Urgently needed
By Frank Neill
The Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade urgently needs volunteers who can respond to callouts during the day time.
“We are about 10 people short at the moment,” Wainuiomata’s Chief Fire Officer Peter Thompson says. Continued on page 2.
Firefighter Dave Logan operating a hose during training. Photo: Frank Neill.
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Helping to save lives and property
A recent photo of the Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade along with some of its life members. Photo: Supplied.
Continued from page 1
“Ideally we would like to fill all those 10 positions with people who work inside the valley.
The brigade currently has around 31 operational firefighters “and we should have 40,” CFO Thompson says.
“We’re always looking for volunteers to join us from a wide range of backgrounds and welcome people who are genuinely interested in helping others.”
The Wainuiomata brigade’s main focus and, indeed, FENZ’s main focus “is to save lives and property,” CFO Thompson says.
“That’s the whole reason we exist.
fireandemergency.nz.
The Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade was officially formed on 4 September 1944.
It had taken a major house fire in 1943 to provide the impetus to establish the brigade.
Of those 31, six are new recruits who are going through their training.
“When accidents happen we are there to help.
Along with the 31 operational firefighters, the brigade has a team of 13 operational support people.
People who would like to become a volunteer firefighter, or who would like to find out more about volunteering can contact CFO Thompson at peter.thomson@fireandemergency.nz.
They can also apply to volunteer on Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s (FENZ) website, https://fireandemergency.nz under “volunteer with us”.
“If you’re a team player, would like to learn new skills and keep your community safer, we would love to hear from you,” FENZ says.
“There’s a saying: if in doubt call the brigade out.”
Events the brigade responds to include structure fires and vegetation fires, medical emergencies, motor vehicle accidents, natural events such as high winds, storms and floods, and hazardous material callouts.
“Around a quarter of our callouts are medical,” CFO Thompson says.
That includes assisting Wellington Free Ambulance with events such as cardiac arrests and accidents.
The brigade is also involved in the Firewise education programme that is run in schools.
Yet another way the brigade helps keep the community safe is by providing free home fire safety visits.
These visits can provide people with a range of advice and help, including help with fitting smoke alarms.
To book a free visit, contact the Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade, phone 564 8340 or email FENZwellington@
This fire led to lengthy deliberations over the months that followed, with Jack Dunn, who would become the brigade’s first superintendent, and Wainuiomata Development Company director Mr Frederick Wise playing leading roles.
There was no fire engine at first. When the siren sounded Ted Smith would race to the station in his Morris 8 and pick up the necessary gear before driving to the fire.
The brigade would not get its first fire engine, a Ford V8 Marmon Herrington fourwheel drive, until 1946. A former Air Force tender, it remained in service until 1965. It was not until 1963, however, that the brigade got its first “real” fire engine, a Commer Karier Gamecock.
The first fire station was built in 1945 opposite Wainuiomata School.
A new station was built in Fitzherbert Road during 1971, and was officially opened on 27 July.
Following that, the old fire station was brought from its original site to the Fitzherbert Road station, where the brigade is now stationed.
Lesa Bingley standing again
The Wainuiomata Community Board’s Deputy Chair, Lesa Bingley, is seeking re-election for one of six Community Board positions in this year’s local body elections.
“It has been my privilege to serve and advocate for our community,” Mrs Bingley says.
“During my time on the Community Board I have engaged with hundreds of residents and many community groups on a wide scope of local issues including burst pipes, traffic calming measures, pest control, footpath maintenance, stray dogs, walkways, mobility parking, and the ongoing need for improved public transport routes, among many others.”
The Bingleys purchased their first home in Wainuiomata six years ago.
At the time she was a stay-at-home Mum with a ‘toddler on her hip’ simply looking
Cr Duthie standing again
Regional Councillor Quentin Duthie has announced he is seeking a second term representing Lower Hutt on Greater Wellington Regional Council. Cr Duthie has been significantly involved with the Wainuiomata community over the last three year, including making presentations at each Wainuiomata Community Board meeting.
“I promised to be a proactive and accessible Councillor and have bent over backwards to be out and about all over Lower Hutt,” he says.
“As a humble Councillor, it’s not possible to influence everything.
“I quickly learned that getting things done requires focus, drive, patience and team-work.
“Most ideas are not mine – often coming from constituents who know their communities best – and I see my role as picking them up and following them through.
“I pushed hard to ensure we tackled the problem of goats, pigs and deer running rampant in the Wainuiomata hills.
