Community Garden

April 2025 Residents Association meeting minutes

Minutes Tuesday 8 April 2025
7:30 –9:00 pm RSA Wairaka Rd

Attending: Paul FitzGerald, Judith Frost-Evans, Jane Comben, Nikky Winchester, Chris Kirk-Burnnand
Apologies: Cr Josh Trlin, Margaret Blair,

Last month’s minutes a true and accurate representation

Moved Nikky / seconded Paul. All in favour. Carried.

Iain Maclean’s Passing

We acknowledge Iain Maclean’s passing and send love and best wishes to Kate and whānau. Iain has touched many and contributed to the Bay in multiple ways. He had been on the RA since the 90’s and took over the Chair from Pat Hanley. He’ll be sorely missed by many.

Dying’s not so bad if you’ve had time to get used to the idea. There is no avoiding it. But you can’t say you’re not disappointed; there’s fa lot to leave behind. You’ve been surrounded by the aroha of the beautiful people throughout the journey. That’s why I love Pukerua Bay.
Nā Iain MacLean

Council updates

PCC – None

27 March Judith sent info to Ross about the Rubbish Bin on Brendon Beach.

GWRC –

Wellington Water

Nick Leggett getting a lot of flack. Previous Chair resigned and that’s when Nick took over. Wellington Water is a mess with some conflicts of interest etc.

Annual Plan is underway hoping to keep increase below 10% but that is still quite high in present climate e.g. people across NZ living on their savings.

Rail GWRC don’t control bus replacement/upgrade of the lines. KiwiRail decide when they do it. The on-demand bus in Tawa was cancelled because of costs but putting on hourly minibuses. Average bus trip costs GWRC $8 and train $12.

Centreport paid $9 million In dividends to GWRC. 27 million total benefit.

Failed to get anywhere on the bus stop or lease for garden.

Transport Cut in monies supplied by Waka Kotahi so GWRC are having to cut their plans.

Porirua Stream cleaned out the stream by Railway station of stones and silt etc.

Council looking to bring in extra money in by developing and selling off some land as commercial direct to market.

Chris not standing for council again and finishes in Oct.

Matters arising

Plunket Rooms – No more news

Financial report as at 4 April 2025

Finance Report to April 2025 Meeting   as at 4 April 2025
BNZ $ 11,768.94
Income:
$7.79 Interest
$160.00 Korero Advert

Expenditure:
Nil

Invoices – Overdue
$270.00 Korero

Account balances as at 4 April 2025
Res Assn 000 $ 462.58
He Ara 001 $ 87.67
CGFF 002 $ 483.21
Kōrero 066 $ 221.77
Surf Seat 067 $ 174.73
On Call Acct 025 $10,338.98
CGFF $3,000.00 On Hold
CGFF $ 500.00 Payment
He Ara $5,000.00 Donation
Korero $1,700.00 On Hold
Residents $ 138.98 Interest

________________________________________________________________
Action Notes:
• Korero – Overdue invoices to be followed up

• Copies of Funding Applications to treasurer
 CGFF 2024 December Pelorus Trust (supplied by Judith)
 CGFF 2025 March - Hutt Mana (supplied by Judith)

• Honorarium Korero designer

• All invoices to be issued by the treasurer.

Moved Paul / seconded Jane. All in favour. Carried

Correspondence

20 March
From:    John Meeuwsen
Subject: Placemaking and community 19/3 meeting – follow up on Emergency mgt [EM] discussion.
To circulate amongst RA to discuss next meeting.

25 Mar
From:    Tim Costly Tim.Costley@parliament.govt.nz>
Subject: Anzac Service this year
Response: CC-ed the RSA email. Supplied Yvonne’s number and general information from the RSA newsletter.

26 Mar
From:    Barabara Edmonds MP
Subject: Boundary Changes for the Mana Electorate Information about the boundary.

27 Mar
From:    Judith

3 April
From:    Elise Broadbent
Subject: Question around Plunket rooms
Response: Info from the minutes, link to PKB Hub website and suggestion to contact Kelly.

