Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt

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1465 days ago

A good day to remember William Hardham, VC

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

It is 102 years since WWI ended and Armistice Day is a good time to remember William Hardham, VC.
Hardham received his Victoria Cross in the Boer War and was the first New Zealand-born soldier to get a VC.
Born in Wellington, he was a blacksmith by trade and a well known sportsman.
He played rugby … View more
It is 102 years since WWI ended and Armistice Day is a good time to remember William Hardham, VC.
Hardham received his Victoria Cross in the Boer War and was the first New Zealand-born soldier to get a VC.
Born in Wellington, he was a blacksmith by trade and a well known sportsman.
He played rugby for Petone and 53 games for Wellington.
Hardham volunteered to serve in the Boer War and held the rank of farrier sergeant major.
On 28 January 1901, Hardham was on a patrol in the Transvaal when it was ambushed by twenty Boers. Although the patrol was able to withdraw, one man was wounded and his horse was shot from under him. Hardham rode to his aid and pulled him to safety while under heavy gunfire.
Hardham was subsequently awarded the VC by the Prince of Wales.
He subsequently had a distinguished career in WW1. Wounded at Gallipoli he returned home before returning to New Zealand. He returned to Palestine and became seriously ill with malaria.
After the war, he suffered from ill health and had numerous jobs, including working for a newspaper.
William James Hardham VC died of stomach cancer in 1928 aged 51. His funeral was attended by Prime Minister Gordon Coates and he is buried in the Karori Cemetery.
The Hardham Cup is still played for by Wellington club rugby teams.
The Petone Rugby Club has a replica VC, his club cap, a citation by the then mayor of Petone and a photo.

1467 days ago

Monday Sport Blast From The Past: Jorge Sandoval

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

This weeks, I am using a story I wrote about cycling promoter Jorge Sandoval in 2017. I hope you enjoy it.

Cyclist Jorge Sandoval has a story that deserves to be widely known.
Recently, he was honoured with a Lifetime Service Award by Cycling New Zealand.
In the nearly quarter of a century I have … View more
This weeks, I am using a story I wrote about cycling promoter Jorge Sandoval in 2017. I hope you enjoy it.

Cyclist Jorge Sandoval has a story that deserves to be widely known.
Recently, he was honoured with a Lifetime Service Award by Cycling New Zealand.
In the nearly quarter of a century I have been a journalist, I have been lucky to meet many interesting people.
But one person who will always stand out is Jorge.
I first met him when he came to the Hutt News looking for publicity for the Tour of Wellington.
Over time, I got to know him well and understand his fascinating story, including his time in a Chilean concentration camp.
Initially, he did not want to talk about when he was thrown into the camp by the Pinochet regime aged 19. He was tortured and saw many fellow prisoners die.
One of the few prisoners to survive the camp, he began a remarkable journey that would ultimately lead to Lower Hutt.
He fled to Argentina and in 1976 came to New Zealand as a refugee.
His first job was working in a Petone factory where the workers treated him as if he was "dumb" because he could not speak English.
Trying to blend in, he picked up some of the words his fellow workers used, including the F...word.
Much to his embarrassment, the Chilean ambassador had to explain its meaning.
Jorge found refuge in cycling and once he joined a club, he soon flourished and was good enough to represent New Zealand.
The lack of local events to ride in eventually annoyed him so much, he set up the Tour of Wellington. It would become an international event.
Jorge lived for cycling and what he regarded as Kiwis' indifference to the sport infuriated him.
When retailers in Lower Hutt and Petone complained about streets being closed for the Tour, he was blunt in his assessment that they were small-minded and lacked vision.
As I got to know him he opened up about his time in the concentration camp.
He was never bitter and his ability to move on was commendable.
Jorge deserves his recent recognition but at a time when some people oppose New Zealand taking refugees, he serves as a reminder as to why we should be generous as a country.
Forty-one years after starting work in a Petone factory, Jorge is a highly successful promoter. He has helped family members settle here, runs his own business and has organised more than 30 international cycling tours.
That is pretty good for a bloke who arrived in our country with nothing but a good attitude.

1465 days ago

Way Back Wednesday

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Hi Neighbourly folk, this is an easy one.
Who are these gentlemen and what is the significance of the picture?

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1466 days ago

Zumba Class at Avalon Public Hall

Andy from State of Motion - Zumba Fitness

We have a class tonight 6pm at Avalon Public Hall, 14 Maybe Road, Lower Hutt. Your first class with us is always free. If you can't make it tonight we have other classes on Saturday morning and Monday evenings at Dyer Street School Hall. Full details are on our website … View moreWe have a class tonight 6pm at Avalon Public Hall, 14 Maybe Road, Lower Hutt. Your first class with us is always free. If you can't make it tonight we have other classes on Saturday morning and Monday evenings at Dyer Street School Hall. Full details are on our website www.stateofmotion.co.nz...

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1466 days ago

Air Port Flyer stopping at Wellington

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Tranzit will be running a new Airport Flyer service starting in early 2021.
The bad news for Hutt residents is that it does not include the Hutt Valley.
Lower Hutt mayor Campbell Barry said he was also disappointed by the decision, which he called “short-sighted”.
“I will be writing to … View more
Tranzit will be running a new Airport Flyer service starting in early 2021.
The bad news for Hutt residents is that it does not include the Hutt Valley.
Lower Hutt mayor Campbell Barry said he was also disappointed by the decision, which he called “short-sighted”.
“I will be writing to Wellington Airport and their new operator to challenge this decision, and ask them to reconsider their commitment to Lower Hutt,” he said.

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1466 days ago

Have your say

The Team from Wellington Water

Now is the time to have your say on the impact of wastewater overflows on the rivers and streams in the Hutt Valley ?
We want to know what’s important to you. ?


Your input will help our work in planning for future improvements to our network.

Click below to have your say today ?

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1466 days ago

Pāuatahanui Lamb & Calf Day

Community Engagement Advisor from Greater Wellington Regional Council

Despite the bad early morning weather last Saturday we had a fantastic time meeting with members of the community at the Pāuatahanui Lamb & Calf Day.

We had conversations with over 300 people about sediment in our streams, riparian planting, wetlands, pest plants, pest animals and native … View more
Despite the bad early morning weather last Saturday we had a fantastic time meeting with members of the community at the Pāuatahanui Lamb & Calf Day.

We had conversations with over 300 people about sediment in our streams, riparian planting, wetlands, pest plants, pest animals and native planting.

Kids got to play with our catchment model to learn about sediment, streams, gullies and wetlands. We did trapping demonstrations and swapped weeds from gardens with gorgeous native plants! 🌱

1466 days ago

A reminder to help keep us all safe

The team from Hutt City Council

🏠 Stay home if you're feeling unwell.
🤳🏽 Scan the QR codes when you're out and about.
😷 Masks are recommended on public transport.
👐 Wash your hands thoroughly.

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1466 days ago

Kiwis thriving near Wellington

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

If you are heading to the Remutaka Forest Park this summer, please remember there is a population of wild kiwi.
Dogs are biggest threat to kiwi so please keep your dog on a lead.
There are about 200 kiwi in the park, some of them near Sunny Grove (Wainuiomata) and the population is growing thanks … View more
If you are heading to the Remutaka Forest Park this summer, please remember there is a population of wild kiwi.
Dogs are biggest threat to kiwi so please keep your dog on a lead.
There are about 200 kiwi in the park, some of them near Sunny Grove (Wainuiomata) and the population is growing thanks to the hard work of the Remutaka Conservation Trust.
The kiwi is our national bird and it needs your help to survive.

1469 days ago

Neighbourly Pet of the Day: Sydney

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Meet Sydney from Napier. His owner, Lisa Brownlee, says he enjoys the warmer weather.

The Pet of the Day will no longer be appearing in the Dominion Post and instead you will find it on Neighbourly every Saturday. If you want your pet featured, email us on yourpet@dompost.co.nz

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1467 days ago

Taita College Senior Prizegiving

Taita College

Taita College celebrated their Senior Prizegiving on Thursday 29 October and wish to
congratulate all the students on their wonderful success!

Our Head students for 2021 are Nikita Old, Teila Leuila and Junior Misa.

Scholarships to the value of $130,000 were awarded this year to the … View more
Taita College celebrated their Senior Prizegiving on Thursday 29 October and wish to
congratulate all the students on their wonderful success!

