Celebrating Horowhenua - October 2021 by NZME.

Celebrating

Horowhenua Business and lifestyle magazine | Spring/Summer 2021

Mayor's Message

Contents 11

World famous in Horowhenua

Heritage Horowhenua launches a tribute to celebrate successful people to have come from Horowhenua.

Encore! Encore!

A behind-the-curtains peak at two theatre shows that wowed sold-out audiences this year.

Shannon splash

How a stretch of river near Shannon was turned into a world-class White Water Park churning out Olympians.

Nature calls

Tramper Noel Bigwood shares decades of experience with a guide to navigating some of Horowhenua’s more popular nature walks.

20 Batter up 22 Heavenly harp 23 Minogue

Burgeoning baseball club Levin Hustle hitting home runs.

The incredible story behind the angelic sounds of Shellie Hanley.

From paper boy to silver screen, the actor and film producer proud of his Horowhenua roots.

24 28

Book corner Shining a light on books released by local authors and poets.

Jandal Jam A decade on, we look back on the rise of the popular Pasifika performance extravaganza.

Celebrating Horowhenua | Spring/Summer 2021

Celebrating

Horowhenua Business and lifestyle magazine | spring/summer 2021

Elephants in town? We take a trip down memory lane and celebrate some Horowhenua highlights from the past.

Stamp duty

36 38

An insight into the history of a world-renown Ōtaki stamp and coin trading house.

100 years Netball Horowhenua celebrates its centenary.

Foxton fame

A look back at the Foxton family who gained fame for just being themselves.

42 44 46 48

Bird’s eye Foxton Beach resident Imogen Warren shares her passion for photographing wildlife at the Manawatū River estuary.

Town and country

Front cover: Faith Oriwia Henare-Stewart, photographed by Grace Aupouri at Ōhau River. The photo was one of a series taken one afternoon this year, culminating with the supreme award in the Capture Your Horowhenua photography competition recently. Grace, 27, lives at Foxton Beach and only took up photography earlier this year.

Contact Editor Paul Williams

The 115-year-old Horowhenua AP&I Show continues to evolve

Save the date A look at some of Horowhenua’s flagship events.

Dine-in A Horowhenua Dining Guide.

Local trades and services

Contributers Nikki Carroll & Janine Baalbergen

Editorial staff news@chronicle.co.nz 06 368 5109

Advertising enquiries Ali Drury 04 296 1200 alison.drury@nzme.co.nz

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Walk of fame Heritage Horowhenua launched the Walk of Fame this year with 19 plaques on Oxford Street in Levin celebrating successful people with strong links to the area. Words by Paul Williams

ew Zealand softball legend Chubb Tangaroa returned to his roots as an inaugural inductee to the Horowhenua Walk of Fame. He allowed himself a quick trip down memory lane while waiting for a coffee, not far from the new plaque bearing his name on the Levin sidewalk. “Everything I learnt was from here. I’ve got fond memories of Levin. This town is my home and always will be, even though I am living in Hawke’s Bay now,” he said. Tangaroa took time to drive past the Meadowvale Drive house he grew up in, jogging memories of playing softball as a youngster in a paddock behind his house. That “paddock” is now Waiopehu College, where he and brothers, Willie and Mac, and other neighbourhood kids honed their skills. “There was a gate at the back fence. We would play anything...rugby, basketball, tennis, soccer, long jump ... that was our sports academy,” he said. There was hardly any softball around when he was born, but its popularity exploded within a generation. A vibrant club scene took hold in a few shorts years. Tangaroa said a big driver behind it was the late Don Yates. Today, a new diamond at Playford Park bears his name. “We used to congregate around the back of his house. There were only three or four gloves so some of us played without a glove. That’s how it kicked off,” he said. “But there’s a lot of people that were

involved and you want to thank them for all they have done. There was great parent support. They would hold housie nights to fundraise.” A diamond was built at Playford Park, a short walk from his front gate, and a club competition began to thrive. It was very family oriented, with the likes of the Dalys, the Workmans and the Smiths, to name a few. Tangaroa began to take his softball seriously when joining the Kotoku club men’s team as a 13-year-old, under the wing of mentor Mike McGregor. “He was instrumental in terms of my career. We were young, but we were looked after and taken to tournaments, playing against the likes of Kevin Herlihy. I was given an opportunity to see the best,” he said. By age 14, Tangaroa was a Horowhenua representative.. On leaving college he moved to Christchurch and representing Canterbury gained selection to the NZ B team in 1982. In 1984, his world changed. He was picked up by US scouts and for almost 20 years spent every Northern Hemisphere summer in the US where he furnished an incredible career. Five times he was selected in ISC’s All World First Team. In one 1989 tournament he struck out 32 batters in one 15-inning game, including a no-hitter. Each summer he returned for the NZ softball season, and by 1986 he was a

Everything I learnt was from here. I’ve got fond memories of Levin. This town is my home and always will be.”

Black Sox certainty. The pinnacle was a world championship win in Michigan in 1996. He continued his US career until 1999. In 2000 he was recruited to be the Black Sox pitching coach, helping the team to win world championships in 2000, 2004, and 2013. Tangaroa came from a sporting family. His father played rugby and basketball. His mother was a Horowhenua representative in softball and netball. He said Levin had changed a lot since the 1970s and 1980s, but he was impressed with the improvements. “It’s looking good,” he said. Although she couldn’t attend her plaque unveiling in person, actress Rebecca Gibney wrote a message of thanks to Heritage Horowhenua. The 56-year-old said she was “truly chuffed” with the honour and planned to visit Levin one day to see it in person. “Hey guys - this kid has a plaque in the walk of fame in Oxford St in Levin, the place where I was born!” she said in her message. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there in person for the unveiling but thank you Kerry and Heritage Horowhenua for the honour. I’m truly chuffed and so is Mum Shirley and the rest of the Gibney clan. Gibney was born in Levin in 1964, the youngest of six children. The family lived in Middlesex St, although left Levin not long after she started school at age 5.

I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there in person for the unveiling but thank you Kerry and Heritage Horowhenua for the honour.”

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Sides were split, tears were jerked, and ears enchanted

– it was a truly vintage year for theatre in Horowhenua. The region is blessed with five independent societies who all put on memorable shows. You can’t favour one child over another, but two ground-breaking shows stood out… Words by Paul Williams

A cast of brave women at Levin Little Theatre broke down barriers to bare (almost) all on stage earlier this year.

nd just like the true story behind ‘Calendar Girls’, they were forced to confront the same social and personal dilemmas as the real life characters they portrayed. Director Sonya Grimstrup said nerves crept in before every performance. And just like the women from Knapeley Village in Yorkshire on whom the play was based, they helped each other overcome those nerves by calling on one of the play’s key themes - support. “What gets them through is the spirit of friendship and the support they give each other,” she said. “They should be so proud - every one of them.” The play had incredibly deep and tender moments, brilliantly portrayed by the cast. Some in the audience could be seen wiping away tears during the more intimate scenes. Grimstrup said supporting one another through tough times, like losing a loved one to cancer, was what the play was really about. “That’s the crux of it. When someone is dying they’re worried about who they leave behind. Who are they going to have

The main cast from Calendar Girls, by Tim Firth, put on by Levin Little Theatre. Photo: Faith Watters.

support them? Are they going to be okay?” she said. “The under stories are beautiful,” she said. One of the play’s main characters threatened to pull out due to “naked fear”, only to confront her own insecurities if it meant supporting a friend. The mostly middle-aged Women’s Institute fundraised each year by selling calendars, with modest sales. So they decide to jazz things up with tasteful photos of an ordinary day, whether it be painting,

Celebrating Horowhenua | Spring/Summer 2021

gardening, knitting, playing piano, or pouring a cup of tea. Annie (Ella Kahu) has just lost her husband John (Les Frost) and the story is centered on how the group rallies around in support. They were aiming to raise £580 for a couch at the hospital wing from calendar sales. At last count they had raised more than £3 million. Their story was made into movie. Grimstrup said the play came with a

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As a group we have become so close. Everyone is watching out for each other on stage. It’s a group effort and it’s reassuring each other every night that ‘we can do this’.”

