Tory Whanau launches Golden Mile project yesterday Become a Wellington.Scoop Supporter » Thompson Tukapua crosses for a second half try in today’s traditional for St Pat’s Silverstream over St Pat’s Town Wellington: 5 (Nelsson Tuimalu try) HT: 22-0 Silverstream accounted for St Patrick’s College Town by a record score of 50-5 in their Old Boys Cup/Premiership traditional fixture at Evans Bay Park this afternoon The margin of Silverstream’s victory is their largest against Town in 86 games stretching back to 1931 Silverstream won by 52-10 at Evans Bay Park in 2018 Remarkably Silverstream didn’t score for 15 minutes and finished the contest with 13 players after the increasingly irritable habit of conceding a raft of penalties resurfaced this was an enormously satisfying triumph for Silverstream especially co-captains Drew Breg-McLean and Thompson Tukapua one short of the record in this fixture achieved by Chris Aumua in Stream’s 42-10 win in 2016 Anticipation and support are two primary roles of an openside flanker and the pesky robust seven produced a masterclass in this assignment Elijah Solomona and Junior Tupou were successful in flattening Town’s defensive wall with unsubtle First-five Tukapua was selected in the Hurricanes Under 18 reps as a Year 12 Sometimes the humble talisman has played within himself this season two of which were classic and done after a faultless right dummy A moment of silence was observed before kick-off for former St Pats Town coach Willie Leota who passed away during the school holidays a former All Black who assisted Hutt International Boys’ School and St Patrick’s College Silverstream and Maria Lenoard “a vibrant presence within the Hutt Valley High School and Petone rugby community.” Town wore the name and number of Leota on their jerseys Understandably Willie’s loss is still keenly felt and in part explains why Town lacked the focus and vigour of their opposition Town fought hard in the last dozen minutes as they sought a second try about the only solace they can take from the battering Silverstream leads the annual rivalry in Old Boys Cup games 62-19 Silverstream won 11 in a row from 2010 to 2021 and 12 in a row from 1998 to 2009 Town might be advised to recite Psalm 73:26 which says: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Their head-to-head record in this fixture is now 63-19 Taita College had too much size and pace for a gallant and tenacious Kapiti team winning 53-14 in their traditional on Tuesday afternoon Played in perfect conditions at Kapiti College Kapiti struggled to maintain the much larger Taita boys Taita dominated with some great interplay between backs and forwards With this win Taita secured the Hylton Burt Cup Burt was a former principal at Taita College and also taught at Kapiti College the cup went into a six-year hiatus from 2017 with another two years where no game were played With Taita’s win today the overall tally stands at four wins apiece for both schools St Bernard’s College overpowered Hutt Valley High School (HVHS) 33-7 in their annual Lower Hutt traditional fixture on Tuesday HVHS made a fiery beginning and took a 7-0 lead after a penalty try St Bernard’s regrouped and hooker Jack Brosnahan tied the scores Brosnahan was a major personality in the game He scored another try but unfortunately held up proceedings for half an hour when he was cautiously removed after suffering a head injury St Bernard’s scored 19 unanswered points in the second half with individual standouts including Brosnahan Carlos Taage Anae and captain Issac McGuinness Naisa Pese and Kees Laulau thrived for HVHS Below the eighth round First XV Premiership draw: Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" It is just the latest incident in the Lower Hutt suburb after a serious assault on Monday and an hours-long armed stand-off on Tuesday Police said the brawl broke out on High Street Officers broke up the brawl and no charges have been filed Police said there would be more officers on the ground in Taitā on Friday in response to the spate of "anti-social behaviour" A person was left in a critical condition after the Monday assault while the stand-off saw schools locked down and streets closed "Our enquiries have determined these incidents were unrelated and we have dedicated teams investigating both," Hutt Valley area commander Inspector Rob Rutene said "This behaviour will not be tolerated by Police and staff will respond and A 26 -year-old man was arrested over Monday's incident Police were still looking for two other people understood to be involved Meanwhile, a 25-year-old man arrested over the Tuesday stand-off appeared in Hutt Valley District Court this week facing charges of resisting police and using a firearm against police New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News farmers and scientists have all had their way with the once lush piece of land adjoining Taitā College Nadine Hura meets the students and teachers reclaiming the forest and wetlands I think you can fall in love with a place once you know its story Or you can at least start to see it differently Every Thursday for the past year I’ve driven from Porirua to Taitā But there’s something about the shadowy forest behind the Learning Connexion that keeps me re-enrolling term after term The long driveway feels like a throat that could almost swallow you whole The tūī really sing their hearts out in Taitā the art centre was home to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and before that it belonged to the Soil Bureau The room where I’ve been learning the difference between intaglio versus relief printmaking was very likely used by scientists in the 70s and 80s to conduct tests and record chemical reactions The table next to the window where I sit and carve amateur pictures into lino has been repurposed from a laboratory bench that I like to imagine once held samples of dirt and beakers of fluid Before the artists moved in and painted the brutal concrete exterior in a mural straight from the pages of Dr Zeuss scientists made discoveries here that would one day change the entire landscape of Aotearoa I sometimes look out at enormous kōwhai in bloom and think of those groundbreaking studies that assisted farmers to treat illnesses in cows which paved the way for large tracts of land to be turned from native forest into pasture All along this rugged knuckle of land where tūī hurtle through the branches like spitfire pilots scientists planted and studied exotic trees and those trials would eventually contribute to the knowledge and expertise that makes this nation today so adept but the pines and acacia wattles beyond the classroom windows have dug in and clung on To an average visitor the forest looks healthy But there are limits to what the eye can see He was a student here in the 80s and returned in 2010 qualified to teach Māori He says he looks out the window and sees problems He’s talking about the possums and the deer Things I can’t see: a disappearing wetland Buried cans and bottles and rotting fence posts Matua Hirini explains that Taitā refers to the bend in the river where the driftwood collects “You have to know the story of the place for that to make sense.” “The reason you’d want to know where the driftwood collects is if you were building pā tuna.” The chapter in Taitā’s history when Te Awakairangi was teeming with life and the braided river still detoured through Taitā is the one Matua Hirini is trying to restore Two and a half years ago he stopped teaching Te Reo Māori in the classroom and transferred all the learning to the wetland between the school and the Learning Connexion Ahi Kaa is less about language in the textbook sense and everything to do with reclamation — land and language “You learn Māori through a