Planning Kimi Ora Community School’s new outdoor learning space has led to an unexpected community project for the school’s senior students. Last month the students presented their ideas on how their new playground could help learning, be fun, and look great to Hastings District councillors. Working in pairs, they had come up with designs based on different elements for the outdoor area, including water, planting and imaginative play materials. Maikara-Rawi Nicholson and Pipp

That is the thing about weather; it can scuttle the best-laid plans. But in the case of Irongate School’s camp plans, weather on the west coast of the North Island which blocked the access to their planned destination led to new adventures. “In the end it was fantastic,” said deputy principal Tony McCann. “The kids saw things most of them had never seen before – including glow worms on a guided blackwater rafting expedition in Waitomo – and had a great cultural night with two

We are building up to Matariki – and to What’s on celebrate there will again be an amazing festival. Save the date: June 14; 5pm to 9m, in Flaxmere Park. There will be food stalls, entertainment and fireworks. There are more details to come so keep an eye on the Flaxmere facebook page @myflaxmere. In the meantime, here are some photos to remind you of just how fantastic the celebration is!

She is nearly 30 years old, so it was time for her roof to get a little TLC. Over the last few weeks the Flaxmere Police Station has been wearing the finest of scaffolding to enable its roof to be replaced. Designed by noted Hawke’s Bay architect Len Hoogerbrug, it was built in 1991 and received a New Zealand Institute of Architects Award for Architecture in 1992. it was designed with low walls and a pitched roof so it fitted in with the surrounding homes but with a checkerbo

A small group of women with big hearts, cool heads and lots of common sense have been tackling family violence and getting impressive results – helping families live safer, happier lives. The passionate and talented team is focused on challenging the way domestic violence courses have traditionally been delivered. Flaxmere Community Constable Susan Liley contacted non-government social organisation Innov8 in 2015, concerned at the levels of family violence in her patch. From

By the time Matariki arrives in early June our youngsters will be climbing the highest rope climb in the district. Work on an expansion of the playground in Flaxmere Park started in March. Council has confirmed that the project will be completed by the end of May, weather permitting. And there will be lots for the kids, big and small, to explore. At 7.2 metres the rope climb will be a challenge; and then there is the ‘mega-swing’, which can be swung out to 90 degrees, a new s

It would be hard to find kids more excited than the youngsters at Flaxmere’s Kimi Ora Community School.📷 A $6 million rebuild of the school is due to start in May, with the school responsible for fundraising and designing the new outdoor learning environment. That might sound like a hard ask but the school has a raft of youngsters more than ready for the design challenge, and the school has help on the fundraising front as well. Andru Kopelani (12) and Megan-Stanley (11) wer

While it might seem a long way away, it’s not too early to think about this year’s Council elections. On October 12 residents will vote for the mayor and councillors, as well as the members of the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board. Every New Zealander who is over 18 and lives here can vote in the Hastings election, provided they are enrolled. This includes citizens and permanent residents, even if they were born in another country. In the past there has been some confusion ov

So, what was the best bit of a three-week trip to America for nine basketball-mad boys? The Nasa Space Station visit? Sightseeing in Hollywood, Rodeo Drive and Venice Beach? Checking out a ranch? They were all great, said Flaxmere team member Tama Heather (13), but the very best bit was hanging out with famous Kiwi basketballer Steve Adams. The Oklahoma City Thunder professional basketballer, born and bred in Rotorua, scored the youngsters front row seats at his Oklahoma City

There is plenty of energy in the room when a bunch of Flaxmere’s seniors get together for their Strength and Balance classes twice a week.📷 From a small start seven months ago the classes now attract up to 35 a time. And that does not count the seniors turning up to the ‘Sit and be Fit’ classes, the Line Dancing sessions, or the Tai Chi classes. “They are loving it,” says centre manager Ana McClutchie. The Strength and Balance classes, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the F