There’s no getting around it — the fuel situation is biting, and I know a lot of households across Porirua are feeling it right now.

When prices spike like this, it’s not an abstract issue. It shows up straight away at the pump, in the grocery bill, and in the weekly juggle of getting to work, getting the kids where they need to be, and keeping everything ticking over. That pressure is real, and it’s being felt right across our city.

From the Council’s side, our job is to stay practical, keep essential services running, and do what we can to reduce our own fuel use so we’re not adding to the problem.

We’re keeping a close, day-to-day watch on the situation locally. One of the first things we’ve done is identify the infrastructure that absolutely has to keep going no matter what — things like wastewater pump stations that rely on diesel. Those are non-negotiable, and we’re planning around them accordingly.

At the same time, we’re asking our own staff to make sensible adjustments where they can. That means using public transport if it’s an option, or carpooling if it’s not. We already have flexible working arrangements in place, including up to two days working from home with manager approval, and many teams have set “anchor days” in the office to make sure services continue to run smoothly.

One thing that is helping is work we’d already started before this current spike. We’ve been steadily reducing our reliance on fuel where we can, and that’s now paying off.

At Pātaka, we’ve already moved from gas boilers to electric heat pumps. At Te Rauparaha Arena, we’re in the process of doing the same, with both gas boilers being replaced by mid-year. That’s a long-term shift, but it also means less exposure to fuel price shocks like this one.

Across our fleet, we now have 11 fully electric passenger vehicles and three electric mobile plant vehicles. The utility vehicles we brought in last year are hybrid utes, which use significantly less fuel than the older models. We’ve also reduced the size of our fleet, removing two internal combustion vehicles altogether.

There are smaller changes that add up as well. Our cemetery and nursery operations have now transitioned to fully electric small equipment — things like mowers, chainsaws and blowers. In total, 53 pieces of small plant have been converted to electric where it makes sense to do so.

Even in areas where we still rely on fuel, we’re working to use less of it. The introduction of a compactor truck, for example, has reduced the number of trips needed to the landfill.

And importantly, before prices really took off, our workshop team made sure all of our emergency management equipment was serviced and fully fuelled. That means if we do face another event on top of this — weather or something else — we’re ready to respond.

None of this solves the immediate pressure households are under. I know that. But it does mean your Council is doing its part to stay resilient, keep costs under control where we can, and protect the services people rely on every day.

We’ll keep monitoring the situation closely and adjusting as needed. In the meantime, I’d encourage everyone to look out for each other, share lifts where you can, and make the small changes that help take a bit of pressure off.

We’ve been through tough periods before as a city, and we’ve always come through them by sticking together and focusing on what we can control. That approach matters just as much now.

The Commission says many of those eligible may have lived locally when they took out loans with El Cheapo Cars Ltd, which operated in Porirua and Levin under the name Ezybid Finance.

Last year, the company was fined $115,000 and ordered to repay more than $341,000 to borrowers after breaching the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act. While more than 200 people have already been refunded, dozens remain uncontacted.

The Commission estimates at least 70 of those still owed money previously lived in the wider Porirua area.

Repayments range from $200 to more than $3,700, with an average of about $770.

Borrowers have until the end of May 2026 to come forward.

Anyone who took out a loan with El Cheapo Cars between 2009 and 2021 and topped up that loan at any time may be eligible. This applies whether the loan has been repaid or is still being paid off.

Because some loans date back many years, borrowers do not need to have documentation. Instead, the Commission will verify claims using details such as past addresses, contact information and an approximate timeframe for when the loan was taken out.

Sarah Bartlett, director of credit at the Commerce Commission, said the breaches related to failures to properly inform customers about changes to their loan terms.

“In 2024, the Commission filed seven charges under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act against El Cheapo Cars Ltd, which traded as Ezybid Finance,” Bartlett said.

“The charges were for variation disclosure breaches. Essentially, the company varied the terms of borrowers’ contracts without telling the borrowers in writing the effect of the changes.”

Bartlett said the Commission is now focused on reaching those still owed money.

“We have successfully refunded over 200 borrowers but are still trying to locate and contact about 120 more. We understand some borrowers may be elderly, face language barriers, or technology challenges.”

