Te Puke News - 11 April 2025 by Sun Media

TePukeSportswerevictoriousin theirclashagainstGreertonMaristin thethirdweekofthe2025Baywide RugbyPremiership. Therewaslittletochoosebetween

thetwosidesforthefirstquarterofthe game,untilTePukemanofthematch TaineCraig-Rangasomehowfound agaptoscythethroughtheMarist defenceandscoreundertheposts.

FletcherCarpenteraddedtheextras andshortlyafterwardsCraig-Ranga addedadropgoaltoputhissideout toa10-0leadthattheyhelduntilthe break.

TheGreertondefencewasbreached againbyadeterminedrunfromTe Pukevice-captainBradArmstrong, picturedabove.Readmoreonpage4.

Photo/StuartWhitaker

TePuke NEWS

ScholarshipsempoweringTePukestudents

FourlearnershavewonAcorn Foundationscholarships,11 studentsweregrantedTECT

First-in-Familyawards,and 10studentswereawarded TECTReturningStudent scholarships.

StudentsfromtheUniversity ofWaikatoTaurangacampus celebratedtheirawardswith friendsandfamilyinMarch.

Thesescholarshipsareprovided byAcornFoundationdonorsand bythetrusteesofTECTtohelp studentsaffordtheexpensesof tertiaryeducation.

Firstinfamily

ThefirstscholarshipfromAcorn wastheAcornFoundationBeverly PerszykScholarship.

Thisawardisintendedfora studentwhoisthefirstintheir familytogoontotertiarystudy andhascompletedatleastone yearatuniversity.

Thisyear’swinnerisAriaGibson, whoisinhersecondyearof studyingaBachelorofScience, majoringinmarinescience.

“Attendinguniversitywasa massivestepformetotakeas itmarkedthebeginningofmy journeyintoadulthoodand gainingindependence.Myparents havealwaysadvocatedforchoice inregardtothejourneyafterhigh schoolandareincrediblyproud

thatIhavefoundthestudyroute andcareerpath,”Gibsonsaid. Financialassistance

Thenextscholarshipwasthe AcornFoundationKenneth PerszykSrAdultLearner Scholarship.

Thisawardisforthefinancial assistanceofadultlearners(40 years-plus)duringanystageof theirstudyattheundergraduate orpostgraduatelevelatthe UniversityofWaikatoTauranga campus.

Thisyear’swinnerisTePuke HighSchooldeputyprincipal SimonMcGillivray,whois completingaone-yearDiploma inTeTohuPaetahi,animmersion Māorilanguageprogramme. About45%ofthestudent populationofTePukeHigh SchoolisMāori,andMcGillivray saidhefeelsthatit’svery importanttomodeltheuseofte reoMāoriwhenherepresentsthe schoolandthecommunity.

Thiscoursewillassisthimto demonstrateineducationand societytheculturalsignificanceand importanttaongaofthelanguage.

“Iwouldliketothinkit’snever toolatetolearn,improvelearning outcomes,provideopportunities forMāoristudentsandinspire newTeReoMāorilearners.”

Ascholarshipfirst

TheAcornFoundationBruce LongmoreScholarshipwas

awardedforthefirsttimein2025,toastudentin undergraduateorpostgraduateeducationwhohas completedatleasttwoyearsofstudyinthefieldsof marinescience,environmentalscience,orecologyand biodiversity.

TheinauguralawardhasbeenissuedtoBellaMuir,a studententeringherthirdyearofstudyinaBachelorof Science,majoringinmarinescience.

EvaTrowbridgeScholarship

In2007,theAcornFoundationEvaTrowbridge Scholarshipwaslaunched,andithasuptonowassisted 18adultstudents,25yearsandolder,toundertake studiesthroughtheUniversityofWaikatoTauranga campus.

Thisyear’swinneriswell-respectedTePukelocalLouisa Westerlund.

