Today is Wellington
Day, Wellington being the capital of New Zealand. Here are some facts about the city you may not know.
- Wellington has been capital of New Zealand since 1865, when it replaced Auckland. It is the southernmost capital city in the world.
- Wellington is named after the first Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, the one who won the Battle of Waterloo. His title comes from the town of Wellington in the English county of Somerset. The Maori language has other names for the city. Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara is one, referring principally to the harbour, meaning "the great harbour of Tara". Another is Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Māui, meaning 'The Head of the Fish of Māui'. It also has a nickname: Windy Wellington, because it's often hit by gales coming up the Cook Straight.
- It's the second largest city in New Zealand (Auckland is first) with a population in 2016 of about 496,000.
- The city is home to New Zealand's national museum, which has the full name of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Te Papa Tongarewa means "the place of treasures of this land". However, it's generally called "Te Papa," or "Our Place". It has five floors - 36,000 square metres of public floor space in all. Underneath it are 150 shock absorbers to protect it from Earthquakes.
- There is a major fault line running through the centre of the city, and several hundred smaller ones. There are several noticeable quakes every year. The worst ever was on 23 January 1855, when the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in New Zealand at 8.2, killed four people and raised the coastline by 1.5 metres. This put paid to plans for a shipping basin - the land was reclaimed and is now the location of the Basin Reserve a Cricket ground.
- Famous people from Wellington include the writer Katharine Mansfield, actor Russell Crowe and film producer Peter Jackson.
- Hence another name which has been given to the city is "Wellywood" since Peter Jackson and others have chosen the city and the area around it for numerous movie locations. Films shot partly or wholly in Wellington include the Lord of The Rings trilogy, King Kong and Avatar.
- The Parliament Building is known as "The Beehive" because it resembles one. Legend has it that the design was originally sketched on the back of a napkin (some versions say a cigarette packet) and the designer never expected it to actually be built. It has ten storeys, four of which are underground and is 72 metres (236 ft)) high. The roof is made from 20 tonnes of hand-welted and seamed Copper.
- Thorndon is New Zealand’s oldest suburb, and the location of New Zealand’s oldest hotel (now named The Shepherd’s Arms). Also here is the country's oldest public bar, The Thistle Inn. It's said the Maori chief Te Rauparaha used to drink here - he'd arrive by canoe.
- Wellington's oldest building is Colonial Cottage. It is situated on Nairn Street in Mount Cook and dates back to 1858.
New!
Secrets and Skies
Scientist Desi Troyes has developed a nuclear bomb to counter the ever present threat of an asteroid hitting the planet. When Ward signs the order giving the go ahead for a nuclear test on the remote Bird Island, he has no inkling of Troyes' real agenda, and that he has signed the death warrants of millions of people.
Although the island should have been evacuated, there are people still there: some from the distant continent of Classica; protesters opposed to the bomb test; and Innovians who will not, or cannot, use their communication devices.
Power Blaster knows he must stop the bomb from hitting the island. He also knows it may be the last thing he ever does.
Meanwhile in Innovia, Ward and his staff gather to watch the broadcast of the test. Nobody, not even Troyes himself, has any idea what is about to happen.
Part One of The Raiders Trilogy.
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