17 April Wainuiomata News

Phone (04) 587 1660

ONLINE: www.issuu.com/wsn11

WELLINGTON SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS

REPORTER

Frank Neill

wainui@wsn.co.nz

027 490 3916

SALES

Les Whiteside

les@wsn.co.nz

021 360 008

NATIONAL SALES

Sam Barnes

sam@wsn.co.nz

021 109 4406

CLASSIFIED SALES classifieds@wsn.co.nz

Record after just three days training

Continued from page 1

And she set the new mark, which was undergoing ratification when the “Wainuiomata News” went to print, after just three days of training.

“I was really happy and proud,” Ruby says.

“I enjoyed coming first because I felt successful and I made my parents proud.

“I love shot put.

“Shaka Sola had taught me to do shot put properly in three days. I’ve only been training for three days.

“I was worrying as I’d only been working with him for a short time, but on the day I practised what he taught and it all came together,” Ruby says.

In the future, she says, she would like to compete in the Olympic Games.

“She did really well at the North Island championships,” says Shaka, who runs the Lower Hutt-based Solapower Throwing Academy, which aims to develop young throwers into elite athletes.

“It was great.”

“The exciting part is what’s to come for her,” Shaka says, predicting that Ruby will have a great future in shot put.

“It’s good to see someone from Wainuiomata getting a medal,” he adds.

This was not Ruby’s first shot put competition.

She also competed in this event at the Wellington Regional Cham-

pionships on 26 March, winning the shot put.

Realising she loved the event, she decided to begin training with Shaka.

As well as winning the shot put at the North Island Championships, Ruby also claimed gold in the long jump and silver in the 100 metres and 200 metres.

Not only did Ruby excel in the competitions, she also shone in demonstrating Wainuiomata High School values.

Ruby noticed a girl called Amelia from Wairarapa College who was really nervous and too scared to start the 100 metres race.

“I saw her really worried – super worried,” Ruby says.

“She had her own teacher aide with her. The teacher aide tried to calm her down [but] she kept trying to climb the fence.

“I saw all of her nervousness and decided to help her.

“I hugged her and then she calmed down. I took Amelia’s hand and we did the race together.”

Amelia went on to win the race with Ruby finishing second.

Ruby was one of two Wainuiomata High School students who competed in the athletes with intellectual disabilities sections at the North Island Secondary Schools Track and Field Championship.

Braydon Henare Time also performed outstandingly.

He won the long jump, setting a new personal best of 3 metres 77 centimetres, 7 centimetres better

Ruby Lasini putting the shot. Photo: Shaka Sola. than his previous personal best, set at the Wellington Regional Championships.

Braydon also finished second in the 100 metres.

A team of five neuro-diverse students from Wainuiomata High School competed in the Wellington Regional Championships.

Ruby won the shot put and long jump, was second in the 200 metres and third in the 100 metres.

Braydon was second in the 200 metres and javelin, third in the long jump and fourth in the 100 metres.

Nigel Waenga won gold in the 200 metres and 400 metres.

Deandre Guy was first in the long jump and second in the 100 metres and Joe Koloa also competed.

“We encourage sports in Learning Support at Wainuiomata High School,” the unit’s head teacher Emily Goldie says.

“Every Wednesday we aim to do active movement. We think it’s a really important life skill for our

students.

“So far this term, we have participated in the WRC ‘Movin’ March’, we partnered with Moana [Kuma] and The Wainuiomata Rugby Club for Rippa Rugby [and] we entered a College Sport Wellington Rippa Rugby tournament.

“This was for mainstream students but we decided to enter Learning Support anyway.

“The students had an awesome time. The students from Wainuiomata High School and other schools supported them and included them in.

“It was great to see neuro-diverse and neuro-typical side by side enjoying sports.

“We also won the Athletes With Disabilities Netball competition earlier in the term.

“We are so proud of all our students in Learning Support because of the way they participate and support each other on the sports field,” Emily says.

