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By Chris Valli
A vital community fundraiser full of emotion and energy is on the 2025 Cancer Society Marlborough calendar in March next year.
The 2025 Marlborough Relay for Life takes place at Lansdowne Park on Saturday, March 22 starting 4pm, ending Sunday, March 23 at 8am.
A fundraising goal of $125K is the focus for the event.
General Manager Greg Stretch says in previous Relay for Life events they have raised similar amounts, so have based the target on that.
“With a $125,000 target we are looking at a larger event to engage more participants, increase awareness, and offer more resources for those affected by cancer,” he says. The funds will directly support cancer patients and their families and promote cancer prevention initiatives across the region.
Greg firmly believes Relay for Life is not just an event but a powerful movement of hope and action. “We
are excited to bring our community together to not only raise vital funds but to also celebrate the strength of those who have fought cancer and those who continue to face it every day.”
“This is an event that brings the Marlborough community together for a cause that touches so many lives. Everyone is welcome to join in, either by participating, volunteering, or showing support by attending the event.”
Relay for Life starts with a Celebration Lap, led by people who currently have or previously had cancer and people who have supported or are currently supporting someone on their cancer journey.
The Relay for Life is named after the 24-hour walking and running event that started the global movement, where participants take turns walking around a track. In 1985, Dr. Gordon Klatt, a surgeon and American Cancer Society volunteer, walked and ran around a track in Tacoma, Washington for 24 hours
Cancer Society Marlborough General Manager Greg Stretch believes Relay for Life is not just an event but a powerful movement of hope and action. The 2025 Marlborough Relay for Life takes place at Lansdowne Park on Saturday, March 22 starting 4pm, ending Sunday, March 23 at 8am. Photo: Chris Valli
to raise money for cancer research. Teams can register now for Relay for Life Marlborough. Individuals or groups can sign up to participate, fundraise, or volunteer. Early registration is encouraged to ensure spots in the highly anticipated event.
For more details or to register go to https://relayforlife.org.nz
The 2025 Marlborough Relay for Life takes place at Lansdowne Park on Saturday, March 22 starting 4pm, ending Sunday, March 23 at 8am.
Continued from page 1.
Kiwi Rail CV and Passenger Delivery Manager Andrea Taylor says they proudly display nine fully decorated Christmas trees each year, which are set up by their dedicated team, led by Tania, their Team Leader.
“The decorations are put up in mid-November, and they have become a beloved tradition among our customers,” says Andrea.
From December 18 to December 22, Andrea says they will be inviting the local ladies acapella group, “The Belles,” to perform carols for their customers during the lunchtime Kaitaki sailings adding the festive entertainment is always well-received.
“We warmly invite everyone to come and enjoy our Christmas display this year,” says Andrea.
Our modern chapel, equipped with the latest technology, provides a warm and inviting atmosphere to say farewell to your loved one. Let us help you say goodbye with dignity and care.
By Chris Valli
Foodstuffs South Island stores have helped make Christmas a little brighter with a $12,500 boost to the Marlborough Community Foodbank.
The Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust, funded by local New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square store owner-operators, is providing the contribution to 29 organisations, just in time for Christmas, one of their busiest times of the year. The Trust has upped their contribution by an extra $50,000 this year.
Foodstuffs South Island stores are owned and operated by local grocers who serve and support their communities. Each store has close ties and networks within their community, and partner with a local foodbank or organisation so that any product that would otherwise be thrown out can be shared with those in the community who need it most.
“We know this time of the year can be tough for many people, so we’ve reached out to the local foodbanks and community organisations we support and partner with throughout the South Island to help spread some joy throughout our communities this holiday season,” says Lucy Boock, Chair of the Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust.
“We hope this contribution makes a meaningful difference to the communities we serve this Christmas.”
Last year, Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust donated $200,000 to local foodbanks and food rescue organisations in the lead-up to Christmas. In the 2024 financial year, the Trust donated over $406k to South Island communities.
Currently, 90 percent of New World and PAK’nSAVE stores across the country support and partner with a food rescue organisation or foodbank.
Lucy Boock, Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust Chair and Kirsty Elstone, Christchurch City Mission Foodbank.
“We know this time of the year can be tough for many people, so we’ve reached out to the local foodbanks we support to help spread some joy throughout our communities this holiday season,” says Lucy.
MARLBOROUGH FOODBANK APPEAL: Ray White Picton's Hiram Taylor, Jess Rea, Michaela McClintock and two-year-old Blake Cunniffe with their Marlborough Foodbank donation recently. Photo: Chris Valli
Marlborough Museum
Sunday fun day
The Marlborough Museum is getting into the Christmas spirit with a fun day this weekend. Activities include Classic Cartoons (in museum theatre), Christmas Carols (in the historic chapel) and Santa’s fire engine.
The event is this Sunday, December 15 from 11am – 4pm. Gold coin donation.
Schoolboy approached by unknown couple
Blenheim police are seeking help to locate two people following a suspicious incident in which a 10-yearold boy was approached after school by an unknown couple in Blenheim.
Police said the boy was approached by a man and a woman on Howick Road, Redwoodtown, about 3.10pm on Thursday, December 5.
The woman was described as being 30 to 40 years old with shoulder-length blond hair. The man was said to be wearing a long-sleeved jacket with a hood that was up and black kneelength shorts with a Nike logo on the right thigh.
