Deziah was last seen near Paraparaumu train station about 1.50pm on Thursday, June 11.

Police said she was expected to board a train to Porirua, but did not arrive at Porirua station when expected and has not been seen since.

It is believed Deziah may still be in the Wellington District area.

Police said they would like to find her as soon as possible.

Anyone who has seen Deziah, or has information that could help locate her, should contact Police on 105 and quote file number 260611/9148.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

The grant will help the volunteer-run theatre buy more compact and energy-efficient lighting, improving productions in temporary venues where low ceilings and limited power can make older equipment difficult to use.

The Department of Internal Affairs says gaming machines in pubs and clubs are Class 4 gambling, which is classified as high-risk, high-turnover gambling. Class 4 gambling can only be run by licensed corporate societies to raise money for authorised purposes, including community and non-commercial activities.

Porirua Little Theatre co-secretary Theresa Savory said the group’s old lighting equipment had reached the end of its practical life.

“Our old lighting equipment had reached the end of its practical life and was no longer suitable for the venues we perform in,” Savory said.

The previous system relied on extensive cabling, used more power, and included units that were no longer working or cost-effective to repair.

The new system is expected to improve lighting on stage, reduce technical constraints behind the scenes, and help the theatre adapt to different performance spaces.

It will also allow Porirua Little Theatre to continue sharing equipment with other local community groups.

Ligs Hoffman, an audience member at Chicago, said the lighting helped transform the production.

“The whole auditorium was brought to life by the lighting, I felt as if I was walking into a 1920s speakeasy,” Hoffman said.

“The lighting brought the whole set to life and set the mood from start to finish. It really did enhance the whole experience and made it fully immersive.”

Amanda Stone, director of The Pantoloons Children’s Theatre, said Porirua Little Theatre’s practice of making technical gear available under a koha system had supported children’s theatre productions.

“PLT’s willingness to make their technical gear available under a koha system has been a vital support to The Pantoloons, allowing us to stage high-quality performances that entertain, inspire, and bring people together,” Stone said.

NZCT general manager of grants, marketing and communications Ben Hodges said the trust was pleased to support Porirua Little Theatre.

“Porirua Little Theatre put on wonderful shows and we’re delighted to help them out,” Hodges said.

Hodges said NZCT’s funding came through partnerships with local venues including Legends Sports Bar, The Mariner and Sandbar Mana.

NZCT says it generated $36.334 million for community benefit in 2024/25 and distributed $38.244 million through 1,992 grants, including funding for community sport, rescue services, youth development, arts and culture.

Porirua Little Theatre has been part of the local arts community since 1950, producing plays, revues, musicals and family shows.

The theatre is run by volunteers and provides opportunities for people of all ages to take part on stage and behind the scenes.

People affected by gambling harm can contact the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or text 8006 for free, confidential support.

The centre presented at a national judicial education seminar in Wellington yesterday, after being invited by the Ministry of Justice to speak to about 25 Family Court judicial officers from across Aotearoa.

Jessica Tehuia, hapori service manager at Porirua Whānau Centre, said missed appointments, anger or disengagement were often seen in isolation.

“When a judge sees a parent who missed appointments, who’s angry, who seems disengaged or non-compliant, what may sit behind that is no transport, poverty, overwhelm, fear, shame, and a deep distrust of systems that have never worked for them,” Tehuia said.

“We’re not making excuses. We’re asking the courts to see the whole picture, because how a judge responds to that behaviour changes everything for the tamariki in front of them.”

Porirua Whānau Centre has supported whānau involved with Oranga Tamariki and the Family Court for 32 years.

It provides 24 services across housing, education, family violence, parenting, advocacy and youth development.

Its Hapori programme, a community-led partnership with Oranga Tamariki and local iwi established in 2023, has helped reduce the number of tamariki in care in Porirua from 98 to 58.

The centre says the programme has also achieved the lowest re-notification rate in Wellington.

Tehuia said the results showed agency-led intervention alone was not enough.

“Hapori works because it is relationship-centred, strengths-based, and whānau-led,” she said.

