Porirua Harbour Trust

 

 

May 2025

Harbour Accord must be a priority for new water entity

The Trust Chair fronted the Porirua City Council hearing day on the “Local Water Done Well” options for the city.  Our key point for Councillors and staff was the need to ensure any new water entity had the recently signed Harbour Accord featuring in Porirua’s statement of expectations.  Councillors listened closely to the points made.  We await their decisions with interest. 

Casualty of the storm 

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. 

April 2025

Local Water Done Well???

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.

February 2025

Harbour Accord signed on historic day

It 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.

 

December 2024

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.

November 2024

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.

September 2024

Annual Report of a busy year

The Trust’s AGM was held on September 3 with the annual report clocking a really busy year.  The highlight was undoubtedly the Photographic competition (see Clouds over Kakaho by Matt Dillon, winner scenic).  The Trust made numerous submissions to Councils concerning long term plans and other matters.  It was disappointing that another year has gone by without a Harbour Accord being signed by GWRC, PCC, WCC and Ngāti Toa.  We’re told it’s not far off now though.  Read more here.

August 2024

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.

 

May 2024

Devina Shetty now full trustee

Devina Shetty, our Advisory Trustee qualified in marine science and experienced in catchment management, has moved up to full trustee status.    Devina succeeds Mark Neeson, who retired from the Trust in April.  Devina’s qualifications and enthusiasm made her the obvious choice to step into the big shoes left by Mark.  Her trustee colleagues are delighted Devina has accepted the new role despite very busy work commitments.

Wellington City Council reminded of their involvement with health of Porirua Harbour

PHACCT trustees, Phil Teal and Michael Player, spoke to the Trust’s submission on the WCC proposed long term plan for 2024-34.  They urged the councillors to remember that a considerable chunk of the city’s stormwater drained into the Porirua Harbour, that waste water flowed to Porirua and WCC was a 21.5% owner of the Spicer Landfill.   Councillors were urged to give tangible support to the soon to be signed Harbour Accord.  Link to the written submission

Trust and GOPI urge cohesion of effort on harbour

PHACCT and GOPI have made a joint submission on the Porirua City Council’s draft long term plan.  The Chair of the Harbour Trust spoke to a Council hearing to reinforce the submission.  Michael Player noted in an update to the submission content that the long hoped for Harbour Accord is expected to be signed by the three Councils, Wellington Water and Ngāti Toa in June.  “After it is signed please do not rest on your laurels.  The signing of the accord is a start not an end in itself.  The detail beneath the accord will be the proof in the pudding that all parties can work together and not just continue doing their own separate pieces of existing work”.    Read the full submission here. 

 

Protest on the Fast Track Approvals Bill

Ngāti Toa led a silent hikoi to Parliament to protest against the Fast Track Approvals Bill.   In speaking to the many hundreds on the forecourt of Parliament, the iwi’s CE, Helmut Modlik said “Our message is that such harm must not happen again, that Ngāti Toa’s rangatiratanga over our whenua is undiminished and that as kaitiaki of the same we say as our tūpuna said before us: he Aukati tēnei, Kāti ikonei…this is a line you may not cross!”  PHACCT supports the iwi in their stance.   We too have decried the Bill as introduced.  Our combined submission with the Guardians of Pāuatahanui Inlet can be read on our submissions page via this link.

 

April 2024

Te Hononga Hikoi

It was the Trust’s turn on 27 April to host Te Hononga (the Wellington Catchments Collective) on a hikoi. With the support of GOPI, the Pāuatahanui Reserve Committee agreed to show a group of 20 around the work they have been doing since the 1980s.  Special thanks to Kim Livingstone and David Cornick.  A smaller number then went on to walk up Christine Stanley’s family farm to see on-farm restoration work in the valleys. A great hikoi on a wonderful autumn morning.

Mark Neeson retires from Trust

Trustees took the opportunity at the April meeting to pay tribute to Mark Neeson, on
the occasion of his retirement from the Harbour Trust.
Mark served as a trustee for 10 years. This included holding the role of Chairperson
from 2017 to 2020. During that time he oversaw transition of the Trust from one with
a dependence on representatives of the Porirua, Wellington City Councils and
Greater Wellington Councils to a fully independent community trust.
Mark’s professional background and analytical skills were highly valuable in the
drafting of many cogent submissions to local and central government on a variety of
subjects related to harbour and catchment health. His common-sense approach
and attention to detail stood the Trust in good stead when it came to articulating
persuasive key messages to officials and politicans.
Following tributes from other trustees, the current chair, Michael Player, extended
best wishes to Mark Neeson and expressed the hope that he would continue to
provide advice on issues from time to time. Mark indicated he would do so,
particularly when it came to issues affecting his neighbourhood of Camborne on the
shores of the Pāuatahanui Inlet.