Anyone who saw a vehicle or two people matching this description is asked to contact police on 111 or 105 after the fact, with the reference number 241205/5893.
Call in to the Marlborough District Council and pick up a Marlborough Summer Activity Guide from Customer Services.
Created by their Welcoming Communities team, it features a guide to summer activities, maps and Library information.
to all our clients and tradies for your support during 2024. Wishing you all the best for the festive season and the New Year!
We are closed for the holidays and will reopen on January 13th.
Santa Claus is on his way to Marlborough, and he’s making his final checks ahead of his big delivery night on Christmas Eve.
From Monday, December 16 - to Thursday, December 19, Santa will be spreading festive joy across the region, accompanied by his trusty Men at Work sleigh and the Blenheim and Renwick Volunteer Fire Brigades and Blenheim Community Patrol.
This beloved annual event will see Santa visiting neighbourhoods, waving to children, and bringing the Christmas spirit to life. Listen out for his favourite Christmas songs filling the streets as he tours each evening, spreading cheer and goodwill to everyone he meets. Santa’s live tracker will be posted on the Santa On Tour NZ Facebook page each evening.
Two hundred professionals, including overseas delegates and a group from the Korean Water Resources Association, converged on Marlborough recently for the New Zealand Hydrological Conference. The annual gathering, held by the New Zealand Hydrological Society, explored the theme ‘Securing Our Water Future’ and was held at the Marlborough Events Centre in Blenheim. Attendees at the conference had the opportunity to digest technical papers and listen to keynote speakers, including some focused on the Wairau River and aquifer system and local water resource management. Participants also enjoyed field trips highlighting some of the collaborative projects underway.
By Chris Valli
Endeavour Homes Blenheim believes in the sentiment of ‘love where you live’. It’s apt then that the feline festive feels have encapsulated the team in their Christmas themed show home.
Endeavour Homes Owner Manager Nadine Norton says along with a couple of her friends, they have combined their respective Christmas collections and décor and displayed them in the show home at 26 Rose Manor Drive, Springlands. The majority of the decorations have come from Vanessa Scobie.
“We decided to go for a worthwhile charity and decided on Marlborough Four Paws,” she says.
“We just want to bring some joy to the season, we’ve had a variety of people come through already. People are excited and appreciative.”
The display includes eight trees. Locals wanting to see the Christmas display are asked to bring a gold coin donation or some pet food for MFP.
Marlborough Four Paws was established in 2017 with the goal of providing welfare to animals in need with the aim to reduce animal suffering, protect local bird life and mitigate the spread of animal disease by preventing the birth of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens.
The beautiful show home in Rose Manor Drive is also the Endeavour Homes office which has been utilised for two years. The team consists of Cheryl McNamara, Designer Simon Reeve and Construction Manager Barry.
The display is on until December 20.
Endeavour Homes Blenheim have been in Marlborough since 2001.
Darwin
By Chris Valli
Pure Events Marlborough has had a great response from community groups with the Blenheim Christmas Parade fully booked with community floats.
The parade, as in previous years, is in conjunction with the Marlborough District Council. Pure Events Marlborough Manager Katrina Lange says they changed things up this year which included the date to Saturday, December 14 to collaborate with Christmas in the Park.
The parade route will remain the same but the big red man will continue his journey after the parade on to Pollard Park to open the concert.
“This will enable all participants and the parade audience to pop along to Pollard Park and continue to enjoy a festive evening of entertainment and refreshments,” says Katrina.
“We have had a great response from community groups, charities, businesses, social groups all getting together and having fun with their peers creating a memorable float or walking group. All with the theme of Christmas, but we have encouraged groups to let their imagination run wild and get creative.
“We have had a great response from Community groups, charities, businesses, social groups – all getting together and having fun with their peers
creating a memorable float or walking group. All with the theme of Christmas, but we have encouraged groups to let their imagination run wild and get creative. We’re so excited to be fully booked and ready to roll out a fabulous Christmas Extravaganza Parade,” says Event Manager, Katrina Lange. Miniature horse enthusiast Rose Butt will be involved in the parade with four – five miniature horses dressed up for the occasion. A miniature horse is a horse that is Under 38 inches (96.52 centimetres).
Miniature horse enthusiast Rose Butt will be involved in the parade with four – five miniature horses dressed up for the occasion. “My wee Dove is well known through a lot of the kids so sharing her and her friends to everyone brings us joy, we love to share these guys with as many kids as we can,” she says.
“They come in all sorts of colours and have a unique personality. They can pull a cart, jump, and do obstacles…. some of the bigger type can be ridden by small children,” she says. Rose says the opportunity to be involved in this year’s parade stems from when she used to do pony parties and loved seeing the smiles and joy on the kids’ faces. “I wanted to extend that to everyone who may not have seen a wee horse. My wee Dove is well known through a lot of the kids so sharing her and her friends to everyone brings us joy, we love
to share these guys with as many kids as we can.”
The pre-parade concert will start at 3pm with music, kid’s stalls and photos with Santa (take your own pictures).
James McKenzie, organizer of Christmas in the Park says he is delighted with the collaboration with two hours of entertainment from the Marlborough Brass Band, and the Mitre 10 Mega Children’s Choir. “Bring a picnic or buy from our multiple food vendors onsite. Churchill Glade, Pollard Park 5pm to 7pm. Feliz Navidad,” says James.
