11 October Blenheim Sun Newspaper

A collective impact

By Chris Valli

Marlborough is well-known for its volunteers and over 100 of them gathered at Rarangi to do a beach clean-up and litter survey of the coastline recently. The group met on Saturday, September 30, where the Monkey Bay Car Park was the base for the day. Teams spread out at various sites around the area right out to the Diversion and gathered up a huge trailer load of rubbish from a vast area. Continued on page 2.

SO MUCH MORE THAN A CLEAN-UP: Briar Inwood, organiser RaNae Niven and Department of Conservation Ranger Caroline Cornelius after the Rarangi beach clean-up.

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Setting example of community pride

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Continued from page 1. Organiser RaNae Niven says the event was planned with Briar Inwood, Litter Intelligence and Caroline Cornelius, the local DOC ranger who provided lunch for hardworking support crew.

“We were overwhelmed by the turn out on the day and grateful to everyone, especially to all of the employees from Hortus and VinePower. They turned up in about 12 vans that we were able to use to spread out across the key sites. The objective in organising this was to empower our community to come together to enable collective impact.”

RaNae, an engagement specialist says her own whānau are connected to the place through their childhood memories and whakapapa as well.

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“Initially I thought this would be a neat opportunity to introduce our tamariki to conservation and learn about data collection as well as providing the rest of the community a chance to make a difference. The event was underpinned by the Māori

concept of manaakitanga which is a powerful way of expressing how we care about each other’s well-being, nurture relationships, and engage with one another. DOC Marlborough and Litter Intelligence allowed this to happen by supporting the approach”.

RaNae says during the planning for the clean-up she was made aware of the amazing conservation work carried out over the years by Zoe Luffman.

“Her legacy of conservation work including the annual beach cleanup in March is so inspiring and uplifting. And I know there are other youth in the community who are leading this example too,” says RaNae.

Local iwi Rangitāne o Wairau generously gave prizes for tamariki to take home.

“A small child was so happy to connect to our local culture and came up to me and proudly sang to me her karakia she learned at preschool. Everyone who turned up

made connections and people not from the area had a chance to learn about the history and the native plants of the area. It was incredible to see the community’s diverse cultures coming together to give their time and whatever they could to make the day happen. It was so much more than just a clean up,” Niven says.

The idea for the community event came about through the work of Brian Wells who has been keeping a vigilant eye on the problematic areas and has collected a number of bags of rubbish over recent months.

“I discussed the idea of a community beach clean-up with RaNae and Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls from the Department of Conservation online and that’s how it all got started. I worked on the day with a team from Hortus and VinePower and they were absolute machines. It was pretty shocking what we found including loads of tyres, an old bed, and bits of mechanical equipment. It’s disappointing that people dump their rubbish and we hope we have

set an example of community pride and how we expect these places to be looked after,” says Brian.

The event was sponsored by Litter Intelligence, a long-term programme that collects litter data, provides powerful insights about the problem, and inspires widespread action for solutions and the Department of Conservation.

Litter Intelligence is led by New Zealand charity Sustainable Coastlines, the programme works in close collaboration with the Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation and Statistics New Zealand.

Survey results from the clean up:

• 41 items were categorised, counted, and weighed. Litter density ( Items per 1,000m2) was the lowest since 2022.

• Plastic was the most prominent material type (30 items), with wood in second (7 items). The most common items found were unidentifiable hard plastic fragments and food wrappers.

Community 101: Hortus and Vinepeople volunteers were 'absolute machines' according to local Brian Wells.

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Young at Heart hit the notes

By Chris Valli

Local Barbershop Quartet, Young at Heart has won Gold at a recent Pan-Pacific Convention recently.

Held in Auckland, local Barbershop Quartet ‘Young At Heart’ won a gold medal and in the process became NZ’s Senior Barbershop Quartet champions. Their two songs which impressed the judging panel were ‘Let the Rest of the World Go

By’ (a special song arranged for Barbershop harmony) and a classic song made famous by Ray Charles called, ‘You Don’t Know Me’.

The Pan-Pacific Convention, which is only held every four years, attracts Choruses and Quartets from all over New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and Japan singing in the acapella style (without musical accomplement).

The Chorus formed in 1995 while the Young at Heart Quartet began from members of the

Marlborough Sounds Chorus.

The Chorus competed with great distinction in Auckland, scoring one of their highest marks for quite a few years.

President of the Chorus, Chris Young says that it was one of the best conventions they had been to in recent years and to compete so successfully was a fantastic thrill. Chris says the best thing about being involved are the friendships and ‘ringing great chords that really raise the roof.’

LET’S TAKE COUNTRY BACK OUR

“This year we have been pleased to open our membership to female singers, reflecting an international and national trend in barbershop singing, and for the first time we competed with both male and female voices,” he says.

A barbershop quartet is a group of four singers who sing music in the barbershop style characterized by four-part harmony without instrumental accompaniment, or a cappella.

The four voices in a Barbershop

quartet are: the lead, the vocal part which typically carries the melody, a bass part which provides the bass line to the melody, a tenor part which harmonises above the lead, and a baritone part that frequently completes the chord. The Marlborough Sounds Chorus practice at the Spring Creek Hall every Monday night and welcomes new members. Come along and help them ring some chords. For any further information, call Chris on 021 445 261.

FOUR PART HARMONIES: Rod Bird, Brian Kirke, Chris Young and Jim Sampson, collectively known as Young at Heart, singing their way to first place at the Pan Pacific Barbershop convention held in Auckland recently. Jim Sampson, Rod Bird, Brian Kirke and Chris Young tasting the success. Photo: Terry Potter

Waste collection issues at an end

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. Metallic Sweeping confirmed they are now fully staffed with five drivers and 11 sorters.

Quarry expansion underway

Work to extend Marlborough’s Pukaka Quarry is well underway, freeing up more armour rock for the region.

Senior Rivers Engineer Frank Westergard was pleased to see progress on the extension over the winter months, bringing a plan some years in the making to life.

Pukaka Quarry, near Rārangi, was a key supplier of armour rock for construction of the Wairau River Flood Protection Scheme in the 1960s. Council acquired the quarry in the 1990s to ensure this strategically important rock supply remained available to Council, but by the early 2010s, the ability to extract rock was becoming limited by property boundaries.

The quarry extension will enhance the supply of rock products to the district for several decades to come. In the short term, it will provide material for repairs to the Wairau Diversion and Lower Wairau floodways after the 2012 and 2022 storms.

Sounds access study business case endorsed

By Chris Valli

Council’s Assets and Services Committee has approved the Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study’s Programme Business Case.

The committee’s recommendation was reviewed at a special Council meeting yesterday (October 10) before it is submitted to Waka Kotahi for approval in principle, and funding consideration.

The business case outlines a programme of activities and levels of service that seek to provide access for the wellbeing of the Marlborough Sounds communities through a safe and resilient transport system, with the best value-for-money solutions.

Overall, the business case confirms the repair of existing faults, proposes road improvements to improve resilience, and recommends consideration of changes to network maintenance and operations to improve resilience.

Over the long term this will include improved marine access, which will almost certainly be required should future storms or earthquakes trigger further major damage.

Public engagement on the initial business case options proposed for the five storm-damaged areas

of the Sounds finished on July 11 2023, and data from the 1,742 completed surveys was analysed by the study’s project team at Stantec.

The survey asked the public for their views on the ‘emerging preferred option’ and ‘hazard adaptation pathway’ for each of the five storm-damaged areas of the Sounds.

People were supportive of the proposed ‘emerging preferred option’ for Te Aumiti/French Pass, Queen Charlotte and Te Whanganui/Port Underwood, with 69%, 76% and 63% ticking ‘supportive’ or ‘somewhat supportive’, respectively. Support was lower for Te Hoiere/Pelorus (47% supportive or somewhat supportive) and Kenepuru (36%).

