ISSUE 7/SPRING 2010
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IN MEMORY OF IAN “SNOW” FRANCIS 1952-2010
Speed and the highway Seawall plans rejected Winter surf report Blair at Teahupoo Israel and Daisy Soul sisters
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beach story
6-7 New All Black Israel Dagg enjoys the beach lifestyle with his Wainui girlfriend Daisy.
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community news 8-9
PUBLISHING EDITOR Gray Clapham 90 Moana Road, Okitu Wainui Beach, Gisborne Phone 868 0240 Fax 867 7010 ..................................
Various issues and items of interest from the Wainui-Okitu Community Group.
community forum 10-11 Tribute to Ian “Snow” Francis who met his fate on a lefthand reef break in the Tropic of
Capricorn. Who’s corner is it—Bayly’s or the Boardroom’s? International flavours spice up the takeaway fare from the Wainui Store.
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT & JOURNALIST Heidi Clapham ..................................
the big issue 12-13 Petition to change the highway speed limit: The bureaucrats not impressed, an expert to
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beach news 14-16 Coates say thanks for support after house fire. Francis family impressed with love and
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support. Views improved as trees removed. Leigh Gibson’s QSM. Latest Ellmer’s housing development underway.
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18-27 Seal appeal and one good tern deserves a hundred others. School library wins regional awards. Zumba fitness comes to the beach. School gives early warning of 50th jubilee— Jean Webster remembers her teaching days. BeachLife sparks memories for Betty Collier. Cath Hobbs loved her time at the school.
COVER: Tube view of world-class surfer Maz Quinn surfing Wainui’s world-class beach breaks this winter. PHOTO BY CORY SCOTT/CANON
beach people 29-33 Lucy Suttor on stage at the Globe. Busby sisters and their shoe-in for fashion success. Locals teach English the art of rugby. Language skills help Maya Harris see the world.
beach debate 34-38 Which side of the seawall are you on? Scientist Amber Dunn gives her view and resident Neil Weatherhead calls for a reality check.
surfing 40 Historical photographs and assistance courtesy Tairawhiti Museum PILATES
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beach story
Israel keen to call Wainui home
Rising All Black star Israel Dagg and his Wainui Beach girlfriend Daisy Aitken are keen to one day call the beach their home.
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ew Zealand’s latest rugby star Israel Dagg has dreams of a long and successful career as an All Black—he also has dreams of one day building a home at Wainui Beach. Israel, who has been in a relationship with local girl Daisy Aitken for several years, has a real love for Gisborne and particularly Wainui. It was here at Wainui last June, at a visit to Daisy’s parents’ home in Lysnar Street, where he heard the “surprise” announcement that he had made the All Blacks. The Hawke’s Bay, and now New Zealand fullback, was absolutely stunned to hear his name read out on TV One news. Sensing it might happen, Daisy’s dad Dave Aitken, grabbed the family video camera just in time to record the occasion. “I couldn’t believe it,” says Israel. “Everyone was yahooing and everything. It was a very special moment and one I will cherish for a long time.” 6 | BeachLife
When in Gisborne Israel loves to go fishing off Tatapouri.
Daisy says Israel’s phone didn’t stop ringing for 24 hours and it took at least that long for the meaning of the announcement to really kick in. Daisy and Israel have been together since their teenage school days in Hawkes Bay. Daisy was at Woodford House and Israel was at Lindisfarne— they met at a combined schools ball in 2005 and have been going steady ever since. After school Daisy went on to study for a degree in Health Science, majoring in sport and exercise, graduating at the end of last year. Israel’s rise to rugby fame has been a big distraction this year— she has been to all his All Black appearances so far—but now Daisy intends to “get a real job”. Israel’s career with the All Blacks could dominate the next ten years of his life, so the future for the young couple will be controlled by his rugby playing fortunes. One thing they have decided on is not to get into the “rugby celebrity”
beach story game. They have already turned down offers of “interviews” from several women’s magazines. Up until his debut as an All Black they were just another typical, fun-loving, Kiwi couple— studying, travelling, enjoying life and growing
up together. Israel’s plans of joining the police force have been put on hold for now. While enjoing the excitement of being a rugby “WAG”, Daisy is determined to get on with her own life and to start a career. She has an idea of going to France for a while to work
One of the lads – Israel Dagg out with beach locals Rory Grant, Nathan Teutenberg and Choppy O’Leary at Rythmn and Vines. FACEBOOK PHOTO
Riding high – All Black Israel and local girl Daisy making the most of a recent holiday in Thailand.
on the super yachts, an adventurous career local girls like Ainsley Guness and Honey Dalton have successfully pursued. She says she and Israel have talked about it and are not going to be lured into thinking they are a “celebrity couple”. “Israel’s the famous one,” says Daisy. “I haven’t done anything great yet.” Their intentions to keep “under the radar” were dented when Israel scored that now famous try against South Africa at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on July 17. With that one dazzling run Israel went from minor star to A-list rugby hero just two minutes after coming on as a wing replacement. Daisy was in the stand to witness the moment, confessing she got so excited she jumped up and accidently tossed her glass of wine all over those around her. Drawing comparisons with the great Christian Cullen the media is now suggesting Israel is New Zealand’s hottest new rugby talent. Off the rugby field, Israel’s favourite escape is to come to Gisborne, where he loves to go fishing off Tatapouri, or hunting in the Ureweras, most often in the company of local outdoorsman Boyd McGregor. With the future all ahead of this young Kiwi athlete, Wainui locals can now watch his career develop with the thought that one day Israel Dagg, “famous All Black”, might eventually come home to live amongst us. -
Daisy catches up with her middle sister Laura Aitken. FACEBOOK PHOTO
BeachLife | 7
community news
Community AGM will review first year All residents invited to attend school hall gathering
Highway speed limit lowering supported THE WAINUI OKITU Community Group committee reflects the sentiments of the wider community at the refusal of NZTA to reduce the speed limit on the stretch of road between the Sponge Bay subdivision and the Hamanatua Bridge. To say the least, we are disappointed and dismayed. Given the situation with logging trucks and cyclists, a speed reduction seems the responsible thing to do.
Septic tank WOF scheme still in the pipeline COUNCIL IS STILL seeking to put in place some sort of WOF for residents’ septic tanks and waste water systems. We will need to stay on top of this so that it does not get out of hand cost-wise and intrusive-wise. One approach is to have Council keep a register of septic tank emptying/servicing with only the service dates and notation of any faults/problems. If there were no apparent problems with a system at servicing time, then only the date of servicing would be recorded. If there were a problem, then Council could follow up on it. Council would also be able to monitor the frequency of servicing to ensure that servicing is not left undone for too long. A programme like this would meet Council’s needs and keep costs down to a bare minimum, if any at all. Ideas for this presented by GDC staff at the a recent workshop are more detailed and more costly. If you have strong feelings about this issue, send your thoughts to us at info@wainuibeach.org.nz.
THE WAINUI OKITU Community AGM is set for Thursday, 16 September, at 7pm in the Wainui Beach School Hall. The AGM marks the Association’s first year of existence. It will be a short meeting to share what has been accomplished, elect officers and consider one remit. There will be an opportunity for members to voice any concerns or raise any issues they might have. There will also be a home-bake supper following the meeting and a chance to socialise. All members are encouraged to attend and non-members are welcome as well to find out what we are all about and to join up. Members will receive official notification along with important papers by email and/or letterbox drop. Information is also available on our website: www. wainuibeach.org.nz. In seeking tax-exempt status from IRD, we were told that we must add one clause to section 26 of our constitution. Tax-exempt status will mean that we are exempt from income tax on the first $1000 of our taxable income. It also means we do not have to file a tax return if our taxable income is $1000 or less. The clause that must be added is: (26.5) No addition to or alteration of the aims/objects, personal benefit clause or the winding-up clause shall be approved without the approval of Inland Revenue. The provisions and effect of this clause shall not be removed from this document and shall be included and implied into any document replacing this document. This remit will be voted on at the AGM. Members who are unable to attend can submit a proxy vote. Proxy forms will be included with other AGM material sent out to members.
Annual Plan submission – “stakeholder status” for the Association recognised THE WAINUI OKITU Community committee recently made a submission to the District Annual Plan requesting that the GDC treat the Association as a “significant stakeholder” in all affairs and issues related to the community and the beach that come before the Council. We requested that we be informed of, and involved in, planning and discussion from the early stages so that we might have input into the development of plans rather than just commenting on plans once they have been developed. There was opposition to this from several councillors. They asked why the Association should be given this special privilege. It was pointed out to them that we are an organization that has been formed by
members of the community, that we have a constitution, that we have incorporated and that we have asked to be treated as stakeholders. When the motion came to a vote, it was approved unanimously, with the exclusion of the word ‘significant’. So what does stakeholder status get us? It means, in theory, that the Association (meaning members of the community) will be treated on an equal basis with developers and business people when Council seeks advice on planning and development issues; that Council will seek out our input rather than receiving it in reaction; that Council and the community can work together more collaboratively. We will have to wait and see how it all plays out practically.
Community workshops attempt at engagement IN EARLY MAY, GDC held two community workshops at Wainui (one in the evening and one at lunchtime). This was in response to issues raised at the annual plan meeting held earlier. It was a meaningful attempt by Council to engage the community in a collaborative way. There were three workshops—Planning Issues, Environmental Issues and Septic Tank Issues. Attendees spent 30 minutes in each workshop. The planning issues workshop had a very good give and take feel to it, with Council staff listening and asking as much as they were telling. The other two workshops had the feel of previous Council consultation, with staff mostly giving out information and informing people, rather than seeking their input.
Supporting the Wainui–Okitu Community 8 | BeachLife
Information on these pages provided by the Wainui-Okitu Community Group
BEACH T-SHIRTS: Craig Jenkins is using Sanne Effmann’s logo design to have Wainui-Okitu Community T-shirts made. They look great and will help to contribute to our sense of unity and community. They will be available for purchase at the local dairies some time soon at a reasonable cost.
Community Engagement Strategy Focus Group DISTRICT COUNCIL STAFF have undertaken to develop a community engagement strategy. GDC wants to engage, inform, consult and collaborate with people and communities in more effective and successful ways. To this end, GDC has formed a consultative group that includes four Gisborne volunteers, who advise and meet with staff to develop and implement ideas. Wainui local Jennie Harre-Hindmarsh is one of those four. The Council person in charge of this project is Pania Ruakere. Jennie and Pania recently organised a focus group of Wainui-Okitu residents to share their perceptions and experiences with Council consultation. The twelve who attended were not at all shy to tell Pania where Council has gone wrong in the past and how Council can get it more right in the future.
NATIVE TREES PLANTED: The Women’s Native Tree Project has undertaken some native tree plantings with the help of Wainui Beach School. These plantings are at the Schools Access to the beach. They are in need of some tender loving care as they are being overgrown with weeds. Kauri Forno would welcome some ongoing community assistance in helping these natives survive and flourish to beautify this part of the beach. Anyone interested, give her a ring at 867-4149. LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS:
The Association is planning a meet-thecandidates evening for Wainui-/Okitu. Questions will be oriented around local issues and candidates’ views and attitudes towards our community and the challenges we face and the things that are of importance to us. Keep your eyes open for a specific date, time and venue. If you have any beach-oriented questions you would like answered by candidates, please send them to us at info@wainuibeach.org.nz.
www.wainuibeach.org.nz
Group urges need for monitoring of stormwater run-off into Wainui Stream SINCE THE BEGINNING of work on the Sponge Bay subdivision, flow and erosion in the Wainui Stream and where it meets the surf on the beach, have been of concern to streamside and beachfront residents, as well as to the wider Wainui/Okitu Community. While wastewater from this subdivision goes into the city wastewater system, all stormwater goes into the Wainui Stream. Residents along the stream and at its mouth have anecdotally recognised increases in flow and erosion since work on that subdivision was completed. There are only two houses under construction at the moment, with an additional 94 sections waiting to be built on. None of these houses will be required to install tank storage to alleviate roof runoff during major storm events The Association is currently lobbying Council to monitor water flow during major rain events so as to have benchmark figures for comparison when the subdivision is completely built out. This is essential to hold Council accountable should their engineering staff’s projections turn out to be under-valued. Of even greater concern is the fact that stormwater from other subdivisions will also go into the Wainui Stream. Other developments that will most likely direct their stormwater into Wainui Stream include the subdivision at the top of Wheatstone Road, phase two of the Sandy Cove subdivision, any subdivision at the Rifle Range and possibly the subdivision that will go into the earthworks at the corner of Wainui Road and Rutene Road. With the possibility of so much water going into this little streambed, it is essential to work with Council to establish baseline figures for water flow and to help set policy related to Wainui Stream. To this end, the Association has been discussing with Council staff the need for water flow monitoring to be established as soon as possible. A formal request in this regard is in the pipeline.
Water quality testing procedures still an issue of concern THERE IS STILL a big differing of opinions on the sources of stream and ground water contamination at Wainui Beach. GDC still maintains that on-site wastewater systems are a source of this contamination. Most locals, as well as the Wainui-Okitu Community Group committee, still maintain that Council has no reliable data to support this assertion. We say that Council needs to eliminate farm and wild animal waste from the equation before they can make a valid connection between on-site wastewater systems and stream/ground water contamination. The Wainui Stream has a resident flock of ducks behind a Lloyd George Road property. Farming in the hills definitely affects the quality of water at Stock Route and in the Hamanatua Stream. Council checks for contaminants fortnightly at eight sites in the community. Of greatest concern are levels of e-coli and enterococci. These have been high at Stock Route and near the mouth of the Hamanatua Stream and borderline in the Wainui Stream. But Council is still unable to say what part is attributed to farm and wild animals—and thus cannot determine what part might come from on-site wastewater systems. Part of the problem is that special tests which are able to differentiate animal and human waste are very expensive and difficult to do. However, Council is working with staff from Christchurch, who have the expertise. They will come to Wainui in the near future to conduct tests and, hopefully, give us some more definitive answers.
