Searle Wright News Today

Staff and students from Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board raised $8,062.25 for The Hastings and Prince Edward Learning Foundation.

As we wrap up National News Literacy Week, WPTV is highlighting what our local schools are doing to help students spot misinformation and create quality journalism.

David Allan Drinkwater, 92, died in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on October 14, 2021. He was born December 16, 1928, in Kokomo, Indiana, and earned his Bachelor of Music degree in 1952 from Indiana University, Bloomington, where he studied organ with Oswald Ragatz. Also in 1952 he took second prize in the American Guild of Organists National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance.

Landfill timeline and community opposition A community united in opposition Mahurangi Matters sought the views of community leaders in the wake of the commissioners’ decision to grant a resource consent to allow a landfill in the Dome Valley … Dr Jason Smith Mayor of Kaipara District Council (KDC) I am extremely disappointed. The KDC’s elected members voted unanimously to put in a submission rejecting the idea of a landfill, which we did. My feeling is that the broad range of concerns tha...

Rare bitterns return thanks to children’s efforts Children of Tapora School who were part of the final planting last year that saw the completion of the project. Endangered bitterns have returned to wetlands in Tapora and Pakiri, thanks to the efforts of local schoolchildren. A total of 7500 trees have been planted over 13 years through the Trees for Survival programme, providing a vital habitat for the birds. However, Earle Wright whose property neighbours the restored wetlands noticed the b...

Taporapora kuia finally recognised for farming feats Wikitoria Wright, age 90, has finally been recognised for her work breaking in a farm on the Okahukura Peninsula. Taporapora’s Wikitoria Wright has been awarded the Awhuwhenua Trophy for farming excellence – 56 years after she deserved to win it. In 1964, the trophy was presented to her husband Rawson ‘Ross’ Wright, but Wikitoria was overlooked. “That was their policy. It was a man’s world back then,” Wikitoria says. “But Ross...