Whitby, New Zealand


Whitby, a large suburb of Porirua City, New Zealand, located along much of the southern shore of the Pauatahanui Inlet of Porirua Harbour was comprehensively planned in the 1960s and it has been continuously developed since, with current landscaping and expansion in the hills behind the eastern part of Whitby to facilitate the future growth of the suburb.
The name of the suburb itself, as well as the nautical theme of neighbourhood and street names, are drawn from the life and career of the Pacific explorer James Cook. The bicentennial of his first visit to New Zealand occurred when the development of Whitby started.
The suburb is commercially centred on the Whitby Shopping Centre, containing almost all the retail businesses in Whitby.

History

In 1967 some 3,180 acres of farmland was purchased by a consortium for a new residential development, to be similar to North American new towns; with a population growing to 16,000 in four "neighbourhoods", each focussed on a primary school. Following a town planning appeal hearing in 1974 this became two "neighbourhoods", Adventure and Endeavour.
The first sections in the 01 subdivision were sold by auction in 1970. By May 1971 eight homes were occupied ; and by 1972, 203 sections had been sold and 62 of the 117 houses built were occupied. By 1998 some 2000 houses had been built. The consortium developed a village centre and a golf course, and operated a commuter bus service from 1 February 1973. The New Zealand Institution of Engineers gave the development their 1978 Environmental Award for an engineering work exemplifying care for and consideration of environmental values.
The original area was part of the Horokiri riding of Hutt County, and some of the later land was in Porirua City. In 1988 the Local Government Commission decided that all of Whitby should come under the Porirua City Council. The Community Developments Consortium had partners Fletcher Mainline, Jubilee Investments and the National Mutual Life Association.

Public transport

Buses servicing the area;
Number 230
Runs between The Crowsnest and Porirua Railway Station, stopping at following stops ;
Number 236
Runs Between Navigation Drive and Porirua Railway Station, stopping at following stops ;

Primary schools

Postgate School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of.
Adventure School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of.
Postgate School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of.

Whitby Collegiate

Whitby Collegiate is a co-educational private secondary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of.
Established as Whitby Independent College in January 2004, on the site of the old Duck Creek Golf Course, the school was subsequently bought by Samuel Marsden Collegiate School in 2005 and renamed Marsden Whitby.. A new classroom block was completed in mid-2007 which includes a large art room.
On 1 July 2019 Samuel Marsden Collegiate School Trust Board announced it had made the decision to close Marsden School Whitby at the end of the 2019 school year. On 9 August 2019 Fiso Group Ltd announced plans to acquire the school. The sale of Marsden Whitby to Fiso Investment Group Ltd was finalised on 10 December 2019. The school became Whitby Collegiate at the start of the 2020 academic year.

Other education

Preschool education is available from Discovery Kindergarten, Adventure Kindergarten and Mana Montessori Preschool.
The nearest public secondary school is Aotea College in Aotea.