2016 - a busy year in Porirua’s basin
Housing, big-hearted locals, a concrete gannet and talented teens were all part of Porirua news in 2016.
The year began with the city’s dubious honour of having the busiest speed camera in New Zealand and ended with a Tawa man delivering 3600 presents to children who might otherwise miss out.
In the papers in between the Kapi-Mana News featured a tiny hearing dog, a report on synthetic cannabis, a new mayor and floods - two of them.
Leith Kinikini became a published artist at 11 years old, Mana Coastguard got a new portacom after theirs was destroyed in an electrical fire and Shari--ana Clifford fed thousands of hungry school children.
Housing was a hot topic: we reported on the city’s empty state houses and advocated for people needing homes. We delivered good news when Housing NZ took 23 state houses off the market and returned them to the letting pool.
We followed the plight of residents and First Five childcare who were evicted from Kenepuru hospital grounds to make way for 600 new homes.
Matt Pollock convinced locals to help him clean up Aotea Lagoon, Elijah Mareko, 12, earned his black belt and teenager Jack Davies headed to Space Camp in Norway.
Nick Leggett signed off as Porirua mayor, became a Wellington mayoral contender, lost and then announced he wants to be Mana MP.
We told you police patrols had halved, Matua Pusa Finau said Access Homecare weren’t looking after him properly and Doug Olds wowed us with his 135kg weight loss - shed through walking, jogging and swimming.
The Waitangirua siege - where gunman Pita Tekira died, a police dog was shot and his handler injured April.
We reported on how Porirua had fared during the November 14 earthquake and flood the day after - the second of the year.
Principal of Porirua College Susanne Jungersen retired after nearly 20 years and Capital & Coast DHB announced an end to rheumatic fever checks in Porirua Schools.
Cannons Creek took August 2’s front page when the suburb was reported as being New Zealand’s number one property hot spot for investors.
Tens of thousands of people looked set to lose access to after hours care as Kenepuru Hospital looked to close its 24 hour service. - took centre stage in