Dominic Ropeti and Ories attack the line today in their win over Tawa in the Swindale Shield. Photo: Andy McArthur.
Swindale Shield Round 5 results at a glance:
Swindale Shield points table at a glance (unofficial): Oriental-Rongotai 25; Petone 21; Pōneke and Upper Hutt Rams 20; Paremata-Plimmerton 18; Hutt Old Boys Marist and Tawa 16; Wainuiomata 15; Johnsonville 14; Marist St Pat’s and Northern United 11; Old Boys University 7; Wellington Axemen 2; Avalon 0.
There was drama and excitement in equal doses in today’s Swindale Shield rugby in town, but least of all the match at the Polo Ground where home side Oriental-Rongotai registered their fifth straight bonus point win to start the season.
Ories beat Tawa 39-22 to become clear frontrunners, ahead of a group of four teams who are shaping as their likely challengers heading towards the mid-point of the first round competition.
The other three city games all saw close results.
At Rugby League Park, winless double defending champions Old Boys University went down for the fifth straight week, this time missing out to Paremata-Plimmerton 28-24.
OBU came home with a wet sail, scoring twice in the last quarter and then went close at the end to snatch it, but the Hammerheads did enough to hang on to win.
Pōneke pipped Johnsonville for the Galu Taufale Shield 41-38 in a wild shootout at Kilbirnie Park, scoring late to win the match. More on this fixture below.
Visitors Petone were pipped with a last-play try last weekend at Maidstone Park, but were able to hang and close out a tense win today at Evans Bay Park.
Petone went to a match-winning 29-20 lead with about 10 minutes to play, when after a long build-up and multiple phases inside MSP’s 22, they went wide to Hurricane TJ Clarke and the first five dashed for the corner and drew in two defenders before off-loading to wing Lachie Forbes who scored.
With five minutes still to play, MSP hit back with an outstanding team try started from a lineout 40 metres out. First five Tomasi Connor broke the last line of defence and dashed in to score a converted try to cut the lead to 29-27.
But there was no fairytale finish for the home side on their Old Timers’ Day and Petone held on in a tight finish to win the Bil Elvy Shield, that had earlier seen no scoring until 20 minutes before Petone crossed twice to lead 14-0 and then MSP did likewise to draw level 14-14 early in the second spell and then take a narrow lead several minutes later.
Elsewhere, there were three mostly one-sided results in the Hutt Valley, at least on their scoreboards.
The first of these was at the Hutt Rec where the HOBM Eagles were at least a bit flattered by their 55-17 win over the Wellington Axemen – more on this game below.
The second two of these was over the hill at William Jones Park, where Wainuiomata accounted for Northern United 67-22 to win the Al Keating Memorial Trophy.
Wainuiomata won the game 11 tries to 4, with lock Kitiona Leitufia and left wing Ray Va’a scoring twice each and halfback Keanu Kotuhi in his 50th Premier game also dotting down.
The third was the most convincing win of the day, with the Upper Hutt Rams adding the Harper Vine Trophy to their trophy cabinet for another year with a 83-5 win over Avalon.
The Rams won this one 13 tries to one, with centre Dan Schrijvers scoring a hat-trick of tries and last week’s last-play hero Josh Love compiling a double.
In the first of two matches were at in person, Pōneke was down 38-34 with four minutes remaining when second five Caleb Robson busted through at halfway. With Hawks closing, Robson calmly passed to Nick Robertson who avoided his earlier jitters and dashed 25 metres for his 89th Premier try, and the winner.
Poneke started as frantically as they finished. It was 19-7 in as many minutes with numbers on the back the only difference between backs and forwards. Brotherly props Moses and Noah Tuifao-Galuvao were immense with blindside David Taoipu and lock Maea Tema-Schmidt not far behind in the damage department.
Poneke was unable to maintain the breathless momentum and handling errors aided Johnsonville. Both tries by No.8 Regan Hebert were scored from scrums and Jacob Walmsley gratefully pocketed a length of the field intercept as the Hawks turned with a 31-19 advantage at halftime.
When Johnsonville captain and second-five Finlay Sharp sailed clear shortly after the interval, Poneke seemed toast at 38-19. Ken Kurihara was spotless from the tee with six goals from six attempts.
Instead, the street kids refused to abandon their ambitious approach and the passes started to stick again. Winger Ifeanyichukwu Nnebechukwu sparked the revival muscling over for his second try in the corner.
Evergreen hooker Andrew Jones was perhaps the biggest headline writer in a narrative of turbulent shifts. His first half try was a 25-metre gallop supporting Robson. His second try with 15 minutes to spare was a rush to rival Dane Coles. Three defenders cast aside like debris from Thursday’s storm in a lightning 40 metre surge.
Replacement first-five Jack Greig was worthy of acclaim stepping up with authority and flair after Carlos Hihi departed early.
In the second match attended by this article’s reviewers, the Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles celebrated lock David Filipo’s 150th game for the side with a comfortable but often error-sprayed 55-17 win over the winless Wellington Axemen.
Lock Filipo kicked the last conversion of the match on fulltime to the cheers of his vocal supporters. This was after left wing Kapu Broughton-Winterburn had scored two late tries to extend the score. He finished with two tries, as did halfback Nu Muriwai, while second five Kienan Higgins scored a hat-trick.
Being an Axemen supporter must be an extremely frustrating occupation at present, their team firmly rooted to the bottom of the table, but they put together plenty of decent rugby during the course of today’s game to show promise. but it is what else they did that would have Keith Quinn and company tearing their hair out. The Axemen literally blew hot and cold in the space of the same passages of play and were often their own worst enemy.
For their part, the Eagles brought their well-known dominant scrum, although their lineout was often misfiring and there was plenty of disjointed rugby in the backs to match that of the visitors. Nevertheless, the Eagles outscored their opponents nine tries to two.
After leading 24-17 at halftime, the Eagles pulled clear with two quick tries, both runaways, to Higgins and Broughton-Winterburn, and the game was safe with over 20 minutes to play.
Just before halftime, Axemen blindside flanker Jordan Chapman crossed for their second try after a penalty and quick tap to close up the margin at the break, but that was as close as they would get.
Earlier, the Eagles had scored the first try of the game in the opening minutes when they attacked from a scrum 40 metres out, which led to prop Vili Tauofaga making a storming break in his 40th match of the Premiers and offloading to halfback Nu Muriwai for the opening try.
The Axemen regrouped and from a subsequent scrum near the Eagles’ line. No. 8 Cody Lokotui strolled through to make it 7-7. The Axemen briefly took the lead when first five Isalei Pouvalu kicked a 42 metre penalty.
The Eagles then scored tries in the 20th and 24th minutes, to fullback Phelan Rona who collected a kick in general play and ran over 60 metres up the far side to dot down in the corner, and to hooker Noah Krijnen. Krijnen’s try came directly from an Axemen unforced error by their restart not going 10 metres and the Eagles packing down a scrum on halfway.
The Eagles then scored their bonus point try off yet another Axemen unforced error, which saw a penalty kick for touch miss the line and second five Higgins collected it on the fly and ghosted through for a 40 metre try in the same corner as Rona’s had been. This made it 24-10.