Committee and Council decisions do not bind Council on final levels of service or funding methods and levels. Council will not make final decisions until funding options from Waka Kotahi are proposed and Council then undertakes consultation via the Long Term Plan in 2024.

Of the increased cost estimate in the business case, Mayor Nadine Taylor says Marlborough simply cannot afford to repair the Sounds’ transport network to a sufficient climate- and hazard-resilient level

without Government support.

She urged Government to come to the table with the much-needed assistance, as they have with regions in the North Island impacted by similarly severe weather.

“We appreciate the strategic and financial support we have received from Waka Kotahi so far, but given Marlborough’s small ratepayer base, a repair programme of the necessary depth and complexity is too much for our community to afford.”

“Council continues to seek additional sources of Government

funding to reduce the burden on ratepayers, but more proactive support from Government would do much to reduce the on-going worry and stress in our communities,” she says.

Council will consult the whole of Marlborough on levels of service and rating options via a Special Consultative Process once the FAR from Waka Kotahi is known.

This will likely take place in April to June 2024, as part of the Council’s 2024-34 Long Term Plan.

Mayor Nadine Taylor holding a copy of the 532-page Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study Business Case at last week’s committee meeting; with (from left to right): Principal Consultant, Stantec, Andrew Maughan; Deputy Mayor David Croad; Chief Executive Mark Wheeler; and MSFAS Project Lead Neil Henry.

No urgency with Urgent Care

By Chris Valli

Peter Somerville has ‘great concerns’ about the Marlborough Urgent Care in Blenheim’s Hospital Road.

Peter says he was suffering from chest pains and a very painful hand on Tuesday, September 26 and was admitted at around 3:15pm and paid $65 upfront.

“There were three people in the waiting room. I was told the wait might be up to an hour and a half. A nurse triaged me and gave me an ECG which was ‘unremarkable’,” he says.

“Over the next hour or so, the three people ahead of me were taken. Three more people came in, one in a wheelchair (the latter being seen straight away).

At 5:10pm, the nurse came and told me the doctors had already gone home (her words). I could either go over to ED at Wairau and start again over there, or come back the next day to Urgent Care.”

His concerns came after the centre reduced its opening hours with its struggle to ‘provide enough staff’ for a ‘clinically safe service’ back in August.

Since September 2022, the Centre has been operating under

the reduced hours of 8am to 5pm due to staffing shortages.

Peter, who lives in Picton, currently cares for his 93 year old partner who has no other support. As it was, he had to collect her from her daughter’s - who currently has a tumour on her brain - in Blenheim.

He has contacted Urgent Care to ask for a refund of the $65 but says he received no answer or response. Peter had to use the Marlborough Urgent Care Centre eight months ago when he was the only patient in the waiting room and says it was an hour before one of the doctors saw him.

“I contacted Te Whatu Ora, who told me that as Urgent Care

is a private business, they have no jurisdiction over their operation,” he says. “People need to know that Urgent Care does not provide Urgent Care.”

“I don’t know if other people have expressed similar issues at the facility, though I read that a (former?) nurse had raised her doubts about the practice at the Kaikoura candidates’ debate recently,” he says.

General Manager Lawrence Laus in February this year said he was looking forward to providing the community with after-hours care again, as well as reducing the pressure on ED and GPs.

“It has been a challenging time and we have only been able to get

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through it working as a collective team,” Lawrence says. “We were understaffed, especially the nursing team, but now I am confident to say we have enough staff to cover our usual operating hours.”

Thanks to active recruiting, five nurses came on board during December 2022 and January 2023. The shortage was further alleviated when some of the Centre’s part-time and casual nurses decided to increase their hours.

Peter says he doesn’t know how the centre fund themselves when they have such a slow throughput.

“What else do they do and who is behind them?” he says.

Picton resident Peter Somerville says he was told to ‘come back the next day’ at Marlborough’s Urgent Care at Wairau Hospital.

What’s more important to you this weekend

the election result

the All Blacks v Ireland quarter final?

Manners

There’s a centuries old saying, Manners Maketh the Man.

It came to mind as I watched the leader’s debate on TV3.

Alas the prime minister displayed an appalling lack of good manners in making a non-stop barrage of comments as National’s Christopher Luxon was answering the prepared questions from mediator Paddy Gower.

Gower did little or nothing to check the PM’s tirade.

Now I am not a member of the National Party or any political party.

In fact my credentials to be a swinging voter are top notch.

I know Parliament can be verbally bois-

terous but in this case Hipkins and Luxon were talking to the public.

Not surprisingly that I switched to a sports channel.

I think back to other Labour Prime Ministers such as Helen Clark and especially the late Norman Kirk a man of honour, integrity, a formidable yet well-mannered orator and debater.

He must have groaned in his grave at PM Hipkin’s performance with its lack of good manners and respect for others.

It was also disrespectful to the voting public wishing to compare each answer to the other.

Tony Orman Blenheim

Poolside Barbeque or Platters

Mankind’s craziness

Dear Editor

The latest out burst of blood letting between Jews and Arabs calls to mind the fact, as we are reliably informed, Arthur Balfour was blissfully unaware that the Jewish Homeland he was setting up in Palestine would occupy territory which was already the longtime home of an Arab nation. AI - Actual Intelligence - would have had international Jewry purchasing land in Australia, one 200th of whose territory would have been the equivalent area to that now forming Israel. The skilful, hardworking

inhabitants would have transformed a piece of, say, West Oz into a garden, as in fact they have with the Palestinian desert anyway. It would have given the Aussies a highly effective ally when they were threatened with invasion by Japan in 1942. As it is, the suppurating sore on the eastern shores of the Med has not the slightest chance of ever healing - not until CI, computer intelligence, makes redundant mankind’s craziness.

Yours faithfully

Bill Holvey

Losing more entertainment Language

So I see now the council have banned the EXTRAVAGANZA from A&P PARK and some reckon they won’t be back. What’s to stop them from using Redwoodtown? Places such as the school?

For

After all it would be a bonus way to help raise money for Redwoodtown School. If not there’s always Oliver Park. Keep it in the area it’s always been. There’s more traffic flow there. Not away over in Pollard Park. Give the people an option.

Name and address supplied

Blenheim

The Editor,

Sir. NZ Maori a nd Sign language are official NZ languages. English is not. Under the law, Mandarin has the same status! If you translate English words into Maori, you get made up words such as penehine for petrol and kerepi for grapes. This is to keep the language pure. Not so for NZ English, as it is increasingly being polluted by te reo Maori. To make English an official language of NZ it would have to be purified of non-English words and that would go against the desires of the progressives.

John Vile Blenheim

James Dolan Blenheim

Deb Fitzpatrick Blenheim

Claudette McKenzie Blenheim

Nelson Street/SH6 road sealing works

Final road sealing on Nelson Street/SH6 following on from water main works is expected to start shortly with one-way traffic controls in place.

Council’s Project Engineer Melissa Hailstone-Workman said this was the final stage of works following the new water main installation on Nelson Street between Boyce and McLauchlan streets.

“Our contractor Fulton Hogan plans to do the final street seal this month. This is likely to require a preparation crew to be

New rating valuations on the way

out during the day with one-way traffic controls followed by the sealing crew working at night, also under one-way traffic management,” Melissa said.

“The work may be delayed by weather and crew availability, but it is Fulton Hogan’s intention to have the road reinstated by the end of this month,” she said.

Traffic management signage will be in place from this week to guide road users to detours and advise of possible delays.

Pick the right parking app

People parking in Blenheim’s CBD are reminded to make use of the convenient PayMyPark parking app – and make sure they pick the right one!

Parking portfolio holder, Councillor Brian Dawson said there had been some reports of people downloading a similar looking app and he encouraged users to make sure it was the PayMyPark app they were using.

