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news • business • opinion • sport Thursday, July 11, 2024
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By Andy Campbell
retention ponds and improving the stormwater network capacity. The other option suggested not doing much at all. One submitter thanked the council for the improvement works done so far as they believed a difference had been made already. “Wingwalls” have been installed to catch more water that comes down open drains. Catch pits have been added. In some places single catchpits have been expanded to double catch pits. A stormwater pipeline project on Carrol Street and the grouting of the old pipeline under the railway tracks were completed in April. The project involved re-routing stormwater flow, which was initially going under the railway line, into the 1800mm main from PlaceMakers, and later discharging
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A flood of money Almost $7 million will be invested over the next five years to prevent repeats of flooding which struck Te Kūiti twice last year. In January 2023 a total of 200mm of rain fell in one day. In October one day saw 45mm dumped on the town. Waitomo District Council has now adopted proposed remedies supported in the long term plan submissions which require $6.7 million over five years. The council is reviewing cost estimates for stormwater modelling in Te Kuiti before finalising a contract to be awarded in the 2024/25 financial year. Of two options presented for discussion in the long term plan, community support was for stormwater modelling, building
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The fire service pumps water off a Duke Street section following last October’s flooding in Te Kūiti.
New mural for aquatic centre By Paul Charman
A renowned contemporary artist was in Te Kūiti last week working with a group of young people on a giant mural at the Waitomo Aquatic Centre. Graeme Hoete (Mr G), who is based in Tauranga, is part of a team which has worked with youngsters to paint murals in 12 New Zealand towns over the past three years. “It’s all about working with youngsters from our smaller communities throughout the country. They paint murals which have messages of hope, within the context of local story,” Hoete said.
“We have a passion for young people whose early years are spent in our smalltown environments. I was bought up in Kawerau so understand what life is like living in one of these. “With my art career I have done stuff right around world now so I’m just trying to share my story with these young artists, hopefully to inspire them.” Te Kūiti had popped up when plans were being made and towns suggested at the beginning of the project, “So, we engaged with Ngāti Maniapoto and the opportunity to paint a mural at the Aquatic Centre flowed from that.” Hoete said the process had involved
learning a lot about local history and stories, which led on to the choice of a subject for the mural. “The basis of this design is kawau mārō, which is the battle formation of Ngāti Maniapoto, a vee-shape based upon the shag in flight. “The meaning behind it could be described in a phrase like, ‘together we can all move forward’. “This has the connotation of unity and persevering in tough times so that we can win our battles. This is the key aspect of the design.” Following two days of painting the mural the work was dedicated at a Rhyvah Kukutahi and Tamorangi Clayton-Lake prepare to fill in some ceremony on Friday afternoon. fine details on the mural. Photo: Paul Charman
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