Porirua Harbour Trust

About Us

Message from the Chairperson –

Michael Player

A very warm welcome to the website for the Porirua Harbour and Catchments Community Trust (PHACCT) also know as the Porirua Harbour Trust.

The Porirua Harbour, (Te Awarua-o-Porirua) comprising the Onepoto Arm and the Pauatahanui Inlet, is the centrepiece of Porirua City. The Harbour is the largest estuary system in the lower North Island. As well as having a nationally significant wildlife area, the estuary has cultural, recreational, economic (transport), and other wildlife habitat values.

The Porirua Harbour Trust needs your assistance to ensure that the health of our harbour is protected and improved while providing recreational, economic and cultural opportunities, now and in the future.

Introduction

The original Porirua Harbour and Catchment Community Trust was formally established on the 11th March 2011.

The need for a Trust that covered both arms of the Porirua Harbour was first identified in the Pauatahanui Inlet Community Trust (PICT)’s Action Plan. The Porirua Harbour Advisory Group founded PICT in 2000 to ensure strong community, local government and Iwi input into working to improve the state of Pauatahanui Inlet. Significant work was then carried out by Porirua City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council and Ngati Toa Rangatira as the parties recognised the value of having an independent advocate to focus on both Onepoto and Pauatahanui arms of Porirua Harbour. The result was the establishment of Porirua Harbour and Catchment Community Trust in 2011 with a role that is also recognised in the Porirua Harbour and Catchment Strategic and Detailed Action Plan adopted by 15 agencies (including the above) in 2011.

 The work of the current Trust, fully superseded the original trust in July 2021.  It continues to cover the Porirua Harbour comprising the Onepoto Arm, the Pauatahanui Inlet and the outer harbour and its catchment.  The Trust is comprised of independent trustees drawn from the community.  Unlike the original trust it has no members appointed by the local councils.

 The objectives of the Trust are to promote the sustainable management of the Porirua Harbour and its catchment by:

(a)  Advocating for the sustainable management of the harbour and its catchment;

(b)  Fostering the understanding of ecological and environmental issues associated with the harbour and its catchment through education and community awareness;

(c)  Coordinating input from community groups on issues relating to the harbour and its catchment;

(d)  Supporting, promoting and contributing to programmes and projects aimed at improvements to the Porirua Harbour and its catchment, where appropriate;

(e)  Engaging in any other activities and processes that are complementary to any of the forgoing objectives.

 The Trust recognizes the work led by the Porirua City Council in establishing a Porirua Harbour and Catchment Strategy and a Detailed Action Plan.  We aim to continue working with the PCC, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and the large number of community groups spread throughout the catchments in striving to improve the health and ecology of Te Awarua-o-Porirua.

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