Young film maker scoops top award

Wainuiomata Intermediate Year

7 student Vatau Sagaga won the supreme award for Best Film in the 2024 Pasifika Youth Short Film competition.

The competition’s awards, dubbed the Alofa Awards were presented at a red carpet ceremony in Wellington last week.

The film, “A Different Awakening” which Vatau created with his cousin Fraser Fatialofa is about the controversial dawn raids policy of the 1970s.

“I was surprised when our film was read out as the winner but we are really happy to get the award,” Vatau says.

“It was very special to have my grandpa in the film to share his stories about the dawn raids,”

The film was described by the Pacific Media Network as “captivating audiences with its poignant narrative showcasing the wisdom derived from intergenerational dialogue."

The competition and Alofa Awards are run by Poporazzi Productions, a Wellington company which promotes story telling by film among Pasifika youth.

Poporazzi ran workshops in January this year for Year 7 to 13 students which Vatau and Fraser attended.

“I loved the workshops. I am

so grateful Poporazzi offer this opportunity for tamaiti who are interested in making films,” Fraser says.

Poporazzi’s co-founder Pulotu Tupe Solomon-Tanoa’i speaks of her hopes for all of the film makers, “We hope that the skills our youth learned on this course will be the start or the continuation of a lifelong journey of connecting to their culture, identity and history.”

The Alofa Awards ceremony, held at the Roxy Cinema in Miramar premiered each of the five finalists in the Best Film category.

The finalists included films from Scots College, Naenae College and St Michael’s primary school in Taita.

The ceremony was attended by Pasifika film royalty in veteran actor Nathaniel Lees with comedians Tofiga Fepulea’i and Ete Etuati also present.

Winning the Best Film award means A Different Awakening qualifies for the national Alofa Awards.

That ceremony will be held in Auckland in August. and Vatau and Fraser will both attend. “That will be awesome,” Vatau says. “We are just going to enjoy it and have fun.”

Turn on car lights

Dear Editor,

We all know that if you are parked in a lit up area you can easily forget to turn on your car lights.

But as a responsible driver we must all check these things before driving away from a lit up car park to street lighting. Put it this way, if your lights are not on

Community awards now open

Nominations for the 2024 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards are now open. Nominations close midnight Friday 31 May. These awards recognise community groups and organisations who have volunteers, not individual volunteers.

Nominations can be submitted under one of the following categories:

Arts and Culture – Enhance and increase participation in arts and creative leisure activities.

Education and Child/Youth Development – Improvement or enhancement of the educational and social development of children/youth.

Health and Wellbeing – Enhancing the health and wellbeing of the community.

Heritage and Environment – Improvement or revitalising of the environment, culture or heritage.

Sport and Leisure – Increase

participation and enjoyment in physical sport, leisure activities and recreational pursuits.

Rising Star award – Designed to recognise and encourage emerging grassroots groups in the community.

Later in the year members of the public will have an opportunity to vote for the finalists in the regional People’s Choice award.

The regional category, People’s Choice and Supreme Award winners will be announced at an awards dinner hosted by Wellington Airport.

Celebrating Te Reo

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, one of New Zealand’s most significant celebrations of the Māori Language, will run this year from 14 to 21 September.

The date for this celebration was confrimed by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori on 11 April.

On 14 September 1972 members of Ngā Tamatoa, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University’s te reo Māori society, and the New Zealand Māori Students Association collected a petition with more than 30,000 signatures and presented that to Parliament.

That day also became known as Māori Language Day.

Today, thousands of New Zealanders across the country celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.

These include schools, businesses, community groups, media, and sports teams.

how do you expect others to see you?

Get into a habit of making a check to see if things are on and working. In a head on crash some drivers die.

I have had a few close encounters with cars not having lights on.

Peter Wells

Vatau Sagaga Jnr (left) and Fraser Fatialofa just after they were presented the Best Film award. Photo: Supplied.

