BRIEFS

SIGNS UP

The Kapiti Coast District Council has put up new signs at Paraparaumu Beach in an effort to stop people driving in prohibited zones. The signs have been placed at the boat launching area of the beach to make it clearer people should avoid driving there unless launching or retrieving a boat. More signs are planned for beaches in the rest of the district. Work to upgrade the footpath on the north side of Poplar Ave, between Matai Rd and Glen Rd, is under way. The project involves removing the existing footpath and replacing it with a new 2.5 metre shared path. Work to deliver the new path is expected to take around two to three months. Traffic management is in place to ensure motorists, pedestrians and cyclists can travel safely alongside the work site. The Government will spend $10 million to safeguard some of the country’s most important historical treasures as part of this year’s Budget. That money would go towards increasing the storage capacity and resilience of Archive New Zealand’s collection, Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne said. Dog owners with any changes to their contact details or dog ownership status should ensure that the Horowhenua District Council is notified of these as soon as possible. Dog registration papers will be sent to the lastrecorded address of each dog owner in the last week of June. Former inmate Vicki Letele has lost her battle with stomach cancer, passing away on Monday night, her brother says. The 36-year-old mother of three was released on compassionate grounds from the Auckland Region Women’s Correction Facility last November. She was eight months into a three-year, two-month sentence for mortgage fraud. Her brother Dave Letele paid tribute to her on his Facebook page: ‘‘My beautiful sister lost her battle tonight. She put up one of the strongest fights I have ever seen.’’ Her symptoms emerged within weeks of starting her sentence. Her release followed public support and protests outside the prison, after the Parole Board initially declined to let her go home.

POPLAR PAVEMENT UPGRADES FOR ARCHIVES NZ DOG DETAILS RELEASED INMATE DIES AWARD FINALISTS

Horowhenua College’s Rangatahi Ora programme has seen them named a regional finalist for the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards. The programme aims to improve enjoyment in learning among Maori student,s so that their academic potential can be realised. The programme is focused on te ao Maori and provides opportunities for Rangatahi to work alongside students in neighbouring schools as strong role models.