New Zealand's premier landmark has been named - and it's not the harbour bridge or Sky Tower.
It's not even the Viaduct Harbour or One Tree Hill.
It's a park in New Plymouth.
Pukekura Park and its two-month festival of lights has won the prime Mayfair spot on the new Monopoly, Here and Now New Zealand board.
The provincial park knocks off Auckland's Queen St, which held the top spot for 21 years.
Rangitoto Island takes the neighbouring Park Lane square, the only Auckland feature to make the board.
The Viaduct, Sky Tower and bridge were all nominated by local authorities.
But in public voting, the vibrant America's Cup venue was beaten by a big carrot and an oversize kiwifruit.
The Ohakune and Te Puke landmarks were winners in the quirky kiwiana section.
And the Viaduct and harbour bridge combined didn't score as many votes as the Hundertwasse-designed public toilets in Kawakawa.
A poll to update the popular game attracted more than 230,000 public votes, a quarter from Manawatu and Taranaki.
Provincial pride saw just under 40,000 votes cast for Pukekura Park, more than half New Plymouth's population.
Palmerston North voters put their town square in second place, 15,000 votes behind.
Other landmarks to make the cut include Napier's art deco buildings, Wellington's cable cars, the Waitomo Caves and Christchurch's Cathedral Square.
But Aucklanders will find some features familiar - players fork out $400,000 per apartment for picking up the 'leaky building' Chance card.
The 'stuck in rush hour' card sets you back three spaces, and texting while driving earns a hefty fine.
Auckland mayor Dick Hubbard says the new board probably represents a change in values since the last edition of the game in 1986.
"Perhaps it is reflecting a maturing of New Zealanders, where we're putting more value on non-money real estate, and that's maybe something we should welcome.
"But I'm very pleased that Dick Hubbard's nose hasn't been taken on as a prominent landmark," he says.
By HEATHER McCRACKEN - Auckland City Harbour News Wednesday, 27 June 2007
Saturday, June 30
Pair seeking battalion comrades
Calling all surviving members of the Taranaki Regiment's 1st Battalion, your old comrades are looking for you.
Former Taranaki men Stan Martin and Bert Inteman are trying to trace old soldiers who were members of the 1st Battalion and left New Plymouth by train on December 15, 1941, one week after Japan bombed Pearl Harbour.
The 600 men first made camp at the Palmerston North Showgrounds but later moved to the Awatapu golf course, which is now Awatapu College.
The two men have approval from the college's board to put up a plaque in the grounds to mark the regiment's occupation of the site in 1942.
Mr Martin (85) says the idea for the plaque was suggested by his wife, June, on Anzac Day, while he was at Awatapu paying homage to the boys who never came home.
The men spent about eight months together before splitting up once the United States said New Zealand was not under threat from the Japanese. "We don't know how many of our blokes are left. Those boys would have never forgotten, we all got dispersed to different parts of the world. We had some great men in the regiment."
Old diggers don't often speak of the war to outsiders and reunions mean everything, he says.
"People say you blokes never talk anything about the war. That's quite right you don't. When you get your old mates together, you do, because they understand. You haven't got to explain everything to them and they know you're not just talking rubbish, they understand all about it," Mr Martin said. "Sadly, many of these men, the flower of the province's young manhood lie now and forever in soldiers' graves the length and breadth of Italy."
Mr Inteman (84) was only 17 at the time and needed to be 21 before serving overseas with the army so he transferred to the navy to get into the action.
He was looking forward to catching up with old friends. The plaque would be a fitting tribute to those who never came home.
"I think it is a remarkable thing. The school is giving us all of the support in the world, and if we can get a plaque in that area we will do it right. I don't think there will be many left but the ones that are, and if they could make it, it would be a really good get-together," Mr Inteman said. LEIGHTON KEITH leighton.keith@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Saturday, 30 June 2007
Former Taranaki men Stan Martin and Bert Inteman are trying to trace old soldiers who were members of the 1st Battalion and left New Plymouth by train on December 15, 1941, one week after Japan bombed Pearl Harbour.
The 600 men first made camp at the Palmerston North Showgrounds but later moved to the Awatapu golf course, which is now Awatapu College.
The two men have approval from the college's board to put up a plaque in the grounds to mark the regiment's occupation of the site in 1942.
Mr Martin (85) says the idea for the plaque was suggested by his wife, June, on Anzac Day, while he was at Awatapu paying homage to the boys who never came home.
The men spent about eight months together before splitting up once the United States said New Zealand was not under threat from the Japanese. "We don't know how many of our blokes are left. Those boys would have never forgotten, we all got dispersed to different parts of the world. We had some great men in the regiment."
Old diggers don't often speak of the war to outsiders and reunions mean everything, he says.