“Now under way, this investment will not just mean cleaner drinking water and a healthier forest, but will save money in the long term.
“Improving Wainuiomata bus services was an obvious need.
“First, we had to fix chronic unreliability caused by a shortage of drivers (through better pay, conditions and recruitment).
“Second, we made Wainuiomata top priority in the new Regional Public Transport Plan,
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to connect with those around her.
“I knew we had fantastic neighbours, and I wanted to connect with more people,” she says.
“I wanted to play a positive part in this beautiful community we are raising our families in.”
Supporting the completion of the Queen Street up grade, and the ‘welcome to Wainuiomata’ sign, granting new street names, and successfully appealing Hutt City Council’s decision to disestablish Wainuiomata’s Community Board have been some of the highlights for Mrs Bingley.
“We are the largest suburb in Te Awa Kairangi Lower Hutt, home to over 20,000 residents,” she continues.
“Simply maintaining our community board is not enough – it must be elevated.
and local residents.
“I was almost unknown in Wainuiomata before becoming Councillor and felt like a foreigner here. “With so many friends now, the warmth of such a can-do community, and so much good Council work in the neighbourhood, it’s become a favourite hang-out.
“It’s a privilege working with Cr Ken Laban, who consistently champions Wainuiomata, encourages effort and skill, and reminds us of the realities of life for struggling families. “Cr
“It’s time to raise and amplify the voices of our community”.
To achieve this, she states: “We need to be more present and more accessible.
“It requires working proactively to build and maintain strong, constructive relationships between residents and the council.
“We must ensure that the voices of Wainuiomata are not only heard, but truly empowered – empowered to influence the changes we want to see in our streets, our parks and our homes.
“We all deserve a stronger, connected, safe and more resilient Wainuiomata –and achieving that takes all of us to work together.
“I am excited and enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate with a revitalised and re-energised Community Board if given the chance to continue my mahi/work.”
Gabriel Tupou will bring the same attitude and thoroughly deserves your vote. “Remember that Greater Wellington councillors are elected by STV, which is as easy as 1,2,3 – ranking any or all candidates in order of your preference.
“Please vote to keep Maori Wards.
“It took 40 long years before the first M ori was elected to Greater Wellington and it has made a big positive difference. “With a M ori constituency comes guaranteed representation.
“Let’s keep it that way,” Cr Duthie says.
with better frequency and connection to Hutt Hospital due soon plus other improvements coming next year.
“I’ve also tried to inform residents about what Regional Council does in Wainuiomata – water supply, flood protection, nature restoration, parks and buses. “With information comes power to participate in local decision-making.
“I’ve appreciated the questions, ideas and feedback from Wainuiomata Community Board
The Wainuiomata Community Board’s Deputy Chair, Lesa Bingley. Photo: Supplied.
Cr Quentin Duthie, who is standing again for Greater Wellington Regional Council. Photo: Supplied.
No nominations for Community Board
local body election.
With just two days to go until nominations close for this year’s local body elections no nominations has been been received for the Wainuiomata Community Board.
Election NZ has set up a “landing page” where people can view the candidates that have put their names forward for this year’s
The landing page is at www. electionz.com/lge2025_landing/ index.html. It includes information on who is standing for both the Hutt City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
By the deadline for this issue of the “Wainuiomata News” no nominations had been received for the six positions on the
Wainuiomata Community Board.
However two of the current board members have told the “Wainuiomata News” that they will be standing.
The board’s Deputy Chair Lesa Bingley and board member Daniel Chrisp have announced that they will be standing.
Three nominations had been received for Mayor of Lower Hutt at the time of the “Wainuiomata News” deadline.
Wainuiomata’s Fauono Ken Laban is one of the three, along with Karen Morgan and Prabha Ravi.
Cr Keri Brown’s nomination for the Wainuiomata Ward Councillor position was the only one that
had been received by the paper’s deadline. Cr Brown is the current Ward Councillor.
One nomination, Wainuiomata’s Te Awa Puketapu, had been received for the one position as the Mana Kairangi ki Tai M ori Ward.
Two nominations had been listed for the Greater Wellington Regional Council Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/ Lower Hutt Regional Constituency – Omar Faruque and Mike Fisher.
One of the current Lower Hutt Regional Councillors, Quentin Duthie, has told the “Wainuiomata News” that he is standing again.
The other current Lower Hutt Councillor, Ken Laban, is standing for Mayor of Lower Hutt.
The election landing page provides candidate contact information as nominations are confirmed.