REMEMBRANCE

ANZAC DAY, 25 APRIL 2024

ANZAC services return to Queen St

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata’s two ANZAC services return to the war memorial in Queen Street this year.

Due to the redevelopment of the Wainuiomata town centre, last year’s services could not be held there.

In 2023 the longstanding traditional 6am Dawn Service was held at the Wainuiomata Memorial Gardens at the end of Hine Road, while the Civic Service was held in the carpark behind the Wainuiomata War Memorial Library.

This year’s 6am Dawn Service will be held at the Queen Street war memorial followed immediately after it by a ceremony at the Memorial Gardens.

This year will also see a change in time as well as venues for the ANZAC Parade and Civic Service.

The parade will leave the Woolworths car park at 11:30am and march down Te Ara Raukura Street to the war memorial.

Veterans will be in the front of the parade, which will also feature uniformed services personnel, including the Police, Fire brigade, M ori Wardens,

alive in Wainuiomata after the dissolution of the Wainuiomata RSA (Returned and Services Association).

Friends Coming to Wainuiomata?

Wainuiomata Community Patrol members, senior students from Wainuiomata High School, Scouts, Girl Guides and the Girls Brigade.

When the parade reaches the war memorial in Queen Street the Civic ANZAC service will begin.

The service will be led by Rev Vance Kapene, and the former head of music at Wainuiomata High School Richard Prouse will play the Last Post and Reveille at both the Dawn and Civic Services, as he has done for many years.

Gil Mohi will provide the sound system for the services, as he has also done for many years.

Putting together the ANZAC commemorations has all be done by volunteers, says Gabriel Tupou, who is a member of the informal ANZAC committee.

“We do it because of love of community and love of country,” he adds.

The Wainuiomata Anzac Committee was formed to keep ANZAC commemorations

Others involved in the informal committee include Wainuiomata Ward Councillor Keri Brown, the Wainuiomata Community Patrol Co-ordinator Tracey Mansfield, Love Wainuiomata’s Co-ordinator Chastity Card and Richard Nixon, supported by Love Wainuiomata and the Wainuiomata Community Board.

Gabriel Tupou has welcomed what is effectively a new environment for the ANZAC services.

“The new layout of Queen Street,” he says, “will really enhance and improve the commemoration experience.”

The committee is already thinking about the future to ensure the ANZAC commemoration continues in Wainuiomata.

“Our focus will be looking at succession planning and looking to involve the younger generation to help take the lead,” Gabriel says.

Last year’s ANZAC parade as it marched towards the library. Photo: Supplied.

REMEMBRANCE

ANZAC DAY, 25 APRIL 2024

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.

Day

National commemoration ANZAC

Anzac Day takes place each year on April 25 and commemorates all New Zealanders killed in war, while also honouring returned servicemen and women. April 25 marks the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers, on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. The aim was to capture the Dardanelles, the gateway to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea, however, at the end

of the campaign, Gallipoli was still held by its Turkish defenders. Among those who lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign were 2779 New Zealanders, almost one in four of those who served on Gallipoli. As always, ceremonies are held at war memorials up and down New Zealand and in places overseas where New Zealanders gather to pay tribute.

This quote made by Ataturk, a great Turkish statesman in 1934, is inscribed on the memorial at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli. It is also inscribed on the Ataturk memorial at Tarakena Bay, which is said to be similar to the coast around Gallipoli:

“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives; You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehemets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours. You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are at peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”

Dawn Service 6:00am, Wainuiomata War Memorial, Queen Street Parade leaves Woolworths car park 11:30am Civic Service Wainuiomata War Memorial, Queen Street, following parade

Northern Remutaka Aerial Possum Control Operation

EcoFX wishes to advise the public of its intention to aerially apply the toxin Sodium Fluoroacetate (1080) for the purpose of controlling possums in the Remutaka Ranges. The operation is being undertaken as part of OSPRI New Zealand’s TBfree programme to protect local farms from tuberculosis infection.