Community group encouraging membership COMING UP TO one year and the Community Group has 123 paid-up members. This is a great start. But we know that there are many of you out there who have said, “Oh yeah, I have been meaning to send in my membership subs.” Now is the best time to do it. It’s only $10 for the year. Your support means a lot to the Association and helps us to have a strong representation to Council. If you are not yet a
member, do it now. You can phone one of us (Norman 867-2790, Gary 867-5595, Virginia 867-2634, Chris 868-8652 or KT/Craig 8672126) and we will bring you a membership envelope to complete and pop your $10 into. Or you can make a direct deposit to our ANZ account number 01-0641-0215837-00. If you direct deposit, be sure to email your personal details to chris@gisborne.net. BeachLife | 9
Publisher’s Comments by Gray Clapham
A tragedy in the Tropic of Capricorn
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n August 23 at around 10.00am, up in the local surfing culture of the era. He On July 24 they continued their travels long-time Wainui resident, Ian “Snow” shared flats with friends, travelled to Australia northwards with no real plan or destination. Francis, paddled out to surf a remote to work and play but was always drawn back On the last day of July they veered left-hand reef break in the northwest corner of to Gisborne by a love of his hometown. He coastwards on a secondary highway linking Western Australia. married local girl Karen Peake in 1981. They Carnarvon and the Exmouth gulf. Two other surfers in the water, a father had son Jamie, who is now an upstanding 28 A travel guide provided information about and son, saw Ian stand up to catch a wave year old, living with his fiance Hannah Davison alternative, wilderness camping on the nearby and then fall from his board. They noticed he in Melbourne. coast. They were attracted to Warroora did not surface and paddled to where he had During this time, Ian joined in a business (pronounced Warra) Station, an extensive fallen. They assisted his lifeless body over the partnership with Mark “Cryp” Greig in their sheep and cattle run adjacent to the famous shallow reef and onto the beach where he was tenure of the Portside Service Station by the Ningaloo Reef marine park which offered so obviously dead no prolonged attempt was Gisborne wharf. beachfront camping at $5.00 per night. made at resuscitation. When 40km south of Coral Ian’s partner, Diana Alkin, who Bay, just north of the had been for a walk along the Tropic of Capricorn, THIS ISSUE OF BEACHLIFE IS IN MEMORY coastline beyond the point 23km off the bitumen OF IAN “SNOW” FRANCIS returned to where she had left highway, Ian and 23 October 1952 – 3 August 2010 Ian to go for a surf— his first Diana called in to the in several months—she also Warroora homestead realised Ian was beyond help. and got directions to While someone drove Bulbarli, one of many inland to find a phone to call camping sites on the emergency services, Diana property, and a location stayed beside Ian for the three known for good surf in hours it took for the police to the right swell. arrive from Carnarvon. The road was so The first call to Ian’s family rough they camped the was made on a policeman’s first night short of the cellphone. Ian’s son Jamie and coast, uncoupling the his fiance Hannah Davison caravan the next day to flew then drove to the scene try a tentative run to from Melbourne. His sister the beach in the Toyota Pamela flew from New Zealand. Ian “Snow” Francis, superimposed against the picture he took himself of the surf truck. They made it An eventual postmortem safely and spent the breaking on the West Australian reef where he died while surfing the very next day. carried out in Perth proved day swimming and inconclusive. A week after his death, Ian’s body Ian sold the Portside business in 1998 and fishing where Ian caught three good fish. was cremated and his ashes flown back to worked for a short time in the GDC vehicle They returned with the caravan and spent Gisborne. testing station. During this time he also the next day walking and exploring the coast. On Saturday, August 14, friends and family established himself as a wholesale car buyer, A good-sized surf was running on the reef and gathered at the Wainui Surf Club to farewell supplying vehicles to local caryards as well as Ian took just one photo with his digital camera. the 57-year-old man who had lived at Wainui for friends on request. They had planned to depart the next Beach for most of his adult life. During most of the last two decades he morning but the weather was so beautiful they All concerned were stunned at the news partnered with Maxine Francois, living for a decided to stay one more day. of his death while surfing in such a faraway time on the Sunshine Coast and then returning Around 9.30am Ian—seeing two other location. Despite the obvious dangers, to Gisborne where they bought and ran the surfers out in the water—decided to paddle surfing deaths are not common and Ian was Wainui Motels together for several years. After out on his surfboard to try the waves on the not known to surf in big seas or dangerous selling the motel business he opened a retail reef. Diana went for a walk. conditions. caryard in Grey Street, Auto Connection. Later, on hearing news of Ian’s death, his Ian was the youngest child of Jim and For many years, and up until his death, Ian family realised Ian had died on the same date Margaret Francis, a well-known Gisborne owned a house on the beach edge of Pare as their father Jim, exactly 20 years later to the family from Oswald Street. He has sisters Pam Street by Cooper Street. In 2009 Ian rented the day. and Judy and an older brother Stuart. house and set out to travel with English-born In his belongings Diana found some notes He went to Mangapapa, Ilminster and partner, Diana Alkin. After a holiday in Europe Ian had written on a scrap of paper while on Gisborne Boys’ High. He took professional they decided to explore Australia. the road a few days earlier. Along with some courses and passed his School Certificate They bought a caravan and a 4WD truck in road directions and a note to read a certain in 1969, but on leaving school he pursued Canberra, and after a short time at Noosa, they book, Ian had randomly written a quote from an interest in auto mechanics eventually went west across the Nullabor to Perth. the enigmatic and tragic actor James Dean qualifying after an apprenticeship with the February 2010 found them in Geraldton, five who died in a car accident at age 24. Post Office workshop. hours north of Perth, where they stopped for In Ian’s handwriting it said: “Dream as if you Like most of his contemporaries growing three months working as traffic controllers on live forever. Live as if you will die tomorrow.” into manhood in the 1970s, he was caught roading and mining projects in the area. • Family thank friends for support on page 14. 10 | BeachLife
beach forum
That cursed corner Surf swap at local store working well COFFEE AT THE Wainui Store, check the surf—my usual Saturday/Sunday operation. After is driving them coming to terms with a non-surf day a few Saturdays ago, I was intrigued by a gathering of surfboards and their owners at the Wainui Store. I’d stumbled across the Wainui Store Surf around the bend Swap. I made my way around the vintage longboards, shortboards, old surf mags, wetties—
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he raised a good point at the time of the most recent car crash near the Boardroom Surf Shop when Clare Bayly, formerly of Bayly’s Plant Nursery, wrote to the Gisborne Herald asking the local daily to stop referring to that notorious local corner as “Bayly’s Bend”. “There have been several stories lately about yet another dreadful accident at Bayly’s Bend on Wainui Road,” she wrote. “As one half of the said Baylys, I am very sad that after leaving the area 14 years ago, our name is remembered in this way. Granted, we are now very much “around the bend” in our retirement! “In the 48 years living in our lovely city, 40 of which we were in the nursery and garden centre business, we would so much prefer to be remembered for that, than a dangerous bend in the road. “Rob and I wholly support the Dalton family’s petition for a 70kmh speed restriction on that section of highway, to make it safer for all. Now is the time, in my humble opinion, for the said bend to be referred to as “Dalton’s Bend” for the family who are truly the caregivers for those in need on their doorstep.” However Ray and Gail Dalton are not wanting to be immortalised by the bend either, and suggest if it has to be known as anything, it be the “Boardroom Bend”. This is backed up by local ambulance staff who say they would refer to the vicinity as “the bend on State Highway 35 by the Boardroom Surf Shop”. The Fire Service say they were last directed to the scene by its address of 659 Wainui Road but say there are still firemen working who would respond to a call to “Bayly’s Bend”. When BeachLife called Clare Bayly said she didn’t think she and Rob had any claim to the corner having sold the nursery property and moved to town in 1996. However she did endorse the Dalton’s concerns about the danger of the bend. She said, even though their property was not right on the bend, they did witness numerous accidents in their day. On one occasion she remembers a car that flew right across the ditch, over the hedge and into the nursery amongst the plants in the serving bay. The driver, unhurt, asked to use the phone to call for a ride home. With respect to Clare and Rob, who ran Bayly’s Nursery near the corner from 1970 to 1996— maybe it is time to “turn the corner”— so let’s all agree that it’s now the “Boardroom Bend”. -
people of all ages in search of some new board amp—stoked with a local base to buy, sell or swap old and new surf-related gear. Loose arrangements were made to swap my retro fish for something a little different and here I am a couple of months on, surfing a different board, refining what I want in my next board. Get involved—Wainui Store Surf Swap on the first Saturday of every month. STOKED LOCAL
International flavours at the local store
Amy Whitfield and Marcel Campbell serving up the Mexican-inspired menu at the Wainui Store.
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nternational food nights are a regular and popular attraction at the Wainui Store. On selected Wednesday nights once a month, David, Amy and Marcel enthusiastically prepare a themed three-course takeaway menu which customers pick up at pre-ordered times. It’s a big effort taking several days to prepare and is advertised well in advance. The Wainui Store crew take care with their food and like to feature local produce wherever possible. Mexico was the flavour of the month in July with guacamole and salsa dip and tortilla chips matched with cerviche (marinated fish) as an appetiser before a main serving of chilli con carne (made with Turihaua Angus Beef and locally grown Gizzy Heat chillis) on rice, followed by a Kahlua cream dessert cake. Compulsory tequila shots were offered to
customers when picking up their orders. Other international nights of note have featured Turkish, French, Italian, Spanish, Thai and Caribbean inspired menus. On most nights as many as 50 meals are ordered and are usually priced at around $25 per person. Some of the dishes require slow cooking and can take up to three days to prepare. It’s not so much about making a profit, says David Whitfield, it’s more about having fun with food, trying out recipes and celebrating local produce. And it’s all part of the fun and flair Wainui customers have grown to expect from the unique local dairy and cafe—where you never know quite what to expect next. Keep an eye out for the next International Night at the Wainui Store. BeachLife | 11
Bureaucrats won’t believe speed is the danger at Wainui’s horror bend
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he speed limit of 100kmh from Sponge Bay to Okitu looks likely to remain unchanged despite a local petition signed by 1500 people calling for the limit to be reduced to 70kmh. The petition was started by Ray and Gail Dalton after an horrific accident on the “Boardroom Bend” on June 2 which saw two cars collide head on. Six people were injured, two trapped inside mangled wrecks, in this most recent of accidents at the local danger corner. The last accident, which left Dalton family members traumatised by the injuries they were forced to deal with as first on the scene, was the final catalyst to “doing something about it”. Nearly everyone has a “horror story” of an accident or near miss on this blind bend in SH35. However the NZ Transport Agency refuses to accept that lowering the speed limit will fix the problem. Transport Agency traffic and safety engineer, Ken Holst, said in a letter to the Daltons that the request for a speed reduction was noted but criteria showed quite clearly that the section of road from Sponge Bay to Okitu met the warrant for 100kmh. Instead the Agency has responded to local concerns by dressing the corner up with extra signage, suggesting new painted lines, a promise of a reseal and the threat of rumble strips. However it appears the door is not completely closed. In his letter Mr Holst said: “We have approached our national expert in our head office to see if our interpretation of the warrant (100kmh) is correct.” This “head office expert” will determine if there are any special circumstances regarding the setting of the speed limit for this stretch of SH35. The Daltons are not happy with the idea of rumble strips outside their home. Apart from the potential noise annoyance, Ray is not sure of the wisdom of rumble strips which may cause drivers to panic and veer quickly back 12 | BeachLife
for a 70kmh speed limit or a cycleway, but that’s what the people of Wainui and Gisborne want. So hold off on your rumble strips — the cycleway KEN HOLST will happen, and a lower speed limit will complement it.” From a local perspective the collection of eventually 1500 signatures to the petition calling for the speed limit reduction proves there is overwhelming support for the concept. While there may be a few in the community who might resent a slightly slower trip in and out of town, most see little sense in a 100kmh speed strip for into the centre of the road. just 2.3 kilometres through the heart of our The Gisborne Herald came out in support of community. lowering the speed limit and tied the issue in What Wainui is up against is the Transport with the local desire for a walking and cycling Agency’s “Speed Limits Policy” that states: track along the route. In a recent editorial The objective is to balance the interests of Jeremy Muir wrote: mobility and safety by ensuring speed limits are safe, appropriate and credible for the level of roadside development and the category of the road in which they are set. They must also be nationally consistent. Consistency is an important aspect of road users’ perceptions of a reasonable speed limit and will influence their willingness to comply. To do this the Agency uses a standard method for calculating speed limits called Speed Limits New Zealand (SLNZ). Faced with demands for speed reductions from localities all over New Zealand, the Agency has to remain firm in order to stop the “thin of the wedge” slipping in to disrupt this method. However, the rules do state that: “In some rare situations, when because of “Gisborne people have been pestering special features or activities along a route, them (NZ Transport Agency) for years to SLNZ cannot be used or will not produce a have a cycleway alongside it (the road linking sound result.” Gisborne to Wainui), and now Wainui residents Let’s hope the promised “head office fearing a fatal accident have collected over expert” makes a real review of the entire 1000 signatures calling for the speed limit to 2.3km route to see if our piece of highway is be cut from 100kmh to 70kmh. indeed a “rare situation” and decides in favour “Here’s the thing, NZTA. This short stretch of a “sound result”. of highway might not meet your guidelines
“We have approached our national expert in our head office to see if our interpretation of the warrant (100kmh) is correct.”
