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By Chris Valli
Blenheim hosted a rare visitor on Friday afternoon with keen enthusiasts taking the opportunity at Blenheim Toyota to see the oldest sporting trophy in the world, the America’s Cup.
The cup was on a 19-day, New Zealand Tour with over 50 stops, organised by Emirates New Zealand, Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
RNZYS vice-commodore David Blakey says the cup will be making the journey to Catalonia in Barcelona, in the first week of October for the 37th America’s Cup. Fellow RNZYS cup custodian and operations manager Cooper Hopman, with white gloves to boot, was given the task of ‘looking after the auld mug’, affectionately termed by the wider sailing community.
“It’s his job to take it over there and bring it back, he can’t leave it out of his sight,” he says. “He’s got special gloves, nobody else can touch it.”
“The only people who can touch it with their bare hands are the people who have won it,” adds RNZYS media and content spokesperson Suellen
Hurling.
Locals got a close up look at the silverware and signed a “sail of support”, which would be delivered to the team in Barcelona. They could also post letters to them using a mailbox constructed from the top of an AC40 mast.
Tour organisers had been sharing videos with the team, which had also been seeing every social media post they had been tagged in.
David says he had really enjoyed the South Island league of the tour with Top of the South visits to Waikawa Boating Club, Blenheim Toyota, Picton School and the Queen Charlotte Yacht Club.
“Wherever you go, everyone has their own America’s Cup story, where they have watched races or known someone in the team,” he says. “We have met parents of current team members.
Hamish Bond’s Mum and Dad turned up to get their own picture taken in Dunedin, which is really cool.”
“Being out and about in the community and seeing the joy on people’s faces has been awesome.”
The America’s Cup is the oldest international sporting trophy – dating back to 1851 – and stands as one of
Blenheim Toyota’s Scott McDermid and his team got an up close opportunity with the America’s Cup on Friday as part of a 19-day, New Zealand Tour with over 50 stops, organised by Emirates New Zealand, Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
the hardest sporting endeavours.
The New York Yacht Club held the trophy for 132 years before losing it in 1983 to Australia.
Since then, the Cup has been won by teams from the United States, Switzerland and New Zealand. The current defender of the America’s Cup is Emirates Team New Zealand.
By Chris Valli
There was unconditional aroha and hope at Seymour Square on Saturday morning with the annual Hopewalk Blenheim, the suicide awareness and prevention movement.
In July 2023, leading youth suicide prevention academic Dr Chris Bowden was in Marlborough with a series of talks and says postvention, or post-suicide intervention, is highly valuable for bereaved communities.
Postvention programmes are the norm in some countries but not in New Zealand, where a reduced number of professionals struggle to support children and young people.
Bowden says the lack of mental health workers and support services for youth was affecting people in all parts of the country, but particularly so in rural areas.
“Marlborough, like many other rural communities, has had this issue for some time,” he says.
Guest speaker, actor Rob Mokaraka, was nearly one of the statistics. Rob shared his own kaupapa with the Marlborough community on Saturday with messages of hope and being the hero ‘your younger self needed’
In late July, 2009, Rob, dealing with years of depression and on a suicidal mission, called the police on himself. He told them someone had broken into his house, described his own build, and when the police showed up, ran onto the street armed with a meat cleaver and a ladle wrapped in a teatowel,
Hopewalk Blenheim guest speaker, actor Rob Mokaraka shared his own kaupapa with the Marlborough community on Saturday with messages of hope and being the hero ‘your younger self needed’
and stepped towards them.
He was shot in his chest. The bullet just missed crucial organs, leaving him alive and gasping for breath and forgiveness in the middle of his quiet, residential street.
Fiftteen years later, the scars from surgery to remove the bullet are still clear but Mokaraka’s journey of healing has been just as long, as explored in his one-man play, Shot Bro: Confessions of a Depressed Bullet.
After every performance, Mokaraka leads a panel discussion about mental health and depression. It’s a raw conversation, and people are encouraged to open
up as they feel comfortable. The reactions are different with every group he visits, but he says he continues to be moved by those who use their strength to stand up in front of the crowd and speak their pain.
Blenheim Hopewalk organiser Bary Neal, who lost his own son Matt to suicide in 2016, says this year’s event was slightly up on the last walk with estimates around 450 -500 taking part in the walk along the Taylor River.
Bary says there is a definite shift in people’s vulnerability and aroha.
“Most stayed for the kai and the talk from Rob and the singers
whereas in the past walks, many have left after the walk. There was a much more relaxed, comfortable atmosphere with more people opening up and talking than in previous years,” says Bary.
“Many said they felt comfortable enough to talk to people, that they felt included and that is the best response we have had from the public after any of the walks we have done. I think people are starting to realise opening up and talking is not as bad as they once feared and a quicker way to starting to heal, whether it be someone suffering and in a dark place or someone suffering after losing a loved one.”
Crop Swap
Saturday 21st September, 2:004:00pm, Crossroads - 2 Redwood Street. $2 koha to our hosts. Sharing abundance from our gardens: Fruit, vegetables, preserves, relishes, jams, herbs, recipes, eggs, flowers, seedlings, baking. Giving generously and mindfully taking. Further details 027 372 2897
The Nelson-Marlborough Truck Modellers Club 2024 Scale Model Expo is being held on the weekend of Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September from 10am both days. Redwoodtown Hall at Oliver Park. Admission is $5, free for under 12s.
A self-guided tour to discover local arts, crafts and collections. Showcasing the work of 51 fine artists throughout Marlborough. Saturday and Sunday 21st and 22nd September. Tickets are $25 and available from Marlborough Alzheimers Centre, Fidelio Gallery & Wine Bar, Marlborough Art Gallery in Te Kahu o Waipuna (Library Building).
Boot Sale Market
The Blenheim Rotary Boot Sale Market is on every Saturday 8am – 12pm at the Blenheim Railway Station Carpark. Everyone welcome. No booking required, just turn up and choose a site. $5 per site. No sales of alcohol, guns, gin traps or children!
By Chris Valli
Mike Pilkington’s Kilworth Place home resembles a Te Papa Museum of all things war modelling and by golly, it’s impressive. 50 plus years of creative modelling is testimony to the passion and skillset the 64-year-old possesses.
Mike has been with the Nelson-Marlborough Modellers Club for seven years after moving back to New Zealand and Marlborough from Wales.
“I was looking for a model club and found these guys – they are a good bunch,” he says.
Mike grew up in Otara, south Auckland and says his father was a ‘model railway nut’ and learnt a great deal from him.
“I was building kits as a kid and the stuff he wasn’t using I would turn them into dioramas (replica of a scene) and stick them on his lap and it progressed from there,” he recalls. “I don’t like just
building a kitset and sitting it on a shelf, I like to try and tell a story and bring them to life.”
After joining the army in 1978, military models have been ‘his thing’ ever since.
“I’ve got a fascination for helicopters, I love them. Our theme for the show this year is the Vietnam War (1955 – 1975) and helicopters. I grew up with that war and the people who trained me in the army went to Vietnam.”
Mike sources his modelling kits online from ‘Mini Kiwi Land’ and www. bnamodelworld.com
A spare room has a surplus of models depicting early Germany and Vietnam – indeed telling stories across various dioramas. One diorama has German soldiers and the placement of a cable cart and Coca-Cola brand depicting the era. The supply of regular Coca-Cola in Germany ran out in 1942, having been reserved primarily to wounded soldiers in hospitals.
Meanwhile, the kitchen – ‘where characters come to life’ - is converted into modelling space/paraphernalia and demonstrates the commitment of Mike’s
passion, who says he additionally loves being outside in the environment and connecting with nature.
Inspiration from the 2014 American film Fury, which stars Brad Pitt, is another example of Mike’s creativity, where the narrative looked at members of an American tank crew fighting in Nazi Germany during the final weeks of World War 2.
“I have different ideas bouncing around in my old noodle,” he reflects. “Bringing characters to life is about preserving history in miniature. There were so many aspects of war. I love it when I get to the painting and the scenery stage of the model and bringing it to life.”
The Nelson/Marlborough Modellers Club meets once a month with a wide skill set of club members, such as longtime member Warren Piesse who builds New Zealand transport company trucks and started building back in 1976. Others build military and wooden toys. This year’s model expo is the 45th and is on Saturday (10am – 4pm) and Sunday (10am – 3pm), September 28 and 29 at the Redwoodtown Hall, Oliver Park.
