You may think that Khandallah Pool is cold now but did you know that it used to be filled by cool mountain water A suggestion was made to the local council to set up public baths in the suburb of Khandallah to provide residents with a modern way of swimming The idea was put on hold for a few years until the Khandallah Progressive Association was created where the chairman Captain Malcolm Galloway began campaigning for a pool to be built into Khandallah. It was around this time that Wellington City Council had taken ownership of the Khandallah Domain and were encouraging the community to share their thoughts on the future of the space It was decided in a public meeting that the swimming pool would be the ideal option for the domain as the catchment area was the only feasible location for it due to the access to fresh water proximity to local schools and sunny position. the swimming pool was open to residents of the suburb during the holidays Hundreds of people came to indulge in the cool mountain water which flowed through the pool A Dominion article from 31 December 1924 states that “the depth of water is just a little too great for the three-year-olds but later it is to be reduced by a little filling of sand which will provide a miniature beach” but due to the depth proving to be insufficient local swimming enthusiasts approached the Council about making the pool deeper so that racing could be possible. Work continued through the end of the 1925 summer season to raise the wall at one end of the pool A ticket box office was also put in place. the pool was ready and officially opened by Mayor Norwood in November 1925 Captain Galloway from the Khandallah Progressive Association was the first to enter "with an excellent dive from the high-diving board and swim [of] the length of the pool" To celebrate the pool’s 100th year of operation we are holding an event at the Khandallah Pool and Park this January. Check out the event on Facebook for more information The oldest pool in Wellington is tucked away in Thorndon – but did you know it used to be located where the port on Aotea Quay is now figures and colourful stories of our local roads Not many people are aware of the threatened native plant species garden in the Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā A Wellington City Councillor says a popular outdoor pool which turns 100 this year should be able to see out another 60 years its future is uncertain as the council reviews its budget The Khandallah Summer Pool opened in 1925 and locals are hosting a 100th birthday garden party on Sunday A planned upgrade for the pool is now one of 14 projects and plans on the chopping block as the council overhauls its long-term plan Wellington city councillor Diane Calvert said the original $12 million upgrade was "over-inflated" and a technical advisory group was now considering how it could be done within the $7.1 million budget that had been set aside for it "No one wanted to spend that amount of money but there's a lot of engineers and designers who believe we can do something to the pool - keep it at most simplest for approximately half that cost." The pool's future had looked uncertain in the last few years, and it was facing demolition after estimates to rebuild it came in over budget Locals wanted a simple pool "with a bit of heating and a bit of hot water in the showers" so the season could be extended "The plan previously was pretty much gold-plated and and it changed the whole vibe of the pool Basically people want a simple summer pool that has a bit of heat in it "No one wants anything that's more than that." Khandallah Summer Pool was the capital's last remaining swimming pool in an outdoor "There's a lot of people in Wellington that have very fond memories of that pool and it was built by the community 100 years ago and it hasn't had any money spent on it for 60 years So if we can get another 60 years out of it Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday City councillors could sell off the land underneath some CBD buildings to pay for the council's insurance risk Wellington city councillors have voted on a proposal to cut funding to the Khandallah Pool reduce the budget for graffiti management and stop the annual fireworks display shutting a library and rates hikes are all on the table at a pivotal city council meeting Wellington's Khandallah Pool is getting on in years at 96 it has a leaky tank and earthquake-prone buildings Councillor Diane Calvert talks to Jesse about the plight of the facility Tory Whanau launches Golden Mile project yesterday Become a Wellington.Scoop Supporter » Scam alerts: we’ve seen an increase in scam texts and emails claiming to be from us, asking for payments.Check our example scams or report a scam to us NZTA App: our mobile app provides a simple and secure way to access your driver licence and vehicle information.Learn more and download the NZTA app The highway’s southbound lanes will be closed for two nights of resurfacing – Sunday Closing the road at night when there are fewer vehicles on the road reduces disruption and ensures workers are kept safe on this steep section of road A local road detour will be available for light vehicles only They can take the Johnsonville southbound offramp and detour to the city via Johnsonville Drivers travelling to the Hutt Valley on State Highway 1 should detour via State Highway 58 and Haywards Hill Heavy vehicles cannot take the Johnsonville/Khandallah route because of a height restriction on the Johnsonville underpass They must use State Highway 58 to Haywards Hill and State Highway 2 Hutt Valley to get to the city NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance thank the public for their patience and cooperation while this essential state highway maintenance is completed View larger map [PDF, 344 KB] NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi works to create transport solutions for all New Zealanders – from helping new drivers earn their licences to leading safety campaigns to investing in public transport The 52-year-old teacher appears in the Wellington District Court By Lauren Crimp of RNZ A woman charged with murdering an elderly Wellington resident has lost her fight for name suppression - but her identity will remain secret for now Helen Gregory was found dead in her Khandallah home in January after suffering what police described as a “violent act” A 52-year-old woman accused of killing her pleaded not guilty to murder and a charge of obtaining thousands of dollars by deception in July with her lawyer arguing making her name public risked sparking a “firestorm” of media coverage that could prejudice perceptions and risk an unfair trial But the suppression of her identity will continue until October 11 so she can “make any necessary preparations or adjustments in advance of publication occurring” fought to keep the accused’s name secret at a hearing earlier in September There would be a “firestorm” of media coverage that could prejudice perceptions suggesting the level of interest surrounding the case would be similar to that of Auckland eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne Justice Grau said this case and its “level of intrigue” was not comparable and publicity would not be “relentless and hostile” “There will naturally be more extensive reporting when the trial starts and it does not follow that it will necessarily be ‘minute by minute’.” The accused would not be subject to extreme hardship if her name was public and there was no risk of prejudicing a fair trial The woman’s husband also sought name suppression with lawyers citing his vulnerable mental and physical state which had been worsened by the extreme stress and pressure of the events his lawyer Sam Campbell said naming either party risked casting suspicion on the husband - and gossip and rumours circulating in their small community - despite an absence of charges against him But Justice