The free community event will run from 10am to 12.30pm, with participants meeting at the Champion Street entrance. Sunday, 19 July, is the postponement day.

There will be 1800 plants ready to go into the ground, along with tools for people who want to help collect litter around the park.

Participants will also be able to connect with community organisations and learn more about their work.

A free barbecue will be provided for those taking part in the planting and clean-up.

The event is free and open to the community.

Painga Project’s mobile clinic, Celia, has travelled from Auckland to visit Whānau Manaaki kindergartens in Porirua and Levin as part of the charity’s Wellington pilot programme.

Every child receiving an eye examination has already been screened by Painga Project. Of the children screened, 17 per cent were found to need a full eye examination.

The exams, glasses and follow-up care are provided free, with the clinic visiting children at their kindergarten so whānau do not need to arrange travel or take time away from work.

Celia usually works across 53 high-equity-needs primary and intermediate schools in Auckland.

The clinic has been joined on its regional visit by Whina, Painga Project’s mobile audiology clinic, which is being used as a support vehicle. Children who need glasses can choose their frames inside the clinic.

Painga Project chief executive Sarah Corson said good eyesight could have a major effect on a child’s start at school.

“These children are about to begin their school journey, and good vision changes everything about how that journey goes,” Corson said.

“What we’re seeing at Whānau Manaaki kindergartens tells us the need in this region is real.

“We’d love the Wellington community to get behind a permanently based mobile clinic, so this isn’t a one-off visit.”

Painga Project provides free hearing and vision screening, follow-up testing, glasses and hearing support during school hours.

The charity said bringing services directly to kindergartens and schools helped remove cost, travel and time barriers that could prevent families from accessing eye care.

The pilot will also help the charity better understand preschool vision needs in the region.

Painga Project hopes funding can be secured for a Wellington-based mobile clinic that could provide free vision care throughout the region year-round.

People interested in supporting the project as funders, partners or volunteers can visit paingaproject.co.nz. Donations can also be made through the Painga Project’s Givealittle page; https://givealittle.co.nz/org/the-painga-project

The awards ceremony was held at Pātaka on Tuesday night, with Ngāti Toa kaumātua Dr Taku Parai opening the event and Councillor Ross Leggett serving as MC.

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker thanked the recipients for helping make the city a more vibrant, connected and welcoming place.

“I am so proud to live and work in Porirua. Our city is made up of kind, generous and dedicated people who give their time and energy making a difference for everyone in our city,” she said.

“You all have an outstanding sense of community and a desire to be part of what makes Porirua a great place to live. Thank you all for your service to our city.”

Mayoral Award

Jenni Norton received the 2026 Mayoral Award for her service to refugees who have settled in Porirua.

A Red Cross volunteer since 2016, she has supported refugee families with reunification issues and helped them deal with the physical and mental effects of trauma.

She also established an Arabic school in Porirua, arranging trained teachers to run cultural and language programmes for children from Arabic refugee families.

Jenni helped community leaders establish an incorporated society and understand how governance works in New Zealand.

Civic Award recipients

Brent Tuohy was recognised for more than 30 years of service to the Paremata Plimmerton Rugby Football Club and the wider Plimmerton community.

His leadership and commitment have helped strengthen inclusion and community connections through the club.

Evelina Gaualofa and her husband, Alfred Masoe, were recognised for their work strengthening Tokelau culture in Porirua.

They have helped young people connect with Tokelau language, music, dance, values and cultural identity, while also providing practical support, transport, fundraising and encouragement.

Brienela Tauira-Kisona and her husband, Fredwyn Kisona, received awards for their long-standing cultural leadership and work with young people.

They have tutored local school groups preparing for the Te Kiwa Nui Festival and supported the Porirua Tokelau Sharks ahead of the Tokelau Easter Festival.

Their work has included rehearsals, choreography, language support, costumes and pastoral care, helping young people remain connected to their language, identity and cultural values.

The Porirua Civic Awards have been held since 1993 and recognise residents who have provided generous and often long-standing service to the city.

Windley School, Titahi Bay North School, Corinna School, Russell School and Holy Family School are working with Hearing Wellington on the programme.

The assessments look for permanent hearing loss, ear infections, wax and auditory processing difficulties.

Children with Auditory Processing Disorder, known as APD, may have normal hearing but struggle to process and understand speech, particularly in noisy classrooms or during instruction-heavy lessons.

Hearing New Zealand president and audiologist Dr Lisa Seerup said the number of children showing some form of difficulty had surprised those involved.

“What surprised me most was the sheer number of children that had some type of issue,” she said.

Hearing New Zealand said 75 per cent of the children tested had a hearing or listening issue, including permanent hearing loss, auditory processing difficulties, ear infections or wax.

Many students showed auditory processing difficulties despite recording normal hearing results.

Seerup said hearing was checked through the B4 School Check but was not routinely tested once children were at school.

She said listening was a foundation for learning and unidentified difficulties could affect classroom participation, reading and wider educational achievement.

“Children cannot recognise sounds they cannot hear,” she said.

The pilot uses technology that allows hearing and auditory processing screening to be carried out across a whole class.

Students also complete online listening exercises for 10 to 20 minutes, twice a week, over 10 weeks.

Hearing New Zealand said students had shown improvement after completing the programme.

Seerup said adapting testing and support from an individual setting to the classroom had required close work with the participating schools.

“The schools were amazing in helping us move from theory to what works in the classroom,” she said.

“Scaling a programme from a one-to-one basis to the classroom is not as simple as cut and paste.”

She said the Porirua programme could help develop a more practical way to identify and support children with hidden listening difficulties.

Seerup also acknowledged support from Mana MP Barbara Edmonds and Ora Toa.

Hearing Wellington is keen to hear from other Porirua schools interested in learning more about the pilot.

The light display runs from Thursday 9 July to Sunday 12 July, from 5.30pm to 9pm each night, along the Porirua harbourside from Pirate’s Cove on Wi Neera Drive to Pak’nSave.

The outdoor display is open to the whole whānau, with food trucks selling warm kai.

Apex the artist will also offer free face painting for tamariki inside Kai Tahi from 5.30pm to 7.30pm each evening.

On Friday 10 July, Pātaka Art + Museum will host a free Matariki event honouring the remembrance star Pōhutukawa.

The event runs from 10am to 5pm and invites people to gather for reflection, connection and remembrance.

Activities include a Ngāti Toa-led kōrero within Mutumutu ki Mukukai, where local waterways hold stories of people and place. Visitors can also remember whānau at a waka installation by creating personal tributes to loved ones.

Whānau activities, live music, kai and a welcoming courtyard space will run throughout the day.

Rongoā seedlings from Porirua City Nursery will also be available for people to take home and plant.

More information about Pātaka’s Matariki events is available on the Pātaka website.

The funding will be used for new uniforms, footballs and first aid kits.

The club says the grant will support a junior programme that regularly has more than 100 children taking part, while helping reduce costs for families.

Club treasurer Tom Millar said the funding would ease pressure on parents registering children to play.

“This funding will help ease a significant financial burden for parents registering their children to play,” Tom said.

“Being able to provide this gear means we can strengthen community engagement and give more children the chance to play in a welcoming, community-orientated club.”

PCAFC junior convenor Matthew Boyadjian said the club was grateful for NZCT’s support.

“Porirua City AFC would like to extend our sincere thanks to NZCT for their generous support through this year’s grant,” Matthew said.

“This funding has enabled us to purchase new footballs for our junior programme, allowing us to pass last season’s balls on to players so they can practise at home, as well as supply first aid kits for every coach’s team bag and new playing kits for all our junior members.”

NZCT general manager of grants, marketing and communications Ben Hodges said the grant was about keeping sport accessible.

“For a lot of families, the cost of playing sport can really add up,” Ben said.

“This grant is about helping keep football accessible, so more young people can turn up, join their mates, and be part of good community fun.”

Ben said NZCT was able to fund community grants through fundraising partnerships with Legends Sports Bar, The Mariner and The Sandbar Mana via their responsible gaming lounges.

The launch event included an official welcome from Dr Taku Parai and featured podcast presentations from local students.

The podcast project has been produced with support from Amy, Brigid and Jonny from Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM and Immigration Time.

Students involved in the evening included Lauren and Blair from Aotea College, Joe and Lionel from Porirua College, and Carl, Gabe, Max and Maddison from Mana College.

Students from Te Kura Māori o Porirua were also involved in the project but were unable to attend the launch event.

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said it was a wonderful opportunity for young people in the city to have their voices heard.

Domino’s Pizza Porirua also supported the event by providing food for students.

The Porirua Voices Youth Podcast officially launches on Saturday, 18 July at 5.30pm on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM.

Listeners can also tune in through https://www.accessradio.org/home.

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker presented certificates at the graduation this week and congratulated the students on their achievement.

Students from Bishop Viard College and Wellington Girls’ College attended the celebration. Students from Porirua College and St Mary’s College were unable to attend but were also acknowledged for their work.

Mayor Baker thanked Tapu Elia for running the classes, for the time spent guiding the students, and she wished the graduates well with their future studies.

The team trailed by 10 points with only minutes left, but finished strongly to claim the hard-fought victory.

Taylah Ford and Kody Kahu crossed for late tries, while first five-eighth Mitchell Potton kicked a sideline conversion to help seal the result.

The win keeps the Beard Trophy with Aotea College ahead of their next challenge against Porirua College on 22 July.

Supporters are being encouraged to head to Jerry Collins Stadium for the match as Aotea look to hold the trophy for the 2026 season.

The Wellington City Council event will run from 6pm to 9pm each evening, offering a free walk-through experience marking the Māori New Year.

The event honours the rising of Puanga and the Matariki star cluster, a time to remember loved ones who have died, celebrate the present and look ahead to the future.

Visitors are encouraged to dress warmly and gather with whānau and friends along the waterfront.

Each evening will include a Pōhutukawa and Hiwa-i-te-rangi ceremony. From 6pm to 7.30pm, people can write down the names and memories of loved ones who have died since last Matariki, as well as wishes and hopes for the year ahead.

The ceremony will begin at 7.45pm at the Solace in the Wind statue, where the names, memories and hopes will be released into the flames.

Local performers will also appear on the Aroha and Takoha stages during the event.

Matariki Ahi Kā runs from 6pm to 9pm, Thursday 9 July to Sunday 12 July, on the Wellington Waterfront. More information is available at wellington.govt.nz/matariki.