Source: Porirua City Council
Porirua’s commitment to business has meant a busy schedule of activities and events this year.
While the sold-out BizFest 2025: Kōpū i te pae – Light up the Horizon will be a great opportunity to learn, network and connect, there are a number of other events in Porirua to help boost businesses.
BizFest is at Te Rauparaha Arena on 1 July, with double Olympic gold winner, Dame Valerie Adams, and Black Grace founder and director Neil Ieremia among the speakers.
With an awesome lineup of sessions and kōrero, Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says it will be a fantastic day for the city’s business sector.
“Porirua is a great place to do business and with the events we have on the calendar now, it means our city is humming. We’re always looking to keep moving forward,” she says.
A new pop-up initiative – BizHub – will kick off at Kai Tahi from 1 August. BizHub aims to keep the momentum from BizFest going and bring the business community together every second Friday, as a hub for advice, connections and support.
“BizFest and BizHub are both collaborations between Porirua City Council and Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and it’s a partnership approach that’s focusing on uplifting and connecting Porirua businesses,” Mayor Baker says.
Earlier this month the Love Local Expo showcased the best of our local products, services, crafts and community services – with more than 130 stalls and thousands of people coming through the Arena on 7 June.
Other events coming up on the calendar are Visa Wellington on a Plate and the ever-popular ChoctoberFest.
Visa WOAP will be held from 1-31 August in Porirua and there’ll be outstanding burger creations to tempt your tastebuds from businesses across Porirua. It’s not to be missed.
ChoctoberFest is always a sweet spot with Porirua locals, visitors and businesses. In 2024, the third year of the festival, 20 cafes, eateries and bars took part. More than 13,000 baked treats and drinks were consumed in October, pumping $131,000 into the Porirua economy.
“What I love about the events that we host now for businesses is that they’re not just for residents, but they attract visitors to our city,” Mayor Baker says.
Also coming up is a three-day Bizezi Spark Programme on 30 and 31 July and 1 August. It’s a hands-on business incubator programme, for those thinking about starting a business or wanting to build stronger foundations. You’ll work with experts over three days to shape your business plan and set yourself up for success.
Later in the month, on 20 August, there’s a subsidised half-day workshop Business Growth and Resilience through the Circular Economy, where you can learn how the circular economy can unlock new revenue streams, reduce costs, and future-proof your business.
