Local and central government
In Aotearoa New Zealand, we have two tiers of government:
- Central government is made up of members of Parliament who are elected across the country to make decisions affecting the country as a whole.
- Local government is made up of the Mayor and Councillors who are elected to look after the interests and needs of specific communities in our city.
Elected members for our city
The elected members of Council (Mayor and Councillors) are all elected to represent and make decisions about Porirua and the specific interests of the city and its diverse communities.
Once elected, our Mayor and 10 Councillors spend the next three years serving as representatives for you.
Council is responsible for:
- Preparing and adopting the Long-term Plan, Annual Plan and Annual Report and setting rates.
- Setting strategies, policies, plans and bylaws.
- Making decisions on regulatory and non-regulatory matters.
- Overseeing the governance of Council-controlled organisations (CCOs).
- Consulting with, and considering the views of the community, before making decisions that affect them.
- Monitoring and reviewing the performance of the Council organisation.
Understanding Council’s key plans and strategies
If you’re considering being a candidate in the upcoming local elections, or just want to know more about what Council does around Porirua City, here’s some of our key plans, policies, strategies and projects to help give you an understanding of Council’s direction over the years.
Our key plans
The Long-term Plan outlines to our community how we intend to invest for the next 10+ years. The most current Long-term Plan was adopted in June 2024.
The Annual Plan is made after receiving input from the community about the services you need and outlines major projects Council is undertaking.
The Annual Report provides and overview of what we did over the past year to contribute to the Annual Plan and the Long-term Plan’s outcomes.
The District Plan is the rulebook for how land can be use and enables economic and residential growth while protecting the things that make Porirua special.
Our strategic priorities
Our strategic priorities are the things we are focusing on in the Long-term Plan. In June 2024 they were revised to be:
- Commit to the health of Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour and its catchment through investment, advocacy and regulation.
- Build towards a low carbon city and proactively address the challenges of climate change.
- Create thriving communities where everyone can be safe and healthy – at home, work or play.
- Keep tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of our city.
Our Growth Strategy provides a long-term vision for the future of Porirua and the principles that will guide our growth.
Our Climate Change Strategy 2021-2024 aims to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the inevitable changes that climate change will bring, and plan for the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Our Maungaroa 2050 Māori Strategy provides a roadmap for Porirua City to support, elevate and enable the future aspirations of Māori.
Our Pacific Strategy celebrates Porirua’s diverse population aiming to establish a strong sense of belonging, connection, safety and confidence in people to express who they are and what is important to them.
Our Strategic Framework guides our work with tamariki and rangatahi around five focus areas:
- Environment and place
- Safety and well-being
- Opportunity and experiences
- Connection and belonging
- Engagement and involvement