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Just one side remains unbeaten in the Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield and that is holders OBU after they beat Pare-Plim 31-17
while Petone were beaten 31-12 by MSP who also leapfrogged them on the table
HOBM are second without even taking the field today with Wellington a no-show at the Hutt Rec
while Poneke were too strong for Johnsonville winning 36-5
Tawa continued their revival from a slow start beating Ories 56-32
the Upper Hutt Rams got on the board with a 34-12 win over Avalon
and the count was on at Mary Crowther Park as Wainuiomata and Norths came up just short of a ton as the home side won 66-33
Plenty of scoring in the third round on the Colts Paris Memorial with HOBM and Upper Hutt unbeaten so far
while elsewhere MSP accounted for Norths 64-22
The match of the round however was at the Hutt Rec where home side Hutt Old Boys Marist Green held on for a gutsy 26-25 win over Tawa
scoring their bonus point try after 32 minutes on the electronic scoreboard clock
but some second half ill-discipline and Tawa
playing with their tails up and with the dying wind advantage
but Tawa could only score two second half tries
The second of these was scored after 73 minutes to close the gap to one point and giving themselves time to produce a match-winner
and they were also held up over the line three times in the second half
The Junior Eagles rallied late and it was them who finished the match at the attacking end of the field
and the defending champions closed out the match for their third straight win to start the Colts competition this year
in the NZ U85kg side to play Sri Lanka this weekend and celebrated by coasting to their fifth straight bonus point win of the year today
Tawa beat Eastbourne 29-7 beside the seaside at HW Shortt Park that was a scene of ferocious weather just two days prior
the OBU Scallywags defeated Paremata-Plimmerton’s Piranhas 25-21 at Ian Galloway Park and the Wellington Light Axemen defeated the HOBM Howlers 42-12 on Hutt Rec #3
The established order of the Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy got turned on its head today as unbeaten pair Petone and Oriental Rongotai both lost
Petone’s first defeat in over a season-and-a-half came at Evans Bay Park
where Marist St Pat’s turned them over 45-20
despite yet another hat-trick from Harmony Kautai and where oddly
Ories were beaten 52-27 by Norths at Jerry Collins Stadium with Arene Landon-Lane scoring a personal haul of 27 points
Poneke got their first win beating Avalon 44-10
and Wainuiomata left Pare-Plim as the only winless side with a 39-10 win
the leading four sides are all on 21 points
Losses for the two Wellington sides playing Hawke’s Bay opposition today
Wellington College were beaten 33-28 at home by Napier Boys’
while Silverstream succumbed 40-26 to Hastings Boys’ in Palmerston North
The other two sides from last season’s top four played a preseason match here
with close results the order of the day in the “Top 8” clashes
Hutt Valley High produced the notable upset
tipping over Rongotai College 20-18 while the margin was the same in Paraparaumu with St Bernard’s beating the hosts 26-24 It was even closer in the middle of Trentham Racecourse with Hutt International edging out Tawa 22-21
while the Battle of the Wairarapa saw Rathkeale open their Wellington account with a 17-12 win over Wairarapa College (more on this game below)
and Taita accounted for Newlands/Onslow 43-5
The fourth match was between Aotea and Upper Hutt/Heretaunga but is currently listed as ‘No Result’
The two matches between the better lower XVs saw the Town 2nds beat the Silverstream 3rds 13-12 and Rongotai’s 2nds beat the St Bernard’s counterparts 21-17
Wairarapa College was the scene of the first of a hoped-for three meetings this year between the hosts and local rivals Rathkeale with the visitors “on debut” in Wellington after exiting the Central North Island competition
In front of a bumper crowd the newcomers started strong off the back of an early season tour to South Africa
building a 12-0 lead inside as minutes with both tries in the right hand corner
Wairarapa struggled to get any ball in the first 20 and were fortunate not to be further behind but gained a foothold to achieve parity across the remainder of the half and were unlucky not to score themselves
When Rathkeale scored again early in the second the rout could have been on but were perhaps guilty of making some needless changes let the hosts back into the match
scoring once off phase play from an attacking scrum and then pilfering an intercept to tighten it up to 17-12
But Rathkeale finished the stronger and we able to hold out to secure a place in next weekend’s automatic qualifier
A big-scoring day in the Manawatu Hankins Shield
particularly for leaders Kia Toa who blasted Old Boys Marist 70-5
while Massey swept Feilding Yellows aside 59-0
Current minnows Feilding Old Boys-Oroua racked up 33 points but conceded 63 in another loss
while in was knife-edge close at Colquhoun Park with Freyberg tipping Linton Army 32-31
The two protagonists of last year’s Horowhenua-Kapiti final couldn’t be separated this afternoon at Easton Park with hosts Foxton and visitors Rahui drawing 24-all
College Old Boys won the Battle of Levin 30-12 over Wanderers
while the match between Waikanae and Shannon was postponed
owing to an injury in the first match and a long delay in re-starting at Waikane Park
First-round finals afternoon in Wairarapa-Bush
which saw Martinborough retain the Lane Penn Cup for another summer under the lights at Memorial Park
The holders leaped out to an early 14-0 lead over union champions Carterton
but what ensued was a back-and-forth encounter that kept the scoreboard operators busy
Carterton’s response had them 17-14 up
but Marty gradually gained the ascendency and scored three tries to two after the interval to prevail 46-39
In the other matches Greytown thumped Marist 55-15
East Coast nudged out Masterton Red Star 24-21
and Eketahuna finally had luck go their way beating Pioneer 28-26
The competition moves next week into the full round-robin Moose Kapene Cup Championship
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Grip improvements for the Highway’s north and southbound lanes are still to be completed at the bend under the Petone Overbridge
The substance needed to improve skid-resistance (calcined bauxite) cannot be laid on the road surface during wet weather
This work will now be done as night works between Monday and Thursday next week (24-27 February) and will require north and southbound lane closures
these closures are planned for the southbound lanes on Monday
24 February and Tuesday, 25 February
The northbound lanes will be closed on Wednesday
The closures will be in place between 9 pm and 4.30 am each night
Wellington drivers can expect further road closures during the night on State Highway 2 Petone from next week as resurfacing works are completed
While initial resurfacing work is finished
further closures are needed to complete final stages to ensure the highway is safe and reliable for road users
Road crews will be water cutting to prepare the road for high friction surfacing and laying a high friction surface (calcined bauxite)
Water cutting is planned for southbound lanes on Thursday 13 February between 10pm and 4:30am
The northbound lanes will be completed on Friday 14 February between 10pm and 4:30am
Local road detours via Lower Hutt will be available
Drivers should plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys
The high friction surfacing work will be completed the following week (weather permitting) to apply the last layer
This helps improve the grip on the road’s surface and will ensure it is as skid resistant as possible to reduce the risk of crashes
These closures are planned for the northbound lanes on Wednesday 19 February and Thursday 20 February
The southbound lanes will be closed on Sunday 23 February
and Monday 24 February between 9pm and 4.30am
There has been a change to the traffic management for these works
A full night time closure of State Highway 2
for both north and southbound lanes is required for resurfacing works scheduled from this Sunday
The change is required to reduce the number of closures needed to undertake a number of activities and ensure drivers and road crews are kept safe while this work is completed
Traffic management for work planned for Thursday night (23 January) is unchanged
It remains a full ramp closure of the Petone southbound on-ramp
need to prepare for several night-time road closures next week
Detours will be available through Lower Hutt
There will be five night closures between 9 pm and 4:30 am on Thursday (23 January)
They will affect north and southbound lanes
The works schedule and detour maps are detailed below
says it is a continuation of the State Highway 2 Hutt Valley resurfacing works that began last year
“Crews will begin with resurfacing the highway in January and then will need to come back in mid-February to do further work on a relatively sharp bend near the Petone Overbridge.”
Ms Hilliard says that drivers often take this corner faster than the advised speed of 55 km/h
so it is important that the road surface is as skid resistant as possible to help prevent crashes
“The high traction material being used must be applied several weeks after the January resurfacing works
which is why we need to come back again in February to complete the job.”
“A temporary speed limit of 50km/hr will be in place on SH2 Petone until late-February
Drivers are being asked to slow down while this work is in place
We appreciate everyone taking care while this important safety work is completed,” Ms Hilliard says
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
*Correction – This story’s headline has been amended to better reflect the report’s finding
and body copy regarding the length of the wharf which could be saved
An independent report has found a full refurbishment fixing Petone Wharf would cost more than the funding envelope Hutt City Council has allocated to save it
The 116-year-old wharf has been shut since 2021 after an investigation found that parts of it were in very poor condition
Last year councillors decided to commission an investigation into the price tag for either saving or demolishing the wharf
They agreed that a maximum budget for any work on the wharf would be $12 million as part of their ten year budget
That independent report - led by structural engineer Adam Thornton - looked at the costs for three options: a full restoration
partial restoration of the wharf or demolition
project management fees and resource consents it would likely cost $14.2 million to fully restore it
Under the same measure it would cost $11.6 million partially remediate the wharf which would involve demolishing just less than half of the wharf head (the part of the structure furthest from the shore) and $6.1 million to demolish it
A spokesperson for the campaign John Roper told RNZ the report was positive as it showed at least some of the wharf could be saved
"If you can't achieve the whole thing then a partial replacement or fixing is a good outcome."
