Wednesday March 12, 2025
Popular event
By Frank Neill
The Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade’s Open Day on Saturday 8 March proved a huge success. The day was “very good,” the brigade’s Chief Fire Officer Peter Thompson says.
Continued on page 2.
Florence Neal, who is 2½ years old, holding the hose with her mother Sally Neal and bush firefighter Jesse Wicksteed. Photo: Frank Neill.
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Close to 1,000 at brigade’s Open Day
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Continued from page 1
“There was a great turnout from the public.
“We reckon there was probably close to 1,000 people,” he says.
“All the displays were well attended and there was lots of information going out.”
At the Open Day there was an opportunity for people to look into becoming a volunteer with the brigade, and about four or five people are interested in joining, CFO Thompson says.
“There were also a number of home fire safety visit requests and we will check their houses out for fire safety advice.”
This is a free service that the brigade provides Wainuiomata residents.
The Open Day, which ran from 10am to 3pm, gave people a chance to see what the Wainuiomata brigade is all about.
The programme included a series of demonstrations.
One demonstration saw fire-
fighters cutting open a car to rescue a driver, showing people how that is done. Once the car was cut open, paramedics and firefighters then placed a person acting as “injured” onto a stretcher.
Another demonstration showed what people should do and what they shouldn’t do if they have a pot of fat catch fire in their kitchen.
It showed the massive burst of flames that came up from the fat fire after a small amount of water was used in an attempt to put the
fire out.
People also saw that using a flat object that did not burn easily extinguished the fire.
Another display was put on by the Wainuiomata team that has been taking part in the Waterway Challenge, a competition where firefighters need to employ their operational skills.
As well as seeing what fire
fighting was all about, people attending the Open Day also saw what other emergency and assistance services are doing to help the community.
The Wainuiomata Community Patrol, Neighbourhood Support, the Wainuiomata Bush Fire Brigade, the Police Dive Squad, the local Police, Wellington Region Emergency Management Office, and the Hutt City Emergency Response team were all at the Open Day. Wellington Free Ambulance was also there, providing lessons in CPR, along with their involvement with the extraction of the “injured” person after the car was cut open.
Continued on page 4
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Firefighters demonstrating how they cut open a car to free an injured driver. Photo: Frank Neill.
Four-year-old Kimiora Teiwimate holding the hose with bush firefighter Jesse Wicksteed. Photo: Frank Neill.
Firefighters and ambulance paramedics just after they had placed an “injured” driver on a stretcher.
Photo: Frank Neill.
Local groups given notice to move
By Frank Neill
Community groups using the old Wainuiomata College and Intermediate buildings are now searching for new accommodation or closing down.
This comes in the wake of them receiving one month’s notice to vacate from the building owner, Taranaki Wh nui ki te Upoko o te Ika.
The date they have been given to vacate in their letter of notice is 28 March.
“Following expert advice our board has made the difficult decision to close the building”, the letter of notice says.
That was happening because of “significant safety concerns that require immediate attention.”
Just one of the community groups using the buildings, the K hanga Reo, has not been given notice.
A large number of community groups are having to close down or leave.
These include the Koha Shed, the Wainuiomata Little Theatre, the Menz Shed, the Boxing Club, the Judo Club, Rock n Roll, a local artist and more.
The Koha Shed, which has helped so many people in the community, announced that it would be closing on 5 March.
Run by Jo Bryant, the Koha Shed is an initiative where people are able to giveand share what they no longer have use for.
Is is all about “the art of giving (what you no longer need) and taking (what you need for you and your family),” Jo says.
“I just want to thank the community ... for your wonderful support for me and my team. We could not have done this without your support,” Jo said when announcing that the Koha Shed would close.
Losing the space they have been given notice to quit means that the Wainuiomata Little Theatre will have neither storage space nor a performance space in Wainuiomata, the theatre’s President Trevor Williams says.
“It’s a bit dire.
“We’ve started looking at storage options,” Trevor says.
Continued on page 6
TRM training’s latest graduation
TRM Training held their latest graduation on 6 March with a team of seven rangatahi who successfully graduated with the NZQA Level 3 Certificate in Horticulture through the private training establishment called LandbasedTraining.
