Editing Porirua

{{Short description|City in the North Island of New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Porirua
| other_name         = ''Pari-ā-Rua''
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in New Zealand|City]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
|border                  = infobox
|total_width             = 300
|perrow                  = 1/2/2
|image1                  = Porirua, New Zealand.jpg
|image2                  = Porirua, Pauatahanui, Paremata and Titahi Bay, New Zealand 6 July 2005 - Flickr - PhillipC.jpg
|image3                  = Karehana Bay at Sunset.jpg
}}
| image_caption      = Top: Panoramic view of Porirua from [[Tītahi Bay]] to [[Ranui Heights]]. Bottom: Aerial view of Porirua Town Centre and [[Karehana Bay]] at sunset
| image_flag         = File:Porirua flag.svg
| image_shield       = File:Porirua coat of arms.png
| shield_size        =
| motto              = [[Māori language|Māori]]: ''Mo Te Katoa Nga mahi''<br />[[English language|English]]:''All That is Done is For the Benefit of All''<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160201192401/http://www.pcc.govt.nz/%2fAbout-Porirua%2fPorirua-s-heritage%2fPorirua-s-natural--cultural-and-historic-heritage%2fCivic-History%2fCoat-of-Arms Porirua City Council, 'Coat of Arms' (Archived)</ref>
| image_map          = Porirua City within Wellington Region.png
| coordinates        = {{Coord|41|08|S|174|51|E|region:NZ_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = New Zealand
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of New Zealand|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Wellington Region|Wellington]]
| subdivision_type2  = Wards
| subdivision_name2  = {{hlist|Pāuatahanui|Onepoto|Parirua ([[Māori wards and constituencies|Māori]])}}<ref name="wards">{{cite web |title=Wards Maps and Boundaries |url=https://poriruacity.govt.nz/your-council/mayor-councillors/elections/2022-local-government-elections/wards-maps-and-boundaries/ |website=poriruacity.govt.nz |access-date=8 August 2022 |language=en-nz}}</ref>
| seat_type          = [[New Zealand electorates|Electorates]]
| seat               = [[Mana (New Zealand electorate)|Mana]] (general)<br /> [[Te Tai Hauāuru]] ([[Māori electorates|Māori]])
| government_type    = City council
| leader_title       = [[Mayor of Porirua|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Anita Baker (New Zealand politician)|Anita Baker]]
| leader_title1      = Deputy mayor
| leader_name1       = Kylie Wihapi
| leader_title2      = [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand|Territorial authority]]
| leader_name2       = [[Porirua City Council]]
| leader_title3      = MPs
| leader_name3       = {{Plainlist|
* {{NZ officeholder data|Mana MP|y}} ([[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]])
* {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Hauāuru MP|y}} ([[Te Pāti Māori]])}}
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="Area"/>
| total_type         = Territorial <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| area_total_km2     = 174.80
| area_urban_km2     = 61.19
| area_rural_km2     = 113.82
| population_footnotes = <ref name="NZ_population_data_2018"/>
| population_as_of   = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}
| population_total   = {{NZ population data 2018| Porirua city|y}}
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = {{NZ population data 2018| Porirua|y}}
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_note    =
| website            = {{Official URL}}
}}
'''Porirua''', ({{langx|mi|Pari-ā-Rua}}) a [[list of cities in New Zealand|city]] in the [[Wellington Region]] of the [[North Island]] of New Zealand, is one of the four cities that constitute the [[Wellington#Wellington metropolitan area|Wellington metropolitan area]]. The name 'Porirua' is a corruption of 'Pari-rua', meaning "the tide sweeping up both reaches".<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Porirua|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/wellington-places/page-13|access-date=2021-09-16|website=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]|publisher=[[New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage]]|language=en}}</ref> It almost completely surrounds [[Porirua Harbour]] at the southern end of the [[Kāpiti Coast]]. As of 2023, Porirua has a population of 62,400 people,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regional Economic Profile {{!}} Porirua City {{!}} Population growth |url=https://rep.infometrics.co.nz/porirua-city/population/growth |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=rep.infometrics.co.nz}}</ref>
and is a diverse city with 26.5% of the population identifying as [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]   and 23.0% of the population identifying as [[Māori people|Māori]].

==Name==
The name "Porirua" has a [[Māori language|Māori]] origin: it may represent a variant of ''pari-rua'' ("two tides"), a reference to the two arms of the Porirua Harbour. In the 19th century, the name designated a land-registration district that stretched from [[Kaiwharawhara]] (or Kaiwara) on the north-west shore of [[Wellington Harbour]] northwards to and around Porirua Harbour.

The road climbing the hill from [[Kaiwharawhara]] towards [[Ngaio, New Zealand|Ngaio]], [[Khandallah]], [[Johnsonville, New Zealand|Johnsonville]] and [[Tawa, New Zealand|Tawa]] still bears the name "[[Old Porirua Road]]".

==History==
Tradition holds that, prior to habitation, [[Kupe]] was the first visitor to the area, and that he bestowed names of significant sites such as Te Mana o Kupe ki Aotearoa ([[Mana Island (New Zealand)|Mana Island]]). In addition, it is said that Kupe left his anchor stone, Te Punga o Matahouroa at [[Whitireia Park|Whitireia]], which is now held at [[Te Papa Tongarewa]].<ref>Chantal Mawer, ''Historical Snapshot of Porirua'', https://www.idcities.co.nz/resources/Porirua%20Historical%20Snapshot.pdf</ref>

There is evidence of human habitation in Porirua since 1450 at the latest, during the "moa hunter" period of [[Māori history]]. The forests, sea, estuaries and swamps provided abundant food and materials.<ref>{{cite book |last=Stodart |first=Pat |date=1993 |title=Paremata Point |series=Porirua Museum History Series |volume=7 |url=https://porirua.spydus.co.nz/api/open/1.0/digitalassets/42498959/download |publisher=Porirua Museum |pages=2–3 |isbn=095978084X}}</ref> The Porirua area came to be occupied by a succession of tribes, including [[Ngāti Tara]] and [[Ngāti Ira (Wellington)|Ngāti Ira]].

