A new school year for Marlborough College students and a new leader were welcomed to the Stephenson Street kura on Monday morning.
Matua Jarrod Dunn replaces Matua John Kendal, who accepted a Principal position with Rotorua Boys’ High in 2025 after four years in the role.
Continued on page 2.
Marlborough Sounds - Picton - Koromiko
Tuamarina
Rarangi
Spring Creek
Rapaura
Grovetown
Woodbourne
Renwick
Matua Jarrod hongi’s with PE teacher Chris McMurtrie. Photo: Chris Valli.
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Safe driving called for
By Chris Valli
Marlborough Police are urging locals to keep road safety front of mind with children returning to school for the year.
Sergeant Josh Clauson of the Marlborough Police says police will be visible around school zones reminding motorists to be cautious when driving through these areas.
“Children can, at times, be unpredictable and hard to see, as some children start school for the first time and others are returning after a long break, this can be increased at the beginning of the year,” Sergeant Clauson says. “We want our tamariki to be safe, so we will have regular patrols and a policing presence around schools across the Marlborough region.
Sergeant Clauson says Police will be enforcing the law where
motorists are seen to be displaying unsafe driving behaviours, such as being on their phone while driving, speeding, driving while impaired, or driving with improper restraints, including without car seats.
“We are urging anyone who drives around school buses to travel slowly, you don’t know if a child will come across the road, give yourself the chance to stop. There is no excuse for travelling above the speed limit, this includes temporary limits, such as those in school zones, they are in place for a reason, to ensure the safety of you, and other road users.”
Meanwhile, drivers are not supposed to come to a complete stop at road patrol crossings, but should only slow down - unless the lollipop signs are out. Halting creates additional risk for young students
crossing, as road patrol wardens can become confused by drivers.
The speed limit is 20km/h when driving past a stationary school bus, and drivers need to reduce their speed below 30km/h when passing schools. Of the 25 primary schools
in Marlborough 12 of them have road patrol programs in place.
Blenheim Sun readers are encouraged, if they see any unsafe driving behaviour, to call Police on 111. If it is after the fact contact Police via 105 either online or over the phone.
Modelling expectations
Continued from page 1.
In addressing the Year 9 cohort and family/whanau, Matua Jarrod acknowledged the ‘day wasn’t about him’ but a day for the new students to step up to college expectations, and he recognised the Tuakana - teina (relationship between older and younger) of the year 13 students and the role they play as leaders.
Matua Jarrod, originally from Southland, taught as a relief teacher at MBC in 2018 while securing
a fixed term position in the PE department in 2019. In 2020, the fixed term assistant principal position was advertised, turning into a permanent position.
MBC Board Chairperson Tim Burfoot says Jarrod is highly respected by the Board, his peers, the students, and the community.
“We are thrilled to have Jarrod take up the baton and continue our journey towards making our school a leader in education,” he says.
Jarrod believes the college has
made positive strides in recent years, notwithstanding the systems put in place around expectations, attendance and consequences. “My role is to continue the work which has been started and with the continuity and the opportunity to go forward not only for the school but the community,” he says. “If you can create an environment that models expectations then the students/boys see that, they will want to be part of that as well,” he says.
Marlborough Boys’ College Principal Matua Jarrod Dunn welcomed new students and whanau at the Year 9 powhiri on Monday morning. Photo: Chris Valli.
Sergeant Josh Clauson of the Marlborough Police says there is no excuse for travelling above the speed limit, this includes temporary limits, such as those in school zones. Photo: Chris Valli
School uniforms add to cost of living crisis
By Chris Valli
The cost-of-living crisis means the back-to-school period is putting more pressure on Marlborough families/whanau already on tight budgets.
The cost of renting in Marlborough and a rise in food prices had increased so much that those things alone were taking more than some people earned according to those spoken to by the Blenheim Sun.
According to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the median weekly rent price in Marlborough is around $580, a 10 percent increase over 12 months. The cost of school was just one more thing that added to people’s stress.
A Blenheim Sun reader who didn’t want to be named says she bought her daughter - who started as a Year 9 at Marlborough Girls’ College last Friday - two blouses, one PE Top and one skirt for a total of $193.
Sarah McAlister, a Youth Mentor Coordinator with Presbyterian Support Upper South Island says she knows of three families with children starting high school in Blenheim and had been proactive over the last year to find second-hand uniforms.
However, Sarah says both colleges, boys’ and girls’, have introduced a new uniform so the
purchases of second hand items has been a waste of money and the cost of new uniform excessive, and in the case of Marlborough Girls’ College they didn’t have many sizes and will not have them in stock until mid-year.
“Personally I think this is a crazy burden to introduce a new uniform across both local high schools at a time when average New Zealanders are struggling to buy food,” she says.
University of Otago public
health lecturer Dr Johanna Reidy says it was time for a rethink about school uniforms, their role and their makeup.
Uniforms should encourage school attendance, not be a barrier to it. It was important to remember uniforms were instituted in the first place to make access to education easier for students who generally didn’t have much, says Dr Reidy.
“But when you start to have the cost of uniforms stopping kids
getting to school, we need to think about what we can do to step in.”
Dr Reidy had been involved in research which showed uniforms had a positive effect on education and health but needed to be less complex as a way of reducing cost.
“Currently, low-income families have to take out what are essentially loans from Work and Income. This then places pressure on these families to survive on less income while paying back the loans.”
Sun The
SH6 consultation
Waka Kotahi is seeking feedback on some sections of SH6 speed limits between Blenheim and Nelson. The Government introduced the new Setting of Speed Limits Rule last year. The new rule requires them to consult on some sections of state highway to see what the level of support is for retaining the current speed limits. Blenheim Sun readers can read more about these locations, and take the survey, on their website: https://www. nzta.govt.nz/speed.../top-of-thesouth/
Consultation closes March 13, 2025.
Rising unemployment
The country’s unemployment is forecast to soar back to pandemic levels - rising from 4.8 percent in the last quarter of 2024 to 5.5 by mid-year.
Recruitment Agency Robert Walters Chief executive Shay Peters says New Zealand’s job market is poised for a period of transformation, with an unprecedented number of Kiwis seeking work in Australia.
Blenheim CBD summer market
Pure Events Marlborough is bringing back this iconic market once again.
The summer market is the day before the Wine & Food Festival, this Friday, February 7 from 9am – 5pm. The event will take place down Market, Wynen and Charles Streets and in Market Place with a selection of approximately 80 new and old favourite stalls showcasing their products, alongside great entertainment, delicious savoury food, coffee, desert & ice-cream carts.
Year 9 Marlborough Girls’ College students in their uniforms, September 2023 singing for residents at Springlands Lifestyle Village. Sarah McAlister, a Youth Mentor Coordinator with Presbyterian Support Upper South Island says it’s a crazy burden to introduce a new uniform across both local colleges at a time when people are struggling to buy food in a cost of living crisis.
Photo: Chris Valli.
Sun The
E Bike to the Light
The Seddon Lions Club fundraiser to ebike to Cape Campbell Lighthouse takes place on February 16. The ride departs at The Homestead, 301 Ward Beach Rd, 3km off SH1. Places are limited – email seddonlionsclub@ gmail.com or enquiries to Kevin 0274 486 215 or Neal 027 2089 172.
Funds raised go towards the Flaxbourne Heritage Centre project.
Council services on Waitangi Day
Council’s Blenheim office, Marlborough Library (Blenheim) and Picton Library and Service Centre are closed tomorrow on Waitangi Day, Thursday, February 6. Kerbside refuse and recycling will be collected as usual. The Resource Recovery Centre, Re-use Centre and Waste Sorting Centre will be open from 8am until 4.30pm. The landfill will be open between 8am and midday only. The E Waste facility will be closed. The Picton and Havelock transfer stations will be open as usual from 8am until 4pm. Rai Valley Transfer Station will be open from 9am until midday. Transfer stations in Seddon and Wairau Valley will be closed.
Bus services will not run on Thursday 6 February.
news tips
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Roadkill – The Uber Cool Musical
By Chris Valli
Tom Knowles is proud of his turangawaewae and where he comes from.
So proud in fact, the Blenheim born musician and actor is bringing his brand new show home next month, for its first ever, limited run.
‘Roadkill - The Uber-Cool Musical’ is marketed as a show which takes one on a wildly immersive journey through love, life and rock ’n’ roll - all from the back seat of a van. Tom says the intimate one-man musical combines humour, heart and unforgettable tunes for an experience like no other.
Tom, who lives in Auckland, says the show was born out of all the wacky rides taken by him in taxis and ubers over the years and the ‘extreme oversharing from some special drivers’.
The show he says combines the world of karaoke with live theatre entertainment while making something ‘a little unhinged’ and ‘a little different’.
“After performing to big theatre’s for years, I wanted to create something small and intimate,” he says. “It’s much more than a
musical – it’s an experience, it’s a journey and an attraction.”
The show he says will be in the space of a usual cabaret show and with the help of the passengers in the van, punters will witness and be part of everything from childhood dreams to dark comedy, all sung live with a ‘kickass, original, meatloaf-esque rock soundtrack’.
Tom says James Corden Carpool Karaoke (where host James invites famous musical guests to sing along to their songs in a car driven by him) was a big influence for the show along with true crime and murder mystery shows such as the psychological thriller Baby Reindeer on Netflix.
Tom has an extensive acting career under his belt, encompassing stage shows, television and advertising. A graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, some of his appearances include Shrek: The Musical (in which he starred as the titular ogre), Grease, Saturday Night Fever, as part of the Modern Māori Quartet and TV series The Brokenwood Mysteries.
Yet it’s his Wairau upbringing which keeps him grounded.
“I will be returning to Blenheim later in the year for more shows,”
Waitangi Day
Blenheim’s Tom Knowles will be bringing his show ‘Roadkill - The Uber-Cool Musical’ to Biddy Kates next month. “The intimate oneman musical combines humour, heart and unforgettable tunes for an experience like no other,” he says.
he says. “I so wanted to bring this show home first and foremost for family and friends.
“This show is unhinged, it’s wild and so different to anything else around. My plan is eventually to take this overseas following a full New Zealand tour,” he says.
“The Roadkill van is set to redefine how New Zealand experiences late-night entertainment,” he says.
The van he says will be stationary and parked for the initial season in Blenheim.
The R18 one hour show is at Biddy Kate’s Bar in Market Street from Monday, March 24 - Wednesday, March 26. Blenheim Sun readers can find out more and purchase tickets at https://www.eventfinda. co.nz/2025/roadkill-the-ubercool-musical/blenheim
Badcock paintings feature at landscape exhibitions
By Chris Valli
Two New Zealand landscape exhibitions currently on show at the Marlborough Art Gallery have unique local connections.
Landscape paintings from the Kelliher Art Trust Collection, is curated by Christopher Johnstone while Landscape Paintings from Marlborough Collections is curated by Marlborough Art Gallery Director Cressida Bishop.
Sir Henry Kelliher was a longstanding patron of the arts and in 1956 he established the Kelliher Art Competition “to capture the grandeur of the New Zealand scene in all its changes through the seasons”, as he described it. The objective of the competition was to encourage realistic portrayals of New Zealand’s landscapes and the ways of life of its people for the entire world to see.
The Kelliher Art Competition, later called the Kelliher Art Award, was held almost annually until 1977 by which time it had widened its scope to include portrait and genre painting. The Kelliher Art Trust’s collection largely comprises prizewinning and award-winning paintings from the competition.
