By Frank Neill
Wainuiomata’s second Matariki celebration, held from 27 to 29 June, was a big success, just like the first one was.
Ko PŪanga r ua ko Matariki “was great. It was awesome,” the event’s organiser Louana Fruean says. Continued on page 2.
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Continued from page 1
“We had two sunny days in a row, which is unusual for Wainuiomata at this time of year. It was magical.
“I think the highlight was that everyone learned what Puanga and Matariki was all about.”
Puanga sees out the old year, while Matariki sees in the new year.
Matariki (Pleides) is the tauihu (bow) of Te Waka Rangi and Puanga (Rigel) is the taurapa (stern).
“For us Matariki was connecting with each other – a time to commune with each other.
“It’s about being true to what Puanga and Matariki is all about,” Louana says.
The celebration began with a Hautapu fire on Pito One Beach at 6am on 27 June.
That was well attended, including “lots of little kids,” Louana says.
Following a karakia there was the fire and taonga pūoro to see out the old year and herald in the new year. It was a place to remember those who have passed from July last year.
After kai at Petone Beach Kindergarten the celebration continued in the Queen Street town centre.
One of the highlights of day one, which attracted well over 600 people, including 450 tamariki, were the performances
by Fernlea and Wainuiomata Primary Schools, Louana says.
Day one was Te R Tamariki r ua ko Ng Kaum tua (children and elderly day).
The day included a highly educational talk on Maramataka (the lunar time system).
Another big focus was on showing Ng PĪ (bees) are vitally important to the eco system.
As part of that Mitre 10 Mega Petone delivered flower and vegetable plants, potting mix and staff, enabling a hands-on lesson about plants and how to care for them.
Day two, Matariki Day, was Te R Wh nau (family day), with a focus on Ng Hononga (relationships) and it also attracted hundreds of people.
It included a sit down hangi and all 300 of the meals were eaten.
The entertainment for the day began with Arohanui Strings, followed by the Bryan James Quartet featuring Richard Percival, Upright Bass player; Paul Goodhead, Jazz guitarist; Bryan James, Saxophone and Flute; and Poropiti Rangitawa, Saxophone and Trumpet. The final performance featured Uku - Troy Hunt.
Day three, the first day of the new year, featured a series of performances.
This included David Smith reading five poems and Richard Prowse playing the violin.
Wade Reeves and Bridget O’Shanassy performed, Song-
By Frank Neill
Ng Hau e Wh o Wainuiomata are the 2024 Aotearoa New Zealand M ori Kotiro Champions.
The Ken Laban coached under 17 team won the title when they comfortably defeated the Hokianga Storm 28-0 in the final of the tournament, held in Rotorua on 27 and 28 June.
Olive Willams scored two tries and Te Arani Vulu, Patricia Heihei and Te Ngaroahiahi Fanua Rimoni also dotted down. Patricia also kicked four conversions.
Ng Hau e Wh met the defending champions K tahitanga Wairua in the semi final, scoring another convincing victory with a 30-4 scoreline.
Two players scored hat tricks with both Hoana Hori-Hohepa and Olive Williams dotting down twice. Olive also kicked two conversions and Patricia Heihei kicked one.
The Wainuiomata team crushed E Tu Hei Tia Uri Ariki 46-0 in the quarter final.
Brooke Jones notched up a hat trick with three tries while Billie Va’a and Olive Williams each scored a brace.
Danica Talitonu and Te Aranui Vulu also dotted down. Olive Wil-
liams kicked three conversions and Patricia Heihei kicked two conversions.
In their opening match Ng Hau e Wh defeated K tahitanga Wairua 14-4.
Patricia Heihei scored a try and kicked a conversion, and Te Arani Vulu and Te Haani Watene also dotted down.
The team’s biggest victory came in game two when they beat Kaweitiki M ori Rugby League 72-4.
Hoana Hori-Hopeha scored a hat trick and three players – Billie Va’a, Olive Williams and Brooke Jones –scored braces.
Danica Talitonu, Te Raukura Leafe, Te Arani Vulu and Kyla-Mere Pasene also dotted down.
Patricia Heihei kicked seven conversions and Olive Williams three conversions.
