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History of the waterfront area

There’s been land reclamation, earthquakes and the building of a working port crucial to the economic life of Wellington; then the transformation of the area into a key recreational, social and cultural asset that gives the harbour city its heart.

Māori history

Long before Europeans settled in Wellington, the waterfront area was the centre of local Māori life.

Colonial times

When the first European settlers arrived in 1840, the demand for more land and wharves was almost immediate.

More recent history: the 1970s–1980s

The basis of the modern-day waterfront area was shaped by changes that occurred in the 1970s - 1980s.

Waterfront reclamation

Much of Wellington waterfront is reclaimed land.

Waterfront stories

The waterfront area was host to a number of historical events and characters.