Activation Newsletter - January 2014

1

Hi all, Welcome to the first Activation

monthly E-newsletter for 2014! January has been crazy!

I’m super excited to see AJ’s Activation’s Parks and Places programme come to life – more info on this below. It’s great he’s managed to secure more than 250 sessions over the six weeks, and done a fantastic job of trying to find activities to suit all demographics at a range of different times.

If you are receiving this newsletter, you are obviously interested in being physically active. I hope you join us for some of the cool opportunities being offered as part of Activation’s Parks and Places. Thanks to funding from the Lion Foundation we have printed programme booklets and they are available from H20 Xtream, Expressions or Upper Hutt City Library or visit: w w w . p a r k s a n d p l a c e s . o r g .nz. – Summers a great time to embrace change and get more active.

I’m also really excited to see Ellie’s summer Badminton league kick off next month, again, more info below. I hope those of you who didn’t get a chance to try it out can come along to the free have-a-go session before the league starts.

Finally, I would like to welcome Brenda Collins to the small but extremely passionate Activation team. A photo and details about Brenda and the work she will be engaging in are included below. She adds to our teams diverse range of skil ls with a health promotion and PE teaching background. She is also an amazing sports woman herself. Brenda will be updating you all on opportunities to engage with the ALIVE Project or to encourage those around you to get involved in the next edition of our newsletter.

And what have I been doing? Organising a contract and job description for a special one year project Activation will be running with funding from Family and Community Services, Making a Difference Fund. More details next month.

As always, we are super keen to provide assistance, support, programmes, ideas and our time and energy to create a more active Upper Hutt! So if you have ideas, need help, want to promote something active then please feel free to contact us by emailing activation@uhcc.govt.nz or phoning me on 04 529 0091.

Stay Active and enjoy the sun!Fran

2

Activation welcomes a new staff member.

Activation welcomes a new staff member - Brenda Collins.

Brenda has recently joined the Activation team as the ALIVE Project Coordinator.

Brenda comes from a Health Promotion and secondary school teaching background, majoring in Health and Physical Education.

She was also raised within a very sporting family and has represented NZ in Rugby League and Samoa in 7s Rugby.

Brenda is excited about joining the Activation team, and using her skills and experience to promote the importance of leading active lives to the people of Upper Hutt.

In 2013 Activation received funding from Sport NZ to run a three year project aimed at increasing participation in sport and active recreation in Upper Hutt.

Our plan is to organise and deliver six FREE 10 – 12 week programmes each year targeting different groups within our community.

We want to provide fun, interesting and informative pathways for people to engage in leading healthier and more active lives.

If you are interested in being on our ALIVE email or phone database please tel: Brenda Collins 04 529 0081 or email: brenda.collins@uhcc.govt.nz.

The ALIVE Project

3

Ellie Davidson Recreation Advisor - Clubs & Schools

tel: 04 527 2148 or 027 479 3156email: ellie.davidson@uhcc.govt.nz

For more info contact:

Summer League Badminton

When: Monday 10 February, 7 - 9pm Thursday 13 February, 5.30 - 7.30pmWhere: Riverstone Recreation Hall (next to H2O Xtream)Who: 18 years and overCost: Casual (per session): $5 Monday (9 sessions): $40 Thursday (8 sessions): $35 Monday & Thursday (17 sessions): $70

Fees payable at H2O Xtream reception

FREE session Monday 3 February 5.30 - 7.30pm. This is open to people who want to know the basics in scoring and

serving in Badminton. Come along, have some fun and meet you new people.

No pre-registrations required, just turn up.

4

Activation’s first GOLD programme for 2014 a success

The Activation team at Upper Hutt City Council launched the first ‘Growing Old and Living Dangerously’ (GOLD) programme for 2014 last Wednesday at Camp Kaitoke.

An excited group of local residents, aged 50+ took part in a morning of archery followed by an afternoon kayaking on the camp’s lake. “A number of participants hit the bulls-eye in the archery. It was fantastic to see the improvement over the morning as individuals gained confidence and mastered the bow and arrow,” says AJ Picard, Activation’s Community Recreation Advisor. The GOLD programme, previously run in 2007, has the aim of enabling and encouraging local residents over 50 to participate in fun and active social activities that are a little out of the ordinary.

