Dame Cindy and Dr Davies have visited some initiatives in Porirua doing mahi to enrich their community’s health and wellbeing. This morning, they visited rangatahi-led health service The 502 - Rangatahi Ora. They offer free primary healthcare and social services for people aged 10-24 across the city in a safe, inclusive, and approachable space. The 502 name comes from the Porirua postcode because it’s something everyone who uses their services shares with each other.
Dame Cindy and Dr Davies also visited Special Olympics Mana to learn more about their kaupapa, which Chairperson Logan Amer said was to be as inclusive as possible. Their Excellencies also got the chance to welcome back Special Olympics Mana’s recently returned athletes who competed in the 2023 Berlin Games, including Kristie Sharp who won a silver and a bronze medal.
Later in the morning, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies attended a lunch at Porirua City Council hosted by Mayor Anita Baker, and met with representatives from many other community-led organisations.
That afternoon, Their Excellencies visited Solid - Sustainable Oral Care and Olé Football Academy. Solid Oral Care’s co-founders Laura and Adam showed Dame Cindy and Dr Davies around the factory where they produce sustainable toothpastes and dental hygiene products. Established in 2020, Solid have been finding ways to reduce the amount of plastic in the dental industry, which currently sees 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes end up in a landfill each year. Their Excellencies also saw neighbouring business Aspiring Walls, who are the only manufacturer of wallpaper in the Southern Hemisphere.
The final stop for the day was to the Olé Football Academy to see some young football stars in the making. Olé has been developing football talent in New Zealand since 1997, and have seen many players progress to national sides and overseas professional leagues.