Marlborough Airport has, alongside Wellington International Airport won the Sustainability Initiative of the Year award for their joint bid to host New Zealand’s first all-electric aircraft with Air New Zealand.
The win came at the annual NZ Airports Hui in Hamilton, a conference recognising excellence in achievements for airports and supporting industries. Bidding for this trial attracted strong interest from most airports across New Zealand. Both Wellington and Marlborough airports share Air New Zealand’s ambition to accelerate the change needed to decarbonise aviation, while keeping New Zealanders connected. This trial route is the first major step in lowering emissions for domestic aviation to help meet New Zealand’s international targets.
Students from four Marlborough primary schools recently put their artistic skills to work, creating a collection of welcoming posters for the region’s newest arrival of RSE workers. Council’s Welcoming Communities programme led the project, working alongside NZ Ethical Employers, REAP Marlborough, Vakameasina, Wine Marlborough and Whiringa Ltd to bring it to life.
Many local businesses are now displaying the welcoming posters, created by students from Springlands, Redwoodtown, Fairhall and Wairau Valley schools.
By Chris Valli
With Christmas approaching, there’s no better reason to take the shopping list off the “to do” list and spend some quality time at the Vines Village monthly market.
The market features Marlborough artisans on the third Wednesday of the month. The Wednesday market from 4:30 - 7:30pm also features local producers and entertainment along with the retail and tasting rooms.
This month will feature the Marlborough District Brass Band, the Marlborough Sounds Chorus, and a special guest from the North Pole.
Members of the Marlborough Sounds
Chorus achieved their highest score in its history at the National Barbershop convention, held at the St James Theatre, Wellington in October. Formed in 1995, the Marlborough Sounds Chorus has been singing for nearly 30 years.
Event Organizer Sarah Fix says the market is an opportunity to provide a mid-week activity for the local community and regional visitors alike as a lot of events are focused on the weekend.
Sarah says the Vines Village businesses wanted to reconnect with the community as many changes have happened over recent years.
The next market is Wednesday, December 18.
By Chris Valli
Marlborough Art Gallery is set to host the highly anticipated ‘Soaring through the Sky - Dunhuang Art Exhibition’ from December 15 - December 19
The event promises to be a captivating journey through the exquisite art of Dunhuang, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage and artistic splendour of the ancient Silk Road.
The exhibition, co-organised by the Marlborough Chinese Community and the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Christchurch, will showcase a stunning collection of artworks that celebrate the beauty and history of Dunhuang, a city renowned for its historical significance and artistic contributions. Attendees can expect a visual feast, with pieces that highlight the intricate and vibrant art forms that flourished along the Silk Road.
“We are delighted to invite the community to join us for this special event,” says the exhibition organizers. “This exhibition is a testament to the enduring legacy of Dunhuang’s art and its impact on cultural exchange and artistic expression.”
Visitors will have the chance to explore the exhibition at their own pace, with opportunities to learn more about the historical context of the artworks on display.
The exhibition is expected to attract art
‘Soaring
enthusiasts, historians, and members of the local community, all eager to explore the rich tapestry of Dunhuang’s artistic heritage.
Two hundred professionals, including overseas delegates and a group from the Korean Water Resources Association, converged on Marlborough recently for the New Zealand Hydrological Conference.
The annual gathering, run by the New Zealand Hydrological Society, explored the theme ‘Securing Our Water Future’ and was held at the Marlborough Events Centre in Blenheim.
In her welcoming address Mayor Nadine Taylor said this was an important overarching theme because “the work on how to secure our water future has never been more important.”
“In New Zealand, ongoing extreme weather events, the impacts of climate change and the need to manage our water resources sustainably, including both quantity and quality, highlight the significant complexities in securing our water future. It most certainly will require both adaptation and collaboration,” she said.
“Integrated management of our rivers has never been more important for councils such as ours. We recognise and acknowledge our role and the need for long-term planning for sea level rise, climate change and extreme weather.
If you’re new to Marlborough and wondering what’s on offer during the summer months, call in to Council (15 Seymour Street, Blenheim) and pick up a Marlborough Summer Activity Guide for Newcomers from Customer Services.
Created by our Welcoming Communities team, they feature a guide to summer activities, maps and Library information, as well as details about summer newcomer meet ups and the Marlborough Multicultural Centre.
The Council office is open from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 4.30pm.
Picton Preschool and Gill McFarlane are the Marlborough winners in the national ShakeOut competition, run in conjunction with ShakeOut last month.
ShakeOut is an earthquake and tsunami drill that takes place across the world to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake.
Picton Preschool won a gift pack including first aid training vouchers, a Bunnings gift card, furniture straps and training booklets while Gill won a grab bag, safety booklets and a solar powerbank or first aid kit.
And we are committed to investing into that planning and research for the good of Marlborough and New Zealand,” Mayor Taylor said.
Attendees at the conference had the opportunity to digest technical papers
and listen to keynote speakers, including some focused on the Wairau River and aquifer system and local water resource management. Participants also enjoyed field trips highlighting some of the collaborative projects underway.
