The Wildfoods Festival brought a good mixture of people to Hokitika. Hokitika Primary School kapa haka members were excited to perform at this year’s festival.
Hokitika Primary School kapa haka ready for Wildfoods Festival.
Sporting achievement – Rangitane Thompson
Rangitane, son of Andre and Catherine, and moko of the late Henry and Kath Stuart, was selected for the Canterbury Touch U17 mixed team, which travelled to Papamoa, Tauranga to contest the nationals in March. With 13 provinces in the grade, competition was split into two sections. Canterbury could only manage two wins from seven games and four narrow losses had them finishing down the table. Counties Manukau were the overall winners. The Canterbury team played very well and can hold their heads high knowing that they played to their potential. Rangitane was the standout player for his team, as well as being the top try scorer. He was unlucky not to be selected to represent New Zealand. Only two players from six Canterbury teams made the six New Zealand teams selected. Rangitane also received the award for best and fairest player at the Touch Canterbury presentations.
Rangitane would like to thank everyone who supported him with fundraising and sponsorship; in particular a special thank you to Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Āwhina for their generous sponsorship. Also a very big thank you to Uncle Joe Briggs for your manaaki. Mum and Dad absolutely loved staying with you.
Rangitane Thompson.
Congratulations
A big mihi to Jackson De Thierry, Taiko Ormsby (Nō Arowhenua) and Te Kaio Cranwell, who represented Canterbury in athletics at the 995 champs in March at Rāwhiti Domain. They competed against Tasman, Otago and Southland athletes. Canterbury took overall honours, with Jackson winning the 10-year-old discus and Taiko taking out the 9-year-old 60m sprint. Te Kaio won third place in the 7-year-old shotput. They all won their age group relay races to top off a successful day. Thanks to Te Puni Kōkiri, who supplied the gazebo to keep athletes and parents dry.
Jackson De Thierry, Taiko Ormsby and Te Kaio Cranwell at Rāwhiti Domain.
Taumutu kids are Weetbix kids
On Sunday 17 March, 2000 Christchurch children took part in the Weetbix Tryathlon at Pioneer Stadium. A handful of Taumutu tamariki joined them. They waited, waited, waited (lots of patience required) and then they were off, in age groupings. Aida McKay, daughter of Aaron and Megen (née Wanhalla), took part for the first time, in the full individual race. She swam 100 metres, cycled 4km and then ran 1.5km – a big race for an 8-year-old. This was a big step up from her first triathlon last year, when she swam 50 metres as part of a team. She is keen and eager though and also took part in the McDonalds Duathlon on 7 April.
Aida McKay races in the Weetbix Tryathalon.
Ellerslie Flower Show entry
Bridget Robilliard (Brown whānau) had a busy summer, creating a design for the Ellerslie International Flower Show. The landscape architecture student from Taumutu entered the student category with one of her classmates. The roof top garden, called MAN-UP was designed for a young male and won two awards, a general merit and merit for lighting. It was a great experience for Bridget, who is in her final year of study.
Fron left; Bridget Robilliard and design partner Kate Street.
From left; Kate Street, Bridget Robilliard.
New Zealand boys win in Sydney
Ash Reihana (Ngāi Tūāhuriri) was recently selected to play softball for the U14 Boys International Softball Association New Zealand team, which competed in the 7th annual Blacktown Junior International Challenge in Sydney, against U14 teams from around Australia and Japan.
The New Zealand boys’ team won the tournament. They beat both Japanese teams for the first time and finished the tournament with five wins from six games. This was the third year a New Zealand team had won the tournament, which showcases the future of softball.
Nāku noa, nā, Adrienne and Darren Reihana.