26 October Wainuiomata News

Chris

By: Frank Neill

“I love being a cop,” says one of Wainuiomata’s two Community Police Constables,

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Keeping the community safe

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“I like the positive side of policing – working in partnerships in the community, meeting kids in schools and keeping the streets safe.

“We are here to keep the community safe, and that’s an important part of our job.

“I’ve enjoyed it all, even the tough times.

“I’ve always wanted to be a cop, always,” Constable Simms says.

“I always wanted to help someone.”

When he was 17 he went to a seminar on a career in policing, and the participants were advised to gain “life experience” before starting their Police training.

He took that advice, which – in retrospect – served him well. “I don’t think I could have handled it at 17,” he says.

Constable Simms started his new role at Wainuiomata in February, just before the “Freedom” protests began.

No sooner had be begun, how-

ever, than he was transferred to work on policing the protests, well known for occupying Parliament grounds and disrupting traffic movement in the capital. He was involved at the protests for six weeks.

“I love Wainuiomata, because it’s got that small town charm,” Constable Simms says.

“It reminds me of small towns I’ve lived in in New Zealand.

“It all comes down to the people [of Wainuiomata].

“They care for the community. They have a vested interest in our small community and they want it to be tidy and safe for their kids.

“I took the job in Wainuiomata because I like giving back to our area. With other jobs I have done, it’s been spread out across the Hutt Valley.

“I’ve been a cop in the Hutt Valley for eight years. Six years was 111 response, one year on road policing and one year on community projects.”

Before that, he worked in retail

and hospitality.

One of the highlights of his time in the Police was attending the recent Pedal Ready programme, where 90 students from four Wainuiomata primary schools rode around the community on their bikes, visiting other schools enroute, during September.

Another smaller group who was not able to do the Pedal Ride in September completed it this month.

“It was a really cool event for two reasons,” Constable Simms says.

“Firstly it gave me a chance to get into the schools, so kids can see Police in a positive way. Also I love riding a bike

“Secondly I met some really cool little kids, and helped them struggle with their little pedals around the block.”

A second highlight of his time in the Police was helping a member of the Wainuiomata business community.

When the business owner was

Drive needs repairing

By Frank Neill

A young couple renting a home in Wainuiomata have had to replace two car tyres recently, owing to the bad state of their driveway.

The couple does not want to raise the issue with the property manager who looks after the rental in case they then face being

evicted.

Their cause has been taken up by Wira Te Paa, well known for her community service, particularly with older people.

“I’ve contacted [the property manager] twice now about the drive but I have not heard anything, and nothing has been done,” Ms Te Paa told the “Wainuiomata

News”.

The tenants had talked to her about the driveway, but did not want to pursue it with the property manager “because they are frightened they might get kicked out”.

They are paying $570 a week in rent and although the property manager has done a number of small jobs that have needed

threatened by a person with a knife in their hand, they called Constable Simms.

“I met them literally the day before [the incident],” Constable Simms says.

“It was good that they reached out to me. That’s the role of a community cop.”

The offender left the shop, getting away in a stolen car.

“In the meantime, I’d called the dispatch units in the area and they [the offenders] were caught.

“My role wasn’t that big, but it was a good outcome.

“Giving a helping hand is always good. Helping a victim is always good,” he says.

Constable Simms moved to the Hutt Valley, where he now lives with his partner and children, 10 years ago.

When asked about his interests outside his job he replied: “I love the outdoors, I love mountain biking, I love tramping, I love hunting and I love camping – all of which I can do here in Wainuiomata.”

doing, they have not done anything about the driveway.

“I don’t think that’s very good, and that’s why I’m talking to you [the “Wainuiomata News”] about it,” Ms Te Paa said.

She hoped that by raising the issue with the paper that it would result in the driveway being repaired.

Fred Ebb

Dallas

Roaring twenties coming to Wainuiomata

By Trevor Williams

The latest production from the Wainuiomata Little Theatre, Chicago, hits the stage in Wainuiomata this November.

In the razzle-dazzle, roaring twenties Chicago is a story of murder, greed, corruption,

violence, exploitation, adultery, and treachery – all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts.

It is jurisprudence-as-showbusiness and trial-by-publicity.

It is a tale of the sensational murderess Velma Kelly, the reigning queen of the Cook

County jail, and Roxie Hart, the newest of the merry murderesses, who, of course, haven’t really committed any crime (their men had it coming).

