Love Local Expo
The expo at Te Rauparaha Arena showcasing the best of our local products, services, crafts and community services, has become a not-to-be-missed annual event.
Come along and see your favourite local businesses or learn about what amazing innovations and services are being offered right in your own community.
Love Local is happening on Saturday 7 June from 10am to 4pm.
Win a year's supply of Whittaker's Chocolate
Visitors to the expo will have a chance to win a year’s supply (that’s 52 blocks) of Whittaker’s chocolate by voting for their favourite Love Local booth or food truck on the day. Look for the digital QR code on posters around the expo, or vote via this page on event day.
“Love Local really brings the best of our city together under one roof, highlighting the sheer amount of innovation, service and quality we have right here in Porirua.”
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker
Calling all foodies!
Head on down to Love Local for crafted beers, delicious breads, yummy cupcakes and specialty foods with flavours from the Pacific to the Mediterranean.
Crafted beers, delicious breads, cupcakes and baking, some classic kiwi kai and specialty foods.
Love to shop?
Come to Love Local for beautifully designed local fashion, gorgeous jewellery and custom homewares. Shop handcrafted home decor, jewellery, accessories, gifts and more at our Love Local Expo in Porirua.
Beautifully designed local fashion, gorgeous jewellery and accessories to satisfy even the most demanding fashionista.
Support local community groups!
The expo is a great opportunity to learn about sports and community groups here in Porirua, and to show them some love by supporting fundraisers. You can also enrol to vote and find out more about local elections.
Sustainable products
Meet our business owners here in Porirua with their wide range of sustainable and waste-free products – from skin, hair and beauty products, pet supplies to homewares.
Sustainable practices
As part of Porirua City’s efforts to minimise waste at large events, for the first time this year the FillGood reusable service ware system will be onsite on the day. FillGood works closely with long-time event partner NonStop Solutions.
Food trucks and vendors will serve their products in reusable cups and trays, helping reduce the use of single-use packaging. Attendees who purchase food or drink in one of these cups or trays just need to look out for the pink bins to return the items once they’re finished with them.
The FillGood team will clean and sanitise the items, ready to be used again.
With more than 100 local businesses and community groups at this year's Love Local Expo, there will be something for the whole family, and plenty of delicious food on offer.
Exhibitor list
4Paws Empire – A boutique shop for dogs.
Absolute Fitness Studio 4 Women – Women's fitness studio.
Alison Hawkes – Harcourts Real Estate Local licensed real estate consultant.
Anzell's Crochet – soft, plush, crochet toys.
Aotearoa Apparel – Quality Māori-themed apparel for the whole whānau.
Aroha from Nepal – Handcrafted felt products.
Art by the Cup – Rock painting and art sales.
Aspiring Walls – Wallpaper manufacturer.
Bay brew – Locally made coffee beans, Russian fudge and kitchen crafts.
Berrylush – Food business selling yummy treats.
Black Dog Physio – Canine physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.
Bloom Family Chiropractic – A new family chiropractic practice in Whitby.
Blue Bell Club – Pasifika homewares.
Bruce Freestone – Painted landscapes, moonscapes, murals and drawings.
Bryan T Woodturning – Wood turned products.
Bubu’s Lashes – Beauty salon and training academy.
Cake Experience – Cakes and cupcakes.
Cecilia Crochet – Handmade crochet products, all meticulously crafted using high-quality yarns.
Celebrantkesh & Furry Farewells – Celebrant for weddings and funerals, as well as pet funerals.
Cheeky Creations – Face paint and other craft artworks.
Chia Cha – Bubble tea shop.
Choice the app – An app that facilitates a service-based exchange where users can trade their skills.
Citizens Advice Bureau Porirua – Offering free community advice.
classic kiwi kai ltd – Hot foods, drinks and snacks.
Cookielicious NZ – Decorated cookies.
CookT – Student-run business founded by Aotea College students through the Young Enterprise Scheme.
Ember Moonstones – Crystals, handmade Pounamu/Greenstone jewellery.