SheisavaluedvolunteeratBayFinancialMentors andmanyothernon-profitorganisations.Westerlundis currentlystudyingforaBachelorofLaws.

Acorn’sJoWilson,left,SimonMcGillivray, AriaGibson,BellaMuirandLouisaWesterlund.

Photo/Supplied

KiotiNZ

gggp dawn,showingrespectand thrivingondiscipline–it’sall partofTePukeHighSchool’s newServicesAcademy.

Theschoolisoneof28across thecountryfundedtoofferthe programmethatincorporates valuesofcourage,commitment, comradeshipandintegrity,with theacademyhavingstronglinks totheNewZealandDefence Force’sYouthDevelopmentUnit.

AcademydirectorstaffShane Gillumsaidit’snotjustfor thosewithdefenceforcescareer ambitions,butanystudent whowouldbenefitfromamore disciplinedandstructuredway oflearning.

Careeraspirations

BaileyAndersonsaidshedidn’t reallyknowwhatshewantedto doafterhighschool.

Withonepossibilitybeing joiningthepolice,hercareers teacherthoughttheprogramme mightbebeneficial.

“Duringahouseassembly[last year]stafftalkedabouthow therewerespacesopeninginthis programmeandIthoughtI’dgive itatryformyfitnessandjustto seeifIlikedit.”

TalsRivewantstojointheNavy andwhenshefoundoutabout theprogrammehadnohesitation inwantingtobepartofit.

CarlosdePaivaisanotherwho hashissightssetonacareerin thedefenceforce.

“I’dbeentalkingtomyparents aboutitwhenIfoundoutabout thisprogrammelastyearand

couldn’tmiss.”

ReeganHolloway’sfutureplans arealsouncertain.

“Meandmyfatherhadhad someserioustalksaboutjoining theArmy,AirForceorNavysoI thoughtwhynothaveagoand seewherethistakesme.”

Herecognisedthatthestructure offeredbytheprogrammecould helpwithhislearning.

Thestudentsrecentlyspent12 daysatWhenuapaiAirbasewith othersonsimilarprogrammes.

Intensetraining

Gillumsaiditwasanintense campthatincludedphysical training,paradeanddrill,team buildingactivities,leadership, crosscountry,confidencecourse, highropescourse,firstaidand mountainbiking.

“Therewasalot–and therewasanurgencyabout everything,everythinghadtobe donerealfast.”

“SomethingIfound challengingatcampwasthe mentalsideofit,notsomuch beingawayfromhome,but thatalittlebit,butbeingable topushmyselfandkeepmy emotionssteady,”saidAnderson.

“ButIdefinitelyreallyenjoyed thecampandIreallyenjoyedthe discipline.”

Rivesaidtherewasatimeatthe endofthefirstweekwhenmorale dropped.

“Bythattimeeveryonewasjust complainingthattheywantedto gohomeandallofthatstuff,but westillhadoveraweekleft.But weworkedasateamandtriedto bounceoffeachother’senergy,

Teensthriveon disciplineat ServicesAcademy

weekend.”

Lookingback,shesaidshe enjoyedeverythingaboutthe camp.

“Ilovedthegettingupearly andgoingoutanddoinganearly morningactivityandmoving yourbodyfirstthingwhenyou wokeupandtheamountofteam thingswedidwithpeopleyou wouldn’thavemet.”

DePaivasaidtheonlynegative aboutthecampwashowshort itseemed.“Ireallyenjoyedall ofit,enjoyedallthePTandthe paradeanddrill,thefoodand relationshipsImade.”

Hesaidsincethecamphehas beenmoredisciplinedabout gettingupearlyandgetting thingsdone.

Hollowayhasalsoturnedinto anearlyriser.

“Iusedtositaroundallday doingnothing,nowI’vedone thiscamp,I’mprettyactivemore thanIusuallywasandlotmore respectful,alotmoredisciplined.”