Grau also found the accused’s husband would not suffer extreme hardship Justice La Hood confirmed the trial would begin on June 23 next year Gregory’s death was initially treated as unexplained but was soon upgraded to a homicide investigation Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said a post mortem showed “Helen died as a result of a violent act” and was described as a “kind and caring friend to many” Craig Dunshea - who owns eatery Dunshea’s Deli - told RNZ he had known Gregory for decades and said she was a keen churchgoer who loved her family lovely Christian lady who was living in the twilight of her years,” he said Khandallah residents were relieved - but still had a lot of questions Former MP and Khandallah resident Peter Dunne said speculation and rumours had been circulating “By all accounts [Gregory] was a quiet woman who kept to herself It just didn’t seem right so that’s what gave rise to a lot of the concern about what was really going on here.” Sign up to The Daily H a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night A police raid at a property in an affluent Wellington suburb has come as a surprise to residents who witnessed it Two men were arrested on Thursday after a series of police searches in the suburbs of Khandallah and Hataitai that saw cash Police have claimed the men were selling a significant amount of cocaine via social media and encrypted applications Khandallah residents reported seeing a flurry of police activity for several hours on Lucknow Terrace with plain clothed officers ferrying brown paper bags into unmarked cars Residents said the targeted house was known for its "expensive-looking One witness said they did not hear anything out of the ordinary Residents spoken to by RNZ said the street was a quiet one with only the occasional disruption from people gathering at the nearby Nairnville Park They said the majority of houses were owner-occupied though believed the one raided by police had been recently rented out so it was a surprise to see half a dozen cops "piling brown paper bags" out of the house and they were in plain clothes with the full police vest "They were just diving in and out of the house looking very serious and bringing out armfuls of stuff The resident said the cars stood out on the street describing one as an "American muscle car - black with a green racing stripe" - and the other as a "big white ute" police confirmed two men had been arrested following a series of warrants executed in Khandallah and Hataitai and 9 kilograms of cannabis with a street value of more than $75,000 was also seized in the searches Police said the searches came after a two-month investigation into the supply of drugs in Wellington with police alleging the men were selling cocaine via social media - reaching an "audience of up to 500 people" face charges related to the supply of cocaine One of the men also faces a money laundering charge A 29-year-old man appeared in Wellington District Court on Friday and was remanded in custody A 31-year-old man is due to appear on Monday Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday Two men were arrested and drugs and cash seized in a series of search warrants targeting the supply of drugs in Wellington A woman accused of murdering an elderly Wellington resident is fighting to keep her name suppressed Helen Gregory, who was 79, was found dead in her Khandallah home in January Defence counsel Hunter de Groot told Wellington High Court on Friday that naming the woman risked sparking a "firestorm" of media coverage that could prejudice perceptions in the lead up to her trial He said any public interest served by naming the accused could flow in both directions and the ultimate public interest should be in assuring a fair trial Justice Karen Grau questioned de Groot's comparison of the level of interest surrounding the case as being similar to the trial of Auckland doctor Philip Polkinghorne She doubted "minute by minute" coverage of the events would be possible in the pre-trial stages of the case The woman's husband also sought name suppression with lawyers citing his vulnerable mental and physical state which had been worsened by the extreme stress and pressure of the events Lawyer Sam Campbell - acting for the husband - said naming either party risked casting suspicion on the husband despite an absence of charges against the man Campbell said while accredited media could be expected to responsibly confirm he wasn't facing charges that would not be the reflected in gossip and rumours circulating about the small community where Gregory had lived Justice Karen Grau reserved her decision and trial is scheduled to begin in June 2026 The woman accused of Helen Gregory's murder in the Wellington suburb of Khandallah has pleaded not guilty The 79-year-old was found dead in her Baroda Street home in January after what police called a "violent act" A 52-year-old woman, whose identity is suppressed, faces one charge of murder and one of obtaining thousands of dollars by deception She remains on electronically monitored bail A trial date had been set for early next year but the Crown has asked for a postponement due to scheduling conflicts faces one charge of murder and one count of obtaining thousands of dollars by deception A 52-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with last month's murder of Wellington woman Helen Gregory A woman accused of murdering an elderly Wellington resident in January will face trial by jury in June 2025 Helen Gregory, 79, was found dead in her Khandallah home after suffering what police described as a "violent act" The 52-year-old woman accused of killing her has interim name suppression In July she pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder and one charge of obtaining thousands of dollars by deception The woman was first scheduled to be tried early next year however that was pushed out to June 2026 due to scheduling conflicts But at the High Court in Wellington on Friday Justice Dale La Hood confirmed the trial would begin on 23 June The woman's lawyer Hunter de Groot fought to keep her name secret in a suppression hearing last week He told the High Court naming her risked sparking a "firestorm" of media coverage that could prejudice perceptions and risk an unfair trial The woman's husband also sought name suppression with lawyers citing his vulnerable mental and physical state which had been worsened by the extreme stress and pressure of the events His lawyer Sam Campbell said naming either party risked casting suspicion on the husband - and gossip and rumours circulating in their small community - despite an absence of charges against him Police have now identified the woman who was found dead in the Wellington suburb of Khandallah on Wednesday Helen Gregory was found dead in her home in January was found dead in her home in January after what police called a "violent act" One of the men accused of supplying drugs on social media following police raids in two affluent Wellington suburbs will continue to keep his name secret for now The 29-year-old and another man were arrested late last month after a series of police searches in Khandallah and Hataitai that saw cash He has denied 15 charges including the supply and possession of drugs The man elected a trial by jury and was granted interim name suppression earlier in December which was continued during a bail hearing on Thursday at Wellington District Court His lawyer's argument for permanent name suppression will be heard in April so interim name suppression will continue until then They claimed the men were selling a significant amount of cocaine via social media and encrypted applications reaching an "audience of up to 500 people" During the raids they seized about $50,000 in cash and 9kg of cannabis with a street value of more than $75,000 Residents who witnessed the Khandallah raid on Lucknow Terrace reported seeing a flurry of police