“With the PayMyPark parking app you can pay for your parking from your smartphone and extend your time remotely. This means no more searching for coins, no receipt needed, and you pay only for your actual parking time,” Clr Dawson said. “It is also available to use throughout the country and long-term parking coupons are available in Picton with summer approaching and boaties

heading out in the Sounds.”

The free app can be downloaded from the iTunes Apple Store or Google Play.

“It’s also timely to remind businesses that they can set up one account with PayMyPark so staff can pay for their parking when using work vehicles. There is an option for staff to enter a job code or description when parking too,” Clr Dawson said.

The PayMyPark app has lots of benefits including paying only for the time you use, an alert when your paid parking is about to expire and the ability to extend your time remotely. “If you finish early, you can stop the parking time and get a refund to your account too,” he said.

For more details go to: https://www. marlborough.govt.nz/services/parking/ paymypark-is-here

Marlborough property owners are set to receive their new three-yearly property rating valuations.

Updated values for all 27,730 properties have been prepared by independent valuers Quotable Value (QV) on behalf of Council and were posted this week.

Values reflect the likely price a property would have sold for on 1 July 2023.

The last revaluation was in 2020 and since then residential values have increased an average of 27 per cent, QV registered valuer Brendon McCurley said.

“We’ve witnessed a strong increase in residential property value levels overall since our last revaluation. Although property values have softened over the past 18 months, they’re not back to their pre-pandemic levels,” he said.

The average capital value of an improved lifestyle property has increased by 38 per cent to $1.03m while the corresponding land value for lifestyle property is up 60 per cent to $605,000.

“Marlborough’s lifestyle market has seen strong growth since 2020, maintaining

its reputation as a desirable location with competition for land in prime grape growing areas also driving growth,” Mr McCurley said. Commercial property values have increased by 27 per cent while those in the industrial sector have increased by 38 per cent. Commercial and industrial land values increased by 38 per cent and 59 percent respectively.

Horticulture continues to dominate the rural sector with strong demand for vineyard land driving the average capital value up 61 per cent compared to an average increase of 42 per cent for pastoral properties.

The total rateable value for the Marlborough district is now $33.9 billion.

Rating valuations are usually carried out on all properties every three years to help local councils set rates for the following three-year period; they are not intended to be used for any other purpose.

If owners do not agree with their valuation they can object before 9 November 2023. There will be a meet the valuer day on Tuesday 24 October from 10am to 1pm at Council’s office, 15 Seymour Street.

Te Hoiere/Havelock community planting

Havelock Community Association held a planting day during the school holidays, with more than 500 native species flanking a recently completed section of the Motuweka Havelock Community Pathway.

It’s been years in the making to complete this section near Slogan Street that leads to the wider Link Pathway.

There was a lot of collaboration involved to get to this point, said Don Pointon, a member of the Havelock Community Association and on the working group for Te Hoiere Project.

“The final step for us was to beautify the area and get the community involved. This is something that you could say a few years or even a generation from now ‘Hey I helped plant that tree,’” he said.

Department of Conservation owns this land and had to first eradicate an invasive rainbow skink before the Link Pathway Trust could build this final piece of the community pathway. Upon its completion, Havelock Community Association bought native plants, while Te Hoiere Project helped with site preparation, planting, and will continue maintenance during the plants’ establishment.

Look for this logo when using the PayMyPark app

Environment Awards field day

If you want to see how broken grape posts are being recycled, then head along to the Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards Field Day next Wednesday 18 October.

Held from 9.30am until 11.30am, the field day will look at how Wine Industry Award Winner Repost is leading the way in solving a serious waste issue for Marlborough winegrowers.

It includes a visit to their processing site

at Jackson Estate.

Broken grape posts have been a serious waste stream for the wine industry. Repost repurposes them by removing nails and trimming to fence post length. They are then sold to farmers at an affordable cost and used to fence off waterways and SNAs (significant natural areas).

To book your spot please RSVP by tomorrow to info@cmea.org.nz

About 20 members of the community joined J&S Mears Contracting to plant 500 trees near the Havelock Marina.

Initiated in 2019, Te Hoiere Project is a community-led partnership with iwi, Council, Government and other groups to promote landscape-scale restoration across Te Hoiere / Pelorus catchment.

Nelson Cannabis Clinic one

Nelson’s Maori name, Whakatū, means to raise or establish.

Poignant then, the oldest city in the South Island is now the ‘established’ home of the Cannabis Clinic.

The Clinic has helped thousands of Kiwis on their health journey with medicinal cannabis prescriptions for both CBD oil and THC. But the stigma of cannabis holds on tightly. Cannabis users are still met with negative stereotypes and judgement every day. The stigma surrounding cannabis has been damaging to an unmeasurable number of Kiwis throughout the plant’s long history in New Zealand.

Since the time of the Dangerous Drugs Act in 1927, cannabis use has been met with legal punishment and social condemnation. The cannabis referendum in 2020 saw 48.4% of voters support the cannabis law reform. However, change was denied by 50.7% who dominated the result. While the Labour Party has decided not to move on cannabis reform, they have reclassed cannabis possession as a health issue, rather than a criminal issue.

In 2017, the Government introduced legislation to develop a medicinal cannabis industry to make products more accessible. Regulations to support that Bill came into force on April 1, 2020. It’s often the case that people who partake in black market cannabis use aren’t taking it for recreational purposes, but have found relief from medical conditions with the help of cannabis through their own means, and are taking it to self-medicate.

From mental health struggles and pain to sleep, Cannabis Clinic’s CEO, Dr Waseem says what many people don’t realise is that around 40 – 50% of those using cannabis are doing so because it alleviates a certain symptom that they feel and therefore are using it as medicine.

“These people don’t want to get high at all, they just want to be able

to function normally, work and look after their family,” he says.

CBD or cannabidiol, is the second most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis (marijuana). While CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana, it is derived directly from the hemp plant, a cousin of marijuana, or manufactured in a laboratory.

One of hundreds of components in marijuana, CBD does not cause a “high” by itself. According to a report from the World Health Organ isation, “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”

When asked what upskill or professional development himself and other clinic doctors have had regarding the dispensing of cannabis medicine, William says the collegial aspect of his profession allows for rich, contextual conversations which targets individual people and their health needs.

evidence for Medicinal Cannabis is still lacking or evolving. There are many smaller or preclinical studies showing benefits but it is going to take time for the evidence to build up and it becomes a more mainstream treatment option.”

Dr William Parkyn says with three doctors located in the Tasman area, the Richmond site was chosen as a logical location.

“We have patients all around the country, which we have been seeing online. Nelson and Marlborough have many patients and so we are pleased to be able to offer in person appointments for those from the Top of the South.”

William started with the Cannabis Clinic a year ago and says the opportunity to join the clinic came from his own interest in medicinal cannabis. He admits he found some great results amongst patients he trialled it with.

“I had also heard countless stories from patients already using black market cannabis with benefits, but getting access to reliable regulated cannabis was a cause of stress and risk.” he says.

“My colleagues have a huge amount of knowledge to share. We have monthly meetings as a clinical team here to keep on top of new information that is always coming through.”

“In general the feedback from patients is extremely positive. There is certainly still stigma amongst some of New Zealand’s society and some of this is related to some issues that can happen when it is misused (very high doses) and the fact up until reasonably recently the only way to procure Cannabis was illegally.”

“It is not yet always accepted by the medical community. In general, doctors wait until there are large randomised control studies showing benefits and the clinical

William says it will be a matter of time before the evidence catches up. For now he says. Cannabis is available as an option for those who have trialled other conventional treatments and want to trial something different, to see if they get benefits, he says.