 

People’s Choice Award Winner 

The results are in.  Dawn, by Brian Wesley-Smith was the winner of the People’s Choice award in our recent photographic competition.  Congratulations Brian! 

March 2024

Devina Shetty new Advisory Trustee

The PHACCT welcomes the appointment of Devina Shetty as an Advisory Trustee.

Devina holds a Masters degree in Marine Sciences  and also has knowledge and experience in the restoration and management of catchments.   She will bring this expertise to bear in advising the Trust on matters relating to its mission of advocating for and raising awareness of restoration of  the Te Awarua Porirua harbour and its catchments.

As a resident of the Wellington City suburb of Grenada, Devina will also bring a much needed perspective on the northern catchments that drain into the Onepoto arm of the harbour.

Devina’s role as an advisory trustee is as a private citizen and volunteer rather than as an employee of the Ministry for the Environment where she is an investment analyst.

“Trustees feel really fortunate to have a person of Devina’s qualifications and background joining the team,” said Michael Player, Trust Chair.

February 2024

Our Harbour photo exhibition on until 31 March

The Trust’s “Show us your harbour” photo competition award winners were announced at a highly successful exhibition opening at Pataka on 1 February.  Some 125 people attended including community leaders, supporters, entrants and their friends and families.  The exhibition is open to the public at the Bottle Creek Gallery until 31 March.  Click here to see the award winners photos.

 

January 2024

Fire at Whitireia Park

Thanks to great work by Fire and Emergency and three helicopters with monsoon buckets damage to the Park was confined to 10 hectares of the inner valley beyond the golf club.  Restoration plantings and some recent mowing of paths are believed to have helped mitigate the situation compared with the tragic fire of 2010.  Nevertheless this is a set back for Robyn Smith and her team.  It’s also a reminder of the tinder dry nature of many areas as the summer progresses, especially long grass to be found around the urban and rural catchments.  We all need to exercise great care and call 111 immediately of any signs of fire. 

December 2023

Natural Resources Plan to fly or crash and burn? 

Four long years since tabling of the Te Awarua o Porirua Whaitua report the Greater Wellington Council’s proposed Plan Change 1 of the Natural Resources Plan includes actions to improve the health of the catchment streams and harbour. The Harbour Trust has made a submission which supports the plan.  At the same time the incoming Government has announced that the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Standards will be repealed.  It remains to be seen, therefore, what will become of the Natural Resources Plan and whether progress on improving the health of our waterways will be further delayed. 

November 2023

AGM records another busy year

The annual report tabled at our AGM for 2022/23 highlighted another busy year of advocacy work for the Trust.  There were changes in personnel too as we sadly bade farewell to trustees Ray Baker-Underhill and Steve Kenny.    The subsequent recruitment of Dr Rob Stratford and Kathy Stirrat has since returned us to a full complement of trustees.   Our big project for the year was the photographic competition.   We look forward to next year when the exhibition of award winners takes place at Pataka from 1 February.   It was disappointing to again record little progress on implementation of the Whaitua recommendations though we are hopeful that with their incorporation into the Regional Council’s plan change for Natural Resources next year will see matters move along.  Read the full annual report here.

Kathy Stirrat joins the Trust

Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour and Catchments Community Trust is pleased to announce the
appointment of Kathy Stirrat as a trustee.
Kathy is a resident of Paremata and works as a Chief Advisor in He Pou a Rangi, the Climate Change
Commission.
She brings considerable skills and experience to the trust having served in a variety of management
and governance roles in the public, private and not for profit sectors. Previous community roles have
included Board membership of Dress for Success Wellington and Wesley Community Action.
Kathy is keen to be involved in advocating for the preservation and enhancement of the health of the
harbour so the Awarua can continue to provide recreational, economic and cultural opportunities for
the people of Porirua and the greater Wellington area.

