Petone Chronicle The

www.petonechronicle.co.nz Issue Six: March 8 2014 562 7500

One of the empty Housing New Zealand flats.

by Emily Tilley

The future of around 10 percent of Housing New Zealand’s Petone stock is up in the air as HNZ say they are currently “considering options” for the future of 35 vacant properties.

Low demand in the area and a difficulty in tenanting HNZ properties in Petone East, has now led HNZ to consider the future of some of their properties.

In Petone, there are currently only four applicants who have put Petone as their first area of choice, HNZ area manager Stephen Wilson says.

Thirty-five properties, including Jackson St properties in Petone East, remain vacant because HNZ are considering options for their future, he says. “We aim to have a decision on these in the next few months.”

Currently 61 of the 329 HNZ properties in Petone are vacant.

Five of the vacant properties are earthquake prone buildings. HNZ say they are awaiting results of destruction testing carried out on a property in Upper Hutt recently before making a decision about next steps for those properties.

“We won’t compromise on tenant health and safety which is why these buildings are not available,” Mr Wilson says.

He says 21 properties are ready to let and many are in the process of being matched to applicants on the waiting list.

HNZ flats' future consideredGovt to be asked to make a call on our water

by Emily Tilley

Whether Petone’s water will remain fluoride free is in question as a proposal has been put forward to take fluoridation decisions out of councils’ hands.

Councils nationally will be asked in July whether they agree to give up their decision making rights over the fluoridation of local water and instead put it in Government’s hands.

It is all the councils in the Wellington region that are putting forward the proposal to be considered nationally at the LGNZ Conference.

Kapiti Coast District Council asked for regional support to put forward a remit to councils nationally that: “Local Government New Zealand urge the Government to amend the appropriate legislation so that the addition of fluoride to drinking water supplies is not a decision that is left to the local authority.”

It says that the law should be changed so that “the appropriate Government agency with regard to National Public Health issues is ultimately responsible for any decision associated with the use of Fluoride in a public water supply.”

At a meeting on Wednesday, all the councils in the region agreed to take the remit forward to the national AGM, Hutt City’s representative at the meeting Councillor Margaret Cousins, says.

She says it was passed on the basis councils agreed to put the proposal forward nationally, rather than that it was supported by individual councils.

Councillor Max Shierlaw says if the decision to fluoridate Petone’s drinking water is put in the hands of a Government department, “it will

almost surely be fluoridated”.“The health authorities wouldn’t give two

hoots about what residents want,” he says.He says Kapiti Coast District Council only

gave other regional councils a weeks notice that they were going to put forward their remit at this week’s meeting.

He says councils need time to take a position on the issue.

Mr Shierlaw has put forward a notice of motion to Hutt City Council to be debated

during the annual plan process.His motion, which will be put to council in

April, is that local authorities should retain their decision making rights over water fluoridation.

He says discussion over fluoridation through the Annual Plan process will allow Hutt City Council to have a position by the time the remit is debated at the LGNZ Conference in July.

He says he encourages Petone residents to make their views regarding fluoridation known to the Petone Community Board and Hutt City Council in April when it comes up for discussion.

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 20142

More details called for in Petone Arena discussionsby Emily Tilley

Debate is flying around the proposal to build the Petone Arena, with the common theme throughout all the conversations seemingly time.

Councillors first heard about the proposal in January, the public was told about it on February 17 and on February 26 Hutt City Council was officially asked to put forward $25 million towards the project.

The proposal is for a 12,000 seat stadium to be built on the Petone Recreation Ground, which will cost an estimated $48.35 million to build.

No architects' plans have yet been presented, so at this stage costings are based on preliminary design sketches. Different structures of ownership and management have been mooted and an operational budget has been prepared based on assumptions and predictions which may change as the development plan unfolds.

The council has being asked to commit to paying $5 million in the 2014/15 financial year and $10 million for each of two following years.

On March 18, councillors will be asked whether it should be included in the draft Annual Plan.

Three months later, after some refinement of the plans and community consultation, councillors will vote on the annual plan and will be asked to make a decision on whether to go ahead.

With detail lacking and a short time frame, Harbour Ward Councillor Tui Lewis says she feels delaying for a further year would be “a problem”.

“I would like to think that there would be some clarity by the end of the Annual Plan Process,” he says.

And if the council doesn't make a decision by mid-June when the plan is voted on?

Community Facilities Trust chair and proponent of the plan Alister Skene says one option might be for council to indicate that they are very interested by putting forward a significant amount towards further investigation of the proposal “with a view that they might make an ultimate decision”.

Even if eventually the stadium was not built, going through the process would be “money well spent”, he says.

He says if the council does give approval for

the stadium in June it is likely to be conditional on the outcomes of further investigation of the proposal including a feasibility study and environmental report.

“If I was in their shoes, I would do the same thing,” he says. “I’m sure they would do it in such a way as to protect ratepayers' interests.”

Local resident Carl Bakker, a former Treasury official, says having to commit to the proposal in the Annual Plan is entirely arbitrary and “an artificial deadline”.

“If it doesn’t happen where are the Phoenix going to go? Why would Westpac Stadium not agree to bookings for another year?” he asks. “Why rush when the team don’t have a licence?”

If the proposal is truly a good one for both the Phoenix and the Hutt, it will remain a good proposal in a year’s time, he says.

“There still needs to be due process for big things, it’s sophistry to suggest otherwise,” he says.

The council should have consulted well before the proposal got to the Annual Plan stage, he says. Mr Bakker says, even if accelerated, it would take between six months and a year from now to get to a stage where a decision could be made to commit to a stadium.