24 seconds: could be the difference between life and death “Why not lower the limit? We only lose 24 seconds, what rational person would put that small saving ahead of safety? As a nation we spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year trying to save people from themselves (anti-smoking, liquor, junk food, blood alcohol) yet when there is a call for a simple, relatively painless, speed limit change we see attempts to justify the status quo, rather than either engaged dialogue or the courage to make a necessary change.” ANDREW DONALDSON
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wenty-four seconds. That’s the difference between travelling at 70kmh instead of 100kmh from Okitu to Murdoch Road on State Highway 35. Wainui resident Andrew Donaldson timed several runs at the two different speeds to evaluate what lowering the speed limit would mean to motorists. “One of the often repeated arguments for maintaining 100kmh is to avoid inconvenience and economic impact on heavy trucks, particularly logging trucks,” he said in a column in the Gisborne Herald in June. “It seems that the extra time it would take at the lower speed limit of 70kmh is material. It didn’t seem sensible to me, so I drove the 2.3km section of the highway with a stop watch at both speeds. “The difference between 70kmh and 100kmh is 24 seconds. In a heavy truck the acceleration rate would be slower so the time difference would be even less. “In the context of economic efficiency, it’s hard to see the benefits of 100kmh as a viable argument.” Andrew believes the “strict adherence” by the Transport Agency to its Speed Limits criteria is creating a dangerous, yet legal situation. Others agree, stating the Transport Agency is not seeing the whole picture of the role this 2.3km stretch of highway plays in our community. The dangers are not limited to the area known as the “Boardroom Bend”. The highway
serves as both a vital and only link into the city, as well as a semi-urban thoroughfare. The highway is being used daily by a mix of long-haul heavy transporters, open highway travellers, city commuters and local people “tootling about” their “village”. Mothers ferrying children to school and people with home businesses driving to the local stores for coffee are intersecting with convoys of heavily-laden logging trucks in full flight from the forests of the East Cape. There are vehicles on this stretch of road moving in totally opposite head spaces and you daily see the them clash, particularly at the intersections at both ends of Wairere Road. Andrew Donaldson says the most dangerous section of the road is the curving section between Oneroa Road and Wheatstone Road. “This section combines a high volume of slow moving traffic moving out of Oneroa Road into the path of fast moving highway traffic and the occasional car turning into and out of private driveways. “Commonsense would suggest that with these multiple perils, a 70kmh limit should be imposed.” Andrew also points out that removing the higher speed limit would improve compliance with the existing 70kmh areas at each end of the 2.3km stretch in question. “If we as a community are prepared to lobby hard enough we will be able to effect a change,” he says. “Let’s not wait till the next accident.” -
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“Many Wainui commuters are already voluntarily adhering to a 70kmh speed limit because they believe it is the sensible thing to do. This is causing frustration for other motorists who want to get up to the legal speed. The two schools of thought clashing on such a small stretch of highway is a recipe for tragedy. Are the Transport Agency experts conscious of this? And if the community is so overwhelmingly behind this suggested change, why do they want to fight against us?” CONCERNED COMMUTER
277 Awapuni Road Phone 06 867 7806 BeachLife | 13
beach news
Community support after fire much appreciated
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he Coates family of Murphy Road should be moving back into their home very soon. The Coates were forced to flee their house when it caught fire following an early morning electrical fault on April 21. While awaiting the completion of extensive repairs to their own home, they have been living temporarily in a Tuahine Crescent beach house provided by friend Annabel Reynolds for several months. On the morning of the fire daughter Charlotte woke to the sound of fire crackling just before 5am in her upstairs bedroom. She opened her wardrobe door and discovered her clothes hanging inside were on fire. The fire had been smouldering in the ceiling void for several hours. Charlotte ran out screaming “fire” and woke her still sleeping sister and parents. Safely outside the family could only watch as flames blazed through
the roof while waiting for the fire brigade to arrive. Fire officers said the family did the right thing by closing the doors and not going back into the house. The home was fitted with a smoke alarm but it was located on the downstairs floor. It did not activate when the fire started. Pru Coates says smoke alarms fitted in strategic places will be a priority in their repaired and redecorated house. “The smoke alarm didn’t start going off until we were out of the house. We just didn’t have them in the right places.” The Coates would like to sincerely thank the many people who offered support after the fire. “I guess it is part of living in a small community. People we know, and people we didn’t know, rang and offered us support, places to stay—all sorts of help—it was amazing.” -
Friends thanked for support after shock death of popular local man
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he death of local man Ian “Snow” Francis in a surfing accident in Western Australia in early August shocked and stunned his friends in the Wainui community. Ian died mysteriously on the morning of August 3 after falling from his surfboard at a place called Bulbarli while on a caravaning journey in the remote northwest corner of the state. Witnesses saw him stand up to ride a wave and then fall from his board. Despite a gash to his head, an initial postmortem carried out in Perth has not established an actual cause of death. Ian was 57-years-old and had owned a beachfront home in Pare Street, next to the beach access from Cooper Street, for around 20 years. A farewell for Ian was held at the Wainui Surf Club on August 14. Friends came from far and wide to say goodbye to a wellknown and popular man. His family —sisters Judy and Pam, brother Stuart, son Jamie, and partner Diana—have asked BeachLife to thank everyone at Wainui Beach for their “love and support”. Sister Judy Francis, who was left in Gisborne to “hold the fort” for over a week while arrangements were being made to bring Ian home from Australia, says the surge of support she received was “heart-warming and much appreciated”. The family wishes to thank everyone who offered tangible help with the farewell for Ian, including the support of the Wainui Surf Lifesaving Club. -
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beach news
Exotic trees removed, pohutukawas trimmed
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he foreshore sand dunes along Moana Road in areas of Lysnar Reserve were given a makeover this winter with a number of exotic trees and shrubs removed and native pohutukawa trees trimmed. Contractors were busy through June and July removing mostly Phoenix palms and Norfolk Island hibiscus trees. Groves of pohutukawas were thinned to allow views to the ocean that were previously screened by dense foliage. General comments have been positive about the Council’s policy of attempting to return Lysnar Reserve into a more natural coastal environment by removing trees that had been haphazardly planted over the years. Many of the well-established trees, that had grown to block off views to the sea, had been planted by people with good intentions several decades ago, or had been self-sewn from a time when residents used to dump their garden cuttings in the reserve. While the opening up of sea views have been of obvious benefit to many residents of the beach, the tree felling has also improved the view of the ocean for motorists travelling along State Highway 35. All the mature Norfolk pine trees, which were originally on the council’s “chop” list, have been left standing. Following on from the tree work, improvement of the overall access to the beach is planned this financial year as per the management plan, says Terry McMillan, GDC’s Community Facilities Asset Manager. This will involve some work on car parking spaces, beach stairs, signage and fencing including bollards. Also planned is the replacement of a number of bins and picnic tables with the new style ones, he says. “We are also planning some dune care work over the next three months. We have 2,000 spinifex and 500 pingao plants ready to go into the dunes. “Wayne O’Keefe from Indigenous
The removal of a Phoenix palm tree and a Norfolk Island hibiscus tree resulted in the opening up of the view south along Wainui Beach at the northern end of Moana Road.
Landscapes in Tauranga has been invited by Gisborne District Council to plan the planting with the Wainui School and the wider community. He will also share his experience with the community at one or two public meetings and will work with the school. “The dates and times are yet to be finalised. We will let the community know as soon as they are confirmed. There will be public
notices in the paper and through the usual distribution networks.” The preparation of a management plan for Makorori is due to start this year. That will follow a similar process to the Lysnar and Wainui plan. Interested persons and groups should look out for the public notices or contact GDC. -
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beach news
Award a team effort says YMCA’s Leigh Gibson
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Ashleigh Richards is a finalist in the 2010 Wella Trend Vision Awards.
hen Wainui Beach’s Leigh Gibson heard news that she was to receive the Queen’s Service Medal for services to the YMCA in this year’s Queen’s Birthday awards, she was surprised to have been recognised so early in her “journey with the Y”. Leigh is determined to let it be known that the award was not just for her, but for “every staff member, board member and volunteer that has made the YMCA what it is today”. “We still have so much to do, we’re only at the beginning of what we hope to achieve. I was surprised because I thought this sort of honour came after you had retired after completing your mission in life.” When Leigh started as chief executive of the Gisborne YMCA 10 years ago, it had just two staff and run-down facilities. Now it is a growing organisation with new buildings, early childhood education facilities, 120 full-time staff and three gymnasiums. “But to be honest, I thought the award was wonderful for the YMCA, where we are now leading the way in so may areas.” Leigh’s association with the YMCA began as a volunteer director on the YMCA board: “I have always believed the YMCA is an important place. Every community needs a place where people feel a sense of belonging, a sense of security and a sense of wellbeing. I am honoured that the community has recognised what the Y is doing.” Leigh has travelled nationally and internationally within the YMCA movement and recently spoke at the World Alliance of YMCAs in Cairo and at a CEO’s conference in Hong Kong in July this year. After the Queen’s Birthday award was announced she says she was overwhelmed with messages of congratulations, including letters from John Key and other politicians, and emails from all over the world. Despite this recognition Leigh says she has no plans to further her career outside of Gisborne: “I love it here—I am here for life.” Fate brought Leigh to Gisborne after meeting Wainui local Sandy Gibson at a party in Auckland when she had just left school and was training as a data professor. They married on her 17th birthday in 1974. With their first child De-Arne, she and Sandy lived in a housebus for five years as they travelled around the North Island following drainlaying contracts. They came to live and work in Gisborne when Sandy’s father, Lex Gibson, suggested they take over one of his milk runs. They bought a section and built a home at 101 Moana Road, later moving to their current home on Wairere Road. Son Simon was born in 1983 and is now building in Western Australia. Daughter De-Arne is a senior planner in the GDC’s parks and reserves department. -
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beach news
22 new sections in latest residential development
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tage four of Sandy Cove is now underway comprising the final 22 lots of a residential housing project which began at Wainui Beach in the mid 1990s. Ellmers Properties recently started the preliminary earthworks on the final stage of the Sandy Cove development on the bare land between State Highway 35 and Wairere Road. Spokesperson Sandra Ellmers says road construction will begin once the area has settled and has been grassed. The first sections in the Ocean Park-Sandy Cove project went on sale in 1994 and lots in this final stage are expected to be on the market from early to mid 2011. “We have already had quite a few enquiries from Wainui residents since the earthworks began, so it is encouraging to see that Wainui residents are showing interest in building in the new subdivision,” Sandra says. “Some have already requested an option for a particular lot. Some Wairere Road residents, whose homes back onto the development, have expressed interest in procuring the section behind their present homes. “The lots are large by modern standards (up
The final development in the long housing development project by Sandra and Garth Ellmers at Wainui.
to 1123m2) and many lots have sea views. “A plus for the development is the access way to the beach which is directly opposite the entrance so it will be nice for residents to have easy beach access and a playground across
the road. This could be seen as a last chance to purchase a bare block close to the beach at Wainui. Enquiries to Sandra Ellmers at sellmers@ xtra.co.nz or phone 07 825 0004.
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beach life
Wainui’s winter seclusion gets seal of approval
A New Zealand fur seal, or Kekeno, finds a sunny spot at northern Wainui for a day of rest and relaxation before continuing on its coastal journey. PHOTOS BY HEIDI CLAPHAM
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ur seals, or Kekeno, are wild New Zealand animals which often show up on the shores of Wainui Beach during winter. While they often look as if they are sick or injured, they are usually just taking time out to rest, according to DOC. The Department of Conservation’s relationship with Kekeno is based on “minimum intervention”. Unless a fur seal is in obvious trouble, DOC says to leave them alone. Seals don’t beach like whales or dolphins. They are resilient mammals and usually best left to themselves. Seals don’t have tear ducts. Those tearfullooking, weepy eyes are damp with normal moisture secretions. Don’t let those large mournful eyes tempt you to try patting or stroking. Look but don’t touch. They are wild creatures and will defend their territory aggressively. They carry infectious diseases and their teeth can inflict serious injuries. Enjoy seals from a distance – at least 20 metres away. Their hearing, vision and sense of smell are excellent. They can move as quickly as you. Don’t get between a seal and its escape route to the sea. Always keep dogs and small children well away from seals and don’t attempt to feed the seal. Seals often turn up in unexpected places. They usually move on when they are ready but in some cases they may need help. Call the DOC Hotline 0800 362 468. -
beach life
A colony of white-fronted terns in repose and in flight on Wainui Beach. PHOTO BY HEIDI CLAPHAM
Flighty visitors tern up at the beach
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hey stopped over for less than an hour, pausing to rest their wings after a long flight from some other coast. A colony of around 150 birds on the move landed on the sand north of the Chalet on a sunny, late summer’s afternoon in March. It’s one of the joys of beach living, observing and noting the coming and going of coastal creatures. If it’s not orca or dolphin, schools of kahawai, or lost penguins and seals—it’s a flock of native seabirds. The visitors were white-fronted terns, or Tara (Sterna striata), the most common tern living along New Zealand coasts but not often seen around Gisborne beaches. One of the delights in observing a colony of terns is the manner in which they all face the same direction—each individual in the ternery sits facing the breeze. Conservationist William Guthrie-Smith (1862-1940) was in awe of the white-front tern commenting: “Few sights are more elegant than a colony in repose, the beautful birds in hundreds facing one direction, settled into the sand as if floating on water, each with the same pure greys below, the same black cap above, the same dark bill, the same long pinions crossed above the back like the forked tails of a great Brazilian butterfly.”
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BeachLife | 19
beach life
Practising their guitar playing skills in the new library with music teacher John Minogue are Meg Grealish, David Barker, Michaela Watkins, Ben McGregor and Skye Hutchings.
School wins architectural awards for library design
W
ainui school staff and local architectural designer Chris Shaw are holding back on the celebrations even though the school library recently won two sections of the New Zealand regional architectural design awards. The library is now on the shortlist for similar awards in the New Zealand wide national architectural awards which will be decided at a national Conference in Nelson on 14-16 October. The wave-inspired building earned Chris Shaw of Pacific Modern Architecture first prize in the “Commercial Interior Design” section, as well as “Colour in Design”. A modest budget and a relatively tight size restriction (78 square metres) did not limit the creativity of the designer, said the judges. “The resulting school library is appealing, functional, vibrant and ideally suited to the Gisborne environment with a wave-shaped roof line reflecting the region’s strong coastal influences. “A covered veranda frontage provides a generous outdoor
performance space for school and community activities.” “How fantastic!,” said Wainui School principal Nolian Andrew. “The kids absolutely love it, it’s a lovely space and there has been much more interest in reading since it opened in April. Because we had an increase in our roll, we converted the old library to a classroom and Chris came up with the idea of the wave shape.” The library is also used as a music room with Wainui local and former Wainui school teacher, John Minogue, giving guitar lessons each week. On sunny winter days the children like to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air on the library’s extensive deck area. As well as the prizes for the Wainui School library, Chris Shaw also won a prize for sustainable architecture for a Raglan house he recently designed. Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ) was formed in 1996 to represent, promote and develop the skills and services of its members, who are all specialists in design and construction.
Zumba in the former AB winery
Now you can take your Zumba Fitness classes in town or at the beach. All choreography is synchronised with Gisborne Latin Zumba and concession cards can be used at all sessions.
Gisborne Latin Zumba Fitness at the beach
with Kaye Geiseler in the former AB Winery • 24 Moana Road
Phone 868 6917 • www.gisbornelatinzumba.co.nz Look for the flyer in your letterbox soon for start date timetable
20 | BeachLife
ZUMBA HAS ARRIVED AT WAINUI. Kaye Geiseler is offering a variety of classes including mornings—9.15am after the kids are dropped off at school or kindy)—afternoons with special rates for students and a more “hip hop” feel, a Sunday afternoon session and also a social Friday night Zumba and Wine Party where people can stay on after the class to have a drink and socialise. “My classes will all be time-tabled to compliment those being offered in town by Oriana Rojas at her new premises in the former Gilmours’ building in Awapuni Road. Concession cards will be available that can be used both here and in town at any of the Gisborne Latin Zumba classes,” says Kaye. “The choreography will be the same here and at the classes in town, so you can choose to do a class at Wainui, and a class in town, and still know all the moves.”
beach life
Kids love the new library A COSY PLACE WITH A GOOD BOOK: Beneath the stylised breaking wave that is the facade of the new award-winning Wainui Beach school library local students enjoy the pleasure of reading books. Anticlockwise from below: Charlie Klavs, Daisy Rawls and Ethan Beer discuss a literary point; Tommy Peterson and Claire Milne share a good story; Bailey Kopua and Grace Singh compare choices; Eva Bryant and Alice Brotherton keep each other company in the warm winter sunshine.
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Head coach Greg Meade Phone 867 0698 Teach your child a core skill that can potentially save their life! BeachLife | 21
beach life
Photo news TOP LEFT: Brendan Meade, son of Greg and Vicky Meade of Wairere Road, married his Mauritian bride Nadia Lakhil on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius on June 12. The couple met in London where 27 year old Brendan works as a web designer. ABOVE: Attending the wedding of Brendan Meade to Nadia Lakhil at the Mauritius Hilton Hotel was a contingent of Brendan’s friends and relations— his mum and dad Greg and Vicky with friends Ivan and Carnie, brother Damon Meade, Linda and Graeme Mann, Raewyn, Claire Bull and Andrew Bull, Brendan’s mates Ben and Adam, Ray Meade and Nadia’s bridesmaid. LEFT: A day at the races in the island of Mauritius. Ivan Paterson, Greg and Damon Meade enjoying a day out while visiting Mauritius to attend Brendan Meade’s wedding. BELOW LEFT: Well-known local Tess McCormick of Douglas Street celebrated her 50th birthday recently and got together for a special celebratory drink with her mum Joan Coates of Lysnar Street. BELOW: Ben Galbraith turned the ripe old age of 30 recently and celebrated with a house party at his mum Linda’s Makorori home. He is pictured with his girlfriend Simonne Simpson of Wainui.
