Johnsonville, New Zealand

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Johnsonville is a large suburb in northern Wellington, New Zealand. It sits about seven kilometres north of Wellington’s city centre, up the Ngauranga Gorge, on the main highway to Porirua. Locals often call it “J’ville.”

The area covers about 3.7 square kilometres and has around 12,150 residents (June 2025).

History in brief
Johnsonville began in the 1840s. It was originally cleared of native forest by Frank Johnson and grew from a small settlement into a town by the late 19th century. The Wellington to Wellington suburban railway opened in 1886, helping people move to and from the city. Over the 20th century farms gave way to homes and shops, and by the 1960s the suburb had its first major shopping mall.

Today’s Johnsonville
Johnsonville has a busy shopping centre with about 70 shops and a Countdown supermarket, plus lots of parking. It also has a strong community hub with a public library and a community centre.

Transport and location
Johnsonville Station is the northern end of the Johnsonville railway branch, with a nearby bus hub for many routes. The suburb is a major commuter area, with homes spread around the shopping hub and up the hills to Mt Kaukau and toward Newlands.

Community facilities
Key facilities include Keith Spry Pool (a 25-metre indoor pool that was renovated in 2013), the Johnsonville Community Centre (opened in 1995), and the Waitohi development opened in 2019, which combines the library, a cafe, a kindergarten and the pool with other facilities. In 2021 a new sport and community hub called Waiora opened to serve local clubs and groups.

Future plans
There is a long-term plan to redevelop Johnsonville into a distinctive “Johnsonville Town Centre” with a triangular core bounded by Johnsonville Road, Broderick Road and Moorefield Road, strengthening its role as Wellington’s main commercial and population hub outside the city centre.

Education
Johnsonville is in the school zones for Onslow College (a co-educational high school with about 1,264 students as of 2025), Newlands College, St Oran’s College, Raroa Normal Intermediate, and Johnsonville School (primary). The area also serves students from nearby suburbs who use its facilities.