[[Ngāti Toa]] people migrated south from [[Kawhia Harbour|Kawhia]], and took control of the Porirua coast in the 1820s.<ref>Chris Maclean. 'Wellington places - Mana – Paremata to Pukerua Bay', Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 22-Aug-12, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/wellington-places/14</ref> By the 1840s they had established 12 [[pā]], with [[Takapūwāhia]] and [[Hongoeka]] still occupied by [[marae]] today.<ref name=painporirua>Pat Stodart, "Pā in Porirua: social settlements", ''Tuhinga'' 26: 1–19, https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/sites/default/files/tuhinga.26.2015.pt1_.p1-19.stodart.lowres.pdf</ref>

From the late 1830s, European settlers began to express interest in the Porirua region, culminating in the controversial sale of most of the region in 1847. In 1839, the [[New Zealand Company]] signed an agreement with Ngāti Toa from which it claimed to have acquired the entire southern part of the North Island. Following the signing of the [[Treaty of Waitangi]], an inquiry by Land Claims Commissioner William Spain found that most of the alleged purchase, including Porirua, was invalid. However, rising tensions with European settlers led to Ngāti Toa chief [[Te Rauparaha]] being captured by 200 British troops and police in July 1846. Shortly afterwards, the [[Hutt Valley campaign]] led to chief [[Te Rangihaeata]]'s retreat to [[Poroutawhao]] in the [[Horowhenua District|Horowhenua]]. In April 1847, eight remaining chiefs, including Tamihana Te Rauparaha, Matene Te Whiwhi and Rawiri Puaha, signed a deed for the sale of 69,000 acres for £2,000, comprising almost the entire area from [[Mākara]] in the south to [[Paekākāriki]] in the north. Three reserves totalling 10,000 acres were left aside for Ngāti Toa. Ngāti Toa hold that the deed was coerced by the holding of Te Rauparaha and that the chiefs signing sought his release.<ref name=ngatitoadeed>{{cite web |url= https://www.ngatitoa.iwi.nz/sitecontent/images/Folders/General/Ngati-Toa-Rangatira-and-Toa-Rangatira-Trust-and-The-Crow.pdf |title=Deed of Settlement between Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Toa Rangatira Trust and the Crown |date=2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180127045010/https://www.ngatitoa.iwi.nz/sitecontent/images/Folders/General/Ngati-Toa-Rangatira-and-Toa-Rangatira-Trust-and-The-Crow.pdf |archive-date=27 January 2018}}</ref>

In the 19th century, a small European settlement grew up, partly because of the need for a ferry across the harbour.

The 1880s and 1890s saw the establishment of the [[Porirua Lunatic Asylum]] on the hill south-west of Porirua village.  Following the Mental Defectives Act of 1911, the Asylum became Porirua Mental Hospital.

In the late 1940s [[State Planning in Porirua (1940-1970)|state planning]] envisaged Porirua becoming a satellite city of Wellington with [[State housing in New Zealand|state housing]]. This required improved rail and road links with Wellington and rail and road development has contributed much to the growth of the Porirua area by reducing travel times, making it possible to live in the Porirua area and work in Wellington, and by making day-trips from Wellington to the beaches at [[Paremata]], and [[Plimmerton]] relatively easy.

Since the 1940s, Porirua has grown to a city population approaching 57,000, with state housing no longer in the majority. Major territorial additions to the city occurred in 1973 and 1988 as part of the reduction and eventual abolition of [[Hutt County]].

On 7 June 1976, New Zealand's first [[McDonald's]] restaurant opened in Porirua, on the corner of Cobham Court and Hagley Street. The original restaurant closed on 24 April 2009, and the store relocated to Kenepuru Drive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.energyintellect.com/html/case_mcdonalds.html|title=Case Study – McDonalds|access-date=26 November 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071124001917/http://www.energyintellect.com/html/case_mcdonalds.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 24 November 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.franchise.co.nz/article/view/50|title=McDonald's – The Myth & The Magic|author=Simon Lord|access-date=26 November 2007}}</ref>

===Industry===
Substantial industrial areas, generally west of the city centre, have evolved. During the 1960s [[Kodak]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cyleow.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/kodak-moment-at-porirua.html |title=Man Behind Lens: "Kodak Moment" At Porirua! |publisher=Cyleow.blogspot.com.au |date=2012-03-27 |access-date=2020-01-19}}</ref> UEB Industries and many small businesses opened at Elsdon. During the following decade, Ashley Wallpapers developed the former UEB property and after favourable negotiations with the government, [[Todd Corporation|Todd Motors]] (later Mitsubishi) moved from Petone to Porirua.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pcc.govt.nz/About-Porirua/Porirua-s-heritage/Porirua-s-suburbs/Porirua-City-Centre--Elsdon-and-Takapuwahia/Historic-site--Todd-Park |title=Historic site: Todd Park |access-date=14 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223131640/http://www.pcc.govt.nz/About-Porirua/Porirua-s-heritage/Porirua-s-suburbs/Porirua-City-Centre--Elsdon-and-Takapuwahia/Historic-site--Todd-Park |archive-date=23 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Todd Motors was a vehicle assembly company which moved from Petone and opened a large factory in Porirua in 1975.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://toddcorporation.com/history/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=Todd Corporation |language=en-NZ}}</ref> The factory covered {{convert|5.2|hectare|acre|}} on a {{convert|33|hectare|acre|adj=on}} site known as Todd Park.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Catherine |date=17 August 2015 |title=Syndicate poised to buy Porirua's Todd Park |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/71186847/syndicate-poised-to-buy-poriruas-todd-park |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref> At its peak there were 1500 employees building 22,000 vehicles per year. The company was sold to Mitsubishi in 1987 and the factory closed in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Penman |first=Neil |last2=Taonga |first2=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu |title=Todd Park |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/22843/todd-park |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=teara.govt.nz |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taonga |first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu |title=Demise of the car-assembly and component industries |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/cars-and-the-motor-industry/page-4 |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=teara.govt.nz |language=en}}</ref>

Hills Hats (established in 1875) set up premises in Porirua in the 1950s. By 1996 it employed 80 people at Porirua and was exporting 75% of its production to 23 countries. The company was sold to overseas investors in 1997,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barlow |first=Jude |date=1 May 1997 |title=Overseas investor buys Hills Hats |edition=3rd |page=11 |work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]] |access-date= <!-- |via=Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream -->}}</ref> then went into receivership and was bought by Wellington investors in 1998.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 Apr 1998 |title=Hat firm sold |page=19 |work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]] <!-- |via=Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream -->}}</ref> In 2003, the company shifted from Porirua to Petone.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mathew |first=Loh Ho-Sang |date=14 July 2003 |title=Hills Hats heading in new direction |edition=2nd |page=C1 |work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]] |via=Australia & New Zealand Newsstream}}</ref>

Bonds Hosiery (later Hilton Bonds, then Sara Lee Apparel, part of Pacific Dunlop) was established in Porirua in the 1960s or early 1970s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shaw |first=Bob |date=18 August 1998 |title=Hosiery maker moves to SupaCentre |page=13 |work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]] <!-- |via=Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream -->}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tyler |first=Fran |date=16 May 2001 |title=Fashion change blamed for closure |page=3 |work=Dominion <!-- |via=Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream -->}}</ref> In 2001, the factory closed with the loss of 55 jobs, the result of declining hosiery sales worldwide.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oldham |first=Stu |date=15 May 2001 |title=Thirty jobs to be cut at Jockey plant |page=7 |work=[[The Press]] <!-- |via=Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream -->}}</ref>

