By Frank Neill
Wainuiomata Cricketers Ryan Jackson and Thomas Parima featured at Cricket Wellington’s community awards presentation on 9 April. Ryan won one of the top awards presented. Continued on page 2.
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Continued from page 1
Ryan won the top men’s award when he was named the Men’s Senior Club Cricketer of the Year.
He also won the award for most premier wickets, tied with Mac Kennerly. Ryan and Mac each took 46 wickets during the 2025-26 season.
Thomas won the award for the highest premier men’s score.
Playing in his debut, Thomas scored a double century, finishing with 201 in Wainuiomata’s match against Wellington Collegians on 7 March.
Thomas scored his runs in very rapid fashion. He faced just 106 deliveries, recording a very impressive strike rate of 189.62.
Although Tom was playing his debut for Wainuiomata, he is not new to Cricket.
In fact he has played internationally – for the Cook Islands as an allrounder with both the bat and as a right-arm medium-fast bowler.
Both Ryan and Thomas also featured at the Wainuiomata Cricket Club’s awards prizegiving on 28 March.
Ryan, who scored 531 runs and took 46 wickets during the 2025-26 season, was presented the Player of the Year award.
He also won the trophy for the most wickets and as the two-day allrounder.
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Tom Parima was awarded the trophy for the Most Outstanding Performance of the season – the 201 runs he scored on 7 March.
The three Cricket Wellington awards came following an outstanding season for the Wainuiomata Cricket Club.
“This is probably the best summer we have ever had,” club stalwart Craig Foster said at the club’s prizegiving.
The ladies team winning back to back championships “was amazing,” he said. It was a “true testament” to the spirit of
Wainuiomata’s second team that they also took out their grade – winning the premier reserve 2 championship. In addition, the premier team finished sec-
ond in the Wellington Premier 2 competition.
“I have been here for a long time and this is definitely our most successful season,” Craig said.
Pukeatua Primary School is celebrating the installation of brand new basketball hoops.
The hoops have been erected thanks to the Chemist Warehouse Hoops in Schools programme delivered by Basketball New Zealand in partnership with funders, local basketball associations and community providers.
The initiative aims to place more fit for purpose hoops in schools so young people can be active, confident and have fun playing basketball in their own communities.
Basketball NZ and Capital Basketball work together to identify schools most in need of upgraded facilities.
It was Capital Basketball’s strong relationship with Ulalei Wainuiomata Sport that helped bring the new hoops to Pukeatua.
“When I was contacted by General Manager Damien Ekenasio about which school might benefit, I immediately thought of Pukeatua and their late principal, Topsy Remuera,” says Ulalei’s Vatau Sagaga.
“She was a huge supporter of what we do
at Ulalei, and Pukeatua was also one of the schools that couldn’t send touch teams to Hutt Park. This felt like the perfect place for the hoops to go.”
Principal Kerry Lewis was thrilled with the installation, saying: “We are so lucky to have such hardworking, committed individuals and groups who care about the betterment of our tamariki/mokopuna and their wh nau.
“Our tamariki/mokopuna will absolutely love the new basketball hoops.”
Ameliaranne Ekenasio added: “Capital Basketball has been running our Hoops in Parks/Schools project with Basketball NZ for the past three years.
“During that time, a number of schools and parks across the Greater Wellington region have received new hoops, free community activations and inschool programmes – all aimed at creating more opportunities for people to stay active.”
Schools interested in applying for the Chemist Warehouse Hoops in Schools programme can do so via the Basketball New Zealand website.
By Frank Neill
Wainuiomata boxer Raymond Seumanu
has won his weight category in a major international competition, the 2026 King of the Ring.
Raymond won in style, defeating the reigning New Zealand 70kg champion Wendell Stanley in the 70kg final on 12 April.
Raymond went into the match as underdog as the last time the two met Wendell was the winner.
That came at the 2025 New Zealand National Boxing Championships when the two met in the final, with Raymond losing the match but winning the silver medal.
