Keith is Raetihi's Mr Fix-it

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 2, 4 June 1985, Page 3

Keith is Raetihi's Mr Fix-it

"The 'phone never stops ringing and everybody says it's urgent," says Keith Haitana, one of Raetihi's best known identities. Real estate agent, funeral director, embalmer, painter and paper hanger, town councillor and spider control officer are just some of the jobs Keith holds down. In his 'spare time' he helps young people with their problems, is actively involved with the local athletics and rugby clubs and lectures about how to prepare for death. Keith plays tennis, squash, and social rugby, but coaching the local under 19 side is now one of his main sporting activities. "I like to coach the team as it gives me a chance to run around the paddock twice a week. I really enjoy it," he says. As a former top athlete and former president of the Raetihi Athletics' Club, Keith retains his interest in athletics and is still actively involved with the Raetihi club. Community work with young people also takes up a lot of his time. Alcohol abuse by youngsters and truancy from school are two areas which concern him. He is also chairman of the Raetihi Court Support Group — a group of concerned citizens of all ages and backgrounds who offer their advice and help to young offenders and their parents. The members give their services voluntarily and try to solve the youngsters' problems by talking with them, their parents and going along to court with the offenders. The volunteers are a cross-section of society and young offenders can choose anyone on the group 's list of members if they wish to take

advantage of the group's offer of help. For the past twenty years Keith has been a member of Raetihi Borough Council. "I don't know how I first got involved with the council," he said, "I just did." Before coming to Raetihi, Keith lived in Pakihi, an old mill town, which is no longer inhabited. All that is now left of the town is an old concrete house. The town died about twenty years ago when there was no longer any wood to be chopped down. "Raetihi is my home and I couldn't live anywhere else now," claims Keith. When not doing one of his many jobs or doing his community work, Keith wins prizes for his gardening ability! Their garden in Grey Street, won Mr and Mrs Haitana the Raetihi Civic Award earlier this year. Gardening is something Keith is very interested in and landscape gardening is another job he would like to take on if there was sufficient demand in the area!

To enable her to keep up with her husband's pace of life, Keith's wife Marge keeps fit by skiing during the winter season and taking jazzercise classes. The couple have three children — Kelly 22, a playwright working in Wellington, Gervada 20, a nurse at the Waimarino Hospital in Raetihi and 18-year-old Adam, who is currently recovering from a serious motor accident.