This occasion offered the opportunity for the Council and the community to celebrate the city's past, present and future, and shine a regional and national spotlight on its attributes as a great place to live, work, play, visit, raise a family and operate a business.
The Porirua 50 Years Awards celebrated the significant contribution that 50 living people have made, and continue to make, to make our city the special place it is.
The awards recognised the city’s unsung heroes who quietly get on with making a positive difference to other people’s lives in Porirua, as well Porirua people who are well-known in the city, the region, nationally and internationally for what they have achieved.
A special 50th Anniversary gala dinner was held at Te Rauparaha Arena on 3 October 2015, made memorable by the presentation of the 50th awards. Mayor Nick Leggett presented award recipients with a special engraved medal designed with the Porirua 50th logo.
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| Glynis Denz | for her active and passionate involvement and service to our community over many decades alongside her late husband Fred |
| Kerry Delaney | for her strong leadership and advocacy for our tamariki and her dedication to the Titahi Bay community |
| Christopher (Chris) Kenny | for his commitment to boxing in our city and nation and his leadership in making the coaching of boxing the best it can be |
| William (Bill) Platt | for his 45 years of commitment to the organisation of Trust Porirua Brass Band and to the brass band movement both locally and nationally |
| Joyce Hawe | for her strong advocacy of Unions and workers’ rights and her work in our community |
| Jeanette Pettit | for her lifelong commitment to Porirua and her superb customer service as the “face of the Kapi Mana News” for over twenty years |
| Kevin Watson | for his advocacy of our city and time and energy in building a great Porirua |
| Maureen Gillon | for her advocacy and vision for our city and her commitment to improving our health and education outcomes |
| Elaine Wi | for her dedication to establishing netball as one of the biggest sporting codes in our city |
| Lepou Ken Taase | for his commitment to our tamiriki and his long established work with and advocacy of young people and community in Cannons Creek |
| Chris Kirk-Burnnand | for his very important philanthropic contributions to and active championing of Porirua City |
| Rev Perema Leasi | for his commitment to young people and his active work in the rehabilitation of prisoners and ex-prisoners |
| Neil Ieremia | for his creation 20 years ago of Black Grace, bringing the very best of innovative and contemporary Pacific dance to local and international audiences, drawing from his Samoan and New Zealand roots |
| Liz Pokia | for her commitment, support and promotion of the game of golf in our city and in particular for her support of junior development in the sport |
| Lyall Hedges | for his huge support of and commitment to our Plimmerton and Paremata communities, of young Māori leaders, and of rugby |
| Raylene Bishop | for her passionate advocacy of Takapūwāhia, Ngāti Toa and Porirua and her active support of Toa sport |
| Salevao Faauuga Manase | for his services to mental health nursing and his leadership in the Pasifika community |
| Brian Grace | for his lifelong association and commitment to the success of the Titahi Bay Surf Life Saving Club |
| Kishor Govind | for his care and kindness to families in Cannons Creek requiring much needed medication |
| Hera Noble | for the untold number of hours of voluntary time she has given to the Takapūwāhia community and for her renowned culinary skills in the wharekai |
| Sonny Malaulau | for his commitment for ensuring Porirua public spaces are presented to the very highest standards and always with a smile |
| Lisa Lemaire | for her tireless work to ensure all Porirua dog owners have access to de-sexing services regardless of their income and her commitment to doing good across all of Porirua. |
| Wally Potts | for his unconditional kindness to those with hearing issues and his strong advocacy to ensure full and proper access to the health system for all his patients |
| Fereti Fred Aiulu | for his unstinting loyalty and voluntary contribution to Northern United Rugby Football and the game in Porirua |
| Ron Lucas | for his championship, drive and commitment to making Te Ara Piko Pathway a reality for Porirua City |
| Dave Anderson | for his leadership in restoring and upgrading the Plimmerton Railway Station and his service as a Volunteer Firefighter over the decades |
| Margaret Faulkner | for her enormous drive for quality healthcare for Porirua residents and her advocacy for older people. |
| John Cody | for his forty years of work as a social advocate to improve the lives of Porirua people |
| Dora Stoneham | for her unstinting commitment to cleaning up our city’s environment |
| Tom Campbell | for his generous support and encouragement of young people in our city |
| Sharli Jo Solomon | for her commitment to revitalising our harbour and natural environment |
| Eddie Uluilelata | for his commitment to and advocacy for quality education for our children |
| Thomas Thomas | for his community service as “Mr Windmill” over four decades of business in Porirua City |
| Lealamanu’a Aiga Caroline Mareko | for her advocacy for Pacific women and her commitment to good quality early childhood education in our city |
| Don & Eve Casagranda | for the very warm welcome and support they give to newcomers to our city and Aotearoa |
| Willie Taurima | for his commitment to nurturing and developing our people through sporting and cultural activities |
| Beryl Harris | for her commitment to Meals on Wheels and making sure our people are looked after |
| Catherine (Cathy) Roa | for her dedication to sport in our city and her commitment to making netball the best it can be |
| Kitiona Tauira | for her commitment to and advocacy for the health and wellbeing of our Pacific people |
| Ngawai Richardson and Jon Earley | for their compassion and volunteer support and commitment to organisations that enhance the lives of Porirua people |
| Moana Parata | for her commitment to and advocacy for Māori and our children’s access to and knowledge of Māoritanga |
| Mathew Solomon | for his long term care of our taonga : the Ngāti Toa urupā |
| Tiratu Williams | for her 24 years of dedication and patience for ensuring the Ngāti Toa Treaty claim negotiations outcomes were achieved |
| Margaret and Ashley Blair | for their dedicated commitment to the wellbeing of our people through their advocacy for education, local history and better living conditions |
| Josie Lancaster | for her unconditional commitment to and support of our community to ensure their access to needed services |
| Dale Jennings | for her commitment for over 30 years to ensuring local news was delivered with a smile |
| Fr Penehe Patelesio | for his commitment for and advocacy of the Tokelauan Language and our Tokelauan people |
| Lisa Webber | for her tireless work to encourage our people living in Whitby to exercise through walking |
| Tuaine-Nurse Robati | for his pioneering advocacy for and commitment to showcasing Porirua City internationally through his leadership of the Whitireia Dance Academy |
| Frank Collins | for his commitment and contribution to raising the standard of rugby in our region |