Phillip Finua as Maui in Moana Jr.

Levin Performing Arts Society produced a smash hit with their offering of Moana Jr this year involving a cast that was entirely made of youth performers.

stern warning from playwright Tim Firth not to cross the line. An accidental glimpse of anything taboo would be artistically disastrous. “He said whatever you do - don’t cross the line. If there’s a slip up it destroys the whole thing,” she said. “It’s strictly art.” They went to great lengths during rehearsal to make sure everyone was comfortable and everything was tight so they could have total confidence in each other that the line would not be crossed. Cast member Kimberley Stevenson, who plays lovable Ruth, said the anxiety was real. Stevenson said the directors had done a fine job in ensuring everyone was comfortable by leaving the “photo shoot” scene to last and initially holding closed shop rehearsals. “As a group we have become so close. Everyone is watching out for each other on stage. It’s a group effort and it’s reassuring each other every night that ‘we can do this’,” she said. “We have such a tight connection up there. We really want to make the women (from Knapeley Village) proud and do it right because it’s such an important story, so from there we just go out and have fun.” “It’s very emotional and we all just want to do the best by each character. Everyone involved is so supportive of each other.” In a case of life imitating art - imitating life - the Levin Little Theatre released its very own calendar, complete with a photo for each month from January to December. At $20 each, proceeds were donated to Leukaemia and Blood Research NZ. Calendar Girls proved to be a hugely successful show. Encore performances were held, including two shows to packed houses at The Globe in Palmerston North.

here’s a saying in show business – never work with animals or children – but the show’s musical director Ria Saili said he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I suppose it’s because I’m just a big kid myself,” he said. Saili was one of those people that had a natural rapport with youngsters and that made him the perfect fit to join the crew behind the scenes of Moana Jr, and bring to light some promising young talent blessed with the gift of song. The oldest among the 50-strong Moana Jr cast was just 17. Saili knows first-hand how enriching the experience of performing on stage can be. “A lot of people don’t realise how good it feels to be on stage, and that’s been the best thing about Moana – seeing that,” he said. Saili had been on stage himself plenty of times – he was brilliant as the dancing Danny Zhuko in Grease - and he got a buzz from seeing young performers get the same kick out of performing and watching their confidence grow. “It’s a passion. It’s awesome. It’s what I like doing,” he said. “Sometimes kids can be too shy when it comes to acting. But then you see them singing at Polyfest and it comes naturally. You think it’s different, but it’s just the same.” “The smiles on people’s faces and the clapping are just the same. It’s all the same.”

Celebrating Horowhenua | Spring/Summer 2021

There were brilliant performances from the young cast that brought characters to life with some strong vocal performances. Angelina Toeleiu (Moana), Phillip Finau (Maui), Taniela Taufeulungaki (Chief Tui), Bostyn O’Brien (Pua), Kaydence Mose Tuialii (Gramma Tala), Tiana Fryer (Te Fiti/Te Kā), Najaeda Whaitiri (Hei Hei), Rikayah Wiparata (Sina), and Katerina Finau (Tamatoa) were the main cast. LPAS secretary Lorraine Lepper said it was also pleasing to see so many Māori and Pacific Island children becoming involved with Moana the catalyst for an influx of new talent. “It’s just so good to see. Long may it continue,” she said. Lepper said she had never seen a show where the cast were so eager to turn up. “We said arrive at six o’clock but some are already there at 5.30pm. So I’ve started going down early to let them in. You can tell how keen they are. There were no worries about anybody turning up on time,” she said. “It’s just so good to see that participation and the parents supporting them to come along ... it needs that support. It’s the parents that have to work around other commitments.” Moana was directed by Stephanie Greenslade, herself an accomplished stage performer. It was her second show as lead director. The choreography director was Caitlyn Sanson.

A lot of people don’t realise how good it feels to be on stage, and that’s been the best thing about Moana – seeing that.” Rikayah Wiparata-Masters (Sina) and Angelina Toeleiu (Moana) in a scene from Moana Jr.

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Showcasing Shannon to the world Words by Nikki Carroll

New Zealand's Luuka Jones, who placed sixth in the 2021 Olympic's women's K-1 canoe slalom event.

wenty years ago, when John Snook wrote the strategic plan for the Mangahao White Water Park near Shannon, he never dreamed the country would stop to watch a canoe slalom Olympic final. But that is exactly what happened in July this year, when TVNZ showed the final of the women’s K-1 canoe slalom live, featuring New Zealand’s Luuka Jones. Unfortunately, Jones missed out on a medal, but as Snook said, seldom were broadcasting schedules rearranged at the last minute, which showed how far canoe slalom has come. Canoe slalom debuted at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games as a demonstration sport. It was another 20 years before it became a permanent Games fixture.

Julie Judd M 027 368 5316 T 0800 585 944 W www.rwlevin.co.nz A 46 Oxford Street, Levin Licensee Salesperson | Ray White Levin Northside Realty Ltd (Licensed REAA 2008)

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Snook had a vision to create a world class facility that would entice international competitors and identified a section of river in Shannon, near the Mangahao Power Station, as an ideal location.” Snook, who held several NZ white water kayaking titles himself and qualified for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, saw a need for better training facilities for New Zealand canoeists. He had a vision to create a world class facility that would entice international competitors and identified a section of river in Shannon, near the Mangahao Power Station, as an ideal location. Snook set up the Environmental White Water Park Trust in 2001, and by 2003 had raised nearly one million dollars towards the creation of his dream facility. By 2004 the Mangahao White Water Park was in action. A 300-metre section of river immediately below the power station was modified so the water hydraulics formed features perfect for slalom and freestyle white-water paddling.

New Zealand canoeist, George Snook, voted world's best Under 18 paddler for 2021.

By 2019 it ranked as one of the two best facilities in the Southern hemisphere along with Sydney, attracting top kayakers from Europe as well as closer to home. Mangahao hosts an annual international competition and regularly hosts national events and pre-season training camps. Some of the big names in New Zealand kayaking have trained at Shannon including Luuka Jones, the Jull sisters from Ōtaki, and Snook’s own son, George,

who recently won bronze in slalom at the World Junior Champs in Slovenia and was voted the best Under 18 paddler in the world. With the recent investment of $100,000 from two local councils and the NZ Community Trust, as well confirmation that Mangahao will host the NZ Open for the next three years, we are bound to see more Kiwis making a splash in the international world of kayaking.

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Nature walks One of the best things about living in the Horowhenua is the relatively easy access we have to numerous walks and hikes in the Tararua ranges. Words by Nikki Carroll

ocal man Noel Bigwood, who retired from the NZ Police in 2012 after a 40-year career, is a search and rescue veteran of LandSAR with over 45 years’ experience as well as being the tramping officer for the Levin Waiopehu Tramping Club for a number of years. He shares with us his valuable opinion of six walks within the ranges that attract visitors to the area as well as local hiking enthusiasts.

Waiopehu Hut Loop

Kohitere Trig Walkway Following the same route as heading to the Arapaepae lookout, you take a right turn at the Ridge Road junction to reach the Kohitere trig, which is a somewhat steeper climb. This destination is easily identifiable from Levin township by the cell phone tower placed there and offers the same panoramic view across the entire Horowhenua and beyond to Kapiti Island to the South and Mt Ruapehu to the North. The whole area (Kohitere Forest) is private property and members of the public are privileged to be able to have access to these walks. Bigwood recommends taking a litre of water and a couple of snack bars as well as a wind-proof jacket for these more manageable walks, “because even in a forest, when you get to the top, the wind can howl through.”

