Pukerua Bay Residents’ Association Inc
Tuesday 10 February 2026, 7.30-9:00 pm
RSA, 5 Wairaka Road
Attending: Pauline Morse, Jane Comben, Margaret Blair, Kay Shapland, Jonathan Harker, Duncan Ridd, Dorothy Ibrahim
Apologies: Leanne McKenzie, Lisa Cowley, Judith Frost-Evans, Paul Fitzgerald, Moira Lawler
Committee Changes: Leanne Mckenzie has resigned from the Committee as is moving away from Pukerua Bay. The Committee thanks Leanne for her contribution.
Last month’s minutes a true and accurate representation
Moved Jane / seconded Pauline. All in favour. Carried.
Correspondence
Still to add: Paul’s correspondence with IRD
1 Jan – 2 Feb
Sender: 4 various
Subject: Good King Henry
4 emails about sourcing plants – Jonathan and good king henry propagating material query
Date: 23 Jan – 4 Feb
Sender: Margaret Blair and several parties
Subject: PKB sign removal and designs
Date: 13 Jan
Sender: News from PCC
Subject: what’s happening
Date: 7 Jan
Sender: Daniel Jones
Subject: Composting Query
Date: 23 Dec
Sender: News from PCC
Subject: what’s happening
Date: 16 Dec
From: Kay Shapland to Wendy Walker CE, PCC
Subject: Mt Welcome Housing Development Fast Track Application
Date: 12 Dec
From: Alex Kitson (Intermediate Policy Planner)
Subject: Update on Pukerua Bay flood hazard modelling
Council updates
Porirua City Council – Moira Lawler Councillor Report to Pukerua Bay Residents Association February 2026
Council hasn’t met yet this year – the first workshop is on February 12th with our first Council meeting on February 19th. Just a reminder that you can receive meeting agendas by requesting them, read agendas online, attend workshops and meetings or watch them online.
Check out the website on https://poriruacity.govt.nz/your-council/mayor-councillors/meetings-minutes-and-agendas/
Government Legislation:
The February 12 th workshop presents draft submissions to government on the Simplifying Local Government Bill, RMA Reform and Development Levies Bill. The Development Levies Bill replaces Development contributions with Development Levies enabling contributions for development from subsequent developments to the initial builds. Council is broadly supportive.
The RMA reform submission highlights are:
- Support for greater legislative integration and stronger regional planning;
- Concern for approach to Te Tiriti and limited role for iwi;
- increased Ministerial decision making;
- lack of environmental protection;
- private property rights focus; and
- regulatory relief framework (having to compensate owners for restriction of land use) etc.
Simplifying Local Government:
The Mayors are in support of amalgamation and are likely to work towards an amalgamated region by the 2028 election. At our February 19 meeting we will be asked to agree to a joint Mayoral committee to work on an amalgamation proposal. This includes reviewing previous work, seeking advice, and a resident engagement plan. Our submission to government while critiquing the Government process and intent, also suggests Wellington could move to an early amalgamation proposal and asks for resourcing for this work. I’m meeting local harbour groups to discuss what amalgamation might mean for harbour restoration.
Wellington Water/Tiaki Wai
The failure of Moa Point is worrying. Veolia the private operator is planning Wellington City. Suffice to say that the new Tiaki Wai structure does not address the level of private company reliance in our infrastructure system.
Waste Management
I’m attending a regional waste management forum on February 13th . This is an overview of current waste issues and a tour of key sites. It’s also open to the local groups. If you want to attend contact Julia.barton@poriruacity.govt.nz . The future of the Porirua landfill is a significant city issue as alternative options are costly to implement, and the current landfill delivers revenue that will be lost if it closes.
Local issues
All queries go straight to the CE so my role is limited to chasing up, asking further questions etc.
I’ve heard nothing else about Mt Welcome.
Briony and Meg Meladonis organised for PCC and Greater Wellington staff to look at the stream by the Red Shed to discuss possible clearance of driftwood and silt (which will happen).
We also looked at the stream by the gun emplacement that Stan has been working on. The Regional Council staff asked him not to clear vegetation as it is counterproductive.
I’ve had a couple of local business queries which I will follow up with Council.
Greater Wellington Regional Council – nil
Matters arising
Dog and Penquin Signage – Dog and Penguin Signage.
There is a meeting on Wednesday 11 February with Andrew Gray (PCC) re signage at the beach.
Wording of the signage will be discussed to ensure it is consistent with the existing Dog Bylaw/policy wording as well as clear and relevant for our beach. The RA will propose “Dog Restricted Area” as it is a better description for the area than “Dog Exercise Area” and is consistent the current rules.
Action: Paul to attend meeting with Council
MOU for Resident groups – the action from the December meeting carried over to next meeting to discuss with Paul on wording of MOU. Kay, Jane and Margaret to discuss draft MOU with Korero, CGRR, He Ara and Climate groups and to gain feedback.
Action: Kay, Margaret and Jane to progress with relevant groups
General Election Meet the Candidates – Emails have gone to Sophie Handford (Labour), Tim Costley (National) and to the Green Party advising a proposed meet and greet community meeting.
Sophie Handford has confirmed she wants to attend a meeting and end of March or mid April is workable. The Greens are yet to select a candidate for the electorate. Tim Costley is still to respond.
Action: Paul to confirm dates with candidates and venue as St Marks
Classic Homes Mt Welcome Station development
Action: Kay to followup on September email from Classic Homes on Mt Welcome Development
PCC District Plan
Alex Kitson intermediate policy planner PCC has advised the Council’s intent to re-connect the PKB residents and the RA to show the flood hazard map they propose to include in the Porirua District Plan by mid-2026
Interest in Community Food Composting
A new resident to Pukerua Bay has contacted the RA asking about the potential for community food composting. The Community Garden Group has been connected as a start for discussion.
