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Planting day at Glendhu Bay PAGE 2
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Wanaka’s Bex Sinclair (pictured) was the first New Zealander, in 14th place in women’s halfpipe. The result moves her back into the top 30 New Zealand ranking and earns her a spot on the Winter Olympic team. Bex will compete in the last three Olympic qualifying events in the Northern Hemisphere later this year.
Fly My Pretties PAGE 4
PHOTO: WANAKA.TV
Police wanting information Caroline Harker Wanaka Sun
Oh deer PAGE 7
Wanaka’s first cyclocross champs PAGE 9
sunviews PAGE 11
Police want to hear from anyone with possible leads about an incident where a man in a dark-coloured vehicle with tinted windows approached a 10-year-old boy after school last Wednesday (August 21). “We haven’t resolved it yet,” Youth Aid Constable Phil Vink said. “We are concerned that person is still out and about.” The boy’s parents posted this on facebook immediately after the incident; “Keep our kids safe. Please spread the word…Our 10-year-old boy was approached biking home from Wanaka Primary School today by a man in a car on Matariki Place. He was asked to get into the car and told he’d be taken to his dad. Thankfully years of training paid off. The police are informed but let’s close in around our kids and keep our community safe.” Phil Vink said this is the second incident on Matariki Place this year.
“It’s the same location but we don’t know if it’s the same person,” he said. Police are still canvassing the neighbourhood and are policing the area. They have also been into the schools with advice for pupils, staff and parents, and schools have alerted families to be extra vigilant. Constable Vink said children
transient and visitor populations, people are not surprised if they see someone they don’t know in their street.” Phil said many parents are ensuring children are not walking to school alone. “There’s a big focus on that, including at [Mount Aspiring] College.” Phil said it was
I can totally understand the parents’ fears, but it is important not to get things out of perspective. can usually sense if things are not right. “If someone approaches a child, it’s about if the child feels something is wrong. We advise children that if this happens to them they should get away from the person, and tell someone about it,” he said. “People need to realise that Wanaka is no different from any other community; we have the same dangers. Also, with large
very important that five and sixyear-olds are accompanied by older children or an adult. “At that age they are very vulnerable,” he said. Meanwhile, this week QLDC Travel Plan Coordinator Kirsty Barr is meeting parents at Wanaka primary schools to hear their views on safe travel for children. While the meetings are a follow-on from last year’s survey, and not due
to the stranger incident, Kirsty said the issues overlap. “I can totally understand the parents’ fears, but it is important not to get things out of perspective,” she said. “Statistically the situation is no different from what it was 20 years ago. It is always important for parents to have talked to their children so the kids know what to do.” Kirsty’s job entails finding ways to make it easier and safer for children to walk, bike or bus to school. “Parents’ biggest concern is probably crossing points [where children have to cross roads],” she said. “We need more volunteers.” Kirsty set up a walking school bus for children going from Mount Iron to the primary schools last year. There is a pool of about ten adults who walk with the children. “Ideally we would have other volunteers who could look after crossing points,” she said. “That would help keep children safe from strangers as well as from traffic.”