The 2026 King of the Ring was held at the Bernie Millane Sports Complex in Kellyville, New South Wales from 9 to 12 April.
It attracted around 700 competitors, who came from around the world to compete.
Raymond was scheduled to box in five matches, but his opponent in the first match withdrew, giving him a walkover victory.
He then won points decisions in his next three matches before defeating Wendell in the final.
His victory is the more meritorious as Wendell is much taller than Raymond and has also won five New Zealand titles and secured the prized Jameson Belt, awarded to the most scientific senior boxer, in 2023.
Raymond’s latest success sees him continue
his march towards possible selection in New Zealand’s Commonwealth Games team, which began when Boxing New Zealand selected him in the Commonwealth Games training squad, announced in December.
Raymond boxes for the Wainuiomata Boxing Club and the club is now fundraising for Raymond’s Commonwealth Games bid,
which is costing a lot of money
Any donation, no matter how small, would be appreciated, and people can organise making a donation by contacting Craig Bennett on 027 453 8923.
Any local businesses that would like to assist Raymond with his fundraising are also welcome to contact Craig.
Nominations for the 2026 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards are now open. They will close on 31 May.
These awards are made to celebrate volunteers for their vlauable contribution to society and to recognise the work carried out by community groups in the wider Wellington region.
Nominations can be made by visiting www. wellingtonairport.co.nz/community-hub/community-awards/community-awards/.
Arohanui Strings+, which runs a music group in Wainuiomata, was a Lower Hutt winner at the 2025 Wellington Airport Community Awards.
Arohanui Strings+ was presented the Art and Culture Award at the awards ceremony at the Lower Hutt Town Hall on 7 August.
Arohanui Strings+ is an early intervention music education programme for children aged between six and 18. A Sistema-inspired programme, it teaches strings, brass and woodwind.
The next meeting of the Wainuiomata Community Board is tomorrow, 16 April.
The board will meet at the Wainuiomata Community Hub and the meeting starts at 6:30pm.
Following the opening there will time for public comment. Any community member can speak for up to three minutes during this time.
There will then be a presentation by Greater Wellington Regional Councillors Gabriel Tupou and Quentin Duthie.
Following that the board will consider the report by Hutt City Council’s Democracy Advisor Vanessa Gilmour.
Among a series of items in the report, Ms Gilmour notes that Hutt City Council is currently consulting on its Annual Plan.
“The objectives of this engagement are to test community sentiment on Council’s current direction, strengthen relationships with the community ahead of the next Long-Term Plan consultation, and gather early insights into community expectations to help inform future decision-making and engagement,” the report says.
The engagement will be taking place until 1 May.
MP for Hutt South
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23 Rowe Parade, Wainuiomata
Phone: 939 1502
mike@parklandsmotel.co.nz www.parklandsmotel.co.nz
Dawn Service, 6am, Wainuiomata Town Centre, Queen Street. Lower Hutt Civic Service, 9:45am, the Cenotaph, ANZAC Memorial Lawn (outside War Memorial Library), Queen’s Drive, Lower Hutt. ANZAC Parade and Service, 11:30am, Wainuiomata Town Centre, Queen Street.
Anzac Day takes place each year on April 25 and commemorates all New Zealanders killed in war, while also honouring returned servicemen and women. April 25 marks the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers, on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.
The aim was to capture the Dardanelles, the gateway to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea, however, at the end of the campaign, Gallipoli was still held by its Turkish defenders. Among those who lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign were 2779 New Zealanders, almost one in four of those who served on Gallipoli.
As always, ceremonies are held at war memorials up and down New Zealand and in places overseas where New Zealanders gather to pay tribute.
People using Metlink buses and trains can now pay their fare using a debit card, credit card, or mobile device (including smartwatches).
This new payment method was introduced on Sunday 12 April.
"Wainuiomata residents now have a no-fuss payment option to use the bus and train for adult fares,” Hutt Regional Councillor Quentin Duthie says.