"People say you blokes never talk anything about the war. That's quite right you don't. When you get your old mates together, you do, because they understand. You haven't got to explain everything to them and they know you're not just talking rubbish, they understand all about it," Mr Martin said. "Sadly, many of these men, the flower of the province's young manhood lie now and forever in soldiers' graves the length and breadth of Italy."
Mr Inteman (84) was only 17 at the time and needed to be 21 before serving overseas with the army so he transferred to the navy to get into the action.
He was looking forward to catching up with old friends. The plaque would be a fitting tribute to those who never came home.
"I think it is a remarkable thing. The school is giving us all of the support in the world, and if we can get a plaque in that area we will do it right. I don't think there will be many left but the ones that are, and if they could make it, it would be a really good get-together," Mr Inteman said. LEIGHTON KEITH leighton.keith@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Saturday, 30 June 2007
Wednesday, June 20
Tuesday, June 12
Practice pays off for quiz kids
YVETTE BATTEN yvette.batten@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Tuesday, 12 June 2007
• Hawera Intermediate School students love their books so much they practised a year for the Kids' Lit Quiz.
Their endurance saw them breeze through the regional heats during May and head for the nationals against 13 other teams in Auckland last weekend.
The group of four year eight students, Alex Verry, Gabby Ward, Bronte Heron and Jessica Howartson, came fourth equal with St Margaret's College from Christchurch.
It was a close contest with only six points separating the top six teams.
Principal Fiona Parkinson says watching the children answer the 60 questions about literary topics including movies, books and authors was nerve-wracking.
"We were sitting on the edge of our seats. They had a huge support crew with lots of family there," she says.
This is the first time the school has got so far in the contest and Mrs Parkinson puts it down to practice with their tutor Mandy Conaglen.
"After the last Lit Quiz they just decided to keep going.
"They've kept on doing their reading and talking about what they've been reading."
At the quiz last weekend, St Cuthbert's College from Auckland came first and is headed to Oxford in England for the world final in July.
Kid's Lit Quiz is part of the Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children's Writers and Illustrators.
• Hawera Intermediate School students love their books so much they practised a year for the Kids' Lit Quiz.
Their endurance saw them breeze through the regional heats during May and head for the nationals against 13 other teams in Auckland last weekend.
The group of four year eight students, Alex Verry, Gabby Ward, Bronte Heron and Jessica Howartson, came fourth equal with St Margaret's College from Christchurch.
It was a close contest with only six points separating the top six teams.
Principal Fiona Parkinson says watching the children answer the 60 questions about literary topics including movies, books and authors was nerve-wracking.
"We were sitting on the edge of our seats. They had a huge support crew with lots of family there," she says.
This is the first time the school has got so far in the contest and Mrs Parkinson puts it down to practice with their tutor Mandy Conaglen.
"After the last Lit Quiz they just decided to keep going.
"They've kept on doing their reading and talking about what they've been reading."
At the quiz last weekend, St Cuthbert's College from Auckland came first and is headed to Oxford in England for the world final in July.
Kid's Lit Quiz is part of the Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children's Writers and Illustrators.
Mountain tracks may be linked
YVETTE BATTEN yvette.batten@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Monday, 11 June 2007
Trampers could soon be trekking into previously uncharted areas of Egmont National Park.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) is looking at linking the Kaitake and Pouakai ranges and Mt Taranaki in a 40km track.
DOC Stratford area manager Robert Bennett says the proposed track, which will take about three days to walk, will show people parts of the park not seen before.
"You will be able to get a perspective of the region that you may not be able to get elsewhere," he said.
Although there is no formal route between the Kaitake Range and Mt Taranaki, about half the proposed track is already there.
"A lot of the tracks in Egmont National Park are just a legacy from the past where the tracks were put in for management purposes," Mr Bennett said.
He believes the proposed track, which will run from Mt Taranaki to Lucy's Gully, near Oakura, will appeal to both locals and tourists. "It's an iconic path and this will be an iconic walk that will take in the highest peaks of the park and be quite a thing."
It has the capacity to join up with several huts including Holly Hut, Pouakai Hut on the Pouakai circuit and the Camphouse near the North Egmont Visitor Centre.
The track could also be linked up with historic Maori sites, if iwi agree to the idea.
"It's a fabulous opportunity. One that doesn't come around very often at all," Mr Bennett said.
DOC has tendered out a feasibility study for the proposed project. It wants to make a business proposal so it can tap into third party funding. "If we couldn't access external money then we wouldn't be pursuing it."
If the project goes ahead it will not be the first track in Egmont National Park that has had outside funding.
The newly completed Pouakai Circuit had cash injections from Venture Taranaki Trust and the TSB Community Trust.