By Chris Valli
Liam Gee from Blenheim’s Drummond & Etheridge was recognised at the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards held in Brisbane last week.
Liam took out the New Zealand trophy in the Construction and Forestry Technician category in the fourth year of the awards. No two days are the same for Liam working at the Blenheim dealership.
“One day I’ll be in the workshop carrying out repairs, the next I’ll be two hours away in the middle of a forest repairing a machine,” he says. “My job takes me to some really cool locations, and I get to work on the great product that John Deere produces.”
Mainly specialising in forestry equipment, Liam grew up around machinery and always had a keen interest in figuring out how things worked.
Liam approached the Service Manager in Blenheim about the chance to undertake work experience after he finished school. That developed into an apprenticeship, and six years later, Liam is now the leading Construction & Forestry Technician in the country.
New Zealand Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year winner, Liam Gee from Drummond & Etheridge, Blenheim.
“The Tech Awards have been great, I’ve met some cool people and learned new things as well,” he says. “The ultimate goal is to take out the title, so I’m stoked.”
John Deere Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Luke Chandler, acknowledged the value Liam
bought to their local communities.
“Liam represents the best of the best in customer service, technical proficiency and problem solving skills, and thoroughly deserves his award,” Luke says.
Established in 2021, the prestigious awards champion the
important contribution John Deere technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries, and honour the outstanding service and support highly skilled and committed techs make to the lives and businesses of John Deere’s customers.
A non-partisan community-based group, called The Future is Rail/Save our Trains is hosting two important community meetings to discuss the future of rail and ferry services in Marlborough.
“The South Island’s whole rail network is at risk if the government doesn’t invest in rail-capable ferries,” says spokesperson, Dr Paul Callister. “The issue is particularly significant to Marlborough. The community needs a voice in such critical decisions and we encourage people to participate in discussions about the future of rail in Marlborough, the South Island, and beyond.”
Dr. Callister says that the Interislander rail ferry is akin to a state highway and should remain in public ownership. “The potential abandonment of rail-capable ferries jeopardises long-term connectivity and potentially compromises affordability and accessibility. That’s not good for communities, and it’s not good for our economy.”
Dr. Callister says that the possible loss of rail-capable ferries will mean more trucks on the roads. “More trucks on the roads means more potholes, more pollution, and more stressful and dangerous driving for locals. A resilient transport network relies on a well-funded national rail network, including fit-for-purpose ferries.”
The Blenheim meeting is on Saturday, September 21, 11am at the Nativity Anglican Hall, 76 Alfred St. The Picton meeting is the same day, 3pm at the Picton Anglican Hall, 19 Wairau Road, Picton.
Shameless – a superb blend of drama and comedy and behaviour. The characters are brilliant.
Has to be Game of Thrones. From an artist’s perspective, I appreciate its complex and symbolic design – an intricate mechanical map of the world which visually evolves.
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.
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Agent 99, Get Smart, it’s so catchy and you immediately are drawn in.
It will be nostalgic as I don’t watch a lot of TV shows these days. I feel it’s the Simpsons. As a kid you would wait as to what theme the family would be introduced on the couch.
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.
Dear Ed,
I’m happy to see in Wally Richards’ 11 September response to my letter of 21 August, that he is no longer telling us that the World Economic Forum is working to destroy world agriculture. But he now writes there may still be famine due to low CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere and hazy skies. Really? Atmospheric carbon dioxide is at the highest it’s been in 20 million years!
I agree with his conclusion about possible famine but for an entirely different reason; that is increasingly wild weather due to global warming. Planetary carbon dioxide and methane emissions continue to rise, as does the concentration of these gases in our atmosphere. Our planet is rapidly warming in response, so we can expect more catastrophic flooding, heatwaves, wildfires and drought, which will all negatively impact food production.
I like Wally’s suggestion that we grow our own food. We may have to.
Tom Powell
21 Jump Street. One of the cast sang it and I loved how it ended with the lads shooting finger guns at the sky. Of course, Jonny Depp was baby-faced hotness.
It’s excellent the Marlborough Girls College year 12 students are examining the status of blue cod in the Marlborough Sounds. There were however a number of inaccuracies, likely due to poor advice. For example they referred to “strict limits on the commercial catch” but wrongly inferred that recreational fishers have a “combined daily bag limit of 20 for fin-fish.” The reality is recreational fishers are very strictly limited by a daily bag limit of just two cod per person and nearly four months closure. It was also stated cod “do not stray far”, again poor advice. Tagging has shown blue cod can move surprisingly long distances, a number being caught well beyond the Sounds
Chuck has to be my all-time favourite because of the music. I think it’s the bass line with the cool graphic style – such a good vibe. “Bahhhh-ba-dada-dap, bada-da-da-dah-dah...”
and even the West Coast. Seasonal migrations can occur such as the big males moving from the Sounds out into Cook Strait and according to experienced commercial fishers, breeding sized cod moving down towards Cape Campbell to spawn. In 17 years of cod bans, strict controls etc, there’s no research on when and where cod spawn.
MRFA is very willing to provide advice and encourage the youngsters in their interest. On the MRFA executive is a marine biologist, while well-known identity Piero Rocco (“Mr. Blue Cod”) has a wealth of experience and knowledge.
Lawrence Stevenson Acting Secretary MRFA
The Furnishing Centre is relocating next month and as a result, owner Denise Dinmore has decided to donate some samples and the proceeds to Marlborough Four Paws.
The business in Grove Road is relocating to George Street in Blenheim in mid-October.
Denise says she won’t be taking the older fabrics/soft furnishings to the new store and these would be ideal for sewers and curtains. She says there will be no prices on the fabrics and people can ‘make an offer’.
Denise says the thought of raising money for Marlborough Four Paws is testimony to the ‘wonderful work’ they do in the community.
“I’m a cat person,” she says. “I’ve been feeding an industrial cat called Ben for nearly 14 years in John Street.
Marlborough Four
furnishings.
He’s not suitable to be in a home but we are good friends.”
Tables will be set up in the store on Saturday, September 21 from 9am – 12pm.
Marlborough can “accelerate” its road to recovery with the announcement earlier this week that NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will fund the repair stage of phase three of the Sounds recovery roading programme.
Mayor Nadine Tayor said this was the most welcome and excellent news.
“This is the confirmation we needed to accelerate work on the road repairs required,” she said.
The NZTA Board has approved funding for phase three repair works for the five Sounds zones at a Funding Assistance Rate (FAR) of 71 per cent.
The work is estimated to cost $141.4M meaning NZTA will contribute $100.4M.
This is in addition to the approximately $130M already allocated in phases one and two. The funding will be used to address more than 1,500 outstanding faults that remain on the local road network that need repairs.
“Our priority is to get the Kenepuru Road open to a state where we have full public access and we can also allow trucks through,” Mayor Taylor said.
“We know the Kenepuru community has been waiting for a long time for this certainty. Because of the cost of the repairs, we needed the NZTA funding confirmed to proceed with confidence to get the work to get the work done and let residents and businesses in the area to get back to normal.”
NZTA have also confirmed regarding future transport improvement funding that the business case phase for this will be considered in the current 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). NZTA Regional Manager – Lower North Island/ Top of the South Mark Owen said in December 2023 the NZTA Board indicated its willingness to also fund 51 per cent of road improvements subject to further detailed design work, further Board decisions and business case processes.
Mayor Taylor said Council would continue to work with NZTA to progress this.
“The Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study (MSFAS) has been a long and complex piece of work for Council,” she said. “Many in the Marlborough Sounds have been living with broken roads, uncertainty and challenging connections for three years. We now have a big part of the answer our Sounds communities have been waiting and hoping for – to them I say, you have been patient and your patience has been rewarded.”
“This is not only about roads – it is about real people who are at the heart of Marlborough’s largest recovery project. I hope today’s decision brings some comfort to those affected that we can now proceed with confidence to repair these roads.”
Parking zones and tariffs in central Blenheim change on 1 October, encouraging commuters to park on the fringes to distribute parking more evenly across the CBD.
Tariffs in the outer carparks will decrease, to incentivise people to use those for all day parking. Meanwhile, car parks in the inner circle will be limited to four hours to encourage faster turnover and support local retail and business activity.
The changes are part of Council’s 20242034 Long Term Plan, designed to reduce congestion and help revitalise the inner CBD.