“Before whānau can change, they need to feel safe, heard, understood, and part of the solution. That is what we bring. And it is what the court system, on its own, cannot always provide.”

The centre presented alongside VOYCE, with several community organisations asked to speak directly to judicial officers.

Porirua Whānau Centre chief executive Liz Kelly said the invitation reflected a shift in how the courts were thinking about their role.

“For 32 years we have sat alongside the same whānau who appear before these courts,” Kelly said.

“What our team shared today is evidence that a different approach works. When whānau are treated as part of the solution, tamariki are safer.

“We want judges to leave today understanding that.”

Porirua Whānau Centre says its message to the court sector is that better outcomes for tamariki come when whānau are heard, supported and treated as part of the solution.

Inspector Renée Perkins, Kāpiti Mana Area Commander, said the incident happened about 5.45pm on Albatross Close.

A man wearing a red shirt and dark-coloured shorts allegedly ran up to two children and assaulted the 11-year-old.

Another child intervened, causing the offender to flee on foot.

Perkins said the child was not injured and was receiving support following the incident.

Police are asking anyone who was in the vicinity of Endeavour Park at the time to come forward with information.

Investigators are particularly interested in hearing from residents with CCTV footage from Albatross Close, Observatory Close, Tide Lane and Trade Winds Drive.

Motorists with dashcam footage recorded in the area between 5.30pm and 6pm are also being urged to contact police.

Perkins acknowledged the incident may cause concern among local residents.

“We urge people to be alert, not alarmed, and be mindful of your surroundings if you are out alone,” she said.

Police are treating the matter with urgency and say Whitby residents can expect an increased police presence while inquiries continue.

The additional patrols are intended to support the investigation and provide reassurance to the community.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police on 105 and quote reference number 260610/6181.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police are encouraging residents to call 111 immediately if they witness suspicious activity in their neighbourhood.

Work at the Aotea Lagoon playground is scheduled to start on June 15 and is expected to take between two and four weeks. The project will see the existing spinner replaced with a basket swing, while the ageing Rocotopus play structure will be removed and replaced with a new play feature.

The council says all safety surfacing within the work area will also be renewed as part of the upgrade.

A week later, on June 22, work is due to begin at the Waihemo St playground in Waitangirua. That project is also expected to take between two and four weeks.

The existing playground will be removed, with suitable components reused where possible. Plans for the new playground include a tower play structure with a slide, new play equipment, a nature play area and additional planting.

The upgrades are aimed at improving play opportunities for local children while ensuring the facilities remain safe and appealing for families.

The work may result in temporary disruptions while construction is underway, but both projects are expected to be completed within a month of starting, weather permitting.

Residents can follow Porirua City Council channels for updates on construction progress and any temporary closures affecting playground users.

Ngā Atua ō Matariki, by Apex the Artist, runs from Saturday, June 13, to Sunday, July 19, 2026.

The exhibition features nine portraits that reimagine the atua of Matariki through contemporary tinana mahi toi, or face and body painting.

Apex the Artist paints tangata whenua models to embody the strengths and characteristics of each star. The temporary works are then captured and presented as photographs.

The exhibition explores the body as a living canvas, honouring the vessel formed from the earth by the atua and shaped through generations.

This Matariki season, Pātaka is celebrating Pōhutukawa, the guiding star associated with remembrance and those who have died.

The exhibition also honours Apex the Artist’s late father, Pitaarangaōtemahita Rongopai.

Pita is on his journey on Te Waka o Rangi, with Matariki 2026 marking the completion of that journey.

Visitors will be invited to decorate their own star and place it next to Pita’s portrait in the exhibition, symbolically sending it with him on his journey.

Pātaka says the exhibition is designed as an immersive experience for tamariki and whānau, while offering space for reflection, creativity and remembrance.

Ngā Atua ō Matariki will be on show in Toi Gallery at Pātaka Art + Museum, Porirua, from June 13 to July 19, 2026.

The restaurant opened in Cobham Court on June 7, 1976, becoming the first McDonald’s in New Zealand and introducing Kiwis to a brand that would eventually expand to 177 restaurants nationwide.