The Waiopehu hut sits on the bushline at a level of 900m and on clear days, there are good views across the plains and east to the Tararua high peaks. The first kilometre of the track from the Poads Road car park, Gladstone, is across a private farm. The following eight kilometres is a four to five hour, often muddy trek to the hut which takes you alongside the Ōhau River. The track is clearly marked and easy to follow with the loop continuing past Twin Peak at 1097m and descending the Gable Range to Ohau Gorge and back to the car park where you started Bigwood rates this as a moderately easy tramp for adventurers who have a fairly high level of fitness. “The best time of year to traverse this walk is late Summer/early Autumn when the track is at its driest.”

Photo: Chris Tuffley.

Celebrating Horowhenua | Spring/Summer 2021

A photo from Horowhenua Historical Society. Pictured are Jim and Fred .

Burtton’s Track This 17 kilometre track between Scotts Road in Palmerston North and Mangahao Road in Shannon, is part of the Te Araroa trail, which is a 3000km route that stretches from Cape Reinga in the north of New Zealand to Bluff in the south. Bigwood recommends starting at the north end of the track as the steepest gradient is then downhill, but you still need to allow about 6 hours to reach the Mangahao Road car park. Burtton’s Track involves a few water crossings, including the Tokomaru River. Most of the year the water is low and easily crossed, but all back country rivers and streams can be hazardous so care must be taken at all times. Experience and fitness is not the most important part of tackling this track, according to Bigwood, “being aware of the weather and being fully prepared for anything is the main requirement”.

Denton Road to Arapaepae Lookout to Gladstone Road This particular route is frequently used by local walkers, runners and mountain bikers. Bigwood himself has often used it for training for his Search and Rescue role, with a 20kg pack on his back. “It’s a well-kept forestry road...with a steady elevation [of 250 metres] which will get your breath puffing.” Being just over seven kilometres in length, most manage the return journey in around five hours. As you make your way north along the ridge line to the lookout there are great views east to the Tararua Ranges and west over the Horowhenua district. The Arapaepae lookout itself is to the left of the Ridge Road junction and from here Kapiti Island is easily visible, with the South Island, Mt Taranaki and Mt Ruapehu able to be seen on clear days. Photo: Ange Pothoven.

Tararua Northern Crossing

Photo: Briar Moffatt.

Mangahao Makahika Track Connecting the Shannon end of Burttons Track with the Arapaepae Lookout trail in Levin is a 15 kilometre, 7-hour tramping track, with several stream crossings at the south end of the trail as it dips into a gully. This route has a similar difficulty level as Burttons Track, and again Bigwood recommends the northsouth trek as the easier option. As with the previous hiking tracks, it’s important that you tell someone your plans and give them an idea of what time you expect to complete your outdoor adventure, so if the unexpected happens the alarm can be raised.

One of four classic tramps in the Tararuas, the Northern Crossing links the Ōhau and Waingawa catchments and, depending on weather conditions, it can take between three to five days to complete. The trek involves travelling along the open tops and covers some famous Tararua peaks such as Pukematawai, Arete, Waiohine Pinnacles, Girdlestone and Mitre which, at 1572 metres, is the highest peak in the ranges. This trail is recommended for experienced trampers only, and requires good navigation and map reading skills as, particularly in misty conditions, route finding can be difficult. Bigwood has completed this crossing three times, twice from the Horowhenua side and once from the Wairarapa side. He’s traversed the crossing once in Winter, but the trip with the toughest weather was a Summer one. Photo: Chris Tuffley.

Bigwood’s safe travel checklist ▸ Check dates on documents, especially maps. If in doubt, check for updates on the Land Information NZ website. ▸ Check the Department of Conservation website for information and alerts on your chosen track or destination. ▸ Contact DOC staff or a visitor centre in the area. ▸ Contact a local tramping or hunting club, or talk to someone who has been there recently. ▸ Check the internet or social media for blogs from other travellers in the area. The official Te Araroa Trail website has information on the current trail status for tracks that form part of the trail. ▸ If you meet anyone on the track coming from the opposite direction, ask them about conditions ahead – they will have the most recent information. ▸ Always plan for the worst, just in case.

Photo: Yolanda Watson.

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Baseball Once upon a time baseball existed only in the movies. Words by Paul Williams

ut the sport has taken seed in New Zealand - no more evident than in Horowhenua - and the blooming Levin Hustle club has now produced a champion age grade club team. And just like a good baseball movie, the Levin Hustle 13-andunder side were massive underdogs and beat big city teams at the tournament in Nelson earlier this year. They were the only “small town” team there. Jubilant scenes followed their 12-4 final win against Howick-Pakuranga Hawks. Club president Hendrix Warren said winning a New Zealand title was something they, and all the parents involved, would never forget. The growth of baseball in Levin was huge. With just 12 players when it began just four years ago in 2017, there were now 175 players on the books. Horowhenua had a rich and proud softball heritage and could lay claim to some of the greats of the game, like Black Sox legends Chubb Tangaroa, Dave Workman and Thomas Makea.

The Levin Hustle team celebrate their win in the final at Nelson earlier this year. Photo: Paul Woolley.

Hendrix himself played softball and grew up in a softball-mad family. But when sons Flynn and Fletcher both wanted to play baseball after coming home from a family trip to the US, he couldn’t stand in their way. He put the feelers out for other youngsters that might be interested in baseball. A management group and

We haven’t had our Steven Adams moment yet, but it’s only a matter of time.” Levin Hustle Baseball under-13 team won the New Zealand Championship earlier this year. Back Row (L-R): Iain McKay (Coach), Nikora Greening, Oscar Bland, Morgan Swartbooi, Campbell Mackintosh, Jordan Jensen (Coach), Hendrix Warren (Head Coach). Middle Row (L-R): Ronan Kjestrup, Breeze Jensen, Alrich Hoffmann, Fletcher Warren, Liam Stoliker. Front Row (L-R): Lachlan McKay, Ryder Morris, Eliza Vincent. Photo: Paul Woolley.

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parents worked hard behind the scenes. The rest is history. Levin Hustle featured prominently at the recent Baseball New Zealand Awards, where Hendrix was awarded Coach of the Year, for the second time. Fletcher was finalist in the U13 player of the year, an award won by his older brother Flynn in 2019. Most of the team were newcomers to baseball at the start of the season. The victory was made even more sweet as right-hand pitcher Fletcher and left-hand pitcher Eliza Vincent both made the All-Tournament team. Fletcher was also named top pitcher of the tournament Hendrix said opportunities in baseball were limitless. The chance to one day play professionally in the US was not beyond the realms of possibility. Baseball New Zealand chief executive Dan Tan said there were currently 20 young players from New Zealand in the US on college scholarships after attracting the attention of scouts. “We haven’t had our Steven Adams moment yet, but it’s only a matter of time,” he said. Baseball New Zealand was founded in 1989.

Waiopehu College NURTURE

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Waiopehu College is a vibrant co-educational College, with around 680 students, situated in the town of Levin. The College was established in 1973 and has a spacious and attractive campus with excellent facilities throughout. We pride ourselves on meeting the individual learning needs of students through the provision of quality education programmes and pathways. We have a proud record of achievement in academic, sporting and cultural areas. Our teachers and support staff are this College’s most valuable resource. It is the quality of the staff that is the most important factor in determining that successful learning takes place. Central to our success are our core ‘Pehu PRIDE’ values along with a caring sense of family, enabling safe and effective learning relationships upon which growth and achievement are based. Quality teaching and learning are our core business and all students are encouraged to aim for excellence and become the very best they can be. Our future-focused curriculum, introduced in 2020, includes a wide range of courses and electives that are designed to broaden choice and give everyone the opportunity of following a pathway that connects with their talents and passions, as well as developing new skills, interests and knowledge.

