Matiu/Somes Island, Lower Hutt

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1475 days ago

Rising youth crime and gang violence, a problem in Wainuiomata

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Concerns about the rise of youth crime, gang violence and lack of police visibility were aired at a public meeting in Wainuiomata on Monday night.
About 65 members of the community gathered for an open forum-style meeting at the Louise Bilderbeck Hall.
Senior sergeant Brad Allen said gangs offered … View more
Concerns about the rise of youth crime, gang violence and lack of police visibility were aired at a public meeting in Wainuiomata on Monday night.
About 65 members of the community gathered for an open forum-style meeting at the Louise Bilderbeck Hall.
Senior sergeant Brad Allen said gangs offered youth money, kudos and power.
“It’s not just an issue that’s going to be solved at this meeting, it’s a long-term thing,” Allen said, referring to a lack of activities for youth in the area.
Wainuiomata Trail Park president Dirk Skagen said there had been a number of recent incidents “endangering the safety of park users”.
When people approached the police or council previously, they did not respond with urgency, he said.

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1474 days ago

Way Back Wednesday

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

This should not be too hard this week.
Where is this and why are they are marching?

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1474 days ago

A warm welcome to our Alaskan godwits

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Hi Neighbourly folk it is not Feathered Friend Friday but when I saw this post from Lower Hutt photographer Louise Thomas, I thought it was too good not to use.
Read what she had to say about her godwit/kuaka pictures.

"Sometimes the most extraordinary birds come in the plainest of packaging,… View more
Hi Neighbourly folk it is not Feathered Friend Friday but when I saw this post from Lower Hutt photographer Louise Thomas, I thought it was too good not to use.
Read what she had to say about her godwit/kuaka pictures.

"Sometimes the most extraordinary birds come in the plainest of packaging, and so it is for the bar-tailed godwit/kuaka (Limosa lapponica). Their plain packaging is of course a perfect camouflage - with variegated shades of brown echoing the ripples of mud and sand where they feed.
Seen here foraging on a mud flat at the Waikanae River estuary, they shove their long beaks into the muddy sand and pull up rubbery bits of Godwit-knows-what which they gulp with gusto – not surprising as they are probably absolutely famished.
These migratory birds begin arriving in New Zealand from early September, after an extraordinary often non-stop eight to nine-day 11,000-12,000 km flight from western Alaska.
We are also lucky enough to get the occasional bird on Petone Beach and around the Hutt Estuary, but I was thrilled to see eight in non-breeding plumage congregated on the mud at Waikanae."

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1474 days ago

Whitby Collegiate Information Evening at Kāpiti Community Centre

Whitby Collegiate Limited

Come along to our Information Evening at the Kāpiti Community Centre on Thursday 12 November from 6:30 - 7:30pm.

Whitby Collegiate is Wellington’s first progressive, independent, co-educational school for Years 7-13. We believe in small classes, big thinking, individual attention and … View more
Come along to our Information Evening at the Kāpiti Community Centre on Thursday 12 November from 6:30 - 7:30pm.

Whitby Collegiate is Wellington’s first progressive, independent, co-educational school for Years 7-13. We believe in small classes, big thinking, individual attention and collective responsibility - all focused on helping children be the very best that they can be, in every aspect of their lives.

Register online or call us on 04 234 1070.
Register now

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1475 days ago

Access to popular Tararua tramping areas closed

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Trampers wanting to access popular huts in the northern Tararuas (including Kime Hut, pictured) are likely to face access problems for sometime.
The section of Ōtaki Gorge Road known as Blue Bluff remains unstable and is likely to remain closed for the peak summer period.
As well as a camping … View more
Trampers wanting to access popular huts in the northern Tararuas (including Kime Hut, pictured) are likely to face access problems for sometime.
The section of Ōtaki Gorge Road known as Blue Bluff remains unstable and is likely to remain closed for the peak summer period.
As well as a camping ground, it is also a major entrance point for trampers and hunters accessing the Tararua Forest Park.
The slip, 12km in from SH1, is a major one. Kāpiti Coast District Council Access and Transport Manager Glen O’Connor says expert geotechnical advice is that further slipping could occur at any time, and may be extensive.
Engineers are waiting for the slip to move before deciding what the best long term solution is.
The Department of Conservation is working to find alternative public access to the huts and walks in the forest park and is expected to have options for trampers by summers.

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1475 days ago

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To find out what’s available, visit our website. Or, you can download and check … View more
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1478 days ago

Minimum wage, no help and on the ladder at 25: here's how they did it

Kylie Klein Nixon Reporter from Homed

I loved talking to Courtney Mason about how she and her husband ben bought their first home. It really offers a lot of hope for folks who might be looking at the property market and wondering what on earth is happening out there these days.
Courtney and Ben were tenacious and bold, and now … View more
I loved talking to Courtney Mason about how she and her husband ben bought their first home. It really offers a lot of hope for folks who might be looking at the property market and wondering what on earth is happening out there these days.
Courtney and Ben were tenacious and bold, and now they're living happily in their Hawke's Bay home.
Have a read and see how they did it, and while you're at it have a listen to our third episode of First Rung, the podcast for first home buyers for a little more inspiration.

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1487 days ago

Poll: Should Aayla be allowed to play?