The Wainuiomata team had to play five games in 48 hours and won all five matches.
“What a way to celebrate Matariki,” Ken said, noting that the final was played on Matariki day itself.
The team, Ken said, performed fantastically.
Not only did Wainuiomata win the championship, but one of their players, Patricia Heihei, was also
named Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.
Eight members of the Wainuiomata team – Brooke Jones, Billie Va’a, Patricia Heihei, Olive Connolly, Te Raukura Leafe, Fanua Rimoni, Riana Le’afa-Paki and Danica Talitonu – were selected in the tournament team.
The Government has reinstated prescription charges at $5 per item*. However, there are a number of exemptions. Prescription charges will not apply to the following groups:
Individuals aged 65 and over
Children aged 14 years and under Holders of community services cards, and their families.
*The charges mentioned above are exclusive of any part charges.
More information is at www.clives.co.nz or call into the pharmacy.
I read with interest about the new Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) track located at the Hine Road Recreation Reserve that appeared in the “Wainuiomata News” dated 26 June 2024. walked it.
Part of the track uses a benched track dating pre 1880s when the Sinclair family owned the land in the area.
In a 1880s photo of the area taken from Moores Valley Road near “The Rock” shows a track along the hillside. Has the GWRC named the track? I suggest it should be called Sinclair Track.
Jeremy Foster
A former resident of Wainuiomata.
By Frank Neill
Hutt City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) have both signed off on their 10-year plans, and both plans include large rates rises for the 2024-25 year.
Hutt City Council has set a rates revenue increase of 16.9% (after growth) for the 2024/25 year. This equates to an average weekly increase of $10.81 per residential household.
GWRC has decided to increase rates by 20.55% for the 2024-25 year.
Setting the 10-year plan has been a challenging process as council balanced financial constraints with the need to invest in vital infrastructure, Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry says.
“Over the past few years we have focused on getting the basics right and investing in our city’s future.
“We now find ourselves in a perfect storm where our infrastructure needs to be fixed and the costs to do that work are increasing, all while our city continues to experience the
pressures from growth.
“You told us you wanted us to invest in water and transport. That’s what we’re doing.
“Without this crucial investment over the next 10 years, we put the building blocks of our city at risk.
“It brings us no joy to increase rates at a time where people and families across our city are finding their own budgets stretched.
“To help offset our rates increase we have gone line by line through the budget and made some tough decisions to find $38 million of savings,” Mayor Barry says.
Other measures adopted in the 10 Year Plan include:
for under-10s when supervised by an adult with a Community Services Card. A targeted investment to remove the cost barrier of entry for children.
lion to address water leak repairs in 2024-25, and a further $1.5 million
each year from 2025-26.
to consider and potentially repair the dilapidated Petone Wharf.
on Petone’s Jackson St and the Peel Carpark at Petone Library from 1 October.
and charges.
Greater Wellington chair Daran Ponter says GWRC’s 10-year plan weaves a balance between unavoidable rising costs and delivering and improving the services communities expect. “We know ratepayers are increasingly being asked to pay more for the services that make this region a great place to live, work and play,”
Cr Ponter says.
“While the council faces significant rising costs, the public have told us that they value core services such as public transport, sustaining regional parks and enhancing life-saving flood defences.”
Savings were achieved to deliver the agreed rates increase, including delaying capital projects, leaving positions vacant, cutting operating costs and extending the length of borrowing terms.
Two key topics were proposed during consultation. Greater control of strategic bus assets, in line with Metlink’s Asset Control Strategy, and becoming the sole shareholder of CentrePort by purchasing the stake held by Horizons Regional Council.
“The community supports council having greater influence over public transport assets, which will help us keep fares affordable on our burgeoning electric bus network that protects the climate while keeping our region moving,” Cr Ponter says.
Nearly three quarters of respondents (71%) indicated they support Greater Wellington acquiring Horizons’ stake in CentrePort and becoming the sole shareholder of the port company.
Women’s Refuge is New Zealand’s largest organisation that supports and helps women and children experiencing family violence. Its vision is for all women and children in Aotearoa to live free from domestic violence.