EMPOWER Starting the day oﬀ with an interesting elective ve is a s great way to stay engaged all day. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly. I was so excited to starrt at Waiopehu College, getting to make new frienndss and h good relationships with teachers. I didn’t eveen have Aftter to think twice about what college to attend. A wI only being at Waiopehu for a short while I knnew porttive, made the right decision. Waiopehu is a supp safe and positive learning environment.

Darcey Isaacs YEAR 9 If you are interested in an enrolment for yourr child, please contact us on (06) 368 8303 Email: secretary@waiopehu.ac.nz

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Shellie Hanley A traumatic brain injury left Shannon woman Shellie Hanley with an unexplained ability to play the harp so well it could summon the angels. Words by Paul Williams

uring her recovery from a nasty fall three years ago, she found she had a natural aptitude for the harp, recognised as one of the hardest instruments in the world to learn and play. “I can’t explain it. It felt like I had been playing my whole life. It was like an old friend,” she said. Playing requires the use of all the fingers on both hands, thus exercising both the left and right side of the brain. It played an important role in her recovery.

Ever since, she has used her ability to help ease the suffering of others, playing to new-born and premature babies in neo-natal units, at rest homes, psychiatric wards, dementia units, and hospices anywhere she felt there might be a need. Dressing in a tiara and angel wings helped create the perfect visual accompaniment when she played. The music demanded it. The heavenly melodies that fall from her fingertips and ripple around the room feature on a new album, intertwined with whale song. A marine scientist sent Hanley recordings of humpback whales taken near Raoul Island in the Kermadec Islands. Touted as the only Māori harpist in the world, Hanley now has videos to accompany live performances, teaming up with video engineers to make her music a multi-sensory experience. Rolling images of whales swimming and a kaleidoscope of rolling colour collages fill the room as she plays. The whalesong lullaby is a loving lament to her late mother. It represented the story of a mother whale stranded with her baby, and uses the song to soothe her in their

I see a lot of people suffering ... we all have something magical and unique in us that we can share with others, something beautiful that can not only impact on our lives, but on the lives of others.”

last moments together. “I see a lot of people suffering ... we all have something magical and unique in us that we can share with others, something beautiful that can not only impact on our lives, but on the lives of others.” A chance meeting with fellow artist Jerome Kavanagh introduced her to the world of taonga pūoro – traditional Māori musical instruments. Hearing him play a nguru (whale tooth flute) inspired her. “I reach out to any form and weave it into the music ... bird, whale, wind, water ... it all has uplifting energy that is nurturing and nourishing to our health and wellbeing.” “I can hear music in birdsong. It inspires me.” Hanley, of Nga Puhi and Tainui Maniapoto descent, said the secret to living with a brain injury is not to fight it or be angry, but to accept it and learn to adapt. “I wouldn’t change it for the world. I take the injury as a blessing,” she said. “I can’t get back to who I was. This is who I am going to be now - let’s roll with this. If you can’t surrender, you are just going to hit a wall.” 35 7 9 Primary Secondary Clubs Schools Schools 128 4,307 Years of Players History

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Minogue Mike Minogue might be making a name for himself in the entertainment industry, but he hasn’t forgotten his roots. Words by Paul Williams

he Horowhenua College and St Josephs School old boy has worn many hats since he left Levin in his early 20s – actor, thespian, radio disc-jockey, and now television and film producer. His very first job was as paper boy for Horowhenua Chronicle, before taking on a milk run, stacking shelves at New World and then working at McDonalds. Growing up in Horowhenua helped develop a keen sense of humour that would later serve him well. “I remember growing up and you would tell people where you were from and they would go “oh yeah” like it was beginning to make sense to them,” he said. “It does shape you. Because there was not

a lot to do you would just get together and banter with your mates and have a yarn… I wouldn’t have wanted to have been brought up anywhere else.” Minogue originally began as a runner or gofer - on feature films like Lords of The Rings, King Kong and Avatar, before a debut role as Errol the Fireman in the 2009 film Separation City, at the age of 32. Early roles saw him play Policeman a lot, in How To Murder Your Wife, Doubt: The Scott Watson Case, Rage and What We Do in the Shadows, while he developed a cult

I remember growing up and you would tell people where you were from and they would go “oh yeah” like it was beginning to make sense to them.”

following as Officer Minogue in Wellington Paranormal. “I guess I’ve got a policeman’s head or something. They seemed to be the only roles I was getting,” he said. Award-winning web series The Watercooler gave him his first crack at producing, while he’s currently a drivetime DJ on Radio Hauraki alongside fellow funnyman Jason Hoyte. He collaborated with Hoyte to create Talkback, a funny satire currently screening on TVNZ On Demand, which he also wrote and produced. When Minogue’s latest film Coming Home in the Dark was released this year to critical acclaim, he organised a special screening for Focal Point Cinema in Levin. Although now living on Waiheke Island, he still refers to Levin as home and was fond of his small town roots, visiting often. “I wish it was more often, but I try to make the most of it when I’m here.” he said.

LEVIN COSMOPOLITAN CLUB INC. Members, Afﬁliated Members and Guests Welcome

BARS - RESTAURANT - GAMING - TAB 47-51 Oxford Street, Levin | Phone: 06 368 2571 | www.levincossieclub.co.nz The Levin Cosmopolitan Club occupies 7000 square metres of land encompassing a Clubhouse of 2000 square metres, a large sunny private sheltered outdoor BBQ Picnic area, large off street tar sealed vehicle parking area which easily accommodates members and visitors’ vehicles, motorhomes and caravans. This area is ﬂoodlit at night and with 24 hour surveillance cameras. The entire clubhouse is fully air-conditioned and boasts above average bars, function rooms, licensed restaurant, pool and darts areas, dedicated TAB facility (operator assisted and self service) and gaming room with 18 modern pokies. The large outdoor picnic BBQ area has a huge shade sail, umbrellas, BBQ’s and garden furniture. The grounds are groomed to a high standard and often used for private gatherings of likes of business house socials, family birthdays and weddings etc. On tap is a wide selection of beers and cider plus a large bottle selection of Kiwi, craft and international

beers including low alcohol ales, soft drinks etc. Hot comfort food is available during bar opening hours and a full coffee vending service at modest prices. The Club’s Tararua Restaurant is open Tuesday to Saturday inclusive for lunch and evening dining and the menu offers quality family dining at an affordable price. The Cossie Club has always been very strongly community orientated with ﬁnancial support from its income going to the Arohanui Hospice and to the Horowhenua Health Shuttle. It also provides other ﬁnancial grants to community organisations, especially

those with a focus on children. The members also donate generously to the local Christmas Food Bank Appeal. Membership of the Club also brings eligibility to join any of its sporting adjuncts - both indoor and outdoor - Golf, Bowls, 8 Ball, Clay Shooting, Darts, Fishing and Line Dancing. Another very busy adjunct is the Seniors which meets every Wednesday, with frequent hosting of visitors and excursions away from the Club. Housie, Quick-fire Raffles, Trivia Knowledge Quizzes and “Flip the Joker” to Win Game are other popular attractions. The Club operates 3 shuttle coaches to bring members and visitors to and from the Club at a nominal cost. There are many other benefits of membership, kindly visit our website. Club premises and picnic area are also available for business and community club meetings and gatherings on a by arrangement basis. Membership fees are $46.00 per person or $69.00 per couple.

