Birthday dinner tops the bill in city celebrations
Porirua’s 50th birthday celebration overshadowed several other fantastic community events this year.
In October, Porirua celebrated 50 years as a city and showed its strong community spirit with a variety of community and private events during the anniversary weekend.
The centrepoint was the 50th awards dinner at Te Rauparaha Arena on October 3, when medals were presented to 50 individuals or couples who have done Porirua proud.
A 50th event with a difference was hosted by the Porirua Club, which celebrated not only the city’s 50th, but the birthdays of people who were born in 1965.
Another party, organised and planned by residents, was held at Mungavin Hall, and also went off exceedingly well.
During the year, the big events included Festival of the Elements, the Aotea Lagoon summer concert series, Creekfest, Blackberry Harvest Festival at Bothamley Park, several Matariki celebrations, Christmas carnival and fireworks, Christmas in the Park, and the Plimmerton mid-winter dip.
Even the lure of the Wellington Sevens couldn’t keep the crowds away from Festival of the Elements in February.
An estimated 25,000 people flocked to Te Rauparaha Park and the surrounding areas to enjoy everything from the national skateboard championships and carnival rides to live music and food stalls.
Organiser Margaret Armour said inclement weather meant more people visited the indoor attractions at Pataka and Te Rauparaha Arena.
More than 150 Plimmerton Kindergarten supporters braved the cold water for the annual mid-winter dip on Sunday, June 28. About 700 attended. It was the 19th year it had taken place at Karehana Bay in Plimmerton.
The $10,000 raised will be used to upgrade the kindergarten.
The Porirua Christmas carnival was the most recent hit, with hundreds of Christmasloving residents flocking to Te Rauparaha Park to sing carols and catch up with Santa.
Other events of note included the Eat Drink & Be Crafty fair, Polyfest, Pauatahanui Lamb & Calf Day, the Bridal Expo, the Porirua Grand Traverse, Winter Music Cafe Series, the National Dog Show and International Festival of the Arts.
The first Titahi Bay Boatsheds Festival was held this month, and proved popular.