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Tuesday • APRIL 8 • 2014 PHONE: 09 235 78 35 FAX: 09 235 78 34
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Rising star gets support A young Waiuku tennis player aiming for a career in the pro ranks has been given a helping hand by a local funding group, as he plays in a national event in Christchurch. PAGE
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Research project a first Former local student Gemma Johnson has finished a Waikato Summer Research Scholarship with her first research collaboration.
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Big effort by parents
A muscular effort by parents of a local primary school won them funding on Sunday.
Lethal road considered for upgrade
A stretch of road which has seen 214 crashes in 10 years, 31 involving fatalities or serious injuries, is being looked at for a major upgrade. Safety improvements on State Highway 2 between Pokeno to Mangatarata are being investigated by the NZ Transport Agency as part of the Safe System Corridor Project. The Transport Agency says the investigation aims to identify what safety improvements are required along this section of SH2 to reduce the number of serious and fatal crashes caused by head-on and run-off-road impact, and to make the intersections safer. Two sections of SH2 are being investigated - known as the Western and Eastern sections - in the last 10 years there have seen 214 crashes in these two sections. Fifteen of those were fatal, and 16 involved serious injuries. Most of the fatal and serious crashes were caused by vehicles crossing the centre line or running off the road. The 7.4km Western Section is from the SH1 intersection at Pokeno to the Mangatawhiri Stream Bridge. The Eastern Section is 9.5km long and runs from Monument Road to the intersection with SH25. “The project aims to save lives and reduce the severity of injuries by creating a more forgiving environment,’’ says Transport Agency’s acting highways manager Michelle Te Wharau. In December 2011 the speed limit was reduced from 100km/h to 90km/h for much of the Maramarua Highway up to the SH25 turnoff. Average daily traffic counts are around 13,000 and soar to 24,000 at peak holiday times. “The project teams have just begun their work and will seek feedback from stakeholders and the people who live, work and travel along SH2,” says Mrs Te Wharau. “A public Open Day will be held towards the end of May/early June this year.”
INSIDE THIS WEEK: PG 16 - 18
2014
Waiuku
VOL 26 • NO.13
NETBALL OPENS
Youngsters rule the roost at fun run Otaua School’s Ryan Crawford and Joshua Lowe had a blast at the family fun day following the annual Waiuku Lions Club Sand to Mud Run on Sunday. The event saw some amazing performances by local young athletes as Waipipi School’s Frances Good was not only first junior girl, but also Queen of the Hill and first female home, while Sandspit School’s Luke Rattrie was first junior male, and a phenomenal third overall. More pictures inside this week.
Local young builder wins carpentry scholarship PAGE
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20 Hall Street, Pukekohe tel: 09 238 3796 free phone : 0800-SEEING Formerly John Kelsey Optometrists
The inaugural Customkit Carpentry Scholarship has been launched with the aim of helping young New Zealand building talent further develop their skill base. The winner for 2014 is Mangatangi/Pukekohe apprentice resident Sam Alderlieste. Developed in conjunction with the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), the scholarship launch comes at a time when the country needs new ‘life blood’ in order to cope with a
now at GARY PYES
number of regional building booms. According to Customkit managing director Michael Anselmi the aim of the scholarship is to support highly motivated and aspiring new apprentices in their studies. “Right now qualified carpenters are in demand. “The construction industry is the engine room of the New Zealand economy and carpenters are at the heart of the activity. As part of the country’s building landscape we believe
we have an obligation to help our talent pool grow,” Michael says. “For that reason we’re delighted to put our name on an activity that will help achieve this goal.” For the first year of the scholarship applications were limited to those from the South Auckland region, in order to allow for suitable and effective mentoring to be on offer. Helping out in this process is local builder Shane Fisher, Director of SE Fisher Builders Ltd, who has agreed to take Sam as
43 QUEEN ST, WAIUKU • PH 235 9711 • SAT: 9 - 4 • SUN: 10 - 3
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an apprentice. Anselmi says this local support will prove invaluable. Shane Fisher says his connection with Customkit is made even stronger through his support of the scholarship. “I’m all in favour of skill development and helping young people learn to become builders. I’m delighted that Sam will be working with me with the knowledge that Customkit is contributing to his success as well as my company’s skill base.”