Source: Porirua City Council
Porirua’s status as a welcoming and inclusive place has received yet another boost.
The city received official accreditation from central government in 2024 as a Committed Welcoming Community, and the Council then co-created a Welcoming Plan with mana whenua Ngāti Toa, local groups and city officials, designed with Porirua’s diverse communities in mind.
Shared decision-making, wānanga, and workshops ensured that iwi aspirations and community voices formed the foundation of the plan.
Following a comprehensive application based on the Welcoming Communities Standard, which provides councils with a clear benchmark for inclusion, focusing on eight core elements necessary for creating a thriving and welcoming environment, an assessment panel confirmed last week that the Council had successfully met the requirements to achieve Stage 2 “Established” Welcoming Community status. This opens up additional funding for the initiatives included in the plan.
The last Census showed that our city is home to more than 100 different ethnicities, Mayor Anita Baker says, so a further step in official accreditation is great news.
“It shows we’re committed to ensuring Porirua is a safe, welcoming and exciting place to live,” she says.
“The first stage was about a commitment, a promise. But Stage 2 proves the Welcoming Plan isn’t just on paper, but actively working across our city, generating positive community outcomes in things like economic development, culture and identity, and accessibility to Council.
“Some of this is highlighted in initiatives and events, like the wonderful Lunar New Year celebrations we held at Aotea Lagoon in February, and Welcoming Week, last September, where people had the opportunity to connect, support and learn from each other.”
Porirua City joined the Welcoming Communities programme in January 2023. It is one of 35 councils and five local boards in Aotearoa that participate in the programme.
The programme is led by Immigration New Zealand, in partnership with the Ministry for Ethnic Communities and the Human Rights Commission, and is part of the International Welcoming Network.