Star launches ‘Keep it Local’
It’s tough running a business at the moment so we’re encouraging Horowhenua residents to shop locally and support local businesses. READ MORE
Five-try Jack snares top spot
Five tries from loose forward Jack Sturmey equalled a record, over 132 years, for the most tries in a representative match for Horowhenua-Kāpiti. READ MORE.
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Rangitikei joins water services plan
Rangitikei District Council has decided to join Horowhenua and Palmerston North for water services. On August 14 the council unanimously adopted the joint Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP) that sets out how water services in Rangitīkei, Horowhenua and Palmerston North will be delivered. It also outlines the pathway the three councils propose to establish a joint Water-Services Council Controlled Organisation. Rangitīkei District Council chief executive Carol Gordon says that while retaining local voice and accountability will remain key, the strong relationships with Horowhenua and Palmerston North “will ensure effective collaboration through the next phases of this work”. As the final council to adopt, the WSDP will now be submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs for approval. All three councils have also passed a resolution that gives Ruapehu District Council and Whanganui District Council the opportunity to join in.
Man dies at school
A 77-yeat-old tradesman from the South Island died at Levin School about 7am on Wednesday (August 20). He was working with his brother doing maintenance on school fountains. School staff tried to revive him and emergency services were called. No further details were available at press time
Electra Award finalists
The Horowhenua finalists in the 2025 Electra Business and Innovation Awards have been announced: Construction and Trades – Davie Construction, Stonewood Homes Manawatū and Horowhenua; Consumer Services – Nation Beauty NZ; Hospitality, Entertainment and Tourism – Robert Harris Foxton; Manufacturing, Production and Processing – Kalos Windows, Ōhau Gourmet Mushrooms; Professional and Business Services or Technology – TS Surveyors; Retail – Foxton Hammer Hardware, Petal and Bee Grocers Foxton; Not for Profit, Community and Public Services – Levin Repair Cafe; Customer Experience – Levin Top 10 Holiday Park, Nation Beauty, Petal and Bee Grocers, Robert Harris Foxton. Awards night is on Thursday, October 23, at Southwards Car Museum, Otaihanga. Ticket purchase has an option to pay-it-forward to buy ticket for a non-profit entrant. Early bird $157.27 plus a $9.60 fee – after August 26 it’s $186.94.
Arson charges
Police have charged a man with two counts of attempted arson and unlawfully possessing an offensive weapon after a house fire on Main Street, Palmerston North, on Sunday. Police were called to the fire, which affected three residential properties, about 4pm. Police took the 26-year-old into custody at the scene. He received medical treatment at the police station for smoke inhalation and was to appear in Palmerston North District Court this week.
Work at the Gunnings
We were really interested in your Gunning article (History page, Horowhenua Star, July 4). My mother, Elizabeth Conchie (nee Harris), daughter of Dal and Ellen Harris, grew up in Shannon. She left college at 14 and went to work at Gunnings’ home looking after the children. It was probably Eric Gunning’s family, about 1920. Mum loved looking after the children but after a couple of years left and worked at a nursing home in Palmerston North. She didn’t stay long as she was not happy there, so went back to Gunnings’ until about 1925. Mum then went to work as a housemaid at the Club Hotel. She married in 1927. Later on in life, Mum lived with my husband and I for five years before passing away in 1999. We had many conversations about Shannon and when she worked at the Gunning home. Mum loved children and there were 11 in our family, four boys and seven girls – heaps of descendants.
Wendy Bovey, Levin
