Source: Porirua City Council
A new online dashboard is now live, providing a window into collective efforts to restore the health of Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour.
The Riparian Management Programme, a five-year initiative that began in 2021, aims to plant 630,000 native plants to restore the streamside and prevent erosion within the Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour catchment. It’s a joint commitment by Porirua City Council and the Ministry for the Environment, in partnership with Ngāti Toa Rangatira, councils, landowners and community.
Porirua City Parks Manager Julian Emeny says the dashboard helps tell the story of the mahi taking place across the harbour catchment.
“This is about more than planting trees,” says Julian. “We’re restoring the mauri of our streams and harbour – improving water quality, stabilising erosion-prone land, and creating habitats where native wildlife can thrive. The dashboard lets people see this progress almost in real time.”
Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour has endured decades of environmental degradation – from urban development and intensified land use to increased runoff and pollution. But change is underway.
Key strategies in the riparian programme include replanting with native species, targeted weed control, and, with the help of Greater Wellington Regional Council, fencing off waterways from livestock. These actions help reduce sediment and nutrients entering the harbour, protecting its social, cultural and ecological values for future generations.
The new dashboard uses ArcGIS mapping to display planting progress across the harbour’s sub-catchments. It shows updates on plant numbers, fencing lengths, and restoration areas -making the scale of work visible and transparent to all.
This work is part of Porirua City’s broader restoration programme, and a commitment to Te Wai Ora o Parirua – The Porirua Harbour Accord. This project also engages schools and supports volunteers in improving the health of our harbour for future generations.