Packed with well known songs like “All That Jazz” and “Cell Block Tango” it’s going to be a razzle dazzle of a show.

Chicago runs from the 2 to 19 November at the Old Wainuiomata College Hall.

Shows are at 7.30 pm with two Sunday matinees which start at 4.00 pm.

Tickets are reasonably priced and available at www.trybooking.com.

Ensure your pets are vaccinated

Pet owners in Wainuiomata are being urged to make sure their animals are full vaccinated.

This advice has just been given by the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA).

Vaccinations help prevent animals from becoming ill and needing antimicrobial therapy. These medicines increase the

risk of drug-resistant bacteria developing and spreading to other animals and their owners, veterinary pharmacologist Dr Oliver Reeve says.

“Reducing antimicrobial use as much as possible is key to preventing nasty bacteria from becoming resistant, so that when you really do need to use antibiotics, they

work,” he says.

“Unlike us, animals can’t wash their hands if they get sick, which puts people and other pets at risk of getting sick too.

“Up-to-date vaccinations are key to keeping our animals and each other, healthy and well.”

Dr Reeve is a member of the NZVA’s Antimicrobial Resistance

Quality of life good here

A nationwide survey on quality of life showed that Lower Hutt residents have a relatively high quality of life compared to many other cities in New Zealand.

The survey, conducted by NielsenIQ, found that 88% of Lower Hutt people rated their quality of life as positive, compared with the national average of 83%.

Quality of life had increased compared with a year ago 24% of Lower Hutt residents said. That compared with a national average of 18%.

However 28% felt their quality of life had decreased to some degree compared to the 12 months prior, compared with a national average of 36%. The main reason given to a perceived decrease in quality of life in Lower Hutt related to reduced financial wellbeing, reflecting a nationwide trend.

Eighty percent of Lower Hutt respondents agreed that their local area is a great place to live, sighting a high degree of positivity towards local amenities and building developments as the main reasons.

Lower Hutt also turned out one of the highest levels of reported satisfaction in work-life balance among people in paid employment.

The survey also continues to highlight some concerns for Lower Hutt residents, particularly around issues affecting their local communities.

This included concerns around crime, dangerous driving, vandalism – like graffiti and tagging - and people begging on the streets. According to the report, this reflects similar issues evident

inbrief news

School grant

Wainuiomata Primary School was among the recipients of a New Zealand Community Trust grant.

The school has been granted $10,000 toward the cost of buying storage containers.

This grant was among the $985,735.02 dispersed by the Community Trust throughout the Wellington region in September.

Conservation work

A Rocha held its monthly working bee at the Waiu Wetland on 15 October.

The majority of the work this month was continuing to clear blackberry on the south side of the site, a task that was begun at the 17 September working bee.

Saturday’s working bee also released plants put in last year.

A Rocha Aoteroa New Zealand is an environmental conservation organisation.

Colourful Wharenui at The Dowse Art Museum

Wharenui Harikoa is a full scale, crocheted wharenui created by husband-and-wife duo Lissy RobinsonCole (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu) and Rudi Robinson (Ngaruahine, Te Arawa, Ngāti Pāoa, Waikato ki Tai) that brings together bright, neon colours and traditional toi whakairo shapes.

Their vivid poupou, tekoteko, tukutuku panels and adorned pou tokomanawa, offer a new way of understanding the importance of joy and aroha within Te Aō Māori.

(AMR) Committee. He says that although New Zealand is the third lowest user of antimicrobials for animal treatment in the OECD, more needs to be done to stop drug-resistant bacteria from developing.

“We can do better. Reducing how often we use antimicrobials is important for animal health, as

well as our own. Being up-to-date with vaccinations is a big part of achieving that.

“Whether your animal wh nau consists of a cat or dog, or sheep and cattle, vaccinations are beneficial to all of them. If you’re unsure of your animals’ vaccination status, please talk to your vet,” he says.

in other cities.

“It’s great to see the vast majority of survey respondents in Lower Hutt rate their quality of life in our city positively,” Mayor Campbell Barry says.

“It’s also really pleasing to see 80% of people view our city as a great place to live.

“While these results are very encouraging, the survey also highlights some of the challenges we are facing as a city.

“Covid has had an impact on affordability across the board, with many feeling the impact of

rising house costs. It’s clear we need more houses, and we need to make the city more affordable.

“That’s why investing in our infrastructure to enable the development of new homes in the right locations is so important and is a key focus for council,” Mr Barry said.

