Aparadefortheages!
SteampunkcametotownwithSanta lastSaturdayforthe2025SeekaTePuke ChristmasFloatParade.
Withabout40floatsenteredanda colossaleffortfromthosetakingpart, thecommunitywastreatedtoamassive spectacleoffestivecheer,withthe
Steampunkthemeembracedbymany.
OrganiserSallyBenning,ofEpicTe Puke,saidpeoplewereblownawaybythe responsetothetheme.“Ifwe’rehonest,I thinkweweretoo.Thethemehadbeen carriedthroughcariouseventsduringthe year,culminatingintheparade.
“Wereallydidn’tanticipatethatsomany peoplewouldhavetakenitonboard,and notonlydidtheytakeitonboard,butthe lengthstheywentto,”shesaid.
However,thejollyredmankeptit traditional–optingtoridehissleighwith averyspecialyoungster.TePukefour-year-
oldBlaydeArnold–whowasbornwith Emanuelsyndrome,anextremelyrare chromosomaldisorder–rodeshotgunand hisdadScott.
Tofindoutwhichgroupwonthe supremethemetitlefortheirfloat,turnto page4. Photo/StuartWhitaker.
TePuke NEWS
TePukelibraryoffersummerreadingforkids
TePukeLibrary’sSummer ReadingProgrammesarejust aroundthecorner.
Theprogrammesareaimedat twoagegroups–forteenreaders there’sacreativebookBook BingoChallenge,whileRaumati Rauemi-TeTaiaoismore activity-basedandisforprimary school-agedchildren.
Nature(TeTaiao)isthetheme ofthissummer’sprimaryschool ageprogramme.“RaumatiRauemi isfullofdifferentactivitiesto dothroughthesummerholiday, withafocusonreadingbecause asweknow,thechildrencanget asummerslumpinreadinglevels whichcangodownbeforestudents gobacktoschool,”saidTePuke LibraryandServiceCentreteam leaderAmanda-JaneMcFadden.
Thebookletalsohasareading challengelogtobefilledin.“For every60minutesofreadingthe childrendo,theygetanentry intotheprizedrawattheendof thesummer.”
Therearealsomissionsto accomplishandonecompleted missionorthreecompletedquick missionssecuresaninvitationto theend-of-summerfinaleparty. Onlineorin-personregistration fortheprogrammesisopenfrom December8andthesummer activitybookletcanbecollected fromthelibrary. Oncemissionsarecompleted andthereadinglogfilledin,the
bookletcanbetakenintothelibrarytobe stamped.Thelastweektoshowbookletsis theweekbeginningJanuary19,2026. Aswellastheprogramme,thereisalso anin-libraryscavengerhuntandaseparate colouringcompetition–bothwiththe themeofnature–andacraftsessionon
January7starting10am.Registerforthe craftonlineat:eventbrite.co.nzorpopinto thelibraryandseethestaff. ThereisnoneedtoregisterforBook Bingo–justcollecttheBookBingobooklet fromthelibraryandstartreadingtobein withachancetowinprizes. StuartWhitaker
Retirementvillagemarksredevelopmentmilestone
MembersoftheBupaTePuke community,togetherwithpast andpresentresidents,staff, andwhānau,cametogether lastweekforaspecialblessing atBupaTePukeRetirement Village&CareHome.
Theeventmarkedtheclosureof theoriginalrest-homecommunity, knownlocallyastheOldMotel, andcelebratedanimportant milestoneinthe$17million refurbishmentofthesite.
“TheOldMotel,oncetheplaceto goinTePuke,gotasecondleaseof lifeasaresthome;however,itwas neverdesignedforthatpurpose,” saidBupaTePukeRetirement VillageandCareHomegeneral managerTraceyAlderton.
Itwastime
“Theresthomehaslongbeena cornerstoneofourcommunity, anditwasareallytoughdecision tocloseitearlierthisyear,but everyoneagreedthatitwastimefor anew,moderncarehome.We’re excitedaboutthefuture.
“Butitwasstillpeople’shome, andsoitwasreallyimportanttome andtheteamtohavetheblessing todayandtoacknowledgethis.”
