About Us
Past and Future
How we got here and the strategy that drives us
Our Story
Establishment of the
Porirua Harbour Trust
The idea for a Trust representing the whole of Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour first emerged from the Pāuatahanui Inlet Community Trust (PICT). Established in 2000, PICT had its genesis in a workshop of NGOs and agencies convened by the Guardians of Pāuatahanui.
Porirua City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council, and Ngāti Toa Rangatira also recognised the need for an independent organisation to advocate for the wellbeing of the entire harbour — both the Parumoana (Onepoto) and Pāuatahanui arms.
In response, the Porirua Harbour and Catchment Community Trust was formally established in 2011, its role acknowledged in the Porirua Harbour and Catchment Strategy and Action Plan adopted that same year by fifteen partner agencies. The original Trust Deed, signed on 11 March 2011, outlined the Trust’s purpose, governance structure, and guiding objectives.
Trust Deed Signing Ceremony with the founding trustees, representatives from the three councils and Ngati Toa.
Left to Right: Ngaire Best, Jenny Brash, Grant Baker, Celia Wade-Brown (Mayor WCC), Lindsay Gow, Nick Leggett (Mayor PCC), Liz Kelly, John Morrison, Barbara Donaldson (Councillor GWRC), George Elkington, Taku Parai (Ngāti Toa Kaumatua)
Renewal
A new Trust was created in 2020, approved by the Charities Commission, to replace the original organisation. Unlike its predecessor, the new Trust does not include council representatives as trustees, ensuring a fully independent voice for the harbour.
The current Trust, which fully superseded the original in July 2021, continues to advocate for the health of Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour—including the Parumoana (Onepoto Arm), Pāuatahanui Inlet, the outer harbour, and the wider catchments. Its trustees are independent community members dedicated to protecting and restoring this treasured environment.
The Porirua Harbour Trust established 5 objectives to promote the sustainable management of Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour and its catchments.
Objectives
- Advocate for sustainable management of the harbour and catchment.
- Educate and raise awareness about ecological and environmental issues.
- Coordinate community input and action.
- Support and promote projects that improve harbour health.
- Collaborate with councils, iwi, and community groups.
Vision and Strategy
The 2025–2030 Strategic Plan for PHT charts a clear and compelling path forward for caring for the harbour and its streams. Enshrined in a long-term vision, it balances ecological restoration, community engagement, and accountability. This plan reaffirms our role as a guardian and advocate — promoting coordinated action, raising public awareness, and working alongside iwi, agencies, community groups, and mana whenua to protect and enhance the harbour’s health today and for future generations.
Vision & Purpose
- Vision: A harbour and catchment that is healthy, resilient, and thriving — where ecosystems are protected or restored, people can safely use and enjoy the harbour, kai moana is safe to harvest, and economic activity is sustained without compromising future needs.
- Purpose: To adopt a long-term perspective in decision making, foster public awareness of the harbour’s values, promote and facilitate restorative actions, and to actively advocate and monitor for the best possible outcomes for the harbour and catchment.
Outcomes
From these objectives, the plan anticipates several concrete outcomes:
- Stronger collaboration and alignment among agencies, iwi, community groups, and stakeholders
- Better use of knowledge and skills across the network
- Collective tackling of complex problems (e.g. sedimentation, water quality, infrastructure impacts)
- Holding agencies to account and influencing improvements to planning and statutory processes
- Community-empowered action such as citizen science, restoration projects, and local initiatives
Strategic Objectives & Outcomes
PHT’s strategy lays out a set of objectives intended to drive meaningful change. Key areas include:
- Collaborate with other ngo organisations and individuals — leveraging partnerships, expertise, and shared resources.
- Recognise mana whenua leadership — especially Ngāti Toa Rangatira’s key role as kaitiaki and in leading the Harbour Accord.
- Advocate for restoration — engaging statutory and infrastructure agencies (e.g. regional/local councils, Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries, NZTA, Kiwi Rail, gas and electricity line providers etc.).
- Monitor & hold accountable — tracking performance of agencies and publicly commenting on their commitments.
- Foster community awareness and understanding — of the harbour’s past, present, and future potential.
- Manage conflict positively — acknowledging differing views, but seeking progress rather than stalling.
- Promote long-term planning — supporting strategy and action plans across agencies and community groups.
- Support and encourage the implementation of the Harbour Accord— getting coordinated and prioritised actions to improve harbour health
Values & Approach
The Strategic Plan is anchored in a set of guiding values which inform how PHT conducts its work, and what it expects from its partners. Among these are:
- Constructive, positive engagement, acting with empathy, generosity, and openness
- Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, working in partnership with Ngāti Toa Rangatira as mana whenua
- Reliance on sound science and fit-for-purpose evidence in decision making
- Transparency, accountability, and integrity in advocacy and monitoring
- Inclusivity and collaboration, welcoming diverse voices and fostering shared ownership