In accordance with the navigation bylaws, clause 3.2. and 3.11, Picton inner harbour (highlighted zone in photo) is temporarily reserved and has a temporary speed bylaw uplifting for the Rarangi Surf Lifesaving Club’s Maritime Festival demonstration on 20 January 2025 from 10.30am until 3.30pm
For safety reasons, during this time, unauthorised vessels and persons are requested to keep clear of the reserved area as directed by event officials. The navigation bylaw can be viewed on the Council website www.marlborough. govt.nz - search for navigation bylaws. If you would like to know more about the temporary exclusion zone, please contact
the Harbourmaster by email: harbours@marlborough.govt.nz or Ph. 03 520 7400.
Seagulls are increasingly common in town centres around New Zealand these days, including Blenheim.
Everyone has a responsibility to try to deter gulls and pigeons - café patrons should not leave food unattended.
Building owners are responsible for maintaining their properties and many have installed spikes and other protective measures. Council uses an electromagnetic deterrent at Te Kahu o Waipuna library/art gallery and carries out regular footpath cleaning throughout the Blenheim and Picton CBDs.
Council also provides wheelie bins to all CBD businesses which means rubbish bags are no longer left on the street for gulls to get into.
DOC is responsible for native bird protection - red billed and black billed gulls are both nationally ‘at risk, declining’ species. Please go to www.doc. govt.nz for further information.
What are you doing for your work Christmas party - what day of the week is it on?
Enny Leong
I’m working for Omega Seafood and our Christmas party is this Friday at Bamboo Garden.
Brought to you by...
Ainsley Bell, Renwick School Senco/ESOL Coordinator
Next Wednesday, December 18 and we are going to the Old Barn and Vineyard in Riverlands.
Karen Bull, The Full Noise (strategic design)
We are a very small team but a nice lunch in the Vines Village might be in order.
Cheryl Alderlieste, Spring Creek School Principal.
We are having lunch at Bladen Wines next Tuesday, November 17, such a beautiful place. We always do our secret Santa gifts then too.
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
Six and a bit years back, a Northland gal decided that something had to be done to end the epidemic of rotten teeth among kids in her province. She got toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste dished out to a primary class in her local school, and supervised the cleaning of teeth once every school day for a solid twelve months. The results, announced in 2019, showed an impressive improvement in dental health. The kids had taken on board the lesson that cleaning your teeth made you look better and saved you from the wretched pain of toothache. This was of course grassroots action, anathema to every pollie and even more so to their bureaucrats. Four years went by, and it was announced that earlier this year a Mainland gal had done this same thing and of course got just the same kind of results over a twelve month period. Ok, some action by our rulers. It’s been announced that each and every one of us is to be fined via our rates, renters of course included, if our council don’t employ the al-
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.
Mike Godsall, CBD Eatery/The Tuck Shop
As we do catering for Christmas functions this time of year we will have another amazing race/car rally late February/early March. Last
Our world is changing and we need a long term plan setting out what we should begin to do for our future generations.
Climate change is imminent so we must face facts because cycles of our world climate happen so the “scorched earth” cycle that we are moving towards will happen. Animalsand maybe people of prehistoric times - died during past climate changes because they did not or could not adapt and simply became extinct so do not let this happen to us.
uminium smelters’ hard to dispose of Sodium Fluoride in our drink and food processing water supplies. We all know that rubbing this chemical on our teeth greatly strengthens the enamel. The point is that the fluoride is a very effective fungicide, insecticide and rodenticide, so much better rubbed on and then spat out than coursing through our bloodstream, surely? Snag is, following what those couple of good gals had done is obviously cheaper than making a bulletproof system to get fluoride in a minute dose into the water supplies, following which the bottle water marketers will make a bit of a killing.
A mind bending fact; the resources to get one litre of bottled H2O on your benchtop would produce ten thousand, yes ten thousand litres of mains water to your kitchen tap.
Amused to see the Ockers are getting trained cops, nurses etc while we get the crims they have trained up…. Merry Christmas to one and all.
Regards, Bill Holvey
Our earth circles the sun about each day but cyclically over many years moves further away to place us in an ice age then closer for a scorched earth - which we are moving to now albeit very slowly and we do not have
Further to Peter Auret’s letter last week, while one would certainly concur with waving a Swastika is probably a step too far, the fact remains that the world court has clearly ruled against Israel for committing genocide against the Palestinians, as have the United Nations over many sessions.
It should be remembered that the birth of the Israeli nation was created in blood. The British, in 1946, referred to them as terrorists, leaving the Palestinians to their fate after the Israeli freedom fighters had bombed the King David Hotel killing over a hundred British soldiers and innocent civilians. They later went on to kill 1000s of Palestinians in the West bank, displacing over 750,000.
the ability to change this.
So at great cost we may be able to delay this cyclic change by reducing emissions but this is simply delaying the inevitable and maybe not being possible to have a significant affect. In fact we may be better to spend our money on preparing for the change that is going to happen no matter what.
We have spent millions of dollars on Antarctic projects and infrastructure for science but what do we who finance this hear? Nothing. When in fact, with their drilling results they should be able to make quite accurate predictions about the if’s, when’s and by how much, and we should hear about all this.
