Category: visit – history

Jackson Street Programme Inc. Jackson Street has always been a busy street.   In the 1890s there were several shops spread along Jackson Street between Nelson and Beach Streets, and Petone was said to resemble a wild west town! In the early 1900s it began to take on the appearance of the major shopping street…

Walk of Champions Petone is known as “The Cradle of Champions” A phrase first coined by Sir Thomas Wilford, MP for Hutt (1889-1929).  To explain the story of the greatness of New Zealand on the fields of sport by Petone citizens – a remarkable achievement that Petone possesses – you need to know why sport…

JACKSON STREET Jackson Street was not originally intended to be Petone’s main street Nelson Street, known in the late 1800’s as Petone Avenue, was the main business street.  However, its north-south axis was not suitable for a number of reasons including the prevailing winds! What began to develop was an east-west access along the boundary…

Petone Firsts Apart from Petone being the first organised European settlement in NZ, we’re also the home to other NZ firsts…

HISTORIC PETONE New Zealand as we know it today, started here in Pito One, now Petone. In August 1839, the Tory set sail from Gravesend in England.  On board were representatives of the New Zealand Company, sent to smooth the way for organised settlement.  Their objectives were to purchase land, acquire information about the country,…