22 | BeachLife
beach life
School prepares for 50th jubilee The call is out to all former pupils of our local Wainui Beach School to start thinking about the celebration of the school’s 50th Jubilee in 2012. Wainui Beach School, which first opened its classroom doors in 1962, will be holding its first 50th birthday in February of 2012. At this early stage, former first-day pupil Sher Green (Ferris) is helping to get the jubilee ball rolling. While she is not voluntaring as Jubilee Committee chairperson at this stage, Sher has put herself forward as a catalyst to get things started. “If you are keen to be part of the Jubilee Committee and are interested in joining us for a fun-filled weekend of laughs and nostalgia, please let us know,” she says. There is an Expression of Interest form, which can be uplifted from the school office, or downloaded directly from the school website or you can email your interest to jubilee@wainuibeach.school.nz .
WHERE WERE YOU IN ‘62 (or there abouts): Back row: Graeme Wakelin, Richard Suttor, Phillipa Hall, June Hall, Fleur Ferris, Jean Currie, Jillian Lysnar, Jenny Bayly, Melody Sherwood, Kevin Ferris, Chris Porter. Middle row: Leith Wattie, Marilyn Hall, Megan Callaghan, Lorraine Wilkinson, Bronwyn Tonkin, Andrea Wells, Carol Mahia, Robyn Williams, Tui Currie, Raewyn Ellis. Front row: Kerry McKay, Murray LeCompte, John Rogers, Paumea Ferris, Mark Rogers, Roy Houthuijzen, Jock Benton.
We can’t name everyone in these class photos taken in 1968—but we’re sure former Wainui School pupils will have a lot of fun trying to identify who’s who. Looking back on the way we were over 50 years should spark a big interest in the school’s 50th jubilee which will be celebrated in 2012.
beach life
Magazine brings back memories for Mrs Collier
Photos of grown up students in BeachLife and the arrival of the old school dental clinic opposite her Lysnar Street home has Betty Collier reminiscing.
BY HEIDI CLAPHAM
S
IX ISSUES OF BEACHLIFE have brought many fond memories flooding back for former Wainui Beach school teacher Betty Collier. Reminiscing over photos, particularly in the last issue, and reading about the successful lives of many of her former students, has given Betty a great thrill. Now retired from a professional career and still living in her Lysnar Street home of over 30 years, Betty swims one kilometre every morning and continues her love of teaching as a voluntary tutor at Senior Net computing courses at the Gisborne Cosmopolitan Club. Betty moved to New Zealand from England with a young family in 1972, following an earlier trip to visit her sister and her sister’s husband who had already moved to Gisborne from England. Born in Essex in the 1930s, Betty completed her teacher training at Dartford Education College in Kent and first taught in London for five years at a private high school, Notting HillEaling Girls’ Public Day School. During this time she met and married John Collier, a flight engineer with the British Airforce. The couple spent six years in Singapore and moved 22 times with the air 24 | BeachLife
force before Betty “put her foot down” and made the decision to immigrate and to set up a permanent home at Wainui Beach. She arrived first with son Tim and daughter Louise. Her husband followed six months later, after obtaining an early release from the airforce. They built their Lockwood home on Lysnar Street in 1973 after renting for a short time in Lloyd George Road. At the time there were only three other sections in use in the area. Betty began teaching at Wainui Beach School in 1975. The school had only four classrooms and there were usually just 20 children to a classroom. Merv Bradley was “headmaster”, the second principal since the school started in 1962. Her husband John died of cancer in 1982. After 19 years at Wainui Beach School, Betty resigned in 1993 due to hip problems. One of her biggest achievements was persuading the then principal, Roger Mooar, to buy the first computers for the school around 1987, with Wainui being one of the first primary schools in Gisborne to do so. Betty’s own children, now grown up, are both teachers. Son Tim is the design teacher at Gisborne Girls High School. Daughter Louise teaches the same age group Betty taught at school, J2 Standard 1,
in Saudi Arabia and has recently finished her Masters. Betty regularly keeps in contact with Cath Hobbs, former Wainui Beach teacher and former principal Oona Manning. “It’s so lovely to catch up with former pupils and find out what they’re doing now. I bumped into one former student recently who told me she now has a 20 year old child. “And it’s been a great thrill to get BeachLife Magazine and read about the lives and achievements of so many of my former students. It’s lovely to see what they’re doing, it’s such a trip down memory lane.” Betty has a box full of class and staff photographs from each of the nearly 20 years she taught at Wainui, and today reminisces and compares 20-year-old snap shots of Wainui children to their more recent pictures as young adults in the local magazine. And if Beachlife was not enough to spark fond memories, she now has a permanent reminder of her school days every time she steps outside her front door. Neighbours Greg and Sue Klavs recently moved the “Rainbow Room”, the old Wainui School dental clinic in Betty’s time, to an elevated new site directly across the road looking over her property. -
beach life
Jean was there on the very first day BY HEIDI CLAPHAM
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doors blistered, so they eventually had to change the colour. Jean says it’s wonderful to see how the school has gone ahead and thinks they have had very good people running it. Jean was born in Gisborne in 1920. Her parents met in Gisborne but her father, George Muirhead, was originally from America. Jean’s mother, Anne Kindred, was from Kent in England. The family lived on Rutene Road. George Muirhead was well-known in Gisborne with his business, Muirhead Cycles, which Jean’s brother, Thorburn, took over in later years. She also had a sister, Thelma. Jean completed her education at Central and Te Hapara primary schools and then Gisborne High School where she was a prefect. After finishing high school in 1936, Jean trained at Epsom Teachers’ Training College in Auckland for two years. Her first post as a qualified teacher was at Mangapapa School, where she taught 56
ainui Beach School first-day teacher Jean Webster still lives on Wairere Road, not far from the school she helped open in 1962. 93-year-old Jean, who retired from teaching in 1975, has lived at Wainui for nearly 40 years. She taught at many schools in Gisborne. She was a first day teacher at Ilminster Intermediate, but remembers most clearly the opening of Wainui Beach School half a century ago. On the Sunday night before school started for the first Monday, Jean remembers being busy tidying up the classrooms. “The school didn’t have a lot when it opened. However people were wonderful Jean Webster on her 93rd birthday made a visit to Wainui at helping to get it up Beach School to meet the latest class of new entrants. and running,” she says. “Kaiti School donated books, Mary and Watham Lysnar helped children in her class. establish a garden. The Cooper family, who had She met her carpenter husband, Charles land at Wainui, were able to contribute funds Webster, at a Girl Guides dance held by the to establish things like the swimming pool.” Lysnar family in their ballroom on Stout Street Jean and her husband Charles helped (where the museum now is), which is now maintain the garden and lawns. The pupils the Marina Restaurant, where Jean recently were called in to help with the cleaning. celebrated her 90th birthday. “The children were very well-behaved, there Charles and Jean married in 1940. was never any trouble out at Wainui.” From 1953 to 1960 Jean ran her own Jean was persuaded to come out to Wainui kindergarten school, St Anne’s, from her home by the then first-assistant, Lou Thompson. on the corner of Stout and Ballance streets. Bill Henderson was the principal and Annette Jean became a life-long adopted “mum” to Howard was his personal assistant. Huri many of the young children who were in her Callaghan was a teacher, Lou Thompson had care. One of the children who attended Jean’s standards three and four and Jean taught the private kindergarten in those early years was “primmers”. Wainui local Richard Coates. She particularly remembers the sun being A champion and pioneer of early childhood so strong that the school’s painted navy blue education, Jean was an organising supporter of
Gisborne’s first public kindergarten in Rutene Road. Jean and Charles had one child, son Peter Webster (present owner of Awapuni Joinery), who married Dinah Hutchinson, sister of Debbie who married Darryl Williams, formerly of Wainui. Jean has two grandchildren, Leigh Sheldrake (married to Brent Sheldrake) who is currently a personal trainer in Singapore, and Michael Webster, who lives in Auckland and has a two year-old son Nicholas. Jean and husband Charles bought an empty section in Wairere Road from the Shanks family for 90 pounds during the second world war years, on which Jean’s father George Muirhead built a make-shift holiday bach. After Charles returned from the war they built the two-level home in which Jean still lives to this day. Charles died some 20 years ago. Jean has recently had cataract surgery, making it a lot easier for her to continue with
what she loves best – giving and doing things for other people. She voluntarily knits for Ten Talents, which she has been doing for 38 years, and plays the organ at St David’s church in Kaiti. She also keeps busy by doing crosswords, reading and listening to music. Until breaking her hip just days after this interview, Jean has been completely independent, driving herself in and out of town. Recuperating in a rest home Jean is keen to get back to the beach for the summer. Lately Jean has been knitting blankets to donate as prizes for raffles. She has already given one to the Cycleway Trust and will be giving one to the Wainui Beach surf club also. Jean says she’s enjoyed a great life and says Wainui is such a wonderful place to live. BeachLife | 25
beach life
Mrs Hobbs a much loved school ma’am
Former Wainui Beach new infants teacher Cath Hobbs catches up with the children of pupils she taught during her time at the school between 1981 and 1987. From left Stella Smith, the daughter of Gary Smith; Brie Ryan, the son of Caroline Emerre; Arnica Lewin, the daughterr of Tony Lewin and her cousin Grace Lewin, the daughter of John Lewin.
BY HEIDI CLAPHAM
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ath Hobbs enjoyed her job as a new infants teacher from 1978 to 1987 at Wainui Beach School. She remembers it as a happy school, commends the parents of the time and says how knowledgeable children were for their age. She wasn’t used to five year olds “speaking out” as they did at Wainui. They were “ready to go and wanting to learn” and she says she often had to think “outside the square” to keep them interested. The beach was Cath’s main teaching asset. If children became boisterous in the classroom, down to the beach they’d go, write things in the sand and, by the time she got them back to school, they were ready to work again. The teaching team blended well during Cath’s time at the school. She taught new infants how to read, Betty Collier particularly encouraged
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children’s artistic creativity, Liesje Bartie taught maths and sports enthusiast and principal Jim Corder taught the standard fours. “Children who went through the Wainui school system were lucky to have the swimming pool, a huge grassy area on which to play, good facilities and pleasant teachers,” she says. The school was generous. Cath was allowed whatever teaching supplies she needed. She strongly supported reading and purchased enough books to enable students to take one home every night. She never had one child leave her classroom unable to read. Cath considered every child’s work “a treasure” to be sent home to mum and dad. She used to say to parents —“treasure what your children give you”—and she still says it today. Cath moved to Wainui Beach in 1971 with her husband Alistair Hobbs, a drover and farmer from Gisborne, who she married in 1949. Born in Napier in 1927, Cath lived in Hastings with her two sisters and her parents. In the 1931 earthquake the family home crashed to the ground. They had to live under a walnut tree on their property before they were transported to Upper Hutt for six weeks until their house was rebuilt. Her father came from Aberdeen, Scotland, and her mother was from Petone, Wellington. The family came to Gisborne when her father was promoted during the war years. She attended Te Hapara Primary School and Cath and her sisters were first day pupils at Gisborne Intermediate. She went to Gisborne High School and finally Teacher’s College in Wellington for two years in 1946. Her first job was teaching in a tin shed at Te Karaka. Like Jean Webster, she has taught at many schools in the Gisborne District. She retired from teaching in 1993 after a time relieving. Cath, and Alistair who died at the age of 60, have three children. Youngest son Phil co-owns Tusa Dive, a successful dive company in Cairns, North Queensland. Oldest son Noel and daughter Kerry live with their families in Gisborne. Cath has eight grandchildren and twelve great grand children. At 83-years-old, Cath still loves music, dancing and socialising. Two years ago she went hot air ballooning in Cairns much to the surprise of the balloon operator. -
Winter melting into Spring
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Summer’s coming ....
time to learn to surf!
inter, as you all know, has been very grey, wet, bleak and cold. But after a while you settle into winter comforts—thermals are worn, slippers put on, electric blankets and fires are cranked up and good ol’ winter stews, soups and casseroles are all the go. Compared to the rest of the country and parts of the East Coast we have escaped fairly lightly and now the mornings are getting warmer and the days lighter it’s time to dust off the frowns and put on a smile— knowing that Spring is only a few weeks away. Already daffodils are growing and lambs are frolicking. We at Okitu Store especially notice the change in seasons in our customers’ moods. Winter often makes people rush—they just want to get home to the fire. Cold wet days have a tendency to make people a tad depressed and grumpy. Thank goodness Spring is in the air—the warmth and sunshine brings back the happiness and the smiles. Tolerance levels are uplifted and attitudes become more positive and patient. People are back out walking and biking and kids can play outside longer. There are things however that don’t change regardless of the season— like ice-cream! It never seems too cold for an ice-cream (even though you
might just have to turn the car heater up sometimes). Ice-cream goes with most winter puddings and or as a nice refreshment after a spa or hot bath cuddled up on the couch watching TV. Not to forget comfort food like Okitu Store fish ‘n’ chips, hamburgers and yummy takeaways on the rug in front of the fire with a nice bottle of wine – cheap, cozy and romantic and you don’t have to cook! Top it all off with ice-cream for dessert and a movie (or the rugby) and it’s the perfect evening. So there’s no excuse really—all you have to do is get the fire going and choose the movie, organize the family, friends and location. Whatever the season, for yummy takeaways—and the rest—ring the Okitu Store on 8677013 or drop in with your order and let us supply dinner, dessert and wine— and enjoy that perfect evening in. Sounds good to me!
WINTER HOURS Monday to Saturday: 7.00am to 7.00pm Sunday: 7.30am to 7.00pm
Phone 06 867 7013 BeachLife | 27
beach people Wainui girl Lucy Suttor recently went on the trip of a lifetime that culminated in her performing in Shakespeare’s Macbeth on stage at the Globe Theatre in London. The journey began some 15 months ago, when the Gisborne Girls’ High school drama class was selected to be a part of the Shakespeare in Schools national final in Wellington. From there 48 students from around New Zealand were selected to attend the National Shakespeare Schools Production and after 10 days of intense work-shopping and performances 24 were chosen to be the Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ Young Shakespeare Company. This included three girls from Gisborne — Maggie White, Erica Jones and Lucy.
Lucy Suttor as Macduff in a peformance of Macbeth on the Globe Theatre stage in London. STORY BY LUCY SUTTOR
From the beach to the Globe I t was the most exciting news I had ever received. Erica, Maggie, 21 fellow young Kiwi thespians and I would travel to London to perform at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. It took a while for the excitement in our house to die down, and then questions of a more serious matter came to hand—most importantly, where on earth was I going to get $8000 from? A whole lot of hard work at Liquorland, and much scrimping and saving did not even get me close. My biggest thanks go out to the wonderful and incredibly generous and supportive group of people—the Gizzy community. I was totally blown away at the response I got to my various raffles, collection boxes and most of all, the “Evening of Shakespeare” fundraiser and auction. It really touched my heart and made me so thankful to have grown up in such a caring and selfless 28 | BeachLife
community. Thanks guys! Finally, on the 2nd of July, all 24 us reunited at Auckland airport, ready to depart for London with a stopover in Hong Kong. We rustled about to find our passports, kissed our mums and dads goodbye and like a bunch of chattering, excited and wide-eyed little kiwis taking flight (if they could), we were off. Hong Kong was mind blowing. We flew in at 11pm on a clear smogless night, and it looked just like flying into a giant jewelry box. We exited the plane and to our shock and horror discovered we were in a different hemisphere, and were blasted by a wall of 32 degrees heat and 90 percent humidity. That same night we went for a wander through the night markets and ate at the stalls on the side of the road. The “oops moments” we had a little later regarding the wisdom of doing this at the beginning of our trip didn’t
last long, and with the mixture of excitement, jet lag and hunger we really didn’t care. We wanted to experience everything we could on our short stay in this amazing place. We spent the next day as tourists—sight seeing and market shopping,—then it was off to the enormous Hong Kong airport to wait for our midnight departure to London. The flight was long but we were still on such a buzz we didn’t really notice. And the Kiwi pilot (even though it was Cathay Pacific) kept us amused and introduced us to England with: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to London. The runway’s a little busy right now so we are just going to do some donuts to pass the time – hang on”. We all cracked up! London was indescribable. The first day we arrived we were taken on a bus tour where we encountered many a beautiful museum, the most fantastic architecture I had ever
beach people witnessed and we even stumbled across ye olde “Changing Of The Guard”. This was incredible, hilarious and unlike anything that I had ever seen. That’s one thing I loved about London, all of the traditions and rituals. And those big fluffy hats. The weather was also fantastic. It was the English summer and they were in the middle of a heat wave. Blue skies and 27-30 degrees each day. Beautiful! A bit like Wainui – just a tad different. On the second morning it was time to jump straight into workshops. We were so lucky to be able to receive tutoring from worldclass professionals, who often worked with world-class actors and they treated us like professionals as well. One of these was Stuart Pierce, a man with an amazing voice who taught us how to ground our voices and find our own individual “note”. Then there was Glynn Macdonald, a movement expert, who was definitely something quite different to our average high school drama teacher. She was a very eccentric, tough woman and she certainly worked us hard. But, as I said, they treated us as professionals so it was full on, intense and totally awesome. We learnt so much! Glynn helped choreograph the battle scenes in our play and also taught us techniques for moving on the Globe stage. Last, but definitely not least, was our amazing director, Yolanda Vasquez. She is one of the most wonderful people I have ever met and I’m sure the other members of the group thought so as well. She had a really good way of directing. She was firm but relaxed, so we got through so much work and had the times of our lives doing it. Yolanda announced to us that the play we were going to do was Macbeth and cast us almost instantly. I was cast as Macduff, which I was stoked about because he is a very strong, interesting character and I had never played anyone like him before. And I also got to have a sword fight and be the one to kill Macbeth pretty sweet! We were so excited to be finally going to see what we had come to London to see—the Globe Theatre. I took a video of us all walking into it for the first time. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and the sun was beaming down onto the modest little wooden stage. All you could hear escaping from everyone’s mouth was, “Oh my god.” We saw several plays while we were there which was fantastic. Standing amongst the yard and leaning on the stage makes it a whole new experience as you’re so up close and personal to the actors and action on stage. But even this experience was exceeded by the night (well early morning, about 1.30am to be exact) when we first set foot on the stage. The whole group was silent but with the excitement, astonishment and utter disbelief,
Gizzy girls on stage at the Globe Theatre — Erica Jones, Maggie White and Wainui’s Lucy Suttor.
there was a huge buzz in the air. It was a in Wellington since February and have joined very special and humbling experience to be a company called Longcloud Youth Theatre. standing on the stage where so many great I love Wellington, and Longcloud is just actors and actresses had taken steps before awesome. I have a wonderful director and us. It was literally breath-taking, we just stood tutor, Willem Wassanaar, who was actually there in silence and not even a breath was my director at NSSP as well. At the moment heard. we are in rehearsal with Equus which we are After two weeks of intensive workshops, performing at Downstage in late September we took to the stage as the Shakespeare Globe and then we perform a play by Anton Chekov Center NZ Young Shakespeare Company and called The Seagull, also at Downstage in performed our rendition of Macbeth. October. Lines were a little shaky at times and Theatre groups however do not pay the bills, exhaustion levels were running high, but our so I am currently assistant manager at a retail nerves were running wild too, which helped store called Portmans. keep our adrenalin pumping. The play ran In October I will be auditioning for a spot at smoothly and we got a great response from Toi Whakaari – NZ Drama School, which I am the audience (someone even fainted—not sure hoping will lead on to a career in drama. if that’s a good thing or not). I think we did our I loved London, so who knows what the tutors, Yolanda and, most of all, ourselves very future might bring. I have had a most amazing proud. experience, so thanks again to all those who It is still actually very hard to comprehend helped me get there – it is an experience that I that we actually did it. As an 18-year-old will hold close to my heart forever. And thanks girl, from a small town, travelling across to also to Mr William Shakespeare. the other side of the world and performing Shakespeare on the most prestigious Shakespearean Stage in the world. It was great for TM networking with the drama industry too as we met all sorts of fantastic people involved in acting and directing, many of whom told us they would be more than happy to help us out if Lawnmowers • Chainsaws • Weeders we were ever keen to pursue a drama school Cnr Palmerston Rd and Carnarvon St education in London. Phone 868 8045 I have been living
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Photos by Brennan Thomas/Strike Photography
beach people
Sisters A dig in heels
uckland-based fashion magazine Pulp “expects big things” from Cate King and Sarah Busby’s “emerging boutique shoe label” WhyWho. Why who? Why what? Why here? And why now? These are some of the questions asked of the creative sisters who are determined to successfully promote their “x-factor designs” to “meet a huge gap in the market”. The sisters, Cate and Sarah, say they have seldom been able to find fashion shoes they really liked. Both being tall, they prefer not to wear high-heels—and they were always on the look out for individual, one-off designs. They often bought op-shop shoes that were never quite the right size.
30 | BeachLife
This motivated the sisters to find out how they could design and make their own line of fashionable shoes, with practical heels. The end results of their research and business planning are now being sold in fashion stores around New Zealand—and from their own online shoe shop, www.whywho.co.nz. Their first collection is described in Pulp magazine’s winter edition as “a range of beautiful leather ankle boots, sandals and clogs, all perfect enough for darting around all day.” And that label—WhyWho. Where did that come from? Coming up with a brand name was the hardest part, the girls say. It’s a complex mix of concepts that describe where the sisters come from and is also a philosophical
beach people last two years in Gisborne Cate helped design fashions and run the clothing production for New Wave. Two years ago, with the shoe business idea in mind, 24-year-old Sarah went looking for shoemaking short courses in New Zealand, unsuccessfully. However, she discovered a course in Sydney run by Andrew McDonald, a shoemaker in Paddington. She went to Sydney and carried out the two-week, one-on-one, beginner course and learned how to make a shoe—and realised she could potentially design and sell shoes—if she got into it seriously. Through word of mouth the girls located a shoemaking factory in Bali, run by a New Zealander. “At first we looked around New Zealand but found footwear manufacturers are now all based offshore”. Armed with trial designs, Sarah went to Bali to see if the factory could produce what they wanted. The meeting was successful but the business concept was put on hold while Sarah went travelling, while at home Cate got married Wainui sisters Cate King to Mike King and had their daughter Matilda. When Sarah returned from Australia in October and Sarah Busby have last year, the sisters decided it was time to put their shoe plan into action. recently set up business Initially they came up with a design concept for the season. They were inspired by Victorian by designing their own peasant footwear worn in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. They sourced books range of fashion shoes. from the library to research the footwear men and women wore in this era. In stores for the first time They found that the three main shoes worn by peasants were clogs, boots and sandals. this spring their WhyWho They liked the idea of creating practical working shoes that can be worn anytime of the day creations have received or night; versatile and could be dressed up or dressed down. They read fashion magazines to positive reviews from New keep an eye on current trends but the aim was to come up with original concepts. Zealand’s fashion press. To design their shoes, they found images they liked and altered them by drawing on them, or coming up with their own drawings, STORY BY HEIDI CLAPHAM constructing the finished design in Illustrator and Photoshop. The designs were then turned into patterns by the patternmaker at the Bali factory. statement. WhyWho can be aurally interpreted The sisters are there every as wae hu—“waewae” is Maori for feet and step of the way while each “hu” is Maori for shoe. Literally the brand asks pattern is made. the questions—“why are we here”, “who are “Making the pattern we”? is the crucial part. It’s so The idea began with 26-year-old Cate important that the patterncompleting a design degree, majoring in maker is able to grasp and textiles, at Massey University in Wellington. understand our concepts.” While studying, she worked part-time for five From the pattern a years at retail boutiques in the capital, including sample shoe is made out Good as Gold and Kate Sylvester. Retail work of cheap leather. If they was an ideal stepping-stone into learning about are not happy with the the fashion industry, Cate says. sample then they can make Her friends at Good as Gold taught her changes. what to look for when buying a new product Both went to Bali, along and about the quality of good brands. For the with Cate’s eight-month
old daughter Tilly, to oversee production of their final 13 designs in January. There are few English-speaking employees at the Denpasar factory. However the owner is a New Zealand woman who can speak Balinese, which makes it a simple process to get the shoes made. “Unlike China where an expensive translator is usually needed and you can’t be sure if your message is understood correctly.” Back in New Zealand they spent six weeks on the road to find stockists for their shoes. They also sent their “lookbook” with a cover letter to various stores to generate interest. “As new designers, it is hard to get your product stocked. In Auckland no one wants to know about you until your product receives media coverage.” On the other hand some shops were really interested. As a result fashion outlets in Wellington, Auckland, Taupo, Dunedin, Cambridge and Havelock North will be stocking the brand, as well as local Gisborne boutique, Mrs Parker. Both girls try to do a bit of everything within their business, sharing the various tasks. The sisters grew up on the Mata Road near Tokomaru Bay, on their parents Meg and Bill Busby’s sheep and cattle station, “Rahiri”. They went away to different boarding schools but being nearly the same age, have always remained close friends. These days Cate lives at Wainui with her husband Mike King and daughter Tilly. Sarah is currently living with her parents a short walk away in Lloyd George Road. The WhyWho office is a pair of laptops on Kate’s Oneroa Road kitchen table. While they are now waiting to see how successful their first season will be, fashion never rests—they have already designed their 2011 autumn-winter range which is now in the manufacturing stage at the Bali factory and are looking ahead to designing a men’s range in the near future. -
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beach people
Off on rugby coaching adventure
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ainui locals Kim Harris and Amy Gordon swapped the Gisborne winter for the English summer this year. For Amy it is her first time in the UK, working for former Boys’ High 1st XV coach Kim Harris’s offshore rugby coaching business. Kim, who taught at Gisborne Boys’ High for 30 years and coached the first rugby team for 14, has a successful part-time seasonal business coaching young club rugby players all over England. The business is called “Rucks and Mauls”, now employs 16 people and is a prime example of Kiwi ingenuity coupled with Kiwi passion for sport. After leaving GBHS in 2006 Kim spent a pre-season stint as one of 60 coaches working for a UK-owned coaching company. After two years he decided to start his own business with now 28-year-old former Taranaki player and coach, Alastair Kalin, a contemporary of Conrad Smith, who is now a full-time coach at an exclusive English rubgy playing school. With a third partner, an English backer, they are now in their fourth year and this English pre-season they have contracts to run 5-day rugby coaching camps at 28 clubs “from Kent to the Scottish border”. The business has grown from 12 contracts last year. This season Kim has employed a group of 14 coaches and physical education instructors to run the camps over a six week period. It’s now one of the biggest private rugby coaching businesses in England. There’s a definite Gisborne flavour about the operation with half the team from this district. The coaching squad includes brothers
Kim Harris and Amy Gordon have spent the New Zealand winter in England where Kim runs a rugby coaching school employing a team of Kiwi trainers.
Damien and Brad Macpherson (Ngatapa), Toby Duckworth, Col Campbell (HSOB), plus local sportsgirls Nancy Campbell and Amy Gordon. Mature coaching experience is provided by former local senior coaches, Johnny Whittle and Graham Torrie, and of course Kim Harris. Former East Coast coach Nigel Henare has joined the team (for his third stint this year) direct from Bangkok where he has been coaching Thailand’s Fifteen and Sevens squads. Five of the squad are Kiwis living in England. This season Kim has included three respected Auckland-based netball coaches as the business experiments with diversification into the women’s code. Local sports education graduates Amy and Nancy have been included to help predominantly with the “littlies”, the 5-7 year olds that are part of club rugby in England. The business coaches rugby players from 5-17 years old. Free no obligation quotes “ Rugby is going efficient, reliable window cleaning through a huge Phone 06 867 4686 rennaissance in England with over a million players but there aren’t the experienced players around to coach SEAN McCORMICK the youngsters,” says Mobile 021 242 5456 Kim. “Many parents
Let the sunshine in! Fast,
32 | BeachLife
have traditional soccer backgrounds but they now want their kids to play rugby. They are sick of the violence, the theatrics, the 1-all draws. Rugby is now perceived as a healthy and vibrant lifestyle. Each city has a huge club structure with permanent staff and are fulltime social centres for hundreds of members and their families.” It is obvious that Kim’s organisational skills as a New Zealand teacher and his long experience in coaching young rugby players, are the cornerstones of the venture’s success. He wrote the coaching manual which is the “Bible” his coaching staff must adhere to at all times. His programme has created quite a stir in the rugby playing counties where he coaches. In some areas, clubs who haven’t had a player make the county squad for a decade or more now boast half a dozen players in the county side. Wainui girl Amy Gordon (25), the daughter of Richard and Jane of Oneroa Road, a former Campion student, earned her Bachelor of Physical Education degree in Otago. After a year travelling OE in Canada she has been working at the Gisborne YMCA for the past year as a fitness instructor. She has taken leave to work for two months in England and to later take a four week holiday before returning to Gisborne and her job at the Y. Kim takes leave from his most recent job as a car salesman at Enterprise Cars each year to run the “Rucks and Mauls” venture. -
beach people
Okitu’s Swiss and German-speaking Maja Harris on the Rue de l’Hotel de Ville in Old Geneva during her working holiday in Switzerland last year.