Theblessingprovidedan opportunitytohonourandthank allthosewholivedandworked withinitswalls.Attendeesgathered toreflectonitslegacy,share memories,andacknowledgethe peoplewhoshapedthewarmand supportivecultureofthehome.
“Itwasapowerfulmoment, andafewtearswereshed,”said Alderton.
Guidedtours
Followingtheblessing,guests weretakenonguidedtoursof thenewly-refurbishedareas, offeringafirstlookatthe transformationnowunderway.
“Wehavebeenlivingand workingonabuildingsitefor ninemonthsnow,andour peopleandresidentshavebeen amazinginhowwe’venavigated it,”saidAlderton.
“Andnowthatthenewswing
WesternBayofPlentyDistrict Councilhasofficiallyadoptedits AnnualReportfor2024/2025, celebratingayearofmajor achievementsandacknowledging thechallengesfacedalongtheway.
TheAnnualReportcoverstheJuly 1,2024,toJune30,2025,period andprovidesaviewofbothcouncil’s achievementsandtherealitiesitfaces.
Itshowsnetdebthadincreasedto$159 million,reflectingthescaleofinvestment neededtosupportagrowingdistrict,while totalincomeroseto$201.9million.
Council’sperformancemeasureswere
roomsinthecarehomehave startedtobefinishedand residentsmovein,everyonecan seethevisioncomingtolife, andtheyarereallyexcitedabout howwe’resettingTePukeup forthefuture.”
Theproject
Theblessingmarksamajor milestoneintheredevelopment announcedbyBupaearlier thisyear.
Theprojectincludesafull rebuildofthehospital-level carefacility,including36new premiumcareroomsdesigned
designedtobetransparentandaccountable, showingnotjustwhatwasdeliveredbut howwellitmetitsintendedgoals.
WesternBayMayorJamesDenyersaid council’sfocusondelivery,disciplineand determinationhasenabledrealprogressfor thedistrict.“Throughcarefulplanningand strongpartnerships,we’vedeliveredmore forourcommunitiesthaneverbefore,while keepingdebtgrowthundercontroland maintainingourAAcreditratingforthe seventhconsecutiveyear,”Denyersaid.
“Thisreportisasnapshotofthepastyear, butourfocusisalwaysforward.”
Highlightsfromthereportare:Record investmentof$134millionincapital projects,nearlytriplepreviousyears,
asflexible“swingrooms”that canbeusedforeitherresthomeorhospital-levelcare. Theconstructionof11new villasontheformermotel site;andanupgradedvillage commonareatoenhance communityconnectionand residentwellbeing. AlsoinattendancewasBupa NewZealand’smanaging directorPedroSanchez.
Big
“Forus,investmentinBupaTe PukestrengthensBupa’spresence inthecommunityandprovides
deliveringoncommunitypriorities.
Majorinfrastructureupgradesincluding roadingimprovementsinandaround Ōmokoroa,No.1RdupgradeinTePuke, andreplacementoftheNo.4Roadbridge. Communityspaces–theopeningofTe AraMātauranga(WaihīBeachlibraryand servicecentre)andTeĀhuruMōwaioHiria (elderhousinginKatikati).
Everydayessentialsincludedthecontinued deliveryofcleandrinkingwater,saferoads, well-maintainedparks,andlibraries.
Lastly,intermsoffinancialstewardship, thecouncilkeptastrongAAcreditrating, turnedlastyear’sdeficitintoasurplus,and startedrebuildingitssavings.
Thecouncilalsomentioneditchallenges
itsresidentswithamodern andcomfortablehomethat matchesthehighstandardof caredeliveredbyBupa’speople,” hesaid.
