Kataraina Graham, 2, was part of the Ngati Ruanui seabed mining protest at Castlecliff in September 2017. Photo Bevan Conley.
Mining concerns to UN
Ngā Rauru is taking its concerns about proposed seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight to the United Nations. Te Kaahui o Rauru board member Te Huia Bill Hamilton will present them to the United Nations' Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He heads to
Geneva for the five-day conference this month and will be representing the National Iwi Chairs' Forum. Consent given for the mining breaches International Human Rights Law and marginalises the iwi's views, he said.
Union meeting
There is an NZEI Te Riu Roa paid union meeting for primary teachers and principals today at the Whanganui Intermediate School hall. It is a follow-up to meetings held in May about the issues that teachers currently face, including pay, workload and responsibilities. Union members are currently in negotiation with the Ministry of Education and today's meeting will be an update on how the campaign is progressing. The meeting begins at 2pm.
Visit to pilot academy
Whanganui's pilot academy will open its doors to local high school students. A group of about nine Whanganui High School students will get to see the inner workings at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy on Friday afternoon. Students will get to hear from flight instructors, see the academy's hangar and get a turn on the flight simulator. The pilot academy had a group of students from high schools in Taranaki, Ruapehu, Manawatu and Horowhenua two weeks ago.
Practical challenge
Whanganui carpentry apprentices will take part in a practical challenge as part of the Central North Island Registered Master Builders Carters 2018 Apprentice of the Year. The competition will be at Carters, 95 Wilson St, from 9.15am to 12.15pm on Saturday, June 30. This is the first year regional practical challenges have been added to the competition.
Excess breath alcohol
Basil Norman Barnett was sentenced to five months and two weeks of community detention and nine months' supervison in Whanganui District Court on Monday. He was also disqualified from driving and ordered to pay reparation of $334 to police for requesting a blood analysis test. Barnett pled guilty to driving with excess breath alcohol for a fourth time.
