Tours and new app for Heritage Week

Porirua City Council

A new app for your phone that highlights walking trails and Porirua’s history has been launched to celebrate Heritage Week, and there are two free tours to sate your interest in the city’s past.

The Discover Porirua app is available to download via the Google Play and App Store for your mobile phone. In it, there are more than 30 places to walk or places of interest in the city, including Battle Hill Farm, Te Aro Piko, Gear Homestead, Whitireia Park and Pātaka.

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says downloading the app is an excellent way to learn more about the city, and you’ll be surprised what you didn’t know.

“Porirua has a rich history and there’s many places to find information – but this app is a great way to start.

“Walk the heritage trails of Pāuatahanui, Pukerua Bay or Plimmerton. There’s so much rich heritage to our city, so get out there and explore it.”

The app will be officially launched at Pātaka, at 5pm on Tuesday 26 October.

On Saturday 30 October there are two free community tours by local experts in Pukerua Bay (10.30am) and Plimmerton (10.30am and 2pm). Each takes about an hour, involves walking, and you can learn about the history of each village, including rail, and check out key heritage sites.

Both have limited places – email plimmertonra@gmail.com for the Plimmerton tour, and pukeruaheritage@gmail.com for the Pukerua Bay tour, where you will receive information on where to meet and Covid-19 protocol for attending.

There is also a talk at Pātaka from Te Rauparaha Horomona on the Whiti Te Rā exhibition, the story of Ngāti Toa Rangatira, on Sunday 31 October at 11am.

Next week, guided walks will take place around the St Alban’s Church grave site in Pāuatahanui as part of Cemeteries Week and there will be a celebration in Pukerua Bay on 6 November to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the opening of Centennial Highway. Find out more