“Itisabigproject,andthis levelofchangedefinitelyhas itschallenges,butwhenIthink abouttheTePuketeamandits residents,andhowtheyhave navigatedthisyear,thewordthat comestomindismanaakitanga –kindness,generosity,support, andrespect.It’swhatmakes thissuchaspecialhomeforour residentsandawonderfulplace forourpeopletowork.”
andlessonslearned.Budgetingerrors –lastyear,councilsaiditmadesome mistakeswithitsbudgeting.Thisledto aratesincreasefromtheplanned7.4% to8.9%for2025/2026.Councilsaid ithadreviewedwhatwentwrongand wascommittedtomakingsureitdidn’t reoccur.Economicchallenges–theslow economyandlowergrowthmeantless income,butcarefulmanagementhelped councilgetbackontrackandfinishtheyear withasurplus.
Afullversionofthe2024/2025 AnnualReportisavailableat:www. westernbay.govt.nz/council/planspolicies-strategies-bylaws/plans/ annual-reports/2024-25-annual-report
Theblessingoutsidetheoldmotel. Photo/Supplied
Four-year-oldBlaydeArnoldand hisdadScottgottoridewithSanta.
TePukeparade embracessteampunk
Itwasaparadefortheages.The SeekaTePukeChristmasFloat Paradedeliveredinspadeson Saturday,December6,withabout 40entriesandacolossaleffort fromthosetakingpart.
Takuira-Mitawasatprizegiving wherethetrophywasawarded,then tookitbacktotheschool.
“Everybodywasstillthere,putting thingsaway,andwecameinthegate beepingandheldupthetrophyandall thechildrencamerunningover–they weresoexcited.”
TheSteampunkthemewasembraced bymanywithspectacularresults.
MissdeMeanor ‘RozannedeWild’ withherpetoctopus.
SallyBenningoforganiserEpicTe Pukesaidpeoplewereblownawayby theresponsetothetheme.
“Ifwe’rehonest,Ithinkwewere too.Thethemehadbeencarried throughcariouseventsduringtheyear, culminatingintheparade.
“Wereallydidn’tanticipatethatso manypeoplewouldhavetakeniton board,andnotonlydidtheytakeiton board,butthelengthstheywentto,” shesaid.
Benningwasinvolvedinorganising sevenparadesintheearly2000s,and threeinrecentyears,buthadalsoseem mostoftheonesinbetween.
“I’veneverseensomucheffortgo intosomanyfloatsever.I’mreallyglad Iwasn’tajudge.”
Takuira-Mitasaidthanksmustgoto HollieHauraki,theunit’steamleader, whoorganisedthefloatandhad“some reallygoodparenthelpers”fromthe ToitoiManawawhānau.
Paradenumberswereboostedby severalvehiclesanddriversthat turnedupontheday,withBenning estimatingtherewereabout40entries.
“Entry-wiseitwascertainlymore thantherehasbeenforthelastcouple ofyears.
“Ijustwanttosayahugethankyou toeverybody–allthefloatmakesand everybodywhocame,itwasjusta fabulousday.”
Aftertheparadetherewasamarket inJubileeParkthatwasalsosuccessful.
Results
DMSProGrowersSupremeTheme
Prize: FairhavenSchool/ToitoiManawa AffcoRangiurucommunity organisations
Thosewhowerejudgingnamed FairhavenSchool’sentrythesupreme themewinner.
1.TePukeBaptistChurch
2.TePukeScouts
Thisyearitwastheturnofthe school’sMāoriimmersionunitToitoi Manawatoorganisetheschool’sentry.
DeputyprincipalTataiTakuira-Mita, whooverseesToitoiManawa,saidthe steampunkthemewasachallenge. “Whenthethemecameout,wewere wonderinghowweweregoingtoput ourteaoMāorispinonit,”shesaid.
“Ourfloatwasaroundremembering andhonouringourtūpuna,sowe dressedinthewayourancestors wouldhavedressed–wehadawhare onthere,awakaandatimemachine lookingtowardsthefuture.”
3.AquaBelles–TePukeSwimSchool TowBarGuyEducation
1.FairhavenSchool/ToitoiManawa
2.ŌtamarākauSchool
3.RangiuruSchool
Highlycommended:TeRangaSchool ZespriInternational–businessand commercial 1.McLeodCranesHighAband Transport
2.TePukeDanceSchool
3.StAndrewsPreschool Highlycommended:Seeka
TePuke&DistrictHighlandPipe Bandattheheadoftheparade.