In recent years occasional purchases of landscape paintings by
more recent established artists have updated the collection. From 2015 the Trust has annually commissioned a painting by an emerging landscape painter as a way of honouring Sir Henry’s original objective to encourage the painting of New Zealand landscape. The Kelliher Art Trust is based in Auckland and is curated by Christopher Johnstone. Christopher Johnstone gave a talk with the exhibition on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Landscape Paintings from Marlborough Collections features a selection of historical and contemporary landscape paintings from Marlborough Collections: the Marlborough Art Gallery Collection, Marlborough District Council Collection, and the Badcock Family Collection.
Cressida says Douglas Badcock (1922 – 2009) had a highly successful professional art career. Preferring to paint en plein-air, in oil and watercolour, Douglas earned a reputation as one of New Zealand’s leading landscape painters and Queenstown’s first full-time artist.
He is described as a realist artist, who captured fresh inspirations; experimented with new techniques to express his innermost feelings in relation to the beauty he saw.
He was a Kelliher art award
Landscape paintings from Marlborough Collections features a selection of historical and contemporary landscape paintings from Marlborough Collections: the Marlborough Art Gallery Collection, Marlborough District Council Collection, and the Badcock Family Collection. Pictured is Marlborough painter Brian Badcock with his skyscape piece of the Ned/Te Hau, the 909 metre peak.
winner coming second in both 1957 and 1959, third in the 1962 and then first place in 1965 with his painting ‘Head of Lake Wakatipu’.
In the collection gallery, alongside landscape works from the Marlborough Art Gallery and Council collections, are two paintings (Skyscape - The Ned, and Cloudscape - Wither Hills ) from the local
Badcock collection. Brain Badcock (son of Douglas) has been based in Marlborough and painted the region’s landscape for many decades. Brian is a well-known New Zealand painter who has earned national and international recognition. He has painted for more than 50 years in various locations throughout New Zealand and Asia.
He specialises in painting “on site” and his richly coloured canvases capture the Marlborough environment. Brian is part of the Marlborough Artists with open studios group. His Brian Badcock Gallery is located at 22 Leitrim Street, Blenheim. The exhibitions run from January 25 - March 9.
Mum put me in a brand new home made wool jersey that was super itchy – and in February?
I sure do. I remember a girl in my class tried to cheer me up by giving me a banana and her yoghurt at playtime.
Patricia Giusti Chipko
United States
I do remember when I was six, I was nervous and a bit shy and I started crying over something and the teacher told me to walk out the door and take a moment.
Yes – I got told off because I didn’t bring a hankie.
I remember my first day at college. It was huge and there were over 1000 pupils and they were all bigger than me. I’d been in another town during the previous two years so I didn’t have any buddies
I am deeply concerned with regard to the intent of the Marlborough District Council to allow chlorination of Blenheim’s water supply. It is likely they will also add fluoride at a later date too.
Chlorine is a harmful toxin that we do not need to consume, bath in and clean with.
Blenheim’s water is already UV treated, making it sufficiently safe for domestic use. It is a Government ‘one size fits all’ directive but surely it is time for the Council and Blenheim public to unite and stand up for ourselves and the province?
K Connor
Reply from MDC
Asset and Services Committee
The Drinking Water Authority - Taumata Arowai provided Council a direction in October 2023 to have chlorination implemented.
Chlorine is safe. Most drinking water supplies in New Zealand (and indeed the rest of Marlborough outside Blenheim) are chlorinated and chlorine is widely used to treat water supplies against contamination. The amount used is carefully managed to ensure the smallest amount is ingested while maintaining a high level of effectiveness.
UV treatment alone at the treatment plant does not meet the requirements of the Water Services Act 2021. UV does not provide a residual disinfection in the network. The residual is necessary to disinfect the water if there is an event that enables a contaminant to enter the network, such as a backflow from within a
Yes, a
Letters on issues of community interest are welcomed. A maximum of 150 words please. They must be signed and a street address provided to show good faith, even when a nom de plume is provided for publication. The editor reserves the right to abridge letters or withhold letters from publication. Email them to news@blenheimsun. co.nz or present to our office at 72 High St. Please note that your name and street address MUST be provided with emails.
Design has begun for chlorinating Blenheim’s water supply. National water regulator
Taumata Arowai required a residual disinfectant, typically provided by chlorine, to be added to water supplies by December 31, 2024. The deadline wasn’t met, but systems should be in place by mid-2025.
property back to the network or leakage and maintenance of leakage enabling contaminated groundwater to enter the network
This Act was introduced after 5,000 people in Havelock North became ill and four died as a result of a contaminant entering the water supply. The Act strengthens water suppliers obligations and responsibility to ensure this does not occur again. There have been two contamination events in Blenheim, the first in 1995 and the second in 2007. The difference to the Havelock North event was that campy-
lobacter was not present here. The passage of the legislation was discussed at Council meetings and this was reported by media at the time. Council made a submission through Taituarā, the local government representative organisation. The public also had the opportunity to submit on the draft legislation.
#The Blenheim Sun will be publishing editorial in the upcoming weeks to provide further information re: chlorinating Blenheim’s water supply and what this means for ratepayers.
Carmen Harrison Blenheim
wee boy called Gary, who was sitting behind me kept calling me Carmel and still did years later.
Janette Fowler Kaikoura
Lynette Frost Blenheim
Luke Harrison Blenheim
Alistair McLeod Blenheim
Explore Marlborough’s crown
summer
Picton is a quintessential piece of Marlborough summer.
The perfect place to park up and soak in the sun, go for a dip, check out the shops or take on some of the area’s walks or mountain biking tracks. There’s something for everyone.
Some popular walking/mountain biking tracks include:
The Snout
Walk or cycle your way into Queen Charlotte Sound on the Snout - taking you from Picton into the middle of Waikawa Bay. It’s a moderate level track with stunning views throughout.
Upper or Lower Bobs Bay
Both of these moderate walks finish with the delightful beach that is Bobs Bay - take a picnic and your togs and towel - relax and unwind before making the 30 minute return walk.
jewel this
Picton to Waikawa
This easy track allows 45 minutes of exercise one-way - an ideal walk when time is on your side and you prefer to keep the terrain flat.
Tirohanga Track
This well-known walk is known for its stunning views across Picton and into the Sounds. Short but steep - it’s great for those looking for a quick challenge before unwinding at the beach.
Link Pathway
Situated alongside Queen Charlotte Drive, the Link Pathway offers a range of gradients and stunning views throughout - choose a small section to tackle or challenge yourself to complete the entire track from Picton to Havelock - all 42 kilometres! Training is recommended before tackling the full length of this track. Water and food are essential.
Council services on Waitangi Day
Council’s Blenheim office, Marlborough Library (Blenheim) and Picton Library and Service Centre are closed on Waitangi Day, Thursday 6 February.
Refuse, recycling, and kerbside collections
Kerbside refuse and recycling will be collected as usual.
The Resource Recovery Centre, Re-use Centre and Waste Sorting Centre will be open from 8am until 4.30pm.
The landfill will be open between 8am and midday only. The E Waste facility will be closed.
The Picton and Havelock transfer stations will be open as usual from 8am until 4pm. Rai Valley Transfer Station will be open from 9am until midday. Transfer stations in Seddon and Wairau Valley will be closed.
Bus Service
Bus services will not run on Thursday 6 February.
Do you qualify for a rates rebate?
If you are a ratepayer on a low income, you may qualify for a rates rebate of up to $790.
To qualify, you need to be paying the rates on the home you live in, your name must be on the rates invoice and your home cannot be used principally for farming or business purposes. How much the rebate will be depends
on the amount of your rates, your total household income and the number of dependants living with you. To see if you qualify go to: www.govt.nz/browse/ housing-and-property/getting-help-withhousing/getting-a-rates-rebate/ratesrebate-calculator/
Apply in person at Council’s Customer Service Centre in Blenheim or at the
Creative Communities fund now open
Are you involved in a creative community project that benefits the people of Marlborough? Do you need funding help?
If so, now’s the time to get your application in for funding through the Marlborough District Council Creative Communities NZ Scheme.
The purpose of the scheme is to support and encourage local communities to create and present diverse opportunities for accessing and participating in arts activities.
The fund is now open and closes at 8am 3 March.
For more information go to: www. creativenz.govt.nz/funding-and-support/ all-opportunities/creative-communitiesscheme
For further information please contact Nicola Neilson, Project Lead – Arts, Culture and Heritage, on Ph: 03 520 7400 or email nicola.neilson@ marlborough.govt.nz
New café concept blends creatives and community
An idea has been brewing for a while to bring together Marlborough’s creative community.
The product is Café Create – a new bi-monthly breakfast gathering designed to celebrate Marlborough’s unique blend of creativity and community. The first gettogether will be held at Kaiaka Café from 7.30am to 8.45am on Thursday 27 February.
“As part of our commitment to Te AtatūArts, Culture and Creativity Strategic Plan 2024-2034, we are thrilled to launch this new café concept, which brings together creativity and community,” Council’s Project Lead – Arts, Culture and Heritage Nicola Neilson said.
“Café Create is designed to foster a vibrant and dynamic environment where professionals, artists, entrepreneurs and innovators can connect, collaborate and inspire each other,” she said.
“The event will be a hub for creative minds to exchange ideas, share experiences and build meaningful relationships across various industries.”
Each café catch-up will feature light refreshments, a guest speaker, Q&A session and networking. Future dates are 27 February, 1 May, 26 June, 28 August and 30 October.
Guest speakers at the inaugural meeting
Picton Library or go to Council’s website and apply online at: www.marlborough. govt.nz/services/rates/rates-rebate/ rates-rebate-application-form?ed-step=1
You’ll need your income details for the year ended 31 March 2024 to apply.
Applications for this rating year close on 30 June 2025; no late applications will be accepted. Please note, if visiting
will be Creative at Heart Programme Coordinator Aimee Preston and Art Therapist Emma Toy. Join them to discover how Creative at Heart is building connections and promoting healing through the power of the arts.
Previously called Creative Kids, Creative at Heart is a local non-profit dedicated to enriching the community through diverse artistic and music therapy programmes designed for adults and children alike. The pair will discuss the transformative benefits of therapeutic arts, provide insights into their services, and highlight the positive impact these offerings have on individuals and families.
Mrs Neilson said Café Create would build on connections made during the 2023 community workshops.
“We aim to create a dynamic space where people can kōrero with fellow creatives, learn about their mahi, learn from guest speakers, and share how our initiatives can support and elevate your artistic practice. It’s a fantastic opportunity to network, socialise and connect with others in our creative community,” she said.
To register go to: www.eventbrite.com/d/ new-zealand--blenheim and search ‘Cafe Create’.
Spaces are limited.
the Blenheim office, there are two car parks for mobility permit holders located at the rear of the building for your convenience.
For more information or to check if you have already applied for this rating year, call Council’s Customer Services on Ph: 03 520 7400 or email mdc@marlborough.govt.nz
Picton offers many options for a day out in summer.
one with the Sun
Visual arts – ‘a wonderful vehicle for stories’ one on
Havelock artist Rick Edmonds believes there is nowhere like the Marlborough Sounds as motivation for his art. Chris Valli spoke to Rick about his
Rick Edmonds believes first and foremost he is a storyteller.
“Visual arts are a wonderful vehicle to tell stories,” he insists. “I really enjoy the process of choosing the best medium to most effectively tell the story. However, I am not just a visual artist, and often use writing and performance to tell stories. I consider my theatre work an important part of my story-telling vocabulary.”
A good example of his written story telling was in 2017, when Rick wrote and directed Pelorus Jack Up for the Havelock Community Theatre, a play about a local, albeit weary, sailing club based in the Marlborough Sounds that decided to put on a yacht race for the “world’s oldest sporting trophy” - a 19th century, and dubiously stained, chamber pot.
Growing up as a child in the headwaters of the Sounds, he says, filled him with a longing to follow seagulls and outgoing tide to the open sea.
