Police find Pupil cycles forgotten 1600km for treasures P3 playground P6 WellingtonianThe Thursday, December 1, 2016 thewellingtonian.co.nz Members of the Lyall Bay Dads Group manning the barbecue at the free fair event. From right: Sloane McPhee, Darrell Doig, Dan Perry and Steve Boggs. EMMA DUNLOP-BENNETT Dads embracing school life RUBY MACANDREW school mums ‘‘seemed to know lish a club and host fortnightly ment of all the people in the com- and Chait said he fielded several each other and be quite well- get-togethers. munity - dads included. We inquiries from other dads keen to A community event has helped connected’’, but the same couldn’t ‘‘It’s about getting the dads wanted to tap into that and join join the group and help out the shine a light on the hard work a be said for the dads. involved and connected to learn the dots really.’’ school. group of dads from Lyall Bay ‘‘There were very few dads more about who your neighbours The group had since expanded ‘‘This is not a fundraiser or School has been doing to be more around the school and the ones are and through that become their offerings, including the way to make money – our involved. that did come were all heads more involved in the school.’’ establishment of a touch team motivations in doing this are only After 18 months the ranks of down, drop their kids off and go. From the initial meeting, inter- with 16 members. to bring our local community the Lyall Bay Dads Club have ‘‘It occurred to us that a lot of est in the collective snowballed, An example of the way the closer together.’’ been growing exponentially, and the dads didn’t get to do drop-offs which Chait said was a testament group gets involved is the large- For now, Chait planned to keep they have become a mainstay in that often and the ones that did to the need for dads to be scale fair they recently organised the group’s membership exclus- the school community. didn’t feel comfortable or have involved. for Lyall Bay School pupils and ive to Lyall Bay School dads, but Club co-founder Shaun Chait anyone to talk to.’’ ‘‘We just feel that in order to their families. he was happy to offer advice to said the idea for the group came Along with Ruka Rarere and connect the community and make The Good In The Hood event others wanting to establish some- after he noticed that most of the Steve Walters, he decided to estab- it stronger, we needed the involve- attracted more than 350 people thing similar. GET READY FOR SUMMER 2 THE WELLINGTONIAN, DECEMBER 1, 2016 stuff.co.nz YOUR PAPER, YOUR PLACE 1. KEITH URBAN Country musician Keith Urban This newspaper is subject to NZ Press brings his first worldwide tour in Council procedures. nearly three years to Westpac A complaint must first FROM Stadium on December 3, with be directed in writing, support from Carrie Underwood within one month of THE and NZ’s Mae Valley. publication, to the editor’s email address. If not satisfied with the response, the EDITOR complaint may be referred to the 2. GREASE Press Council. PO Box 10-879, As part of a nationwide tour, the The Terrace, Wellington 6143. original high-school musical will Or use the online complaint form at Just when I was starting to feel stop off in Wellington for one night www.presscouncil.org.nz Please complacent about our recent only at The Opera House on include copies of the article and all quakes and floods, a shake on December 2. 1 correspondence with the publication. Sunday night made me start thinking again about how 3. GYPSY FAIR prepared I was for a life-changing Waitangi Park will come alive on CONTENTS disaster. December 3 & 4 for The 3-10: News Yes we have water, food, Extravaganza Gypsy Fair featuring 11: Conversations torches, candles and more in case a range of market stalls, food and 14-15: What’s On of a major event, even a go-bag. musical entertainment. 16: Past Times But I started to think about 18: Backyard Banter what my own personal go-bag to do list 4. 7 DAYS LIVE 19: Your Health and Puzzles would contain. The physical See what happens when there are 2 3 20: Community Cookbook things in my life that have been no cameras, censors or editors as 22: Round the Bays and Out and important to me. seven comedians take to The About I’m not talking about passports Opera House stage for a game of 7 24-24: Sport or copies of important papers, but Days on December 4 & 5. things such as photos of my family, presents from my partner 5. BASIN BLAST and mementos from my childhood Head down to the Basin Reserve on and travels overseas. December 7 for a fun-filled day of Yes, these things wouldn’t keep cricket with the Wellington Blaze me alive if I was fighting to and Wellington Firebirds taking on 4 5 survive, but they are an two visiting Melbourne teams. important part of my life and contain wonderful memories. The events of the last couple of Contact us Editor: Amy Jackman, 04 474 0201 or [email protected]. Reporter: Lucy Swinnen, 04 474 0147, 027 200 4432 or weeks have made me realise there [email protected]. Ruby Macandrew, [email protected], 04 474 0036, 027 248 0922. BUSINESS are little treasures that are worth MANAGER and ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Grant Davidson, 027 278 7291 or [email protected]. CLASSIFIED: 0800 looking after. 252774. DELIVERY INQUIRIES: 474 0269. ADDRESS: Level 7, Spark Building, 42-52 Willis, St, Wellington or PO Box 3740, Wellington. — Amy Jackman, News Editor Audited circulation: 73,000. 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( ! ! For a free Measure & Quote PH 0800 26 26 20 stuff.co.nz DECEMBER 1, 2016, THE WELLINGTONIAN 3 Searchfor owners oflost taonga is on LUCY SWINNEN A spring clean out at the Wel- lington Central Police Station has revealed a taonga box containing more than 80 items of ‘‘spiritual significance’’. Now staff are searching for the owners of the taonga, or treasures, and precious items that have been handed in to the police over the past decade. Most items in the taonga box are carved pounamu and bone necklaces, but there are also bibles, family photos, rosaries, carved patu and a plastic Jesus. Police need to find the owners by the end of January or the items will be passed on to churches and master carvers who may return the items to the land. ‘‘About 10 years ago they created a box and just kept them hoping somebody would come and claim them some day,’’ Cus- tomer Services Manager Sharon Johnston said. Standard procedure for lost items handed into the police sta- tion was to auction or destroy the property after three months, she said. But the taonga were kept at the station, and the collection has accumulated over the years. The station has only basic Sharon Johnston with some of the taonga that police are trying to reunite with their owners. LUCY SWINNEN/ FAIRFAX NZ information on each item, such as ‘‘a carved bone hook with paua ‘‘About 10 years ago If they are not claimed by the buried or re-purposed. ‘‘fair to say there is personal found at Wellington Airport end of January the station will Wellington Central Police Iwi value’’ to the items, Puna said. Departure lounge in 2005’’ and ’’a they created a box return the pounamu to Ngai Tahu Liaison Officer Te Roera Puna ❚ If you think a long lost heir- pounamu crucifix found on and just kept them in the South Island where a mas- consulted a master carver several loom may be at the Police head- Bowen St in 2002’’. ter carver ‘‘may bury, return to weeks ago to find out if any of the quarters, contact the station Despite the limited infor- hoping somebody the river, or re-purpose them,’’ items were of historical signifi- and describe the item or details mation, Johnston was optimistic would come and Johnston said. cance. about when and where it was about reuniting items with their The bone carvings will also be Although nothing was found to lost and bring any supporting owners. claim them’’ sent to a master carver to be have historical significance it was information. SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE UP TO 34% ‘Love Way’ by Gabriel Heimler and Anna Proc The Kiwi Art House Gallery 288 Cuba St • www.kiwiarthouse.co.nz • Inquiries to: [email protected] WE-7203006AM It’s not Sunday without it.