Newsletter - 7th December 2025
Photo of the Week
Each week we will post an image taken by one of our walkers of a scene they spotted on a walk. Generally these images should not include photos of any walkers. Please send any images to info@cpcw.co.nz noting photo of the week in the subject line.
This week’s photo was taken by Graham Bentley on Friday’s walk in the Remutaka Forest Park, specifically at the top of the Cattle Ridge Track. In the distance is Wellington Harbour with Somes/Matiu. A stunning day.
A word from...
Christmas Lunch
What a lovely occasion the Christmas Lunch was! Further on in the newsletter you will see a link to the photographs. The smiles say it all! Thank you, Mike, for capturing the spirit of the lunch so well. Also, thanks to Bill, Keith and Brian A for the work they did with publicity, finance and transport. An even bigger thanks goes to Rowena who took over complete responsibility for organising the lunch. Hopefully, she is now reflecting on a job very well done and having a break for a while from CPCW duties. Our walking group is very fortunate to have so many people who are willing to devote their time and skills into making these events so successful.
Walking Log
At the lunch I introduced the idea of keeping a personal walking log for 2026, totalling the distance walked week by week with the Churton Park Community Walkers. The log allows members to record their progress on an imaginary route of their choosing, selecting a destination within the North Island. The destinations are Masterton (101km), Palmerston North (143km), Whanganui (184km), Napier (307km), Taupo (362km) or Hamilton (512km). Participants will be able to share their progress from time to time with a pin on a North Island map. There will also be some extravagant spot prizes. This is not a competition or a race, but simply an opportunity to observe and enjoy each other’s walking achievements during the year. If you did not pick up a blank log chart at the lunch please email me (David.Pegram.nz@gmail.com) and I will print one out for you on card or send you an electronic copy. See examples below.
Dates For Your Diary
Last walk for this year is Wednesday 17 December
First walk for 2026 is Wednesday 21 January.
Christmas Lunch 2026, Wednesday 25 November
David Pegram, Convenor
Walk details for Wednesday December 10th
This Week’s Walks: The December Walk schedule had this week’s walk in Upper Hutt. However, we thought with all the shoppers and traffic about and our normal busy December lives, we would have this Wednesday’s walk closer to home. Thus, the walks all start and end in Tawa and the start/finish point is in the carpark at the Outlet Centre (old DressMart). The FF walk is new, the SS walk is a previous walk and the PP is a reverse of an earlier walk. Please park away from the entrances to the centre – leaving the closer parks for the shoppers.
The three walks will all start from the Outlet Centre carpark at 9:20am.
PPs: A 4.43km loop walk on the streets and walkways – and no mud. A bit of minor hill work with the rest fairly flat. You can see the walk here.
SSs: A 5.93km loop walk mainly on footpaths and, of course, there are some hills. You can see the walk here.
FFs: A 7.40km loop walk that is a bit of bush with the rest on footpaths. Includes some hills. You can see the walk on Mapometer here and Plotaroute here.
Parking: The parking is in the Outlet Centre Carpark at the south end of Tawa.
Coffee: We have informed Gloria Jeans that a number of us will be coming for coffee and perhaps a snack.
Happy walking.
Russell Paterson
Walk Schedules: You can look at the walk schedule for December 2025 here.
Reminder: Please ensure that you inform your group’s leader if you leave a walk partway through.
Cancellations: If the walks are cancelled an email will be sent out as early as possible but definitely before 8:00am.
A fantastic portfolio of photos from the lunch on Wednesday have been provided by Mike Drain.
Please click HERE to see the photos. If you wish to download a particular photo, double-click on that photo to open it. Then go to the menu in the top right-hand corner of the photo and click on the three dots stacked one above the other and select “Download”. The image will be saved to the Downloads file on your device. If you wish to download all photos you can do the same thing from the “CPCW Christmas Dinner 2025” Album page and select “Download All”.
A big thank you to Mike for his excellent photos. The photos will be available throughout December.
Calendar of Events
| Wednesday 17th December | Final Wednesday Walk for 2025 |
| Wednesday 21st January | First Wednesday Walk for 2026 |
| Wednesday 25th November | CPCW Christmas Lunch 2026 |
Our Sponsors
CPCW are very grateful for the support of a number of generous sponsors. They are listed at the end of the newsletter and, periodically, we will highlight them through a profile in the newsletter.
This week we have chosen Shoe Clinic Porirua as our featured sponsor:
Shoe Clinic Porirua have been a longstanding supporter of CPCW. If you purchase a pair of shoes do mention that you are a member of CPCW – they will usually give you a discount and also make a donation to CPCW!
Address: Shop 115, North City Shopping Centre, Porirua 5022
Phone: 04 2370872
Website: https://www.shoeclinic.co.nz/retail-stores-locations/porirua-running-shoe
Hours: Mon – Wed 9.00am – 6.00pm
Thursday 9.00am – 9.00pm
Fri/Sat 9.00am – 6.00pm
Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm
CPCW Photos
Wednesday Walkers
No Wednesday Walk photos this week – firstly we had the Christmas Lunch and, secondly, as the weather was so dreadful the walks would have been cancelled anyway!! Mind you, there were some moments on the eventful bus journey through Lyall Bay to The Pines when passengers were concerned that their walking prowess might have been required. Fortunately, the old “turn it off, wait a while, then turn it on again” trick worked for the driver and the passengers remained dry!
You will note the link earlier in the newsletter to Mike Drain’s excellent photos from the lunch. Here are a few tasters. Rowena Rowe and Wendy Bentley captured the room in all its Christmas glory before the hordes descended. Janet Tyson caught the queue for dessert. Bill Gaudie snapped Santa masquerading as Papa Smurf!
Thursday Walkers
Thursday’s walkers headed up Mt Kaukau on what was a stunning evening. Thanks to Hue Ng, once again, for some magnificent photos.
Friday Walkers
Clint Davis led Friday’s walkers out into the Remutaka Forest Park – out on the Orongorongo Trail, then up the Cattle Ridge Track and back home via the Butcher Track. This walk was in memory of Ron Butterworth, a member of the walking group, who sadly collapsed and died while walking up the Butcher Track in 2020. The two groups each paused at the cairn placed beside the track to remember Ron.
