This is a great way to replenish your home library and support this classic Kāpiti event that has generated many hundreds of thousands in funds for local charitable causes.Where

Where: Waikanae Memorial Hall

When: Saturday: 8am-5pm; Sunday: 9am-2pm

Come along and stock up on books, puzzles, music & more — perfect for your summer reading.

All proceeds go to the Golf for Good Project, supporting a fantastic local cause. 

Don’t miss out — grab a bargain, bring your friends, and help make a difference

Just before 8:25pm Police noticed a person driving at nearly twice the speed limit travelling south on the Kāpiti Expressway towards Waikanae.

The driver failed to stop for Police and a pursuit was not initiated due to the manner of driving. Within several minutes, the vehicle was observed by traffic cameras leaving the Expressway at Waikanae and getting back on heading northbound, before crashing into the wire barrier near the Ngarara Bridge.  

The driver was located shortly afterwards by attending Police and assessed by ambulance – however he was not injured.  The road was closed for some time while the scene was assessed and cleared, as debris from the crashed vehicle was spread across all lanes. 

The 35-year-old driver is charged with failing to stop for police, reckless driving, and driving while disqualified. He is due in Porirua District Court on 20 October. Inspector Renée Perkins says the reported manner of driving was incredibly concerning, and thankfully not too common. 

“It’s a wonder the driver or any other road users were not injured or worse given the manner of driving,” Inspector Perkins says. “Our road policing team are highly visible, doing a great job cracking down on speed and this type of reckless driving behaviour.”

Traffic news: www.trafficfox.co.nz

The Kāpiti Business Chamber and the Kāpiti Economic Development Agency (KEDA) have announced the launch of Business Boost Kāpiti, a new joint initiative designed to strengthen business support services across the Kāpiti Coast.

Business Boost Kāpiti brings together the networks, expertise, and community reach of both organisations to deliver a coordinated programme of training, mentoring, and capability-building for start-ups, emerging businesses, and small enterprises. This spans everything from business foundations through to strategy, planning, financial management and marketing.

The programme offers a clearer, more accessible pathway for local businesses seeking guidance, skills, growth and support.

“Business Boost Kāpiti is about making it easier for Kāpiti businesses to get the support they need to grow and succeed,” says Ben Jamison, Chair of the Kāpiti Business Chamber. “By partnering together, we can offer a more cohesive, higher-impact programme for the business community.”

KEDA Deputy Chair Laurie Wilson adds, “Kāpiti has a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Business Boost Kāpiti allows us to build a holistic, connected ecosystem that supports innovation, resilience, and long-term economic wellbeing.”

Key deliverables of Business Boost Kāpiti include:
– A unified programme of workshops, training, and capability-building covering core business skills from foundations through to strategy, planning, and financial management, delivered consistently across the region;

– A strengthened mentoring network for new and growing businesses, connecting owners with experienced local mentors for practical guidance as they establish or scale up

– A coordinated, practical and consistent approach to supporting business growth across the region, with a single point of contact so businesses aren’t navigating multiple organisations to get timely and practical support.

Business Boost Kāpiti will roll out its first joint initiatives in the coming months, with further details to be announced soon.

Businesses interested in training, mentoring, or partnership opportunities are encouraged to contact Business Boost Kāpiti www.kapitichamber.org.nz/business-boost-kapiti or follow updates through The Chamber’s social media channels.

The organisations say “together, the Chamber and KEDA – through Business Boost Kāpiti – are committed to building a
stronger, more connected, and more resilient business community on the Kāpiti Coast.

A few dollars dropped into a pink bucket in the region this Friday or Saturday will help Breast Cancer Foundation NZ support people affected by breast cancer and work towards a future with zero deaths from the disease.

More than 1,100 local volunteers will be collecting donations across the region for the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October.

Every year, around 390 people in the Wellington region are diagnosed with breast cancer. The money raised locally will contribute to breast health education, research and clinical trials, specialist nursing support and advocacy for faster and fairer access to early diagnosis and treatment.