In due course Daily Returns and Election Results will be available on the landing page. Nominations for seats on the councils close atnoon onFriday 1 August.
Deliverers
WEDNESDAY FACT
Do snakes have a good sense of smell?
Most snakes have an excellent sense of smell, in part to make up for their poor eyesight and limited hearing. Rather than a conventional nose, however, snakes sniff with an organ at the roof of the mouth called a Jacobson’s organ, which is also found in a few lizard species.
Comeback win for Football Reserves
By Ryan Imray
Withthe quarter finals of the Chatham Cup in action, the Wainuiomata Men’s Capital Premier side had the weekend off while the other eight senior teams were scattered around Wellington for their respective matches.
With Brooklyn United losing to Upper Hutt, the Wainuiomata Reserves knew a win against Petone would give them a firm grip on second place in the Capital 3 division. It was a tense game with Petone taking the lead midway through the first half.
As the game entered into the final ten minutes, it had that feeling that nothing was going Wainui’s way until Cameron Gelderblom was brought down in the box for a penalty which Lachlan Harris calmy converted.
Not even a minute later and Wainui found themselves in front, a Hadley Attewell strike beating the keeper at the near post. Petone pushed for a late equaliser but Wainui were able to hold on for a 2-1 win.
Wainuiomata Thirds travelled to Tawa in the Wellington3 division and both sides left with a point as the game ended 2-2. Two of the club’s young stars combined for both of Wainui’s goals.
Braydon Gelderblom finished off two assists from Logan Brown.
In the Wellington 4 division Halfbaked
Roundballs made it four wins in four games as they travelled out to Porirua and defeated Western Suburbs 3-0.
In the Masters divisions, both Pasifika sides made the trip to Johnsonville to face North Wellington.
Pasifika Originals remained first equal in Division 4 with a comfortable 6-1 win.
Pasifika Old Boys in the Over45 division also had a comfortable win as their game finished 4-1.
The OCs made the longest trip of the weekend for the seniors as they headed out to Waikanae and unfortunately it was not a trip to remember as they fell to a 3-0 defeat.
The Women’s First Team travelled to Newtown Park to face a Wellington United side that was unbeaten, top of the table and yet to concede a goal in round two.
Wainuiomata matched Wellington United in all departments but were sadly undone by a penalty as the game finished 1-0 to the hosts.
Three Youth teams also had a stand out weekend.
The Under 13s won their first game of the second round in a nine goal thriller against North Wellington.
With the side playing their first season on a full sized field, they got to taste life at Richard Prouse Park for the first time.
While the grass was frosted over and temperatures dropped to 5 degrees, they took advantage of being at home, winning
Intermediate open evening
By Frank Neill
Wainuiomata Intermediate School is holding an open evening tomorrow, 31 July. The evening will begin at 6pm with a performance by the Pasifika Group, followed by tours of the school, led by Student Councillors. There will be tea and coffee and the chance to meet and talk with senior staff. All enrolments received on the night will go into a draw for a free school uniform.
the game 5-4.
The Under 15s travelled out to K piti and they maintained their 100% record. A 2-0 win over Te Kotahitanga keeps the Wainuiside top of the table and yet to concede a goal.
The Under 17s are still yet to lose a game in 2025 as their trip to Johnsonville to face North Wellington was a successfulone,winning 6-0.
Lioness make League women’s final
By Frank Neill
An outstanding comeback be the Wainuiomata Lioness team saw them defeat the St George Dragons 24-14 in the semifinal of the Wellington premier women’s Rugby League championship on 27 July.
The Dragons began the game on the front foot and led the match, played at Fraser Park, 10-0 after 23 minutes.
The Wainuiomata team began their fight back six minutes later, scoring a converted try to go into the break down 10-6.
The Ken Laban coached Lioness team continued to keep the pressure on their opponents in the second spell, scoring another 18 points and restricting the Dragons to just four points.
Nataahia Pasene was in great form for Wainuiomata, scoring two tries.
Kelly Laumalili-Tuiatua, Manaia Maxwell-Puototaua and Ryshia Leota also touched down.
Mary-Ann Collins kicked one conversion.
The victory means the Lioness will now vie for the coveted Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban trophy.
They will meet the reigning premier women’s champions, the Porirua Valkyrie in the final.
The final will be played at the Hutt Recreation Ground on 2 August with the kick off at 11am.
It was not such a good result for Wainuiomata in the premier reserve men’s semi-final on 26 July.
