A NEW wave of fitness has hit the region’s parks with boot camps getting people out of bed and into action.

The work-outs which start as early as 6am attract numbers because of the timing and group style, say two trainers.

CQfit owner Chas Quinn, right, runs a training camp on the Petone Esplanade and says the friendly atmosphere of the camps attracts people.

“If you had a chat to a lot of the people that come, they’re here more for the social aspect of it,” Mr Quinn.

Nigel Tapsell, 40, is one regular at the Mr Quinn’s sessions.“If it wasn’t for the group, I wouldn’t be here.”

Each workout is slightly different but usually consists of a circuit of exercises varying from push-ups and weight resistance to sprints and sit-ups.

Scott Falconer, left, trainer for The Weights Room, runs boot camps in Petone Recreation Ground and Upper Hutt and says having the camps in cheap group sessions also attracts numbers.

“I think people like the personal training side of things, but to do it in a group is cheaper for them and it’s more fun because there is heaps of people to encourage and work alongside.”

Both trainers do their camps on both public and private grounds.

Mr Falconer has an agreement to use Silverstream School Hall and Mr Quinn uses the Empire Table Tennis hall for indoor sessions.

Similar activity in public parks on Australia’s Gold Coast prompted calls for curbs earlier this year, but Lower Hutt City Council is not concerned.

The council was not aware of training camps on public grounds but media and communications advisor Warren Inkster did not think it was a problem.

“As long as they are not disturbing the peace,” Mr Inkster says.

Jenny Woodward, a lawyer who attends the Petone Recreation Ground boot camp, is motivated by attending the early morning trainings.

“Someone makes me work at a boot-camp. At a gym you’re going by your own willpower.”

With many people having busy schedules, training early was a good way to get exercise done, says Mr Falconer.

Mr Quinn, who is against calling the trainings boot camp, believes there is no excuse for not exercising.“There is always time. It’s just how bad you want it.”

Mr Quinn says he enjoys the early morning sessions most when he sees someone achieve something.

“It’s exciting when you can see someone how elated someone is when they can achieve something so small. That’s exciting. That’s what gets me going.”

The trail ride is a fundraiser for the Wairarapa Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding Club.

The turnout is expected to be high because the recent drought has stopped many motorbike rides, says club secretary Frank Aldridge.

“I think it’ll be pretty strong. I think it’ll be somewhere between 250 and 300 riders,” he says

“There haven’t been many trail rides in the last few months because of the drought condition and fire risks in the forests,” says Frank.

Riders will be charged to ride the 25km Pirinoa farmland bush motor bike track.

“We’ll be charging adults $30 and kids $15 to come along and they can ride around as many times as they like,” he says.

Money is needed for the club to get officials in for endurance horse rides during the season.

“With endurance rides you have to have a number of officials at them.

“So that’s everything from vets through to people whose job it is to make sure the track is safe,” says Frank.

The funds will also allow the club to keep fees low and people interested in endurance horse riding.

“By running a fundraiser like this, it just means that we can do those sorts of things without actually making the ride fees prohibitive.

“That way we keep more people in the sport,” Frank says.

Wellingtonians are also contributing to the event.

“It’ll attract people from Wellington, it’s bringing those sorts of people into the area. It provides people who live in the city somewhere to ride a motorbike without having to open gates all the time,” he says.

Registration begins at 8:30am and gates open for riding at 10am for riders to take their first round.

“We want them to take the first lap a little bit easier so that they’re seeing any hazards,” Frank says.

Helping with organisation is the Ruakokoputuna Hall community.

“We’re organising it together, particularly when it comes to the track. They’ve got a lot of experience with these sorts of events.”

DRUG-USING tenants have cost two Wellington families potentially $65,000 on the sale of an investment property.

The couples have found that P users can do as much damage as P labs following the sale of the house, and they are warning others to be vigilant.

Their property at Horowhenua’s Waitarere Beach was often rented over the years, with a few people living there for three months five years ago, says one of the owners, who did not want to be identified.

