NEWS RELEASE
23 November 2006

Te Aro School wins Inner City Bypass naming competition

Te Aro School has won the Inner City Bypass naming competition with the name Karo Drive.

The competition attracted 37 entries and was judged by Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast, former All Black, Dancing with the Stars champ and now youth mentor Norm Hewitt, Transit New Zealand regional manager Graham Taylor and Liz Mellish, Executive Officer, Wellington Tenths Trust. Mayor Kerry Prendergast will now make a recommendation to Council on November 29 that Karo Drive be accepted as the new name.

The judges were unanimous in their decision. Mayor Prendergast says the judges were very impressed by Te Aro School's entry.

"They had obviously put a lot of thought into this name. The K represents the kids, Aro their school. Karo is also a small native New Zealand tree that produces sweetly scented red flowers in Spring and grows very well in Wellington. We are delighted to have such a great name for the Bypass. The children of Te Aro School should be very proud of themselves," she says.

“The selection of the name by a school close to the area in which the bypass is situated was purely coincidental, and we are delighted that it has turned out this way,” Mayor Prendergast says.

“Te Aro School is an integral part of the community surrounding the bypass and the selection of a name submitted by that school is a tribute to them and their community, Mayor Prendergast says.

The name, which was suggested by Year 8 pupils at the school, will apply to the stretch of road between Cuba and Willis streets. The road will open at the end of December.

Te Aro School will receive $500 worth of sports vouchers and their very own winning street sign in a special presentation by Norm Hewitt and Mayor Prendergast at their school on 30 November at 10.30am (media are welcome to attend.)

ENDS

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