Leggett’s last days as mayor
The boxes are packed and Nick Leggett is ready to shut the door to the Porirua mayor’s office for the last time this week.
Leggett was New Zealand’s youngest councillor in 1998 at 19 and youngest mayor at 31 in 2010.
That’s all history as of Saturday, but he was not planning on going out with a bang.
‘‘It will be something quiet, I don’t want a big farewell.’’
He said he did not step down because he did not enjoy the job. Porirua was on the right track, in good heart and it was up to the next council to build on that.
Leggett has moved to Johnsonville and is standing for the Wellington mayoralty.
‘‘I’m proud of where Porirua is in terms of infrastructure - we are set up to grow. I would loved to have been around to see Transmission Gully, [major housing at] Plimmerton Farm and Kenepuru completed, but everything is in place.’’
Along with handing out civic awards last week, Leggett was pleased to leave with confirmation the city would be getting its own weather station. Sited on Elsdon Park, it costs $46,000, of which $7500 will be funded by Porirua City Council.
He had reflected on the people he had worked with, and believed the council’s best efforts were in highlighting the good that was happening in the community and giving residents a voice.
He was incredibly proud of the policy to have young people at the heart of council policy-making, saying a section of Porirua that previously had no say in their surroundings now did.
NICK LEGGETT’S PORIRUA
Best coffee spot: I get coffee in multiple places, such as Peppermill and Kaizen, but I do enjoy visiting Muffin Break in North City Shopping Centre.
Favourite walk: Colonial Knob. I’ve got out of the habit lately, but I used to do the steps [next to Camp Elsdon] with a friend every Sunday.
Mayoral moment: One was being mayor during the city’s 50th birthday last year and presenting the Porirua 50th awards to a hugely deserving group of people. A second was the Gigatown campaign in 2014.
Best spot: The Camborne Walkway - beautiful.
Best fish and chips: Polynesian Seafoods in Cannons Creek.
What will you miss: Solving issues big and small, connecting people with each other.
Won’t miss: The internal perception in Porirua that it’s a place where bad stuff happens. It’s not accurate. We’re turning around what people think about Porirua outside the city, but our residents need to be more positive.
What is Porirua: It’s familiar and friendly, a place I’ve known my whole life and will always be close to.