Our Head students for 2021 are Nikita Old, Teila Leuila and Junior Misa.

Scholarships to the value of $130,000 were awarded this year to the following students, we are very grateful to our benefactors and scholarship providers.

These scholarships are life changing and make a significant difference to our rangatahi and families.
Kayla Faitele was named Dux for 2020 and received the $1,000 Mexican Supplies
Scholarship. She was also awarded the Te Herenga Waka Scholarship worth $50,000 from Victoria University in Wellington.

Nikita Old and Mia Welsh-Duffin were both recipients of First Foundation Scholarships to the value of $22,000 each.

Deborah Yu received a $13,000 scholarship from Otago University.

Penina Sitagata was the recipient of the Victoria Tongarewa Scholarship worth $5,000.

William Bower was the recipient of the Titiro Whakarunga Scholarship, funded by the
Winton and Margaret Bear Charitable Trust worth $4,000. He also received a scholarship from KPMG where he received a laptop.

Marshall Kennedy-Newton was the recipient of the Joyce & John Kellett Scholarship worth $4,000.

Shontelle Schuster received the Prime Ministers’ Vocational Excellence Award worth $2,000.

Dianna Revell received the Susan Taylor Scholarship valued at $2,000 and a laptop.

Arwen van der Raaij received the Kia Kaha Scholarship valued at $2,000 and a laptop.

Margaret Hopoi and William Judge both received a scholarship worth $1,000 from Uniplas.

Arleen Edmonds and William Judge both received a laptop to the value of $1,000 each for the Ka Maro Te Kaki o te Kotuku Scholarship.

Dallas Naik was the recipient of the New Zealand School of Tourism Scholarship.

Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei.

Aim high for what is truly valuable, be persistent and don’t let obstacles stop you from reaching your goal.
Learn more.

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1467 days ago

Family Concert: Only Ten Dollars

Orchestra Wellington

Hi Neighbours - looking for a fun-filled afternoon for the family? For just $10 for a child ticket and $15 for an adult, please join us at our Christmas concert.

With all your Christmas favourites, featuring a beautiful Samoan choir and other special guests, this promises to be a delightful day… View more
Hi Neighbours - looking for a fun-filled afternoon for the family? For just $10 for a child ticket and $15 for an adult, please join us at our Christmas concert.

With all your Christmas favourites, featuring a beautiful Samoan choir and other special guests, this promises to be a delightful day out. We’ll also have bouncy castles and face paints before the show for the little ones.

If you would like tickets, please do act quickly, as this will sell out fast.

Sunday 13 December 2.30pm at the Michael Fowler Centre. Pre-concert entertainment from 1.30pm in the Renouf Foyer.
Buy tickets now

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1467 days ago

Tātou Rohe - Our Region

Community Engagement Advisor from Greater Wellington Regional Council

Want the latest on what we’ve been up to, and what’s coming up? Check out this week’s Tātou Rohe: bit.ly...

Subscribe online to receive these directly to your inbox: gw.govt.nz/tatou-rohe

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1468 days ago

Community Car Rally for Charity

Monica from Waterloo

Join us for this amazing historic ride around Lower Hutt culminating in an indoor or outdoor family picnic. Prizes - sausages - fun! Learn more about the history of the Hutt Valley! Click here to buy an entry ticket for your car www.eventbrite.co.nz...

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1471 days ago

What do you think of Quinovic letter?

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

A property management company that got in trouble for a email to renters at the beginning of the lockdown is under fire again after a letter drop “inviting neighbours to snitch” on tenants.
The letter from Quinovic advised neighbours new tenants had moved into their area and encouraged them to … View more
A property management company that got in trouble for a email to renters at the beginning of the lockdown is under fire again after a letter drop “inviting neighbours to snitch” on tenants.
The letter from Quinovic advised neighbours new tenants had moved into their area and encouraged them to contact the company with “any concerns about the property and its management”.
It was delivered to residents of a Hutt Valley street and was signed by Quinovic Hutt Valley manager Maritza McCrae and sales manager Helen Vance.
What do you think of Quinovic asking neigbours to monitor tenants?

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