Language skills provide a ticket to see the world BY HEIDI CLAPHAM
M
aja Harris, another Wainui Beach “kid” recently out there exploring the world, got good mileage out of a round-the-world ticket purchased last year. The 26-year-old Victoria University law graduate, who speaks fluent German and Swiss-German, visited over 12 countries and still found time to work as a research assistant at the Centre for Research on Direct Democracy in Zurich, the largest city and financial heart of Switzerland. Maja, admitted to the bar in Gisborne in 2008, left for Switzerland in April 2009, to visit her Swiss grandfather and to practice the Swiss-German language she learnt as a child from her mother Ana. As a family tradition, her parents, Kim and Ana Harris of Williamson Street, annually took Maja and their other children – Daniel, Romy and Toby—“back” to Ana’s hometown in Switzerland. At times Maja went to primary school in Switzerland, which gave her a strong connection to the country and its culture. A Swiss ancestry enabled Maja to work in Switzerland without a visa. Before leaving for her OE in 2009 she was able to get a job through her Swiss connections. At the International Centre for Research on Direct Democracy, located at Zurich University, Maja joined a mix of foreign political scientists and lawyers, whose task was to research “the
implementation and effects of international referendums and citizens’ initiatives”. An example being the ‘Smacking Bill’ that was introduced in New Zealand. Maja secured the position through a Swiss childhood friend she had kept in touch with who worked at the Institute. Also to her credit was her law degree and her command of the German language as a native English speaker— which gave her an advantage for translating documents for the organisation. She also wrote a published research paper, “Direct Democracy in New Zealand”, which is posted on the institute’s website. Her paper explored New Zealand’s experience with direct democracy, from the introduction of local referendums at the end of the 19th century, to the 2009 citizens-initiated referendum on parental corporal punishment. En route to Europe, Maja caught up with international friends she met on an exchange programme she attended in Holland in 2006. This allowed her to stop over in San Francisco, Toronto and New York. She also had a reunion with an old Wainui friend, Lucy Langston, now living in Hamilton, Ontario. Arriving in Zurich, Maja was quickly immersed in the local Swiss-German dialect, staying with her grandfather, Arthur Meier, who doesn’t speak English at all. Few people speak standard German in everyday situations in Switzerland – oral use of German is restricted to school education, the mass media and public speaking. In all other
situations, most Swiss speak their own local dialect of Swiss-German, which most Germans have difficulty understanding. Using the dialect of your home town is a source of pride, however Swiss-German is rarely written. Everybody writes in standard German, which is also the language of all signs and public notices, but when reading out loud, Swiss mentally transcribe the German text into their own dialect of Swiss-German. Maja used more than her fair share of annual leave allowance while in Zurich but was encouraged by the company to travel throughout Europe. Taking long weekend trips to visit friends in Prague, Berlin, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Vienna, Budapest, Slovakia, Milan, Madrid, Munich—and the list goes on. She spent a summer holiday in the South of France to meet up with boyfriend, Robin Aitken, an architect student from Wellington, who was visiting family in Bordeaux. She also visited other members of her mother’s family within Switzerland and enjoyed a skiing trip to the famous Matterhorn. Maja came home in April this year at the expiry of the one-year ticket and has returned to Wellington to pursue a career position with a law firm, catch up with her boyfriend and consider her next overseas trip. Maja is just one chapter in the Harris family saga—brother Danie (23) a former New Zealand lifesaving beach sprint champion, is working as a pharmacist in Auckland; sister Romy (20) is studying psychology and criminology at Victoria University and little brother Toby (17), also a top New Zealand surf athlete, is in his last year at Boys’ High. Watch this space! BeachLife | 33
beach issues
Seawall arguments “just don’t stack up” BY DR AMBER DUNN
S
eawalls occur in various shapes and sizes along the Wainui shoreline. They are made of wood, large logs, solid concrete or concrete-filled drums and face the ocean as vertical barriers. Some of these seawalls are highly visible to beach users, while others are nicely hidden by natural beach sand and only become exposed after storm erosion. More recently, rip-rap or dumped rock has appeared as an erosion mitigation measure, and fortunately, these structures have sloping faces to the ocean. In the era before the Resource Management Act (1991), these property protection structures could be constructed privately, and possibly only required a building permit. This relatively unrestricted and non-contested process allowed individual home-owners to protect their houses as they thought fit – and they did. The abundance of these types of coastal protection structures was supported by the fact that seawalls weren’t known to have any negative impacts on the beach environment. The ability to “protect one’s castle as one though necessary” ended with the introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 (RMA). This piece of environmental legislation introduced the NZ Coastal Policy Statement (NZCPS) and the requirement of consents or permits for any works a The NZCPS is perched at the top of the hierarchy of documents pertaining to the coast and is meant to promote sustainable management of the coast. The purpose of the consent process is to ensure any potential adverse effects of activities in the coastal zone are avoided, mitigated and no more than minor. The RMA, therefore, attempts to prevent activities that might have detrimental impacts on the coastal environment. This means any potential negative effects on beaches, dunes, natural character, public access, and natural physical processes (among other things). Homeowners who wished to protect their beachfront properties after 1991 would need to apply for a resource consent or permit, and they would have to provide assessments of any environmental effects. And it didn’t take long for this to occur. The severe erosion at Lloyd George Rd and the “Stock Route” area in 1992, from sustained storm activity, was the trigger for beachfront residents at southern Wainui to seek and battle for consent for permanent rock seawalls or revetments to protect their “castles”. The initial attempts for approval (19921993) were highly frustrating for the residents, who at the time, had to conform to the 34 | BeachLife
IN JULY A LONG-STANDING proposal to build a sloping rock sea-wall at the southern end of Wainui Beach was rejected by an independent panel of commissioners appointed to hear a resource consent application. The commission decided such a wall was likely to “adversely affect the overall character of the beach”. They said the proposal was not in keeping with the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement’s requirements to preserve the natural character of coastal environments, and to adopt a precautionary approach to activities with unknown and potentially adverse effects. The application arose out of the Wainui Beach Management Strategy, adopted by the council in consultation with the community after the severe erosion suffered at the southern end of the beach during the 1990s. While the commissioners accepted that six houses along the southern section of Wainui were at extreme risk from erosion, they did not accept their predicaments justified the scale of the works proposed. The commissioners also considered the existing log and rail structure at the southern end to be “unsightly” and encouraged its removal. The commissioners took on board evidence from DR AMBER DUNN that the management strategy was a seven-year-old proposal that had not been reviewed in the light of new alternatives and more recent climate change knowledge. Amber who this year earned a PhD for her thesis on coastal storm activity along the eastern North Island (East Cape to Wellington), has so far written two articles for BeachLife Magazine looking at sea dynamics, sand movement and foreshore erosion at Wainui Beach. Here she provides and overview of the erosion and property protection debate that began nearly 20 years ago and discusses her professional stance against the most recent proposal.
requirements of the Resource Management Act (1991) and deal with Council staff who were also “newbies” to the legislation. It wasn’t until 1996 that a complete resource consent application by the residents for a sloping rock revetment (seawall) south of Oneroa Rd (“Stock Route”) went before Gisborne District Council. This consent was heard in 1998 by a panel of independent commissioners and was opposed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and a local resident—the GDC officer’s report was also unfavourable. The consent was declined due to: “... a design which is inadequate to achieve effective erosion control or to resist storm event cut back to a reasonable level”; “… does not promote sustainable management…”; “…the adverse effects could have the potential to be more than minor”. A further resource consent application was notified by GDC in November last year (2009) for a sloping rock revetment south of Wainui Stream. This revetment came out of the Wainui Beach Management Strategy (2003), which was adopted by Gisborne District Council, and has a vision statement of protecting and enhancing Wainui Beach (and adjoining reserves) for future generations. Unlike in 1998, however, the applicant this time around was the Gisborne District Council’s Rivers and Land Drainage Department. This consent was also heard by a panel of independent commissioners, and the main opponents were many beachfront residents in the affected southern Wainui area, and myself, Dr Amber Dunn. Intriguingly, a
strong stance from DOC was not taken at this consent hearing. The independent commissioners were very comprehensive in their approach, and openly expressed the difficulty they faced with having to make the final decision due to the complex nature of the issue – a divided beachfront community (not all residents in the affected area want permanent protection works), loss of beach to public use from encroachment of the revetment onto the sandy beach, revetment design, public access concerns, and desires of some homeowners to protect their properties. This consent was also declined and for many reasons, including: “...actual and potential effects are likely to adversely affect the existing and natural character”; “the proposal does not accord with the NZCPS”; “the integrity of the natural and existing structures and features that are providing a defence against natural hazards has not been sufficiently recognised and included”; “alternatives in both size, location and best practical options have not been considered and put forward”; and “the proposal does not avoid, remedy or mitigate the adverse effects of the use and development of the beach environment”. Therefore, the comprehensive nature of the hearing was reflected in the decision. Furthermore, one of the main findings of the Commissioners related to the design of the structure and stated: “ ...there is uncertainty as to the performance of the erosion protection during severe storms”. There was one aspect of this hearing that
beach issues was of great concern to me. It was the ability (and confidence) of some of the supporters of the rock revetment to discuss theories that lacked scientific credibility or were relatively unverified. Two such arguments were raised and warrant discussion here—one was that the low sand dunes south of Wainui Stream are comprised mainly of estuarine silt and therefore are not major contributors to the give-and-take sand budget of the overall beach. In the Wainui Beach Management Strategy (2003), it states: “the foredune/escarpment between Tuahine Crescent access way and Wainui Stream is low in comparison to that north of the stream and being comprised mainly of estuarine silt, is not a major contributor to the beach sand budget.” (Page 12, section 4.3d). This argument was reiterated at the hearing by one submitter in support of the rock wall. There was no reference to where this information came from, and therefore, its validity could not be assessed. A search has subsequently been made to find where the basis for this theory originated. The composition of the sand dunes at Wainui Beach is found in the 1993 Statement of Evidence of Dr Jeremy Gibb, Coastal Consultant (and was presented at the 1998 consent hearing for a Wainui seawall). In this evidence is a diagram, Figure 4, showing the thickness of different sediment/rock types near Lloyd George Road, Wainui Surf Club, and the Chalet. Unfortunately, there are no details as to how this information was obtained or analysed (i.e. no methodology). However, with this in mind, the data presented can still be analysed. What the WBMS claims to be the situation at southern Wainui – that the dunes comprised mainly of estuarine silt – is not shown in Figure 4. This error suggests the authors of the WBMS lacked scientific expertise. Firstly, what Figure 4 does show, for the Lloyd George Road area, is the sand content of the dunes sits upon estuarine deposits that have silt in them. This does not mean the sand dunes are “comprised mainly of estuarine silt” – it means the “sand” content of the dunes is contained in a top layer that overlies estuarine deposits. This sand layer will contribute to the beach sediment budget under erosion conditions. Secondly, the single sample in the Lloyd George area and lack of methodology is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions on the quantity of sand in the Wainui dunes. The true composition of the dunes and underlying geology is relatively unverified and needs to be explored further. And finally, should the argument that low dunes correlate to low sand content ever gain scientific merit, then hard protection works north of Wainui
Stream (up to the Cooper Stream accessway) should equally be acceptable in the WBMS, as low sand dunes also exist there. The second “argument” that I would like to discuss is a popular local theory that the south end of Wainui must he protected from erosion in order to “save” the rest of the Wainui Beach shoreline. From as early as the mid-1950s, after a severe erosion event near “Schools” access way, it has been claimed that as the bounding headlands (Tuahine and Makorori) erode, the sandy embayment between them also erodes. This theory of a “long-term retreat” of the entire Wainui shoreline is linked to erosion rate information (for the 1942-1999 time period) put forward in 1995 (and 2001) by Dr Jeremy Gibb. This research (Gibb, 1995, 2001) concluded that Wainui Beach was undergoing long-term erosion. This suggested the headlands were eroding and the sandy shoreline was retreating as a consequence. There are several features along Wainui that make this suggestion dubious. The first is the growing incipient dune from the “Schools” access way up to Hamanatua Stream – an eroding shoreline should not contain such a feature. Secondly, hard protection works (seawalls) south of Cooper Street have essentially “fixed” the shoreline in position, and hence one would expect the shoreline in that area to be stable (neither eroding nor accreting). The only other assessment of long-term shoreline changes for Wainui Beach has been provided by myself, Dunn, (2001) for the same time period, 1942-1999. These results differed from those of Dr Gibb and showed eroding headlands and slow accretion (growth) of the sandy shoreline between them. Furthermore, Dunn (2001) found the largest amount of accretion coincided with the new dune north of “Schools” such that real-time features along the coast were consistent with the pattern of long-term changes. On this basis, Dunn (2004, 2003) concluded the erosion hazard at Wainui is stormgenerated—that the magnitudes of storm erosion are much greater than the long-term changes. With this information, the theory of eroding headlands and eroding sandy beach is debatable. The recent research has shown the southern extremity of Wainui (Tuahine Point) has eroded, whilst the beach further northward has been relatively stable and accreted. These findings support the theory suggested by Professor Bob Dean (University of Florida) that the Wainui shoreline is re-aligning itself and attempting to turn more towards the south, that is a slight clockwise rotation. This process is referred to as “beach rotation” and has been observed on some Australian
beaches. Under this theory, one would expect to see an erosion trend for the southern Wainui shoreline, and an accretionary trend towards the northern end, which together will realign the shoreline to face more to the south. The results of Dunn (2001) partially support this theory. When the sandy shoreline was broken down into smaller units of southern Wainui (Wainui Stream south to Tuahine Crescent) and northern Wainui (Wainui Stream north to Hamanatua Stream), it showed southern Wainui had been relatively stable for the 19421999 time period, whilst northern Wainui (and the Okitu shoreline) had accreted. Understandably, it would be difficult to find an erosion trend at southern Wainui as the shoreline is relatively fixed in place by hard engineering structures. Regardless, the erosion “hotspot” at southern Wainui could be linked to this theory, since the beach will continue to realign itself under extreme southerly wave conditions irrespective of engineering structures. In addition, the most powerful waves strike Wainui from the southerly direction, and these waves induce a strong current that sweeps along the southern Wainui area. This current is an effective mover of sand, shifting it northward (and eastward, offshore) and creating an erosion “hotspot” at southern Wainui. Such a high velocity current is not known to occur anywhere else along the Wainui shoreline under southerly conditions, and if it did, we would expect another erosion “hotspot” to appear. On this basis, the realignment or rotation of the Wainui shoreline as suggested by Professor Bob Dean deserves greater attention, though it may be hindered by real-time data availability. Should we “hold” (protect) southern Wainui in order to save the rest of the Wainui shoreline from eroding? In my opinion, no, we should not. The arguments claiming, “little sand in the southern dunes” and the “need to protect southern Wainui for the greater good of Wainui Beach”– considered as reasonable arguments for a rock revetment structure to proceed at southern Wainui, have little scientific evidence to support them and must remain relatively unverified. It seems fitting to end this article with a quote from the legendary surfer Gerry Lopez “Nothing ever stays the same. You can’t build fences around life. Just keep paddling—there’s always gonna be another wave coming”. In the context of this article, that “wave” could come from the ocean and attack the beach and dunes, or it might be another “wave” of consents from residents who want hard structures to protect their castles. -
BeachLife | 35
beach issues “Now call me a grumpy cantankerous old man if you must – but indulge me and let me rant for a bit,” says Wainui Beach resident and Gisborne lawyer NEIL WEATHERHEAD, who submitted in favour of the recently rejected coastal consent application to replace the old seawall structure at the southern end of Wainui Beach with a new sloping rock barrier to protect beachfront properties from the onslaught of the sea. “My opinions are based on the understanding that for a long time there has been, and will continue to be, a gradual erosion of the foredunes. Erosion that could be manageable if protection measures were undertaken.”
Nature’s course may not be such a happy journey T
he Council’s application to remove the jumble of railway iron logs and rocks between the concrete groyne at the south end of Wainui Beach and the Wainui Stream and replace it with a sloping rock revetment was refused on 2 July 2010. The decision may very well have sounded the death knell for any further Council application for erosion protection work, let alone actually construction. This is not to say that a resident, or group of residents, are precluded from applying for a resource consent. If any do take it on, however, there will be a substantial costs involved—and there are a number of resource management issues that virtually guarantee the failure of any application Communities throughout the world, who are faced with the “inroads of the sea”, have to marshal a collective response. In our near past it was local catchment boards who determined such protection works. Today all proposals must be evaluated and processed under the Resource Management Act (RMA). In the recent past it was generally believed that protecting the coastline from erosion was for the greater good—that belief has now been replaced with what I believe is a fuzzy, ill-defined view, that “nature must be allowed to take its course”. An application through the RMA to “do something in the coastal environment” has to comply with a document called the NZ Coastal Policy Statement, first issued in 1994. A Review of that policy statement was carried out in 2004. The issues that arose from 1992 to 2004 at Wainui were cited in the Review by way of a case study. The Review basically said Wainui residents were wrong to want to protect their coastline and that they did not understand the issues—and were reluctant to accept that there is a trend of erosion. The Review said that “changes and additions 36 | BeachLife
to coastal hazard-related policies were required” with an emphasis on “assisting or compelling” implementation. That word “compelling” sure puts the frighteners on me. The sentence following this statement stated that “implementation” has proven more difficult than “determining” what should be done to achieve sustainable, coastal hazard management. It appears they know what “should be done” but “getting it done” is the problem. What are they talking about? Let me explain what they say should be done. The Review said there needed to be “a vision which should seek to actively reduce the total value of assets in areas that are subject to coastal hazards and/or make provision for assured removal of assets so that the built assets at least are not subject to coastal hazards.” Did you get that? The Review is saying the removal of your home, if it is beachfront, is what should be done. How they make that happen is what has proved difficult to implement. The Review helpfully gives a definition of what the consultants call “managed retreat”. It means: “Progressively giving up threatened or vulnerable land by moving development away from coastal hazard zones as opportunity arises or as individual assets come under imminent threat. Requiring relocation of buildings as they come under imminent threat is a form of managed retreat”. Again, that’s clear isn’t it—let the land be lost to the sea. Let me hasten to add, that Review is not part of the RMA but it did lead to a Proposed Coastal Policy Statement in 2008 which replaced the 1994 statement. In my opinion, the Proposed Coastal Policy Statement further amps up the general bias against protection work. For example, at Wainui, proposed policy 52 would require the Gisborne District Council to encourage redevelopment or change in land use that
would reduce risk from coastal hazards— including managed retreat by relocation, removal or abandonment of existing structures i.e. houses, decks, sheds, garages etc. A change in land use? The purpose is clear. Any change must be so that people do not live in houses on the land at risk. Policy 54 requires the Council, when considering the potential use of hard protection work, to promote alternative responses including the relocation, removal or abandonment of existing structures. I am no policy wonk but I think this means if someone applies for consent to protect at Wainui, the Council has to give priority to promoting the removal or abandonment of any existing protection. Policy 54 also requires the Council to: “Evaluate the likely public costs and benefits of any proposed hard protection structure and the effects on the environment over at least a 100 year time frame”. How on earth do you do that? Imagine if in 1910 someone had to do that. Who could possibly have imagined the changes that have occurred over the last 100 years and put a value in 1910 on public costs, public benefits and effects on the environment. What are “public costs and benefits”? It is simply impossible. I am not aware of any other situation under the RMA where there is a comparable requirement. But there you have that “vision” translated into “proposed policies”. The compulsion is now dressed up as a threshold that can never be reached. If you do not comply with the policies your proposal will fail. When the Board of Inquiry came to Gisborne hear submissions to the NZ Policy Statement in 2009, I went along and had a whinge about these provisions. It did not do any good. The Board of Inquiry has made its recommendations and sent them to the Minister of Conservation on 10 July 2010.
beach issues So far the Minister has not adopted the recommendations. In its recommendations the Board said: “We also accept that there is a need to encourage managed retreat in places rather than wait until the inevitable happens.” These policies I have mentioned are “proposed”. It remains to be seen if they emerge unaltered. On balance I fear they will. Good luck to anybody who wants to give it a crack, but the only way I can see any prospect of success is to get the policies into the Court of Appeal, and then the Supreme Court, to assess whether they really meet the test of being reasonable and rational. They have already been considered in the High Court. They are important issues for an island nation. In the meantime, if the death knell has been sounded, it is important to consider the consequences and the legacy of doing nothing. In making its recent application the Gisborne District Council was endeavouring to implement part of the Wainui Beach Management Strategy. That strategy emerged after several years of discussion and debate following the squabbles in the mid-1990s. While the Beach Management Strategy has no statutory standing, it came after a committee which was facilitated by the Council—and which comprised beachfront and other residents, iwi/hapu, Department of Conservation and surfing interests— considered all the points of view and came up with what might have been thought to be a consensus of disparate views that reflected a community’s wishes. It was peer reviewed by a consulting oceanographer, Dr Paul Komar from Oregon. Ultimately, the Beach Management Strategy got short shift by the Commissioners with the comment, “but that strategy is seven years old and due for review”. If a proposal for protection work in accordance with a strategy which emerged from wide consultation cannot get off the ground, then I find it difficult to see how anything else will, the way things stand at present. To consider the consequences and
The existing rock and groyne protection works at the southern end of Wainui Beach.
the legacy we leave, we need to have some perspective. We have a smooth, crescent-shaped beach with prominent headlands at either end. It is like a shallow bay – soft and low in the middle, harder and bulkier at the ends. Forgive me for thinking the shape results from the inroads of the sea. But apparently not. The Commissioners were “less convinced that the beach is presently experiencing any long-term trend for retreat”. I find it difficult to get my head around a statement which uses “long-term trend” and “presently” in the one breath. I believe it has been long understood that at Wainui from time to time, the sea takes a bite here and there, eventually the bites join up, hence the smooth crescent shape as the sea nibbles away. If there is no long-term inroad of the sea, wouldn’t the line between the headlands be straighter? Another indicator is the surveyed seaward boundaries of beachfront properties. Presumably the seaward boundaries of beachfront properties were, probably through the 1900s to 1920s, fixed at about the foot of the foredunes. Surveys carried out for the hearings in the 1990s showed a number of properties had seaward boundaries further
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down the beach towards the water line. Why? To my mind the answer is obvious–the sea has made an inroad. For example our own seaward boundary in Tuahine Crescent is in the middle of the present rock revetment. Adjoining the seaward boundary of a good number of the beachfront properties is another surveyed area which runs along the sandy part of the beach, owned by the Council and designated Esplanade Reserves. These Esplanade Reserves are shown in separate certificates of title. At the risk of over simplifying a complex survey exercise, the seaward boundary of those Esplanade Reserves, is likely to be the line of mean high water springs. As a rough guide, that line is about half way between the foot of the foredune and the edge of the water at low tide during average summer conditions. That line moves. The more sand on the beach the further seaward it is. The less sand on the beach the more landward the line is. Seaward of that line it is the foreshore and seabed, which is vested in the Crown. There are some beachfront properties which do not have Esplanade Reserves in front of them but have what is known as “unallocated Crown Land”. Another indication that the foredune at
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beach issues Wainui is subject to the inroads of the sea is the fact that protection work has been constructed at various parts of the beach since the 1920s. That is when the Krzanich wall was built at the Stock Route. The Krzanich wall stood for about 70 years without any apparent maintenance and succumbed only in the late 1990s. Caldwell’s wall, about 100m or so to the north of the Krzanich wall, has been there for a long time. I have photos from the late 1940s of a tractor by Pare Street placing tar-lined, rock-filled, 44 gallon drums as a protection measure. There is a photo of a house teetering on the edge of the dune opposite the school in 1955 . All these events eventually led to a community-based response with the gabions etc in the 1970s and 1980s. Why would people go to all that trouble and expense if there was no erosion? If your “long-term” is the last 40 or so years, then what has been done may have stopped or slowed the inroads, but surely long-term should be measured over several generations and not one. We are very lucky with the foresight and generosity of the Lysnar Family and the Cook County Council. We have a beach which is neatly bisected in the middle by a stream with development on one side and Public Reserve on the other. Without the land we have nowhere to stand. If there is to be protection, it is to protect the coastline from the inroads of the sea. Once the land is gone, it is gone for good. Some get a bit twitchy about individuals owning the land that is protected. It may just be the cynic in me but in that Review I mentioned and the Proposed Coastal Policy Statement, I see a vein which is against ownership of beachfront land. I think we need to look beyond “ownership” and focus on the “land”. The Commissioners in July referred to “dynamic shoreline fluctuations”. Everyone familiar with the beach will accept that the sea makes inroads from time to time and some may take the view that erosion today means accretion tomorrow. For some, if it is not to be an issue in their lifetime, why worry? I believe that the situation at Wainui is that there has for a long time been erosion of the shoreline. I believe that is continuing. If over the last 40 years or so the old protection measures have slowed or stopped that erosion, then I am rapt, as it means the protection work has been effective. It is my belief that if the protection of the coastline, which has gone hand in hand with the development of Wainui, is to change to a philosophy of “letting nature take its course”, then this is what I think will happen. The existing protection work will deteriorate and it will eventually fail. A series of heavy seas will take away the bottom of the foredunes 38 | BeachLife
Residents refused to let nature take its course by building sea protection from branches and brush after the sea made significant inroads in the 1950s.
at some part of the beach. As the top of the foredune moves landward, garden plantings, decks, water tanks, sheds and effluent drains will be undermined and some of these structures will fall on to the beach. Later again a house will be undermined, the front of the house will collapse. The Council will determine the house is a hazard and issue the owner with a notice to demolish or remove the hazard.. People will ask what they can do. They will be advised to “retreat”—that is, move their house closer to the road at their own cost and when they cannot, or there is no room, they may have to abandon their property. There will be squabbles over who tidies up the debris and mess. The affected owners will still be expected to pay their rates. There will be a loss of value of the directly affected and adjacent properties. There may be difficulties in getting mortgages or insurance. Existing mortgages will still need to be paid. Loss of equity will make relocation difficult. As the smooth, crescent-shape adjusts and realigns, Lysnar Reserve will be gradually reduced in width until it is no more. Once Lysnar Reserve and the frontline of housing along Wairere Road has gone—the State Highway and the local roads will become the “front line”. My guess is that the State Highway would be seen as “strategic” and—at last—measures will be taken to be protect the highway from the “inroads of the sea”. It doesn’t make sense— to wait until the sea is lapping the road edge to call a halt to the “retreat”. Consider what has been lost up till then and the manner of its gradual destruction. It is environmental vandalism on a grand scale. Now all this is not going to happen “tomorrow”, in our terms, and if there are no inroads being made by the sea, then it will never happen. I hope that turns out to be the case. But if the sea is making inroads, then my scenario of “environmental vandalism” will
happen tomorrow in geological terms. In the next 100 years soft engineered options may be developed. Surely, in the meantime, it is for better to hold the line. Doing nothing, letting nature take its course, is currently deemed to be the best solution. I don’t for one minute buy into that. I believe we have a responsibility to protect and nurture the land. The RMA is often criticised. It is long and complicated and requires tortuous processes but many of its core requirements are very worthy and positive. One of the words frequently used in it is “environment”. The Act says environments include eco-systems and their constituent parts—including people and communities. That means anything people have made, the things that contribute to our appreciation of an areas pleasantness, aesthetic coherence, cultural and recreational attributes. Whenever someone is exercising power under the RMA they are to have regard to the intrinsic values of ecosystems. To my mind these provisions establish that the Wainui community—the way it is now— should be “valued and protected”, not left to undergo a gradual destructive process. I have never seen these parts of the RMA referred to in any of the reports or decisions regarding Wainui. I have trotted them out over the years at various hearings (the latest at the Board of Inquiry)—only to be met with blank stares. Let me conclude with a comment from a textbook called “Coastal Stabilisation – Innovative Concepts” published in 1993 by Silvester and Hsu. “It is no good burying heads in the beach sand or what is left of it and deciding to leave the coastline to natural processes. It is better to observe Nature and see where help can be provided to achieve results efficiently and economically. Engineers must promote their picture of being enhancers of Nature rather than destroyers as promulgated by ecologists at every turn”. NEIL WEATHERHEAD
BeachLife | 39
Dudley Meadows from the Tairawhiti Museum photographic archive department recently sent BeachLife this newly discovered photograph of the Wainui Beach windmill built by Fredrick Ottaway on the sandunes at Okitu around 1917. The angle of the shot allowed us to align the sand dunes, the headlands and the hills to find the exact spot from where the photograph was taken. By blending the two images it would appear the windmill stood right in the middle of what is now the Chalet car park and beach access. It has also been revealed that Fredrick Ottaway was the brother of Martha Ottaway, who was the great, great grandmother of Wainui surf club stalwart Murray Robertson and was therefore the great, great great grand uncle of Rama and Ila Robertson who grew up on Moana Road, not far from the site of the old windmill. This windmill was the second such structure built by Mr Ottaway, a smaller prototype also built from flattened kerosene tins, stood on the Wairere Road sand dunes from around 1895.
