Better road safety and more activities for youth were among the issues the Cannons Creek community raised at the council tent during Creekfest.
Interim chair of the Cannons Creek Residents and Ratepayers Association Apolonia Muldrock was at the Porirua City Council stall during the event.
She said the council and the ratepayers association value the event because it is a chance for both groups to interact with the community.
“It’s a good opportunity to give the community information about what is happening around the area,” she said.
The priorities they were looking to get across were the plans for the Cannons Creek area, as well as maintaining a local voice in the community.
Over the past few months they have got the funding together for parking and road safety at the Cannons Creek Shopping Centre.
Ms Muldrock says the day was a good chance to say what they have achieved as well as what they want to achieve.
She said road safety and youth were among the concerns raised when people visited the tent.
Saturday’s event was the 15th annual Creekfest, and Ms Muldrock says is always a highlight for the community.
Sponsors the Porirua Healthlink Services and the Porirua Fanau Centre say it is New Zealand’s biggest health festival.
The event was fizzy and smoke free, with a lot of anti-smoking and healthy eating stalls.
Entertainment included performers ranging from major acts such as King Kapisi to a youth talent competition called Creek Factor.
“People always enjoy it, it is a good way for people to get to know their neighbours,” Ms Muldrock says.
The council also took advantage of the event by having a promotion of “get a pic with Nick”.
Visitors could get your picture taken inside a cut out cardboard image of Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett.
The photos were then put up on Facebook for the Gigatown promotion.
“Porirua wants to get in the top five Gigatowns in the country by September,” Ms Muldrock said.
The town that shows the most community engagement via social media will be New Zealand’s first Gigatown with a high-speed fibre network plus a $200,000 fund for similar projects.
Currently Wanaka is ranked first and Porirua is tenth.
