Following a hugely successful season the Wainuiomata Association Football Club is celebrating with the club and its members being selected as finalists in seven Capital Football Awards categories.
These awards celebrate the best of the best in Football and Futsal from all 44 clubs in the region from Wellington up to the Wairarapa.
Continued on page 2.
Capital Premier Player of the Year Finalist Ben Taylor celebrating a goal against Whanganui Athletic.
Photo: Imray’s Snaps.
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Frank Neill
wainui@wsn.co.nz 027 490 3916
Incredible and successful season
Continued from page 1
After an incredible and successful season, which saw the Men’s Capital Premier team clinch promotion to the Central League for 2026 and secure its strongest league position since 2020, the side is up for the 2025 Capital Football Club Team of the Year Award.
Head coach of this side and Wainuiomata’s Coach of the Year recipient, Pedro Garcias, is up for a personal accolade himself as he has been named as a finalist for the 2025 Capital Football Club Coach of the Year Award.
Ben Taylor had a standout debut season at the club and walked away from the Wainuiomata Awards night with both the Players Player of the Year Award for the Capital Premier side and the club’s overall Player of the Year.
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These accolades on top of a standout season have seen him named as a finalist for the 2025 Capital Football Capital Premier Player of the Year Award.
Jack Brown scored the decisive goal in the Central League Play off against Whanganui.
His goal secured promotion to the Central League and provided a moment that will be forever etched in the club’s history.
This goal and this moment, which caused undescribable scenes at Richard Prouse Park, is a finalist for the 2025 Capital Football Moment of the Year Award.
Dean Brown has been at Wainuiomata for a number of years and over the years, has volunteered himself in many roles to help improve the club in many aspects.
In 2025, Dean was a manager, a coach, a committee member, a ground committee member, club maintenance manager and put his hand up to referee several games each weekend.
His unwavering commitment to the club has seen him named as a finalist for the
(Imray’s Snaps).
This means that Wainuiomata could potentially win this category for the third year in a row. Ryan Imray won this award in 2023 and Katrina Barclay in 2024.
Wainuiomata’s social media presence has grown significantly over the years and in 2025 it saw records being broken.
With content reaching more than one million views and seeing interactions reach an all time high and generate numbers the club has never seen before, this has seen the club named as a finalist for the 2025 Capital Football Social Media Account of the Year.
A big part of the content was weekly photos supplied by Club Photographer Ryan Imray
Ryan captured photos from all the clubs sides – juniors, youth, women, masters, men’s social teams and competitive teams.
With his number of games attended at over 150 for the year, allowing him to produce a significant number of photos, he has been named as a finalist for the 2025 Capital Football Photomac Photographer of the Year Award.
The awards evening will be held on Friday 31 October at the Harbourside Function Venue where the winners of each category will be announced.
Some of the categories are decided by public vote and other categories decided by a judging panel.
Coach of the Year Finalist Pedro Garcias acknowledging the Wainuiomata Supporters. Photo: Imrays Snaps.
2025 Capital Football Volunteer of the Year Award.
New Community Board finalised
By Frank Neill
The final composition of the Wainuiomata Community Board is now known, following the declaration of the final election results.
The new board comprises Anaru Ryall, with 3,427 votes; Lesa Bingley, with 3,016 votes; Daniel Chrisp, with 2,943 votes; Vatau Sagaga, with 2,834 votes; Nicky Smith, with 2,796 votes and Lahraine Sagaga, with 2,592 votes.
Four members of the community board are newly elected – Anaru Ryall, Vatau Sagaga, Nicky Smith and Lahraine Sagaga.
Two sitting board members were re-elected – the former board’s deputy Chair, Lesa Bingley, and Daniel Chrisp.
The Wainuiomata Ward Councillor on Hutt City Council, Keri Brown, also sits on the Community Board.
Cr Brown was elected the Ward Councillor when she was not opposed.
Eleven people stood for the Community Board in what was a very strong line up this year.