Roper said partially repairing the structure was far better than the option of it being demolished
Hutt City councillors will decide on what option to go with at a committee meeting on 30 April
He said members of the Save Petone Wharf campaign would be at the meeting
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Introducing the Bob Marley Experience In honour of the legendary Bob Marley’s birthday
we are thrilled to announce our debut performance — a night filled with nostalgia
and soul-stirring music that captures the essence of a true icon!As a band that views Bob Marley as a prophet
we are dedicated to bringing his timeless music and message to life
Our performance is designed to wow audiences and transport them back to the vibrant days of reggae and unity.Expect an amazing show that resonates with every Bob Marley fan
and an incredible live experience that promises to be the closest thing to witnessing the legend himself!Let’s celebrate the legacy of Bob Marley together
We can’t wait to share this magical night with you!Rastafari
Western Suburbs beat Petone Reserves 3-2 in Wednesday night’s game in the Women’s Capital Premier League
Suburbs had to withstand a fightback from Petone to take the three points
Six of the teams in the 10-team competition are unbeaten
A full round of games is scheduled for Sunday
This story was first published on April 23
A widely-admired former club and regional football administrator
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May 3-9: OFC U-16 Men’s Championship – qualifying, Tonga (click here for details)
May 5-18 (NZT): Auckland United at OFC Women’s Champions League, Tahiti (click here for details)
May 16-18: Grand final, women’s A-League (click here for details)
Monday May 19 (2.30am NZT): New Zealand U-16 men v Switzerland, FIFA Youth Series, Zurich (click here for details)
Tuesday May 20 (2.30am NZT): New Zealand U-16 men v Guatemala, FIFA Youth Series, Zurich (click here for details)
May 26-June 3: FIFA international window (women)
May 30-June 1: Grand final, men’s A-League (click here for details)
May 31-June 1: Second rounds of Chatham Cup
June 2-10: FIFA international window (men)
Thursday June 5 (7.30am NZT): Chile U-20 v New Zealand U-20, men’s international, Complejo Deportivo Quilín, Santiago (click here for details)
Sunday June 8 (7.30am NZT): Chile U-20 v New Zealand U-20, men’s international, Complejo Deportivo Quilín, Santiago (click here for details)
Sunday June 8 (11am NZT): All Whites v Côte d’Ivoire, BMO Field, Toronto, Canada (click here for details)
Wednesday June 11 (9am NZT): All Whites v Ukraine, BMO Field, Toronto, Canada (click here for details)
June 15-July 13: FIFA Club World Cup, United States (click here for details)
Monday June 16 (6am NZT): Auckland City v Bayern Munich, FIFA Club World Cup, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio (click here for details)
Saturday June 20 (6am NZT): Auckland City v Benfica, FIFA Club World Cup, Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida (click here for details)
Wednesday June 24 (7am NZT): Auckland City v Boca Juniors, FIFA Club World Cup, Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee (click here for details)
June 23-July 1: FIFA international window (women)
July 5-6: Quarter-finals of Kate Sheppard Cup
August 1-14: OFC U-16 Women’s Championship, Samoa (click here for details)
August 15-30: OFC U-16 Men’s Championship, Solomon Islands (click here for details)
August 16-17: Semi-finals of Kate Sheppard Cup
September 2-9: FIFA international window (men)
September 17-24: University of Auckland at FISU Men’s Football World Cup
September 20-24: OFC Futsal Men’s Cup
September 21-October 4: OFC U-19 Women’s Championship
September 27-October 19: FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup
September 27-28: Season starts for men’s and women’s National Leagues
October 7-15: FIFA international window (men)
Wednesday October 15 (k/o TBC): Norway v All Whites, international friendly, Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway (click here for details)
October 17-November 8: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, Morocco (click here for details)
October 20-28: FIFA international window (women)
November 4-28 (NZT): FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup, Qatar (click here for details)
November 10-18: FIFA international window (men)
November 17-22: OFC Futsal Men’s Champions League
November 21-December 7: FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, Philippines (click here for details)
2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Oceania qualifiers
December 13-14: Grand finals of men’s and women’s National Leagues
June 12-July 20 (NZT): FIFA Men’s World Cup
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Out of the little playground kiosk at Petone beach
We stood nervously in line, listening in on the three people in front of us who all ordered empanadas. We had arrived at 2pm, after the lunch rush, and could see stocks were running low. The menu, with many Argentinian favourites and causes of national pride like choripan, chimichurri chicken salad and milanesa sandwiches, looked good, but we’d come for the empanadas, the perfect warm pouches of meat or vegetarian filling which are a staple in Argentina and most other Latin American countries.
They are the perfect size to hold in your hand and in essence are pastry with a savoury filling – a pie shaped like a giant dumpling. They are constructed from one circular piece of pastry, folded in half and sealed up. They can be a snack, a meal or an appetiser. You do not need a plate or any cutlery to eat them. I do not believe any new ideas, influences or innovations are needed in empanada world. Perfection was found centuries ago and should not be messed with.
Empanadas were brought to the Americas by the Spanish colonisers, who may have copied this food format from the middle east. Now, each region has their own version with different pastries and fillings. Mariana’s is clear that their empanadas are Argentinian. In the pie warmer on Sunday afternoon, there was just one beef, one chicken and one cheese, spinach and mushroom empanada left.
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Matchday scoring highlights of Saturday’s fourth round Swindale Shield affair between the Upper Hutt Rams and Petone
The home team the Rams won on a last play try
taking the game 32-29 on their Old Timers’ Day
their interclub trophy first presented to Petone in 1968
Both sides traded penalties in a tense second half
before the Rams won with two tries in the last few minutes including the match-winner on fulltime
Scoring highlights of this game below (via Club Rugby TV):
Highlights of the Premier 2 curtain-raiser
drivers can expect on-going delays until queued traffic clears
Southbound traffic heading into Wellington can expect delays this morning
with flooding affecting the highway near the Petone overbridge
Flooding has blocked the left-hand southbound lane
Road crews are on site and traffic is being directed into the right-hand lane
Drivers must take extra care when travelling through the area and can expect delays
Updates on the highway’s status are available on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:
Highway conditions - Wellington(external link)
Three exhausted and injured albatrosses are recuperating at Wellington Zoo after being rescued during this week's wild weather
said they got a call on Thursday afternoon to say there was a huge albatross on the Petone foreshore
the horrible storm that was happening and then picked him up
"My hand is a bit bung now but I learned my lesson."
The albatross was so large it needed to go into a medium-sized dog crate
On Thursday night a second albatross was brought into the vet clinic
while on Friday Nikita rescued a third albatross on the Petone foreshore after a beach clean-up crew spotted it struggling
I think he had tried to fly off so they lost sight of him."
Nikita looked up and spotted the albatross "waddling down" Petone Wharf
which has been closed to the public since 2021 due to safety concerns
The intrepid trainee vet nurse "shimmied" onto the wharf
managing to catch the rare bird before it went too far
Nikita used veterinarian safety gloves to gently wrap it in a blanket and put it in a crate
The albatross has since been given the gender-neutral name Kelly
"We don't know if it's a girl or a boy but
Albatross, the world's largest flying seabirds
spend at least 85 percent of their lives at sea only returning to land
All three albatrosses are being looked after by Wellington Zoo's wildlife rehabilitation centre
The Department of Conservation said anyone who finds a sick or injured native bird should contact its emergency hotline
Nikita asked to be identified by her first name only
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The oldest woman to sail solo round the world spends most of her days with just birds and dolphins for company
They start as a downy ball of fluff on a remote New Zealand island
The Petone and Tawa teams in action during the match. Photo: Grant Wall.
The two teams met at Lyndhurst Park, Tawa in the second round of the 2025 Swindale Shield competition, in bright, sunny conditions on 12 April.
On the anniversary of the Titanic sinking, the home team didn’t go down easily and indeed did everything they could to stay afloat at the end. After pressing the line for multiple phases, Tawa captain Matolu Petaia lunged at the line but was held up.
The match had been a tight, seesaw affair throughout, with a Tawa penalty try giving them the edge at halftime. Petone lost a player to the sin-bin at this stage but Tawa would raise them and have three players sinbinned in the second half, ultimately costing them.
