It is just amazing how many plants you can get in one backyard – just check out Brent and Seymond Harris’ set-up. The Flaxmere born and bred couple run a mini-garden centre, We Sow U Gro, from their home at 106 Flaxmere Avenue. Seymond continues to work at an early childcare centre while doing the admin for the business, with Brent looking after the plants full-time. “I started growing things for myself and then people started wanting plants. We thought we might be able to ma

Our primary schools have wrapped up for the year, and there has been a lot of fun going on as they celebrated the year of hard work they have put in. For Kimi Ora Community Schools year 7 and 8 students, the first week of December was all about camping – but it was not your usual school camp. Their version was a cycle-tour of Hastings and Napier, following the region’s cycle trails, ending up with two days of fishing, swimming and playing cards at Clifton Beach. “The kids are

Hundreds have turned out to family-friendly pre-Christmas gatherings in Flaxmere over the last week or so. The first, organised by Flaxmere Police and the Rapid Relief Team, drew hundreds for a free sausage sizzle and cold drinks, plus lots of fun in the sun. On Friday, the community gathered at Len Harlen Park in Flaxmere West, for fun, food and friendship, spiced up with Zumba and Christmas carol singing. The Family Christmas Picnic in the Park was organised by the Flaxmere

Te Atakura Huata-Harawira and Michelle Kingi are determined to help those who want to be legal on the road to get their driver’s licence. The pair have been running their Flaxmere-based driving school, Get Your Licence, since 2014. As part of their kaupapa, several times a year they offer free driving lessons in Flaxmere, aimed at those who can’t afford to pay. Their students cross the ages; from teens needing to get their leaners to nannies who have been on the road for deca

Preparing to leave Flaxmere College has been a very emotional time for principal of almost 10 years, Louise Anaru. “There were a lot of tears as I told the board, the teachers and students; it felt like I didn’t do anything but cry for two weeks.” Louise is returning home to the Far North in January to take up a position as Kaitaia College principal. Her husband Matua Tangira, who teaches at Flaxmere College, will also be taking up a position at Kaitaia College. “It was a ver

Teaching: Shakera Patuwai (above left) Shakera Patuwai (17) is rapt with her choice; she is off to EIT to start on a three-year Bachelor of Teaching Primary. Best of all, she will be in the classroom from the very first week; rather than spending all of her time in lectures. The EIT course places the teaching students into a school two days a week from the very start. Flaxmere College Administration Executive Kathryn Simmons, whose daughter is about to start her third year of

Minister Nanaia Mahuta was in Flaxmere in December, to help celebrate the opening of the first of the Waingakau Village homes. Building has been underway since mid-year, and already three of the planned 127 homes are ready for their new occupants. Minister Mahuta and Hastings District mayor Sandra Hazlehurst and councillors were hosted at the noon opening on December 13 by project owners Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, before being taken on a tour of the newly completed homes. Fo

Learning the art of weaving, raranga, has a multitude of benefits, including connecting to wairua and tīpuna, and learning the tikanga that goes with the harvesting and cleaning of the flax. And then there is a beautiful useful item at the end of it. Pā Harakeke families will have the chance to learn or perfect their weaving skills from mid-January at a dedicated whare, Te Whare Pora, in the Flaxmere Shopping Centre. An official opening will be held on January 14. Raranga tut

What a coup: Sam Ah Chookoon, aka The Samoan Cowboy, is flying into Hawke’s Bay to headline a massive fundraiser being put on to help the communities in Samoa devastated by the measles epidemic. Sam Ah Chookoon, a young man with rapper looks and a huge country voice, is massively popular in the Pacific Islands and has a rapidly growing audience across New Zealand, Australia and the US. The gig is on Friday night (December 20) at 6pm in Flaxmere Park, and there will be a whol