Tuesday 23 May 2017 www.thepost.nz Vol:29 • No. 19 26,000 Printed Copies Delivered to Franklin & North Waikato(09) 235 7835

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Franklin & North Waikato

Hon. Winston Peters is coming to PukekoHe

tHis june.

Page 3

Pokeno advocate honoured Waikato District council biennial mayoral community aWarDs

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7.307

kilometres

0

Port Waikato

Onewhero

Awhitu

Karaka

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Two former Pukekohe High School students have taken a humbling trip to the most southern, and chilliest, continent on earth, Antarctica. By Yana O’Gorman

ll Zach Butters and Olivia Pointon, re-cently completed a postgraduate course in Antarctic studies at the University of Canter-bury, which allowed them spend two weeks on the ice.

Before leaving on the field trip, they studied the continent and the natural processes that make it what it is, they also prepared for what life would be like on the ice.

“Although we spent over a month being told what to expect, nothing prepared us for step-

ping off the plane and onto the great white ex-panse,” Zach says.

They had 14 days on the ice, ten of which they spent camped out on the Ross Ice Shelf. They had a white Christmas and New Year while camping and celebrated with a feast sup-plied by the cooking staff at Scott Base. Olivia said it was a refreshing change from a week of dehydrated food.

“During our time there, we explored the area around New Zealand’s Scott Base on the southern side of Ross Island,” Olivia said.

“We also visited the historic Discovery Hut and the newly-restored Hillary Hut.”

Being able to experience Antarctica first-hand made them understand how serious the

environmental impacts are already having, and how changes need to be made now to pro-tect the future.

The main message the duo now want to get through to people is that New Zealander’s have a duty to understand and protect Antarctica, the continent that is right in our backyard. While learning about the continent, they also constructed campsite kitchens and bathrooms out of snow and ice, using spades and snow saws. They also had the opportunity to sleep in a sturdy igloo they had constructed, and found it was surprisingly warm.

“24 hour daylight meant we were unbound by time constraints, skiing at 10pm at night was nothing out of the ordinary,” Zach said.

“Despite the harsh physical environment, the camaraderie demonstrated by everyone we encountered, their welcoming and enthusias-tic vibe made it hard to leave.” They are both looking to get involved in volun-teering for events held by Antarctic relations. Zach is focused on completing his Masters Degree, while Olivia is looking forward to at-tending Outward Bound next month. They say people should jump at the chance if they’re passionate about change

They would both like to thank everyone who supported them getting to the ice, includ-ing programme coordinator Dr Daniela Lig-gett, and Nigel Ollett from Pak N Save Pukeko-he for financial assistance.

Olivia Pointon and Zach Butters,

former Pukekohe High School

students, Class of 2013, chilling

with a seal on their trip south.

7 may - tHe karaka Historical society

celebrateD tHeir tWentietH birtHDay.

Page 10

Karaka Historical Society

Trip to Antarctica gets seal of approval

Meet with Winston

WINTERXMASLUNCHEONFUNDRAISERWITHTHERTHON.WINSTONPETERS

Speech and Q & A session by theRt.Hon.WinstonPetersPlus: NZ First MP’sTraceyMartin (Education),DenisO’Rourke (Transport), and

FletcherTabuteau (Tourism)

PUKEKOHE COSMOPOLITAN CLUB78 NELSON STREET, PUKEKOHE

SUNDAY 18TH JUNE

Please arrive between 11:30am and 12:00Wide range of excellent raffles including door prizes.

LIMITED SEATS. RESERVEYOUR SEATS NOW.

$45pp includes full Mid Winter Xmas Buffet, Dessert, Tea and Coffee$125 pp for a seat atWinston Peters table

Limited seats. To book your seat phone contact:

Jon Reeves on 021 529 404 or email reeves.nzfirst@gmail.com

Or post a cheque made out to “NEW ZEALAND FIRST HUNUA”with your name and details to:

38 Moloney Tce, 2120 Pukekohe.

Bookings close 10th of June or once seats sold

Authorised ByA.Martin 13 Browns Rd, Warkworth