“Concern around water pollution is also highlighted. That’s why it’s vital we invest in our aging water network to ensure it is robust and can continue to deliver quality water for generations to come.”

Stacey Neale playing murderess Velma Kelly in the Wainuiomta Little Theatre’s production of Chicago. Photo: John Williams. Photo supplied.

Kyra Basabas playing Roxie Hart in the upcoming production of Chicago. Photo: John Williams.

View the Wainuiomata News online www.wsn.co.nz

readers

Q: What is your favourite meal, and what do you like about it?

A boil up, with meat like pork or lamb and water cress, because it is easily done.

A decent piece of steak. I love my steak, but it’s pretty expensive now so I can’t have it as often.

Local fire fighter presents awards

By Frank Neill

Senior Wainuiomata fire fighter Mati Soi is the current President of the Wellington Provincial Fire Brigade Association.

In this role, he presented awards to 12 long serving taki fire fighters at a ceremony at the taki Fire Station on 22 October.

This was the first of a number of service award presentations Mr Soi will be making to fire brigades in the Wellington provincial area.

Two of the awards Mr Soi presented at taki were very special.

One of these was the Queen’s (soon to become King’s) long service and good conduct award.

Mr Soi presented this award, which is made for 14 years’ service and good conduct, to taki fire fighter Dave Mc Hattie.

The second special presentation

was giving a plaque to the major award winner on the night, Graeme Rankin, who was presented his gold star for 25 years’ service to the taki Fire Brigade.

Mr Soi presented Mr Rankin with a plaque marking the gold star award, and made the presentation representing the United Fire Brigades Association.

“The pathway to leadership is through service,” Mr Soi said when presenting the plaque to Mr Rankin.

“Thank you for your service to the fire brigade and to taki.”

Mr Soi also thanked all the fire fighters for their service, thanked their families and thanked their employers.

Mr Soi then presented 11 fire fighters with bars for an additional two years’ service to the fire fighters’ service medals.

Huge plantings big boost for environment

A plant was put in the ground every four seconds around the Wellington region during Greater Wellington’s 2021 and 2022 winter planting seasons. This included 650 plantings in Wainuiomata.

Konini Primary School students planted 550 plants in Wainuiomata Regional Park.

The 550 plants came from Greater Wellington Regional Council’s own nursery in Wainuiomata. The plants there are grown from seeds that are eco sourced from within park boundaries.

The nursery has also got about 15,000 plants growing in there at the moment, and the council

is hoping these will be ready for next season.

Local residents also put in 100 plants on the Wainuiomata side of East Harbour Park in the Northern Forest at McGowan Road. As well as the planting, a sausage sizzle was held.

Numbers released by Greater Wellington show that over 400,000 plants found new homes between June and August 2021. In 2022, this more than doubled to 850,000, of which 62% were native.

This result is crucial for environmental efforts across the region, Greater Wellington’s General Manager of Catchment Manage-

ment Wayne O’Donnell said.

“Not only do these plants make the places we live and play look beautiful, but they also help increase biodiversity, prevent soil erosion, remove greenhouse gases and improve water quality.”

At the root of this success was considerable support from our mana whenua partners, community groups and members of public alike across the region, Mr O’Donnell said.

“This outpouring of support has hugely contributed to the milestone of 1.25 million plants and we want to say a huge thank you to all those involved over both planting seasons”.

Simon Te-Rauna

Puha, pork bones, potato and dough boys boil up.

Judith Judd Chicken, because you can do so much with it.

Joe Richardson Chinese, because the taste is different.

Janice Harrington

A nice roast meal with veges.

Mike Ivar

Hoani McGregor

Wainuiomata fire fighter Mati

Soi presenting Graeme Rankin with a plaque commemorating his gold star award. Photo: Frank Neill.

Two volunteers planting at Baring Head. Photo: Supplied.

Local treasure part of heritage week

By Frank Neill

People will have the opportunity to take in and enjoy one of Wainuiomata’s treasures on Sunday 30 October.

The Wainuiomata Pioneer Church will be hosting an Open Day at the Church, 24 Coast Road, in conjunction with Wellington Heritage Week.

The open day will run from 1pm to 4pm. Entry is free and Devonshire tea will also be on sale for $5. “This is a great opportunity to visit this historic church and see the beautiful restoration of the interior which has taken place during the last ten years, and to hear the history of the building,” says the Wainuiomata Pioneer Church Preservation Society, which owns the church.