He, along with Peter Prichard, Jane Cox and Petone Planning Action Group chair Pam Hanna, organised a public meeting last Monday to discuss the proposal. They then took their concerns to council’s meeting last Wednesday where the CFT presented the Petone Arena proposal. Mr Bakker told the meeting that as the council’s biggest infrastructure investment, the proposal needs a thorough standard of investigation and an independent review.

“Where’s the evidence that this idea is the best one?” he asked.

Mr Bakker told councillors, “This is not a position you should have been put in… I put to you that there is no way a credible independent review can be done in two weeks.”

The public applauded Mr Bakker’s warning to councillors that their first step should be to appoint a probity advisor. “Make sure you are protected as a group,” he said.

Mr Bakker says there appears to be several conflicts of interest and some council staff probably need to be quarantined from reports on Petone Arena to ensure a “truly independent

council evaluation”.Mr Bakker says the cost to Hutt City would

be not only the $25 million, but also the value of the land, cost of any infrastructure upgrades needed and ongoing running costs.

He also says the entire first phase of a disciplined process for big capital investment, the strategic phase, has been missed.

The first stage is to ask “what are we trying to do?” he says. “Maybe there’s been serious investigation of other options, but not that I’ve heard.” “We are being faced with the end of a process, a specific proposal for a specific thing,” he says.

With the Phoenix approach to the CFT, an opportunity has arisen and the CFT seems to have “inappropriately jumped to find a solution”, he says.

At the end of the day, if the reports are made and the figures stack up, would Mr Bakker want the Petone Arena built? “It would take a lot of convincing of the benefit to the wider Hutt Valley against the third of Petone who will be directly affected,” Mr Bakker says. “It would take a lot of benefit.”

“The Rec has been the Rec for 100 years… you don’t get back greenspace in the middle of town.”

A public meeting about the Petone Arena will be held by the Petone Community Board on Monday March 17.

PCB chair Mike Fisher says the meeting will allow Petone residents to hear about the proposal from “the horse’s mouth” rather than through word on the street and media.

Community Facilities Trust chair Alister Skene will present the CFT’s stadium proposal. He will then answer residents’ questions.

The meeting will be at 7pm on March 17 at the Petone Rugby Clubrooms.

Hear more

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 2014 3

District Plan change to play out with sale of Post building

by Emily Tilley

The first impact of recent District Plan change 29 aimed to enable Petone West to become a “mixed use” area, could be felt with the sale of the 2.3-hectare site on the Esplanade this week.

Petone Community Board chair Mike Fisher says as the site is near the waterfront and the “gateway” to Petone, he would like to see a “signature building” on the site.

“I like the idea of a well-designed hotel, conference centre or apartments,” he says.

“But it has got to be something that looks good … although I know that is subjective.”

He thinks if a large footprint big-box store is put on the site it “could be a waste”.

Instead a landmark building such as an hotel or apartments would bring people into the area and fulfil the objectives of the recent District Plan changes to diversify activities in Petone West, he says.

Petone Planning Action Group chair Pam Hanna says she would like to see an iconic building with good design in keeping with the character Petone on the site.

With the district plan change the site itself could be mixed-use and would be best not used for “one thing”, she says.

There could be a huge office space, residential space and even a small hotel.

The size of the site allows for some open space, she says.

Councillor Tui Lewis says, “we’ve got hotels

already on the books for down that end, don’t know if we can sustain or need a hotel.”

She says that NZTA’s plans for a Petone to Grenada link road could mean that the site would be very close to two roundabouts and near a major junction, which would have to be taken into account.

She hopes the building isn’t used for warehousing or big-box retail.

“I don’t think the area needs more,” she says.Instead she suggests it would make a nice site

for a large office building complex. She says the site would be large enough to

Weltec students welcomedT a m e N g a h e k e leads students a n d s t a f f into Weltec for a Mihi signalling the official start to the Petone c a m p u s ' a c a d e m i c year. More than 4 , 3 0 0 students and 450 staff are on campus for courses t h i s y e a r , i n c l u d i n g Mr Ngaheke, who is part of a team of Maori mentors at the institution. A team of six mentors support Maori students, helping them deal with any issues that may arise. Mentor, and head of the team Dave Lomax says there are particular cultural issues the

mentors can help with. "It's about raising Maori achievement," he says. Weltec Kaumatua Teriu Lemon, also Head of the Creative Technology School, lead prayers and waiata for the event.

landscape and create park-like surrounds and a nice working environment.

“A good looking building, set-back from the road with lots of landscaping,” she suggests.

Councillor Michael Lulich says the site should be used for “something for the future of Petone”.

Having grown up knowing Petone West an area of timber yards and where the stink of the Gear Meatworks forced his family to wind their cars windows, he would like to see something on the site that’s “exciting… something to be proud of”.

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 20144

Link road proposal ignores concerns - KEGby Emily Tilley

Twenty years of submissions have seemingly been ignored by NZTA in its Petone to Grenada link road proposal, the Korokoro Environmental Group (KEG) says.

NZTA has put forward a proposal, including a preferred route option, for the construction of a road linking Petone to Grenada.

The plan aims to ease congestion on State Highway 2 and the urban motorway, reduce travel times between the east and west of the region, and provide an alternative should SH2 become blocked.

But KEG members say they are “deeply concerned” about the proposal which will have a direct effect on Korokoro residents, the 50,000 recreational users of the Korokoro Valley and Hutt residents who use The Esplanade.

