PORURA CITY : THE STORY
The story of Porirua from times of early settlement until 2005 is an engaging and rich account. This publication traces as succinctly as possible the earliest recorded habitation up to the present day. The main milestones of development will be discussed including --the local iwi, the significance of Porirua Hospital , the impact of the Welfare State and the developments of the suburbs and the new city as we know them today.
Early Settlement
Recorded history of the area goes back to Kupe in the 10 th Century AD. He and his party were stationed on Mana Island and Porirua Harbour for many years because of their strategic locations. They explored the South Island and further up the East Coast (Drew,2003). Street names today record this association.
It is well documented that the Maori tribes of Ngati-Tara and Ngati-Ira inhabited the area until 1820 when Te Rauparaha and Tuwhare marched down the West Coast attacked and enslaved the local tribes (Lane, 1966). Meanwhile Te Rauparaha and the Ngati Toa tribe settled on the land surrounding Cook Strait including the nearby lands of Mana and Kapiti with the aim of establishing strongholds for war and trade. At the same time Porirua Harbour became a station for whalers and sealers. Ngati Toa remains the local iwI.
After the signing of the Treaty in 1840, the buying of land from Maori other than through the government was prohibited. This made the earlier sales of Wellington and Porirua illegal..Local Maori soon repudiated the sale of land at Porirua and by 1845 the English had developed barracks in Porirua primarily located for the protection of the Hutt Valley , Port Nicholson and Porirua settlers from Maori.. Agreement was finally reached over land claims with the capture of Te Rauparaha in 1847.
Ngati Toa
Ngati Toa are the Tangata Whenua of Porirua. They have lived here for the longest time and have fought for that land since the settlers set foot in New Zealand . In the 1840s many Ngati Toa fought in defence as primary occupiers of the land. In the years that followed they sold much of the land in circumstances that are now the subject of Waitangi Tribunal claims.(Stodart,2005).
While the tribunal has yet to reach a decision on the land, it is clear that Ngati Toa have established themselves as the primary residents of Porriua based on their long continuing occupation of the area. Pressure from Waikato iwi led to some Ngati Toa leaving Kawhia under the chiefs Te Peehi Kupe, Te Rauparaha and Te Rangihaeta and coming to the Kapiti and Porirua areas. Ngati Toa settled there and invited other iwi to settle within a few years.
From the 1820s to the 1850s Ngati Toa occupied at least 13 major pa or villages within the current Poriurua City boundaries. As times and lifestyles have changed there are only two villages remaining: Takapuwahia and Hongoeka. These have been around for 150 years. The two marae are not new, in fact Porirua as a city has been built around them marking the status of Ngati Toa within the city.
Ngati Toa takes responsibility for every area of the city of Porirua . Their villages and Pa were in every area of the city from Pukerua Bay to Komanga Rautahwiri to Pauatahanui and through all the places in between. The concept of being of the land is a very real one to Ngati Toa. They can name and bring back memories going back generations of what their whanau did on this land . Part of the Tribunal process is the proud public assertion by an iwi of their connection to a place they consider their homeland (Stodart, 2005)...
Migration
It is important to note in a history of Porirua the impact of migration on the city. The Pacific Island migration wave began in the 1950s and they now have several generations of residents. New migrants have come from many parts of the world. They often tell stories of misery and torture in their own countries (Africa and Asia included). They have settled here and made Porirua their home. Their contribution to the city is phenomenal and Porirua has the ability to welcome people from various culture.
The first migrants came to fulfil the need for labour. They worked in the many factories in Porirua. Pacific Island peoples were hugely self-sufficient and they built churches and education and health centres to meet their specific needs. The Pacific Island community gives Porirua a distinct identity and colour for all residents (Tiraa, 2005).
The integration of European Maori and Pacific Islanders suddenly thrust together resulted in many social problems at the time, Social comforts and amenities one would reasonably expect in a city of around 40,000 were not evident during this period.. The planning model developed in 1945 for the city had not resulted in the integrated development sought after which was to meet the economic social and cultural needs of the population. (Drew,2005).
Porirua Hospital
“ Porirua Hospital is people and this hospital is about people as society which sets up and maintains the hospital; as users of the service; and as workers in the service” (Williams, 1987).
Porirua Psychiatric Hospital has played a significant role in the development of Porirua City . Porirua as it is presently, is the direct result of the welfare state philosophy. The direct influence of the state was apparent as early as 1887 when the government purchased land for what was to become the Porirua Mental Hospital as it was known.
During the early settlement period, little attention had been paid to health. However, as early as the late 19 th century, mental illness was acknowledged as a problem of the developing world often as a result of financial hardship.
By 1905, the hospital had 700 beds and soon peaked at 1,500 patients. With a resident population of 2,000 including staff the hospital became a township in its own right. Many staff bought land and settled in Porirua. The hospital also had a major social impact on Porirua as recreational activities were centred around the institution (Walsh, 1979). Bowling and crochet clubs were formed in 1913 and the hospital association football club in 1906. This culminated in 1935 with the winning of the New Zealand premier soccer trophy.
