6 March Wainuiomata News

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata High School’s mixed Softball

The team was undefeated in securing the title at College Sport Wellington’s regional Softball tournament at Fraser Park on 27 February.

Continued on page 2.

team are the Wellington regional champions.

The victorious Wainuiomata High School mixed Softball team (back row from left) Gary Sue, Noelani Logologo, Rukua Ngatoko, Maui Tai, Flynn Keall, Brodie Sue, Eli Jellicoe, Connor Keall and Scott McLeod (front row from left) Elizabeth Logologo, Jaylyn Rawiri, Ella Sue and Linkin Gore. Photo: Supplied.

Wednesday

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High school dominates the final

Continued from page 1

Wainuiomata was particularly impressive against Tawa College in the final, winning 6-2.

The two finalists were decided when they finished top in their pool following the preliminary rounds, and Tawa went into the match as firm favourites.

Wainuiomata’s pitcher Maui Tai played a huge role in his team’s victory, where he proved very difficult for the Tawa batters to hit.

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Maui and catcher Flynn Keall combined outstandingly, while Flynn’s brother Connor was influential at second base.

Maui has represented the Hutt Valley in Softball, while Flynn and Connor have both represented New Zealand.

The team’s batting was also prominent in the final and together with the pitching and defensive plays did not give Tawa a sniff of victory.

As well as starring in the final, Maui pitched well all tournament, taking a good number of strike outs and also performing well with the bat. He scored two home runs.

The whole Wainuiomata team of 11 played well throughout the tournament.

All four girls in the team, Jaylyn Rawiri, twins Elizabeth and Noelani Logologo and Ella

Jaylyn Rawiri in the batter’s box. Photo: Supplied. Sue played well, as did Ella’s brother Brodie.

Two year 9 boys were in the team. Rukua Ngatoko and Linkin Gore stepped up, as did Eli Jellicoe.

The team was coached by Wainuiomata High School teacher Scott McLeod and Gary Sue, who is a member of the Wainuiomata Softball Club.

Wainuiomata High School qualified for the final follow-

ing their three pool games, where they defeated Heretaunga College 12-0, Aotea College 14-1 and Kāpiti College 8-4.

It was an outstanding result for a team that was put together quickly at short notice.

“Our students were not only awesome on the diamond, but showed our school values throughout the tournament,” Mr McLeod says. Both Gary and Tammie Sue

helped the team during the tournament – Gary as a coach and Tammie as a scorer, and both the team and the school thank them very much for their assistaance, Mr McLeod says.

The regional title is the top honour the team can achieve this season.

Although there is a national secondary schools Softball tournament, it does not include a section for mixed teams.

Important inquiry hears people’s stories

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19 wants to hear people’s experiences of the pandemic.

It has launched a dedicated online submission site – www.covid19inquiry.nz.

Submissions will be open until 24 March.

“It really is important that we do hear these stories, the Chair of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19, Professor Tony Blakely says.

“The unfortunate reality is that there will be another pandemic, and we need to take this opportunity to learn the lessons, both from our own experiences and from those overseas, so that we’re as prepared as possible,” he says.

“The Covid-19 pandemic affected all of us, and New Zealanders – both here and living overseas – were asked to undertake extraordinary actions during this time.

“We want to hear about the wide range of experiences people had, and their observations of the pandemic, whatever they might be,” Professor Blakely says.

“The Government announced on Friday 2 February that it is committed to expanding the inquiry’s terms of reference and has asked us to undertake consultation, on its behalf, on a broader, clarified scope for the inquiry.

“Feedback on the terms of reference will be gathered alongside our public submissions process, and will be provided to the Department of Internal Affairs.

“They will then provide advice to the Government ahead of any changes that might be made to the scope of the inquiry.

“As a result of this consultation, the

inquiry may be asked to look at additional aspects of the Covid-19 response.

“While we’re looking at a wide range of Covid-19 related topics, such as mandates and other public health measures, and a variety of social and economic matters, we recognise there are additional topics that people might like us to consider, and likely useful clarifications to make (for example, regarding the scope and depth of inquiry into vaccine effectiveness).

“During February and March, we’ll be letting people know how they can make a submission on the terms of reference, and how they can share their story through a public information campaign.

“While changes to our terms of reference will likely alter how we analyse what we’ve been told, everyone should feel free to make submissions on any aspects of the pandemic.