Coley Ellison
It must be remembered that the only reason why Yasser Arafat didn’t sign the Oslo peace accord with Ehud Barak, who was later convicted of bribery, was because Israel would not grant the return of all those displaced, feeling it would overrun their young nation. Today, it is plainly obvious that Israel does not want Palestinians to have their own state. And now, thanks to Obama refusing to take action against the rogue nation of Syria, Russia and Iran have moved in to fill the vacuum, leading to 100,000s innocent civilians killed and millions permanently displaced and another on-going war. Chris Davies Picton
In reply I would like to ask anyone how they would react if New Zealand faced the same sort of barbaric invasion and hostage taking that Israel had to endure. We would only care that the enemy was neutralised and the hostages brought home safely. Israel is fighting a war for its survival that it never started. Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran have repeatedly stated they would do it again and again until Israel is destroyed and every Jew eliminated.
Far from intending to wipe out the residents of Gaza, Israel has been shunting them around Gaza to keep them safe from harm, giving warnings through leaflet drops, radio, loudspeaker, internet etc. War is war and civilians are always casualties unfortunately, however, in this war the civilian to combatant casualty rate is lower than in any recent Middle East conflict. It is Hamas that has been supplying the UN with figures so their numbers cannot be trusted. The war could have ended on 8 October 2023, if the hostages had been returned. It is particularly repugnant that the UN has a resolution calling for a ceasefire without the
return of hostages as a condition.
The other false allegation is that Israel is an apartheid state. Israel is a multiracial democracy with free speech, rule of law, freedom of religion and conscience and uniquely in the Middle East equality for all including women, gays, trans-Arabs and other minorities. Arabs in Israel comprise 2 million people with full voting rights, access to healthcare, education and other services. Arabs were part of the previous government in Israel. Some of Israel’s most senior judges are Arab, one of whom recently sentenced a prominent politician to gaol. Most Arabs are happier living in Israel than elsewhere in the Middle East, unsurprisingly.
The ICC case is an attempt to criminalise Israel’s right to defend itself. It is stacked with people hostile to Israel. Democratic Israel is singled out when tyrannies like Iran, China, Russia, Syria, Yemen, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Turkey, Myanmar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, etc face little or no scrutiny. The UN as a serious body for justice and peace has become a sickly joke.
Peter Auret
WHODUNNIT IN HAVELOCK? Havelock Community Theatre Stagefright cast from left Kristina Vallium, ‘Blenheim Star’ Reporter (Suzanne Grenfell), The Butler (Don Pointon), Judy Darnell/Maud (Sarah Nathan), Dave/Giles Pyles (Rick Edmonds), Kareen/Detective Farnham (Shalom Del’Monte-Aberhart), Detective Inspector Sebastian Winslow (Chris Valli), Lynne/Lady Winceyette (Ursula Paul), Susan/Director/Ethel the Maid - (Jennie Johnson) and Phyllis, work experience photographer (Ruth Bray). Absent: Trevor/Lord Winceyette - Ian Cameron
By Chris Valli
The script’s plot for Havelock Community Theatre’s upcoming play in the New Year has more holes than a badly knitted jumper. Stage Fright, a comedy murder mystery, is coming to the stage in late January in Havelock and at the Boathouse Theatre.
Director Julia Pointon says during their winter production of ‘Newbies’ a cast member lent her a novel to read; a modern-day murder mystery with the protagonists being members of an English amateur dramatics group. Julia says it didn’t take long for the cogs to begin whirring and to start thinking that her next script could be a comedy murder mystery performed by a fictional Havelock Community Theatre group.
“The seeds were sown for Stage Fright, a play-within-a play, set in Havelock with eccentric characters, some truly terrible jokes and a few surprises,” she says.
Julia says punters will see many of the usual suspects in the whodunit with some familiar faces along with some new ones too. “The combination of experience alongside fresh ideas and perspectives is proving to be a winning combination as we work through the rehearsal process,” she says.
When asked what sets Havelock Community Theatre apart in the region’s theatre landscape Julia is adamant they’re a diverse but close-knit bunch, thrown to-
gether by a desire to challenge themselves, entertain others and not be afraid to make twits of themselves on stage.
“We’re mostly Havelock-based, but we do have members from the wider Marlborough region. Our Production Manager for Stage Fright lives in Christchurch - very cosmopolitan,” she says. “One thing that stands us apart is the unwavering support we receive from the Havelock community.
From The Gallery Havelock who handle local ticket sales, to the Havelock cafes and restaurants who’ve sponsored our opening Gala Nights, and also Havelock Community Association who give us very favourable terms for the use of the Town Hall.
“Then there are the props borrowed from Pelorus Area Health Trust’s Havelock charity shop, the seemingly endless team of locals happy to help out front of house, and not forgetting our loyal and enthusiastic local audiences.”
As for why locals should see Stage Fright Julia refers to Stage Fright’s very own local journalist for the Blenheim Star, Kristina Valium: “The script’s plot does not hold up to close scrutiny and has more holes than a badly knitted jumper. But, aside from a gruesome murder, there are moments of warmth, hilarity and pure genius,” she says.
Blenheim Sun readers can purchase tickets from trybooking.co.nz
A Google search of Blenheim’s Thornton Church brings up a story about young local musicians wanting to ‘bring the funk back’. Chris Valli talks to Blenheim musician Thornton Church about the funk and why music matters.
On first impression, the moustache is an intelligent look and suggests a character behind the character. Thornton Church reckons music makes him feel many things on any given day and is a platform and vehicle to express and create.
