Thank you
Wellington Police would like to thank Akatarawa residents for your patience over the weekend as we conducted our annual Search and Rescue exercise.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the 4WD movements and noise from the helicopter activity. While neighbours near the helicopter landing zone were advised of the exercise, residents further afield were also affected.
The exercise involved Police Search and Rescue personnel, Wellington LandSAR volunteers, New Zealand Airforce, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Amateur Radio and the Cross-Country Vehicle Club.
Training exercises provide and important opportunity for SAR personnel to learn new skills and test themselves in the environment and conditions likely to be encountered in a real search. As it happened, teams were deployed into the Tararua Ranges on Friday evening for a seriously injured tramper and again on Sunday for two people swept out to sea on the south coast of Wellington. Both rescues were successful.
We would like to thank local landowners that allowed the use of their properties and acknowledge the support of the Upper Hutt City Council who kindly made Karapoti Park available.
WELLINGTON CHAMPION LOCKS UNWANTED
Wellington Lions won the 2024 NPC rugby title and they did it through an unmatched pack of forwards foremost. And in the "engine room" were its outstanding young locks Akira Ieremia (ex St Pats Silverstream) and Hugo Plummer.
Yet neither were selected among the Hurricanes squad with its six locks nor picked up by any of the other franchises - and this includes Australian teams plus Fiji and Pacifica. So these two players who fit the bill in all aspects are not rated among the top 70 locks in three countries plus the smaller Pacific islands.
It simply should not be so.
Ieremia is 1.92m tall and around 120kg. He can also play backrow. Plummer is 1.98m tall and around 120kg.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.5% Yes
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14% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below