Defenceforces

Gillumspent20yearsinthe Navyandhasalsoworkedin defenceforcerecruitment.

Hesaidtheselectionprocess fortheprogrammeinvolved lookingatattendanceandgetting feedbackfromotherteachers.

“Wegotagoodmixofkids, somewhowanttojointheArmy, AirForceorNavy,somekidsare doingitforsportandfitness, somekidsbecausetheyprobably doneedabitofdirection anddisciplineandwhowere told,‘hey,thiswillbeagood programmeforyou’.”

ThereisalsoaYear13 programmethatfocuseson preparingstudentsapplyingfor themilitarywithguidanceon aptitudetesting,fitnesstesting andinterviews.

Gillumbelievedthoseonthe Year12programmewillhave anadvantagewhenitcomesto applicationsbutrecognisesthat notallwilltakethatroute.

“Somemightdecideit’snot forthemorleaveschoolor gotopolytechorgetatrade, butatleasttheskillstheyget arounddiscipline,teamwork andleadershipwilltransferonto whatevertheydonext.”

Strictrules

AndersonsaidtheServices Academyclassesarealotstricter thanherotherclasses.

“Herewehavetohaveshirts tuckedinandalwaysberespectful toeveryone.”

Riveagreed.“It’smoredisciplined andthegroupismorerespectful toeveryone.Werespecteach

otherwaymorethanjustbeingin anormalclassroom.”

DePaivasaidevenforthosenot planningonjoiningthemilitary, “thedisciplineandfitnessbehind itallisreallygood”.

Bushcraft

Theprogrammecontinuesnext termwhenthefocuswillbeon bushcraft.

TheServicesAcademy programmeencompassesmany areasoftheNewZealand curriculumandembracesallof thekeycompetencies.

ServiceAcademystudents shouldhaveskillsandexperience incommunity,defenceforce knowledgeandskills,fitness andwellbeing,lifeskillsand adventure-basedexperiential learningbytheendofthe programme.

Studentscangainupto26 NCEALevel2creditsthrough theprogramme.

Teena

StuartWhitaker

Photo/StuartWhitaker

T TePukkeSportsddeffeatsGreertoninrugbbycllash h

Inthethirdweekofthe2025 BaywideRugbyPremiership,Te PukeSportsandGreertonMarist clashedinarepeatoflastyear’sfinal. TePukeSportswerevictoriousonthat occasionandwereinnomoodtolettheir hostsgainrevengeinSaturday’sclash. Therewaslittletochoosebetweenthe twosidesforthefirstquarterofthe game,untilTePukemanofthematch

TaineCraig-Rangasomehowfounda gaptoscythethroughtheMaristdefence andscoreundertheposts.

FletcherCarpenteraddedtheextrasand shortlyafterwardsCraig-Rangaaddeda dropgoaltoputhissideouttoa10-0 leadthattheyhelduntilthebreak.

TheGreertondefencewasbreached againbyadeterminedrunfromTePuke vice-captainBradArmstrong.

Thetrywasagainconvertedby Carpenterwhoaddedthreemorefrom apenaltyawardedforalatehit,andTe

Pukehaddoubledtheirlead. AquicktapbyGradyForbescaught theGreertondefencenappingandthey couldn’tstophimgoingovercloseto theposts,Carpentermakingitasevenpointer.

Thegamewasintoitsfinalquarter beforeGreertongotonthescoresheet throughRichardAserona,fullbackJunior Matautiaaddingtheconversionbefore DeclanBarnettandCarpenteraddedatry eachtomakethefinalscore39-7. Afterlosingtheiropeninggameagainst

Whakarewarewa,TePukehaveput togethertwoimpressivewins,beating MountMaunganui67-0inweektwo. TePuke’sdevelopmentsidewentdown 46-3inlastSaturday’scurtain-raiserwhile thecoltsbeatMaristStMichaelsColts 55-10atMurraySaltStadium. ThisweekendTePuke’spremierand developmentsideshaveabyeand,with norugbyovertheEasterweekend,will notplayuntilApril26whentheytravel toTaurangaSports.

