04 October Blenheim Sun Newspaper

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Willa Connor gets a buzz out of performing. And perform she did. The six-year-old was one of many participants who gathered for the 75th anniversary of the Marlborough Performing Arts Competition recently. Indeed, the regions performing arts scene continues to thrive and is in collaborative harmony. Continued on page 2.

Jessie Sawers Music School students waiting to go on stage to sing: Left, Willa Connor, Lilly Madden, Grace Price and Scarlett Clemmet-Jones.

Chris Valli

Harmonious collaboration

Continued from page 1. This year’s event was held from September 23 – 26. Each year the MPAC society hosts around 500 children and their families over four to six days with all genres of dancing, vocal, piano and instrumental.

Modern, Ballet, Tap and Musical Theatre Dance were held at the ASB Theatre while Vocal, Piano and Instrumental were held at St

Andrew’s Church.

Jessie Sawers, who teachers local students singing and piano had students involved this year and says one of the highlights was watching her students confidence grow getting up on stage and singing.

For some, she says, it was their first time singing to an audience. One of them was six-year-old Willa Connor who sang Castle on a Cloud from Les Misérables

“She sang beautifully,” says Jessie. “Willa has got excellent diction and clarity with her words and she has a strong rhythm. She brings her songs to life with her enthusiasm and personality.”

Secretary of the society Cathryn Wadsworth says there were some children and teenagers who competed this year who were second and third generation competitors with some cases both a parent

and grandparent having competed at the competition. Competitors came from all around New Zealand.

The society gives children the opportunity to perform on a professional stage to foster and showcase their love of the arts, giving them a sense of pride and accomplishment. The competitions have run since 1948 and are run by volunteers.

Our premises are equipped with state-of-the-art amenities to ensure a memorable farewell for your loved one. Corner

Proud teacher: Jessie Sawers with students Emilie Mackay, Lilly Madden and Jasmine Mooiman.

MPACS vocal and instrumental committee. Jenny Kemp, Linda Holdaway and Jessie Sawers. Absent: Kathryn Moloney.

Bob Barnes Thelma & Alistair Sowman Barry Holmwood Ethan Williams Terry Ryan Faye Partridge

CEO to step down

By Chris Valli

Mark Wheeler announced on Monday he is stepping down as Council’s Chief Executive on 28 June 2024.

“I have been privileged to work for Marlborough District Council over the last 25 years. It’s been challenging but rewarding, working with very talented and committed staff, councillors and mayors. That made this a difficult decision,” he says.

Mark, 65, says it’s time to spend more time with his wife Cathy, their three children, six grandchildren and his parents. The family is spread

between Melbourne, Christchurch, Dunedin and Hawke’s Bay and Mark says he’ll be doing some travelling.

“I’m a keen sportsman and want to keep mountain biking, playing tennis and also take up the clubs and play some golf,” he says.

Mayor Nadine Taylor says she would be sorry to see Mark go.

“Mark is an outstanding chief executive who has led Council very effectively since 2015. Prior to that he was Deputy Chief Executive and Assets and Services Manager from 1998.”

Mayor Taylor says Mark works incredibly hard for the people of Marlborough and has a detailed understanding of Council services and the region’s issues and challenges.

“His energy, passion and practical approach will be sorely missed by councillors and staff, but I fully appreciate he wants to step back and spend more time with his family.”

The search for a new chief executive will now get underway.

Mayor Taylor says it would include national advertising and a process to get the new chief executive on board next year.

Karma camellia - St. Andrew’s Garden Tour

By Chris Valli

You know it’s October when the camellia flower is blossoming in the gardens of Marlborough.

The flower will be one of many fauna and flora as part of the St Andrew’s Church Garden Tour fundraiser on October 14 and 15.

The church invites locals to enjoy their Annual Garden Tour, a self-conducted tour of a group of very different and interesting gardens.

One of the locations is in Muirbank Crescent, Witherlea, home of Ian and Helen Hogan.

The couple have been in their abode for about 12 years. Helen says when they arrived from Gore the garden had a lot of creeper –

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small vining plants – that grow close to the ground and spread everywhere.

Some of the fastest-growing creeping plants include creeping Jenny, evening primrose, periwinkle, winter creeper and English ivy. The plant is considered invasive due to their prolific growth. Amazing what a bit of elbow grease can do. Their garden now has over 100 camellias and is joy to see.

“We’ve planted all the deciduous trees (meaning to fall off), about 10 of them,” says Helen.

“We also have lots of native growth called renga renga (rock lilly). Look at those camellias. They’re really flourishing this year.”

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Their flowers are usually large and conspicuous, one to 12cm in diameter, with five to nine petals in naturally occurring species of camellias. The colours of the flowers vary from white through pink colours to red; truly yellow flowers which are found only in South China and Vietnam.

To whet the garden tour appetite, cream teas, filled rolls and delicious cakes will be available along with various other stalls offering plants, jams, a Christmas stall and pickles.

Tickets are available from; Devon Garden Centre, Islington Gardens, Selmes Trust, Cresswell’s Shoes, Roselands Pets and Plants and the St Andrew’s Church office (cash sales only).

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MDC CEO Mark Wheeler is stepping down in June 2024. Mayor Taylor says his energy, passion and practical approach will be sorely missed.

CAMELLIATASTIC: Raewyn Buchanan, Helen Hogan and Gillian Mutch in Helen’s garden in Witherlea. Helen’s garden will be part of the St Andrew’s Garden tour on October 14 and 15.

Shopping for change to duopoly

By Chris Valli

A Blenheim local who holidayed in Australia recently is asking why New Zealand supermarkets aren’t following similar practices on this side of the Tasman.

Bruce Morton and his wife Shirley were in Sydney on holiday, and visited the Leichardt, Norton Street Mall where they purchased several items at the Coles supermarket.

Bruce says they left the supermarket and had coffee and brunch at a nearby café, where they looked at the Coles receipt and noticed, chicken, that was supposed to be $13 was charged at the non-sale price of $17.

As the supermarket was only about 30 metres away, they went back and pointed the overcharge to a checkout manager, who said no problem, they would refund the item in full, and Coles have a policy that if they overcharge on an item, the customer gets a refund and the item is given to the customer(s) free of charge.

In 2020, amid a growing outcry about the price customers pay at the checkout, the Commerce Commission was tasked by the Government to carry out a market study into whether competition in the grocery sector was working and if not, what could be done about it.

For two decades now, New Zealand’s supermarket sector has been a duopoly, dominated by Foodstuffs and Woolworths.

When its final report was released in March 2022, the Commerce Commission’s conclusions were stark. Competition wasn’t working well for consumers, and if competition was more effective, retailers would face stronger pressure to deliver the right prices, quality and range.

“The point I’d like to make is, there has been a supermarket watchdog created via the Commerce Commission, here in New Zealand, and to date very little has been achieved by them,” says Bruce.

“The Commission should be made aware of the Australian Supermarket rules, and because of the amount of overcharging we have experienced on sale items, particularly by the Australian owned supermarkets, the Australian rules should apply here for example, if an item is overcharged it is then free to the customer.”

Consumer NZ’s Jon Duffy says a series of mergers and acquisitions in the 1980s and 90s ultimately led to the status quo. Sun readers might remember supermarket brands like Foodtown, Big Fresh, Write Price and Price Chopper.

“Over the years, what is now the duopoly chipped away at that and acquired and merged and eventually in the early 2000s, the last brand standing was Foodtown. The company that is now Woolworths, called Progressive Enterprises at the time - applied to the Commerce Commission to purchase Foodtown,” Duffy says.

After a lengthy legal process, the merger eventually went ahead.

“That was the beginning of the end, that was the beginning of the status quo, which is New Zealand’s grocery sector being served by a duopoly.”

“When you own the entire supply chain it makes it a lot easier to control the prices that are charged through that supply chain, and that’s what we end up wearing at the supermarket checkout.”

With the impending election, Labour says it will directly support companies wanting to enter the New Zealand grocery market in a bid to break up the supermarket duopoly.

A Labour Government inquiry into competition in the g rocery business showed the two big companies that control the grocery industry in New Zealand were making excess profits of around $1 million a day.

THE RECEIPT TELLS THE STORY: Blenheim’s Bruce Morton was overcharged for a chicken at Coles Supermarket in Leichardt, Sydney and was given a full refund and allowed to keep the item for no charge. Bruce is proposing the same service and policy to take place in supermarkets here.

First look at new Blenheim Summerset villas set to hit market

By Maia Hart, Local Democracy Reporter

Last week, the Summerset Blenheim Retirement team were in Blenheim to host four pre-sale sessions, each attended by over 70 people.

Mairi Dawson, who attended the Friday session, said she was glad she came because “she had a few questions” leading up to it.

While her and husband Ken were not necessarily “ready right now” to move into Summerset, the pair did register their interest in a property.

“We’re looking towards the future. We’re not getting any younger,” she said.

Summerset is an organisation with 38 villages across New Zealand, and some in Australia too, with over 7500 residents.

The organisation this year changed its plans in Blenheim from a 15-metre high, multi-storey main building consented for in 2021, to only single-storey builds.