There will also be a guided tour of the graveyard by former local historian Vicky Alexander, where visitors will hear fascinating tales of the early settlers of Wainuiomata.

Although it is called “Wellington Heritage Week”, the event has been extended this year, and runs for a fortnight. It began on Labour Day, 24 October, and will run to 6 November.

Run by the Wellington Heritage Festival Trust, Wellington Heritage Week has more

than 60 events running through Te Whanganuia-Tara, right up to the K piti Coast.

The 156-year-old church is listed as a category two historic place by Heritage New Zealand (formerly the New Zealand Historic Places Trust).

Sitting in Wainuiomata’s oldest churchyard, complete with the graves of early settlers, the church held its first service on 6 February 1866.

The opening came some 13 years after Richard Prouse Snr bought the land where the church now stands.

He sold the land to the Methodist Church on 4 January 1865 for five shillings.

The Methodist Church then contracted Wellington builder John Petherick to build the church, which was finished in just over four weeks.

All the timber for the building was pit-sawn at the Prouse Mill.

Newspaper reports from the time tell of the building of the Church being done by the whole community, so one can only assume Mr Petherick took more of a supervisory role in the building.

According to John Prouse: “John Crowther was the principal carpenter in the valley and he had a gallant band of workers, and soon the

Church was an accomplished fact and no one received a penny for their services – it was a labour of love.”

The first known burial in the churchyard was of James Riddle, a local labourer who died on 12 August 1862.

Although built as a Methodist place of worship, all denominations attended services there as it was the only church in the valley for many years. This is evidenced by some of the burials in the churchyard, which are of Roman Catholics.

With the building of St Stephen’s Church in 1957 and its opening in early 1958, the Coast Road church fell into disuse apart from the occasional wedding and funeral.

The Wainuiomata Arts Society then used the building from 1974 to 2009, when the

Letters on issues of community interest are welcomed. A maximum of 150 words please.

They must be signed and a street address provided to show good faith, even when a nom de plume is provided for publication.

The editor reserves the right to abridge

society folded.

The Wainuiomata Pioneer Church Preservation Society Incorporated took over possession of the church in November 2010 and has managed the full renovation, rebuilding of the vestry, and ongoing asset and operational management of the building, churchyard and grounds since.

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Wainuiomata’s oldest church, opened by the Methodists in 1866. Photo: Frank Neill.

The sign at Pioneer church, outlining some of the history of the land and building. Photo: Frank Neill.

GARDENING THIS WEEK

Psyllidae, called the jumping plant lice or psyllids. (Note much of the following is from Internet research)

They are a family of small plant-feeding insects that tend to be species only feeds on one plant species or feeds on a few closely related plants.

Of current concern to tomato, potato, tamarillo, capsicum and chili gardeners is the new psyllid commonly known as the tomato/ potato psyllid.

This psyllid comes from Central and North America where it breeds primarily on potatoes, tomatoes and other plants in the potato family, Solanaceace.

It also breeds on kumara, which is in the bindweed family, Convolvulaceae.

in 2006 and has spread throughout

This psyllid may transmit a bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum that causes a disease in its host plants.

The tomato potato psyllid occurs on its host plants in gardens, and crops in greenhouses and on farms.

The tomato potato psyllid breeds all year, though the time from egg to adult (generation time) is longer in the winter when it is cold, than in the summer or in a heated greenhouse.

Adult tomato potato psyllids are small insects similar in size to aphids. They have wings and look like small cicadas with a distinctive white band on the abdomen. The two pairs of transparent wings are held over their abdomen.

Tomato potato psyllid eggs are yellow and attached to leaves by a thin short stalk. The eggs may be laid on all parts of the leaf and plant stem, but are often found on the leaf edge where they are most easily seen.

Nymphs hatch from the eggs.

have three pairs of legs and sucking mouthparts.

They settle on young leaves, mainly on the underside. Although they can walk, they spend much of their time motionless with their stylets inserted into the plant feeding on the plant sap.

each is called an instar. buds. Adults

The length of time needed for nymphal development depends on the temperature and is shorter when it is hotter.

The tomato potato psyllid inserts its maxillary stylets into the phloem, (the plant vessels for transmitting sap from the leaves to other parts of the plant.)

The sap has a high volume of water and sugars, more than the insect needs.