The outer zone carparks, including the Railway Station and Stadium 2000, will see tariffs drop to $1 per hour with a daily cap of $4. The inner zone car parks, including Queen Street, High Street and Wynen Street will increase from $1.80 to $2 an hour with a maximum parking time of four hours.
“These changes will give everyone a fair chance and allow people to choose a parking zone that best suits them,” Councillor Brian Dawson said.
“The aim is to encourage long-term parkers to use carparks just outside the central area, which have consistently low occupancy levels. This means someone wanting to just return a book to the library for example, should be able to find a park.”
Clr Dawson emphasised the need for the elderly or those with reduced mobility to be able to access facilities such as the library or healthcare providers. It was essential they could easily walk to these places so faster turnover of the inner CBD carparks was encouraged. The first hour free will continue in all parking zones but must be activated by using a parking meter or the PayMyPark app. It is also
Rai Valley’s long-held dream of a community village green is now a reality.
Locals, school children and those involved in the green’s creation gathered for the unveiling of a pou and storyboard recently.
Kaiwhakahaere Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kuia Ruihana Smith spoke to the crowd before unveiling the pou he’d designed, and which was made by local firm REM Ltd.
Faye Leov, one of the drivers behind the village green told of the community’s desire to have a central meeting place for locals and a place for visitors to stop.
“Rai Valley is the gateway to Marlborough from the west and State Highway 6 runs
right through our village,” she said. “Our village is our turangawaewae - the village green provides a meeting place for social and cultural activities for the community and tourists.”
She acknowledged Council’s and community support in helping with the village green’s development and unveiled a local history storyboard panel.
Mayor Nadine Taylor acknowledged the importance of local communities being proud of their history and heritage.
The school children sung waiata and performed a haka to support and acknowledge the speakers and all attending
A new kiosk installed at Stadium 2000 by Council and Citizens Advice Bureau
Marlborough (CAB) is connecting thousands of people with local community groups.
The information database collates details of a wide range of organisations operating in the community including sports groups, older person’s support groups, youth groups and whānau support organisations, among many others.
Council Community Partnerships Advisor
Jodie Griffiths said that while the information directory was not new, the touch-screen kiosk is, and it brings together information once held separately by Council and CAB.
“CAB have created this incredible resource for our community and are constantly keeping it up to date, it is great to see it even more visible
to the members of our community,” she said.
“The team from BP Computers was instrumental in sourcing a touch screen which has been encased in a kiosk at Stadium 2000 for people to use.”
Since the kiosk was placed in the Stadium 2000 foyer earlier this year, clicks on listings in the directory have jumped from around 400 per month up to about 10,000 per month, before peaking at 23,000 clicks for July.
“It’s great to be able to connect people with different groups in the community, and for those groups to be able to reach people that may not have already known of their existence,” Jodie says.
“Stadium 2000 staff have been wonderful at helping people with using the kiosk, and the added bonus of having it at such a well-used
important for people to ensure they use the correct meter for the zone they are parked in, including starting a new session if they move to a different zone.
Frequent parkers are encouraged to download the PayMyPark app which can be used to activate the first hour free, pay for parking or buy long stay coupons in Picton.
enjoyed a cup of tea and kai
The village green development was made possible thanks to the lease with a local landowner and funding via central government and Council.
facility is the wide demographic of people it is reaching.”
Information in the database is reviewed at least once a year, and users have the ability of providing feedback as to whether or not information is still relevant.
Anyone who would like to have their group or organisation added to the database should contact CAB on 03 578 4272.
Tyler Barnett is adamant her health status doesn’t define her. Tyler’s Mum Lorissa reflects on what has been a journey of ‘the best and shining examples of human generosity, love and kindness.’
Over the course of the past year, Tyler gradually lost the ability to meet her nutritional needs, due to a rare complication of her genetic connective tissue disorder.
Born with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome hypermobility type (hEDS), Tyler’s health began to decline around June 2023, where she was eating less, every bite causing pain and nausea. Even drinking seemed to cause pain. Her nutritional intake decreased to the point where insertion of an NJ tube became necessary to sustain Tyler.
At the beginning of this year, Tyler gradually lost the ability to eat and drink, as nutrition delivered directly into her upper intestine via now PEJ tube - inserted through her tummy wall rather than down the nose, failed to be tolerated.
The complication was called Abdominal Vascular Compression Syndrome (AVCS). As well as having to move to IV feeding – which in itself is a dangerous and temporary measure, Tyler also found her mobility to be decreasing, her left leg was becoming weaker, and she progressed to the point where she needed a wheelchair to go further than 10 paces.
She also contracted sepsis from the IV feeding and was very unwell. These were scary times. They concentrated on getting her well enough, supported by an amazing crew of nurses, an awesome and intuitive pharmacist and dietitian, led by the Fabulous Dr Fox and her team of amazing junior doctors, Tyler worked incredibly hard, forcing herself to tolerate the PEJ feeding again. She knew she had to be strong to make the trip, and was not going back on TPN. Tyler was inpatient at Wairau Hospital for seven weeks, and received excellent care by all departments, who worked tirelessly and often outside of their scope of work for Tyler. The team continually advocated for her care and remained open minded with what information could be found. Other AVCS patients around NZ have not been so lucky. When it was time to go, the team at
Wairau focussed on preparing them to travel with medical equipment and hefty narcotics and she improved enough for discharge, allowing them to make the long trip to Duesseldorf, Germany, for decompression surgery.
This operation is relatively new, and considered experimental by Te Whatu Ora. Although there is evidence of high success, and a NZ surgeon keen to begin offering it here, the surgery is not approved yet, and funding is not available to travel overseas and receive it.
With the outstanding support of our community, friends and family, most of the NZD $170,000.00 was raised.
After meeting with the professor who read their NZ scans and diagnosed the compressions, and using software designed by this professor himself, they travelled to Duesseldorf.
Tyler was (approximately) the 19th New Zealander to receive the major open abdominal surgery where two external PFTE grafts were placed around the arteries that were being compressed, basically holding ‘things off things’. Both kidneys were stitched to her lower ribs, the laxity of her connective tissue disorder allowed them to drop too far into her abdominal cavity, pinching off the blood supply.
Loss of mobility was due to new veins being formed to compensate for the compressed veins, but growing in the spinal column and pinching off nerves to her left leg. Masses of varicose veins in her pelvic region had developed to compensate for the compressed blood delivery. The operation and recovery was 10 hours.
Tyler had an epidural supply of pain relief for eight days and a central line into the jugular vein
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in her neck, supplying nutrition for two days and then - she ate! What a moment!!
After discharge from the clinic at 12 days postop, they spent the recovery time in Duesseldorf close to the hospital incase of any issues, before making their way back to Leipzig at the four week mark, for final scans and confirmation by the first German Professor that yes indeed, the operation was a success.
After a celebration meal of crepes that Tyler had been craving, excitement to get back home built after 46 days away from her family.
On this ‘journey to survival,’ Tyler and Mum got to see the best and worst of humanity, and endured some desperately hard times, and a couple of laughs too.
“Thanks to Chris Valli and The Blenheim Sun for sharing our journey and for helping to pro -
mote the many fundraisers for Tylers’ surgery, and spreading awareness of this rare condition and rarer complication,” Lorissa says.
“The hours spent organising amazing fundraising events, Marlborough and Nelson dance schools coming together, small businesses donating goods and services, people giving up their hard earned funds, and also the hard work of Steve and Belinda, advocating hard to access some health insurance funding, all to save our girl.”
Jason and Tyler’s sisters, twins Milly and Lola were well supported at home by a circle of family and friends, sharing the custody and providing lots of baking, and meals to ease the pressure.
“For this support we will be forever grateful, and so humbled by people’s generosity - you all helped save a life.”
Once again, the gold and collectables buyers from Wellington company John Bertrand Limited are visiting Blenheim and Picton next week. Mr Tony Grant from the company says, “If you are downsizing or wanting to dispose of things because they no longer serve any purpose to you or your family bring them in”. “Next week will be a great opportunity to have any items you want to sell assessed by our buyers” said Mr Grant. Particularly wanted are Gold and Silver (in any of its forms) and Collectables such as Coins, Banknotes, War Medals, Old Wind-up Watches and other interesting Small Collectables.
“We are keen buyers, especially of the items in the list below” said Mr Grant.