This group of rangatahi completed the TRM 10 Week Whakamana Tane course in 2023 then moved onto the level 1 and 2 Certificate in Horticulture with Tama Houpapa as their first enrolment in October of that year.
The graduation is a significant milestone for each tane.
High School is not for everyone and for this team of tane they have applied themselves over the past two years with TRM and have succeeded in their academic pursuits.
TRM acknowledges this achievement alongside its partners Wainuiomata Marae and the Valley Church.
Each tane is now resetting their goals and looking to their next learning destination of employment or apprenticeship. Most have either restricted or their full
The graduates of the latest TRM Training graduation. Photo: Supplied.
licence, hold a current St Johns First Aid Certificate and have established solid work habits along with a positive hopeful attitudefor employment.
“If you are in the lookingzone for a new, young, strong, intelligentand reliable employee then contact Angus at TRM Training (find us on Facebook) for some great CVs,” TRM Training says.
“These tane are your next best future employee.”
Pool closed
The Wainuiomata swimming pool is now closed for the winter.
The pool closed on Saturday 9 March.
Business breakfast
Love Wainuiomata’s next “Wainui Connections” Breakfast will be held on Thursday 27 March at the Wainuiomata Community Hub.
The doors will open for the breakfast, which is being sponsored by Mitre 10 Mega Wellington, at 6:30am and the event will begin at 7am. Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry and Mitre 10 MEGA Petone, Upper Hutt and Porirua Chief Operating Officer Sandi Lockyer will be the guest speakers.
“Wainui Connections” has been set up to help business owners and entrepreneurs in the valley build professional networks that will help Wainuiomata thrive.
Its aim is to foster a sense of community and contribute to the sustainable growth and prosperity of Wainuiomata businesses as a whole.
Submissions wanted
The public is invited to provide feedback on two key strategies that will shape a resilient sustainable future for Lower Hutt. Hutt City Council’s Sustainable Growth Strategy 2025-2055 and Proposed District Plan are open for public consultation until 4 April. The two documents are available at haveyoursay.huttcity.govt.nz.
The current Wainuiomata Little Theatre’s home that they need to move out of. Photo: Frank Neill.
One of the buildings community groups need to vacate this month. This one houses the Menz Shed and the Koha Shed. Photo: Frank Neill.
Continued from page 2
The brigade hosted a barbecue at the Open Day, thanks to donations of sausages and bread, and all the proceeds will go to the K kiri Marae’s Pataka Kai.
The Open Day featured plenty for the tamariki, too.
Being able to hold a fire hose, helped by a firefighter, was very popular.
There was also a junior combat challenge, a smaller version of the combat challenge teams of fire fighters from throughout New Zealand take part in.
The junior challenge included dragging an object along the ground as well as other challenges.
Hutt City Council’s play trailer was at the event and there was a face painter.
The brigade also ran a colouring competition for children.
There were four age categories in the colouring competition: under 5, 5-7, 8-10 and 11-12.
LOCAL TRADES
Four-year-old Xanthia McMillan taking part in a junior challenge, helped by firefighter Conrad Rupp. Photo: Frank Neill.
Firefighters demonstrating how they cut open a car to free an injured driver.
Photo: Frank Neill.
The huge burst of flames that happens after water is used in a bid to put out a fat fire. Photo: Frank Neill.
Wainuiomata’s first fire engine on show at the Open Day.
Photo Frank Neill.
The welcome sign outside the Wainuiomata Fire Station. Photo Frank Neill.
Forum on better bus services
By Frank Neill
Wainuiomata people wanting better bus services will have an opportunity to find out about how they can help achieve that.
A community forum on buses will be held at the Wainuiomata Hub (Library) at 7:30pm on Thursday 20 March.
All Wainuiomata residents are invited to the forum, where they will hear about and discuss various options for improving Wainuiomata’s bus services.
Hosted by Greater Wellington Regional Councillors Ken Laban and Quentin Duthie, Hutt City Councillor Keri Brown, Wainuiomata Community Board member Tamsyn Harker and others, the meeting will include a short presentation about the draft Regional Public Transport Plan and how to make a submission.