More than 100 people reportedly queued outside before the doors opened at 10am on opening day. A brass band played as customers lined up to try the new American fast-food chain.

Back then, a Big Mac cost 75 cents, a cheeseburger 40 cents and a hamburger 30 cents.

The Porirua restaurant was built on the site of a former squash court and became the launch point for one of New Zealand’s largest restaurant businesses.

To mark the milestone, McDonald’s has released a collection of stories from its first 50 years in New Zealand, including the challenges involved in opening the original Porirua restaurant.

Among them is the story of Rotorua baker Digby Sykes, who helped create the apple pies sold on opening day. Faced with an order for 1,152 pies, Sykes reportedly worked around the clock to develop equipment capable of producing them in the quantities required.

The company also highlighted an unusual construction challenge. Historical accounts suggest imported building materials used for the first restaurant became caught up in trade restrictions, eventually leading to a deal involving New Zealand cheese being exchanged in place of materials that could not be returned to the United States.

Today, McDonald’s estimates more than 200,000 people have worked for the company in New Zealand since 1976.

While the business has grown into a familiar presence across the country, its New Zealand story began in Porirua.

Fifty years on, the city’s place in that history remains unchanged.

The Cobham Court restaurant was New Zealand’s first McDonald’s, making Porirua the birthplace of the Golden Arches in Aotearoa.

Here’s who’s new this week:

🏡 A1homes
A home building company helping Kiwis plan and build quality homes. A1homes supports customers through the building process with practical experience and trusted home design options.

⚡ Roundhouse Electrical
A local electrical business providing reliable electrical services for homes and businesses. Roundhouse Electrical helps customers with practical, professional electrical work.

🌳 Alejandro Correa Arborist
An arborist service supporting property owners with tree care, pruning, maintenance, and tree management. Alejandro Correa Arborist brings specialist knowledge and practical outdoor expertise.

🔲 Tile Kāpiti
A tiling business providing professional tiling services for residential and commercial projects. Tile Kāpiti helps customers create clean, durable, high-quality finishes.

🎓 Capital Training
A training provider supporting people and organisations with practical skills development. Capital Training helps learners build capability and confidence.

💼 Kathryn Grace Coaching
A career coaching service supporting people to navigate career change, job searching, and career decisions with clarity and confidence. Kathryn Grace Coaching offers practical guidance with a personalised and encouraging approach.

🤝 Porirua Whānau Centre
A community organisation supporting Porirua families and whānau. Porirua Whānau Centre plays an important role in strengthening local wellbeing and connection.

🪵 APS Firewood
A local firewood supplier providing clean, dry, quality firewood delivered quickly. APS Firewood helps households stay warm with ready-to-burn firewood across the Wellington region.

Porirua News is proud to welcome these businesses and organisations to the directory and recognise their support for local community news.

Back the Businesses, Backing Porirua.

The event will feature Muay Thai and corporate boxing bouts, with fighters from Porirua, Wellington and other parts of New Zealand competing throughout the evening.

Organisers say the fight card will showcase local talent alongside competitors from around the country, offering spectators a chance to experience a range of combat sports under one roof.

Doors open at 4 p.m., with the first contests scheduled to begin from 4:30 p.m. at Te Rauparaha Arena.

A family-friendly alcohol-free area will be available upstairs, with access to food and soft drinks. Event organisers have advised that all attendees under the age of 18 must be seated in the upstairs area.

Children under eight can attend free of charge. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.

The event is open to all ages. Tickets are available through the event organisers and ticketing platform.

Event details

• What: Rumble Fight Night
• Where: Te Rauparaha Arena
• When: Saturday, June 6, 2026
• Doors open: 4 p.m.
• Start time: 4:30 p.m.
• Admission: All ages, children under 8 free

Police said two people were injured.

One person is in a serious condition and another has moderate injuries.

The Serious Crash Unit has been notified.

Motorists are being urged to avoid the area while emergency services work at the scene. Updates are expected through Waka Kotahi NZTA and Police channels.