He says locals prompted the real estate agent selling the house for the couples to do testing for meth, after rumour’s the property had been used to manufacture the drug.

The owners says testing showed only recreational use, not manufacture, had occurred but the damage had been done to the property’s value.

“This all happened at the same time it was on the market,” says the owner.

TESTING REPORT: The 20 areas tested at the property, with 0.5 and above being a fail result.

“P is looked at today like the aids of the 80s,” he says.

The initial test of five swabs turned up one partial indication and two positive results.

A second test of 20 swabs was then carried out and six places throughout the house tested positive for P. Testing cost $2000.

The testing service said there was no evidence of there ever being a methamphetamine clan lab inside the premises.

“In my opinion the levels detected could however be explained by consumption of meth by drug addicts inside the property,” says Ricky Lewer, manager of Drug Testing Services Manawatu.

With the knowledge of the testing, a potential buyer put an offer on the house of $300,000. The Government valuation was $380,000

“It did a massive hit on the price,” says the owner

The property sold to the same bidder for $315,000 still furnished.

The new owners also had the responsibility of cleaning the house, which was estimated to cost  $3500-$5000.

“I felt we lost money on it,” says the owner.

Insurance council operations manager Terry Jordan says there has been a growth in claims for the clean-up of contaminated properties over the last few years, although that includes labs.

“What has grabbed the insurer’s attention is that these claims have been increasing steadily over the past few years,” says Mr Jordan.

“No one can give me hard facts or numbers around this.

“Cover varies between insurers, home owners should be aware some will offer a sub limit of up to $25,000 for the clean-up and at least one company in NZ offers no cover,” Mr Jordon says.

One Horowhenua real estate agency spoken to outlined a procedure carried out by agents when faced with this problem.

“The police are involved straight away and the legal owners are also involved as these homes are usually rental properties with absentee owners,” says Chris Hirini, sales manager Harcourt’s Levin.

However neither he nor another real estate agent questioned says it is a big issue.

“I have come across a few rentals with a question mark,” says Rohan Teaz, of Property Brokers Foxton.

Property Brokers notify the police and home owners, which is the same procedure used by Harcourts.

Cases like these in the area are “few and far between”, says Sargent Jeff Lyver of Levin Police.

“But it won’t be registered with the New Zealand Police statistics unless an arrest is made,” says Mr Lyver.

The drug testing services document received by the owners state the district council may note the findings on a LIM report and issue reports.

Raewyn Parry, Horowhenua District council communications manager said in an email response to questions: “It is a very rare occurrence, we would receive on average less than one notification a year.”

“If Council is informed by the Police that a house is potentially contaminated we have a process to assess the risks and we may issue a Cleansing Order under section 41 of the Health act 1956,” Ms Parry said, citing council guidelines.

The Council may also issue a dangerous building notice which prevents anyone living or staying at the property until it has been cleaned and pasted a retest.

“A note would remain on the property file which would be included in any LIM reports until Council has been informed that the contamination has been sufficiently remediated.”

READY FOR ACTION: The community gather at the disaster simulation run by Newlands Civil Resilience.

NEWLANDS was a disaster zone on Saturday as locals practised being prepared for an emergency.

The exercise was run by Newlands Civil Resilience at the local marae.

“It has become a big priority for the community,” said Bill Rawiri, Nga Hau e Wha O Papararangi marae chairperson.

“The important thing is that we’re ready when the people need us most.”

Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds became disaster ‘victims’ and helpers in a major earthquake.

“It’s amazing how diverse the community and people willing to help are,” said Lisa Cunningham, who works at Newlands Community Centre.

The disaster aimed for reality so people had to respond to unpredictable emergency scenarios.

These included dealing with lost property or loved ones, abandoned pets, seeking immediate first aid or help for existing health problems.

“One thing we know about disasters is we don’t know how well we will react,” said Fiona Bain, Newlands Civil Resilience Team project leader.

“Use common sense, go with the flow, do what you can.”

