Hutt City Council’s decision to disestablish the community board is deeply disappointing for Wainuiomata, three community leaders told the “Wainuiomata News”.
“It was a really sad day for Wainuiomata to have that decision made,” the Wainuiomata Community Board Chair Te Awa Puketapu said. Continued on page 2.
Wainuiomata’s last Community Board (from left) Lesa Bingley, Tamsyn Harker, Leah Clark, Daniel Chrisp, Cr Keri Brown, Gary Sue and Te Awa Puketapu. Photo: Supplied.
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Disappointing decision to can community boards
Continued from page 1
“I was deeply disappointed about the decision, that’s for sure,” the board’s Deputy Chair Lesa Bingley said.
“I’m disappointed,” Wainuiomata’s Ward Councillor Keri Brown said.
“We didn’t get what we wanted.”
What they wanted was that the council would not go along with the recommendation to disestablish the three Hutt Valley community boards, made by the independent panel that looked at council representation.
Following public submissions and public hearings on the independent panel’s recommendations, the council meeting on 10 September voted on the representation that will be provided as from the local body elections next year.
The meeting decided to disestablish the three Lower Hutt community boards, Wainuiomata, Eastbourne and Petone.
At that 10 September meeting “I advocated really hard at the the table to keep the community boards,” Cr Brown said.
“I fought extremely hard.
“I put a motion forward to keep the status quo, but it was not supported.”
Instead the council voted in favour of Mayor Campbell Barry’s motion that “there be no community boards in the city and the three existing community boards be disestablished”.
This motion was passed by nine votes to four, with Cr Brown being one of the four who voted against it.
The vote may well have gone the other way if the council had received a significant number of submissions opposing the disestablishment of community boards, Cr Brown suggested.
There were just 26 submissions from people saying they wanted the council to retain the Wainuiomata Community Board.
There were 132 people who said the Eastbourne Community Board should be retained
and 16 people who said the Petone Community Board should be retained.
“If peole had turned out we would have kept them [the community boards] I think,” Cr Brown said.
“But people needed to mobilise and they didn’t, and we didn’t get what we needed.
“We will need to understand what [the decision to disestablish community boards] will mean for the community going forward,” Cr Brown said.
“Keri Brown, our ward councillor, did a really great job in trying to support and advocate for Wainuiomata,” Te Awa said.
“In addition we had some really great speakers from members of the public.
“I’m grateful people did find the time to to come and support [retaining community boards],” she said.
In both its written and oral submissions to the council, the Wainuiomata board advocated for keeping the board.
The main reasons for that, Te Awa said, were because:
1. Our community stands apart with unique needs due to its natural separation from Lower Hutt and a rapidly growing population. A dedicated community board ensures that these needs are met through tailored governance and focused decision-making that truly reflects our local context.
2. The Wainuiomata Community Board provides a vital layer of local representation. If disestablished, there would be a significant gap and opportunities lost in addressing our local issues effectively. The council’s ability to engage broadly within our community in a way that accesses people who may not otherwise participate through traditional mechanisms will be a loss for both residents and the council.
3. Community boards are crucial for localised decision-making and significantly enhance community participation in local democracy. They serve as a springboard for future leaders and offer an essential platform for youth engagement in local governance.
4. The board is a vital advocate for our community, ensuring that the voices of Wainuiomata and diversity of residents voices are heard. Board members, spread across different parts of our community, understand and know the communities within our community well. Removing the board would take away a crucial and accessible avenue for resident participation in council activities.
“We have seen over the years the positive work of community boards and how they are able to be that bridge with the council,”
Te Awa said.
The board has also provided forums “for residents to come in and speak their concerns.”
Now that the council has decided to disestablish community boards “we really need to work together to try and plan for the next phase – how we can encourage communities and residents to continue to engage with the council,” Te Awa said.
Lesa also spoke highly of the work Cr Keri Brown put into the work to keep the community boards.
“She’s worked very hard with us to try and fight this for our community.
“I’m so proud of the work she has done for us and for our community.
“She really works tirelessly and I really appreciate and respect her for that,” Lesa said.
“I was also proud of those who made submissions and spoke to the oral submissions as well.”
Lesa also said she was looking forward to seeing what the council can offer Wainuiomata now that the community board would be formally disestablished at the end of the triennium.
