TePuke NEWS
Cupreturnshome
Aftera12-yearabsence,an esteemedtrophy,namedafter SelwynHarris,whoestablishedthe surflifesavingbaseatPukehina,was
broughtbacktoitshomebeach. TheannualHarrisCupCarnival washostedatPukehinaSurf Rescue’snewly-constructed
clubhouserecently.Thecarnival saw259competitorsincluding82 fromPukehina,agedbetween5and 14yearsoldrepresentingŌpōtiki,
Whakatāne,MaketūandWaihīsurf lifeSavingclubs.Readmoreon page5.
Photo:JamieTroughton/DscribeMediaServices
TePuke NEWS Promotingwelfarethroughcricket
TePukeCricketClubpresident StephenCrossanwasadairy farmerwhenhefirstcameupwith theideaofacrosssectorcricket gametopromotewelfare.
Now,workwiseatleast,hisfeetare firmlyinthehorticulturecamp.
Theannualfarmerversusgrowergame wasstartedbyCrossanasavehicleto getthemessagesoftheFarmstrong initiativetofarmersandgrowers.
Farmstrongisanationwidewellbeing programmefortheruralcommunity.It aimstohelpfarmers,growersandtheir familiescopewiththeupsanddownsof farmingbysharingthingstheycando tolookafterthemselvesandthepeople intheirbusiness.
Itofferspracticaltoolsandresources whichincludetopicssuchasmanaging stressandpressure,sleep,nutrition, keeping‘farmfit’andschedulingrest andrecoverytime.
Crossanstartedthecricketgamesix yearsago.“Thewholeintentionofthe gameistogetfarmersandgrowersto down-toolsandhaveadayawayfrom thefarmororchard,gettogetherwith somelike-mindedpeopleandhavesome fun,”hesaid.
Thoseinvolvedintheprimarysector areoftenrenownedforstayingin theirownareaandperhapsbecoming isolated.
“Thisisforcingthemtogetoffthe farmandhavesomefun.”
Nowakiwifruitsprayingcontractor, Crossansaidhisallianceshaveprobably
CYCLINGANDPRESCRIPTIONSUNGLASSES
CanyouSEEwhenoutriding?
Doyouhavedifficulty:
•negotiatingthetrailwithlightchanges?
•findingroadsignshardtoread?
•readingyourwatchorcyclecomputer?
•keepingthemapclear?
Mostimportantly,doesyourskillleveldrop becauseyoucan’tfocus?
Askushowyoucanachieveoptimal visionforyourcyclingneedstoday.
changed.“NowI’vehadafootinboth camps,beingafarmer,andnow beinginvolvedinhorticulture,and Iknowthattheyarebothstressful, pressuredjobs.
“Peopletendtoworkhardandforget tolookafterthemselves.”
Hesaidthegameistraditionallya semi-seriousaffair.
“Everyone’splayingtowin,butIdon’t thinkanyone’sgoingtohavetheirhead takenoff.”
Thereisacoregroupofplayerswho frontupeveryyear,andmanyofthem haveplayedinallthepreviousgames,
buttherearealwaysnewplayersaswell.
“That’smygoal–everyyearIwant newpeople,tospreadthemessage.”
Kiwifruitpost-harvestcompanySeeka hascomeonboardasthemainsponsor forthisyear.
“Theyhaveprovidedsomemoneyto beabletomakethisfreeforeveryone andprovidefoodanddrinkfor playersandspectatorssowecandothis atzerocost.”
ThegamewillbeplayedatTePuke Domain,homeofTePukeCricketClub, onSunday,February22,withthefirst ballat1pm.
SeekaOakside 242RangiuruRd,TePuke 075738108,oaksidejobs@seeka.co.nz
SeekaTranspack YoungRd,TePuke 075736586,transpackjobs@seeka.co.nz
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StuartWhitaker
Theteamsatlastyear’sfarmerversusgrowercricketmatch. Photo:supplied
HeadofTePukeHighSchool
HarrisonMatthewshasalreadyfound newconfidencesincebecomingTe PukeHighSchoolheadboy.
HeadgirlBellaNgawhikasaidherdesireto beheadstudentbeganinYear9.
MatthewsandNgawhikaofficiallybegan intheirrolesatthestartofTerm1,buthave beenpreparingsincetheywereannounced asthesuccessfulcandidatesatlastyear’s seniorprizegiving.
Studentsmustputtheirnamesforward, andMatthewssaidhewaslookingtogetout ofhiscomfortzone.
“BeforeIstarteddrama,oneofourclasses, Iwasquiteashyperson.Ididn’tliketalking really,soIjustwantedtopushmylimits.”
Herecalledlatelastyeartalkingtoalarge groupofstudents.
“Iwasshaking.”
