Te Puke’s newest community constable is lacing up his boots and hitting the streets in order to get to know the town he’s entrusted to protect Aron Wilson-McGrath has been in the role for two months and says there is no better way to get to know the town and people than going for a walk and introducing himself to the locals
“I think it makes a difference being someone who people know on a first-name basis, someone who’s introduced themselves to you with a handshake and with a greeting as opposed to just a phone call ”
Wilson-McGarth has spent the majority of his career on the front line in Tauranga, but felt he has the aptitude and social skills to do well in a community-based role “I’ve not been stationed here before but always put up my hand to come out and help with the front-line stuff here Or if
there’s jobs that need attending out here – I just like dealing with the small communities “I’m still in the process of listening to those voices and opinions of the residents of those communities and figuring out how to find a realistic solution ” Read his story in full on page 5 Photo / StuartWhitaker
Te Puke NEWS
Western Bay of Plenty District Council has introduced new, fire-safe battery collection units at its library and service centres throughout the Western BOP and Tauranga.
The new collection units, in Waihī Beach, Katikati, Ōmokoroa, and Te Puke, and at council’s main office at Barkes Corner, Tauranga, aim to make battery recycling in the Western BOP both safer and more convenient, said council’s solid waste planning and behaviour change lead Ilze Kruis.
“These new units make it easier for people to do the right thing. Batteries contain harmful materials, and when they’re thrown in the rubbish or recycling bin they can cause fires, especially in trucks and at waste facilities
“By recycling used batteries, you ’ re helping protect our environment, reduce fire risk, and support safer waste collection across the district.”
Designed for small-to-medium-sized household batteries, the units can take common household batteries, including alkaline (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V), lithium (coin and cylindrical), rechargeable NiCd and NiMH, button/coin cells, and other rechargeable types typically found in devices like cameras and small power tools
Car batteries (lead-acid), large industrial batteries, or damaged Lithium batteries are not accepted, but people can still drop off larger batteries for free at council’s three recycling centres, at Athenree, Katikati, and Te Puke, during open hours.
Funded by the Waste Minimisation Levy and provided by Phoenix Recycling
Group, the collection units are equipped with advanced fire safety features and are monitored remotely, for added security
The batteries collected in the bins are shipped to approved recycling facilities. These facilities are equipped to safely process and recycle the batteries, recovering valuable materials and minimising environmental impact
To recycle batteries safely, both terminals should be taped before they are placed in the bins, to help prevent short circuits and potential fires. Regular sticky tape is fine, and you can also use clear snap lock bags
Taped batteries should be kept in a cool, dry place until you can drop them off at a recycling unit.
Accepted battery types
• Alkaline: General household singleuse batteries
• Lithium-ion: Rechargeable batteries from various devices like phones, laptops, and power tools
• Lithium Metal (Primary & Button): Non-rechargeable batteries found in household and industrial devices
• Nickel Cadmium: Rechargeable batteries from household items and power tools
• Nickel Metal Hydride: Rechargeable batteries from household items and power tools
• Embedded Batteries: Batteries within small devices like electric tooth brushes, vapes, smoke alarms, and personal locator beacons
What’s NOT accepted
• Lead-acid batteries, like car batteries.
• Lithium Batteries that are damaged, leaking, swollen, or modified
• Batteries too large to fit in the collection unit
For council library and service centre locations and hours, visit: https://www westernbay.govt.nz/council/contact-us/ council-locations
For recycling centre locations and hours, visit: https://www.westernbay. govt.nz/property-rates-and-building/ rubbish-and-recycling/communityrecycling-and-greenwaste-centres
Customer service representative Helen Elyashiv, left, and Council’s solid waste planning and behaviour change lead Ilze Kruis with one of the new battery recycling units. Photo / Western Bay of Plenty Regional Council
BOP paddler to compete in world champs in Brazil
Te Puke waka ama paddler Nicky Kingi has competed at every Interntional Va’a Federation (IVF) World Distance Championships since they began in 2017.
With the exception of 2021, the outrigger canoe championships have been held every other year since 2017 – alternating with the world sprint championships – and Nicky has competed in Tahiti, Australia and Samoa.
Next week she will once again represent New Zealand, this time in Brazil.
Two years ago, she was part of the New Zealand elite team that took second place in the 24km race, and she also won the senior Masters women ’ s gold in the solo V1 category
“This year I decided I wasn ’ t going to go elite just to take a bit of pressure off, with my kids doing their sports as well.”
Kingi is part of a women ’ s Masters crew with members from across the country that will compete in the master ’ s distance race.
She will also again paddle solo in the masters 16km V1 category Qualifiers were held in Wellington. “You have to win the crew spot – you have to get a crew together you think might be able to take that spot at the nationals to then follow through to the worlds ”
Differences
Apart from the obvious difference of it being much hotter in Brazil than New Zealand’s winter, one basic rule was also going to mean making adjustments. “We have to paddle with
lifejackets on – which you don’t have to do here, you just have to have them in the boat – so that’s going to make things a lot hotter,” said Kingi.