It excretes the excess water and sugar, which is called honeydew. The tomato potato psyllid coats the droplet of honeydew with white wax before ejecting it.

Leaves can become covered with these white wax coated droplets that are called psyllid sugars.

Like some other Hemiptera (sucking bugs), the tomato potato psyllid can transmit plant pathogens to plants.

Tomato potato psyllid is the primary vector (transmitter) of a bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, which causes a disease that may weaken plants and reduce yields and quality of crops.

Plants infested with the psyllid may exhibit symptoms of a disease, psyllid yellows.

The disease symptoms initially appear in response to psyllid feeding and is presumably a physiological reaction to feeding and saliva secretions by the tomato potato psyllid.

On tomatoes, the disease symptoms are the yellowing and stunting of the growing tip and a cupping or curling of the leaves.

PSYLLIDS:

Many flowers may fall off the trusses of infected plants and fruit that develop may be small and misshapen.

On potatoes, the foliar symptoms are a stunting and yellowing of the growing tip and the edges of the curled leaves often have a pink blush or purple colour.

After a while infected potatoes develop a scorched appearance and plants may collapse prematurely.

Potato plants that are infected at an early stage, develop numerous small tubers. Tuber quality is

infected at a later stage.

The disease is referred to as zebra chip because when the affected potatoes are fried they exhibit dark stripes where the areas high in sugar burn.

disease is usually less of a problem on outdoor capsicums, chilli and egg-plant.

Tomato potato psyllid breeds all year, especially in the warmer parts of the country and in greenhouses. In these situations, all life stages may be found all year round. In other areas, non-breeding adults may be found on plants.

Adults feed on leaves and can mate more than once. A female can lay up to 500 eggs over a 21-day

likely to be around 200 eggs.

The number of eggs laid also depends upon the host plant. The rate of development of nymphs is dependent on temperature.

The psyllid develops between 15°C and 32°C with optimum development at 27°C.

In a greenhouse with an average temperature of 18°C psyllids takes 33 days to complete their life cycle.

generations per year in the Auckland region.

numbers of psyllids are low and development is very slow.

Adults and nymphs can survive short periods of sub-zero spring numbers on infested plants will begin to build up and reach a peak in late summer/early autumn.

Adult psyllids have wings and in North America can spread long dispersal tends to be more limited, 100 m or more in three days. They will invade new areas and plants, especially in summer.

From my experience its a temperature to numbers game, when given the ideal temperatures.

One adult laying 500 eggs can mean in about a month you have a population of 250,000 adults

Initially sprays will help control but as numbers rapidly increase you would need to spray every day and still lose the battle.

That was the point I reached about 3 years ago and watched my tomato plants and tamarillos die in front of my eyes.

The following season I treated my tomatoes and other host plants with silicon drench and sprays and in one season completely wiped out the psyllids from my glasshouse and gardens.

The silicon treatment which I call

psyllid nymphs to piece and feed and they soon starve to death after hatching.

This breaks the life cycle and there are no new adults to replace the old ones when they die.

Information on the kit is available on our mail order web site at www.0800466464.co.nz

More info on the pest at http://www.gardenews.co.nz/ product.html#The%20Potato%20 and%20Tomato%20Psyllid%20 control%20with%20Cell%20 Strengthen%20sprays%20and%20 drench

With our Silcon products you can once again grow tomatoes, potatoes or phone me for more information.

Whitaker in the mix in Tokoroa

By Andy McGechan

All the riding skills in the world, plus more, were going to be needed just to cope with the notoriously-difficult Husqvarna Hard Adventure Enduro event, being staged at various venues in and around Tokoroa over Labour Weekend.

Throw in a few slippery rocks, deceptively-narrow balance boards, pesky tree roots, immovable logs, unpredictable creek beds, mossy rocks, steep up-hills and downhills, clinging mud and the constant tyranny of trying to beat the clock, and you have an event like no other.

While it's probably fair to say that challenges like this are the bread and butter of men such as Kiwi internationals Chris Birch, from Thames, Cambridge's Dylan Yearbury and Wainuiomata's Jake Whitaker, even these warriors were well and truly stretched.

The event had a pandemic-enforced break last season, but it was back with all the same crazy obstacles to confound competitors for the sixth running this year, the three-day event severely stretching

wits and nerves again over Labour Weekend.

When two-time and reigning national enduro champion Yearbury topped the leader-board after Friday evening's prologue, it seemed he might be capable of adding another overall victory to the ones he claimed at this event in 2017 and 2018.

