The council is made up of a mayor elected at-large and 10 councillors elected from two general wards (Onepoto General Ward and Pāuatahanui General Ward) and one Māori ward (Parirua Māori Ward).[2] They are elected using a single transferable vote system in triennial elections, with the most recent election being held in 2022.
The first election for the Porirua Road District, held under the District Highways Act 1856, took place on 20 September 1856. On 7th November 1864, the Takapu Road District was declared and wardens for the district were elected annually. The Wellington Highway District Board (Hutt County) was given control of the district in 1872.[3]
In 1876, Makara and Porirua ridings were made part of the Karori-Makara Highway Board and elections were conducted.[3] Later that year, Porirua was established as one of six ridings making up Hutt County, which in turn was established by the Counties Act 1876 as one of 12 counties which would replace the Wellington Province.[6] It elected 2 councillors to the Hutt County Council.[7]
In 1908, Makara County was separated from Hutt County, amalgamating the Porirua riding with the Makara riding and Tawa.[6][8] The first elections for Makara County were held on 28 January 1908.[3]
Following the construction of a new business district on the site of the village of Porirua beginning in the 1950s,[9][10] the autonomous Borough of Porirua was established on 1 September 1962, the day after Makara County was abolished.[3][11][12] The rest of what had been the Makara County was re-incorporated into Hutt County as the Makara Riding.[6] Tawa had already separated from the county to form its own Town Board in 1951.[3]
On 1 April 1973, the city of Porirua was expanded to include large areas to the north-east and some to the south, transferred from Hutt County, along with Mana Island.[14] In 1988, it was further expanded to include the Horokiri riding, which contained most of Whitby and large rural areas, before Hutt County was abolished in the 1989 local government reforms, which transferred to Wellington City most of the southern fringe areas that had been added in 1973 - notably the Takapu Valley and Arohata.[15][16]
A cadastral map showing the boundaries of Porirua city in 1969
Council and committees
The elected mayor and councillors provide governance for the city by setting the policy direction of the council, monitoring its performance, representing the city's interests, and employing the Chief Executive.
The Chief Executive is in charge of the administration of the council and employs all other council staff to achieve its strategic priorities.[17][18] The Chief Executive is currently Wendy Walker.[1]
The 10 councillors are elected from three wards: Onepoto General Ward, Pāuatahanui General Ward, and Parirua Māori Ward.
Candidates standing in the general wards are elected by voters registered on the general electoral roll, while those standing in the Māori ward are elected by voters registered on the Māori electoral roll.[21]
Parirua Māori Ward
The Parirua Māori Ward elects 1 councillor and covers the whole city of Porirua.
The Parirua Māori Ward was established following a council vote in May 2021, a representation review and an appeal to the Local Government Commission which upheld its establishment.[21][22]
Onepoto General Ward
The Onepoto General Ward elects 5 councillors and covers:[21][23]
Porirua City was granted a Coat of Arms by the Earl Marshal of England on 1 December 1965. The city officially adopted the coat of arms via a bylaw on 27 November 1969.[24]
Coat of arms of Porirua
Crest
On a Wreath of the Colours in front of a Lymphad proper Sail set Pennon flying Gules Flags flying Azure a Whale proper.
On the dexter side a Private Soldier of the 58th Regiment of Foot in the uniform of the early Nineteenth Century and on the sinister side a Māori Warrior both proper.
Motto
Mo Te Katoa Nga Mahi (All That is Done is For the Benefit of All)
Symbolism
The green of the shield represents the rural countryside when Porirua was first settled. The blue and white triangles (Piles) symbolise the two arms of Porirua Harbour. 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. 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.
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