Fun day all about children
Fun, family, food and fun activities were a great combination for Kaitaia’s 2019 Children’s Day.
Held at the Kaitaia Memorial Park and Town Pools last Saturday, the event was co-ordinated by Te Ru¯nanga O Te Rarawa with the theme ‘Putting tamariki first’.
The park and pools were a buzz with a number of wha¯nau turning out to enjoy and celebrate a great day, co-ordinator Stacey Reddy said.
The event included stalls with activities provided for tamariki by Shine on Kaitaia, youth leadership group Arotahi, plus providers Far North REAP, Te Hiku Hauora, Building Safer Communities, Plunket, Whiria Te Muka, Salvation Army and NZ Police.
The stage was a major attraction with Te Rarawa’s “outstanding” MC Mihi Henare, keeping tamariki and wha¯nau entertained throughout the fun day.
Sound tech Derek Ashley ensured everything ran smoothly.
Entertainer Miss Kihi was a special guest for the day, while vocalist Canary Herbert got everyone into the groove with a couple of songs.
The tug-of-war was a hit, with parents eager to compete against community providers, along with three-legged races and other activities delivered by the Social Workers in Schools team.
Free
food —
including The Kaitaia Memorial Park and Town Pools were overflowing with family for the Children’s Day celebration.
sausages, fresh fruit and cold water — were available most of the day courtesy of Bells Produce, Oranga Tamariki, Work and Income and Kaitaia Police.
Giveaways and spot prizes were also a plenty thanks to the generous donations and sponsorship received by Noel Leeming, Open the Curtains, The Warehouse, Kaitaia Family Budgeting Service and The Men’s Shed, Sadie Tahitahi, Far North Surf Shop and Mauri.
The event was also supported by Far North District
Council, Liquor King (who provided a chiller), Toll Group and CBEC.
“It was undeniable this was a day of celebration for our tamariki, with smiles everywhere you looked,” Ms Reddy said.
“Te Rarawa would like to thank and acknowledge everyone who contributed, participated and played a key role in making the Children’s Day a success for our community, wha¯nau and, most importantly, our tamariki.” Five unsealed Far North roads are to collectively undergo $1 million of sealing, funded entirely by ratepayers.
Normally, new sealing attracts a subsidy from the NZ Transport Agency, but the agency’s criteria are very strict, and many unsealed roads don’t reach the required threshold, so last year the Far North District Council voted to spend $1 million of its own funds each year for the next 10 years on seal extensions when it adopted its long-term plan 2018-28.
Councillors decided in December which roads would get seal extensions this year. Contracts were awarded in January, and work is scheduled for completion before June.
Mayor John Carter said the roads had been chosen using a priority matrix developed for the 2019 budget allocation. Decisions were based on the presence of schools, marae, health centres and sports facilities. High levels of forestry traffic and dust, the number of homes, number of complaints received and whether roads were used as detour routes were also taken into account.
“For future allocations, we will ask the Northland Transportation Alliance to independently develop a prioritisation matrix that compares roading needs district-wide,” Mr Carter said, adding the council understood that sealing was a priority for many residents.
“Like them, I would like to see all the district’s roads sealed. Unfortunately, the financial burden for ratepayers would be crippling, adding up to $14,000 to each rates bill. In the meantime, this programme of unsubsidised road sealing will bring some relief to families living on roads that just fall short of NZTA funding criteria.”
The sealing programme for 2018/19 was: Okahu Rd (done). Fairburn Rd, RAPID numbers 9028 to 10327; Pawarenga Rd, 200m at RAPID number 1207; Otangaroa Rd, RAPID numbers 6006 to 6284; Punakitere Loop Rd, RAPID numbers 3060 to 3160, 4685 to 5035.