The new Wainuiomata Community Board members will be sworn in at an inauguration ceremony at the Lower Hutt Town Hall at 5:30pm on 29 October.
The Mayor, the City Councillors and the community board members will all be sworn in at this ceremony.
The first meeting of the new Community Board will he held at 6pm on Thursday 4 December at the Wainuiomata Library.
There were no changes to the rankings in the prelimary results when the final results were announced.
Wainuiomata’s Fauono Ken Laban was confirmed as the City’s new Mayor.
He secured 11,282 votes, compared with Brady Dyer’s 9,068 votes in second place.
Karen Morgan was in third place with 7,454 votes and Prabha Ravi was in fourth place with 4,807 votes.
In winning the election Mayor Laban became the first Pasifika Mayor in New Zealand and also became the third Lower Hutt Mayor in a row who lives in Wainuiomata.
The five new Councillors voted in
by the city at large are Brady Dyer, Prabha Ravi, Tony Stallinger, Karen (Kaz) Yung and Mele Tonga-Grant.
Te Awa Puketapu, who chaired the 2022-25 Wainuiomata Community Board, was elected unopposed as the Mana Kairangi ki Tai Māori Ward Councillor.
Two referenda were held at this year’s Lower Hutt elections.
One was the Māori Ward Poll, where 19,976 people voted to keep the Māori Ward, while 11,688 voted against keeping it.
The second referendum was the Amalgamation Poll.
This was a non-binding referrendum on whether Hutt City Council should “explore amalgamation options with Wellington, Upper Hutt and Porirua City Councils, and the Greater Wellington Regional Council, which combine relevant services and functions, while keeping appropriate local services and decision-making local.”
Amalgamation was favoured by 17,429 people while 14,283 people voted “no”.
The voter return was 41.56%, being 33,038 votes, excluding special votes.
Playcentre Aotearoa is inviting whānau across the motu to step outside and experience the joy of outdoor play during Playcentre Outdoor Play Week, running from 3 to 7 November. During Playcentre Outdoor Play Week, nearly 400 centres across Aotearoa will be open for whānau with tamariki from birth to school age to visit, explore, and experience the magic of outdoor play. There are two playcentres in Wainuiomata.
The Wainuiomata Playcentre is at Fernlea School, 25A Lees Grove, and the Wood Hatton Playcentre is at 64 Wood Street. Playcentres offer a variety of outdoor play experiences, including sand and water play, nature-based play, physical play, gardening, mud kitchens, building and construction with natural and recycled materials and much more. Outdoor play is essential for early childhood development. It helps young children stay active and develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively.
Bounce Back this Allergy Season
Spring brings us many things to smile about. Daffodils, sunnier days, baby animals and blossom trees should be things we enjoy, rather than avoid this season.
Why should you have to hide from the fresh scent of freshly mown grass and the pollen in the light of springtime air?
Allergies are no joke when you’re under attack.
Take the power back with these tips to help reduce your allergy symptoms:
• Avoid being outside on humid or windy days. Anytime between 5am and 10am is when the most pollen is being release, so take extra care during this time.
• Use you weather apps. They will tell you about the daily rankings for allergens. Try www. weather.com to track pollen in Wainuiomata.
• Aim to keep your windows closed at night to avoid pollen getting inside the house.
• Your skin and hair will collect pollen during the day. Having more frequent showers will help to wash away any that has been trapped. It will also reduce skin irritations that can come from too much exposure to pollen
If you want to make the most of this season and melt away those winter blues, here at Clive’s Chemist there is a wide variety of products to manage or eliminate allergies. Our specialist team can talk to you about a plan to that you can look forward to getting out and smelling the flowers.
The 10 Wainuiomata Community Board candidates at the meet the candidates event (back row from left) Simeon Collier-Foley, Anaru Ryall, Mailena Rawiri Woonton, Lesa Bingley and Lahraine Sagaga (front row from left) Nicky Smith, Elle Abel, Sharon Page, Nohokainga Puletaitaha-Lai and Vatau Sagaga. Daniel Chrisp was not present at the meeting. Photo: Frank Neill.
