KAIWARRA MAGAZINE

- ARTICLE -

Magazine.
Ngaio Gorge/Kaiwharawhara,
Wellington , New Zealand.

      The Kaiwarra magazine is situated at the eastern end of Trelissick Park in Ngaio Gorge, Wellington.

      Although it was not actively used by the military for anywhere as long as Shelly Bay or Trentham, the history of the Kaiwarra Magazine takes many twists and turns.

      Back in the 1870's when the Wellington's Chamber of commerce was complaining about explosives being carted across town to the magazine which was on Defence land at Mount Cook. As a result of this, work started in 1879 on a new magazine at situated at Kaiwarra (lower Ngaio Gorge) and was completed the following year.

        The site was relatively isolated being nestled up what is now known as the Ngaio Gorge adjacent to the stream. This stream was to pose a constant problem due to flooding. The magazine site consisted of 2 stone buildings; each 50 by 25 feet internally lined with Kauri, as well as a cottage, stables and coach house. Before the turn of the century tin sheds were added to increase the storage space.
 
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         The Army vacated the site and leased the buildings out in 1921. Since then the site has been used for a number of purposes including a Benzine store, Panel beaters workshop and a plastics factory (which closed down in 1993).

         1995 saw two promising things occur. Firstly in January, the nomination of the Kaiwarra Magazine to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust was accepted having been submitted the preceding year. And secondly the Wellington City Council brought the site.

          When I visited the site back on the 23rd of January 1996 the place was in a very sorry state. Most of the eastern magazine building was gone. The western one was still standing although there were large gaping holes linking to adjoining buildings. It was a proverbial pigsty. In my site visit notes I made: "General mess all buildings (except reinforced concrete building) with bits of plastic, electric's and junk scattered around the place". The reinforced concrete building referred to was on the west side adjoining the west magazine building.

      In April/May 1997 the old underground fuel tanks within the site were removed and work started on removal of various structures around the magazines. This was preparatory to the restoration of the magazines.

      On the 23rd of December 2000 one of New Zealand's most daring robberies took place. Four armed men gained access to a service alley behind an ATM machine and when two Security officers entered the alley from an adjoining building the robbers pounced. They took off with the money destined for the ATM and the officer's van keys. The van was eventually found in the Kaiwarra Magazine in Ngaio Gorge. This was a well planned "job" as the robbers knew the routine of the security officers (which hardly varied much), and they had changed the padlock on the access gate to the magazine (while allowing them access), hindering access by other vehicles.

      Unfortunately to destroy the van and any evidence that it may contain the robbers set fire to the van and as a result the Kaiwarra magazine building which was nearing completion of it's restoration. To make matters worse the fire dept. had problems getting to the fire due the changed lock.

      The robbers were eventually caught. However the Wellington City Council after looking at its options decided to restore the magazine as a "ruin" rather than rebuild the magazine. Signs about the site are due be going up soon (probably early 2003).

      The near total destruction of the magazine buildings is a tragic loss to our collection of built military heritage. Unfortunately walking around a ruin is never quite the same as walking through a building that is still standing.

  
 
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