Scoring highlights of this contest are below, via Club Rugby Youtube:
Bonus track – Petone’s second xv side won the Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield fixture between the two sides as the curtain-raiser to this match. Again, this game was close, but Petone pulled away at the end for what was a comfortable 55-26 victory. Some second half highlights of that contest below;
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The New Zealand Geographic Board has referred a proposal to rename the Lower Hutt suburb of Petone to the Minister for Land Information
Chris Penk will have the final say on if the suburb returns to its former name of Pito One
The proposal was made to Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa/New Zealand Geographic Board by The Wellington Tenths Trust and the Palmerston North Māori Reserve Trust
Late last year, City Council voted to support the name change
with other iwi groups from around the region voicing support as well
The Chair of the Palmerston North Māori Reserve Trust Liz Mellish said the change is something local iwi have wanted for a long time
"It really just gives people a sense of belonging
For those people that are concerned by it it's a slight adjustment to get the pronunciation right
but if you say Petone no ones going to worry about it or attack or be aggressive about it
This is just righting a historical wrong," she said
Early correspondence and maps show the use of Pitoni
Mellish said the name was spelt wrong during the period of settlement and now is the time to correct it
has been common for over a hundred years I totally get that
and change is a little perturbing and it can be expensive if suddenly you change all your letterhead but I think it is one of those names that will become comfortable over time
that have already changed their names to recognise the te reo name of Pito One."
Mellish is confident that the Minister will understand the desire for change and back the proposal
Returning Petone to its former name will enable future generations to have a strong sense of place
The name Pito One refers to the practice of burying pito (umbilical cords) in the one (sand)
The suburb took the name of the pā of Hōniana Te Puni
is pretty important in the history of Te Whanganui a Tara and te Upoko o te Ika
it was the largest pā around the harbour and Te Puni was the paramount chief," Mellish said
Te Puni was pivotal in the settlement of Wellington
so the name Pito One has huge significance in the story of the formation of New Zealand
The Geographic Board opened the proposal up for public consultation in June, with the consultation window closing in September
There is no statutory timeframe or deadline for the Minister to make a final decision on the name change
The area was once a pā of Te Āti Awa but the traditional name was misspelt during colonial settlement
who can suggest a new one and what's in a name anyway
Pito-one became Petone following colonial settlement in the 19th century
a misspelling of the area's traditional name
Above: Petone fullback Jermaine Pepe in action on debut for his new club in round one against the Wellington Axemen
expect outside back Jermaine Pepe to influence more matches than not for Petone throughout the remainder of the club season
and by extension for Petone to be in the mix in July
Pepe had a frustrating first year in Wellington club rugby in 2024 on the fitness front
whilst playing for double Swindale-Jubilee champions Old Boys University
“I played the first three games for OBU last year and partially tore my MCL putting me out for much of the season,” said Pepe
“Then I played in the first Jubilee Cup playoff match against Tawa and I injured my AC
then in the semi-final against Hutt Old Boys Marist I broke my leg.”
he played nine of a possible 17 matches for OBU
and has played two for Petone to start this term after rehabbing for several months and moving to the Petone club in the off-season because he lives and works nearby
Pepe was a key player in Petone’s significant second round win over Tawa at Lyndhurst Park
He scored two tries and then was one half of the duo alongside replacement halfback Logan Henry that stopped Tawa captain Matolu Petaia over the line in the final act of the game
I don’t know what Logan Henry was thinking but I was thinking just to put a body in front and look after that ball
I then remember opening my eyes and seeing I was on the ball and Logan was under it so credit to Logan for getting under stopping it
“We knew it was going to be a grind for us in this game
so we were stoked with how we went and to get the win at the end was a really good result for us.”
he scored the first try of the match and then what proved to be the match-winner in the second half
it was just a bit of a feel in the moment play
We spoke about it and said we will see what picture they sell in front of us and we just played our hand and the two players inside were able to do a job in putting defenders in two minds and it opened up.”
It also helped that he had Riley Higgins lined up in the midfield on the open side of the scrum
having a Hurricane there to keep defenders guessing
The first try that Pepe scored was off a kick-pass out to Pepe on the wing by first-five Thompson Tukapua
last year’s College Sport Wellington Player of the Year
“Thompson and I talked about that kick after
and he didn’t know what he was going to do until very late and he put in another feel in the moment and very pinpoint
Tukapua would soon leave the field injured
He was out for a couple of months at the tail-end of last season with a MCL injury
so the rugby community at large will be hoping he is back soon
after previously playing for Petone 2016-22
Brooking kicked two vital second half penalties and played well
Pepe is in his second season of club rugby in Wellington
but has plenty of prior experience playing elsewhere
Raised in Brisbane, he moved back over to New Zealand and joined the Rangiora High School First XV and was in this side that made the semi-finals of the 2018 Crusaders region First XV competition and famously beat Christchurch Boys’ High School and that represented the South Island in the Top 4 in 2018
whose team also included current professional players
Blues hooker James Mullan and Crusaders prop and former NZ U19s Player of the Tournament Fletcher Newell
They lost to Cam Roigard’s St Peter’s School in the final
Pepe then moved to Otago and joined the Otago Academy
spending four years there at university and playing for Otago University and various representative teams
He missed out on making the Otago NPC team but played for North Otago in 2022 and for the New Zealand Universities team that same year – hence why he joined OBU last year on his arrival in Wellington
After wins to start this year’s Swindale Shield over the Wellington Axemen (46-5) and Tawa (28-24)
Pepe and Petone return home to host Avalon this coming Saturday where they will defend the Bill Brien Challenge Cup for the first time and put the interclub Morgan Family Trophy on the line
with the inclusion of TJ Clarke who is coming back from injury
but that is fine with Pepe wo is comfortable playing most positions in the backline and is happy to accommodate
The central North Island town of National Park will be renamed Waimarino - the original Māori name for the area
Meanwhile, the Lower Hutt suburb of Petone will not have its name changed to Pito One
The Petone proposal was made to Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa/New Zealand Geographic Board by The Wellington Tenths Trust and the Palmerston North Māori Reserve Trust
Hutt City Council voted to support the name change
Minister for Land Information Chris Penk made the determinations in his statutory role as final decision maker
He said he sought to balance official advice and public opinion
"People feel strongly about the name of their home and each proposal received a range of submissions both for and against," he said
Penk said factors he considered when making his decision included respecting historical context
minimising disruption where relatively minor changes were proposed
and removing ambiguity of a generic place name
while I recognise there will always be a range of views on these matters
I am comfortable we have landed in a reasonable place."
Here are the raft of place name decisions announced Wednesday by Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board:
Proposals to alter Takanini (suburb) and Takanini Railway Station to Takaanini and Takaanini Railway Station have been declined
But the proposal to make Te Tōangaroa the official name for an unnamed area in Auckland's CBD has been approved
The name refers to the dragging of waka a long way to the shoreline
The name will now be official for the area bordered by Britomart Place
Māhuhu-ki-te-Rangi Park and several apartment buildings
A proposal to rename a peak on Pirongia Mountain known as The Cone has been approved
Pūāwhē is a traditional name on Pirongia Mountain and historically it referred to the mountain as a whole
The story of the name says the patupaiarehe (supernatural being or fairy-like creature) who bewitched Tāwhaitu had used a bundle "pū" of "ā" tree fern called a "whē" or caterpillars "whē"
A new suburb of Feilding will be officially named Maewa
Manawatu District Council made the proposal to extend the existing locality of Maewa to include a future housing development currently referred to as Precinct 4
and to formalise it as an official suburb of Feilding
Maewa is an original Māori place name which Ngāti Kauwhata gifted to the council for the suburb name
It means "to meander" and describes the waterway that begins as a puna (spring) at the currently locality and flows east into Makino Stream
While National Park village will have its name changed the town's railway station will continue to be known as National Park Station
after its name change proposal was declined
The proposal to alter Manawatu District to Manawatū District has been declined
where a proposal to rename to Rangitīkei District has been declined
A proposal to alter Abbots Creek to Abbotts Creek has been declined
A proposal to alter 5 Mile Creek to Herwin Creek has been declined
A decision on the proposal to rename Russell to Kororāreka is expected to be announced in 2025
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Chris Penk will have the final say on if the suburb returns to its former name
National Park is the current name for the village on the western edge of Tongariro National Park but iwi researchers claim Waimarino as the original name
Petone is a seaside town in Lower Hutt known for harbour views and niche shopping
Its proper name 'Pito-One' relates to a special area on the beach
A different kind of Christmas tree can these days be seen on the Esplanade in Petone - a 19-metre tall tree made of scaffolding
Local scaffolding firm Vertex is responsible for the innovative decoration
Director Scott Johnston said it took nine guys one day to build
"It's been a tough year here in Wellington
so we thought it was an opportunity to create a bit of good will and cheer around Christmas," Johnston said
praised the project and when the tree was being built
"We even had a lady come in last week and drop of a dozen beers for the boys just as a thank you
Johnston said it took a lot of pre-planning to make sure they got the engineering of the complex structure right
the tree is lit up by over 100 LED lights that can change colours
said she admired everyone making an effort to embrace the festive season
"It's what people like to see this time of year
They wanna see the light and people getting into the spirit of things."
is planning to go out and see the tree at night
The tree will be taken down after New Year's
Wellington club Petone have confirmed their coaching team for 2025
“This experienced group of coaches and managers
including returning leaders and new appointments
reflects our commitment to providing a professional
and inclusive environment for our players and wider community.” the club says
READ MORE: Introducing Petone FC’s senior coaching team for 2025 >>>>
This story was first published on January 11
A collapsed wastewater pipe in Petone on a major thoroughfare has caused "significant" slump in the road
Wellington Water said a section of the wastewater pipe under The Esplanade on the Petone foreshore had dislodged causing the slump over time
It has filled in the hole for now while it plans for a repair
The pipeline was over 2.5 metres deep and the work could take about a week
Wellington Water said it would do its best to avoid disruption to motorists
The pipe has been given the highest possible risk rating due to the likelihood of "significant structural failures"
Above: Marist St Pat’s with the winning try on fulltime against Paremata-Plimmerton. Photo: Andy McArthur.