Māori way of living and seeing and doing If kids know what used to be here before then they can imagine what it can be again.” The story of the soil beneath Taitā College begins long before the artists and scientists took up residence before the farmers with their fence posts and the market gardeners before them and certainly before the settlers who carefully wrapped the roots of their favoured blackberry and transported them to the colony so they might always have a taste of home in their jams and pies “Ahi Kaa isn’t a class,” Matua Hirini says Students are working to change the environment They’re working to liberate the natives from the pine and the pests As we reclaim the wetland we are making our site more resilient and the students are becoming more resilient Any kid who can spend all day in the swamp in the rain and then come back and do it again next week has got some level of self-reliance and resilience.” This is one reason Matua Hirini doesn’t use the word ‘kaitiaki’ in reference to humans says that what she loves the most about being in the swamp is the visits from the pīwaiwaka “At the beginning of the year we didn’t see them very often but since we began clearing the blackberries we see them all the time.”  Matua Hirini says some kids used to be scared of the pīwaiwaka because of the stories they’d heard The pīwaiwaka come and check us out in the swamp They flit and dart around us when we’re working a year 13 Ahi Kaa student and Head Girl of Taitā College takes me on a tour of the swamp She points out where the blackberries used to be and tells me how they had to replace their gumboots regularly because they kept ripping open on the backward facing thorns They brought down cherry blossoms and ring barked pines set live traps for the possums and opened up the creek which was choking on weeds they began harvesting harakeke from other areas and planting cuttings where the blackberry had once crept across the mud The drying blackberry branches are then piled high nearby and used as fuel for the hāngi pit whenever there’s a hākari at the school The philosophy of zero waste is ingrained in the Ahi Kaa students Matua Hirini explains that even that word “waste” in Māori doesn’t really make sense not in the way that it is understood in English “The word ‘moumou’ refers to the wasted potential of something but that’s really just describing the nature of something But the idea of waste in Māori is quite foreign started working with the Ahi Kaa students this year she says she is more about the carrot than the stick She and friend Tina Walker-Fergusson have helped establish a māra at the back of the school teaching the students how to compost — or make soil “It’s hard to align the knowledge of our whakapapa to our actions There can be a lot of shame associated with it too People are ashamed of what they don’t know Food scraps releasing methane into landfill is science heavy kōrero It’s hard to make that meaningful to anyone Even I was surprised to hear that putting food scraps into landfill is damaging cos you’d think it just rots down and becomes part of the good stuff You need aerobic bacteria to break down the kai it’s a crazy orchestra of different players that make magic happen we are just one player in that beautiful orchestra.” Lani says that scientists sometimes think they are superior because of the language they speak In scientific language we talk about the microbiome and soil health affecting the health and nutrients of the food we eat Another way of thinking about it is through the relationship between Hineahuone (the first woman created) and Tāne Lani says that even though she’s not an expert in mātauranga as if she is remembering and unlocking knowledge of our atua that she already has inside her This is despite being told by her high school science teacher — not Taitā College — that she should go and flip burgers at McDonalds I ask her how she feels about that comment today like she hasn’t yet fully shed the weight of it “I think it’s still happening in classrooms you know Kids being made to feel as if they’re stupid That’s why I love working here at Taitā College I hope the students are learning and feeling confident in what they know.”   Matua Hirini knows that assessments and targets can sometimes be counter productive “If we were chasing credits we wouldn’t be able to do half the things they’re doing in the class Credits take up so many hours that we’d end up spending more time in the classroom than we would doing the work Matua Hirini says he wants students to know that assessments are not a reflection of what type of person you are I went to school with some of these guys’ parents Jacinta sticks her shovel in the ground and thinks for a moment We’re standing in the looming shadow of an enormous pine that was planted long before she was born it was really just around knowing what I have lost I learnt in history class that some of the settlers brought plants here that they liked I learned about the ways the land has been misused My nanny wasn’t allowed to kōrero Māori when she was at school When I hear my cousins speaking Māori I see what I missed out on Far less is known about the conditions that support Tōtara and Kauri and Mānuka to thrive, because they weren’t vigorously studied. Even if scientists had wanted to study the delicate ecosystems of ancient forests and their potential to sequester carbon, they couldn’t, because they were felled and logged into near-extinction at the turn of last century.  The responsibility for the situation lies not with scientists, nor with landowners responding to various financial incentives logically, but with the mechanisms and tools of a settler colonial government which continues to hold fast to the values, activities and beliefs that caused global warming in the first place. Inexplicably, but perhaps predictably, the mural — and the vision — was at some point painted over. A note at the entrance, under a replica photo, says the original artwork and its aspirational vision of partnership is now “irretrievable” under layers and layers of thick white paint.  Matua Hirini, who also happens to go barefoot, has other ideas. I ask what keeps him motivated and he speaks slowly, which I can either construe as gravity for the profound nature of what he’s about to say, or evidence that the answer is obvious. It turns out to be both.  “I am tangata whenua. I am not Māori, I am tangata whenua. What makes me tangata whenua? The whenua. If I have no relationship to the whenua, then I’m just tangata. That doesn’t make any sense. We are nothing without the land.”  This is the kind of incentive and reward that traditional western systems of measurement aren’t set up to see, let alone value.  These motivations, both seen and hidden, positive and negative, yield outcomes that stubbornly defy standardised measurements.  Like teachers who have looked at Māori students year on year and told them they were destined no further than a McDonald’s grill. Like the impact Jacinta has had on her Mum, who has taken up te reo lessons, and her Dad, who is learning how to compost from his daughter, who learnt from her mentors.  