The new design was said to be “more synonymous and sympathetic with the surrounding vernacular of Blenheim”.

It meant the number of independent living units dropped from 224 to 180, while the number of available care bed spaces was also reduced from 43 to 30.

The new single-storey main building would house hospital beds, a café, library, pool and

other recreational areas and was expected to open at the end of 2026. A temporary recreation centre would open in the interim.

It would be surrounded by independent villas, with on-site parking and internal roading connecting to Old Renwick Rd. On-site rest home and hospital level care would start once certified by Te Whatu Ora.

At the pre-sales event on Friday, Summerset announced that prices for their 72sqm one-bedroom cottages with an allocated car park, still to be built, would start from $615,000.

The 112sqm two-bedroom villas started at $750,000 and three-bedroom started at $879,000. That sum paid for a

licence to occupy, with a $167 weekly fee for services such as maintenance, exterior cleaning, rates, and village management paid on top of that.

Built on a “high water table”, about 30 tradies were working on the site. About 5km of pipes had to be laid for the main infrastructure, and a new sewer pump.

Summerset group sales manager Petria Tullett said the earliest move in date for the new units was January 15. While 15 homes had been completed, 13 would come onto the market as one would be used as a temporary sales offie and another for village management. “There’s a lot of interest that we’re getting already,” Petria said.

LET’S TAKE COUNTRY BACK OUR

Summerset group sales manager Petria Tullett in one of the new villas.

The first Summerset Villas in Blenheim could have people move in by January 15

Sun readers have their say... with the WORD on the Street.

How could supermarkets be helping shoppers with the cost of groceries?

The supermarkets throw out a lot of produce. I think they could re-use. It seems ridiculous they aren’t proactive by giving the wastage to locals who are struggling.

I buy frozen vegetables. They need to have a conscience with all the profit they are making.

As soon as an overseas competitor enters the market I will be boycotting the locals. The ‘big boys’ need to show some humanity.

I’ve recently being made redundant so budgeting is the first priority. There’s no reason why they can’t lower basics like fruit and vegetables.

Water, water everywhere

There can be no doubt that the eastern side of the Mainland will shortly have a much reduced rainfall, apart from the occasional destructive downpour.Christchurch’s aquifers, already drastically lowered, will turn the likelihood of a saltwater incursion into certainty. As I see it, we have little option but to invest in a major scheme to bring water from the upper flanks of the western side of the Divide. This will increase our hydroelectric resource while at the same time diverting floods which Westland most definitely doesn’t need.

I’m talking about the work suggested around 2008 by civil engineer Norman Hardie, who envisaged cap-

turing the waters from the upper reaches of the Landsborough and Douglas Rivers in an area a lot wetter than Fiordland. The Cropp River at the aptly named Waterfall Station had the amazing total of 18.44 METRES of rain in 1998, and climate change is likely to make that commonplace. Look out, Hokitika!

The tunnel under our Alps would be 27km long. Relax, our Alps are of softer rock than the Swiss version, where a 50km rail tunnel is in operation; way back in the 19th century the London Underground got a 30-plus tunnel driven. The Lake Onslow no-goer would have needed a 25km tunnel anyway. Our tunnel, well away

from the Alpine Fault, - and the Japanese have shown tunnels to be better survivors of earthquakes than buildings anyway - would utilise a tunnelling machine like the one which has consumed vast taxpayer funds in dear old Auckland. The work would be carried out from the lower, eastern end, and the ensuing water would provide hydroelectricity before irrigating Canterbury sadly set to become, otherwise, a parched wilderness.

Earlier generations of Kiwis endowed us with wonderful public works; what are we passing on to our successors? Apart from a messed-up biosphere that is.

Bill Hovey

I live in France and excessive profits are happening there. We need to buy direct from the farmer, miss out the suppliers.

Thank you

Just wanted to say a big thank you for helping out with our recruitment drive for the Red Cross Garden and for the article in the paper.

We are very happy as it looks like we might have a prospective candidate so job done. Fingers crossed.

Thank you kindly for your support which is much appreciated.

Fay Arnold Secretary, Marlborough Branch Red Cross MDC had

When walking along the Taylor River about a fortnight ago, I was shocked to discover the severe dilapidation with graffiti, of the old Marlborough Club building.

Now to hear the sad saga of its purchase and neglect by the MDC I’m angry. That was a beautifully designed and constructed building which should have been maintained and/or re-purposed. Since the demise of the Clubs of Marlborough it would have made an ideal home for some of the clubs who suddenly found themselves without premises e.g. Bridge club, RSA.

Irrespective of that the MDC had a duty to the ratepayers to keep the building safe to protect the investment. It makes for doubts about competence. What else needs attention? Who will take responsibility for this issue and can we trust that it won’t happen again?

Bridget Orman Blenheim.

Manon Kretz France

Jayne Parata Wellington

Jemma Brownlee Blenheim

Danica Burdis Blenheim

Andrew Heremaia Blenheim

Karlos Gemmell Blenheim

Honour your loved ones with a farewell that truly reflects their life

New citizens welcomed

Twenty-two people from 12 countries are Marlborough’s newest citizens.

The new citizens, from the United Kingdom, Thailand, Samoa, Philippines, Brazil, Chile, USA, South Africa, Vanuatu, Australia, India and Germany, were welcomed at a ceremony at Council Chambers last Friday. Mayor Nadine Taylor told the group the day was an important milestone in their new lives as citizens of this province and country.

In future they would all enjoy the rights and freedoms of native-born New Zealanders.

“Your decision to apply for citizenship was no doubt made after very careful consideration and is a commitment to your future,” she said. “It is not a rejection of your past but in future your first loyalty will be to New Zealand.”

Following the Mayor’s opening address and the presentation of certificates, Council’s waiata group performed for the new citizens and their friends and families.

More progress for Renwick water upgrades

Renwick’s new water treatment plant in Terrace Road is one step nearer to completion.

Simcox Construction, who were awarded the civil and structural works contract, has handed the building over to the water treatment process contractor Mason Engineers, for the installation of the treatment equipment and controls.

“Once all of the work is complete, Renwick will have a safe and secure water supply that meets current national drinking water standards,” Council’s Projects Engineer Mark Power said. Mason Engineers will begin the fit out of mechanical and process equipment shortly, and after the Christmas break electrical equipment will be connected. Other work still to be completed includes

Library bus stop closed Friday

installing two underground and one above ground tanks, the access road and fencing. Landscaping is due to get underway shortly.

Subcontractors CMT did most of the building works, while Simcox completed the underground services, building foundation and pipelines.

To date, work on Renwick’s water upgrades has included the construction of a new reservoir, completed in 2020, installation of water meters which came into operation in July 2021 and the drilling and developing of new wells at Conders Bend Road.

A new water pipeline from the wells to the reservoir and water treatment plant site was installed last year. Testing of the water treatment plant is expected to start in March 2024.

The bus stop outside Te Kahu o Waipuna –Blenheim’s new library and art gallery – will be out of action this Friday 6 October.

The annual Feast Marlborough event is being held from 3.30pm to 8pm and High Street, from Raupo to Whitcoulls, will be closed all day.

Waste collection issues sorted

The impact of winter ills on waste collection services is at an end with kerbside collections back to full capacity.

Council’s Solid Waste Manager Mark Lucas acknowledged there had been challenges in past months with Metallic Sweeping, who provide the kerbside collection service in Blenheim, and who have been operating on reduced staff due to winter ills and skills shortages. “This has unfortunately resulted in recycling on some occasions being put in with general refuse,” Mr Lucas said.

Metallic Sweeping has confirmed they are now fully staffed with five drivers and 11 sorters. Systems are in place to avoid this happening in future, he said.

“There is the potential on some days, because of staff sickness, this could still occur, but we expect it will be a rarity. Metallic Sweeping also have new drivers due to arrive from overseas to shore up their staff capacity, so we anticipate these collection issues are now sorted.”

Mayor Nadine Taylor with Marlborough’s newest citizens

Renwick’s new water treatment plant is nearing completion

Killing Marlborough’s domesticated cats

There seems to be something suspicious going on in the town with an unusually large number of stray and domesticated cats missing recently.

12 cats which were microchipped and desexed went ‘missing’ on Monday, September 18 around the Taylor Pass area and haven’t been seen since. Many more pet owners have now added to this tally of recently missing or very sick pets in the same areas.

Michelle Madsen from Marlborough Four Paws says when they patrol for strays or pull into the Blenheim Waste Sorting in Wither Road they would often call out for a pair, aptly named Yogi and Mrs Yogi. The duo would come running up to the van with their tails entwined together and come to the feeding station wanting immediate attention.

“We’re absolutely heartbroken,” says Michelle. “There’s been a bit of sobbing going on for sure. We’ve spent the past two years removing around 190 cats from just the waste centre alone, getting each to a point where we can trap them and bring them into the (Four Paws) site or one of our foster homes, and eventually find them a home of their own.” Michelle says “If we don’t step in, desex and remove them, they breed exponentially and both the cats and our birdlife suffer”.

Volunteer Gabby says they feed the strays every second night including three or four that they just started patting (to convey comfort). Fellow volunteer Liz Buttimore says the council are adamant there has been no new baiting that could cause secondary poisoning and that ‘no cull has happened’. Liz says it’s become a case now of ‘too many animals’ to not be looked into.

Adding to the speculation and

disgust was a message to Michelle of Marlborough Four Paws from local vet Charlotte Patterson stating that she had to euthanise an eight-year-old cat living at Wither Road (Taylor Pass end) with acute renal failure, often she implied, caused by toxic ingestion of a poison.

Charlotte added the cat was healthy and ‘got sick very quickly’ with four days of fluid therapy, which resulted in not bringing down his kidney enzymes, suggesting a poisoning. She says the euthanasia was the saddest she had ever done as the cat had belonged to a single lady who had bought her home from the SPCA who she ‘adored’ and was ‘grief stricken’, couldn’t speak and had a friend with her for ongoing support. The message concluded with ‘whoever is doing this needs to get stopped ASAP.’

“There’s definitely someone behind this. We’ve got five, six, messages from people from the Taylor Pass area recently with reports that their domesticated cats are dying, and many more missing” says Gabby. “It seems to be happening in Redwoodtown too,” adds Michelle.

transfer station. No remains of blood or dead bodies. Fruitless searches in the nearby skips at the waste centre have proved nothing including walking alongside and into the Taylor River track.

In June, Marlborough Four Paws spoke exclusively to the Sun Newspaper after submitting a proposal to the Marlborough District asking for a regional management plan for the stray feline population to be included in the 2023/24 annual plan.

Nothing has happened since. No strategic solutions to address the escalating stray cat problem that Marlborough has.

An online petition began in June to ‘strengthen the MDC animal bylaw (2017) to curb the escalating cat problem. Currently at 2145 signatures, the volunteers continue to work horrendous hours to remove stray and dumped cats from community areas providing crucial support for the conservation groups that protect native bird populations.

Michelle says they are seeing a level of breeding and disease they haven’t seen before adding there is a daunting amount of work needed in the region and council need to understand this. Currently the Marlborough District Council Animals Bylaw 2017 does not support responsible pet cat ownership.

foot with the lead up to Christmas and end of the year. “

Meanwhile, MFP has been chosen by SPRINGLANDS Z Service Station to be a part of the ‘Good in the Hood’ programme. If locals are needing to fuel up anytime in the next month (September 25 - 23rd October 23 ) pop a token in their box By voting with your token, you can help get a share of the $4000 allotted to community groups across the country.

for all the volunteers after the trials and tribulations of not only recent events but the ever increasing demand for funding and a strategic, solution focus with the MDC wh ich included animal bylaw collaboration with Forest & Bird and Dawn Chorus.

So why do they keep fighting the good fight?

Posts to the social media group Marlborough Cool Cat Chat, included cats that had come home vomiting while others suggested allegations of poisoning and or felicide (killing of cats) has been happening in Blenheim ‘for years’.

Here’s the thing. There is no evidence of the friendly cats at the

A post on the page says the ‘we are asking our Marlborough District Council leaders to ACT NOW. Amend the Animals Bylaw 2017 to include micro-chipping and desexing of pet cats to reduce animal suffering and protect our native birdlife.’

“I don’t believe anything will happen at the council until something happens nationally like a central government directive. It will get put on the back

The money certainly would go a long way after ‘surviving’ on donations and the few animal focused grants that MFP has received in recent years. Bills include a $1200 a month lease fee for the land of the Four Paws venue plus $1400 a month in food notwithstanding power and internet charges.

Gabby says it’s been demanding

“I love seeing cats turnaround from those who have been let down by humans, to having the opportunity to build that trust back up again and finding their forever homes.”

“The cats out and about in the community should be fed, warm and healthy and none out there with undue suffering. It breaks your heart. But we can fix that. We show them love and they find the best homes ever.

Sun Journalist Chris Valli sat down with Marlborough Four Paws to talk exclusively about growing concerns of alleged poisoning of domesticated and stray cats in the Taylor Pass and Redwoodtown areas in recent weeks.

“We’re absolutely heartbroken”

Yogi and Mrs Yogi having their dinner. The cats are two of 12 who went 'missing' on September 18 around the Taylor Pass area and haven't been seen since. A worrying number of owned cats are missing from Taylor Pass road area. If you've heard or seen anything suspicious please message Marlborough Four Paws.

More progress for Renwick water upgrades Fabulous at Forty

By Chris Valli

A display to celebrate the Ruby Anniversary of the Marlborough Embroiderers’ Guild starts at the Marlborough Art Society Gallery this Saturday.

The display at High Street is from midday Saturday, October 7 then daily 10.30am to 4.30pm until Sunday, October 15.

Embroidery is the craft of

decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn and may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins.

Marlborough Embroiderers Guild Convenor Sue Burdon says the Guild will have a section of embroidery that hasn’t been displayed before and a ‘Fabulous at Forty’ Ruby Anniversary Display, featuring the colour red.

“We’ll also have a selection of smaller projects from Workshops within the Guild, and a Christmas Tree with handmade decorations. There will be a feature on two of our members who passed away recently,” says Sue.

The guild originally formed in 1983 as the Blenheim Embroiderers’ Guild and has continued the enthusiasm of the founding group over the ensuing years.

LET’S MEET BLENHEIM

TODAY - Wednesday 4th October 4.30 - 6.30pm Raupo Cafe & Restaurant

Hi, my name is Sandra Campbell, and this is why I am standing for DemocracyNZ in the Kaikoura Electorate.

The New Zealand that we know and love is rapidly disappearing. More rules and regulations, more taxes, we’re all working longer and have less to show for it, our freedoms being quietly eroded. We deserve better.

We have an amazing country, we should be making the very best of what we have here, giving everyone opportunity and hope. The core of DemocracyNZ is its three solid foundational pillars of Families, Farming and Freedom.

FAMILIES - the most precious part of our lives, that’s what we live for, that’s who we are, our families make up our communities, families are our number one priority.

FARMING - we are a farming nation, this is our strength. We’re all farmers at heart, we’re all growing something – a family, a business, a community, we’re all contributing to growing something.

FREEDOM - our freedom of choice, our freedom of speech, everything that we hold near and dear to us, comes back to some sort of freedom.

Our nation needs leadership that empowers and inspires New Zealanders.

We want integrity, fairness, truthfulness and compassion in the corridors of power. People who actually care about New Zealanders. That’s what we’ll bring.

DemocracyNZ - The Voice of the People, and The Conscience of Parliament.

Vote DemocracyNZ this election. Read about us at www.democracynz.org.

The MEG is part of ANZED, the national body of Embroidery Guilds that provides great networking between guilds and tutors who travel to offer classes.

Guild members meet on the first Saturday of each month and the third Monday evening at NMIT.

New members are welcome no matter the level of experience. Contact Sue Walbran on 021 502 236 for more details.

By Chris Valli

Renwick’s new water treatment plant in Terrace Road is one step nearer to completion.

Simcox Construction, who was awarded the civil and structural works contract, has handed the building over to the water treatment process contractor Mason Engineers, for the installation of the treatment equipment and controls.

“Once all of the work is complete, Renwick will have a safe and secure water supply that meets current national drinking water standards,” Council’s Projects Engineer Mark Power says.

Mason Engineers will begin the fit out of mechanical and process equipment shortly, and after the Christmas break electrical equipment will be connected.

Other work still to be completed includes installing two underground and one above ground tanks, the access road and fencing. Landscaping is due to get underway shortly.

Subcontractors CMT did most of the building works, while Simcox completed the underground services, building foundation and pipelines.

To date, work on Renwick’s water upgrades has included the construction of a new reservoir, completed in 2020, installation of water meters which came into operation in July 2021 and the drilling and developing of new wells at Conders Bend Road.

A new water pipeline from the wells to the reservoir and water treatment plant site was installed last year. Testing of the water treatment plant is expected to start in March 2024.

JOINT STATEMENT Harmonising Perspectives on the “Piano Dispute” Article

We, the Marlborough Civic Orchestra (MCO) and the Marlborough Civic Theatre Trust (MCTT), wish to address recent developments concerning the article titled “Piano Dispute Causing Disharmony,” published on 29 August 2023, in the Marlborough Weekly, along with related correspondences. These matters revolve around the use of the Steinway piano during the MCO’s “Passionato” Concert, hosted at the ASB Theatre Marlborough last 19 August 2023.

The Marlborough Civic Orchestra committee wishes to state that the comments made in the article do not represent the official position of the orchestra and were made in a personal capacity by the musical director.

The MCO and MCTT have convened and reached a unanimous decision to address this situation with a positive and collaborative spirit. We share a commitment to support each other fully and are working on a maintenance programme for the piano. We also aim to create an inclusive community-focussed programme centred around the piano, designed to benefit our beloved community.

The ASB Theatre will continue to remain the preferred performance venue of the MCO, and the theatre anticipates hosting its orchestral concert on 4th November and welcoming our dedicated patrons to this exceptional venue.

We appreciate the support and understanding of our community and are fully committed to enrich orchestral music and the Arts in our region.

DECORATING FABRIC FOR 40 YEARS: Sue Burdon and Judy Brownlie with items for the ‘Fabulous at Forty’ display at the Marlborough Art Society which starts this Saturday.