Pukerua Bay Developments Ltd Will Caccia-Birch supplied update on Muri Rd Development about earthmoving onto site and the access onto Muri Road. Posted onto Website and Facebook.

Action Items

Train Replacement Bus Service – Thomas Nash sent response from the Operational people. They will be doing a review of their train replacement bus service in the future.

Dog Signs – Paul hasn’t followed up on this yet

Beach Rd Remediation work – no update

Project Updates

Community Garden & Food Forest

Crop rotation – Vicky explained the importance of rotating heavy feeding crops with more leafy crops and planting green crops for over wintering. We have a visual plan for this and will display on pavilion noticeboard.

Strawberry patch is a big project. We will need to collect resources for this plus promote it to our community as a fun opportunity for them to take home plants. Perhaps have a sausage bbq.

Calendar update – we have the 12 gardens identified and a lot of the photos taken. The house at 33 Ocean Parade will be our focus on the home for our little blue penguins. Peter Stevenson has completed the illustrations for a crankie story telling on the beach. Vicky and Gay have worked on the information pages at the end of the calendar showing what we do each month at the garden.

Current budget – there have been no expenses this month so balance remains $3,483.21 Judy and Gay completed and submitted a funding application to Hutt Mana Trust. This covers $ 713 for AON Public Liability insurance and $1400 for the extension of the pavilion as a compost collection complex. Dave Garret has been very generous with donated goods and access to his building account to buy materials needed. This work can not start until we hear from Mana Trust, and if declined we will have to activate fundraising – which is what we are trying to avoid.

Brian motivated us to get back to production of ‘ Cory’s Activator’. We will produce a brew on May 3 and will sell and use this mixture. The new compost will be turned on April 5

Rongoa report – The Scouts are enthused to get involved with some of this work, Fantastic

A reminder that when the call comes, those who can, will drop other priorities and help organise Iain’s Wake.

He Ara Report

Flight Lieutenant E.L. Gray in Cairo, 1942. Photo Mike Gray
  • RSA email to members with story of Lindsay Gray DFC has had a very positive response.
  • At the RSA AGM unanimous approval to name lounge the Lindsay Gray DFC Lounge.
  • Display board and nameplate for Lindsay Gray DFC Lounge are being designed.
  • Great progress with the story and illustrations of the Bevan children’s walk,
  • Story of the voyage of Lady Nugent put on He Ara Facebook on 17 March: 184 years since the day the ship carrying the Bevan and Prince families arrived in Wellington.
  • A response to this post has given us a link to another person living in Pukerua Bay who is a descendant of a passenger.
  • Transcripts of the surgeon’s log and Thomas Bevan Snr’s letters have been sourced at the Alexander Turnbull Library.

Kōrero

Working on the proof for the current issue which will be out at the end of April. Had a meeting to discuss the next Matariki issue. Copy deadline 8 May for Matariki issue.

Climate Action Rōpū

A meeting planned 23 April
Regular monthly crop swaps  

General Business

a. PCC Annual Plan

Looking at a 7.19 % rate increase on average $7.10/week. Further reduced if removing funding and increasing charges.

Submission – we support the proposal for cuts to minimise the rates increase but we don’t support the increase in Cannon Creek Pool fees. Submission to be circulated.

b. MOUs with groups under umbrella. Defer until next meeting.

c. Karakia at meetings. Purpose to pause and a bringing together at the start of the meeting. Generally everyone says it together to bring focus together. Suggest we have an opening and closing one we’re familiar with. Open to other karakia (suggestions below). Discussed and agreed.

He timatanga: Whakataka te hau

Whakataka te hau ki te uru
Whakataka te hau ki te tonga
Kia mākinakina ki uta
Kia mātaratara ki tai
E hī ake ana te ataakura
He tio, he huka, he hauhunga
Tīhei Mauri Ora

Cease the winds from the west
Cease the winds from the south
let the breeze blow over the land
Let the red tipped dawn come
with a sharpened air,
A touch of frost, a promise of a
glorious day

Karakia

Kia hora te marino
Kia whakapapa pounamu te moana
Hei huarahi mā tātou i te rangi nei
Aroha atu, aroha mai
Tātou i a tātou katoa
Hui e! Tāiki e!