Control Area:

The Northern Remutaka treatment area is located in the Remutaka Ranges South of State Highway 2 in the North and North of Wainuiomata in the West and Lake Onoke in the East. This includes portions of the Remutaka Forest Park and the Pakuratahi Forest. A map of the treatment area may be viewed on the OSPRI website: www.ospri.co.nz/our-programmes/tbfree

Commencement Date:

The operation will commence with the application of non-toxic cereal or after 29 April 2024. At least 5 days following the completion of prefeeding, the application of cereal pellets containing 1080 will commence.

Bait Description:

Pre-feed: Cereal based pellet, approximately 16mm in diameter, brown in colour.

Toxic bait: Cereal based pellet, approximately 20mm in diameter, dyed green with a toxic loading of 1.5g/kg Sodium Fluoroacetate (1080).

Water Management:

Water intakes in the Wainuiomata and Orongorongo catchments will is safe for consumption. The water tests will adhere to strict protocols set by consenting authorities and will be carried out in an IANZaccredited laboratory. The water sampling protocol is extremely sensitive and water testing results from similar operations in the past have shown no evidence of any contamination of water.

Managing risk

1080 is poisonous to humans, domestic and game animals. In areas where the toxin has been applied, dogs are highly at risk until poisoned carcasses have disintegrated. This takes four-to-eight months or longer.

There will be warning signs placed at entrances to the treatment area immediately prior to the operation.

Risks can be eliminated by following these rules:

DO NOT touch bait.

WATCH children at all times.

DO NOT EAT animals from this area or within the buffer zone outside the treatment boundary. The buffer zone is 2 km for deer and pigs, 200 m for rabbits, and 1 km for hares, and possums.

Poison baits or carcasses are DEADLY to DOGS

Observe these rules whenever you see warning signs about pesticides. These signs indicate pesticide residues may be still present in baits and poisoned carcasses. When signs are removed, normal activities report suspected vandalism or unauthorised removal of signs.

Further Information:

Northern Remutaka, EcoFX, PO Box 248, Otorohanga, telephone 07 873 8130, admin@ecofx.co.nz.

For further information on the TBfree New Zealand programme visit www.ospri.co.nz/our-programmes/tbfree

Very enjoyable country concert

By Frank Neill

Another very enjoyable country music concert was held at the Pioneer Church on 6 April.

The concert was organised by members of the former Wainuiomata Country and Western Club.

This club has now ceased operation, doing so in the same year that it turned 40, having been launched on 6 February 1983.

The concert featured many well known artists, all of whom were formerly members of the Wainuiomata Country and Western Club.

They performed a wide variery od numbets acompanied by the very talented band of Hector, Bruce and Derek.

Funds raised by the concert will be used for the continuted preservation and upkeep of the Pioneer Church.

Right: Denise Rurehe performing at the country music concert. Photo: Supplied.

Rugby club’s Sports Dinner ‘incredible’

By Frank Neill

The Wainuiomata Rugby Football Club’s Sports Dinner on 12 April, featuring All Blacks coach Scott Robertson “was an incredible night,” the club’s chairman Gerard Eising says.

“I can honestly say you couldn’t ask for better,” he says.

Hurricanes players Ruben Love and Peter Umaga-Jensen were also guests at the dinner, which attracted a full house at the Rugby clubrooms.

More than 150 attended the event.

Scott Robertson is a “great speaker,” Gerard says.

“He really got the crowd into it. “He shared some really good stories.”

The stories included Scott’s early days playing Rugby League. Scott, in fact, spent some time at West Tigers, who are based in Sydney, Australia.

Scott also “mixed well with everyone in the club,” Gerard says.

In fact just after they arrived Scott, Ruben and Peter went over to the table where students in their final year of high school were sitting and met them all.

Despite the fact that Peter and Ruben were playing for the Hurricanes against the Chiefs the next day – a match the Hurricanes won 36-23 – they gave up their time and both mixed and spoke very well.