"You can use your debit or credit card, app or watch to pay just like you use a Snapper card currently, but without the need to top-up.
"Fares using electronic pay-
ment will be the same as a normal adult Snapper fare, which is 20% cheaper than a cash fare.
"Only adult fares can use this method at the moment.
Children and those who get discounted fares should continue using Snapper.
"There will be 1.5% surcharge, just like there is when topping up a Snapper with credit/debit card, but it's only 5c on a $3.39 fare from Homedale Road to Waterloo Station.
"Snapper will continue to work the same way it currently does.
"At some point next year
Snapper will be replaced with a new national ticket card called Motu Move.
“That transition will be seamless for those who shift to paying by electronic payment.
"With petrol and diesel prices much higher than they were, public transport is very affordable and reduces the country's fuel consumption at a time when everyone is feeling the crunch.
"The bus and train are great options if they work for where you need to travel.
“It's lower pollution, a great way to meet people, and you don't need to worry about fuel and parking,” Cr Duthie says. Paying
By Ryan Imray
It was an action packed day at Richard Prouse Park with five of the Senior Teams hosting games in their respective competitions on 11 April.
There were two early games played simultaneously.
The first of those games saw the Undertaker’s return. After not being able to field a team in 2025 due to a lack of numbers, it was a brilliant sight seeing them able to return this year.
However it sadly wasn’t the fairytale return that they would have liked as Lower Hutt won the game 3-1.
At the same time, the Reserves hosted Victoria University. There were no goals in the first half but the second half provided four.
Cameron Gelderblom gave Wainuiomata the lead with a brilliant solo effort but Victoria University hit back immediately to level the scores.
Mackenzie Georgeson in the final minute of regular time gave Wainuiomata the lead with a stunning free kick before Flynn Mihaljevich Groves sealed it in the 95th minute, 3-1 to Wainui.
The three later games meant Richard Prouse Park was packed as the sun was beaming down.
The OC’s kick started their season in the best way possible, a 3-0 win over Eastbourne Football Club giving head coach Richard Armstrong a 100% win record in the role.
The Thirds had a tough day at the office losing 6-3 to Western Suburbs. The Thirds is a young squad with many of the players jumping from Youth Football in 2025 to Senior Football in 2026. Despite the result, they played some really nice football while also gaining valuable experience.
The third game was an absolute thriller and by far the match of the day.
The Central League 2 side were looking to get their first points of the season and Tyron Curtis put the hosts in front in just the 8th minute.
Douglas Villa turned it around, scoring three goals in 15 minutes to give them a 3-1 lead.
Tyron Curtis scored his second before Flynn McCaul got his first of the season within the space of 5 minutes to make the scores 3-3 at the halfway mark.
Wainuiomata came out firing in the second half and just three minutes in Flynn got his second goal of the game with a strike from the edge of the box.
A physical game took a turn in the 54th minute when Douglas Villa had a man sent off for an elbow to the face.
With a man advantage, Wainuiomata pushed looking for their fifth goal to seal the game but Douglas Villa found themselves level when they were awarded a penalty.
With two minutes left on the clock, Wainuiomata found the winner when two of the substitutes combined.
Ryan McGarry’s free kick found Ollie Burton free at the back post who headed home to give Wainuiomata a 5-4 win.
Elsewhere, the two Pasifika teams also started their season.
Pasifika Originals in Masters 3 had an emphatic 6-3 win over Kapiti Coast United. Pasifika Old Boys in the Over45 division edged a 7 goal thriller, beating Wellington Marist 4-3.
By Moana Kumar
Wainuiomata’s Premier Women made a powerful statement to open their Rugby season, securing an impressive 39–5 win over Paremata Plimmerton on 11 April.
Led by captain Zoe Clark and vice-captains Croshanlei Skipper-Lepou and Pasikalia Tuiatua, the w hine delivered a strong all-round performance, setting the tone early and maintaining control throughout the match.
A standout feature of the day was the contribution of the club’s new talent, with seven debutants taking the field.