Hehasbeenworkingongaining confidence,pushinghislimitsandatthe startofterm1headdressedafullschool hall.
“Iwasn’tshaking–Iwasready.Ithink it’sjustbeenareallyincredible,the transformation,andhowIwentfromnot beingabletospeakinfrontof20ormore peopletobeingabletospeakinfrontofthe wholeschool.”
Goalsandaspirations
Ngawhikahasadesiretocarryonwith whatpastheadgirlshaveachievedandsaid shelikedtospicethingsup.
“WhenIwasinYear9,Iwaswatching EllenEmerson–shewasheadgirlwhenwe wereYear9–andIwas,like‘Isowanttobe justlikeher’.NowI’velivedthatdream.”
Shewantstouseherpositiontopushother MāoriandPasifkastudentsintoleadership roles.
“EspeciallyasMaoridon’tlookattheseroles assomethingtheycanaccomplish.That’s somethingIwanttoflipthenarrativeon.”
Bothhavebeenattheschoolsinceyear9.
MatthewswasastudentambassadoratTe PukeIntermediateSchool,ahousecaptain atPaengaroaPrimarySchoolandisaleader atTePukeScouts.
Ngawhika’spre-highschooleducationwas atPongakawaSchool.
InYear12,shewasthestudent representativeontheTePukeHighSchool BoardofTrustees.
“Itwasprettymassive.Iwasn’treally planningongoingforit,itjusthappened [becomingheadgirl].
“ButIwasabletodoalotofworkbehind thescenes,workingwiththeboard[on thingslike]gettingtheuniformreviewed.”
Shesaidshe’sastraightshooterwho tookthestudentvoicestraighttothe board.
Ngawhikahasalsobeenaleaderonthe school’sculturalcommitteeandhasled theschool’senvirocommitteesince2023.
“Kapahakaisveryimportanttome andifwasn’theadgirlIwouldhave beentheleader,butIdidn’twantto puttoomuchonmyself.”
Studiesandpasttimes
Asidefromherculturalinterests, Ngawhika’sstudyfocusedonthenonmainstreamsciences,likeagscience andhorticulture,aswellastereo Māori.
Matthewsdescribedhimselfasa schoolall-rounder.“I’mdecentat everythingandgoodatafewthings.”
Heenjoyedplayingbadmintonand footballandmountainbiking.
“I’mprettyinvolvedthroughout theschoolandI’monacoupleof committees.Ilovetobeasactive
aspossibleandtrytoparticipatein everythingithastooffer.”
Thatissomethinghewantedtopass ontotherestoftheschool
“Theschoolputsonallthese awesomeeventseachyearandI thinkparticipationismynumber onethingandIreallywanttoshow tootherstudentsoftheschoolthat participationisreallyimportant.Just comingandbeingapartofsomething reallyhelpsthewholeschoolgettothat mindsetthatweareallateam.
“Themoreengagedstudentsare,the bettertimetheyaregoingtohave.If youarehavingfuninschoolit’salot easiertolearn.”
Othergoalsweretopassonconcerns ofyoungerstudentsandtohelpmake improvementsattheschool.
“Asheadstudents,ourroleistobe leadersforthejuniors,andtheYear12s aswell,showingthemtheycanaccess thiskindofleadershipandthatthere’s
nobarriers,youjustneedtoputyour mindtoit,”saidNgawhika.
Thereisalsoanobligationtocheck onotherstudentleadersandgivethem directionand,saidMatthews,“keeping theraftafloat”.
Prettyspecial
“LastyearwespoketoTeRanga SchoolstudentcouncilandIletthe Year8sknowIwasgoingtobehere andnowtheyareYear9sandI’vehad themcomeuptome,theyrecognise me,”saidNgawhika.
“Ithoughtthatwasprettyspecialas they’vealreadymadetheconnection afterthemassiveleapfromprimaryto highschool.”
Theheadstudentswillrunthe school’sAnzaccommemorationand willalsospeakattheTePuke’scivic commemoration.Theyalsoleadthe studentexecutivecouncil.
StuartWhitaker
Te Puke High School head students Bella Ngawhika and Harrison Matthews
Pedalpowerraisesfundsforbikes
Studentsandteachersat TePukePrimarySchool aredelightedtohavea shedfullofbrand-new bikesthankstoahuge fundraisingeffortbythe community.
Theschoolused‘Climbing forCharity’runbythe cycletourcompanyRide Holidaystoraise$17,500 for30bikesandhelmets. Tenpeoplealsodonated $500eachtosponsor10 bikes.
OrganiserPeterBoomen saidparticipantsrodeup anddownthesteephillof ReidRd16timestocover 5000verticalmetresacross threedaysinOctoberto raisemoney.
