The cameras, mounted on a council vehicle, began operating this week and are being used first around schools to detect illegal parking, including vehicles stopped on broken yellow lines, blocking driveways, or parked on footpaths.

Council says the rollout is about safety, particularly for children walking to and from school, and about keeping parking officers safe.

But the introduction comes as Porirua faces significant financial pressure, including a 17.5 percent average rates increase in 2024-25, rising infrastructure costs and a stated push in its Long-term Plan to increase revenue targets.

The budget for the technology was approved in the council’s 2024 Long-term Plan.

Nic Etheridge, council’s manager of policy, planning and regulatory services, said revenue generation was not considered when the council decided to fund and introduce the technology.

She said the council had not carried out financial analysis on fine income and had not forecast any increase in fees for budgeting purposes.

Etheridge said infringement numbers were likely to rise slightly at first, but were expected to reduce over time as compliance improved.

“The overall goal is to promote compliance, safety and fair access to parking,” she said.

The council says the system will cost $34,000 a year to operate.

However, the cost of procuring the service provider has not been released.

“The costs associated with the procurement of the service provider is commercially sensitive and is therefore not publicly disclosed,” Etheridge said.

That means residents do not know the full cost of introducing the technology, or whether any increase in enforcement could offset those costs through fines.

The council has also said the cameras could later be used for wider purposes.

“Down the track, LPR can be used for checking warrants of fitness and registrations and whether a car is stolen, along with data collection of parking and road use around Porirua, informing future decisions and city development by our transport team,” the council’s release said.

Council says the camera operates within the requirements of the Privacy Act, people’s faces will be blurred in images, and images will be used only for evidence gathering and enforcement.

“We’re embracing up-to-date technology which allows us to do a job safely, fairly and efficiently,” Etheridge said.

Asked whether LPR data would be shared with Police or other agencies, Etheridge said collection, use and management of the data would comply with the Privacy Act and Official Information Act.

In Porirua, the cameras are being used around schools for the first month before any wider rollout.

But questions remain over how the public can assess the value of the system when procurement costs are withheld, no fine revenue modelling has been done, and the council has already identified future uses beyond school parking enforcement.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says work is planned on State Highways 1 and 59 between January 24 and January 30, with all timings weather dependent.

On State Highway 1, Transmission Gully will be closed northbound overnight for chipsealing. The closure runs between Linden and the SH58 interchange on Monday and Tuesday nights from 9pm to 7am. On Wednesday and Thursday nights, the northbound closure extends from Linden to Paekākāriki over the same hours. Traffic will be detoured via State Highway 59.

Southbound traffic on Transmission Gully will also be affected, with overnight closures between Paekākāriki and Linden from Sunday to Tuesday nights, 9pm to 4.30am, for chipsealing.

In addition, southbound lane closures remain in place during the day and night in several locations, including Battle Hill and Waitangirua, for paving, barrier removal and chipseal-related traffic management.

On State Highway 59, the old coastal route through Porirua, the northbound road between the Paekākāriki and MacKay’s interchanges will be closed during the day on Thursday from 8am to 5pm for power pole installation.

In Paekākāriki, drivers can expect altered lane layouts from Monday to Friday, 6.30am to 4pm, for a watermain upgrade. Stop-go traffic controls will also be in place south of Fisherman’s Table on Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 7pm to 4am for sign renewals.

Pukerua Bay motorists will face stop-go controls south of Gray Street on Tuesday night, 7pm to 4am, also for sign renewals.

Closer to Porirua, lane closures are planned at Paremata Roundabout and north of the Whitford Brown interchange on Wednesday night for streetlight pole replacement. The Titahi Bay southbound off-ramp will close briefly early Tuesday morning, from midnight to 3am, for the same work.

Waka Kotahi is urging drivers to allow extra travel time, follow posted detours and traffic management, and check for updates before setting off. All works may be delayed or rescheduled if weather conditions change.

Motorists travelling through Porirua and north toward Kāpiti are being warned to expect delays over the long weekend as extensive state highway roadworks continue across the Wellington region.

The New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says works on Transmission Gully will include overnight closures, lane reductions and temporary speed limits from Friday, January 17, through Thursday, January 23. All works are weather dependent.

Drivers are urged to follow posted speed limits on newly laid chip seal to avoid damage to vehicles and to consider alternative routes where possible.

Transmission Gully night closures

Both northbound and southbound lanes on Transmission Gully will close overnight on several nights next week for chipsealing and paving.

