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July 15, 2015
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Puhoi • Warkworth • Snells • Matakana • Omaha • Leigh • Pakiri • Wellsford • Port Albert • Kaiwaka • Mangawhai
Star-struck The simple act of making stars from harakeke (flax) brought together children of all ages and backgrounds to discover more about Maori culture and Matariki at Warkworth Library last week. Matariki is the Maori name for the constellation of stars, also known in other cultures as Pleiades or the Seven Sisters. It signifies Te Tau Hou (Maori New Year), a time to reflect on the past and prepare for the future. The school holiday Matariki programme was designed to ‘take a glimpse into the Maori world’. It finishes with a kapa haka performance by Warkworth Primary on Friday July 17 at 11am. Children’s librarian Emily Flaws says the activities help expand experience and knowledge. She says libraries are not just about books, and encourage all forms of literacy, including oral literacy. Matakana mother Sally Jack came along with her children, George, 7, and Ed, 6. Sally says it was a great opportunity for the family, who come from London, to learn more about the Maori culture and Matariki. Info: matarikifestival.org.nz
Funding boost for multisport complex
Work on the first stages of a Warkworth multisport complex could start next year after a funding boost from Rodney Local Board. This month the Board earmarked over $1.4 million for the project over the next two years. The funding includes $705,000 for construction, $200,000 for earthworks for a building platform and $380,000 for a wastewater system. The project is being driven by the
Mahurangi Community Sport and Recreation Collective, which represents sports clubs including rugby, hockey, soccer, netball and gymnastics. Collective chair Mark Illingworth says the details of the multisport complex are currently being finalised and a 10-year plan will be released in about two months. The plan will include the timing and costs of each phase of the project.
The total complex is estimated to cost about $10 million and will be built over 10 years. “It will be one of the biggest projects the community has undertaken,” Mr Illingworth says. The complex will eventually include new clubrooms, new changing rooms, storage and an indoor multi-sport hall that could cater for netball and basketball. It would be built beside the
existing Mahurangi Rugby Clubrooms in the Warkworth Showgrounds, which would be demolished when the complex is completed. However, after a feasibility study found the complex would be unviable with the clubs’ current membership, the collective is now looking at a staged development. It has decided to renovate the existing Rugby Clubrooms, and continued page 2
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