“Thegoalwas$15,000 sowewenttoPāpāmoa Peddlerstorecruitriders andendedupwithabout15 peopletrackingtheirruns onStrava,”hesaid.“Then Iwentaroundvarious companiestosponsorthe riders.”
“Theschoolnowhasbikes thatrangefrom16-inch withtrainingwheelsright uptowhat’salmostan adult-sizedbike,a24-inch,” saidAlexMundtfrom MyRideTePuke.“It’sgood
TePukePrimarySchoolstudentsYear5KydenHira,9;Year6LewisBryans,10;
tohelpoutthelocalschoolsandfor kidswho’veneverhadabikebefore, itsparksthatinterest.”
Payingitforward
PrincipalAndreaDancesaidthe projecthasenabledthemto‘payit forward’byhandingovertheirolder bikestoanotherschool.
“Lotsofchildrencan’tbringtheir bikestoschool,sotheygetthe opportunitytodevelopthoseskills hereandforsomeit’stheirfirst timelearningtoride.Wegrewup ridingbikestoschoolandthatwas thenorm,butourroadsaren’tthat safeanymore,sothisgivesthem
thechancetogetthatexercisedaily. Howtrulyblessedarewetohave acommunitylikeTePukethat completelywrapsaroundourchildren forwellbeing.We’rereallylucky.”
Theschoolwillnextturnits fundraisingeffortstowardsanewbike track.“Thisbikeshedisutilisedday inanddayout,”saidDance.
“Morningteaandlunchtime, childrenareridingbikes.
"They’redevelopingconfidence, managingthemselvesandthey’re takingafewrisksonthehillsand obstacles.Weseeitasanimportant partofschool.”
Formerchiefexecutive returntorole
WesternBayofPlentywillhaveafamiliarface leadingitscouncilwiththeappointmentof MiriamTarisasinterimchiefexecutive.
TariswillreplaceJohnHolyoake,whoresignedfrom theWesternBayofPlentyDistrictCouncil'stopjob onJanuary20.
Tarisstartedatthecouncilin2008,spendingsix yearsasitsmanagerofcorporateandplanningservices thenbecamechiefexecutivefrom2014to2021. Holyoaketookontheroleafterherresignation.
ThecouncilappointedTaristotheinterimroleatits meetingonFebruary18.
ShewilltakeupthepositiononMarch31andis expectedtokeeptheroleuntilearly-2026,whenanew chiefexecutivewillbefound.
Therecruitmentprocessforanewchiefexecutivewill beginfollowingtheLocalBodyElectionsinOctober. Since2021,Tarishasheldseveralinterimchief executiverolesinlocalgovernment,includingatSouth WaikatoDistrictCouncil,NewPlymouthDistrict CouncilandwithTaituarā,theprofessionalbodyfor localgovernmentprofessionals.
Sheiscurrentlyassistinginaseniorroleat WellingtonCityCouncil.
Perhapssomeoneyouknowhasbeentouchedbycancer,ormaybeyoujust wanttosportanewdoforagoodcause.Whateveryourstory,byshavingthis Marchyou’llhelpraisevitalfundsforKiwislivingwithbloodcancer.
DebbieGriffiths
withAlexMundtfromMyRideTePukeandYear2JadaRatu,5.
Photo:DebbieGriffiths
Triumphantvictoryatsurfcarnival
PukehinaSurfRescuecelebratedatriumphant victoryattheannualHarrisCupCarnival earlierthismonth.
Aftera12-yearabsence,thetrophy,namedafter SelwynHarris,whoestablishedthesurflifesavingbase atPukehina,wasbroughtbacktoitshomebeach.
TheeventwashostedatPukehinaSurfRescue’snewly constructedclubhouseandbroughttogetherjuniorsurf
lifesaversfromacrosstheEasternBayofPlentyfora dayoffriendlycompetitionandskilldevelopment.
Thecarnivalsaw259competitorsincluding82from Pukehina,agedbetween5and14yearsoldrepresenting Ōpōtiki,Whakatāne,Maketū,andWaihīSurfLife SavingClubs.
Thevariousbeachandwateractivitiesshowcasedtheir skillsanddetermination.
PukehinaSurfRescuechairmanAndrewMcDowell expressedhisprideintheclub’sachievement.
“ReclaimingtheHarrisCupafter12yearsisa testamenttothehardworkanddedicationofour younglifesavers,”hesaid.
“Thiscarnivalisafantasticopportunityforour memberstoexperiencecompetitioninasupportive environment,andit’swonderfultoseehowtheirskills andconfidencehavedevelopedthroughouttheseason.”
TheHarrisCupCarnivalhasarichhistoryinthe regionandthiswasthe16thyearithasbeenheld.
