Reece Robertson, an 18-year-old university student, has cystic fibrosis. Trikafta is the first triple combination therapy available to treat patients with the most common cystic fibrosis mutation. It has the potential to treat up to 90 per cent of people with cystic fibrosis, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the company behind the drug, has said. But the medicine is not available in New Zealand. Robertson is a keen sportswoman who captained Wairarapa College’s first XI hockey team in year 12 and 13, and was a representative player for Wellington. She worked hard to stay fit and healthy, but is starting to find it harder to breathe.
Masterton Intermediate School opens new bike track, longest in New Zealand
3 Mar, 2021 08:26 PM
3 minutes to read
The first pupils take off around Masterton Intermediate School s new bike track. Photo / Wairarapa Times-Age
The first pupils take off around Masterton Intermediate School s new bike track. Photo / Wairarapa Times-Age
Wairarapa Times-Age
By: Tom Taylor
After three years of discussion, preparation, and construction, Masterton Intermediate School finally opened its brand new Bikes in Schools track on Monday morning.
The opening coincided with the start of Movin March, a campaign to celebrate sustainable travel to and from schools in the greater Wellington region.
The track would be the longest of any school in the country, with a path of about 1250 metres within the school grounds connecting to 750m in the surrounding farm and wetlands.
Serviceman’s life in letters
Sally Greenaway, Diana O¹Brien and Hilary Zapata at the launch of the recently published book. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED.
The letters sent home by a Masterton man during World War II have featured in a newly published book.
Heugh Drummond
‘The Life and Letters of Heugh Drummond’ is a collection of letters and other memorabilia of Robert John Heugh Drummond [1913-1943], edited by his niece Diana O’Brien.
Drummond grew up in Masterton, attending Lansdowne Primary School and Wairarapa High School before leaving for university.
His father was the first headmaster of Lansdowne Primary School and was later headmaster of Masterton Central School.
Hull on target for Tokyo
Megan Hull beats an Argentine player in the FIH Pro Hockey League. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
HOCKEY
chris.cogdale@age.co.nz
Former Wairarapa College student Megan Hull says there’s a lot of hard work ahead before her place in the Black Sticks women’s team for the Tokyo Olympics is confirmed.
The 31-cap international was one of 25 women named last week to prepare for the postponed games, with the squad to be whittled down to 16 for the Olympic tournament.
“It’s just the squad, and they must have said ‘we’ll give this battler another go’, or something like that,” Hull said.
Paku’s the sixth-fittest teenager in New Zealand
Kortez Paku working out at Masterton’s Sassfit gym. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
CROSSFIT
Masterton’s Kortez Paku is officially one of the fittest teenagers in New Zealand.
The 16-year-old Wairarapa College student finished sixth in the men’s 16-17 age group at the New Zealand crossfit national championships held in Cambridge this month.
Competitors entered the two days of competition, involving eight events, with little idea of what they would be required to do.
Paku’s coach Rima Marurai said: “The Crossfit prescription is constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity.”
“He’s got to be ready for the unknown, and anything that comes in front of him, like picking up heavy weights, or moving fast.