As well as the decision to disestablish community boards, Hutt City Council made a series of other decisions about representation. It voted to have a M ori ward covering the whole city. To be called Mana Kairangi ki Tai M ori Ward, it will have one elected councillor.
The council also decided the following: and 13 councillors;
mixed system of representation, with five councillors elected at-large across the city; seven councillors elected from five general wards; and one councillor elected from one M ori ward;
General Ward covering Stokes Valley, Taita, Naenae and Avalon, electing two councillors; Central General Ward covering Boulcott, Epuni, Fairfield, Waterloo, Hutt Central, Alicetown, Melling, Woburn and Waiwhetu, electing two councillors; Western General Ward covering Manor Park, Belmont Park, Kelson, Belmont, Tirohanga, Normandale and Maungaraki, electing one councillor; Harbour General Ward covering Korokoro, Petone, Moera, Gracefield, Eastern Bays and Eastbourne including the area south of Burdan’s Gate, electing one councillor; and Wainuiomata General Ward electing one councillor.
First hill run a huge success
By Frank Neill
The inaugural Wainuiomata Hill Run on 14 September proved a big success, attracting 250 entries and raising more than $4,000 for the Lower Hutt Food Bank.
Cooper Bexley won the longer of the two runs, finishing with a lead of 2 minutes 10 seconds in the men’s 10km run.
Cooper went on to win the 5km run at the Hutt Marathon the next day, 15 September.
Michelle Van Looy was the winner of the women’s 10km run.
Toby Ireland, a visually impaired athlete
who ran guided by his Dad Saul, won the men’s 6km run and Gwen McGrath won the women’s 6km run.
Tony Leota was the victor in the 10km men’s walk and Donna Strachan in the 10km women’s walk, while Micahel and Helene Walton won the men’s and women’s 6km walk.
“We had an incredible day at the first Wainuiomata Hill Run,” says Alex Harty-Morris of Inspired Events Co, which organised the run.
“The sense of community was really special.
“There was so much warmth between all
the athletes, volunteers, and locals popping by to see what was going on.”
A team of 29 volunteers helped with the hill run.
“The team at Love Wainuiomata put on a market at the finish line for local vendors.
“Our premium sponsor at Mitre 10 made the event possible, and entered nearly 50 athletes as well.
“We've raised $4,000 for the Food Bank and still counting as participants keep fundraising,” Alex says.
Along with the major sponsor Mitre 10 Mega, Clive’s Chemist and Hutt City Council were also event sponsors.
National apology
Expressions of interest have opened for survivors wishing to attend the Prime Minister’s national apology to survivors of abuse in care, due to take place in Parliament on Tuesday 12 November.
Due to the limited space available in Parliament, the public apology will be live streamed to the Due Drop Events Centre in Auckland, Shed 6 in Wellington, and the Christchurch Town Hall.
Survivors of abuse in care and one support person can register their interest to attend Parliament or the event closest to their home address. To register phone 0800 717 017 (8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday) or email contact@abuseinquiryresponse.govt.nz. Registration closes on 30 September.
If demand for a specific location is more than the space available, a balloting process will be undertaken. Everyone who expresses interest in attending an event will be notified by 12 October.
Colouring comp
Arakura School and Love Wainuiomata have launched a competition to celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week).
The competition is currently open and entries close at 5pm on Monday 23 September. People can drop their entries into the Wainuiomata Library, and the library has the pictures to be coloured in.
Cooper Bexley, winner of the first 10km Wainuiomata hill run, nears the finish of the race. Photo: Chontelle King.
The top three runners rest after the run (from left) Cooper Bewley, Eric Avatea and Chris Mead. Photo: Chontelle King.
Toby Ireland, winner of the men’s 6km run, sets off on the race guided by his father Saul. Photo: Contelle King.
Show full of comedy and great music
Chances are people who have travelled over the Wainui hill in the last three weeks will have seen a sign with a few penguins breaking out of a crate and indulging in various silly activities.
If you’ve been wondering what it’s all about, Wainuiomata’s youth theatre, Acting Out produced the sign to promote their upcoming show, Madagascar Jr: A Musical Adventure. And Acting Out President, Jeremy Yuile has been busy changing it up on a regular basis.