Updated: Round 3 scoring results below (link opens a Word document):
There were five teams unbeaten heading into today’s third round of the Swindale Shield; now there are just two.
Those unbeaten sides are Oriental-Rongotai and Petone, who both piled on the points against their opposition in sultry conditions on Easter Saturday around the Wellington region.
Ories are on a maximum of 15 competition points after defeating Northern United on Porirua Park 2 by 55-10 in their To’omaga Alex Iona Memorial Cup match. More on that match below.
There was some hot scoring to match the unseasonal temperatures, not least down at Ngati Toa Domain where Marist St Pat’s earned their first win of their 2025 home campaign against the home team. MSP beat the Paremata-Plimmerton Hammerheads 41-34.
Tyro hooker Canza Sale came up with the winner on fulltime to ignite MSP following two losses at home to start the season.
Paremata-Plimmerton were up by 12 points with about 15 minutes to play, whose five tries included two to starting halfback Esi Komaisavai who now has six tries to start this season. But MSP came home strongly to score 19 unanswered points. Replacement outside back Broch McCallum scored two of their six tries.
Tawa rallied from an 18-7 deficit to inflict a first defeat upon Poneke 24-18 on Old Timers’ Day at Lyndhurst Park.
Tawa’s resurgence was triggered following a yellow card to Isaac Moe Jenkins. Tawa scored two tries while the Poneke centre warmed the benches. Tawa’s beefy pack assumed command, and the go-ahead try was scored by No.8 George Risale, who finished with a double.
It was an ungraceful finale with Poneke reckless in their territory and Tawa grateful for the boot of James So’oialo. So’oialo kicked four goals, including a 40-metre penalty to make it 24-18 with a minute to spare. Poneke fielded the restart, lamely and inexplicably kicking it out to bring about time. Even boisterous Poneke commentator John Jackson was lost for words.
There was plenty to be said about Poneke in the first hour as they crafted a deserved lead. Openside Luca Bellucci, lock Maea Tema-Schmidt, and second-five Caleb Robson were ‘Street Kid’ standouts. Hooker Tu’ipulotu Nuku was inspirational for Tawa.
Highlights of the Poneke-Tawa match at the very bottom of this article.
At the top of the Hutt Valley, the Upper Hutt Rams beat Old Boys University 46-25.
The Rams won six tries to four, with prop Senio Sanele scoring a double and wing Rory Brattle, halfback Kaide McCashin, right wing Dan Schrivers and midfielder Ieti Campbell crossing the whitewash. Campbell also kicked five conversions and two penalties for 21 points. The Rams led 22-8 at halftime.
For OBU, prop Gareth Ward-Allen, midfielder Enos Palemene, replacement back Tom Henderson and wing Reece Plumtree were try-scorers.
Defending Swindale Shield-Jubilee Cup champions OBU are 0/3 and in trouble of a explosion when they meet unbeaten Ories next weekend.
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Johnsonville defeated previously unbeaten Hutt Old Boys Marist 25-20 in a gritty
hard fought encounter on their Old Timers’ Day and 125th anniversary weekend
Johnsonville scored their match-sealing try a couple of minutes before full time to left wing Filimone Sadavo
following a try midway through the first half to flanker Louis Magalogo and two late penalties to first five Niall Delahunt
The Eagles had also lost rookie openside flanker Drew Berg-McLean to a 20-minute red card for an apparent verbal slur
The Eagles started the second half sensationally when last year’s top Colts grade try-scorer Phelan Rona scored two tries inside five minutes
The visitors were almost in again shortly after through second five Kienan Higgins but the try was disallowed
The Eagles then lost two players to yellow cards over the middle stages of the second half
but such was their grit and determination that Johnsonville could only break through to score one try to hold a slender 20-17 lead heading into the final minutes of the match
Johnsonville turned down a late shot at goal but it didn’t matter when Sadavo flashed in to seal the game towards the end
beat the Wellington Axemen 33-13 under lights at Hatatai Park for the Bill Jones Cup
The Swindale Shield points table at a glance is (unofficial): Ories 15
Leaders Ories were convincing 55-10 third round winners over Northern United up on Porirua 2
Ories outflanked and outpaced Norths and won nine tries to two
Ories had led 33-0 at halftime and if the game wasn’t over already
it was when Norths lock Jalen Lambert got red carded in general play on advice of the assistant referee
and Ories right wing Sam Tautiga ran away to score their sixth try off a Norths dropped ball in centre field to make it 38-0
but Ories extinguished any hopes of a revival when they won a turnover and averted danger
Despite having No 8 Dominic Ropeti sent to the sinbin during this phase of play
Ories counter-attacked and fullback Ethan Smyth-Rangi soon scored at the other end to make it 45-0
Norths didn’t fade completely away and came back to score two well worked tries in the southwestern corner to fullback Zion Fuiava and left wing Seth Bailey
and dynamic openside flanker David Leota-Johnson who scored on fulltime after collecting another Norths mistake in centre field
Left wing Seumanufagai opened the scoring in the fifth minute with the first try
Ories dominated the next 10 minutes but were held out by a succession of Norths defensive penalties
before lock Tauina Tautiaga broke through from close range to make it 14-0
Ories quickly climbed back on to attack and Norths lost prop Bradley Crichton to the sinbin
Ories closed out the first half with tries to the Maiava brothers
The only grade with a full round being played today was the Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield
All four unbeaten sides remained that way; Petone crushed Avalon 78-19
Ories beat Norths 41-26 and Tawa beat Poneke 41-40
with Poneke missing a sideline conversion on fulltime
In the remaining matches HOBM beat Johnsonville 36-17
and Wellington got their first win 36-29 over Wainuiomata
visitors Oriental-Rongotai pulled clear in the second half to beat Norths 41-24
Ories scored three exciting tries in the middle stages of the second half
including a try off the kick-off and another off a Dan Carter-esque kick through for the winger to chase by loosehead prop Peteli Poasa
Norths held a 24-14 lead following their bonus point try
Norths had scored three of the game’s first four tries to lead 17-7 late in the first half
Ories then scored again on full time to seal the seven tries to four victory
Three matches today in the Colts Paris Memorial Trophy today
while up the road MSP headed off Pare-Plim 30-21
The closest result was at Kilbirnie Park where Poneke beat OBU 30-29
while Johnsonville defaulted yesterday to HOBM
Just the two matches today in the Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy after Avalon’s 12-0 over Wainuiomata on Thursday night and Poneke’s default to Ories
but in those two of the big guns flexed their muscles
Petone beat Norths 39-26 on the Rec with Pride winger Harmony Kautai scoring three tries to add to her five from last week
while MSP saw off Pare-Plim 63-12 with Monica Tagoai notching a hat-trick in her return to the red jersey
two of their tries were scored by players in milestone games
including tighthead prop Roimata Parata in her 75th game
Tauranga Boys’ College has hit the ground running in 2025
The Super 8 champions have amassed 169 points in four consecutive pre-season victories
Tauranga topped Wellington College 45-31 in a rare visit to the capital
it was a vibrant spectacle between two sides expected to be leading contenders in their respective competitions
Wellington gained a brief ascendancy before the interval
Tauranga lock Blake Vrieze was sin-binned and the hosts flipped a 19-12 deficit into a 24-19 advantage with tries to prop Harry Baddington and No.8 Z’Kdeus Schwalger – absent of his formerly captivating afro but no less of a drawcard with his rigorous athleticism
The Tauranga fullback bagged four tries; a feat almost unheard of for visitors at the forebodingly nicknamed graveyard
moving so light and rapid on his feet that he could reject BOB for K-Pop
McQuoid latched onto an errant pass and sprinted 80 metres to complete his hat-trick
The conversion followed from assured first five Ivan Ward
and the ‘Titans’ didn’t relinquish the lead again
conceding a raft of penalties and three successive tries
whose Dad Sean helps coach Evans Bay based Marist St Pat’s
Winger Malachi Emmett regathered a chip and chase for a second time
and McQuoid completed his quartet with a 30-metre surge
winning the Ranfurly Shield in 2004 and representing the All Blacks Sevens
Injured brother Jay is a handy First XV colleague
Except kick-off receipts (a headache for Tauranga