“Huge logs from the Pelorus River would float past our house and I would leap upon them in the hope they would carry me to a far-off sparkling sea with islands, pirates and treasure. My hopes were always thwarted by distraught parents who would pluck me safely before rising seas or nightfall overcame me,” he says.
As a full-time professional artist for 45 years, Rick has done ‘a lot of varied art-work over the years’.
As well as original paintings for the Havelock Gallery exhibitions - the unique not for profit art gallery showcasing Marlborough artists - Rick has produced many large-scale murals, one in the Marlborough Library Te Kahu o Waipuna and another beside State Highway 6 in Renwick.
latest project,
as a publisher/illustrator for a children’s picture book.
He concedes typically an original painting will take him one month to complete, including the initial sketches, designing the composition, and the actual painting, which usually includes fairly slow air-brush work.
Rick has also produced art-work for Councils and the Department of Conservation throughout the country. A lot of Rick’s work has included illustrations of New Zealand’s natural and social history. He’s also published a number of books and plays and recently played the role of Dave in Havelock Community Theatre’s play, Stage Fright, showing his creative attributes in comedic timing.
His latest artistic endeavour has been as an illustrator for a recently released children’s book called, The day the big black bull got MAD written by Barbara Stuart.
The book is about a bull that is normally quite placid, one day running amok and causing all sorts of chaos in the farmyard and neighbouring campground. The synopsis of the story is based on a situation that actually happened on Cable Bay Farm, near Nelson.
“Given the context, and that it is a story for children, I was keen to include some humour into the book. Those that have read it have commented on this aspect being successful,” he says.
The opportunity to illustrate the book came from Rick knowing the Stuart family, a multigenerational farming family at Cable Bay, a family he has known for 37 years.
However, this is the first book collaboration together.
“Barbara wrote the initial text and approached me about illustrating the story for a children’s book.
“Huge logs from the Pelorus River would float past our house and I would leap upon them in the hope they would carry me to a far-off sparkling sea with islands, pirates and treasure. ”
I edited the text slightly, and designed the potential twenty pictures, before producing the actual artwork.”
“To produce twenty illustrations for the book represented potentially almost two years work, which was obviously impractical not to mention uneconomical,” he says.
“So I had to develop a technique which was going to be a lot quicker. Rather than my usual air-brush and acrylic style. I did these pictures as water-colours, and that allowed me to do the whole book including
Havelock artist and illustrator Rick Edmonds says rather than his usual air-brush and acrylic style technique he did the pictures as water-colours, allowing to do the whole book including design and research, in less than four months.
design and research, in less than four months. That change of medium and working much freer, also suited the content of the story,” he says.
The other challenge he says was depicting a main character that was a large black animal.
“Finding a way to show features, expression, mood,
and form, rather than just a large black mass. Again, water-colour, which is less intense and more subtle than other paint techniques, was a good solution.”
Copies of The day the big black bull got MAD are available from the Havelock Gallery, Main Road, Havelock.
Providing quality care and education for children aged 3 months - 5 years, Omaka is a space for children to grow, explore and flourish as unique individuals, through a child-led, nature play based environment, where children are given the wings to fly.
The Learning Pit
The 2025 Marlborough school year has resumed and for local teachers a Piritahi Teacher Only Day last Thursday reaffirmed for many their own teaching practice is an evolving one. As former teacher Chris Valli discovers, learning - for teachers and students - is not a linear journey.
‘Piritahi’ in Maori means ‘coming together as one’, signifying a united group or the act of joining together as a single entity. It often refers to the merging of different tribes or communities to form a unified whole.
Uniformity is apt with the education landscape in recent times dominating media headlines with falling numeracy and literacy levels, and question marks over NCEA Level 1 with the Education Review Office (ERO) calling for the qualification to be overhauled or scrapped.
When the OECD started monitoring education systems in the year 2000, New Zealand was one of the top performers. University of Auckland education professor Peter O’Connor credits the performance with the fact that our wide curriculum balanced rich academic knowledge with arts and other creative subjects.
Last week, Marlborough’s kindergarten, early childhood, primary/ intermediate and secondary teachers collaborated for a Piratahi teacher
only day with not only the opportunity to utilise learning strategies, but gain insights (and knowledge) from teachers with the empathy and compassion behind what learning entails.
Keynote speakers included Anton Matthews, a graduate from Maori language academy Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Maori, Dr Paul Wood, who started university study while in Paremoremo Prison, becoming the first person in New Zealand history to progress through undergraduate and Masters degrees while in prison, and James Nottingham.
James, a teacher and founder of the Learning Pit, addressed Marlborough teachers around the complexity of learning. The ‘Learning Pit’ refers to a metaphorical space where a learner experiences a period of struggle and confusion when tackling a new or challenging concept.
Essentially it represents the process of grappling with new information and developing deeper understanding by navigating through uncertainties and questions, rather than simply absorbing knowledge easily. The Learning Pit is considered a positive stage in the learning process where critical thinking and resilience are developed
One learning example James addressed was that, ‘you will get worse
before you got better’ and demonstrated this by asking teachers to write their full name on a piece of paper.
“If you don’t have a paper and pen, I’d love to know what you say to your students who don’t have their paper and pen,” he quipped. He then asked teachers to write their full name using their other hand.
“Raise your hands if it looks worse,” he asked. “That’s a performance dip, notice how it felt, it felt awkward, you felt silly, you had to concentrate and think more and so this is what learning is all about. Those emotions you just felt, unease, having to concentrate more - that’s what learning is all about. If you don’t feel that for the part of most lessons, you’re not learning intellectually.”
For Rapaura School Deputy Principal Trish Weaver, a Year 5/6 teacher, it was the second time she had listened to James and says she loves how he is evidence-based while still teaching both in Secondary and Primary.
who are doing what matters for our
more tools and insights to thrive in
Insert: Trish Weaver, Rapaura School Deputy Principal.
“I have used the Learning Pit and language in my classroom over the years. Today’s session deepened my understanding and reinforced the importance of maintaining high expectations and fostering a culture of challenge in the classroom. I have taken away a couple of things that I can tweak within my existing programme,” she says.
one of the key learnings from the day was encouraging students to step out of their comfort zones.
Trish set up the Rapaura Young Leaders Programme at the kura, which has their Year 8’s go on to college as self-motivated, confident, achieving learners. She says
Inflammation - are your insides burning?
By George Elder
There are upwards of 120 autoimmune diseases which inflict people with very serious and painful conditions such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, some cancers, and many other non-communicable chronic conditions. A common symptom of these diseases is inflammation in some form. As a result a doctor will often prescribe an anti-inflammatory such as a steroid or an NSAID such as ibuprofen. If this is the only action taken, it can mask symptoms which although relieving the
associated pain, may not address the real cause of the problem, so leading to long term disease.
If you damage your skin with a splinter, a cut or a burn, the area around the damage becomes red and inflamed. This is acute inflammation, a good sign and part of a normal response by your body.
If you have a continuous insult happening within your body, the inflammation response can be widespread and chronic (continuous). This is not good. Your body is telling you something. If you ignore this message, you are ignoring your body’s cries for help. Something is causing the inflammation and if it is continuous, such as with arthritis or chronic back
pain, then you would be well advised to identify the factors which may be causing it. For example, a continuous excess glucose level in your diet can cause low level inflammation in your arteries which can lead to heart disease. Sometimes inflammation is your body’s reaction to something specific you eat. Plants contain a wide range of toxins, as this is one way they defend against being eaten. They can’t run away or fight back. 99 percent of plants are poisonous to us and often those we eat should be prepared in specific ways to remove toxins. My website includes a downloadable chart of common anti-nutrients which may help you identify an inflammation culprit.
Many people are intolerant of dairy. Removing this is a good starting point. If that doesn’t help, I would suggest you remove all grains including products made from grains, plus beans and nightshade vegetables. Most people know that wheat is problematic for the gluten sensitive, but many do not know that there is a common condition known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) whereby even without showing anti-bodies to gluten, wheat can cause gastric distress. Grains also contain phytates, lectins, and saponins, which can be problematic for many people. Next try removing all vegetable oils (seed oils) from your diet and
“It’s about understanding that learning can be challenging and success is rarely a linear journey, especially at the start of the school year when you are setting up a new classroom culture,” she says.
replace with olive oil, coconut oil, butter, avocado oil or animal fats. Vegetable oils contain high levels of omega-6 fats which promote inflammation, platelet aggregation and blood vessel constriction. Research has shown that a dietary ratio of 2 parts omega-6 to 1 part omega-3 suppressed inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Removing vegetable oils can help this ratio. Get free nutrition guidance or my book at www.takebackyrhealth. com. Seek professional medical advice before dietary changes, particularly if on medication. George Elder, Health Coach, Diploma in Nutrition. “The best thing you can do for your health is eat better”.
PIRATAHI TO THE FORE: Dr Paul Wood says he was elated to deliver the closing keynote for Marlborough’s Piritahi Kahui Ako educators. “People
kids and now have some
25,” he says.
EDUCATION
Ignite your creative passion
Are you looking for a way to ignite your creative passion, build your confidence, and make new friends?
Marlborough Children’s and Youth Theatre (MYC Theatre) offers the perfect environment to help you do just that.
With a strong focus on developing both performing skills and personal growth, MYC Theatre provides students of all ages with the tools to confidently step onto the stage and into the world of theatre.
MYC Theatre caters to students as young as four years old, nurturing their talents and encouraging creativity in a fun and supportive environment.
The drama program is designed to inspire confidence, self-esteem, and the skills needed
for public speaking and performing.
Students gain valuable experience through a variety of classes, including speech, creative movement, mime, improvisation, and scene work.
These classes help students explore their imaginations while developing key abilities that will serve them throughout their lives.
The curriculum also includes opportunities to take part in performance competitions and grade exams, providing students with a chance to demonstrate their growth and gain recognition for their hard work.
With annual productions, MYC Theatre ensures that students have ample opportunity to showcase their talent on stage, fostering not only a love for theatre but also a sense
Specialist tuition available
Are your college students struggling with Biology, Chemistry, and Maths?
NCEA results show that Marlborough is near the bottom of the country for performance in these subjects.
Local Science and Maths tutor, Ross Cuff, is here to help.
“If you want to learn more about science and how important it is in our world, the younger you start and understand science and maths, the easier it is to build on your existing base of knowledge,” Ross explains.
“This takes years of study and work to understand and remember, no matter what you want to be.
“Start your education early and broadly, and then learn more about the subjects that will take
you where you want to go in life. You don’t get a second chance to redo your education.”
The understanding of science (which is Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Maths - all rolled into one) takes many years of learning to become a useful and important part of human life.
Doctors have to learn a lot about human bodies and medicines before they can start to help people at hospital or their surgery.
“Anyone hoping to study anything about being an electrician, an accountant, a plumber, a builder, a doctor, running a business, flying a plane, being a mechanic will need to start learning about science at primary school and then at college, learn more detail about all the above subjects,”
of achievement and teamwork.
MYC Theatre goes beyond traditional acting classes by offering specialised courses in acting for screen, helping students build skills for the entertainment industry in both live theatre and film.
In addition, the school provides private tuition for speech and drama, as well as singing lessons, ensuring that each student’s unique needs and interests are supported.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced performer, MYC Theatre offers courses
for all ages, from young children to adults. It’s a place where imagination can thrive, friendships can grow, and confidence can be built. Enrol today and unlock your creative potential with MYC Theatre - where talent is nurtured, and everyone’s voice is heard.
Visit the MYC Theatre website to learn more and enrol today!
Ross says.
“Why is that? Because, if you are lucky enough to go to university or a technical institute, you will need to know quite a lot about the subjects you wish to learn more about, hopefully to begin a working life which you can be proud of.”
Ross says one of the most important equations in science - and has been for thousands of years - is:
AND FORWARDS, all the time?