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Book corner

– shining a light on Horowhenua writers and poets Looking for a good read this summer? In a hammock under the shade of a tree, or lying in the sand at the beach? Then maybe get a taste of home-grown, as there are a variety of great books released recently by Horowhenuabased writers. Words by Paul Williams

Loving Summer - a novel Foxton author Carole Brungar finds it hard to play favourites, but her latest book Loving Summer has a special place in her heart. Brungar has gained international acclaim for a series of novels based on the Vietnam conflict. Loving Summer is the fourth, and quite possibly, her best. It is already gaining fivestar reviews from advanced readers. Her writing breathes life into characters and landscapes, so much so that readers of her

Letters To Young People Levin youth doctor Glenn Colquhoun published a book of poetry specifically to help in the treatment of his patients. Letters to Young People was an outlet for things he saw and heard through the course of his practice. Writing down thoughts gave rise to poems, which became part of the consultation, almost part of the prescription. “…the stories my young people tell me demand a response from my profession. They are a plea to the world of big people to bring

Celebrating Horowhenua | Spring/Summer 2021

books have travelled to Foxton and Foxton Beach to see the places described in the storylines for themselves. She has received numerous phone calls and emails from people wanting to know more about Horowhenua and its districts, and from ex-soldiers touched by the stories. Loving Summer shows Brungar’s knack for creating fictional characters and setting them to real-life events. An exjournalist , she spends countless hours researching to ensure her novels are historically accurate,

even travelling to Vietnam itself. “I’m enjoying doing my small part to help keep the memories of our participation in this war alive. There are just as many stories to come out of Vietnam as there are from previous world wars, and very few New Zealanders are writing about them,” she said. Brungar is a full-time school librarian at Horowhenua College. She manages to write in her spare time, either at night or one day each weekend. While she grew up in Huntly, her own journey has gone full circle, as she was born in Foxton.

some sense of justice or relief, however naïve that might be.” “Not to respond is a defeat in the natural order of things.” “It was really important as a clinician to process what was happening ... it is a project in medicine as much as it is a project in poetry.” He was privy to stories shared by young people that continue to shock him - every week. While he was a doctor, he was also a human being, and writing helped him to stay human. “Sometimes the connection

helps with the diagnosis. It’s easier to put a finger on what’s going on, especially with youth health.” “For some young people their childhood is parks, swimming pools and icecreams. But others have been through more trying experiences. It’s hard to reconcile.” “We create an image that we have it all figured out, especially in medicine. As much as it is cutting edge, it’s also an ancient art form of two people talking to each other.”

Unseasoned Campaigner A new poetry collection penned by Horowhenua farmer Janet Newman explores a new genre ecopoetry. Farming and poetry might seem strange bedfellows, but poets had always drawn on nature and their environment for muse. Climate awareness and biodiversity loss had given rise to ecopoetry. It was the term given to “new nature poetry written in

Enough Horizon: the life and work of Blanche Baughan Foxton Beach writer Carol Markwell managed to bring to life the extraordinary tale of a woman she never actually met. Blanche Baughan, born in England in 1870, was a poet, journalist, conservationist and prison reformer who was recognised as one of New Zealand’s first travel writers after emigrating in 1900, introducing many here and overseas to our walks and wilderness areas. An early essay published in

opposition to human denigration of nature.” “Ecopoetry has its genesis in a desire for poetry to act as a catalyst for social action towards political change in order to protect the environment from further human degradation,” she said. European settler and indigenous perspectives on nature had forged a specifically Kiwi version of ecopoetry. Newman felt there would be more ecopoetry written as

awareness of climate change impacts and degradation of the environment is at the forefront of our minds. Unseasoned Campaigner touches on her memories of her parents, and growing up on the family dairy farm that she now works. The poems explore the challenges farmers face droughts, disease, and sending animals they’ve nurtured off to the freezing works.

London is the reason that Milford Track is still called “The Finest Walk in the World.” She settled in Sumner and Banks Peninsula where her interest in the environment and advocacy for the vulnerable in society flourished. She became a botanist, conservationist and prison reformer, known for her fierce correspondence in defence of her causes. Markwell became intrigued by Baughan’s life story, travelling to the United Kingdom, and to Christchurch and Akaroa to

learn more – meeting locals that remembered her when they were children. “There was a lot to discover and I never tired of learning about her. She’s one of our most interesting early writers, and also a bush walker, social reformer and conservationist.” “She was ahead of her time...it’s really good to bring her out to the world.” Carol Markwell writes from her Foxton Beach home and likes to spend time walking around the Manawatū River estuary.

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The Southern North Island is one of New Zealand’s growth areas for the forest industry. Many of the forests established in the early to late 1990’s are now mature and ready for harvest, and although there was widespread scaremongering about the ‘Wall of Wood’, limitations on infrastructure and manpower availability have effectively smoothed this to a longer term harvest profile. The drivers of forest investments are changing rapidly with significant increases in the value of carbon, resulting in higher rates of forest establishment than we have seen in many years. Returns from the sale of carbon can provide a revenue stream throughout the lifecycle of a forest, making it attractive to those who are looking to invest later in life rather than waiting 25 years for the forest to mature. While there has been much angst and commentary around the blanket planting of productive farmland, carbon does provide a very good alternative to arable farming on marginal to average land and, so long as there is a balance, carbon can help provide a strong and diversified cashflow for farming operations. Forest360 is the largest Forest Management Company in the Southern North Island and one of the largest in the country. From the very beginning of the land use assessment, planning, investment and carbon analysis, planting, forest road construction, harvesting and transport, marketing and sales, our

team will work with you to minimise risk and maximise value to ensure you get the best possible returns from your forest investment. Forestry can provide very healthy returns on investment, however, like many other investments, it has to be managed right. The value of the investment is only as good as the quality of the crop and, as with many investments, the best returns are achieved through cost control and value maximisation while minimising risk. From an investor perspective, it is imperative that you select a Forest Manager that will deliver on these without compromise. Our clients range from very small woodlot owners, through to large corporate forest estate owners. With over 70 harvesting and silviculture crews, over 40 very skilled and experienced staff and ofﬁces throughout the North Island, Forest360 is the best option to manage your forest investment, no matter how big or small. Talk to us and make your own decision, visit www.forest360.nz or phone 0800 366 700.

Meet the local NZME team For more than 125 years the NZME Horowhenua Chronicle has been at the centre of local life, highlighting the community’s successes and reporting on local matters that have an impact on our people. We provide balanced and informative coverage of the issues of the day while listening to what our readers have to say, bringing them the news that matters to them. Based in Levin and circulating throughout the Horowhenua District, along the lower western coast of the North Island, the Horowhenua Chronicle is published weekly on Friday and is delivered free to homes in the Horowhenua region. Local newspapers sit at the heart of our communities, and NZME is right at the centre of community connections providing a portfolio of radio, digital, print and e-commerce. We serve our community with pride.

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Jandal Jam A Pasifika youth cultural showcase has become a permanent fixture on the Horowhenua performing arts calendar.

One of the cornerstone goals of Jandal Jam is to inspire future Pasifika generations. Photo: Nikki Carroll.

andal Jam was first held in 2012 at the Levin Performing Arts Centre and has wowed audiences ever since. Coordinator Sue Hori Te Pa said the Jandal Jam concept was developed when she became aware that many local families struggled to get to Palmerston North to support their children at the annual secondary school’s Pacific festival. “We wanted to provide an opportunity for both the families and the community to show appreciation to the students from our local colleges [who were representing their cultures] at Pasifika Fusion,” she said. That first Jandal Jam featured Horowhenua and Waiopehu colleges’ winning pieces from Pasifika Fusion, as well as the first ever joint performance by the two colleges. Sue has seen some amazing talent emerge over the years. “At times we’ve had over 100 kids participating...as part of the college performance groups as well as in other talent/ cultural items...singing, bands, dancing...showcasing the many performing arts [these students] are talented at.” 2021 was supposed to be the 10th anniversary of Jandal Jam but the impact of Covid-19 and the country-wide lockdown in 2020 meant last year’s production didn’t go ahead. Sue said she has had many highlights over her 10 years. Among the standouts was the College Principals’ and Horowhenua Mayor dance-offs, which were always very competitive and a highlight for the audience. “It’s the smiles on faces that does it for me, as long as the performers enjoy sharing their culture and talent, that’s the [biggest] highlight.” This year’s Jandal Jam showcase also featured the inaugural public performance of the Fetu Pasifika Performing Arts group, made up of Horowhenua youth aged 13 to 24 years, of various Pacific Island backgrounds.