“This is a huge road - six lanes, gradients of nine percent, with cuts into the hillside up to 85m, the height of a 20 storey building,” KEG spokesperson Ruth Mansell says.

“If it goes ahead, a road the size of Ngauranga Gorge will be cut up from Petone, destroying the beautiful and natural landscape at the entrance to the Hutt Valley, cutting up across Horokiwi and through Grenada.”

Ms Mansell says the natural values of the area would be changed forever and undoubtedly the habitat of local species would be destroyed. “It will seriously impact upon streams, flora and fauna, and this could include the Korokoro stream and its tributaries,” she says.

Local experts with a depth of knowledge about the flora, fauna, geology and geography have provided information and KEG and other groups have made many careful and detailed submissions on the various consultations over the last 20 years, Ms Mansell says.

“It seems they have been ignored.”Instead, a mailed newsletter from NZTA

says it employed Opus Consulting to evaluate options by considering criteria including ecology, archaeology, landscape, visual and recreational implications.

Ms Mansell says the consideration was very broad, and seems to lack local knowledge.

For residents of 200 homes on the south-

western slopes, a bush outlook would become a view over a six lane highway.

For the whole suburb it looks as though there is a possibility access to SH2 will be affected. Access is already restricted as a result of the Dowse interchange, Ms Mansell says. “We may lose our current direct access north.”

However, the impact on Korokoro residents of the preferred option has not been mentioned in the NZTA report, she says.

Previous studies had indicated that the road would deliver 2,000-3,000 additional vehicles onto the Petone Esplanade. Latest figures indicate a substantial additional load on The Esplanade, Seaview, Petone and Hutt roads, Ms Mansell says.

She says NZTA is confident that the new interchange will manage and even improve on the current flow, however the impacts on the Esplanade and other Hutt internal transport routes are primarily the concern of the Hutt City Council.

The severe impacts of the road are numerous, Ms Mansell says. “All of this to save 7-10 minutes of time? We don’t think it is worth it.”

Harbour Ward councillor Michael Lulich says he has heard the concerns of Korokoro residents, “and I agree with them”.

He says a wise politician once told him that if you want to know who will benefit from a plan, look at where it originated. The idea for the Petone to Grenada link was first conceived in Wellington, he says.

“Are we doing something that’s good for the Hutt?” he asks. “I’m not 100 percent sure it would be good for Petone and Korokoro”.

Mr Lulich suggests a Cross Valley link road would have greater benefit to the Hutt.

Although plans include a new interchange designed to improve flow through to the Esplanade, the greater amount of traffic brought onto the road is “probably going to make it worse”, he says.

Traffic, particularly heavy trucks, are already an issue for residents near the Esplanade, Mr Lulich says. He has visited homes where the whole house shakes as the trucks go past.

Traffic backlogs on The Esplanade have flow-on effects for residents not only of Petone but Eastbourne, Wainuiomata and Waiwhetu,

he says.Mr Lulich is also concerned that Seaview

could lose business to Grenada. He says although Seaview businesses accept the Petone to Grenada road, their preference was always for the Cross Valley Link.

Councillor Tui Lewis says she is unsure whether the link road is “the right thing” for the area and says there needs to be more conversation.

“For us in Petone, there’s the effects of a six lane highway on to the Esplanade that’s supposed to be a beach.”

Petone Community Board chair Mike Fisher says the board will have a briefing on the proposal from NZTA.

“This is an issue a lot of Petone and Hutt Valley residents may support, others are against,” he says.

However, so far the board have had very little public feedback on the link road plans.

Mr Fisher says he is sure the board will be submitting on the road and invites residents with views on the proposal to contact the board and let them know what they think. “We’re always pleased to hear what people are thinking.”

- NZTA says if the proposal progresses through the planning stage they expect to be making RMA consent applications in the later part of 2015, with construction likely to start around 2018/19.

Information on NZTA’s proposal, options and details of how to have your say on the proposal including an online feedback form are available on the NZTA website.

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 2014 5

Pantry always full for man living off the landby Emily Lipsys

Recently a local beach front has become a place in which a little make shift home has appeared, built by a man known to everyone as Dion. [he asked that his surname name not be used for the privacy of him and his family]

Living in nature, and off the land, is a chosen way of life for Dion. He is off the grid and living a simple and self sustainable life.

He is originally from the east coast of the upper north island, and says he has grown up living in the bush.

Dion has managed to transfer living off the land in a bush setting, to now living in a more urban, city setting. And he is really making it work for himself.

“My pantry is always full. I've got the sea in front of me and the bush behind me. That's it.

I go hunting, fishing, diving,” He says.Crayfish, fresh paua, muscles, scallops, are

amongst some of the items that are part of his daily meals.

Not only does he fend for himself, he often cooks for, and gives food away to others if they need it.

“If they need it more than I do. I can always go get me something to eat. Even when I've got nothing, I still have something. I can just go out here,” he says, pointing to the ocean.

Di o n h a s a different outlook on what a home is, and what he wants in a place of dwelling.

“Well, you're staring at four walls [in a rented home], and if you look out the window, you're looking at the neighbours. What the hell is that about?”

H e continues,“I'm just so used to looking out the window and seeing open country and sea, you know?”

His home is made mostly from things that he finds washed up on the beach. Some people have also given him some plastic tarps to help keep him dry inside.

He says that it even stood up through the storms we had at the end of last year.

“Nature threw everything it had at me, and I came out on top. It was snug as a bug in a rug. No leaks in here!”