Aspirations of first Mental Health Minister

Matt Doocey, the senior National MP is in line for a new role in a Christopher Luxon-led government as potential Mental Health Minister. He was in Blenheim last week and explained to Chris Valli why mental health needs a collaborative approach.

If current polling is indicative, National is on track to form the next government under Christopher Luxon with Matt Doocey, on the front bench of the shadow caucus.

He has been promised a very particular role as minister for mental health. It would be the first time New Zealand has had a dedicated minister holding this portfolio, separated from the broader health role.

Matt was in Blenheim last week as a guest speaker at a mental health bbq breakfast with the Marlborough Health and Safety Forum talking about ‘better mental health in the workplace’ alongside colleague and Kaikoura MP Stuart Smith.

“It’s really encouraging when we hold a BBQ breakfast like we did that there was over 100 workers there and it speaks to how in this country we have done well creating an environment and culture where we can talk more openly about mental health in the workplace and breaking down that stigma.”

Marlborough has the highest rate of suicide per capita in the country. Matt believes mental health and suicide prevention is

a bipartisan issue.

In 2019, New Zealand’s first cross party Mental Health and Addictions Wellbeing Group was formed consisting of Chloe Swarbrick from the Green Party, former Labour politician Louisa Wall and ACT Leader, David Seymour. The group was created following a recommendation from the 2018 Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction.

The group’s aim is to raise awareness of the issues and challenges surrounding mental health in New Zealand, such as suicide and makes recommendations and holds the Government to account over policies around mental health.

“It’s about understanding,” he says. “Something that lasts longer than the three year parliamentary cycles. Different communities have different needs in what will work with suicide prevention.”

He referred to the ‘ground made’ in the construction sector which has one of the highest rates of suicide in ‘any sector’ in the country. The sector is now taking responsibility and they are funding a program called

THE 2023 GENERAL ELECTION

‘Mates in Construction’ where workers are trained with suicide prevention skills and awareness to connect, engage and relate with fellow workers.

“We need people trained to do this in a range of communities to ensure that people are aware of initiatives,” he says. Matt suggests understanding Mental Health is about ‘local solutions for local needs’.

His own mental health journey started with issues caused from a car accident when he was younger where he refused to get help, even though people were urging him to.

“I finally decided to get that

Vote now in the General Election.

support. Not only did I develop a better relationship with my own mental health but I decided to go and work in the mental health field which took me to London for my O.E and I worked for a decade with the British NHS (National Health Scheme).” When asked what was the best thing about what he does and the motivation he was clear on the strategic vision.

“It’s important that we accurately and diligently understand the problem definition of what we are trying to achieve and then apply a policy that will measure and achieve outcomes,” he says.

Letters

To the Editor

Policies and promises

It is time that the Political Parties contending this General Election got their act into gear.

Rather than have policies being drip fed over several weeks, should it not be a statutory requirement that all parties publicly declare their full costed policies, not only the cost, but how they are to be funded, one month before the Election.

Also the timeline for when these policies will be introduced. All in one document released through the media so that voters can compare one with another.

Today it seems that as one party suddenly releases a policy to cost billions, the opposition brings out another carrot. When asked why a certain policy has not been released, the answer- to be announced soon; an indication that it has probably not been thought about yet. Voters are confused. Is this Election to be contested on personalities or just time for a change.

What are we voting for on Oct 14?

The voters are being promised a better New Zealand, but how can we be assured that this is likely to happen with the fragmented, sporadic release of policies.

Walter Scott Blenheim

National’s Matt Doocey was a guest speaker at a mental health bbq breakfast in Blenheim last week with the Marlborough Health and Safety Forum talking about better mental health in the workplace.

Advocating for people 50 + From the President’s Desk

In September Grey Power Marlborough held three candidates’ meetings for the upcoming election. First of all, I would like to apologise to those who were guided to the wrong hall. Unfortunately, the St Mary’s community centre is now the community hall but the signage has not been changed. Having candidates invited by Grey Power means our questions were related to our senior cohort so the relative questions could be asked.

In Blenheim, Grey Power members and the general public had the choice of attending a morning or evening meeting and in Picton there was an afternoon meeting at the Picton RSA. All candidates spoke well and spoke passionately about what their party could offer New Zealanders. Voting is not compulsory in New Zealand; however, I urge you to vote as it is your democratic right.

The Grey Power team that went to Picton RSA decided to stay for an evening meal, by way of saying thank you, as we were not charged for the venue. I have to say the meal was lovely and not expensive so, if you are heading over to Picton pop in and see what they have to offer.

Gayle Chambers

Office Snippets

Work is starting on the next Discount Book. We are still seeking extra businesses to join - particularly businesses outside Blenheim for members based outside Blenheim to use. Picton, for example, has several hundred members. Please get in touch with the office for

more information: office@greypowermarlborough.co.nz or phone 578 4950.

If you are a member with an overdue subscription, please let us know if you have decided not to renew your membership.

Let the office know if your contact de-

October Events

17 October, 2-3pm, Coffee, Cake and Cellphones, help for seniors (aged 55+) at REAP Marlborough 68 Seymour Street. Phone Kate Horrey on 022 600 3582 or 578 7848 for information and to book in.

Kate and Shona, REAP staff, will answer basic cell phone questions on an

St John Marlborough is running 2 free sessions of 3 Steps for Life to the general public. An experienced ambulance officer will show you how to call

November Events

Retirement Villages Residents Associ ation of New Zealand Inc. You are cor dially invited to attend a public forum of the RV Resident’s Association. Friday 3 November, 2023 at 3pm in the Wesley Centre, 3 Henry Street, Blenheim.

The Wesley Centre is in Henry Street. You can find very good parking behind the church in John Street.

Brian Peat, the RV national president,

On 23rd November we offer a talk by Rose Prendeville from Port Marlborough and Jane Davison from Downer on pro

individual basis. You can practice using your cell phones, text messages, apps etc in an informal, supportive environment. Bring a friend or family member for support and come to as many sessions as you like.

These afternoon tea sessions are free

111, how to do CPR, how to use AED (defibrillators).

Havelock Pavilion Saturday 14th October, 10.30 am - 11.30am

tails have changed. We know from chasing overdue subs that many members no longer have landline telephone numbers. It costs too much for a non-profit organisation to keep posting overdue subscription invoices repeatedly.

SECURITY AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON

SUPPORTING THE

of charge and take place fortnightly on Tuesdays on 17 October, 1 November, and 14 November, 2 to 3 pm. REAP would like you to RSVP but it is also ok to just drop in. Please bring your cell phone fully-charged.

Blenheim Library Saturday 28th October, 10.30am - 11.30am

To register: stjohnmarlborough@ stjohn.org.nz

appreciated to help defray expenses. Please RSVP by email to office@ greypowermarlborough.co.nz or phone 578 4950

The assistance of Grey Power Marlborough is acknowledged in organising this event.

The Retirement Villages Residents Association looks forward to seeing you all there.

Picton. 10.00am on Thursday 23rd November, Catholic Church Hall, Maxwell Road, Blenheim.

A revolutionary new coding system, TrioCode 128 provides enhanced reliability and security by using three frequencies to overcome interference issues.

A revolutionary new coding system, TrioCode 128 provides enhanced reliability and security by using three frequencies to overcome interference issues.

Preparing for an Exceptional Retirement

What will my retirement look like?

While retiring can be a reward for years of hard work, it is also a time of significant change. Taking time to plan and understand this process will ensure you are in control of your retirement journey.

Prepare by joining us at one of our Retirement Preparation Hui and learn vital tips to help you understand the potential challenges, find new purpose, and thrive in your retirement. You will learn about the various stages of retirement, receive tools to help prepare for and navigate this life

stage in a personally significant and meaningful way. You will develop a framework to implement a retirement plan based on your individual needs, learn ‘top tips’ from those who have experienced retirement. You will hear from experts across a range of topics including health, finance, employment, and community engagement, develop friendships through this shared experience and confirm “What does my retirement look like for me?”

This is a six week programme run from 5.30 - 8.00pm at 22 Alfred Street, Blenheim. Light refreshments

Improved help for renters

The Ministry of Social Development now offers improved help to renters with bonds, rent, rent in advance, rent arrears and moving costs. Renters don’t need to be on a benefit to get help. Changes in March mean financial support will better reflect actual housing costs. Maximum payments and how many times people can get help in a year were increased and the

eligibility criteria were updated.

The Transition to Alternative Housing Grant and Tenancy Cost Cover have been updated to offer better support.

These changes apply to people who are named tenants on tenancies that the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 applies to. Visit Work and Income to find out more about what support is available.

People can also find out what pay-

are provided. www.enlivenuppersouth.org.nz

The next group is scheduled for the 12/10/23 to 16/11/23 weekly for the 6 weeks.

There is no charge as participants are part of the pilot for the programme. What is required is feedback from participants to assist with planning for future courses.

Register today! If you have any questions, or are interested in attending the course, please contact Tricia Dawson, 027 389 4305 or 03 265 4240 or email triciad@psusi.org.nz

50 + Abbeyfield Raffle

Thank you to all those who took a raffle ticket in the recent fundraiser for Abbeyfield Marlborough.

