Rockfall on Johnsonville line

A rockfall near Wadestown closed the Johnsonville line between the city and Ngaio from 6am on Monday, 9 January. Heavy rain on Sunday caused the slip. The line reopened late Tuesday afternoon.

Read more about the slip – Dominion Post:

Train line closed after slip

Train services disrupted for a second day

Johnsonville line slip cleared

Ngaio town hall gets a facelift

Ngaio Town hall is being repainted this month.

If you want to know how Ohariu electoral candidates fared in each polling booth, check the Electoral Commission’s website.

Earlier this year, Ngaio School gala raised $70 000 for earthquake-hit schools in Christchurch. Some of the money went to South New Brighton School.

This week, some people from Ngaio School went to a “thank-you” ceremony at South New Brighton School  The school isn’t sure what the money will be used for yet – but it may repair their adventure playground.

Read more about Ngaio School’s visit to Christchurch (The Press, 27 October 2011)

The spring flowers are out all over Ngaio – but winter still had a sting in its tail!

It started snowing in Ngaio on the afternoon of Sunday 14 August. Soon after, the valley was filled with the sound of laughter. Then it got colder… Next day, the hills were beautiful.

Snowing in Ngaio, 14 Aug 2011

Snow in Makererua St, 14 Aug 2011

Towards the Crows Nest, 14 Aug 2011

Snow on Crofton Downs hills, 15 Aug 2011

Snow on Ngaio Hills 2, 15 Aug 2011

Snow on Ngaio Hills 3, 15 Aug 2011

The snowy roofs of Ngaio, 16 August 2011

The kids have been out and having fun in the snow.

Snowmen of Ngaio 16 Aug 2011

Snowmen of Ngaio 16 Aug 2011

Ngaio's war memorial plaque

The carpark opposite Ngaio’s town hall has a small memorial to local soldiers killed during the two world wars. Ngaio Progressive Association donated the two plaques in 1959.

Several weeks ago a resident discovered one plaque had disappeared, presumably stolen. Wellington City Council has now cast and installed a replacement.

NZ History has more about the memorial.

Statistics about Ngaio and Crofton Downs are now available on Wellington City Council’s Community Profile website.

They show Ngaio’s population increased slightly between 1996 and 2006, because new dwellings were built. We have more people in the younger age groups (0-17) than Wellington overall but fewer older people (60+).

Key statistics about Ngaio

Key statistics about Crofton Downs

North and South article

The Great Railway House Bazaar

In the 1920s the Railways Department built a housing settlement in Tarikaka Street, Ngaio. It is now a heritage area.

In the late 1980s, the NZ Railways Corporation (NZRC) sold off their housing stock. Most went to an Auckland investment company.

A feature article in December’s North and South by local historian Peter Dyer tells how the tenants managed to negotiate a separate contract with NZRC. This meant most people could buy their own homes and keep their community intact.

Wellington writer Peter Dyer uncovers information on a major asset sale that has never before been revealed.

In the mid-to-late 1980s, many Railways tenants were forced to leave their houses. But one community in Ngaio managed to successfully challenge the Rogernomics juggernaut. (North and South, Dec 2010)

Read more on Scoop, Untold story of the sale of Ngaio railway houses, 13 Nov 2010