Southern View: August 28, 2018

SOUTHERN VIEW Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday August 28 2018 9
Local
News
Now
News
From the sports field to the stage
Fire rages, homes at risk
• By Matt Salmons
HALSWELL’S Peni Junior Iva
is gearing up for two national
competitions in Auckland next
month – one on the sports field
and another on stage.
As if beginning each weekday
with an hour long bus trip to
Haeata Community Campus in
Aranui was not busy enough,
the year 13 student splits his free
time between his passions- club
and school rugby league games,
youth group, band rehearsals
and training.
“It’s a bit of a struggle every
morning [to travel to Haeata] .
. . but just with how the school
goes, it fits in well with how I
am,” he said.
PJ said he started playing
rugby union when he was 13, but
switched to league as it was “just
much more chill and fun.”
He said it also keeps fitness
levels high.
In early September, he will
play for Haeata at the secondary
schools national rugby league
development tournament in
Auckland. Last year Haeata went
all the way to the televised final,
but was beaten by Auckland’s
Marcellin College.
“It’s such a fun tournament,
playing alongside amazing
MULTI-TALENTED: Halswell’s Peni Junior Iva, 18, is a young man of many talents, both on the
sports field and live on stage.
players and learning off them.
“We’re hoping to get ourselves
[in the final] again this year and
take it out. We’ve got a lot of
juniors stepping up, so it’s cool
for them,” he said.
PJ is used to the responsibility
of setting a positive example to
younger peers both on and off
the field.
On Fridays he volunteers as a
youth leader at Fusion Youth and
leads the group’s band alongside
his sister, Nesa.
He started learning the guitar
when he was nine and PJ is now
able to play a range of instruments
including the bass guitar,
drums and piano
“I try to learn as much as possible.
For the youth bands for example,
people come in and want
to learn and I’m able to teach
them any instrument,” he said.
PJ’s drumming ability helped
get Haeata band Proud Brown
to the Rockquest Tangata Beats
final in Auckland last year
and win the best vocals award.
This year, his duo PJ and Evile
came second in the Canterbury
Rockquest finals and first in the
region’s Tangata Beats final.
The win entered the duo into
the Tangata Beats national finals
- part of the Rockquest finals
held in Auckland on September
22.
“I’m definitely looking forward
to that ... just the whole atmosphere.”
For his future, PJ said he would
study at Ara Institute of Music
Arts with an aim to eventually
qualify as a music teacher.
“My dream is to travel the
world playing music, but if that
doesn’t work out, coming back
as a music teacher. You’re still
working with kids and I’d still
get to do what I love either way.”
Rebecca Nelson
Tuesday 4 September, 2pm
Essie Summers Retirement Village
222 Colombo Street, Beckenham
We warmly invite you to come along for a special
afternoon with classical singer Rebecca Nelson.
She’ll also join us for afternoon tea and a chat following
the performance.
Rebecca’s latest CD will be available to purchase on the day.
This is a concert not to be missed!
Seats are limited, to RSVP please phone Susie or Josie
on 337 6500 by Friday 31 August.
Only
$5
per ticket
8597