Enchanted Entertainment – Kids' glam, mermaid, fairy and unicorn make-overs.
FCKWICK – Soy fragranced candles, diffusers, gift boxes and perfume oils.
Forever GM – A virtual and in-person game master service. Dungeons and Dragons and more!
FÜ Māori – Raranga flax weaving and design.
Fuel'd Nutrition limited – Yummy smoothies and energy teas.
Funky Pots – Best dressed plants in town.
Garden of Eve – Plant and succulent arrangements, arts and crafts.
GKR Karate NZ LTD – Local karate club.
Go Tag – Mobile laser tag operator that brings the fun to your own venue.
Hester's Arts – Screen printed fabric with native bird and plant themes, cushions, bags and teatowels.
HIPPY Great Potentials Foundation – Free, home-based programme helping parents get their 2-5-year-olds ready for success.
Indokiwi Dhaba – Indian vegetarian takeaway.
Izacreations – Custom designs.
JAB Creative – Hand-drawn ink and watercolour original artworks and handmade jewellery.
Janet's Dolls – Threads Gorgeous doll clothes.
Jo Di Design – Hand-printed textile products, totes, teatowels and t-shirts.
K9 Cookies – Homemade dog treats, pupcakes, celebration cakes and dog doughnuts.
Kai kart – Seafood and gourmet burgers.
Kava Culture – Kava products, pre-mixed kava and events.
Ki and Ka bubs – Maternity and baby clothes.
Kileva Tokelau – Tokelau-inspired macrame and weaving crafts.
Kite Country Classics – Home products using 100% natural fibres, sourced locally.
Kristinz krafted kandlz – Candles and knitwear.
Lady Bug Crafts – Soy wax candles, kawakawa balm, handmade jewellery, crocheted and knitted garments.
LADYNGAPUHI CREATIVE – Handmade Māori accessories, fedora, hand-painted jewellery and Māori nail art.
Lao Street Food – Selling yummy Lao food.
Lemau Creative Ltd – Pacific arts and stationery.
Little City Kombucha – Quality, natural kombucha filled with probiotics – delicious, refreshing and healthy.
Little Spoon Sourdough Crumpets – Micro artisan sourdough crumpets bakery
Little Wasteland – A unique collection of eco-conscious, slow-styled products with modern appeal.
Livingstone Evangelism Ministries – Not-for-profit organisation.
Luxe Realty Brand – Real estate agency that assists people to buy and sell property.
Martins Craft & Design – A Māori arts and craft business.
Mary’s Pānikawakawa – A student business that is part of the YES organisation.
Mauri Productions – Audio visual and event production.
Max Value Asian Supermarket – A huge Asian supermarket, opening soon in Porirua.
McDermott-Ranapia – Eco-friendly locally hand-poured lusciously scented candles and wax melts.
Meltreapts Te Pa Designs – Clothing, jewellery, homeware, gift ideas, accessories.
Ministry of Justice – Family Court Navigator.
Miss Korea Kimchi – Kimchi and Korean sweets, fermented food and preservatives.
Moon Kisses – Hand-crafted artisan gifts.
Moses Viliamu – Art and graphic design.
Moving Memories – Life story video documentary services.
Mushroom House – We provide fresh oyster mushroom and mushroom products.
Natural Creations NZ – Recycled timber chopping boards, platter boards and stalls.
Nature Fix NZ Skincare – Locally made skincare remedies harnessing the power of natural, botanical ingredients.
North Wellington Garden Services – Lawn and garden services.
Odd Socks Candles – Hand-made candles from Titahi Bay.
ParePlim Rugby Club – Paremata-Plimmerton based local rugby club.
Pātaka Gallery – Porirua's much-loved art gallery and museum.
Paul Beavis – Author and illustrator selling books.
Plimmerton Computer Services – Computer repairs and video conversions.
Poi Creations – Contemporary Māori design jewellery.
Porirua Branch NZSG – Helping you to research family history.