Finance Report
BNZ $12,345.60
Income:
$ 14.20 Interest
$ 420.00 CGFF Calendars
$ 385.00 CGFF Koha
$2000.00 He Ara (loan)
$1500.00 He Ara Book Sales
Expenditure:
$ 25.26 CGFF Irrigation
$ 43.41 CGFF Building Project
$ 111.55 CGFF Garden Tour Expenses
$2279.73 He Ara Copy Press
Invoices Issued: Nil
Account balances as at 7 February 2026
Res Assn 000 $ 264.17
He Ara 001 $1621.27
CGFF 002 $1846.79
Kōrero 066 $ 433.77
Climate 083 $ 000.01
Surf Seat 067 $ 78.83
OnCall 025 $8100.76
________________________________________________________________
Notes:
CGFF
• Liabilities Kiwi Rail due 1/12/2025 $481.02
On Call Accounts
Res $ 750.76
He Ara $ 0.00
Korero $ 700.00
CGFF $6100.00
CC $ 550.00
IRD Update
In the course of applying for tax-registration I came across an IRD numbers for the PKBRA. It transpires that the number was allocated before PKBRA was initially incorporated. IRD regard this as a separate entity and have proceeded with the new registration with a new number The association’s new IRD number is 147-894-147.
Action: Paul to apply for exemption from Tax liability, not uncommon for Not-for Profit organisations.
Kiwirail Invoice
The Community Garden group proposed that RA does not pay the kiwirail account Moved Paulene / Dorothy seconded. All in favour. Carried.
Project Updates
Climate Action Ropu
Strategy meeting at start of the year
Meet the neighbour’s Day is booked Saturday 21 March, 3-4.30pm at Wairaka Reserve.
Meeting booked in with James King PCC about climate adaptation pilot in PKB, Thursday 12 Feb at 1pm – Jane and Connor attending.
We’re thinking about our activity at three levels – local, city, and national. And that the national level might mean that in the Matariki issue of Kōrero, we survey political parties on their climate change policies.
Kōrero
We wish all our Pukerua Bay friends a happy new year.
We’re currently preparing the first issue of 2026 for publication with its theme, Pukerua Pets. The theme for the next issue is “volunteering”.
We’re looking forward to running the item the Residents Association has already supplied marking its centennial year and we’ll be keen to help promote any associated events.
Upcoming themes and deadlines
These may not be perfect but give you a sense of the road ahead.
Month Theme Copy Deadline
April Volunteers/Volunteering 12 March
June Matariki 6 May
August The ‘silver screen’ 5 July
November Pukerua from pā to village 4 October
A challenge
- While we’re excited to look forward to the year ahead, we face a major funding challenge.
- As you know, we were disappointed not to succeed in getting a grant from Hutt Mana Trust last year. The reason given was that there had already been a successful application from an organisation associated with the Residents Association.
- Over the summer, we applied to the Pelorus Trust but missed out again because they didn’t have enough funds. This is disappointing and frustrating – as we explained in December, we need another $1000 to get through the year.
Other avenues
- We’ve tried raising advertising fees in the past but just lost advertisers.
- Reducing the number of pages would leave us with an imbalance of ads to content.
- We’re appealing for local support in the next issue.
- We’d like to try again with the Hutt Mana Trust but would need your support for that.
- Unfortunately, that does seem to mean that this would mean other RA groups would miss out – we do hope you can see the value that we offer all local community groups.
Thank you for all your support The Kōrero whānau
He Ara
- The Long Walk from Wellington to Waikawa: The books arrived on 19 December.
“I want to try it one day to understand what it was like” F age 8
“… struck by its deep sense of place.” MM
The first print run has all sold out – we are waiting for further stock. Copy Press handle the orders for trade, libraries etc. We are currently organising further local promotion.
- Hutt Mana grant: Our application is being prepared.
- Pukerua Bay sign: We have accessed the original scale drawings, costs and images.
- Minute books: The Residents’ Association minute books from 1990 to 2014 are still missing. Where are they? These contain important records of significant projects and events for Pukerua Bay.
- He Ara website: www.hearapukeruabay.nz
Now has up Ngāti Toa, Te Rauparaha and Pukerua Bay after approval from Ngāti Toa Komiti Ahurea was received. Copyright permission had previously been obtained for all images. This story was recorded in 2021.
The He Ara website had 674 visitors in the past month with 66 visitors on 13 January, the day after the FB post announcing that Ngāti Toa, Te Rauparaha and Pukerua Bay had been published. There have been 4,884 individual visitors in the last 12 months.
Community Garden and Food Forest
No report from compost structure
Financial report tabled. New format to collate finances to show income and expenses related to each budget category. Discussed and approved.
Proposed and discussed possible Bulb Sale Fun Day
Discussion re: update to watering system
- Budget for hose and connectors is Vicky’s $200 koha
- Strong focus on capturing rain water
- No more tanks to be purchased
- Brian has added tap location to garden map
- Length of each hose required to be measured and identified.
- Work on hold until compost system completed and collection of rain water from these structures (plus pavilion) maximised
- Goal to have specific hose for each tap and not to be moved.
- Taps to be turned off and hose wound up after use.
- Brian investigating bringing surplus soak hose from Rongoa garden to 3 bottom veg plots, each with individual on / off from tap
- Ballcock on blue berry tank.
General Business
The RA:
- supports the Kōrero newsletter and it’s appeal for funding
- confirmed that each group under the RA umbrella needs to take turns applying to Hutt Mana Trust as combining applications isn’t practical/ appropriate. The Hutt Mana Trust classes the RA as the applicant as all the groups use the RA’s bank account and incorporated society details.