Escarpment Track closed for slip repair

1 December 2020 / By / Announcements, Recreation
Slip on the Escarpment Track, north of Pukerua Bay
Escarpment Track slip, north of Pukerua Bay. Photo: Kiwirail

From the Te Araroa Wellington Trust: Please note that the Escarpment Track will be closed Tuesday and Thursday (1st and 3rd of December). On Tuesday a Te Araroa contractor will be clearing a slip across the track right above a huge slip that flows down almost to the railway line. On Thursday, KiwiRail contractors will be working from ropes placing sensors on the fences recently installed across the huge slip. These sensors will let Kiwirail train control know if any surface material has possibly slipped across the railway line. The ropes will be placed over the walking track which will therefore be dangerous to cross, hence the closure. The huge rainstorm in the area could cause other slips along the track, especially in the area of the two swing bridges. It is therefore possible that this programme may change.

June Penhey granted Freedom of Pukerua Bay

7 November 2020 / By / RA

At the 2020 AGM of the Pukerua Bay Residents’ Association special acknowledgement was given to June Penhey. She was granted the Freedom of Pukerua Bay to acknowledge 55 years faithful service to the community and thanked for 41 years as the Association Treasurer.

Notice of 2020 Annual General Meeting

22 October 2020 / By / Meeting, RA

Thursday 22 October 2020 (ical)
7:30 pm, Pukerua Bay Hall (map)

The 2020 Annual General Meeting for the Pukerua Bay Residents’ Association (PBRA) will be held on Thursday 22 October in the School and Community Hall commencing 7:30 pm. All residents of Pukerua Bay are by right members of the PBRA and are welcome to attend.

Guest speakers:

  • Glenda Robb, Kapiti Coast Biodiversity Projects, with the results of the recent penguin survey,
  • Gillian Candler, on the beach litter survey, and
  • Bill McCauley, Friends of Taupo Swamp and Catchment (FOTSC). Bill will talk on the value of the swamp, threats to it and the work FOTSC is undertaking at the swamp.

The Executive Committee are proposing some amendments to the PBRA constitution which are to be voted on at the meeting. There will also be the election of members of the Executive Committee for the coming year. If you wish to receive the Agenda and related papers please email secretary@pukeruabay.org.nz.

2020 Annual Financial Statement (PDF)

He Ara Pukerua Historic Display & Community Garden Family Fun Day

16 September 2020 / By / Community Garden, He Ara Pukerua

Despite the gloomy grey weather, the Pukerua Bay Family Fun Day went ahead as planned for the opening of the new Rail Comes to Pukerua and Rail Timeline display panels in the former Muri Station building, and the community garden fun day. The He Ara Pukerua rail history displays were blessed by Ngāti Toa kaumatua Kahu Ropata, supported by Moana Parata and others. Porirua City Mayor Anita Baker and Ward Councillors Nathan Waddle and Josh Trlin revealed the panels. A section of the tramway rail used during the construction of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway 1884–1886 was presented to the mayor. Kahu also blessed the community garden. Following the blessing and speeches there was a sausage sizzle, cakes and tea brewed from thermettes, and a stalls selling T shirts and home-made face masks. A smaller turn-out than planned, but still attended by enthusiastic locals braving the wind and drizzle.

He Ara Pukerua is grateful for the help from Greater Wellington Regional Council and KiwiRail to secure the lease on the former Muri Station shelter. The northbound Muri Station shelter has been relocated onto the garden and is in the process of being refurbished.

Images courtesy of Cr. Josh Trlin, Porirua City Council (via Facebook); Andy Erceg and Ashley Blair, He Ara Pukerua (via Facebook).

Pukerua Bay Library to be earthquake strengthened

4 August 2020 / By / Announcements

Over the next six weeks the cutest little library in New Zealand (if not the world) is going to be earthquake strengthened. As much as possible the crew will be working around our opening hours, so Nuala will still be there ready to issue and return your books as always on Tuesdays & Thursdays 2pm – 5pm, and Saturdays 10am – 1pm.

