ŌTAKI TODAY, NOVEMBER 2024
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Dux Louis looks to the stars
Ōtaki College dux Louis Bevan topped Year 13 in chemistry and physics and is now off to Canterbury University where he will continue studying mathematics, after already completing his 100 level exams, coming away with an A+. READ MORE.
OTHER STORIES
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Ōtaki College Roll
A call-out by Ōtaki Today to discover which former students and staff have died in the past 60 years has revealed a list. READ MORE.
BRIEFS
ŌPG gets kite-making funds
The Ōtaki Promotions Group has received $2700 from KCDC’s Creative Communities fund to run school kite-making workshops in the lead-up to the 2025 Ōtaki Kite Festival. The workshops will be run by experienced Australian kite-makers, who will also fly at the festival on the weekend of March 8-9.
Helpful Art Trail guides
A helpful guide to the Kāpiti Coast Art Trail is available now at libraries, council service centres, galleries, cafes and other outlets – and online. An online tool to plan your trail journey is also available – see kapiticoastarttrail.co.nz. If you want to know who the artists are to visit specifically around Ōtaki, check out the September issue of Ōtaki Today (find it at otakitoday.com).
Foodbank appeal
The annual foodbank drive is on again, on Saturday, November 30. Friends of the Ōtaki Foodbank are looking for volunteers to help deliver flyers, collect food items on the day and sort them afterwards. Contact Don at 027 423 6487 if you can help.
A Levin bus – who knew?
A little known bus service for Ōtaki is the 291 between Waikanae and Levin. It runs only twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It leaves Te Takere in Levin at 9.05am, stops at Manakau, then near 226 Old SHI in Ōtaki at 9.36am, before heading to Waikanae station. Returning from Waikanae at 3pm, it stops near 239 Old SH1 in Ōtaki at 3.26pm, then to Manakau, arriving in Levin at 3.45pm.
Festival of Books next year
A new Kāpiti Festival of Books is to begin next August. KCDC has awarded a grant to local creative writing programme provider Writers Practice to set up the festival. It is expected to become self-supporting within two or three years and grow into a major annual arts activity. For more, email welcome@writerspractice.nz
Grants for Ōtaki clubs
Ōtaki Sports Club has received $20,000 in the latest round of grants from NZ Community Trust. The club will use the money for a solar system. Ōtaki Surf Life Saving Club also received $15,000 for a bi-fold shed door.
Camping and craft expo
Ōtaki Hunting & Fishing and the Ōtaki Market are running a two-day camping and craft expo from 10am-4pm on the weekend of November 2-3 in the park next to RiverStone Cafe. It will showcase camping and outdoor equipment and the latest gear for outdoor enthusiasts. Camping industry experts and suppliers will take part and there will competitions and prizes. Market stalls featuring handcrafted goods and local products will be set up in the adjacents car park, along with food trucks. Live music and family-friendly throughout the day.
Twenty call-outs
Ōtaki’s fire brigade had 20 call-outs in September: five medical; four each for rubbish/grass or scrub, and special services; three were “good intent”; two property fires; and one each to attend a private fire alarm and vehicle accident.
Kite dates set
The 2025 Ōtaki Kite Festival will be on the weekend of March 8-9.