[[Whittaker's]] confectionery manufacturers moved their business from Wellington to Porirua in 1969 and as of 2022, have around 160 employees at the Porirua factory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business profile – Whittaker's |url=https://poriruacity.govt.nz/business/business-profiles/whittakers-poriruas-pioneers/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=poriruacity.govt.nz |language=en-nz}}</ref>

===Rail===
The development of the rail through Porirua, part of the [[Kapiti Line]], has contributed significantly to the development of Porirua as a satellite city of Wellington. The [[Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company]] opened a railway line through [[Johnsonville, New Zealand|Johnsonville]] from Wellington to Porirua in 1885. The railway reached [[Longburn]] (south of Palmerston North) in 1886 to connect with the government's lines to Taranaki and Napier. With the acquisition of the company by the government in 1908, the line to Porirua and northward to Longburn became part of the [[North Island Main Trunk]] railway. The railway provided regular passenger services between Wellington and Porirua and linked Porirua to other North Island centres. A shunting service from Wellington delivered goods wagons to sidings at Porirua, Paremata, Plimmerton, and Pukerua Bay and brought timber for the construction of houses in the area.

The [[Tawa Flat deviation|Tawa Flat railway deviation]] providing [[double-track railway]] with [[double line automatic signalling]] as far as [[Tawa, New Zealand|Tawa]] opened to passenger services on 19 June 1937, reducing travel time for passenger trains from Wellington to Porirua by 15 minutes, to 27 minutes rather than 43 to 48 minutes.<ref>Murray, Bruce (2014). ''A History of Tawa''. Wellington: Tawa Historical Society. {{ISBN|978-0-473-25848-1}}.</ref><ref name= M&P>Murray, Bruce; Parsons, David (2008). ''Rails through the Valley: The story of the construction and use of the railway lines through Tawa''. Wellington: Tawa Historical Society. {{ISBN|978-0-473-14410-4}}.</ref>

During 1940, [[Centralized traffic control|Centralised Train Control]] (CTC), which allowed direct control of signals and train movements by Train Control in Wellington, was progressively installed on the single line sections of track north of Tawa, replacing [[Tyer's Electric Train Tablet|tablet working]] and allowing more efficient, flexible, and rapid control of train movements. CTC between Plimmerton and Paekākāriki applied from 25 February 1940, Paremata to Plimmerton from 30 June, and Tawa to Porirua from 4 December 1940.<ref>Heine, Richard W. (2000). ''Semaphore to CTC: Signalling and train working in New Zealand, 1863–1993''. Wellington: New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society. {{ISBN|0-908573-76-6}}.</ref>

On 24 July 1940, the line through Porirua, from Wellington to Paekākāriki, was electrified, and double track completed from Plimmerton to South Junction, just north of Muri railway station. Electrification allowed the introduction of electric [[NZR ED class|ED class]] locomotives, first introduced in 1938 for use on this line, to haul passenger and goods trains. Electric locomotives eliminated the smoke nuisance in the tunnels on the line and allowed longer trains to run. [[NZR DM class|DM/D]] [[electric multiple unit]]s first ran to Porirua on 5 September 1949 and replaced the majority of locomotive-hauled passenger trains and allowed a more frequent and faster train service.<ref name= M&P /> The duplication of the line from Plimmerton to South Junction allowed a more frequent train service between Porirua and Paekākāriki.

Duplication of the track from Tawa to Porirua station opened on 15 December 1957. This completed double line automatic signalling from Wellington distant junction, just south of [[Kaiwharawhara railway station|Kaiwharawhara]], to Porirua, and eliminated CTC between Tawa and Porirua. This work and the provision of additional signals between Kaiwharawhara and Tawa, allowed close following of trains and more frequent and faster train services between Wellington and Porirua. During peak periods, many multiple unit trains were now terminated at Porirua and returned to Wellington to provide a more frequent service between Wellington and Porirua than was provided for stations north of Porirua.

Extension of the double track and automatic signalling continued with the Porirua to Mana section opened on 7 November 1960. The work involved harbour reclamation to construct a straight tack from Porirua to [[Papakōwhai]], just south of Paremata, eliminating the tight curves as the former railway followed the coastline, and creating three lagoons on the eastern side of the harbour. The central lagoon, now known as [[Aotea Lagoon]], remains but is reduced in size. From Paremata to Mana, the track was realigned to the West of the original track and a new double-track bridge was built across the entrance to the Pauatahanui Inlet. The original single-track railway bridge, built in 1885, was removed to allow room for the construction of a second road bridge in 2004.<ref name = bridges>{{cite news |first= Andrea |last= O'Neil|title= Paremata Bridge opens the Porirua coast to beach lovers – 150 years of news |date= 11 August 2015|publisher=Stuff |access-date= 1 January 2019 | url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/70998726/null}}</ref> The railway stations at Porirua, Paremata, and Dolly Varden were replaced with new stations, with Dolly Varden station renamed Mana.

Mana to Plimmerton double track and automatic signalling were completed on 16 October 1961, completing the double track and automatic signalling from Wellington to South Junction, and allowing more frequent train services north of Porirua station. Crossovers at Plimmerton allowed some trains to terminate at Plimmerton and return to Wellington during peak periods.

By 2016, the introduction of electric multiple units with more rapid acceleration, [[New Zealand EM class electric multiple unit|EM/ET]] class from 1982 and [[NZR FP class|Matangi FP]] class from 2010, had reduced rail travel time for stopping trains between Wellington and Porirua by another 6 minutes to 21 minutes, despite extra stops at Redwood, Linden, and Kenepuru which each add 48 seconds to the travel time. For non-stopping trains, the time had reduced to 17 minutes. Off-peak passenger services between Wellington and Porirua stations ran every thirty minutes, with more frequent services during peak periods and a less frequent during the night.<ref>metlink ''Kapity Train Line'' timetable effective from 20 January 2016</ref> From 15 July 2018, off-peak day services were increased to one every twenty minutes.<ref>metlink ''Kapity Train Line'' timetable effective from 15 July 2018</ref>

===Road===
Wellington and Porirua are linked by the [[Johnsonville–Porirua Motorway]], part of [[State Highway 59 (New Zealand)|State Highway 59]] within Porirua and [[State Highway 1 (New Zealand)|State Highway 1]] beyond Porirua. Road improvements have progressively reduced travel times between Wellington and Porirua and increased the demand for housing development in Porirua. In 1940, the Centennial Highway developments saw the opening of a four-lane high-speed highway in [[Ngauranga Gorge]] bypassing the slower routes through Ngaio and Khandallah. During the 1950s, the high-speed [[Johnsonville–Porirua Motorway]] was built through Tawa on the eastern side of the valley. The first section from Johnsonville to the Tawa turnoff at Takapu Road at the southern entrance to Tawa opened on 15 December 1951, broadly following the line of the old North Island Main Trunk railway.<ref name="Cassells">{{cite book |author= Cassells, K. R. |title= Tawa – Enterprise and Endeavour |year=1988|publisher=Tawa Borough Council |page= 65 }}</ref> It reduced road travel times and considerably improved access between Wellington and Porirua by eliminating the need to use the narrow, winding road through the bottom of the Tawa valley in the Glenside area. The second section, from Takapu Road to Porirua, opened about 1956 and allowed through traffic to bypass the lower speed road through Tawa. The Johnsonville bypass connecting the south end of the motorway to the top of Ngauranga Gorge opened about 1958, completing the four-lane road link between Wellington and Porirua.

