Reimagining Wellington: Porirua high school students passionate about caring for their environment
Friday, 12 November 2021
Cleaner waterways, scenic reserves that are protected and pride in their Porirua streets reinstated – the hope, ideas and determination of these five Mana College students go far beyond the school gates.
The budding engineers, doctors, and a conservationist, aged between 15 and 17, want to see real change in Porirua and the greater Wellington region too.
They are part of the school’s environmental group, known by some as Mana Goes Green.
It started by rolling out both a recycling and composting system to stop students “chucking anything and everything into the bins”, Jack Chapman says,
But each student has personal experience, and pride in their city, driving them to create change.
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Rosa Stratford says Porirua is surrounded by the natural beauty of the water, Rangituhi scenic reserve, and the beach.
“You walk to school, the sun is shining on the harbour and it’s so pretty.”
But it could be so much more, Jack Chapman adds.
Chapman does waka ama several times a week on Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour, but it regularly gets called off after a heavy rain due to the state of the water. He has seen it degrade from sediment and pollutants due to large-scale development.
“I would like to see it become crystal clear again, not orange.”
He hears that people once collected seafood there, but that they wouldn’t touch anything in the contaminated water now. The wastewater treatment plant is “tragic”, with sewage flowing at Titahi Bay, often closing the beach.
Lily Rogers goes mountain biking in tracks near the Spicer Botanical park, and is concerned a multi-million dollar plan for a new tourist attraction – Porirua Adventure Park, will be built there.
“If they do put a big wave pool, a cafe, or a gondola, it kind of takes the beauty out of it, it just turns into a commercial setting.”
Simotu Judkins wants to see more education for the Pacific Island community about the importance of caring for the environment.
Melerita Malaulauagreed, adding there could be community outreach through churches and popular bingo spots.
“I’m from Cannons Creek, and Cannons Creek is also Waitangirua, Waitangirua is also Whitby, so we are all connected. But if you drive through the streets, you see people walking and just trashing in the gutters, it’s disgusting.
“Down by the duck pond, by the Cannons Creek shops, if you walk past it your nose will literally just die.”
The students have presented submissions to Porirua City Council, and are working on a response to the Government’s Emission Reduction Plan.
But the system doesn’t make it easy for rangatahi voices to be heard, Chapman says.
“Submission processes need to be accessible for younger people, because council documents are written by high-level teams of people in jargon, it’s really hard for us to understand, be informed and want to make that change.”
But a permanent youth council at Porirua City Council could be a proactive solution to the problem.
“There’s so many young people in Porirua, we really want to have a council where 10 of us would be able to represent our community and present our ideas. It would make us feel like we are included and valued in our opinions,” Roger says.
And what do the students like about the Wellington region? The inclusive and diverse people – especially in Wellington city, Roger says.
Malaulau says the sense of community in Porirua “is the best thing”.
Judkins agrees: “With Porirua, I just love how it feels like everyone here is family, you can go into the supermarket and almost knows you, or your family.
Ask what the whole Greater Wellington region needs? The students throw out a one-word answer.
Hope.