“Nothing is too small for our consideration. We are just as happy buying 1 item as we are buying 1,000 items” he said. The buyers will be in Blenheim and Picton next week (see details below).
As Tony Grant points out “If you are in doubt about any items you may wish to sell, bring them along for an instant appraisal.”
During these uncertain times we have seen a sharp increase in the price of precious metals. The gold price in New Zealand is at near record levels so gather up all your unwanted items and take them along to the buyers. Tony Grant says “We can buy old gold items in all forms, including Jewellery (Rings, Chains, Brooches etc), Coins (Sovereigns and the like), Alluvial (River Gold), virtually anything, even Gold Teeth! We also need all Sterling Silver including Cups, Tea Services, Cutlery and Old Coins” he said.
The buyers from John Bertrand (Collectables) Ltd, visiting Blenheim and Picton next week, are happy to look at any interesting items, for example vintage pocket and wristwatches such as Rolex, Men’s Omega, Breitling and gold watches etc. Also wanted, pre 1950’s picture postcards, Maori and Pacific artefacts, old fountain pens and other small antique or historical items.
“If you have something unusual which you would like to sell, please bring it into one of our venues, we would like the chance to at least have a look at it” said Tony Grant, buyer for the Company. “We will consider anything which may be of interest to a collector” he said.
Early New Zealand Banknotes dated before 1932 are currently fetching big money! This is according to Mr Tony Grant, author of the John Bertrand New Zealand Coin & Banknote Catalogue. Mr Grant is in Blenheim and Picton next week on a buying trip for John Bertrand (Collectables) Ltd and would be very keen to see any of these issues. “We will pay at least $300 for any undamaged Ten Shilling or One Pound
banknote from a New Zealand trading bank dated 1932 or before.
Denominations of five pounds and higher would be worth from $700. “Any banknote dated prior to 1900 would be worth at least $1000” said Mr Grant.
Also purchased are any Reserve Bank of New Zealand pre-decimal issues, especially 50 Pound notes. All overseas banknotes are also wanted, especially early Pacific Island issues.
Currently, throughout NZ and the world there is a big demand by collectors for war medals. These cover all wars right through from the New Zealand Land Wars and the Boer War, to the First and Second World Wars and the later Korea and Vietnam conflicts. New Zealand Servicemen and Women first served overseas in the Boer War in South Africa around 1900 and the war medals awarded for this service are needed by the buyers, as are any other Medals from early New Zealand and the New Zealand Wars. General service medals from both the First and Second World Wars will also be purchased, but as can be imagined these were awarded in fairly large numbers. “If a group of medals has any special award for bravery such as the Military Medal, Military or Flying Cross or other medals for Distinguished Conduct or Meritorious Service, these can add great value to a group” stated Mr Tony Grant, buyer for John Bertrand (Collectables) Ltd. “Many families have old medals, some dating back to early Imperial days, that they are not sure what to do with. These are better off in the hands of collectors who will look after them. We will be happy to look at any war medals whatsoever, just bring them in to venues” he said.
Old Coins Can Toss Up a Rarity
Do you have a bunch of old coins sitting around in your drawers and cupboards? You just never know what rarities may be lurking there. The advice from Tony Grant from John Bertrand (Collectables) Limited is to “bring them in and let us have a look”. “No need to sort anything
Why does the Marlborough District Council have to get rock from outside Blenheim for the Spring Creek stop bank when there are thousands of tons in the quarry up Brookby Road? Chris Valli takes up the story with Andy White from Council.
The rock shortage experienced across Marlborough in recent years is a much more complicated story than first appears.
Andy White, Marlborough District Council’s Rivers and Drainage Engineering Manager and his team of eight are tasked with managing the district’s flood protection assets that have kept the region safe during recent flood events.
However, recovery and repair of those assets after 2021 and 2022, coupled with significant capital upgrades, meant that demand for suitable armour rock exceeded what has been locally available in recent years.
Owing to the Wairau’s steepness (gradient) and high flows, the toe rock used in protecting the stopbank network from erosion has to be able to withstand large forces to prevent it being plucked out. It’s not uncommon for rocks of six tonne or larger to be lifted and carried down river during bigger events like those in July 2021.
Toe rock used in the Wairau ranges in size from one to 10 tonne, with differing sizes used together to form an interlocking matrix – it’s not simply a case of using a single uniform size.
“Blasting rock at the lower Wairau quarries, typically results in a rock yield of 30 percent, with only 5-10 percent of the total being toe grade – one tonne and above in size. It’s a
small conversion rate, with quarries having to find markets such as roading for the left-over material. When a project like Peninsula Road, Spring Creek becomes a necessity, requiring 35,000t of toe rock, you can begin to see the volume of quarry production required in order generate the quantities of that larger size rock,”
Andy says.
On the MDC’s Long Term Plan there are 13 core objectives, the primary one for Andy and his team is the Wairau Valley Floodway Scheme, providing a one in a hundred year flood protection.
Andy’s job to make sure the scheme is in place and working at all times, making sure it keeps the infrastructure safe.
Marlborough was declared in a state of emergency after severe flooding on July 16, 2021 causing close to 1000 residents to evacuate from over 500 properties. The Wairau River rose up to 8.946 metres and had a peak flow of 5,250 cumecs the next day. The flood fell just shy of the flows experienced in 1983 where the Tuamarina stop banks breached. The difference in 2021, Marlborough was more prepared having learnt from earlier events and continuously improved its flood protection assets since the 80s.
“We’ve got modern technology now including LiDAR, Bathymetry, and world class modelling software where we can forecast where we are going to get flooding in the future,” he says. “There’s a lot to learn. The tricky thing with river engineering work is that much of our work goes untested until these infrequent flood
events occur.”
Repairs and upgrades of the stopbanks - along Peninsula Road in Spring Creek - are expected to cost $8.7 million.
“We need 56,000 tons of rock just to get the flood recovery program finished and to get us ready for the next big flood. I’ve got Spring Creek for which we are anticipating 35,000 ton of rock. I’ve got commitments with central government through pro-investment opportunities who give us 60 percent of funding. We have 100,000 tons of rock that needs to be placed within three years.”
Andy says we need to be smart, clever and to look at sourcing from beyond the Marlborough region. There are three quarries within the Marlborough district that have been traditionally used and can be utilised for a better quality of rock.
The first is Riverland’s Pukaka Quarry, a key supplier or armour rock for construction of the Wairau River Flood Protection Scheme in the 1960s. Council acquired the quarry in the 1990s to ensure the strategically important rock supply remained available to Council. However, by the early 2010s, the ability to extract rock
was becoming limited by property boundaries.
“Its primary purpose was for producing river grade rock,” says Andy. “But it’s been out of action since 2021 leaving just two commercial quarries in the lower Wairau area capable of providing suitable rock. In 2022 the team took the opportunity to reallocate its contractors to Pukaka. We’ve been developing Pukaka flat-out over two winters, costing the Council in the region of $1.9 million, (internally through the operational budget) which will be recovered over the longer term through internal and external sales.
The other quarries are Barrack’s/Simcox Quarry Limited in the Omaka Valley and Hawkesbury’s Brookby Quarry (both commercial) which produce rock of similar quality, however these have more restrictive consent conditions compared with Pukaka owing to their proximity to housing and lifestyle blocks.
“As Council staff tasked with keeping our community safe from major floods,we should be held accountable for the work we do. I expressed this view to the Spring Creek community recently updating them on what we had said, and what we had done to date.”
District Council’s
says over 100,000 tons of rock are
the 2021 and 2022 floods, and capital upgrade works.
Whether it’s renovating or building we have all these businesses to choose from to help with every aspect.
Home building trends continue to positively impact the way we live and build, depending of course on one’s budget in what has been a tough 12 months with the increased cost of living.
However, the top home building trends have had a huge impact in residential construction this year.
Open spaces, ample natural light, energy-efficient design, welcoming kitchens, and seamless indoor-outdoor integration
is definitely at the forefront of building conversations and how of course to implement one’s vision within budget.
There is a growing movement towards biophilic design: bringing the outside in. Biophilic design is an environmental architectural style that highlights the buildings natural qualities.
The idea is that the design mimics the outdoor environment’s shapes, textures and
colours to make the occupants feel more in tune with their environment. This home building trend is here to stay.
