From roofing and solar to property, catering, and professional services, it’s another solid group of local operators backing community news.

Here’s who’s new this week:

🏠 Kyle Finiki – Harcourts Paremata
A Porirua-based real estate agent known for a down-to-earth approach and strong negotiation skills, Kyle works with buyers and sellers to achieve the best possible outcome without unnecessary stress, backed by the Harcourts network.

🔧 Rubco Waterproofing Ltd
A Wellington-based, family-owned business specialising in waterproofing, roofing, and membrane systems. With over 10 years’ experience, they deliver re-roofing, repairs, coatings, and house washing with a focus on honest communication and long-lasting protection.

🍳 Pride X Kitchens Wellington (Pridex Kitchens)
Custom kitchen designers delivering end-to-end renovations, from consultation and 3D design through to full project management, creating functional, tailored kitchen spaces for Wellington homes.

📸 Belinda Carr Photography
A Wellington photographer with over 13 years’ experience specialising in newborn, maternity, and family photography, known for natural in-home sessions and relaxed outdoor shoots.

🖨️ Pivotal Print
Award-winning, Māori-majority owned print specialists based in Wellington CBD, delivering high-quality print, production, and marketing solutions backed by decades of industry experience.

☀️ Front End Solar
Solar energy specialists designing and delivering residential, commercial, and community solar systems, helping reduce power costs and support long-term energy resilience.

🏡 Nightingale Properties
Property management specialists offering both full-service and one-off solutions, focused on efficient rental management and staying ahead of tenancy regulations.

🍽️ All About Catering
Wellington-based catering delivering fresh, seasonal food for corporate events and functions, with reliable delivery across the region.

🏘️ NG Property Management
A locally owned property management firm specialising in residential rentals, focused on compliance, tenant quality, and consistent rental income for landlords.

The Porirua News Business Directory continues to grow as more local businesses come on board and back a platform built for the community.

Back the businesses, backing our community.

From hospitality and property services to IT, construction, and community institutions, these businesses reflect the breadth of services supporting the wider Porirua region.

🎨 PĀTAKA ART + MUSEUM

A cornerstone of Porirua’s cultural identity, Pātaka Art + Museum is dedicated to celebrating Māori, Pacific, New Zealand, and international art and culture. With free admission, rotating exhibitions, and community programmes, it continues to be a major creative hub for the region.

🍽️ Top Taste Restaurant

A well-known local dining spot, Top Taste Restaurant offers a convenient and welcoming option for locals looking for quality meals in Porirua.

🏗️ Natty Builds

Natty Builds delivers professional building services including renovations, new builds, and project management, supporting homeowners across the wider Wellington region.

🌿 LawnFix Wellington

LawnFix Wellington specialises in lawn treatment rather than mowing, offering services such as fertilisation, weed control, aeration, and full lawn renovation to keep outdoor spaces looking their best year-round.

🧼 RAMS Cleaning Services Wellington

RAMS Cleaning Services is an established commercial cleaning provider with over 20 years of experience, delivering professional cleaning, maintenance, and hygiene services to businesses across New Zealand.

🐜 UrbanShield Pest Solutions

UrbanShield Pest Solutions provides fast, eco-friendly pest control services across Porirua and the wider Wellington region, tackling everything from ants and rodents to wasps and bedbugs with certified, safe treatments.

💻 Jupiter IT

Jupiter IT supports local businesses with technology solutions, helping keep systems running smoothly and securely in an increasingly digital world.

🏡 Donna Marks Mortgages

Donna Marks Mortgages provides personalised mortgage advice, helping clients navigate home loans, refinancing, and property finance with confidence.

🏠 James Blond Rentals

James Blond Rentals offers property and rental solutions, supporting tenants and property owners across the region.

The Porirua News Business Directory continues to grow as a trusted local platform connecting residents with businesses across the region.

Spots are first-in, first-ranked and fill fast. Should we reserve your spot today?