“This month residents have the opportunity to get bus improvement ideas into a [Greater Wellington Regional] Council plan so Metlink can work on implementing them over time as funding allows,” Cr Duthie says.
“There have been calls for direct bus routes to Wellington, the Hospital and Seaview/ Petone, better Waterloo connections, as
LETTERS to the editor
well as ideas for a within-Wainuiomata circuit and extending the 160 further up Wise Street.
“How would these benefit you? Which are the highest priority?
“Coming together to discuss them will help the community make powerful submissions on the plan.
“It will also help Metlink and Councillors as we analyse feedback and make decisions.” Cr Duthie says.
“Wainuiomata is the largest suburb in Lower Hutt and growing quickly,” Cr Brown says.
“With many residents relying on public transport for work, school and recreation it’s clear that our services aren’t keeping up with demand.
“As a large and expanding community we need better transport options to ensure everyone can move around easily and efficiently.
“Over the past six years Wainuiomata has transformed. Our new town centre and incoming business show our growth, even as other areas struggle to retain theirs.
“Now we must ensure our public transport system reflects this progress.
“I encourage you to attend the upcoming
Care at road works
Dear Editor,
I see a lot of people not obeyingroadworks speed zones.Thechip sealon Wainuiomata Roadwas one example.There were signssaying 30.
Ihad thispersonso closeup my rear endhe would have smelt my exhaustfumes.
I couldn’tgoany fasterwith along queue. Istuck to3and4car lengthsto avoidsudden stops.
Maybethesetypesof peopleneed a refresher course in road safety.
One thing I can’tfigureout whypeople aresoin arush to die. More speed, morecarnage. This Governmentisnot a goodexample toyoung ones. They putthe speedupagainknowingit kills.
Yougetaleadertrying to drivea 4x4up Parliamentstepsand only get asmack on the hand (Naughty Boy) from thecurrent Prime Minister. Iam notgoing to mention namesfor legal reasons. But isthata good example to young ones?
Well youknow what to doat thenext election. Putin a party thatwon’t clown around.
When youfail tokeep to theroad works signsyou are putting theworkers at high risk. If it says 30 do 30 not 50.
By the way, people don’t like having theirwindscreens cracked.
Learn tousethe throttlegently. Take that brick off yourthrottle called afoot.
Peter Wells
Preparing to race again
By Frank Neill
Wainuiomata motorcyclist Shane Richardson is currently preparing to race in the 2025 British Supersport Championship.
Riding a Suzuki GSXR750, Shane will line up when the championship kicks off on 2 May at Oulton Park.
His first task will be to qualify and this will see him compete against some 50 to 60 riders.
This will be Shane’s second year in this championship after a rebuilding year in 2024 where he finished the championship in ninth position overall.
“I will be competing with backing from HIPPO Waste, a waste removal company here in the UK and it will be my second year partnered with them after a successful 2024 season,” Shane says.
“I anticipate after eight years away from New Zealand racing bikes that this will be my last full season abroad.
meeting so we can listen and discuss how to better serve our community’s evolving needs,” Cr Brown says.
Greater Wellington Regional Council is currently consulting on its draft 2025-35 Regional Public Transport Plan.
People can make submissions on the plan between now and 28 March.
More information on the plan and the consultation are on the “have your say” section of Greater Wellington Regional Council’s website.
Regional Public Transport Plan public consultation
Greater Wellington is commencing public consultation on the draft Wellington Regional Public Transport Plan 2025 - 2035.
Public consultation will run from Monday 3 March to 5pm, Friday 28 March 2025.
The draft Wellington Regional Public Transport Plan 2025 - 2035 can be downloaded at gw.govt.nz/RPTP-current-and-review, or a copy can be inspected at the following locations:
• Wellington City Council
• Porirua City Council
• Kāpiti Coast District Council
• Hutt City Council
• Upper Hutt City Council
• South Wairarapa District Council
• Carterton District Council
• Masterton District Council
Submissions can be made through the Have Your Say website gw.govt.nz/RPTP-survey. Alternatively, email RPTP2025@gw.govt.nz or post to PO Box 11646, Manners St, Wellington 6142
Greater Wellington Regional Councillor Quentin Duthie checking out buses in Wainuiomata. Photo: Frank Neill.