Key features include:
• Natural Light: Relying more on natural light than artificial; skylights, suntubes, large windows etc
• Earthy Colours: Colours such as green, grey, brown and other earthy tones that appear most often in nature
• Greenery: Lots of plants occupy biophilic buildings. They bring life and improve the homes air quality.
One of the biggest home building trends continues to be sustainability.
As the demand for green architecture grows, so does the desire for renewable, low-maintenance features. Key sustainable home features include:
Solar Energy and Passive Design: The implementation of solar power enhances the energy and cost efficiency of your home. By investing in solar energy during your build process, you will not only save on your upfront costs but also reap the cost savings from the get-go.
High-Performance Windows: Windows are responsible for over 50 percent of lost energy in our homes. By investing in new window technology, you can limit energy loss and increase individual comfort.
Energy-Efficient Appliances: Choosing appliances with high energy efficiency ratings allows you to invest in your home and the environment.
Renewable & Low-Maintenance Materials: Stone, brick, wood and recycled materials are becoming increasingly popular as ways to retain building longevity. They require less replacement and maintenance, minimising the need for new materials and wastage long-term.
EV Charging Stations: As electric car
sales sky-rocket, so does the need for the home-infrastructure to support it via fast charging ports. It is important to include this when building for either your current car or for future proofing.
This year has bought home-living into the future, with cool smart-home technologies available for every budget. Whether it is having all your automated features (such as lighting, heating, audio and security) operating under a single system or using something new. Smart home technologies continue to be developed and improved to make your life easier.
As the saying goes, the kitchen really is the heart of the home. Kitchens are a space where family and friends gather over food, entertainment and conversation. It is important this space accommodates the flow of people and practicality with ease and efficiency. Is there adequate benchtop space, deep storage cabinets, a large benchtop island, open-plan kitchen layout and low-maintenance, easy-clean work surfaces and appliances?
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Alzheimers Marlborough was formed to assist and support carers and families dealing with dementia. Their aim is to educate the family members and carers of a person with dementia which allows the person to live with dignity in their own homes.
Manager Catherine Donnelly says they currently have over 200 clients on their books that they support. This could be in the form of attending the day centre or any of our other community groups, or by providing education for health professionals, or people living with dementia.
Catherine says September is always a busy month and this year is no exception.
The Alzheimers Foundation has been very busy organising the third
annual Alzheimers Marlborough Art, Craft and Collections Trail scheduled for September 21 and 22, 10am - 4pm.
Tickets are available from Marlborough Alzheimers Centre, 8 Wither Road, Blenheim, Monday-Friday: 9am-3pm; Fidelio Gallery & Wine Bar, Blenheim Railway Station, Blenheim, Tuesday-Sunday: 11.30am-late; Marlborough Art Gallery, Te Kahu o Waipuna (Library Building), 15 High Street, Blenheim,Tuesday - Friday: 10am4pm, Weekends: 1pm - 4pm. During the art trail, Alzheimers Marlborough will have their building open for people to come and look at the art on display there, and have a cup of Devonshire tea.
Dementia is a term used to describe symptoms caused by changes in how our brains work. Alzheimers disease is the most common type of dementia.
Anyone can get dementia. As people get older, the chance of getting dementia increases.
The most common symptoms are changes in memory, thinking, behaviour, personality, and emotions. These symptoms get worse as brain changes increase.
Dementia is different for everyone – what is experienced, and how fast the changes occur.
Early symptoms
The early signs and symptoms of dementia can be hard to notice. Many illnesses can cause dementia-like symptoms. Some of these illnesses are treatable. That is why you should see your doctor or health care provider if you are worried.
Finding out if you have dementia means you can get help earlier. You can get support, information, medication, and time to plan.
Help is only a phone call away.
Go to www.alzheimers.org.nz
Alzheimers Marlborough Manager Catherine Donnelly says they currently have over 200 clients on their books that they support.
or ring 0800 004 001 for more information and support.
Memory lapses versus memory loss
It is important to understand what is dementia and what is not dementia. We all forget things as we get older. This does not mean we are getting dementia.
Examples of warning signs of dementia can include:
• Recent memory loss that causes problems in daily life • Difficulty performing regular tasks such as cooking a meal or managing bills
• Problems with language
• Decreased or poor judgment
• Changes in mood and behaviour such as being more easily upset in new situations
Information and support If you are concerned that you, or someone you know, may have dementia, talk to your doctor or your health care provider. If you find out you have dementia, help is available. Alzheimers NZ has many resources about dementia. These resources cover many questions that you may have.
Thank you to all our staff and volunteers for your support for our organisation.
You really do make a difference for people living with dementia.
Handcrafted
I am very excited to announce the opening of Beauty Within, my small, locally-owned beauty business with a large variety of treatments available, dedicated to offering the highest quality care and results at affordable prices.
For all your ear and hearing needs, from wax removal to hearing aids. Reach out to your local experts.
Francis Street, Blenheim T: 03 579 3092 blackmoreaudiology.co.nz FREE HEARING
Healthline, Pharmacists, GP or GP Practice Nurse, and Urgent After Hours GP offer professional health advice.
If you arrive at Wairau Hospital’s Emergency Department with a non-urgent health concern you may be referred to your GP.
Hello, my name is Kyra Barnes and I am the proud owner of Beauty Within.
Since I graduated with my Diploma in Beauty and Body Therapy in 2018 I have been working and gaining experience in the industry and I have never looked back.
The beauty industry is such a fun industry to be a part of, always changing, expanding and teaching new things.
From a young age, I was always determined to have my own business, work in an industry that prioritises making people happy and feel good, and a career in beauty therapy just sounded like the perfect fit for me.
I have a very cheeky and charismatic personality which I feel connects well with people and is why I have such amazing relationships with all of my clients.
Outside of work I am usually working on my endless craft projects, spending time with my loved ones, shaking my tail feathers at Zumba, playing indoor netball, and being a cat mum to my fur baby.
Beauty Within has been a dream in the making for roughly four years now and being able to finally make that dream a reality in March this year is just incredible.
I have been so fortunate to gain and form connections with such an incredible clientele over my seven years in the industry.
Being able to start my own business would never have been possible without them and I will be forever grateful.
Beauty Within is currently your one stop shop for all your beauty needs, but my future plans for my business is to do further study and incorporate internal supplements, offering a much more all-encompassing business.
I have learned during my time in this industry that some issues we suffer from can sometimes be more than just skin deep, it can be an internal imbalance.
So for me to be able to assist in getting to the bottom of and resolving problems for my clients in the future, both internally and externally, would be such a privilege. To book a treatment with me at Beauty Within, you can find me on Fresha.com, Facebook and Instagram, or you can contact me on 0274592125 or kyra.beautywithin@ gmail.com
Deserved (6)
25. Benevolent (6)
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29. Responsibility (4) 30. Common sense (4)
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If you’re looking for retirement living options in a supportive and friendly environment for over 65s, our community at Arvida Ashwood Park could be the perfect solution. Located within nearly five acres of garden estate, Ashwood Park makes the most of Blenheim’s wonderful climate with homes that capture the sunshine and views of nature. To find out more, call Toni on 027 555 6139
tasman Mako v Wellington Lions, Ranfurly Shield challenge, Lansdown Park, Sunday, September 15.
Photos: Chris Valli and Tasman Mako Instagram
the
Held
What’s one thing on your bucket list? Visit Africa. Health, Safety and Compliance;
Are you a dog or cat person? Dog.
What would you buy if money was no object? Supplies for Ukraine.
My friends would say I am… Reliable.
The best advice I ever received was? Stay true to yourself.
Local coffee haunt? Urban fare café.
Favourite takeaway? Cancun Eats.
The shop you can’t walk past is...? Art supplies.
What’s the most thoughtful gift you’ve ever received?
Embroidery shirt from my mom.
Where is your happy holiday place? Eastern Europe…Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia.
Favourite programme or series currently watching?
Only Murders in the Building.
Tomatoes are the second most popular plant for gardeners to grow after Roses.
The key to very successful tomato growing is to give them full sun, good protection from wind, UV and chills, they do best with even warm temperatures, ample moisture and the right foods.
These conditions are best found in a glasshouse in the early and late time of a season. Or outside in the garden, during a warm to hot summer.
Heat traps, facing north and protected from chilling winds, are the ideal spots to grow tomatoes in the early and late season times outdoors.