Ken Laban, who organised Scott Robertson as the guest speaker at the dinner, was the evening’s MC “and he did a fantastic job,” Gerard says. Local caterer Lance Hotton and his Fine Touch Catering team provided the delicious meal for the night.

“They did an amazing job. They set the hall up and the food was amazing,” Gerard says.

Lions top of the table

The Wainuiomata Lions are at the top of the Wellington Rugby League premier table following their 20-18 victory over St George Dragons on 13 April.

The Lions emerged top following a closely fought enounter at Frederick Wise Park.

Like so many matcches this was a game of two halves, with Wainuiomata playing very well throughout the first 40 minutes to take a 10-6

lead into the half time break. St George outscored the Lions in the second half 12-10, but it was the Lions who held on for the victory. Dante Kakahi was outstanding for the home team, scoring one of his team’s four tries and was awarded three most valued player points.

Isiah Tuari and Joshua Onekawa also played well and were awarded two and one mvp points respectively.

Rugby women top of table

By Frank Neill

PaknSave Petone also sponsored the event.

This was the first time for some years that the Rugby club has held a Sports Dinner.

Seth Nu’uausala opened the scoring with a try, which Rhemus Rutene converted.

Dante scored his try next, followed by a try to John Tahana Wharepapa-Rawiri which Rhemus also converted.

Connor Burnett’s second half try gave the Lions the winning lead.

The Lions next match is the top-ofthe-table clash with Toa at Onepoto Park on 20 April.

The Wainuiomata women’s premier Rugby team continued its outstanding start to the season with a 31-24 victory over Oriental Rongotai on 13 April.

This saw the team at the top of the Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy table alongside Petone.

Both teams have 10 points and they are six points ahead of Northern United and ParemataPlimmerton.

Playing on their home ground of William Jones Park, Wainuiomata ran in five tries.

Full back Billie Va’a dotted down twice, while wings Lamai Mataiti and Fanua Rimoni and number eight Pasikalia Tuiatua scored one try each.

The premier women’s next

match sees them play Paremata Plimmerton at Ngatitoa Domain on 20 April.

The men’s premier team did not have such a good day on 13 April however.

They were beaten 55-12 by Old Boys University on William Jones Park.

The loss meant Wainuiomata was not able to pick up the Peter Dunford Cup.

Wainuiomata’s Niko Patelesio had an excellent game for the home team, scoring two tries.

Tyler Tane added a conversion.

The Wainuiomata premier 2 team also suffered a loss in their Harper Lock Shield match.

Old Boys University won the encounter, played at Mary Crowther Park, 36-24.

Hurricanes players Ruben Love and Peter Umaga-Jensen and MC Ken Laban at the Wainuiomata Rugby Football Club’s Sports Dinner. Photo: Supplied.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson and MC Ken Laban at the Wainuiomata Rugby Football Club’s Sports Dinner. Photo: Supplied.

Free school lunches make huge difference

By Frank Neill

Labour’s campaign that seeks no cuts to funding for the Ka Ora Ka Ako Free School Lunches Programme came to Arakura School on 11 April.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins, Hutt South-based MP Ginny Andersen and Ikaroa-R whiri MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel visited the school and served lunches to the students.

“Arakura School was one of the first to take up the programme,” Mr Hipkins said after the three MPs had served the lunches.

“You can see today the difference it makes to these kids.

“They are better off.

“They are enjoying their healthy lunches.

“Their concentration is better, their energy levels are better [and] the teachers report better behaviour from the kids.

“It really is important that we keep the programme going.”

Mr Hipkins noted that the free school lunches programme had benefits “beyond the kids”, with local people being employed to provide them.

The programme was good value for money.

“And it’s making a difference to these kids, their education and into their lives in general and so we want the government to continue with it,” Mr Hipkins said.

“We are now starting to see the real benefits in terms of attendance and benefits in terms of engagement and student achievement as well.

“If you speak to the principals and teachers at the schools where the programme is operating they will tell you that is has made an enormous difference to the attendance and to achievement.

