Celebrating our connection with the sea
Porirua City’s beaches and harbours are an integral part of who we are.
We love swimming at Pukerua Bay, snorkelling at Onehunga Bay, surfing waves at Titahi Bay, windsurfing in Plimmerton, sailing at Karehana Bay, and idly watching the tide roll out of the Pāuatahanui Inlet.
Facebook Competition
Awesome prizes up for grabs during Seaweek 2023. Head over to our Facebook page, share a photo (old or new) of you enjoying and Harbours, oceans and streams and go into the draw to win!
Our vision for Te Awarua-o-Porirua - Ngāti Toa
A transformational streamside planting programme that improves the water quality and biodiversity of our streams and harbour - restoring the mauri of Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour. Streamside planting is beneficial for our harbour as it filters and traps nutrients, pathogens and sediment from the land and reduces erosion through stabilising banks.
Improving the quality and health of all our streams and waterways will have a direct impact on the health of Te Awarua-o-Porirua reducing pathogens, excessive nutrients, and sediment from the water that flows into the harbour. This creates a harbour for all to enjoy!
There are community planting days coming up that you can get involved in, find out more information
and ways to get involved here.
Restoring the harbour margin
The health of Te Awarua-o-Porirua is facing significant pressure from sedimentation, land modification and contamination.
We are working to restore the harbour through planting species such as salt marsh and oioi to capture sediment, stabilise the area and reduce the force from the incoming waves. The plants also provide shelter and protection for a bunch of fish and bird species! On the harbour margin we have been planting New Zealand flax, plagianthus and maidenhair vine which provide further stabilisation and protection.
Check out some of our harbour margin plantings along our walkways. There are many simple actions you can take to reduce your impact on our harbour – find out more here
TOP TIP FOR STAYING SAFE AT THE BEACH
Check the Tides - The safest time to swim is during a slack tide, which happens in the hour preceding or following a high or low tide. It’s safest to swim in waves with shorter intervals, which are calmer and less dangerous.
Join a litter clean up
Porirua has the highest density of litter in New Zealand that ends up on our beaches. This is through litter on land being transported via rainwater and wind down our drains into our streams and rivers, which leads to the ocean.
Getting involved in a litter clean up can benefit the entire community! Removing it from the environment reduces the risk of wildlife ingesting it, getting stuck in it or hurt by it.
Keen to do your own clean up? Keep an eye on our Facebook page about how to get involved!
Life's a beach
If it’s surfing or fun in the waves you’re after, you can’t go past Titahi Bay. Or for a relaxing family vibe, there are plenty of options for a safe day out with the kids.
Our west coast sunsets are epic so make an evening picnic or fish and chips on the beach part of the plan.
TOP TIP FOR STAYING SAFE AT THE BEACH
Swim with a buddy - There is safety in numbers. If you get in trouble in the water and you have your friends or family with you, you have instant back-up. They can help you out or get help if needed!
Grab your snorkel
Explore our underwater world around the rocks of Titahi Bay, Pukerua Bay, Onehunga Bay and Karehana Bay.
See if you can spot fish, shells, starfish and if you’re lucky, seahorses! Please don’t touch or disturb our special species and take only memories.
Rock pools
Karehana Bay: This beach in Plimmerton is a mix of sand and rock pools and a much-loved safe swimming spot for families.
Pukerua Bay: An awesome beach for long walks, swimming and rock-hopping. Don’t miss the Pou Tangaroa carving on the foreshore.