On 3 October 1936, a road bridge was opened across the entrance to the Pauatahanui Inlet connecting Paremata to Dolly Varden, known as Mana from 1960, eliminating a 22-kilometre journey around Pauatahanui Inlet to Plimmerton. The bridge became part of SH 1 when centennial highway developments saw the completion of a highway from Pukerua Bay to Paekākāriki. A second bridge was built in 2004 allowing two lanes of traffic in each direction.<ref name = bridges />

In the late 1960s, reclamation work began to the east of the 1960 rail reclamation from Porirua to Paremata, allowing the construction of a four-lane expressway alongside the railway. The expressway opened in the early 1970s, with room allowed for a future interchange at Whitford Brown Avenue. The reclamation work largely eliminated the north and south lagoons created by the rail reclamation on the east side of the harbour and reduced the size of the central lagoon, known as Aotea Lagoon. An intersection between SH 1 and Mungavin Avenue remained at Porirua until 1989 when the intersection was replaced with a grade-separated roundabout interchange with State Highway 1 passing under the interchange.

The [[Transmission Gully Motorway]] was constructed between 2014 and 2021, providing an eastern bypass of Porirua.  On 7 December 2021, shortly before its opening, SH 1 was shifted to the Transmission Gully Motorway and the former SH 1 route through Porirua was renumbered SH 59.<ref name="State Highway 59 switch confirmed for December">{{cite press release |url= https://www.nzta.govt.nz/media-releases/state-highway-59-switch-confirmed-for-december/ |title= State Highway 59 switch confirmed for December |publisher=New Zealand Transport Agency |date=18 November 2021 |access-date=18 November 2021}}</ref>

==Demographics==
Porirua City covers {{Convert|174.80|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=25 April 2024|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Porirua city|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Porirua city|y}}|R}}/174.80|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|48,546|2013|51,717|2018|56,559|2023|59,445|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for the territorial area|source=<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Porirua City (044)|porirua-city|Porirua City}}</ref><ref name="Census 2023"/>}}
Porirua City had a population of 59,445 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 2,886 people (5.1%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 7,728 people (14.9%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 29,052 males, 30,183 females and 210 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 19,134 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.044%2Bw_04401%2Bw_04402.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 3.1% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 35.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 13,128 people (22.1%) aged under 15 years, 11,352 (19.1%) aged 15 to 29, 27,252 (45.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 7,710 (13.0%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+ Largest groups of overseas-born residents<ref name="NZdotstat2">{{cite web |title=Birthplace (detailed), for the census usually resident population count, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (RC, TA, SA2, DHB) |url=https://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE8279 |access-date= |publisher=Statistics New Zealand}}</ref>
|-
!Nationality
!Population (2018)
|-
|Samoa
|2,673
|-
|England
|2,514
|-
|South Africa
|870
|-
|Australia
|783
|-
|India
|627
|-
|Fiji
|546
|-
|China
|492
|-
|Philippines
|378
|-
|Scotland
|288
|-
|United States
|249
|}
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 60.1% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 23.0% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 26.5% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 11.5% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 1.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 94.9%, Māori language by 5.8%, Samoan by 8.8% and other languages by 14.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.5% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 25.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 38.6% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 2.0% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 1.4% [[Islam in New Zealand|Islam]], 1.1% [[Māori religious beliefs]], 1.2% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 0.3% [[New Age]], 0.1% [[Judaism in New Zealand|Jewish]],  and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 47.4%, and 6.9% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 9,192 (19.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 23,664 (51.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 10,509 (22.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $47,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 7,842 people (16.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 25,401 (54.8%) people were employed full-time, 5,652 (12.2%) were part-time, and 1,689 (3.6%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.044.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Porirua City (044)}}</ref>
[[File:2023 NZ Census Population Density - Porirua City.png|thumb|Population density in the 2023 census]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Individual wards
|-
!Name !! Area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>) !! Population !! Density<br />(per km<sup>2</sup>) || Dwellings !! Median age !! Median<br />income
|-
| Pāuatahanui General Ward || style="text-align:right;"|133.45 || style="text-align:right;"|24,000 || style="text-align:right;"|180 || style="text-align:right;"|8,469 || 40.5 years || $60,800<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.w_04401.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Pāuatahanui General Ward}}</ref>
|-
| Onepoto General Ward || style="text-align:right;"|41.35 || style="text-align:right;"|35,445 || style="text-align:right;"|857 || style="text-align:right;"|10,662 || 33.2 years || $39,200<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.w_04402.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Onepoto General Ward}}</ref>
|-
! New Zealand !! !! !! !! !! 38.1 years !! style="text-align:left;"| $41,500
|}

===Urban area===
Porirua's urban area covers {{Convert|61.19|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area"/> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Porirua|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Porirua|y}}|R}}/61.19|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.
{{Historical populations|2013|50,418|2018|55,218|2023|58,080|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for the urban area|source=<ref name="Census 2023 UA"/>}}
The urban area had a population of 58,080 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 2,862 people (5.2%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 7,662 people (15.2%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 28,353 males, 29,517 females and 204 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 18,663 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.1394.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 3.1% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 35.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 12,891 people (22.2%) aged under 15 years, 11,136 (19.2%) aged 15 to 29, 26,565 (45.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 7,491 (12.9%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023 UA"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 59.3% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 23.3% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 27.1% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 11.7% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 1.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 94.9%, Māori language by 5.9%, Samoan by 9.0% and other languages by 14.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.5% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 26.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 38.9% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 2.1% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 1.4% [[Islam in New Zealand|Islam]], 1.1% [[Māori religious beliefs]], 1.2% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 0.3% [[New Age]], 0.1% [[Judaism in New Zealand|Jewish]],  and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 47.0%, and 6.9% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 8,946 (19.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 23,064 (51.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 10,356 (22.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 7,491 people (16.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 24,753 (54.8%) people were employed full-time, 5,475 (12.1%) were part-time, and 1,668 (3.7%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023 UA">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.1394.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Porirua (1394)}}</ref>

