Naenae facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Naenae
Suburb
Naenae Location in New Zealand
Country	New Zealand
Local authority	Lower Hutt
Electoral ward	Eastern
Area
• Land	518 ha (1,280 acre)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	9,680
Train station(s)	Naenae Railway Station

	Naenae

Location in New Zealand Wellington

Naenae (pronounced nigh-nigh) is a suburb in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. It sits on the eastern side of the Hutt River floodplain. Naenae is about four kilometres from the main part of Lower Hutt.

A small river, the Waiwhetū Stream, flows through the suburb. Naenae is also about 20 kilometres from Wellington Central.

What Does the Name Naenae Mean?

The name Naenae comes from the Māori word for "mosquito" or "sandfly." People used to think this name was chosen because there were many mosquitoes in the area before it was drained.

However, the name Naenae might actually be a mistake. The original Māori name was likely Te Ngaengae. This means "to cause effect through rupture."

The Story of Te Ngaengae

The story of Te Ngaengae is linked to Māui, a famous figure in Māori legends. He is said to have pulled up the North Island, which was like a giant fish called Hāhā-te-Whenua. When his brothers cut the fish, they created mountains, lakes, and rivers.

There was once a freshwater lake where the Naenae cemetery is now. Two taniwha (mysterious creatures or spirits) lived in this lake. People were not allowed to go into the water because they would disappear.

One day, a child accidentally slipped into the lake. The two taniwha raced to get the child but ended up tearing each other apart. This event created two rivers: Waiwhetū and Te Awamutu. Some believe Te Ngaengae could refer to underwater volcanic activity, linking back to Māui's fish, Hāhā-te-Whenua, which relates to shifting plates under the water.

Where is Naenae Located?

Naenae is in a basin, which is like a bowl-shaped valley. It also covers the lower parts of the Eastern Hutt Hills. This area is part of where the Waiwhetū Stream gets its water.

The Waiwhetū Stream

The Waiwhetū Stream starts in the Eastern Hutt Hills, above Naenae and Wingate. Its water collection area is about 18 square kilometres.

The stream is about 9 kilometres long. It flows through other suburbs like Fairfield, Waterloo, and Waiwhetū. It also passes through industrial areas like Seaview and Gracefield. Finally, it flows into the Hutt River Te Awa Kairangi estuary, which then reaches Wellington Harbour.

Naenae's History

Before many European settlers arrived, the land around Naenae and Taitā was used for growing vegetables. These market gardens supplied food to the Wellington region.

After World War II ended in 1945, Lower Hutt began to grow quickly. The government at the time, led by Peter Fraser, chose Naenae to be a special "designer community." The idea was to create a model suburb with state houses (government-built homes) and a large shopping centre. This centre would be a social hub for the whole area.

Planners hoped this design would help families thrive. However, New Zealand was growing so fast that there was a huge need for homes. This meant the full plan for the community centre was only partly finished.

Building the Community

An Austrian architect named Ernst Plischke drew up plans for the new community centre in the early 1940s. But later, a government architect named Gordon Wilson changed the design a lot.

The Naenae Railway Station opened in 1946, right next to the shopping centre. This made it easy for people to travel.

The Naenae Post Office building, which opened in 1966, had a modern style. It was designed to look similar to the older, Art Deco style Post Office in Lower Hutt. The Naenae Post Office closed in 2016.

In the 1960s, some parts of Naenae were set aside for factories, but it mostly remained a place where people lived. At its busiest, Naenae had two factories with strong links to the Netherlands:

• Philips: This company made televisions and radios. The last TV from this factory was made in 1988.
• Rembrandt Suits: This company was started by Dutch tailors after World War II. It moved out of its Naenae factory in 2012.

Naenae's Swimming Pool

Naenae's shopping centre also had an Olympic-sized swimming pool. It was built when New Zealand hosted an international diving competition. The pool opened on November 10, 1956, and had three diving boards.

At first, the pool was outdoors. A roof was added in 1987, so people could use it all year. A water slide (hydroslide) was also built next to the main pool. At that time, it was the only place in Wellington with both a 50-metre pool and competition diving platforms.

The pool closed in April 2019 because of worries about earthquakes. In 2021, the Hutt City Council decided to spend $68 million to replace the pool. The government also provided $27 million in funding. The old pool was torn down in 2021 to make way for the new one.

In 2022, the old Community Hall was also demolished. The new Naenae Pool and Fitness Centre will have a 10-lane Olympic-sized pool. Other plans include updating the library, building a new community centre, and improving Walter Mildenhall park.

Who Lives in Naenae?

Naenae is made up of three statistical areas: Naenae Central, Naenae North, and Naenae South. It covers about 5.18 square kilometres.

In 2018, Naenae had a population of 8,700 people. This was an increase of 516 people since 2013. There were 2,913 households.

About 23.5% of the people were under 15 years old. The population included:

• 53.6% European/Pākehā
• 29.3% Māori
• 24.5% Pasifika
• 10.9% Asian
• 3.9% other ethnicities

About 23.1% of people were born outside New Zealand.

When asked about religion, 42.7% said they had no religion. Many were Christian (41.2%). Other religions included Māori religious beliefs, Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist.

About 14.2% of people aged 15 or older had a university degree or higher. About 46.5% of people aged 15 or older had full-time jobs.

Schools in Naenae

Naenae has four schools:

• Naenae School is a primary school for Year 1–6 students. It serves the southern part of the suburb.
• Rata Street School is another primary school for Year 1–6 students, serving the northern part of Naenae.
• St Bernadette's School is a Catholic school for Year 1–8 students.
• Wa Ora Montessori School is a Montessori school for Year 1–13 students.

Students in Year 7–8 (intermediate) and Year 9–13 (secondary) usually go to Naenae Intermediate School and Naenae College. Even though they have "Naenae" in their names, these schools are actually located in the nearby suburb of Avalon.

Famous People from Naenae

Many notable people have grown up or lived in Naenae, including: