Waka Wars comes to Wainui Cricketers need something special

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata’s first cricket winner’s choice. Photo: Supplied.

XI has some significant work ahead in its match against the table-topping Onslow team following the first day of their two-day match.

Playing in the Wellington second division, Wanuiomata batted first in the match at Nairnville Park on 4 March.

Onslow bowled Wainuiomata out for 87 runs.

By Frank Neill

The Wainuiomata Waka Wars, featuring a series of contests, comes to Frederick Wise Park on Saturday 11 March, starting at 8:30am and running to 5pm.

A free event for people of all ages, the Waka Wars will give people an opportunity to win prizes which will be donated to a flood-affected marae of the winner’s choice.

There will be nine events on the programme, and the winner of each will get to donate $250 to their chosen marae.

A $5000 prize will also be presented to the marae chosen by the winning waka from all the contests.

The nine contests are: euchre, bake-off, preservative competition, karaoke, team tag, K O Rahi team event, Netball team event, tug of

Time to sink or swim

It’s “sink or swim” time for the Wainuiomata Primary School swimming pool.

After 66 years of faithful service to the community the future of the beloved pool is on the line.

Built by the community for the school in 1956, thousands of students have used the pool over the years.

From theunique teaching methods of Mrs Wright in the 70’s and 80’s, learning to float and creating fun whirlpools with their classmates, the pool has been central to teaching water safety skills for generations of Wainuiomatians, including three of Principal Allison Burdon’s wh nau.

“I learned to swim myself in that pool, and so did my own children and now my grandson Wolf enjoys it. It’s a great asset to the school and we don’t want to lose it,” Ms Burdon says.

“I like swimming with my class when it’s hot,” says current student, five-year-old Taylor-Rae Haupapa. Despite ongoing repairs and maintenance efforts, the pool is showing its age and requires a full overhaul to ensure that students can continue to use it.

Unfortunately, the last two years has seen further deterioration and new inspections have revealed that the pool needs even more work to restore it to its glory.

Wainuiomata Primary School’s Board of Trustees has been advised to expect new costings to be between $250,000 to $300,000 and given the current pressures on the building supply markets this could rise further.

All schools are required to ensure students can learn water safety skills under the New Zealand Curriculum, but funding specifically for pool maintenance is not covered by the Ministry of Education. Instead, funds for bringing the war team event and a relay race. Sponsored by K kiri Marae, the Waka Wars will be a fun filled day with laughs games and activities for all improving our connection to our Whakapapa. People will need to register for the competitions, and can do this by visiting the Woa Waka Wars Facebook page.

More information about the event is also on the Facebook page.

Two Wainuiomata batsmen had double figure scores, with Waqar ali Ahmed making 26 and Tanuj Ahuja 14. In reply Onslow reached 131 for the loss of five wickets at stumps on day one. Onslow finished the day looking very likely to at least take first innings points from the match. Facing a deficit of 44 as they go into day two, which will be played on 11 March, Wainuiomata will need to do something special to emerge from the encounter with a draw. The team has done it before this season, however. In their match against PetoneRiverside on 21 and 22 January, Wainuiomata trailed by 57 runs after both teams had completed their first innings. However, they upped their performance with both the bat and the ball in the second innings and went on to win by 65 runs.

Arakura fun day

pool back up to standard would mean diverting critical funds away from other areas of the school budget which is completely unachievable.

Despite exhaustive searches for grants, Wainuiomata Primary School has not been able to secure the funding required to guarantee the pool’s future. Without funds, the pool will be closed, a sad end to the pool’s long and colourful history.

“This is not a decision we take lightly,” Ms Burdon says.

“We are looking at all options to try and help us bring the pool into modern times. One thing we are looking at is making our pool sustainable, with solar panels and other things. We’ve even thought about starting a Go Fund Me to help raise funds”.

Anyone with funding ideas is welcome to contact Allison Burdon atprincipal@wainuiomata.school.nzor 939 8677.

The second in a planned series of free community barbecue and fun days will be held at Arakura Park from noon to 2pm on Sunday 19 March. This follows the hugely successful day held by Love Wainuiomata at Ngaturi Park on Waitangi Day, 4 February.

That event was so successful that Love Wainuiomata is now planning to hold monthly wh nau days at parks around the valley. As well as the free sausage sizzle there will be fresh water, sack races, fun activity play and plenty of toys for young tamariki.