Shane Richardson in action. Photo: Supplied.
WANTED
Newspaper Deliverers
The Wainuiomata News requires deliverers in the following areas on a Wednesday each week:
AREA 1: Faulke Ave, Burden Ave, part of Wood St 270 papers
AREA 2: Hamstead, Enfield, part Wellington, Kendall 220 papers
Continued from page 3
Finding places to store the theatre’s gear is the priority over finding a performance space.
“Finding storage space is proving something of a challenge as there are not many of these spaces in Wainuiomata.”
The fact that they will need to move has also meant that the Little Theatre is putting its proposed 2025 show on hold.
“When we were given notice we were in the midst of planning for a show in November. “We had made some arrangements ... and acquired the rights [to the show, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”], which is a big deal. “We’ve spent a fair few dollars on it,” Trevor says.
“We had a team ready to go and the next minute the letter [giving one month’s notice] dropped, and everything is on hold now.” Last Thursday the CEO of the trust that owns the land and the buildings met with tenants. “It seems like they are not going to enforce the one month requirement, but there’s no guarantee of that,” Trevor says.
The Wainuiomata Menz Shed will face losing both its loved railway and its workshops, the President, Peter Lawrence says.
The Menz Shed has been looking at where it can move and “there are two options at the moment.” One is Bilderbeck Hall and the other is a unit at the Masonic Village. Although both those options meant that the railway and the workshop would have to go, it would at least mean that the group had somewhere to meet. “It’s an absolutely huge loss,” Peter says.
AREA 3: Dover Rd, Westminster Rd, part of Wellington Rd 385 papers
AREA 4: Hair St, Rowe Parade, Gibbs Cres, part of Main - 280 papers
AREA 5: Meremere St, Manurewa Gr, Mataura Gr - 300 papers
AREA 6: Frederick St, Derwent St, Mackay St- 260 papers
AREA 7: Wright St, Hyde St, part of Moohan St - 300 papers
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Situation Vacant
Photo: Frank Neill.
Photo: Frank Neill.
Three local Ki o Rahi champions
By Frank Neill
Three KĪ o Rahi teams from Wainuiomata High School’s Te Kura Matua o Wainuiomata are 2025 Wellington Regional champions.
The premier boys team, the premier mixed team and the junior boys team all won their finals at the Sport Wellington KĪ o Rahi Championships, hosted by Wainuiomata High School on 5 and 6 March.
Following a hard-fought final, the premier boys emerged the chamipions when they defeated Te Ara Wh nui, from Alicetown.
The premier mixed team won the Wellington title when they defeated Mana College in the final.
They will now travel to compete in the National KĪ o Rahi Championships, to be held in Palmerston North on 10 and 11 April.
The junior boys team became
the division two champions when they beat Te Kura M ori o Porirua in the final.
The girls team also performed well with a podium placing when they finished third.
Te Kura Matua o Wainuiomata’s under 19 girls Waka Ama team also performed outstandingly in the Wellington regional championships, held at Titahi Bay on 8 March.
Despite having a number of their team much younger than other teams, they finished second in the W6 500 metres.
They also only just missed out on a podium finish in the W6 250 metres race by a mere one second when they finished fourth.
The team is now preparing for the National Waka Ama Championships, to he held in Rotorua on 24 March.
Wainuiomata Cricketers in good position
By Frank Neill
The Wainuiomata premier men’s Cricketers looked to have batted themselves into a good position by stumps on day one of their match against North City at Linden Park on 8 March.
North City batted first and declared their innings at 303 for eight wickets.
Wainuiomata reached 229 for
the loss of five wickets at the close of day one of the two-day Cricket Wellington division two match.
Callum Mackaness shone with the bat, reaching his century and going on to score 105.
Yesh Prashanth also batted outstandingly and finished the day on 40 not out.
Jackson Hemmingway performed well with both the ball and the bat.
After taking three wickets for 74
he scored 32.