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ chief executive Vanessa Sorenson says every donation helps turn community support into practical action.

“Behind every pink bucket is a volunteer giving their time, and behind every donation is someone choosing to stand with New Zealanders affected by breast cancer.

“We know household budgets are under pressure, so we’re asking people to give what they can. When thousands of small donations come together, they help our nurses provide trusted information and support, take breast health education into communities, fund important research and push for changes to make earlier diagnosis and better treatments available.

“More than 3,700 New Zealanders will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and 650 will lose their lives to it. Behind these numbers are people who matter deeply to their whānau, friends and community – and we know more of those lives can be saved.”

As an independent charity, the Foundation’s work is only made possible by donations and fundraising from generous New Zealanders.

Vanessa says the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal is a simple way for people to contribute to a future where more people with breast cancer can live, and live well.

“If you see one of our wonderful volunteers on the streets, please stop and make a donation. Even a small gift can make a difference – together, they all add up and help us continue our vital work.”

Donations can be made to volunteer collectors across the region on 16 and 17 October, online at www.pinkribbonappeal.co.nz or by texting ‘PINK’ to 2447 to donate $3.

Here are my initial thoughts (that none of you asked for) after just finishing the hottest book in town, Nicky Hager’s latest political exposé Dirty Work (it’s not too long a read, only 120 pages or so) …

Closing the book after the final chapter, I feel like Hager has reached out from the pages, gripped me firmly by the shoulders and given me a solid and sobering shakeup – one that’s left me feeling rattled with an uncomfortable and embarrassingly heightened sense of my own political naivety.

I mean, sure, I was aware that there was a lot of bad stuff happening in NZ politics. And like lots of people, I’ve had growing concerns about the impact of Trumpian politics creeping into our political landscape here in Aotearoa. But to see it laid out like this with receipts and a ‘This is how they’re doing it’ breakdown – I was not prepared.

One of the biggest concerns for me as I was reading was the huge risk to our political system presented by, not only big biz donations to political parties for their election campaigns, but also political donations by small donors. And the only safe solution I could come up with as I was reading was that private donations should be completely banned.

Rather, campaign budgets should come out of public funds in a way that is fair and limits as much as possible the risk of private individuals or big businesses holding undue sway over political parties and their policy agendas. I was pleasantly surprised that Hager seems to arrive at the same conclusion.

Now there’s detail to be worked out there for sure, but this basic premise, I think, is critical if we are to have any chance of avoiding ending up down the dark hole into which we’ve seen US politics disappear.

There were numerous accounts in the book that I found bile-inducing – particularly those regarding the ‘hit jobs’ done on Tamatha Paul, Nanaia Mahuta and Maiki Sherman. Like, that is some evil-ass undertaking right there. And other accounts that left me feeling a sense of despair – like how do we even combat this nonsense that is happening when we’re up against these individuals and organisations that have such huge money behind them and their own well-tested playbooks? Like, what can we actually do? What can I do? And the conclusion I’ve come to is this: I’ve got to keep on doing what I’m doing. Because at the end of the day, what I can see is that what’s happening in the political realm – all the BS and rubbish – it really comes down to storytelling and story sovereignty.

Who controls the narrative, who gets to decide what story gets told, from who’s perspective, for whom, for what purpose and for who’s benefit? And you know what I figured? I’m in the fricken’ business of storytelling. And I LOVE that I’m in the business of storytelling. Because every day, I get to work with bright, intelligent, good people who are trying to shift the dial – to make space for and uplift voices and stories that are often marginalised. Our goal at Huia Publishers is to help grow our storytellers and share our stories.

So, my key takeaway from reading this book is, I/we’ve got to keep on doing what we’re doing. That’s it – those are my insights. I don’t want to give too much away. But I encourage you to grab or borrow a copy of this book if you can and read it.

