10 December Wainuiomata News

Wednesday December 10, 2025

Top award

By Frank Neill

Reihana Te Rauna was presented Wainuiomata High School’s most prestigious award, the Janette Melrose Rangatiratanga Award, at the school’s prizegiving on Monday 8 December. This award is presented for overall excellence. It honours a student who truly embodies Rangatiratanga – the full vision of knowing who they are, knows their potential ad are ready to contribute. It is presented to a student who displays a confident sense of identity and cultural grounds, achieves both academic and personal excellences and leads with humility, service and courage.

Continued on page 2.

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The living expression of Rangatiratanga

Continued from page 1

Reihana (Te Aitanga-a-M naki, Ngati Porou) “is the living expression of our vision for Rangatiratanga,” his award citiation said.

“He know himself deeply and carries mana in a quiet, powerful and authentic way.

“He has contributed throughout his entire time at kura, not for recognition but because it is the right thing to do.

“He steps up when called and, just as importantly, he shows up for others, not always out front, but often through silent and steady support.

“His leadership is humble, his actions thoughtul and kind.

“His achievements speak for themselves: excelling academically, completing Level 3 UE and a diploma with Te W nanga o Taukawa, while representing his kura regionally, nationally and internationally in KĪ O Rahi and Kapa Haka.

“As Kaiti taki T ne, senior house leader, and kai rahi he leads with service and courage.

“He inspires others to grow, reminding us that true excellence is not only about achievement but also about lifting others and living with integrity.

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“He shows what it means to become the best version of oneself for the benefit of the community,” Reihana’s citation said.

As well as being presented the Janette Melrose Rangatiratanga Award, Reihana was presented the award for excellence in sport.

The 2025 Wainuiomata High School Dux is Ira Tolentino.

The Dux Litterarum is the school’s top academic honour.

Ira embodies “all of the associated qualities of the award,” her citation said.

“She has consistently demonstrated resil-

ience and self determination in everything she does, accepting the challenges offered and working hard to achieve her best in every way.

“She has not only excelled personally but has inspired others though her example.

“Ira has attained outstanding academic success while remaining humble and consistently displaying our value of Manaakitanga.

“She is grateful for every experience she has had here at Wainuiomata High School and has a very proud Mama Bear Manaaki teacher in Whaea Hazel,” Ira’s citation said.

Liam Westby is the school’s 2025 Proxime Accessit (runner up to the Dux).

Many awards were presented to students

at the prize giving. These included the following: excellence in the arts. award for excellence in culture. 11 academic excellence. academic excellence. year 11 personal excellence.

Ngati Kuia) won the award for year 12 personal excellence. 13 personal excellence.

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New Community Board Chair

By Frank Neill

Lesa Bingley was elected Chair of the Wainuiomata Community Board and Vatau Sagaga was elected Deputy Chair at the new board’s inaugural meeting on 4 December.

Lesa served as the board’s Deputy Chair during the last triennium, her first as a board member, while Vatau was newly elected to the board this year.

Lesa first stood for the community board because she “wanted to play a positive part in this beautiful community we are raising our families in,” she says.

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 of her time on the community board.

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 to connect with those around her.

“I knew we had fantastic neighbours, and I wanted to connect with more people,” she says. Vatau has studied law at university and he brings both legal experience and governance experience.

He has also successfuly organised sporting events in Wainuiomata – events which were very popular and meant people did not have to travel over the hill to compete.

This lead to Vatau receiving a major national award on 7 April this year.

Vatau was named a Bunnings Home Ground Hero.

This award recognised the “incredible impact for Wainuiomata tamariki and their parents” on the free touch competitions Vatau organised that were run by Ulalei Wainuiomata at Frederick Wise Park on Friday nights.

“To the Wainuiomata Community Board, thank you for your upcoming service and for the way you represent your community,” Mayor Ken Laban said in his address to the inaugural meeting of the board.

The Deputy Mayor, Cr Keri Brown, read Mayor Laban’s address in his absence.

“You know your people,” the Mayor’s speech said.

“You know the challenges and the opportunities.

“I look forward to working alongside you as partners over the next three years.

“Together we can build a city where every family has the opportunity to thrive – a city grounded in unity, partnership and local pride,” the Mayor said.

“Our communities across the Hutt are diverse and proud.

“Wainuiomata is no exception. This place has a strong spirit, tight connections and people who care deeply about their neighbourhoods.

