NZ Nostalgia: Porirua - Birth of a City by Hilda Brodie

[@greywarbler6967]

We used to live next door to the Smith's in Elsdon in the early to mid sixties. Mr. Smith used to make puppet movies (like Thunderbirds) in his garage. It is he who is narrating the video. I can always recall one 'effect' that didn't quite go to plan and Mr. Smith coming out of his garage with a bemused look on his face followed by a huge cloud of smoke. What is portrayed here is pretty much my childhood, as from our vantage point in Elsdon's Waiho Terrace, we had a spectacular view of the surrounding bay and the earthworks as they filled in the Porirua end of the harbour to make way for expansion of the new city. We were fascinated by the earthmoving equipment, like the Euclid's and bulldozers that are shown in this video, as they tirelessly trundled back and forth with their loads of soil. Where the Mega Store is now at the bottom of Awarua street, there used to be three radio masts of varying sizes but these were knocked down as the landfill progressed. It was a great time to be a kid in the 60's in Porirua.

[@TimBrianTufuga]

Porirua was declared a city in 1965. I was born in Christchurch NZ at the St Helens Hospital in1968. My sister was born in Porirua (Keneperu Hospital in 1967) We returned to Porirua from Christchurch, after I was born, to live in 1969-81 then 83-85. We migrated to Brisbane Australia in 1981. My mother died in 2002 and she is interned in Beenleigh Qld Australia. My sister and I now live in Logan City, south of Brisbane, Australia. We nostalgically remember this image of Porirua. I went to the Moira Gallaghar Kindergarten at Hampshire St, then to Windley School, then attended Porirua East School, and a time at Waltham Primary in Christchurch in 1974, then Titahi Bay Intermediate School. I returned to NZ in 1983 to attend Aotea College, returned to Brisbane in mid 85. Returned to NZ in 1990 to attend Victoria University till 1993. Last visited Porirua in 2000 I couldn't recognise most of the city. But, I do recall this version of Porirua. I still recall the footbridge at the start of this film. I had walked over it so many times to go to and from school. We lived in Gear Tce Porirua East, which was once a cul de sac. In Australia I attended Brisbane State High School 1982 then 1985-87. Before I travelled to Samoa to live with my father and his family, then I returned to NZ (Victoria Uni) then returned to Brisbane to study at Uni of Qld and to live permanently with my late mother and sister and becoming an Australian citizen in 2009.

[@jrmop0965]

Such humble beginnings. Proud to live and have grown up in Porirua for most of my life. (Titahi Bay)

[@allgood6760]

I saw a rail car train go past the Police College in 2020... it is a preserved ttain... I remember saying to a friend in 1998 "I wonder what things will be like in 20 years time" he replied "it will be a completely different society".. thanks for this in 2021 things have changed.👍

[@CapitalVideo]

Brings back great memories. Nice to see my father's butcher shop in the temporary shopping centre.

[@zanasteer]

Born there. Loved the Saturday market.

[@nazztube]

Fascinating looking back.

[@rosswakelin5543]

Song at 8:23 is "Little Boxes"; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boxes

[@poriruadude]

porirua is very different now even compared to when i was 4 (i have excellent memory )

[@europanzz]

amazing video

[@joshuagates7902]

What year did the earthworks begin in porirua

[@uniocestudios]

What's the Song? @ 8:23

[@CybeRoam65]

No wonder it was such a depressing place to grow up, they bull-dozed everything that was unique and historical and replaced it with late 50s generic shite.

[@warrendoughty2830]

whens this from?

[@sellyklater8415]

The state house song tho haha

[@mautufaraniioapo2515]

mautu ioapo nz nostalia porirua birth of a city by hilda brodie thonk you youtube videos goodday by now mautu ioapo in my compter thonk you 30.8.2014

[@deantairi8357]

doesnt mention 1955 land confiscated in elsdon