“We’ll also have a presence at some public events, like community markets and A&P shows, during the consultation period to encourage people to share their experiences.

“We really do want to hear from you.

“Please take the time to share your story with us, and don’t assume that your experience was the same as everyone else’s – it could very well be different.

“We’ve certainly learnt that from the many direct engagements we’ve undertaken in these past nine months or so. And if you see me at an event in the coming months, or my fellow Commissioner John Whitehead, do come and talk to us. It would be great to hear your reflections and perspective,” Professor Blakely says.

Great save by firefighters

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata firefighters saved a house from a fire on 28 February.

Fire broke out in the garage under the house in Wellington Road, and the Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade was called at 9:34am.

A fire truck from Wainuiomata raced to the scene and stopped the flames from spreading to the upstairs part of the house.

“It was a good result,” Wainuiomata’ Chief Fire Officer Ewen Heron says.

As well as the rapid action by the Wainuiomata firefighters another factor that helped was that the garage was lined with gib board, and this gave some protection.

The cause of the fire is not known.

In addition to the appliance from the Wainuiomata fire station, five trucks from the Hutt Valley also responded to the fire.

The brigade was also needed to respond to calls following rubbish and back yard fires, despite the fact that there is now a total ban on lighting outdoor fires.

The Wellington District moved to a prohibited fire season at 8am Wednesday on 28 February.

This means that no outdoor fires are allowed until further notice.

The Hutt Valley, Wellington, Porirua, and Kāpiti Coast zones were all placed into a prohibited fire season.

The Wairarapa has been in a prohibited fire season since late January.

While there has been rain in the region recently, it hasn’t been enough to alleviate the fire danger.

In fact the recent weather has caused grass, gorse, scrub and pine to dry out across the region.

“This year is shaping up to be much drier than previous years and with the La Nina conditions forecast, it is only going to get hotter and drier,” says Rob Goldring, National Advisor Fire Risk Management, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ).

“We have already had some quite significant vegetation fires, much earlier in the fire season than usual.

“It is really important that people abide by the fire season rules.

“The rules are there for a reason: to keep people and property safe from fire.

“The whole East Coast of the South Island, and the Lower North Island from South Taranaki, across to Hawke’s Bay and down to Wellington and the

Wairarapa are particularly dry,” Mr Goldring says.

Any fire permits people have obtained from FENZ are suspended and new permits will not be issued.

People can go to www.checkitsalright.nz for fire safety advice.

New Youth Inspire staff member

By Frank Neill

Tane Tu is Youth Inspire’s new Whānau Engagement Advisor at Youth Inspire.

Tane grew up in Wainuiomata where he completed all his schooling before the merger of Wainuiomata and Parkway Colleges.

He has two sons, Makya and Caleb, and an American Bulldog named Whiore.

Makya is currently in Otago studying Medicine while Caleb is in his last year at St Bernards College.

“After 20 years in Government, I decided to jump ship into something more rewarding and fulfilling,” Tane says

“It is an honour and a privilege to be part of the [Youth Inspire] team,” he adds.

Youth Inspire’s aim is to ensure rangatahi in Wainuiomata and Taita have the capabilities to be work ready through a structured and focused youth training programme that develops employability skills for young

people.

“We focus on pastoral care, providing clear communication, expert advice and meeting individual needs,” Youth Inspire says.

“In doing so, we help build the confidence of our rangatahi.”

As well as the training programme aimed at helping rangatahi become work ready, Youth Inspire runs the Road Ready Rangatahi programme which helps young people gain their drivers’ licences.

Waka Wars

The Wainui Waka Wars, originally scheduled to take place on 9 March has been postponed to 16 March.

To be held at Wise Park and the Wainuiomata Marae the Waka Wars is a day of whānau activities, sports and fun.

The day includes Basketball, Karaoke, Netball, Softball, Euchre, kaumatua activities, Rugby League, a bake off and Dance Fit.

There are prizes of money that will go to the Marae of the winner’s choice. See the Wainui Waka Wars Facebook page for more information.

Soccer fun day

The Ulalei Wainuiomata Sport Soccer Fun Day takes place on 23 March.

This event is for tamariki aged from 5 to 12 years who are of Māori or Pasifika heritage and who live in Wainuiomata. For more information visit the Ulalei Wainuiomata Sport Facebook page.

Tane Tu. Photo: Supplied.