Nationwide the clinic has 30,000 patients with ‘hundreds in the Top of the South’ but unfortunately they were unable to give the specific numbers in Marlborough. Patients can be referred by their GP/specialist or book online.

Business Development Manager at the Cannabis Clinic, Lisa Gadsby says she has had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable transformation in the public’s perception of cannabis as a medicinal solution.

“Over the years, our commitment to education and accessibility has

allowed us to be at the forefront of this shifting paradigm,” she says. “Having personally recently done two Home and Garden Lifestyle expos in both Blenheim and Nelson, I have seen first-hand the openness and receptiveness of people to cannabis as a medicine in the region. It’s truly heartening to observe the gradual dissolution of stigma surrounding this natural remedy.”

“The recent opening of our Nelson Clinic marks a significant m i lestone for us. Through the expos, we’ve been able to reach out to a diverse range of individuals, especially from the older de mographic, who are seeking alternatives to traditional medical approaches.

“There’s an undeniable sense of connection and hope that comes from walking into our clinic and meeting our friendly expert doctors face-to-face. It’s an experience that leaves patients with newfound optimism and a manageable path toward improving their wellbeing.”

Journalist Chris Valli spoke to Dr William Parkyn about the recent opening of Nelson’s Cannabis Clinic on September 18 and why and how cannabis is used to assist patients with their health care and well-being.

“In general the feedback from patients is extremely positive.”

Dr William Parkyn from The Cannabis Clinic in Nelson says Cannabis is a mainstream treatment option for patients.

Business Development Manager Lisa Gadsby says having recently done two Home and Garden Lifestyle expos in both Blenheim and Nelson, she has seen first-hand the openness and receptiveness of people to cannabis as a medicine in the region.

Isobel Olives shine bright

By Chris Valli

A Rarangi Olive grove has emerged as a champion at the 2023 New Zealand Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards.

The event sponsored by the HortiCentre Chaitable Trust was held in Napier on Saturday, September 30.

Isobel Olives produces fresh, certified premium extra virgin olive oils, with blends ranging from delicate, medium to robust.

Owner Chris Piper says he was proud to have received several awards from the competition this year including one gold and silver for the two oils he submitted. The gold also won Best in Class Robust Oil and Best Boutique Oil overall.

Chris’ boutique grove uses organic and biodynamic principles to produce the best oils he can.

“These awards, best in class and best boutique oil, give me confidence that what I do is worthwhile. ONZ is the national body of growers that offers an annual competition, using judges with international experience and credentials to evaluate members’ oils.”

Essentially, Chris says, he was awarded one of the two best oils submitted this year. There is a two-tiered system for competition. Growers with 30-249L of oil are regarded as boutique and those over 250L are regarded as commercial. Only the commercial oils are eligible for the Best in Show Award.

The judges said they found the robust blend a ‘stunning, well balanced blend’ of frantoio and picholine oils, ‘delivering intense aromas of green grass on the nose’ with good transfer to the palate. They added it was harmonious, complex and persistent - delicious”.

Chris says biodynamics was introduced by Rudolph Steiner in the early 1920s when approached by farmers who recognized that their crops were failing.

Ladies Night Review

By Chris Valli

When I made the call to see Ladies Night at the ASB Theatre, my first port of call was female acquaintances from Blenheim Musical Theatre.

As it eventuated, those contacted were ‘unavailable’ for various reasons. Ironically my partner had no qualms in accepting the invitation to peruse some eye candy. Funny that.

One mentioned she was in BMT’s version of Chicago circa 2007 with a certain Jono Kenyon who was in the ensemble of Chicago as a dancer. Fair to say, the tall chap educated at Marlborough Boys’ College and Toi Whakaari (New Zealand Drama School) graduate has been working on his physique. Jono was jacked.

Chris Piper of Rarangi’s Isobel Olives has been recognised at the 2023 New Zealand Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards. The boutique grove won Best in Class Robust (bold flavours) Oil and Best Boutique Oil overall.

Today, he says, they use the term ‘regenerative farming’ as this was the usual way until the advent of industrial inputs which caused damage to the soil, such as Glyphosate weedkiller and chemical fertilizers, disrupting the natural balance of the soil microbes.

“Although my grove is situated on fertile loam it has a high proportion of pea gravel left by receding seas over the last 25 years. This causes rapid drainage and requires some irrigation in summer,” he says. “Improving soil fertility using compost improves water retention and fertility. We have been fortunate to have had a good growing season where the grass has remained green, unlike previous years when it became a brown desert in summer.”

The olive trees will flower in November.

STUART SMITH

020 4032 6045

bodies were taut, toned and oiled, the operators are skilful actors and performers using their rigs to tell a genuine story about the journey of a group of Kiwi blokes navigating friendships, relationships and hard times.

It’s a story of determination and growth which just so happens to have a good dollop of harmless and hilarious nudity.

Speaking of nudity, there was a ‘golden moment’ with Jono stating why the lads were not willing to go the ‘Full Monty’ when an enthusiastic local asked him to see his um, treasure. It was a spontaneous moment and lifted the ‘desire’ of the narrative on stage; such was their vulnerability and backstory.

With a show named Ladies Night, no surprises there was a splattering of blokes and a plethora of Marlburian woman who relished the opportunity to make connections with the cast of the show, who were portrayed as five Kiwi blokes.

The show was clever and quite a masterclass in entertainment. Written by Kiwis, the play has become the most commercially successful in New Zealand history since it was first performed in 1987.

Penned by Stephen Sinclair and Anthony McCarten, Ladies Night follows a group of mates down on their luck who decide to put on a strip show at a local bar to raise some much-needed cash.

There was no sleaze and while the

Familiar faces included Mike Edward of Shortland Street notoriety (thanks for stopping by our seats in your undies, the senior lady was rather smitten) and comedian Mark Wright who boasts an extensive acting CV.

Jono as the leader of the wildly named Raging Rhinos, Andrew Cornish as staunched out rugby head-turned stripper Wes, and Julia Guthrey as dance coach Glenda also added to the brilliance. The Dirty Dancing cum Pour Some Sugar on me dance was a highlight.

While there was plenty of questionable dance moves, they were more deliberate than dirty and no one was left feeling anything but thoroughly entertained.

Well done lads and well done Ladies Night.

ChargeNet to build regional charging sites

By Chris Valli

Marlborough is one of eight new installation sites for ChargeNet, New Zealand’s only nationwide EV-charging network.

ChargeNet announced last week it is planning to develop or refurbish eight electric vehicle charging sites which is ‘part of its commitment’ to double its network in the next three years with more than 600 fast DC charging points.

All the sites will be powered by 100% renewable, climate positive certified electricity through ChargeNet’s energy partner Ecotricity. The new ChargeNet sites will have a mix of 75kW and 150kW chargers with charging for four vehicles at each site.

The eight new sites will add an additional 32 charging points across 16 charging stations, and are expected to be completed in early- to mid-2024.

The new charging hub will be able to charge up to 10 vehicles at one time. Stage one of the charging hub will see the installation of five 150kW chargers, which can simultaneously add 300km of range within 20 minutes, enough to power most EV journeys to Auckland, or to Hamilton and back. The three South island locations are Blenheim, Motueka and Cromwell.

In developing the sites, ChargeNet CEO, Danusia Wypych says the company has reinforced its commitment to supporting

Upbeat tone cheers Labour faithful

By Glenise Dreaver

Agriculture and Trade Minister

Damien

O’Connor visited Blenheim on Friday, and had positive messages for local Labour supporters.. He accompanied Kaikoura’s Labour candidate Emma Dewhirst on visits to REAP Marlborough, the Research Centre and NMIT, then on to two Marlborough-based businesses Future Post and Oxin Smart Machines.

They returned to the electorate’s Labour Party campaign office at 4pm, where they chatted with an audience of supporters who ranged from teenagers to seniors, and included four former Kaikoura Labour candidates.