Ryan Jackson also featured with both the ball and the bat, taking two wickets for 54 and scoring 28.
Gurpreet Singh took two wickets for 47 and Tanuj Ahuja one wicket for 46.
The Wainuiomata premier women were not able to secure a win in their top-of-the table clash with the Taita Queens at Fraser Park on
9 March.
Batting first, Wainuiomata scored 171 for the loss of four wickets in their 20 overs.
The Queens overtook that total without loss, taking 17 overs.
Marina McCarthy was Wainuiomata’s top scorer with 38 and Sarah Sanders scored 36.
Natasha Morgan was on 22 not out when the 20 overs was up.
Despite the loss, Wainuiomata
still leads the Cricket Wellington division 3 table with just one match left to play this season.
Wainuiomata and the Taita Queens both sit on 54 points, with Wainuiomata in the lead as they have scored 11 wins while the Queens have scored 10.
Wainuiomata’s final match sees them meet Upper Hutt United at Trentham Memorial Park on 15 March.
The champion premier boys Kī o Rahi team. Photo: Supplied.
The champion premier mixed Kī o Rahi team. Photo: Supplied.
The champion junior boys Kī o Rahi team. Photo: Supplied.
Many species vulnerable to climate change
A major assessment released by the Department of Conservation (DOC) has shown many of New Zealand’s native plants and animals are in for a rough time as climate change impacts increase.
The assessment looked at 1,145 species of birds, bats, lizards and frogs, as well as land-based invertebrates and plants, to identify the most vulnerable which can then be prioritised for conservation action to help protect them from climate change impacts.
Of the species assessed, 351 or 31% were classified as highly vulnerable to climate change by the mid-21stcentury, rising to 746 (65%) by late century.
DOC Senior Science Advisor and the report’s lead author, Anni Brumby said New Zealand is a hotspot for seabirds and known as the world’s seabird capital, which makes the changing climate a global survival issue.
“Seabirds travel internationally, but many depend on New Zealand’s territory for their breeding grounds.
“When we looked at climate change pressures such as projected sea level rise and warmer temperatures, 50% of seabirds were assessed as highly vulnerable to climate change by mid-century,”
Ms Brumby says.
“Snares penguin only breeds on one island and may have nowhere to go if climate conditions change drastically.
“Tara iti/fairy tern – New Zealand’s rarest bird – was found to be particularly vulnerable to climate change, as projected higher spring tides and increased storm surges could impact their Northland beach breeding ground and warmer temperatures could put additional stress on adults, chicks and eggs.”
All five New Zealand bat species were assessed as vulnerable by the late 21stcentury.Bats are already under pressure from predators, habitat loss and human disturbance, which will only get more extreme as climate change progresses.
Many native plants identified as highly vulnerable in the assessment are already critically endangered and confined to rare ecosystems.
P ngao, a taonga coastal plant species, is highly vulnerable to projected increases in coastal flooding and sea surges.
Reptiles and frogs already have small, highly fragmented populations. Climate change is predicted to increase the impact of current pressures, including habitat loss and introduced predators.The most vulnerable lizards include both
alpine and coastal species.
Ms Brumby says the large number of species assessed as highly vulnerable reflects the specialised habitats and threatened status of many native species due to small population sizes, limited distributions, and low reproductive rates.
“DOC’s ongoing work programme is focused on prioritising species and habitats where we can make the most difference.
“We know that when pressures are managed through tools such as invasive pest eradication, nature is restored and in turn, species and habitats become more resilient in the face of pressures including climate change.
“We also need innovative solutions such as establishing ‘insurance’ populations of rare species that could become extinct in a single extreme weather event and implementing nature-based solutions to help control climate-related erosion, for example.
“This information isn’t only useful for DOC. We also expect that other agencies, environmental NGOs, iwi, and communities will find this valuable data helpful to take action for nature,” Ms Brumby says. DOC will continue its climate
change adaptation research with risk assessments underway, focusing on highly vulnerable species to help identify any immediate action
needed to prevent irreversible losses.
DOC’s assessment is available on its website.
A fairy tern. Photo: Jacob Ball.