Going from left to right, this is the process of Photosynthesis, which allows all plant life to grow.
Teaching Science and Maths in today’s world TO parents and school children
The light from the sun allows a plant to gather carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and water (H20) from the ground and REMAKE two new chemical products that ALL animals on earth need to live - Carbohydrates (C6H12O6 = glucose) and oxygen (O2).
Let’s start here - at school, with one of the most important equations in science - and has been for thousands of years. What is it?
6CO 2 + 6H 2 O → C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2
This is the equation that creates two of the most important processes of life for ALL animals and plants on earth and has been working since the beginning of life on earth But what is happening here - and do you realise that this equation works BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS - all the time!!
This is the equation that creates two of the most important processes of life for ALL animals and plants on earth and has been working since the beginning of life on earth. But what is happening here, and do you realise that this equation works BACKWARDS
Going from right to left shows that as animals use carbohydrates for food, they create and breathe out carbon dioxide as they burn the carbohydrate as fuel for the body’s energy needs.
So simple, but so scientifically necessary for all life on earth!
Going from left to right, this is the process of Photosynthesis , which allows all plant life to grow
Arrange a meeting to assess your college student’s needs by emailing Ross on ross. cuff65@gmail.com
The light from the sun allows a plant to gather carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and water (H20) from the ground and RE-MAKE two new chemical products that ALL animals on earth need to liveCarbohydrates (C6H12O6 = glucose) and oxygen (O2).
Going from right to left shows that as animals use carbohydates for food, they create and breathe out carbon dioxide as they burn the carbohydrate as fuel for the body’s energy needs
So simple, but so scientifically necessary for all life on earth!!!!!
If you want to learn more about science and how important it is in our world, the younger you start and understand science and maths, the easier it is to build on your existing base of knowledge This takes years of study and work to understand and remember - no matter what you want to be
Start your education early and broadly, and then learn more about the subjects that will take you where you want to go in life You don’t get a second chance to redo your education!!!!!!
The understanding of science (which is Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Maths - all rolled into one) takes many years of learning to become a useful and important part of human life. Doctors have to learn a lot about human bodies and medicines before they can start to help people at hospital or their surgery Anyone hoping to study anything about being an electrician, an accountant, a plumber, a builder, a doctor, running a business, flying a plane, being a mechanic - will need to start learning about science at primary school and then at college, learn more detail about all the above subjects.
Why is that? Because, if you are lucky enough to go to university or a technical institute, you will need to know quite a lot about the subjects you wish to learn more about, hopefully to begin a working life which you can be proud of
Start fresh this summer
Take the leap into a brighter future this summer and unlock your potential at NMIT.
Whether you’re exploring your options after school, looking to advance in your career or simply keen to learn something new, we are here to help you make it happen. Every journey begins with one step, and we’ll be with you every step of the way.
NMIT is more than a place to study - it’s a place to grow. Think flexible study options, real-world learning and a holistic support environment, all designed to empower you to believe in your potential and to equip you with everything you need to reach your goals.
From business to winemaking, NMIT have over 100 programmes available, from certificate to master’s level.
Unsure where to begin? Book a study navigation chat with our friendly and helpful team! They’re here to help you plan your future and set you up to succeed.
With 2025 applications and scholarships now open, there’s no better time to take that first step towards realising your own dreams. Let this be the year you say yes to embracing challenges, taking the leap and turning aspirations into reality.
Begin your study journey at NMIT this February - Believe it, become it.
CALLING ALL PARENTS!
Tutoring in Science & Maths
Are your college students struggling with Biology, Chemistry, Maths at the moment? NCEA results show we, in Marlborough, are near the bottom of the country for performance!
taught science and maths at
good schools and have tutored several students to
Grey Power Marlborough
The Association for people 50+
From our local President
Welcome to 2025! I hope you all had some leisure time over the holiday season.
Our office staff had a well-earned holiday and re-opened January 6 for another busy year. The early part of the year is always busy for the staff, with the sign-off of the new Discount Book, the AGM mid-March, and subs being due by the end of March. It seems like only yesterday we were going through the same thing - how the year flies. If you have changed your address/ email address/land line or cell phone number, be sure to let the office know so that we can update your details before subscription notices go out. Unless you inform us of changes we do not know and it can be very frustrating for all parties.
Grey Power Marlborough is all set for a busy year ahead. Another seminar is
Advocating for people 50 +
Important Grey Power Magazine update
Grey Power Federation has always been proud to offer our quarterly magazine to our members as part of your subscription. Unfortunately, we are no longer financially able to do this, as with the latest rise in postage it is now costing us over $200,000 per year to post out the magazine.
Twelve months ago, we looked at how to minimise this cost by offering the magazine in digital format to alleviate the cost of postage. But with only 2000 members out of 40,000 deciding to get the magazine digitally, it has not made a big enough impact to the costs to make posting affordable. And not surprisingly, a recent survey confirmed that most members still preferred the magazine in hard copy.
In November 2024 we made the very difficult decision that if members still wanted their magazine mailed to them, they will need to pay a subscription at a cost of $10.00 per year, which equates to $2.50 per magazine.
By transitioning to an annual subscription model, we aim to:
• Continue to share the highest quality and content.
• Expand our offerings by introducing
new sections, exclusive interviews, and special features that will enrich your reading experience.
By reducing our costs for the magazine, we will have funds available to:
• Meet with Parliamentarians and government Ministers 4 times a year instead of the current 2, continuing to advocate on behalf of older people living in New Zealand.
• Ensure there are more funds available for Portfolio holders and standing committees to be used to address relevant issues, about which we will provide regular updates on how the funds are being utilised, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Allow Federation representatives to support local Grey Power associations around the country, especially those that are struggling.
• Investigate the opportunity to make attendance to the annual AGM’s more economical.
We hope that our members will support us in this decision as sadly, the alternative is to not produce the magazine at all.
To subscribe to the magazine in hard copy, you will need to deposit the yearly
fee of $10.00 into the Federation bank account by April 30 2025, as the February/ March magazine will be the last one you will receive at no cost.
The Grey Power Federation account is 38-9018-0089518-00. Please put the word ‘magazine’ in the particulars tab and your membership number in the reference tab. If you do not have a computer or you are unable to do internet banking, you could ask a family member or friend to do it for you, or use phone banking. Please note that you will NOT be able to pay through your local association.
To receive the magazine free of charge digitally, please e-mail the Federation office with your e-mail address and state you would like to receive the Grey Power magazine in digital format. You can also visit our website to subscribe for digital copy at www.greypower.co.nz. If you are already receiving your magazine digitally, you don’t have to do anything, as this will continue.
Thank you all for your understanding and ongoing support.
Gayle Chambers National President Grey Power NZ Federation Inc
housebound members are interviewed in their
to create a reading/listening profile. A volunteer is then allocated and introduced, to select
deliver items at a mutually convenient time. Picton Library offers a similar service, run by volunteers. All the volunteers are police-checked. The library also works with activities staff at Bethsaida Retirement Village, Springlands Lifestyle Village, Redwood Lifestyle Village, Ashwood Park Retirement Village and Maxwell Lifecare
If you are interested in using the housebound service, or you know someone who would be, please contact Marlborough Library on 03 5207491 or, for Picton residents, Picton Library on 03 5207493.
Advocating for people 50 +
InterRAI Survey request
What is InterRAI?
InterRAI is the trademark name for the suite of meticulously-researched clinical assessments that build a picture of a person’s health and well-being needs.
From: The University of Auckland Needs Assessment Research, project title: Clinical Utility of InterRAI data.
Some older people have had a needs assessment to see what might be needed to help with everyday life. This would have involved talking to an assessor who would have asked you questions about how you go about things like showering, walking, and socialising with others and may have led to you having home help.
Everyone in an aged care facility, or rest home in NZ had this type of assessment done, but usually with one of the staff members.
These assessments are known as
interRAI assessments.
To further our knowledge and understanding, we would like to invite you to complete a short survey, the results of which will be used to work out the best services to help you with your everyday life.
The survey is about your views and experiences with the interRAI processes and data.
We want to improve the information available from the assessments for older people and their whānau and families.
The University of Auckland is funding this survey as part of a programme of work about the interRAI suite of tools and how they are used.
The survey takes about 5-15 minutes and asks about your experiences with the interRAI assessment tools and the interRAI data.
Staying in touch
As part of our ongoing efforts to reduce expenses, and after the results of our recent survey, Grey Power is having to make some changes.
Rising postal costs, as noted elsewhere in the newsletter, have required us to take action to reduce our overall postage expenditures while continuing to keep you informed. Please note the following.
• For those without an email address, we will rely on volunteers and committee mem-
bers to ha nd-deliver mail where possible. Please note that this will include your annual membership card.
• We will not be posting out the hard copy discount book. The discount book will still be available in digital format, while hard copy can be picked up from our office.
• For members who pay their subscriptions online, we will send an email receipt confirming your payment. This receipt will include the expiry
Before starting, important information is in the Participant Information Sheet
Go to https://www.auckland. ac.nz/interRAI and follow the lead of Clinical Utility of InterRAI Data to find out everything about the survey and if you want to participate.
You don’t have to do the survey at all, it is completely voluntary, and the survey is anonymous (so we won’t be able to get back to you about your individual results). You can go in a draw for a prize voucher if you would like to, after you have completed the survey.
Thank you for your time. We really value your views.
Ngaire Kerse and Joanna Hikaka University of Auckland
This study has been approved by the Auckland Health Research Ethics Committee (16/12/24; Ref:28693)
Office Snippets
• Invoices for the next subscription year will be going out in March. Please let us know if you have changed your email or postal address.
• Don’t forget, Hearing Aid batteries, sizes A10, A13 and A312 are available from the office at $6 per card of six. Badges with “I have a hearing loss” are also available, $8 each.
Events
• Grey Power Marlborough in association with Marlborough District Council is holding a seminar, Prioritising Your Health, at 10.15am on Thursday 20 February at the Nativity Centre. Topics will include Managing Pain, Traditional Medical Practices (Rongoa Māori) and Natural Health Remedies and Supplements. The session is free and open to everyone. General questions only, as specific questions will not be answered publicly. Light refreshments will be provided.
• Death Café meets first Wednesday of month in the alcove at Speights Ale House, 7pm – 8.15pm. This is not a grieving group - it is part of a global social movement that encourages practical chatting about death; funerals, wills, where we would like to die, how, (if having the choice). For more details, check out deathcafe.com or contact Joss on 579 4771, or email Corinne on corinne@ mcbridesillig.co.nz.
date of your subscription and an attachment containing the advertisers featured in the Discount Book. You can easily save this attachment to your device for future reference.
Remember that if you wish to have a hard copy card and/or a discount book, these will still be available from the office.
Thank you for your understanding and support as Grey Power works to manage costs effectively.
• Age Concern is running their popular Senior Driving Course on Wednesday 26 February. Please call Age Concern on 03 579 3457 for more information and to book a spot. A great refresher, particularly if renewing your licence is on the horizon.
• St Christopher’s Eldercare Older Persons Seminar is on Thursday 27 February, at the Church Hall, 92 Weld Street, Redwoodtown. Fun, Food and Friendship, 10am to 1pm, morning tea and light lunch provided, cost $6. Guest speaker is Cindy Thom, JP, Legal Executive, Community Patroller. Get in touch with Donna, 027 385 2333, for more information.
• The annual Alzheimers Marlborough Golf Tournament will be held on Friday 28 February at Marlborough Golf Club. Tee off 12.30pm, $40 entry fee. Enter on the day, or via entries@marlboroughgolf.co.nz.
• This year’s Senior Expo will be held on Tuesday 11 March. More details next month!