Happy reading. That is all. #BooksAreCool

Pania Tahau-Hodges

Pania Tahau-Hodges (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tūhoe) is an author and director of Huia Publishers. Her new picture books, Toitū and Hīkoi, illustrated by Josie Selkirk, draw on the 2024 hīkoi against the Treaty Principles Bill and celebrate the resilience, resistance and collective power of the thousands who marched in defence of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Toitū: https://huia.co.nz/products/toitu
Hīkoi: https://huia.co.nz/products/hikoi-a-maori-alaphabet-book-for-little-and-not-so-little-activists

“Most self-employed people and business owners are automatically on ACC CoverPlus, but that default setting doesn’t always reflect what your income looks like,” says Ms Foote.

“ACC CoverPlus pays out 80% of your average liable income if you can’t work due to injury. The catch is that ‘average’ is based on past earnings, which can lag behind if your business has grown, if your income fluctuates through the year, or if you’ve recently changed how you pay yourself.

“That’s where ACC CoverPlus Extra (CPX) comes in. Instead of relying on an average, CPX lets you agree on a set level of cover upfront, so you know exactly what you’d be paid if the worst happened, regardless of how your income has moved around.”

Ms Foote says it is also worth looking at ACC alongside your wider insurance position rather than in isolation. Income protection, key person cover, and general business insurance all sit around ACC and can fill gaps it was never designed to cover, things like a business needing to keep running without you, or protecting the people who depend on your income.

“If you’d like some help with your insurance, we work with a few trusted advisors and are always happy to make an introduction.”

For more see: kindredaccounting.co.nz

Organiser Ross Jordan says this year’s Trailer Raffle includes a $6000 TV, a huge lot of groceries and the winner even gets to keep the trailer.

“It is a great fundraiser for us and all proceeds go to supporting youth in Kāpiti,” says Mr Jordan.

“We are able to send Kāpiti youth on science courses, Outward Bound, Spirit of Adventure, and many other youth development opportunities,” says Mr Jordan.

He says Kāpiti Rotary is grateful to all who support this annual fundraiser, with net proceeds to help support our youth programmes in Kāpiti. Rotary are grateful to all those who buy tickets. “We really appreciate you helping to do good in your community.”

The Rotary Club of Kāpiti members started selling tickets on the first weekend in September in Coastlands. You will see the Raffle and Rotary volunteers throughout Kāpiti.

The raffle will be drawn on November 27.

Spokesperson Darren Grant says this event advances a long-standing aspiration for Kāpiti’s Tourism sector, to build on the profile and visitation generated by WOW while creating a distinctive experience here on the Coast. He says it is also an important step in building relationships with nationally recognised events and creative organisations.

Behind the scenes of wearable art

Hosted by WOW’s Sarah Nathan, the evening will take audiences behind the scenes with local award-winning designers Kayla Christensen and Rebecca Bond, and renowned Wellington designer Fifi Coulston. They will share insights into their inspiration, creative processes and technical challenges. This is especially exciting as Waikanae-based designer Kayla Christensen was named the 2026 Supreme WOW Award winner for Sacred Nightfall. Kayla is a 10-time finalist and recipient of six previous WOW awards.

A creative experience with a wider Kāpiti story

Intentionally scheduled for the Friday before the second weekend of the Kāpiti Art Trail, the event provides a natural platform to encourage visitors already travelling for the Art Trail to extend their stay, while giving those travelling for this WOW event, additional opportunities to explore Kāpiti’s creative and tourism sector. This is a really effective way to leverage existing, and attract new, visitors coming to the district for both events.

Supporting Kāpiti’s creative sector

While this is a unique event experience for WOW enthusiasts and visitors, it is also being deliberately positioned as a professional development and networking opportunity for the local creative industry. Designers, artists, makers, students and creative professionals will have a unique opportunity to gain insight into established creative practice, build networks and connect with pathways into larger-scale creative opportunities. A local performer will also be featured as part of the VIP experience and foyer programme, providing another opportunity to spotlight Kāpiti’s music and creative scene.

