Rangiora teenager to feature at Te Papa
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
When a Rangiora High School pupil volunteered to help make new kapa haka uniforms he never imagined it would lead to his artwork being chosen for a national exhibition.
But year 10 pupil Tiakihana Tavendale’s efforts in making a maro (the piupiu apron boys wear in kapa haka performances) caught the attention of head of creative arts, Claire Aldhamland.
Last Friday, the maro, made entirely from harakeke/flax, was packed at and sent off to Wellington to appear in Te Papa’s Ringa Toi exhibition.
"As his work developed I could see his mahi was outstanding so I suggested we enter him in level 1 NCEA so he could gain some recognition for his work," Aldhamland said.
It soon became clear the work would qualify for an excellence grade, so Aldhamland decided to apply for the annual Ringa Toil exhibition for secondary school students with a focus on Toi Māori and Pacific arts.
Tiakihana found out only last week his artwork had been accepted and the race was on to get it ready.
"I was so happy because I’ve done all this work and to be recognised is quite special."
Tiakihana, who is of Ngāi Tahu descent, has been a member of the school’s kapa haka group since last year.
When he heard staff were going to make new kapa haka uniforms, he decided to join the teachers after school.
The project has been supported by the Puketeraki Kāhui Ako (Rangiora community of learning), with former Rangiora High School pupils Morehu Flutey-Henare and Sue Tipene offering some tutoring.
Tiakihana learned how to harvest the harakeke/flax from scratch, extracting the stems, fibre and thread he needed from the raw flax.
While the stems were dyed in Rangiora High School colours, Tiakihana was able to tell his own story in his art.
"The steps represent the steps of learning and strength and the muka (fibre) represents my teachers who have made an impact on my life."
Tiakihana is keen to learn about his culture and represented the school in the Ngā Manu Kōrero inter-school speech competition this year with his speech "Unapologetically Māori".
Next year he plans to enter a speech entirely in te reo.
Aldhamland said it was the first time Rangiora High School had applied to enter a student’s artwork in a Te Papa exhibition.
"I never expected to be able to say that I’ve got a student exhibiting at Te Papa.
"But I think it is the start of something because now we know the process."
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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Fears motorway toll could leave North Canterbury town worse off
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A community leader fears a toll on the proposed motorway extension could leave a North Canterbury town worse off.
Woodend-Sefton Community Board chairperson Shona Powell said she fears Woodend could face increased traffic without promised safety improvements, if a toll is introduced on the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway extension, which includes the proposed Woodend Bypass.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) last month announced consultation for a toll of $4.30 for light vehicles and $8.60 for heavy vehicles (including trucks) on the new 11km Manawatu Gorge Motorway, which will be completed next year.
It means commuters could be stung with paying an extra $43 a week in their travel costs.
The agency said the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway extension will be 9km, including the Woodend Bypass and the realignment and four laning south of Pineacres.
Woodend residents have been waiting for safety improvements since NZTA began consulting with the community eight years ago.
But the safety improvements have been placed on hold, pending the progress of the motorway extension.
‘‘My biggest concern is people will continue using the existing road through Woodend and will go through Kaiapoi or Tuahiwi to avoid paying the toll,’’ Powell said.
‘‘And Woodend may not get the safety improvements, so nothing changes.’’
Powell was also concerned the speed reduction from 100kph to 80kph on State Highway 1 between the Pegasus roundabout and Waikuku could be reversed, following changes to the Setting of Speed Limits rule being announced.
‘‘It was a speed limit requested by the community as a safety improvement.
‘‘To go back to having that fast speed limit for traffic coming from the north, it would just be disastrous.’’
NZTA director regional relationships James Caygill said the Government Policy Statement (GPS) on land transport requires the agency to consider tolling for new roads.
‘‘But it is too soon to discuss any potential tolling options until the scope and cost of this project has been confirmed’’.
Caygill was unable to confirm whether the 80kph speed limit between Pegasus and Waikuku would remain.
He said the agency will identify locations affected by the rule once it is finalised later in the year.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown said Waka Kotahi ‘‘is working at pace’’ to deliver the motorway extension.
‘‘NZTA’s project teams are reviewing the scope, design, cost, and timing of all Roads of National Significance projects to ensure consistency with expectations in the GPS on Land Transport 2024.’’
He said Government ‘‘will support any recommendation from NZTA to toll roads’’.
The Government was also committed to ‘‘reversing Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions’’, Brown said.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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