Wairaka Park former Plunket building

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Porirua City is consulting on the future of the former Plunket Building at Wairaka Park. In this consultation phase, we want to know your views on the proposed options.

Background

The Royal New Zealand Plunket Trust (Plunket) leased land at Wairaka Park from 1996 to 2019, building an early childhood learning centre on the site.

In 2019 Council gave Plunket approval to assign the lease to Whānau Manaaki. In May 2021 Whānau Manaaki advised Plunket that they no longer required the property and ceased operations. The building has remained vacant and unused since 2021. There has been interest in leasing the building in the period it has been empty, but these proposals have not progressed due to cost.

In recent times the building has been vandalised, including smashed windows, damage to doors and equipment in the fenced yard. In late 2022 Plunket approached Council with a request for Council to take over the building.

In April 2023, the Council engaged the Pukerua Bay community in an initial round of consultation to gather input on three proposed options, as well as to explore any additional suggestions the community might have for consideration by the Council.

The overall results of this engagement indicated that the preferred options are for some sort of café/food and beverage business, or a community hub at Wairaka Park. Council officers also attended a meeting of the Pukerua Bay Residents Association in April 2023 to discuss the future of the former Plunket building and further community engagement.

The building is located at Wairaka Park, which is classified as Local Purpose Reserve (Community Use). The outdoor fenced play area is located on part of Raroa Reserve (Part Lot 21 DP 21181) and is classified as a Scenic ‘A’ Reserve. Appendix One shows aerial photographs of the Reserve.

As shown in the photographs (photos located on right-side menu), the building is in poor condition and needs extensive work to bring up to a safe and usable condition.

The proposed options for the building are tabled below:

Option 1A: Remove the Building and reinstate the land to open space

Plunket have indicated they have money set aside for the demolition of the building. Once demolition is completed, the land would be reinstated to grassed open space.

Option 1B: Remove the Building and request proposals to lease the empty reserve site

If the building is removed, under Option 1B, proposals to lease the building would then be sought through a public tender process. Prospective tenants would need to be a ‘person, body, voluntary organisation, or society’ running the facility as a ‘community building, playcentre, kindergarten, Plunket room’ or similar purpose under section 61(2A) of the Reserves Act. Prior to seeking proposals an annual lease fee, lease period, and lease criteria would be outlined.

Option 2: Seek proposals from community groups to purchase and lease the Building

Council seeks proposals from community groups to purchase the building and take on a land lease for the occupation of Wairaka Park. Prior to seeking proposals an annual lease fee, lease period, and lease criteria would be outlined as part of a Statement of Proposal.

Te Puna Kōrero (TPK) would approve the successful purchaser, triggering a sales and purchase process between Plunket and the purchaser. The successful purchaser would be required to carry out the necessary work to bring the building up to a safe and usable standard, with plans and the final result to be approved by Council officers.

A land lease could then be granted to the purchaser under the Reserves Act 1977. The purchaser/tenant would need to be a ‘person, body, voluntary organisation, or society’ running the facility as a ‘community building, playcentre, kindergarten, Plunket room’ or similar purpose under section 61(2A) of the Reserves Act 1977. This approach ensures consistency with the Reserve Management Plan for Wairaka Park. You can read more about the Reserve Management Plan here: https://poriruacity.govt.nz/your-council/city-planning-and-reporting/reserves-management/reserve-finder/wairaka-park-2/

If a suitable community group did not come forward, then Option 1A would be carried out, and the building would be removed.

Does Council have a preferred option?

Council’s preference is for the building to be removed as per Options 1A or 1B because:

The building’s small size and bespoke layout make do not allow for a flexible, multi-use space for an effective community hub; and

There is not funding available from Council for renovation or replacement of the building.

The building at Wairaka Park requires lots of work to bring it up to a safe and usable specification, costing approximately $256,100. Currently these costs are not feasible for Council to contribute given the current economic climate.

If either Option 1B or Option 2 are the approved options for the building, a separate lease tender process will be carried out under the Reserves Act 1977 and the Public Bodies Leases Act 1969. This ensures so that any lease process is transparent, fair, and we find the best fit for the site.

To see the cost estimates for the above options, please view the Statement of Proposal in the Consultation Documents menu.

Making a submission – submissions close 6 April 2025

You can find copies of this proposal at all Porirua City libraries, and at our front counter at Customer Services, Porirua City Council, 16 Cobham Court, Porirua 5022.

You can have your say in a number of ways:

  • make an online submission at the bottom of this webpage. You can also download a submission form from the right hand side menu, under Consultation documents.
  • by email to: submissions@poriruacity.govt.nz(External link) with “Wairaka Park ” in the subject line.
  • by hand at:
    • front counter, 16 Cobham Court, Porirua City
    • any of our libraries
  • by post:
    Freepost 4517
    Wairaka Park Consultation
    Porirua City Council
    PO Box 50218
    Porirua City 5240

Your submission is subject to meeting the moderation criteria - you can find out more here.

Your privacy
All submissions are public information. This supports our drive to be as transparent as possible, but if there are any personal details you don’t want made public, please let us know.

We collect demographic data to help us identify whether we are reaching the voices from all areas of our community. Providing demographic information is optional.

Want to know more?
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please email us at submissions@poriruacity.govt.nz(External link) or call on (04) 237 5089.