Good turnout to Streets for People event

By Frank Neill

A good number of people attended an event to celebrate the start of Movin’ March and to mark the launch of a two-week engagement period on the Maru – Streets for People project.

More than 200 people attended the celebration, held in the new seating area at the end of Rata Street next to St Claudine Thevenet School on 1 March.

Tamariki were at the event in big numbers, as were three Hutt City Councillors – Wainuiomata Ward Councillor Keri Brown, Cr Naomi Shaw, who chairs the council’s Communities, Culture and Partnerships Committee, and Cr Andy Mitchell.

Movin’March is a free New Zealandwide celebration of walking, biking and scooting to school.

This is the 15th year the initiative has been happening.

Registrations for this year’s event opened in November 2023 offering prizes for schools that registered early.

Arakura School was one of the five

early bird winners selected.

The launch of the two-week community engagement on the Maru – Streets for People project began on a high note at the 1 March celebration, with the Maru team receiving a good amount of feedback from those who attended.

The engagement is continuing as the Maru team asks for feedback on the semi-permanent design to evaluate how it is performing and see if any changes are needed.

Construction of the semi-permanent design of the Maru – Streets for People project began on 25 January and most of the work is now complete.

The project aims to make it feel safer, more inviting and accessible for residents of all ages to walk, skate, scooter or bike through the area and to spend time in public spaces.

It has involved a series of changes to the current street, footpath and lane areas in central Wainuiomata.

These include:

• changes to crossing points to improve visibility of pedestrians;

• narrowed intersections to reduce

turning speeds and improve safety;

• lowered speeds within the project area to 30km/hr;

• removing the metal barriers at the entrances to the laneways between Hinau Grove and Wainuiomata Road and Totara Street and Konini Street and installing planters in their place.

This improves access to these laneways for people with prams, bikes, and mobility scooters while maintaining safety by preventing larger vehicles from entering and preventing people emerging from the laneway onto footpaths at higher speed;

• installing seating in the green spaces off the laneways, improving accessibility and walkability for people who may need to stop and rest; and

• increased opportunities for having fun down the laneways by installing play elements.

Signage, wayfinding and artwork has also been put in place to make the laneways more attractive and inviting.

There will be minimal impact to road users and pedestrians, the council says.

Have your say on transport

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata residents have the opportunity to let Metlink know about bus services.

Wainuiomata Community Board member Tamsyn Harker has set up an online survey. It is at http://tinyurl.com/wainuibussurvey and Ms Harker is encouraging people to fill out the survey.

“We have an amazing opportunity to tell Metlink what

Wainui wants and deserves for our public transport,” she says.

“The more feedback you give, the stronger our community’s voice.

“This is part of a communityled project to gather information we can present to Metlink as part of their review of local services.

“This is a great way for us to be heard by the people who make the decisions, so please

complete the survey and share it with your Wainuiomata friends and whānau.”

People will need to move quite quickly in order to have their voice heard as the survey will close on 11 March.

Among the questions the survey asks is the following: “Would you use (or support) a direct service to Wellington City via Gracefield/Seaview/ Petone?”

As well as being a member of the Wainuiomata Community Board, Ms Harker is the Wainuiomata representative on Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Public Transport Advisory Group (PTAG).

The aim of the PTAG is to inform both Metlink and the Greater Wellington Regional Council’s (GWRC) Transport Committee on issues relating to public transport.

Some of the students who celebrated Moving’ March last Friday. Photo: Supplied.

Tamsyn Harker. Photo: Supplied.

Women’s Women’s Day Day

8 March 2024

The theme of the International Women’s Day 2024 campaign is ‘Inspire Inclusion’. Celebrated on 8 March, the intention of this year’s day is to inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, so that together we forge a better world.

Day to commemorate women

By Frank Neill

Of Ngāti Porou descent, Teresea was also named the 2022 Wellingtonian of the Year.

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Friday 8 March is International Women’s Day, a day to commemorate women and a focal point in the women’s rights movement.

It is a day to celebrate every single woman in the community, a time to recognise everything that they achieve.

The vast majority of women will not be recognised by receiving an honour or an award, yet their individual and collective contributions are outstanding.

While recognising the value of every single woman in the community, International Women’s Day also commemorates the cultural, political and socioeconomic achievements of women.

Joyce Lockyer, who launched the initiatve to restore Wainuiomata’s Pioneer Church, was honoured at this year’s Hutt Civic Awards.

chosen sport. The 15-year-old was named in the New Zealand team that competed in the 2023 Oceania Under-16 Women’s Football Championship in September.

