From the President

Our 50th Anniversary Celebrations

I moved into Waiatarua two years ago, and during that time, I’ve witnessed a range of emotions at our Community Hall. I’ve seen people smile, laugh, shout and cry. I remember attending our quiz night event and seeing the smiles when a team of friends celebrated getting a question right. I recall our Murder Mystery evening, where the hall was packed with people laughing. I attended our “Meet the Candidates” evening and saw people passionately debate an issue that was incredibly important to them. I’ve even witnessed a wed- ding reception in our hall, where a father cried as his daughter got married—though, to be honest, if you saw the man his daughter had just married, you would cry as well.

I’ve experienced many stories within my two years here, so I can only imagine what the walls of our Community Hall, Library, and Playcentre have witnessed over the past fifty years—the range of emotions and the countless stories that have unfolded. This is why we held our one-day art exhibition to mark our 50th anniversary; it was about sharing those stories of our past while, at the same time, inspiring new stories. For me, nothing symbolises this intention better than seeing a group of young children truly fascinated for nearly an hour as they learned felt-crafting skills from one of the more senior members of our community—different generations coming together to pass on stories. We also had one of the first volunteers for our community patrol meet with the current community patrol volunteers, sharing stories.

Putting together an event of this scale would have been impossible without a dedicated group of volunteers who were willing to give up their valuable time to enrich our community. There are so many volunteers that there is a risk I will miss someone, but I want to highlight Catherine Wells, who really drove this initiative and dedicated weeks of her time to ensure the event ran smoothly. Thank you Cathie!

New Instagram Account: Connect with Waiatarua

We are excited to announce that Waiatarua now has its very own Instagram page! This is a fantastic new way for us to stay connected with our wonderful community, and we invite you all to follow us to get a closer look at life here in Waiatarua. Here you will find stunning photos that capture the beauty of our surroundings, as well as snapshots of community events, celebrations, and activities that make our area so special. Whether it’s a sunrise over the hills, a local art exhibition or a community gathering, we’ll be sharing it all Following our page is a great way to stay updated on everything happening in and around Waiatarua. From updates on library activities and community meetings to local initiatives and events, our Instagram will be your go-to source for all the latest news. We aim to create a space where residents can feel a sense of pride and connection, and where those from outside the area can get a glimpse of what makes Waiatarua such a unique and welcoming place. We’re still new to Instagram and are learning the ropes, so bear with us as we build our content and navigate this exciting platform. Rest assured, we have a lot planned, and there will be plenty of engaging, inspiring and beautiful posts for you to enjoy.

To make it easy for you, we’ve provided a QR code here—just scan it, and it will take you directly to our Instagram page.

See you there!

New Computer at Our Library

We are thrilled to announce that our library now has a brand-new computer available for community use! This addition is part of our ongoing commitment to provide accessible resources and support to everyone in our community. Whether you need to print documents, access online resources, or simply have a reliable computer to use for personal tasks, our new computer is here for you. The library team is ready to assist you with any questions or guidance you may need. We understand that technology can sometimes be challenging, so if you need help navigating the software, finding information, or using our printing services, don’t hesitate to ask., We aim to make your experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

The computer is available during our library’s opening hours (these can be found on the bottom of page 1) so feel free to drop by. Whether you’re s student working on an assignment, a job seeker looking to connect with family and friends online, our library is here to support you.

We look forward to seeing you at the library and hope this new addition will make a positive difference in your experience. See you soon!

Mark Wager, 

WRRA President