Seaview's history is generally not as well known in Wellington, as it is a small suburb with a history of industry rather than innovation and creativity. The area was prosperous for a period of time during precolonisation; the local Māori iwi, Te Ati Awa, had a village here called Owhiti. It was based on the riches of the Waiwhetu river, which was navigable well into the Hutt Valley, as far north as Belmont. However, disaster struck when the 1855 Wairarapa earthquake occurred, shattering the river into the low-lying stream it is today, and making the area a desolate strip of sandy swampland. The local shipyards were destroyed, and Pākehā settlers focused their efforts on Petone instead. Thus, Seaview was left to rot.