Celebrating Horowhenua | Spring/Summer 2021

Words by Nikki Carroll

This very talented group of Pasifika youth have only been performing together for a few months but all of them are either current or past members of the local colleges’ Polynesian cultural groups. The mantle of Jandal Jam coordinator is being passed on to Angelina Mose Tuialii for the 2022 production.

It’s the smiles on faces that does it for me, as long as the performers enjoy sharing their culture and talent, that’s the [biggest] highlight.”

Blast from the Past: College principals Grant Congdon and Mark Robinson dance off with then-Mayor of Horowhenua Brendan Duffy at Jandal Jam 2016.

Iconic Horowhenua Horowhenua sits nestled between the Tasman Sea to the east and the mighty Tararua Ranges to the west and with its mild climate has become wellknown as a horticultural area, as well as a great place to live, work and play, but did you know…? Words by Tanya Wood

That Levin’s Oxford Street was turned into a temporary race track for elephant racing in 1963? The Jaycee Levin Event Elephant Race had local people riding dressed as jockeys: Wally Wise (Mayor), Val Hercu, Ross Smith and MP A. McCready. The circus was in town during the Wellington Anniversary Weekend celebrations and the half mile race was won in eight minutes by Mr Smith.

That Horowhenua had a race track before a township? Always ready for a flutter, the Levin Racing Club’s Winter meeting, July 1969, may have attracted another full crowd but the club pre-dated that of Levin township in 1906. Known as the Horowhenua Racing Club in 1884, it changed to the Horowhenua Hack Racing Club before settling on the Levin Racing Club in 1923.

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Celebrating Horowhenua | Spring/Summer 2021

That Levin had its own motor racing circuit attracting international drivers?

That the world came to Levin in the form of Miss World? Jennifer Hosten, pictured here testing the water in the Levin motel pool where she was staying during the Miss N.Z. show, May 1971, represented Grenada and was the first black woman, and the first woman from her country, to win the title.

The Levin Motor Racing Circuit was New Zealand’s first permanent motorsport facility, small in scale but massively important for the development of the sport in the country. Situated in the centre of the Levin Racecourse at Mako Mako Road, the tracked operated for 20 years from 1956. Pictured, above, is a race from the Levin Summit meeting 17th January 1958 and right, N.Z. racing legend Chris Amon, one of the many well-known drivers at the Levin racing circuit, including Stirling Moss. Amon is pictured here being presented with his trophy by Mr A. McCready, M.P. for Otaki Electorate and patron of the Levin Motor Racing Club.

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Photo: NZME.

That Shannon is a world class ‘powerhouse’?

That world records are created in Horowhenua? Levin’s RJ’s Licorice celebrated its 21st birthday in 2016 by creating the world’s largest licorice allsort, earning an entry in the Guiness World Records. Measuring 1.001m wide, 0.768m high, with a depth of 0.994m – maintaining the same ratio of a standard allsort – and weighing in at 1,105.5 kg, the mammoth green, white and black sweet was cut up and given out to the waiting public and Levin branch of The Salvation Army to distribute among local people it supported.

The Mangahao Powerhouse, which opened November 3, 1924, was the main hydroelectric power station serving the lower North Island, connecting from Whanganui to Napier, Masterton and Wellington and later forming the basis of the North Island transmission grid. The 300m section of river immediately below the power station has since been harnessed to provide the perfect slalom and freestyle white water paddling conditions for the Mangahao White Water Park, a world class kayaking venue. Historic photos: Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.

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Celebrating Horowhenua | Spring/Summer 2021

That Foxton was known as the flax milling capital of New Zealand? The expanse of flax draped over rows of fences was a familiar sight in Horowhenua’s northern township. From the 1880’s onwards Foxton fortunes were made and lost as the price of flax fibre fluctuated on the world market. Pictured are flax workers in Foxton 1904, but you can still see the once “backbone of the town” in action at the Foxton Flax Stripper museum which houses the only working stripper and scutching machines in the country.

Mowbray stamps his mark Imagine your childhood side hustle becoming a lifelong career. Words and pictures by Paul Williams

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Celebrating Horowhenua | Spring/Summer 2021

taki man John Mowbray turned his boyhood stamp collecting hobby into a successful international business – now the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. His father gave him a box of stamps when he was 8-years-old. “It set me up. It got me hooked,” he said. He began trading stamps with kids at school. By age 13, he was importing

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Every day there is a surprise. You never know when you are going to find something that is special. What you thought might be worth $1 turns out to be $1000.”

stamps wholesale from Australia. “I didn’t tell anyone how old I was,” he said. By the time he graduated from Victoria University with a marketing degree the stamp business was a lucrative operation. “There was no question of looking for a job,” he said, and he was soon supplying bookstores New Zealand-wide. Mowbray Collectables opened an Ōtaki office in 1974. Initially it seemed like a bad move. He had distanced himself from big city customers. But in hindsight, it was a master stroke. It forced him to look at alternate ways of trading, like postal auctions. It opened up an international market, and the trading base doubled. “What it showed me was being in Ōtaki you had to look quite wide for your market, and the further you looked the easier it got,” he said. More than half a century later, Mowbray Collectables has 15 fulltime staff and fields

inquiries from all over the world. “I love what I do ... it still fascinates me. Sometimes the stories behind the items are really incredible,” he said. “Every day there is a surprise. You never know when you are going to find something that is special. What you thought might be worth $1 turns out to be $1000.” Trust was at the heart of his business. He was custodian of prized possessions and qualified to ascertain value and find buyers. “It absolutely staggers me. People from all over the world - they don’t know me, but they trust me - will send me items. It’s humbling,” he said. “The secret is trust ... trust is so important.” He still gets excited at auction time, where more than $1million worth of stamps can change hands. “With international interest and electronic bidding, you just never can tell how high the bids may go on the day,” he said.

The highest price fetched for a stamp was $125,000 - twice. Both stamps were quirks of the manufacturing process that had made it into circulation. The outbreak of Covid-19 had seen an unexpected boom in the industry. “What we’ve seen since Covid-19 is truly amazing. It seems that during lockdown, people found time to look through their attics and search out what they had, albeit from previous generations,” he said But for all its proven success, he was philosophical about the future of stamp and coin collecting. He was from a generation that were passionate about collecting, and who had carried that passion with them into their senior years. It was not uncommon to have customers in their 90s. “In reality young people don’t collect things these days,” he said. Mowbray was a former president of the World Stamp Dealers Association in the 1990s, and he was on the board of Stanley Gibbons in England for six years.

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Netball Horowhenua celebrates 100 years A milestone that promises to renew old friendships and regale old memories in a trip down memory lane. Words and pictures by Paul Williams

An early gathering of players and administrators. Photo: Kete Horowhenua.

he last time the bell rang for a big netball get-together was for a 60th jubilee in 1991. But the current Netball Horowhenua reunion committee, conscious that the seeds for netball were actually sewn in 1921, began planning accordingly. Netball originally began under Horowhenua Basketball Association. The story has it that Miss G Armstrong, recently out

of university, marked a court on grass by turning sods to mark the lines, and encouraged other girls to play. Youngsters embraced the game. The first recorded game was between Levin District High School and Palmerston North Girls High School. A newspaper extract from 1922: “Netball is rapidly growing in popularity in Ōtaki and Levin...the contest was a splendid one,