Trampers could soon be trekking into previously uncharted areas of Egmont National Park.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) is looking at linking the Kaitake and Pouakai ranges and Mt Taranaki in a 40km track.
DOC Stratford area manager Robert Bennett says the proposed track, which will take about three days to walk, will show people parts of the park not seen before.
"You will be able to get a perspective of the region that you may not be able to get elsewhere," he said.
Although there is no formal route between the Kaitake Range and Mt Taranaki, about half the proposed track is already there.
"A lot of the tracks in Egmont National Park are just a legacy from the past where the tracks were put in for management purposes," Mr Bennett said.
He believes the proposed track, which will run from Mt Taranaki to Lucy's Gully, near Oakura, will appeal to both locals and tourists. "It's an iconic path and this will be an iconic walk that will take in the highest peaks of the park and be quite a thing."
It has the capacity to join up with several huts including Holly Hut, Pouakai Hut on the Pouakai circuit and the Camphouse near the North Egmont Visitor Centre.
The track could also be linked up with historic Maori sites, if iwi agree to the idea.
"It's a fabulous opportunity. One that doesn't come around very often at all," Mr Bennett said.
DOC has tendered out a feasibility study for the proposed project. It wants to make a business proposal so it can tap into third party funding. "If we couldn't access external money then we wouldn't be pursuing it."
If the project goes ahead it will not be the first track in Egmont National Park that has had outside funding.
The newly completed Pouakai Circuit had cash injections from Venture Taranaki Trust and the TSB Community Trust.
Water crisis after blowout
RICHARD WOODD richard.woodd@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Tuesday, 12 June 2007
Hawera and its surrounding communities are on emergency water supplies after a major blowout in the supply line from the Kapuni Stream intake.
Contractors and South Taranaki District Council engineers were working frantically last night to get a secondary intake working.
They estimate a limited flow will be running by mid-afternoon today but it will take a week to refill the reservoirs that supply treated water to Hawera, Ohawe Beach, Okaiawa and Normanby. The blowout was discovered about 5.30pm on Sunday and nothing could be done to stop the main Skeet Rd reservoir running dry. The two town reservoirs together contain the equivalent of only half a day's storage. The limited supply is on gravity feed only.
Council staff phoned all major water users, including schools and hospitals, and asked them to reduce water consumption to a minimum until further notice. Radio broadcasts asked householders to delay washing clothes, reduce toilet flushing and only shower or bathe if absolutely necessary.
At Okaiawa and Normanby, where water pressure at the extremities of the system plummeted to zero, the council has parked Fonterra tankers filled with Eltham water for people to help themselves.
With no toilet flushing or washing water available, Normanby Primary School decided to close about 1pm and will not reopen today.
The blowout occurred in a 100-year-old, kilometre-long tunnel, which delivers water from the stream intake structure to a treatment plant and water goes from there into three reservoirs. All these structures are dotted around the Kapuni natural gas plant.
STDC's water supply manager Peter Cook says a high flow at the weekend broke through a poorly reinforced access door, allowing the entire flow to escape out a side tunnel back into the stream.
"Getting the tunnel back into service is a major job in a difficult location, involving heavy machinery. With a crisis on our hands, we decided to desilt the back-up intake and that has involved bringing in a diver to air-blow sand from the chamber and then blow debris from the supply line to the treatment plant. We hope to have a reasonable flow going by mid-afternoon, provided there are no unforeseen snags, but it will take us a week to fully recover our storage."
In addition, a newly bored well next to the reservoir delivering 20 litres per second was yesterday brought on stream earlier than planned.
The council has this year drilled seven wildcat bores and this was one of only two that produced.
High-capacity pumps are also sucking water from the Kapuni Stream, but Mr Cook says that these measures will barely meet even reduced drawoff from the reservoir. "So it's critical that everyone on the supply network uses water only for essential purposes."
The council has plans to bypass the tunnel with a new streamside intake and pipeline.
Hawera and its surrounding communities are on emergency water supplies after a major blowout in the supply line from the Kapuni Stream intake.
Contractors and South Taranaki District Council engineers were working frantically last night to get a secondary intake working.
They estimate a limited flow will be running by mid-afternoon today but it will take a week to refill the reservoirs that supply treated water to Hawera, Ohawe Beach, Okaiawa and Normanby. The blowout was discovered about 5.30pm on Sunday and nothing could be done to stop the main Skeet Rd reservoir running dry. The two town reservoirs together contain the equivalent of only half a day's storage. The limited supply is on gravity feed only.
Council staff phoned all major water users, including schools and hospitals, and asked them to reduce water consumption to a minimum until further notice. Radio broadcasts asked householders to delay washing clothes, reduce toilet flushing and only shower or bathe if absolutely necessary.