==Local government==

The city is administered by [[Porirua City Council]]. The wider [[Wellington Region]] is administered by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

When New Zealand became a separate Colony from [[New South Wales]] in 1841, the royal charter established three [[Provinces of New Zealand|provinces]]. The Porirua area became part of [[New Munster Province|New Munster]] which included that part of the North Island south of the Patea River and the whole of the South Island. The British Parliament passed the first constitution act, the [[New Zealand Constitution Act 1846]], which reformed the provinces and the Porirua area became part of [[New Ulster Province|New Ulster]] which now included all of the North Island. The provinces were reformed again when the [[New Zealand Constitution Act 1852]] established six provinces, with Porirua included in the Wellington Province. In 1876, the provincial government was abolished and replaced with 36 borough councils and 63 county councils and the Porirua area became the Porirua Riding of the [[Hutt County]], formed in 1877. The Hutt County covered all the area south of the [[Waikanae River]] and West of the [[Remutaka Range]]s that lay outside of Wellington City. As the population of local areas grew, a number of local boroughs were split off from the [[Hutt County]]. In 1908, a smaller Makara County with offices in Porirua was formed from the Mākara and Porirua Ridings or the south-western part of the Hutt County. The new Makara County included Porirua, [[Tītahi Bay]], Tawa Flat, and all of the area to the south lying to the west of Wellington City and outside the areas covered by Wellington City and the new and independent boroughs of Miramar, Karori, Onslow, and Johnsonville.<ref>The break-up of Hutt County [http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/13369/the-break-up-of-hutt-county ''Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand''. Retrieved 22 August 2016]</ref>

In 1939, northern Tawa valley residents seeking a separate name for the northern part of the [[Tawa, New Zealand|Tawa]] district met and chose "[[Linden, New Zealand|Linden]]", from "Linden Vale", the name of the home of Mr Stuart Duncan and the name "Linden" was adopted in 1940. In 1948, the Tawa Flat and Linden Progressive Associations and Porirua interests, led by [[Arthur Carman]] and [[Percy Clark]], made a representation to the Local Government Commission asking for a single borough covering the whole of the Porirua Basin.<ref name = "Carman">{{cite book |author= Carman, A. H. |author-link=Arthur Carman|title= Tawa Flat and the Old Porirua Road |year=1956|publisher=Wright and Carman |page= 235 }}</ref><ref name="Cassells"/> The Commission did not accept this proposal but responded by giving the Tawa Flat-Linden area the status of a Town District, with the first Tawa Flat Town Board elected on 16 May 1951. With continued urbanisation and population growth in the Tawa valley, the population reached 3,900 in 1953 and the upgrade of the Town District to a borough was approved in October 1953.<ref name="Cassells" />

Rapid urbanisation and population growth was now occurring in the Porirua Basin with the development of state housing in Tītahi Bay, Elsdon, and to the East of State Highway 59, and in 1961 the first municipality to have "Porirua" in its name, the Borough of Porirua, was formed when Makara County was abolished, with the mostly rural western part becoming the Makara Ward of [[Hutt County]] and the rapidly growing eastern urban portion (including Tītahi Bay) becoming the Borough of Porirua. Four years later, the population was officially estimated at over the 20,000 threshold then necessary for Porirua to be declared a city.

On 1 April 1973, large areas to the north-east (and a few elsewhere) were transferred to the city from Hutt County by popular vote. [[Mana Island, New Zealand|Mana Island]] was added to the city at the same time. In 1988, a further addition was the [[Horokiri]] riding of the about-to-be-abolished county, containing most of the new Whitby suburb and substantial rural areas.

The city and its council have remained (with changes of personnel and ward boundaries) into the 21st century, despite proposals to change the name to "Mana" and several small movements for amalgamation with Wellington.

==Civic symbols==
===Coat of arms===
{{Emblem table
| name = Porirua
| image = File:Porirua CoA shield+crest.svg
| imagesize =
| notes = On 1 December 1965, Porirua City was granted a [[Achievement (heraldry)|Coat of Arms]]. The [[Blazon]] is:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcc.govt.nz/%2fAbout-Porirua%2fPorirua-s-heritage%2fPorirua-s-natural--cultural-and-historic-heritage%2fCivic-History%2fCoat-of-Arms |title= Coat of Arms (Archived) |publisher=[[Porirua City Council]] |access-date= 12 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201192401/http://www.pcc.govt.nz/%2fAbout-Porirua%2fPorirua-s-heritage%2fPorirua-s-natural--cultural-and-historic-heritage%2fCivic-History%2fCoat-of-Arms |archive-date=1 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| year_adopted =
| coronet =
| crest = On a Wreath of the Colours in front of a [[Lymphad]] proper Sail set Pennon flying [[Gules]] Flags flying [[Azure (heraldry)|Azure]] a [[Whale]] proper.
| torse =
| helm =
| escutcheon = [[Vert (heraldry)|Vert]] two [[Pile (heraldry)|Piles]] [[Variation of the field#Barry, paly, bendy|Barry]] [[Line (heraldry)#Wavy and nebuly|wavy]] of ten [[Argent]] and Azure
| supporters = On the [[Dexter and sinister|dexter]] side a Private Soldier of the [[58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment of Foot|58th Regiment of Foot]] in the uniform of the early Nineteenth Century and on the [[Dexter and sinister|sinister]] side a Māori Warrior both proper.
| compartment =
| motto = {{lang|mi|Mo Te Katoa Nga Mahi}} (All That is Done is For the Benefit of All)
| orders =
| other_elements =
| bannerimage =
| banner =
| badgeimage =
| badge =
| symbolism = The shield is the most important part and is first described. "Vert" means green so that is the base colour of the shield, here representing the rural countryside when Porirua was first settled. A "pile" is a V-shaped object and there are two of them, symbolising the two arms of Porirua Harbour. The lines on the piles are "wavy" like the sea and are alternatively coloured silver ("argent") and blue ("azure").<br /><br />The crest is the part above the shield, excluding the helmet. The whale and "lymphad" (sailing ship) represent whaling, which was an important early industry in the area, and the many ships that visited the harbour.<br /><br />The Supporters are the men on either side of the shield. The dexter side is the right from the shield carrier's point of view but to the left for an observer. The 58th Regiment of Foot spent time in the Porirua area in the nineteenth century, and the Māori warrior represents the long settlement of Māori in the area. The motto of "Mo Te Katoa Nga Mahi" may be translated as "All That is Done is For the Benefit of All".
| previous_versions =
| other_versions =
}}

