Council wrap – 12 December
The final meeting of the full Porirua City Council for 2024 was held this morning, Thursday 12 December. Here is a wrap of what was covered:
First up, minutes from the last Council meeting were confirmed.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker then spoke about what she’d been up to during the past month, including attending the Wellington Airport Awards, where Porirua event Te Kiwa Nui won an award; attending the Freeman Roofing function at its factory in Elsdon; the Whitby Collegiate Market Day; participating in the Plimmerton Residents’ Association’s big clean up; attending the Tokomanawa Queens game; Solomon Islands Language Week flag raising; Bishop Viard College’s prizegiving; the Mary Potter Hospice strawberry festival, the Horouta Marae gala, helping serve food at the over-70s lunch; attending the prizegiving for USC No.41 squadron; a visit from Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston for Pacific Disabilities Day at Pātaka; attending the He Huarahi Tamariki prizegiving; Whitby Collegiate’s prizegiving; a fundraising dinner for the Āhuru Mōwai Trust; Partners Porirua’s Rangatahi Awards; Pacific Collective’s celebration of its housing development; Salvation Army’s new store opening; Riding for the Disabled’s Christmas party; Pukerua Bay Hub’s Christmas event; a Malaga Sa concert; a Virtuoso Strings concert; Porirua College’s prizegiving; and the opening of the Wellington Kaimoana Hub with Minister Shane Jones.
After agreeing to recommendations from different committees since the last meeting, Council approved its submission on the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill to the Justice Committee. The submission is in line with Council’s declared opposition to the Bill, which Council voted unanimously on at its 21 November meeting.
Following this, Council received a summary of feedback from a recent survey on the use of Tireti Hall, and a report of the Wellington Region Sports Grounds and Facilities fees and charges review.
Next up, Council received a report on the transport budgets for 2024-27 and approved the recommendations in it. Council voted separately on the recommendation to defer funding on the Wi Neera to Onepoto shared path project to at least 2026/27, with the vote in favour but not unanimously.
Finally, there was discussion and questions on the proposed approach for the 2025/26 Annual Plan and how to keep rates increases as low as possible, with Council deciding what will be consulted on with the public in March.
To finish the public part of the meeting, two Mayoral Awards were awarded to Graeme and Helen Hansen for their dedication to local volunteer work.
There were no speakers in the public forum.
Missed the meeting? You can watch it in full and read all the associated papers on the meetings page of our website. You can also see what meetings and workshops are coming up, with agendas posted a few days before each one.
The public is welcome to attend most Council meetings and workshops. They are also livestreamed on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@poriruacity
12 Dec 2024