“Our purpose is to liberate women, children and wh nau from family violence by providing quality services and social commentary,” Women’s Refuge says.
Women’s Refuge provides a 24/7 crisis phone line available on 0800 16 33 44. They provide confidential safe houses for women and children fleeing domestic violence.
They also work with women and children who live in their own homes as well as those in the safe house.
Women’s Refuge offers support and advocacy for women and children experiencing domestic violence, including working with lawyers, Work and Income, doctors and hospitals, and linking with other
government and non-government agencies. Women’s Refuge can also provide emergency housing for families with children who are homeless and on the Housing New Zealand register.
Women’s Refuge we treats all women, children and their families/wh nau in a respectful, confidential, sensitive and nonjudgemental manner.
It is also strongly guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
People can make a donation to Women’s Refuge by visiting their web site, https:// womensrefuge.org.nz.
Dr Natalie Thorburn, Women’s Refuge Principal Policy Advisor, was among the people who presented an anti-stalking petition to Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith on 26 July.
The petition, organised by the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children, called on the Government to urgently make stalking illegal.
EDUCATION FOR YOU AND YOUR TAMARIKI
We are a secondary school for young parents who
By Wally Richards
Soils contain diverse communities of microscopic organisms some of which (pathogens) are capable of damaging plants.
Pathogens may grow in the soil feeding on the rotting roots of a host plant say for instance a tomato plant.
These pathogens will be fairly specific in regards to their preferred host plant.
Thus if you plant a new tomato plant in the area where previously one died there is a reasonable chance that the pathogens present in the soil will attack and damage the new tomato plant’s roots.
If we were to plant say a lettuce instead then it is fairly unlikely that the lettuce would be affected by those pathogens that like tomatoes and members of that family of plants.
These specialised interactions between soil organisms and plants can kill seedlings and even adult trees.
Some organisms target young plants but others only appear as problems in later stages of the plants life.
Then there are pathogens that are able to cause disease problems in many different plant species.
The soil organisms that have the potential to be plant pathogens include fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes and protozoa.
Some pathogens that attack leaves, stems of plants survive in the soil at various stages of their life cycles.
Therefore, a soil phase of a plant pathogen may be important, even if the organism does not infect roots.
In spite of the potential for severe damage to be inflicted on plants by soil pathogens, most plants do not display serious symptoms of disease.
Disease usually occurs when conditions are particularly unfavorable, or when a soil pathogen is accidentally introduced into an area where a highly susceptible plant species is growing.
Because of the intensive chemical induced production of agriculture, horticulture or forestry this increases the opportunities for diseases to develop compared with the undisturbed natural ecosystems.
Also by planting of similar plant species together in monoculture increases the probability of a disease outbreak. (A glasshouse full of tomatoes for instance)
In contrast, the damage caused by the fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi to many different plant species, in diverse natural ecosystems, demonstrates the damage that can be caused by a pathogen that infects the roots of many unrelated plants.
The control of pathogens and prevention of plant disease is a natural soil biological process.
Indeed, in most situations, plant disease is not strongly evident even when potentially pathogenic fungi are present in a soil.
In Nature soil pathogens are normally held at bay due to the beneficial microbes.
Where on the other hand chemical agriculture practices creates soil conditions and a high density of susceptible roots that encourages the multiplication of pathogens.
Once potentially damaging organisms become present in high numbers in a soil, they may be difficult to eradicate.
Management practices are required that create conditions in the soil that are not favorable to pathogens so that their growth is limited and therefore, disease it restricted.
Owners of glasshouses become concerned about the build up of disease in their glasshouse soils when tomatoes and similar crops are planted year after year.
In the past there was chemicals such as Basamid that we could use to sterilise the soil.
That product has been banned.
Besides Basamid was non-selective and it destroyed the good with the bad and having no beneficial microbes to control the pathogens one could find disease problems quickly building up in the soil.
Another common problem is a row of shrubs or trees are planted as a hedge or screen, they grow nicely and then one day a plant in the row becomes sick looking and dies, followed by the plant next to it and so on.
You may put in plant replacements but they also die.
You have soil pathogens that will kill the whole row in time and be impossible to plant that species there again.