Like the art centre that was once an institute of soil research, that was once a market garden, that was once a farm with wild blackberry, that was once, and always will be, the bend in the river where the driftwood collects. This is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air. A complaint must be first directed in writing the complaint may be referred to the online complaint form at www.presscouncil.org.nz along with a link to the relevant story and all correspondence with the publication A Hutt City Councillor says the Taita community has been left shocked and devastated by the violent killing of baby Ruthless-Empire Northern Ward Councillor Naomi Shaw told the Herald the death of the almost 2-year-old on Sunday has shaken people “It’s a shocking situation for the family and the child involved and you know any community this happens in would be absolutely gutted and devastated.” communities often come together and that’s what she is seeing in the wake of baby Ru’s death Shaw could not speak highly enough of the Taita community saying despite their shock and heartache they would support one another “I just know that that’s how it will be in the community today as they hear the news of what’s happened on the back doorstep There’ll be overwhelming support for each other Baby Ru died on Sunday after being injured at a home in Taita some 12 hours beforehand He was taken to hospital unresponsive and died a short time later Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard confirmed his death was being treated as a homicide and that three people of interest were being spoken to by police - all three were in the home on Poole St when Ruthless-Empire was injured Pritchard said yesterday that the level of violence against the toddler was “difficult to fathom” and that of the three people in the home one was a direct blood relative and the other two were members of the extended whānau One of the three also appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court last month facing charges including common assault aggravated assault and behaving threateningly There were also shoplifting charges and charges of breaching intensive supervision Pritchard confirmed the people in the home were known to police and police were engaging with Oranga Tamariki to understand the context of Ruthless-Empire’s death “I would urge anyone with information to come forward and talk to police if they know what happened inside the property,” he said acting national commissioner for Corrections expressed condolences to Ruthless-Empire’s whānau saying every child deserves a “safe loving home” “We echo police’s comment that any person with information should do the right thing and provide this information to police We do not want to compromise what is an active Police investigation and prevent any person from being held to account for this crime it is not appropriate for us to provide further information at this stage.” Vita Molyneux is a Wellington-based journalist who covers breaking news and stories from the capital She has been a journalist since 2018 and joined the Herald in 2021 The only high-reach ladder truck in Auckland broke down last night There were four First XV matches in the Wellington region today headlined by the blockbuster St Pat’s Silverstream – Wellington College fixture that was won by Wellington College 27-24 More on this match under the sub-heading below That Silverstream – Wellington College was one of two contests to start the fourth round of the Premiership The other in Masterton saw Wairarapa College beat Tawa College 34-19 St Pat’s Town’s First XV beat St John’s College 57-7 and Taita College defeated Fielding school Hato Paora College 31-25 at home in Lower Hutt it was only logical the winning moment should occur most unusually Wellington College and St Patrick’s College Silverstream were tied 24-apiece with two minutes remaining when Wellington had a scrum 35m away from the hosts line Wellington carried vigorously to midfield as first-five Archie Sims retreated as far from possible from obstruction Dropped goals are so rare in New Zealand today that there were none kicked in the Premiership last year and only one in the entire 2023 NPC With clinical precision and apparently still time Sims dispatched the winning goal through the posts like he’d been doing it his entire life Wellington coach and All Blacks Rugby World Cup winner Piri Weepu quipped to Club Rugby afterward “The kid has never practiced.” Only Piri could be that calmly laconic the dropped goal might not be as famous as the one Bryn Gatland kicked to win Hamilton Boys’ High School the National Top Four final in 2013 but in capital city folklore it will endure with glee Sims also accomplished the unique feature of scoring all four ways (penalty Wellington failed to regain the re-start and Silverstream earned a penalty The lineout formed five shy of the Wellington line as the Silverstream spectators stampeded down the embankment Rumours abounded NCEA credits were available for fans who joined the maul Ollie’s hand ((it could have been Jack Robinson’s) palmed the throw of Jericho Wharehinga Wellington hung on to win the Ken Gray Memorial Cup on Silverstream soil for the first time since 2016 The opening 10 minutes featured more kicking than the football next door—cagey respect Sims had the first say with a penalty but when Silverstream built forward momentum prop Noah Krijnen bullied his way to the paint Silverstream would incur the wrath of referee Jamie Fairmaid throughout Sims caught Silverstream daydreaming from a quick tap and converted his touchdown to make it 10-7 Silverstream No.8 Elijah Solomona was rampant but regrettably a wayward shoulder collected the head of Wellington blindside Lafaele Lupo and Solomona was red-carded Lupo could have seen a blue card but was permitted to carry on lock Laifone Kamoto hurdled over a mass of bodies in an acrobatic leap disarray could have ensued for Silverstream the Catholics rallied and improperly scored 17 unanswered points Hooker Jericho Wharehinga slithered underneath another pile-up like a slug in a drainpipe Lock Samuel Thompson took a taller route to the posts striding clear after a fisty charge and offload by openside Drew Berg-McLean Wellington’s bench provided much-needed imputes Lorenz Markel Strickland-Rere is burly and offers punch in midfield Te Aria Mani and Julius Toimata were engaged and energetic Hopkins scored a try from a rolling maul with seven minutes to spare and Z’kdeus Schwalger are the spine of a Wellington pack becoming increasingly resolute Silverstream has the raw power to bother anybody but conceding more than 20 penalties is a major narrative in their downfall It was an even and thrilling encounter that could have a sequel in the Premiership finals later in the season Wellington College has won the Ken Gray Cup 34 times Live Premiership points table – Wednesday afternoon: A fire broke out this morning at a cemetery in Lower Hutt just one hour after fire restrictions were eased for the city Firefighters have now brought the blaze under control after it started at or near Taitā Cemetery in Naenae Witness Latisha Robinson said she noticed the fire at 9am and called 111 She spotted the fire from Naenae Rd as she was heading to work Bright orange flames could be seen leaping into the air in the bushy area “There’s heaps of sirens going off,” Robinson said Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) shift manager Murray Dunbar said they received a call at 9.01am and arrived shortly after firefighters were working to reach the blaze Porirua and Kāpiti Coast areas were moving from a prohibited fire season to a restricted one as of 8am today “This means that some types of fire will require a permit to burn from Fire and Emergency NZ,” a social media post said “Remember that conditions in the area are still quite dry even if you have a permit - especially for heavier fuels like logs and trees Any fire that gets out of control may be difficult to extinguish tying up our resources for a significant period of time.” Conditions in the Hutt this morning are windy with strong northwesterlies and gales forecast in exposed places Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A person has been critically injured after a “targeted” assault at a petrol station in the Lower Hutt suburb of Taitā A significant police presence responded to the “serious assault” on High St about 5.20pm today “The incident happened at the intersection of High and Tocker streets and people are asked to avoid the area,” a police spokesperson said Police confirmed one person was transported to hospital in a critical condition “This is understood to have been a targeted incident and there is no immediate concern for the wider community “Staff are working to determine exactly what has taken place and locate those involved and residents can expect to see an increased police presence,” police said An employee at the BP petrol station at the intersection told the Herald a mechanic from the auto repair shop behind them was attacked and had been taken to hospital saying their son had seen a body lying on the ground Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news A man who smashed into a Lower Hutt woman on a pedestrian crossing leaving her seriously injured has pleaded guilty faced charges in the Hutt Valley District Court of driving a vehicle carelessly causing injury not stopping after being involved in an accident and driving while forbidden He told the court he was half blind and had not seen the victim He also said his two young children were in the car and he recalled one of them screaming He hid his car at a friend's house but came forward to police six days later Mother-of-two Anna Chesterfield was heading to the pharmacy in Taita on 30 January when his car plowed into her She flipped three times in the air and landed about 15 metres away on her back Chesterfield's cousin Nikki Wilton said they were both sad the man had his children in the car The family was glad the man had taken responsibility for his actions but they could understand "It makes you understand in a little way why he probably freaked out and didn't stop.. "Anna definitely forgives him for what he did but she [probably wishes] that he would have stopped "I spoke to her today and she sounded a lot brighter than she has in the last few weeks.. she's becoming more mobile which is good as that gives her a sense of freedom but obviously frustrated about the long road ahead "She can only go home once she can use crutches properly she's still using a walking frame and a wheelchair." A Givealittle page has been set up and more than $13,000 has been donated to assist with her recovery Harris has been remanded on bail and will be sentenced in May Two people have been charged in relation to the homicide of a Bay of Plenty man Davis Phillips was found critically injured in the Lower Hutt suburb of Taita in the early hours of January 26 The 56-year Whakatane man died a short time later Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Pritchard said 40-year-old woman has since been charged with murder and a 39-year-old man with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm The pair will appear in the Hutt Valley District Court tomorrow Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the homicide but anyone with information that might help should call 105 Kenya News Agency The Office of the Ombudsman has commended the ongoing efforts in implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA) program in Taita Taveta County stating that the initiative is steadily transforming access to healthcare During a fact-finding mission in the county hospitals the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) chairperson called for increased public awareness and timely disbursement of funds to further strengthen delivery of health services Speaking during a press briefing at the Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi Dulo disclosed that from the one-on-one interviews the commission made with patients from different hospitals in the region especially those who have successfully registered under the program “We have spoken to patients and healthcare providers and there is evidence that SHA is working well for registered members,” he said the chairperson acknowledged a few operational challenges which are common in the early stages of implementation of the new medical program Among the key challenges noted included delayed reimbursements to health facilities and limited public knowledge about the registration process it was reported that while claims amounting to Sh43 million had been submitted The commission on administrative justice assured that it would relay these findings to the Ministry of Health the Principal Secretary for health and all other relevant stakeholders for appropriate action “This is not unusual in large-scale rollouts We are confident that with ongoing support from the national government these teething problems will be addressed promptly,” the Chairperson noted The Commission encouraged residents to register with SHA to fully enjoy the benefits of the program and urged health facilities to assist in guiding residents through the process “It’s important that citizens understand what documents are required and where they can register We have noted that some of the complaints stem from lack of awareness and we are recommending enhanced community sensitization,” Dulo added The spot check by the Ombudsman is part of a wider tour of the Coast Region which also includes monitoring implementation of the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLoCCA) program which is a World Bank-supported project implemented jointly with the National Treasury and county governments to support grassroots-led climate change interventions The commission met with the County Deputy Governor Christine Saru Kilalo and other officials to assess how the devolved entity is progressing in aligning with FLoCCA requirements including the development of a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Policy the establishment of frameworks for Access to Information and the enacting of legislation that enables open governance The Chairperson highlighted the importance of the GRM policy in empowering communities to raise concerns related to project implementation counties are expected to enact Access to Information laws in line with Section 96 (3) of the County Governments Act which mandates that each county government in Kenya must enact legislation to ensure access to information in accordance with the national laws governing access to information “Our technical team is working closely with the counties to finalize these policies and ensure that the public is empowered through information and engagement,” Dulo said Taita Taveta is among 21 counties implementing the FLoCCA program The Commission had earlier visited Tana River and Kilifi counties and is expected to proceed to Kwale County to complete the coastal circuit “The goal is to ensure that by the end of this financial year all participating counties have grievance redress systems and access to information frameworks in place,” he noted The watch dog commission reaffirmed its support to both the county and national governments in driving citizen-centered service delivery reforms Dulo said the mission aims to identify best practices and facilitate the development of policies that strengthen accountability and transparency There is marked progress and political goodwill The visit reflects the government’s broader agenda of improving public service delivery promoting transparency and advancing climate resilience through inclusive and community-driven approaches You must be logged in to post a comment Kenya Broadcasting Corporation MyGov Kenya National Archives Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board Kenya Institute of Mass Communication Media Council of Kenya eCitizen – Gateway to All Government Services How to make payments to the Directorate of Information County Focus, March, 2025. Mawasiliano, March, 2025. Sauti Ya Kericho, January, 2025. Maarifa, January, 2025. NGAO, February, 