The International Women’s Day (IWD) is more than 100 years old.

The first IWD gathering, supported by more than a million people, took place in 1911.

The day has three major aims, to:

Wainuiomata women were certainly to the fore with their achievements over the last year.

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She was presented with the Civic Honour in Cultural Affairs and Educational Service by the Deputy Mayor Tui Lewis.

Joyce “has a passion for the Wainuiomata community and the Wainuiomata Pioneer Church,” her award citation said.

“Arguably her most impactful work is initiating the restoration of the Coast Road Pioneer Church. Joyce formed a committee in 2012, and instigated and organised countless fundraising projects to help fully restore the church, which is now a Heritage Building the community can proudly use.”

Georja Keal, aged 14, was selected in Softball New Zealand’s Under 15 Women’s World Cup team.

The Wainuiomata Football Club’s Leanne Smith won the club service award at the 2023 Capital Football awards ceremony on 27 October.

• celebrate women's achievement;

• raise awareness about discrimination; and

• take action to drive gender parity.

“IWD belongs to everyone, everywhere,” its website says.

Among the many who received an honour during the last 15 months are the following:

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Lahraine Sagaga was presented one of the Wainuiomata Spirit Awards by the Wainuiomata Community Board on 23 August.

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Melony O’Connor (Ngāti Porou) was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the 2023 New Year’s Honours.

Melony received her award for services to basketball, and particularly for her role as a referee.

“Lahraine has been working tirelessly in the Wainuiomata Community for many years,” her citation said.

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Melony was also named Official of the Year in the 2023 Star Hospitality Hutt Valley Sports Awards in May.

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Dayle Jackson, who began her teaching career at Glendale School and who coaches a number of Wainuiomata bowlers, was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the 2023 New Year’s Honours.

She was awarded the accolade for services to education and sport.

Wainuiomata business Contemporary Korowai Designs, owned by Brenda Janes, won the award as top small business at the Wellington Region Business Excellence Awards held at the Lower Hutt Events Centre on 17 November.

Wainuiomata children’s author Dahlia Malaeulu was one of the winners of this year’s Creative New Zealand (CNZ) Arts Pasifika Awards in October.

Dahlia received the $7,500 Emerging Pacific Artist Award for her role as a writer, publisher and educator. She was also named a finalist in the 2022 Pacific Business Trust Awards in November.

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Teresea Olsen QSM was presented the Whānau Ora Matariki – Community Service Award at the NgŪ Tohu Matariki o te Tau 2023 annual awards on 12 July.

Teresea gained the award for her “extraordinary contribution to enhance the cultural, social, economic and environmental prosperity in their community”.

Roya Sultani from Wainuiomata High School was presented with the Lower Hutt Manukura Award on 5 December. The Manukura Award recognises and celebrates outstanding voluntary service in the community from high school students.

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Wainuiomata Footballer Brooke Neary was selected to represent New Zealand in her

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Ulalei football league impresses

You would have had to been living under a rock not to have noticed the massive hive of activity at Frederick Wise Park on Monday evenings as the Ulalei Junior Football League enters its second term.

Wainuiomata’s first football competition for all of the local primary schools has been a huge success with parents, teachers and tamariki alike singing its praises.

“Our tamariki at Pukeatua love that they can play sport after school with their mates and they don't have to travel over the hill,” Pukeatua Primary School principal Topsy Remuera says.

“The Ulalei football competition

is so organised and supports all the teams to play and be active, have fun and learn new skills.”

The size of the competition has increased by five teams from Term 4 with teams from Konini and Fernlea schools joining the league and "completing the set" of all of Wainuiomata’s primary schools now entered.

Te Ara Whanui Kura Kaupapa from Alicetown has returned with its team of Wainuiomata-based tamariki and this term Wainuiomata Intermediate has two all-girl sides.

The Wainuiomata Junior Football Club joined the activity when it

held its Open Day at Wise Park to promote its registrations while also running a free sausage sizzle on 4 March.

“(It was) a fantastic afternoon at Wise Park,” a club spokesperson observed:.

“Ulalei do an awesome job running events to allow kids to give our beautiful game a go.”

The league will run for two more weeks before breaking for winter.

