New Porirua office blessed by Ngati Toa, opened by Graeme Dingle
Picture : Nick Leggett (Mayor), Graeme Dingle (Patron) and Lee Pownall (Regional Manager) with Peer Mentors from Bishop
Viard College.
The Graeme Dingle Foundation Wellington officially opened its new regional office in Porirua on 10 May.
Following a ruruku (blessings) by Taku Parai (Ngati Toa) the office at 6 Hagley Street (opposite the Porirua City
Council) was declared open by our founder Graeme Dingle.
The opening was also attended by Mayor Nick Leggett and Bishop Viard College students, who are currently mentors in the
Trust’s Stars programme.
Graeme Dingle expressed his vision to deliver Graeme Dingle Foundation programmes to over 50,000 students by 2025 and
the aim of running programmes in every school in the region.
Trust Chair Peter Irwin spoke about the trust’s involvement in Porirua over the past 20 years and Regional Manager Lee
Pownall talked about the importance and relevance of the office moving to Porirua.
The Trust plans to grow programmes in Porirua and across the Wellington region in 2017, starting with the introduction
of Kiwi Can into Porirua schools.
ENDS