Dark brick or concrete type walls or fences absorb heat during the day and release this heat at night till they cool. Corrugated galvanized steel fences also do this but cool down faster.
Some gardeners worry about growing their tomatoes in the same place, year after year.
I know of gardeners who have grown in the same place every year for 20 plus years, no problem other than seasonal aspects. If worried use Wallys Terracin soil disease suppressor.
I grow my early tomato plants in pots in the glasshouse, starting off with small pots and gradually repotting into larger.
The largest size that I use is a 45L container which is ample for producing a good sized plant with a good crop.
A point to note is that with the large fruiting Beefsteak type tomatoes, you will always get the biggest fruit off Beefsteaks, if grown in open soil rather than in pots.
The best producing pot grown tomatoes for good sized fruit are the dwarf types (Indeterminate) such as Scoresby Dwarf, Roma and Russian Red.
No staking is needed as with tall growing Indeterminate types but some support maybe needed for heavy fruit.
Food is very important and to obtain great tomatoes with the best flavor use Wallys Secret Tomato Food with Neem Granules.
Unlike many other tomato food Wallys Tomato Food has extra potassium and that is the real secret to success.
The smaller cherry type or bite size tomatoes, are the fastest to grow and ripen. These do well in a containers but need staking because of their height. Nice for using the fruit whole in salads etc but I prefer the bigger fruit producing plants.
When transplanting seedlings always plant them deeper up to about the first leaves of the plant. The reason for this is that the plant will produce roots right up the trunk making for a much bigger root system and hence better results.
Tomatoes and potatoes both have this
aspect (same family).
Perkfection gives great internal protection against blights and botrytis. Magic Botanic Liquid (MBL) and Mycorrcin provide minerals and food for beneficial bacteria as well as the plant.
It is a good practice to keep a monthly spray program of the three products going till the plant is finishing for the season.
If you maintain a good constant source of food you are likely to get several more weeks of cropping and a longer season..
When a tomato grows, it produces laterals or side shoots. When these are left on the plant they become branches which will produce flower trusses and more side shoots.
You can control the way the plant grows by removing some or all the laterals.
In the case of dwarf tomatoes, which are low growing and naturally bushy, you leave all the laterals on.
On tall growing types, if you leave all or most of the laterals on you need a number of support stakes.
I sometimes do this and have one strong centre stake and then place a roll of strong open netting around the plant about 3 foot in diameter.
The laterals grow out through the netting giving a reasonable amount of support.
Some extra stakes may be needed when the fruit becomes heavy.
A lot of energy is used by the plant in producing both foliage growth and fruiting growth.
This results on the larger beefsteak tomatoes are smaller fruit when compared to the plant that has its laterals removed, leaving only a few fruiting trusses.
The energy then is directed into the fruit rather than the foliage. You choose what way to go or have a combination of both methods.
There is a great danger of disease entering the plant when you remove laterals. This is often botrytis which causes a collar rot somewhere on the main trunk of the plant.
When the disease starts the rot on the trunk, you will notice that the top foliage goes droopy during the day to recover later in the day.
Then you notice that the tops do not recover and progressively the plant wilts till it’s dead.
A darker area on the trunk will be seen where the rot is happening, blocking the flow of moisture and nutrients from the roots.
The little bumps of aerial roots will often appear just above the rot area.
If there is foliage below the rot part, with laterals, then the top can be cut off and the good part allowed to grow.
If you don’t remove any laterals you will likely avoid this disease unless the plant is damaged by rubbing on a stake or similar.
To help prevent the problem you should only remove laterals when they are very small, which means checking every day or two. Only remove on warm days when there is low humidity.
Spray immediately the area where the lateral is removed with Wally’s Liquid Copper.
You can make up a solution in a 250ml trigger spray bottle and it will keep well for sometime, just shake before spraying. Removing older leaves can also allow the disease to enter the plant. Only do in low humidity conditions and spray to protect. Humidity levels will often be much higher in a glasshouse and so special care must be taken by opening up the house, to remove the air moisture, before taking off laterals and lower leaves
The removal of the older bottom leaves can be an advantage as insect pests are attacking the early leaves as the plant is growing, so later on removing these leaves may mean you are removing lots of baby insects feeding on the plants.
Destroy these leaves.
Tomato plants tend to come fairly true from seed, even hybrid and special types, some which can be fairly expensive to buy in either seed form or plant form.
The logic of this is if you have a tomato that you really like whether you brought the tomato in a produce shop or grew the plant yourself, you should keep a few seeds for next season.
Just scoop a few seeds out of the tomato and place on a paper towel. Allow the seeds and pulp to dry and then store in a sealed glass jar in the fridge, with the information to identify them.
Woodbourne Tavern Thursday 27th October 7pm Tables of 8 - $120 per table Silent auction to follow A fun way to support this worthwhile cause
Contact Tracey at Harcourts Ph 578 0888 to book your table
Shout out to the lovely grounds people, you have Seymour Square looking so good. We had Hopewalk there on Saturday and it looked amazing, thank you from the Hopewalk crew.
Too often these days freedom of speech gets shut down.
Too much emphasis is put on taking offense to an idea simply because it doesn’t align with one’s own opinion.
Somehow it has become okay to label the offending idea as ‘wrong’, when really it’s just a differing opinion, no more or less valid than your own.
Meaningful debate does not take place and we end up in an echo chamber of narrow-minded thinking.
Congratulations to the wonderful team of volunteers at the St John shop in Springlands. The selfless giving of your time is much appreciated. Keep up the great work!
The shingle part of the Wairau Bar Road is DOC nothing to do with Marlborough Roads.
NZTA Sounds road repairs funding, make it a toll road, if not why not thus removing the burdon on rate payers.
The Whale Trail was conceived as part of the rebuilding of SH1 after the 2016 ‘quake. In the area along the coast, that is relatively simple, but still a slow process. If you check there are some new sections ready to be used once a suitable section is usable over a decent distance. It will take more time, but cannot be compared with other places around the country. They all started small, and over 30+ years or more got to the stage they are now at.
We agree 100%, they should have completed it when Labour were printing money. There is also a 70km section between Seddon and Mororimu south of Kaikoura that has nothing but state hwy 1, which is longer than the rest of the entire ‘trail’. How can this be considered a trail in its entirety?
Great to see and hear the RNZAF trainers in local skies. With abundant accommodation and hanger space at Woodbourne the sooner they are here permanently the better.
It’s heartbreaking to see so many of our older community members slip down propaganda-driven rabbit holes. There should be some assistance for older people whose brains have been broken by too much internet. This is especially terrible because of their outsized political engagement which is the driving force behind the disaster that is the current government.
Ask the council about soil testing ex vineyards before subdivision permission is given. Ask the local iwi about why they did not want Woodboune. Do some research on what treated posts leach into the soil. Then when you have done that see if your’e laughing.
Pleased to see increase in mobility parking fines. Courier drivers please take note, these fines include you and you do use them especially at supermarkets. Be thankful you don’t need to use them, you are just being lazy. I will take plate numbers from October.
After working overseas in hospitality for over twenty years I retired back to Blenheim, as a pastime I enjoy going to different bars, talking to the locals, sharing story’s and experiences with them over a drink, although there is one bar across town where conversations with the locals can be, let’s say, tiring, discussing someone’s flat tyre on their car for twenty or thirty minutes would be the highlight of their day.
Wairau River - Great presentation last Tuesday on the river dynamics and interchange with the Wairau aquifer. Pity it wasn’t better advertised so that more could attend.
I also see that lady walking about picking up rubbish. She is incredible and last time I saw her with 2 huge rubbish bags I thought that we as a community should nominate her for the “good sorts” on telly, she is a worthy candidate. Perhaps if somebody knows her name and is willing to do the ground work to nominate her there would be heaps of support. And it would be a nice way of saying thank you and most of us are appreciative of what she does.
A huge thank you to those who helped me last Monday (9 Sept) after a fall in High Street as I attempted to cross the road. Still healing but smiling. Nga mihi nui kia koutou katoa.
I thoroughly enjoyed Brass on Broadway on the weekend, performed by our very our champion District Brass Band. The guest performers were all outstanding as well. If you’ve never heard the brass band or an orchestra in our theatre, I thoroughly recommend it.
Sad to see the knockers rushing to unleash ill considered criticism of the NZ Men’s Rugby 15. Two very close losses to the out and out world rugby 15’s champions should indicate that we are not that far off the pace.
