The Porirua Harbour

By Braeden Windle, Pierce Burt, Jake Butchard, Bella MacDonald and Paige Bourke

Porirua harbour is a natural inlet on the south-western coast of the north island. The catchment that drains into the harbour is known as the Porirua catchment. The porirua catchment is home to an abundance of aquatic life ranging from micro invertebrates to Eels and fish. The harbour has been a national treasure for generations, even as far back as Maori tribes living in the area for food.

With an entrance only a few hundred metres in width, close to the suburb of Plimmerton. It opens up into two arms, Porirua Inlet to the south and Pauatahanui Inlet to the north-east. Each arm is around three kilometres in length. In the middle of the harbour there is an island called mana island.

There are many Maori legends surrounding the Porirua harbour and how it came to be. The legend that is commonly known today is Awarua, the taniwha of Porirua. The myth is set hundreds of years before porirua harbour was first discovered in 1819. It’s about an albatross who teaches a taniwha called Awarua to fly. Awarua trains hard day and night, strengthening his wings and is eventually ready to start taking off. He crashes into a hill on his first go so then tries again. On his second attempt he manages to fly over the hill but is so caught up in his success he crashes straight mana island taking the top off of it leaving it flat.