Latest news with #Porirua
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Porirua residents to decide on super-council, Pacific leaders urge protection of local representation
As Wellington considers regional amalgamation, Pacific leaders caution against losing local voice in a larger system. Photo: Wellington City Council Porirua voters can express their opinion on the potential creation of a Wellington-wide super-council. But Pacific leaders have voiced concerns that the model could dilute local representation unless equity and cultural voices are prioritised. In this year's local elections, Porirua residents will be able to participate in a non-binding referendum that asks whether the city should investigate amalgamating with Wellington, the Hutt Valley, and the Wellington Regional Council into a single entity, while retaining local decision-making. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says the timing is right for this issue to be brought to voters, adding that the last formal proposal for amalgamation was in 2013 and that the local government landscape has changed significantly since then. Pacific leaders are worried that the move could weaken representation, especially if equity is not prioritised and voter turnout remains low. Councillor Izzy Ford, one of only three Pacific representatives on the Porirua Council, supports the initiative but emphasises the need to respond to community feedback to maintain trust, even though the referendum is non-binding. According to the council's official report, voter turnout in areas of Wellington City, including Mount Cook East, dropped below 30 percent in 2022. In Porirua, turnout was slightly higher at 37 percent. Ford hopes the referendum will provide clear guidance, but she stresses the importance of the council committing to listening to the community. Representation remains a major concern for Ford. She questioned how the council would ensure that all voices in Porirua, particularly those from underrepresented communities, are heard in this process. Ford hopes the referendum will lead to a definitive direction from the people of Porirua. "If they give us a total yes and we don't act on it, then that's going to build more mistrust," she says. "There's always that concern, because our people don't always turn out to vote. "That's a glaring concern, is the underrepresentation of Pasifika around the table." Engagement with Pasifika communities is important, according to Ford. "Having things translated into Pasifika languages, so that it's a bit easier for people to digest, and going into spaces like the churches, where a lot of our Pacific people are, and then it's non-threatening sort of spaces as well, and using our common faces in those common spaces, so that people can see them as non-threatening." Gabriel Tupou, Councillor for Hutt City, is concerned that the amalgamation could reduce Pacific representation. As the only Pasifika councillor in the Hutt Valley, Tupou says the issue must be openly discussed with communities. "In a super-city model, we risk less representation. Currently, we have 12 city councillors and the mayor. That will be greatly reduced. "With the large Pasifika demographic we have, they must have input, just like every other community." Tupou also raised concerns about the referendum regarding Māori ward running alongside the amalgamation question. Tupou highlighted that Hutt City Mayor Campbell Barry plans to present a similar referendum proposal next month. "I think it's important to keep the Māori ward question clean and on its own." Tupou says that from a Pasifika perspective, the challenges of running for election are already significant, as candidates need to have broad appeal. He is also cautious about the financial implications. "We're looking at possibly a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars to carry out the amalgamation. "South Auckland enjoys a larger Pasifika community, and they're able to mobilise their voice and voting power to elect Pasifika councillors," Tupou says. "But we don't have those same concentrations here." Porirua councillors, led by Mayor Anita Baker, back a non-binding referendum asking residents whether to explore forming a super-council. Photo: Porirua City Council / supplied Auimatagai Ken Ah Kuoi, community leader and Kilbirnie-based lawyer, warns that centralising governance could reduce the influence of smaller communities like Porirua, which has a large Pacific population. He says regional solutions may overlook local contexts, adding that a unified council model could offer benefits, but emphasises the need for safeguards. "There's a risk Pacific voices could be diluted in a larger, more bureaucratic system," he says. "What works for Wellington might not suit Porirua or Wainuiomata. Pacific communities often have specific cultural needs that may get overlooked. "A unified council model could benefit Pacific people by improving access to resources and regional influence. But it also carries risks - disconnection, loss of local control, and inequity if not managed carefully. "To ensure Pacific communities benefit, any move toward amalgamation would need guaranteed local representation, strong community consultation, cultural competency across the new structure, and equity-focused service delivery." Petone Community Board member Semi Kuresa says fair representation must be a non-negotiable starting point. Kuresa says while Pasifika make up more than nine percent of Wellington's population, their enrolment and eligibility rates are much lower. He highlighted three key concerns: representation, cost, and the geographic boundaries of a new council. "While amalgamation might seem practical to some, it raises serious questions about representation, particularly for Pacific communities," he says. "The contribution of our Pacific community isn't something that should be reduced to slogans or soundbites. A strong Pacific voice at the table matters. "As someone intending to stand for Hutt City Council, I'm focused on ensuring communities too often overlooked are part of every stage of decision-making. We can't afford to dilute the voices we need to hear more of." Voting for the 2025 local elections in Porirua, Wellington, and the Hutt Valley will take place from 9 September to 11 October. Each council will have its own ballot papers. Porirua will include a non-binding referendum on amalgamation and a binding vote on whether to retain the city's Māori ward. Hutt City is expected to consider a similar referendum proposal in the coming weeks. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Hutt and Porirua councils put Wellington super city back on the table
The idea of combining the Wellington region's councils into one large entity has been thrown around for over a decade. Photo: 123rf Hutt City Council will consider whether to add a non-binding referendum at this year's election asking for residents' thoughts on amalgamating Wellington's councils. The idea of combining the Wellington region's councils into one large entity has been thrown around for over a decade. In 2015, the Local Government Commission binned such a plan . But Hutt City Council and Porirua City Council have put some consideration into a revival of the idea. Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry said he would bring a decision on whether to add a non-binding referendum question to this year's local election ballot at a council meeting next month. It would read: "Should Hutt City Council work with councils in Wellington, Upper Hutt, Porirua and the Wellington Regional Council to explore the possibility of creating one single council, that combines relevant services and functions regionally, while keeping appropriate local services and decision making local?" It came after Porirua City Council agreed to ask the same question as part in its election ballot at a meeting yesterday. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said they decided to do the referendum because they were already having to do a Māori ward referendum at this year's election anyway. A law introduced last year required councils with Māori wards that were established without a referendum to hold a binding poll at this year's election. Baker said it would cost $20,000 to do the amalgamation referendum alongside the Māori ward referendum compared to $150,000 for doing it by itself. "We keep on having the same old questions but no one ever asks the people that actually matter and our residents matter." She hoped it would also increase voter turnout in the city. Barry said that it was a "good thing" to ask residents their thoughts on the idea. "If our community comes back and says no we are not interested then I think that can help settle the matter." Barry told RNZ he received questions about the idea particularly from the business community and those that interact with the council regularly. He said that was often due to different rules that were in place in different parts of the region. Voting at this year's local body election will start 9 September and end 11 October.