Ulalei has confirmed the league is here to stay “for as long as the tamariki want it.” Ulalei acknowledges the fantastic support from One Foundation, Hutt City Council, Hāpai te Hauora and Nuku Ora.

Craig Foster’s new club record

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata’s first Cricket XI was well placed when stumps were drawn in its two-day match against Naenae Old Boys on 2 March.

Batting first at Naenae Park, Wainuiomata scored 203 before being all out.

They then snared five Naenae wickets at a cost of just 76 runs by the end of play and will look to scoring first innings points when the match resumes on 9 March.

Craig Foster, who contributes well with both the bat and the ball, set new milestone when he took to the field for his 300th match for the club’s premier team.

He is the first player in the club’s history to win 300 caps.

During this time Craig has scored more than 9,000 premier runs. He brought up his 9,000th run in the match against Petone Riverside on 10 February this year.

This is the highest number of runs scored by any player in the team’s

Public transport fares going up

Public transport fares will increase by 10% Greater Wellington Council decided on 29 February.

Inflation and escalating expenses backdrop the stark decision faced by councillors, Greater Wellington Chair Daran Ponter says.

“Like all councils, we’re caught between a financial rock and a fiscal hard place.

“Do we ask passengers to pay more to use public transport, or do we hike rates even higher?

“We’d never consider an increase of this size if we weren’t also faced with tough choices about raising rates and cutting spending in this year’s Long Term Plan, \” Cr Ponting says.

Public transport is jointly funded

by central government and the regional council, with fares only covering about a third of costs.

Metlink estimates that without the 10% fares increase, a further 3.3% rates rise would be required.

“We have deliberately kept fare increases below the level of inflation over the last few years to protect people from cost-of-living pressures,” says Greater Wellington Transport Committee chair Thomas Nash.

“But the cost of public transport has gone up significantly while fares have not.

“Given the effects of inflation on the cost of driving a car, a 10% fares increase would still leave public transport journeys competitively

priced compared to using private vehicles, once you take into account fuel, parking, insurance and maintenance costs,” Cr Nash says.

“I don’t want to be putting fares up.

“But we want to continue to grow our services, and with what's on the cards for rates, unless we were to see a significant increase in government funding, the alternative to a fares increase at this point is for our network to decline.”

Off peak and weekend fares on the Metlink network will remain half price as will travel for Community Services and Total Mobility card holders.

The fares increase is scheduled to be implemented on 1 July 2024.

history.

His highest score was 203 not out and Craig has notched up 12 centuries and 48 half centuries. He has also taken 567 wickets – the highest number in the club’s history – and held onto 199 catches.

Top Wainuiomata bowler Ryan Jackson was a member of the Wellington A team that played Canterbury A at the Hutt Recreation Ground from 3 to 5 March. Wainuiomata’s second XI did not have such a good day in their top

of the table clash with Upper Hutt United Kereru.

Batting first on Bryan Heath Park, Wainuiomata was all out for 96. Upper Hutt then overtook them to reach 99 for the loss of six wickets.

Alex Newton was the top scorer for the home team with 26 runs while Shekhar Paliwal scored 19. Tanuj Ahuja, Jason Logan and Jordan Nevalagi took one wicket each. The Wainuiomata women’s team had the bye last weekend.

Wainui hosts masters cycling champs

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata hosted the Wellington Masters Cycling Club’s 2024 TT club championship on Sunday 25 February.

The race attracted 22 entrants and 19 riders finished the event.

Things did not look promising for the event in the week leading up to the racing, thanks to a bleak weather forecast.

However the forecast improved along with entries, with the club seeing a 50% increase between Saturday afternoon and the race start.

The racing was held in near perfect weather.

The 40kn TT club championship is usually held on the

Kahutara track and the times in this year’s event, where wind was not a factor, indicated that the Wainuiomata course was the tougher of the two.

After starting at the Scout Den on Peel Place the riders raced up Moore’s Valley Road towards Brookfield Camp, returning to the Coast Road.

They then rode south down Coast Road before turning and climbing a long slog uphill from the coast to the finish line.

Pete Mora won the race in 56 minutes 37 seconds, finishing well clear of Matt Seely in second.

Brittany Dykes was the first female, finishing in 7th place overall in a time of 63 minutes 7 seconds.

Amiyah Leota in action for Ulalei FC. Photo: Supplied.

Craig Foster, who set a new club record with his 300th premier game. Photo: Supplied.