“It does restrict you a little, but we ’ ve been paddling with them on to try and get used to them. It has also proved tricky to get many training paddles organised as the crew is scattered around the country
“You don’t get a lot of time to gel together as opposed to maybe getting a local crew, but it’s pretty hard to win a worlds with a local crew It can be done, but I don’t know how often it gets done.”
It will be Kingi’s first time competing in South America but she’s no stranger to long distance racing
Since the last distance world championships she has been to Rarotonga, where she was part of a crew that won a changeover race where crews change out at sea.
That came about due to Kingi and Raanj Rapana from Whakatāne paddling for Taupōbased waka ama club Makoha.
Tough environment
“Because they are fairly new, we want to help them grow the club They’ve got connections and whānau in Raro, so we thought we’d get a team together to do that.”
She also took part in the Nā Wāhine O Ke Kai – a marathon paddle between Molokai and Waikiki in Hawaii. “It was a super-fun six hours of paddling. And it’s very competitive.”
While Kingi has regularly qualified for
the world sprint championships, she had only been once, much preferring the long-distance racing
“[The sprint championship] is a real pressure-cooker environment. I much prefer the distance – and the older you get, the harder it becomes to do all the training [for sprint racing]
Different
“Distance is different – it’s still takes a toll on the body, but in different ways. A lot of it’s mental which I think, as you get older, becomes a bit easier”
Kingi’s normal solo paddling was in a ruddered waka, but she would be in a rudderless boat in Brazil.
“Paddling rudderless is a whole different skill and one I’ve tried for years to master and I’m probably better than I used to be, but still not as good as I’d like to be.
“It’s just a matter of doing the best you can on the day because you don’t get the practice.”
The world distance championships are being held at Sao Francisco Beach in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro between August 13 and 22.
Falsealarms dominate recent brigade callouts forTe Pukefirefighters
Te Puke Volunteer Fire Brigade has had 208 calls for the calendar year to August 4.
There have been 11 calls in the last fortnight. Seven have been false alarms We are not sure if weather is relevant to these activations, but there does appear to be something of a pattern in that they tend to occur during or soon after times of heavy rainfall
We have also had one each of: motor vehicle crash, smell of gas at a house, petrol spill at Z Energy and a
helicopter crash near Paengaroa where, fortunately, there was minimal action required by Fire and Emergency
It was interesting that the crew who responded to the petrol spill noted some impatient behaviour from several motorists trying to enter the premises despite a fire truck being present with flashing lights active and a significant spillage evident on the forecourt
We would urge motorists to be patient in these situations because there is a very real risk of ignition in these circumstances and we would not close off the
scene if it was safe to enter Recently, we received some very sad news with the passing of one of our highly respected life honorary members, Steve Butler, who was a valued brigade member from 1995 to 2003 Gone far too soon, our deepest sympathies go to Judith, Jaime, Ben and the Butler family
Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page: www facebook com/ Te Puke Fire Brigade
Dale Lindsay, Chief Fire Officer
Stuart Whitaker
Te Puke waka ama paddler icky ingi will be representing ew ealand in Brazil next week
Photo / Stuart Whitaker
Siblings to represent Bay of Plenty in NPC rugby
Siblings will be representing the Bay of Plenty in men ’ s and women ’ s rugby for what is believed to be the first time this NPC season.
Georgia Broughton was named in the 2025 Bay of Plenty Volcanix squad last month, joining her younger brother Nikora in the blue and yellow
Nikora has been part of the Steamers set up since 2021 and has also played for the Highlanders and has one Māori All Blacks appearance to his name
“We are both loosies so there’s a bit of competition between us, ” said Georgia, a teacher aide at Te Puke Intermediate School
She is in her second season back in the game after a three-year break
In 2024, she turned out for the newly formed Te Puke Sports women ’ s team but transferred her allegiance to the Mount Marlins in 2025
She was brought up playing the game in Wellington but didn’t play for three years after moving to the Bay of Plenty after a knee injury
Georgia said she decided to give the game another go socially with Te Puke Sports “I loved it and then decided: ‘No, I actually want to have a real crack at this this year and win’,” she said Mount Marlins
The move to the Mount didn’t bring club success, the Marlins dipped out of the Baywide competition at the semifinal stage to eventual champions Rangatua, a team that featured fellow Volcanix debutant Te Puke High School student Taylor Kingi. While Taylor was at Te Puke
Intermediate School, she was a member of the Te Puke girls’ Tai Mitchell side that was managed by Georgia.
“It was really cool to get to play against her a couple of times [in the Baywide competition] after managing her when she was at intermediate,” said Georgia.
Georgia was playing rugby at the earliest possible age at Marist St Pats in Wellington, the club she would eventually represent in open age rugby
“I remember being the only girl in my team and hating it just because I wanted another girl. It’s really cool to see that some clubs have a full girls’ team now
“I think it would have been so different growing up with a bunch of girls in my team ”
Her first experience in an all-girls team was playing sevens for Wellington East Girls’ College.
Although she set out to play rugby seriously in 2025, she had no ambitions to play at provincial level.