“It’s been fun thinking up what new activities we can get the penguins doing around the sign but then Madagascar Jr is a really fun show,” Jeremy says.
“Based on the original Dreamwork’s movie Madagascar, it’s a musical and probably isn’t as well-known as some of the other shows we’ve performed in the past.
“That’s why we wanted to get creative to promote it.”
The show is full of comedy and great music including a dream sequence where ‘Alex the Lion’ dreams about steak.
“It’s a hilarious scene where we have some of our members dressed as pieces of steak
dancing, and then of course, there’s the one song most people are probably familiar with – ‘I like to Move it’.”
Acting Out caters for children aged nine years and over, teaching them stagecraft throughout the year.
They currently have 28 children on their roll and each kid plays at least one character in the show, with some playing up to three or four.
Tickets are selling well but there’s still plenty available.
“We’ve kept our ticket prices low,” Jeremy says.
“They’re still $10 per person as we want our shows to be affordable for families in the first week of the school holidays.”
The show is being performed at the Wainuiomata High School Auditorium from 2 to 6 October.
Tickets to Madagascar Jr: A Musical Adventure can be bought online through Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/nz/SYF.
People can keep up-to-date with Acting Out by following them on social media: www. facebook.com/ActingOutNZ/ and www. instagram.com/ActingOutNZ/.
The lemurs during a scene from Acting Out’s production of Madagascar Jr: A Musical Adventure. Photo: Supplied.
PAINTERS
“Lance
EVITA comes to Wainuiomata
The Wainuiomata Little Theatre is bringing the award winning musical EVITA to the valley.
Their production of the show opens today, 18 September, at the Wainuiomata Little Theatre, Orongorongo Terrace. It will then run until Saturday 21 September and from Wednesday 25 September to Saturday 28 September. The shows start at 7:30pm. The 1980 Tony Award winner for best musical, EVITA is the smash pop opera about a passionate woman who went from the streets of Argentina to show business stardom, to the highest levels of influence in Buenos Aires.
Pets
Wainuiomata Rugby Football Club Inc
AGM WRFC Clubrooms
Friday 18th Oct 2024, 6:30pm at the Wainuiomata Rugby Club, 2 Moohan St, Wainuiomata.
All members are welcome. If anyone is interested in being part of the WRFC committee please let us know.
wainuirugbyclub@gmail.com 027 484 5041
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Newspaper Deliverers WANTED
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AREA 3: Parenga St, Ngaturi Gr, part of Wood St and Coast Rd 235 papers
At once both a saint and a villain, Eva Peron’s dramatic, meteoric rise from poverty to prosperity is a groundbreaking – and heartbreaking – depiction of populism, politics and celebrity.
One of the cast members, Brenda La Grotteria, is from Argentina.
“Evita was widely loved and despised, seen as both a hero and anti-hero,” Brenda says.
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“What I admire about Evita is how she became powerful during a time when women were expected to focus solely on household duties.”
She granted women the right to vote and empowered their role in society.
However, her expensive tastes and controversial character still spark debates in Argentina.
Playing this character is great due to the range of mood swings throughout the play, Brenda says.
It's an amazing cast and production and everyone who attends the shows are in for a treat.
Tickets are available at https://www.trybooking.com/nz/events/landing/12678.
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New scam emerges
Police are aware of a recent overseas rise in scams which involve an unexpected package being sent to addresses with a gift and a QR code inside.
Police believe this scamming method could find its way to New Zealand and are urging people to be vigilant.
DOUGLAS-FIR 4m3 $730, 2m3 $420
The gift will have the recipient’s address, but not include the sender's information or be from a known retailer.