Porirua City Council – Visit our team to learn about waste minimisation, elections, road safety and more.
Porirua Community Arts Inc – Promotion and support of arts, culture and heritage in Porirua.
Porirua Little Theatre – Local community theatre.
Porirua MenzShed – A place to work on your own and community projects, learn new skills and socialise.
Pure Design Concepts – Interior design and custom cabinet design and build.
Regular Cafe – Coffee cart.
Rume – Curated events and spaces for women to build community, in person and online.
Saskia Hendrikse Pottery – Handmade ceramic travel cups and bowls.
Scoopstars – A new dog waste removal service with subscriptions for residential properties.
Shades at Grays – Timber door stops, beautiful fabric lampshades and stunning timber table lamps.
Shop Nikkis – Creative crochet from science fiction and fantasy all handmade in Porirua.
SK Art – Authentic art and functional craft created with resin and natural and local resources.
Skye Candle and Body Care – Handmade home fragrances and natural body products.
Solid – Maker and seller of sustainable toothpaste products.
Sparkling Rose Earrings – Hand-painted, one-of-a-kind, resin earrings and other hand-painted resin crafts.
St John Youth Porirua Division – St John Youth Porirua Division.
Stealth Bike Bags – Design and producer of bike bags and other adventure equipment.
Stella Creations Limited – Fudge, trophies and engraving, custom framing, printing and photo restoration.
Stitching memories – Memory bears and quilts.
Sweet Slab – Cookies, brownies and slices.
Te Whare Tiaki services – Services to wahine, tane, tamariki and kaumatua to keep whānau safe and strong.
The Beer Engine – Brewery and taphouse.
The Chrome Academy Ltd – Aerial art and pole fitness classes for kids and adults.
The Healthy Lunchbox – Making and delivering healthy lunchboxes to schools for staff and students.
The Native Loom – Social enterprise supporting women artisans in Southern India.
The Regal Shortbread Co. – Baked goods specialising in shortbread.
The Underground Bookstore – We are independently published locally based authors selling directly to readers.
The Wonky Pixie – Botanical artist with home decor and craft from the inspiration of nature and whimsy.
Therese's Treats – Baked goods and desserts.
Titahi bay Framed photos – Framed Titahi Bay photos.
Tomollusk – Illustration, graphic design, mural design and art commissions
Trash Palace Porirua – Second-hand goods, sustainability and recycling education.
Treat Yourself Trinkets – Crystal, witchy and spiritual goodness.
Tuk Tuk Thai Restaurant – Thai Restaurant.
Unique Cards 4U – Homemade cards
Villa Property Management – Property management company.
Volunteer Porirua – Connecting and strengthening the community and voluntary sector.
Whaea Putiputi – Treasures that are locally handmade from harakeke, wood, paua and fibre.
Zonta – Providing support, scholarships and projects that benefit children and women of all ages.
Learn all about local businesses or learn about what amazing innovations and services are being offered right in your own community. Fun for the whole whānau!
Location
FREE entry
Love Local Expo
Te Rauparaha Arena
17 Parumoana Street
Porirua City Centre, Porirua 5022
FAQs
You can catch public transport to Porirua and either walk or ride an e-scooter around the harbour pathway to the venue.
There are also nearby public bus stops on Norrie St and Lyttelton Ave.
What about parking?
Parking is available on surrounding streets such as Wi Neera Dr or you can leave your car at the railway station and take the short walk to Te Rauparaha Park.
There are 30 accessible carparks available on a first come, first serve basis, located in the Te Rauparaha Arena car park.
For those driving there, Te Rauparaha Arena has free three-hour car parking available.
On-street parking in Porirua City Centre is free at the weekend.
Is cash or eftpos best?
It’s best to bring cash on the day as not all vendors will have eftpos available. There are nearby ATMs on Lyttelton Ave if you wish to top up
Is there an entry fee?
Entry is free.
Are you still accepting vendor applications?
No. Vendor applications closed midnight, Sunday 11 May.