Northbound closures will affect:

• Linden to SH58 Pāuatahanui on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, 9pm to 7am
• Linden to Paekākāriki on Thursday and Friday nights, 9pm to 7am

Southbound closures will affect:

• SH58 Pāuatahanui interchange to Linden from Monday to Wednesday nights, 9pm to 4.30am

Daytime lane closures and altered lane layouts will remain in place across several sections, including Rainbow Bridge, Battle Hill and between Linden and Paekākāriki.

When Transmission Gully is open, motorists heading to Porirua, Kāpiti or further north are encouraged to use State Highway 59 to avoid the works.

Concert traffic warning

Waka Kotahi has also flagged heavy traffic on Wednesday, January 21, due to the Ed Sheeran concert at Sky Stadium.

Drivers travelling north that evening are advised to avoid Transmission Gully, use SH59 or consider public transport. Metlink will run additional train services with increased capacity after the concert.

Other Porirua and regional works

Additional state highway works affecting Porirua and nearby routes include:

• SH59 Paekākāriki: altered lane layouts during the day for a watermain upgrade
• SH59 Plimmerton and Mana: daytime southbound lane closures for Wellington Water leak repairs
• SH1 Kuku and Manakau North: overnight stop-go controls for line marking
• Ngauranga Gorge and Churton Park: overnight ramp and road closures for paving

Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time, especially during peak periods, and to check for updates before travelling.

Full details and the latest updates are available on the New Zealand Transport Agency website: nzta.govt.nz/TG-summer-work

All trains in the Wellington Region have been cancelled for Thursday 23 Oct, from 8am to 6pm. Please check https://www.metlink.org.nz/ for the latest information on public transport.

Updated Weather Information

STRONG WIND WARNING – RED – Wellington and Wairarapa south of Carterton.

7am to 7pm, Thursday, 23 October. Severe gales with damaging gusts of 140km/h in exposed places. Power outages have already been happening across the region and there may be more as severe weather picks up tomorrow (Thursday).

HEAVY RAIN WARNING – Orange – The Tararua Range.

10am to 8pm Thursday 23 Oct. Expect 80 to 120 mm of rain. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h expected Thursday afternoon and evening. Thunderstorms are possible. Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

STRONG WIND WARNING – Orange – Kāpiti Coast

9am – 7pm, Thursday 23 Oct. Severe gale northwesterlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.

STRONG WIND WARNING – Orange – Wairarapa about and north of Carterton.

10am Thursday 23 Oct – 3am Friday 24 Oct. Severe gale northwesterlies with damaging gusts of 130 km/h in exposed places.

HEAVY SWELLS – Ōtaki to Cape Terawhiti, with highest risk period between late Thursday morning to Thursday evening.

Please see MetService New Zealand for the latest updates.

Take care, WREMO Duty Team

Chief Executive Wendy Walker said the plan was the result of years of work by staff and community members. “After 480 submissions and eight hearings, all appeals have now been resolved and the plan can come into operation. It will replace the Council’s existing district plan and is a significant milestone for the city to help us get the right development in the right places,” she said.

The District Plan sets the framework for how land will be used across the city. It provides for more housing choice, adjusts the size of rural lifestyle blocks, and identifies areas at risk from natural hazards to ensure more resilient planning. At the same time, it protects cultural, environmental and historic sites valued by Porirua residents.

The Government directed councils in 2022 to enable more medium- and high-density housing. Walker said Porirua’s plan responds to this while also caring for the natural environment. “We support the government’s focus on providing more homes for people and have done our best to achieve that in a way that also takes care of the natural environment, particularly the health of Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour,” she said.

Council worked in partnership with Ngāti Toa Rangatira, who contributed to drafting several chapters and reviewed the entire plan before it was made public.

The new District Plan will become operative next month.

Voters have until noon on 11 October to submit their ballots, which cover elections for the Porirua mayoralty, city councillors across the Parirua (Māori), Onepoto, and Pāuatahanui (General) wards, and the Porirua-Tawa Constituency on the Greater Wellington Regional Council. This year’s election also includes three polls: two binding polls on whether to retain Māori representation in both Porirua and Greater Wellington, and a non-binding poll exploring future Council structures.

The elected mayor, city councillors, and regional representatives make decisions that affect many aspects of daily life, from the harbour and libraries to infrastructure and rates, so voters are encouraged to make their voices heard.

Residents can vote as soon as they receive their orange voting papers and are encouraged to drop them into orange voting boxes located throughout the city, including at libraries and supermarkets. A full list of drop-off locations is available on the Porirua City Council website: https://poriruacity.govt.nz/your-council/mayor-councillors/elections-2025/vote-poti/where-to-drop-your-vote/.

The election uses the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Voters can rank as many or as few candidates as they like, but are advised not to skip numbers.