activity for several hours They said the targeted house was known for its "expensive-looking Teenager Alfie Picker feels lied to by the Wellington City Council over a proposal to close the local pool he and his mates love visiting in the summer His mum wonders what a planned 18 per cent rates hike is paying for if not “bread and butter” community facilities like Khandallah Pool The outdoor unheated pool is almost 100 years old and is treasured by residents; however The council proposes closing it rather than spending $11.7 million to rebuild it successfully wrote to previous Wellington Mayor Andy Foster urging him to keep the pool open when the council last considered closing it only two years ago the council issued a press release titled “Khandallah Pool’s future secured” announcing the decision to rebuild the pool for $8.05m the pool is back on the chopping block after the cost to rebuild it increased by more than $3m “I thought we were going to have many more years of fun here .. despite what many of the locals have been telling them they don’t seem to be changing their decision also has a message for the council: “All of us love this pool The pool’s future is part of a budget crunch as the council moves to spend more money on water infrastructure increasing its capital spending on pipes to $1.2 billion in its long-term plan The council had previously considered cost savings such as reducing library and swimming pool opening hours but Mayor Tory Whanau quickly backtracked on the proposal after an outcry from residents “Libraries and swimming pools are part of the fabric of our communities I know how much they mean to people,” Whanau said at the time described by one resident as an essential community facility was not included in the mayor’s change of heart The plan to close it comes as residents nationwide scrutinise what their councils are spending money on amid record rates hikes ratepayers are facing an 18 per cent increase that includes a levy to build a new sludge facility Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has said he expects councils to prioritise the essential services ratepayers expect and critical infrastructure over nice-to-haves and a leaking tank mean maintaining the Khandallah Pool or replacing it like for like are not options and improving flood mitigation from a nearby stream is $4.5m plus annual operating costs of $340,000 John McGrath has lived in Khandallah for 20 years and his children loved swimming at the pool growing up The proposal to close it had come as a complete shock to the community He recognised the council was under financial pressure but said the community wanted only minor upgrades to protect the pool’s future “We understand the council has big infrastructure pressing needs but you don’t pay for billion-dollar water assets .. by stripping communities of single-digit million-dollar facilities “This is posturing by the council making little minor decisions on the edges of the fundamental decisions they need to make to be able to actually fund water and transport infrastructure.” McGrath argued the earthquake-prone buildings were not a reason to shut the pool considering the deadlines to strengthen them expired in 2034 Flooding from the nearby stream was a problem that would need to be dealt with regardless of the pool and it was disingenuous to include hazard mitigation in the total cost McGrath said the pool didn’t need to be shut down so quickly and urged councillors to work with the community on a “halfway house” solution “For the council to shut a much-loved community facility in the face of such community support in its centenary year that takes some special decision-making by the council.” Council chief operating officer James Roberts said work to fix any of the pool’s problems was significant and would trigger the need for building consent “Section 71 of the Building Act requires adequate provision to protect the land and facility from the natural hazards before a building consent could be obtained “Expert architects and engineers have identified the need to widen the stream and lift the height of the concourse in order to provide the required protection “The flood mitigation works are a core requirement of any project to build a new facility which is why they are included as part of the estimated project costs.” Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau said the council’s focus was having a decent pool network for Wellington Keith Spry Pool in Johnsonville was 3km from central Khandallah and Thorndon Pool was 6.2km away Khandallah Pool attendance had been declining since 2009 and it was the least-used facility of all the summer pools in the region “Council has and will always continue to provide a range of facilities and services for residents But it is important to remember this long-term plan has been put together in an extremely challenging environment and has involved some extremely tough decisions.” Whanau said she was engaging with the Save Khandallah Pool Group and met with members last week to discuss whether there was a cheaper alternative Councillors will decide on the pool at the end of this month Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist A man facing multiple drugs charges following police raids in an affluent Wellington suburb has denied the allegations in Wellington District Court Two men were arrested last week following searches in Khandallah and Hataitai in which cash Police have claimed the men were supplying drugs via social media and encrypted applications to an audience of up to 500 A 29-year-old man pleaded not guilty to 15 charges - including the supply and possession of drugs and one of money laundering - and elected a jury trial on Thursday morning Judge Tania Warburton granted him interim name suppression until a bail hearing next week Two men were arrested after raids in Khandallah and Hataitai saw cash A man accused of selling drugs in one of Wellington's most affluent suburbs has been remanded in custody The woman accused of murdering an elderly Khandallah resident will continue to be held in prison while she waits to hear if her application for bail will be granted was found dead in her Baroda Street home on 24 January after what police described as a "violent act" A 52-year-old woman, whose identity remains suppressed She has been remanded in custody since her arrest on 11 February The murder charge was laid after police searched the Porirua landfill for items they believed had been discarded following the death The financial deception charge was added last month Details of a bail hearing held at Wellington High Court on Tuesday cannot be published under the law Justice Dale La Hood said he would make a decision on the woman's application at a later date Gregory's obituary described her as a dearly loved mother and mother-in-law The arrest was welcomed by Khandallah locals but questions remain over whether her death means elderly community members need to be looked after more Police investigating the death of Helen Gregory are looking for "items that could significantly advance" the homicide investigation Report a problem We’re working on a plan to redevelop Khandallah Pool and park entrance Khandallah Pool is a much-loved outdoor community swimming facility that first opened in 1925 with limitations around carparking and access The pool requires significant work to bring it up to current aquatic facility standards and the buildings are earthquake-prone and require remediation by January 2030 The required building consent would necessitate mitigation of the identified natural hazards of the site Following community consultation on options for the future of the pool and Performance Committee agreed on 30 May 2024 to keep the pool open for at least a year The Committee agreed to establish a new advisory group to consider an engineering review and to identify whether a cheaper fix of the pool is possible than the cost estimates