Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour, commonly known as Porirua Harbour, is a natural inlet in the south-western coast of the North Island of New Zealand.

The harbour is within the main urban area of the Wellington Region, and is surrounded by the city of Porirua, with the city centre to the south of the harbour.

Geography

The harbour has an entrance only a few hundred metres in width, close to the suburb of Plimmerton. It opens up into two arms, Onepoto Arm to the south and Pāuatahanui Arm to the north-east. Each arm is around three kilometres in length. There is a tradition that the 1855 Wairarapa Earthquake caused tectonic uplift in the Pāuatahanui Arm of the inlet, changing the shoreline and reducing its navigability. However, according to George Eiby, the inlet always had limited accessibility, and the earthquake didn't significantly change the shoreline, with any changes likely coming from more recent sedimentation.

Part of the Porirua Inlet was reclaimed for a causeway carrying the North Island Main Trunk railway when the section between Porirua and Mana was straightened and double tracked. The new section of the Kāpiti Line was opened on 7 November 1960. A new Paremata Railway Station and bridge over the entrance to the Pāuatahanui Inlet were required.

The line no longer followed the curves of the shoreline bays north of Porirua, and three shallow lagoons on the land side of the new causeway were created. When State Highway 1 was re-aligned and straightened in the 1970s to run alongside the rail line, these lagoons were partially filled in. Aotea Lagoon was developed into a recreational area, albeit very polluted.

Recreation

The Pāuatahanui Inlet is used for windsurfing, but is not recommended for swimming. to undertake tasks such as cleaning up around the inlet. They also run photographic competitions.

center|thumb|750px|The Pāuatahanui arm of the Porirua Harbour with the entrance at the extreme left and Pāuatahanui at the extreme right

center|thumb|750px|Porirua Harbour viewed from Camborne. Mana Island is in the centre; Plimmerton to the right. Pāuatahanui inlet to the left.

center|thumb|400px|Porirua Harbour (bottom centre) and Pāuatahanui Inlet (top centre) viewed from the [[ISS.]]

See also

  • Porirua
  • Kāpiti Coast
  • Mana Island
  • Wellington Harbour

References

  • Guardians of Pāuatahanui Inlet's official page
  • Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve information page
  • Porirua Harbour and Catchment Programme (from WCC)