===Flag===
[[File:Porirua flag.svg|thumb|Present flag with coat of arms]]
The city of Porirua first adopted a flag in 1978 following a competition for designs among local schools, with the winning design being submitted by John Mansfield of Papakowhai School. This flag consisted of a yellow cross on a green background with the coat of arms superimposed over it. After the [[1989 New Zealand local government reforms|1989 local government reforms]], the new Porirua City Council did not seek to continue use of this flag.<ref name="flags">{{cite web |title=Porirua City Flags |url=http://www.pcc.govt.nz//About-Porirua/Porirua-s-heritage/Porirua-s-natural--cultural-and-historic-heritage/Civic-History/Porirua-City-Flags |website=www.pcc.govt.nz |publisher=[[Porirua City Council]] |access-date=19 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201192504/http://www.pcc.govt.nz/%2fAbout-Porirua%2fPorirua-s-heritage%2fPorirua-s-natural--cultural-and-historic-heritage%2fCivic-History%2fPorirua-City-Flags |archive-date=1 February 2016}}</ref>

The present flag of Porirua was adopted on 30 September 1998.<ref name="flags"/> It has several blue stripes, and a green shape to symbolise the city's harbour and land. The canton optionally features the coat of arms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City of Porirua flag |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/33984/city-of-porirua-flag |access-date=13 February 2024 |website=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]}}</ref>

==Suburbs==
Porirua is largely formed around the arms of the [[Porirua Harbour]], and the coastline facing out to [[Cook Strait]] and the north-eastern parts of the [[South Island]]. Most of the populated areas of Porirua are coastal: Camborne, Karehana Bay, Mana, Onepoto, Papakōwhai, Paremata, Pāuatahanui, Plimmerton, Pukerua Bay, Takapūwāhia, Tītahi Bay and Whitby all have direct access to coastal parks and recreation reserves.  Several suburbs without direct coastal access, including Aotea, Ascot Park and Ranui Heights, have substantial portions with good views over the harbour. Elsdon, formerly known as Prosser Block,<ref>Upper Hutt Leader, Volume XII, Number 43, 10 November 1955</ref> lost access to the harbour as a result of reclamation work, especially during the 1960s. Much of the existing city centre, north of Parumoana Street and east of Titahi Bay Road, was built upon this landfill.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pcc.govt.nz/About-Porirua/Porirua-s-heritage/Porirua-s-suburbs/Porirua-City-Centre--Elsdon-and-Takapuwahia/Historic-Photos-of-Porirua-City-Centre |title=Historic Photos of Porirua City Centre |access-date=11 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924065739/http://www.pcc.govt.nz/About-Porirua/Porirua-s-heritage/Porirua-s-suburbs/Porirua-City-Centre--Elsdon-and-Takapuwahia/Historic-Photos-of-Porirua-City-Centre |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The suburbs include the following, grouped by council ward:<ref name="wards"/><ref name="wardmap">{{cite web |title=Porirua City Council {{!}} Two Council Wards |url=https://storage.googleapis.com/pcc-wagtail-media/documents/FinalTwoWards_DetailedMap.pdf |publisher=Porirua City Council |access-date=8 August 2022}}</ref>

===Onepoto===
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Rangituhi / Colonial Knob]]
* [[Elsdon, New Zealand|Elsdon]] – named after writer [[Elsdon Best]]
* [[Kenepuru]] – industrial area south-west of the centre, adjoining Linden
* [[Mana Island (New Zealand)|Mana Island]]
* [[Onepoto, Wellington|Onepoto]] – Locality, part of the suburb of Tītahi Bay
* Porirua City Centre – Porirua's central business district
* [[Takapūwāhia]] – a [[Ngāti Toa]] settlement
* [[Tītahi Bay]] – where pro golfer [[Michael Campbell]] grew up
* [[Aotea, New Zealand|Aotea]]
* [[Ascot Park, New Zealand|Ascot Park]]
* [[Cannons Creek, New Zealand|Cannons Creek]]
* [[Rānui, Porirua|Rānui]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pcc.govt.nz/Community/Community-Projects/Village-Planning-Programme/Ranui#suburb |title=Ranui Village Planning |access-date=4 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529000709/http://www.pcc.govt.nz/Community/Community-Projects/Village-Planning-Programme/Ranui#suburb |archive-date=29 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Waitangirua]]
}}

===Pāuatahanui===
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Camborne, New Zealand|Camborne]]
* [[Hongoeka]] – a [[Ngāti Toa]] settlement
* [[Judgeford]] – a rural locality
* [[Karehana Bay]] – Locality
* [[Mana, New Zealand|Mana]] – Locality
* [[Paekākāriki Hill]]
* [[Papakōwhai]] – a locality where [[kōwhai]] trees are prominent on headlands
* [[Paremata]] – probably named after Sydney's [[Parramatta]]
* [[Pāuatahanui]]
* [[Plimmerton]] – named for a director of the railway company
* [[Pukerua Bay]] – where film-maker [[Peter Jackson]] grew up
* [[Whitby, New Zealand|Whitby]] – street names commemorate James Cook
}}

==Commerce==
North City Shopping Centre (originally Kmart Plaza and then North City Plaza) is Porirua's largest indoor shopping complex. The two-level mall first opened in 1990, was extended in 1996 and was refurbished in 2004. With over 80 stores, the centre includes Wellington's first [[Kmart Australia|Kmart]] department store, which opened in the mall as an anchor tenant in 1990.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Van den Bergh |first=Roeland |date=19 June 1996 |title=Work starts on plaza extension |edition=2nd |pages=19 |work=Dominion <!-- |via=Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream -->}}</ref>

The Megacentre shopping complex in Porirua opened in November 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Edwards |first=Brent |date=18 November 1999 |title=Protests at PM's Porirua launch |edition=3rd |pages=1 |work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]] <!-- |via=Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream -->}}</ref>

Before North City and the Megacentre were built, shopping centred around the Cobham Court area of central Porirua. In 1996, large white canopies were erected over Cobham Court, Serlby Place and Harham Place to freshen up the area and provide protection from the weather. The project cost $4.2 million and won three architectural awards. Judges for the awards described the canopies as "spare, crisp, potent and elegant" with "rich cultural and architectural relevance."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barlow |first=Jude |date=5 November 1996 |title=Cover-up wins awards |edition=3rd |pages=14 |work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]] <!-- |via=Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream -->}}</ref> The canopies were removed in 2015 as part of a major revitalisation project by Porirua City Council.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitfield |first=Daniel |date=21 October 2015 |title=Porirua CBD upgrade to be ready for summer |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/73199415/porirua-cbd-upgrade-to-be-ready-for-summer |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicoll |first=Jared |date=23 April 2018 |title=Latest episode of the extreme makeover of Porirua CBD features demolished canopy columns, fancy playground |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/porirua/103320980/latest-episode-of-the-extreme-makeover-of-porirua-cbd-features-demolished-canopy-columns-fancy-playground |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref> A report to the Council in 2017 stated that crime in the area had decreased by 25% after the canopies were removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dando |first=Kris |date=10 February 2017 |title=Crime in Porirua's city centre drops after canopies' removal |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/porirua/89268794/crime-in-poriruas-city-centre-drops-after-canopies-removal |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[State Highway 59 (New Zealand)|State Highway 59]] is the main route through Porirua itself, passes north–south through the middle of the city, linking Porirua southwards to [[Wellington]] and northwards to the Kāpiti Coast and the bulk of the [[North Island]].  Porirua is the northern terminus of the [[Johnsonville, New Zealand|Johnsonville]]–Porirua motorway (opened progressively from 1950), with the section of motorway within Porirua being part of the SH 59 route.  Until 7 December 2021, the SH 59 route was part of [[State Highway 1 (New Zealand)|State Highway 1]].<ref name="State Highway 59 switch confirmed for December" />