Wainui pool opening on 15 Nov
By Frank Neill
The Wainuiomata Summer Swimming Pool will open for the 2025-26 season on 15 November.
The season will run to 9 March 2026. From the opening until 21 December the pool will be open from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Over the Christmas-New Year period the pool will be open from 10am to 6pm on 22 and 23 December, 10am to 3pm on 24 December, and closed on Christmas day. It will open from 10am to 6pm from 26 to 30 December, 10am to 5pm on 31 December and will be closed on New Year’s day.
The pool will be open from 10am to 6pm from 2 to 4 January.
The pool opening hours between 5 and 25 January are: Monday to Friday 7am to 8pm, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 10am to 6pm.
The opening hours between 26 January and 9 March, when the pool will close for the season, are 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 6pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
The Wainuiomata pool features four outdoor heated pools situated among rose gardens and shrubs and surrounded by native bush.
It also features and 80 metre open air slide running down through bush to the pool.
Another feature is the poolside spa.
The pool is available for hire, for events such as birthday parties, corporate or social functions or fundraisers on Saturday or Sunday nights after 6pm.
It also has a meeting room that can serve as a birthday party room on the floor above the pool reception.
This room is suitable for meetings of up to 80 people or birthday parties of up to 50 people.
Just after the pool closed for the 2022-23 season it was rated one of the best in New Zealand.
Stuff travel reporter Lorna Thornber listed the Wainuiomata pool second in her list of the seven best outdoor pools in the country.
“An 80-metre open-air water slide through native bush is a highlight of this hidden gem of a complex in Lower Hutt,” Lorna wrote when naming the pool among the country’s best.
“Set amid rose gardens and shrubs surrounded by bush, it features a 50-metre pool with lanes dedicated to lane swimming and aqua jogging at certain periods, a ‘splash
zone’ for kids and teens with an ‘aquarun’, hydroslide and aqua toys, plus a spa pool, playground and mini golf area.
“The terraced seating is perfect for spectators and sunbathers, while the grassy area backed by big, shady trees is prime picnic territory,” Lorna wrote.
It is not just Lorna who rates the pool highly either.
Many online reviewers also give it top marks.
“Brilliant pool,” one review said when giving it five stars.
“The choice of pools for all ages, ie the large pool and there’s also the wonderful water slide.”
“Great Outdoor Pool,” another reviewer said, also giving it five stars.
“[I] was really impressed.
“There is an infants’ pool, a shallow pool and then a large swimming pool.
“On the day we visited they had a large inflatable in the bigger pool which the kids loved. “
The woodland slide was brilliant and the kids just went round and round it.
“There’s also a small playground and a small golf putting course.
“Saw one family had erected an events shelter. What a way to enjoy a nice day.
“Reasonable entry price so would highly recommend.”
“Perfect for all ages – loved it,” a third reviewer said. They also gave it five stars.
“Awesome facility and the perfect spot for a full day out or family celebration.
“Great mix of pools with plenty of space.
Very friendly staff.
“Water is not super warm on a cold day but perfect after a while and there’s a great spa if needed. Plus lovely hot showers.
“Waterslide is a blast – quite terrifying for a geriatric mum!
“Spotted a couple of built-in cookers that were being really well used. Plus playground for littlies and even a bit of a mini golf area.
“Amazing! Our three families with different ages all had an absolute blast.
“I want to move to Wainui,” the reviewer added.
Changing attitudes
The attitude of the generations have changed over the decades. They just don’t care for anything or anyone.