In 2011, a local yarn in the paper, referred to band members, vocalist Robert Riach, 17, guitarist Chris Swan, 16, and Church brother’s bass guitarist Corban, 13, and Thornton, 15, hopeful of going onto the Smokefree Rockquest National Finals in 2011.
13 years later, Thornton still wants to bring the funk with his band Grip Tape and alongside Papercity (Auckland based) and The Rainfall (Christchurch based) who have teamed up this summer in what is marketed as ‘some unforgettable high energy shows’. The nationwide summer tour will see six gigs and will cover a wide range of genres from sad pop to pop punk and rock.
The 28-year-old has been playing music for 22 years and played his first drum kit as a six-year-old. Thornton says the personnel in his band and others have known each other through various networking, ‘a very long time’ and had discussions over the years for a tour with mates. However, there was never a time when things had lined up, until now.
“We kinda said, if we don’t do it now, we’ll never do it,” he says. “We’re all at different stages, some of us have kids, and some of us don’t.”
Grip Tape consists of former Queen Charlotte College student and Nelson
based musician Sam Edmonds, and Jack Rollinson, an accomplished guitar player and music producer from Nelson. The logistics of the summer tour will come from their own respective pockets including accommodation and travel. The reality, Thornton says is that the tour is not going to be profitable but an intention and singular focus on giving punters a gig “they can really enjoy and not have to go out and spend $60.”
“It’s an opportunity to hang out with our friends and play the music that we love playing and showcase that you can do a tour, irrespective of whether you get funding or not. We had heaps of people messaging us in Tauranga, saying come play here, and it’s pretty awesome.”
“We kinda said, if we don’t do it now, we’ll never do it,”
Thornton, an auto painter, has been inspired by various musicians and some include Californian rock band Green Day and Blink 182. He even has a tattoo of the Blink 182 logo near his wrist. At Marlborough Boys’ College he studied musical theory and studied musical score and has dabbled in a few college productions including Cabaret at the Boathouse in 2011, directed by the late Duncan
Thornton Church and his band Grip Tape are part of a nationwide summer tour and will play at the Anderson Theatre on Saturday, December 21.
“We had been looking for a Marlborough venue who tries to understand what an original band is trying to do,” he says.
Whiting and musical director Con O’Brien. His father Kerry Church was a well-known Marlborough musician for 30 years and died when Thornton was young. Kerry was in a band called Itchycoo Park and used to sell out Redwoodtown Tavern back in the day.
The opportunity to play at the ASB Theatre’s Anderson Theatre for the summer tour is ideal he says, especially for small concerts and intimate gatherings and came about through Thornton reaching out to Sales and Marketing Manager, Tamsin Cooper.
The space can cater from 80 – 100 people and is designed with adaptability and versatility, lending itself to boutique theatre
and concerts, without having to compromise on quality and production. With no prescribed seating or staging, the 12 x 12 metre flat floor can be set up for various arts or music groups how they see fit.
The shell for the Anderson Theatre was built as part of the original construction.
“We had been looking for a Marlborough venue who tries to understand what an original band is trying to do,” he says.
“The theatre was something that I thought was unachievable to be honest and too hard.”
“We would welcome gigs like Thornton’s band and others,” says Tamsin. “It’s about utilisation across various arts groups or
musicians. I walked Creative New Zealand through when I first started in my role and they said it was an incredible space and they didn’t have enough small venues in the country like this and we needed to let people know about the Anderson Theatre.”
The six gig tour starts on Friday, December 20 in Christchurch, Nelson on January 16, Wellington January 30, and Tauranga January 31, finishing in Auckland on February 1.
The three bands will perform at the Anderson Theatre, at the ASB on Saturday, December 21. Tickets can be purchased at www.eventfinda.co.nz/2024/ summer-tour-24-25-papercitygrip-tape-the-rainfall/blenheim
By George Elder
Ask yourself some questions. How did you learn about nutrition?
Did your mother tell you not to put too much salt on your food?
Did dad tell you that you will get holes in your teeth if you eat too much sugar?
Probably.
Did you see food packaging in the supermarket proclaiming “low cholesterol” and “low fat” or “healthy whole grains”?
Did you read magazine articles claiming that meat can cause cancer?
Probably.
In the history of nutrition people have been eating meat for thousands of years.
Isotope testing of excavated bones has shown that meat was the bulk of the diet for many early groups and still is for some traditional peoples. Why is it just now that we are being advised to avoid it? Strange! Why does Hong Kong, the country with the highest meat consumption per person in the world also have the longest life expectancy? Who knew?
We are told vegetable oils, which
do not come from vegetables but from seeds, are healthy but have only been around for about 100 years, since we had the technology to extract them, which coincides with a period of increasingly serious poor health, obesity, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, macular degeneration, etc.
The growth in seed oil consumption closely matches the increase in these diseases.
In the USA between 2000 and 2020 seed oil consumption increased by 214 percent, from 340 calories per day to 720.
Obesity went from 20 percent to 42 percent.
Coincidence?
Why is it that a 2009-2016 survey of the health of Americans, found that only 12.2 percent were metabolically healthy and that for people over 65 only 5 percent were healthy.
All the others had some indication of metabolic syndrome?