Another benefit of the programme is the social interaction and the opportunity to meet adventurous like-minded people within the Upper Hutt community. “None of the group had met before but they really

enjoyed each other’s company. There were lots of laughs and everyone was really encouraging and supportive during the activities” says Mr Picard.

GOLD is a monthly series of events which enables mature residents to partake in activities they have never tried or perhaps even contemplated before such as rock climbing, ten pin bowling, snorkeling, and circus acts. Each day out includes two activities, lunch, and transport. The activities are located in Upper Hutt and throughout the Wellington region.

“The programme is currently planned from January to June, but after receiving such positive feedback from the community and the first group of participants, we are keen to continue running it on a monthly basis after June,” says Mr Picard. “We have had requests to assist residents in ticking things off their bucket lists, things like sky diving, horse riding, abseiling, kart sport, and windsurfing”.

Programme booklets (which include registration forms) can be downloaded from the Activation website www.activation.org.nz,

picked up from H2O Xtream and Upper Hutt City Library, or posted out on request by calling Activation on 04 527 2857.

5

Activation’s Parks and Places programme is starting in just over three weeks and the website has full details on what we are offering.

The six week programme will see active opportunities offered to residents of Upper Hutt held at a range of local parks and recreation facilities (places). The programme will run from Monday 10 February – Sunday 23 March and we have over 35 providers offering over 250 sessions.

Activities to be offered include Bump fitness sessions for new mums, dusk dirt trail runs, walking groups, Zumba, group dog walks, lunch sports leagues, petanque, circuit classes and many more. There’s something for all ages and all levels of fitness.

Also included in the programme is an Active

Passport for participants to get stamped when completing activities. With five stamps they then go in the draw to win some great prizes at the completion of the programme.

Activation’s Parks and Places website is now live so check it out for more info and a calendar of events.

For more information visit: www.parksandplaces.org.nz

6

7

Paws

in the ParkSaturday 15 March, 2014

11am - 2pmTunnel Gully, Upper Hutt

A great day out for dogs and humans alike!

Bring a picnic lunch. Cash for doggie treats, available at the park. Agility and fly ball demonstration from Upper Hutt Dog Training School.

Spot prizes.

For more info tel: 04 529 0091, visit: www.gw.govt.nz/events or www.parksandplaces.co.nz

FREE

A family friendly group dog walk through beautiful bush!

8

BIKE THE TRAIL 2014Free Entry

Get family and friends on their bikes and join us for an easy ride along the Hutt River Trail. There’s two options: a 12km ride and a 25km ride

Free shuttle for you and your bike back to the start

Sausage sizzle, music, games and prizes at the end

Sunday 16 March

10am start

Start at Hikoikoi Reserve, Petone or County Lane, Silverstream. Finish at Harcourt park, Upper Hutt

For more information and to register see www.bikethetrail.co.nz

AMI Round the Bays

The iconic AMI Round the Bays is back for 2014 with a brand new 10km run/walk to add to the popular 6.5km run/walk and Lenco Half Marathon, all of which take advantage of the beautiful inner city harbour.

All distance options start at Frank Kitts Park and finish at Kilbirnie Park for a fun-filled festival atmosphere complete with live music, food & BBQs, and plenty of fun for the whole family.

The event has seen consecutive sell-outs, and is lined up for another this year with a crowd of 14,000 expected to gather on Sunday, February 23rd, for the community event that is more than just a running race.

www.amiroundthebays.co.nz

Porirua Grand Traverse

- 6 April 14

Are you looking for a challenge in 2014 or want to take on Wellington’s only ‘triple A’ rated multisport event?

There’s something for everyone at the PGT:• Muster up the courage

to take on the challenge of the iconic solo grand traverse multisport (kayak, MTB and MT Run) OR the duathlon (skip the kayak) OR TEAM UP with your mates.

• Perhaps you only want to MTB? Then enter our MTB only event.

• Maybe you want to check out Wellington’s most scenic MT Run with a real Xfactor? Then we have the MT Run only event.• Or join in for the more

achievable FUN run/walk.

• There’s even the Youth Challenge for the young multisporters in making (Waka, MTB, Run)

All Ages, All Abilities, All Amazing!

www.pgt.org.nz | info@pgt.org.nz

9

Family friendly Mountain biking events!

Greater Wellington Regional Council as part of the Great Outdoor Summer Events Programme is holding a number of family friendly mountain biking events in the regional parks! Check out this Upper Hutt Activity below:

Saturday 1 February, 11:30am Adult: $15 | Under 14: $5Cycle the Rimutaka Rail Trail – Pakuratahi Forest

Enjoy a long (17km) but amazing family friendly bike ride along the historic Rimutaka Rail Trail. Ride through tunnels, over historic rail bridges and learn about the Fell engine. Free BBQ at the top! Then ride down and get return transport from Cross Creek.

Also an option to join up with a group riding from Maymorn Station up to join up with the bigger group, then riding through to Featherston to catch the return train to Wellington.

Free for this! Meet at Maymorn Station at 10:30am (Spaces on the train are not guaranteed).

To book in for an event tel: Mathew Walsh 04 830 4041 or email: bookings@gw.govt.nz

To view the whole Great Outdoor Summer Events Programme visit: www.gw.govt.nz/summerevents

10

U . H . H . C .

11

Kev the Kiwi

Thursdays 10.30am-12noon9 Jan Kev the Kiwi Plays at the Park

& Sport Wellington Buggy Walk Harcourt Park, Upper Hutt

16 Jan Kev the Kiwi’s Scavenger Hunt Belmont Regional Park, Oakleigh Street entrance23 Jan Kev the Kiwi Does Camp Games Kaitoke Regional Park, at the campground30 Jan Kev the Kiwi’s Back to School Party Wainuiomata Recreation Area

To find out more, see www.gw.govt.nz/events

Join Kev the Kiwi at one of our regional parks for some family activities and a gentle stroll

FREE

12

Understanding Cancer – A Pacific Men’s Health Fono

National Office A Level 2 Red Cross House,

69 Molesworth Stree, Thorndon, PO Box 12 700, Wellington 6144

T (04) 494-7270

F (04) 494-7271

Kia Ora, Talofa lava, Kia Orana, Malo e lelei, Fakaalofa

lahi atu, Bula vinaka, Namaste, Malo ni, Halo ola keta, Mauri, Fakatalofa atu

Please contact Chris Te’o on 04 3890056 or email chris.teo@cancersoc.org.nz to register your attendance

Come along and meet with others. Learn more about types of

cancer, treatment and how you can reduce your risk.

WHERE: Pacific Island Presbyterian Church (PIPC), 55 Daniell Street, Newtown, Wellington

WHEN: Thursday 13 February, 6pm -9pm.

6:00pm Opening prayer, refreshments

6:30pm A cancer survivor’s story

7:00pm Dr Semisi Aiono –

Common Cancers amongst Pacific men, what can we do to reduce our risk.

7:45pm Virginia Lee – Supportive Care.

8:15pm Ida Faiumu-Isaako/Mr Matagi Sione – A Pacific response to dealing with cancer.

8:45pm Final Remarks, closing prayer

13

HVDRT TriAbility Triathlon Saturday 15 March 2014 Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt

active communities

Inclusive and

Age restrictions apply to entry

For more information or to register online visit www.hvdrt.org.nz or phone 04 569 3091. Two distances available to choose from for individuals and teams.

A TRIATHLON FOR PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES

14

15

Monday nights, 5-9pm Feb-April 2014

To register, and for more information contact Troy Tawhai

troy@kokiri-hauora.org.nz or call 04 939 4630

Ki-O-Rahi for All!Come down and play in a social league in the Hutt. Bring your friends, whanau or community organisation down to McEwen Park, Petone on Monday nights for relaxed, fun activity for all. Teams of between 10-15 people. Any ages welcome.