Here are three of them:
1. Doing 50 kph in shopping parking areas, not having any consideration for pedestrians with shopping trolleys.
2. Swinging car doors open at car parks, scratching the paint work off someone else’s vehicle.
3. Parking in disability car parks when you are not disabled and have no cards. That’s a no no.
As I said above three major issues. I notice some cars parked in strange ways in parking locations. Parking wardens don’t like getting assaulted doing their jobs. People don’t like getting put in hospital by getting knocked down at a supermarket. Plus people don’t like having their mirrors knocked off or cars dented when shopping. And it’s very unfair to take up disability spaces assigned for their disability issues. Peter Wells
One of the four pools at the Wainuiomata Summer Pool. Photo: Supplied.
The open-air water slide at the Wainuiomata Pool. Photo: Supplied.
Wainui Softballers return to top competitions
The Wainuiomata Softball Club’s Premier One Men’s team has returned to the Hutt Valley competition for the first time in 16 years.
The team is also representing Wainuiomata in the Wellington Intercity Competition (WICC), playing alongside some of the top teams in the region.
The last time Wainuiomata competed at this level was in 2011, and it’s been a long journey to get back to the top level.
It has taken a lot of hard work, dedication and community spirit to make this comeback possible.
A passionate group of players and
supporters put their hands up, came together and made it happen.
The club says it is “truly honoured to be back in the game at this level and excited for the season ahead.
“We’re ready for the season and have come back better than ever – stronger, more united and determined to make our mark.
“Wainuiomata Softball has a proud history and this moment marks an important step in rebuilding and growing the game within our community.”
Flynn Keall and Joel Evans produced two highlights of Wainuiomata’s first Inter-City match against
Hutt Valley Marist on 18 Ocober. They both smashed automatic home runs.
However it was not enough to take the team to victory, with Marist winning the game 6-3.
In the first Hutt City match of the season on 16 October, the Premier one team lost 9-15 to Hutt City United.
The Premier 2 team recorded a huge 14-0 victory over the Dodgers in their first Hutt City match on 16 October.
Three young Wainuiomata players – Luka Sue, Cole Simpson and Rico Te Iwimate – represented the New
SPCA Cupcake day coming
SPCA (the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) delicious fundraising event is back in 2025.
Cupcake Day will take place on Wednesday 29 October, and New Zealanders everywhere are invited to bake, eat and raise dough for a great cause.
SPCA is asking people to host a morning tea, run a cupcake stall at school or work, or simply donate to a friend’s fundraiser.
Every bite supports SPCA’s work protecting Aotearoa’s animals that are sick, injured, neglected, abused or vulnerable.
“This day isn't just for the apron-clad heroes,” says SPCA Events Manager, Elinor Birch.
“If you’d rather indulge than bake, we still need you. Every cupcake devoured helps deliver care and compassion to animals who need it most.”
Anyone keen to join the fun can register and create their own fundraising page on the official Cupcake Day website. Registrations are now open.
Even though the official Cupcake Day is 29 October, people are free to hold their event whenever it suits before Friday 14 November.
and even dog-friendly “pupcakes” so no one gets left out.
Last year, more than 30,000 animals came through SPCA’s doors, many requiring urgent care, support, and permanent homes. The community’s support helps turn their stories around.
This year, SPCA’s Cupcake Day is serving up more than delicious treats – fundraisers can also earn exciting rewards and prizes.
SPCA’s website offers recipes, baking tips,
From Cupcake Day pins, tea towels, and limited-edition aprons, through to the chance to win a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, a baker’s dream hamper from Milly's Kitchen, or even an office morning tea from Bluebells Cakery, there’s plenty to inspire Kiwis to bake for animals in need.
The Wainuiomata Premier 1 men’s Softball team, which has returned to the Hutt Valley and Wellington Inter-City premier competitions for the first time in years. Photo: Supplied.
Zealand PAC-Men under 14 team that competed at the 2025 Australian Classic Baseball Tournament in Surfers Paradise during the holidays. They helped New Zealand win
the silver medal, after playing nine games over seven days in 30 degree temperatures. Luka, Cole and Rico are year 9 students at Wainuiomata High School.
The three Wainuiomata Softballers who represented New Zealand with their silver medals. Photo: Supplied.