RNZ News
7 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Police still searching for Sean Remnant's killer six months later
Photo: Police have put out a fresh appeal for information into the death of 43-year-old man Sean Remnant in Porirua. It's been six months since emergency services were called to Kotuku St in Elsdon in the early hours of 1 December, and found Remnant critically injured. He died days later in hospital . His death was initially treated as suspicious, and in mid-December, police launched a homicide investigation. Detective Senior Sergeant Pete Middlemiss said police were still investigating and no charges had been laid. "Police continue to work through information gathered since the time of Sean's death," he said. "We would still like to hear from anyone who has information that could assist our enquiries into the assault on Sunday 1 December, which ultimately led to his death." People should reference file number 241201/7304 or Operation Croydon.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Labour's finance spokesperson gives few details about party's fiscal policy targets
Barbara Edmonds made a post-Budget speech at a Porirua Chamber of Commerce event. File picture. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Labour's finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds says she still has not read the Greens' alternative Budget, while defending a scarcity of fiscal policies of her own. Edmonds made the comments after a post-Budget speech to an audience of about 20 people at a Porirua Chamber of Commerce event on Tuesday morning, where she savaged the coalition's plan as a "direct assault" on New Zealand values. During a question-and-answer session at the Supply Room restaurant in Paremata, Edmonds was asked for her views on the Greens' fiscal plan - unveiled a fortnight ago - which included significant new taxes and spending. "No disrespect to my friends in the Greens, but I didn't read their Budget," Edmonds said. "At least they had a plan. I just didn't read their plan." Speaking to reporters afterwards, Edmonds said she would "maybe" get round to reading it after finishing going through the more than 2000 pages of the government's Budget. "I will get to it when I get to it," she said. "I'm one person. My focus has been this government's Budget." Asked for her high-level view on the Greens' proposals based on media coverage, Edmonds observed there was a lot of tax and social spending. "Whether it's balanced or not?... maybe ask me that question after I've read it." Labour leader Chris Hipkins made similar remarks immediately after the Greens released their plan, but later described it as a "huge spend-up" and "unrealistic". Edmonds' speech on Tuesday gave a scathing appraisal of the coalition's Budget: "Make no mistake about it, this will be remembered as the Budget that cut women's pay . "Cutting women's pay to make the Budget add up was a deliberate decision by Nicola Willis... when you take money that has been set aside for future pay rises and put it into something else that is a cut. Plain and simple." She said the Budget was a "direct assault" on New Zealand values: "We're the first country in the world to give women the right to vote. Fighting for equality is in our national DNA. Turning our backs on equal pay is not who we are as Kiwis." Though Edmonds opened her speech by saying she would preview the different choices Labour would have made in the Budget, she gave little detail beyond high-level promises to invest in jobs, health, and homes. "That's how we will build a better future." Quizzed by reporters on a variety of policy proposals, Edmonds repeatedly deferred to the party's yet-to-be-released fiscal plan. She declined to clearly state Labour's position on its preferred debt cap or surplus target, nor whether it would maintain the coalition's Investment Boost tax incentive. Edmonds said she was comfortable with the amount of policy Labour had released thus far and said it would all be "carefully considered". "We will have policy announcements, as Chippy has said, towards the end of the year... but actually, we have this Budget to work through... we've got next Budget to work through... and then we will come out with our fiscal plan. "I know you're eager, and I know you want to find the new hook, but today I was talking about the government's Budget, so you'll just have to wait." When in opposition, the National Party also came under pressure over a lack of policy detail less than a year out from the 2023 election. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Porirua soup kitchen opens to support homeless in the city
E Kai soup kitchen setting up to serve a hot meal at its first session on Monday. Photo: RNZ / Nick James A soup kitchen has been set up in Porirua to help support those dealing with homelessness in the city. On a cold windy Monday evening, E Kai had its first event in the CBD, providing pumpkin and lentil soup with Rēwena bread to those in need. The soup kitchen is the only service of its kind in the city and is run by Ngati Toa Rangatira's iwi authority Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Porirua City Council and WELLfed an adult education programme which specialises in cooking. Toe-Te Roopu Wahina social services is run by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira. General manager Steven Johnson told RNZ the soup kitchen was focused on support for those that were homeless. "This initiative is set up to be able to provide a warm inviting space, where food is just the entry for those people to come in for us then to be able to put a wider wraparound service to support them where we can." He expected demand in the soup kitchen to increase as winter approached. Shane Tepania had been dealing with homelessness until WELLfed helped him out. He said they helped him get a job and a house. "Without them I'd probably be back on the streets." The soup kitchen would be very important to people, particularly in the colder months, he said. "If we can make a change, make a difference, wow, it's beautiful really just to see." E Kai will run every Monday from 4 Lyndsey Place in Porirua between 5pm and 7pm.