For more information: Pukerua Bay Library

Coffee in Pukerua Bay!

15 July 2020 / By / Announcements, Recreation

Pukerua Bay now has a café of sorts – the new coffee caravan from Greedy & Co. on the grounds of the former St. Mark’s chapel on 98 Rawhiti Road, opposite the school (map).

Open 8am – 1pm, Tuesday–Saturday. Fresh roasted coffee, hot drinks and home-made baking including pies, scones, muffins, and gluten-free banana loaf.

After the successful opening day on the 4th of July, Renée and Sarah said on Facebook:

“WOW what an amazing day! We cannot believe all the support we received from all of you wonderful people! Thank you for all your patience while we found our way around our new space, it meant the world to us! See you all on Tuesday for round two”😎

“Thank you” photo message, from the Greedy & Co. Facebook page

Contact by phone +64 27 473 3391 (SMS) or email, greedyandconz@gmail.com

New drinking fountain installed and ready to use!

15 July 2020 / By / Announcements, Recreation

The school kids proposed it, the skateboarders wanted it, the escarpment track walkers will be glad of it, and dogs will also benefit from it. The new long-awaited drinking fountain and refilling station by the skate park and playground is installed and ready to use! Check it out next time you’re out for a walk.

Work on driving the pipe down the pathway from Sea Vista Drive and building the concrete pad and small retaining wall was completed this week.

Have your say on Plimmerton Farm development

26 June 2020 / By / Consultation

Submissions close 5pm, Thursday 2 July

Porirua City Council (PCC) is changing its District Plan to use a fast-track process for the Plimmerton Farm development, and is asking for the public to give their views on it.

This is our only chance to influence the outcome of this development by persuading the Minister for the Environment (who makes the final decision on the plan change) to protect the unique values of the Taupō Swamp and wetlands in the area. We will have to live with the decisions made now in perpetuity.

The Residents Association is working with the Friends of Taupō Swamp and Catchment (FOTSC) to help protect this environment.

You can help, too.

Everything you need to know is now up on the FOTSC website https://www.tauposwamp.org/plimmerton-farm-development.

Have a look at the “Have some more questions…?” document on the website. This is the culmination of input from many sources, and you can use it to help make a submission with the environment a priority, not a casualty, of planned development. There’s a lot there because there’s a lot to say.

You are free to use the words on it, but make them personal and write about the things you value the most.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UoA6uXzutlMBvunaFwkHdTSuz__TrG1s/view?usp=sharing

FOTSC has prepared an example of the submissions you can make. This will help simplify the process.

All the development information from PCC is on their website, along with links to the online submission page.

Remember: submissions are due 5pm Thursday, 2 July

He Ara Pukerua T-shirts and tote bags for sale

22 June 2020 / By / Fundraising, He Ara Pukerua

T-shirts and tote bags are back on sale again. We are taking orders now for personal delivery. You can pick your desired size and colour as described in the product descriptions (although we have run out of the pink T-shirts). Please allow a short delay for printing.

Funds go to support He Ara Pukerua, the Pukerua Bay heritage project.

Taupo Swamp volunteer planting and weeding day

3 June 2020 / By / Biodiversity, Working Bees

Friends of Taupo Swamp & Catchment need your help – even an hour will make a difference! They are ready to go to get another 1800 wetland plants into the ground this season, having raised the money and ordered the plants from local nurseries. Stage two of the Taupo Swamp Wetland Restoration starts this Saturday, June 6.

When: 9am, Saturday, 6 June 2020 (ics, Facebook)
Where: Taupo Swamp, via Ulric Street, Plimmerton (map)

Work this weekend will be continuing to weed last year’s planting (some trees are now over 2 metres tall) and preparing the ground for the upcoming planting season. Gloves, gear and a morning snack can be provided thanks to Roger at Plimmerton Deli. Want to get in touch? Contact the organisers at tauposwamp@gmail.com or +64 21 263 9844 (💬).