The Rose Garden was removed during the redevelopment of the southern area in late 2024. The intention of providing this information is to help commemorate the Rose Garden and remember the people and efforts they put in for our community.
Porirua City Council acknowledges the support and input of Mr Neil Penman and members of Rotary Club of Porirua, and Rotary International in the original planning and creation of the Rotary Rose Garden at Aotea Lagoon.*
With the realignment of the railway on the east shore of Porirua Harbour over the years 1958–1961 three land-locked lagoons were created. The northern lagoon was filled in, the southern pond was left as a wildlife sanctuary, while the central, Aotea Lagoon, was partially reclaimed with a view to developing a recreational aquatic park.
The Ministry of Works undertook the basic earthworks at an overall budget cost of $283,000. The Project Employment Programme Work Scheme for the unemployed became involved in the various brickwork constructions. The local service clubs were then approached to suggest useful attractions to encourage the community to relax in the planned new surroundings.
The proposals put forward were that the Waitangirua Lions Club would develop an 833metre railway track into a successful outdoor miniature railway. The Paremata Jaycees would construct a windmill and the Rotary Club of Porirua would undertake to develop a rose garden – the club by this time was under Neil Penman's presidency.
Porirua Rotarians agreed the rose garden would take the form of a rotary badge, some 29 metres across, using pavers and bricks from the Winstone's Brickyard at Plimmerton. Then the task of laying over 20,000 pavers began to form the pathways between the rose beds.
It was decided that over the summer of 1978–1979 all Rotary meetings would take place in the outdoors at Aotea Lagoon and after their barbecue meal all members would lay pavers until darkness fell. During the next six months – on Wednesday evenings and at weekends – the Rotary Rose Garden began to take shape.
During this period much thought was given to establishing a worthwhile point-of-interest at the centre of the garden in order worthwhile point-of-focus. Suggestions came thick and fast from members for a sundial, a birdbath or a tree – none of which were seen to be suitable.
To enable the Rotary Club to come to a decision, Neil constructed a model of the proposed Rotary Rose Garden and then approached the renowned sculptor, Guy Ngan, to design a suitable centre symbol. Guy has been involved in sculpture, painting, drawing and design for over 60 years. His work can be found in public areas all over New Zealand, including the seat of government. He is one of this country's most significant artists.
Guy was the Director of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts between 1976 and 1986 when he designed the rose garden sculpture. The result was an interesting stainless steel abstract form, which cost $I,000 for the materials alone, and was all funded from auctions held by the Rotary Club of Porirua.
The Rotary Rose Garden was opened by Mayor Whitford Brown on 23 February 1980 and presented to the city on the 75th celebration of the founding of Rotary in the USA in 1905. In more recent times, the rose garden has been modified with a fountain adorning the centre plinth.
It is to be hoped that in the future a new and improved site within Porirua itself can be found for this important work of art to enable the public to appreciate its true worth.
* The following information has been reproduced with the permission of the author, Mr Neil Penman from pages 252–255 of A Portrait Of Porirua, The Creation of a Planned City, Neil and June Penman (2015) ISBN 978-0-473-25867-2. Images courtesy of Penman Collection and others as acknowledged.