Alarming!
Why is it that more than half the people admitted to hospital following a heart attack have lower than average cholesterol?
Why do elderly people, particularly women, with higher LDL cholesterol live longer? ( bmjopen.
bmj.com/content/6/6/e010401]
Type-2 diabetes was called “adult
Unwind and entertain seamlessly in style and comfort, right in your own home.
onset diabetes” but today more and more young people are showing up with this devastating conditionvery puzzling indeed.
Why is it that traditional groups like the Pima Indians, the Australian Aborigines, and the Inuit had dramatic reductions in their health when they switched from their traditional diet to a western type diet based on refined grains, flour, sugar, and vegetable oils?
Why do we believe low-salt is healthy, when good research shows low-salt increases mortality risk?
Do all these questions have the same answer?
We have ultra-processed food.
We have seed oils.
We have lots of sugar.
Our food is much more refined.
We have very high levels of carbohydrates in our diet.
There is a saying: ‘humans are the only species smart enough to design our own food and stupid enough to eat it.’
Get free nutrition guidance or my book at www.takebackyrhealth. com . Seek professional medical advice before dietary changes, particularly if on medication.
George Elder, Diet Research Reviewer, Diploma in Nutrition. “The best thing you can do for your health is eat better”.
• Have a fear of smiling?
• Unable to eat what you want? • Sore gums?
• Dentures shift, tilt and wander?
• Trouble speaking clearly?
Yvonne & Ian wish all their patients a
9 Tremorne Ave, Blenheim
By Kjetil Ostli and Simen Saetre, published by Patagonia.
By Tony Orman
‘The New Fish’ authors Norwegians Simen Saetre and Kjetil Ostli carried out a five year study and investigation, beginning in 2016, evaluating the effects of salmon farming, particularly in Norway but also Chile and Australia.
Norway’s salmon farming venture all began with enthusiasm and fanfare. Norway’s minister of fisheries boasted “Norwegians should be proud of their farmed salmon as the French are of their wine,” relate the authors and then add “As someone said, however, aquaculture is the best industry in the worlduntil you look closer.”
The pair did look much closer and found an industry beset with problems. Since the advent of salmon farming and the emergence of difficulties, a number of countries have responded to stricter controls even to the point of prohibition such as in southern Argentina and the US state of Washington.
“The salmon industry has a poor reputation,” write the authors, “with criticism from the Norwegian Veterinary
Institute, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, the Office of the Auditor General and from veterinarians who work in the industry.”
Even so the vested interest salmon farm industry fights back, “armed with lawyers, lobbyists, PR advisors and industry-financed research.”
It’s a gripping David and Goliath situation. ‘The New Fish’ candidly spells out the conclusions from the investigation making for an engaging and engrossing read.
The New Fish can be purchased from: https://www. patagonia.co.nz/collections/ books or through Paper-Plus.
By Joanna Glover
Marlborough wine producer Balvonie New Zealand, has released Marlborough’s first Prosecco from Glera grapes planted in the Rapaura sub-region.
The 2023 Balvonie Prosecco has been a three-year project for owners Ben and Helen McLauchlan, who first fell in love with Prosecco while living in the UK. The well-loved wine is made from a little-known grape called Glera, widely planted in Italy, but largely unknown in New Zealand.
“Global Prosecco sales have boomed in the last decade. Following a year of research, we were confident that the Glera vine would grow well here in Marlborough. We wanted to try something different, so we gave it a nudge,” says Ben McLauchlan.
The deep fertile soil of the Balvonie vineyard has proven to be the ideal location for growing Glera, producing naturally large bunches of grapes in perfect health.
“Glera has a loose architecture, and we have seen no disease. It has a long growing season, with an early bud burst and harvest around the same time as Sauvignon Blanc,” says Ben.
The Glera grapes used in the Balvonie Prosecco come from vine cuttings imported from Italy, then propagated by Ormond Nurseries in Marlborough.
“After watching the global growth in Prosecco sales, we wanted to explore its potential for the New Zealand wine industry. I believe Glera is well suited to our growing conditions, the long, cool ripening period allows full flavour development, and the vine is vigorous, producing a good crop load,” says Marcus Wickham, Ormond Nurseries General Manager.
Glera grapes for the Balvonie Prosecco are hand harvested, and crafted into a still wine in tank, then bottled for a second fermentation, using the Méthode Traditionnelle technique, renowned for producing persistent and elegant bubbles.
“Glera has a beautiful freshness, with bright citrus and green apple flavours. It is a naturally lower alcohol alternative to many sparkling wines,” says Ben.
The name Balvonie is steeped in history. The McLauchlan family settled in Marlborough back in 1859, with Ben’s grandfather establishing his own farm in 1935, naming it Balvonie as a nod to his Scottish heritage.
That parcel of land has been extended over the years and, today, Balvonie New Zealand is an established vineyard and a proud partner with First Light Foods to finish grass fed Wagyu beef.
In 2024, Marlborough Boys’ College has continued to emphasize vocational pathways. This approach encourages students to explore employment and study opportunities in six major industries: Manufacturing and Technology, Construction, and Infrastructure, Creative, Primary and Services Industries, and Social and Community Services.