And, let’s not forget, the new coach has the massive turnaround task of introducing a positive philosophy of attacking and entertaining rugby, following two decades of NZ coaches using negative, slow it down, borderline illegal ‘don’t lose, at all costs’ tactics.
Go our A B’s.
Well said Busy bowlers text. Time on your hands consider paper delivery. Especially with summer coming.
As one whose work takes them to the airport several times a day I foresee a small problem in the making.
The concrete curbing on the curve turning left into the airport is too narrow for a bus / coach and just plain unmanageable for a B train or a truck and trailer. Watch this space!
So proud of everyone ‘getting behind’ the Hopewalk, Rob to share his wisdom, absolutely a blessing.
Couldn’t agree more $150 is not going to stop the idiots driving while using their cellphones. One moment of inattention can cause years of heartache and worse. Up it to $1k minimum.
I was in the New World carpark a couple of days ago. A woman fell over at the western entrance. Micheal who does the trolleys was at her side in a flash. He helped her up and took her into the Supermarket, where he comforted her.
Micheal is a lovely person who does a marvelous job and is a great asset to New World. Thank you Micheal, you’re a great guy.
We welcome your texts on 027 242 5266.
Limit to 70 words please. We reserve the right to publish at our discretion. Please note the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Sun management.
Re: Marlborough Welcome
Gosh, I thought it takes 20 years for new people to be accepted in Marlborough, unless you have the right surname and connections to the wine industry.
Isn’t it a bit strange our Mayor telling Marlborough Research Centre how to spend its money. Do as I say not what I do.
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.
By Chris Valli
September for whatever reason seems to be the month of awareness campaigns from Blue September to Alzheimers Awareness Month. The past fortnight also provided an opportunity for locals to become more aware with world class opera, musicianship and dance.
HMS Pinafore on September 7 and 8 was a point of difference and a real treat for locals. The collaboration with Blenheim Choral – how good is it to see a fresh, younger dynamic in the mix - and the Marlborough Civic Orchestra, was certainly an unforgettable night and reiterated not only the talent but the vision of putting on such a show with the kudos and acknowledgment to Musical Director and baritone, Robert Tucker. Robert’s resume
is outstanding which includes working extensively with New Zealand Opera with highlights being playing Adolfo Pirelli in Sweeney Todd and Masetto in Don Giovanni.
There were delightful moments throughout which charmed punters from scores such as ‘I’m
Called Little Buttercup’ to ‘He is an Englishman’. The crossover from musical theatre to opera was seamless for the likes of Rhys Hingston, Megan Rosene and Gemma Amsler to name a few. Of course, local arts require sponsorship and advocacy and it was thanks to the likes of Pub Charity, Marlborough Civic Theatre Trust and Summerset Retirement Village who all played their ensemble part in the success of the show.
Meanwhile, Brass on Broadway held on Saturday night and featuring Marlborough Academy of Dance students, Blenheim
Musical Theatre and locals David Moseley, Jessie Sawers and Ella Kernick-Harvey, was a walk down memory lane of all things musicals. All three have appeared in various musical theatre productions in recent years and Saturday night showcased their vocal talents and ability.
Songs featured ranged from Gethsemene from Jesus Christ Superstar, Don’t Cry for Me Argentina from Evita and All That Jazz from Chicago.
David Moseley’s DNA comes from seven other members who are or have been involved with the Marlborough District Brass Band in the region across a number of years with Kevin, Graham, Kathy, James Patrick Moynihan, Nicola Moynihan, Clynton Payne and Christine Moseley all part of the Moseley lineage. Members of the brass band age ranged from 14 to 76 years old with nearly a quarter of the group coming from the
The Marlborough Historical Society held its 66th Annual General Meeting recently, the first since taking back control of Marlborough Museum from the Marlborough District Council.
After a controversial year of
disputes and lock-outs, Dr Paul Davidson was re-elected President along with essentially the same committee members as last year.
Treasurer Dale Webb reported a healthy increase in both income
Moseley surname.
The band is simply world class which was reflected in being crowned Australia’s Champion B Grade Brass Band earlier this year.
Highlights included Circle of Life from the Lion King and Hello Dolly, thrown in with some good natured banter between songs.
The wow moment(s) hands down, was David’s vocal with Bring Him Home from Les Miserable (a prayer to preserve the life
of another man).His control, range and storytelling were moving. Jessie’s interpretation of Eva Peron’s Don’t Cry for Me –a role she performed in the 2017 combined college production of Evita – was simply superb.
Awareness month? Fair to say, locals have greater knowledge and understanding, if they didn’t already, of the arts talent that is uniquely Marlborough and ours alone.
and assets, although not nearly enough to run the Museum without significant extra funding.
“It was a meeting with an encouraging positive vibe” said Dr Davidson. “I think the recent successful re-opening to the
public has given us all a boost.”
A special event was the appointment of well-known artist and author Prue Matthews as the Society’s Patron. In 2015 Mrs Matthews was awarded the Queens Service Medal for services to
heritage, and President Davidson says her historical knowledge and experience would be invaluable support for the Society.
New members are welcome and are invited to enquire at info@ marlboroughmuseum.org.nz
Enrolment at the school is governed by an enrolment scheme, details of which are available from the school office.
The board has determined that 12 places are likely to be available for out-of-zone students next year. The exact number of places will depend on the number of applications received from students who live within the school’s home zone.
Next year there will be 4 enrolment periods. The first enrolment period begins 29th January and will be termly from then.
For students seeking enrolment within the first enrolment period, the deadline for receipt of applications for out-of-zone places is 25th October 2024.
Parents of students who live within the home zone and intend enrolling their child at any time during the next year should notify the school by 25th October 2024 to assist the school to plan appropriately for next year.
Enrolment forms can be collected from the school office, 77A Vickerman Street, Grovetown, Blenheim or by emailing office@grovetown.school.nz
If the numbers of out-of-zone applications exceeds the number of places available, students will be selected by ballot.
If a ballot for out-of-zone places is required it will be held on 31st October 2024.
Parents will be informed of the outcome of the ballot within three school days of the ballot being held.
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.
After Hours Chemists: Springlands Pharmacy: Monday - Friday 8.30am6pm. Saturday 9m - 5pm. Sunday 10am - 4pm.
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.
Citizens Advice Bureau: Free, friendly, confidential advice. Mon - Fri 9.30am4pm. Phone 578 4272.
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
Blenheim Golf Club
Sept 9 stableford 9 holes Dean Ormsby 20 Dave Dyer 19 Mark Whittall
18 Mike McConnell 18 Les Boniface
17 Stuart Parker 17 Brian Burgess
17 Don March 17 Graeme Parker 17 Ladies Dawn Walker 17 Jenny Adams
17 Christine Burns 18 Kay Ayson 16 Sept 11th 18 Hole Stableford Elaine Brown 35 Dawen Walker 33 Sue Duckworth 32 9 holes Jenny Adams
17 Shirley Godsiff 17 Sept 12 Par Ray Herd 3 Don Lamond 2 Dooug Shaw 2 Graeme Parker 2 Chris Abbott 1 Clive Drummond 0 Tere Poa 0 Don March 0 Andrew Stowell 0 Buck Asplet -1 Ray Meaclem -2 9 holes Stableford Brian Brown 20 Justin Taipana 18 Bob Tapp 18 Ross Agnew 17 Mike McConnell 17 Sept 18 Holes Stableford Shayne Cuff 42 Trent Davies 36 Graeme Daines 35 Ray Herd 35 Chris Hill 33 Tere Paoa 33 NTP Fairweather 9/18 Trent Davies Sowmans 3/12 Ryan Windleburn Morning round NTP Fairweathers 39/18 Blue Arthur Sowmans 3/12 Ezra Kahaki Edgar Clarkson 27 Holes Stableford Albertus van Dyk 58 Warren Ingram 55 Ladies March Trophy 27 Holes Stableford Leanne Stowell 53 Rachael Bell 51 Jane Ingram 42
GEAR-CLAY, Narcisa:
Passed away peacefully on Saturday September 7, 2024. Aged 72 years. Beloved sister to Alicia and cherished aunty to Edward, Dominique and Alici. A private cremation has taken place. A celebration of her life will be held at the end of the year, with details to follow. Those wishing to share a tribute or receive an update on arrangements may contact the family at NarcisaTributes@ icloud.com.