received by the Council (2023 cost estimates and technical reports are detailed below) For more information, see the November 2024 update Note: The Khandallah Pool redevelopment project could potentially be impacted by the separate Long-term Plan amendment process which is underway from November 2024-June 2025 Following the Council’s decision in May to proceed with a technical review of the options for seismic remediation and upgrade of Khandallah Pool council officers are procuring an independent infrastructure engineering consultant from the All of Government (AoG) panel to assist the Council has set up an Advisory Group with three members from the Council and three members from the community The selected consultant will engage with the Advisory Group members about their knowledge and findings on the matter A report will be provided to the Council in early 2025 to determine the next steps and Performance Committee voted to include funding for a landscape (non-pool) option in Wellington’s Draft Long-term Plan 2024-34 Council officers outlined in committee papers that the combination of high construction costs and low pool usage would contribute to a low value outcome for the level of investment required for a new Khandallah Pool View Council report from 15 February 2024 (pages 23-25) (35.7MB PDF) The cost of $11.7m to rebuild the pool within the physical site constraints is now more expensive than when it was considered by the Council in 2022 ($8.05m) This estimated cost could result in a potential increase in ratepayer subsidy per swim from $25 per swim (in the 2022/23 year) to $60-$80 per swim The Council is therefore proposing to close the pool and landscape the site and creating a new entranceway into Khandallah Park This would be designed with accessibility in mind to support family and community gatherings and events Work to date on the concept plan includes large flat grassed areas for play Current estimates to deliver this option are $4.5m Annual operating costs are estimated at $0.34m Following the identification of significant site challenges (see June 2023 update) we’ve received a quantity surveyor report which gives updated cost estimates for two options for the site redevelopment - a new pool option and a landscape (non-pool) option We’ve used data-modelling to also estimate the annual operating costs for each option The Community Reference Group for the project will discuss the two options with council officers at a November reference group meeting The Council is working towards setting Wellington City’s budget for the next 10 years in our Long-term Plan 2024-34 The Khandallah Pool redevelopment project will be considered as part of this planning and prioritisation process A Draft Long-term Plan will be shared and open for community feedback, before the final Long-term Plan 2024-34 is prepared and approved in June 2024. More information on this process is available on the Let's Talk website See the full Khandallah Pool Quantity Surveyor Report - Cost estimate (240KB PDF) The findings of the Khandallah Pool site assessment report identify significant challenges and costs associated with mitigating resilience and vulnerability (see the full report below) Overcoming these challenges greatly reduces the useful available space for development of a new pool Rebuilding a similar pool on the same site won’t be viable due to site constraints stream flooding mitigation requirements and slope instability risks associated with the adjacent hill A detailed options assessment will commence to explore what the relative merits risks and costs are of the various options that the Council could now pursue given the new technical advice We commissioned several technical reports to better understand the existing site conditions at Khandallah Pool The most significant findings being due to the risk of flooding from the nearby Tyers Stream and slope instability of the adjacent hill The site for any new pool would need to be reduced from the existing footprint and raised vertically by 1.8m to mitigate the flood risk investment is required to improve core infrastructure to support the build of any new pool installation of a dedicated transformer and installation of below ground attenuation tanks The report also highlighted parking constraints due to the changes required at the site Council discussed seven concepts of new investment for the future of the pool increasing the level of service by a full rebuild a potential commercial partnership for hot pools After undertaking economic and environmental feasibility assessments more detail was provided on three options: Council resolved to ‘increase the level of service’ which meant rebuilding the full structure (option 2) subject to further detailed design and community (place and interest) engagement To inform detailed design the following site research was undertaken: a topographical survey These works identified several physical restrictions and risks at the site which mean that either of option 1 (maintaining the status quo with the current level of service) or option 2 (increase the level of service) would require a rebuild of the pool structure Wellingtonians were invited to provide feedback on the future of Khandallah Pool in April and May 2024 via the Long-term Plan 2024-34 consultation process we engaged with Khandallah community representatives and stakeholders via a Community Reference Group We provided and sought feedback on the outcomes of technical site investigations and the high-level costing of pool and landscape concepts Meetings with the Community Reference Group have concluded Feedback included a range of opinions from those wishing to proceed with a pool rebuild to those in favour of closing the pool to save costs and improve environmental outcomes through a better park entrance and landscaping Would you pay more to live in Khandallah than Ngaio Data from Corelogic suggests buyers do - and the premium paid for a sought-after suburb can be hundreds of thousands of dollars more than its neighbours Corelogic head of research Nick Goodall looked at the median value of three-bedroom houses in neighbouring suburbs He found Epsom had a median of $1.92 million compared to a median of $1.52m in next-door Greenlane St Heliers had a median $1.7m compared to $1.12m in Glen Innes Mt Eden was a median $1.91m compared to $1.07m in Mt Roskill Remuera was $1.8m compared to $1.62m in Meadowbank and Ponsonby was $2.4m compared to $2.04m in Grey Lynn Khandallah was $1.07m compared to $965,000 in Ngaio I'm not suggesting the only difference between the two suburbs is the suburb name but it may be a factor which influences the value." Other influences were likely to be school zones as well as the age and quality of the properties which has previously been cited as an example of the suburb divide number two is listed in property records as being St Heliers with an estimated value of $1.59m and number four is listed as Glen Innes with an estimate of $1.37m number two is about 30 sq m bigger and on a bigger section People who lived close to the neighbouring suburb would sometimes choose to claim they lived there for extra "prestige" when you blur those lines where they're close to the border line people are quick to claim they're in one suburb or the other There's that element of vanity suburbs - if somewhere does have a bit of a better name of course you're going to claim it." Property coach Andrew Duncan agreed school zones were the main driver of price differences between nearby areas particularly when they appealed to young families But he said the style of housing was also a big factor "St Heliers versus Glen Innes is a good example - my in-laws live in St Heliers so I know the area reasonably well "They are both very similar suburbs in terms of amenities and distance to town transport… but Glen Innes has very different construction styles - more smaller 1960s three-bedroom homes of similar design