AREA 4: Hamstead, Enfield, part Wellington, Kendall 220 papers
AREA 5: Hair St, Rowe Parade, Gibbs Cres, part of Main 280 papers
AREA 6: Dover Rd, Westminster Rd, part of Wellington Rd 385 papers
AREA 7: Naseby Gr, Bexley Gr, part of Wellington Rd - 285 papers
AREA 8: Meremere St, Manurewa Gr, Mataura Gr - 300 papers
39. Weep(3) 41. Without firmness(4) 43. Precisely(7) 45. Almost(6)
Neglect(9)
49. Lead(attack)
51. Giraffe-like animal(5) 52. Phoenix is its capital(7) 53. Open(5) 54. Raise(7)
55. Miserly people(11) DOWN
1. Stylish excellence (5)
2. Songbird(11)
3. Ultimate(8)
4. Tumult(6) 5. Lordly(5)
6. Igloo dwellers(7)
7. Steals away(8)
Maintain contact with(6)
Combatant(7)
Evade(5)
Injurious(7)
Soothe(7)
Scolds(5)
Oriental(7) 22. Meet wishes of(7)
When the recipient opens the package to see what it is and possibly who sent it, there is a QR code to scan to find out who sent the gift.
The QR code allows the offenders to then access any and all data on the phone or device used to scan the code, including financial information such as bank account login details and personal data.
Police are urging anyone who receives one of these gifts not to scan the QR code.
“The gift can either be kept or discarded, but do not scan the QR code,” Police say.
“Please report information to Police online at www.police.govt.nz or call Police on 105.
The alphabet(3)
Unearth(8)
Annual(8)
Knead(7)
Of the heart(7) 46. Part of the eye(6) 47. Abscond(6)
Male honey bee(5)
Range(5)
Becomes old fashioned (5)
Solution
Fire wood for sale
Photo: John Williams.
Senior Football celebrated
By Ryan Imray
The official end to the 2024 season came on the weekend with the senior Football prizegiving.
Members of all eight senior teams gathered to celebrate team and individual success. It was a successful night for the Gelderblom family.
Braydon walked away with the Reserves Top Goalscorer Award and Most Consistent Player of the Year Award.
Older brother Cameron was awarded with the Club Sportsman of the Year Award and their parents, Johan and Michealle, were rewarded for their outstanding support as they were jointly presented with the Club Supporter of the Year Award. Logan Brown was presented with the Youth Player of the Year Award two weeks ago at the junior prizegiving and he added to that at the senior prizegiving as he was awarded the Reserves Most Improved
Player of the Year award. His parents didn't leave empty handed either. His mother Nerissa was the recipient of the Club Committee Member of the Year Award alongside Club President Dave Meiklejohn. His father Dean was awarded the Club Member of the Year Award.
Jared Nicol had a memorable debut season at the club as he was the recipient of the first team’s Players Player of the Year Award and the Club's Young
Player of the Year Award.
In the other club awards, Adam Faulkner was the Club’s Top Goalscorer and Rowan Whitfield was the Club’s Best and Fairest.
First team coach Pedro Garcias was awarded the Coach of the Year Award in his first season in charge and topping off the club’s big awards was Bailey Phipps who, for the second year in a row, was the Wainuiomata Association Football Club's Player of the Year.
Ulalei wins top sports club award
Ulalei Wainuiomata Sport won the award for top Hutt City club in the sports and leisure category at the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards held on 12 September 2024 at the Lower Hutt Town Hall.
The awards, in its 20th year, recognise the service provided by volunteer community groups across six categories, celebrating their collective contributions to society.
A winner and runner-up was announced for each category.
The awards evening was attended by Wellington International Airport Ltd Manager of Brand and Sponsorship Jo Maxwell and Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry.
“Volunteers are a driving force behind positive change in our city. In their own ways, they’ve helped
build a stronger, more vibrant community in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt,” Mayor Barry says.
Ulalei, which was represented by Vatau Sagaga Snr and son Vatau Jnr at the awards evening, was chuffed with the award.
“It is a nice feeling to be acknowledged for the mahi we do for our tamaiti and the community we love,” Vatau Snr says.
“Whilst Katrina Barclay, Scott McLeod and I steer our waka, we have a whole lot of wh nau and friends who provide a ton of support, advice and alofa behind the scenes which is vital.”
Ulalei’s award recognised the free sports events it has brought to Wainuiomata in the past year.
This included a new soccer competition for Wainuiomata’s primary schools held at Wise Park which attracted over 250 players.
This competition included teams from Te Ara Wh nui Kura Kaupapa in Alicetown which has over 100 Wainuiomata-resident pupils.
Ulalei also organised two soccer fun days for M ori and Pasifika tamaiti which encouraged more players from those groups to play the beautiful game.