She urged friends and family members to help spread the message.

“It is crucial we hear from borrowers, or people who may know borrowers, who had El Cheapo loans within the dates provided.”

Borrowers can contact the Commerce Commission by emailing ElCheapoIssue@comcom.govt.nz or calling 0800 943 600. Those calling are asked to identify themselves as an El Cheapo Cars borrower and leave their contact details.

The Commission is encouraging community organisations and residents to share the information to help ensure those affected receive any money owed.

From roofing and solar to property, catering, and professional services, it’s another solid group of local operators backing community news.

Here’s who’s new this week:

🏠 Kyle Finiki – Harcourts Paremata
A Porirua-based real estate agent known for a down-to-earth approach and strong negotiation skills, Kyle works with buyers and sellers to achieve the best possible outcome without unnecessary stress, backed by the Harcourts network.

🔧 Rubco Waterproofing Ltd
A Wellington-based, family-owned business specialising in waterproofing, roofing, and membrane systems. With over 10 years’ experience, they deliver re-roofing, repairs, coatings, and house washing with a focus on honest communication and long-lasting protection.

🍳 Pride X Kitchens Wellington (Pridex Kitchens)
Custom kitchen designers delivering end-to-end renovations, from consultation and 3D design through to full project management, creating functional, tailored kitchen spaces for Wellington homes.

📸 Belinda Carr Photography
A Wellington photographer with over 13 years’ experience specialising in newborn, maternity, and family photography, known for natural in-home sessions and relaxed outdoor shoots.

🖨️ Pivotal Print
Award-winning, Māori-majority owned print specialists based in Wellington CBD, delivering high-quality print, production, and marketing solutions backed by decades of industry experience.

☀️ Front End Solar
Solar energy specialists designing and delivering residential, commercial, and community solar systems, helping reduce power costs and support long-term energy resilience.

🏡 Nightingale Properties
Property management specialists offering both full-service and one-off solutions, focused on efficient rental management and staying ahead of tenancy regulations.

🍽️ All About Catering
Wellington-based catering delivering fresh, seasonal food for corporate events and functions, with reliable delivery across the region.

🏘️ NG Property Management
A locally owned property management firm specialising in residential rentals, focused on compliance, tenant quality, and consistent rental income for landlords.

The Porirua News Business Directory continues to grow as more local businesses come on board and back a platform built for the community.

Back the businesses, backing our community.

The Linden Market will be held on Saturday 4 April from 10am to 2pm at Linden Community Hall on Linden Avenue.

Organisers say the event will feature a range of local vendors, offering handmade goods, crafts and treats, alongside activities aimed at families and children.

The market is timed to coincide with the Easter weekend, creating an opportunity for neighbours to gather, support small businesses and enjoy a festive atmosphere.

Enquiries about stallholders or the event can be made directly with the Linden Market team via email or phone.

The event is open to the public, with organisers encouraging locals to come along, bring friends and support the growing Linden community market scene.

Launched in May 2025 with 36 founding members, the directory has grown steadily over the past nine months. It moved past 60 businesses within weeks, reached 100 by mid-year, climbed beyond 150 in spring and now sits at more than 250 supporters from across Porirua and surrounding suburbs.

The milestone reflects strong backing from local operators who see value in supporting a media platform focused on local issues.

Porirua News editor Tim Wilson said the growth belongs to the business community.

“This is about local businesses choosing to stand behind local stories,” Wilson said. “Every business that joins is helping ensure Porirua has news that is focused on our people, our issues and our future.”

The directory was created to make it easier for residents to find trusted services close to home, from trades and hospitality to health, education, automotive and professional advice.

Over the past year, builders, electricians, arborists, cafés, caterers, fitness providers, mortgage advisers, print specialists, IT services, driving schools and community organisations have all come on board. Together, they represent a broad cross-section of Porirua’s economy.

Regular welcome stories and business spotlights continue to introduce new members to readers, highlighting the role local businesses play in strengthening community connection.

Wilson said the milestone is a reflection of that shared spirit across Porirua.

“We’re grateful to the businesses helping keep local stories alive, and we’re proud to help shine a light on the fantastic work they do every day in our community,” he said.

