Latest news with #Rewi
Otago Daily Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Shotover issues spur Rewi to enter mayoral race
After more than 30 years in Queenstown, kaumātua Darren Rewi has put his hand up to lead the district for the next three years. Mr Rewi, 62, said he had been contemplating standing for the mayoralty for the past four months or so, spurred on by issues at the Shotover wastewater treatment plant, something he believed would take "generations" to resolve. "There was so much wrong about that ... and then I looked at what I thought was going wrong around leadership and I thought I've got skills where I can add value in that space." Originally from Invercargill, Mr Rewi and his whānau moved to Queenstown 32 years ago. He has since been involved in a wide range of community groups and organisations, ranging from Scouts to junior and senior football, worked in the health sector and spent nine years as a volunteer firefighter. He also has more than 20 years of senior-level leadership, government experience and qualifications in strategic and change management. Mr Rewi is the founding chairman of the Mana Tāhuna Charitable Trust, formed in 2020, and is a SkyCity Queenstown Community Foundation trustee. He is also the vice-chairman of the national Victim Support board, ministerial appointee of Herenga ā Nuku, the Outdoor Access Commission, and mandated Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku representative on the Otago Regional Council's upper lakes freshwater catchment working group. He has also been vice-chairman of the arts and culture heritage strategy and was the mayoral-appointed chairman of the Welcoming Communities steering group. Mr Rewi said the Queenstown council was in a "tail-wagging-the-dog" predicament. In a statement, he said the electorate had become "exhausted from issue after issue being exposed, and an executive leadership team [ELT] and council that has yet to see that they are on a burning platform". "It's obvious that there has been poor decision-making and now it's for the new council and mayor to create an expectation of accountability, and that's a conversation with the CEO." He believed the ELT was "at the steering wheel", when that role was for elected members. Mr Rewi said the potential regional deal with central government on infrastructure, housing and economic growth presented a "whole lot of opportunity", and he supported the proposal as it stood, but cautioned there could be pitfalls. He noted there was nothing certain about the regional deal and the government could withdraw the opportunity, particularly if it thought the region was not "being astute enough ... around finances". He also said the council could do more to harness the power of the multibillion-dollar Māori economy, particularly partnering with iwi on critical infrastructure. As to the site of the council's offices, he backed a main location in Frankton, which would enable staff to be under one roof and remove access barriers for the community, he said.
NZ Herald
10-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Kindness Collective collecting pyjamas for children amid cost-of-living crisis
Last year, the charity provided more than 25,000 pairs of pyjamas to children in need. 'Huge' need Rotorua Kindness Collective co-ordinator Nancye Rewi told the Rotorua Daily Post the need for pyjamas was 'huge' as many families were struggling due to the cost of living. Rewi said she had heard from teachers about children 'sleeping in garages'. 'There's lots of families sharing one house to try and save money.' Rewi said the smiles on children's faces when they received pyjamas were 'priceless'. 'They're so grateful and thankful, and they're saying they don't have to share pyjamas with their younger brother or their younger sister any more – that they have their own pair of warm pyjamas.' Getting new pyjamas was 'like Christmas for most kids', she said. 'They get good nights' sleeps as well because they're not going to bed cold. 'If people can do something, let it be donating a warm pair of pyjamas to a kid in need.' 'One less thing to worry about' Tauranga Kindness Collective co-ordinator and early childhood education teacher Phillipa Patea said the PJ Project made 'such a difference'. 'I've seen it now for the last three years really helping kids get through winter and giving parents one less thing to worry about. 'I work with kids every day and am out and about in my community all the time and am seeing a real struggle at the moment.' Patea said whānau in Tauranga loved the PJ project. 'The kids are so excited to get their own pairs of jammies, and that they get to pick their favourite colours. 'They can have a better sleep, wake up more energised, go to school and get sick less often.' Making a 'meaningful difference' In a press release, Kindness Collective founder and chief executive Sarah Page said the organisation heard 'heartbreaking' stories every year from parents forced to choose between heating their homes or feeding their children. 'As temperatures drop, many find themselves in more vulnerable situations, constantly exposed to preventable winter illnesses – children share clothes, share beds and huddle together in the lounge for extra heat." Page said the PJ Project was a tangible way the organisation could provide for families in need. 'If you are in a position to do so, please consider donating, because this truly does make a meaningful difference.' The Warehouse Group Māori development and community lead Troy Rawhiti-Connell said every Kiwi child deserved to 'have something snuggly to pop on at night to keep the cold away'. 'We're proud to support the Kindness Collective in their difference-making mahi for families everywhere.' The Warehouse stores are collecting pyjama donations from May 1 to June 24. The Warehouse, Noel Leeming and Warehouse Stationery are holding in-store fundraising across all their stores during May. How to contribute Donate $10 to the Kindness Collective and they will turn your donation into pairs of new winter pyjamas for a child in need (from May 1 to July 31). Collect and donate pyjamas – Have your business, school or club collect PJs anytime between May and July. Register your business on the Kindness Collective website. Drop off a pair of pyjamas at any of The Warehouse stores nationwide from May 1 to June 24.
