Shattered for our very own Comet Swimming Club

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

“When the council chooses an international company where all the profits go abroad, over our very own COMET SWIM CLUB, whom have been doing an excellent job teaching our community how to swim and survive in the Tairāwhiti for over 65 years to run their Learn to Swim program at the new Kiwa Pools.” (TAKEN FROM THE PETITION)

As a kura who don’t have a pool, we travel to Gisborne every week — twice a week, and some terms three days a week, pending on the demand — all year to learn how to swim. Māngātuna has actually done this since before I became the principal, I simply carried on.

We’ve been members of Comet Swimming since then and fortunate recipients of all that they provide . . . their hospitality, their skills and their support.

They’ve always looked after us and provided discounted lessons, as we travel close to 140km round trip just to get there.

They’ve also sponsored Māngātuna in our many fundraising ventures!!

And supported NPEC Swim Meets with equipment to ensure we host a successful annual competition.

We also get ONE FREE TERM a year for all tamariki, and over the past three years this has been extended to all primary-ged tamariki in Ngati Porou — yes it’s Swim for Life, so not totally a Comet grant, yet it is Comet who have provided the lessons, and not only at the Olympic Pools, they take their skillset all the way up the Coast weekly to support our tamariki to learn how to swim for this one term.

I also know, that as their teacher, I’m there to instruct in te reo Māori if needed, so much so that I now take lessons for our older tamariki thanks to the skills I’ve acquired through observing their staff over the years.

Because of the commitment and service they’ve provided for 60+ years, you’d have thought if their application was not as “flash” as the international application, someone would have leant a helping hand to bring it up to par . . .

Shattered for Our Very Own Comet Swim Club, as are many others!!

So much for “Supporting Locally Owned’” . . . .

Comet, Greg, Rochelle, otirā koutou katoa — nei rā te mihi maioha kia koutou . . . .

Mā te Atua anō koutou e tiaki, e manaaki . . . .

Naku noa

Tania Hunter

Tumuaki – Principal

Te Kura o Māngātuna