1st prize - 72-piece dinner set went to No 44 Deidre Lister.

2nd prize - Gift basket went to No 56 Pauline.

Both prizes have been delivered to the lucky recipients.

Vote! Vote! Vote!

ments they might be able to get by visiting the Work and Income website and clicking on “Check what you might get,” https://www.workandincome. govt.nz/.

The ‘Help with Housing’ brochure explaining how MSD can help with housing and other essential costs is available from your local Work and Income service centre.

Rates Rebate MoleMap

MoleMap has joined with Grey Power NZ to give members a 20% discount on their next full body mole map, skin check or skin check+ service. This promotion is available to 31 January, 2024. Telephone 0800 665 362 to book your appointment, choosing your preferred clinic and the service you wish to receive. Use the promocode GREYPOWER20 and your discount will be automatically applied. Please have your membership card with you as they request your membership number.

WELLINGTON OR CHRISTCHURCH, DIRECT TO CHATHAM ISLANDS

An increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme will help lower income home-owners who qualify to pay their local council rates this coming financial year.

The maximum rebate increases from $700 to $750, and the income abatement threshold rises from $28,080 to $30,100 to match inflation.

The scheme is a partial refund for people who pay rates to their coun-

cil. It provides financial relief for low-income New Zealanders who own their own home, including those living in retirement villages. If you are eligible make sure that you get your application into your local council. For information about how to apply for the rebate. Refer to a pamphlet from Internal Affairs. www.govt.nz/rates-rebates

You can contact the MDC as well.

Finally, Grey Power encourages you to vote in the general election. Voting is for each of us our democratic right, hard-won and so important in deciding what kind of society we want to enjoy, and hand on to the following generations.

Get out and vote! Encourage your partner, your family, and your friends. Especially in a close election your vote will count.

Whose interests are served by you not voting? Not yours…… have your say! Remember this, half-said in jest. “If you don’t vote, you lose your right to grumble!”

AU CKLAND, WELL INGTON OR CHRIS TCHURCH DIRE CT TO CHATHAM ISLANDS

Experience 8 days in one of

Toasting Tahryn

By Monique Balvert-O’Connor

final in Auckland during November 7/8.

Tahryn is the third Indevin employee in recent years selected to battle it out at the Young Horticulturist of the Year final. He follows in the footsteps of Sam Bain who finished second last year, and Rhys Hall who, in 2021, won the coveted Young Horticulturist title. Both remain with Indevin, Sam as Springhill Vineyard Manager in Central Hawkes Bay, and Rhys as Group Technical Viticulturist in Marlborough.

Tahryn’s path to the Young Horticulturist finals started with a summer job at Villa Maria in Auckland back in his tertiary education student days.

“I was putting bird netting on over the grapes pre harvest, and then removing them, never expecting that would lead anywhere. That was my first taste of the industry,” he shares.

The taste was obviously appealing as he returned while studying, moving on to start assisting with the harvest, and tackling a little pruning work, and then deciding there may be “something of a career in viticulture”.

A vineyard assistant job came first, then an operational role.

“I was quickly exposed to the breadth of the industry, especially as there was a wine making team on site at Villa Maria too. Working at Villa Maria – a meticulously managed, high-end boutique vineyard – offered a quick introduction into the fine arts of viticulture.”

New challenges and increasing responsi-

bilities suited Tahryn just fine.

In 2020 he was talking job opportunities with Villa Maria in Marlborough, appreciating the large difference in scale between Au ckland and the larger Marlborough operations. A job as a machinery operator in the vineyards was followed the next year with a supervisor’s position. When Indevin purchased the Villa Maria brand in 2021 he carried over. Further promotion, to his current role, followed after he won the National Young Viticulturist of the Year competition last year.

Tahryn is no stranger to competition. He has competed three times at the Young Viticulturist Competition, honing his skills to achieve last year’s big win. Now he’s giving

back – as a member of Marlborough’s Young Viticulturists’ regional committee.

Tahryn says his role as Grower Relations Partner rounds out his professional development.

“I wanted to apply the knowledge I have gained, and I enjoy working with growers.

“My real passions in the industry are wine and viticulture education and grower liaison. I enjoy my current relationship role, helping growers get the best out of their sites and achieving the goals they have for their vineyards. The job also involves helping contract growers and the companies they work for maintain overarching goals of the industry itself around quality and meeting export targets.

Indevin’s Tahryn Mason has been selected to represent the New Zealand Winegrowers sector at this year’s Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition.

Farmers question timing of costing cuts

Fonterra’s seven-year plan to purge $1billion of costs from its business has dairy farmers questioning if some of this could have been removed beforehand.

They applaud the co-op for striving to be more streamlined during a tough pay out and high cost environment, albeit with mixed emotions about looming job cuts.

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell wrote to shareholders telling them the focus on being more efficient would have “implications” for staff numbers, but not at the expense of driving value growth.

He said many farmers were under pressure after two forecast cuts last month to the 2023/24 payout.

A reduced midpoint of $6.75 a kilogram of milk solids will, if it plays out, be the lowest payment since $6.35/kg for the 2018/19 season.

The only cause for cheer was a small rise in the Global Dairy Trade auction last week.

Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Richard McIntyre says farmers would be delighted to see Fonterra was analysing its business and looking for ways to remove costs.

However, the idea a surplus $1b was being spent historically was concerning as shareholders expected the co-op to carry out cost reviews all the time to make the “boat go faster”, he says.

“In many ways it’s the same as what farmers are doing at the moment. They are having a really hard look at farming businesses to see if there’s anything they can do to streamline things and remove some costs as well, particularly at a time when profitability is quite difficult with a low milk price relative to costs. That said, it is troubling to see that Fonterra thinks $1b can be saved because that would suggest that analysis should have happened a long time ago.”

Mr McIntyre says farmers recognised that talk of potential job cuts or restructuring was an unsettling time for staff.

The hope was that staff might be deployed

Herbi-Save™

to areas providing more value, he says. Farmers are also going through their budgets to reduce farm costs and whether that extends to their own staff losing jobs remains to be seen.

Mr McIntyre said farmers had found it difficult to fill rosters until lately with the labour shortage freeing up as a result of the accredited employer work visa scheme. The challenge was it had been expensive to employ these staff, he says.

“What we have seen over the last month is for employers to step in and do more hours themselves and actually cut back on labour a little bit. Not necessarily because they want to and, to be perfectly honest in some cases, not because it’s healthy for them doing 70 to 80 hours a week, but because they feel they need to to balance the books.”

Fonterra has not disclosed whether a job review may include senior management or a sinking lid policy on hiring new staff.

The co-op’s payroll included about 7800 staff on $100,000 to $250,000 in the year ending June. About 500 staff was on $250,000 to $500,000, 80 staff on $500,000 to $1million and 14 staff on $1m to $4.3m, including bonuses and other benefits.

Mr McIntyre says farmer views on co-op wages differed.

“I certainly hear from farmers that they are paid far too much and my argument is always that you actually have to pay the people if you want a good job done. If Fonterra’s wage packet was half what it was we would be getting far less a result potentially. The big thing is we need these highly paid people performing well and to be finding efficiencies within the organisation to make it more profitable.”

He says farmers needed to take a calculated approach to cost cutting and slow down after the busy calving period to make good decisions.

Analysis after the 2007-08 Global Financial Crisis (GFC) showed how farmers reacted and recovered afterwards.

Those that cut spending hard took a long time to recover when the milk price improved, he says.

“Whereas the ones that took a very considered approach and analysed their systems ... the GFC was just a blip over a year or so and then they climbed back into profitability and paid back any money they had to borrow.”

Farmers wanted Fonterra to take the same considered approach so they were analysing and investing in areas providing a return in the years to come.

Wasteful and inefficient spending in any form by the co-op would irk farmers who were doing more tractor and spending less money on the family to save costs, he said.

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Caption: Fonterra’s plan to remove $1billion of costs from the books has Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Richard McIntyre wondering if some of this should have been trimmed before. PHOTO: FEDERATED FARMERS

Healing power of creativity

By Chris Valli

Locally, the Annual Art of Wellbeing Exhibition in conjunction with CARE Marlborough celebrates ‘the healing power of creativity’.

Artists, Jo, Emma, Jaqui, Tracy, Tania, Nathan and Marion have collaborated for the exhibition and have connected not only to themselves throughout the process but a connection with the wider community.

The CARE Marlborough art group cre-

ated a number of art works throughout the Wednesday afternoon art program, sometimes focusing on individual sometimes on collaborative approaches. All had their challenges and asked different skills of the artists.

Coordinator Verena Frei says the group is very supportive and allows everyone to join in. Often, she says, they have ‘good laughs and lively discussions’ and people left looking forward to seeing each other again.

Verena says she has noticed the holistic benefits of their art

and how they have individually and collectively achieved a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment. Verena says all the artists have stepped outside their comfort zone which has enhanced their moods.

The ART OF WELLBEING exhibition will run from October 18 – 29 at the Marlborough Art Society Gallery, 204 High Street.