For MBC students this has included a good representation across the Top of the South Trades Academy (TOTSA) courses, as well as strong numbers on the Gateway Program. Both programmes involve Year 12 and 13 students, usually completing a day per week of ‘out of school learning’, gaining hands-on work experience in their chosen fields.
This year’s Gateway programme has involved 61 students and over 65 different work placements including those in engineering, building, electrical, plumbing, paint and panel, automotive, diving and youth work. This year also included a first with 2 students being given the chance through Te Whatu Ora to work alongside medical professionals at Wairau Hospital.
Further to this there have been another 21 students completing TOTSA trades courses in Wine Cellar Operations, Automotive, Carpentry, Electrical and Manaaki Tāpoi Cultural Tourism courses. The results achieved through both these programmes have again been excellent. Not only have these young men received practical opportunities, but they have also completed theory papers related to their chosen industry, meaning many have achieved upwards of 20 credits towards their NCEA Level 2 and 3 Qualifications. An example of this being through attending an industry standard two-day Health & Safety course with ‘Safety n Action’ or ‘Industry Training Solutions,’ to help get them more work ready.
As a direct result of participating in these programmes, some students have achieved apprenticeships and offers of full-time employment, while others are going on to study tertiary courses at the likes of ARA and NMIT Polytechnics. Automotive students for example may choose to pursue a Level 3 pretrade certificate with NMIT or alternatively go straight into the industry where they can begin a Level 4 apprenticeship, under the guidance of their employer and an Industry Training Organisation, such as MITO. Another key cog in the success of these
RIGHT: Year 12 student Ronan Manunui receiving his award at the TOTSA Prizegiving at NMIT’s Budge Street campus for the ‘Manaaki Tāpoi Level 2 Top Student’.
students is the ‘MBC Driver Education program.’ This includes 110 students in Years 12-13 who are doing a ‘Careers Development’ class. Each class completes a 20-hour driver education unit regardless of whether they have a license or not, with the overall goal of helping the students become more ‘confident and competent’ drivers. Unlike a defensive driving course, our program allows the students to gain valuable credits towards NCEA level 2 & 3. In addition to this 20-hour course, the careers staff have assisted some extra 30 students across the school to gain their Learners Driver’s Licence.
While we wish to celebrate the success of all our learners, there were two major award winners in the vocational studies areas. The first of these went to Year 13 student Jack Frisken, who was recipient of the ‘CATE Marlborough Vocational Excellence Award,’ This nationwide award comes with a prize of $500 and sits alongside the Dux Litterum, as one of our premier academic awards. Jack has excelled in his vocational classes
at school, which has included completing more than 30 related credits to his electrical placement.
Jack has also been part of the Gateway program and was placed with Aotea Electric. Jacks feedback from the placement was all marked as ‘Excellent,’ with his employer commenting that, “Jack is highly rated amongst the staff and has impressed with the way he gets to work early and shows initiative. He listens well and has shown enthusiasm to learn.” Jack has now started full time work with Aotea and will commence his apprenticeship in January.
Our other significant award is the ‘Gateway Student of The Year.’ This went to Samuel Hole who has been on a Gateway placement at Spring Creek Engineering. Sam’s employer commented that they were particularly impressed with his initiative and reliability, always showing up on time and being prepared to do whatever is asked of him. Sam too has had a fine year academically, achieving 116 credits in total towards
NCEA Level 2 and 3.
Other notable winners of vocational based awards included Year 12 student Ronan Manunui who received the Top Student for Manaaki Tāpoi Level 2. This course is run as part of Trades Academy program by Whenua Iti Outdoors and consists of students completing 4x four-day block courses where they participate in a range of cultural activities that focus on key elements of the Māori culture and how they are interpreted in cultural tourism experiences.
Finally, it is important to acknowledge the outstanding work of the careers staff at Marlborough Boys’ College as it would not be possible to achieve these great results and create so many practical working opportunities for the students without their dedication. The team of Tracy Quigley, Gareth Pugh, Adrienne Kircher, Nigel Timpson, Darlene Purdie, Aimee Pickles, and Eddie Van der Westhuizen have all made valuable contributions to the pathway development of these young men.
When you were a child, what did you dream of doing when you grew up?
7-year-old Kyle from the Philippines said, “I want to play basketball.” But for Kyle, his dream was slipping away… because he was going needlessly blind from cataracts.
Worldwide, three out of four people are needlessly blind, or are living with a visual impairment that could be treated or prevented. Their hearts are breaking, but there is nothing they can do – the cost of surgery is beyond their means.
By helping to restore the sight of children, like Kyle, you are giving children a far brighter future: the chance to go to school, to learn a trade, to put severe poverty behind them – all through sending a gift towards 45 life-changing minutes of sight-restoring surgery!
Please will you consider a gift of $35, or an amount of your choosing, to give the Miracle of Sight to adults and children, like Kyle, in the world’s poorest places. Your generosity today will make a transformative difference, turning blindness into sight.
Drawing on more than 110 years of experience, and driven by its Christian values, cbm (Christian Blind Mission) works alongside people with disabilities in the world’s poorest places to transform lives and build inclusive communities where everyone can enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential. cbm seeks to change attitudes, practices and policies that lead to marginalisation, exclusion and poverty because of disability.
To help children like Kyle, scan the QR code using your mobile phone camera or go to www.cbmnz.org.nz/kyle
trusted building company, specialising in New Builds, