John Porter Memorial seat now installed

Thanks to the generosity of 21 on-line donors and others, we have now closed our appeal for the John Porter Memorial seat - having raised a total of $1996.55.

The seat is now installed in the shelter of a grove of trees at US Marines Memorial site, off Whareroa Road in Queen Elizabeth Park, looking out through the US Marines Memorial to Whareroa Farm.

The Trust is grateful to those who donated to the project, seat suppliers Big Mac Slabs Furniture and the GWRC park staff who did the installation.

Deputy Chair of the Kapiti US Marines Trust, Anthony Dreaver says there was real goodwill surrounding the project and the $487 remaining in the ‘seat fund’ will be spent on a story-board out-lining John’s 70-year contribution to Kapiti and its environment.

John has made a significant contribution to the Paekakariki community over the past 70 years. Most notably, he spear-headed the campaign to save Whareroa Farm and keep the land in public ownership; he also campaigned against moves to establish motor-racing in Queen Elizabeth Park.

He gave over 60 years’ service to the Paekakariki Surf Lifesaving Club and Surf Lifesaving New Zealand; served on the Paekakariki School Board, was Deputy Chair of the Paekakariki Community Board, a former Chair of the Friends of Queen Elizabeth Park, a Trustee of the Whareroa Guardians and a Trustee of the Kapiti US Marines Trust. 

John Porter spent much of his life helping the community stay in touch with the past and make good decisions about the future.