Ithasbecomeakeyeventinthejuniorsurfcalendar, fosteringcamaraderieandskilldevelopmentamongthe nextgenerationoflifesavers.
Thesuccessoftheeventwasthankstothetireless effortsofvolunteers,officials,andhelpers,aswellas
theenthusiasticsupportfromthelocalcommunity, saidMcDowell.
“Theircheersandencouragementspurredthe competitorstogivetheirallthroughouttheday.”
ThePukehinaBeachclubisnowlookingforwardto defendingitstitleatfuturecarnivals.”
McDowellsaidtheclubcontinuestodemonstrateits commitmenttonurturingyoungtalentandpromoting watersafetyinthecommunity,withthenewclubhouse servingasasymboloftheirongoingdevelopmentand dedicationtosurflifesaving. StuartWhitaker
Gus Ferguson. Bella Abraham chats to Harper and Evelyn Todd. Luke Schenk.
Beau Graham.
Pippi Adams
Local Classifieds YourServiceProfessionals Directry
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EARS
WinterSportsApplicationsfor2025 Season(1Aprilto30September)
Promptlocalservicewithover20yrsexperience.
CallAndynowforafreequoteon 0800747787or0273134386
Bookonlineat www.healthyears.nz
0277660389 info@healthyears.nz 8AOxfordStreet,TePuke,3119
TheWesternBayofPlentyDistrictCouncilisrenewingsports eld/hardcourtbookingsforthecomingwinterseason.There isnochargetothepublicforthis.However,SportsClubsand casualusersstillneedtobookelds/hardcourtstoensure availability.BookingsalsoallowCounciltomonitorusageand predictfuturedemand,aswellasmanagemaintenance,like mowingandturfrenovations,aroundfacilityuse.
Pleaseapplyinwritingassoonaspossible.Applicationformsare availablefromtheCouncilwebsitewww.westernbay.govt.nz,or bytelephoning,0800926732.
WrittenapplicationstoWesternBayofPlentyDistrictCouncil, PrivateBag12803,TaurangaMailCentre,Tauranga3143,or e-mailreservebookings@westernbay.govt.nz.
JohnHolyoake ChiefExecutiveOfcer Mātōtātouhapori
Date: Saturday15March2025
Location: TePapaiouru-Tamatekapua Wharenui Time: 10am
NgatiWhakaue-Naumaihaeremai
AttherecentNov232024AGMaresolutionwas passedfor: ‘TKNtocallaSGMinthenewyearto discussrepresentationonTKN’.
Therewillbeashortpresentationsummarising thekorerofromtheAGM.
Thisisanopportunityforanopenkoreroon perceivedissuesofthecurrentrepresentation model.ZOOMfacilityavailableforthosewho cannotmakekanohiKitekanohi.
TherewillbenovotingattheSGM.Korerowillbe recordedfortheBoardofTrusteestotakeaway andconsider.Findingswillbepresentedbackto theIwiatalaterdatetobeadvised.
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Anyqueriesto: pauline@whakaue.org–0272771091
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Ifyouareinterested inlearninghowto playbridge,lessons forbeginners commence Thursday6thMarch from7pm-9pm attheClubRoom situatedon QueenStreet, TePuke. Weareasmall friendlyand welcomingclub. Forfurther information, Pleasering Lorraineon 0278398618
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TEPUNA 29I'ansonRoad
OrganicKiwifruitProductionBlock
29AI'AnsonRoadisa5.6035hectareorganicgreenandgoldproductionblocknestledintheheartofTePuna'sprimeproductionbeltand surroundinglifestylezone.
Theproductionblockhasatotal3.46canopyhectares.
1.68canopyhectaresofHaywardGreenkiwifruit.Earlystartforwellover10years.TheGreenispickedinMarch/April.FirstweekOrganicearly start,startsoneweeklaterthanconventional.
1.78canopyhectaresofG3Goldkiwifruit.Earlystart2021,2022,theGoldispickedmid-April.
TheorchardisrunasanOrganicorchard.ItisimportanttonotethattheGoldlicenceisaconventionalG3Licencethereforeyouhavethe optionofstayingorganicormovingtoG3conventionalgrowing.Theorchardisdividedinto5blocksofvaryingsizes.Block3hasapotential housesitewhichwouldbeperfectlypositionedtocapturethesunalongwithviewsoveraslightlylowerpieceoftheproperty. Thereisa2bayLettsgarageshedwithasinglerollerdoorwhichhousestheorchardmachinery,thestafftoiletandthechemicalstore.Thisisa veryattractiveorganicproductionblockwithexcellentproductionfigures.ApotentialhousesiteandproximitytoTePunatownshipmakes thisauniqueandattractiveproposition. PhoneoremailforthefullInformationMemorandum.
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