The company behind the Christchurch Adventure Park will build a similar park in Porirua.

A $21 million adventure park in the hills west of Porirua is being hailed as a "game-changer" for the city's economy.

The network of trails on Rangituhi, or Colonial Knob, is expected to attract walkers and mountain bikers, and other attractions will include two cafes, a chairlift, and an indoor surf simulator.

"It's like a year-round ski resort that doesn't require snow," Porirua Mayor Mike Tana said.

SUPPLIED An impression of the Porirua Adventure Park village.

"This is the big one, and we are so happy for Porirua."

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The park would be built by Select Contracts, the Canadian company behind the Christchurch Adventure Park, at no cost to Porirua ratepayers, Tana said.

SUPPLIED A chairlift would take visitors to the top of Rangituhi-Colonial Knob, to the west of Porirua.

Work would begin next year and take two years to complete. More than 100 jobs were expected to be created.

"Estimates show around 80,000 local users will visit per annum and a potential economic impact, over five years, of about $40m coming into the Wellington economy.

"The potential for people to invest in Porirua goes up tenfold. This is huge for the whole region."

VIRGINIA FALLON/STUFF Porirua Mayor Mike Tana said the park would be a "game-changer" for the city, attracting about $40 million to the regional economy over five years.

A 200-seat cafe would be built at the bottom of the chairlift, with a smaller cafe at the top for visitors who were just there for the view. Mountain bikers and walkers could ride the chairlift and choose from a number of downhill tracks.

The park would be less than 10 minutes' bike ride from the central city and railway station, and private or council-owned shuttles could provide transport, Tana said.

Although the project would be funded by Select Contracts, the council still had a part to play.

SUPPLIED Chairlifts at the Christchurch Adventure Park, built by the same company that will build the Porirua one.

"Council's role is to make things easy, remove any fishhooks in the consent process, and give the company all the support they need."

Select Contracts managing director Chris Sutton said the park would be a world-class destination for local, regional and international guests, but cautioned it was early days in the planning process.

"We are at the beginning of a lengthy and complex resource consent process, and there are no pre-determined outcomes yet.

JOSEPH JOHNSON/STUFF The chairlift during construction at the Christchurch Adventure Park on the Port Hills.

"A lot of work must be done before the development can break ground, but we look forward to working with all parties to make this happen, and to a positive response from the community and market."

The company built the $24m Christchurch Adventure Park, which was open for only eight weeks before it was badly damaged by the Port Hills fire in February. It is expected to reopen this summer.

The attraction was accused of starting new fires when it kept its chairlift running during the blaze, something that Adventure Park spokeswoman Anne Newman said was "standard operating procedure".

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Mountainbike trails wind through the Christchurch Adventure Park.

Ngāti Toa spokeswoman Leana Barriball said the iwi supported what it had seen of the development that spanned land owned by the Department of Conservation and Porirua City Council.

The iwi had no concerns with the company applying to DOC for a concession to use the land.

"In all circumstances like these, Ngāti Toa are concerned with destruction of wāhi tapu sites and other significant sites, which may be the case here. However, we will work with Select Contracts to ensure conditions provide for this protection, as well as other concerns we may have going forward."

DOC operations manager Jack Mace said the department had not received a formal application from the company. It would take between 45 and 65 working days for the department to reach a decision.

Porirua Chamber of Commerce acting director Nick Leggett said the park was a tremendous step for the city.

"It will bring lots of people, along with significant economic activity, that will enhance Porirua again as a destination, and will be hugely welcome by the business community."

David Perks, of the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency, said the park would be a welcome addition to the greater Wellington outdoor fitness and entertainment scene.

"We expect it to be hugely popular with the Wellington market, as well as attracting overseas adventure addicts to the Wellington region."