Before they went on to their final appearance at Feast Marlborough, they had some very optimistic comments for those present.

Damien, with the latest poll figures at his fingertips, drew attention to what he said was a very hopeful upward trend, adding there was plenty of scope for an election upset, with the upward trend continuing in the coming week.

Emma had already referred to the enthusiastic receptions she’d been getting locally, which she saw as strongly at odds with recent poll results.

The MP for West-Coast Tasman, which adjoins Kaikoura, Damien was moving on to Reefton and Motueka over the weekend.

Anyone expecting his appearance in a ministerial vehicle with a suited entourage of minders, would have been a bit surprised however.

He was suitably clad foe travel on his vehicle of choice, an adventure bike KTM890R

“I think it’s a bit too comfortable in a car.

“It’s good for a politician to keep in touch with their environment and the bike’s a great way to do that.”

New Zealand’s transition to electric vehicles, by building climate positive EV-charging infrastructure that complements its existing network, based on data insights that show where chargers are most needed.

The sites are jointly funded by ChargeNet and EECA, with funding from Rounds 6 and 9 of the government’s Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF), which is administered by Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

Marlborough is one of three new South Island installation sites for ChargeNet, New Zealand’s only nationwide EV-charging network. The sites are to be completed mid 2024.

Transforming fruit growing

Cropsy Technologies, a New Zealand-based agritech start-up is poised to reshape the future of Marlborough’s fruit growing with its ground-breaking crop monitoring technology.

Their cutting-edge solution combines automated, continuous, and GPS-tracked high-definition image capture with AI-enabled software.

Cropsy Technologies recently announced the successful completion of its second funding round, raising an impressive $1.7 million. The achievement marks a significant milestone for the company and positions it for global expansion, thanks to the backing of prominent U.S. investor Seraph Group.

Lead investor, Tracy Atkin, of Angel Investors Marlborough says it has been an extremely tough year for start-ups in a post-pandemic and recessionary environment.

“For Cropsy to not only reach their target but exceed it is a testament to their team and technology. It is a fantastic achievement and one I was proud to support as lead investor for their second round on behalf of Angel Investors Marlborough,” says Tracy.

For Marlborough’s vineyards, each Cropsy scanner could potentially analyse over 30,000 vines per day in real-time, integrating with growers existing tractors to seamlessly profile critical aspects of a vineyard – leaves, shoots, fruits, canes, and trunks – with no extra labour.

Sunlight, shadows, and reflections ensure accurate details like colours and textures are preserved, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions.

The transformative technology is currently crafted specifically for vineyards, providing a multitude of benefits with no additional effort from the grower; localising disease presence in its earliest stages, tracking missing and dead vines, analysing pruning status, counting buds, inflorescences, and bunches

for yield estimation – all on a per-vine level, tracking each plant down to the centimetre. The focus on global enterprise winegrowers means the team has a deep understanding of problems and challenges at scale, keeping them ahead of the competition.

Cropsy’s capital raise not only received continued support from existing investors such as Angel Investors Marlborough, NZGCP, Icehouse Ventures, and K1W1 but also attracted its first U.S. investor, Seraph Group.

Seraph Group, founded in 2003 in San Francisco and Atlanta, is an American venture capital firm known for its unique network of 370 plus accomplished investors who support entrepreneurs.

Seraph Group’s Founder and CEO, Tuff Yen, expressed his enthusiasm for Cropsy, stating, “they apply their technology to enhance the bottom line for growers in viticulture using machine vision and intelligent software, leading the way to a new era of improved productivity while reducing costs”.

Founded by four young engineers fresh out of university in 2019, Cropsy Technologies has grown to ten full-time staff and is actively recruiting talent who thrive on solving challenging problems in hardware, big data, AI, and computer vision with a multi-disciplinary engineering team.

Renwick RSA in good hands

Les Barrow and Anthony van de Water recently handed over the stewardship of the Renwick RSA to Tony Katting and his wife Robyn (not pictured). Les and Anthony, both ex-RNZAF, have been involved in the Renwick RSA for many years; Les for more than ten, and Anthony for eight. Tony credited Les and Anthony for

handing over an association that is in ‘very good shape’, adding that moving forward he and Robyn will maintain the momentum of the last ten years and continue to provide support for Returned and Service people and their families.

The Renwick RSA meets on the first Monday of each month at the Renwick Community Hall at 5pm.

Option 1.

Option 2.

Option 3.

Tracy Atkin, of Angel Investors Marlborough.

Les Barrow, Anthony van de Water, and Tony Katting.

Innovation positive impact at DNAiTECH

By Chris Valli

DNAiTECH, the Supreme winner of the Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards wowed a diverse audience of science and business leaders during their field day recently.

The aspiring B Corp biotech company showcased its ground-breaking work, blending science and innovation.

Founded during Covid in a garage, DNAiTECH established its presence at the Marlborough Research Centre Grovetown Campus in late 2020 with a move to a proper laboratory facility accelerating technological development and securing multiple grants in 2021.

DNAiTECH’s technology is centered on rapid point-of-care (POC) diagnostics using isothermal DNA amplification. Their applications span Agritech, biomedicine, environmental studies, and secondary education, with the first Agritech application targeting American foulbrood disease (weakens and kills bee colonies).

Dr Murray Broom, CEO of DNAiTEC introduced his game-changing LAMP-CRISPR integrated microfluidic chip technology, which simplifies diagnostics in the field, using just a smart-

This real-time Point of Care (POC) diagnostic breakthrough has wide-ranging applications, from medicine to agritech.

The principle of POC, Murray says, is saving time to provide effective treatment with the best possible outcome.

“The key difference between laboratory analysis and POC is time,

crucial for timely treatment and better outcomes,” says Murray. The DNAiTECH diagnostic test is based on a microfluidic test, on an environmentally friendly paper-based chip. The microfluidic chip offers fully protected chemistry and a cost-effective approach. The team uses LAMP-CRISPR integrated diagnostics to amplify signals so

intensely that they are visible to the naked eye.

Murray describes the development as a game-changer and says there is no shortage of applications for DNAiTECH’s technology.

Currently, DNAiTECH is working projects related to the foulbrood disease funded by MPI and AGMARDT (Agricultural and Marketing Research Development

Trust), biomedical diagnostics funded by Callaghan Innovation and diagnostic health assessment with Plant & Food Research Lincoln.

The Supreme Award jointly sponsored by the Marlborough Research Centre and Plant & Food Research, brought field day guests to MRC’s Budge Street theatre and Grovetown campus.

Left to right: Quilae Anthony, director of Programs and Aotearoa NZ, B Corp, with DNAiTECH founders Dr Murray Broom and Tatiana Ceban. Plant and Food Research staff Jen Beullens and Claire Grose looking on. phone and paper.

Summer Dining

Queen

The days are getting longer and the evenings warmer... Here’s a sneak peak of some of the new menu items this summer.

~ Jerk Chicken Bowl ~ Pineapple & chilli rice, guacamole, salsa, salad

~ Fried Feta Salad ~ Crumbed feta, honey chilli garlic drizzle, roasted pumpkin, season greens

~ Prawn Tacos ~ Chipotle beer battered prawns, chilli mayo, avocado, salad greens, chimichurri

Plus Free live muSiC every Saturday from 4 pm starting 16 December

Hunter’s

Hunter’s Cellar Door is located within the original farmhouse on our Rapaura Road Winery site; you can discover the genuine spirit of Hunter’s Wines.

Join us for a memorable wine tasting experience, take a stroll through our native garden, or find a tranquil spot in the Cellar Door garden for a glass of wine or light lunch.

Cork & Keg

english Pub, Restaurant & Motels

Hearty Drinks - Tasty Eats - Great Hosts

Everything YOU want in an Old English Pub.... and then some!

