January 2023 The cultural design for Te Pae Whīra was completed by mana whenua artists from the Iwi Toi Kahungunu Artists Collective. For Te Pae Whīra, the collective interpreted a design brief completed by children from Pā Harakeke Flaxmere. The land beneath Te Pae Whīra o Pā Harakeke was once the point where the braided river Ngaruroro Mokotuararo ki Rangatira formed a singular channel as it flowed across the Heretaunga plains to the sea. The harakeke that thrived along it

December 2022 Manu champions: The Mai Manu Bombing Competition held at the Havelock North pools in November went off, and Flaxmere rocked. Taking out the top three spots in the junior grade (8-13) were Flaxmere manu champs Stanton Ropiha (gold), Lucas Holloway (silver) and Boyden O’Donnell (bronze). With the boys are Flaxmere councillor Henry Heke, left, and former councillor and manu judge Peti Oli.

December 2022 A perfectly-sized softball diamond-shaped space on Ron Giorgi II Park, between the rugby fields and the skate bowl, is about to be filled. Flaxmere Planning Committee board member and project co-ordinator Donnett Dellow put the proposal to Hastings District Council, which has agreed that it is the ideal spot for a grass diamond. It will be modelled on Diamond 9 at Akina Park, and be used for training and social games. “It really is ideal,” says Donnett. “There a

December 2022 Building resilient Pasifika families in Hawke’s Bay is the driving force behind Kainga Pasifika Services, which celebrated its standalone charitable trust status and Level 2 Social Sector Accreditation in November. A traditional 'ava ceremony, followed by hymns, speeches, blessings, entertainment and a shared lunch brought the community together to cement the status. The only accredited provider of services by Pasifika for Pasifika in Hawke’s Bay, the organisati

December 2022 Pā Harakeke’s Christmas tree is up, our schools are celebrating the end of the school year with shows, events and gatherings, and summer is here! At Flaxmere Primary School the sounds of Africa rang out in the last week of November, as a elephants, big cats, rhinos, giraffes, emus, gazelles, birds, bugs and cranes took to the stage in a spine-tingling production of The Lion King. The costumes were incredible and the singing phenomenal. Over the last 10 weeks the

December 2022 Our new Flaxmere Community Plan, led by the Flaxmere Planning Committee with community input and supported by Hastings District Council, is up and running. Flaxmere Planning Committee chairman Traci Tuimaseve says it was a tricky time to review the previous plan, given the consultation fell in 2021, right at the height of the Covid pandemic. “Despite the challenges everyone was facing, we had good community engagement and are confident we have heard as many voic

December 2022 The vegetable gardens outside the Flaxmere Community Centre are proving a huge hit, with members of the community turning up daily to plant, weed and water. Whānau will be able to help themselves as the vegetables become ready, and some will be used for the tamariki cooking classes held at the centre. Centre manager Taneshia Gill says the interest has been huge. “We have people turning up every day to look after them, and it’s also turning into a space where peo

December 2022 Come one, come all: It’s time to get together again to celebrate Christmas in Flaxmere. Christmas in the Park is on December 17, just after the official opening of the new skate park. It’s going to be a huge day! There will be stalls, inflatables, the party train, entertainment, heaps of sports, and spot prizes – and of course, our amazing Flaxmere vibe. Flaxmere Planning Committee chairman and event organiser Traci Tuimaseve says that after having to miss last

December 2022 The excitement is building as the completion of Fabulous Flaxmere’s skate park nears. An official opening will be held at 10am on December 17, featuring demonstrations by national skate and scooter crews. The opening comes after 18 months of planning and construction, starting with community consultation on where the skate park should be, held in July 2021. There was overwhelming support for it to be in Flaxmere Park, and work on the design of the park began. Of

December 2022 Nothing sets off Flaxmere’s Facebook pages (in a good way) like a visit from Asher the parrot. He is proving a real hit with old and young alike, dropping in to visit an increasing parade of Pā Harakeke homes, spreading his colourful joy. The Flaxmere Community Watch pages are awash with sightings and stories of his visits, and messages telling how he has made people’s days. The community reports on where he is and what he’s been up to on a variety of social med