“I just wanted to go in and enjoy rugby and maybe win something this year
“But after hurting my knee and taking a break, I was really worried that I wouldn’t like it – for anyone who’s had a serious injury, it’s so difficult to return and also to get back to a level where you feel confident and then enjoy the sport.
Squad selections
“That was probably my priority at the start and I did really enjoy it ”
It was coach Zar Lawrence who suggested she put her hand up for Volcanix selection if she was keen
“I thought: ‘Oh, I don’t know’, but I’m
grateful to be in that environment now ”
It was Volcanix’ forwards coach Marty Stevenson who called her to let her know she had been selected for the squad
“During the season at the club, we had a couple of injuries in the backs so I’d been playing the majority of the season in the backs, and I was a bit worried that they couldn’t see me in the forwards, so it was a surprise when I got the call,” said Georgia
“It felt pretty good, exciting, but I was nervous because now I feel there’s a bit more pressure on me – especially with my brother already being in the team, in that environment, for a couple of years ”
The Volcanix play their first Farah Palmer Cup game on Sunday, August 10, away to Counties Manukau, with the first home game against Manawatū part of a double-header with the Steamers playing Canterbury at Tauranga Domain on August 16.
There will be a second double-header at the same venue on September 13 with both teams taking on Hawke’s Bay Game time
Georgia said she’s unsure about how much game time she will get.
“No matter what, if I start, if I bench or don’t get named, I’m just grateful to be in this environment to soak up anything from anyone else.”
She said the squad was made up of a mixture ranging from young players through to Black Ferns.
“Anything I can learn to better myself is just an awesome opportunity for me, but first and foremost I want to enjoy it and just have fun and not put pressure on myself to do anything, but I do want to play my hardest and if anything comes from that, that would be amazing.”
Stuart Whitaker
Georgia Broughton in action for Mount Maunganui. Photo / Rick Moran
Te Puke constable committed to knowing locals
Te Puke’s community constable is getting his boots on and “going for a walk”
Aron Wilson-McGrath has been in the role for two months.
Unlike some of his colleagues based at the Te Puke Police station, WilsonMcGrath wasn ’ t born in Te Puke and doesn’t live there.
“I I don’t have the luxury of having prior knowledge of the people here and the influential groups or organisations here,” he said
“So, a lot of it is j just getting out with my boots on and
going for a walk up and downtown and introducing myself to anyone who’s in and around, like shop owners.
“I think it makes a difference being someone who people know on a firstname basis, someone who’s introduced themselves to you with a handshake and with a greeting as opposed to just a phone call, because when you need an issue resolved then you actually know someone who works in police, you know the face, you know the first name – it breaks d down the barriiers and d makkes you more approachable ”
Community t
Wilson-McGrath was also keen, where he can, to be involved in events in Te Puke and the wider community and was at the recent Sirens and Services Day held in the Te Puke Memorial Hall
He said so far, he’s enjoying the role
Wilson-McGrath
was born and raised in Hamilton but had been in the Bay of Plenty for six years Prior to being stationed in Te Puke, the majority of his career has been in the front line in Tauranga working predominantly in the Pāpāmoa and Tauranga stations, but also at Mount Maunganui He also had a five-month stint in Ōpōtiki.
He said he really enjoyed working in rural communities
“I feel as though, in rural communities you are able to achieve outcomes in different ways and a lot of the time it’s s more effective in terms of actually ressolving a matter because you are dealing wiith the root cause and you are able to deal with it by pulling people together annd saying: ‘This is the issue we have, lets sort it out’.”
Skkills
H He said he believed he has the apptitude and social skills to do well in a coommunity-based role, and he has some experience of working in Te Puke
“I’ve not been stationed here before but allways put up my hand to come out and help with the front-line stuff here. or if there’s jobs that need attending out here – I just like dealing with the small communities ”
An example was a recent meeting with members of the Pongakawa community to o discuss a variety of issues.
“I’m happy to go along to these things because it’s all well and good for me to loook at a report of crime, but I know thhere’s a lot of things that aren ’ t reported but despite them not being reported to o police, they can really help build a
picture of some of the issues that are really going on within those more rural communities.
“I’m still in the process of listening to those voices and opinions of the residents of those communities and figuring out how, hopefully alongside the council and any other agency that can help, to find a realistic solution that is achievable to get over the line.”
Contribution
He said he was also starting to look at other areas where he can contribute to the community beyond dealing with complaints
One thing he has noticed since he started his role is that Māori land and tenancy disputes were prevalent. “Not just in the Te Puke community itself, but in the wider rural community as well, which is not what I expected.”
He said even though these were civil matters, if people become overwhelmed or don’t know what to do, they tend to turn to the police “They just need help and guidance, and I think education around these topics would be super beneficial to the community as well ”
Wilson-McGrath would like to see if there was interest in setting up an evening with representatives of the Māori Land Court and Tenancy Tribunal to have a discussion about the issues.
“They can be quite difficult people to get on the phone, but I do know people who need it, and I know that the Māori Land Court have people who are offering that service in Rotorua, so it’s definitely possible ”
Stuart
Whitaker
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