Someofthepupilsfrom ŌtamarākauSchool.
SummerintheParkgearsupforJanuary
Aseriesofdaytimeactivities aimedathelpingkidsand parentsgetthroughthe schoolholidaysishappening againinJanuary.
TheColab-organisedSummer intheParkwillhappeninJubilee ParkonTuesdaysandThursdays acrossthreeweeks,startingon January13.
Lastyearmorethan600 childrenwerepartoftheseries and15organisations,groups andsportsclubswereinvolvedin providingtheactivities.Manyof themarecomingbackin2026. SummerintheParkis facilitatedbyTePuke’smultiorganisationbodyColab. Freefoodwillbeavailable ateacheventwhichwasakey purposeofsettingtheseriesup originally.
BeksWest,operationssupport, saidtheeventshadmovedalittle bitawayfromthat,withagreater
focusontheactivities,although freefoodwillstillbeavailable. Sincelastsummer’sevents, Colabhadalsoputtogetherits ownplaytrailerthatwillbeat eachevent.
Thetrailercarriesallkindsof gamesandequipmentfromgiant Jenga,ConnectFourandCorn Throwtovolleyballnetsandballs fordifferentsports.
Alsonewthisyearwillbe ICONZandLitterArty.ICONZ isaBoys’Brigadeprogramme thatoffersaction,adventure andactivityandatasterwillbe atSummerinthePark.Those ontheICONZafter-school programmehadalreadymade stiltsforthetoytrailer.
LitterArtyisrunbyKeepTe PukeBeautifulandisanartand craftactivityusingthingsthat mightberegardedaslitter. Americanfootballprovedtobe popularinthepastSummerin theParkevents,andsothePacific CoastSharksAmericanFootball
VolleyballequipmentisamongthegearinColab’stoytrailer.
SummerintheParkisonagain inJanuary.
Clubwouldbetheretoshowcase itssport.
Circability–afirst-timerlast summer–willbeback.Circability usessocialcircusasatoolfor developingpersonalconfidence, physicalandemotionalliteracy, andwellbeing,connectingpeople andsharingjoy.
Othersattendingarestafffrom TePukeLibrary,MainlyMusic, NgaKakano,SportBayof Plenty,ParafedandIHC. Theprogrammeofeventsis stillbeingfinalised.Keepaneye ontheColabFacebookpagefor updates.Theeventswillbeheld between10amand1pmeachday atJubileePark.
‘ThankYou’event
forPlunkethelpers
CommunitymemberswhohelpTePukePlunket weregivenaspecialChristmas‘thankyou’recently. Manyofthemknitandcrochetclothesandblankets forbabieseitheraspartofTePuke’sKnitandNatter grouporindividually.
Butthemorningtea‘thankyou’wasalsoforothers whosevolunteeringhelpsPlunketprovideitsservices.
KaritanenurseEmmaTaylorsaidthemorningteawent “prettywell”.“Theywerealljustabsolutelychuffedwith usacknowledgingthemandthankingthemforwhatthey do,”shesaid.
RuralWomenNewZealand’sTePuke-Rotoehubranch alsosupportsTePukePlunket.
“Theygiveuswinterpyjamasforthelittleonesevery year,”saidTaylor.
AlsoacknowledgedwereKiwicoastLionsandpatron SueMatthews.
Taylorsaideveryonewhohelpsoutis“amazing.“And thefactthatwegettopassontheirbeautifulcreationsto ourfamilyishuge,theykeepTePukeunder-fiveswarm andhappywiththeirknittingandblanketsandgifts.”
StuartWhitaker
Photo/Supplied
Photo/StuartWhitaker
TePuke, 45OxfordStreet
Makemagicalmemorieswithfriendsandwhānauasyouexplorebeautifullight displaysbringingourcommunitytolifeeveryevening.Haveawander,feelthe Christmasspiritcomealive,andenjoyaseasonaladventurethatbringsjoytoallages. Visit bit.ly/bowerchristmaslights orscantheQRcodebelowfortheaddresslist, anddon’tforgettovoteforyourfavouriteproperty!