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Celebrating Horowhenua | Spring/Summer 2021

fought out in true sporting spirit, while the girls entered the game with heart and soul”. “Miss Armstrong, who acted as referee, was delighted with the play and congratulated the girls on their excellent performance... she considered the game the best she had yet witnessed.” Horowhenua finally became an association in its own right in 1936. There was always close ties between Levin, Ōtaki and Foxton, in both competition and management, with players from each sub-association chosen to represent Horowhenua. A year later Horowhenua’s first-ever rep team attended a tournament in Auckland. Long bus trips to tournaments became commonplace, inspiring the 1947 team to come up with a team song... We’re the team from Horowhenua can’t you see There never was a team as good as we I’m telling you and you will agree We are the brightest team that you will ever see! In orange tie and gym and blazer brown We’ve really come to paint old Nelson Town We’re some of us Māori, some are Pakeha But when we get going we shout the same - Hurrah! So here’s to the other teams who haven’t got a show, We’re the team from Horowhenua , so now you know!” The first playing venue was at Levin District High School, but more courts were badly needed. Fundraising and goodwill paid for two sealed courts at Levin Domain. It was a good fit - spectators could watch both rugby

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The next generation…Horowhenua Netball Association president Robyn Wills with aspiring young players Ataahua Harling-Hirini, Kiara Phillips-Corskie and Grace Kerehi.

and netball - and there they stayed for the best part of a decade. But when that seal began to break up, it was deemed too dangerous and games returned to the college courts. It would be 34 years before the next move, and by then netball had become extremely popular. In 1978, Levin Borough Council supported a new 10-court complex at Donnelly Park, with a pavilion, toilets, changing rooms and canteen. Some fine players had come from the Horowhenua region, more recently Silver Ferns sisters Te Huinga and Te Paea SelbyRickett, and Katarina Cooper, while Hannah Saulbrey made the NZ U21 team. The association had also produced a long list of dedicated and decorated umpires.

Bennik’s Egg Farm Bennik’s Eggs is a family owned and operated business and after 50 years at the 35 Buller Road site has moved the farm shop to a more eyecatching and trafﬁc friendly location, stocking quality produce from local business around Horowhenua. Owner/operators Harry and Rhonda Bennik pioneered modern cage-free egg farming in New Zealand and were the ﬁrst to be accredited for good animal welfare practice. The business is one of only a few egg farms approved by Ministry of Primary Industries to export eggs. “Our philosophy is that happier hens produce better quality eggs, and the feedback from our customers and our taste buds shows that this is true,” Mr Bennik said. Local and travelling through shoppers enjoy the fresh eggs and can also purchase from the shop other reputable Horowhenua brands such as award-winning Thoroughbread products, Genoese products, locally produced honey and chocolates, frozen table hens, sauces, apple cider vinegar and other great products. On the same site is “The Garden Depot” garden centre which again is owned and operated by Harry

and Rhonda, who boast more than 40 years of experience in gardening and plant care between staff members. “It’s our top priority to deliver you the best service and delight you with our amazing products and expect to be greeted like family when you visit, by our friendly team who love solving garden problems and providing advice to our customers. From providing pest or weed solutions, to providing something special from our impressive range of shrubs, perennials, houseplants and trees, we have all you need to transform your slice of paradise. Whether you are looking for something colourful for the deck, greening up tired ﬂower beds, creating low maintenance gardens, to growing vegetable patches. Our giftware range also has something for everyone, gift vouchers are available for the gardener who has everything plus check out our great range of outdoor living products. We look forward to meeting you and showing you around our great shops; you won’t be disappointed.”

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World famous in Foxton Long before the windmill or the first bubble of fizz, Foxton was world famous for two young children from the Westwood family. Words by Paul Williams

ight from the beginning, there was something different about Ruby and Wilfred, two of seven children born to Thomas and Sarah Westwood. Why did Ruby and Wilfred stand out? They were simply big for their age. Huge children - it was an oddity that people paid money to see. When Wilfred was three he weighed nearly 50kg heavier than his mother. When Ruby was seven she was almost 100kg - heavier than her father. Thomas Westwood was well-known in Foxton. He owned a grocery store and aspired to be mayor. But he spied an opportunity, no doubt after receiving advice. In 1900 he set up a marquee at the Wanganui Racecourse for the annual AP&I Show, where he introduced his children as an attraction. They were an immediate hit. The whole Westwood family followed, as comparisons. The contrast with their siblings - who were of “standard size” was part of the amazement. It was truly a family show. News travelled. The Fitzgerald Brothers Circus offered the family an extremely generous 1000 pounds, plus expenses, to feature in the Paris Exposition. They declined. The idea of exhibiting his progeny weighed heavy on Thomas Westwood. But when the offer was doubled, and 3000 people paid to see them at a Palmerston North show, he was powerless to stop it. They sold up and hit the road as “The Giant Children of Foxton”, first touring New Zealand, then Australia in 1901. The Daily Telegraph in Sydney said they were met by a number of doctors, gentlemen and press representatives. “The youngsters are claimed to be the largest children for their age in the world, and they certainly look it. Both children are physically very healthy, and have capital appetites, for fruit especially.” One doctor said they are not fat, but

A Westwood family photo, taken in 1907.

perfect young giants and perfectly healthy, active, and of remarkable intelligence for their age. For a while the family returned to Foxton, with Thomas Westwood voted Mayor in October 1903. But two years later they were back on the road, starting with a lucrative tour of the South Island. Ruby was saved from drowning by her father in Nelson in 1905. Bathing in

shallow water, she overbalanced and couldn’t regain her feet. Children screamed as her body floated downstream. The Marlborough Express reported “the timely arrival of her father who pulled her out saved her…” By 1907 the Westwood’s had made it to England. It was again noted that “in spite of their extraordinary size the children are in excellent health, and their mother says that neither has been ill even for a day. “They play with children of their own age, and, while not marvels of agility, they seem to get along well enough”. In March 1910, the family headed for Canada, then America. Thomas Westwood was said to have bought a section in San Francisco, near Hollywood, and made a children’s film.

The youngsters are claimed to be the largest children for their age in the world, and they certainly look it. Both children are physically very healthy, and have capital appetites, for fruit especially.” Ruby and Wilfred Westwood as children.

Celebrating Horowhenua | Spring/Summer 2021

In spite of their extraordinary size the children are in excellent health ... neither has been ill even for a day.”

blow glass over many years during his time with the circus and was expert at the craft. At 17 years old and weighing 190kg, he was described as “the largest boy on Earth” and “an expert fancy glass blower”. It made sense to hit the road with his one-man double act. His glass blowing became more sought after than his size. He was employed by doctors to make medical glass instruments and could make all manner of goods from glass. Wilfred joined forces with his oldest brother Jack to form Westwood Brothers Enterprises, touring Australia making souvenirs of anything, from kangaroos to sailing ships from glass said to be spun thinner than hair. No longer a freak show, it was truly a travelling art show that received rave reviews wherever it went. Wilfred Westwood died in a car crash

It flopped, and soon after he was bankrupt. Things had taken a turn for the worse. Tragedy struck in 1912 with the death of Ruby in San Francisco. The cause of death was blood-poisoning, contracted by a thorn in the finger while picking flowers. The initial scratch was not serious, but infection spread and her finger was amputated, but to no avail. Ruby died within an hour of being admitted into the San Francisco Hospital. She was 19 years old and weighed 130kg. What happened to the family after that, between 1912 until 1917, wasn’t clear. It was thought the surviving children returned to New Zealand and left their parents to work off bad debts. Thomas and Sarah Westwood eventually returned home, said to be penniless. Wilfred was to re-invent himself as the “Wonder Boy” glass blower. He learnt to

Ruby Westwood, age 13. She loved to ride bikes.

on September 28, 1939, in Auckland, aged 42. He died intestate and was buried at Waikaraka Cemetery. His father was buried at the same cemetery having died in 1928, aged 64, while Sarah Westwood died in 1941, aged 73, and was buried next to her husband.

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The Manawatu River estuary.

