Last updated October 2026
Miramar is a peninsula suburb in eastern Wellington that serves as the city’s international film industry centre. It is home to Wētā Workshop, Wētā FX and Park Road Post Production, along with other creative companies.
The area earned the nickname Wellywood for its role in major film productions since the late 1990s. Beyond the studios, Miramar functions as a long-established residential neighbourhood with a commercial centre, schools and direct access to the eastern bays coastline.
Official Suburb Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 9,630, down 3% since 2018
- Land area
- 2.84 km²
- Location
- 4.6 km south-east of central Wellington
- Council
- Wellington City Council
- Neighbouring suburbs
- Maupuia, Seatoun, Strathmore Park, Karaka Bays, Rongotai
- Ward or local board
- Motukairangi/Eastern General Ward (Wellington City Council)
- Getting there
- Road links and public transport to central Wellington and the airport
- Main shopping
- Miramar shopping centre
- Nearby landmarks
- Wētā Workshop Experiences and Wētā Cave, Park Road Post Production, Wētā FX
Who Lives in Miramar
About 9,630 residents in 3,590 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
Schools in Miramar
Three schools sit inside the Miramar boundary.
Also zoned for Miramar
Show all 6 zoned schools
Source: Ministry of Education school directory and enrolment zones (CC BY 4.0 and CC BY 3.0 NZ), October 2026. Zones change, so confirm with the school before relying on one.
Bin Day in Miramar
Wellington City Council sets collection days street by street. Look up your address to get your day and which bins go out.
Find your bin day and what goes in each binSafety and Hazards
Lower than the Wellington average for the number of people who live here. Another 41 reports were at shops and businesses.
Sources: NZ Police victimisation data, CC BY 4.0, September 2025 to August 2026 (crimes inside homes are only published for burglary); Greater Wellington tsunami evacuation zones; Wellington City District Plan 2024 flood hazard overlays.
Buses from Miramar
75 bus stops inside the suburb.
Source: Metlink timetable data, CC BY 4.0. Typical weekday daytime frequency.
Handy Facilities
Source: Wellington City Council public toilets; NZTA EVRoam charging sites.
Weather and Rent at a Glance
Sources: NIWA climate averages 1991-2020 (via Figure.NZ); Tenancy Services rental bond data (MBIE), CC BY 4.0, September 2025 to August 2026. City-wide figures.
In Miramar
Places and businesses inside the official Miramar boundary.
Places
Businesses
See all businesses in Miramar
About Miramar
Miramar occupies the Miramar Peninsula, a distinctive landform that extends into Wellington Harbour.
Miramar occupies the Miramar Peninsula, a distinctive landform that extends into Wellington Harbour. The suburb combines quiet residential streets with a compact shopping centre and community facilities. Its location provides residents and visitors with easy access to several sheltered beaches and coastal walks along the eastern bays.
The film industry presence centres on a cluster of specialist companies that have operated from Miramar for decades. This concentration has created a distinctive local economy and visitor draw while the surrounding neighbourhood retains its suburban character.
Public transport links and road access connect Miramar to central Wellington and the airport. The peninsula setting also offers recreational opportunities including coastal paths and parks that complement the film-related attractions.
History of the Peninsula
The Miramar Peninsula was an island until a major earthquake around 1460 AD uplifted the Rongotai isthmus and joined it to the mainland.
The Miramar Peninsula was an island until a major earthquake around 1460 AD uplifted the Rongotai isthmus and joined it to the mainland. Māori oral history records the event as the Haowhenua earthquake. European settlement began in the 1840s, and by the 1890s most of the peninsula had been converted to farmland.
Urban development accelerated after 1902 when 132 residential sections were auctioned. The Miramar Borough Council was formed in 1904. Electric trams reached the peninsula in 1907, supporting further growth. The borough was incorporated into Wellington City in 1921.
The Film Industry
Wētā Workshop was founded in 1987 by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger.
Wētā Workshop was founded in 1987 by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger. The company is based in Miramar and specialises in physical effects, props, costumes and creatures. It contributed to the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, District 9 and numerous other productions.
Wētā FX (formerly Weta Digital) and Park Road Post Production are also located in Miramar. Together these companies form a comprehensive hub for visual effects and post-production work. Guided tours through Wētā Workshop Experiences allow visitors to view active workshop areas and the associated Wētā Cave exhibition and store.
Near Miramar
Just outside Miramar, within 5 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Show 2 more places
Businesses
Where to Learn More
Wikipedia — Miramar, New Zealand: Overview of the suburb’s history, geography and development.
Wētā Workshop official site: Details on tours, experiences and the company’s work based in Miramar.
Enterprise Miramar Peninsula — History: Timeline of the peninsula from pre-European times to the present.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Miramar?
On the Miramar Peninsula in eastern Wellington, about 6 km from the city centre.
What is Wētā Workshop?
A special effects and prop-making studio founded in 1987 by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger, known for work on the Lord of the Rings, Hobbit and Avatar films. Guided tours are available.
What is Wellywood?
A nickname for Wellington, especially Miramar, highlighting its film-making industry in a playful reference to Hollywood.
Can you visit Wētā Workshop?
Yes. Wētā Workshop Experiences offers guided tours with viewing windows into the workshop, plus the Wētā Cave gift store and exhibition. Advance booking is recommended.
What other film companies are based in Miramar?
Wētā FX for visual effects and Park Road Post Production operate alongside Wētā Workshop, creating a full post-production hub.
What is Miramar like as a residential area?
It is an established, family-oriented suburb with a local shopping centre, schools, parks and easy access to the peninsula coastline.
When was the Miramar Borough formed?
In 1904. It was incorporated into Wellington City in 1921.
What beaches are near Miramar?
The peninsula coastline includes Scorching Bay, Karaka Bay, Worser Bay and Evans Bay, all accessible from the suburb.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Explore Wellington only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Miramar is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.