on larger sections that are slowly being developed with townhouses versus St Heliers which has a lot of large architecturally designed family homes with pools He said there would be some value purely tied to a property address to be in a suburb that is considered more valuable largely as they hope to benefit from increased capital gain over time." He said there was also an element of awareness that drove the popularity of suburbs "Is the suburb well known by people moving from a different area Which suburb do they first look up online?" He said suburbs that were bigger or near a motorway exit would be more popular in terms of search volumes online "It takes buyers a bit of time to learn all the smaller suburbs in their target area if they are moving from another city Owners with properties in suburbs that aren't well known outside their immediate area should ideally invest more in marketing and hire a salesperson with a large database to ensure all buyers are aware their property is for sale." Trade Me customer director Gavin Lloyd said some people would want to live in a well-known area He said the double grammar zone of Epsom was a big drawcard for buyers Property prices are beginning to recover with about a third of 924 suburbs throughout the country having at least a small increase in value Homeowners in some of the wealthiest suburbs in the country have seen their home values drop an estimated $300,000 or more over the past year A number of Auckland's lowest socio-economic areas have been hit hard The property market's recovery is fading as prices start falling in a growing number of places Wellington City Council commissioned a technical report to better understand the existing site conditions at Khandallah Pool and park area Renewal and upgrade work on the Nairnville Park play area in Khandallah is set to start with the site due to re-open to the public in late August New bike and walking paths around Evans Bay are making use of recycled materials and providing the means to get about in climate-friendly ways A community-led project has culminated in a stunning mural that stretches around the surface of a water tank in Karori Police have launched a homicide investigation after the death of a woman in the Wellington suburb of Khandallah on Wednesday In a statement, police said Helen Gregory, 79, was found dead in her home at Baroda Street about 11.50pm on 24 January Initially police had been treating her death as unexplained but on Sunday Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said the post mortem showed "Helen died as a result of a violent act" "Our thoughts remain with Helen's family and friends at this difficult time." A scene examination also remains ongoing in the area and police staff are expected to remain there for another day or two one neighbour told RNZ they were surprised they had not heard anything on the quiet street "I was talking to the other neighbours around the back and they were like 'We were up at that time .. "Because you can hear everything on this street but just having something like that happen it's not very - it doesn't feel too good." They said they believed a woman lived alone in the house at the scene of the investigation Another resident told RNZ nothing like this had happened in the area before Officers knocked on his door to ask if he had seen or heard any disturbance overnight but he did not know anything was wrong until he heard the news this morning Police are appealing for the public's help with their investigation and want to hear from anyone who saw or had communication with Helen in the days before she was found dead This includes any of her friends or contacts who have not yet been in touch with police "We also want to hear from anyone that was in Baroda Street on Wednesday 24 January and who may have seen any unusual activity or seen anyone they didn't recognise as resident in the area." Anyone with information can report it to police on 105 or make a report online at 105.police.govt.nz A resident of a quiet Wellington cul-de-sac where police are investigating an unexplained death says it's been "scary" for neighbours this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read A mother says she is starting to see her daughter’s light shine through again but the damage caused by bullying at a Wellington primary school will be there forever They are concerned little has changed since they all decided to remove their children from the school in recent years. “Persistent bullying and harassment” led to some of their children becoming so anxious they required counselling The school board says these incidents were not ignored at the time investigations were undertaken and there were consequences where appropriate principal and staff remain committed to continual improvement in this space” school board presiding member Lucy Woollaston said “We continue to welcome concerns questions and feedback and will work through these carefully so that each family feels fully assured about what we have in place to safeguard health safety and well-being for each and every child Parents the Herald has spoken to wanted to remain anonymous to protect their children One mother removed her youngest child from the school in 2022 after another child allegedly isolated them from friendship groups The situation came to a head one day when her two children physically lashed out at the child The siblings spent lunchtime in the principal’s office and were later made to write apology letters The mum told the Herald she acknowledged her children were wrong to lash out and agreed there should be consequences for their actions she felt there should also be consequences for the other child involved in the incident She and her husband complained in writing to a teacher and principal Tania Savage but they say they never received a response “We do not believe the school dealt with our concerns in an appropriate manner” they didn’t take into consideration the wider issue and behaviour leading up to this event instead laid the blame entirely on our children acting like they were the issue.” The mum said she didn’t escalate her complaint at the time because she felt after several conversations with the principal “Like the incident was an inconvenience and extra admin issue for her to deal with and it was easier for her to lay the blame on our children as opposed to looking at the wider issue of bullying playing out in the background.” Their eldest child also planned to see out the school year and they didn’t want to “rock the boat” they removed their youngest child from the school for mental health issues that developed after the incident “Our child couldn’t sleep and was withdrawn “They couldn’t understand why they had stood up to someone who had tormented them and their sibling and while they appreciated the way they reacted wasn’t the right thing to do they couldn’t understand why they were being punished but there was no apology to them for enduring the bad behaviour that led up to this event.” The parents said they deeply regretted not advocating more for their children at the time “I wanted to share what happened to us and am hoping others come forward surely the more people who speak up the more it will be taken seriously.” Another mum wrote to the school board earlier this year to complain about separate instances of “persistent bullying and harassment” at the school between 2016 and 2022 Her daughter was bullied from the age of 5 “An older child would take artwork from her bag and rip it up in front of her He physically assaulted her by knocking her to the ground The mum said her daughter was later bullied by two other children who were not reprimanded for their actions “Threatening her with telling on her and that she’d be in trouble Blocking her path so she could not get to class after breaks.” One teacher would purposefully exclude her from lessons by handing out worksheets to everyone in the class apart