellington.
Meaning of place name
Pae: perch or snare; kākāriki: parakeet. There is a legend to the effect that Haupipi, pursuing his wife, came to a rock barrier at the end of the beach. This gave the name to the locality. He drove his taiaha in the cliff, made a hole through it and came out the other side, where he found his wife.
