Puāwai

(Noun: To blossom or come to fruition) “Poipoia te kakano, kia puawai - Nurture the seed and it will blossom”

As we prepare to commemorate New Zealanders killed in war and honour returned and serving servicemen and women during ANZAC Day, we also acknowledge those serving our community today. 

In this edition of Puāwai we share the importance of the modern-day New Zealand Defence Force and look at how they are protecting and serving our communities in 2024. 

Continuing the military theme, our Library Information Research & Local History Team Lead imagines veteran Charles James Nelson’s return to Foxton following the war, and we shine a light on modern day heroes - our brave and selfless local Volunteer Firefighters. 

For history buffs, we list our top six places to visit in Horowhenua to learn about days past. 

While we celebrate those leading people through difficult times we also explore the challenging choices ahead of us as we consult on our Long Term Plan. 

As we look to the future, we celebrate a new era of the Foxton Pools, which has been refreshed and is now open year-round for the community to enjoy, and we list volunteering opportunities to begin a new chapter in your life. 

Have an awesome Autumn Horowhenua.