Dion looks after the area where he is living

and says people have been mostly positive towards him.

“People are just amazed that I live here!” He says.

At the moment he is working in construction, to help support his kids, who live up north.

“Family is what its all about. I see them every once a month, if I am not working.” He says.

He is also studying at Weltec, doing building and landscape studies.

Along with getting qualified, the course has also been helping him with parts of study that he has struggled with in the past.

“You see I have done a few jobs, but what let me down, is because I couldn't read or write properly,” he says.

“They've been helping me heaps down at Weltec. I can read now. I'm not very good at it. But I can read most words. And I can spell a little better now.”

Dion has dreams to start his own building and landscaping business, and to build his own permanent home in Petone one day.

His attitude towards life is about making the most of every day, and all you have been given.

“Live life to the fullest and don't let any opportunity escape. Or else you will regret it. You'll look back and think, man I should have turned left, when I turned right. Or should have turned right instead of left.

"But everyone makes their own choices, and you just gotta live with it in the end. That's basically it.”

Dion's home has everything he needs.

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 20146

River boulders, sand, tree stumps, logs, grasses and “other cool stuff ” will be used to create an eco-playground at Korokoro School.

“We have put a lot of thought into what would be the most valuable to the 150 kids at the school and have decided to create an eco park/playground,” Home and School Committee member Tonia Joy says.

The suburb is passionate about the native flora and fauna that surrounds it, she says. “We feel that it would be great to bring a little of this onto the heart of our school.”

The playground will be constructed in an area of “dead space” between the classrooms and the playing fields.

Ms Joy says it has been proven that when nature elements are incorporated into playgrounds, kids have more fun, are more active and utilise more motor skills than on standard play equipment alone.

“Imagination is something we are keen to foster in our kids and we are looking forward to seeing this area taking shape.”

Proceeds from the school’s annual gala on Saturday March 15 will go towards the

playground and Ms Joy hopes enough will be raised for work to start later this year.

The school gala has grown year on year. “Last year we tripled the numbers, this year we hope to add to that,” Ms Joy says.

The gala will have all the usual stalls such as cakes, clothes, toys and white elephant, as well as a cafe set up with a coffee cart.

There will be also be plenty of entertainment for children including face painting, false tattoos, a crawl through caterpillar, bouncy castle, indoor “scarey room” and outdoor Nerf gun warfare area.

The gala also hosts a car-boot sale at the same time offering sites to anyone who has a boot-load of stuff to sell. Last year there were about 20 people who brought along cars and took part, Ms Joy says.

With the gala held from 10.30am to 1.30pm, Ms Joy invites people to “come and have lunch in Korokoro”.

- Korokoro School Gala 10.30am - 1.30pm Saturday March 15, to enquire about car boot sites call Alex on 021 163 9813.

- Donations of quality materials for the eco-playground would be gratefully received.

School aims for eco playground A randomised telephone survey to gauge public feeling on Hutt City Council’s services and representation will take place this week.

The telephone survey will cover all six city wards and will seek opinions about a wide–ranging list of city council services delivered to residents.

“The questions reflect areas of interest to Lower Hutt and I am encouraging the community to have their say,” Mayor Ray Wallace says. “We are here to serve the needs of residents and that means council must go out and actively find out what people are thinking. One of the best ways to do this is to interview a representative cross-section of residents.”

The survey will be conducted by the National Research Bureau, an independent research company offering specialised services to local authorities throughout New Zealand.

by Emily Tilley

A Sydney Street catering company is organising a barbeque to get to know their neighbours - it will also kick off their bid to raise money for a life-saving defibrillator.

At the last Petone Winter Carnival Festival a man died of a heart attack not far from the Blue Carrot Catering company’s Sydney Street premises. The closest publicly available defibrillator, a simple piece of equipment that can be used by anyone to restart a heart, was at Pak’n’Save.

“If there had been one there, he may have been saved,” Blue Carrot owner Nicole Manning says.

That got Ms Manning thinking, “why not have one placed in a public place?”

After a little fishing around she found that one could be bought and Hutt City Council

agreed to have it mounted next to the Petone Rowing Club.

The plan is for it to be placed securely in public view so that anyone in need can call 111 and receive a code to use the machine.

The defibrillator itself literally talks the user through the process of how to use it. “You don’t have to be a doctor, anyone can use it,” Ms Manning says.

Blue Carrot Catering now aims to raise $4,500 to purchase and mount the equipment.

Part of that fundraising will be a street-barbeque held at lunchtime on Thursday, March 20.

Ms Manning says that while she spends half her time at work, she only knows her immediate neighbours on Sydney Street.

The barbeque will be a chance not only to raise funds, but also for Sydney St businesses and residents to get to know their neighbours,

Good cause to bring Sydney St neigbours togethershe says. “It would be good to get the whole street together.”

Free range sausages and bacon butties are on the menu and anyone is welcome, Ms Manning says.

All the food has been donated by Blue Carrot Catering, the bread has been donated by Petone Pak’n’Save and all the proceeds will go towards buying the defibrillator.

A donation page has also been set up on the “givealittle” website so that anyone can contribute and large donors will have the opportunity to have their business name put on the defibrillator’s cover, Ms Manning says.

“If we can save one life, it will be worth it,” Ms Manning says.

-Blue Carrot Catering Sydney St fundraising BBQ, 1-2pm March 20

-To make a donation go to www.givealittle.co.nz//cause/DefibrillatorFundraiser

Have your say

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 2014 7

Ugly toilets to be beautifiedby Emily TilleyPlans are underway to

beautify the toilet block on the corners of Jackson Street and Fitzherbert Streets.

The project is to create a three-dimensional mural on the buildings and will use some of the old structure of the Petone Wharf, “in keeping with our heritage draw card”, Jackson Street Programme chair Leonie Dobbs says.

T h e J a c k s o n S t r e e t Programme, supported by the Petone Community Board, is driving plans to ensure that Petone’s public facilities are suitable for locals, tourists and visitors.

“It is an embarrassment”, Jackson Street Programme chair Leonie Dobbs says. “For visitors to use our toilet facilities. If we are the Hutt City’s ‘jewel in the crown’ it is interesting that our public facilities are not kept in the appropriate condition.”

JSP has been working with a local architect/artist, local pre-school and school children,

local iwi, Urban Plus, council staff and “all the parties that need to get this project ready for conception”, Ms Dobbs says.

She says more details with drawings will soon be made available to the community.

Ms Dobbs says the second phase will be improvement of the public facilities in Buick Street, “the most used facility in the Hutt Valley”.

by Emily Tilley

A decision over whether the Seaview Road speed limit will be lowered has been delayed again as the Petone Community Board have decided to defer making a recommendation.

Board members agreed with board chair Mike Fisher’s suggestion at last month’s meeting

by Emily TilleyThe Jackson Street Programme are

disappointed that, despite repeated efforts to enlist Hutt City Council help, nothing has been done to beautify the “unfriendly and unwelcoming” Doreen Doolan Mall.

Once one of the pride and joys of Jackson Street, now “the town clock which we celebrated 100-years-old last year is attached to a forgotten walkway,” Jackson Street Programme chair Leonie Dobbs says.

“Many letters have been written to Council asking them to tidy up and paint the walkway in the mall,” Ms Dobbs says. “Council have not acknowledge or replied to any of the letters or photos sent to them.”

“It is disappointing that we keep raising this with Council but it continues to fall on deaf ears”.

She says this is one of the projects that the Jackson Street Programme, together with the Petone Community Board, will be raising with council at Annual Plan meetings, as well as at “any other opportunity it can”.

that they wait until their meeting in May to make a decision in order to have more time to collate and consider more information.

Last August the Petone Community Board voted unanimously in favour of keeping the speed limit on Seaview Road at 70kmph as it is “safe and appropriate”. Their decision was supported by the Eastbourne Community Board.

However, it was rejected by a Hutt City Council committee and the board were asked to reconsider their recommendation at this month’s meeting.

The board have now decided they need more time to read submissions, which have not previously been made available to them, and gather more information on safety issues.

"Unfriendly" mall unchanged

Seaview speed limit decision deferred yet again

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 20148

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 2014 9

Sacred Heart School's new senior classroomsThe desire to improve outcomes for Year

7 and 8 students and ready them for college is behind a big revamp of senior classrooms at Petone’s Sacred Heart Primary School.

Teacher and deputy principal Chris Theobald interviewed students throughout the school last year about their preferred style of learning, and put that information, along with that garnered while doing his masters degree focusing on valuing the cultures within a school, into a plan for a completely new way of looking at the way in which the curriculum is delivered to the 35 senior students at the school.

With a limited budget, Mr Theobald set about finding bargains on TradeMe to source a standing desk, bar stools, couches and other furniture to make the classes homely, and along with donations ended up with two classrooms radically different from the traditional style.

There are two classes; the Weka room includes a cluster of desks, with a whiteboard dividing them from some soft chairs and corner couch unit. This is the relaxation area, and Mr Theobald says the kids very quickly got into the habit of going in there after morning tea time and reading silently.

The second room is called the Kakapo room, and most learning takes place here. From Term Two, each week, every student will be given an individual learning task sheet including between ten and twelve activities from Te Reo Maori andFrench, to current events and formal language. The children will be expected to manage their time, with help from their teachers, Mr Theobald and Kath Delahunty.

The children do group learning for reading, writing, maths and spelling.

Mr Theobald says teaching nowadays is not about "chalk and talk", but about supporting young people to get the most out of the educational opportunities presented to them.

"They're not empty vessels just to be filled up by us. Students have knowledge they can share with each other and with

us," he says."In the end the

whole purpose is about accelerating s t u d e n t achievement."

O n t o p o f i n t e r v i e w i n g s t u d e n t s throughout the s c h o o l a b o u t the i r p re f e r red learning sty les , Mr Theobald has also worked closely with several colleges, especially St Bernard's, finding out about achievement of ex-Sacred Heart students.

As with all other Government run schools, the senior classes are still governed by the NZ curriculum and National Standards.

Senior class teachers are also in constant contact with parents, with texts informing them of milestones for their children, along with any issues that arise.

"I don't think anyone's ever disappointed to hear their child's doing well," says Mr Theobald.

Mr Theobald has been teaching for eleven

years and says his main job is to prepare the children to exceed expectations at college, manage their time and know how to access information and find people who can help with information.

The proof will be in the pudding. So far, the changes are proving a hit with the children.

"I find it pretty good because sometimes people can help each other if they need it," Wyatt So'otaga says. "I prefer groups because I can help somebody get through a tough day."

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 201410

The Dummy’s Guide To Buying A New ComputerWritten by Petone’s local computer expert Neil Potter this booklet explains;

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Email info@pcpatch.co.nz and make sure to include your name and postal address and your free copy will arrive in your mailbox within a few days - Or call 04 568 6885

by Warwick Johnston

The essence of the current discussion over the Morgan backed proposal to redevelop Petone Recreation Ground into a commercial sports fortress is just that. Historically the Recreation Ground is an open, freely available community recreation reserve, which is enjoyed by all the community.

