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HomeNgā Kaupapa | What's OnThings to do in KāpitiHeritage TrailPaekākārikiCentennial Highway
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Centennial Highway

Te Reo

 

The man in the foreground is thought to be J R McLauchlan, the contractor whose truck is seen on the right. Behind him are Joe Ropata, Reg Fielding and Fred Strand putting "chips" on the road surface for Centennial Highway, 1939.
HP 1091 J Beattie Collection, Kāpiti Coast District Libraries

Location: 29 SH1, Paekākāriki

Centennial Highway was officially opened on 4 November 1939. It extends from Ngauranga Gorge to the southern-most end of Paekākāriki and was built to replace the Paekākāriki Hill Road.

While many of the workers on the road came from the local area, public works camps were also established. These included one at Plimmerton on the eastern side of the railway line and one at Taua Tapu near Airlie Road. The workers at these camps were responsible for the construction of the road alongside the Taupo Swamp, through Pukerua Bay and along the coast to Paekākāriki. A one mile long coastal seawall was constructed as part of this project. The workers faced two major challenges; digging down to 20 feet to find solid ground next to the Taupo Swamp and working night and day on the coast to construct the seawall then back filling it to create a platform for the road. This challenging work took three years to complete.

Photo gallery

Click the thumbnail to enlarge the image.

Caterpillar Diesel Bulldozer And Work Gang 1939 Caterpillar Diesel Bulldozer And Work Gang 1939 Crowds At Official Opening Of Centennial Highway 1939 Crowds At Official Opening Of Centennial Highway 1939 Laying Drainage System At Centennial Highway Pukerua Bay 1938 Laying Drainage System At Centennial Highway Pukerua Bay 1938 Men Working On Road Surface For Centennial Highway 1939 Men Working On Road Surface For Centennial Highway 1939 Sea Wall Boxing 1938 Sea Wall Boxing 1938 Work Gang Involved In Centennial Highway Construction 1938 Work Gang Involved In Centennial Highway Construction 1938
Caterpillar Diesel Bulldozer And Work Gang 1939 - Thumbnail
Crowds At Official Opening Of Centennial Highway 1939 - Thumbnail
Laying Drainage System At Centennial Highway Pukerua Bay 1938 - Thumbnail
Men Working On Road Surface For Centennial Highway 1939 - Thumbnail
Sea Wall Boxing 1938 - Thumbnail
Work Gang Involved In Centennial Highway Construction 1938 - Thumbnail

Download a brochure

Click on a link below to download or print a copy of each heritage trail brochure.

Ōtaki and Te Horo[PDF 2.41 MB] 
Waikanae[PDF 2.51 MB] 
Paraparaumu[PDF 1.67 MB] 
Paekākāriki[PDF 1.41 MB] 

Related links

www.marinenz.com 
Museums

Supporters of the Kāpiti Coast Heritage Trail

Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti
Kapiti Pakeke Lions
Kapiti Historical Society
Otaki Historical Society

paraparaumu-library
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Kāpiti Coast District Council
175 Rimu Road
Private Bag 60601
Paraparaumu 5254

Phone: 04 296 4700
Toll free: 0800 486 486
Fax: 04 296 4830
[email protected]

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