The full Porirua News Business Directory is available at poriruanews.co.nz/porirua-business-directory/.

Businesses interested in joining can email: Editor@PoriruaNews.co.nz

From hospitality and property services to IT, construction, and community institutions, these businesses reflect the breadth of services supporting the wider Porirua region.

🎨 PĀTAKA ART + MUSEUM

A cornerstone of Porirua’s cultural identity, Pātaka Art + Museum is dedicated to celebrating Māori, Pacific, New Zealand, and international art and culture. With free admission, rotating exhibitions, and community programmes, it continues to be a major creative hub for the region.

🍽️ Top Taste Restaurant

A well-known local dining spot, Top Taste Restaurant offers a convenient and welcoming option for locals looking for quality meals in Porirua.

🏗️ Natty Builds

Natty Builds delivers professional building services including renovations, new builds, and project management, supporting homeowners across the wider Wellington region.

🌿 LawnFix Wellington

LawnFix Wellington specialises in lawn treatment rather than mowing, offering services such as fertilisation, weed control, aeration, and full lawn renovation to keep outdoor spaces looking their best year-round.

🧼 RAMS Cleaning Services Wellington

RAMS Cleaning Services is an established commercial cleaning provider with over 20 years of experience, delivering professional cleaning, maintenance, and hygiene services to businesses across New Zealand.

🐜 UrbanShield Pest Solutions

UrbanShield Pest Solutions provides fast, eco-friendly pest control services across Porirua and the wider Wellington region, tackling everything from ants and rodents to wasps and bedbugs with certified, safe treatments.

💻 Jupiter IT

Jupiter IT supports local businesses with technology solutions, helping keep systems running smoothly and securely in an increasingly digital world.

🏡 Donna Marks Mortgages

Donna Marks Mortgages provides personalised mortgage advice, helping clients navigate home loans, refinancing, and property finance with confidence.

🏠 James Blond Rentals

James Blond Rentals offers property and rental solutions, supporting tenants and property owners across the region.

The Porirua News Business Directory continues to grow as a trusted local platform connecting residents with businesses across the region.

Spots are first-in, first-ranked and fill fast. Should we reserve your spot today?

Email us at: Editor@poriruanews.co.nz

The event takes place on Friday, March 20 at the hall on Mentor Lane in Cannons Creek, with community members encouraged to come along, support local vendors and enjoy the atmosphere.

The market features a range of Pacific foods and goods for sale, with stallholders from across Porirua’s Pacific communities. Organisers say the night markets are designed as a welcoming space where families and residents can gather and celebrate Pacific cultures.

Greetings shared by organisers reflect the city’s diverse Pacific population, including Cook Islands, Samoan, Tongan, Tokelauan, Fijian, Niuean, Kiribati and Solomon Islands communities.

Porirua has one of the largest Pacific populations in New Zealand, and community events such as the night markets help celebrate Pacific identity, languages and traditions across the city.

Several Pacific Night Markets are planned throughout 2026, with the Cannons Creek event kicking off the year’s programme.

Residents can attend the market in the evening, try Pacific food, support local stallholders and connect with the community.

Several mornings a week, Strong heads to Musclechef café in Aotea to write.

Not because it’s quieter than home, he says, but because the change of scenery and the buzz of the café helps get his creative mind working. The hot chocolate and cheese scone help too.

“Working in a café is almost like setting a mini deadline. I aim to write as many words as I can by the time my drink is finished.”

Strong says the café has become a regular writing base, with owner Sushil always ready with a smile and a friendly chat.

There are even jokes about officially labelling one of the tables as “Rodney’s office”.

“Writing can be a solitary occupation, so it’s great having a local place I can go to work.”

Much of Strong’s latest release, One Dog and a Whole Lot of Murder, was written at the café.

In keeping with the local theme, the book was printed at Your Books in Grenada North and is now available at Paper Plus in Porirua.

“Richard at Paper Plus has been a great supporter over my writing career,” Strong says.

“I love the fact that something produced locally is being sold locally.”

The exhibition will run from March 7 to April 12 at the cafe on Whitehouse Road and will feature a collection of handcrafted clay artworks and framed prints created under Oikawa’s creative practice, Eclo Art.

The opening night will give residents the opportunity to meet the artist and view the works up close in the relaxed setting of the Titahi Bay cafe.

Oikawa said each piece in the exhibition is shaped slowly by hand through a mindful creative process.

“My artworks are inspired by nature, love, intuition and transformation,” Oikawa said. “Each piece is created slowly and with intention.”

The collection explores colour, texture and layered forms in clay, reflecting Oikawa’s connection to the natural environment of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Visitors will be able to view the artworks throughout the exhibition period during the cafe’s normal opening hours. Many of the works will also be available for purchase.

Tbay Cafe is located at 26 Whitehouse Road in Titahi Bay, Porirua. Residents are invited to attend the opening night on March 11 or visit the exhibition before it closes on April 12.

The failure at the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant is one of the most serious infrastructure breakdowns our region has ever experienced.

Untreated wastewater entering the ocean, the closure of the south coast and the impact on businesses and the environment show what happens when critical systems are pushed beyond their limits. The priority now is straightforward: stabilise the plant, complete the repairs safely and reduce the environmental harm while that work is under way. That will take time.

There will also be an independent Government review. We need clear public answers about how a facility of this importance could fail so completely and what has to change to make sure it does not happen again.

For councils, the wider lesson is unavoidable. Across the country, essential infrastructure is reaching the end of its life at the same time as expectations around public health and environmental performance are increasing. The cost of renewing and upgrading these systems runs into the billions. No single council and its ratepayers can carry that on their own without very sharp increases or major cuts elsewhere.

That is the context for the new water services model that comes into effect next year.

At the moment, councils own the water assets and water costs are largely met through rates. Wellington Water manages the network on behalf of the region, but it does not own the infrastructure and it cannot borrow to fund the long term investment that is needed.

From July 1, 2026, the new regional organisation Tiaki Wai will own the pipes and treatment plants for the metropolitan councils. It will be publicly owned by those councils but will operate as a separate organisation focused solely on water.

It will also bill households directly for water services.

That is a significant change. Instead of water being part of your rates bill, you will receive a separate bill from the water organisation, alongside your council rates for everything else.

The reason for this approach is scale. A dedicated water entity can borrow and invest at a level councils cannot, and spread the cost of major upgrades over a longer period. That gives us a pathway to fixing the backlog rather than continuing to manage decline.

It is important to be clear about what this will and will not do. It will not solve decades of under investment overnight, and it will not remove the cost of replacing ageing infrastructure. What it does is create a structure that is capable of doing the work. The current model is not.

For Porirua households, the practical points are:

• your water services will continue as normal
• the infrastructure will remain in public ownership through the councils’ joint shareholding in the new entity
• you will receive a separate water bill rather than paying for water through rates
• the goal is a steady, planned programme of upgrades so we see fewer failures and a more resilient network over time

While water is the most visible example right now, it is not the only major infrastructure issue we are dealing with.

We are also consulting with the community on the future of Spicer Landfill. That site has served Porirua for decades, but it is reaching the end of its life and the cost of building a replacement landfill that meets modern environmental standards is extremely high.

We now have a genuine choice to make as a city: whether to move to a model where waste is transferred from Spicer to a landfill facility elsewhere in the region, or to close Spicer Landfill altogether.

Kerbside rubbish and recycling collections will continue whichever option is chosen, but the long term decision affects cost, environmental impact and how we manage waste as a growing city.

Consultation on these options opens on February 24 and runs until March 25. I encourage people to take the time to look at the information and have their say. This is a major, once in a generation decision and it needs to be shaped by the community.

Closer to home, the heavy rain event earlier this month showed the value of preparation and coordination. Council and contractor crews were out early clearing drains, monitoring known pressure points and responding quickly where issues arose. That work does not always make headlines, but it reduces disruption and keeps people safe.

All of these issues — Moa Point, water reform, the future of Spicer Landfill — are about the same thing. Infrastructure is not abstract. It is the systems that protect public health, the environment and the reliability of the services we use every day.

Our job is to be upfront about the scale of the challenge, support practical solutions and make sure Porirua’s interests are strongly represented in the decisions that are now being made.

That is where my focus will stay.