* Community members took charge of advisory roles such as accommodation, animal welfare and registration of lost persons.

* They were there to help fill out New Zealand Red Cross registration forms, administer first aid and give advice to disaster victims.

Also involved in the emergency efforts were Paparangi Scouts, and 50 guests from a Hutt Valley marae.

A gas operated hot water supply was set up, which provides almost instant heated water.

The exercise was immediately followed by a debrief.

Speaking at the end of the day, Mr Rawiri acknowledged the support of Te Puni Kokiri, The Ministry of Maori Development.

The ministry helps fund Newlands Resilience team’s Community Preparedness Plan by getting maraes ready to support resilience – future emergency action in Newlands plan to use the Community Centre as the main coordination area and the marae as a ‘safe haven’.

“Today the crowd needing help was a trickle but it’s going to be a flood,” said Mr Rawiri, referring to potential quake disasters.

“We are picking a lot of holes but it is so we will learn a lot and better prepare ourselves for when we need it most.”

Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) and the New Zealand Resilience Trust also spoke in support of the project.

“It is all about sharing information and I really encourage people to take part in the programmes we have,” said Kerry McSaveney, WREMO emergency management advisor.

The next public WREMO emergency preparedness workshop is on from July 2-23 in Wellington.

There are also programmes for Porirua, Hutt Valley and the greater Wellington region.
For more information go to http://www.gw.govt.nz/CDEM-Volunteer or email wremo@gw.govt.nz.

Nga Hau e Wha o Paparangi Marae, 30 Ladbrooke Drive : www.nhewop.co.nz

IN TUNE: Tunes of I band members, from left, Conway Jeune, Byn Van Vilet, Jules Blewman, Makura Tomoana and Mudz Chadwick.

TUNES OF I are throwing themselves into New Zealand Music Month after emerging as one of the country’s most promising groups in 2012.

The Wellington-based group is opening for New Zealand reggae band 1814 this Saturday at The James Caberet and will also perform a free gig at the Southern Cross on May 24.

Such gigs have opened up for Tunes of I since their second place at the 2012 New Zealand Battle of the Bands and winning the Emerging Artist Award at the 2012 Te Waiata Maori Music Awards.

After receiving the Maori award, the band performed on the main stage, to the surprise of guitarist and lead singer Conway Jeune.

“That was the buzziest experience. Just actually walking in there and seeing out the back the mixing desk and all of the cameras,” Jeune says.

“We thought we would be playing a little stage.”

The band is funded entirely on profits from gigs because they are not yet eligible for NZOnAir grants.

They have met some of the 22 different criteria, but not enough to get funding.

The criteria they have achieved include a nationwide tour, more than 1000 fans on facebook, and more than 2000 plays for an online video.

They have just returned from the nationwide tour.

“Where we’re at right now it’s kinda hard to get funding,” says drummer Mudz Chadwick.

The band formed while all the members where at Massey University Jazz School, with bassist/backup vocalist Makura Tomoana and guitarist Jules Blewman joining last year. Other members of the band are Bryn Van Vilet on saxophone and Michael Costeloe on trumpet.

The band members are all still studying at Massey University, with the exception of Tomoana, who is resuming his studies this year.

The band says it is hard to identify the exact genre that they fall into, but when pressed they classify themselves as a Dub Soul band, with jazz influences.

Although the band have finished recording their first EP, it is still in the mixing stage and is due for release later this year.According to Chadwick, it is hard to pinpoint who the band is influenced by when all the members take inspiration from different musicians.

They hope to release a single before the EP.

The old dental clinic

AN EXTRA classroom is to be created from in the building that used to house Dyer Street School’s old dental clinic.

Plans to refurbish this area were made by school’s board of trustees following the movement of the clinic itself, which is now at Naenae Intermediate.

Denise Sainsbury

Dyer Street principal Denise Sainsbury and staff were also involved in the decision to change the clinic into a classroom space.“The plans were made when it became known that the dental service was changing to a caravan and mega-clinic at Naenae Intermediate,” says Mrs Sainsbury.

