Latest news with #Horowhenua
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
One dead after two-vehicle crash in Horowhenua
One person died at the Waitohu Valley Road crash site. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi A person has died after a crash in the Horowhenua District earlier Friday. Emergency services were called to the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Waitohu Valley Road in Manakau at about 4.15pm. Police said one person died at the scene. The road is closed while the serious crash unit examines the crash site. Motorists were advised to avoid the area and expect delays. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
One dead following crash on Waitohu Valley Road in Manakau
People had been seriously injured in the crash, police said. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown A person has died after a crash in the Horowhenua District earlier today. Emergency services were called to the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Waitohu Valley Road in Manakau at about 4.15pm. Police say one person had died at the scene. They say the road is closed while the serious crash unit examines the crash site. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Mana College first XV coach denies abuse allegations
The Mana College first XV coach has spoken out about a recent refereeing controversy. The Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Union recently called off all junior, college, and senior matches after a referee was subjected to what they say was serious abuse and intimidation. However, more than three weeks on - Mana's coach has adamantly denied the allegations and responded with some of his own. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Scoop
13-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
‘All Options On The Table': Whanganui Gears Up For Crucial Call On Future Of Water Services
Whanganui mayor Andrew Tripe says his council's decision next week on a water services model for the district is 'hugely important'. 'This decision will help shape how our district's drinking water, stormwater and wastewater services will be delivered into the future. 'I think I speak for all councillors when I say no one is taking it lightly.' Under the government's Local Water Done Well reforms, councils around the country must submit a water services plan by September. Tripe said councillors will consider four viable options at a meeting on Tuesday. 'Importantly Whanganui is in the enviable position of having all options on the table because we have invested well in our water infrastructure and have strong future investment.' Three of the water service delivery options were shared with the community during public engagement earlier this year. They are: • A standalone Whanganui District Council-owned Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) • A larger multi-council CCO involving as many councils as possible • An in-house business unit (status quo) A three-council model formed by Ruapehu, Rangitīkei and Whanganui councils was no longer viable following Rangitīkei's decision to join Horowhenua and Palmerston North. However, the council would consider a fourth option – a Ruapehu and Whanganui CCO model. Tripe said following community consultation in March, councillors and staff had continued discussions with all neighbouring councils. 'The good news is that we are fortunate so many partners want to work with us, allowing us to have multiple credible options to choose from, each with real benefits. 'What's most important to our council is choosing the path that delivers for our community now and into the future.' Potential partners had agreed that any water services delivery model should be based on a non-harmonised (local) pricing approach. 'We heard loud and clear that our community wants us to consider local pricing, and we are pleased our neighbours are on the same page,' Tripe said. Local pricing would see residents within each district charged on the same basis as currently, while sharing savings. Customers would pay costs that relate only to the delivery of services in their district. Tripe said deferring the decision to July had allowed more time to appraise each proposed model from the perspective of Te Awa Tupua legislation and values. 'Ultimately, we are putting the health and wellbeing of the community and our awa over and above what could be the best outcome for the council or the final entity – whatever structure that may take.' Last month, Tripe told Local Democracy Reporting each of the four options had their merits. He said the council's general direction at that time was the Ruapehu-Whanganui partnership, but that was not set in stone. The council expected to meet the Government's requirement for a plan by early September, Tripe said. If Whanganui's preferred option is approved by central government, implementation will begin later this year. If a new water services CCO is selected as the preferred option, it could be established by mid-2026 and fully operational by mid-2027. On Wednesday, Ruapehu District councillors voted down a mayoral motion to join Rangitīkei, Horowhenua and Palmerston North in a multi-council water services body in favour of a two-council CCO with Whanganui.