To understand the controversy this proposal has produced one has only to check the history of the Ground. It begins in 1888 with the establishment of Petone as a Borough.

One of the main concerns of the newly constituted Petone Borough Council of 1888, after dealing with basic infrastructure concerns, was to establish a Public Recreational area. They began their deliberations in December 1896. By October 1897 they had been offered a ten-year lease on land owned by the Wellington Gas Co to the value of £3,500. This was land that the Gas Co. had no further use for. An additional section was added in 1898 with a further lease of adjacent land from Mr. W. B. Buick. Later that year the Council undertook an adventurous challenge by offering the Wellington Trotting Club permission to establish a Race Track on the leased land for £300, with the proviso that they build a Grandstand, which they duly did at a cost of £200. This arrangement continued until 1919 when the Trotting Club moved over the river to Hutt Park.

From that point on there was no turning back in both the popularity and the community usage of the Recreation Ground.

For example one of the first major Sporting codes to make use of the Ground was the local Cycle Association. Beginning in 1906 the cyclists were using the Ground extensively, even to the point, in 1930, of constructing a bitumen banked cycling track. This lasted till 1956 when the Council decided to remove it after a purpose built track had been built at Newtown. By this time the Ground had been designated a Public Reserve for recreational purposes, as specified under the 1928 Public Reserves, Domains & National Parks Act. This took place in December 1950.

Part of the arrangement between the Council and the various sporting codes was that during the winter months Rugby, Rugby League, Football and Hockey would use the Ground. During the Summer Cricket, Athletics and Cycling would share the Ground. Demand was very high and in the end the Football moved to Memorial Park and the League moved to McEwen Park.

1939 was a very significant year in the History of Petone, none more so than with its own Jubilee celebrations ahead of the national Centennial Celebrations due a year later. A brand new Grandstand was erected for the occasion and was opened as part of the Jubilee Celebrations.

Even during the 1940 Centennial Celebrations the Recreation Ground was used for major celebratory functions, as can be seen in the accompanying photograph.

Controversy linked to history of Petone recTop: A layered cup race at the rec on November 25, 1939.Bottom: Technical College students put on a display for the jubilee c e l e b r a t i o n s , November 28, 1939.

Groups urged to apply for moneyGrant applications have opened for the

Community Engagement Fund, a fund the Petone Community Board allocates to support local groups and events.

Last funding round there was only one applicant in Petone for the fund and therefore not all the money available was allocated.

Previous beneficiaries of the fund have included the Seaview Working Group for their Spotlight on Seaview day, Petone Baptist Church for the Christmas in Bethlehem event and Moera Community Garden to build new garden beds.

The Hutt City Council provide the fund for allocation be the community board based on an allocation of 40 cents per resident.

Applicants must have legal charitable status and the money must be used for a specific project rather than going towards ongoing running costs such as rent.

Applications are also currently open for the Creative Communities fund and Heritage Fund.

Council funding officer Debbie Hunter will be at Petone Library on Friday March 14 between 10.30am and 1pm to talk through funding with applicants.

See the council’s website funding page for more details or email funding@hutt.city.govt.nz for enquiries. Applications close on March 25 and can be made online on the council’s website at www.huttcity.govt.nz/en/Services/Funding/

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 2014 11

SPORTLocal rowing club buzzing with success

by Steve McMorran

Petone Rowing Club president Caroline Robertson says the current season is probably the most successful in the club’s history, enhanced by outstanding performances at last month’s national championships.

Robertson said the club is “buzzing” as a product of those successes with a rapidly growing active memberships covering all age groups from juniors to masters.

“We had a really good season last year but we’ve built on that this season,” she said. “We did really well at the nationals and we have two rowers in national trial squads.

“The club’s in a pretty good place. We put together a strategic plan five years ago which takes us through to the end of this season and, at this stage, we’ve probably already ticked all the boxes.”

The sudden death last year of long-serving president Russell Baxter was a huge blow to the Petone Club, depriving it of his massive fund of knowledge and experience and the broad network of relationships he had built over years at all levels of New Zealand rowing.

Robertson said Petone now had a notably young administration - she, the chairman at 33 and others such as Paddy O’Reilly, an active coach at club captain at 23 - and they were now trying to rebuild those relationships while

mapping the club’s future.The influx of newcomers eager to learn

to row was hugely pleasing, Robertson said, and breathed new life into the club, as did the increasing involvement of an active and competitive group of masters rowers. But it was a challenge to develop systems which ensured those novices, along with all club members, receive the support, coaching and encouragement they need.

“We have a lot of people who have joined to learn how to row and it’s a challenge to see how we are going to manage that,” Robertson said. “But it’s also very exciting.

“I was down at the club on Sunday morning and there were at least 50 people there which is quite remarkable. The club's really buzzing but that always happens when you have a lot of success."

Robertson said a great deal of credit belonged the club’s coaching team which comprises O›Reilly, Andrew Bird, Dave Hanley, Martin Davies and Peter Rowbotham.

Their efforts were seen in the successes at the national championships at which the novice women’s pair of Alice Templeton and Kristen de Lisle won a gold medal, the coxed four of Templeton, de Lisle, Rachel Gill, Ashlee Curtis and cox Lucy Bird won silver and the women’s novice eight of Gill, Curtis, de Lisle, Hailey Griffiths, Sofija Cvitanovich, Caty Ross, Caitlin Walker, Megan Rea and Bird won bronze.