There is a natural answer for the home gardener called Wallys Terracin.
Terracin uses a combination of a Bacillius amyloliquefaciens BS-1b a beneficial soil microbe and the enzymes, bacteriocins, secondary
metabolites and signal molecules from the fermentation of Enteroccocus faecium to suppress a broad range of fungal pathogens. Terracin works fast. Firstly the B amyloliquefaciens directly attack the pathogens by excreting strong antimicrobial substances that inhibit the pathogens growth. The enzymes and bacteriocins from the fermentation extract weaken the pathogen by breaking down its outer cell walls.
The signal molecules and secondary metabolites then activate the beneficial soil microbes that produce antimicrobial substances which act to further suppress the
pathogens.
As the populations of beneficial microbes rise they suppress pathogens by simply out competing them for food. (That was simple wasn’t it?)
Once the pathogens have been suppressed it is important to reestablish a healthy population of beneficial microbes so 3 weeks after using Terracin you drench the area with Mycorrcin.
It is also important not to water the area with Chlorinated water (Put a 10 micron Carbon Bonded filter on your tap which is on our mail order web site) as chlorine just kills the microbes and you waste your time and money.
By Frank Neill
Hutt City Council is planning to dissolve the Wainuiomata Community Board.
This is one of the changes the council is proposing in the representation review it is currently undertaking.
The council is seeking the public’s views on the representation propoals it is putting forward.
Consultation opened on 1 July and closes on 1 August, and submissions can be made at https://haveyoursay. huttcity.govt.nz/representation-review.
Key points in the initial representation proposal are:
Wainuiomata, Petone and Eastbourne Community Boards;
councillors from six to five;
five general wards, compared with the existing six councillors from five wards; ori Ward called
Mana Kairangi ki Tai M ori Ward with one councillor; and councillors from 12 to 13.
All councils must conduct a review every six years as dictated by the Local Electoral Act.
Hutt City Council last did a representation review in 2018.
The council appointed an independent panel in July 2023 to conduct a review into the structure of its elected representation.
Representation Review Panel
Chair Paul Swain says consultation with the community proved invaluable in formulating recommended changes.
“It gave us strong insights into how people thought we could improve representation across the city.
“These views were used to guide our recommendations to council,” he says.
“The independent panel has been through a robust process to get us to this point, and we’re grateful for the work they have done,’ Mayor Campbell Barry says.
“Now, we want to hear what our community thinks of the proposal.
“This will help us understand how Lower Hutt residents want to be represented when we make our final decision.”
Oral hearings from submitters are scheduled for August, with the council to make its final decision in September. Any changes adopted will take effect from the 2025 Local Body Elections.
The Wainuiomata News requires deliverers in the following areas on a Wednesday each week:
AREA 1: Meremere St, Manurewa GR, Mataura Gr 300 papers
AREA 2: Faulke Ave, Burden Ave, part of Wood St 270 papers
AREA 3: Parenga St, Ngaturi Gr, part of Wood St and Coast Rd 235 papers
Consumer NZ has launched a petition aimed at stopping products being thrown out rather than repaired.
The petition calls on the government to introduce a repairability label – so when people buy something they know how long it will last, and how repairable it is.
In the same way that Energy Ratings tell people how efficient a product is to use, a repairability label would tell you how easy it is to repair.
The petition is at www.consumer.org.nz/articles/petitionto-help-stop-products-going-tolandfill.
“When we hit 20,000 signatures, we are going to head to Parliament to hand our petition over to MPs. The more people who join our call, the harder it is to ignore,” says Abby Damen campaigns adviser at Consumer
Each year we threw away 97,000 tonnes of e-waste, which equates to enough toasters to fill Eden Park and the Sky Tower.
New Zealand is the only country in the OECD without e-waste regulations.
drawn from the ballot. If passed, the bill would give consumers the right to repair their products by requiring manufacturers to make spare parts available to consumers for a reasonable period of time.
The bill also:
promptly provide, on request, the information, spare parts and tools required to keep items in working order; and
a repair rather than a replacement and requires repairs are done in a reasonable time.