Fantastic food & atmosphere with a great outdoor area

Pop in for a quick pint, or a leisurely meal!

Craft beer - local wine - fresh pizza - awesome pub grub!

Dine indoors or in our private beer garden. Our friendly team will take care of you!

Mon-Fri 3pm-late

Sat-Sun 12pm-late

See you at the Cork!

33 Inkerman Street, Renwick ph: 03 572 9328

Follow us on Facebook

Harvest

Award-winning gastronomy

Join us for lunch, aperitivo or dinner where you will be welcomed and farwelled as a friend. Relax in one of our two stunning dining rooms, our wine tasting room, or our Orangery that runs onto the deck, or find a shady spot in our beautiful gardens. No matter the occasion, at Harvest we aim to create an atmosphere and experience that reminds diners of the true meaning of hospitality.

11.30am - 2:30pm Lunch (Fri - Sun)

4.00pm - 5.30pm Aperitivo (7 days)

5.30pm - 9.00pm dinner (7 days)

776 Rapaura Road, Rapaura | Ph 03 570 5700 reservations@harvestrestaurant.co.nz

Welcome to Restaurant Sasa!

Serving modern Japanese and Asian food made with tradition in mind, we offer you a unique dining experience in the Riverside Hotel along the river in Mayfield. You will enjoy from your favourite classic Japanese dishes to modern “Izakaya” style dining which is all about eating, drinking and being happy! Why not start your night with fresh sashimi, tempura or spicy chicken along with a cup of gold flake sake, then, go for Korean stone bowl beef or salmon bibimbap to complete your dinner. For someone who wishes to have something simple and delicious, try our sizzling surf n turf menu - ribeye steak, teriyaki salmon and prawns are served on a sizzling hot plate. Whether you are stopping by for quick dinner or special occasion, Sasa will have you covered. So pay us a visit here on 20 nelson St - we can’t wait to have you in.

Ph: 577 5996. Mon – Thurs 17.00 – 21.00

Fri – Sat 12.00 – 14.00 & 17.00 – 21.00 Sun - closed

Where?

Good to see 22 new citizens move into Blenheim - where are they going to live? Local kiwis can’t even get a house.

Re: Negative

I agree with you, we live in the South Pacific and should embrace the Maori language but your comment, ‘move back to Europe’ is utter nonsense. Everyone has come from somewhere, including Maori.

Taxes

So if everyone in NZ paid their taxes this country would be fairly affluent. But when you have company’s like Sanitarium, Gloriavale, hiding under charity status and governments contouring to big business, then we are always going to be in the swamp up to our eyebrows.

Not written

Did you know that around 70% of day to day “English” is actually Germanic in origin? However, the word “pedantic” is gifted to our mongrel language from French.

Very clever

Air New Zealand are very clever. They use New Zealand in the name of the airline so people will know where it’s from and what it is. They don’t use Air Aotearoa as it would be meaningless. So why do we call the library Te Kahu o Waipuna when we (they) actually mean library.

The Maori name translates to “ the protective cloak of Waipuna” How does that equate to a place full of books? Asking for those not consulted!

God is a spirit

The Azuza Street revival in Los Angeles around 1902 was an astonishing event with many hundreds of people being filled with God’s Spirit, speaking in tongues and being healed of all sorts of problems.

It fizzled out because they did not continue in the simplicity of salvation in Christ, in the simple truth of God’s Word.

To all seeking the Lord in Marlborough: be diligent to seek, find and walk in the truth. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him MUST worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

Library name

Why, when MDC refer to Te Kahu o Waipunado they always clarify that it’s the Marlborough Library and Art Gallery? Simple. No one’s too clear on what Te Kahu o Waipuna is or where it is. Solution?

Drop the former and call it what it is! No consultation with ratepayers and over half paid for by all NZ taxpayers!

Library

Nothing wrong with the special Te Reo name given to Blenheim library, but the majority of English speaking locals and visitors, would appreciate having the building’s function name up in English please, as would be the case in any non speaking English language country. Otherwise, how would you find the local hospital, police station, fire station, pharmacy, train station etc. Even co-governance allows that.

Why?

Why is the council waste contractor still putting recycling and rubbish in one truck, time to find a company that can do the job!!

Re: Not happy

But why does the increased use of te reo Māori bother you so much?

Why, in a country that is still dominated by the use of English, does the revitalisation of this indigenous language inspire such ire? How does this change hurt anyone? Te reo Māori is a beautiful language, why are you all so offended by it? Is change the problem? Is the gradual erosion of white, middle class norms the problem? What “Māori thing” do you think is happening? How sad to feel so threatened by something so good.

A tale of two bars

Bar one, greeted by young enthusiastic staff, serving good homely food, with nice wines and good beers.

Bar two, greeted by ‘This man’s before you, he’s a regular‘. We calculated that THIS MAN! has sat at the same table, on the same stool, with the same group of followers for the past three hundred years. We’re divided on the same glass.

Thanks

Big

Courteous & efficient

Kudos (praise) to Marlborough Liquid Waste for service to our septic tank. Courteous, efficient & adaptable to the situation out here.

Re: Not happy

If you’re going around suggesting Te Reo is something to be ‘swallowed’ you can probably expect to get ‘slammed’ a bit for your racism.

Public opinion

Well, blow me down! In the voting papers, it states you can vote at Marlborough Library -Te Kahu o Waipuna. Obviously, the Electoral Commission did not think people would find Te Kahu o Waipuna with out putting Marl Library alongside it. Is there someone at all in the Marl District Council that has any commonsense to actually label our Library as the Electoral Commission have. Makes so much sense. They don’t listen to public opinion which is in favour of both English and Māori on the building.

Another shocker!

So it’s now OK to get drunk (3 times over the legal limit), hop behind the wheel of a car, crash it....risking lives into the bargain.... and walk away without a conviction because ‘a conviction would ruin your chances of travelling overseas’.

A totally absurd and unprofessional decision by a judge who clearly should be removed from the bench.

Talk of the week

Cat haters

Thanks Sun for highlighting our sorry state of cat haters in our midst. It’s incredibly sad that human beings can be so cruel to any animal. Keep fighting the good fight Four Paws.

Mako performance

The Mako from it’s inception have always punched above their weight, at the moment they have 7 players away trying to win us the Rugby World Cup and a couple of other players playing for other nations. That many players out of the equation they are going to have the odd bad game. FINS UP!

Alarmist

To the El Nino alarmist, if you thoroughly read the published science you would know that even the meteorologists are not making any predictions at the moment, and it could still be quite a mild event.

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 Sun management.

Well done

I read with interest about new retirement village opening in Blenheim prospective buyers beware read and understand the content of your contact before you sign. I’ve been there done that got burnt.

And, should we not have alcohol & drug testing on such out of touch members of the judiciary before they get the chance to make such ridiculously stupid mistakes?

Great venue for Friday’s Bayleys Feast Marlborough. Lovely to see all the area between the library and river used for food stalls and entertainment. Space had a true community commons feel. Well done organisers.

TrisTan sean GreGory-HunT

Apprentice engineer at Cuddon Limited

 Are you a dog or cat person?

I love both but mostly cats as they have a certain character.

 My friends would say I am

Outgoing and humble, helpful and determined.

 The best advice I ever received was?

Never underestimate what everyone thinks of you, always be yourself and do your best.

 What would you buy if money was no object?

Endless travel around the world.

 Local coffee haunt?

CBD Eatery.

 Favourite takeaway?

The Tamarind Indian Restaurant has great selection.

 The shop you can’t walk past is?

Rockshop, been a loyal customer there.

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

Has to be a greenstone Christian cross given by my grandmother which I still wear today.

 Where is your happy holiday place? Chatham Islands.

 Favourite programme or series currently watching?

Star Wars, I have been watching the new series of Ahsoka on Disney Plus.

 What’s one thing on your bucket list?

Going to England to compete at Henley Royal Regatta in rowing next year.

The perfect raised garden: By Wally Richards

Several years ago in the place where I was living I had given over the back yard to a flock of chickens which made it awkward to grow vegetables in that area. Being a back section down a long driveway I decided to construct a raised garden in the end of the turning bay. A good spot facing North-West, so sunny much of the day and also near the house with a wooden fence a metre away making it nice and sheltered.

I had a cocktail kiwi fruit vine growing on the fence and did not realise that would be a problem down the track.

I wanted a raised garden that would be about waist high so easy to work without bending. Besides a high garden was less likely to have weed seeds blown into it.

I also did not want to spend a lot of money so I decided to build it out of corrugated, galvanised roofing steel.

I purchased three new lengths of roofing steel 1.8 metres long and 845mm wide for about $109 at today’s prices.

I also purchased two 100x75 x1800 fence posts ($30.00) that I cut both in half making them 900mm long.

As the posts are tanalised I did not want the chemicals leaching out into the garden and poisoning the vegetables so after cutting them I gave them two coats of acrylic paint all over to seal in the chemicals.

This done and dry I laid one sheet of galvanised steel onto the painted posts at each end of the steel.

The steel was flush with the bottom of the posts and thus drilled and then screwed on using roofing screws.

I also did the same with another sheet of steel and the other two cut posts.

I now had two long sides of my new raised garden.

The third sheet of steel I cut in half so that would be the two ends of the raised garden.

Making it 900mm wide a nice width to work on from one side and easy when access to both sides

Simply drilled and screwed the two ends in place and sat the structure on the ground which was a gravel/stone area. Now became the task of filling the raised garden up and I did this as I would a compost heap.

Pruning bits and cut branches at the bottom onto the shi ngle then lawn clippings, spent potting mix, kitchen scraps, screwed up newspaper, saw dust untreated, weeds not in seed, compost out of compost bin in fact anything organic.

Once the level got up to about 600mm or about two thirds of the way to the top I then placed some sheets of cardboard over the fill and on top of the cardboard placed a layer of chicken manure (could be any animal manure that is available),

sheep manure pellets, then a sprinkling of Wallys Ocean Solids, Wallys BioPhos and Wallys Calcium & Health.

That’s the food done for the plants and over this I placed a layer (about 8cm deep) of my favourite purchased compost, Value Compost which is available from Bunnings and some switched on garden shops.

This left a distance from the top of the growing medium to the top of the sides of the steel of about 20cm.

With one long side facing the sunny north the steel nicely warms up the growing medium and the gap of 20cm above the growing medium which means the wind passes over and we have created a micro climate.

This was so good that seedlings of silver beet I planted took only about 3 to 4 weeks before I had good size leaves to harvest.

In fact every thing grew so quickly and healthy.

The four posts protruding a bit above the roofing steel were great to put a nail partly into each and then place netting over the garden which kept butterflies and birds/cats out of the garden.

My first season was great but the following season when I planted up nothing grew, plants sat there like they were sulking.

It took me a while to sort out the problem which I found when I dug down into the growing medium I came across the most dense mat of fibrous roots that I had ever seen.

The cocktail Kiwi vine had become massive, spreading out all over the place to the point the neighbour complained about all this vegetation in his area.

The vine had found that there was a massive amount of food nearby and sent its roots across and then upwards to collect all this wonderful food I had placed there.

It completely ruined my raised garden but as every thing was screwed together It was simple to unscrew and remove the posts and roofing steel which I moved to my next place of residence and assembled again but this time on concrete.

A good lesson learnt if you are going

to have a raised garden of any type you must place it on concrete or a solid concrete pad.

It only needs to be 40-50mm thick to prevent invading roots from any plants/ shrubs/trees within many metres of the raised garden.

There is no safe distance that I am aware of other than about 10 metres from plants and likely 50 metres or more from established trees.

So put your concrete pad down on the ground and then place the raised garden on top of that.

Maybe a double layer of Black Polythene film which is what I call builders plastic that comes in packs 2m X 5m and 200um thickness might work as long as it covers the area and has no holes in it to let any roots in.

I prefer the concrete pad. At my current place I have the same original raised garden posts and roofing steel now over 15 years old and placed on an asphalt area.

There is another advantage with this construction which is you can (where there is room) take one end off and with another two new sheets of roofing steel and another post cut in half and painted extend the size on the raised garden to double.

If doing this I would place a brace across between the now two central posts to stop any bowing effect from the fill.

People that do not have the room to construct the perfect raised garden can purchase lower type steel or wooden ones from the likes of Mitre 10, Bunnings or Trade Tested.

There are nice small ones 60cm x 60cm and 41cm tall for about $50.00 and larger ones about 12cm x 120cm and 41cm tall for about $90.00.

I have several of those and they work a treat for growing any vegetable plants in, just be sure they are placed onto concrete to prevent root invasion.

After a crop is harvested you can put over the medium a layer of cardboard smoothing any weeds and then animal manure and other goodies covered with Value Compost ready to replant a new crop of seed or seedlings.

EVENT: MTB CHAMPS

the 2023 Skoda National Mountain biking Championships were hosted by the Marlborough Mountain biking Club last week with events including Enduro, Downhill and Cross Country events over three days. A notable result was MbC student Finn McKenzie claiming gold in the under-20 boys’ solo cross-country race on Wednesday,

...with

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STOKED: Local MBC boy Finn McKenzie U20 XC National Champion.

Renwick School Relay Team 2nd XCR Junior Ollie Glackin, Rory Walter and Brooke Goodsir.

A rider trials the course.

ONLY IN MARLBOROUGH: Base camp event village at Homebrook.

Renwick’s Ollie Glackin in full flight: CREDIT: Blissfield Photography.

Marlborough Mountain Biker Kobie Madson is now the National Schools U13 Boys National Champion.

THUMBS UP: Local Fairhall riders ready for Enduro.

Kobie - U13 National MTB Champion

By Chris Valli

It’s fair to say Bohally Intermediate’s Kobie Madsen had a rather gnarly end to the Term 3 school holidays.

The Year 7 student won the U13 Downhill, U13 Enduro and took out the overall U13 Boys’ Champion category at last week’s Skoda National Mountain Bike Championships held in Blenheim, hosted by the Marlborough Mountain Biking Club.

Bohally team manager and proud Mum Rachel Madsen says the result was pretty big as Kobie has worked hard at the competitive side of mountain biking in recent times.

“It’s a big deal for sure,” she says. “It was the best week, the wind stayed away, it was just magic. A lot of people realised just how big it is and the sheer amount of competitive riders that it brought and what the kids put into it and the training and effort.”

Rachel says the three day event was wonderful notwithstanding Kobie’s result which included a fourth placing in the Cross Country discipline to cap off a great week. His time in the Downhill Junior (at Homebrook, Taylor Pass) was two minutes and four seconds, the seventh fastest time out of a field of 117 starters which included riders who were Under 15.

At 11-years-old, Kobie has only recently been able to compete at a national level after previously racing motocross. He competed in the South Island Championships at Coronet Peak in Queenstown earlier this year where he finished second in the Downhill and first in the Enduro.

The Bohally team consisting of Kobie, Finlay McCormick, Alex Du Plessis. Kruz Lockwood, Bruce Tunnicliff and Margot Davis were jointly awarded the best Junior School after tying with Rotorua’s John Paul College.

Bohally Deputy Principal Dan Hammond says the kura were super proud of him and his ‘amazing achievements’.

The Marlborough Mountain Biking Club says the Homebrook venue was amazing and looked so good with all the spectators up on the terrace cheering on the riders.