LOCAL TRADES
ON... WHAT’S
Gales lift roofing on two houses
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By Frank Neill
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Wainuiomata firefighters had a busy morning as gale force winds lashed the area on 21 October.
unattended,” CFO Thompson says.
“That’s happened a couple of times in the last few days.”
Wainuiomata firefighters rescued two ducklings that were stuck in a drain on 20 October.
There were calls to two houses where roof panels were being lifted by the wind.
The Wainuionata Volunteer Fire Brigade attended the first call at 7:16pm and were still assisting when the second call came through at 7:22am.
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The Seaview Volunteer Fire Brigade attended the second call.
Then at 9:29am the Wainuiomata brigade was called again to a wind-related event, with a shed blowing away.
“It’s a bit wild,” Wainuiomata’s Chief Fire Officer Peter Thompson says.
It is important that “when we have these high winds people ring 111 if they have a concern about something.
“Don’t ring the fire station because it may be
The brigade was called at 10:59am, rescued the ducklings and returned them to their mother.
“That’s a common occurrence this time of year – little ducklings go down the drain, the gutter drain, and of course they can’t get out again.
“Concerned members of the public ask us to help out, which we do.
“We have a little net like a fish net with which we scoop them out.
“Normally mum’s nearby so we return the ducklings to the mum.”
A week or so ago there were some other ducklings that needed rescuing. They were “great rescues,” CFO Thompson says.
is neither a fruit nor a vegetable; technically mushrooms aren’t even plants. They are a special type of fungus—a notion that puts some people off. If you don’t mind the fungus part, though, mushrooms are a great addition to a healthy diet—not to mention totally delicious.
Missed Wainuiomata News?
New premier Rugby leaders named
By Frank Neill
The Wainuiomata Rugby Football Club announced its premier coaching squad for 2026 on 18 October.
Daniel Farani has been named head coach of the premier men’s team.
Atilla Va’a and Daniel Smith have been named assistant coaches and Fau Tupui and Gail Ah-Hi are the team’s management.
Te Hei and Caroline Core are the team’s management.
POOLS OF SATISFACTION
Matt Dorward has been selected as head coach of the men’s premier two team.
Grant Core and Waaka Poutu are the assistant coaches and Keni
Kelly Laumalili-Tuiatua has been named as head coach of the premier women’s team.
Tim Perez will be the backs coach, Eseta Mamea the manager and Shalom Brown the assistant manager.
Our summer pools were built by us. Blends in well did cause no fuss. With hydro slide will cause a splash. And to it many people dash. Through native bush we twist and wiggle. From the children brings a giggle. Severn days a week the place is open. Hot summer days we all are hopen!
Marae projects focus at Wainui Connections
By Frank Neill
FACT OF THE DAY
Cheryl Davies will be the guest speaker at the next Wainui Connections breakfast, to be held at the Wainuiomata Marae on Tuesday 18 November.
The “Wainuiomata News” is keen to ensure good coverage of summer sport for all teams based in the valley.
FOR ALL ELECTRICAL repairs and installations by top-qualified electrician with record of over fifty years of giving locals the lowest cost “around-the-clock” service, just phone 977-8787 or 021-0717-674 or email jack.powell@outlook.com
In order to do this, the paper’s reporter Frank Neill is keen to touch base with the appropriate contact people for each sport.
Frank is asking each sport to make contact with him, either by email at frank@wsn.co.nz or by telephone at 027 490 3916, providing the up-to-date contact person and their contact details.
The ideal scenario is that every sporting code in Wainuiomata is able to make contact with the “Wainuiomata News” once a week, where there are weekly competitions, or where the com-
petitions are less often than weekly whenever the competitions take place.
Some winter sports also run events during the spring and summer, and the paper is also interested in hearing about these events.
“We look forward to hearing from you,” Frank says.
“As the ‘Wainuiomata News’ has only one reporter, the paper is reliant on receiving information and photographs from the sports clubs and organisations.
