The proposed Mount Welcome development on some of Porirua Harbour’s most erosion prone land should not be consented in the short term, the Harbour Trust and Guardians of Pāuatahanui Inlet believe. In a joint submission to the Fast Track Panel considering a request by the developers for a 15 year consent for 949 houses and commercial premises, PHT and GOPI contend there is neither the demand nor the infrastructure to handle such a development on top of the Plimmerton Farm development already underway and in the absence of a master plan for the seven blocks of the Northern Growth area. The trunk sewage pipes through Mana are already at capacity with frequent overflows during rain events. Sediment flows to the Taupō swamp and down the Kakaho stream into the inlet are choking the harbour. If the panel does decide to consent the development we suggest a limit of 5 years rather than the 15 being sought. This would enable better technology, particularly related to climate change adaptation, to be available before the bulk of the development’s stages would be built.
Author: Michael Player
-
Community briefed on Harbour Accord Action Plan
A great turnout on 3 August 2026 of 50 individuals, councillors and representatives of groups that work around the habour and its catchments to hear members of the Harbour Accord steering group provide a briefing on the Accord Action Plan. We were advised that the 20 point action plan was presented to Chief Executives of the five partner organisations last week and it will be published shortly. The Harbour Trust will provide an online link as soon as one is available.
-
Conservation Amendment Bill
The highly controversial Conservation Amendment Bill as originally worded provided for more commercial activity on the Conservation Estate. The Harbour Trust in a joint submission with the Guardians of Pāuatahanui Inlet and many others opposed this and argued that conservation protection ought to be the primary objective and commercial activities must not compromise the environmental and ecological protection values provided by conservation lands.
We also opposed a provision to be able to sell and exchange a huge swath of conservation land, potentially including the Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve and the DOC reserve behind Tawa.
After the public backlash, the Minister of Conservation vowed to remove the controversial provisions from the Bill before it is passed.
We were also concerned to see changes to legislation that would further water down the importance of iwi in terms of decisions around conservation matters. In our area, in particular, the iwi are the leading light in terms of promoting restoration and protection of the natural environment.
-
What’s in the Harbour Accord Plan?
Officials from the five partner agencies of the Harbour Accord have been beavering away on a joint action plan that will bring the Accord fully to life as a force to restore the harbour’s health.
Representatives from the Steering Committee have offered to give groups and individuals who work around the harbour and its catchments a briefing at the Harbour Trust’s meeting on Monday 3 August.
Come along to St Mary’s Anglican Church Whitby at 7.15pm to hear first hand about the activities planned to bring about coordinated progress on cleaning up the harbour. We hope to see you there.
Featured image: “Plus Millions More” by Peter Hunt, Show us Your Harbour photo comp 2023/24
RSVP: to phacctsec@gmail.com by Saturday 1 August 2026.
-
Hear your regional councillors talk on harbour issues
Late last year Claire Johnstone and Phil Rhodes were elected as Greater Wellington regional councillors for the Tawa/Pāuatahanui Ward. They have graciously accepted an invitation from the Harbour Trust and the Guardians of the Inlet to address a meeting open to everyone on MONDAY 4 MAY 2026 AT 7.15PM ST MARY’S CHURCH WHITBY.
If you are interested in the health and restoration of the twin arms of our harbour and its contributing streams then come along, listen and pose any questions you may have of our representatives.
With changes to regional councils coming up our councillors may not have much time to make a difference. Do your part in making sure they know what the residents of Porirua and northern Wellington are expecting when it comes to caring for our precious natural environment.
-
Porirua stream/inlet clean up
Hi Everyone
Join Petone Beach Clean Up Crew and Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful on Sunday 29th March to remove rubbish from the Porirua Inlet .
The inlet has an overwhelming amount of rubbish to remove so we would love your help.Date; Sunday 29th March
Time; 2pm to 3:30pm (low tide)
NEW MEETING LOCATION : Lyttelton Ave opposite Porirua New World look for the KHVB marque/ beach clean up flags will clearly be seen for our meeting point .Wear old shoes or gumboots if you want to walk out onto the mudflats.
Bags and grabbers will be supplied please bring gardening gloves if you own some .Hopefully see you there
Wayne Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful
Lorraine Petone Beach Clean Up Crew -
Harbour Accord signed!
t was great to witness the signing of the long awaited Te Wai Ora o Pairirua/Porirua Harbour Accord on Waitangi Day. This was an auspicious occasion, coming as it has six long years since the tabling of the Whaitua report. Now is the time for action not words. The signing parties of the PCC, WCC, GWRC, Wellington Water and Ngāti Toa all pledged to meet the challenge laid down by mana whenua to join together to progress restoration of harbour health rather than just talk about it. Our Trust will watch keenly for signs of such action…..applauding delivery of improvements and calling out any foot-dragging
-
Homage to tuna
Tuna etchings along the new Papakōwhai to Paremata shared path – a nice finishing touch paying homage to the place of eels in our awa
-
Assembly on Climate Change
Porirua Assembly on Climate Change is calling for participants If you would like to be part of discussions in February and March 2025 on how we can connect and respond as our climate changes then click on how to register your interest. This is an exciting project aiming to involve 50 everyday people from throughout our diverse community of Porirua.
-
Community Planting
Another great community planting effort. 800 infill plants in the ground at Motukaraka Point. Thanks to Guardians of Pāuatahanui Inlet and a team of volunteers who achieved the targeted planting in 1.25 hours and before the rain set in. Great coordination by Andre van Halderen of GOPI and Baillie Graham of PCC, who provided logistics. Funding for the plants by the Nikau Foundation