Anyone not yet enrolled can still participate by enrolling online at vote.nz or visiting one of the community voting events organised across Porirua. These events also offer help with casting special votes for those who misplace their papers or need to update their details.

Progress results will begin to be released from 3pm on 11 October, with official results expected between 16 and 22 October. Voters who have not received their papers by 22 September should contact the Council or attend a community event for assistance.

For everything election-related, including how to vote, candidate profiles, and live updates, visit the Porirua News Election Hub.

12 August 2025

John Burke, Paremata — Former Porirua Mayor (15 years) on limits of mayoral power

Call me a cynic if you like. I won’t be offended. But I read in The Post that a mayoral candidate offers to cut $40 million of council spending in her first year if elected mayor. Now this appears to be a huge saving, and I don’t know whether it is feasible, I suspect it is not. But having spent 48 years in public office and 15 years as a mayor, I do know that it takes a great deal more than having one individual person elected to the city council to achieve this kind of outcome.

Mayors have one vote only and therefore need to persuade at least 50% of their city councillors to support any of their policies they put forward. Therefore, any policy offered by a mayoral candidate that looks good to electors, but has no great chance of being implemented, can only be regarded as populist and should not be taken seriously.

John Burke, Paremata

A strong Letter to the Editor is short, clear, and persuasive, making it easy for readers, and editors, to understand your point quickly. The most effective letters follow a simple structure:

1. Opening line / hook: Grab attention from the first sentence, and clearly state the topic you’re responding to, whether it’s a recent article, decision, or public event.
2. State your position: Make your stance clear early on, whether you agree, disagree, or want to offer a new perspective.
3. Provide evidence or reasoning: Support your view with one to three key points, using facts, personal experience, or logical arguments. Keep numbers simple and relevant.
4. Call to action or closing point: End with what you want readers, officials, or the community to consider or act on.
5. Signature: Include your full name, suburb or community, and optionally your relevant role or affiliation.

Letters should be up to 250 words. They must be respectful but can be firm in expressing opinions. Personal attacks will not be published. Keep paragraphs short, two to four is ideal for readability.

To submit your letter, email editor@poriruanews.co.nz with “Letter to the Editor” in the subject line. We look forward to hearing your voice in the local conversation.

The initiative, led by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, provides 11 weeks of intensive training totalling 200 hours, covering vital skills such as resuscitation, triage, and diagnostics. This is followed by five weeks of clinical placement, offering real-world experience in emergency response environments.

Participants who complete the course will earn an NZCEC professional certification, equipping them for careers in emergency care and clinical support roles.

The programme encourages locals to step into essential frontline roles, offering the skills and support needed to make a real difference in their communities. The 11-week programme is free to participants, removing financial barriers and making it accessible to a wider range of aspiring emergency care professionals.

For more information or to get started, visit the programme’s official site or contact Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira – https://upane.co.nz/courses or contact: upane.eoi@ngatitoa.iwi.nz

The latest additions reflect Porirua’s economic diversity — with new listings spanning trades, creative industries, education, automotive, health, legal, media, and more. Whether locals are looking to support small businesses, hire a reliable tradie, or find something new in their own backyard, the directory is fast becoming a one-stop source.

Recent Featured Businesses include:

Trades & Services: Empire Tiles, Maude Legal, Subzero Refrigeration, Finesse Garden & Outdoor, Tinakori Flooring, Well Hung Joinery, Capital Roofing Solutions, Combat Pest Control, Minnoch Services, Pro Waterblasting, Wall Place Panel & Paint, Viet Duc Painting & Plastering

Automotive & Grooming: Midas Porirua, Just Rust, Porirua Motor Body Repairs, Revived Car Care, Porirua Car Wash

Creative & Professional Services: Angela Vidal Photography, Claire Fraser Photography, Mark Coote Photography, Rainbow Creative, Sky Stream Media, TM Quizzes, BMC Lawyers, Maloney & Co Property Management, Computer & Telephone Services, Dia Transport, Conroy Removals

Home & Living: Paula’s Home & Living, BedsRus Porirua, Pink Flower Truck

Education & Wellness: Tairangi School, Little Adventurers Early Learning Centre, Resonate Health (Kāpiti & Wellington)

Hair & Grooming: Barber-side

Listings are just $99+ gst per year (discounted from $520+ GST) — giving local businesses a permanent spot in a trusted, searchable directory promoted by Porirua News.

Would you like your Business included?
The next update is already underway.
📧 Email editor@poriruanews.co.nz to join.

To find a local Business you can trust: https://www.poriruanews.co.nz/porirua-business-directory/