The history of the Paremata-Plimmerton Rugby Club — affectionately known by locals as “Pare-Plim”—presents a story of grassroots resilience, cultural connection, and deep community roots in the northern reaches of Porirua, Wellington.
As the name implies, the modern club is the result of a mid-20th-century marriage between two neighboring seaside rugby clubs.
The Origins: Plimmerton and Paremata (1930s–1950s)
• Plimmerton RFC (Established 1930): Before a formal field even existed, local players had to physically hack out a playing surface from the edge of the Taupō Swamp—an area that eventually became today’s Plimmerton Domain. In their early days, Plimmerton wore a grey jersey with a royal blue hoop outlined in yellow.
• Paremata RFC (Established 1945): Formed right at the conclusion of World War II, the Paremata club took up residence at the Ngāti Toa Domain, utilizing a section of a military camp that was being dismantled. They wore black jerseys accented with red and gold.
For more than a decade, the two clubs shared a tight geographic boundary separated by the local inlet. Maintaining two separate clubs in a developing area eventually strained player numbers and resources.
The 1959 Merger and Ngāti Toa Domain
In 1959, the two clubs formally amalgamated to form Paremata-Plimmerton RFC. The unified club made the strategic decision to adopt Paremata’s home ground at Ngāti Toa Domain as its permanent headquarters, along with a variation of Paremata’s black, red, and gold colors.
The club’s home ground holds immense cultural and historical weight, being intrinsically tied to the migration and history of the Ngāti Toa iwi (tribe) led by the famous chief Te Rauparaha in the early 1820s. The club maintains a strong, proud connection to the local Hongoeka Marae.
Historical Milestones & Famous Alumni
Over the decades, Pare-Plim has established an incredibly robust footprint in Wellington club rugby:
• The Golden 1984 Season: The club’s 25th anniversary year in 1984 remains legendary. After rocketing up from the third tier, they claimed a share of the Senior Second Grade Harper Lock Shield and ultimately won the Hardham Cup, earning promotion into Wellington’s top-tier Premier ranks.
• Wellington Rugby “Firsts”: The club holds a unique place in regional history as the inaugural winners of the women’s Fleur’s Trophy in 1993, as well as the inaugural winners of the Under 85kg Paul Potiki Shield in 1995.
• Famous Names: Despite being a small community club compared to some of the massive central Wellington powerhouses, Pare-Plim’s junior system has fostered incredible global sporting talent. Legendary All Black fullback Christian Cullen, former All Black prop Gary Knight, and England cricket superstar Ben Stokes all played their junior sports out on the fields of Ngāti Toa Domain.
The Modern Era
After a 20-year absence from Wellington’s premier grade, Pare-Plim earned its way back into top-flight Swindale Shield rugby in 2014. They also boast one of the largest junior playing structures in the entire Wellington province, ensuring their black, red, and gold jerseys remain a dominant feature of the local community for generations to come
Although Paremata-Plimmerton Rugby Club has never published a history, there has been an article published detailing the Plimmerton Rugby Club history from 1930 – 1959.
Click here to visit the Plimmerton Rugby Club page.