there’s a lot to like about Wellington College
They regrouped from 45-24 down to score the last try
Mammoth prop Julius Toimata had a conspicuous impact
first-five Archie Sims offers variety and stability
Centre Narvin Campbell breached the defence more than once
Openside Connor ‘Notorious’ Gregor was all heart
Wellington College’s next match is away to Rotorua Boys’ High School
Numerous iwi groups brought the Pita One name proposal forward
seeking a correction of a historic "misspelling" of the Hutt Valley suburb
The Lower Hutt suburb of Petone is keeping its name and will not be renamed Pito One
Land Information New Zealand (Linz) has confirmed the proposal to revert the spelling of the suburb to what it once was has been declined
Petone was originally known as Pito One due to the pā site on the foreshore - deemed one of the largest and best fortified in the region in the mid-1800s
It was renamed Petone when colonial settlers arrived
Hutt City Mayor Campbell Barry expressed his disappointment that the Land Information Minister had shut down the name-change proposal
“We believed that restoring the original name
would honour the rich heritage of our area and strengthen our community’s connection to its history
we will continue to support moves that correct names that are incorrectly spelt – as we have done with this application made jointly by the Wellington Tenths Trust and Palmerston North Māori Reserves Trust,” he said
Barry said the council aims to seek clarification on what led to the minister’s decision
“We remain committed to engaging with our community and iwi partners to ensure that our place names reflect our shared history and cultural identity,” the mayor added
Land Information Minister Chris Penk said the decisions were made on a balance of official advice and public submissions
“People feel strongly about the name of their home and each proposal received a range of submissions both for and against
“The factors I considered included respecting historical context
and removing ambiguity of a generic place name,” Penk said
The minister added all factors were weighed carefully
and he was comfortable they’d landed in a “reasonable place”
Pito One roughly translates to “end of sand beach”
The Geographic Board met in October to consider the idea, after the name-change proposal was endorsed by the Hutt City Council
A prior letter of support from Barry stated the application to revert the name to Pito One was “consistent with the objective of [the city council’s] naming policy to ensure we use correct names to protect and enhance the character and heritage of Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai [Lower Hutt]”
The council said one way it shows its “strong commitment” to mana whenua is by supporting its ability to make a name change proposal to the board
previously told NZME the discussion around a potential name change was “long overdue”
After its October meeting, the Geographic Board referred the proposal to Land Information Minister Chris Penk
meaning he had final sign-off on the matter
board secretary Wendy Shaw indicated the minister was “very careful” when considering name change options deemed “controversial”
a proposal to change Auckland’s Takanini to Takaanini has been declined
and macrons will not be officially put in place for the Manawatu and Rangitikei districts
One of the proposals that has been approved is National Park Village being renamed Waimarino
“The name Waimarino is the original Māori name for the area and refers to calm waters pooling on the plains as they come down from the mountain,” Linz said in a statement
Azaria Howell is a Wellington-based multimedia reporter with an eye across the region
She joined NZME in 2022 and has a keen interest in city council decisions
public service agency reform and transport
The Saturday closure comes amid a proposal to shut Napier Library for at least two years
Date night with your favourite shanty crew!Nothing says romance like singing a salty sea shanty...Declare your love.Renew your vows.Get intimate with Wellington Sea Shanty Society
Numerous iwi groups brought the proposal to the council
seeking a correction of a historic 'misspelling' of the Hutt Valley suburb
Land Information Minister Chris Penk will have the final say on whether Lower Hutt’s Petone is renamed Pito one
The suburb – formerly known as Pito one after the Pito one pā site – was renamed Petone when colonial settlers arrived
The Geographic Board met yesterday after the name-change proposal was endorsed by the Hutt City Council
Geographic Board secretary Wendy Shaw confirmed the decision was made to refer the proposal to the minister
“There is no statutory timeframe or deadline for the minister to make a decision,” she said
Shaw earlier confirmed to NZME that businesses would not be required to change their name if the suburb reverted to its original name and spelling
“The indication that the board has is that the minister is very careful when considering these controversial place names and wants to take all information into account.”
The Geographic Board received a proposal on December 21 from the Wellington Tenths Trust and Palmerston North Māori Reserve Trust regarding changing the suburb’s name
A prior letter of support from Hutt City Mayor Campbell Barry stated the application to revert the name to Pito one was “consistent with the objective of [the city council’s] naming policy to ensure we use correct names to protect and enhance the character and heritage of Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai [Lower Hutt]”
Pito one roughly translates to “end of sand beach”
Deputy Mayor Tui Lewis supported the name change
previously telling NZME “I think it’s an honourable thing to do to take it right back to its proper name”
the current name is thought to be “either a misspelling or mispronunciation of the original Māori name for the area”
“We have a strong commitment to mana whenua and one way we do this is to support their ability to make a name change proposal to the New Zealand Geographical Board.”
The Geographic Board states a name is a fundamental part of address
'The team have nailed it – it’s a strategy that everyone can understand.'
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao (@wellington.zoo)
The penguin was seen on Petone Beach in Lower Hutt over the weekend
An Adelie penguin, native to Antarctica and some subantarctic islands thousands of kilometres away, was sighted roaming on Lower Hutt’s Petone Beach over the weekend
A Department of Conservation (DoC) ranger confirmed the black-and-white penguin was reported on Saturday morning
“The penguin was spotted in the dog-walking area of Petone Beach, where she could have been at significant risk from curious or excitable pets,” said the ranger.
“Adelie penguins are a rare sight in Wellington, with their usual habitat being Antarctica and some subantarctic islands, although they have been known to arrive in New Zealand from time to time.”
The ranger thanked members of the public “who helped catch the bird” and was grateful “to the dog owners who put their dogs on leads and kept them away until we arrived to collect her”.
The bird has had a health check at Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao (@wellington.zoo)
Wellington Zoo said in a statement that the Adelie was admitted to the zoo’s hospital for veterinary assessment and was “bright and responsive but suffering from heat stress”
“Our vet team is in the process of ensuring the Adelie is fully stabilised before performing a full health check under general anaesthetic when we will know more about their condition
they are bright and responsive and enjoying a well-earned rest!”
The bird has a bit of a temper after its long journey from Antarctica to Wellington
“They’re very beautiful and very aggressive
They are currently being held off display with plenty of ice to keep them comfortable,” the zoo said
Antarctica New Zealand’s Adelie penguin Census said the bird was “the most widespread..
The Australian Antarctic Programme describes the birds as medium-sized
The Adelie is one of five species of penguins that live on the Antarctic continent and breed between October and February
Another Adelie penguin was seen on St Clair Beach in Dunedin in January, and was due to spend time getting “fattened up” before being released back into the wild
By RNZ
The central North Island town of National Park will be renamed Waimarino – the original Māori name for the area
the Lower Hutt suburb of Petone will not have its name changed to Pito One
Wellington City Council voted to support the name change
Minister for Land Information Chris Penk made the determinations in his statutory role as final decision-maker
“People feel strongly about the name of their home and each proposal received a range of submissions both for and against,” he said
I am comfortable we have landed in a reasonable place.”