RIGHT: The healing power of creativity: The CARE Marlborough artwork will be on display at the Art of Wellbeing Exhibition next month.

Please slow down

Imagine an Aotearoa where everyone gets to where they’re going safely.

Setting safe and appropriate speed limits will save lives. Aotearoa New Zealand has lost more people to traffic deaths per capita than most other countries in the OECD and in 2019, we were in the bottom six of 36 countries.

That should be unacceptable to all of us.

Setting speed limits to safe levels is a key tool being used to great effect in many countries

with world-leading road safety records.

A safe and appropriate speed limit is a speed limit that is safe according to standards set by the Safe System approach and appropriate in terms of aligning with community wellbeing, people movement and infrastructure of the street or road. Safe speeds are fundamental to improving safety as well as wider societal benefits.

For example:

• reducing climate change

• increasing fuel and vehicle efficiency

• imp roved inclusion and walkability

• improved uptake of physical activity

Police are an important partner in the Safer System journey and want the Marlborough community to know that speed will be their focus in Marlborough throughout the month of October. Road users can expect to see extra patrols on our roads and officers using the lasers more frequently in their effort to reinforce driver compliance. Sergeant Clauson also wants to remind drivers that

there is a zero-tolerance policy to speeding, and those 4 or 9 kmh speeds over the speed limit are no longer tolerated.

Waka Kotahi’s ‘Through My Eyes’ campaign and this Police focus on speed aim to show New Zealand drivers that there are consequences for speeding whether they be fines, injuries or death.

We all want everyone to get safely where they are going, and road safety partners are working together to achieve that. Now that is acceptable to all of us.

The dump

I wouldn’t moan about people up at the dump. I go there all the time and don’t have any trouble. You get up there and do the job.

Wow

Supermarket prices have jumped up again, quite noticeably. The two big players seem hellbent on maintaining their margins and continuing to rake in millions every day with an almost ‘nothing to see here’ attitude. As soon as an overseas competitor enters the market I will be boycotting the locals. They have done nothing to ease the pain of the average kiwi.

Cotton wool

Why do we wrap these guys in cotton wool seems like they get priority over us locals that’s right money greedy landlords hope you are happy with all your money and property management enjoy the wealth don’t worry about us.

Recycling

Imagine wasting part of your life every day cleaning plastic bottles etc for recycling just to see it end up in the back of the truck going straight to the landfill.

Re Archaic

I am a straight, pakeha over 65 male and you are my hero! Thank you

Recycling?

Well l’ve just watched the rubbish truck guy put ALL the rubbish plus black bag into the truck. Won’t be sorting out bin rubbish from now on. It can all go into the council bag. I’m not going wasting my time.

Duped

Locals have been duped regarding recycling collections. Once again (Monday morning) all recycling has been emptied into one truck with the rubbish bags! Very disappointing, especially after making sure containers are clean, cardboard flattened, bottles washed etc.

Te Reo

Love the texts supporting Te Reo. Widen your horizons and you will discover there is nothing to fear. It’s not an either/or situation!

Cinderella

Well done to Marlborough Children and Youth Theatre and their production of Roald Dahl’s Cinderella and the Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon.

A credit to all involved - such a fun show. Bring on the next production!

Negative

It is a shame about the negative talk to do with the Maori translation of buildings and place names. We live in the south pacific! People of different races have lived here for thousands of years! Get over it, move back to Europe if you can’t!

Mako performance

Their game today can only be descibed as Abysmal. Lazy players, players lacking basic skills and no game plan.

A major gutting of most players is needed before next season.

Korowai

The problem I have with all these cloaks being auctioned and worn by so called dignitaries is that Maori claim that they are conservationist and yet all these cloaks contain native bird feathers just shows how hypocritical they are, there was no DoC around when all these birds were killed.

Overseas recruits

I had to read it twice!. Our rubbish collection firm has to bring in overseas recruits to drive the trucks! It’s good money, no speed necessary, WINZ puts so, so many through HT licence for free. Aha-the problem is a drug free job, with fit guys, and being at work before 0700; that’s SO unBlenhiemish of the employer! Credit all goes to our hardworking local guys.

Karma

I do hope that whoever stilettoed all the car tyres along Henry Street over the weekend has karma of the need for transport for medical needs one day. Although unlikely it is, they will have the intelligence to be able to read this, these wanted oxygen thieves obviously have no respect for hard work, saving and paying for things! We will be using taxis at night now!

Marlborough Club

5 or 6 years ago before the Marlborough Club was trashed I asked a well placed Councilor if I could lease the building. I was told then it was to be demolished for a hotel soon. This is like their plans they had for the Borough School? Forward planning?

Not written

Te Reo may have been spoken for at least 800 years as a person suggests but was not a written language until recent times. English was a written language for longer than that which is why it is now the most widely spoken and understood language in the world.

Sanitarium

I wouldn’t be surprised if the duopoly have applied pressure to get Sanitarium out of the Warehouse. And if that’s the case, shame on Woolworths and Foodstuffs. And Sanitarium for that matter. Sanitarium should have shown some guts, told the duopoly to get stuffed, and placed their products exclusively in the Warehouse. Profits over people. No social conscience for this tax-exempt ‘charity’. Let’s all stop buying Sanitarium products for a month.

Re Library visit

Re: Library visit. Yes, the library is a place to borrow books, but if the views were never a feature why spend a fortune on floor to ceiling windows and then another fortune to cover them up. Smaller windows and good blinds would have saved A LOT of money and allowed visitors and staff to enjoy the views when the sun isn’t shining in.

Very, very broken

Very sad to hear of the horrifying destruction of NZ rugby’s former treasure....the Ranfurly Shield! Probably an alcohol, drug or vaping related incident, but totally inexcusable. And what the heck was The Shield doing being taken into an inappropriate place? Quite synonymous with where our former National Game has gone.

Not happy

I find it hard to believe so many people are swallowing this Māori thing. Reading plenty of comments, not everyone is happy. So please do not slam those of us who take issue with it. Thank you.

Talk of the week

Congratulations to all involved with the Bohally production ‘we will rock you!’

What a great well put together production!!

We will rock you El Nino

Hold on to your hats everybody. El Nino is back with all it’s fury. Lots of windy days and erratic temperature changes are coming our way.

Beautification

Wonderful to see the improvements in amenities and landscape beside the Taylor River, viz strategically placed seating, native trees planted where poplars were removed and growth beside the river cut.

“Well done” to all involved.

We welcome your texts on 027 242 5266.

Limit to 70 words please.

We reserve the right to publish at our discretion. Please note the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the

Janine Bezar

Founder and owner of Bezar Aesthetics and Skin Specialist

 Are you a dog or cat person?

100% dog. Cats make me nervous.

 My friends would say I am…

Words from my friends - Creative, inquisitive, tenacious and kind.

 The best advice I ever received was?

Playing big doesn’t come from working more, pushing harder, or finding confidence. It comes from listening to the most powerful and secure part of you.

 What would you buy if money was no object?

A fully serviced and funded research and development company.

 Local coffee haunt?

Decaf at Karaka.

 Favourite takeaway?

Eat Thai of course!

 The shop you can’t walk past is...?

An outlet store!

 What’s the most thoughtful gift you’ve ever received?

I couldn’t specify. All gifts come with great thought.

 Where is your happy holiday place?

Anywhere I can drink a cocktail and read a book on a beach.

 Favourite programme or series currently watching?

Loving “And Just Like That”.

 What’s one thing on your bucket list? Travel Europe with the family for a year.

More tomato tips: By Wally Richards

I wrote a bit about tomato growing recently and since then I have realised there are more things worth knowing to be successful and have a great crop. There are hundreds of different tomato types available worldwide, red fruit, black fruit, even green fruit that are green when fully ripe.

Sizes vary from the size of a marble up to fruit weighing over one kilo.

All tomatoes can be brought down to two growth types, ‘Indeterminate’ which are a vine and they continue to grow and produce tomatoes till winter ends their lives.

Grown in a glasshouse hydroponically I have seen a plant about 10 metres long with the last metre or so flowering and fruiting.

‘Indeterminate’ tomatoes need support of stakes or wires to keep them upright otherwise they tend to end up growing along the ground.

Examples would be Early Girl, Big Beef, Grosse Lisse and Money Maker.

‘Determinate’ tomato varieties grow to a predetermined height which is about a metre tall.

They need less support and are often referred to as ‘Bush Tomatoes’ as they form a bush about a metre tall and wide. Laterals can be removed or left. They are not as long lived as the ‘Indeterminate’ in most types.

Examples would be Russian Red and Scoresby Dwarf.

If you do not have a glasshouse then choose a spot where it is very sunny most of the day and sheltered from wind. Against a wall facing north is ideal. If you only have less favourable spots then grow Russian Red or Scoresby Dwarf.

I sometimes hear people say that you should not grow tomatoes in the same spot every year in case of disease build up in the soil.

Yes and no, as I know of gardeners growing their tomato plants in the same spot for over 25 years and outside of seasonal conditions no problems.

I think a problem can occur when chemicals are used along with chlorinated water to water the plants which kills the soil life and leads to the build-up of pathogens in the soil.