StuartWhitaker

HAPPYEASTER

HaveagreatEasterandrelaxingschoolholidays Nowisthetimetofollowuponanyeyesight concernsyoumaybehavingwithyourchildren Someproblemsignstolookoutfor… Complainingofheadachesortiredeyes Squintingorclosingoneeyetoseeorread Avoidingclosework Frequenteyerubbingandexcessiveblinking Delayedlearningachievements YoumaybeeligibleforaGovernment Subsidyforyourchild’seyeexamination and/orspectacles.

Meetthecrew: DaleLindsay

TePukeVolunteerFireBrigade

TePukeVolunteerFire Brigadeismadeupofmen andwomenwhodrop everythingandrunwhen theirpagersgooffandthe firesirensounds. Butwhoarethesemenand women?

Withpermissionfromthe firebrigade,TePukeNewsis publishingawriteupofits members,soyougetaninsight intothecrew,wheretheycome

from,andwhatdrivesthemas firefighters.

Startingoff‘MeettheCrew’is DaleLindsay. Amortgageadviserbyday, Lindsayisthechieffireofficerat thestationandhas40yearsof serviceunderhisbelt.

Readmoreabouthimbelow. All-timefavouritecallout: Itwouldhavetobethefirst majorhousefireIwenttoin Morrinsville.Itwasanold weatherboardschoolhousefully involvedendtoend,andanother guyandIwentininBAandgot itallout.Whenwecameout,I hada‘ohs***,wereweinthat?’ moment.

Thankfullynoonewasinthere andnoonewashurt.Itwasan awesomefirstmajorcallandI’ll neverforgetit.

Hobbiesandinterestsoutside ofthebrigade: Ienjoykitsetmodellingand daysonthelakewiththefamily. Ifyouhadathemesong,what woulditbe?

‘BigLog’ -RobertPlant Proudestmomentasabrigade member: Ican’tpickone,butit’s betweenpresentingmyson

withhisthree-yearcertificate,becoming apatronoftheAucklandprovincialfire brigadeassociationorbeingamemberofthe MorrinsvilleVFBwaterwayteamthatwonthe AucklandProvincialFireBrigadesAssociation Championshipin1990.Inthosedaysthere wereabout30teamscompetinganditwas reallyhardtowin.Hardtochooseoneofthe threesoI’llsayallthree!

Mostunusualormemorablecallout: Rescuingagoatfromatree. Somethingyouwisheveryoneknew: Therealityofcarnagethatcanbecausedon theroads.Peoplethinktheyknow,butthey don’t.

Therealityofwhathappenswhenyoudo dumbstuffontheroadissomuchworsethan whatyoucouldimagine.

Farmerswarned asdiesel,battery theftssurge

TePuke policereport

Oneofthe scourgesof ruralareas–thetheftof dieseland batteries, especiallythoseassociatedwithfrostfans–isontheincrease.

Sergeant MikeOwen ort

Onceagain,I’dliketowarnorchardists andfarmersthesetheftsarehappeningand suggestafewprecautionsthatwillmakeit moredifficultforwould-bethieves.

Apersoncomingontoyourproperty withoutavalidreasonorwithanunlikely excuseispotentiallytryingtofindout wherethedieselandbatteriesare.

Makeanoteofthenumberplatesof vehiclesthatarenotfamiliarorareperhaps carryinganunusualnumberofstorage containersbecauseamountsof100-200 litresarebeingtaken.

Itmightalsobeworthinstalling floodlighting,good-qualitysecuritycameras andensuringbatterycasingsanddiesel tanksareassecureaspossible.

Thankstothevigilanceofamember ofthepublic,adiggerallegedlystolen fromcommercialpremisesinTePukewas quicklyrecoveredintheearlyhouseof Sundaymorning.