By Samantha Tennent – Farmers Weekly
Ocean ageing experiment
Crafted by LV by Louis Vavasour, LV Ocean-Aged Marlborough Methode Traditionnelle is the first of its kind. It was inspired by a historical account of champagne recovered from a shipwreck that was still
Fencing & Vineyard Speciali S t
graeme coleman ltd
drinking beautifully.
“A friend of mine asked if I’d heard about the shipwreck off the coast of Croatia,” Vavasour says.“He mentioned they’d found champagne that was about 230 years old, and it still tasted really good, which intrigued me as champagne shouldn’t last that long.”
Louis embarked on a controlled experiment to explore the effects of the ocean environment on premium sparkling wine maturation. He calculated the potential effects of the expected pressure from the depth, which could have pushed the corks out, so they triple-waxed the bottles and planned a careful descent.
They designed some cages and submerged bottles of LV Methode Traditionnelle 25 metres deep in the waters of the Marlborough Sounds for 18 months.
“I wasn’t sure what we would find when we went back to pull them up,” Vavasour says.
“The bottles might have been damaged or broken, or even stolen. But the results were really interesting.”
Industry experts, including the master of wine, Simon Nash and the master sommelier, Cameron Douglas, conducted a blind comparative tasting with promising results.
“There was a clear difference between the traditionally-aged sample and the one that was aged under the ocean. It retained its freshness and purity of fruit more. The ocean pressure basically supercharges the wine! The bottles
have so much more pressure from being under that pressure for so long. I think the temperature and the tidal influence creating a gentle rocking movement have a big impact.”
At the end of last year, LV released a limited two-pack containing a traditionally cellar-aged bottle and the ocean-aged Methode Traditionnelle, both from the same bottling. The side-by-side comparison allows for a firsthand exploration of the contrasting profiles.
The LV vineyard is only 5.5 hectares in the Awatere Valley. It produces a range of wines, and its sparkling range sells around 4000 bottles a year.
“We’ve put another 100 bottles down, some only part-way through the wine-making process to test what might happen, and we’re going to try leaving some down for three years.
“It’s been a fun experiment that one thing has led to another. It’s about finding innovative ways to give our wine a point of difference.”
A new treasure can be found in the ocean’s mysterious depths in Marlborough Sounds - ocean-aged sparkling wine.
A bottle of LV Ocean-Aged Marlborough Methode Traditionnelle freshly retrieved from its underwater resting place 25m down in the Marlborough Sounds. Photo: Supplied.
Marlborough
Fair employment trailblazer
By Joanna Grigg
The first thing Tanya Pouwhare does when someone seeking employment steps through her doorway is print out the ‘Know Your Rights’ sheet from the New Zealand Employment Guide.
It’s likely that job seekers turning up at Grapeworx don’t realise that Tanya is much more than a friendly face. She is both a prospective employer and an awarded advocate for fair employment. As General Manager of Grapeworx Marlborough, Tanya runs a team of up to 250 staff, working with 119 growers across Marlborough vineyards.
As the Deputy Chair and Human Rights Lead at New Zealand Ethical Employers (NZEE), she works at the heart of a membership organisation championing high standards of employment.
And now she’s joining the New Zealand Winegrowers board, bringing her passion for the industry, and its labour obligations, to the table.
Tanya has been elected as a grape grower representative but looks forward to contributing her deep understanding of contracting, labour
requirements and “responsible business practices” to the board. New Zealand is well known for world class premium wine, and that quality needs to be reflected in unassailable labour and business practices.
“As global demand for our wine continues to grow, so too will the need for rigorous compliance. Given the trade-dependent nature of New Zealand wine, we must stay ahead of ever-evolving standards and regulations to maintain our competitive edge”.
Tanya first felt indignation on behalf of someone being treated unfairly when she was at primary school in Rapaura. She stepped in and made her point. When she was 17, she wrote a letter to her boss, laying out unfair practices at work.
Now she’s made protecting those in a weaker position her career. With maturity, she’s also learnt to pick her battles a bit better, she says.
With huge levels of energy and a gutsy ability to learn on the job,
Tanya has packed a lot into her life.
She left school three months into her sixth form, with a job offer to work in radio, off the back of a summer job with Coastal FM, writing news
scripts and ads. A stint at Sounds Radio, rolling out the Breakfast show, was followed with a shift to New Plymouth, as a full-time radio presenter for Energy FM.
Through radio, she rubbed shoulders with a quick-witted and sharpon-their-feet crowd. The likes of Pam Corkery, whom she “adores”, Bill Ralston, and Paul Henry, who taught her to be fearless and confident.
Tanya took on the role of Chief Executive in 2018 and, together with board members like Aaron Jay from Hortus, nutted out a plan.
The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development Guidelines, all became familiar frameworks for Tanya and the basis for the newly created NZEE, with its mission statement to improve end-to-end quality of employment, to raise standards and create a rights-respecting baseline to level the playing field, so that competitiveness is not at the expense of the worker.
In July 2024, Tanya was awarded the New Zealand Primary Industry
Team and Collaboration Award, after being nominated by colleagues. Meanwhile, plans are afoot to expand NZEE across all primary industries, she says.
“The vision of putting people at the heart of businesses - ensuring profit without harm - is brought to life by motivated employers who are driving change.”
The Good Farm Cookbook
By Scott Gooding and Matilda Brown. Published by Murdoch Books, distributed by Allen and Unwin.
Reviewed by Tony Orman
The Australian couple Scott Gooding and Matilda Brown opened The Good Farm Shop in Sydney’s Brookvale and the shop has grown from a small online butchery to a ready meals company delivering across the east coast of Australia.
Film goers may recognise Matilda’s parents’ Australian actor Brian Brown and Rachel Ward, who feature in the book.
The emphasis of their business and the recipes in the book is to a mindful approach to sourcing food and a respect for an ingredient’s origin, the land it was grown on or in the case of meat, the animal’s environment and associated farming.
The emphasis is firmly on sustainability.
Scott Gooding is an advocate for regenerative farming. The recipes are often simple, nourishing and based on that sustainability ethos. Some are - thankfully - quite basic and practical, e.g. Bubble and Squeak Omelette, Bryan’s Steak
and Chips, Bangers, Mash and Onion Gravy, and a special Bread and Butter pudding.
Others are more sophisticated, e.g. Our French Restaurant Dinner, Beef Massaman Curry, Fiery Vegetable Stirfry, and Fish with Crispy Rosemary Potatoes and Spicy Romesco Sauce.
Don’t be deterred that the book is Australian based. It’s an excellent recipe book which will suit all abilities of home cooks and enhanced by the interesting story of the couple’s business venture and their rural background.
‘Play of Light on Water’ book launch
By Chris Valli
Author Val Clifford will be introducing her new novel ‘Play of Light on Water’ at the Picton Heritage & Whaling Museum next week.
Her novel explores the relationship between Ellen and Tom, two people finding refuge and healing themselves, and each other, in the Marlborough Sounds.
A Londoner by birth and now based in Australia, Val spent 20 years living in New Zealand and has a deep love of the Marlborough Sounds.
Val’s background includes a life of education and women’s health research. After years of formal research writing, she shifted her focus to memoir and creative writing and has completed two books.
Her first book, a memoir, ‘Fijian Shadows: Living through the Coup of 2000’ covered two years working and living in Fiji when a coup erupted around her.
The book was Highly Commended in the Society of Women Writers NSW Non-Fiction Book Awards 2022.
‘Play of Light on Water’ is her sec-
RIGHT: Author Val Clifford has a deep love of the Marlborough Sounds. Her novel ‘Play of Light on Water’ explores the relationship between Ellen and Tom, two people finding refuge and healing themselves, and each other, in the Marlborough Sounds.
ond book, a novel this time, reflecting her passion for the sea and sailing. It is set in a fictious fishing village in the Sounds. She says that falling in love with the Sounds when she lived in New Zealand and writing about it is a wonderful excuse to keep returning.
The book launch will be at the Picton Heritage & Whaling Museum on February 8 at 3pm. Signed copies of the book will be available to purchase on the day. For more information email info@ pictonmuseum.co.nz
Beavertown Lions working hard for our community
In October 2024 Beavertown Lions Club held their annual 2nd Chance Sale in the Redwoodtown Community Centre.
The Marlborough community had donated all manner of clothing, linen, shoes, jewellery, and books and these items were sold with the
Some speed limits lowered over the past few years will soon revert to their previous higher speed limits.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is consulting with people who use the road and the local community to see if you support keeping the current speed limits in some locations, rather than see them reverse.
proceeds going to three local charities: The Salvation Army, St John, and the Child Cancer Foundation.
The total amount raised reached $3,000 which was split evenly between the three charities. There was also a Father’s Day Raffle held which raised $1,500. This was given to our local ProstFIT group, a support group for men living with Prostate Cancer at any stage of diagnosis or treatment.
Consultation is open until 13 March 2025.
The Beavertown Lions Club continues to work hard for our community with various events and fundraisers throughout the year.
From left: Tania Nash from St John, Beavertown Lions Club President Maureen Wright, Phil Taylor from ProstFIT, and Bridget Nolan from Salvation Army for Families. Absent: Laura Huntley from the Child Cancer Foundation.
Price $45.
Superb service
Thanks to awesome staff at Z Redwood this arvo 29.1.25 for superb service, from Mike on the forecourt and the young man inside at the counter, your friendliness and helpfulness made my day!
Example- Not a Good One.
Anyone else noticed the police car frequently parked over part of footpath on Waikawa Road - directly opposite marae. Consideration for other traffic not a reason. Adequate room to park off road on other side.
Re: Weeds
Yeah sure, it is council’s job to keep gutters clear, etc. But come on... what about taking some pride in where you live? I’ve never had a problem sweeping the gutter, removing weeds etc out the front of any of the places I have lived. I rented for a number of years, and now I’m lucky enough to have my own place, mortgaged to the hilt, but still... in both cases, renting or owning, I have always maintained the frontage and gutter.
We have a choice in this world - we can either wait for something to happen and blame someone else when it doesn’t, or we can get out there and make it happen. Simple.
Very nice
I would like to thank the very kind lady who paid for the rest of my groceries two weeks ago at Countdown. There wasn’t a lot but my card wouldn’t work - very nice of her.
Parking meter trouble
Msg send to MD Council Customer Service. To whom it may concern, or may care.
I have been issued a $70 infringement for failing to activate parking metre - which I will pay grudgingly.
I am a 73 year old pensioner who in all good faith attempted to use the meter but as it would happen, I made an error.
I find these devices difficult to use at the best of times having poor eyesight and cataracts. I do not consider the magnitude of the fine fair or reasonable for an honest mistake, nor to have to pursue the matter through court in proportion to the offending.
As a point of interest I returned to my vehicle within the allotted hour (free??) parking.
Welcome in my country
Regarding Minto’s message to Israeli soldiers. They are welcome in my country any time.
Very poor form
Once again, the standard of performances in our House of Representatives has regressed into the gutter with offensive, unacceptable and inappropriate ethnic references being bandied about.
And hypocritical to boot as it is well known (by all educated Kiwi’s) that every NZ Citizen is a descendant of an immigrant. Right back to the early Maori immigrants from the Eastern Polynesian Islands.
All for one
Can somebody please enlighten me. When some bars have Happy Hour why are the reductions on drinks only on selective ones? I would estimate only one in five of the regulars at any bar would purchase the selective drinks in Happy Hour, the other four purchase their Unhappy Hour priced drinks, so much for looking after the regulars .
Parking meters
People need to know that with the free hour, they need to press the OK button at the end, before they walk away - its the last thing they should do. If you don’t press the OK button then nothing is recorded and you will end up getting a parking fine.