“We cannot thank land owner, Graham Cooper, enough for allowing us to use his farm for our event. There was a lot of pride amongst the Club and all our volunteers watching the track that was built from scratch in 2021 being used for the purpose that it was built.”

The 2024 Skoda National Mountain Biking Championships will be held in Christchurch.

Clothing Alterations: by Lynette Atkinson-Parker

For your sewing requirements

Phone 03 578 1010 or 027 578 1010

Quality Service Guaranteed

CASTING CLINIC

for freshwater anglers

Meet behind the Boathouse Theatre between 9am and noon to refine your casting or just learn how to do it! Fly and spin rods supplied, or bring your own. Experienced tutors.

BIKE SALE MENZ SHED

4 Dillions Point Road. Saturday 14 th October from 9am. Second hand adult bikes from $40 Kids bikes from $20 CASH ONLY

All bikes checked by our bike mechanics. Also tools and miscellaneous items.

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

CLEANER REQUIRED

Permanent position

Good hourly rate 8am to 3pm 4 on 4 off roster

To apply email facilitymanager@ashwoodpark.co.nz

Applications close 16/10/2023

ABOVE: BOHALLY’S BOOTER: Year 7 student Kobie Madsen took out the national U13 title at the Skoda National Mountain Bike Championships held in Blenheim last week.

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.

Housing Navigator/Support Worker x 2 Transitional Housing - Blenheim

• Based in Blenheim

• Full time (40 hours per week)

Gateway has been making a positive difference in the lives of many people in the Nelson-Marlborough-West Coast region for 30 years, and we are seeking people who are passionate about empowering people towards wellbeing and working in partnership with people at the centre.

Our Transitional Housing Service in Blenheim manages a portfolio of properties and delivers services to ensure our clients access the support required to successfully secure long-term stable housing.

These roles require a ‘hands on’ approach to service delivery to ensure a high-quality service is received by our clients and stakeholders. The ideal candidates will have-

• Experience working alongside people with complex needs, or in complex situations.

• Experience managing a caseload of people in a community setting.

• The ability to build rapport and develop trust in a genuine way while focussing on practical outcomes.

• The ability to provide holistic, non-judgemental, mana enhancing support.

• Effective ability to network and navigate referral pathways to other agencies as resources.

• Excellent communication skills that are engaging, respectful and empowering.

• Walk the talk with the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitaingi, applying these in your own way so as to be genuine and natural.

• Knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act.

• Relevant qualification or experience in housing services, social work, community support work, mental health and addictions or similar.

• Experience in a team leadership role ideally in a related field would be of interest to us.

• A track record of achievement backed up by references.

• The ability to satisfactorily pass a Police and Oranga Tamariki check.

• A clean full driver licence.

• A legal entitlement to work in New Zealand.

Whilst relevant experience and qualifications would be helpful, we would encourage any person with the above demonstrated experience to apply. Please email admin@ght.co.nz for a copy of the Position Description and an Application for Employment form. To apply, please email a completed Application for Employment form, with a covering letter, a resume/CV and an indication of your salary expectations. This position is subject to Police and OT checking as required under the Vulnerable Children’s Act 2014.

Please direct all applications to admin@ght.co.nz

Please call Andrew Bridge 027 540 6789 if you have any questions.

Photo: Dom Blisset of Blissfield Photography and Neil Sinclair

Opinion: Will Irish eyes be smiling?

By Chris Valli

Sunday, October 15 is being promoted as a rugby world cup quarter final –but is it really?

Lose and the All Blacks journey to hold the William Webb Ellis after eight years could see them depart. Win and it will be considered a resolute, determined team effort against an Irish side that is ranked number one in world rugby and with good reason. For the All Blacks to be considered the best in the world in 2023 they have to beat the best and this weekend’s encounter will be one to savour.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell – how good has their defence been? - believes his team have not played their best rugby yet. The Irish

ruthlessly took their chances in the 36-14 win over Scotland to set up a last-eight meeting with the three-time champion All Blacks back at Stade de France.

Ireland have never won a knockout match at a World Cup, yet surely eyes will be close to smiling after dismantling a Scottish side last weekend and a titanic win against the reigning world champion Springboks a fortnight ago, 13-8.

The Irish have a winning streak of 17 games. Almost Steve Hansen-esque.

The New Zealand influence in the Irish squad has been nothing short of outstanding with former Chiefs midfielder Bundee Aki playing like a midfielder possessed, especially at the breakdown where he has turned over numerous ball and continues to show his worth and value to the team. 51

tests is testimony to this. Leinster and former Maori halfback Jamison Gibson Park has consistently showed speed of service at the ruck and a high work rate in defence. As for Nelson’s James Lowe, New Zealand’s loss is the Irish’s gain. James debuted for the Tasman Mako, as a 20 year old in 2012.

James was selected for the Irish squad in the 2021 Six Nations starting against Wales. In March this year, he was part of the Ireland team to win the Grand Slam, only the fourth time in history that Ireland has done this. His pace, finishing and prodigious left boot, adds a point of difference to a team that is unified.

The singing of Zombie by Irish group, The Cranberries after the Scottish match in Paris was an animated insight into a nation that is finding its independence and autonomy after previous conflicts in the Emerald Isle where

Kyren part of Tonga’s big win

By Chris Valli

Waitohi’s Kyren Taumoefolau can be forgiven that the past 12 months has been somewhat of a whirlwind.

The former Marlborough Boys’ College

First XV back was included in the 23 man squad for the Ikale Tahi’s Rugby World Cup in France, only two years out of college.

Kyren was part of the Tongan side that won the Oceania 7s last year in Brisbane and was one of the impact players at the Hamilton and Sydney World Series. He also represented the Moana Pasifika Under 20’s.

The 20-year-old was named on the bench as a winger to play the Romanians on Mon-

TOUCHDOWN: Waitohi’s Kyren Taumoefolau scores a late try against Romania to help the Tongan side win 45-24 at the Rugby World Cup on Monday morning.

day morning. The Tongan’s finished their campaign with a win after overpowering Romania 45-24 in their pool game with Kyren scoring a try in the second half.

Both teams were dispatched in Pool B by Ireland, South Africa and Scotland in the deepest pool of the tournament, but against each other the ‘Ikale Tahi and Oaks (known as their style of play, tough and hard to budge) found a contest in which they could express more of themselves and produced an entertaining, 10-try farewell.

Tonga blasted to 21-3 and Romania came back to close within four points twice.

Tonga pulled away in the last quarter adding three more tries for a haul of seven.

Tonga resumed normal service in the

second half with a try to No. 8 Sione Vailanu from a lineout drive, but Romania replied in style again when fullback Marius Simionescu scored from a grubber kick by wing Nicholas Onutu. The Oaks replaced retiring stars Surugiu and No. 8 Andre Gorin and couldn’t score again. But Tonga could, in space out wide

thousands died and more than 10,000 bomb attacks took place. The Irish fans in unison looked proud, reflective and colourful to say the least.

Zombie is about the deaths of three-year-old Johnathan Ball and 12-year-old Tim Perry, both had died in bombings. The two young boys had gone into town to buy Mother’s Day cards on a busy street when the bomb went off. Ireland beat the All Blacks for the first time in 2016, although their last meeting at the World Cup ended in a bitter 46-14 defeat in the quarter-finals.

“Well it’s what dreams are made of. As far as a quarter-final is concerned it doesn’t get any tougher, the respect we have got for New Zealand is through the roof and hopefully they have got a bit of respect for us,” Farrell says. To be sure, to be sure.

through Pita Ahki, Kata again, and 20-yearold replacement Kyren Taumoefoulau.

The Tongans’ highest score and biggest margin in Rugby World Cup history ensured a win at a fifth consecutive tournament. In the 2011 tournament, Ikale Tahi achieved an historical 19-14 victory over France in the Rugby World Cup.

Photo: Getty Images.

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