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The Saracens Saggy Sacks will contest the Golden Oldies Sports Celebration in Christchurch's Hagley Park in April.
A catch up with the principal of Tuahiwi School Mel Taite-Pitama.
1. Tell us a bit about your self - where are you from, your family and what are your hobbies?
My father is from Tauranga and my mother from the Waikato. They raised me in Woodend where I did my primary schooling and then … View moreA catch up with the principal of Tuahiwi School Mel Taite-Pitama.
1. Tell us a bit about your self - where are you from, your family and what are your hobbies?
My father is from Tauranga and my mother from the Waikato. They raised me in Woodend where I did my primary schooling and then attended Rangiora High School. I lived in Tuahiwi most of my adolescent years. I have a brother who is a painter and owns his own painting business, The Paint Boss.
I am married to Mathias Pitama and we have three children: Sheldon, 22, lives in Brisbane and is a semi professional rugby league player doing his apprenticeship in Civil Construction. Jadah is 19 and is at university studying Māori Indigenous Studies and Te Reo Māori hoping to be a teacher, and Halle, 14, who is at Haeata Community Campus hoping to be a journalist and professional rugby player.
My 3 year old grandson Te Koha is the most beautiful boy. I'd walk across coals for him.
I play touch rugby for Canterbury. We are about to go to Auckland for Nationals in March.
I love sport, I rode horses for a long time, good food is important to me and so is travelling, but I'm a girl too...I love dressing up and putting on a great dress and red lippy!
2. What is the best thing about living/working in North Canterbury?
I love that work is close to home and that where I work is like being at home. I have always lived in NC, my husband and I decided when we had children we would never move them away from their grandparents.
It's important to us that our children know who they are and where they belong.
3. What are the three best things about Tuahiwi School?
The whānau and tamariki - they are super cool.
We are unique - There is no other school doing what we are doing in NC and I would say in Chch. Ask me what we do differently and the list is infinite.
The committed, dedicated staff who come to work every day to inspire and motivate our learners whilst nurturing them alongside their whānau.
4. Tell us something wonderful about Tuahiwi that we might not know.?
In the 80's, at the time my husband was about 8 years old, his mum and dad would drop him off at the 5 Cross Roads and he would walk from one end of the pā to the other. He would end up at Aunty Patricia Silk-Anglem's house on the corner of Bramley's Road.
On his journey about 27 of the maybe 35 houses he passed were relations. He would visit aunties and uncles, taua, poua and cousins while his parents were at the marae.
5. What is the best, most rewarding part of your job?
I love creating extraordinary opportunities for people. I'm always looking to see what and how I can help young people succeed.
When you have been in education for as long as I have you cross many people's paths and when they come back to you when they are adults and they still have a love for you, that's cool....you know you have been a positive influence in their lives, and for many made a massive difference.
Every day is different when you are in a kura, I love that...I never know what the day will bring or who I might meet.
The Saracens Saggy Sacks are set to take on the world. The Golden Oldies rugby team will participat…
North Canterbury mountainbiker Ben Oliver will compete at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April
Mark Herlihy is organising a 24-hour shear-a-thon to raise money and awareness for mental health.
2-3 Bedroom house want in Kaiapoi/Woodend/Belfast for a single man in his 40's and his very well behaved 6yr old dog, and his 14 yr old son p/t, works full time, quiet, clean and tidy, has good references, under $400 p/w, Please ph Donna 0276175958
Riding a motorcycle or scooter inevitably carries more risk than driving a four-wheeled vehicle. And it turns out quite a lot of us have someone close to us who rides (in fact, 48% of Neighbourly members!)
If you worry about their safety, there is something you can do: encourage them to take … View moreRiding a motorcycle or scooter inevitably carries more risk than driving a four-wheeled vehicle. And it turns out quite a lot of us have someone close to us who rides (in fact, 48% of Neighbourly members!)
If you worry about their safety, there is something you can do: encourage them to take Ride Forever coaching, provided (and heavily subsidised) by ACC. It's delivered by experts and it works, as Simon Gotlieb's story shows. Neighbourly members can book a FREE Ride Forever course before 31 March using promo code NEIGH18 over here.
Whether you have dietary restrictions or are you just super active, health-conscious or hungry, we have the perfect healthy cookie for you. You can try them now with our 10% discount exclusively for Neighbourly members!
Our cookies are Ultra Low Carb, High in Protein, Calcium and Fibre, Wheat, … View moreWhether you have dietary restrictions or are you just super active, health-conscious or hungry, we have the perfect healthy cookie for you. You can try them now with our 10% discount exclusively for Neighbourly members!
Our cookies are Ultra Low Carb, High in Protein, Calcium and Fibre, Wheat, Gluten, and Sugar-Free. They make a great on the go snack!
Use the online promo code for 10% Discount: “Neighbourly”
Keen gardener Clint Green has a cautionary potting mix tale for gardeners everywhere, after surviving a horrific bout of legionnaires' disease.
Click here to read Clint's story.
Before Mark Herlihy lost his brother to suicide two years ago, mental health was not something the f…
I need a reasonable plasterer to fill some small holes from an electrician please in Rangiora
Register your Neighbours Day event before March 9 and you'll go into the draw to win a $200 prezzy card to help with your event! Visit: neighboursdayaotearoa.org...
We are excited to announce that registrations for our Annual National Age Concern Conference ‘Age Concerns Everyone’ are now OPEN! The conference will be taking place on the 16 and 17 April 2018 in Wellington.
We have a fantastic line up of speakers and topics, from discussions about older … View moreWe are excited to announce that registrations for our Annual National Age Concern Conference ‘Age Concerns Everyone’ are now OPEN! The conference will be taking place on the 16 and 17 April 2018 in Wellington.
We have a fantastic line up of speakers and topics, from discussions about older workers, retirement income, housing, LGBTIQ and Maori solutions through to social connection initiatives and innovation. For more details and to register please visit our website! www.ageconcern.org.nz...
Are you a parent who has been affected by school closures in North Canterbury today? How has it affected your plans? Do you think the decision was justified/made too early/something else? Let us know in the comments below. (Comments may be used in print)
From weeks on end of blistering hot days to calamitous cyclones, we've pretty much had it all this summer. The extreme temperatures in some parts are in stark contrast to other storm-battered coastal zones Tell us how summer's been in your area.
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