2025. THE EYE, February, 2025. Nyota Ya Mashariki, March , 2025. Nyota Ya Magharibi, March, 2025. KNA Bulletin, December, 2024. Sauti Ya Gusii, December, 2024. The application must be received by Tuesday Taita Taveta University (TTU) has announced a wide range of job vacancies for April 2025 According to an advert released on Tuesday the university is seeking suitably qualified and experienced individuals to fill multiple academic and administrative positions the School of Science and Informatics has openings for Chief Technologists in the disciplines of Chemistry There is also a position for Technologist II in Chemistry there are vacancies for a Principal Student Counsellor and a Sports & Games Assistant Officer II The University Health Unit is seeking to hire a Nursing Officer III and a Medical Lab Technologist III In the Department of Information Communication Technology the university is looking to recruit an Assistant ICT Officer II (Software Development) Planning and Development has advertised two posts for Administrative Assistant II the School of Science and Informatics is seeking Associate Professors or Senior Lecturers in Software Engineering and Cyber Security and Digital Forensics It is also recruiting Senior Lecturers or Lecturers in Applied Mathematics and Physics Earth and Environmental Sciences has advertised for a Senior Lecturer in Ecology/Zoology and a Lecturer in Botany The School of Education is hiring Senior Lecturers or Lecturers in Educational Psychology All positions offered are on permanent and pensionable terms and successful candidates will be entitled to benefits as approved by the University Council Applicants are required to send a soft copy of their application to the email address [email protected] a hard copy must be addressed and sent to The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration should be clearly indicated on both the envelope and the email subject line Previous Post Next Post Millions David Ndii and Other Ruto Advisers Will Get in 2025/2026 Budget Details of Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi’s Trip‬ ‪to Washington DC Uhuru's Office Faces Multi-Million Budget Cut in New Allocations Ruto Receives Report on Recruitment of IEBC Chairperson, Members Grisly Accident Claims Life of Driver Attached to Governor Orengo’s Office Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen addresses Kilifi residents during the Jukwaa la Usalama Nationwide Tour on April 9 Speaking during the final leg of the Jukwaa la Usalama security baraza of the coastal edition in Taveta Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said reported cases range from rape to early forced marriages.  CS Murkomen added that there is a need to address the cultural behavior regarding gender protection in Taita Taveta County to stop the vice The Ministry of Interior stated that it will address key issues raised by Coast region residents during the week-long security barazas in Mombasa These include insecurity caused by youthful gangs Police have named the 29-year-old man who died after an assault outside a liquor store in Lower Hutt on Friday Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said police were continuing to investigate the incident and the offender had not been found "Our principal focus at this time is locating the man that left the scene following the assault Leitch said the man left the scene on foot and walked south then later returned to the scene before leaving in a silver Toyota Carib station wagon "The car is missing its front left hubcap and has some damage to its front left panel and indicator." The car was seen at the High St scene for several minutes before it left Police confirmed that the people involved were not customers of the Big Barrel liquor store and the only link to the store is that the incident occurred nearby Leitch said CCTV footage - provided by the owners of Big Barrel liquor store - showed a woman walking north on High Street at 7.30pm when the incident occurred "Police would also like to speak to the woman "The woman is of medium build and was wearing dark clothing and carrying a shoulder bag Police were also continuing to focus on identifying anyone else who may have been in the area at the time and observed the incident or assisted afterward "Our inquiries have indicated that a number of people came to assist including some who were driving by and stopped "We would like to hear from anyone we have not yet spoken to and request that they get in touch with us at their earliest convenience please call Lower Hutt Police on 04 560 2600 Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 Anna Chesterfield is still heavily bruised after the hit-and-run collision nearly two weeks ago Anna Chesterfield's leg is "shattered into pieces" and she faces up to a year in recovery after a horror hit-and-run collision in Lower Hutt - but says she feels "blessed" and "wishes the very best" for the driver who hit her The 37-year-old Wellington mother was full of nothing but sympathy for the person who ran her down at a pedestrian crossing and fled the scene late last month and said she hopes he has "support and kindness" around him Chesterfield told the Herald she has only just taken her first steps since the incident It means that I have a future and I'm going to be okay," she said She doesn't have a cast on her leg and isn't allowed to place weight on it but was able to use a Zimmer frame to take her first steps on Thursday The small piece of painstaking progress is one of the first steps in the huge recovery journey Chesterfield has before her - which includes weeks or months in hospital rehabilitating and six to 12 months before she can walk unassisted again The incident left her with a badly shattered leg bone and a snap through another part of her leg and a split in her scalp that required staples and stitches She had to have surgery to insert a rod into her leg to hold the broken pieces together Her thoughts have been muddled and murky up until the last few days and she was recently relieved to be told she does not have brain damage "We thought maybe I did because I was out to it but I think I just had a lot of bleeding in the skull." It could have been [a lot] worse for me," she said I feel really blessed and I'm really happy I just have so many people around me that love me." though Chesterfield was told she was able to speak to people who helped her at the scene "I so appreciate that there was a student nurse there that helped me Chesterfield wanted to thank everyone who helped her at the scene and beyond, as well as everyone who has donated to a Givealittle page set up for her I'm so thankful," she said of the more than $12,000 in donations they were very angry that someone had done that and then just left She felt "a little bit sad" the driver had left her there "but then I think maybe he was really frightened and I feel a bit sorry for him" but I don't know what's going on in his life and I don't want to hold it against him I just hope that he gets really good support and he's not stressed out and "I can imagine he's probably going through hell right now I'm hoping that he has support and kindness around him and that people help him and bring him through this as well I can imagine if it was me it would be pretty hard A 27-year-old man appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court on Thursday morning charged over the incident Jade Mark Harris is accused of careless driving causing injury He has not entered pleas and will reappear in court next week Post Courier Taita Maraga brought the National Football Stadium (NFS) to life with her angelic voice at the Port Moresby Show this afternoon – Saturday The famous PNG singer was among other upcoming and seasoned PNG artists who performed at the long-awaited Port Moresby Show Taita performed two of her longtime PNG favorites ” Sori Francis” and “Emu emu” as the showgoers begged for more With the slow start of the show in the morning the performance by Taita and other artists brought life to the afternoon and the stadium as the audience sang along and swayed to the songs The show continued with other performances from artists and cultural dance performances Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image Wild Dunedin Froggy Facts and Feeding was held at Tūhura Otago Museum The man appeared by audio visual link in court this morning A man has been charged with murder several weeks after a man died in a fight in the Lower Hutt suburb of Taita The 50-year-old appeared by audio visual link in the Hutt Valley District Court this morning where he was charged with murder by stabbing or cutting died from a single stab wound following the assault in the evening of September 14 Police arrested his alleged murderer five days after the death saying he was the occupant of a silver station wagon seen leaving the area after the fight He was arrested in Hastings and originally charged with possession of a firearm and a knife but the charge of murder has now been added The man has interim name suppression while his lawyer makes inquiries into whether identifying him risks the safety of him and his family The man was remanded to appear in the High Court at Wellington on October 31 A woman who lives near where the fight happened earlier told the Herald she could hear someone yelling "help me" at the scene She and her 17-year-old son were thinking about calling police when officers arrived at the scene I just wanted to stay inside because you don't want to get involved in that kind of thing," she said The pair were already in the process of moving house and are glad to be doing so The woman fears gang retribution for any co-operation they had with police During the fight she could hear the words "help me" and saw people running into the road to stop traffic She believes it was to get help for the critically injured victim Another High St resident said this was the worst thing to happen in the area for about five years He said local kids had been talking about a "Mongrel Mob movement" He said the incident was sad and unnecessary and Maritime Affairs held its first extensive consultative meeting of 2025 on Friday at the Voi Gemstone Centre with miners and industry stakeholders and traders dealing with gemstones from Taita Taveta County The meeting aimed to address longstanding challenges in the mining sector and enhance the county’s contribution to the economy Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Mining emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring that Taita Taveta’s vast mineral resources He stated that the meeting was part of ongoing efforts to find lasting solutions to issues affecting the mining industry in the region “The government has consistently worked toward the optimal exploitation of minerals to ensure that they benefit the local community,” said the PS He revealed that a survey conducted last year on the gemstone value chain highlighted opportunities to increase the centre’s utility and maximise its impact The PS acknowledged that the Voi Gemstone Value Addition Centre commissioned by President William Ruto in 2023 has not been fully utilised due to challenges such as leadership and underutilised spaces He pledged to address these issues through continuous stakeholder engagement and enhanced operational strategies “The centre has great potential to transform the gemstone industry leadership challenges and operational inefficiencies have hindered its full utilisation We are keen to resolve these issues to ensure that the centre achieves its intended purpose,” he said Mwangi directed the facility manager to consult with public works officers to assess the centre’s facilities and set reasonable rent rates to encourage gemstone dealers to occupy and fully utilise the available spaces He also announced a 30-day deadline to conduct elections for inclusive leadership at the gemstone centre ensuring representation of all stakeholders one of the messages I am bringing is that within the next 30 days The leadership will not come from Nairobi or our office It is us who are in this business who shall give us the leadership,” the PS stated the State Department has deployed geologists and explosives inspectors in the county to assist artisanal miners in engaging in safe and productive mining the PS noted that the county now has five mining inspectors it doesn’t matter whether you are in Voi or Wundanyi provided you are working for the Ministry of Mining We are committed to enhancing our human resource capacity to serve miners better and meet their needs,” he said a critical component of Taita Taveta’s economy noting that the Ministry is developing strategies to formalise and upgrade artisanal miners’ operations He cited the formation of 12 cooperative societies as a step toward supporting artisanal miners and improving their access to resources there are 12 artisanal cooperative societies and I understand the majority of them were formed because we are in the process of allowing artisanal miners to mine in parks,” Mwangi said Regarding strategic minerals and licensing Mwangi assured stakeholders of the Ministry’s commitment to clearing pending applications and ensuring fair issuance of mineral rights under the Mining Act He called for collaborative efforts to streamline the industry and ensure compliance with regulations He also highlighted plans to integrate the Voi Gemstone Centre into the tourism circuit in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism aiming to position the county as a gemstone and tourism hub Director of Mining Gregory Kituku emphasized the government’s focus on regulation and value addition to ensure that local communities benefit from gemstone mining He highlighted the importance of using the gemstone value addition centre adding that it is equipped with testing facilities and experts to prevent broker exploitation Kituku stated that the government has not denied export permits for legally mined gemstones He emphasized the importance of performance-based licensing which requires applicants to demonstrate compliance with royalty payments We have the responsibility to protect those carrying out this form of mining and The director revealed that stricter controls on Tsavorite have led to a notable increase in royalty collections ensuring revenues benefit local communities and the government He also urged miners and dealers to prioritise value addition locally to maximise returns “To position Kenya as a global gemstone hub we must strengthen local capacities and market Tsavorite as a unique Kenyan brand,” said Kituku He highlighted the role of the newly established Mining Police Unit and investigative arms under the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in curbing illegal activities in the sector “Compliance with laws and proper regulation will create a sustainable and economically beneficial mining industry,” he added Kituku called for stakeholder collaboration to resolve challenges and create a thriving gemstone industry “Our long-term vision is to make Kenya a leader in gemstone production through capacity building urging the miners facing challenges to have a dialogue with him as he promised to support them Taita Taveta Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo lauded the Ministry of Mining for ensuring the county’s residents benefit from its mineral wealth She emphasized the need for regular consultations between the Ministry and stakeholders to address challenges and facilitate development “Frequent engagements