But the proposal to make Te Tōangaroa the official name for an unnamed area in Auckland’s CBD has been approved
The story of the name says the patupaiarehe (supernatural being or fairy-like creature) who bewitched Tāwhaitu had used a bundle “pū” of “ā” tree fern called a “whē” or caterpillars “whē”
Manawatū District Council made the proposal to extend the existing locality of Maewa to include a future housing development currently referred to as Precinct 4
It means “to meander” and describes the waterway that begins as a puna (spring) at the current locality and flows east into Makino Stream
While National Park Village will have its name changed the town’s railway station will continue to be known as National Park Station
Proposals to add macrons to Manawatu District and Rangitikei District were declined
Wharehoka Wano will lead Te Tōpuni Ngārahu
a body representing the region's eight iwi
POV: You're gathered around a beach bonfire
listening to Sol Fide and Park Flyers serenade you late into the night
and there's a full backline.Up-and-coming Pōneke based indie-rock outfit Sol Fide are making a name for themselves as a staple amongst Wellington’s music scene
2024 has been a busy year for these guys - following the successful release of their debut EP ‘The Hermit’ and their latest single ‘Easy For You’
you can expect a set packed with plenty of new and old tunes to groove to
Resource consent has been lodged with Hutt City Council to expand Petone’s Kmart store to “improve the shopping experience” for customers and make better use of carpark space
The proposed addition would add 860sq m to the department store’s floor area – bringing its total area to 6171sq m
Architectural drawings by construction management company Aintree show an existing wall of the store would be removed to make way for additional floor area
The application says the expansion is not about attracting more customers to the store and wouldn’t “noticeably” increase the number of items on offer to shoppers
The expansion is instead planned to “enhance the shopper experience and improve the internal store operations”
the consent notes there is expected to be a “small increase in the number of customers overall”
The resource consent application is currently deemed “on hold” while Hutt City Council awaits further information about potential traffic impacts
“When [Hutt City] Council has received all of the further information requested it will continue to process the application,” the council said in a statement
a new set of traffic lights was installed at the intersection of Hutt Rd and Petone Ave to manage the increase in traffic
Developers Penrith Holdings Limited applied for resource consent to expand the store on June 4
When the $2350 application fee was paid on June 13
the council started processing the consent
signed off by Urban Edge Planning on behalf of Penrith Holdings
states the extension aims to give shoppers a better experience
“The proposed extension to the existing building seeks to improve the operation floor area of the retail business and provide a better level of service for its existing customers,” the document reads
Kmart Petone is described as currently being “congested” with “poor circulation around stock and across [the] store”
“The expansion will enable the retail space to be opened out to provide more room around products and associated displays
The increase in floor area is not focused on growing the number of customers coming to the store but is more about improving the shopping experience for its customers.”
Thirty-two car parking spaces would be removed to facilitate the building extension
Access to the car park will remain the same
as will the store’s opening hours of 8am to midnight
the current activity provides more car parking than the expected demand
The oversupply of parking in the previous [resource consent] application was a consequence of site configuration,” the current proposal reads
“The area to the south of the building where the proposed expansion is planned is not needed and is poorly used.”
The original application lodged in 2015 to build the store noted demand for the retail development was based on other similar “large format” retail areas
It was expected Kmart would have 150 parking spaces
Economic impacts were taken into account when the original resource consent was signed off by the council
The new consent being considered said it was agreed the “large format retail store would not undermine the economic viability of other commercial centres in Lower Hutt and the wider Wellington Region
This remains the case for the discrete additions proposed to the Kmart store within this application”
The impact of an expansion on nearby Jackson St
is also being considered in the application
“It is noted that the retail offering of Kmart is unlikely to compete directly with smaller specialty stores occupying different segments of the retail industry,” the resource consent said
pointing out smaller retail sites attract a “different clientele”
More than 1000 people lined up outside the store for its 2017 grand opening
with the store blessed by then-Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace
said the 120 workers were “really buzzing” about the store
A kōhanga reo in Petone has been forced to close on Tuesday
with floodwaters seeping through classrooms
Kokiri Marae and its kōhanga are in an industrial area on Barnes Street
General manager Tina Olsen-Ratana fielded a call about 6am and arrived to find the street had become a river
no-one expects to be waking up to fighting back flood waters
it would have been above my knee and as it was coming in - you can actually see waves
You couldn't distinguish between the footpath..
While not as bad as some flooding events in previous years
we had to call the fire brigade in," Olsen-Ratana said
"They came in and helped with extra pumps."
They were treating the water as contaminated
they're drying it out and they're going to have to do a disinfectant clean of those areas."
but luckily it did not reach the adjacent marae
"Through the efforts of our pumps and the guys..
kept the water away from getting inside the wharenui."
The marae had three of its own pumps and a small floodgate
which helped keep some of the water at bay
Residents were left shaken after 'extensive damage' to homes
"We were standing by the right hand window and saw the balcony detach and came towards the window
Major update on NZ's environment is a mixed bag
MetService says there will be severe gales across central and southern New Zealand
About 50 cubic metres of sewage has flowed into the Waimea Estuary
Kiwi favourites Crash Bandihoot finally return to The Hutt for a huge Wellington Jazz Festival show at the Abandoned Taproom in Petone
bringing their set of raucous New Orleans street style brass band music.Expect a colourful performance with soaring horns and driving rhythms
from the group that have toured Australia twice
stomped unforgettable parades at Cuba Dupa and Newtown Festivals
rocked a 3500 strong crowd at Gardens Magic
and been described by Under The Radar as Terrifying.Abandoned Brewery's Lower Hutt Taproom offers Beers
Big F@#k-off Sandwiches and More :)Reviews of Crash Bandihoot -Brought the house down
and Hugely Entertaining - Waiheke Music Festival
The incident was reported to emergency services at 10.20am
The incident was reported to emergency services at 10.20am, police said in a statement
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.”
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
State Highway 2 north of Wellington has reopened after earlier flooding
The left southbound lane was blocked before 7am on Friday near the Petone overbridge
Rush-hour traffic was being directed into the right-hand lane but both lanes opened after 9am
the NZ Transport Agency warned drivers to expect on-going delays until queued traffic clears
FINAL UPDATE 9:25AMSurface flooding has receded and all lanes are now OPEN. Please continue to expect delays while congestion eases. ^AP https://t.co/83NRIjdEe9
The flooding came amid a wet day for much of the country
Heavy rain warnings and watches were in place for parts of Westland
Wellington was forecast to have periods of rain including "possibly heavy before dawn"
While the rain would ease in the region on Friday afternoon
sewage has been discharged into Wellington's waterways after heavy rain overnight
Wellington Water said high rainfall within the catchment has led to higher inflows at its processing plants
untreated sewage was discharged into the ocean at Tarakena Bay from the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant
treated wastewater was released into the Waiwhetū Stream in Lower Hutt from the Seaview Plant
Wellington Water said it was arranging coastal samplings and people should stay out of the water
Daddy Was An Outlaw being released on digital streaming platforms
The Bitter Brothers have been busy dusting off their boots and polishing their instruments
getting ready to take their show on the road for a tour of New Zealand’s North Island starting in their home grounds of Wellington at the Wellington Bluegrass Society on Friday March 7th
8pm at the Abandoned Taproom 38 Fitzherbert Street
Public consultation opens today on a proposal to correct the spelling of the Lower Hutt suburb Petone to Pito One
The proposal was made to Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board by The Wellington Tenths Trust and the Palmerston North Māori Reserve Trust with support from the Hutt City Council and numerous other iwi groups from the region
Board secretary Wendy Shaw said Pito One was the correct spelling for the suburb
"The name refers to the burial of pito (umbilical cord) in the one (sand) as a symbolic tethering of a newborn to the land and their tūrangawaewae (place to stand) and as an expression of ahi kā (continuous occupation)
"Pito One pā was the place where senior rangatira Hōniana Te Puni met William Wakefield and the New Zealand Company settlers in 1839," she said
At various times since 1930 the board has recognised that the spelling of the name is incorrect but has never formally resolved the matter
The spelling Pito One has been confirmed by kaumātua at Te Taura Whiri i te Reo
Māori Language Commissioner Ngahiwi Apanui wants to make sure iwi are considered in consultation and a good process followed
Te Taura Whiri supported changing place names in certain cases but they also supported a good process for getting to a name change
"We've supported the local iwi here in Wellington with the name Pito One because we want to see a good process
It was their ancestors who came up with the names in the first place
so it's good to consult with them and do it in a really meaningful way
I never called Taranaki Egmont it was always Maunga Taranaki from when I was a child
So for me seeing them returned to their rightful names
If an iwi's treaty settlement had a language clause as part of it
that took precedence over Te Taura Whiri's te reo conventions
"One of the things that we'd like to think is that the conventions are not so rigid that they exclude iwi from having a say in those names
The iwi of Taranaki Whānui and Te Āti Awa would prefer
and I think there's enough evidence to support it
that it's written as Pito One not as Petone."
