Kapiti Coast

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The Kapiti Coast (formerly known as The Golden Coast) is the name of the section of the coast of the south-western North Island of New Zealand North of Wellington and opposite Kapiti Island. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Regional Council.

The district stretches from Paekakariki in the south to Otaki in the north. It includes the towns of Te Horo, Waikanae, Paraparaumu, Raumati Beach, and Raumati South, and smaller localities such as Maungakotukutuku, Otaihanga, and Peka Peka. Along the thin coastal plains at the foot of the Tararua Ranges, the Kapiti Coast in common parlance also includes the neighbouring areas south to Plimmerton to the north of Porirua Harbour, and in the north includes some of the coastal areas of Horowhenua such as Waikawa Beach and even Hokio Beach, close to Lake Horowhenua. Kapiti Coast District extends inland to the top of the Tararua Ranges, whereas in the public perception the inland hill country is rarely considered as part of the coast. Kapiti is possibly most famous for its island, Kapiti Island. This is a bird sanctuary, and a recommended place to visit (a permit is required). Kapiti Island figured in Peter Jackson's movie "King Kong" with the scenes approaching the lost island of King Kong shot in the waters between Raumati Beach and the island.

This small area has made some serious contributions in feature films and TV. Andrew Niccol "Gattaca" (writer, director), "Lord of War" (writer), "The Terminal" (writer) and "The Truman Show" (writer) was born in Paraparaumu in 1964. Peter Jackson ("Lord of the Rings," "King Kong") is from Pukerua Bay and went to high school at Kapiti College in Raumati Beach. Another young actor, James Ashcroft (occasional appearances in Battlestar Galactica), was born in Paraparaumu and has acted in numerous TV productions.

During the filming of the third episode of "Lord of the Rings", "The Return of the King," some of the seminal battle scenes in the fields in front of Minas Tirith were shot in part at Queen Elizabeth Park between Paraparaumu and Paekakariki. The park was the location of Camps McKay and Russell, where the US Army and Marines were stationed in 1942-44 prior to being sent into Pacific battle.

History of US Military in New Zealand

Kapiti Coast web page with maps

Kapiti means "joining" or "boundary" - the island was at one time the boundary between the rohe (territories) of two Māori iwi.

The Kapiti Coast is well-known for its cheeses and other products from Lindale. One of the Southern Hemisphere's largest car collections is at the Southward Car Museum in Otaihanga, and a popular ridable miniature railway operates in Raumati Marine Gardens.