from her daughter because she “wouldn’t do the work anyway” Woollaston said the teacher denied ever making that remark and was “deeply saddened” to think the child had misheard The teacher wished the matter was raised with them at the time by the child or their parents so that the matter could be quickly clarified and assurances given Teachers adapted learning tasks to suit individual students “All of our teachers adapt learning tasks to suit individual students The teacher will often say: ‘You don’t need to do all of the tasks’ “We give students ‘must dos’ and ‘can dos’ (choices) or when particular tasks cause stress we may say: ‘You can choose whether you do this’” The mother alleged the principal wrote down notes about her concerns but failed to act Her daughter developed an anxiety disorder “After a year of therapy and medicine at a financial cost of thousands of dollars we are starting to see her light shine through again But the damage of bullying will always be there When she saw the same bullying happen to her younger son she immediately removed him from St Benedict’s “The difference in him is like night and day and is well supported by teachers across the team.” The mother said her complaint to the board was spurred by a report she read that families were leaving the school to line up other education pathways She wanted the school to know that was not true “Families are leaving because bullying is out of control and no one cares It is not because they want different schooling options for their children.” The mother said she was full of rage when she read the Herald’s story earlier this month about allegations of bullying at the school and wanted to speak out about her own experience “We don’t want to see more kinds go through the same s**t as my kids have gone through.” Another parent removed her child from the school five and a half years ago before Savage started as school principal in 2022 She said she raised concerns verbally and felt the school did nothing to protect her child from another child who was targeting them “This included being throttled and coming home with scratches around on their neck; we were only told what had happened when we raised it.” The parent claimed the same child reportedly brought a knife to school at one point She said the school’s senior management appeared to ignore the problem “St Ben’s is a school that did mainstream well but seemed unable to get the best out of kids who didn’t fit into a perfect box It would seem little has changed since our experience Removing her child from the school was the best thing she could have done The mum called the school hoping to talk to the principal after the Herald’s story was published She wanted to share her family’s experience and raise concerns that it seemed nothing had changed The principal passed on a message that she was sure the mum would understand she was very busy “I felt I then had no choice but to speak up in the hope our experience can help effect change “I wish we had done more at the time but we were focused on getting our child out of the situation.” Woollaston returned her calls to explain what action was being taken against bullying The Herald sent a detailed summary of each parent’s concerns to the school board who started her position as presiding member of the school board this year said the incidents were not ignored at the time and were investigated with consequences where appropriate The board believed everyone should be learning and growing and upskilling and that is what they were trying to encourage at St Benedict’s The Ministry of Education-supported Positive Behaviour 4 Learning framework was introduced last year The KiVa programme was introduced this year- an approach to bullying prevention developed by the University of Turku in Finland “These programmes are challenging to introduce in part because they require a shared understanding and agreement as to what constitutes unacceptable behaviour and other defined terms” we have had to have robust discussions about these shared definitions and we believe this has made us stronger as a team.” The new framework has been introduced to the school community including the shared definitions and consequences This has allowed the school to have open and honest conversations with families with whom they will continue to foster a partnership relationship “We rely on our families to trust us to look after and teach their precious children and we rely on our families to reinforce the values we teach in their homes “We are in this together and we continue to strive to provide a safe exciting learning environment so that our children leave St Benedict’s as empathetic young people with perseverance By RNZ The person accused of murdering a 79-year-old Wellington woman has also been charged with obtaining more than $1000 by deception Helen Gregory was found dead in her Khandallah home on January 24 and the accused was arrested on February 11 At the Wellington District Court on Monday morning the accused - a Paraparaumu-based teacher - did not enter a plea The matter will be heard alongside the murder charge at the High Court in May and interim name suppression kept in place until her next appearance Police said in January they believed her death was an isolated incident An $8.05 million rebuild decision has secured the future of Wellington’s much loved Khandallah outdoor swimming pool for generations to come Yesterday’s meeting of Wellington City Council’s Pūroro Rangaranga Social Cultural and Economic Committee considered three options two of which offered varying degrees of refurbishment however it was the full rebuild including heating of the main pool and installation of a new spa “This was a decision that had to be weighed up carefully and in the final outcome was made for the Onslow suburbs and all Wellington residents as a whole and will prove to be an investment that will contribute to fitness and more children actively engaged and trained in the life aquatic,” said Mayor Andy Foster “Khandallah Pool sits in a beautiful park location much loved by Wellington swimmers teachers and families for its unique setting and atmosphere It’s value in terms of wellbeing is extremely high and our decision recognises that.” “The benefits to Wellington as a whole far outweighed any option not to rebuild or to delay making a decision as was originally recommended,” said Councillor Diane Calvert who has been a long-term advocate for the upgrade. who seconded the proposal to fund the rebuild said the pool is an iconic outdoor facility – and with heating its use can be extended into the cooler months “If anything there’s a growing need for pools around the city – our young people need places where they can learn to be confident and keep themselves safe in the water – but also have fun I have great memories of fun times in the pool when I was younger.” Cr Calvert said there was also a significant groundswell of public feedback in support including a petition of over 500 signatures support by the local MP Greg O'Connor and the many Wellingtonians who commented publicly and wrote to the Council “Ensuring this pool continues for many more generations of Wellingtonians goes to the heart of what councils do - providing community amenities for the people." People in Khandallah are relieved police have arrested and charged a 52-year-old woman for the murder of their fellow resident Helen Gregory The 79-year-old was found dead in her Baroda Street home three weeks ago after what police said was a "violent act" The accused appeared in the Wellington District Court on Tuesday keeping her head bowed and staring down at the floor for most of the proceeding She was granted interim name suppression to protect her right to a fair trial and police are now examining her home Craig Dunshea owns Dunshea's Deli at the bottom of Baroda Street He said the police have done a "fantastic" job on the case and he was pleased an arrest