The Strand in Wainuiomata is one of the suburb’s main commercial streets, complementing Queen Street as part of the central business district. Originally a quieter area compared to Queen Street, The Strand gained prominence when Progressive Enterprises (now Woolworths) redeveloped a section of the old Queen Street mall into a modern supermarket and car park on The Strand, drawing more shoppers and encouraging other larger retail chains to locate here.
The Strand was named after William (Willy) Thomas Strand (1875–1960), who served as a councillor on the Lower Hutt Borough Council and later as Mayor from 1921 to 1929 and again from 1931 to 1933. Together with his brothers, Charles (1865–1946) and John (Jack) Norris (1878–1955), the Strand family owned significant land in the Hutt Valley and worked as builders in the region. In the 1900s, they also acquired land in the Fitzherbert Road area of Wainuiomata and in Upper Moores Valley, where they milled timber for their sawmill in Naenae, Hutt Valley. Jack was additionally involved in constructing the Ōrongorongo Station Residence in the mid-1900s.
Today, The Strand is home to several major chains, including Woolworths, Mitre 10, McDonald’s, and KFC, offering a range of options for groceries, home improvement, and fast food. Its presence has helped transform The Strand into a retail hub, catering to Wainuiomata residents who prefer shopping locally without needing to travel into Lower Hutt or Wellington to access bigger stores.
