Category: News

Our annual report for 2024/25 records the highs and lows of the year. Signing of the Harbour Accord was the stand out highlight while the Regional Council’s pausing of implementation of Plan Change 1 of the Natural Resources Plan was the lowlight. Without Plan Change 1 there is no pressure to implement restoration recommendations from the ground breaking Whaitua report from 2019. But we live in hope! Read our annual report here

Like mini volcanoes erupting, these plants alongside the Papakowhai cycleway are throwing off their starting mats after a season or so in the ground. Plantings like these all around the harbour and on the banks of its contributing streams are helping filter the nasties before stormwater hits the harbour.

Congratulations to Robyn, Angus and all the Whitirea Restoration Group team for 20 years of hard mahi contributing to the recloaking of this gem of a regional park. As Robyn said, before they started the only native bush was a remnant in Onehunga Bay. The fire of 2010 was a big setback. Groups similar to the Restoration Group are working all around the twin arms and catchments of our harbour and citizens are flocking to planting days. What a great community we have!

Plimmerton Rotary club in conjunction with GWRC, PCC, Ngāti Toa and GOPI have embarked on further plantings around the inlet. The plants shown above were put in at Motukaraka Point by a big crowd of community volunteers.

Plimmerton Rotary club in conjunction with GWRC, PCC, Ngāti Toa and GOPI have embarked on further plantings around the inlet. The plants shown above were put in at Motukaraka Point by a big crowd of community volunteers.

Plimmerton Rotary club in conjunction with GWRC, PCC, Ngāti Toa and GOPI have embarked on further plantings around the inlet. The plants shown above were put in at Motukaraka Point by a big crowd of community volunteers. Plimmerton Rotary club in conjunction with GWRC, PCC, Ngāti Toa and GOPI have embarked on further plantings around the inlet. The plants shown above were put in at Motukaraka Point by a big crowd of community volunteers.Plimmerton Rotary club in conjunction with GWRC, PCC, Ngāti Toa and GOPI have embarked on further plantings around the inlet. The plants shown above were put in at Motukaraka Point by a big crowd of community volunteers.Plimmerton Rotary club in conjunction with GWRC, PCC, Ngāti Toa and GOPI have embarked on further plantings around the inlet. The plants shown above were put in at Motukaraka Point by a big crowd of community volunteers.Plimmerton Rotary club in conjunction with GWRC, PCC, Ngāti Toa and GOPI have embarked on further plantings around the inlet. The plants shown above were put in at Motukaraka Point by a big crowd of community volunteers.

Even moderate rain events cause the manholes along the main road at Mana to overflow with sewage which the drains into the harbour. Authorities have been treating the symptons of this for years rather than tackling the causes. The Trust supports the Paremata Residents Assn in their campaign to get this addressed as a priority first and foremost.

The 2025 planting season is underway with various groups around the harbour and its catchments getting new plants in the ground. The photo above is from the Whitiereia Park Restoration Group’s community planting day on May 25. A group of 20 added 700 plants , helping create a habitat for fern birds. For upcoming planting days this season check out our events calendar

This old trimaran broke its moorings in the recent southerly storm.  It was one of two boats to run aground.  Port outrigger has bottom section missing.  Hopefully a plan is underway to refloat it but will be a mission and need a big high tide among other things

The national long distance waka ama championships were held on our awa in late April. Wonderful to see participants from all around the country competing in perfect conditions on the waters of the outer harbour. The nationals were last held in Porirua 13 years ago. A foul weather course chartered for the Parumoana arm was ready but not required.

Huge changes are coming in the provision of water services and the Trust has made submissions to the three councils on the preferred organisational model. We are supporting the proposal for the creation of a water services organisation covering the five metropolitan councils of Wellington i.e. Porirua, Wellington City, Hutt City, Upper Hutt and the Greater Wellington Regional Council. The devil will be in the detail so we will watch carefully and continue to advocate vigorously for protection of Te Awarua-o-Porirua harbour.

Update – The Trust fronted up to the Porirua City Council’s Hearing Day on “Local Water Done Well”. We reinforced key points from our written submission and particularly emphasised the need for the Harbour Accord to be written in to any “statement of expectations” for a new water entity

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