Tell Police about illegal dirt biking

The Police sent out a call on 29 February asking people to report illegal dirt bike riding.

This comes in the wake of articles on the problem of dirt bikes in the last two issues of the “Wainuiomata News”.

“Police are concerned with the increase of reports in the Upper and Lower Hutt areas, including Wainuiomata, of dirt bikes being ridden in a dangerous and illegal manner on roads, in parks and in reserves,” the Police say in their post on Facebook.

“Some of the illegal and dangerous riding behaviours include riding on roads without a licence, riding a motorbike that doesn’t have a registration or warrant of fitness;

and dangerous riding behaviour such as riding on footpaths, and crossing centre lines.

“While most dirt bike riders are aware of the laws, and don’t cause any issues, a few bad riders are giving the rest a bad reputation.

“Where we are unable to immediately stop the riders, Police are working to gather information that we can later use to identify and track down riders to educate and in some cases issue infringements or impound dirt bikes.

“Police’s message is clear: If you ride your dirt or off-road bike where you shouldn’t and/or in an anti-social manner, you can expect that we will do everything in our power to firstly identify you and

then take appropriate enforcement action which could include seizure/ impounding of the bike.

“It is illegal to ride a dirt bike on the road unless it is roadworthy with a current warrant and registration.

“Those riding illegal bikes on roads and in community spaces can expect to be targeted and prosecuted.

“Police cannot be everywhere all the time and we need the public’s help to mitigate risk to other road users and hold people to account for their poor riding behaviour.”

The Police then outline what people can do if they see dirt bikes being ridden illegally on roads and reserves.

“If you see unlawful dirt bike riding and can do so safely, please try and obtain evidence of the offending (video, photos, a description or known identity of the rider) which will assist Police during the evidence gathering stage.

“Anyone with information about

Climate change case can go to trial

By Frank Neill

New Zealand’s Supreme Court –Te Kōti Mana Nui o Aotearoa last week released a significant decision that allows climate change claims against corporate defendants to go to trial.

This was one of the first occasions in common law jurisdictions that a court has recognised that it is possible to argue that tort law can be used to challenge the greenhouse gas emissions of a private entity.

The decision came in the Smith v Fonterra & Ors case [2024] NZSC 5.

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, overturned an earlier

decision of the Court of Appeal to strike out all three claims Mr Smith made against seven corporate entities. The seven corporates are Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, Genesis Energy Ltd, Dairy Holdings Ltd, New Zealand Steel Ltd, Z Energy Ltd, Channel Infrastructure NZ Ltd and BT Mining Ltd.

The Supreme Court has allowed Mr Smith’s claims of negligence, public nuisance and a “climate system damage” tort to go to trial.

Mr Smith is an elder of Ngāpuhi and Ng ā ti Kahu and a climate change spokesperson for the Iwi Chairs Forum, a national forum of tribal leaders.

In August 2019, he filed a statement of claim in the High Court against the seven respondents.

Each is a New Zealand company said to be involved in an industry that either emits greenhouse gases (GHGs) or supplies products which release GHGs when burned.

Mr Smith alleges that the respondents have damaged, and will continue to damage, his whenua and moana, including places of customary, cultural, historical, food gathering and spiritual significance to him and his whānau. Mr Smith raises three causes of action in tort: public nuisance, negligence and a proposed climate system damage

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the identity of the riders involved or addresses where the dirt bikes are kept can call Police on 105 or contact us on 111 if you see the behaviour now.

“You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111,” the Police say.

tort.

He seeks a declaration that the respondents have (individually and/or collectively) unlawfully either breached a duty owed to him or caused or contributed to a public nuisance, and have caused or will cause him loss through their activities.

In addition to declaratory relief, injunctive relief is also sought which would require the respondents to either reduce their emissions by specified amounts over a defined period of time, or immediately cease emitting (or contributing to) net emissions.

The Supreme Court also granted

the right to intervene to Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Incorporated, Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa – The Māori Law Society, and the Human Rights Commission – Te Kāhui Tika Tangata.

The court noted that its refusal of strike out, and reinstatement of Mr Smith’s claim, was not an assessment that the claim was bound to succeed at trial.

Rather, it was a finding that it cannot be said, at this preliminary stage, that it is bound to fail.

The Supreme Court’s decision can be found at www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/ assets/cases/2024/2024-NZSC-5. pdf.

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Bikers illegally riding on Hugh Sinclair Park. Photo: Supplied.