At Okaiawa and Normanby, where water pressure at the extremities of the system plummeted to zero, the council has parked Fonterra tankers filled with Eltham water for people to help themselves.
With no toilet flushing or washing water available, Normanby Primary School decided to close about 1pm and will not reopen today.
The blowout occurred in a 100-year-old, kilometre-long tunnel, which delivers water from the stream intake structure to a treatment plant and water goes from there into three reservoirs. All these structures are dotted around the Kapuni natural gas plant.
STDC's water supply manager Peter Cook says a high flow at the weekend broke through a poorly reinforced access door, allowing the entire flow to escape out a side tunnel back into the stream.
"Getting the tunnel back into service is a major job in a difficult location, involving heavy machinery. With a crisis on our hands, we decided to desilt the back-up intake and that has involved bringing in a diver to air-blow sand from the chamber and then blow debris from the supply line to the treatment plant. We hope to have a reasonable flow going by mid-afternoon, provided there are no unforeseen snags, but it will take us a week to fully recover our storage."
In addition, a newly bored well next to the reservoir delivering 20 litres per second was yesterday brought on stream earlier than planned.
The council has this year drilled seven wildcat bores and this was one of only two that produced.
High-capacity pumps are also sucking water from the Kapuni Stream, but Mr Cook says that these measures will barely meet even reduced drawoff from the reservoir. "So it's critical that everyone on the supply network uses water only for essential purposes."
The council has plans to bypass the tunnel with a new streamside intake and pipeline.
Friday, June 8
Pattersons Is Closing Down
Its been there for years. What a shame. The building is great. The Patterson building on High Street, now a retail clothing store, is perhaps one of Duffill's greatest works and shows a marked flamboyance. An art deco exterior does little to reveal the beautiful layout inside, where a wide and stunning staircase draws visitors up to the second floor. Originally Wilkinson's, where imported china was displayed on shelves before large wall-mounted mirrors, it was known as Hawera's 'posh shop' and people came from everywhere to admire it.
Historic cemetery falls prey to vandals
LEIGHTON KEITH leighton.keith@tnl.co.nz. - Taranaki Friday, 8 June 2007
Hawera constable Lincoln McCrea is angry about destruction of headstones at Waihi Cemetery this week.
Vandals have desecrated four headstones at an historic South Taranaki cemetery.
The headstones at the picturesque Waihi Cemetery, on Pikituroa Rd, just south of Normanby, were kicked over and destroyed by vandals this week.
The cemetery dates back to the 1860s and soldiers killed in the Land Wars were buried there.
It closed in the 1960s but was re-opened about four years ago.
Constable Lincoln McCrea, of Hawera, says the four headstones, which date back to the early 1900s, are an important part of the region's history.
They had been knocked over in the past couple of days. Fulton Hogan workers reported the damage to police yesterday.
"These are old gravestones and it is just really distressing seeing that sort of thing getting destroyed," Mr McCrea says.
Pushing the headstones over would have taken quite a bit of effort. "It is just real mongrel stuff."
Police want to hear from anyone with information about the damaged headstones.
South Taranaki district councillor Ross Dunlop was closely involved in getting the cemetery re-opened, which took five years and required an act of Parliament.
Mr Dunlop said he couldn't understand why anyone would cause such damage.
"I'm totally disgusted by it. It is just a terrible act of vandalism."
Mr Dunlop said at a recent funeral people were commenting on what an amazing, tranquil place it was, surrounded by rolling hills.
Hawera constable Lincoln McCrea is angry about destruction of headstones at Waihi Cemetery this week.
Vandals have desecrated four headstones at an historic South Taranaki cemetery.
The headstones at the picturesque Waihi Cemetery, on Pikituroa Rd, just south of Normanby, were kicked over and destroyed by vandals this week.
The cemetery dates back to the 1860s and soldiers killed in the Land Wars were buried there.
It closed in the 1960s but was re-opened about four years ago.
Constable Lincoln McCrea, of Hawera, says the four headstones, which date back to the early 1900s, are an important part of the region's history.
They had been knocked over in the past couple of days. Fulton Hogan workers reported the damage to police yesterday.
"These are old gravestones and it is just really distressing seeing that sort of thing getting destroyed," Mr McCrea says.
Pushing the headstones over would have taken quite a bit of effort. "It is just real mongrel stuff."
Police want to hear from anyone with information about the damaged headstones.
South Taranaki district councillor Ross Dunlop was closely involved in getting the cemetery re-opened, which took five years and required an act of Parliament.
Mr Dunlop said he couldn't understand why anyone would cause such damage.
"I'm totally disgusted by it. It is just a terrible act of vandalism."
Mr Dunlop said at a recent funeral people were commenting on what an amazing, tranquil place it was, surrounded by rolling hills.
Wednesday, June 6
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