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

A team of keen young Petone rugby league players will forfeit their points and risk disqualifying themselves in an upcoming tournament because one of their star players is banned.
The reason? She’s a girl. Aayla Toman, 13, has been told she’s not allowed to play in the u13 boys’ grade in … View more
A team of keen young Petone rugby league players will forfeit their points and risk disqualifying themselves in an upcoming tournament because one of their star players is banned.
The reason? She’s a girl. Aayla Toman, 13, has been told she’s not allowed to play in the u13 boys’ grade in Wellington’s Pacific Youth Cup because of her gender – something that led her club team, the u13 Petone Panthers, to play her ‘illegally’ all season.
New Zealand Rugby League rules state the maximum age for males and females to play in mixed gender full contact rugby league is 12 years of age.

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Should Aayla be allowed to play?
  • 76% Yes
    76% Complete
  • 24% No
    24% Complete
1144 votes
1477 days ago

Did your family celebrate Halloween this year?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We saw some friendly ghosts and even some costumed pooches this year! We'd love for you to spread the joy further than your backyard by sharing a snap from your Halloween festivities below 🎃

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1476 days ago

Does anyone remember Ron Deal?

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Hu Neighbourly folk, is there anyone who remembers Ron Deal.
The city council recently opened Ron Deal Way in Epuni – where the Central Park on Copeland development is.
Mrs Gloria Deal (Ron’s wife) was invited to unveil the new street sign.
Ron Deal began his career collecting rates on a … View more
Hu Neighbourly folk, is there anyone who remembers Ron Deal.
The city council recently opened Ron Deal Way in Epuni – where the Central Park on Copeland development is.
Mrs Gloria Deal (Ron’s wife) was invited to unveil the new street sign.
Ron Deal began his career collecting rates on a bicycle before rising through the Hutt City Council ranks and being appointed Deputy Town Clerk, Town Clerk and Chief Executive.
He was always passionate about Lower Hutt and was especially proud of the work he did on Riddiford Garden and the roads around it.

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1476 days ago

Yang Gan and Julia Chu finally have somewhere to call home

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

First-home buyers Yang Gan and Julia Chu couldn’t be more excited to have finally found their first home.
The Lower Hutt couple have been looking for somewhere to buy for two years.
They have purchased a property in Central on Copeland, a project being driven by the Hutt City councils property … View more
First-home buyers Yang Gan and Julia Chu couldn’t be more excited to have finally found their first home.
The Lower Hutt couple have been looking for somewhere to buy for two years.
They have purchased a property in Central on Copeland, a project being driven by the Hutt City councils property company Urban Plus Ltd.
The new homes are in a medium-density development of 34 two-storey townhouses, due to be completed in the upcoming months. Ten of the homes were released to market at $550,000, making home ownership a possibility to buyers who had previously been shut out of the property market.

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1476 days ago

Monday Sport Blast From The Past

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

When Toni Jeffs retired from competitive swimming in 2007, a Stuff journalist boldly predicted she would not be forgotten.
"So, while Jeffs will be left watching the Commonwealth Games team from her living room this year, there is little doubt one of New Zealand swimming's most colourful … View more
When Toni Jeffs retired from competitive swimming in 2007, a Stuff journalist boldly predicted she would not be forgotten.
"So, while Jeffs will be left watching the Commonwealth Games team from her living room this year, there is little doubt one of New Zealand swimming's most colourful characters will not be forgotten from sporting history."
Never one to shy away from controversy, Jeffs was arguably best known for being sponsored by a strip club at the Barcelona Olympics.
Jeffs won two Commonwealth bronze medals and was 27th at the Olympics.
At a time when many top swimmers stopped competing in their early 20s, Jeffs was notable for her long career in the pool.
In 2003 Jeffs won a legal battle against the New Zealand Olympic Committee, who admitted a selection blunder had cost her a place in the Olympic team.
The year before, at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, she regained her New Zealand title and won bronze in the 50m freestyle.
In 2007, she hinted that she would take up Masters swimming and refused to rule out a comeback. At that time, she was living on a lifestyle block in the Wairarapa.
Despite the prediction that she would not be forgotten, she has been out of the limelight in the years since.

1476 days ago

Aayla disappointed to be left out

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

A poll on Neighbourly was overwhelmingly in favour of Aayla Toman playing in the Pacific Youth Cup in Wainuiomata over the weekend.
Nearly 1200 people took part in our pool and 76 per cent were in favour of her playing.
Unfortunately, doing the haka with her team-mates was as close as she got to … View more
A poll on Neighbourly was overwhelmingly in favour of Aayla Toman playing in the Pacific Youth Cup in Wainuiomata over the weekend.
Nearly 1200 people took part in our pool and 76 per cent were in favour of her playing.
Unfortunately, doing the haka with her team-mates was as close as she got to the action.
Aayla, 13, had hoped to take the field for the Te Whanganui-a-Tara U13s at the Pacific Youth Cup in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, on Saturday, but was told the referee would not allow the game to start if she played.
Standing on the sideline during her team’s first match against Samoa Wellington, Aayla said she had been overcome with emotion before the match, but doing the haka had made her feel better.

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1481 days ago

Beware...some adorable ghosts may be haunting your streets.

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Halloween can be a fun way to connect with your community. But naturally not all homes in New Zealand will get involved.
If your house is open to trick or treaters this weekend, or if you know of some popular, local streets for trick or treating, please share these below.

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1481 days ago

Way Back Wednesday

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Hey Neighbourly folk, can you work out who this is and where the picture was taken. The only hint I will give is that it was 1909.

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