has been made "From everything that the police have issued as far as information regarding their investigation they've always managed to waylay any fear in the community I believe [The arrest] is just going to solidify that comfort level." Dunshea hoped the court proceedings were not drawn out too long because he imagined it has been very difficult for the family Anna from the art gallery said Gregory's death made her worry about her mum who was a similar age and living on her own "I think it makes me feel more comfortable with the situation but I guess questions agreed the community still has a lot of questions Is that something that the community needs to worry about Or is it something we need to be more aware of and make sure we reach out to people who are older in the community or making sure they feel like they can talk to one another if something happens." Former MP and Kandallah resident Peter Dunne said speculation and rumours had been circulating "By all accounts she was a quiet woman who kept to herself It just didn't seem right so that's what gave rise to a lot of the concern about what was really going on here." He said the court proceedings will provide comfort to locals but it will not stop the gossip "Nothing will in these sorts of circumstances but I think it will be seen as part of closure to what was a pretty sad incident for a community that doesn't have these sorts of things happen in it." The accused has been remanded in custody until a hearing next month A 52-year-old Paraparaumu woman has been granted interim name suppression Police officers investigating the violent death of an elderly Wellington woman are focusing on a key five-hour period on the night she died Police investigating the violent death of a Wellington grandmother last week say they are following "strong lines of enquiry" A homicide investigation is under way after 79-year-old Helen Gregory was found dead at her Khandallah home The woman accused of murdering 79-year-old Wellington pensioner Helen Gregory will keep her name secret for now The 52-year-old, listed as a teacher, appeared in the Wellington High Court this morning on a charge of murder. Justice Dale la Hood granted interim name suppression but forbade any reporting of the reasons for name suppression continuing. The matter will be revisited at her next appearance. She did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody to reappear at the end of May. Gregory was found dead at her home in Baroda St, Khandallah, shortly before midnight on January 24. A post-mortem revealed her death was the result of a violent act, police said. Police searched a Porirua landfill in the following days, saying a person of interest was believed to have disposed of items in the hours after Gregory died. Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said at the time the search of specific areas within the landfill could “significantly advance” the inquiry. Neighbours of Gregory’s described her to RNZ as a keen gardener and a quiet woman who kept to herself. One neighbour, who did not want to be identified, told RNZ that Gregory, who had gone to school with their aunty, spent a lot of her time gardening. Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years. The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Greg O'Connor (@gregohariu) In a statement, police said Helen Gregory, 79, was found deceased in her home at Baroda St about 11.50pm on January 24. Initially police had been treating her death as unexplained but on Sunday, Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said the post-mortem showed “Helen died as a result of a violent act”. “Our thoughts remain with Helen’s family and friends at this difficult time.” Over the past several days, police have been conducting inquiries in the Baroda St area. Craig Dunshea, the owner of Dunshea’s Deli at the bottom of Baroda St, said Gregory was a lovely older lady, very fit and healthy for her age, and a churchgoer. She wasn’t a deli goer and only popped into his business about once a year. Dunshea said Gregory had a son and daughter, the latter who he went to school with. A scene examination remains ongoing at the address and police staff are expected to remain there for another day or two. Police are appealing for the public’s help with their investigation, and want to hear from anyone who saw or had communication with Helen Gregory in the days before she was found dead. This includes any of her friends or contacts who have not yet been in touch with police. “We also want to hear from anyone that was in Baroda Street on Wednesday 24 January, and who may have seen any unusual activity, or seen anyone they didn’t recognise as resident in the area,” Leitch said. On Thursday, one neighbour told RNZ they were surprised they had not heard anything on the quiet street. “I was talking to the other neighbours around the back, even closer to us, and they were like, ‘We were up at that time ... we didn’t hear anything, we should be able to hear these things’. “Because you can hear everything on this street, but just having something like that happen, it’s not very - it doesn’t feel too good.” They said they believed a woman lived alone in the house at the scene of the investigation. Another resident told RNZ nothing like this had happened in the area before. Officers knocked on his door to ask if he had seen or heard any disturbance overnight, he said, but he did not know anything was wrong until he heard the news. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Greg O'Connor (@gregohariu) Local MP and former Police Association boss Greg O’Connor visited the street this morning and posted on Instagram “Up visiting the homicide scene in Khandallah this morning and chatting with locals Naturally a bit of anxiety awaiting the outcome of the investigation especially to know if it was a random attack or not I have faith my former colleagues will resolve it quickly clicking “Update Report” and reference the file number 240125/1641 We have upgraded the Box Hill and Station Road intersection to make the area safer and more accessible for pedestrians and all road users previously a T-junction with a pedestrian crossing has now been fully signalised following public engagement The new traffic signals at the Box Hill / Station Road intersection have been working since 16 December 2024. We continue to monitor the intersection to fine-tune performance where needed The construction of Box Hill and Station Road Intersection Improvement started in late June following two letters dropped to residents advising the work and timeline It is expected to be completed in September Following the completion of the primary work This sequence ensures that all improvements are robust and long-lasting This work is weather dependent and in the event of unsuitable weather or other unforeseen circumstances and traffic will be minimised and managed while work is carried out Latest general layout design (3.8MB PDF) The public traffic resolution engagement for the Box Hill and Station Road Intersection started on 6 December 2023 and closed on 15 January 2024 We received 9 responses – 4 in support The design has been updated following the feedback received and now is progressed to a 90% detailed design Council Officers have started preparing for the construction work which aims to begin by June 2024 and the community on the proposed changes for the Box Hill and Station Road intersection in the pre-engagement phase from October 2023 to November 2023 We have received 83 comments with 70% in support and 15% in opposition The Council adopted the Paneke Pōneke (Bike Network Plan) in March 2022 which sets out the Council’s approach to create a safe connected and high-quality network of routes for biking and scooting Box Hill Road and Burma Road were identified as the primary streets in this plan the investigation of options for future proofs of Paneke Poneke was undertaken The project