The Geographic Board is now looking to hear from the wider community before any final decisions are made
Submissions on the proposal can be made in the following ways:
Mayor Tory Whanau says the new street name correctly recognises chief Hōniana Te Puni
The council has unanimously approved the name
and formally accepted the name Paekākā for the area around the botanical gardens
A descendant of Māori chief Te Wharepōuri says correcting the spelling of a suburban Wellington street named after him will help right an historic wrong
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When Joanna Wane took her brother’s dog for a coffee walk
There are about 830,000 dogs in New Zealand and on a sunny Saturday morning, most of them seem to meet up for coffee on the Petone foreshore in Lower Hutt
The Flying Bean coffee cart, which sits halfway along The Esplanade – between the old wharf and the Petone Settlers Museum – has gone to the dogs since it opened in a mobile horse float almost 20 years ago
Now a permanent fixture operating out of an old shipping container
it serves “puppuchino” fluffies with dog-treat sprinkles on top
Its clientele is so diverse that standing in the queue to order is like stepping into the pages of a Hairy Maclary book
when I was down in Wellington for Wow and took my brother’s Australian terrier
My flat white came with a small complimentary cookie that looked like a miniature Gingernut
who mouthed the biscuit suspiciously before spitting it out on the ground
Feeling a little miffed at having my generosity rebuffed
I tossed the sodden reject into the bushes
“Is your dog allowed treats?” asked the barista
and she popped a little brown nugget on a paper napkin next to my cup
Not only was the “biscuit” I’d eaten the day before actually a dog treat
but it was a dog treat that even the dog wouldn’t eat
you’re definitely not the first,” owner Stephanie Keenan says
even when we tell people they’re for the dogs.”
Keenan took over the business about three years ago and reckons dog owners account for about 40% of her customers
And it turns out Gio is an outlier with his snooty tastes
The Flying Bean goes through about 500 Mutt Butter cookies
the coffee cart also sells homemade dog treats from Dukes Barkery
a local business that makes cookies shaped like a bone
Some of the dogs dance or do tricks for their treats
“We’ve got one that zooms around in circles really fast – you can see him doing it from a mile away
Along with Indie (a border collie) and Hercules (a beardie)
He’s one of the regulars who visit every day
who diplomatically describes the Petone foreshore as “very weather-orientated”
“We were all heartbroken; we couldn’t believe the news.”
The owner recently adopted another “adorable” greyhound called Bubbles
who slip out to join some of the dogs on their walks when the coffee rush dies down
Says Keenan: “We’re a big family down here.”
almost a third of New Zealanders share their home with at least one dog
although canines are still outnumbered by our estimated population of 1.26 million cats
Regular dog walks reportedly make both owner and animal feel less stressed
a recent study by Bay of Plenty-based company Addiction Pet Foods found only 51% of Kiwis walk their dog every day
For Walk Your Dog Month in January, the company launched a Great Pet Walks guide
in a nod to our top tramping tracks: Eskdale Reserve in Birkenhead for dogs who like to explore the forest; Matai River Walk in Nelson for dogs who have allergies
there’s no classic “cafe walk” on the list and Petone Beach didn’t make the cut
I can report dog walkers take their responsibilities seriously here and it’s largely a poo-free zone
for locals refusing to clean up after their pooches in public spaces
a crackdown on dog poo is now taking the matter in hand
All dog owners are required to submit their pets for a DNA test
Swab results will be stored in a police database and used as evidence to identify messy pups
Gio is not a large dog but sometimes requires three poo bags for his morning walk
Telegraph: A cash-strapped university student who tried online sex work tells her story
Wellington police say two men have been arrested at a petrol station in Petone
There were reports of armed police at the Z service station on Tuesday afternoon
Police said the men were sought in relation to an assault earlier at a home in Wellington city
The victim in the assault suffered minor injuries
Kia ora friends and fans!We've got a special show coming up at Abandoned Petone
then expanding to a never-seen-before quartet with long-time collaborator Stealthy Nipz on percussion and freestyle verse
then continuing the party with Torchie on decks and live flute
This is not one you wanna miss!------------------------------------------ISKRAIskra are an otherworldly trio heralding from Te Whanganui a Tara formed by saxophonist Josh Buckler and featuring Simon Grove (Niko Ne Zna) on Helicon and David McGurk (Planet Hunter) on Drums.Inspired by the likes of Sons of Kemet and the London Jazz scene
soaring melodies and the fire of afro-beat
Balkan music and a style that is best described as Brass-House
when the last lights have gone out.Seasoned hip-hop and dubstep artist Barley Prendergast Smith aka STEALTHY NIPZ is joining Iskra's ranks for this special show at Abandoned Petone.TORCHIE (DJ)Torchie primarily conveys the finest in jungle
and 140s/dubstep.As a multi-instrumentalist with classical flute and vocal training
Torchie’s musical sensibility allows him to create rich melodic sets and soundscapes.Drum & bass influences : Calibre
and Dubamine (among many others).Doors 8pm
Music from 8:30pmTickets at UTR $15/$10 presales / $20 on the door
An Antarctic penguin found on a Wellington beach is undergoing disease testing
The Adélie penguin - usually exclusive to Antarctica - appeared on Petone beach about 4000km from home on Saturday and was in quarantine at Wellington Zoo
Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) confirmed it was tested Thursday for avian influenza with results expected early next week
The H5N1 avian flu virus was first detected in the wider Antarctic region last year, with scientists confirming in February that it had arrived on the mainland
In a yet-to-be peer-reviewed paper from earlier this year
scientists tested 16 Adélie penguins in the Antarctic peninsula
Researchers said none of the penguins showed signs of the disease
but warned asymptomatic species could act as Trojan horses helping to spread the virus
In a interview with Morning Report in September
Massey University veterinary professor Brett Gartrell said new research showing the range of species affected by avian flu was "really scary" for New Zealand
But he said the biggest risk came from airborne birds - petrels
and said the likely path to New Zealand would be via the sub-Antarctic Islands
Wellington Zoo said the Adélie penguin was in relatively good condition and recovering well from a stressful day on the beach
Senior vet Kirsten Anderson said the bird's isolation was for its own protection as well as the zoo's other animals
we know that Antarctic penguins can carry specific viruses that are endemic to Antarctica
we want to make sure that this bird doesn't mix with
any equipment that we're using with our other native birds in hospital ..
and making sure she's not going to accidentally spread disease
black and white penguin - had evolved to live in Antarctica
so it was not surprising that it was suffering heat stress when it was found
"A sunny spring day in Petone was far too hot for this bird
"They've got the biggest attitude I think of any bird I've treated in the hospital here
New Zealand - and the rest of Oceania - remained the last regions free of bird flu in the world
MPI said it was on high alert for the disease and it was not usual ministry practice to test seemingly healthy birds
Chief veterinary officer Dr Mary van Andel said across the globe
"highly pathogenic avian influenza has caused dramatic die off of wildlife" and it was known to affect different species
She said given the Adélie penguin's Antarctic origin the ministry was proceeding with an abundance of caution
MPI was vigilant and alert to the spread of exotic diseases
and had provided scientists based in Antarctica sampling kits to test for bird flu
Van Andel said it was worth noting that the virus detected in the Antarctic mainland in February
was on the opposite side of the continent to New Zealand
there had been no further reports of spread
she said MPI received about three to four reports of bird deaths a week
She said anyone with concerns about sick or dead wild life - three or more at the same place and time - should call MPI's hotline - 0800 80 99 66
Wellington Zoo senior vet Kirsten Anderson said the visiting Adélie penguin was "very lost and far from its home"
"This is a really unusual bird to find on our shores
We think this is the fourth or fifth recorded in Aotearoa New Zealand ever ..
Department of Conservation confirmed today that an Adélie found in Dunedin in January had been released a month later after receiving a transponder and full bill of health
Anderson said the fact that the Petone penguin was the second Adélie to come ashore this year
"It should be a really rare anomaly and not a frequent thing
but I think the most credible one is the climate crisis [which] has caused warming waters and habitat disruption all around Antarctica."
She said the changes had displaced penguins and other seabird species
forcing them into new waters to hunt for food
Exploitation of dwindling fish stocks was also a likely contributing factor