like this are crucial in understanding the challenges miners and other stakeholders face We can find solutions that drive the county’s development together,” said Kilalo Kilalo also highlighted the importance of inclusivity in the gemstone centre’s leadership and called on the Ministry to support miners and dealers in complying with regulations to streamline operations Voi Member of Parliament Abdi Chome echoed the deputy governor’s sentiments urging the Ministry to ensure that the county’s mineral wealth benefits all residents including those not directly involved in mining Even those who are not miners but live in Voi should benefit from the minerals found in the county we support the Ministry because the sector has to be streamlined for all of us to benefit,” said Chome He stressed the need for clarity on strategic minerals and urged the Ministry to educate stakeholders on their significance and benefits “When stakeholders understand the purpose of strategic minerals we can ensure smooth operations and compliance with the law,” he said Chome called for leadership at the gemstone centre to be drawn from within the county to foster trust and inclusivity He also supported the Ministry’s efforts to streamline licensing and address delays that have hindered mining activities The MP noted that mining is a lifeline for many residents and urged the Ministry to create a conducive environment for miners and dealers to operate “The mining sector has the potential to transform lives and we must work together to ensure that everyone benefits,” the MP stressed stakeholders raised concerns about licensing delays They called for the deployment of more mining engineers and geologists to support miners and improve efficiency Stakeholders also urged the government to simplify licensing processes for artisanal miners and address the shortage of gem cutters to enhance local value addition particularly the State Department of Mining to deploy skilled professionals such as mining engineers and gemologists to work closely with miners She said this would help build their capacity and ensure efficient and effective gemstone extraction You must be logged in to post a comment The national government has distributed relief food to the Muslim community in Taita Taveta County to support them as they observe the Holy month of Ramadhan including 300 bags of rice and 246 bags of beans will be distributed across mosques in the county to benefit less fortunate Muslim families Taita Taveta County Commissioner Josephine Onunga reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the Muslim community during this sacred period She noted that the food was meant to help those in need ensuring they have something to eat as they continue with their religious observances “The government has stepped in to support our Muslim brothers and sisters during Ramadhan The relief food will be distributed through Muslim leaders to ensure that those who are less fortunate get something to eat as they continue with their fast,” Onunga said The county commissioner further stated that the food will be shared among the 50 mosques in Voi Subcounty and over 100 mosques across the county Leaders lauded the government for the efforts Former Kaloleni MCA Omar Ahmed welcomed the relief efforts acknowledging the government’s gesture of goodwill Ahmed pointed out that this year’s food allocation was lower compared to the previous year and called for an increase to cater to the growing Muslim population in the county “We appreciate the government’s efforts in sharing food with the Muslim community during Ramadhan but this year’s allocation is lower than what we received last year We urge the authorities to increase the supply so that more people can benefit,” he stated The former MCA said the Muslim community in Taita Taveta will continue supporting government initiatives that improve the welfare of citizens they are praying for the government and leaders at both national and county levels to ensure peace and stability in the country Taita Taveta County Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Chairperson Farida Mtengo also expressed gratitude for the relief food especially for women who struggle to provide for their families during Ramadhan This food will go a long way in ensuring that Muslim families The food distribution exercise comes at a time when many families across the county are grappling with economic hardships making it difficult for some to afford basic meals The relief supplies are expected to ease the burden on vulnerable households and allow them to observe their religious obligations with dignity You must be logged in to post a comment The man died from injuries sustained in an assault on High St A man is dead following an assault outside a liquor store on High Street Police said the man died from injuries sustained in a brawl between a group of men On officers' arrival the man was found to have sustained critical injuries Police had taken one person into custody following the incident A scene guard would remain in place overnight and police were requesting members of the public avoid High St between Burcham St and Macky St Police were wanting to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident They could reach Lower Hutt Police on 04 560 2600 The National Government has commissioned Sh47 million state-of-the-art gemology equipment at the Taita Taveta National Polytechnic (TTNP) The facility aims to bridge the skills gap in gemstone identification Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Principal Secretary (PS) hailed the initiative as a testament to the government’s unwavering commitment to empowering the youth and artisanal miners The equipment supported by Young Africa Works and funding from MasterCard Foundation through Colleges and Institute in Canada (CICAN) positions Taita Taveta National Polytechnic as a centre of excellence in gemology the Taita Taveta National Polytechnic is now equipped to produce graduates who can meet the global standards in the gemology industry This is an exciting step forward for the TVET sector in Kenya even if we have a university involved in this or any other it is very important that we take this with the seriousness that it deserves,” Dr She disclosed that the polytechnic now offers gemology training at Levels 4 she challenged the institution to increase this number significantly emphasising that the facility should be utilised to its full capacity we should be talking about 200 students using this lab and that is how we will develop our community here and the country at large The PS stated that the government has a target of enrolling two million students into TVET institutions nationwide by June next year urging TTNP to ensure it plays its role in enrolling as many students as possible to achieve this target She emphasised the importance of increasing enrolment at the polytechnic and questioned why such a premier institution was falling short of its potential The PS issued a directive to the institution and local leaders to ensure more students are taking advantage of the training opportunities “I want you to realise that becoming a national polytechnic is a big challenge in itself It is not just about getting the name; it is about doing what a National Polytechnic is supposed to do,” she emphasised Muoria highlighted the new equipment’s broader benefits particularly for the region’s artisanal miners who form the backbone of the county’s mining sector Taita Taveta County is home to over 40 types of high-value gemstones artisanal and small-scale miners face significant challenges “Through this centre of excellence in gemology and indeed all trainers will now be able to acquire the requisite technical training on suitable mining practices acquire