Windmill location pinpointed
wave rave
Ryan’s Fiji winter escape and grommets prepare for Scholastics By KELLY RYAN
H
PHOTO BY CORY SCOTT/CANON
i again local surfers and beach If you know where P 867 1684 W www.surfboards.net.nz residents, welcome to the spring Plantation Island is then edition of Wave Rave. Winter is nearly you’ve probably heard of over and if you managed to escape to the Tavarua Island and its two tropics for a hard-earned surfing vacation you surf breaks, Restaurants and Cloudbreak. Or The winds turned onshore for two days, probably missed some heavy rain and helped maybe you have heard of Namoutu Island and the swell kicked and by Friday, the day the speed up the coming of spring. it’s mellower waves of Namoutu Lefts and embargo was lifted, we were racing out to July was one of the wettest on record for Swimming Pools. Cloudbreak by boat at 5.30am. Gisborne with 185mm falling compared with Our trip this year accidentally coincided On the way we passed Wilkes which looked July’s usual average of around 118mm. with the Fijian government’s lifting of the about 4 feet and great, Namoutu which was Generally the waves around the region privatisation of these surf breaks. Previously, looking even better and finally Restaurants, were good to excellent this winter with Wainui for nearly 20 years, only surfers paying huge which was around 3-4 feet and hard to see Beach producing some nice barrels and wads of US currency could access these waves from behind. Makorori having great sandbar formations, most of the time. Cloudbreak is truly a world-class wave and especially at Red Bus. Put simply, before July this year you were over the years has featured in many surf films The exception to the great as well as being the venue for a conditions would have to be WCT event throughout the 1990s the July school holidays that left until 2006. We were the first nothing but damp frustration non-paying guests to surf under for the region’s grommets on the new regime and with a solid holiday. 4-6 feet of open ocean power to Many surfers headed to the reckon with I felt a little underwest coast during the holidays gunned initially on the little Lost with fine weather and offshore pin-tail. winds, which was definitely When the American doctors better than watching DVDs here. who had the Island booked Some surfers escaped to the arrived to the realisation that they tropics this winter and I can were the first paying guests for give a first hand report on Fiji twenty years to have to share the during the July school holidays. break with non-paying surfers, Caroline and I decided last there were some very black looks. Bobby Hansen. year to book a “whole family I didn’t really nail a good tube getaway” this winter and on the first day, finding it difficult travelled to Fiji for a long overdue holiday. unable to surf those breaks at all except on to get used to the pace of the wave. The next Initially it was supposed to be a “no Saturdays for a couple of hours while the boats day we were back at 5.30am again and after surfboard break” but as the time grew nearer transferred guests to and from the Islands. another five hour surf I began to get more I became increasingly anxious and pulled the I lazed around in the sun with Caroline comfortable, with the 6-foot Lost actually the old “if I can’t take one board I’m not going!” and the kids for a few days having one surf best board for not getting caught out on the routine. It worked, and I packed a 6-foot Lost at Wilkes, which is a seriously long, fast right drop and turn. thruster. breaking wave with three or four sections This was Saturday and the waves were Plantation Island Resort was the destination stopping you from connecting completely. I slightly bigger, cleaner and it was “change and if you have kids you have to go there! The found a good section right at the top of the over” day at the resorts, so the Americans resort is tailor-made for young families with reef and surfed for three hours alone in 4-5 were gone. One Aussie guy I surfed with broke free fishing, free kayaks, diving trips, pools foot glassy waves. all three of his boards over those two days, six with waterslides, games rooms, bars, three But Wilkes is like a poor cousin to the other other guys broke boards and I was still trucking meals a day and $3.00 Fijian per kid per hour waves in the area, where surfers not staying at with the one. baby sitters! Namoutu or Tavarua are allowed to surf. The best part of the wave was the long 40 | BeachLife
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BeachLife | 41
mid-section that runs past the judging tower that still stands, alone and empty on the reef. As the tide drops that part of the wave turns itself inside out, not the best place to be caught with a 6-foot set unloading in front of you. Apart from that, the wave is really long and user-friendly compared with other South Pacific spots. Caroline was somewhat understanding of my two five-hour surf sessions or maybe she knew that no amount of woman’s scorn could take away from my experience or wipe the smile off my dial. Returning to news at home from the past winter, Gisborne has three surfers selected for the New Zealand Team to compete in the ISA World Surfing Games in Punta Hermosa, Lima, Peru from the 19th to the 27th October. They are Jay Quinn and Morehu Roberts in the Open shortboard and Daniel Procter in the Open Longboard. Both Jay and Daniel have competed here before both finishing 13th last year in their respective divisions. The team are looking to improve on their 11th placing at the ISA World Surfing Games last year. On the grommets scene, Gisborne scholastics coach and selector Jay Quinn was positive about the caliber of the competitors entering the Gisborne Regional Trials held recently, although there were smaller entries than recent years. The 2010 Regional Trials were held at Red Bus, Makorori, in small but clean conditions. Under 14 girls—Jasmine Smith 1, Ashley Donaldson 2. Under 14 Boys—Kalin Shaw, 1. Under 16 Girls—Chloe Shutt 1. Under 18 Girls—Abi Daunton 1. Under 16 Boys—Adam Grimson 1; Sunny Brown 2; Jonny Curle 3; Patrick Cranston 4. Under 18 Boys—Jacob Kohn 1; Jamie Curle 2; Jack Hunt 3. Under 18 Bodyboard—Kamen Gieseler 1.
PHOTOS BY CORY SCOTT/CANON
wave rave
Cory Hutchings made the most of the Wainui winter swells.
Wainui boys place well at Raglan
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Gisborne Boys’ High team of ten surfers competed in the Raglan Area School Surfing Academy’s annual Schools Surfing Championships recently. In the U16s Wainui’s Adam Grimson showed why he was a favorite for the event dominating his quarterfinal. As swell size increased Wainui’s Jules Craft also relished the solid conditions and gave a taste of what was to come with big drops and turns in the solid swell. In the U18s Wainui’s Jamie Curle was unlucky not to make the final, surfing strongly throughout the event and coming away with a very good result in 5th. Wainui’s Jacob Kohn also showed his class but came up short in his quarterfinal to place 7th in the U18s. In the semi-finals Jules Craft and Adam Grimson were pitted against each other in a cruel twist of the draw. Again Jules choose to tackle the larger waves out the back and this paid off at the expense of his team mate Adam who placed 5th in the U16s. In the final, Jules again showed great flare in the large surf pushing other highly-rated surfers all the way. After leading the heat at several stages Jules came a close second to Tane Wallis of Henderson High School. With Jules Craft 2nd in the U16 final, Jamie Curle 5th in the U18s, Adam Grimson 5th in the U16 and Jacob Kohn 7th in the U18s Gisborne Boys’ High again place second at the New Blair Stewart. Zealand Secondary School Championships. A great team result. NICK CHAPMAN
PHOTOS BY ROGAN HOUGHTON
BeachLife correspondent Kelly Ryan reports from the frontline while winning the June Gisborne Boardrider’s longboard competition.
42 | BeachLife
Cuisine cuts, fresh choices daily
T
hey look like fabulous ideas —but where can you buy those perfectly prepared meat cuts featured in cuisine magazines and gourmet recipes books? We have the answer! Gisborne Deli Butchery and Turihaua Angus Beef and Lamb have recently combined visions to provide a fresh, daily-prepared, local source of homegrown special meat cuts for discerning Gisborne food-lovers. The story begins with cattle and sheep farmed on the coastal slopes of Turihaua Station where farmer Hamish Williams hand-picks stock from his prime Angus beef herd. Each month four are sent to a meat plant near Hamilton where for several weeks they are rested on pasture before being killed and chill-freighted back to Gisborne. At the same time a number of prime Romney lambs are selected and prepared at the local Bernard Matthews plant. The processed sides of beef and lamb are then aged in the Gisborne Deli’s chillers, awaiting the butcher’s creative work to prepare them for the front counter. Deli owners, Darryn and Trish Clyne, first put the idea to Hamish and Angela Williams in their mission to offer their customers locallysourced farm meat. Darryn, a qualified chef and an experienced butcher, says the concept of offering tender, locally-farmed, meat cuts has caught the culinary imaginations of local “foodies”. The attractive display of classic and gourmet meat items can be selected while awaiting coffee or lunch in the recently re-established Gisborne Deli on the corner of Gladstone Road and Derby Street. Choices include aged rump and sirloin steaks, whole beef fillets, prepared lamb racks, boned and rolled legs and shoulders of lamb. Deli-made Moroccan-flavoured lamb sausages, Asian-style Angus beef skewers, prime minced beef and classic beef rissoles are also offered. Restaurant-style gravies, stocks and reduced jus can be bought to accompany the meats. Darryn says the butchery will happily interpret customers recipe books and magazine articles to provide exactly the type of cut required: “With three chefs and a butcher on the premises we are happy to create special cuts and offer advice on complex recipes suggestions.” With the butchery just a section of the busy local cafe and
Cnr Gladstone Road & Derby Street Ph 06 867 7077 | www.thegisbornedeli.co.nz delicatessen, the butchery items are offered at comparatively reasonable prices. You might save a dollar on a leg of lamb or a fillet of beef elsewhere, but you won’t be getting the guarantee of awardwinning beef and lamb, raised on a local farm that has been in the same family’s ownership for several generations. Not to mention the individual nurturing of the animals before butchering, followed by careful aging and then expert preparation of the final product. The Gisborne Deli is the exclusive Gisborne outlet for the Turihauabranded meats, however the Deli supplies prepared meat which appears in the hamburgers at the Wainui Store, the pies at Morrell’s Artisan Bakery and the beef sausages on the lunch menu at the Wharf Bar and Cafe. So now there’s no excuse for not trying out those cuisine magazine recipes you’ve previously flicked past. The Gisborne Deli has all the gourmet cuts and more, all fresh to choose from daily.
Simply the best…
• • • • 37 Bright Street, Gisborne, Phone 868 2700 The impact of the alteration of the Surfing New Zealand competition calendar for 2010 has meant the National Scholastics will be held in October instead of the normal April event. Several local surfers have declared themselves unavailable for the team this year, and national rules mean that surfers who attend school out of Gisborne have to compete for that region and not their home town. A squad of sixteen surfers has been named, they will train and prepare for the final team selection of 12 surfers under the guidance of Coach Quinn, assisted by local teachers Nick Chapman and Jason Green while Quinn fulfills his own surfing commitments overseas. The squad is: Kalin Shaw, Jasmine Smith, Ashley Donaldson, Chloe Shutt, Abi Daunton, Sunny Brown, Jonny Curle, Jules Craft, Patrick Cranston, Dougal Hunt, Max Neustroski, Dylan Walsh- Munro, Jacob Kohn, Jamie Curle, Jack Hunt, Kamen Geiseler. The national event will be held here in Gisborne 4th to 8th October 2010. Local selection criteria states that the team will be selected from the squad and will depend on performance and attendance at squad training, results from local and national comps, fitness and aptitude. Well—lets hope spring brings warmer water and plenty of swell, as well as light off-shore breezes. Good luck to those of you heading away in the September break to tropical locations and make sure you pass on your good stories to me for the next issue of BeachLife. -
Package holidays Coach Tours & Cruises Sightseeing Travel Insurance
See Brett Papworth and his team for all your travel arrangements.
Blair digs deep WAINUI’S Blair Stewart finished a highly credible 13th place at the Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials in Tahiti. The event is the precursor to the Billabong Pro at Teahupoo — the heaviest wave in the world. Blair progressed through three rounds to place amongst what many regard as the top 16 barrel riders in the world. Blair’s run in the trials came to an end when he placed fourth in his heat against Anthony Walsh (AUS), Laurie Towner (AUS) and Hank Gaskell (HAW). Earlier in the day Blair placed second in his third round heat defeating two local Tahitian surfers. Tahitian surfer Taumata Puhetini went on to win the trial and gain a place in the Billabong Pro. IMAGE: Wainui’s Blair Stewart caught deep in the bowels of Teahupoo for the cover of the latest New Zealand Surfing Magazine. PHOTO CORY SCOTT/CANON
p 027 432 6180 e cozza@ihug.co.nz 44 | BeachLife
Get ready for summer
Gisborne’s only Appearance Medicine Clinic
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06 863 2688 www.skindeep-nz.com Gift vouchers and tailored treatment packages available BOTOX® is a Prescription Medicine containing 100 units of clostridium botulinum Type A toxin complex for injection. It is used for the treatment of severe frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet. It should be administered only by trained medical professionals. Talk to your specialist about the benefits/risks of this procedure in appearance medicine. Cautions: people with defective neuro-muscular transmission disorders, presence of infection at site of injection, glaucoma, pregnancy and lactation. Possible side effects include headaches, pain, burning or redness at injection site, local muscle weakness including drooping eye lids, lack of feeling & nausea. If you have side effects or concerns speak to your doctor. You will need to pay for this medicine. Normal doctors visit fees apply. Note: BOTOX® treatment lasts about four months and after this time further courses of treatment may be necessary. Speak to your specialist about your own situation. Allergan New Zealand Ltd, Auckland. PP8241 BeachLife TAPS | 45
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415 Gladstone Road • P. 06 867 9300 46 | BeachLife
Coastal land available to build a beach lifestyle There has never been a better time to buy bare land at Wainui Beach—and Ray White have a great choice of options available. Two Sandy Cove sections, numbers 8 and 17, are ready to buy. For $280,000 you can secure one of these lots all ready to start building. Cosy and secluded Sandy Cove is really taking shape with four builds and another on the way.
ONEROA ROAD BEACH ACCESS
SANDY COVE
A magnificent section is up for offer in the exclusive lifestyle neighbourhood of Winifred Street. This is at the high end of the market and perfect for a family who loves a rural outlook on a manageable 3358m2 lot with the most amazing 180 degree coastal vista. Recently listed in Lloyd George Road is a 2000m2 section close to the tennis courts and a short walk to the beach. For the buyer who wants to be tucked away in a rural environment you can’t go wrong with a 1ha lifestyle block up Scarly’s Way. There are a selection of options available. If you are wanting to be a hop-skip-and-a-jump to the Stock Route then we have a large Oneroa Road block available. With just under 2 acres of absolutely flat land, there is so much potential. Christine Gunness of Ray White Gisborne says that many people looking to buy at Wainui are not always finding the existing house they are looking for. Now is the time to buy land at great prices so you can design and build your own dream home by the beach. There are builders available who will provide an all-up, finished price with no nasty surprises near the completion of the build. Everything can be allowed for in the quote. For more information on this, please contact one of our agents. Ray White are opening a branch in Wairoa. This will cover the Mahia market and for Wainui and Gisborne residents wanting a Mahia holiday bach we have the perfect pieces of land for sale in this surfers’ retreat at very affordable prices. 1
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For more information on coastal sections phone: WAINUI BEACH Christine Gunness 021 536306 Diane Ritchie 0274 441073 Kerry Low 027 5145979 Peter Ritchie 0274 331013
Ray White Works www.rwgisborne.co.nz
MAHIA Jenny Krzanich 06 838 8888 A/H 06 837 5095 Des Blake 06 837 5512
Gisborne Property Shop Ltd MREINZ Tel: (06) 867 0060 Fax: (06) 867 0064 468 Gladstone Road Gisborne gisborne.nz@raywhite.com
Phone 06 867 0060
dolphin days in the Wainui waves ...
In memory of Moko the Dolphin, who for a short while came to surf and play at Wainui Beach. He moved on,
Walker Real Estate Ltd
Licensed Agent REAA 2008
to sadly meet his destiny on unkinder shores.