Kapiti Coast District

Kāpiti Coast District
Territorial authority
Looking across Waikanae Beach to Kapiti Island
Country	New Zealand
Region	Wellington
District	Kāpiti Coast District
Wards	Otaki, Waikanae, Paraparaumu/Raumati, Paekakariki
Seat	Paraparaumu
Government
• Mayor	K Gurunathan
Area
• Total	731.25 km2 (282.34 sq mi)
Population (June 2016)
• Total	52,100
• Density	71/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zone	NZST (UTC+12)
• Summer (DST)	NZDT (UTC+13)
Postcode(s)	Map of postcodes
Website	District Council

The Kapiti Coast District is a local government district in the lower North Island of New Zealand 50 km north of Wellington.

The district is named after Kapiti Island a prominent landmark 5 km offshore. The population of the district is concentrated in the chain of coastal settlements along State Highway One: Otaki, Te Horo, Waikanae, Paraparaumu, Raumati and Paekakariki. Paraparaumu is the most populous of these towns and the commercial and administrative centre. Much of the rural land is given over to horticulture and market gardens are common along the highway between the settlements. Paraparumu has a small airport with daily scheduled flights to Auckland and across Cook Strait to Christchurch, Nelson and Blenheim.

The area available for agriculture and settlement is narrow and coastal. Much of the eastern part of the district is part of the Tararua Forest Park which covers the rugged Tararua Range, with peaks rising to over 1500 m.

The district is administered by the Kapiti Coast District Council, a local body elected by residents every three years. The council consists of a mayor and 10 councillors. Residents also elect a community board for their local area. There are four of these, each with four members: Otaki, Waikanae, Paraparaumu/Raumati and Paekakariki. The Wellington Regional Council (branded as Greater Wellington) is responsible for regional governance of the district including public transport, water and environmental management.

Apart from Kāpiti Island, perhaps the most visible features of the Kapiti Coast are Paraparaumu Airport and Queen Elizabeth Park. The airport is sandwiched between Paraparaumu (to the north) and Raumati (to the south). Possessing three runways (one of which is now closed), it once served as the main airport of the Wellington region, but was until recently used mainly by aeroclubs. In 2011 scheduled commercial flights from Kapiti to Auckland were resumed. The park, lying to the south of Raumati, is a popular attraction which covers some 12 km². The park extends to Paekakariki, and includes the Wellington Tramway Museum.