Taliah Mapakaitolo, TeeQueeva Ben-Tupuola, Talia Timoteo, Maia Mapakaitolo, Ella Sue, Luana McCarthy and Rangim rie Sturmey all made their mark, highlighting the depth and future of the squad. It was a particularly memorable
debut for Talia and Rangim rie, who both crossed for two tries each, while Tee-Queeva also celebrated scoring a try in her first premier appearance.
Talia and Tee-Queeva, both still in high school, were granted dispensation to play at this level and showed composure beyond their years.
The pair currently attend the New Zealand Performance Academy based at NZCIS, and their impact reflects the strength of emerging pathways in the region.
Rangim rie, who hails from taki and is part of the Hurricanes Poua wider group, has aligned with Wainuiomata Rugby Club as her allocated club while preparing for the upcoming Sky Super Rugby Aupiki competition. Her inclusion added further quality and experience to an already exciting lineup.
The result marks a strong start
to the season for Wainuiomata, with the side showing a blend of experience, youth and promising talent.
With such a performance in their opening round, the team has laid down an early marker for the competition ahead.
Elsewhere around the club, it was a mixed bag of results across the parks. The Premier 2 Men secured a strong 34–15 win over Old Boys University (OBU), while the Presidents side also impressed with a 47–27 victory over Johnsonville.
The Legacy team claimed a default win over OBU 69ers, and the Premier Men were beaten 24–10 by OBU. The day also marked a special milestone for the club, with Kade Tiatia celebrating his 100th Premier match – a proud achievement recognised by teammates, supporters, and the wider Wainuiomata community.
Tee-Queeva Ben-Tupuola in action during her premier debut. Photo: T-Paul Gale.
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The local sporting community and national sports events are enjoying the benefits of a $4 million investment upgrading sports fields across Lower Hutt.
This includes two parks in Wainuiomata – Richard Prouse Park and Frederick Wise Park.
Major improvements have been completed at Hutt Park, Richard Prouse Park, Naenae Park and the Petone Recreation Ground.
Work is now under way at Te Whiti Park and Frederick Wise Park.
The work is part of a $10 million investment in improving sports fields that was agreed as part of the current Long-Term Plan.
Lower Hutt Mayor Ken Laban says the upgrades focus on better subsoil drainage and, where needed, field levelling to reduce waterlogging and improve surface quality.
“This important work has been undertaken to increase field resilience, reduce weather-related closures, and provide safer, more consistent playing conditions.
“It will support great community partic-
ipation and more reliable use of our sports facilities.”
Mayor Laban says the upgrades also help attract major national and age-grade sporting events to the city.
“By investing in our sports fields, we are showing national sporting organisations that we are serious about hosting their events in Lower Hutt.
“Our grounds are in great shape which, when it comes to sport, is one of the most important things. No one wants to play sport on sub-standard fields.”
Sporting events like the recent Ouch NZ Championships at Fraser Park are “one of the best ways to get people to visit and stay in the city which is good for retailers, accommodation providers and the hospitality sector,” Mayor Laban says.
“It’s why I have a laser focus on attracting more events like this to Lower Hutt.”
Hutt City Council will continue investing in quality sports infrastructure to support the community and attract future events.
Greater Wellington Regional Council is calling on the Government to support Public Transport Authorities facing sharp increases in diesel prices, warning that without intervention passengers could face service cuts or rising fares.
Greater Wellington Chair Daran Ponter has written to the Ministers of Finance, Transport and Energy outlining practical steps the Government can take to support public transport use and ease cost-of-living pressures.
“March saw record patronage across the Metlink network, which shows that people are responding to higher fuel prices by choosing public transport,” Cr Ponter says.
“But despite the record numbers, we’re unable to meet the surge in diesel prices.”
Metlink estimates escalating diesel prices are costing it an additional $130,000 a week, with further increases expected.
“Without Government support, we will soon be forced to consider cutting services or hiking fares beyond increases planned in May,” Cr Ponter says.
