Te Rerenga o Awarua
The Flight of Awarua
Cam Batchelor & Livleen Kaur - Group 01

Passed down through generations is the story of Awarua and Rereroa. Awarua, a taniwha who lived within the once-sheltered harbour, was inspired by her friend Rereroa, the albatross, to rise into the sky and journey towards the open ocean.

This story continues to shape the identity of Porirua and the way its landscape is celebrated today. The vision for the redesign of Te Manawa Porirua City Centre draws inspiration from Awarua’s journey, creating a city-wide, walkable, and connected experience that connects people back to this beautiful harbour. 

We aim to reach towards the long-term visions and goals of Ngāti Toa and the Porirua City Council, while placing the needs, ideas, and aspirations of Porirua’s residents at its heart. Porirua is a diverse and youthful community that needs a city centre that brings them together and encourages their activity. This has led to our strategy blending important design moves with principles of living that suit people of all ages and backgrounds who call Porirua home.

Recognising that meaningful change takes time, our vision looks fifty years into the future as a long-term commitment to Porirua’s growth and development. Roads are restructured in the short term, diverse housing and community opportunities are introduced over the following decades, and by 2075 the city evolves into a leading example of ecological, cultural, and social resilience. The overall goal is a city centre that honours its history, embraces its people, and strengthens its connection to the harbour for generations to come.