“We are hopeful that MPs take time to really consider the benefits this bill offers to our planet and our pockets,” Abby says.
“Having these provisions in place would make a big difference to the quality and longevity of products available on our shelves.
“Right now, New Zealand is a magnet for poor quality appliances and electronics.
Get your House Exterior and Interior painted! ~ Pensioner Discounts ~
“Although New Zealand’s e-waste volume is shameful, it’s not entirely our fault,” Abby says.
“Our laws allow the sale of products that can’t be repaired.”
Experienced tradesmen and large team
In April, Marama Davidson’s Consumer Guarantees (Right to Repair) Amendment Bill was
“We regularly hear people reminiscing fondly about products from the good old days, and that’s for a good reason. Things used to be built to last and could be passed on from person to person.
“We need to go back to that.”
According to Consumer, if this bill is passed it would be a great first step in the right to repair movement.
E: grahamspaintersnz @gmail.com W: www.grahamspainters.nz Ph: (04) 564 9202 021 183 9492
AREA 4: Donnelley Dr, Roberts St, Norfolk St 290 papers
AREA 5: Hamstead, Enfield, part Wellington, Kendall 220 papers
AREA 6: Naseby Gr, Bexley Gr, part of Wellington Rd 285 papers
AREA 7: Petrie St, McKillop St, Bull Ave 280 papers
AREA 8: Hair St, Rowe Parade, Gibbs Cres, part of Main 280 papers
30. Barrel maker (6) 32. Look (3) 33. Snow runner (3) 34. Closer (6) 35. Some (7)
Ballad (4)
Insect (3)
Garland (3)
Whirl (4)
Ungenerous (7) 45. Traps (6) 48. Funds official (9)
Advocate (9)
How long does it take for DNA to break down?
Other scientists studying bird bones have estimated that under ideal conditions, DNA has a half-life of approximately 521 years, meaning that it would be broken down so much as to be useless after about 1 million years.
51. Indication (5) 52. Bet takers(coll) (7) 53. Presses (5) 54. Ornamental staff (7) 55. Takes back property (for non–payment)(11)
1. Extreme.(5)
Baggage (11) 3. Obstinately wrong (8)
Harvested (6)
Donkeys (5)
Character (7) 7. Band member (8) 8. Sift (6)
Hinders (7)
Punctured (5)
Frequents (7)
Inns (7)
Think (5)
Grapples with (7)
Angers (7)
Bind (3)
By Vaegaau Isaac
Ulalei entered three teams in the Hiwaiterangi netball tournament, held at kau Tangi, Kilbirnie on Matariki day.
Ulalei Pua Neinei played in the women's grade and won their grade.
Ulalei Tiare Maori entered the collegiate grade and came second.
Ulalei Maire entered the mixed grade in their first hit-out as a team and performed well winning three out of five games.
"It was great to see all three teams the juniors, the women and the mixed grade enjoy time together on Matariki day, and as usual the teams were well supported by whanau and friends,” Lahraine Sagaga says.
These teams are currently fundraising to travel to Rarotonga at the end of the year to play in the annual "Netball in Paradise" tournament.
Last year the tournament hosted 23 teams from Australia and New Zealand.
This is the first time Ulalei will be playing in the tournament and will be entering three teams in the under 15s grade, mixed competitive grade and women's social grade.
“It is a wonderful way to celebrate the club's 20th anniversary and it will be a memorable experience for all the teams,” the club says.
Meanwhile the young Ulalei Suni team (year 7 and 8) were out in the community with Friends of Waiwhetu Stream and Councillor Simon Edwards helping at the Matariki planting day with 800 plants to be planted. It was an excellent opportunity for the youngsters to give back to the community, to care for the environment and embrace kaitiakitanga.
By Frank Neill
Wainuiomata’s premier Rugby team will head into the Hardham Cup competition on Saturday 6 July among the top points scorers from the Swindale Shield competition, which wrappped up on 29 June.
In their last Swindale Shield match Wainuiomata was pipped by Paremata-Plimmerton 22-19 at William Jones Park.
In doing so, the visitors won the Smith & Wilson Cup.
This result saw the men in green and black at the head of the six confirmed Hardham Cup teams with 31 points.