“A few weeks ago, we came together for our inauguration. It was a meaningful moment and a reminder of the responsibility we all carry.

“Also, our Councillors held a two-day hui to set our intentions for the term.

“We centred our work on the values of Rangatira, Manaaki, Kaitiaki and Wh nau – steady leadership, care for our people, responsibility for future generations, strong relationships that hold our city together.

“These values will guide how we work with one another and how we work with you.

“They call us to listen well, prepare well and lead with humility.

“A big focus for us this term is getting the basics right.

“Residents want practical action and value for money.

“They want a council that listens. That is the commitment I bring to every table, including yours,” the Mayor said.

Pool party

A free pool party will be held at the Wainuiomata Summer Swimming Pool on Saturday 13 December.

The party, which will include free hydroslide rides, will run from 6pm to 8pm and is being held to celebrate the Christmas festive season.

Love Wainuiomata will be serving a free sausage sizzle.

Prizes will also be handed out at the party.

Christmas fun

Ulalei launches free swimming lessons

Ulalei Wainuiomata Sport has taken another bold step in supporting local tamariki, launching a pilot programme that provides free swimming lessons for young M ori and Pasifika children.

The initiative is being delivered in partnership with Hutt City Council’s Swim City and is sponsored by the New Zealand Community Trust.

Ulalei say the programme is designed to tackle two pressing issues: the high drowning statistics among M ori and Pasifika adults, and the barriers of cost and accessibility that prevent many families from accessing swimming education.

The lessons are delivered at Wainuiomata Summer Pool and this also removes the travel barrier.

“We are committed to ensuring our tamaiti have access to sport,” Ulalei’s Vatau Sagaga says.

“We are grateful to Nuku Ora and New Zealand Community Trust for their support to allow us to offer these lessons in Wainuiomata for free.”

Water safety remains a significant concern in Aotearoa, with M ori and Pasifika communities

disproportionately represented in drowning statistics.

Ulalei hopes that by equipping children with swimming skills early they can help reverse this trend and foster lifelong confidence in the water.

The programme reflects Ulalei’s kaupapa of breaking down barriers to participation in sport.

By working alongside local organisations and funders, Ulalei ensures that families who might otherwise miss out can benefit from essential swimming education.

While still in its pilot stage with 70 tamaiti in the first intake, the free swimming lessons have already been welcomed by families across Wainuiomata.

Ulalei plans to monitor the impact closely, with hopes of expanding the programme in future seasons.

“If we can secure the funding then we will run this for all tamariki that need it for as long as there is the need,” Ulalei’s Mele Sagaga says.

“Swimming is such a crucial life skill that we want to do as much as we can to give our tamaiti the opportunity to learn.”

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Ulalei having impact on education

Ulalei Wainuiomata Sport has announced an exciting new initiative that will see local high school students gain valuable educational credits while giving back to their community. Through the Gateway Programme, students at Wainuiomata High School who referee at Ulalei’s primary schools soccer and touch events will now be able to earn Level 1 and Level 2 NCEA credits.

But the benefits go far beyond the classroom.

“Refereeing is more than officiating a game. It’s about building essential life skills,” says Ulalei’s Vatau Sagaga.

“Young referees will develop time management, clear communication, self-confidence, and strong people skills. “They’ll also learn how to work positively with tamariki aged 5 to 12, as well as with adult supporters, all while contributing to our community,” Vatau says.

Ulalei expressed gratitude to The Get Group and Wainuiomata High School for their support in making this kaupapa possible.

The programme has already attracted strong interest, with the first intake for Term 1, 2026 now fully subscribed. “This is about more than sport,” says Ulalei’s Katrina Barclay. “It’s about empowering our rangatahi with skills that will serve them for life after school.”

Ulalei acknowledges the support of Puku Pies and Kai, New World Lower Hutt, Pak ‘n Save Petone and the Moana Pasifika Community Programme for their support of the referees this summer.

Big win by Wainui cricketers

By Frank Neill

A century by Ryan Jackson was the highlight of Wainuiomata’s convincing victory over Johnsonville in the Wellington division two cricket competition on 6 December.

Batting first on Alex Moore Park, Wainuiomata was all out for 299.

They then bowled Johnsonville out for 124 runs.

After the early loss of Jordan Rangikauhata for six runs, Ryan was joined at the crease by Craig Foster, and the pair put on a 144 run partnership, with Craig scoring 78 runs before he was bowled.

Ryan continued on before he was out on exactly 100.

Callum Mackaness also batted well, scoring at a rapid rate and notching up 41 runs from the 23 deliveries he faced.

Gurpreet Singh bowled outstandingly, taking four wickets for 22

Ryan Jackson, who scored a century in Wainuiomata’s win over Johnsonville on 6 December. runs, while James Riley took three wickets for 27 runs.

Logan Stoupe chimed in with two

wickets for 28 runs and Roshan Sugathan took one wicket for 22 runs.

The Wainuiomata men’s next match is against North City at Bryan Heath Park on 13 December, starting at 10:30am.

The Wainuiomata Design and Build women’s team continued their winning ways with a comfortable victory over Upper Hutt United on 6 December.

Batting first on Richard Prouse Park, Upper Hutt reached 125 for six wickets on their 20 overs.

Wainuiomata took just 15 overs and two balls to overtake the visitors when they scored 126 for the loss of four wickets.

Saturday’s win saw Wainuiomata remain as the only unbeaten team in the Wellington division one competition.

Matie Whitman took two wickets for 15 runs and Jacey Morgan took one wicket for 23 runs.

Matie then starred with the bat, scoring a half century before she retired on 50 not out.

Marina McCarthy also batted well, scoring 23 runs.

Wainuiomata Design and Build’s next match is against City Suburbs Wild Lionesses at Bryan Heath Park on Sunday 14 December, starting at 2pm.

The Wainuiomata Life Direct women’s team was comfortably beaten by Naenae Old Boys in the division three competition on 6 December.

Batting first on Bryan Heath Park, Wainuiomata scored 56 for the loss of eight wickets.

Naenae did not lose a wicket in reaching 57, taking just 10 overs and 2 balls.

Wainuiomata Life Direct’s next match is against Petone Riverside at Bryan Heath Park on 14 December, starting at 2pm.

Friday nights transformed by Ulalei Touch

Friday evenings at Wise Park have taken on a whole new energy thanks to Ulalei Wainuiomata Sport’s primary school touch module.

What was once a quiet end to the week has become a vibrant community gathering, with families, food trucks and tamariki filling the park with laughter, competition and kai.

“Everyone looks forward to Friday nights at Wise Park now,” says Ulalei’s Jacob Topp, reflecting on the growing popularity of the event.

“You can watch your tamariki play, grab some good kai and walk home.”

The module has expanded rapidly, boasting 53 teams this term.

Among them are composite teams made up of tamariki who live in Wainuiomata but attend schools outside the

valley, ensuring that no child misses out on the fun.

Fernlea School’s Christine Pover praised the initiative.

“The atmosphere is just amazing,” she says.

“To have something so close to home and free is just amazing, and we have more students involved in sport than ever before.”

The success of the module has been made possible through generous support from Nuku Ora, Hutt City Council, One Foundation, Bunnings Warehouse, and Hutt Mana Charitable Trust.

Their contributions have ensured the competition remains free of charge, removing barriers for families and encouraging widespread participation.

Round 1 of Term 1 is set to kick off on Friday 20 March 2026.

This very unusual photo of a duck was taken by Fred Carrick recently. It is unusual because ducks are not a perching bird. Yet here the duck is perched on the top of a house at the bottom end of Wellington Road. Fred took the photo to capture this very unusual event.

of ‘Zenith’ (5)

Desert(7)

Subject of speech (5) 14. Recounted(8)

Pertaining to small planets(10)

Fuss(3)

Friend(4)

Makes use of (7)

Chaotic din (6) 26. Exploit unfairly (3) 28. Muscle (5) 29. Influences (7) 32. Male singing voice (5) 33. Charged atom (3) 34.& 45 DOWN.Beyond comparison (3,3,4)

35. Snow runner (3)

36. Strong cotton drill (5)

37. Put into office (7)

38.Female egg-producing organ (5)

39. Daughter’s husband, -in-law (3)

41. Farmyard(6)

42. Most simple(7)

44. Mother(archaic) (4)

47. Outlawed Irish army(abbr) (3)

49. Not creative(10)

51. Raw(8)

55. Deem worthy(5)

56. Make cheerful(7)

57. Bestow(5)

58. Repeat again(9)

59. Cloister(9) DOWN

1. Source of good fortune (7)

2. Supplementary clause (5)

3. Incursion (6)

4. Proverb (5)

5. Type of cheese (4) 6. Humility (7) 7. Offer (6)

8. Foreword (12)

Swift (5)

Mark Twain character , Finn (11) 15. Marine fish (3)

Conforms, the line (4)

Feigns (6)

Novice (7)

Miserly person(coll) (6)

Wainui academy launches

first photo award

Wainuiomata-based Art of Seeing Academy is launching thefirst Young Photographer Award in New Zealand this month.