“The ‘Wainuiomata News’ is also interested in providing readers information about the upcoming season for the various sports, and would welcome contact with information about this,” Frank says.
and the ngahere korowai (urban forest).
Wainuiomata Squash Club AGM
mata Marae’s papakāinga project over the past 15 years and more recently the indigenous playscape and ngahere korowai projects.
She will present on the topic
“Whenua, Whānau, Future: Sustainable Living at Wainuiomata Marae”, sharing updates on upcoming projects at the Wainuiomata Marae, including papakāinga housing, the indigenous playscape
51. J.K. Rowling chose the unusual name ‘Hermione’ so young girls wouldn’t be teased for being nerdy!
Cheryl (Ko Ng ā ti Raukawa, Ngāti WehiWehi, Ngāti Mutunga o te Wharekauri oku iwi) has managed the Tu Kotahi Māori Asthma and Research Trust over the past 33 years.
7.00pm Monday 30th November At the Clubrooms
She has worked alongside the University of Otago on a number of key research studies involving Māori communities over the past 23 years.
Wainuiomata whānau, community groups and local businesses are invited to the community breakfast, which is organised by Love Wainuiomata.
Corner of Main Road and Moohan Streets, Wainuiomata
She has supported the Wainuio-
Bringing local news to the community
“This is a chance to connect, hear what’s happening at the Marae, be inspired and enjoy kai together,” Love Wainuiomata’s Co-ordinator Chastity Card says.
Tu Mau will celebrate local talent
By Frank Neill
A cultural festival that will celebrate local talent TŪ Mau is being brought to the valley by Love Wainuiomata.
“Tū Mau is born from the voices of our community,” Love Wainuiomata’s Co-ordinator Chastity Card says.
“This event is a platform for Wainuiomata to stand proud, to showcase our performers, share our stories and celebrate the richness of our diverse cultures.
whether they are part of a school, church, multicultural group, kapa haka r ōpŪ, dance crew or are simply an act ready to share their talent.
advertisers make it possible to share the stories that matter most. Show them some love.
It is being organised by “people who dreamed of a local stage where culture, creativity and local talent could be celebrated.
Wainuiomata Newspaper Deliverers WANTED Contact Sandra on 587 1660 accounts@wsn.co.nz
“It is for our tamariki, rangatahi, whānau, and wider community – a space where confidence is grown, connections are strengthened and identity is honoured,” Chastity says.
Deliverers Required in Area 1: Momona, Mohaka, Kawatiri - Kaponga.
T
ū Mau is the very first community event that is open to everyone and anyone in Wainuiomata,
CROSSWORD
CROSSWORD
Love Wainuiomata is seeking registrations from people, groups or ensembles to take part in Tū Mau.
People can register at https:// forms.gle/Hu77H3RhfjsZQezJ7.
The event is scheduled to run at Wainuiomata High School and a date has yet to be set.
Competitor (5) 20. N.Z. Prime Minister 1975-84 Sir Robert (7)
Kernel (3)
Thicket (5)
Boils (7)
25. Kernel (3) 27. Thicket (5)
Sir Robert (7)
Catch (3)
Apprehend (3)
28. Apprehend (3) 31. Interfere (3)
Interfere (3)
Boils (7) 24. Catch (3) 26. Group of whales (3) 29. Topic (5)
Move up & down (3)
Country in central Asia (8)
33. Move up & down (3) 37. Country in central Asia (8) 38. Farewells (8)
Farewells (8)
with bandages (7)
Cut short (7)
Made amends (6)
Alliance of political parties (6)
Arm joint (5)
Forty all(tennis) (5)
Least good thing (5)
(abbr) (3)
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U.S. horse race; Derby (8)
Better support for tamariki needed
On the morning of 23 October, NZEI Te Riu Roa primary and area school teachers, primary principals, support staff and MoE learning support staff and field workers will be on strike. Nurses, doctors, midwives and PPTA teachers will also be on strike.
