ŌTAKI MAIL
PO Box 109 Otaki
otakimail@xtra.co.nz
www.otakimail.co.nz
06 364 5500
Christmas 2017
Haruatai pool open for Summer
P7
Haruatai pool history p10
Mayor Gurunathan and Nape McFedries symbolically cut the ribbon to open the new Haruatai pool
Last week, the revamped pool was opened with due ceremony lead by local iwi. The pool is on Maori land which was originally given to the Anglican Church and it was fitting that our local elders should bless the pool and welcome us all to it. A series of speeches led by Ōtaki’s councillor James Cootes who described his feelings of pride at the completion of the works. He and former councillor Penny Gaylor discussed their fight to retain the pool and upgrade it as it had been suggested it should be decommissioned now that the Aquatic’s Centre was up and running in Paraparaumu. Thankfully for our community their arguments prevailed. Chris Papps, chair of the ŌCB, commented that the $5.4 million dollars of ratepayer money was well worth it to protect this community asset for our future generations. The pool was formally opened by Mayor Gurunathan who acknowledged iwi as the original owners of the land and also those Ōtaki residents who in the past, worked so hard to build the pool. Fittingly, he invited Nape McFedries, an old pool identity to help cut the ribbon.
Graduation p14 After months of waiting, the children of Ōtaki couldn't wait to get back to the pool
The new splash pad will be a great asset
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Kapa Haka p24
sTaTe hIghWaY 1, neXT To KaThManDu
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