Porirua Hospital stood in an uneasy position to society, perhaps little different to the last 100 years where the stigma of mental illness degraded those who suffered from any form of it (Williams, Hunter,1987).
…
After World War 11 Porirua became more and more an industrial city and the population growth was welcome, However, there were concerns about the perception created by the presence of the hospital detracting from residential and commercial development. These concerns were well founded since the stigma was powerful and remains to this day even though the main part of the hospital closed seventeen years ago (Drew, 2005).
State Housing
The concerns of developing in the face of the stigma acquired by Porirua because of the mental hospital were overcome. Central government favoured Porirua due to cheap land, road and rail access, drainage and water supply. The Ministry of Works (Housing Division) progressively acquired land for housing development, By 1965 they had purchased 5000 acres of land and a further 1100 acres by other government departments- 78.5% of the city was state owned. Early state housing developments included using imported labour and skill from Austria to build 500 homes in the Titahi Bay area. These homes set the standard at the time for subsequent state housing projects in New Zealand .
State housing development continued. Despite the National Government making state homes available for sale and building sections developed for state housing being sold to individuals, the greater percentage remained in state ownership. It was not until 1970 that the city witnessed a shift to private ownership as more residents moved in and purchased. By this time 47% of the city was in private ownership.
Associated with government housing projects commenced in 1945 was rapid population growth. Industries settled in Porirua and provided jobs. In 1974 Todd motors built what was to become New Zealand ’s biggest car assembly plant and remains a dominant feature in Porirua today. The term “failed social experiment” became widely accepted in the early eighties as a description of Porirua. This was a reflection of social problems resulting from rapid population growth and cultural differences.
Evident today is the dichotomy of the Porirua population. This includes those largely the product of this “failed social experiment” and the new residents attracted by lifestyle . harbour views and affluent suburban development like Whitby (Drew,2005). The division between those living predominantly in state house developed areas and the emergence of the wealthier northern suburbs is now evident across a range of social economic and cultural indicators.
Battle Hill Forest Farm
Situated to the west of the region is Battle Hill Farm Forest Park. It is well placed to extend and complement the existing regional parks and forests. Battle Hill Farm is situated on the Paekaekariki Hill road north of Paekaekariki. Formerly a long-established sheep farm, the land was acquired by Central government in 1973 as substitute land for Mirimar golf club pending an expected encroachment by Wellington airport centre. Additional land proved unnecessary and the farm continued under leasehold control until the land was bought by Wellington High Court in 1987. It continues its function as a farm but is open to the public as a park.
Battle Hill is one of the last extensive public properties remaining in the region preserving the land pattern established in the area a century ago. Its acquisition by the regional council facilitated conservation of the valley’s rural landscape and environment as well as ensuring public access to the attraction of Battle Hill Forest Park (Wellington Regional Council,. 1991).
Titahi Bay
Each village’s flavour comes from its origin and its environment. The Bay for instance has always been a seaside based community and moving into European times it was developed as a beach destination with batches and boat sheds.The same informal flavour continues there today.
Since the arrival of the first people to this land, Titahi Bay has been an attractive place for visitors and residents. Titahi Bay is a thriving close-knit multi-cultural community with a personality as colourful as its history (Fordyce & Maclehn, 2000). Before World War 11, Titahi Bay was developed as a tourist beach resort with the opening of the golf club and the building of shops around it. American troops made their presence felt during the war and they were widely appreciated by Titahi Bay residents.
Post war 1945 opened new challenges for the Bay, a chapter that was all about building. Hundreds of state houses were built in the bay at this time. Returning servicemen had to be dealt with and it was clear that the government had selected Titahi Bay as one of the new sites for the massive state housing construction scheme similar to that which was seen in the Hutt Valley .
The beach resort bounced back to its previous popularity lost during the war and the population increased accordingly..The boatsheds characteristic of the photographs of Titahi Bay were further improved and more were built in this era.
Plimmerton
Porirua as a city is made up of different villages that have grown up with their own individual stories and flavour. In fact even the name Porirua relates to is a bit of a moving target. Originally it used to refer to the region, then specifically to the point we would call Mana now and it is only in recent generations that it has been applied to this southern end of the harbour.
In contrast to the Bay, Plimmertton was formed by the railway and John Plimmer as a more organized beach resort area with hotels and shops. Today we can see the same trend with a burgeoning café culture, bed and breakfasts and a much more entrepreneurial flavour(Drew,2005).
Plmmerton sits on the historic site of the early Ngati Toa village.including Hongoeka Marae. The community has sought to enhance the identity of the village by carrying out a shopping centre study and more recently by developing a wider village strategy to set out community priorities. An industrial park is located on State Highway One at Plimmerton and affords a high profile for promotional purposes.
Porirua East
Porirua East is the gateway to the eastern suburbs. It includes the busy Mungavin Road shops Mungavin Hall and netball courts, and Trust Porirua Park . The mature trees in the area are an indication of its early residential settlement. Porirua East includes the historic Mungavin homestead, currently used as a restaurant.