But he then suffered a nasty scratch to his eye early on Saturday and he was forced to withdraw.

In the end, it was multiple national and international champion Birch who prevailed as he rode his KTM 300EXC bike to the top step of the podium.

Whitaker, on an identical KTM 300EXC bike again settled for overall runner-up, making it a 1-2 result for the KTM brand.

Birch keeps on racking up the wins, with this now his fourth overall victory at this event in the six years it has been run and his rivals must be scratching their heads to find ways of beating him, or at least slowing him down.

It was always going to be a "last man standing" affair again this

year, with plenty of obstacles lined up to sap the spirits, trap, trick and wear down even the most experienced of dirt bike racers.

The event is designed to be difficult. Using a similar format to the notorious Red Bull Romaniacs international hard enduro that is held each year in Romania.

Whitaker is a record eight-time national trial champion and it therefore came as no surprise that it would be he who would keep Birch honest, although New Plymouth's Tony Parker, considered a veteran in this sport, impressed also in finishing third overall.

Birch won the inaugural Husqvarna Hard Adventure Enduro in 2016, before Yearbury returned from injury to win it the following year and then repeated the feat in 2018. But Birch then won it twice more, back-to-back in 2019 and 2020.

"My first off-road day on Saturday went well," said 42-year-old father-of-one Birch afterwards.

"It was difficult to navigate, but I pushed hard and managed to get a gap over my rivals. That proved

to be crucial. I had a bit of time on Jake (Whitaker) and that was just as well because I struggled to stay with him on Sunday. He was riding very well and I had to do everything I could to stick with him.

"There was one section called 'The Last Climb' that was impossibly steep. Myself, Jake and

(Taupo's) Wil Yeoman teamed to use ropes to haul one another's bikes up the cliff before we could carry on and, after that, we then found we still weren't at the top and it became even steeper still," Birch explained.

"My fitness wasn't the best this year and in the end, I was just trying to hang on."

Thames rider Chris Birch (KTM bike No.1) leads nearest rival Jake Whitaker (Wainuiomata, KTM bike No.3) through this tricky log and board section of the event's prologue stage on Friday evening.

Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com.

Petition seeks more community policing

By Frank Neill

Parliament is being asked to increase community policing in Wainuiomata.

This request is made in a petition which Susan Durno is presenting to Parliament. It is on the “Petitions” page of the New Zealand Parliament website, at https://www. parliament.nz/en/pb/petitions/.

The petition closes on 28 October, and people can sign by visiting the “Petitions” website.

“That the House of Representatives pass legislation to increase community policing in Wainuiomata and note that 2,221 people have signed petitions supporting this,” the petition says.

Ms Durno says that her son was assaulted recently.

“I believe there has been an escalation of youth antisocial behaviour in our community,” she says.

“I believe we have the right to feel safe in our community and to be able to walk the streets and go to the local pool or community areas without being fearful of becoming victims of assault and abuse perpetrated by a group of youths in our community.”

This is the second petition launched this year on policing in Wainuiomata.

Susan Anderson began a petition in January asking that the Wainuiomata Police Station be manned 24/7.

Addressed to the NZ Police, Jacinda Adern, Barry Campbell, Hutt City Council, Ginny Andersen and Chris Bishop, the petition attracted some 2,000 signatures.

“As local tax paying residents, we have the right to feel safe in our community, walking our streets, going to the local pool or watering hole, without fear of us, our children and elderly, being assaulted by the rising abuse that is happening with some youth in our community,” Ms Anderson’s petition stated.

“People are too scared to go to Queen Street money machines or even the library, where they congregate to intimidate people whilst getting their free wifi

“We as residents of Wainuiomata

demand that the police station be manned here 24/7 with regular presence up and down Queen Street to move them along.

“Why should the rest of our young be punished, feeling they can't go to places, because they might be ‘stepped out’ for a fight, while they run rampant.

“Time for a change, please sign and share this petition. We as a community need this. We have to protect our young and elderly, before a fatality happens.”

Since Ms Anderson’s petition, the Wainuiomata Police Station has opened its doors to the public.

Hutt South MP Ginny Andersen re-opened the Police Station on 4 October. The Police Station is

open two days a week – on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon to 4pm.

Southern 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 Southern Remutaka treatment area is located in the Remutaka Ranges. The block extends from Wainuiomata in the north, to the bottom of the north island (Turakirae Point in the south). It includes sections of East Harbour Regional Park to the west and extends from Coast Road over to Ocean Beach in the east. This includes portions of the Remutaka Forest Park. Treatment areas run along both sides of the Orongorongo river.

A detailed map of the treatment area may be viewed by appointment at the Upper Hutt office of Greater Wellington Regional Council, or the Masterton office of the Department of Conservation.

Commencement Date

The operation was delayed earlier in the year due to unsuitable weather conditions. The operation will commence again from late October 2022 with the application of non-toxic cereal pre-feed pellets. Following completion of pre-feeding, the application of cereal pellets containing 0.15% 1080 will commence.

Bait Description

Pre-feed: Cereal based pellet, approximately 16mm in diameter & brown in colour. Toxic bait: 0.15% Sodium Fluroacetate (1080) – cereal based pellet, approximately 20mm in diameter & dyed green with an application rate of 2.0 kg per hectare.

Precautions

The public are reminded of the danger that toxic baits and possum carcasses pose, particularly to children and dogs. Children should be kept under strict supervision in the operational area. Dogs should be kept under strict control at all times and not have access to or be taken into the operational area as they are particularly susceptible to 1080 and poisoned carcasses. Poison warning signs will be erected at all points of public access and the public are reminded that it is an offence to remove any of these signs. Please follow instructions on the signs.

Further Information

Aerial Operations Controller, EcoFX, PO Box 248, Otorohanga, telephone 07 873 8130, admin@ecofx.co.nz.

www.ospri.co.nz/our-programmes/tbfree

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Graham’s Painters

With Jacob

Wellington have their Saturday in the sun

Wellingtonians gave me a full range of emotions on Saturday night.

I headed along to the well past its use-by-date Orangetheory Stadium to witness Wellington’s muchdeserved NPC final win over Canterbury, their first since 2000.

Canterbury were outmuscled and lacked passion in front of a home crowd that had little to cheer about. Many of us one-eyed Cantabs

were so bored by the performance of the hosts that we turned to our phones to watch another Wellingtonian, Finn Allen crash and bash the Australian bowlers all over the Sydney Cricket Ground.

His blazing 42 off 16 set the tone in the Black Caps’ 89-run thumping of Australia in the opening game of the T20 World Cup proper.

It was New Zealand’s first win on Aussie soil since 2011 and it

solidified Allen as the heir apparent to Martin Guptill’s crown in limited overs cricket.

The power of Allen was complimented by the precision of Devon Conway’s unbeaten 92.

Conway has a way of lulling teams into a false sense of security.

He scores his runs with finesse.

Unlike Allen, Conway kills you softly - it’s like watching a death by 1000 papercuts.

Conway has been a terrific gift for New Zealand cricket considering the South African born batter has been the perfect replacement for the retired Ross Taylor.

The win was so complete and convincing, it totally turned around what was going to be a ho-hum Saturday night for my mates and I.

I’m not sure it instills faith the Black Caps can win the tournament but a win over Australia in Australia

are a rare delight worth celebrating.

One thing is for sure and that’s the Black Caps now have a championship pedigree and will not be overcome by the big moment.

Trent Boult and Mitch Santner hold the key in the bowling department and the return of Daryl Mitchell later in the tournament could just add a point of difference to allow the team to cause a boil over.

Local league girls outstanding

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata girls have been performing outstandingly in national rugby league competitions recently.

All 21 members of the Wellington Orcas under 16 girls squad, which finished runners-up in the inaugural national competition this month, either live in Wainuiomata or are affiliated with the Wainuiomata Rugby League Club or Ng Hau e Wha Wainuiomata Marae.

The team also has a Wainuiomata coach, former noted rugby league player, now commentator, Ken Laban.

Four of the girls who live in Wainuiomata – Billie Va’a, Riana Le’afa-Paki, Te Ngaroahiahi Fanua Rimoni and Trinity Tauaneai – were then selected in the tournament team, as well as Jayda Maniapoto who also plays for Wainuiomata Rugby League.

The inaugural team, named Aotearoa Whanui (NZ Under 16s) played an Auckland invitation team on 23 October and performed very well given the fact that they had been

Alexis Tauaneai who was the Most Valuable Player in the New Zealand under 18 clubs team which defeated the New Zealand secondary schools team 52-0 on 23 October. Photo: Supplied.

together such a short time. However the Auckland team won the match.