“The government could easily

afford to pay for this programme on an ongoing basis if that was a choice they were willing to make.”

The programme was “very cost effective” and a “pretty efficient way of feeding kids a good healthy lunch,” he said.

Food left over was not going to waste either.

“It’s often being sent home with the kids or its going to other community organisations like women’s refuge or the foodbanks and so on.

“But no food gets wasted.

“David Seymour kicked off the discussion around school lunches saying he wanted to halve the cost of the programme.

“That can only result in fewer kids getting free lunches.

“The National Party said during the election campaing that they wanted to continue the programme.

“Why have they created all this uncertaintly and threatened to cut it when they said during the election campaign that they wanted to keep it?

“I think that’s a really good question for them.

“They’ve created a huge amount of anxiety among these schools because the schools know what a difference this programme is making,” Mr Hipkins said.

The Ka Ora Ka Ako Free School Lunches Programme “means a lot to us,” Arakura School’s Tumuaki (Principal) Tute Mila said during the ceremony welcoming the three MPs.

“It has made a big difference to our community.”

“The Ka Ora Ka Ako Programme is really important to our school because it means that we all get fed,” Year 6 student Lawsyn Alberts said during the welcome speeches.

“It is important that we have the

Plan to reform water services

All councils in the Wellington region and Horowhenua have committed to working together on developing a plan to reform water services.

The Government’s new Local Water Done Well policy is still being developed. It indicates that by mid-2025 councils will be required to produce water service delivery plans that meet regulatory and investment requirements.

At meetings over the past six weeks Hutt City, Wellington City, Upper Hutt City, Porirua City, Carterton District, K piti Coast District, Masterton District, South Wairarapa District, Horowhenua District and Greater Wellington Regional Council agreed to sign a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will create a non-binding partnership between councils to work together on a water service delivery plan.

The last of these meetings was held on 11 April.

A unified approach is crucial to get the best solutions for water in the region, Hutt City Mayor and chair of the Wellington Water Committee Campbell Barry says.

"Councils around the country are facing similar challenges.

“That is why we need to work together towards a new model to make funding and delivery of water infrastructure more sustainable and efficient in the long run for our communities.

"We are committed to working with other councils across the region to provide resilient water networks and deal with population growth."

Mayor Barry says he is looking forward to councils actively working together and getting ahead of the game.

“Change is coming and by working together we can help

shape and guide the change.

“We’re all facing challenges and we all want what’s best for our people,” Mayor Barry says.

Under the MoU one elected member from each council will sit on an Advisory Oversight Group (AOG) for the joint water service delivery plan process, alongside iwi/M ori partner representatives.

The AOG will be chaired by independent expert Dame Kerry Prendergast, and supported by chief executives and a joint project team.

Dame Kerry has extensive local government experience. She began her political career in 1986 as a Tawa Borough Councillor, and served on Wellington City Council from 1989 to 2010, including three terms as Mayor. She also has wide experience as

“I

a board chair.

"This joint approach shows real commitment and intent by all the councils in region,” she says.

“I am looking forward to robust conversations as we work together to develop a step change in water solutions for our region."

The first meeting of the AOG is scheduled for 10 May, with the goal of agreeing a concept model for future delivery by August.

Depending on legislation which is expected to be introduced in May, the model will be subject to public engagement, and will provide the basis for development of the water services plan.

The region’s approach was also tested with Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop at the mayoral forum on 22 March.

Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry. Photo Suppiled.

Ginny Andersen (left), Chris Hipkins and Cushla Tangaere-Manuel serving Arakura School students their lunches on 11 April. Photo: Frank Neill.

Arakura School students during the welcome to the Labour Party team. Photo: Frank Neill. school lunches because some of the parents can’t afford lunches for their kids so my friends can eat the free lunches at school.

“The school lunches are yummy and Whaea Carol and Whaea Sarah work hard to make sure all our tummies are full.

“My favourite lunch is Ginger Beef.

don’t want them to go away,” Lawsyn said.