In the so-called newer suburbs there is a different flavour. It might seem that Waitangirua, Ascot Park , Cannons Creek do not have much of a history driving them (Stodart, 2005). Due to the housing developments over 70 years the vibrancy of the Pacific Island communities is well established due to the fact that more than three generations of family live there and add their value and culture to the community as a whole.
Ranui Heights climbs the southern hillside of Poriura East. It includes old villas from the original development pf Porirua township. The first shopping centre ever developed was that at Mungavin Ave close to State Highway One. This served the first large blocks of land developed as state housing in Canon’s Creek. It was soon realized that Canon’s Creek was to serve a much greater population than was at first envisaged..
The shopping centre was therefore re-designed as a neighbourhood centre with the first shops appearing in 1960. They were in direct competition with the new large town of Porirua .
In 1960 Waitangirua Shopping Centre was developed. This was slow to thrive as houses were not built at the equivalent rate to the retail development. This meant that shops were lying empty.
Paremata/Postgate/Papakowhai
At the south end of Ngati Toa Reserve are the remains of of Paremata Barracks, built to house the imperial troops in one of the first battles with Maori in 1846.
Paremata has a wonderful central location placed as it is where the two arms of the harbour meet.. This meant easy access to Kai Moana as well as the forests, flax swamps and inland tracks and waterways. This grew though the old Hobson St Community making their livelihood of the sea and the railway. Even today the junction of the roads, bridges and roundabouts make Parameta the transit hub of Porirua.
Everybody passsses through Paremata!The original fishing village has gone, but fishing boats still operate from the Paremata Bridge and a commercial marina has been developed.
Paremata has developed on the hillsides sloping down to the point where Pauatahanui inlet meets Porirua Harbour .
Papakowhai is a more recent development and overlooks the north end of Porirua Harbour and includes the Aotea Block In 2002, to enable re-generation of the marine environment., a two-year temporary closure or rahui was applied in the Pukerua Bay coastal area, banning all methods of fishing including line fishing.(Miskell, 2005).
Pukerua Bay
Pukerua Bay is separated by several kilometers of State Highway One from any of the other urban areas in Porirua. The physical separation gives rise to the challenge of maintaining and developing Pukerua Bay ’s identity while still maintaining clear links and integration with the city as a whole.
Pauatahanui
Pauatahanui Village plays an important part in Porirua’s history and is situated alongside the regionally significant Pauatahanui Wetlands Reserve. The village serves a large part of the rural land in the city. It is zoned as rural and is not connected to the water supply or sewerage system
Pauatahanui has always been the access way to the forests and forest preserves of the Hinterland. Later under European settlement the forests were still used as resources sawmilling and the cleared land still provided food with farming replacing traditional birding and food gathering. And although it’s not quite the hub of activities it was in the 1880s it still retains that connection to the cities farms and rural lifestyle(Stodart, 2005).
Development of Porirua Town Centre.
The new town centre for Porirua was conceived in 1950s and 1960s. Geographically Porirua was central to the whole region: the three wings of Titahi Bay , West to East Porirua to the town of Tawa converging on Porirua township. The need for a centre was slowly realized.
The first large development was the North City Plaza which has been surpassed by a huge new influx of retail outlets housed in the new Mega Centre. The competition for business is enormous. To retain this competitiveness Porirua has to continue to develop to avoid a slump.
The Mega Centre as it is today has been on the plans since the 70s and is still being realized.. Porirua’s central Wellington regional and national location creates the potential to position the city as a centre for regional service provision and national distribution.
New planning includes the development of the Aotea block Science and Technology Park onto a high-tec knowledge based R&D centre in ICT, software and digital design.
The redevelopment of Elsdon over the next few years will attract commercial and industrial businesses, construction of purpose built buildings and an increase in employment..
Some challenges have been identified. While Porirua is ideally placed for the centre there is a lack of space for future economic development. The business rates are high and there is inadequate future planning to predict what new businesses may develop over the next five years.
There are many advantages for Porirua in its new ventures. The location is central; there is good proximity to road and rail; business is bringing new employment opportunities and Porirua is cheaper and more economical both for sale of land and in terms of other commodities. Added to this there is a vibrant and diverse population and of course Poriua is aesthetically beautiful made more so by the sun wind and harbour. What more could we want?
Conclusion
This has not aimed t0o be a comprehensive history of Porirua but it provides some of the significant landmarks already well-documented by Porirua citizens, .in the development of a popular and growing city.
The future is bright and the people of porirua will no doubt keep that light shining.
References
Battle Hill Farm Draft Management Plan Wellington Regional Council 1991
Drew,Colin (2005) Porirua Forum notes Economic Development of Porirua Town . Porirua City Council
Lane, M.S. (1968) Porirua City in the making and the urban development of Porirua Basin Unpublished masters thesis
Fordyce, Linda & Maclehn, Kirsten (2000) The Bay: A history of community at Titahi Bay Titahi Bay residents and ratepayers Association
Porirua City Council (2002) Porirua City Profile)
Stoodart, Pat (2005) Forum Proceedings My Place Our Future Porirua City Council.
Tiroa, Erena (2005) In Forum Proceedings My Place Our Future Porirua City Council
William, Wendy Hunter (1987) Out of Sight Out Of Mind Porirua Hospital