team is currently investigating the feasibility and affordability of the proposed options with the consideration of future bike lanes As a result of our engagement with the community we are now also investigating the feasibility of fully signalising the intersection This was an option discounted due to the cost but has since been re-evaluated We will therefore be engaging with the community when this option has been further developed We also now have confirmation that Wellington City Council and KiwiRail have agreed a way to keep the footpath alongside the railway open and usable by pedestrians We will be working on the footpath soon to carry out these works We were advised by Kiwirail of their plan to upgrade a section of track near the level crossing at Khandallah Station Kiwirail are proposing to permanently close the parallel footpath to meet current rail safety requirements. Kiwirail and Wellington City Council agreed to work together to investigate safe solutions to retain the footpath This means the design phase of the Box Hill intersection works will be delayed until the investigation is complete Our main concern with a potential footpath closure is that more pedestrians will use the intersection and we’ll need to include this eventuality in our design We are working on the feasibility and detailed design as well as a safety audit and review of traffic signals at the intersection In September 2019 a Petition was presented to the City Strategy Committee highlighting safety concerns at the Burma Road Station Road and Baroda Street intersection in Khandallah In July 2020 we sought feedback from the public on safety improvements through an online survey that was sent out to key stakeholders and the Khandallah community We had a good response with more than 580 respondents answering the survey There were 448 respondents who live near the intersection. Box Hill survey results (280KB PDF) The feedback was used to develop a range of options and criteria for a preferred option In December 2020 we invited the Khandallah community to a presentation which was attended by 35 members of the community The presentation highlighted the decision-making process on creating a long list of options to a preferred option of a signalised pedestrian crossing Council is now considering this option and conducting a safety audit and review Police officers investigating the violent death of an elderly Wellington woman was found dead at her Khandallah home on 24 January Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said an iwi leader performed a moving karakia with Gregory's family on Saturday morning to mark the end of the police presence at the property "We wish to thank the residents of the street and wider Khandallah community for their patience and understanding throughout this time," he said "We also acknowledge the feelings of anxiety from this tragic event and the subsequent investigations." The lengthy scene investigation had provided "significant information" that would help police reconstruct the events leading up to Gregory's death between 6pm and 11pm on Wednesday 24 January "We are confident a successful resolution to this homicide is nearing and the person or persons responsible for the death of Helen will be held accountable "The Khandallah community are being reassured that there is no ongoing risk to public safety following this event." "The people that knew and were close to Helen have provided us with significant information and if anyone else has further information we would like to speak to them." Police also wanted to speak to anyone in and around Baroda Street on 24 January who had yet to speak to police "Police can be contacted by calling 105, or making an online report by clicking "Update Report" and referencing file number 240125/1641." A 52-year-old woman charged with the murder of an elderly Wellington resident has received continued name suppression Helen Gregory was found dead in her Khandallah home on 24 January Her alleged killer was arrested on 11 February She appeared again in the High Court on Friday and is yet to make a plea said the 79-year-old was a dearly loved mother Kandallah residents are relieved police have arrested and charged a 52 year old woman for the murder of their fellow resident Helen Gregory The 79 year old was found dead in her Baroda Street home… Audio There’s nothing like the joy and adventure that playgrounds offer our children and with more than 100 examples within parks throughout our city it’s clear that Wellingtonians love to play That’s why we’re constantly looking at ways to make our play areas better Feedback from our communities has been instrumental in our recent playground upgrades. After a busy year of consultation and engagement we've been hard at work refreshing and upgrading a bunch of play areas round the city. Two of our most recently renewed play areas are Kekerenga Street Play Area in Strathmore Park and the Khandallah Library Play Area. The Kekerenga Street upgrade includes stepping logs climbing tower with fireman’s pole and slide and a toddlers’ pirate tower and slide. For the Khandallah Library play area we’ve included a balance challenge circuit transitioning between stepping logs and beams fund raised by the local Khandallah Business Group (BID). During the consultation process for these playground upgrades we held several drop-in sessions and created feedback surveys where you shared your thoughts and ideas – and we listened. We know that each Wellington community is unique and your feedback is super important because it helps us come up with an awesome design that best serves the needs of the people who are going to use it most – the locals. We’ve even got local school children involved in a collaboration project to upgrade Wall Park in Linden This special project is the result of collaboration between Tawa Education Technology Trust and Tawa and Linden schools with the intent of giving local children the opportunity to learn about urban design and place making. This has been an enjoyable and hugely valuable process for all involved including our urban designers who emphasise how “refreshing it is to hear a child’s perspective” on the work they do. For the play areas awaiting construction works we’ve since collated your feedback and used it to help select and buy the equipment Some of the play equipment comes in pieces all the way from Europe so timeframes for delivery can take a while – but it’s worth the wait. Charlie holds the top spot as most popular dog name in Wellington inspired or bonkers names did canines receive in 2020 Every Sunday morning before the birds wake up and the sun rises a community of food producers are already in full swing on Wellington’s waterfront We help hundreds of residents daily with all kinds of questions Here's some of the most curious queries we’ve received in the past 60 years Renewal and upgrade work on the Nairnville Park play area in Khandallah is scheduled to start Monday 3 July – if the weather plays nice and provide a safe and inclusive space for children of all ages to enjoy Key features of the renewed play area will include: "We understand the importance of creating engaging and safe spaces for our community's children," says Council Play Spaces Specialist Matthew Beres "The renewal of the Nairnville play area will provide a vibrant and inclusive environment where children can thrive and have fun We appreciate the patience and support of the community during the construction period and look forward to unveiling the transformed play area soon." has raised a whopping $43,000 for six inclusive swing seats that will be installed in parks around Wellington Over the past year Wellington City Council has upgraded some of its play areas across Pōneke Here’s five new and improved spots where you and your ta.. Make the most of a nice day in the capital by visiting the new extension of Mt Vic's Matairangi Nature Trail with the tamariki