Even the appearance of an All Blacks captain couldn’t overshadow a special night for Hinga Gardiner. Hinga was honoured with life membership of the Gazbos Golden Oldies Sport Club at the club’s annual dinner on Saturday September 12 . The dinner – with numbers restricted to only 100 because of Covid-19 – was at the Rāhui Rugby Club and... Keep Reading
Give tamariki a space where they can have status By Pera Barrett In a recent Paperback Guerrillas podcast kōrero, I talked with world champion DJ Spell. As well as being the best in the world at DJing, Spell does a lot of other things (Māori tutor, beat-maker, videographer and more), and I wondered if his success in the world of DJing... Keep Reading
If there’s one thing Ōtaki can count on in times such as this, it’s our community. We’re in this together, and we’ll get through it together. We’ll support, we’ll be kind, we’ll laugh and we’ll cry. We’re in tough times and there’s worse still to come. Jobs are being lost and... Keep Reading
Most people naturally see themselves as ordinary and not particularly special. No doubt the citizens of any town or city also see their place in similar light. So it’s little wonder that most people, and most towns, achieve little of note. It makes me think of a quirky thing from childhood. It was a recited response to the question, “where... Keep Reading
When I was a child my family moved a lot. I was raised in Wellington and I think it’s fair to say I had a pretty typical “city kid” upbringing. We seemed to move every couple of years, but it never bothered me as we didn’t travel far and I could stay at school with my friends. The only downside of this arrangement was that I never felt... Keep Reading
David Pritchard was farewelled at Southwards in Paraparaumu on November 7 at a big funeral where mourners spilled into the foyer. It was a sign of his huge respect among business people, workers, colleagues and friends. (The following is the full eulogy as given at David’s funeral by his son, Sam.) I thought I would start with a short list... Keep Reading
James Spiers, or Jim as he was better known, was a huge supporter of Rāhui Rugby Club, always giving generously of his time and money to help out, and to improve the club and its facilities. He died on September 22, drawing tributes from the wider rugby fraternity. Jim was the only son of Karori (Kori) and Muriel (Tootie) Spiers. He was born in... Keep Reading
E kore au e ngaro, he kākano i ruia mai i Rangiātea. I will never be lost, for I am a seed sown in Rangiātea*. I read “ruia” in this whakataukī+ as meaning the foundation and contributing factors in a seed’s potential. A couple of generations before me, our people hunted and fished to share. They would string up the tuna or herring catch... Keep Reading
For thousands of students, Janice Brown has been synonymous with Ōtaki College – never one without the other. The genial senior dean has not only provided a classroom education, but perhaps more importantly, a sympathetic ear and sound advice that’s got many students through some difficult times. Janice’s first assignment... Keep Reading
She was born in Ōtaki, went to Ōtaki School and played for Rāhui – now she’s one of New Zealand rugby’s rising stars. Kiki Tahere was selected early this year for the Black Ferns sevens development squad. It’s already resulted in games against touring Chinese and French teams – and would have meant a trip to Japan in February to play... Keep Reading
Fifty-four bikes, helmets, pumps, and even a new bike track. No wonder the kids at Ōtaki School were happy. The kids might not have appreciated the importance of it, but the dignitaries certainly did. Among those attending were South Korean Ambassador Seung-bae Yeo, Kāpiti Mayor K Gurunathan, and members of the K-Force Association (Korean... Keep Reading
I like road trips. It’s a great time to ponder the state of things and cogitate. The roads are windy and interesting and every corner and crest of a hill reveals a fresh vista. And stops in small towns are a highlight. There’s always a place for a nice cuppa and date scone. Small towns in New Zealand have a different pace of life and... Keep Reading
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