Te Raukura Leafe, who lives in Wainuiomata, was also named in the Aotearoa Whaanui team and was awarded MVP of the match.

As well as the five girls who made the tournament team, another two of the under 16 girls Orcas live in

Wainui go close at U19 tournament

The Wainuiomata Under-19 football team came close to making the quarter-finals of the annual Napier age-group tournament over the long weekend.

Chasing a top eight finish for the first time since 2009, Wainuiomata had 2-0 wins over Taradale and Franklin United respectively then a 1-1 draw with North Shore United.

The win over Taradale was reversed from a 1-0 defeat after Taradale played an ineligible player.

Hadley Attewell scored both goals against North Shore while Paikea Bai scored in the draw against Franklin United.

A late winner against Northland in a pulsating 2-1 triumph mean a win or draw against Hibiscus Coast or a Franklin win over Northland would see Wainuiomata make the final eight.

Unfortunately a controversial 1-0 loss meant Wainuiomata bowedout despite a stellar weekend of performances.

the suburb – Aayla Toman and Te Arani Vulu.

The players affiliated with Ng Hau e Wha Wainuiomata Marae. are Anyis Drossaerts-Lake, Courtney Tyrell, Maia Davis, Hera Maihi, Indiana Russell-Lia, Luca-Bella Ngatuere-Ongley, Imani Mareko, Leilani Collins, Serina Tautau, Ilo Lui-Fa’i and Te Hani Watene.

Alexis Tauaneai from Wainuiomata was also selected for the under 18 Samoa team which competed in the Pacific Youth Cup on 15 October, along with Trinity Tauaneai.

Alexis was named Most Valuable Player in the New Zealand under 18 clubs team, which defeated the New Zealand secondary schools team by a massive 52-0 on 23 October.

Aayla Toman, Billie Va’a, Te Arani Vulu, Te Ngaroahiahi Rimoni and Te Raukura Leafe were chosen for the New Zealand M ori team alongside another three players from Ng Hau e Wha Wainuiomata Marae..

Riana Le’afa-Paki was selected for both the New Zealand M ori team and the Samoa team to compete in the Pacific Youth Cup. Riana chose to

play for Samoa along with three of her Ng Hau e Wha Wainuiomata Marae. teammates, helping their team to victory.

Wainuiomata’s Kyla-Mere Pasene was also a member of a victorious Pacific Youth Cup team. She was selected in the under 14 New Zealand M ori team.

The 2022 year in review for Wainuiomata girls playing rugby league is: NZ M ori K tiro un-

der 16 champions, Mid Central Whakatipu under 16 champions, Jean Kellett Cup under 16 champions, National under 16 nines finalists, National under 18 nines champions, National under 16 finalists, Pacific Youth Cup Fetu Samoa under 16 and under 18 champions, Pacific Youth Cup NZ M ori under 14 champions, Pacific Youth Cup NZ M ori under 16 and under18 finalists.

Wainuiomata under-19s put in a brave effort at their age-group tournament in Napier, coming agonisingly close to making the top eight for the first time since 2009.

Photo: Wareham Sports Media.

The Wellington Orcas under 16 girls with their coach Ken Laban. Eight of the Orcas and their coach live in Wainuiomata.

Photo: Supplied.

Free COVID antiviral medicines are available

Free oral antiviral medicines are available for people at risk of becoming very unwell from COVID, and free RATs are available for everyone.

Benefits of antiviral medicines

Antiviral medicine can help people be less sick and stay out of hospital. The medicine must be taken within the first 5 days of having COVID symptoms to reduce the amount of virus in the body.

Who can get antiviral medicines

Eligible people include:

• Māori or Pacific people aged 50 years or older

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• anyone with a severely weakened immune system, Down syndrome, sickle cell anaemia, or were previously in critical or high dependency hospital care from COVID.

• anyone with three or more high-risk medical conditions.

For the full list of high-risk medical conditions, visit Covid19.govt.nz/medicines

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• you have COVID, or you are a household contact and have symptoms

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Your doctor, nurse, hauora provider, or local pharmacy can tell you if you are eligible and may provide you with a prescription. If your local pharmacy does not prescribe antiviral medicine, they can put you in touch with a pharmacy that does.

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If you have COVID you must isolate for 7 days. You can arrange to have medicines delivered by friends or whānau. If needed, pharmacies that provide COVID antiviral medicine can have them delivered to you, for free.

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