Porirua dominates news
Porirua was never far from the news over the holiday period, with a house fire, major Lotto winner, a dog attack and an assault on a Porirua woman in Adelaide.
The feelgood story just before Christmas was about a man who bought a Powerball ticket from Eastside Four Square in Porirua East and hit the jackpot, scooping $15 million.
Along with the Powerball jackpot, the man won the $250,000 first division prize.
In a fantastic example of keeping his word, the man split the $15m with his best mate after the duo made a pact over a beer years ago.
‘‘I want to share the joy and we know that this will absolutely make his family’s Christmas, as well as ours,’’ he said.
He said he would keep working and buy the car of his dreams.
By contrast, the Stairmand family of Mana faced a terrible holiday season after their house was gutted by fire on Christmas Day.
Damien Stairmand received a horror phone call about the fire about 1pm, only 15 minutes after the family left to visit his mother. The Fire Service said an electrical fault was the likely cause.
Offers of help flooded in and more than $6000 has been raised for the family on Givealittle.
On New Year’s Day, Olga Afanassieva thought she was a goner when she was set upon by two dogs in Cannons Creek.
She was making her way to a bus stop in Mungavin Ave, to head to the beach, when the pitbull terrier and bulldog burst from a property.
She suffered a deep puncture wound on her arm and cuts and bruising to her hands, chest, stomach and legs. The pitbull terrier was impounded.
Also on New Year’s Day, former Porirua woman Liz Newton and her boyfriend Matt Slade were subjected to a random attack by about 30 men in Adelaide.
They were set upon as they waited for an Uber ride about 3.15am.
One Porirua person, Wing Commander Andrew Scott of Whitby, was mentioned in the New Year honours list. He received the New Zealand Distinguished Decoration for services to the Defence Force.