Most schools will be closed for instruction. When people decide to take strike action, it is voted on by workers who are union members. Government ministers have been critical of educators striking, saying they’re disappointed at the impact on tamariki and whānau, and they should get back to the bargaining table rather than “throwing a tantrum”.
Katrina, a teacher from Arakura School in Wainuiomata, would rather be in the classroom
teaching, but she is taking a stand for educators and students.
“We need to see better support for our tamariki,” she says.
“We want teaching to be an attractive profession. Where are our future educators going to come from if many are headed to Australia or choosing different jobs?”
Katrina is proud to be striking with other essential workers.
“The Government needs to prioritise essential workers who protect our health, our homes and our kids’ futures,” she says.
On Monday afternoon (20 October) teacher aides, office administrators and teachers in Wainuiomata worked together to make signs
Extra transport during strike
Metlink services will have extra capacity on Thursday 23 October, when the striking workers march to Parliament.
Unionised primary and secondary school teachers, and nurses, midwives, doctors, dentists and other healthcare workers, are planning combined strike action on Thursday.
Additional public transport services and capacity are planned to accommodate journeys into and out of the city, and to ease pressure on the wider transport system, before and after the planned march .
The event has been extensively planned for says Metlink senior manager of operations, Paul Tawharu.
“A full train service will be in operation, with train capacity on services around the march time doubled,” Paul says.
“On the day of the protest the Hutt Valley line rail service will be operating on a full
KOKIRI
timetable; the interpeak block of line to enable KiwiRail works is suspended for the day.
“We have also asked bus operators to use the largest buses available, and detours will be in place for services affected by the planned protest route.
“Standard fares will apply on Thursday, and it’s likely many people will have the benefit of the off-peak discount, as the protest will be taking place in the middle of the day,” Paul says.
The situation will be closely monitored says Metlink group manager Samantha Gain.
“To ensure our public transport system functions with and around the planned protest, we will stand up our usual disruption response and will receive regular updates from officers on the ground,” Samantha.
Passengers can get the latest information on the Metlink website or app.
MARAE HEALTH
for their strike action on Thursday.
Awhina, another teacher, says: “We need a fully-funded teacher aide in our classrooms all day, but what we are seeing is school support staff continuing to face job insecurity.”
That is why she is organising local strike action from 7.30am on Thursday morning.
NZEI Te Riu Roa members are inviting the community to gather with them and hikoi up the Wainuiomata hill to wave signs to gather support from commuters driving to work in the morning.
Arakura School’s Deputy Principal Alisa says: “I am striking because Te Tiriti is being demoted in education – kupu removed from early readers, funding for te reo professional learning and development cut.”
So when you add up the cost of living, the huge unmet needs of tamariki and the riding
roughshod over Te Tiriti – you get principals, teachers, teacher aides and office staff who stand up and fight back for their community. At noon on Thursday, they will be marching to Parliament grounds to ask the government to listen to the issues that educators across the country are pleading with them to address.
Specialist Arakura School teacher Cathryn says that education needs to be funded properly, so that the most vulnerable learners are supported.
“I am striking because we’re trying to support kids who need one on one support and teach, and support full classrooms at the same time.” People can support the local strike action on Thursday by joining educators in Wainuiomata at the top of the Wainuiomata Hill on Thursday at 8am.
AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Measles is here Are you prepared?
Find out if you and your whānau have had two doses of the MMR vaccine. Check your Plunket / Well Child books, or call your GP.
Not vaccinated or don’t know? Get your MMR vaccine. It’s FREE.
If you’re not sure, no worries. Contact your doctor to check. It’s safe to get the vaccine again if you have no record of receiving it.
Stay home if you’re unwell
If you have cold or flu symptoms and a rash, stay at home and call your GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice.
Kokiri are able to check to see whether you have had the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination as well – this saves you a call to your GP. If there is no documentation as having received the MMR vaccine, then it is safe to have.
Some of the Arakura School staff plus a student with signs they have prepared for Thursday’s strike and march to Parliament. Photo: Supplied.