The Wainuiomata Lions were beaten 38-26 by the Randwick Kingfishers in a high scoring match.
The Kingfishers were to the fore in the first half, and led 22-8 at half time.
The second spell was much more even, with the Lions scoring two more points than their opposition.
Tiaki Nager scored two tries for the Lions.
Bayley Findlay, Jaden Taniwha and Galen Tuisila also touched down. Shamrox Ruri kicked three conversions.
Arnika Lahood puts pressure on a defender for the Wainuiomata Women's team.
Photo: Imray’s Snaps.
Sophie Brown makes a clearing kick for the Under 13s in their win over North Wellington. Photo: Imray’s Snaps.
Manaia Maxwell-Puohotaua about to score an outstanding solo try for the Wainuiomata Lioness. Photo: Living in the Moment Photography.
Mural for new amenity block
By Frank Neill
Local artists are being given an opportunity to secure $5,000 to paint a mural on the new amenity block to be built at Frederick Wise Park.
Hutt City Council is currently calling on artists to submit a proposal for the mural.
“The mural will be an opportunity to visually represent the identity, spirit and values of the Wainuiomata community,” the Council says.
“It is intended to be created by or in collaboration with local artists and community members, ensuring it resonates deeply with the people who live, play and gather in this space.
“By integrating public art into the new structure, we aim to not only enhance the park’s appearance but also reinforce the cultural and social fabric of the area,” the Council says.
“ We are seeking mural artworks with the following considerations:
reflecting the unique character and stories of the local community;
visually to the surrounding green space, stream and park users; -
aging community pride, joy and a sense of belonging; and
the carpark and sports field vantage points.
“Importantly, it will celebrate and strengthen the cultural and social fabric of Wainuiomata,” the Council says.
The deadline for proposal submis-
To submit a proposal and find out more visithutt.city/frederickwiseto communityarts@huttcity.govt.nz.
The new amenity block at the park is expected to open in early sports teams and community groups that regularly use the park for events and recreational activities.
The new block will include four public toilet facilities (two fully accessible), two team changing
rooms with the option to combine into one larger space, hot water showers in private cubicles and a field-facing overhanging roof for
Standout performances by Ulalei teams
It was another action-packed weekend for Ulalei netball teams across multiple grades, with standout performances and thrilling contests.
Ulalei Wainuiomata Netball’s young guns, Ulalei Fuesina, showcased their skill and fitness in a hard-fought 31–27 victory over the much more experienced Maidstone United.
The game was tightly contested from the outset, with Fuesina gaining an early lead to be up 9–6 at the end of the first quarter.
Maidstone rallied in the second,
narrowing the gap to trail just 13–14 at halftime.
By the end of the third quarter, the teams were all locked up at 22–22, setting the stage for a thrilling final quarter.
Fuesina’s superior fitness and sharp execution proved decisive in the closing stages, as they outpaced a tiring Maidstone side.
Goal shooters Mahinarangi Gillies, Ivon Murdoch and Ane Peni Nuilevaea remained composed under pressure, delivering swish shots that kept the scoreboard ticking.
At the defensive end, Jacqui Mc-
Carthy, Rautipu Renata, Milan Patea formed a formidable unit, applying relentless pressure and forcing crucial turnovers that the midcourters Ashleigh Keenan, Jamera Alosio and Rose Nikara delivered seamlessly down the court to be beautifully converted.
the progress this next generation of netballers has made this season.
In the Premier 1 competitionUlalei Aute continued their dominant run, securing a convincing 6850 victory over Maidstone United
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to remain at the top of the table.
The Premier 2 teamUlalei Puataunofo faced a challenging outing, falling to a strong Maidstone side in a tough match.
In one of the most exciting games of the round, Ulalei M lili staged a remarkable comeback in the Premier 3 grade.
Trailing by 10 goals at one point, they fought back valiantly but narrowly missed out, going down 40–39 to the Petone Panthers.
Ulalei Pu lulu delivered another polished performance, claiming a
spectator shelter. A drinking water fountain with bottle-filling capability will also be installed.
The unstoppable Ulalei Moso’oi team added yet another win to defeating Maidstone 40–18 in a commanding outing in all areas of the court.
Ulalei Laga’ali’s resurgence continues to gather momentum, notching their third consecutive win with a 30–17 triumph over Tautoko Aiga in the Reserve 3 competition. Ulalei’s teams are showing depth and determination across all grades, promising an exciting finish to the season.
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An artist’s impression of the new amenity block at Frederick Wise Park. Image Supplied.