[[State Highway 1 (New Zealand)|State Highway 1]], the most significant route in the [[New Zealand state highway network]], forms an eastern bypass of Porirua as the [[Transmission Gully Motorway]].  There are link roads between the Transmission Gully Motorway and [[Kenepuru]], [[Waitangirua]] and [[Whitby, New Zealand|Whitby]].

[[State Highway 58 (New Zealand)|State Highway 58]] links Paremata via Whitby and [[Pāuatahanui]] (where an interchange with the Transmission Gully Motorway is located) with [[Haywards]] in the [[Hutt Valley]] to the east.

The Ara Harakeke is a pathway that runs alongside SH 59 and the [[Taupō Swamp]], north of Plimmerton. The first section was opened in 2002.<ref>[http://www.mountainbike.co.nz/politics/caw/ww_0502.html Cycle Aware Wellington newsletter; accessed 2 January 2010]</ref> Porirua City Council won a [[Cycle Friendly Awards|Cycle Friendly Award]] for this project from the [[Cycling Advocates' Network]] in 2003.

The [[North Island Main Trunk]] railway line passes through Porirua, mostly close to State Highway 59, with six stations including the main [[Porirua Railway Station]] inside the city and one on the Wellington City border. The railway stations from south to north are [[Kenepuru railway station|Kenepuru]], [[Porirua railway station|Porirua]], [[Paremata railway station|Paremata]], [[Mana railway station|Mana]] (known as Dolly Varden before 1960), [[Plimmerton railway station|Plimmerton]], [[Pukerua Bay railway station|Pukerua Bay]], and [[Muri railway station|Muri]] (closed 30 April 2011). [[Kapiti Line]] suburban passenger trains run between Wellington and [[Waikanae]] (generally half-hourly during the day before 15 July 2018 and every twenty minutes during the day after that date, more frequently during peak periods, and less frequently at night). The [[Northern Explorer]] long-distance passenger train between Auckland and Wellington passes through Porirua. This train was known as the [[The Overlander|Overlander]] before 25 June 2012 which stopped southbound but not northbound.

The nearest airports are [[Wellington International Airport|Wellington Airport]] to the south (the closest), and [[Paraparaumu Airport]] to the north.

Ferry services ran between Paremata and Picton for short periods but appeared unable to compete with Wellington-based services despite the shorter distance.

==Education==
[[File:Aotea Lagoon,Porirua,NZ from north-east (straightened).jpg|thumb|400px|Police College chalets above the Aotea Lagoon, with Rangituhi/Colonial Knob on the skyline above the city centre (obscured) and Elsdon and Takapūwāhia]]
The [[Royal New Zealand Police College]], where all the country's police recruits receive some 19 weeks' training, is at [[Papakōwhai]].

Just up the road from [[Aotea Lagoon]] is [[Aotea College]], the secondary school closest to the northern suburbs. Other colleges include [[Mana College]] and [[Bishop Viard College]] near the city centre and to the east, [[Porirua College]]. Tertiary education is provided by [[Whitireia Polytechnic]], which has its main campus north of the city centre.

==Arts and culture==
The local culture, history and artists are represented at the [[Pataka Art + Museum|Pātaka Museum of Arts & Cultures]] where the library is also public library is also housed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pātaka Museum of Art and Cultures|url=http://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/account/3070|website=NZ museums|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref>

The [[indie rock]] radio station [[andHow.FM]] broadcasts locally at 107.5 FM from the suburb of [[Papakōwhai]].

==Sport and recreation==
[[Te Rauparaha Arena]] is a multi-purpose venue for sports and events located next to Pātaka Museum of Arts & Cultures.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arena home |url=https://terauparaha-arena.co.nz/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=terauparaha-arena.co.nz |language=en-nz}}</ref> Nearby is the Porirua Skatepark designed by local Moses Viliamu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Show off your skills at our skate parks |url=https://poriruacity.govt.nz/discover-porirua/parks-and-reserves/skate-parks/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=poriruacity.govt.nz |language=en-nz}}</ref> [[Aotea Lagoon]] is a popular recreational area on the south-eastern shore of the Porirua Inlet.

Watersports, fishing and other boating activities are common in the area, served by a large [[marina]] in Mana and [[Sea Scouts New Zealand|Sea Scouts]], yachting, power-boating, rowing, and [[water-skiing]] clubs. The harbour entrance from Plimmerton or Mana is popular with experienced [[Windsurfing|windsurfers]] and [[Kitesurfing|kitesurfers]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Plimmerton, at Wellington Windsurfing Association |url=http://www.wwa.org.nz/Spot%20Guide/Plimmerton.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222093604/http://www.wwa.org.nz/Spot%20Guide/Plimmerton.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=22 February 2008 |access-date=10 May 2008}}
</ref> while beginners find the shallow, enclosed waters of the Pauatahanui arm of the harbour a forgiving environment in which to develop their skills.<ref>{{cite web |title=Porirua Harbour at Greater Wellington Regional Council website |url=http://www.gw.govt.nz/story4012.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014113559/http://gw.govt.nz/story4012.cfm |archive-date=14 October 2008 |access-date=10 May 2008}}
</ref>

As early as 1883, Porirua began to hold regular horse racing events on the harbour's Southern beach.  Towards the end of a meeting, competing riders would also have to combat the incoming tide. The Porirua Jockey Club was quickly established with Mr W. Jillett the first secretary and local butcher, [[John Rod]], the treasurer. Joshua Prosser built stables on his nearby property 'Prosser Block' (now Elsdon) and became a notable trainer of Dominion race-horses.<ref>''Evening Post'', 1918, http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19180810.2.103</ref> The beach now lies beneath Porirua city centre.

Porirua is home to the powerful Northern United RFC, the current Wellington regional champions, and the smaller Paremata-Plimmerton RFC. Both clubs play in the [[Wellington Rugby Football Union]] club rugby competition.

