Kahutara School Hockey

Kahutara School have managed to enter a total of three teams in various Wairarapa Hockey Association junior grades played at Clareville Hockey Stadium this season, a mean feat for a school of our size. 

The Kahutara Blue team play Tuesday nights in the 6 Aside quarter field grade. The team did so well in the early season grading games they have ended up in a tough grade for a young team. Made up of our youngest players from school, comprising 5 to 8 year olds, they are a competitive team showing some great promise. 

The Kahutara 6 Aside A team play Friday nights in the half field grade. This grade is designed as a step up from the quarter field grade, with a lot more space for players to pass. More emphasis is placed on learning the rules of hockey with penalty corners, long corners and feet obstructions played. This team is made up of mainly 9 and 10 year olds, and has a number of talented players. 

The 1^st XI has remained in the 11 Aside B grade this season. After two challenging grading games at the start of the season, the team has rallied well with 2 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses. Backing up last years’ runner-up performance was always going to be though with losing six Year 8 boys to College at the end of last season. Despite this, the group is working well as a team, with the younger members, having stepped up from lower grades, contributing to the team performance. The team is being well led by Captain Billy McCreary and Vice-Captain Tom Clarkson.   

Football

Usually every month I write about the exploits and endeavours of our Junior and Senior teams for the past month.

Sadly after the events of the morning of Tuesday 30th July 2019, where some vandals have decided to use the Senior pitch as a burn out area for their vehicle, I could not bring myself to write about anything apart from the line below..

Disgusting and gobsmacking behaviour from an individual or individuals who have no respect for the local area and people who work tirelessly to keep their beloved sports up and running.

Paul

Letters

Rate rises

The latest SWDC rates newsletter congratulates the Council on a rates increase of 5.48% — which it describes as “slightly higher” than the 4.69% forecast in the long-term plan.

Of course, the increase is not “slightly higher”. It is 17% higher than the forecast increase, which can only be “slightly higher” in the minds of those who don’t have to pay it.

In addition, an increase of 5.48% in the rates is significantly greater than the current inflation rate, and much greater than the movement in any index of wages or earnings.

Am I to suppose that this increase is needed to pay for the spin doctors who would have us believe that 17% is a slight increase?

Richard Rudman … Continue Reading

Did you know

24,767 PEOPLE tried to vote at the last election only to find that they had not enrolled. 7.6% of New Zealanders who are eligible to vote have not bothered to enrol. Are you enrolled for the local body elections?

‘THE ESSENTIAL characteristic of a nation is that its individuals must have many things in common and must have forgotten many things as well’ – French philosopher Ernest Renan.

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY  researches have estimated that the  anaesthetic gases released by a New Zealand hospital have the carbon footprint of 500 return flights to London 

A 1906 NEWSPAPER reported that ‘in a splendid run’ Mr Herb Scott drove a 16 horse power Reo car from Palmerston North through the Manawatu gorge to Martinborough, with rain most of the way,  in 4½ hours. With the return journey taking only 3¾  hours.

‘A LIFE WITHOUT fame can be a good life but fame without a life is no life at all’ – Clive James 

AUSTRALIA  HAS the highest  gambling losses of any country in the world. These equate to an annual $1,000 per person for every man, woman and child.  Pokie machines are the  main culprit and a major operator of these, Australia Leisure and Hospitality, is 75% owned by Woolworths providing a profit of two billion dollars a year.  … Continue Reading