Wednesday November 7, 2018
Urban wetland in Wainuiomata reveals healthy fish life Greater Wellington Regional Council has put the spotlight on Wainuiomata in pursuit of the fish and invertebrates that inhabit the waters of its wetland – some of which have been swimming around in their urban habitat for decades. The Council’s environmental science team has been trapping and spotlighting fish to see what is living in the
wetlands and so far the results for Wainuiomata have been encouraging, with finds including large eels that may be up to 80 years old. Wainuiomata’s wetland is located by the catchment where some of Wellington city’s water comes from. “It’s a fairly pristine environment – the wetland itself is above an old dam, which acts
as a barrier to fish but there’s still a lot of eels living at the top. Below the dam we found quite a few dwarf galaxiids; a small native fish,” says environmental monitoring officer Ashley Mitchell. Less than three per cent of the Wellington region’s original wetlands remain however, they are an important resource – and keeping them healthy is
critical. The Council has been running a wetland health monitoring programme for the past three years, monitoring 30 wetlands per year. In Greater Wellington’s proposed Natural Resources Plan, which will be finalised in 2019, there are specific provisions for the protection and management of all wetlands in the region.
Wainuiomata students connect with peers in China
Free transport on Christmas Day Bus and train passengers will be able to travel free on Christmas Day across the Wellington region. Greater Wellington Regional Council’s sustainable transport committee last week approved the proposal from chief executive Greg Campbell for trains and buses to operate free all day on December 25. Sustainable transport committee chairwoman Barbara Donaldson says she was delighted that the proposal had been unanimously approved. “Christmas can be a lonely time for many and travel can be an extra cost for families. I hope that free public transport can help lessen stress for some and provide for closer community connection across our region,” she says.
Working bee at Baring Head
By Dan Whitfield
A new Skype programme connecting Wainuiomata to China was launched last week. Taizhou is Hutt City Council’s sister city. It is a city located at the middle of the East China Sea coast of the Zhejiang province and is is located 300 kilometres south of Shanghai. Hutt international relations manager and mayoress Linda Goss-Wallace officially launched the programme at Konini Primary School last week, giving students from both schools the chance to interact. “The opportunity for our students to enrich their lives by connecting with those in our Sister City of Taizhou, will help them learn about another culture and lifestyle that is so different from their own,” Linda says. “Increasing education for international understanding and fostering global citizenship between our cities will strengthen the sister city relationship and open up opportunities for more educational exchange and interaction between our cities in the future,” she says.
inbrief news
A working bee at Baring Head has been organised later this month. Although it hasn’t been decided what will need doing, volunteers will help on November 18 around the river valley or on the beach. The property includes the lower reaches and mouth of the Wainuiomata River, and much of the coastal escarpment around Baring Head/Ōrua-pouanui.
Preseason starts Preseason training has begun for Wainuiomata Rugby Club. The club announced that “2019 starts now” in a Facebook post on Monday, November 5. Players will be training every Monday until Christmas, with new players welcome. Trainings are at 6.30pm
Konini Primary School students checking out a new programme that connects Wainuiomata and Taizhou, China via Skype. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Hutt City Council works with the Hutt Sister City Foundation, the Hutt Minoh House Friendship Trust and international partners to develop education, cultural exchange, business development, sport and tourism opportunities through a number of relationships.
Cities the council have relationships with are: Minoh City, Japan; Taizhou City, China; Tempe City, Arizona, USA; and Xi’an City, China. The launch was also recognition of the 10th anniversary of the Sister City relationship.. Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wal-
WaiPESI Play Day for under 5s! Wainuiomata Pasifika Education Success Initiative (WaiPESI) invite all families and friends and your children under 5 to join us on
Tuesday 13th of November from 9am — 12pm Wainuiomata Community Hall, Queen St CONTACT: Cellaise Tuita: 04 5645822 Cellaise.Tuita@huttcity.govt.nz or Annie Roberts: 0274 524 277 annieandbruceroberts@gmail.com
Meet local Early Childhood staff and community support while your children play and learn
lace says it was fantastic to open up these opportunities for the young people by using the technology available in their classrooms. “Interacting with other cultures around the world expands our minds and is good for learning,” Ray says.
PM in town once again Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joined a number of Lower Hutt business people for a lunch hosted by the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce & Industry recently. The prime minister spoke on many important issues and was very well received by all. She also had a tour of the new Lower Hutt Events Centre.
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