Email us at: Editor@poriruanews.co.nz

The Green Party has selected Waikanae resident Asher Wilson-Goldman as their candidate for the new Kāpiti electorate at this year’s general election.

“I can’t wait to share the Greens’ positive vision for Aotearoa with Kāpiti residents,” says Asher Wilson-Goldman.

“For too many people in our electorate, it’s harder now than it was three years ago to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads.”

Wilson-Goldman says the Greens have a plan to see nature thrive, and for everyone to have what they need to live a good life.

“I’ve helped lead some of the public sector’s largest pieces of work, so I understand the power of the public sector to improve lives, when we have a Government that supports them to do it.

“Locally I’ve volunteered my time helping to set up Predator Free Kāpiti Coast, sorting through donations to the Kāpiti Foodbank, and advising Council on improving walking, cycling and horse riding access for recreation and transport.

“I’m a relentless advocate for Kāpiti every chance I get, and I’d love to take my voice to Parliament to fight for better healthcare, better housing and real action on climate change.”

Wilson-Goldman says by giving your party vote to the Greens this November, you’ll be part of our movement for stronger communities and a healthy planet.

Other announced candidates for the new Kāpiti Electorate are Tim Costley (National) and Sophie Handford (Labour).

Porirua City Council says 108,000 plants will go in the ground between May and October, supported by $900,000 in funding split between the council and the Ministry for the Environment.

The streamside planting programme began in 2022 and focuses on restoring habitats and improving water quality across the harbour catchment.

Planting will take place in Horokiwi, Pāuatahanui, Taupō Swamp, eastern Porirua and Rangituhi.

Council manager of urban ecology Daniela Baggio said the work relies heavily on support from schools and volunteers.

“It’s going to be a busy winter for our Parks team and we are always looking to build on the previous years’ engagement,” Baggio said.

“Schools and communities are really committed and engaged in the programme and I’m certain we will get willing volunteers out there, often on wet days, getting their hands in the ground as we look to improve the health of the harbour.”

The council is working in partnership with Ngāti Toa and alongside Greater Wellington Regional Council, Mountains to Sea and local community groups.

Mayor Anita Baker said planting along streams and waterways played a key role in restoring the harbour.

“We know what planting is needed and we’re making a huge effort each winter to make this happen,” Baker said.

“Our ongoing commitment to catchment restoration is part of the Porirua Harbour Accord, which unites key partners to restore the ecological, cultural and environmental integrity of this precious taonga for Porirua.”

The accord, signed on February 6 last year, includes Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Porirua City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council and Wellington Water Ltd.

Council figures show the programme planted 170,200 plants in 2025 across nearly 33 hectares of land. More than 1500 students from 53 schools also took part in planting days, alongside community volunteers.

The tool, called Te Awarua – Kai Ora, was developed through a partnership between Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, ESR – now PHF Science – the Geospatial Research Institute at the University of Canterbury, Tangarine Design, Treibl Creative, and iwi members Rusleigh Parai and Donna Warren.

The project grew out of work that began after a major wastewater overflow into the harbour in 2021. The incident brought scientists and iwi together to explore better ways to understand and protect the harbour.

Using digital modelling and interactive technology, the new tool aims to help identify pressure points affecting the harbour and support ongoing restoration efforts.

Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour is a taonga to Ngāti Toa Rangatira and was traditionally a vital source of kai that sustained local communities. It was also a key reason Ngāti Toa tūpuna chose to settle in the area.

The tool is expected to support the work of the Porirua Harbour Accord, which brings councils and partners together to restore and strengthen the health of the harbour.

Students from Ngāti Toa School attended the launch, walking from their kura to Pātaka to support the event. Led by Deputy Tumuaki Jasmine Arthur, the tauira performed a waiata and haka.

Organisers said the students’ presence was a powerful reminder that protecting the harbour is ultimately about the future of the next generation.

The failure at the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant is one of the most serious infrastructure breakdowns our region has ever experienced.

Untreated wastewater entering the ocean, the closure of the south coast and the impact on businesses and the environment show what happens when critical systems are pushed beyond their limits. The priority now is straightforward: stabilise the plant, complete the repairs safely and reduce the environmental harm while that work is under way. That will take time.

