Architectural Wonders of NZ - Devonport Pier

Built originally for future use as an arcade for strange shops, this incredible structure first came into use in 1889.

In that year, during the invasion of The New Zealand Company, the country became host to nearly 5000 British ne'erdo-wells, “relocated” by their rich families in England. The most infamous was a group from a shipment from the upper societal echelons of Manchester in England. This city would later become universally famed for producing notorious criminals such as the band Oasis, and all the characters from Coronation Street .

A troublesome bunch, nicknamed Put Out of Manchester (POMS) this group were the most loathed of all criminal immigrants. It was following a suggestion from Old Jakey, a homeless man in Aotea Square that we “round up the whole bloody lot of them and throw them off that pier thing”, that the authorities finally relented and rounded up the whole bloody lot of them, and threw them off that pier.

Most of them drowned, although several beat each other to death in the water arguing over who had the best haircut. Those who survived swam on to discover Australia, just over there and round the corner a bit. The result of that is well documented.

Today Devonport Pier plays host to eighteen random little shops that no-one ever buys anything from. Such is the charm of the pier, people lose themselves inside the quaint architecture and old ladies' nattering and forget that some people here are trying to run a bloody shop.

And stop staring in. If you're going to stare, then bloody come in and buy something. Bloody tourists.