May peace be widespread
May the sea be like a greenstone
A pathway for us all this day
Let us show respect for each other
For one another
Bind us all together!

Karakia Whakamutunga

Kua mutu ā mātou mahi
Mō tēnei wā
Manaakitia mai mātou katoa
ō mātou hoa
ō mātou whānau
Āio ki te Aorangi.

Our work is finished
For the moment
Bless us all
Our friends
Our families
Peace to the Universe.

(link to video)

d. Explore how we know we are acting on behalf of the residents and what we can do to learn more about what is of concern to our community.

Nikki suggested we look at the latest Village Plan. Everyone to read through it and put it on the agenda to discuss at the next meeting.

2022 Village Plan, See if there is anything not covered in there.

e. How to allow Judith to join meeting while away. We’ll try a Zoom meeting Jane to set up and invite.

Meeting ended 9.10pm

April 2025 Residents Association meeting minutes Read More »

Wellington Anniversary Community Garden Day

Come and celebrate summer with us on Wellington Anniversary Day!

When: Monday, 22 January 2024, 10am – 12 noon (ical)
Where: Pukerua Bay Community Garden & Food Forest, by Muri Station (map)

All welcome for refreshments and plant sale (cash only), including heaps of swan plants for the local monarch butterflies.
We hope to see you there!

Wellington Anniversary Community Garden Day Read More »

Pruning and Tool Care Workshop

Hi Gardeners,
The Pukerua Bay Community Garden and Food Forest team presents:

Pruning and Tool Care Workshop
Date: Saturday 13 August, 10am – 12 noon (ical)
Venue: Pukerua Bay Community Garden, Muri Road, by Old Muri Station (map)

PRUNING

Hannah Swartz will be demonstrating winter pruning care for our fruit trees.
Thanks to NZ Organic Garden magazine for their donation to host this event.

TOOLS

Hannah will also talk about care and maintenance of your garden tools. We are lucky to have two local experts that will help you with any of your tools you bring along. We are asking for a Koha to the garden for this service.

FOR SALE

Our seeds will be available for you to purchase (with cash).

As always, everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you in the garden (weather permitting!)

Pruning and Tool Care Workshop Read More »

Community Garden & Food Forest Spring Festival

When: SATURDAY 30 October 2021, 10 am – 12 noon (ical)
Where: Pukerua Bay Community Garden & Food Forest (map)

Plant Sale    Worm Farming Workshop    Refreshments

Join us at the Community Garden and Food Forest (off the platform at the old Muri train station) for a family friendly fun day. Everyone is welcome.

Note: we’ll only go ahead under Alert Level 1 or 2, following government guidelines: covid19.govt.nz

Community Garden & Food Forest Spring Festival Read More »

Food Forest Garden working bee

We’ll be at the Community Garden and Food Forest this Saturday:

Date: Saturday 12 June 2021, 10 am to 12 noon (ical)
Place: Food Forest Garden, Muri Reserve (map)

Feel free to come along as we’ll be working on the berry area and usual maintenance, plus the usual cups of tea from the thermette. If available, you can bring gloves and hand tools, and green matter for the compost bins (e.g. veg scraps). We now have two regular mornings in the garden:

  • 2nd Saturday of the month
  • Last Wednesday of the month

We look forward to catching up with you soon,
Pukerua Bay Community Garden & Food Forest members

Food Forest Garden working bee Read More »

Community Garden Picnic

Saturday 27th March 2021, 4pm – 7pm (ical)
Venue: Community Food Forest Garden, by Muri Station (map)

Welcome to all those interested in the garden project, their friends and families. Come along for a picnic in the gardens to celebrate the end of summer and work done to date. Bring your own drink and food to share, plates, utensils etc (our BBQ will be available). The thermette will also be in action for hot drinks. We look forward to seeing you there. Everyone welcome.

Community Garden Picnic Read More »

He Ara Pukerua Historic Display & Community Garden Family Fun Day

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).

He Ara Pukerua Historic Display & Community Garden Family Fun Day Read More »