Porirua is also home to the three-time [[Chatham Cup]] winning Capital Football team [[Western Suburbs FC (New Zealand)|Western Suburbs FC]]. Well known as a dominant force in New Zealand club football, and for producing many former and current [[All Whites]], they were officially recognised as Porirua City's 2006 Team of the Year for their Chatham Cup Grand Final triumph over Auckland's Eastern Suburbs.

Porirua was the host of the [[2010 Oceania Handball Championship]]. [[Australia men's national handball team|Australia]] won the tournament from hosts [[New Zealand men's national handball team|New Zealand]]. The [[Cook Islands men's national handball team|Cook Islands]] finished third.

A branch of [[Adrenalin Forest]], an adventure park where paying visitors navigate rope bridges, swings and flying foxes strung between trees up to 31 metres off the ground, opened in Porirua in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNicol |first=Hamish |date=4 January 2015 |title=Adrenalin Forest safety device 'smart and beautiful' |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/64652338/adrenalin-forest-safety-device-smart-and-beautiful |access-date=24 April 2022 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref> The park is located on the east side of Porirua Harbour near the Gear Homestead.

==Notable people==
Notable councillors of Porirua have included:

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Whitford Brown]] (first mayor)
* [[Ken Douglas]] (trade unionist)
* [[Ken Gray (rugby union)|Ken Gray]] ([[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Black]])
* [[Gary McCormick]] (media personality)
* [[Helen Smith, New Zealand|Helen Smith]] (first member of the [[Values Party]] to be elected to local government)
* [[Duncan Paia'aua]] (Pah-ee-ah-ow-ah) (Rugby Union Player)
* [[Tutu Wineera]] ([[kaumatua]] of the [[Ngāti Toa]] [[iwi]])
}}

Other prominent residents have included:

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Aaradhna]] (R&B singer)
* [[Alistair Campbell (poet)|Alistair Campbell]], poet
* [[Michael Campbell]] (golfer)
* [[Jerry Collins]] (All Black)
* [[Sophie Devine]] ([[cricket]]er)
* [[Tamati Ellison]] (All Black)
* [[Craig Garner]] ([[cricket]]er)
* [[Vince Mellars]] (rugby league player)
* [[Frank Moore (New Zealand)|Frank Moore]] (politician)
* [[Heremaia Ngata]] (All White football player)
* [[TJ Perenara]] (All Black and Hurricanes Vice-Captain)
* [[Paul Rauhihi]] (rugby league player)
* [[Mike Riddell]] (writer)
* [[Emmett Skilton]] (film and television actor)
* [[PJ Solomon]] (rugby internationalist for [[Scotland]])
* [[Rodney So'oialo]] (All Black)
* [[Ramon Te Wake]] (transgender presenter and singer-songwriter)
* [[Renouf To'omaga]] (Cantebury Bulldogs)
* [[Ela To'omaga-Kaikilekofe]] (visual artist and arts administrator)
}}

== Climate ==

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|collapsed = Y
|location = Cannons Creek, Porirua (1971–2000)
| Jan high C  = 20.7
| Feb high C  = 20.9
| Mar high C  = 19.7
| Apr high C  = 17.3
| May high C  = 14.9
| Jun high C  = 12.8
| Jul high C  = 12.2
| Aug high C  = 12.7
| Sep high C  = 13.8
| Oct high C  = 15.4
| Nov high C  = 17.0
| Dec high C  = 18.9
| year high C =
| Jan mean C  = 16.9
| Feb mean C  = 17.0
| Mar mean C  = 16.0
| Apr mean C  = 13.8
| May mean C  = 11.5
| Jun mean C  = 9.6
| Jul mean C  = 9.0
| Aug mean C  = 9.4
| Sep mean C  = 10.5
| Oct mean C  = 12.0
| Nov mean C  = 13.5
| Dec mean C  = 15.3
| year mean C =
| Jan low C  = 13.0
| Feb low C  = 13.0
| Mar low C  = 12.2
| Apr low C  = 10.3
| May low C  = 8.0
| Jun low C  = 6.5
| Jul low C  = 5.7
| Aug low C  = 6.0
| Sep low C  = 7.2
| Oct low C  = 8.6
| Nov low C  = 10.0
| Dec low C  = 11.7
| year low C =
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 88
|Feb rain mm = 65
|Mar rain mm = 95
|Apr rain mm = 95
|May rain mm = 124
|Jun rain mm = 137
|Jul rain mm = 131
|Aug rain mm = 120
|Sep rain mm = 100
|Oct rain mm = 93
|Nov rain mm = 79
|Dec rain mm = 83
|year rain mm =
|source 1 = NIWA <ref>{{cite web
|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/
|title = CliFlo – The National Climate Database (Agent number: 3359)
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 20 Jul 2024}}</ref>
}}

== Sister-city relationships ==
=== Sister City ===
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[City of Blacktown|Blacktown]]
* [[Nishio, Aichi|Nishio]]
}}

=== Friendly City ===
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Bamiyan]]
* [[Yangzhou]]
}}

=== Twin City ===
* [[Whitby]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://poriruacity.govt.nz/your-council/mayor-councillors/international-partnerships/|title=International partnerships and sister cities|website=poriruacity.govt.nz|language=en-nz|access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sistercities.org.nz/Editable/maps020929/wellington.shtml|title=Wellington Region Sister Cities|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823221517/http://www.sistercities.org.nz/Editable/maps020929/wellington.shtml|archive-date=23 August 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=5 November 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Fort Parramatta]]
* [[Upper Hutt]]
* [[Lower Hutt]]
* [[Wellington]]
* [[Kāpiti Coast]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Porirua}}
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.poriruacity.govt.nz/ Porirua City Council official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927041936/http://www.converge.org.nz/fphm/history.html A history of Porirua Hospital]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100603150736/http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/web/commprofiles.nsf/htmldocs/Porirua+Zone+Urban+Area+Community+Profile Porirua Urban Area Community Profile] from [[Statistics New Zealand|Statistics NZ]]
* {{cite web|url=http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/image/rsnz_53/rsnz_53_00_02331_0000f_ac_01.html |title= Porirua Coast c1921 (image) |publisher=Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand  |date=1921}}
* {{cite web|url=http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/image/rsnz_84/rsnz_84_04_0932_0000f_ac_01.html |title= Porirua Harbour Basin c1956 (images) |publisher=Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand  |date=1956}}

{{Adjacent communities
 | title = Adjacent cities and districts
 | Centre = Porirua
 | NE = [[Kāpiti Coast District]]
 | E  = [[Upper Hutt]]
 | SE = [[Lower Hutt]]
 | S  = [[Wellington]]
 | W  = ''[[Cook Strait]]''
}}
{{Porirua}}
{{Cities and districts of New Zealand}}
{{The Overlander train stops}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Porirua| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Wellington Region]]