Refurbishment began at the school at the end of 2012 with the changing of the entrance way and senior toilets.

“Although there is work to be done on the interior, we are still using it at present.

“We currently have a suite of computers in there,” says Mrs Sainsbury.

The board of trustees has approved $15,000 for the refurbishment and will contribute more if and when the need arises.

“We are currently in the process of gaining quotes for further work,” says Mrs Sainsbury.

Carla Jowitt

Carla Jowitt, a parent at the school, is confident that the children will not be in any danger from the worksite.“There are no problems with safety because the school is able to block off the entire area.

“It can be fenced off with enough area for safe movement, and builders in the past have made sure they kept well away from the kids,” Mrs Jowitt says.

Dyer Street School’s sharing off the relocated dental clinic with Naenae College and Naenae Intermediate is running smoothly.

“It is still early into the partnership, but parents seem to have made the transition quite smoothly,” says Mrs Sainsbury.

“All students still get assessed at the school through the onsite caravan, so it is only for further treatment that they need to go to the new centre.”

The refurbishment is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

ISLAND BAY Marine Centre held an open day on Sunday to allow visitors to farewell its ‘Super Mum’.

Its resident octopus had given birth to hundreds of babies, who had already been released into the Tapu te Ranga Marine Reserve, which is on the marine centre’s Bait House building doorstep, where they will have to fend for themselves.

Having given birth, the mother octopus, which the Marine Centre has dubbed ‘Super Mum’, is living off her fat reserves. When these run out, she will die.

As well as the octopus mother, there were many other sea creatures for visitors to look at, and a ‘touch tank’, whose inhabitants visitors were allowed to handle.

SUPER OCTOPUS: The dying octopus who has been dubbed ‘Supermum’.

 SLOW AND STEADY: The turtle tank.

  SEA CREATURES: A tank of paua.

STAR ATTRACTION: A starfish in the ‘touch tank’.

BAIT HOUSE: The Island Bay Marine Centre, which is housed in the former Bait House.

ALL AT SEA: The Marine Centre, with a view of some of the local fishing boats.

Bernard Gregorius a young rugby league player is hoping to make $5000 so he can represent New Zealand

A YOUNG rugby league player has six weeks to raise $2000 so he can represent New Zealand.

Bernard Gregorius, 22, had to find $5000 after being selected in the New Zealand Tertiary team for the Rugby League Festival of World Cups in England.

The Victoria University student has so far raised $3000, including $1500 from the university, donations on Pledgeme and help from his home town of Upper Hutt.

Gregorius says between work, study and training he has no time to set up any big fundraising projects so he has people helping to raise money for him.

“My Mum owns a childcare centre in Upper Hutt so she has basically got everyone there either giving money or searching for money from other people.”

Gregorius played rugby union for Upper Hutt College first 15 in 2008, his last year at school.

The next year he started playing rugby league for the University Hunters club based at Victoria.

After only three years of playing the sport, Gregorius was selected to trial for the national tertiary team.

The festival includes cups for tertiary, women and armed forces, which are a build-up to the Rugby League World Cup in November, featuring the defending champion Kiwis.

“I found out I had made the team in February,” says Gregorius, who plays on the wing.

Since then he has been raising funds through various sausage sizzles and has set up a PledgeMe page to raise funds after the team was asked to raise money individually.

Gregorius has tried to get sponsorship with but with little success.

“Because of the economic climate people in Wellington don’t want to give their money away,” he says.

In its Draft Annual Plan for 2013/14, the council had proposed to close Brooklyn, Cummings Park (Ngaio), Wadestown and Island Bay libraries at 5pm on weekdays, because they were considered to be smaller libraries.

However, at a meeting last month, it decided that those libraries will continue to close at either 5.30pm or 6pm, except for the one day a week when they are open until 8pm.

 Wellington City Council backtracked on the proposal after receiving feedback from the public, although Khandallah’s hours may still change.

Island Bay residents thought it was the right thing to do, though not all had heard about the original proposal.