There will also be an independent Government review. We need clear public answers about how a facility of this importance could fail so completely and what has to change to make sure it does not happen again.

For councils, the wider lesson is unavoidable. Across the country, essential infrastructure is reaching the end of its life at the same time as expectations around public health and environmental performance are increasing. The cost of renewing and upgrading these systems runs into the billions. No single council and its ratepayers can carry that on their own without very sharp increases or major cuts elsewhere.

That is the context for the new water services model that comes into effect next year.

At the moment, councils own the water assets and water costs are largely met through rates. Wellington Water manages the network on behalf of the region, but it does not own the infrastructure and it cannot borrow to fund the long term investment that is needed.

From July 1, 2026, the new regional organisation Tiaki Wai will own the pipes and treatment plants for the metropolitan councils. It will be publicly owned by those councils but will operate as a separate organisation focused solely on water.

It will also bill households directly for water services.

That is a significant change. Instead of water being part of your rates bill, you will receive a separate bill from the water organisation, alongside your council rates for everything else.

The reason for this approach is scale. A dedicated water entity can borrow and invest at a level councils cannot, and spread the cost of major upgrades over a longer period. That gives us a pathway to fixing the backlog rather than continuing to manage decline.

It is important to be clear about what this will and will not do. It will not solve decades of under investment overnight, and it will not remove the cost of replacing ageing infrastructure. What it does is create a structure that is capable of doing the work. The current model is not.

For Porirua households, the practical points are:

• your water services will continue as normal
• the infrastructure will remain in public ownership through the councils’ joint shareholding in the new entity
• you will receive a separate water bill rather than paying for water through rates
• the goal is a steady, planned programme of upgrades so we see fewer failures and a more resilient network over time

While water is the most visible example right now, it is not the only major infrastructure issue we are dealing with.

We are also consulting with the community on the future of Spicer Landfill. That site has served Porirua for decades, but it is reaching the end of its life and the cost of building a replacement landfill that meets modern environmental standards is extremely high.

We now have a genuine choice to make as a city: whether to move to a model where waste is transferred from Spicer to a landfill facility elsewhere in the region, or to close Spicer Landfill altogether.

Kerbside rubbish and recycling collections will continue whichever option is chosen, but the long term decision affects cost, environmental impact and how we manage waste as a growing city.

Consultation on these options opens on February 24 and runs until March 25. I encourage people to take the time to look at the information and have their say. This is a major, once in a generation decision and it needs to be shaped by the community.

Closer to home, the heavy rain event earlier this month showed the value of preparation and coordination. Council and contractor crews were out early clearing drains, monitoring known pressure points and responding quickly where issues arose. That work does not always make headlines, but it reduces disruption and keeps people safe.

All of these issues — Moa Point, water reform, the future of Spicer Landfill — are about the same thing. Infrastructure is not abstract. It is the systems that protect public health, the environment and the reliability of the services we use every day.

Our job is to be upfront about the scale of the challenge, support practical solutions and make sure Porirua’s interests are strongly represented in the decisions that are now being made.

That is where my focus will stay.

The month-long Māehe Manawa Ora Movin’March initiative, run by Greater Wellington Regional Council, encourages students in Years 0 to 8 to walk, wheel or bus to and from school throughout March.

The programme aims to build healthy travel habits early while helping reduce emissions from the daily school run.

Last year, more than 35,500 students from 134 schools across the Wellington region took part. Several Porirua schools have been regular participants, turning the journey to school into a social and active start to the day.

A nine-year-old student from Ngāti Toa School said biking with friends was the highlight.

“The best part of Movin’March is biking to school with my friends. Biking keeps me fit and healthy and gets the blood moving in the morning,” the student said.

Greater Wellington councillor Yadana Saw said while students are the face of Movin’March, teachers and school staff are central to its success.

“Movin’March is supported by Greater Wellington, but it’s teachers and school staff who really make it happen,” Saw said.

