Signing of Te Wai Ora o Parirua - The Porirua Harbour Accord
Porirua, February 6, 2025 marks a significant milestone in the journey to restore and protect the health of Te Awarua o Porirua (Porirua Harbour) with the official signing of Te Wai Ora o Parirua – Porirua Harbour Accord (the Accord).
This historic agreement unites key partners in a shared commitment to restoring the ecological, cultural, and environmental integrity of the harbour. The Accord brings together, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira (acting on behalf of Ngāti Toa Rangatira), Porirua City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council, and Wellington Water Limited, alongside stakeholders, community groups, and organisations dedicated to improving the harbour’s health.
"For Ngāti Toa, the harbour is more than a body of water; it is a taonga deeply woven into our identity, heritage, and values," said Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Board Chair, Callum Katene. "We envision a future where our people can gather kaimoana, swim, and enjoy the waters of Te Awarua o Porirua without compromise.
The signing of this Accord is a crucial step toward that vision." Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau welcomed today’s signing of the Accord: “This is a significant milestone in our Tākai Here partnership with Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira. “With much of the Porirua Harbour’s catchment located within its boundaries – stretching from Johnsonville, Glenside, and Churton Park to Takapū Valley and Tawa – Wellington City plays a vital role in reducing sediment and pollution entering the harbour via the Porirua Stream.” Te Awarua o Porirua is the largest estuary in the lower North Island and holds significant cultural, economic, and recreational value. The importance of the harbour for the iwi is recognised under the Ngāti Toa Rangatira Claims Settlement Act 2014.
However, decades of human activity, including land reclamation and pollution, have severely degraded the harbour’s health. High levels of sediment and contaminants continue to impact water quality, threatening marine life and the broader ecosystem. The Accord establishes a framework for collaboration among the partner organisations to:
• Implement a unified approach to improving the health of Porirua Harbour; • Take coordinated, well-resourced actions to restore and protect the harbour’s ecological integrity;
• Monitor progress through an accountable and transparent Performance Monitoring Framework, with an iwi-led mauri ora approach guiding the long-term restoration efforts.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker welcomed the Accord and the joint commitment it brings. “Te Awarua o Porirua is at the heart of our city and our community and is a taonga for our mana whenua.
We have been working with our partners and the community on ways to restore the mauri of Porirua Harbour and the Accord formally signals our shared vision and ongoing commitment,” she says.
The Accord aligns with Te Mana o Te Wai Freshwater Framework and upholds the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The partnership model recognises the leadership and kaitiakitanga of Ngāti Toa, ensuring tikanga are embedded in restoration efforts.
Key focus areas of the Accord include improving water quality, restoring biodiversity, integrating sustainable water management with urban development, and addressing climate change impacts.
Community engagement is also a vital aspect of this work, with the Accord encouraging active participation from local groups and residents passionate about the harbour’s future.
“We must work collectively to restore the mana of Te Awarua o Porirua,” said Greater Wellington Chair Daran Ponter. “The Accord renews our commitment to the harbour and provides a vehicle for us to partner with key agencies and support Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira to lead this mahi.”
The Accord is a living document which may be reviewed and updated every three years in alignment with the Local Government Act’s long-term planning cycle. The first review will take place within three years of signing, with work programmes established and monitored annually.
“With water reform just around the corner, a new water entity needs a strong anchor stone from its owners and partners about how important rebuilding the health and life-force of this harbour is. This accord provides that, and Wellington Water is committed to living and breathing it in principle and practice when it comes to delivering water services that aid the harbour’s restoration,” Wellington Water Board Chair, Nick Leggett.
Today’s signing ceremony represents not just a commitment on paper, but a promise to future generations.
With strong partnerships, clear objectives, and a shared vision, Te Awarua o Porirua will once again become a vibrant and healthy harbour, a source of pride for all who call this region home.