“At a time when households are under pressure, we’re ready to work with the government on practical solutions that reduce fuel use and mitigate the inflationary costs New Zealanders are facing.”
Chair of Greater Wellington’s Public Transport Committee, Ros Connelly says with spare capacity on Metlink services, particularly off-peak, encouraging travel outside peak times is an efficient way to manage demand.
Chris Clifton in action for Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful. Photo: Supplied.
Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful’s Chris Clifton has been named Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s March Volunteer of the Month.
“Spreading the peak allows us to make better use of existing services,” Cr Connelly says.
“The Government could allow civil servants to start and finish their work days earlier or later and encourage flexibility from other employers.
“The increasing patronage shows how critical public transport is right now.
“People rely on it every day to access work, school and essential services.
Supporting public transport during a fuel crisis is a shared responsibility.”
As well as help with fuel costs and promoting off-peak travel, Greater Wellington has asked the Government to consider supporting higher discounts for off peak travel, and relaxing private share funding requirements.
“At the same time, Metlink is working hard to make public transport an attractive option, with passengers able to pay full adult fares at Snapper validators with bank cards and mobile devices,” Cr Connelly says.
“We’re also optimising the use of our electric bus, train and ferry fleets, and running a marketing campaign that promotes public transport as a way to reduce pressure on national fuel stocks.”
Metlink could defer its planned 3.1% fare increase from 15 May if government support is provided, Cr Ponter says.
“We’re not asking for free fares.
“We’re asking for practical, targeted assistance to help communities with fuel costs.”
Chris has served as a committed volunteer with Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful for the past six years, including working in Wainuiomata.
Recently, for example, he helped significantly with the Wainuiomata Coast Clean Up on 22 March, where a number of Wainuiomata volunteers also assisted.
“Chris attends almost every event, consistently assisting with both setup and breakdown,” Keep New Zealand Beautiful says.
“He often arrives an hour ahead of the
scheduled start to ensure he can begin collecting rubbish and help set the tone for the day.
“Chris generously uses his van to ferry collected bags of rubbish, as well as larger items such as car tyres and discarded whiteware to designated collection points, making a significant impact on the efficiency and success of each event.
Chris’s “dedication, reliability, and willingness to go above and beyond makes him a deserving Volunteer of the month.
“His actions exemplify community spirit and environmental stewardship, and his ongoing efforts have contributed greatly to keeping Hutt Valley beautiful.”
The rejuvenation of Ulalei Wainuiomata Sport in 2019 is now bearing fruit, with some of the club’s youngsters stepping up to serve as referees in Ulalei’s primary schools Touch module.
Back in 2019, the Ulalei club had been dormant for several years before a new generation relaunched it with a single team in the Nga Hau e Wh tag Football module at Wise Park.
That number has since grown to six teams seven seasons later in 2025–26.
Now the children who first pulled on the Ulalei shirt in 2019 are giving back to their community in a new way – by officiating games for the next wave of tamaiti.
“Tautua (service) is a big part of being Samoan, so it’s brilliant to see our young ones doing this for our Wainuiomata community,” Ulalei’s Vatau Sagaga Snr says.
Among the group are Tofaileava Ma’i and Vatau Sagaga Jnr, now Year 9 students who
began their Ulalei journey when they were pupils at St Claudine Thévenet School before moving on to Wainuiomata Intermediate. Kohdy Fatialofa is the third original who was a pupil at Gracefield School when he joined Ulalei.
“I’ve enjoyed refereeing our young ones. It’s been fun to guide them and help them learn to play the game,” Tofaileava says.
“It’s been good to use the leadership skills we gained at Wainuiomata Intermediate. I’m already looking forward to next summer,” Vatau Jnr adds.
“It’s about giving back to the club and the community. I’ve really enjoyed it,” Kohdy says.
Ulalei acknowledges the support of Puku Pies and Kai, Moana Pasifika Community Team, Pak ‘n’ Save Petone and the New Zealand Community Trust, whose backing helped kit out the referees this season.