Buzzing
To the souls who fear a bypass, take a look at Cambridge, Taupo and other towns with bypasses. They are pleasant and buzzing. Think of SH1 traffic to and from ferry, trucks who want to get going, plus relieving peak hour congestion Grove Road and Main Street.
Wouldn’t it be nice
Casey’s Creek, Old Renwick Road (Opposite Racecourse). How lovely it looks from the eastern end and then we get to the western end and it isn’t the lovely native foliage all the ratepayers contributed to - but there is 6 foot fennel and weed grasses.
I suppose the vineyard could care for their berm but there are cars parked on it possibly when the contractor is there mowing. Could the cars perhaps have a tidy up or even our council?
Water treatment
Are we going to let them poison our water with sodium fluoride and then be made to pay for it in our rates. All this for a treatment that does not work and has been proven to significantly harm children’s brain development.
Re: Social media and weeds
It’s everywhere, people who are too lazy to walk to their boundary and pull a couple of weeds out.
We shouldn’t have to do councils job for them, but I don’t like the eye sore they leave us with.
Nappies
Nelson street entrance, walking down river, houses that back on to embankment one house a back section, wooden, grey/ black colour have kids behind this fence. Over 5 or more used nappies have been chucked over fence onto embankment where you can walk.
Either lazy house owner or someone is walking there,decides to throw a lot of nappies there, this is not one or two, but a lot, absolutely disgusting.
Following the masses
Just be careful when you follow the masses, sometimes the m is silent.
Talk of the week
Thank you
I would like to thank the lovely lady, standing behind me at the Warehouse, who offered to pay for my groceries, as I had misplaced my EFTPOS card. Finally managed to find some cash on me, but felt extremely grateful for the offer. Pay it forward.
Helping out
Hey awesome stuff Triumph Riders! So good to see you guys helping out .
Dialysis
Having to go on Dialysis in Nelson hospital, did not realise that Blenheim people have to travel by volunteer driver’s three days a week. Blenheim were promised a machine 20 years ago surely this would better than all that money spent on roundabouts on main highways.
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No sympathy
So two officers escorting a prisoner back to his cell are assaulted by him.
Not on NZ.
Summer
Here’s hoping we are in for some settled weather now. For a wee while at least, before Autumn arrives with it’s cooler temps and shorter days.
Throw the book at him even more. The guards could have been killed doing their job. Claims of overcrowding in the cells. Who cares. Tough conditions is what they deserve.
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Marlborough Girls’ College and Marlborough boys’ College held their Year 9 Mihi Whakatau and Powhiri (welcoming ceremony) on Friday and Monday morning respectively.
Photos: Chris Valli
New Marlborough Girls’ College English teacher Jonathan Rosene welcomes new students.
MGC Year 9 students make their way onto the kura.
Marlborough Boys’ College senior leadership staff responds with a waiata.
Marlborough Girls’ College Kapa Haka group welcomes the manuhiri/visitors onto the kura. Pictured is MGC teacher Allyson Court with head student Kyla Thorstensen.
Leon Dunn, Deputy Principal of Southland Boys and brother of new principal Jarrod Dunn delivers his whaikorero to the MBC tangata whenua and staff.
Koko Helen Joseph welcoming the manuhiri on the front field at Marlborough Boys’ College.
MGC Kapa Haka group.
GROWING A RESPONSIVE CURRICULUM: MBC teacher Josh Harrison leads the Year 9 cohort (holding their rakau) through the front doors of the college.
Let’s chat with…
Cressida Bishop
Are you a dog or cat person? Dog.
Favourite global cuisine? Asian.
What would you buy if money was no object?
A piece of land to develop a park including a playground and fitness circuit in the Blenheim CBD – with some sculpture and picnic areas.
Celebrity-wise who would be at your dream dinner party?
Celebrated New Zealand artists we have worked with at Marlborough Art Gallery.
Veggies or fruit? Veggies.
The shop you cant walk past is...? Independently owned fashion and bookshops, including recycled.
If you didn’t live in Marlborough where would you choose?
Probably Canterbury. I grew up there.
Favourite programme or series currently watching? Looking forward to White Lotus - Thailand.
What do you do for your own mental health? Get outside and walk my Jack Russell.
What’s your favourite colour? Blue.
If you had to choose another job what would it be?
Museum work is my dream job (worked in paid and volunteer roles in the sector for 30 years).
What truly matters to you?
Authenticity, generosity, family and friends, laughter and health.
The best advice I ever received was? Get it in writing.
My friends would say I am… Positive, busy and not very good at resting.
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gardening this week
A new solution to an old problem: By Wally Richards
Gardeners have ample things to contend with in our gardening pursuits, some which can be quite disheartening.
One of my disappointments has to be a fruit tree that is nicely laden with this seasons crop heading towards ripening looking a grand sight. One thinks ‘what a great crop’ and we savour the thought of enjoying our bounty and sharing it with family and friends.
A day or so later, disaster, where much of the still unripe fruit has being pecked and eaten by birds!
What to do to save the rest of the fruit?
Out comes the bird flash tape or old CD’s and our fruit tree starts to look more like a Christmas tree.
That works for a little while but the birds become used to the bangles and flashing lights and then back in to enjoy the fruits of your labours.
We are gardeners and we will not be beaten, and at the very worst will hopefully be able to pick at least one ripe fruit for the season from that tree.
I have tried many things such as Bird Netting which is difficult to put over a fruit tree and ten times worse to take off.
To be effective it has to be a complete cocoon over and under to the tree with no possible gap for the birds to get in.
That is hard to do and you will find that a few days later one or more birds are trapped in the netting and then you have the job of rescuing them.
Besides, birds will sit on the netting and their weight forces it down so they can peck at the fruit through the netting gaps.
The point here is that birds are very intelligent and they pass on their knowledge and learnt skills very quickly to their fellow birds.
That was found many years ago in England when a bird was attracted to the silver milk bottle top on the bottle of milk on peoples front step. The bird pecked through the sliver top and was able to then drink the cream at the top of the milk.
Within a week everyone’s bottles of milk were pecked at by hundreds of birds that had learnt the trick.
I have used crop cover over a branch with fruit on and tied at trunk end and used clothes pegs to hold the cover in place under the branch. Draped over a branch tied at both ends and clothes pegs to seal.
Very nicely kept the birds off but the cover created too much shade from sunlight so the sweetness of the ripe fruit did not happen.
So covering the leaves on the branch was not good for the sweetness of the fruit. No carbs from sunlight.
I noted in Philippines when I was there that people would wrap the mangos on
the tree with pieces of newspaper, that protected the fruit from birds, wasps and any other pests.
I presume there is a knack to that so the paper does not wash off in the rain or have to be replaced after rain.
So we could, with larger fruit use soft muslin cloth as a cover, pegged at the stem.
So again a bit of work to protect the fruit but one hopefully would enjoy the benefits of ones labour.
A few months back one of the importing companies I obtain products from told me that they were looking at a bird repellent gel that is used to keep birds from roosting on buildings.
I remember them saying that the gel smelt like bubble gum.
That caught my interest and so I brought the product they had on hand which was not much as it was samples for them to try out in NZ.
It was little lids 70mm wide 12mm deep with a plastic tear off cover over it.
See the picture at https://0800466464. co.nz/product-category/controls-fliesbirds-vermin-ants/
Inside the lid is a gel.
One of my dual Nashi pear trees I saw just over a week ago was being attacked by my local birds which is annoying as I feed the birds every day. I presume they enjoy the grains and puppy biscuits I feed them but want some fruit desert as well.
So my poor Nashi had already lost a few fruit and a few others with peck holes in them.
I remembered that I had the bird gel so I opened a lid and knowing it is a proximity effect I used a small brush so I could dab the gel on the branches or leaves next to each bunch of fruit.
I kept and eye on the tree every day and found there was no further damage. But on one branch that was too difficult to treat, the fruit was being pecked at - a good control to prove it worked on the protected fruit.
Even the fruit previously pecked at that had gel near them suffered no further damage other than wasps who were enjoying the easy access.
My trees are only young, about two metres or more tall, so I used the container to do another smaller Nashi pear tree with fruit on, and two smaller apple trees both which have nice crops on. It rained a few days later and the gel resisted the rain as it is sticky and hung on where placed.
So it is a bit rain proof.
I then had some beetroot seedlings I wanted to plant out in one of my planter boxes.
Birds love my beds as they have lots of worms in them and when I normally
plant seeds or seedlings I have to use crop cover till the plants are well established.
Silverbeet and beetroot leaves are also a gourmet food for the birds and young seedlings get stripped and completely eaten. My first sprout crop of beetroot seed was looking great and next day, all gone.
So I went to a $2 shop where I found some smaller old fashion wooden clothes pegs called Dolly Pegs. I put then into the area with the just planted seedlings, pushing the pegs part way into the soil leaving 40mm above the soil which I then brushed some gel onto the heads of the pegs. Result...No Bird Damage.
I also placed some gel onto the entrance way into my glasshouse and on the stakes supporting my tomato plants which birds had up to then enjoyed a few nice ripe tomatoes. No further damage. All that was done with one lid. Most effective on bigger birds like black birds, starlings and pigeons, not so effective on smaller birds like sparrows, wax eyes and fantails. I suspect it could be a way to stop the pestie Pukeko but it is a proximity affect so needs to be very close to the thing you are protecting. On ledges of building where they are used the lids of gel are place 20 to 25cm apart for maximum effect.
The product is only available by mail order.
SDS sheet is available by request. Stocks are limited till another shipment arrives from overseas so at this time there is a limit of one lid per order/ customer and best to add it to our other gardening products you need to restock at this time. Otherwise the shipping is more expensive than the product on its own.
I would like to hear back from those that try this product what results they have found from using it.
Only available by Mail Order at https://0800466464.co.nz/product-category/controls-flies-birds-vermin-ants/
Marlborough Art Gallery Director
Thursday 06 February
NOTE: Public Holiday so regular events may not be on
Brayshaw Park Heritage Open Day: 10am-4pm. Bouncy castle, music, buskers, horses, fire engines and the Riverside Railway will be running ½ hourly train departures from Brayshaw Park Station to Omaka & Beaver Stations from 10.30am to 3pm. Food and drinks available. Lots to see for the whole family.
Marlborough Museum:
11am-3pm. Adults $10, children free. The Museum celebrates an inspiring collection of items which tell the story of Marlborough and its people.
Picton Poets:
4th Thursday of the month, 10.30-11.30am, Picton Library, all welcome. Phone Lyn 021 129 4342. Keep U Moving:
Gentle indoor walking exercise for seniors. 11.30am12.30pm $3.00. St Christopher’s Church Hall, 92 Weld St. Ph 0273852333 or donna@stchristophers.co.nz Older Persons Seminar.
Every 4th Thursday of each month. $6.00. Contact Donna 027 385 2333 or donna@stchristophers.co.nz: (Next seminar 27th February).
Table Tennis Summer Season:
Blenheim Indoor Sports Centre run a table tennis session every Thursday, 6.30pm - 8.30pm, $6 per person to be paid at front desk.
Social Badminton Club:
9am-11.30: Thursday mornings. Simcox Stadium, Battys Road. $6. All adults welcome. For more details phone Cathy 021 503 348.
Ulysses Retreads Group:
11am: Meet Brayshaw Park Thursdays. Ride to various destinations for lunch. Bring your laughing gear, a thermal to wear and a story to share.
Library Book Club:
6.30pm-8pm: Marlborough District Library. We meet on the last Thursday of the month. Simply bring a book to recommend to other members, and enjoy listening to other member’s (including librarians) book picks. Picton Library Book Club:
6.30pm-8pm: Picton Library and Service Centre. Join us in meeting new people and chatting about books. We meet on the first Thursday of each month. To register please email pictonlibrary@marlborough.govt.nz.