The women’s senior eight of Ruby Willis, Beth Ross, Ella Pudney, Templeton, Samantha Legge, Bella Matthews, Lisa Rofe, Ellie O’Connell and Bird took the bronze medal in their event while men’s senior eight of Jamie Saunders, O’Reilly, Phillip Wilson, Benjamin Norling, Chris James, Elliot Harvey, Kieran Gaudin, Ryan Gaudin

a n d Tr e n t B u r b r i d g e finished third in their A final.

J a m e s McAnallen and Erin-Monique O ’ B r i e n were chosen for last week’s national trial at Lake Karapiro. O’Brien has already tasted international success as stroke of the women’s quad which won the bronze medal at last year’s world championships.

“I think the big thing for us now is determining how we build a more holistic club,” Robertson said. “We have to consider both how our novices come through and how we can encourage our masters rowing.

“It’s not all about the Maadi Cup and what happens at the national championships. It’s about how we help our learn to row kids develop their passion for the sport.”

James McAnallen and (below) Erin-Monique O'Brien, who were both selected for national trials.

The Petone Central Bowling Club has found its own champions, including some multiple

champions, as a hectic season draws to a close.The club's internal championships have

almost all been completed, as preliminary rounds and finals have been worked around a busy

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schedule of interclub, centre and other events.Winners now have the right to compete in

Wellington Champion of Champion events in the latter part of the season.

Linda Stevens won the women’s junior singles and Kevin Gutschlag the men's junior title, both events for players with one to five years experience.

Gutschlag was also a member, with Paddy Breslin and Joe Hansen, of the team which won the men's championships triples, beating Paul Terry, Brendan Nye and Mike Pestno in the final.

Debbie Hanna, Patricia Wishnowsky and Geraldine Wakefield won the women's championships triples while Wishnowsky and Hanna teamed with Chris Robson and Dawn Cooper to win the women's championships fours.

Bill Cruickshank skipped the team that won the men’s championships four, which comprised Loughie Prendergast, Paul Kelly and Bob Commane. Tanya Wheeler and Bev Doherty won the women’s pairs, beating Sandra Prichard and Chris Commane in the final while Murray Yaxley and John Byrne won the men's pairs from Graeme Henderson and Bob Commane.

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 201412

SPORTCricket teams finish season well

by Steve McMorran

The Petone Cricket Club has drawn stumps on a season which chairman Allan Hewson says was good and almost great.

The Petone-Eastbourne premier team came within a couple of points of achieving promotion to the Pearce Cup - Wellington club cricket's highest echelon - and showed in doing so it was competitive with teams in the top division.

Instead, Petone finished with its first and second teams both playing in the Hazlett Trophy - the second tier of the premier competition - and that in itself was a significant achievement.

By that means, Petone was able to expose two full senior squads to top senior competition and that is expected to contribute to the increased strength, depth and experience of Petone's player pool next season.

“The season has been reasonably good for that reason,” Hewson said. "The premier team just missed out on Pearce Cup by a couple of points.

“In saying that, having that team and the second team playing in the Hazlett Trophy was a great thing for the club. It's very positive for the future and if we can get all the players back next year it's definitely something to build on."

Hewson said the 2013-2014 season was positive across the board for Petone.

“The premier teams performed very well, which is pleasing, and all the one-day sides enjoyed themselves which is what is all about.

“We can now set some very clear goals for next year and look to those with some confidence. The main goal, of course, would be to make Pearce Cup and to have teams in both the Pearce and Hazlett Cups and, on the basis of what we've achieved this year, I think that's very achievable."

by Steve McMorran

For the first time in more than a decade Petone will embark on a campaign in football's Central League under a new coach.

Scotland-born Graeme Little has joined the Petone club as its director of football and the coach of the first team which is determined to improve on last season›s moderate Central League performance.

A change of coach is both a milestone and a challenge at any club but moreso at Petone which enjoyed many years of stability under former coach Mark Foster. Foster enjoyed great success with the Petone team but moved aside at the end of last season, making way for the appointment of Little.

Club chairman Craig Deadman said several senior Petone players had played under no other coach than Foster but were now adjusting to Little's new approach and methods. He said players were enjoying Little's energy and focus and the adjustment was likely to be rapid and successful.

“I’ve been chairman for 11 years and Mark had been there all that time so it’s quite a significant change but Graeme has settled in extremely well,” Deadman said.

“He’s got a great pedigree both as a player and as a coach and we’re looking forward to a very successful association with him.”

Little captained Miramar to a Central League title in 2004 then, at the end of an outstanding playing career in Scotland and New Zealand, also coached it to a League victory in a rare double. He then coached Wellington United which, under his guidance was promoted from the Premier League to Central League.

Little is now charged with working his winning magic on Petone and early signs are positive.

“Graeme has brought a different set of skills into the coaching role,” Deadman said. "He's also brought a different level of intensity and I think the players are feeling that and enjoying it.

New football coach for Petone“The level

h e’s p l ayed a t i n b o t h th e Un i t ed Kingdom and New Zealand h a s g i v e n h i m a r e a l knowledge of the game and we're sure he's going to be a very welcome addition to the club.

“We were pretty disappointed with last season, to be frank. We won a few games which perhaps we should have lost and lost a few games we certainly should have won. Now we're looking to become more consistent in the positive sense of the term."