The normal problems that occur are the following:

Collar rot which is when a rot sets in somewhere on the trunk of the plant cutting off the roots from the foliage which progressively wilts as the disease takes hold.

This is caused by removing laterals, leaves and even fruit when the air is humid.

The moisture in the air carries the disease to the wound, where it enters the plants and sets up shop somewhere

on the trunk.

More likely to happen in a glasshouse where the air is moist for a while after watering.

Only remove laterals etc when it’s sunny and the air is drier. It is also good practice to have some copper spray made up in a trigger sprayer and spray the wound as soon as it is created.

Blossom End Rot is another problem that often occurs to tomatoes that are grown in containers.

It is seen as the fruit heads to maturity as a black patch on the base of the fruit and is caused by lack of moisture at the time the fruit are setting.

Sometimes it can also be a lack of calcium so if you give the plants a little Dolomite that will ensure the calcium is present.

Then it’s a matter of ensuring the growing medium has sufficient moisture.

That may mean in container plants watering three times on a hot sunny day.

In a glasshouse when the temperatures are high you can see that the top foliage of the tomatoes is drooping.

This can happen even when the growing medium has sufficient moisture.

The plants are perspiring more moisture out through the foliage than the roots can take up fast enough to make up the loss of moisture.

The foliage, like us, perspire to help cool down in hot conditions.

You can spray the foliage over and under with Wallys Vaporgard to reduce moisture loss by about 30 - 40 per cent.

In the area of the tomato where the foliage is drooping can be also where there are flowers wanting to set their fruit which also leads to Blossom End Rot.

Setting of fruit is not done by bees although Bumble Bees flying near tomato flowers on a sunny day can set fruit caused by the vibration of their wings.

If you had a tuning fork you could make it vibrate and hold it near the flowers on a sunny day to set the fruit.

Normally outdoors there is a bit of air

movement on a sunny day which allows the pollination to take place.

In a glasshouse there may not be the same air movement so on a sunny day when the flowers are open, tap the plant or the stake to make the plant vibrate and thus set all the fruit.

Split fruit on plants is caused by uneven watering.

Papery brown patches on the fruit are caused by strong sun effectively cooking the fruit. Thus you need to provide some shade cloth if that is happening.

Blotchy ripening and also lack of flavour is caused by insufficient potash which means you have not applied Wallys Secret Tomato Food with Neem to the plants.

This brand of food has a good amount of potash and gardeners that use it remark on how great their tomatoes are.

White fly are a big problem with tomato plants, both in a glasshouse and outside.

Using Wallys Secret Tomato Food with Neem Granules mix will help not only good growth but the Neem smell helps to disguise the smell of the tomato plants.

Wallys Neem Granules also on the soil will add to that smell disguise aspect.

This season in my glasshouse as well as having Neem Granules on top of the growing medium I am going to hang some little bags of naphthalene crystals (from Wallys Cat Repellent) in the glasshouse to create an even greater smell.

Wallys Yellow Sticky White Fly traps are also another means of catching the adult white fly that may approach the tomatoes to lay their eggs.

Hanging them off the stake above the plant is ideal and lifted higher as the tomato plants grow upwards.

In a glasshouse some hanging near the door and vents can catch a lot of pest insects.

The tomato psyllid we have written about in the past can be easily controlled by using Wallys Cell Strengthening products. For more information on that just email me.

Margaret Goulter and Gwyneth Lowe with some of the daffodil entries. New exhibitor Shirley Wilson, on the right, showing her daughter Sonia her prize winning pot plant.

Elaine Shepherd with her prize winning container of spring bulbs.

Rod Wegener with some of his bonsai trees. The Bonsai Group run free workshops every month at Islington Gardens.

Tilly Oliver and her Mum Lisa Blaker looking at the vegetable novelties entered by Montessori Preschool children. Morag Dobbs with her purchase.

Golf Results

Picton Golf Club

Sat 16 Sept: Par- Andrew Sunley

+4; Ian Aldridge +2; Trevor Gullery

+1, Richard McLean +1, Nick Wright +1, Damien Pollard +1; Aaron Wilson -1, Jock Mannington

-1; John Saxon -2, Wayne Pratt -2.

Tue 19 Sep: Mary Davey 4BBB

Nett-Ricky Ashworth/Julie Rosie

61; Jenny Hart/Denise Finch 63, Judy Jones/Sharyn Eden 63, Lynette Pearce/Kaye Keys 63; Eleanor Gillies/Anita McCaffrey 65.

Thu 21 Sep: S/F- Ron Peters 38, Paul Howden 38; Ian Johnson 37,

Gary Aldrige 37; James Fattorini 36, David Bunt 36.

Sat 23 Sep: Nett-Mike Ashworth 66; Jeff Pascoe 69; Trevor Gullery 71; Phil hawkw 72, Jock Mannington 72.

T hu 28 Sep: S/F-Hiram Taylor 41;Ian Johnson 39, Nick Wright 39; Jeff Pascoe38; James Fattorini 37; Aaron Wilson 36, Tim McCaffery 36.

Fri 29 Sep: 9 hole- Putts- Helen McIssac 14; Margaret Frisken 15; Judy Jones 17; Lynette Pawson 18.

Marlborough Left Handers Tournament

First time played in 8 years in the Marlborough Region. Played at Blenheim Golf Course on Sunday

1st October 2023.

Overall Gross - Ray Meaclem - 81.

Overall Nett - Dan Crawford69. Overall Stableford - Morgan

support Group meeting

Marlborough Support Group

Every 2nd Tuesday of the month starting 10 October 2023 At 10.00am Room 1, Marlborough Library, Te Kahu O Waipuna

Every 2nd Tuesday of the month starting 10 October 2023

At 10.00am

For Sale

Bowe -36 Stableford 0-18: Ryan James 31, Brian Hampton 31, Robert Golding 31 and Steve Hitchman 31. 19-36: Dave Menzies 32, Ray Hutchinson 32, Hay Montgomery 32 and Rodger Welch 30.

Rarangi Golf Club

Sat 16 Sep: Par- Andrew Sunley

+4; Ian Aldridge +2; Trevor Gullery

+1, Richard McLean +1, Nick Wright +1, Damien Pollard +1; Aaron Wilson -1, Jock Mannington

-1; John Saxon -2, Wayne Pratt -2.

Tue 19 Sep: Mary Davey 4BBB

Nett-Ricky Ashworth/Julie Rosie 61; Jenny Hart/Denise Finch 63, Judy Jones/Sharyn Eden 63, Lynette Pearce/Kaye Keys 63; Eleanor Gillies/Anita McCaffrey 65.

Thu 21 Sep: S/F- Ron Peters 38, Paul Howden 38; Ian Johnson 37,

A HUGE THANK YOU

to the local businesses and members of the community who supported Springlands School Gala 2023!

To the Springlands teachers and school Staff - Tania our gardener, Mark our caretaker, Amanda and team in the front office - and many many others, it takes a village!

Gary Aldrige 37; James Fattorini 36, David Bunt 36.

Sat 23 Sep: Nett-Mike Ashworth 66; Jeff Pascoe 69; Trevor Gullery 71; Phil hawkw 72, Jock Mannington 72.

T hu 28 Sep: S/F-Hiram Taylor 41;Ian Johnson 39, Nick Wright 39; Jeff Pascoe38; James Fattorini 37; Aaron Wilson 36, Tim McCaffery 36.

Fri 29 Sep: 9 hole- Putts- Helen McIssac 14; Margaret Frisken 15; Judy Jones 17; Lynette Pawson 18.

Marlborough Veterans Golf

Results of Tournament played at Awatere on 2/10/23

Individual: Stuart McGlagin 37, Werner Pluss 35, Ross Agnew 34, John McLauchlan 33,Keith Doonan 32, Jeff Pascoe 31, Don Lamond 31.

Team: 1st Awatere: Stuart McGlagin, Owen Farrel, John McLauchlan, Keith Doonan. 2nd Blenheim. 3rd Picton.

2’s Desz Campbell, Werner Pluss, Richard Anderson.

To our school parents, families, FOSS committee and volunteers who all participated – THANK YOU.

Your contributions from the sold-out bake stall to other generous donations all helped us to achieve our fundraising goals that contribute to the learning of our tamariki.