“They’re out early welcoming tamariki and helping them build skills that set them up for healthy, confident and independent travel. It’s also a great way for kids to build confidence in their neighbourhoods and how they get around.”

Greater Wellington Travel Choice team leader Hilleke Townsend said classroom challenges and learning activities are designed to spark conversation about everyday transport choices.

“Kura Kete learning resources highlight key benefits of active travel and use tools like Te Haerenga o Ngā Tamariki to anonymously record travel data and show why active travel is a positive choice,” Townsend said.

This year, classes can record trips on a wall chart and work together to win prizes including Micro scooters, MyRide bike gear and class trips to Zealandia or Staglands.

Registered schools receive posters in English, te reo Māori and Pasifika languages, along with classroom activities and prize packs filled with colouring pencils, notebooks, pens and socks.

Organisers say even small daily changes can add up to big benefits for Porirua tamariki, their whānau and the wider community.

Porirua City Council announced the closures this week following safety assessments in the Rangituhi and Spicer Park area. The closures apply to all trails intersecting Boundary Rd down to Spicer Park and will remain in place until further notice.

Affected tracks include Spicer Link, The Doctor, Crash Palace and Tumeke.

Council said recent inspections identified numerous dangerous trees and unstable branches throughout the park.

“For your safety, these tracks must remain closed while specialist teams work to remove the hazards,” the council said in a statement.

Maintenance crews are now assessing and clearing the damaged areas. The council has urged walkers, runners and mountain bikers to respect all closure signage and barriers.

Entering closed areas puts both members of the public and maintenance crews at risk, the council said.

No timeframe has yet been given for when the tracks will reopen. Updates will be provided once the area is deemed safe.

The company expects supply to be restored to affected properties by Tuesday evening, following days of challenging repair work.

At the height of the storm, 36 high voltage feeders were damaged, cutting electricity to 21,000 customers across the wider region. Numerous low voltage lines and private property connections were also hit as windblown branches and fallen trees tore through the network.

Chief executive Greg Skelton said the scale of the damage had slowed restoration efforts.

“We are sorry that work to restore power is taking longer than expected,” Skelton said.

“The extremely gusty nature of the storm appears to have made it extra damaging.”

Crews from around the country have been working non stop since winds eased enough for repairs to be carried out safely. In some cases, greater damage was discovered once trees were cleared and sites were made safe.

Wellington Electricity teams will text and call affected customers before crews arrive to confirm next steps.

Around 150 follow up jobs are expected after Tuesday, as some connections have received temporary repairs to restore supply. Permanent repairs will be completed in the coming days.

The company is reminding residents that where private electrical work is required, such as damage to a line connecting a house to the network, a certificate of compliance must be provided before power can be safely reconnected.

Skelton thanked customers for their patience as crews continue restoration work.

A report to councillors on 19 February warns Spicer Landfill is nearing the end of its life, with little prospect of securing a long-term extension. If it closes, the $4 million annual surplus will disappear, creating upward pressure on rates.

Council modelling shows most replacement options would result in a 5–8 percent rates increase, once the surplus is lost and aftercare costs are factored in.

Spicer currently accepts around 80,000 tonnes of waste a year and operates on a cost-recovery basis, generating a surplus through gate fees. That surplus helps reduce the overall rates requirement.

However, the report states there is no suitable alternative landfill site in Porirua and reconsenting the existing landfill carries high environmental and community risk.

Ngāti Toa has indicated extending Spicer is its least preferred option, and recent compliance issues, including odour complaints, have reduced confidence in securing new consent.

Council officers have recommended consulting on four main options, ranging from full closure with no replacement service to building a new refuse transfer station that would truck waste out of the district.

All options involve higher disposal costs. Rubbish bag prices could rise by about $1.50 per bag once waste is transported elsewhere.

Councillors will consult the community before making a final decision through the 2027 Long-term Plan.

Spicer is jointly owned by Porirua City Council and Wellington City Council. It is currently consented to operate until 2030.