Missing teen
A Wairarapa teen reported missing over the weekend has been in touch with police. Police confirmed the teenager had been in contact yesterday, was safe, and “just looking for some time out”.
Crash victim fundraiser
Family friends of the teenager who was hit by a ute while riding his motorbike on Lake Ferry Rd have raised more than $1000 on Give A Little to help his family. A police spokesperson said officers attended the serious crash on Lake Ferry Rd at 1.25pm on Saturday, which “involved a motorbike and vehicle”. Te Whata Ora Capital, Coast, and Hutt Valley confirmed the young man was still in serious condition in Wellington Hospital’s intensive care unit yesterday. The Give A Little page said the teen had been left with extensive life-threatening injuries and his main caregivers are a “very young farming couple with two young daughters … They farm weekly to provide for their young family and will need these funds to pay for any medical costs, accommodation, and petrol as well as on-the-go snacks and dinners for their young children while they support [him] on his road to recovery.” As of 5pm yesterday, the Give A Little page had raised $1725 in donations.
Hughes Line
Hughes Line is closed today between Francis Line and East Taratahi Rd for urgent repair work. The work will take about two days, weather dependant. The repairs will focus on reinstating the gravel shoulder and addressing other maintenance issues caused by the increase in traffic volumes on the road. Work is now completed on the other side of Hughes Line, from Cornwall Rd to East Taratahi Rd, which was closed for repairs last Friday.
Strikes halted
Planned teacher’s strikes have been cancelled after a meeting with Education Minister Jan Tinetti. Unions have said the Ministry of Education [MoE] agreed to work urgently on revised offers. All planned strikes are suspended until May 30. Prior to the action being called off, union members were scheduled to refuse to teach particular year groups on Thursday this week and next. Teachers and MoE have been unsuccessfully negotiating a new collective employment agreement for a year.