Bird’s Eye View Foxton Beach photographer Imogen Warren is a school teacher by trade. She has lived at the beach for five “wonderful” years. To balance her demanding schedule, she likes to photograph birds. Words by Imogen Warren

“

It has become something of an obsession of mine and I credit being around these wonderful animals with saving my sanity. I have grown to love birds and I try to capture their behaviour and quirks in my images. Foxton Beach is the perfect place for me to do this. A long lens allows me to get photographs without disturbing the birds as they feed on the mud flats of the Manawatū Estuary. I have spent many a happy hour lying in the mud as the tide comes in to get my shots.” “I talk to people frequently when I am out birding. People are often surprised when I point out some really rare birds that you can often find here. It is a haven for endangered and unusual birds. You just have to look. The walkway along the river from the Boat Club all the way to the Top 10 Caravan Park is always interesting, not only for birds but also for seals, crabs, eels and fish. For me, that is the best thing about nature - you never know what you might see. Even if there are no birds or other interesting creatures, the ebb and flow of the tide makes the river ever changing and always fascinating. Most visitors go to the sea side of the beach for recreation purposes but for me, this area of the river is most rewarding.”

A Fairy Tern (tara iti), New Zealand’s rarest bird, was a visitor to the estuary last year.

Most visitors go to the sea side of the beach for recreation purposes but for me, this area of the river is most rewarding.”

Australasian Shovelers (kuruwhengi).

Celebrating Horowhenua | Spring/Summer 2021

Lesser Knot (huahou).

A Little Shag (kawau paka) catching flounder.

A Sacred Kingfisher (kotare).

Ngā Manu Nature Reserve The heart of your Kāpiti Coast nature experience

he accessible and compact 14 hectare Reserve, preserves one of the largest remnants of coastal lowland swamp forest on the Kāpiti Coast. You will experience both forest and wetland habitats, encountering kākā, kea and kākāriki in walk-through aviaries and kiwi in a nocturnal house environment. Enter a world where tuī song rules as you explore the forest walk, winding its way through swamp maire, puketea, kohekohe and 400-year-old kahikatea. Ngā Manu’s kaupapa is to preserve and enhance native forests so that their inhabitants can flourish, along with strengthening the connection between people and nature

through education. Since its inception in 1974 the Ngā Manu Trust has contributed to national and local conservation through its involvement in many breed-for-release programmes which seek to re-establish at-risk species of birds and reptiles into the wild. As a non-profit charitable trust, your visit supports all this work. Spring is wonderful at Ngā Manu, birds are nesting, and the wetland and forest are abuzz with new life. When the weather is warm, there is nothing like picnicking on the lawns overlooking the ponds or hiring BBQ Island for a gathering of friends and whānau. Connecting with each other in nature.

Book an experience at www.ngamanu.org.nz • • • •

11 am Feed-Out Tour – Discover the unique personalities of the Ngā Manu wildlife as you join the morning feeding round. Ranger Experience (age 7+) – Go behind the scenes with a wildlife Ranger from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Tuesday to Saturday. Kiwi Night Encounter (age 7+) – An intimate experience observing the secret lives of kiwi every Thursday to Sunday at dusk (limited to 10 people). Stay the night in Theo’s Cottage – Enjoy the magic of Ngā Manu all to yourself and wake up to an incredible dawn chorus. (sleeps up to 4 people)

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Horowhenua AP&I Show A flagship event on the region’s calendar – a weekend where country comes to town. Words and pictures by Janine Baalbergan

here is something for everyone at the 115-year-old show and it attracts people from all over New Zealand. But two events stood out this year among all the showjumping, sheep shearing and sideshows – one paying homage to the past, the other a star attraction of the future. Horowhenua Strongman debuted this year and was so popular it’s poised to become an annual show feature. It attracted a large field of 50 athletes – both men and women – and huge crowds to match. Watching men and women grunt, sweat and push the limits of strength and endurance was mesmerising. Horowhenua Strongman was duly voted first place in the Trade and Display section. Horowhenua AP&I Show secretary Jill Timms said the committee were impressed at how popular and professional the event was. “We had such positive feedback,” she said. Organised by Levin’s Stephen Burnell, himself a strongman, the competition involved quirky events like a 135kg anvil walk and pulling a 14 tonne fire engine. Show stalwart Gilbert Timms was honoured with an engraved cup acknowledging his 60 years as a steward for the show’s sheep section, during a special ceremony. While the cup had been

presented ten years ago to celebrate half a century on the job, this year the cup was finally engraved. Timms had inspired many sheep breeders, including members of his own family, to muck in at the show. Warren D’Ath presented the cup and said Timms was involved in all aspects of the show and was good at rounding up help whenever he needed it. “After his family, the show has been his life,” he said.

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“He has a passion for everything farming and doesn’t let setbacks hold him back. He doesn’t moan, just gets on with the job...taking the initiative to get any job done and enlisting others to help, from carting sand or building materials, to hanging gates, or fixing a roof.” ▸ Horowhenua AP&I Show 22 and 23 January, 9am to 4pm both days. Become a member for just $40.

Events Horowhenua is home to a vibrant, welcoming community and the locals sure know how to have fun and celebrate! A wide range of community events have already become iconic in their own right, attracting locals and visitors from far and wide, so don’t miss out. Here are some of the mustsee events to check out and enjoy with friends and family.

Waitarere Big Dig A highlight of the summer season for Horowhenua residents and visitors, young and old alike, happy to get down in the sand and dig for one of more than 300 prize discs to be found. This annual event has been going for more than 35 years as a fundraiser for the Levin & Districts Brass band and is well supported by local businesses with total prizes valued at over $8,000. Tickets only $4 each for the adult and children’s prize pits on sale from 9am on the beach at the tent just south of the Main Entrance. ▸ Sunday January 2, 2pm – 4pm

Medieval Market Ye Olde Medieval Market delivers plenty of medieval, full combat re-enactments, men in chainmail and wicked wenches aplenty. Great entertainment for ye little urchins and rascals including pony rides, shield painting, paper sword battles and much more! Plus, there’s more than 200 craft and food market stalls offering a tantalising assortment of trinkets and treasures for ye purchasing pleasure. Ye Olde Medieval Market is the region’s only annual craft market with a medieval theme and one not to be missed. Adults $5, kids under 15 $2 and preschoolers free. ▸ Saturday February 12, 9am – 4pm

Horowhenua AP&I Show The Horowhenua AP&I Show keeps coming back bigger and better every year! Held at the Levin Events Centre, there is plenty of entertainment for old and young with children’s entertainment and carnival rides, local bands, craft stalls, trade space and all the rural competitions you’d expect – wood chopping, sheep shearing, animal judging, Horse of the Year. The Horowhenua Vintage Machinery Club has a huge display of machinery from the past, and the Horowhenua Vintage Car Club will be showing off vintage cars and farm trucks. The Grand Parade is not to be missed - featuring clowns, performing dogs, vehicles from a bygone era and much more! ▸ Saturday January 22 – Sunday January 23, 9am – 4pm

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Waitangi Day

Supercheap Auto – Spectacular Car Show Not just for petrol heads, this family fun day in Shannon has been running for more than 10 years attracting up to 500 vehicles of all vintages. Bring your own special vehicle to display or just come along and enjoy the day. There are competitions and prizes for best presented cars and plenty of food stalls, so book the day in your diary now. Held at the Shannon Golf Club, there is a public car park for just $2 per vehicle with funds to the Shannon Golf Club. Entry per person is just $2 with money raised going to the Shannon Progressive Association. ▸ Sunday February 20, 9am – 3pm

What better way to celebrate New Zealand’s cultural diversity than the Muaūpoko Iwi free whānau fun day and picnic at Muaūpoko Park by Lake Horowhenua. Local music, kapa haka, art displays, kaumatua tent, health and wellbeing, tamoko, face painting, kai stalls, coffee truck, bouncy castles and pony rides – there’s more than enough to keep everyone happy, relaxed and entertained. So bring a picnic and share the day with us! ▸ Sunday February 06, 2021, 10am – 3pm

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Map of New Zealand

North Island

Horowhenua District Opiki Foxton Waitarere Hokio beach

Tokomaru Shannon

Levin Ōhau Manakau

South Island

Levin clock tower.

De Molen Windmill, Foxton.

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