Porirua City is consulting on the future of the former Plunket Building at Wairaka Park. In this consultation phase, we want to know your views on the proposed options.

Background

The Royal New Zealand Plunket Trust (Plunket) leased land at Wairaka Park from 1996 to 2019, building an early childhood learning centre on the site.

In 2019 Council gave Plunket approval to assign the lease to Whānau Manaaki. In May 2021 Whānau Manaaki advised Plunket that they no longer required the property and ceased operations. The building has remained vacant and unused since 2021. There has been interest in leasing the building in the period it has been empty, but these proposals have not progressed due to cost.

In recent times the building has been vandalised, including smashed windows, damage to doors and equipment in the fenced yard. In late 2022 Plunket approached Council with a request for Council to take over the building.

In April 2023, the Council engaged the Pukerua Bay community in an initial round of consultation to gather input on three proposed options, as well as to explore any additional suggestions the community might have for consideration by the Council.

The overall results of this engagement indicated that the preferred options are for some sort of café/food and beverage business, or a community hub at Wairaka Park. Council officers also attended a meeting of the Pukerua Bay Residents Association in April 2023 to discuss the future of the former Plunket building and further community engagement.

The building is located at Wairaka Park, which is classified as Local Purpose Reserve (Community Use). The outdoor fenced play area is located on part of Raroa Reserve (Part Lot 21 DP 21181) and is classified as a Scenic ‘A’ Reserve. Appendix One shows aerial photographs of the Reserve.

As shown in the photographs (photos located on right-side menu), the building is in poor condition and needs extensive work to bring up to a safe and usable condition.

The proposed options for the building are tabled below:

Option 1A: Remove the Building and reinstate the land to open space

Plunket have indicated they have money set aside for the demolition of the building. Once demolition is completed, the land would be reinstated to grassed open space.

Option 1B: Remove the Building and request proposals to lease the empty reserve site

If the building is removed, under Option 1B, proposals to lease the building would then be sought through a public tender process. Prospective tenants would need to be a ‘person, body, voluntary organisation, or society’ running the facility as a ‘community building, playcentre, kindergarten, Plunket room’ or similar purpose under section 61(2A) of the Reserves Act. Prior to seeking proposals an annual lease fee, lease period, and lease criteria would be outlined.

Option 2: Seek proposals from community groups to purchase and lease the Building

Council seeks proposals from community groups to purchase the building and take on a land lease for the occupation of Wairaka Park. Prior to seeking proposals an annual lease fee, lease period, and lease criteria would be outlined as part of a Statement of Proposal.

Te Puna Kōrero (TPK) would approve the successful purchaser, triggering a sales and purchase process between Plunket and the purchaser. The successful purchaser would be required to carry out the necessary work to bring the building up to a safe and usable standard, with plans and the final result to be approved by Council officers.

A land lease could then be granted to the purchaser under the Reserves Act 1977. The purchaser/tenant would need to be a ‘person, body, voluntary organisation, or society’ running the facility as a ‘community building, playcentre, kindergarten, Plunket room’ or similar purpose under section 61(2A) of the Reserves Act 1977. This approach ensures consistency with the Reserve Management Plan for Wairaka Park. You can read more about the Reserve Management Plan here: https://poriruacity.govt.nz/your-council/city-planning-and-reporting/reserves-management/reserve-finder/wairaka-park-2/

If a suitable community group did not come forward, then Option 1A would be carried out, and the building would be removed.

Does Council have a preferred option?

Council’s preference is for the building to be removed as per Options 1A or 1B because:

The building’s small size and bespoke layout make do not allow for a flexible, multi-use space for an effective community hub; and

There is not funding available from Council for renovation or replacement of the building.

The building at Wairaka Park requires lots of work to bring it up to a safe and usable specification, costing approximately $256,100. Currently these costs are not feasible for Council to contribute given the current economic climate.

If either Option 1B or Option 2 are the approved options for the building, a separate lease tender process will be carried out under the Reserves Act 1977 and the Public Bodies Leases Act 1969. This ensures so that any lease process is transparent, fair, and we find the best fit for the site.

To see the cost estimates for the above options, please view the Statement of Proposal in the Consultation Documents menu.

Making a submission – submissions close 6 April 2025

You can find copies of this proposal at all Porirua City libraries, and at our front counter at Customer Services, Porirua City Council, 16 Cobham Court, Porirua 5022.

You can have your say in a number of ways:

  • make an online submission at the bottom of this webpage. You can also download a submission form from the right hand side menu, under Consultation documents.
  • by email to: submissions@poriruacity.govt.nz(External link) with “Wairaka Park ” in the subject line.
  • by hand at:
    • front counter, 16 Cobham Court, Porirua City
    • any of our libraries
  • by post:
    Freepost 4517
    Wairaka Park Consultation
    Porirua City Council
    PO Box 50218
    Porirua City 5240

Your submission is subject to meeting the moderation criteria - you can find out more here.

Your privacy
All submissions are public information. This supports our drive to be as transparent as possible, but if there are any personal details you don’t want made public, please let us know.

We collect demographic data to help us identify whether we are reaching the voices from all areas of our community. Providing demographic information is optional.

Want to know more?
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please email us at submissions@poriruacity.govt.nz(External link) or call on (04) 237 5089.

Page last updated: 02 Apr 2025, 11:18 AM