Lions move into second place

By Frank Neill

The Wainuiomata Lions scored a convincing 24-12 victory over Toa at Wise Park on 6 May.

This win saw the Lions climb into second spot on the Wellington Premier Rugby League table, just one competition point behind the Vikings.

John Tahana Wharepapa-Rawiri was outstanding for Wainuiomata. Not only did he score the first two tries of the match, he went on to record a hat trick with his third try coming in the second half.

John’s first try also saw him reach a milestone. It was try number 100 for John in his Wellington Rugby League Premier career.

Joshua Onekawa also scored a try in the first half, to give the Lions a 12-6 lead going into the break.

Following John’s hat trick try, Simeona Saumolia also dotted down and Murphy Albright successfully kicked both second half conversions.

Murphy’s two successful kicks marked his return to the field and he picked up three points as the team’s most valuable player in the match.

Regan Hauwho picked up two MVP points and the in form Ulai Oti-Lahood scored one point as he continued his strong run of performances.

The Lions coaches said they were very impressed with the Lions halves, who provided good direction and an outstanding kicking game. with both half backs picking up points.

The Lions next match will see them in a top-of-the-table clash with the Porirua Vikings at Ascot Park on 13 May.

The combined Hutt Old Boys Marist-Wainuiomata team picked up its first win of the season on 6 May in the women’s Premier Rugby Union competition. Playing on their home ground, the combined team defeated Poneke 31-17.

Hutt Old Boys Marist-Wainuiomata’s next match is against Petone at the Petone Recreation Ground on 13 May.

Wainui needs big playground and park

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata needs a high quality playground area that also caters for outdoor activities, the Wainuiomata Community Board told Hutt City Council in its submission on the draft annual plan.

“We need a place that is more family friendly, with a better quality playground and places for outdoor activities that encourage physical well-being,” the community board’s Chair, Te Awa Puketapu, told the “Wainuiomata News”. The community board would like to see a facility similar to Avalon Park in Lower Hutt or Silverstream Park in Upper Hutt.

This submission, Te Awa says, is based on “what we have heard from the community”.

Avalon Park features a wide variety of activities for families. It even has a mini railway people can takes rides on. Another feature is the 12-metre Tyrannosaurus Rex on the pond.

Paddle boats are available for hire and there are electric barbecues for people wanting to picnic.

the Editor

Among the many other activities are climbing, swinging, drumming, water play and mini golf, plus there is a mini road bike park.

The community board is asking Hutt City Council to put a park similar to Avalon or Silverstream Parks in the long-term plan “so that we can have some discussion about it and make plans,” Te Awa says. The community board submission also makes some recommendation to the council on solid waste.

“The Silverstream tip is filling faster than council had expected,”

Te Awa says.

“We need space to have a social investment-type framework to slow down the speed of the tip being filled.”

The board is asking the council to “work with the community to help solve these problems around recyclable clothing and green waste”.

It is asking the council to explore “some creative community-led initiatives that respond to the solid waste issues that we are having at Silverstream”.

The board is also recommending

Meet the kitties Sundays

that the council have a focus on the Coast Road in its long-term plan.

“There are significant erosion issues along Coast Road,” the draft annual plan states.

“Over the last few years, the river has diverted 10-15 metres closer to the road (and is now less than 5 metres away).

“With an increasing number of severe weather events, the road and three properties are at risk of washing away.

“The road also provides the only access to approximately 70 properties.

“We’re proposing that we urgently rebuild sections of the retaining wall at 204 Coast Road, and put in a new protection wall between 566 and 636 Coast Road,” the draft annual plan states.

What the draft annual plan proposed “would be a solution for the interim,” Te Awa says.

“However we need more consideration.

“Our desire is to have a focus on the Coast Road and we think there are some long-term considerations on this road.”

Email them to news@ wsn.co.nz or drop in to our office at 23 Broderick Road, Johnsonville.

Please note that your name and street address MUST be provided with emails.

Letters/Opinions not necessarily those of the Wainuiomata News management.

Car parks lost

Could someone please enlighten me. I refer to the car park area behind the community centre. Why have eight of our car parks been converted for the sole use of electric vehicle charging stations?

These car parks are vital for users of the library, hub and community centre, where they could park their cars and not have to watch the clock in case they overstayed their time, as in Queen St which has a two hour time limit.

Most of these users are elderly or have some disablility and need to be able to park close to this area.

The library/hub is used much more by the general public and parking is at a premium, especially during the upgrading of the Queen Street area. We understood that this would

By Frank Neill

Wainui Whiskers, which rescues cats, is holding a “Meet the Kitties” event on the next two Sundays – 14 and 21 May.

On these two days people can make an appointment to come and see the cats that are available.

Appointments can be made by texting 027 490 5395 with your name, address and a brief description of what you are looking for.

Wainui Whiskers has rescued so many cats and kittens recently that they cannot take any more until they adopt some out.

Some of the kittens have been with Wainui Whiskers for more than a year.

All the cats, kittens and ferals will be able to be viewed at the “Meet the Kitties” Sundays.

Some of the kittens (aged three to six months) were feral, but

A warning

I am a disabled person and hold a parking permit for a disability car park.

I am sick of people parking in these car parks without a permit. From now on I and others will be photographing these cars and giving them to Hutt City Council.

have now become cuddly. If they are too young or too small and not desexed yet people can “pre-adopt” them and Wainui Whiskers will move them up the list for desexing, chipping and vaccinations.

All cats are a minimum donation of $280 each. Even the kittens that have had medical expenses of more than $15,000 are still only $280. This money does not cover the expenses but helps go towards them.

The fine for this is $150 so if you can afford this lease carry on parking.

A Disabled Person

[The writer of this letter provided their name to the “Wainuiomata News” and we have agreed to publish the letter anonymously.]

1080 Is Deadly

be temporary and put up with the inconvenience of trucks taking up more than one park but these charging stations are permanent and I understand that if we park in a vacant one we could/will receive a parking ticket.

Is there any plan to provide more car parks in this area to replace the eight that have been taken?

Dorothy Gallagher

A word of warning.

OSPRI are doing some more drops ofthe deadlypoison 1080. They claim it only kills possums. Do you believe that?

Scouts used tocookpossum stews in the 60s.It didn’tkillus this tuberculosis. ThisTBthey are talking aboutshould have killed all us old scouts.

Isn’t it just an excuse to wipe outa species of animal they call public enemy number one. I urge youWainuiomata people tosend in complaints to thesepeople if yourdogsget poisioned, or send in a petition to have 1080banned.

If my dog got poisonedI would be the first to put in a complaint.

Peter Wells