The success of these events in no small way led to a sharp increase in registrations at Wainuiomata AFC this winter with over 100 new players signing up to play.
Ulalei also stood in for Nga Hau e Wha Wainuiomata to run the tag football competition in the second half of the summer season.
“Our kaupapa is more than just football or sport,” Katrina Barclay says.
“We were able to break down barriers to sport which was important.
“Our events are free to enter and held locally at Wise Park.
“Many of our Wainuiomata wh nau have previously not entered tamariki into sports teams because of cost and travel.
“Accessibility and having a positive impact on the wellbeing for tamaiti is a crucial part of what we are doing at Ulalei,” Katrina says.
Scott McLeod confirmed Ulalei
could not run its events for free without significant support from community-minded organisations like One Foundation, Hapai te Hauora, Nuku Ora, Pacific Health Service Hutt Valley and Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
Winning this award means Ulalei qualifies for the region-wide awards which will be held in Wellington in November.
Rated in Wainuiomata
Bailey Phipps with his Player of the Year Award alongside first team coach Pedro Garcias. Photo: Imray’s Snaps.
Ulalei Wainuiomata Sport’s Vatau Sagaga Snr and Jnr flanked by Wellington International Airport Manager of Brand and Sponsorship Jo Maxwell and Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry. Photo: Supplied.
Love Wainuiomata seeking people’s views
By Frank Neill
Love Wainuiomata is currently surveying residents to gather information so it can develop its work plan for the next three years.
“We want to find out from the community where they want our focuses to be,” Love Wainuiomata’s Co-ordinatory, Chastity Card, says.
“By sharing your ideas, you’ll play a crucial role in shaping the future of our community.
“Your valuable input will guide our next three years of exciting projects, transforming our town into an even more welcoming and
stunning place to live, work, and play.
“We have been surveying for two weeks and we have had over 350 submissions so far.
“It’s fantastic,” Chastity says.
Not only will survey participants help shape Wainuiomata’s future, they will also go in the draw to win a first, second and third prize.
The survey is open until 13 October and is available at https:// forms.gle/u75tiMgbfNjggsTA6.
Love Wainuiomata is about to develop its work plan of “exciting projects” for the next three years, having now completed its programme for the past three
years. It’s three main objectives are the same as the purposes of Hutt City Council’s Wainuiomata Development Plan.
These are to:
vision and describe what this could mean for the future of Wainuiomata;
-
ty’s priority aspirations for what Wainuiomata could be like in the next 20 years; and
the ideas that have come from the community with actionable tasks and programmed implementation.
Train disruptions expected
Ongoing disruption to Metlink passenger rail services is expected because of industrial action planned by the Rail and Maritime Transport Union. Metlink was informed on Friday 13 September by rail operator Transdev that its staff affiliated with the union would be undertaking continuous workto-rule industrial action ahead of mediation associated with collective bargaining, expected to take place on 26 September. Union members have voted to take all breaks and not to work overtime or accept shift alterations. Metlink group manager Samantha Gain says passengers should plan ahead as services may be cancelled or delayed at short notice. “It’s vital rail passengers keep a
close eye on the Metlink website or app to stay informed of any service disruption,” Ms Gain says.
“Know before you go.
“Because of the nature of the industrial action, it’s hard to predict which services will be affected.
“Limited bus replacements will be available for cancelled services but, when possible, rail passengers should travel by other means.
“We respect the right of unionised staff to take industrial action, but we know our passengers will be frustrated by any disruptions. We are grateful for their patience and understanding. “Metlink encourages both sides to negotiate in good faith to resolve the situation as soon as possible,” Ms Gain says.
World Alzheimer’s Month
September is World Alzheimer’s Month and the chance to show support for people and their wh nau living with dementia in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The theme for 2024 is “Time to act on dementia, Time to act on Alzheimers”. In 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease International is once again shining a light on attitudes to dementia around the world.
It will challenge why so many people still wrongly believe that dementia is a normal part of aging and will do this by increasing existing public knowledge around Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
It will particularly aim at redressing stigma and discrimination that exists around the condition, while highlighting the positive steps being undertaken by organisations and governments globally to develop a more dementia friendly society.
“Family working for Families in Tasman”
The Homestead is in the heart of Wakefield Village. Helping to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