Johnsonville is just behind them on 30 points, while Poneke has 26 points, Norths 13, Wellington 5 and Avalon 4.
By Frank Neill
More than 150 tamariki from all six Wainuiomata primary schools took part in this year’s ‘Bike Your Backyard’ event
This year was the third year running that “Bike Your Backyard’ has taken place in Wainuiomata.
The event was “a great success,” says Amanda Rasch, Nuku Ora’s Healthy Active Learning Community Connector.
Wainuiomata Primary Schools were paired up and given the opportunity to ride to a local school with the aim of promoting active transport, building cycling confidence, increasing community connection and learning how to be safe on the road.
“Tamariki had a blast, with the majority indicating they are more likely to bike to
school and around their community after their experience.
“This event wouldn’t have been possible without the support and collaboration of Hutt City Council, Pedal Ready, Nuku Ora, Greater Wellington Regional Council and Wainuiomata’s local constable Kenneth Simms,” Amanda says.
Two more teams will joining them when the bottom four teams in the Jubilee Cup play on 6 July.
In a very closely contested match, both Wainuiomata and Paremata-Plimmerton scored three tries and two conversions each.
The difference was a penalty kicked by Paremata-Plimmerton’s Sam Clark.
Campbell Cowie, Matt Jacobs and Kade Tiatia dotted down for Wainuiomata.
Tyle Tane kicked two conversions.
Paremata-Plimmerton lead 10-5 at half time.
Wainuiomata’s first Hardham Cup match sees them play Avalon at William Jones Park on 6 July.
Paremata-Plimmerton also won the premier 2 match between the two clubs when it defeated Wainuiomata 36-22.
By Frank Neill
A petition calling on the government to urgently make stalking illegal was presented to three MPs, including local MP Ginny Andersen, at Parliament on 26 June.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and the Green Party’s spokesperson for the prevention of family and sexual violence Marama Davidson received the petition along with Ms Andersen, who is the Labour Party’s spokesperson for the prevention of family and sexual violence.
Ms Andersen has placed a bill that would make stalking illegal in Parliament’s ballot box of member’s bills.
Her Crimes (Stalking) Amendment Bill would, if passed by Parliament, see a conviction for stalking carry a term of up to five years in prison.
Every second Wednesday a ballot is held to decide which private members bills will be introduced.
However if the MP promoting the bill can attract the support of 61 other MPs the bill does not need to be drawn to be introduced.
Ms Andersen is currently lobbying in a bid to attract the support of at least 61 MPs.
“It was an honour to accept the petition that demands this Government makes stalking an offence,” Ms Andersen said after the petition was presented.
“Stalking should be a crime in New Zealand.
“It makes the victim feel extremely unsafe and insecure, and in some cases it results in serious assault and even death,” she said.
After the petition was presented Justice
Minister Goldsmith said the government would introduce legislation to make stalking illegal by the end of the year.
“Today we saw the government change their position,” Ms Andersen said on 26 June.
“Paul Goldsmith, the Minister of Justice, previously said that an anti-stalking law was ‘not a priority’ for the Government.
“Today he stated that the they would introduce legislation by the end of the year.
“That is a real win for the safety of women in Aotearoa,” Ms Andersen said.
“I am talking to all parties in Parliament to seek their support of my private member’s bill that would criminalise stalking.
“I strongly believe this law change just makes good sense, irrespective of what party you belong to.
“This is about strengthening the rights of victims and ensuring our law is working to prevent people becoming the victim of repeated harassment, assault or violence,” Ms Andersen said.
By Frank Neill
Nominations are open for the 2024 Wellington Regional Sports Awards.
There are 12 award categories, recognising the sport excellence of athletes, teams, clubs, volunteers, officials and coaches.
This event, formerly known as the Wellington Sport and Recreation Awards, has been running for 40 years.
Nominations can be made at www.wellingtonsportsawards.co.nz and close on Monday 5 August. Finalists will be announced in mid August. The winners will be announced at the Wellington Regional Sports Award night.
This will be held at the Alan Gibbs Centre, Wellington College, at 6:45pm on Thursday 24 October.