“For people like me, this is a really good time to come, after work”, says Marama Findlay, a principal policy analyst.

Wilma Allen, who is retired, would like everyone to be able to get to a library.

“I myself would like the library to be open as long as possible, so that everyone, no matter what sort of job they have, or how far they have to travel, can get in and out and get their books changed.”

Anaesthetist Elaine Langton says it is a good idea to leave the library hours as they are.

“It’s good to be able to drop in after work.”

Retiree Beryl Skipper says people with mobility issues need their local library.

 “I have a lot of friends who don’t drive and aren’t very mobile, and they rely on the library a lot.”

 The proposal was aimed at targeting the times when the libraries are least-used, and would have saved $30,800 per year, which Councillor Justin Lester describes as a “minimal” saving.

“Due to community concerns, we resolved to keep the status quo”, says Cr Lester, who is the community facilities portfolio leader.

“We had feedback that they [libraries] wanted to keep their existing hours.”

It was also proposed to only open Khandallah Library from 1pm-5.30pm during the week, with alternative library services for Khandallah residents available at Cummings Park and Johnsonville libraries.

This would save $31,200 a year.

“My preference is for that not to happen. There’s minimal benefit, the cost savings would be small, detriment to the local community would be large”, Cr Lester says.

That proposal will be voted on by the council in June.

Submissions on the Draft Annual Plan can be made until May 16.

A new downhill mountain bike track is being built on Polhill Reserve to ease congestion for the 50,000 people who use the area each year.

About 420 metres worth of track has been built to date and Brooklyn Trail Builders expects to finish the one-way trail by summer.

The group, whose Facebook page mentions confrontations between bikers and walkers, are a volunteer work force, says member Kevin O’Donnell.

The trails on Brooklyn’s council land on Polhill Reserve, allows walkers, runners and bikers to travel between Aro Valley, the Highbury Fling and Brooklyn Hill.

The new route comes off the established Transient track and will separate bikers from walkers and runners.

Brooklyn Trail Builders are spending Sunday and Wednesday afternoons building the downhill track exclusive to bike users.

Kevin, 41, an intensive care nurse educator, is one of those volunteers passionate about building the trails.

“Our philosophy is to get people off the couch and into the green hills of Wellington,” he says.

Kevin has built tracks in the Wellington region since the group started six years ago, and is helping to build the new downhill track while maintaining others.

“The rule is if you build a trail you have to maintain them. You build a trail well to begin with,” he says.

Brooklyn Trail Builders spend one hour digging one metre of track.

All tracks are hand built with spades, hack saws, axes and buckets without a mechanical tool in sight.

Luke Bassant, 17, right, a student, is one of  the volunteers who include children, students, men and women.

“I feel like I’m obligated to build trails now. I just can’t stop,” Says Luke.

He bikes existing trails most weeks and says apart from digging tracks and riding bikes, he doesn’t do much else.

Franziska Buch, 30, a recruitment worker and volunteer, bikes the trails often after work and enjoys being outdoors doing physical work.

“I’ve always wanted to get involved with trail building. I’ve been a part of trail building in Miramar,” she says.

Franziska has been digging trails in the Brooklyn area for the past two months.

Up to 15 volunteers at a single time dig up tracks and smash rock out of cliff faces.

Kevin says illegal track building used to be an issue within the region because most mountain bike tracks are owned by the Wellington City Council.

The Council has now built a stronger relationship with Wellington’s mountain bikers and contributes timber and pipes to support the Brooklyn Trail Builder’s project.

Together, they have agreed to regular inspections of the track building process and oversee any changes.

Other organisations like Marathon Clinic and Wellington’s Mountain Biking club donate money towards the projects, which the former donating $10,000.

Building on council land means the Brooklyn Trail Builders plant trees, spray weeds and clear rubbish to build these tracks, giving back to the community.

More volunteers are needed to help build the new track 12:30pm-2pm on Wednesdays and 1pm-4pm on Sundays.