From a popular recycling day to disaster hubs to a trust for Tōmoana Showgrounds to Napier car show to kids’ cockpit at HB Airport, here are some announcements last week you might find interesting.

Napier Recycling Day – 2 Nov

Community organisation Keep Napier Beautiful and Napier City Council combine to ensures Recycling Day’s continued popularity as a place to pick up quality pre-loved bargains.

Reusable items dropped off for free at the 2 November event, held from 8.30am until noon at Anderson Park, can be bought for a modest donation. The donations fund beautification grants distributed by the Keep Napier Beautiful committee. 

Maxine Boag, Keep Napier Beautiful chairwoman and Napier city councillor, says the relationships formed between organisations is part of the payoff for the work that goes into each event.

Other projects funded by Keep Napier Beautiful include community gardens, murals, trees, and clean up days. For a full list of acceptable and unacceptable items, go to napier.govt.nz and search Keep Napier Beautiful.

Recycling Day’s 2024 supporters include Napier City Council, Napier Host Lions, City of Napier cadets, Westshore Sea Scouts, Keep Napier Beautiful committee, and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

Disaster hubs

Both Napier and Hastings have been advancing community ‘hubs’ to be better prepared for future natural disasters.

In the case if Hastings, HDC has now established five ‘community emergency hubs’ at at Tutira, Waikoau, Kaiwaka Tahera, Maraekākaho and Putorino, equipped with supplies and resilience plans to help rural communities in the event of any future disasters. To get to this point multiple meetings have been held with each of the communities – including with community leaders who have volunteered their time to drive forward the plans for their community.

More hubs are at various stages of completion including at Waiwhare, Sherenden, Matapiro, and Kererū, for which draft resilience plans and hub training sessions (to prepare hub leaders for what may be required to run the hubs) are being prepared for key community representatives.

Other areas that are currently being engaged with ahead of drawing up draft plans are Moteo Marae, Timi Kara Marae, Dartmoor, Puketapu, Esk, Waimārama, Waipuka/Ocean Beach and Maraetotara.

All hubs are being kitted out with supplies requested by the communities to meet their individual needs, comprising items such as radios, first aid kits, fuel containers, long-life food, blankets and more.

In the case of Napier, the response is citizen-driven.  

The Napier Hill Community Emergency Hub Society was formed in May this year from members living on Napier Hill with experience in civil defence, logistics, communications, medical practice and commerce to fund raise and coordinate the project. With thousands expected to seek refuge on Napier Hill in such an event, the creation of a dedicated emergency hub at Napier Central School is now underway. 

HB Regional Councillor Martin Williams, along with Napier Hill resident Dan Tosswill, have been instrumental in the formation of the Napier Hill Community Emergency Hub. 

Tosswill was on the front lines at Rissington during Cyclone Gabrielle, recalls the chaos at the Rissington bridge where communities were left isolated. “I saw firsthand how unprepared we were as a region. Official reports have made it very clear that we have to take preparedness into our own hands.” 

Tosswill’s experiences drove his determination to ensure that Napier is better prepared for future emergencies. “The Napier Hill Emergency Hub at Napier Central  School will serve as a central point for  people  to receive food, water medical assistance, communications, and general welfare support for those most affected ” he adds.

“We know from experience in Cyclone Gabrielle that communities need to be able to support themselves for three days, and the Hub aims to provide immediate support for up to 72 hours” says Williams. 

“We are both delighted the School Board, Principal  Ross McLeod and staff have been so supportive of the concept from the outset.”

The estimated cost of establishing the Napier Hill Community Emergency Hub is over $500,000, with $100,000 of funding already secured for a solar panels at Napier Central which are currently being installed. While the Society is busy applying for philanthropic funding as best it can,  businesses or individuals interested in financially supporting this initiative are encouraged to reach out to the Society.

Tōmoana Showgrounds trust established 

A new charitable trust has been created to oversee the future of the Tōmoana Showgrounds.

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst, Waipatu representative Ngahiwi Tomoana and A & P Society past president Simon Collin signed the deed for the new trust this week at the launch of this year’s Hawke’s Bay A & P Show.

Mayor Hazlehurst commented: “The showgrounds are the jewel in the crown of our district – they are the gateway to our city and play an important role in bringing our rural and urban communities together, as well as having a strong historical connection to the Waipatu community.

“With Simon, Ngahiwi and myself as trustees, all those with a particular interest in this important landholding are represented – our rural community and mana whenua, the wider Hastings and Hawke’s Bay community, and the long-term users who call this venue home – the Hawke’s Bay A and P Society.”

Hastings District Council purchased the showgrounds off the A & P Society in 2023, and the next steps will involve planning for the development of a Reserve Management Plan for the area.

Car show cruises into Napier

Vintage vehicles, classic cars, hot rods and a Ford Pop will all be on show on Marine Parade to help celebrate Napier’s 150^th. 

Wheels of Time Car Show, with free admission, is a collaboration between Napier City Council, Hawke’s Bay Vintage Car Club and Roaming Chrome Hawke’s Bay Inc to be held near the Spirit of Napier from 9am to 11am on Sunday, 3 November. 

Wheels of Time show attendees can expect to see: 

• Classic Cars: Timeless beauties that represent the pinnacle of automotive engineering. 
• Vintage Vehicles: A glimpse into the past with vehicles that tell stories of bygone eras. 
• Hot Rods: Customized rides that showcase creativity and speed. 
• Art Deco Designs: A celebration of style and elegance in automotive design. 
• Japanese Classics: Iconic models that have left a legacy in the car world. 
• V8s: Powerful engines that bring a roar to the show.  

Owners of unique cars are invited to join the event on the day, just roll on in before the event begins at 9am. 

HB Airport opens kids’ play area

A fun and interactive kids’ play area has been installed by Hawke’s Bay Airport.

Designed for children 10 and under, Captain’s Corner has a mini cockpit, complete with controls, and runway inspired floor with the same numbers as Hawke’s Bay Airport. The walls surrounding the cockpit tell aviation and local stories including the migration story of the Kuaka, aircraft that fly in and out of the airport, and the sea life that would have lived in Te Whanganui a Orotu prior to the 1931 earthquake.

“Our thanks to the Gold sponsor of the kids’ area, ASB Bank who have supported our vision and helped make this unique play area possible,” says Judi Godbold, Hawke’s Bay Airport Manager Marketing and Business Growth.

ASB Client Director based in Napier, Tyler Ashworth adds: “Hawke’s Bay Airport is one of New Zealand’s most vibrant regional airports, and it’s been exciting to be part of this project to make travel more fun for tamariki and our community.”

Other contributors include silver sponsor Designgroup Stapleton Elliott, and the installation’s designer FPG.