Submissions, submissions, submissions

It’s been a busy few months for the Trust for submissions on important matters with potential to impact the harbour.  We’ve made submissions on proposals for waste management, the possible designation of the Northern Growth Area of Porirua City as a Specified Development Project under the Urban Development Act and a draft Future Development Strategy by a leadership committee that embraces the Horowhenua-Wairarapa-Wellington regions.  While we had little disagreement on the sensible proposals for better waste management strategies we do have concerns over the what seems to be a multi-pronged push for major population growth and housing developments.  Our harbour has suffered from handling population growth since the early 1800s.   We’re on a mission to see the mistakes of the past don’t keep on happening and when our leaders say the harbour and natural environment is a high priority for protection then actions need to match the rhetoric.   See our submissions page for details. 

October 2023

Photo competition entries closed 7  November

Our photo competition entry period has now closed.   Keep an eye out for announcement of winners and a public exhibition at the Bottle Creek Gallery, Pataka in early February 2024. Go to yourharbour.nz

Keep Porirua Beautiful beach clean up

Pleased to participate in Labour Day beach clean up by Keep Beautiful Porirua which is being rekindled by the good mahi of a local family.   Gear and technical assistance was provided by Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful team. 

 

 

 

 

September 2023

Entries for our photography competition will open on 1 October and finish on 7 November.   The best entries will feature at an exhibition at Pataka in early 2024.   There are six categories which are open to people of all ages and abilities.  Whether you have a cellphone or a camera get clicking and show us your harbour!   Further information:  https://www.yourharbour.nz

Competition held in conjunction with our partners and supporters including:    Guardians of Pāuatahanui Inlet, Mountains to Sea and Clark Realty.  

August 2023

Another successful planting day

Thanks to the Plimmerton Rotary Club for hosting another community planting day for the Taupo stream at the Plimmerton Domain.   Great support from the Porirua City Council riparian planting team.   Another 1000 plants supplemented the 19000 planted in previous seasons. 

Community planting day 

It was great to see so many of the community present at the first planting day of the season at Wahiora Park in Porirua East today.  Key leaders also turned up to contribute in a practical sense to the mahi: among them  Mayor Anita Baker, Chair of the Greater Wellington Regional Council Daran Ponter and the CE of Ngāti Toa Helmut Modlink.    Five thousand plants were planted streamside. 

 

April 2023

First hikoi of Wellington Water Collective

Was great to attend the first hikoi of Te Hononga Ki Te Upoko, the Wellington Catchments Collective. Our host for a tour of Tawatawa reserve  in South Wellington was Annie Yeates (centre right of pic), of the Southern Environmental Association. Thanks too to Eugene Doyle for the invitation.

 

Time to address waste issues

Our harbour is a magnate for rubbish that is carelessly dropped or dumped.   It’s a major problem.   It was a pleasure to attend a community workshop hosted by Porirua City Council where we discussed what’s not working, what is working and what might be done to reduce waste in our city.   The workshop was a pre-cursor to more formal consultation later in the year on a draft policy on waste minimisation involving 8 councils across the region. 

March 2023

Environment Select Committee appearance

The Trust including representing the Guardians of Pāuatahanui Inlet,  spoke to our submission on the Spatial Planning and Natural and Built Environments Bill on 1 March. We highlighted the need to put environmental outcomes to the fore in these replacements to the RMA. We also spoke of our concerns that the bills were likely to replace one piece of legislation with other complex pieces of legislation and make it even harder for community groups to have a voice on planning matters. A link to the recording of the session is here: https://www.facebook.com/environmentSCNZ/videos/590966899290742/ Our slot right at the end starts: 3:05:16

December 2022

Taking care not to put paint or cleanup water down the drains

 

November 2022

Sediment plumes underline huge problem for harbour

Huge sediment plume makes its way down the Onepoto arm of Te Awarua o Porirua harbour, demonstrating the problems of continuing development and increased rainfall facing restoration efforts.

October 2022

Last year was a busy one for the Trust

The Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour and Catchments Trust held our annual general meeting recently.  The 2021/22 year was very busy with submissions to consultations carried out by PCC in particular.  We also strongly lobbied for getting the stormwater systems right for Transmission Gully before it was opened. Sedimentation remains the key issue facing the harbour and its not slowing down given the volume of construction taking place and storm surges from climate change.   Read our annual report here.