training in health and safety standards in mining and acquire skills and knowledge on how to access competitive markets,” explained the PS I’ve just been told that we are already acquiring a requisite market in Canada and there is nothing as good as training and doing industry with an end in mind This is a step toward ensuring that our miners earn what they truly deserve,” she added The PS called for the elimination of middlemen who exploit miners by paying them low prices for their hard work She stressed the importance of ensuring that miners benefit directly from the value of their gemstones make sure we get rid of the middlemen and brokers because those women and the daughters will do all the work; they will bring minerals here and then the brokers will sell them and make the money and the villagers will remain poor,” she said Muoria issued a strong directive to reform how TVET examinations are conducted insisting on the involvement of industry players in the certification process She criticised the current assessment model which she argued does not adequately reflect industry needs “We cannot have TVET assessments that exclude industry experts The industry knows what skills are required and they must be part of the training and certification process The PS further urged the polytechnic to continue developing relevant curricula in collaboration with industry stakeholders She highlighted that 50 per cent of all TVET training must occur within the industry to ensure graduates acquire practical skills “We cannot have examinations being carried out the way they were done in the yesteryears without industry certifying that what we are talking about is actually what is being done and what has been trained on those students,” said the PS “This institution is now a qualification-awarding body and assessment must all align with industry standards,” she added Muoria noted that the global mining industry is watching Kenya’s progress emphasising that the polytechnic’s success could position the country as a leader in the gemology sector alongside other established mining nations such as Zimbabwe and South Africa “We have a unique opportunity to be serious and show the world that Kenya can compete globally and we must make the most of it,” she said As part of her broader vision for the TVET sector Muoria revealed that the government is developing a funding model tailored for TVET institutions stating that a framework has already been proposed to ensure financial sustainability “We have already come up with our suggested funding model It is going to Cabinet before we go for Christmas so that we have our funding model ready,” she stated The PS also encouraged regional industries to support their employees in seeking certification through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program This initiative allows individuals with informal skills to be assessed and certified Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime praised the initiative describing it as a transformative moment for the county’s mining sector the Governor acknowledged the significant knowledge gap that the new equipment would address “This is not just a gemology workshop; it is a revenue generator for our miners and the county at large,” Governor Mwadime said we have mined gemstones without realising their full potential we can add value and create opportunities for our people.” The Governor also commended the collaboration between the polytechnic and the Ministry of Education and expressed optimism about the County’s future With the support of these institutions and the Ministry we are reclaiming what we have lost for years Let us continue working together to make this vision a reality,” he said You must be logged in to post a comment Signage is seen at the Taita Hills Resort and Spa in Taita Taveta County Jade Mark Harris in the dock at the Lower Hutt District Court A Lower Hutt man has admitted being the driver in a horror hit and run that left a woman hospitalised with serious injuries appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court this morning where he pleaded guilty to charges of careless driving causing injury failing to stop to ascertain injury and driving while forbidden a few days after the vehicle involved in the crash was found partially concealed at a Lower Hutt property Harris was completing a turn nearby as 37-year-old victim Anna Chesterfield was about to cross the road at a clearly marked pedestrian crossing Harris was using his cellphone at the time and had his two young children in the car with him Chesterfield walked out onto the pedestrian crossing taking about six steps forward before Harris hit her with his car She was thrown up onto the bonnet of the car and was thrown about 15m before landing on the road and later lied about the damage to his vehicle When interviewed by police he said he was half blind and hadn't seen Chesterfield and admitted he was "freaking out" because one of his children was screaming He stood with his head hung in the dock today as his lawyer Harris was convicted and remanded on bail to be sentenced in May Chesterfield today told the Herald she was "really glad" Harris had pleaded guilty "I just think it's easier that way for everyone involved," she said from her hospital room in Lower Hutt Finding out Harris had been using his cellphone when he hit her "kind of shocked me" "All I can say is do not use cellphones while driving Chesterfield has tried to maintain positivity throughout the early stages of her recovery "Yes I have positivity and stuff but I'm also struggling a lot At the moment I'm just trying to deal with that She had forgiveness in her heart for Harris I feel like he's made some really poor choices and that made my life horrifically hard .. Chesterfield said she wished "the very best" for Harris She felt "a little bit sad" he had left her there Chesterfield faces six to 12 months before she can walk properly again after the crash left her with a shattered leg Doctors feared she had suffered brain damage in the incident but she was relieved recently to find out that she hadn't She was also grateful for those who had donated to a Givealittle page for her So far the page has received more than $13,000 in donations Welcome to the official Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) News YouTube channel The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered Ksh12,458,990 from Geoffrey Kimonge a former political advisor to former Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu The recovery follows a court ruling that found Kimonge fraudulently acquired public funds through fictitious imprest claims Voi Chief Magistrate Mildred Obura determined that Kimonge unlawfully obtained the funds by requesting imprest for non-existent activities while serving as an advisor in the county government The court ordered Kimonge to repay the Government of Kenya Ksh12,458,990 plus interest at commercial rates from the date of acquisition until full payment EACC launched investigations in 2020 after receiving a complaint that Kimonge had irregularly acquired Ksh13.8 million in imprest allegedly meant for allowances for Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and county staff “It was alleged that the former political advisor fraudulently acquired Ksh13,878,587 in imprest purportedly for allowances for MCAs and county government staff,” EACC CEO Abdi Mohamoud said in a statement The anti-graft agency subsequently filed a civil recovery suit in 2022 to reclaim the lost public funds Information You Can Trust: Stay instantly connected with breaking stories and live updates From politics and technology to entertainment and beyond we provide real-time coverage you can rely on making us your dependable source for 24/7 news