Capacity is limited to 313 seats. VIP and general admission tickets are now available. Buy Tickets / Find Out More

The event honours outstanding businesses across the Kāpiti and Horowhenua districts, recognising innovation, sustainability and excellence in business practice.

Kāpiti Mayor Janet Holborow congratulated all of those who entered the awards which celebrate business achievement across Kāpiti and Horowhenua.

“Congratulations to Mark Brosnahan, the 2026 Horowhenua Kāpiti Business Hall of Fame – Kāpiti Laureate.

“Alongside his amazing wife Monique, Mark has run Brien Electrical for over thirty-seven years. The company’s reputation is built on values that matter – being professional, reliable, and efficient. Those values are reflected in the loyalty of their customers, and the strong support Brien Electrical have given to local causes, including sporting groups, charities, and community initiatives,” says Mayor Holborow.

This year’s winners include:
Electra Business of the Year: Sponsored by Electra
● Udderly Organic Ltd

Construction and Trades: Sponsored by Mills Albert Ltd
● Premium Garage Doors

Consumer Services: Sponsored by Zebunisso Alimova – Mike Pero Mortgages
● Nation Beauty

Hospitality, Entertainment and Tourism: Sponsored by Kapinua
● The Custard Pie

Manufacturing, Production and Processing: Sponsored by MTF Kāpiti
● Udderly Organic Ltd

Not for Profit, Community and Public Services: Sponsored by LT McGuinness
● Ōtaki Women’s Community Club (OWCC)

Professional and Business Services, or Technology: Sponsored by Graphic Press & Packaging
● Pou Architecture

Retail: Sponsored by New World Levin
● We Love Local

Customer Experience – Horowhenua: Sponsored by The Horowhenua Company
● Udderly Organic Ltd

Customer Experience – Kāpiti: Sponsored by Spark Business Hub Kāpiti
● We Love Local

New/Emerging: Sponsored by Kāpiti Business Chamber
● Udderly Organic Ltd

Small Business: Sponsored by NZME
● Pou Architecture

Environmental Sustainability: Sponsored by ANZ Bank New Zealand
● Udderly Organic Ltd

Innovation: Sponsored by Elite Diagnostics
● Premium Garage Doors

Judges’ Award – Heart of the Community
● Four Square Shannon

Hall of Fame Horowhenua – Sponsored by Horowhenua District Council
● Doug Rowan

Hall of Fame Kāpiti – Sponsored by Kāpiti Coast District Council
● Mark Brosnahan

“Putting your business forward for an award takes courage,” said Heather Hutchings, Lead Judge of EBIA. “It means opening the doors, sharing your story, and allowing others to look closely at what you’ve built, and that in itself deserves recognition.”

About the Awards
The Awards recognise businesses based in the Kāpiti Coast and Horowhenua districts. Running continuously since 1993, the awards celebrate innovation, sustainability and best business practice across all industries and sectors in our regions. Business Kāpiti Horowhenua (BKH), a volunteer-run, not-for-profit body, organises the Electra Business & Innovation Awards.

Police were first made aware of the incident at a development site in Waikanae, Kāpiti Coast, at approximately 1am this morning.

After being discovered, one alleged offender was taken into custody, while the other two fled on foot. Police established cordons and the Police Dog Unit was able to track and apprehend another, with a third person located a short time later hiding in a pond.

Police also discovered approximately 50 metres of cabling near the offenders’ vehicle.

The three men, aged 33, 39 and 45yrs will appear in the Porirua District Court tomorrow (6 October) facing charges including theft, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a knife.

“It was excellent work by our teams,” Area Commander for Kāpiti-Mana Inspector Renée Perkins says.

“We are seeing an increase in copper thefts across the region, so we’re asking the public if they see something to report it.”