The launch will take place at the Little Theatre, Lower Hutt, on 11 December.

As well as launching the Young Photographer Award, the young photographers will also receive their awards.

The event is the first of its kind in New Zealand and highlights a growing interest in photography among tamariki and rangatahi.

Over the past year the Art of Seeing Academy has delivered more than 80 workshops, with over 180 young people taking part. Many had never held a camera before.

These have included a weekly workshop at Arakura School, as well as five weekend workshops in Wainuiomata Park.

Founder of the Art of Seeing Academy Ana Lyubich says the results of the workshops have been remarkable.

“We’ve seen kids who were shy, overwhelmed or unsure of themselves suddenly light up when they look through a camera,” Ana says.

“Photography helps them slow down, focus and express ideas they sometimes can’t put into words.”

The workshops are fully inclusive and support neurodiverse youth and those who may need extra learning help.

“A camera becomes a bridge,” Ana says. “It gives kids a way to explore, communicate and feel proud of what they create.”

The Young Photographer Award takes a different approach to most awards.

It is not a competition, and there are no single “winners”.

“Creativity isn’t a race,” Ana says.

“We don’t want kids comparing themselves or trying to outdo each other.

“What matters is how far they have come, the confidence they’ve built and what they’ve discovered about themselves.”

Each young photographer will be recognised for their effort, growth and unique way of seeing the world.

The launch evening will feature a large display of students’ photographs as well as four guest speakers:

and NZ Police photography instructor.

The 11 December launch is free and is open to families, friends, photographers and the wider community.

This year marks the first Young Photographer Award, which will become an annual celebration of local talent.

The Art of Seeing Academy also plans to expand the awards to regions beyond Wellington

Aotearoa.

“This is just the beginning,” Ana says.

“There is so much talent in our communities.

“Our goal is to encourage more kids to pick up

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Limited notification of clean fill criticised

By Frank Neill

Presentations on the proposed clean fill

comment” section of the 4 December Wainuiomata Community Board meeting.

Four residents made presentations on the clean fill application – David Smith, Chris

Just before they made their presentations the Community Board Chair, Lesa Bingley told the meeting that the “Community Board does not have a role in this process.

“The resource consent application is subject to the statutory process under the

“Neither the Community Board nor the Council can change this decision,” Lesa said, referring the decision that the application would be notified to nine residents.

The resource consent application would be heard by an independent commissioner, she added.

David Smith told the meeting he had complained to the Ombudsman about the decision to limit submissions on the proposal to just nine people.

“My complaint is that the council officers erred in making it a limited notification,” he said.

“A lot of people are affected.”

The decision to make it a limited notification “just astounds me,” David added.

What he would like the Community Board to do, he said, is “call a special meeting so people can air their views.

“I think you owe it to the people of Wainuiomata to have their say, even if it doesn’t go any futher, and get it out of their system, because it is getting quite heated.

“I would like the Council to hold off [progressing the application] if you can until my complaint with the Ombudsman is heard and other complaints are heard.”

Chris Foley told the meeting he was one of the residents affected by the clean fill

proposal.

“The road is eroding,” he said, and with the clean fill there would be trucks going down the road.

“Are there any plans for Hutt City Council to repair the road, put in traffic signs and control traffic speeds?”

“Only nine residents have been classified as affected parties and they were the only ones that can write a submission,” Damo Hoffman told the meeting.

“There have been many more people who would like to write a submission.

“We are frustrated ... because we have had no way to express our concerns to the Council,” Damo said, adding that most of the elected Councillors had been advised not to become involved.

“One of our main concerns is that the

road over the next 30 years, and there was a “serious safety issue for other users of the road.

“No thought has been given to the school crossings, cyclists, children waiting for the school bus or anything like that.

“There has been no attempt to accommodate these issues.”

There was also concern around flooding in the area.

The clean fill “is going to affect us ... and it is going to affect everyone around us,”

The Council talked about being open “and yet only nine people can submit,” he said.

“We elected you people to represent us.

“We feel this has been really underhanded.”

Having truck movements for six days a week “is just ridiculous for 30 years.”

past.

“It’s been really lucky that no-one has been killed or seriously injured.

the next 30 years” on what is a “very