Get Involved
Support and Volunteer
help restore our harbour waters and catchment streams
to a healthy state!
Help restore our harbour waters and catchment streams to a healthy state
There are many ways in which local people can get involved as individuals or through groups to make a “hands on” contribution Consider the options below and check out our calendar of upcoming events organised by the many groups and organisations all doing their bit to help.
Planting days
One of the most practical ways to get involved is to participate in community planting days usually held between May and August each year. Planting of shrubs, grasses and trees helps slow the amount of sediment washed off the land into the sea and is the single most important method we currently have of minimising infill of the harbour arms.
Litter Clean Ups
Both harbour arms are bordered by roads. This means that a small but persistent percentage of vehicle users toss rubbish out of the window, various parts fall off vehicles and trailers. This rubbish mostly ends up in the harbour. We even have shopping trolleys regularly tossed into the Porirua stream. Ngati Toa Rangatira, Keep New Zealand Beautiful and the Guardians of Pāuatahanui organise community litter pick ups. Porirua City Council also welcomes corporate volunteer outings for litter removal
Cockle Counting
Once every three years the Guardians of Pāuatahanui Inlet undertake cockle counts of the Inlet. Using a pre-set grid pattern of sites the Guardians have data going back many years. The number of cockles in the Inlet is a proxy measure for harbour health, as cockles are affected by the smothering effect of muddy sediments.
Citizen science water quality monitoring
Porirua City Council in conjunction with the Regional Council run citizen science water quality monitoring. This is often undertaken by school groups. Water quality monitoring and E-DnA testing for biodiversity all helps in building data insights into the state of the harbour and its contributing streams.
Share your Photos
Share your photos and keep an eye out for our “Show Us Your Harbour” competition held once every few years.