Deadman said there would be several new faces in the first team squad this season, though that squad had still to be finalised. Petone has been involved in recent weeks in the pre-season Hilton Petone Cup, which would give it a full shakedown before the Central League season begins in early April.

The league schedule has dealt Petone a tough start with matches over the first two rounds against Tawa and Olympic - both top performers last year. But Deadman said those games would provide a sound early benchmark of Petone's progress.

“We expect the squad this year to have a good mix of what I would call long-standing Petone boys who will be relishing the challenge of playing under a new coach. Some of those players have only played under Mark Foster so it will be new to them but also interesting and rewarding."

Graeme Little in his recent playing days, playing for Team Wellington

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 2014 13

SPORTby Steve McMorran

Petone Sportsville chairman Allan Hewson says the clubs that comprise the local sports hub are considering their response to the construction of a 12,000-seat Petone stadium and are currently “neither for nor against” the proposal.

Hewson said the nine Sportsville members had been briefed on the stadium proposal by the Community Facilities Trust, headed by chairman Alister Skene, and were now seeking the views of their own clubs.

"We had a meeting with the CFT and they’ve explained to all the clubs in Sportsville the stadium proposal as they see it," Hewson said.

"Our clubs will now discuss it with their committees and members and then they will report back to us with their thoughts.

“They’ll let us know in due course whether they’re okay with it or not okay.”

Hewson said it was his personal view that a 12,000-seat stadium would be an asset to the Petone community and to its sports clubs but he did not wish to influence the views of Sportsville members.

“Personally, I thinks it's a good thing for Petone and Petone sports but that's only my view," Hewson said.

"From the point of view of Petone Sportsville, no-one's for or against at this stage. They just want time to talk things over with their members.

“Once that has happened, they’ll come back to us with their views and we’ll see where we’re at.”

Hewson said that process may take two to three months as summer sports, just ending their seasons, and winter sports, just beginning, convened the meetings needed to discuss the proposal.

He said it was too soon to be certain of the

impact of the stadium construction on local facilities. Final drawings were not available which would show how much ground the stadium and its attendant facilities would occupy.

On the basis of current proposals the Petone Cricket Club might lose a couple of pitches and the Petone Rugby Club a training ground but until final plans were available it was not possible to be certain.

“I believe the proposal has its merits but it’s important to work through the process and see where we end up,” he said.

“There’s probably been a little bit of negative feedback but a lot of that has come from people who aren’t fully informed.

“We need to make sure our members have all the information they need so that they can give it full consideration. "We then expect them to get back to us in two to three months and we'll see where we are then."

Sports hub clubs to give feedback on arena

Coaches show rugby players how it's donePetone rugby coaches Peter Green and

Rodney So'oialo can never be accused of asking their players to do something they wouldn't do themselves.

When they announced their intention to have players take part in the gut-busting annual Petone Man event as a prelude to the coming club season, there were audible moans from premier squad members. Dissent quickly turned

to suprise, then scepticism and finally admiration when Green and So'oialo made it clear they would be taking part themselves.

The Petone Man, for the uninitiated, is a searching test of stamina designed only for the fittest or the most foolhardy.

Participants start from the Petone Rugby Club and first run to the top of the Korokoro Hill, then run back down to the clubrooms.

They then get on their bikes and ride to Eastbourne, dismounting at Muritai Park.

Their next task is to run through the bush and over the crest of the hill to Butterly Creek, to return to Muritai Park and finally to cycle back to Petone.

“We had an excellent turnout this year,” Green told the Petone Chronicle from Las Vegas, where he is attending a work conference.

“About 55 people turned out this year, including most of the premier squad, and that’s

well up on last year when we had about 25. It’s a great participation event, an excellent way to kick off the season.

“The average person would manage to do it in about two to two and a half hours and most of us managed it in about that time.”

Green and So›oialo were happy to show to their players that they werevstill fit enough to match it with them.

“When we told people about the Petone Man there was a bit of whingeing but that didn't last long because we said we're going to do it too and if we can do it, you can do it.

“I can tell you I’m still pretty sore but it was worth it.”

Petone had its first pre-season match last weekend against Poneke. Green was still overseas but the team was well led in his absence by So'oialo who has quickly knitted into the fabric of the Petone premier side.

Next Petone Community Board Meeting: Monday, 31 March 2014 at 6.30pm - Pelorus Trust House, Seaview.

PETONE COMMUNITY BOARD

Points of Interest:Proposed Petone Arena: The Board is hosting a public meeting on Monday 17 March, 7pm at the Petone Rugby Club, Udy Street. Alister Skene, Chairperson of the Community Facilities Trust will present details of the proposal and there’ll be an opportunity for questions from the public. We encourage people to come along for questions and discussion. If you can’t make it, feel free to contact Petone Community Board members with your views.Petone-Grenada Link Road: NZTA have announced their preferred route for the link road and an open day was held on the 22 February to showcase the options and seek public feedback. The Board anticipates a briefi ng on the proposal but is also interested to hear what residents think.Small Town Conference: Congratulations to the Jackson Street Programme for winning the right to host the Small Town Conference from 24-26 September. It’ll be great to showcase Petone’s vibrancy, heritage and businesses to the rest of the country.

As always, feel free to contact Members with any concerns. Final agenda and papers will go on HCC website prior to meeting.

CHAMELEON, an ART EXHIBITION by STELLA ENTING exhibiting at the Odlin Gallery, Myrtle Street, Lower Hutt, from 19th to 30th March.

CLASSIFIED

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 201414

The Petone Chronicle, March 8 2014 15

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The Petone Chronicle, March 8 201416