Knit and Natter:
At the Marlborough Library from 10am. Come along and join the friendly group of social knitters upstairs in the library each Thursday morning. Bring along your knitting project and/or get inspiration from other knitters. No need to register, just turn up on the day. (Closed 06 Feb)
Marlborough Camera Club:
Meetings on 2nd Thursday of the month at St Mary’s Community Centre, Maxwell Rd at 7pm. Workshops are held on the 4th Thursday of the month. Everybody with an interest in photography welcome. www.marlboroughcameraclub.org.nz email tmcclub.nz@gmail.com
PENCIL PALS:
Meets at the Senior Citizens Hall, High Street every Thursday (starting from 12 February) 1.00 to 3.00pm. Come and join Sydney and Issie to practice your drawing skills and enjoy the company of like-minded people. Sydney 0211568398; Issie 0204668008.
Friday 07 February
Blenheim CBD Summer Market, 9am-5pm: A wonderful selection of approx. 80 new and old favourite stalls showcasing their products, alongside some great entertainment, delicious savoury food, coffee, desert & ice-cream carts.
Blenheim Family History Group in PICTON: 1.30-3.30pm. Need help with your family history research, come to the Picton Library and meet members of the Blenheim Family History Group. Contact Helen 0210390106. Next meeting 14 Feb and every fortnight. Vintage Farm Machinery: Open daily, 10am to 3pm, Brayshaw Vintage Farm. Phone John 577 7442. Friday Night Disco:
Blenheim Skating Rink, 34 Stephenson St 5pm – 8pm. A fun event for the whole family. Skating for all ages and abilities. Helmets Compulsory. Hire Skates $5 Own
8am-12 noon, Cleghorn St. supporting Marlborough Food Bank. Variety of stalls. Something for everyone. For more details contact Alison 0274434062.
Pop Up Shop:
9am-2pm, Red Cross Rooms, 33 Redwood Street. The Marlborough Branch of New Zealand Red Cross are fundraising to help assist vulnerable persons in our community by holding a garage sale. Bric a brac, clothing, home decor, art work, household items and so much more! BBQ Sausage sizzle. Cash only sales.
Marlborough Quilters meeting:
Every 2nd Saturday of the month at Marlborough Vintage and Farm Machinery, Brayshaw Park. 10am - 4pm. Join us to learn quilting or bring your own projects. Sewing Machines available. Newcomers welcome. Liz 0212067382
Blenheim Chess Club:
Meets at Table Top Café, Scott Street, every Saturday 10am – 1pm. All welcome.
Ulysses Club:
Every Saturday, Coffee at The Runway Café, 10am. Depart The Runway at 10.30am.
The Blenheim Rotary Club Boot Sale Market:
Every Saturday Morning from 8am till 12 Midday, held in the Blenheim Railway Station Car Park.
Marlborough Artesian Craft Market: Cnr Market Street & High Street, 9:00am - 2:00pm. Stallholders include local artisans both casual and regular attendees as well as visitors from around the country. Entertainment area for kids.
Sunday 09 February
Marlborough Vintage Car Club: Wed & Sun 1:30-3:30pm, Brayshaw Park, Arthur Baker Pl, Blenheim. Other times by arrangement. Ph Bill 0275784322. Donation appreciated. New Members welcome.
Marlborough Museum: 11am-3pm. Adults $10, children free. The Museum celebrates an inspiring collection of items which tell the story of Marlborough and its people.
Marlborough Farmers’ Market: 9am-noon. Marlborough A&P Showgrounds. Fresh produce from your local farmers. Tasty line up of fresh and seasonal, gourmet and artisan produce and products that this region has to offer.
Picton Rail and Sail: On the Foreshore - mini train rides and mini yacht hire to sail on our pond every Sunday 11am-3pm, operating every day during school holidays. Only 20 cents per ride/yacht hire!
Blenheim Bonsai Group:
Islington Gardens, Rowberry Road on the 2nd Sunday of the month 1pm-3.30pm.
Marlborough Tennis Club:
3pm to 5pm, Parker Street. Every Sunday - Social Tennis. Non Members $2. All welcome. Contact number is 027 578 6436.
Ulysses Social Ride: Sunday rides are now by WhatsApp under Marlborough Ulysses lets ride. All rides are weather dependent.
Lego Club:
Picton Library@ 1-4pm. Marlborough Library @10am4pm, Come along each Sunday afternoon to build a Lego kit in the Library. Each week there is an assortment of kits to choose from to build in a designated area. Everyone is welcome to have a go. This free activity is great fun for the whole family!
Monday 10 February 2025
Target Rifle Shooting: Summer shooting at Athletic Park range, visitors welcome, all gear provided. Riverside Club 1st and 3rd Mondays of month, 7:30pm, cost $10, contact 021667746. Blenheim Club 2nd and 4th Mondays of month, 7:30pm, cost $10, contact 02102464417.
Table Tennis Summer Season:
Tua Marina Table Tennis, every Monday at the Tua Marina Hall, Tua Marina 6.00pm - 8.00pm $5 per person. Contact Janice 027 422 9095
NOT TO BE MISSED: Brayshaw Park Heritage Open Day, Thursday 6th February from 10am - 4pm. The train will be running and there will be heaps of entertainment, refreshments, and attractions.
Marlborough Stamp Collectors Club:
34 Arthur Baker Pace. Phone 021 157 3496 for more information.
Rotary Clubs in Blenheim:
Monday & Tuesday evenings at 5.30pm. Rotary is a world-wide service club for men and women – doing great things in your community. For further details phone Kevin on 0211 738 784.
Blenheim Scottish Country Dance Club:
Every Monday at 7.00pm at St Andrews Church Hall, Corner Alfred and Henry Street, Blenheim. Come and try it! You don’t need a partner. For information ring Heather 02102587325.
Blenheim Badminton Club:
Every Monday: Juniors 5.30-7pm, seniors 7-9pm, St Mary’s Hall, corner Francis and Hudson Streets. Anna or Mike, email blenheimshuttlers@gmail.com.
Whitehead Park Bowling Club, Redwoodtown:
Every Monday afternoon from 12.30pm to 3pm. All welcome. Contact Mike 572 4013 or John 577 5295.
Beginners Line Dancing:
Senior Citizen Hall, 172 High Street, 2:00-3:00pm & 6.00-7.00pm.Come along and enjoy the music, making new friend, having fun and learning to dance. You don’t need a partner. All welcome men, women and children over 12. The first lesson is free for new beginner’s then $7 per class after that. For more information Phone Judith 03-5787554 or 0212341095
Tuesday 11 February
Marlborough Museum: 11am-3pm. Adults $10, children free. The Museum celebrates an inspiring collection of items which tell the story of Marlborough and its people. Steady As You Go (SAYGO) Gentle Exercise/Balance Class for Seniors. 11.30am12.30pm, $3.00. St Christopher’s Church Hall, 92 Weld St. Ph 0273852333 donna@stchristophers.co.nz. Toastmasters Club: In Blenheim meets 6.30pm every second Tuesday. Friendly group encourage shy people how to give a speech, how to tell stories, how to make business presentations etc. Ideal for young people entering the workforce. Older adults are welcome to share their experiences. No charge for guests. Contact: Vivienne 021 0544003.
Picton Line Dance Group who meet on a Tuesday 10am till 11.30am at the Anglican Church Hall in Picton, restarting on Tuesday 28th January.
Marlborough Tennis Club: Parker Street. Every Tuesday 8.30am to 12 Noon, Social Tennis. Morning Tea at 10am. Non Members $5. All Welcome. Contact number is 0275786436.
Lions Club of Havelock : Providing community service in the Pelorus area. Meeting every 3rd Tuesday at Havelock Hotel. Inquiries to Ian Cameron phone 574 2558 Knitters and Spinners
Picton Library and Service Centre from 10.30. Bring your morning tea along and current project to work on. Share your ideas, skills or simply enjoy time with fellow creators. There’s no need to book a spot, simply turn up on the day.
Wednesday 12 February
Death Cafe:
Lifting the taboo: share what is on your mind and heart about death and dying in a safe and open environment. Meet at 7.00 - 8.15pm, at Speights Ale House (separate alcove). For all ages. More info on deathcafe.com or call Joss 035794771
Stretch & Breathe: Gentle strength/balance class for seniors. 10-11am, $3.00. St Christopher’s Church Hall, 92 Weld St, Ph 0273852333 donna@stchristophers.co.nz. Lions’ Club of Blenheim: Like to know more about the Lion’s Club? Meet on the1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. For more details Contact Delphine Lee 029 942 5004.
Picton Mahjong: Marina Cove Club Room, 53 Waikawa Road, Picton at 1pm. Phone Adrianne 02102591639 or Kaye 0211312331 for more information.
Whitehead Park Bowling Club, Redwoodtown: 9.30am to 12noon. Mixed roll – ups, all welcome, contact Bob 577 9436. Summer timetable starts October. Blenheim Rock N Roll Club Nights: 7.30-9.30pm: Top of the South Rock n Roll Club, club nights at the Blenheim Bowling Club, bring comfy shoes and water. Great music, have fun and exercise at the same time. Phone Erin 0272341709.
Picton Line Dancing 10 - 11.30am. Anglican Church Hall $7 per class. Beginners welcome. Phone Carol 0212125252 or Raewyn 021715484.
Sunday 16 February 2025:
Marlborough Lines Generation Museum Open Afternoon: 2 - 4pm. Marlborough Lines is excited to open the doors of our Generation Museum with the rare Paxman engine operating at 3pm. This special 68-tonne, 94-year-old diesel engine was first installed in 1930 for back-up power and remains the only one of its kind still operable. This FREE event will be held at the corner of Thomsons Ford and Old Renwick Roads, with parking available on Thomsons Ford Road. Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you there.
14-16 February 2025:
Marlborough Quilters Exhibition 2025 is on at Stadium 2000, Kinross St Blenheim. 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. $5 pp entry. Over 100 quilts on display, quilting demonstrations and 9 vendors to please all sewers in our merchants mall.
Decision pending on Waitaria Bay jetty
Marlborough District Councillors will await the outcome of geotechnical investigations to decide whether the Waitaria Bay jetty in Kenepuru Sound can be safely rebuilt on the same site.
The jetty was damaged during the August 2022 storm as it sits within a landslide which lifted the section closest to land and shunted the seaward portion of the jetty forward.
Marlborough Roads Transport Recovery Manager Steve Murrin told councillors at last Tuesday’s Assets and Services Committee meeting that it was important to get a report from WSP before making any further decisions to ensure the site and a replacement jetty was resilient for the future.
“WSP have already carried out a detailed structural inspection of the existing jetty, this has determined the jetty is unsafe in its current state and it has been closed. Before a replacement jetty can be constructed, further work needs to be done to ensure a jetty can be built at this site that is resilient to further land movement,”
Steve says.
“There are also some concerns around siltation in the bay as at low tide it’s a struggle to get boats into the jetty. WSP are undertaking a seabed survey to determine the length of a new jetty. If it needs to be longer than the existing one, additional funding will be needed,” he says.
The replacement cost for a like for like jetty is estimated at around $650,000. “With the insurance settlement for the damage and carry overs in Council’s total Jetties Maintenance budget we can progress a replacement,” Steve says.
An option was put to the committee to do some temporary repairs to the jetty to allow it to be reopened to the public at a cost of $40,000. “Council’s total Jetties Maintenance budget currently sits at $57,500, so it won’t leave a lot in our budget for damage or repairs to any other jetties,” Mr Murrin said. Councillors opted to wait for the outcome of the WSP report before committing to any funding as the existing jetty will need to be demolished prior to
construction of any new one.
A resource consent is already underway for a replacement with submissions currently being worked through. Once the geotechnical investigations have been completed a decision will be made on the jetty location and a programme for the replacement will be confirmed.
