It highlights a group of individuals that have helped put Porirua on the map with their contributions in the sporting, arts and political fields. Read below about the 19 inspirational people from this city who we recognise, and whose number we will be looking to add to over time. In March 2020 this area became formally known as the Porirua Hall of Fame.
From left, Ngāti Toa kaumatua Dr Taku Parai, Porirua Mayor Anita Baker, and Hall of Fame inductees Joy Gray (appearing on behalf of her late husband, Ken), Mark Sorenson and Robert Gemmell on stage at Waitangi Day to be recognised for their contributions to our city.
The founder of New Zealand's favourite chocolate is among the new faces that will be displayed at Te Rauparaha Arena.
New Zealand's most successful female weightlifter in the Commonwealth and Olympic games. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Baker was awarded a silver medal in the 75kg+ snatch and bronze medals for the 75kg+ clean and jerk and the 75kg+ combined. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics Baker finished eighth in the 75kg combined category. Olympic.org.nz
Turned professional in 1993, competing on the PGA Tour of Australasia & European Tour. In 2001 he received an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit Award for his services to golf. In 2005 he won the US Open Championship at Pinehurst, holding off Tiger Woods and became the fourth player to win the US Open and the World Match Play Championship in the same year. That year he was named European Tour Golfer of the Year and NZ Sportsperson of the Year.
Collins captained the New Zealand Secondary Schools in 1997, played for New Zealand U19, 1998 & 1999, captained his Northern United club team in 1999 aged just 19, played for the New Zealand Colts in 1999 & 2000, and appeared for New Zealand A in 2000. Collins made 74 appearances for the Hurricanes between 2001 and 2008 and after debuting for the All Blacks in 2001, went on to play 48 test matches, scoring five tries and captaining three matches. Hurricanes.co.nz
An all-rounder cricket player who played 61 test and 11 one-day internationals from 1965 to 1978, Congdon was principally a batsman but also became a medium-pace bowler midway through his career. He was captain of the New Zealand test and ODI teams from 1972 to 1974, and was the first New Zealand captain to record a victory over Australia.
Martial Arts
Robert Gemmell has achieved much on the international stage in martial arts, along with his service to his craft in Porirua. He is a Grand Master 10th degree and the founder of Kempo New Zealand. He is honoured in the Australasian, New Zealand and World Karate arts hall of fames and has a strong commitment to enriching communities through his teaching.
Ginn dedicated her life to theatre and acting, being the founder of Titahi Bay (later Porirua) Little Theatre. Her later life saw her charity work bloom, along with her painting prowess and she received the Queen's Service Medal in 1993.
All Black and local government
Widely considered one of New Zealand’s greatest and toughest players, prop/lock Ken Gray played 24 matches for NZ between 1963 and 1969. Highly regarded for his stance on social issues, notably his position of ending his rugby career early because of the apartheid in South Africa, Gray was a champion for inclusivity. A committed community servant, he was a representative in both local and central government politics from 1971 until his death in 1992.
Grace began writing early, while teaching and raising her family of seven children. She has won many national and international awards, including the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize for Fiction, the Deutz Medal for Fiction, and the Neustadt International Prize for Literature. In 2007 Grace was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to literature. Read-nz.org
Arts
Ieremia founded the Black Grace dance company in 1995 and has received numerous plaudits and been lauded nationally and internationally for its use of contemporary Māori and Pacific themes. The work is highly physical and rich in storytelling. He has received a number of awards, including ONZM in 2016. blackgrace.co.nz
Renowned as one of New Zealand's most technical boxers, Kenny was a six-time national and four-time Oceania champion. He won the gold medal in the super heavyweight (+91 kg division) boxing division at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland and also represented New Zealand at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Olypmpic.org.nz
Since 2002 Knox has written 13 novels, three novellas, and a collection of essays. She has won both national and international literature awards. In 2019 she was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement and in 2020 Knox was named in the Queen's Birthday Honours, as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Elizabethknox.com
Marshall served as a Labour MP for Whanganui for 18 years. In the late 1980s he was a Cabinet Minister, his portfolios including Conservation, Education, Environment, Foreign Affairs and Pacific Island Affairs. Between 2002 and 2005 Marshall was the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Nigeria, and Ambassador to Ireland.
Mourie was regarded as one of the world's best openside flankers through the 1970s and early 1980s, making 61 appearances for the All Blacks. He captained the All Blacks in 57 matches until 1982, which included the historic Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland in 1978. After his playing career, he coached Wellington from 1997-1999, before coaching the Hurricanes in 2000 and 2001. Hurricanes.co.nz
Rugby
Perenara is one of our city’s most recognisable sportsmen, the halfback representing Mana College, Northern United, Wellington, Hurricanes and the All Blacks with pride - an incredible 163 matches for the Hurricanes and 89 caps for his country. He was a member of the all-conquering 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning team and off the field has been outspoken in his support for diversity and inclusiveness.
Rex Redden was crowned world welterweight kickboxing champion in 2002 and would win the World Muay Thai Kickboxing title in the next two years. He always promoted the sport and wanted to bring kickboxing events to his hometown, Porirua.
So’oialo was part of the New Zealand U21 side which won the international tournament in Auckland in 2000 and then in 2001 was in the New Zealand 7s side that won the World Cup in Argentina and the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. A hard-working flanker, he made 101 appearances for the Hurricanes and 62 test appearances for the All Blacks between 2002 and 2009.
Softball
Mark is considered one of the greatest softballers the world has ever produced. Captain of the New Zealand Black Sox from 1989 until 2001, he led to his team to victory at the world championships in 1996, 2000 and 2004. He then became a renowned coach, steering the Black Sox to the world title in 2017. He was named Wellington sportsman of the year three times, national softballer of the year three times and is member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Tricker played softball for Porirua until he was 22, then moved to Poneke Kilbirnie, claiming regional and national titles. He also played for the Black Sox between 1986 and 1991. Tricker was named Black Sox coach in 1998, where they won two world championships and three consecutive world titles. He was named Coach of the Year at the Halberg Awards in 2000 and was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2004.
Business
James Henry Whittaker founded the chocolate company which has become one of the country’s most trusted brands, renowned internationally and synonymous with Porirua, since moving to the city in 1969. With its factory in Elsdon, we have world-class chocolate made right here in our city.
This page profiles the many men and women who have represented Porirua in their chosen (and, sometimes, multiple) sports.