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- RNZ News
Ngāti Tukorehe to fly more flags after 'racist attack' on its whenua
Kuku has been described as the "Māori Flag Highway" by some whānau, with the vibrant displays of Tino Rangatiratanga, He Whakaputanga and Toitū Te Tiriti flags now stretching along both sides of the road. Photo: Supplied / Tipi Wehipeihana Ngāti Tukorehe members are flying their flags even higher following what they call a "racist" and targeted act of vandalism. The Horowhenua-based iwi say they're angered after multiple Tino rangatiratanga, He Whakaputanga and Toitū Te Tiriti flags were torn down from their marae and whenua in Kuku over the weekend. The flags, which line both sides of State Highway 1 between Ōtaki and Levin, were originally erected in November 2024 to support the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti - a march to Parliament opposing ACT's Treaty Principles Bill. They've since stood as a visible symbol of mana motuhake and identity for whānau within that rohe. However, over the weekend, multiple flags were torn down in what a spokesperson for the iwi said was a "racist attack." "We had someone that was racially motivated to tear down our flags at the front of our marae," Tipi Wehipeihana said, speaking on behalf of Ngāti Tukorehe. Outside Tukorehe marae, just south of Levin, Tino Rangatiratanga, He Whakaputanga, and Toitū Te Tiriti flags were ripped down in what a spokesperson says was a "blatant and violent act of racism". Photo: Supplied / Tipi Wehipeihana Wehipeihana said the vandalism first occurred on Saturday night, when five of the 40 to 50 flags were pulled down. Whānau re-erected them on Sunday. But the attack escalated on Monday afternoon when an unknown man returned and began ripping down more flags "in a fit of rage and anger, motivated by racism", Wehipeihana said. Unlike the Saturday incident, whānau witnessed the attack, confronted the man and recorded his number plate. "Our iwi are angered by this act of racism. Some would call it an act of aggression. Some would even call it an act of terrorism. But at the very least, it's vandalism of our belongings on our land and our property." Wehipeihana believed it was the same person responsible for both incidents. "We also believe it was the same person that pulled the flags down on Saturday night because, unlike Saturday night, we have witnesses to his behaviour and his actions." He said a full description of the individual and the car have been given to police in Levin. The flags, which line both sides of State Highway 1 between Ōtaki and Levin, were originally erected in November 2024 to support the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti - a march to Parliament opposing ACT's Treaty Principles Bill. Photo: Supplied / Tipi Wehipeihana Ngāti Tukorehe first installed the flags ahead of the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti as a show of support for those travelling south to protest government policies affecting Māori rights. Located on State Highway 1, Ngāti Tukorehe Marae sits in Kuku, Horowhenua, between Levin and Ōtaki. "You can't go north or south without going through Kuku," Wehipeihana said. As the hīkoi passed through, the iwi gathered outside the marae to wave their flags and tautoko the kaupapa. Since then, the flags have remained standing as a visible expression of their identity. "All the flags that fly on our whenua in Kuku are on Māori land, whenua Māori, Māori-owned properties," Wehipeihana said. "It's just a show of, firstly, who we are as Ngāti Tukorehe in our own whenua of Kuku. It was also a show of our support from our iwi to the hīkoi, which we were a part of, to voice our opinion about the Treaty Principles Bill that we were dead against. "Since then, it's been our way of restaking our mana whenua in Kuku." A Horowhenua-based iwi, Ngāti Tukorehe are angered after multiple tino rangatiratanga and other Māori flags were torn down from their marae and whenua in Kuku. Photo: Supplied / Tipi Wehipeihana While Wehipeihana acknowledged the flags "might be triggering one way or another", he said many people have supported them. "Regardless of that, if I don't like the colour of that individual's house or their letterbox per se, I'm not going to stop, get out of my car, rip the letterbox off the stand and chuck it on the ground just because I don't like the colour of it. "That is not tika," he said. The incident has not deterred the iwi, Wehipeihana said, as members plan to fly even more flags in response. "We won't take a backward step to anybody, and particularly not this individual," he said. "What he's done has spurred on our people to put more flags up. "Of the 40-plus that are already standing at the moment, that number will increase exponentially over the coming weeks." Kuku has been described as the "Māori Flag Highway" by some whānau, with the vibrant displays now stretching along both sides of the road. "We've heard growing up all our lives, 'Kuku is just a blip on the map, don't blink because you'll miss it.' Well, I tell you what, people aren't blinking and missing it now." To those who felt uncomfortable, Wehipeihana said the door was open. "Call into any one of those houses where those flags stand and have a kōrero with any one of those homeowners, because you'll be surprised at the conversation that you have. "It's not one of hate. We're not about that. We don't hate people. We love people. "We are Ngāti Tukorehe, we love our people, we love our whenua, and this is one way of showing that for us. "These blatant and violent acts of racism that were performed by this one particular individual taint all of that for us." He said what mattered most was being able to stand proud as tangata whenua on their own whenua. "We live in a democratic society. We have the rights. And we are free to do these things, to erect our flagpoles and show our support of our tino rangatiratanga, our Tukorehetanga, on our whenua in Kuku. "We may be a small iwi. We may be a small rohe in a small area, but we hold our own." In a statement to RNZ, the police said they had received a report of "wilful damage" at a property on SH1, Kuku on 7 July. "Enquiries into the incident are ongoing to locate the persons responsible." They encouraged anyone with information who could assist in their enquiries to contact them. Police could be contacted online or by calling 105, using the reference number 250708/4661. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
