Ōtaki

But what is the fourth-largest infrastructure project we're paying attention to?

So number four, Ōtaki to north of Levin, there's a brand-new State Highway 1 just north of Kapiti.

Now, what that's gonna mean is that it's a way faster drive from Levin down to Wellington.

It's really gonna unlock that space.

So you put your money in and you see your totals up there and then you just push the one litre.

And later, how the small town of Ōtaki is aiming to become carbon neutral.

It's such a lovely way to spend the morning or afternoon and it doesn't feel like work.

You're chatting with friends and then we finish with a kapa.

We'll link to that story on our podcast page.

Speaking of Otaki...

Can a small town plant its way towards carbon neutrality? Well, in Ōtaki, they're giving it a pretty good try, as producer Sally Round

discovered.

He says the council does not have enough experienced staff to deal with a future bigger emergency, but the council is trying to improve staff skills.

State Highway one is closed between Otaki and Waikanae after a petrol tanker fire this morning.

Nineteen fire trucks, tankers, and specialist vehicles are at the scene battling the blaze.

There are no reports of injuries.

as a major redesign of a local swimming pool gets the green light.

The Kapiti Coast District Council approved a $16.2 million construction budget for the Otaki pool at a meeting on Thursday.

As well as popping a manu, bombs when I was a kid, the three-metre deep pool will also be used for water safety training, diving lessons and aquatic exercise classes, as well as waka ama.

But the Manu Pool is just a small part of the recent success of Otaki Pool and how it's getting local tamariki to learn to swim.

Otaki Pool's manager, Shelley Aston, joins us now.

Morena, Shelley, nice to have you with us.

Morena, John, I'm delighted to be here.

Well, and then, you know, that's actually a really, really important point to make, John.

Um, Makoura's, um, UE rate fell from 37.8 in 2023 to 17.5 in '25.

Ōtaki on the Kāpiti Coast, north of the Kāpiti Coast in Wellington, 29.8 halved down to 15.5. Māngere, 22.9 to 9.8. What's going on? Um, uh, is it-- was it the result of COVID? Did, did the-- Did a lot of these Pacific Island families demand that their kids work rather than go to school? Menzies, 36.4 to 25.

Rosmini College on Auckland's North Shore, 75.2 down to 64.6. They're still high, but what happened? What happened? Um, Queen Charlotte, 17.5% entry to 8.1 only, 8.1% went into UE.

Those aren't tiny movements.