Op-ed by Cr Geoff Hayward & Cr Josh Trlin
In 2018, the Labour Government made a bold commitment to Porirua East: to work alongside Ngāti Toa and Porirua City Council on a multi-decade journey of renewal. It was never about just building houses. It was about restoring dignity to communities that had too often been forgotten.
This commitment came after years of inaction by the previous National government. They tore down state houses, sold off public land and left sections empty. The cost of that neglect was borne by those who could least afford it: whānau stuck in damp garages, overcrowded flats and insecure rentals. People who needed homes were pushed to the margins. Some, having to sleep in cars.
Labour’s plan was ambitious, and it always needed time to build up momentum, but the vision was always clear: to build warm, dry homes fit for our people in the East, and to create vibrant communities that reflect the strength and diversity of Porirua. It was a promise made because it was the right thing to do. It still is.That is why the news that the National-led government has nearly halved the number of state houses to be built here is not only a devastating blow: it is a betrayal. A promise broken. And the people of Porirua East are the ones paying the price.
We have seen the pattern from this government already: cutting public housing, ripping out emergency and transitional housing, then offering nothing but tents. Yes, tents. That is what they think is good enough for those who have the least.Not only does this decision take much needed homes away from the vulnerable, it also rips away the opportunity to train and employ local people in the rebuild. This project was not just about homes. It was also about jobs. About boosting our local economy. About giving whānau a pathway to thrive. That vision is now being snuffed out by a government who clearly has no interest in the wellbeing of this community.
This decision is the final straw. It shows that this government is not just out of touch. It is indifferent. They have failed the people of the East and they have failed the next generation.
Their words mean nothing to us now because their actions have spoken loud and clear. Even so, our people will do what they have always done: lean on each other when the government fails them. Ngāti Toa and groups like Central Pacific Collective will continue to lead. Porirua City Council will continue to push for what is right. But let us be clear: unlocking the potential of the East needs a government with courage, vision and backbone. We no longer have that in Wellington.
As the united Labour team in Porirua, we are not giving up. We will keep fighting for our people, alongside those who are truly connected to this whenua. But to those who think their vote doesn’t matter, we say this: come to Porirua East. Come see the fallow land that should be covered in whare. Come see what has been lost.
Because elections are not just about politics. They are about people. They are about priorities. And they have real consequences.
Geoff Hayward is a Porirua City Councillor for the Onepoto General Ward.
Josh Trlin is a Porirua City Councillor for the Pāuatahanui General Ward.