The Waitaria Bay jetty was closed to the public on 16 January after a routine inspection found
We’re on the countdown to our major biennial event, Relay for Life being held on 22nd and 23rd of March, at Lansdowne Park.
We host this event every second year as the primary fundraiser for our community-based services.
This unique 18-hour community event provides a special forum to celebrate survivorship, remember those lost to cancer and to fight back by raising funds and awareness for local services and initiatives.
some of the structural components in the jetty had deteriorated significantly since its last inspection in mid-2023. At the time the damage occurred, some emergency maintenance was undertaken to reopen it, with a load restriction of five people at a time on the jetty imposed.
The closest jetty recommended for residents and visitors to use is at Fish Bay, around 3.5km or a 10-minute drive away.
2025 Grape Harvest Tractor & Harvester Drivers
We’re thankful to all participants, supporters, sponsors, volunteers and our committee for months of planning and work to bring this special occasion to Marlborough.
Visit the Relay for Life website https:// relayforlife.org.nz/marlborough for information - early bird registration closes 9th February.
If you would like to register for the Survivors and Carers celebration, please contact Dallace at dallacel@ cancersoc.org.nz. Members of the public are welcome to attend and support the teams on the track.
Ngā mihi nui,
The Cancer Society Marlborough team.
Check
our website www.vintageharvesters.co.nz or
click
link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u97NGyMJcyU
Situations Vacant
Situations Vacant
Waitaria Bay jetty at low tide
URGENT services
Urgent Care Centre: Wairau Hospital Grounds. Entry off Hospital Rd, Blenheim, 8am-8pm daily. Phone (03) 520 6377. Ambulance: Urgent 111. Non urgent 578 0797.
Community Care Pharmacy: Within the Blenheim Warehouse, open 7 days 9am8pm. Only closed Christmas Day. Lifeline Marlborough: 0800 543354, 24hr helpline.
Women’s Refuge and Sexual Violence Support Centre Marlborough: Crisis line number phone 0800 refuge or 03 5779939.
Victim Support: 0800 VICTIM (0800 842 846)
Alcoholics Anonymous: 0800 AA WORKS - 0800 229 6757.
Wairau Hospital: Hospital Visiting Hours: Daily 2.30pm - 8pm, children under 12 may visit parents only.
Maternity Ward: 10am-noon, 4pm-7pm.
Children's Ward: Daily 10am-8pm. Visiting at all times is subject to the discretion of the nurse in charge of the ward. Emergency Dentist: Contact Wairau Hospital 5209999.
Picton:
Ambulance: Urgent 111. Non-urgent 579 4870.
Chemist: Picton Healthcare Pharmacy. Ph 573 6420 Mon -Fri 8.30-5.30pm, Sat 9-2pm. Medical Centre Pharmacy, Ph 928 4265, Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm
Whitney) and the lowest point (Death Valley) in
Death notices
BROWN Pamela (née Weston):
On Tuesday December 10, 2024, peacefully at Hospice Marlborough. In her 97th year. Cherished wife of the late Fred, mother of Kevin, the late Gary, and Jill. Mother-in-law of Dagmar and Greg. Cherished Nanny of Roman, the late Anya, Devon, Taylor and Callum. Great Nanny of Hunter and Zoe. Sister and sister-in-law of Derek and Kay Weston, Jackie and the late Athol Smart, and the late Lola and Bob Jurgensen (USA). A loved aunty to the late Karen Weston; Michelle Weston and nieces and nephews in USA, Kit Lethby and nieces and nephews in UK and Australia. Also loved by many of her friends at St Christopher’s Church and the Redwoodtown/Blenheim community. A memorial service to celebrate Pam’s long and joyful life will be held St Christopher’s Anglican Church, Weld Street, at 1.00pm on Monday, February 10. Messages may be sent to 67A Cleghorn Street, Blenheim 7201 and in lieu of flowers a donation to Hospice Marlborough would be appreciated and may be made online to 03-1369-0365207-00 Ref. BROWN
Passed away on 23rd January 2025, aged 93, at Ashwood Retirement Village. Wife of the late Nick Davies. She was a loving Mother and Mother-in-Law to Craig and Di, Coral and Shane, Arron and Jenny. Beloved Grandmother to Jade Davies and Tiffany McLeod. Great Grandmother to Jordan, Taylah, Mela, Eva, Cooper and Mackenzie. She will be sadly missed by all. At peace now. Messages can be sent to 1/22 Lane Street, Blenheim 7201 or www.cloudybayfunerals. co.nz A private cremation has taken place.
DRuMMOND, Colin James 11/12/2024 The Drummond and Cassie Families would like to express their sincere gratitude to all who attended Colin’s funeral and/or extended messages of support and condolences. The numbers that attended the funeral in Colin’s paradise at Erewhon Station were truly humbling. We live in an amazing community. The phone calls, texts, emails, letters, cards, flowers, food and farm help, all have meant so much to family, enduring the shock of losing Colin so quickly to such an aggressive cancer. Thank you to the doctors and especially the nurses of Ward I at the Ashburton Hospital who cared for Colin so well during his last few days. Thank you also to both Jo Metcalf of “Memory Funerals” and Phil Hooper for facilitating such a fitting final farewell for Colin. For a terrible day this occasion was 10 out of 10 for execution and a celebration of a life well lived. We take strength into each day with Colin’s mantra “Its better to burn out than rust out as life’s no dress rehearsal”. Please accept this as a personal thank you to you all. Colin has been farewelled - but he is forever in the mountains giving courage to those keeping his legacy alive.
Community notices
Scottish Country Dancing
Intro course starting Monday 10th February 7pm-8.30pm St Andrews Church Hall, corner Henry and Alfred Street, Blenheim. Cost $40 for 6 weeks. Contact Heather 02102587325 or Linda 0221656699
Share your community events!
STAGG: Dorothy (Dot) Freda (née Morgan) 15.3.1948 - 29.01.2025 Dot passed away peacefully after a short illness. Dearly loved wife of the late Kevin. Loved mother and mother-in-law of Denise and Don French, Clinton and Kellie, loved Nana of Bradley, Morgan & Michael; Ryan & Ella and Gemma. Loved companion to Izzy the dog. A heartfelt thanks to Wairau Hospital ED, the inpatient unit, and hospice staff. Messages to the Stagg Family, 123A Weld Street, Blenheim 7201 or www.cloudybayfunerals. co.nz In accordance with Dot’s wishes, a private funeral has been held.
In
CLOSING AUCTION - SOS CAFE AND COFFEE 11am SUNDAY, 9th February 2025 (viewing from 9am) 42 Rutherford St, Nelson Starline dishwasher, s/s benches, cooler, waste compactors, ovens, 2 x Lamarzocco coffee machines, furniture, grinders, display cases etc. Photos/Info: www.jwauctions. co.nz Auction Price + GST Cash -EFTPOSVISA - Mastercard John Walker, Auctioneer 027 443 2525
HOUSECLE aNER available, 5 star references. Blenheim 0274272189.
P ENN y L a NE Records always buying records. Excellent prices paid. 430 Colombo Street, Sydenham, Chch. 366 3278 Open 7 days.
a Flying Nun records and tapes wanted. Will pay Pin Group Coat $1000, Six Impossible Things $700, Surburban Reptiles Sat Night $1600. Anything by 25 cents, Gordons, Builders, Clean, Mainly Spaniards, Playthings, Toy Love or any other Flying Nun and 80s alternative punk bands. Dave 021 222 6144 Pennylane Records, Sydenham, Chch, 7 days.
2-3 bedroom house. Semi rural ok. Mature professional man. Excellent references 15 years in current location 021572901
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The Annual General Meeting of the Marlborough Multiple Sclerosis Society & Parkinson’s Group will be held in the Meeting Room, Community Centre, 25 Alfred Street, Blenheim on Tuesday 4 March 2025 at 4pm. All members and interested individuals are welcome to attend. Please forward any items you wish to be discussed at the AGM to the Secretary, no later than 5pm on 26 February 2025 at mmss@ xtra.co.nz
DAVIES: Thirza
Taylor takes out Auckland Challenge
By Chris Valli
Remember Blenheim’s Taylor Costello, who at nine years young, took out the 2024 Silver Fern Farms Kartsport South Island Sprint Champs?
Taylor is back on the track in 2025 and recently competed in Round One (of five rounds) of the Kartsport New Zealand Kartstars Series, the Auckland City of Sails Challenge. Taylor qualified P5 out of 13 and was the overall winner for the event in the final.
The event was a qualifying session to determine his grid position for the three heat races with the combination of results of the pre final and the heats determining grid position for the final.
Leading into the Round One event, Taylor hadn’t raced on the Auckland track for over 12 months since his first time there racing in the City of Sails Challenge in 2024.
In the 2024 event he was taken out by another kart in the first lap of the final race. He had his tyre punctured so went away with not a great experience from his first ever event up North. This year he wanted to have another good crack at it and hopefully not suffer the same fate as last year.
The Auckland City of Sails Challenge is one of the toughest events on the New Zealand karting calendar to compete in and the result underlies the achievement for Taylor, being
his first win in the North Island and a great way to start his 2025 season and the National Series campaign.
Tasman Karts team owner Brendon Gridley was extremely impressed with Taylors focus, discipline and determination through the weekend. “For a nine year old these sorts of character traits are very rare. He is a great representative in our team, Taylor has a big future ahead of him and we are proud to be part of his motorsport journey.”
Meanwhile, Jimmy McLaren, Taylor’s Australian based driver development coach
and data analyst, made the trip across the ditch to work with the Tasman Karts team in Auckland. “Taylor’s growth and development from when I first started working with him mid 2024 is a testament to his ability to listen, learn, adapt and apply everything we work on with him. I am excited to be working with Taylor again in 2025 for a big season in NZ. We have some exciting International racing opportunities lined up for him also for 2026.”
The next round is the start of March, with the NZ Karting Grand Prix being held in Hamilton.
Photography.
South Island Dragon Boat regatta
By Chris Valli
The tranquility and picturesque qualities of Picton came to the fore at the recent Picton 10’s Dragon Boat Racing Beach Race Regatta.
Held on Sunday, January 26, South Island based dragon boat teams battled it out on the waters of Picton’s Shelley Beach. Simply the Breast in conjunction with the Aoraki Dragon Boat Association hosted the inaugural event, the Picton 10’s Beach Race Regatta.
Dragon boating is a team sport where paddler’s race in boats decorated with dragon heads and tails. It originated in China over 2,000 years ago and is now a popular water sport around the world. Christchurch based, Amazon Hearts, started as a sister team to “A Breast of Life” (ABOL) friends and family coming together to not only enjoy and participate in dragon boating but also to support breast cancer survivors.
A few of their team members have supported ABOL at their International
Breast Cancer Paddling Committee (IBCPC) events in Florence 2018 and Lake Karapiro 2023.
Dragon boating is still considered a minor sport in New Zealand, with about 2500 paddlers, but is growing in popularity among people from every walk of life, attracted by its combination of physical fitness, mental wellbeing and community spirit.
The Picton event illustrated the accessibility of the event which was enjoyable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
BEATING THE DRUM: Lynnette Edwards of Pegasus Dragons listens to instructions from the crew.
Blenheim’s Kartsport driver Taylor Costello competed in Round One (of five rounds) of the Kartsport New Zealand Kartstars Series, the Auckland City of Sails Challenge recently. Taylor qualified P5 out of 13 and was the overall winner for the event in the final.
Photo: Bella Tahu
Christchurch based team, the Amazon Hearts with eyes on the prize.
Local crew, Simply the Breast demonstrate their collective mahi. Pictured is Mary Adams on drum and Dana Goodwin as sweep. Photos: Anne Gaelle Photography.
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