Absolutely Polished Nails | Arbour | Astrolabe | Barker’s of Geraldine | Bayleys | Bikes & Scooters

Marlborough | Blenheim Fire Station | Blenheim Police | Body Restore Clinic | BPComputers | Bunnings | Burnsco | Caci Clinic | Carters | Caythorpe Family Estate | Constellation Brands NZ | Crafar Crouch Construction | Dance on Grove | Dark Hampton | Dedikate | DeLuxe Group | Details | Dog Point Vineyard | Edge Physio | Event Rent | Fairfield Construction | Fleur’s Dance Fitness | Fromm Winery | Giesen Wines | Gramado’s Restaurant & Bar | Greywacke | Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa

| Hortus | Indevin | Ironside Engineering | JAE Marlborough | JEM Aviation | Jennian Homes | John Cleary | Jules Taylor Wines | Kmart | Koffie Mobile | Lisa Duncan Photography | Mango Restaurant | Marcia Chang-Hong | Mark & Jacqui Taggart | Marlborough Academy of Dance | Marlborough Cricket

| Marlborough Medi Spa | Marlborough Tour Company | Matthews & Hassan Eyecare | McDonalds

| Meaters of Marlborough | Minghettis | Misty Cove | Molly Murphy Creates | Moot Point Framing | MultiDig Services | New World Blenheim | Old Road Estate | Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre | Outre Ltd | Overflow | PakNSave | Pernod Ricard | Rigtec Engineering | Roast on the Run | Scott Construction Marlborough | Settlement | Small & Small | Streetwise Coffee | Talley’s | Tasha Knox | Taylor Pass Honey | The Local Butcher | The Marlborist | The Nineteenth Vineyard Accommodation | The Singers Collection | The Warehouse | Thomas’s | Toyota Blenheim | Transform Occasion Hair | Two Rivers Wine | Unichem Pharmacy | Vamp Hair Boutique | Vavasour Landscapes | Well & Good | Wellness Station | Whitehaven | The WineKitchen | WK Advisors & Accountants | Yellow Roastery

MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT COUNCIL Library Assistant/ Customer Service Officer Picton Library | Waitohi Whare Mātauranga

Mo tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role

The Picton library team provides a range of library services, collections, and spaces to the residents of Marlborough along with supporting the community in relation to literacy, knowledge, information, research and study, recreation, and leisure activities.

We are seeking someone who not only has a passion for libraries but is also a positive, loyal, enthusiastic individual who will be the first point of contact to assist in providing excellent customer service to our community. The key focus of the Library Assistant role is to provide outstanding library help desk service to visitors. Then as the Customer Service Officer you will answer queries and provide information on Council’s wide range of community services, receive payments and direct enquires to the correct departments. You’ll engage with the community, build relationships and assist with everything from issuing and returning books to finding resources and answering basic computer questions. This role is the backbone to the library’s daily operations, and will include a mixture of face to face, phone interaction and digital channels. Therefore, confidence in all these areas is necessary.

Part-time Hours: 13 hours per fortnight on alternating weeks - Fri 4 hours, Sat 5.75 hours, Sun 3.25 hours. Penal rates for weekend work applies.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Full details of the vacancy and how to apply can be located at www.marlborough.govt.nz/your-council/careers/current-vacancies. Applications close 5.00 pm on 22 October 2023.

www.marlborough.govt.nz

www.marlborough.govt.nz

RECEPTIONIST

We have a position available on reception at The Blenheim Sun office.

Two days per week -

Wednesday / Thursday 9am-5pm

Front desk and admin support, plus payroll. MYOB experience an advantage but not essential. Join our great team who publish Marlborough’s favourite weekly newspaper!

Email les@blenheimsun.co.nz

Wednesday

For your sewing requirements

Phone 03 578 1010 or 027 578 1010

Quality Service Guaranteed

2015 Fiat Burstner Motorhome. Upgraded to 4 Tonne with air suspension and larger wheels, 177000kms, automatic, satellite, TVx2, self contained, 7mtrs. telephone 02108490660.

Clothing Alterations: by Lynette Atkinson-Parker Ryan Lawnmowing Blenheim Renwick Picton Phone/Txt 022 322 6515

MARLBOROUGH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS & PARkInSOn’S SOCIETy

MS WEEk RAffLE RESULT

DRAWN 25th September, 2023

Three Prize Winners

Ticket 1623 - Ginny Harrington

Ticket 1702 - Bev

Ticket 2429 - Peter Glover

A big thank you to everyone who supported us, purchased tickets and made donations.

CANCER SOCIETY MARLBOROUGH

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Venue: Cancer Society Rooms, 76a Maxwell Rd, Blenheim

Thursday 19th October 2023, 5.30pm

All members, volunteers and friends of the Society are welcome to attend.

RSVP: marlborough@cancersoc.org.nz or phone 03 579 4379

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

MARLBOROUGH COMMUNITY LAW CENTRE INCORPORATED will hold its AGM at 12.15pm on Thursday 19th October 2023. The meeting will be held at Marlborough Community Law 14 Market Street | Blenheim

Attendance via Zoom will be available

Presentation of Annual Reports and Election of Office Holders. The AGM report will be available to be sent out ahead of time if required.

MEMBERS, STAKEHOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC ALL WELCOME.

To confirm attendance please contact; Community Law Marlborough Phone: (03) 577 9919 or Email: reception@commlawmarlb.org.nz.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust

Katie clinches the winner for NZ

By Chris Valli

Blenheim’s Katie Pugh is the toast of the New Zealand U16 team after her 94th minute goal clinched a dramatic last minute win in the Oceania Women’s Championship in Papeete, Thailand last week. With only seconds remaining, Katie sealed the title for the Kiwis to break Fijian hearts, who had put in a herculean effort. The 14-yearold plays her football for Nelson Suburbs in the Senior Women’s Competition as a striker. And strike she did.

Proud mother Lynne Fitzpatrick

was over the moon with the result and says it was a dream ending to the championship.

“The young kid from Blenheim does good,” says Lynne. “The other girls in the team are 16. She cried when they ran up to her as Katie didn’t know the ball went in as she was face down after the challenge. They all cried when the game ended.”

New Zealand dominated possession in the opening stages. To their credit, Fiji was resolute and well-drilled and it was notable that the Kiwis were struggling to string passes together in the manner seen

earlier in the tournament.

Katie went closest to opening the score in the first-half when played through the centre but her left-footed shot cannoned back off the post and Fiji escaped.

Katie had another half-chance late in the period, rounding goalkeeper Rosalin Sarahphina but being unable to convert when the angle narrowed and Fiji managed to clear.

Laura Bennett similarly found space in the box and lifted her effort over the keeper but Fiji’s defence scrambled well to clear once again and keep the scoresheet untroubled. The Kiwis upped the pace and

intensity in the second-half but Fiji continued to hold strong.

Just past the hour mark and New Zealand went agonisingly close. Charli Dunn rose to meet a corner from the right-hand side but her guided header came back off the post much to the relief of the Fijians.

Minutes later midfielder Amber De Wit tried her luck from distance but despite striking the ball well, it flew wide.

With a little under 15 minutes remaining, Pugh once again found herself played in but Sarahphina smothered at her feet well, taking

a knock for her troubles. Pugh came close again, taking advantage of a diagonal ball that was allowed to drop only to see her goal-bound effort blocked.

With the seconds ticking down and penalties looming large, New Zealand finally found the breakthrough. Ela Jerez brought the ball down and slid a perfect slide-rule pass to Katie and the forward expertly slotted past Sarahphina to win it for the Kiwis.

Fiji: 0

New Zealand: 1 (Katie PUGH 90+4’)

HT: 0-0

Farmyard Fun for the Whole Family

By Chris Valli

The Waihopai Valley is home to a wide range of farms, businesses and rural activities. So what better way for the residents to fundraise for a new community hall than to welcome in the public for a Farmyard Fair, this Sunday October 8?

From lambs and calves, to goats, horses, milking cows, working dogs, and even a few ducks, most of the animals from nearby farms will be available for the public to meet.

“It’s going to be far from just having animals on display and being able to have a pat, but about seeing them go through some of their routines, such as a cow being milked, sheep shorn and horses shod,” Fair organiser and Valley farmer Emma Hoets says.

“It will be a great event for the kids, and also educational for

both children and adults. It’s about bringing our Waihopai farming community together, but also about connecting all the different farmers in the area with anyone from the town that wants a fun day out.”

It’s not all about the animals either, with a range of fun and games also to be had.

A gumboot throwing competition, a scone bake-off and some familiar fair events for the kids such as sack, three-legged and eggand-spoon racing, plus a bouncy castle for the young ones. Add to that displays of various tractors and machinery which work the land of the nearby farms and there will be constant entertainment, including music from country-folk singer Adam McGrath.

“It will be a great way for anyone to spend their Sunday and we expect people from Blenheim to

partake in the occasion, it certainly has been designed to appeal to town folk and give them a look at some of the things that go down on the farm, with some fun and games thrown in too,” Hoets says.

“With entry just $10 for adults and $20 for the whole family, it’s very affordable for hours of entertainment and education, plus

it’s for a good cause.”

The Farmyard Fair will be hosted at the Waihopai Valley Community Hall, 1605 Waihopai Valley

Roa d with proceeds going to the Residents’ Association and earmarked to repair and refurbish the nearly 40-year-old building.

A BBQ and spit-roast will be cooking meat for burgers and

sausage sizzle, available for purchase, along with a snack bar and t he Coffee Shack cart to keep bellies full.

Gates open at 9am for any Waihopai Valley resident children wanting to enter in the pet’s competition, entries close at 9:15. Gates for the general public open at 10am and runs until 3pm.

Family and supporters of the New Zealand U16 women’s football team after they beat Fiji 1-0 thanks to Blenheim striker Katie Pugh’s goal in the 94th minute. Katie is in the middle of the front row, fifth from the left.

PRIDE 101: Proud Mum Lynne Fitzpatrick, a teacher at Fairhall School, celebrates with daughter Katie after the final whistle.

Chris Jones in full shearing mode while Donnie Stewart herds ducks at previous fairs.