Not a boot camp!

The Cactus group -WCC principal Daniel Murfitt,
WCC staff members, the Neighborhood Policing Team 

Time for a catch up on an important event I attended last weekend - the prize giving for the CACTUS (Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit and Support) programme, a leadership/fitness initiative which 25 William Colenso College students actively participated in over a period of eight weeks.  

These fit teenagers arrived at school at 6 am three mornings a week to work out in a grueling physical programme, which culminated on Saturday with a 8-hour team endurance exercise followed by dinner with

MC for the Saturday night, sergeant Phil Rowden
from the Maraenui Neighborhood POlicing Team
talking about some of his experiences on the course

whanau and instructors at the RSA. 

Not one participant dropped out (or dropped dead, which was what I might've!!) and even on Saturday night they seemed bright eyed and bushy tailed.  

They represented a wide range of students chosen not because they were particularly naughty or athletic, but who simply wanted to test themselves. 

Instructor Pita Llyod with Philip Saiga
and his father, Philip having received
one of the highest awards for effort and achievement

I had caught up with them a couple of times, fortunately only to eat breakfast (or dinner on Saturday) without doing any of the hard yards, and if these are our next generation's leaders, then bring them on! 

The principal's Riverslea
spokesman setting
the stage for the handover

Powhiri for a new Principal

Another more recent highlight was the powhiri at Pukemokimoki marae today for Richmond Primary's new principal - Maurice Rehu from Riverslea School.  

Wearing a stunning korowai (feather cloak) Maurice was brought over by his students and staff and whanau from Riverslea, to be welcomed and "handed over" to his new school family.  

Marae chairman Tiwana Aranui and
kuia Kahu, pou for the marae, pose for my camera.

Maori do these things so well, honouring their leaders by both farewelling and welcoming them with very moving ceremonies that are very fitting for people of this stature.

When the formal welcoming was completed by the tangata whenua, the manuhiri (visitors) spoke and sang then literally handed over their tumaki to his new "home" marae.  

After all lined up for a hongi - I had to bend down to knee level to hongi some of the little ones that had come over from Riverslea - then  we all went into the dining room for hakiri (kai).  

The Riverslea students sing
us a song after Maurice has spoken.

For over half and hour we were treated to the award-winning Richmond choir who performed a wide range of lively songs, ending with the "gangam style" item that some other brave souls joined in on.  

It was uplifting and entertaining, and again instilled me with great confidence in the younger generation!

On the campaign trail

My voting papers, and possibly yours, have arrived, and now we're on the home straight, with just over two weeks before the results are announced.

Just voting is rather daunting, with so many candidates vying for our support.  Even in my own ward, there are 8 of us going for two positions.  I tell people that my big advantage is that my name is top of the list of candidates (semi-joke!) but I'm hopeful voters will know me from the work I've done in the ward in the last six years and want to keep me on. However, I'm not being complacent about being re-elected, so am taking every opportunity to get out there and renew my contacts with diverse groups of people.

First Nations people welcomed to Te Kupenga Hauora Ahuriri

Welcoming the First Nations
Delegation to Kupenga Hauora Ahuriri

On Friday I was invited to a powhiri for representatives of First Nations health providers from Canada, at Te Kupenga Hauora Ahuriri.  

"We-are-fam-i-ly", as they say, so it was lovely to be back with the staff, kaumatua and kuia there, and to join them in welcoming the delegation. 

Special affirming words were spoken by their matriarch, bringing tears to my and others' eyes.

The MTG and pressing the flesh

Onstage doing my two minutes speech!

I had to leave before kai to go to a Grey Power committee meeting (I'm secretary so can't be excused!) then the evening to a cocktail party at the MTG/tai Ahuriri (new museum, theater  gallery) at which some key people in the Positive + Change campaign introduced themselves to me.  

I guess it was their job to "work the room" as it were, drumming up support for their slate. While it made me feel important, I'm aware that they were just doing what I'm doing at present - putting myself out there so people know who I am when they come to vote.

Saturday morning was another opening of the MTG, - I arrived a bit late and red as a beetroot as I'd squeezed in a spin class at the gym beforehand, and even a cold shower didn't take away the boiled lobster look. Not that anyone was looking at me - the focus was on this stunning building and the treasures it contains.  Now officially open to the public, it's a wonderful attraction for locals and visitors to enjoy.

All candidates meeting at Pirimai

With PRA chair Andi Plumpton in part
of their playground - the cardboard fence
 behind shows where the Council reserve ends.

Rushed off straight away to Pirimai, where the Residents' Association bravely hosted a candidates meeting at 11 am for the eight ward candidates, the six mayoral candidates, and 16 at-large hopefuls.  

So we all had two minutes of glory to sell ourselves to a rather disappointing crowd, outside on the Council reserve on which the PRA has installed a wonderful playground for which they had raised $60,000 before gifting it to the City of Napier.  

Andi Plumpton, the PRA president and driving force, was one of my nominators, and I was proud to say I have worked actively to support the PRA in their various submissions to local and central government.

My dear friend Mariana Seymour
who came to support me

The Council reserve is adjacent to a much larger tract of empty green space, formerly the site of the Pirimai Primary school, and thsi will be up for sale within the next few months. 

I believe Council should buy some of it to extend the reserve, as a one-off purchase to provide adequate green space for Pirimai families, and I pledged my support for this.

As usual the PRA provided hot drinks, home baking, free sausages and a bouncy castle, along with a stage and sound system so we could be heard.  

They reflect the very best of a residents' association set up to support and advocate for their community.