T: 03 578 4719
E: sowmans@funerals.co.nz W: www.sowmans.co.nz
PASCOE: Jane Sylvia (née Gray) (Ex RNZAF).
Passed away peacefully on Saturday 14 September 2024 at Hospice Marlborough, following a brave battle with illness, with husband Ken of 52 years, alongside daughter Rachell, son Brendon, and friends by her side in her 74th year. Fabulous grandmother to Sophia, Jacob, Hunter, Hudson and Lucia, a dearly loved grandmother and close friend. Jane’s wisdom, sharp wit, kindness and love will forever remain in our hearts along with her joy of scrabble with family. Her legacy lives on through the memories we have all shared with her and the impact she has had on our lives. Heartfelt thanks to the team at Hospice Marlborough for their wonderful care of Jane. Messages may be forwarded to Ken Pascoe, 923 Old Renwick Road, RD2, Blenheim 7272 or www.cloudybayfunerals. co.nz In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Marlborough Hospice Trust (Acc. No. 03 1369 036520 00 Ref: Pascoe) would be appreciated. In accordance with Jane’s wishes, a private cremation has taken place, with a small celebration of her life carried out at our private residence.
HEBBERD: Mavis Lilian. Passed away peacefully at Seaview Rest Home on Monday 16th September 2024, in her 91st year. Loved wife of the late Dick Hebberd and dearly loved mother and mother-in-law of Christine and Kevin, Gail and Dennis, David and Chris, Kevin and Chrissie, Alan and friend Jo, Helen, and Murray. Cherished by her many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great Grandchildren. Messages can be sent to family at 2/79C Milton Terrace Picton 7220 or www. cloudybayfunerals.co.nz A service to celebrate Mavis`s life is to be held at the Springlands Chapel, Cloudy Bay Funeral Services, 15 Boyce Street on Thursday 19th September at 2.00pm The service will be livestreamed and can be viewed on the Cloudy Bay Funeral Services website.
ROBINSON, Terence Bruce Charles (Terry):
Passed away on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at home with Valerie by his side. In his 70th year. Loved husband of Valerie. Loved Dad of Zane, Dodi, Maryellen, and Johnnie. Loved Poppa of all his grandchildren. Messages may be sent to the Robinson family, 43 Girling Avenue, Mayfield, Blenheim 7201. In lieu of flowers a donation to Life Flight would be appreciated and may be made to a/c 03-0578-0048481-00 Ref. ROBINSON. In accordance with Terry’s wishes a private cremation has taken place and a farewell for him will be held at a later date.
T: 03 578 4719
E: sowmans@funerals.co.nz W: www.sowmans.co.nz
TOWNSHEND: Andrew David (Tow). On 11 September 2024, passed away peacefully at Nelson Hospital after a brief illness, aged 74 years. Dearly loved husband of Kathrine. Loved father of Stephen and Phil. A much-loved husband, father, father-inlaw, grandfather, uncle, brother, brother-inlaw and friend. Messages to c/- PO Box 9, Blenheim, 7240 or www.cloudybayfunerals. co.nz A memorial service for Andrew has been held.
HART, Robin (Tui)
07/02/1940 - 19/09/1999. When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth, you are weeping for that which has been your delight. Dad, it’s hard to believe 25 long years since you said goodbye. Missing you always, Love Kevin xx
HERD, Alan Keith (Kicka). Treasured memories of a dearly loved husband, father and father-in-law who passed away on the 18th of September 2002. We cannot bring the old days back, your smile we cannot see, we can only treasure the memories, of the happy days that used to be. Always in our hearts. Your loving wife Mary, Shirley and Dwayne and Joy and Cory.
The deadline is Monday 5.00pm. Please contact the Sun for further details. 72 High Street, Blenheim, email office@blenheimsun.co.nz or phone 577 7868.
By Chris Valli
The Tasman Mako class of 2024 wrote a new chapter in their Ranfurly Shield history on Sunday to defeat a previously unbeaten Wellington Lions side 28-15. In what was their first defence, after beating Hawkes Bay a week earlier, it was the Mako defensive screen which was impregnable throughout the match and sees the Mako top of the national provincial championship table after six rounds.
Resolute albeit desperate defence from the Mako saw Wellington fullback and All Blacks squad member Ruben Love held up over the line in the first half. Wellington finally got on the scoreboard when Jackson Garden-Bachop slotted a penalty before the break with Tasman 8-3 at halftime.
Halfback Finlay Christie and first five Campbell Parata controlled the match with wingers Timoci ‘Jim’ Tavatavanawai and Kyren Taumoefolau showcasing their attacking repertoire, collecting a try apiece.
Kyren, after receiving a wide pass from inside centre David Havili stepped around several defenders, which was converted to stretch Tasman’s lead to 23-15 with eight minutes left. A Mako salute in celebration was gestured and acknowledged by Mako fans.
‘having his head up’, getting off his wing and looking for opportunities. Photo: Chris Symes/Photosport.
Tasman scored again through replacement winger, Nelson’s Nic Sauira following a cross-field kick from Parata to seal the 13-point win.
When spoken to by the Blenheim Sun on Monday, the 21-year-old said the match was a big occasion and said leading into the game they knew they had a pretty special group within the Mako squad up for the challenge.
“Sunday was a tough battle and
full of grit and a lot of work rate was shown out there,” he says.
“Everyone left it out there.”
Kyren says the focus moving forward for the squad is not to get ahead of themselves and be ‘process driven’.
“It’s awesome that we know we have the shield at home but we know we have to back it up again in a couple of weeks,” he says.
Kyren came into the starting 15 for an injured Jack Gray on
By Chris Valli
Marlborough Boys’ College student
Scott Keay has been selected for the New Zealand Men’s Under 17 water polo team.
Scott, a lifeguard at Stadium 2000, is the only representative chosen from Marlborough and the South Island for the team. He will compete in a Tri Series Tournament 21-23rd September in Brisbane, then the National State Championships, September 26 – 30 in the Gold Coast.
Meanwhile, Koko Wong from Marlborough Girls’ College has been included in the NZ U15 Water Polo team where she
will also compete in the Australian State Championships.
New Zealand Water Polo (NZWP) became an independent National Sporting Organisation (NSO) in 1951, after being managed by the NZ Amateur Swimming Association for many years prior.
The 14 man squad is Blake Woods, Cooper Everett, Harry Irwin, Isaac Ancell, Jamie Durant, Jett Evans, Logan Gillbanks, Luca Williams, Paul Skoe, Riley Halstead, Rupert Flaetzer, Scott Keay and Benjamin Lowe.
Josh Bayes has withdrawn from the team due to injury. Benjamin Lowe will replace Josh and travel with the team to compete in Australia.
the left wing. His work rate was exceptional and says Sunday’s efforts came down to getting involved with ‘having his head up’, getting off his wing and looking for opportunities both in defence and attack.
“The primary job is to finish and lucky enough I had an opportunity to do that,” he says.
The Mako’s next game is a Round 7 clash against Waikato in Hamilton this Saturday, which is
not a shield game. They have two home games in Nelson to defend the shield on Wednesday, October 2 against Auckland. If successful, they play Taranaki on Saturday, October 6.
Scores: Tasman 28 (Timoci Tavatavanawai, Finlay Christie, Kyren Taumoefolau, Nic Sauira tries, Campbell Parata 2 pen, con) Wellington 15 (Tjay Clarke 2 tries, Jackson Garden Bachop pen, con). HT: 8-3 Tasman.
By Chris Valli
Tua Marina primary school is better resourced to teach their students about food and farming after winning ‘George the Farmer’ book sets in a recent competition run by agri lending specialist, Rabobank.
The competition – which ran in late July and early August – was open to all primary schools across New Zealand and attracted entries from around the country. The winning schools were informed of their success in mid-August and the educational book sets (made up of six ‘George the Farmer’ books) were delivered to the 100 winning schools earlier this month.
Rabobank New Zealand Head of Client Councils Jeffrey Morrison says this year’s competition was the second edition of the competition following its first iteration last year.
“In conjunction with our Client Council network, the bank developed the competition to improve knowledge about farming and food production among young Kiwis,” he says.
“We were really rapt with the response to the initial competition – which saw 45 sets of the books given away – and,
based on the huge volume of entries we received, it was pretty clear to us that there is strong demand from schools throughout the country for this type of agri-focused teaching resource.”