Asaresult,a56-year-oldTePukemanwas arrestedandchargedwithburglary.

Thiscasehighlightshowbeingvigilantcan beahelpincombatingcrime.

DaleLindsayduringoneofthebrigade’s manyrescues. Photos/TePukeVolunteerFireBrigadeFacebook

FirechiefofficerDaleLindsay.

Women’sdrivenightteachesessentialcarskills

Atyreshopisn’tanobviousplace foraneveningout,butthat’sjust whatBridgestoneTyreCentre TePukebecamerecently.

“Weliketogivebacktothe communitywherewecan,sowedolots ofsponsorshipandthingslikethat,”said ownerTraceyWaller.

Thewomen’sdrivenightwas another.Itwasawomen-onlyevening demonstrating“basicstuffthatwomen shouldknowabouttheirvehicles”.

“Backinmygeneration,dadmademe changeatyreandwheretheoilwasandI thinkthat’skindofforgottenthesedays.”

Themostrecenteventwasnotanew initiative,butwasthefirstsincethe pandemic.

“Sothebasisofitwas,iftheyarestuck onthesideoftheroadinthemiddleof nowhere,theyknowhowtochangea tyre,knowwheretoputthejacksafely, allthetricksofthetrade,likeifthenuts areontootight,thisishowyoucanget themoff.”

Thingsthenprogressedtowhat’sunder thebonnetandincludedhowtocheck andtopuptheoilandwater.

“Andthingslike,ifyoustopandthe radiator’ssteaming,don’ttouchthecap.”

Alsocoveredwerethemeaningsofthe differentwarninglights,howtojump startacarandwhatuneventyrewear mightsignify.

Waitinglist

Wallersaidwhenwordwentoutthat anotherwomen’seveningwasbeingheld,

shewasinundated.“Wehaveawaiting listforthenextone.”

However,thoseonthelistoranyone elsewantingtogowillhavetowaituntil springasitisnowgettingdarktooearly intheeveningandthereisinsufficient spaceinsidetheworkshop.

Thelatestwomen’sdrivenightattracted 25women.

“Wegotalotofmums,alotofmums anddaughtersandpeoplethatareon theirownandtheylearnedalotabout theircarsbecauseweusedtheircars,not ours,sothey[learnedto]changethetyres ontheirowncars.”

Onepersonfoundherjackwouldn’tbe abletodoitsintendedjobandanother foundthatheroilwassolowitcould havecausedaseriousissue.

“Wegotourteaminvolvedandthey loveditandwehadgreatfeedback.”

Knowledgeandadvice

Amongthatfeedbackwasthatsome peopledidn’tattendbecausethey didn’twanttoappeartobeaskingsilly questionsorwereembarrassedabout theirlackofknowledge.

ButWallersaidthewholeideawasto givethosepeopletheknowledgethat couldhelpthemiftheyareeverstranded bythesideoftheroadandadviceonthe thingstheyneedtocheckregularly.

“Ijustwanttotrytogetitoutthere thatwearetheretohelppeople,it’snot allaboutchargingandmoney,people canrockupandaskquestionsorget theirtyrescheckedforfree.”

BridgestoneTyreCentreTePukehas

Above:BridgestoneTyreCentreTePuke recentlyheldawomen’sdrivenighttopass onneed-to-knowtipsandskills. Right:Adviceonhowtocheckoillevels.

afemaletyretechnicianandWallersaid thisalsosparkedinterestinsomeofthose atthewomen’sdrivenight. Wallersaidthedrivenightwaspartof thebusiness’philosophyof makingsurewomenaremadetofeel comfortableinwhatcanbeseenasa

male-dominatedenvironment.“Ifwefail acaronaWOFweexplaintothelady whatthatmeanssoshecanmakethe decisionaboutwhattodo.

“Wehavequiteabigfemalefollowing becauseofthat.”

StuartWhitaker l d d “ f f l

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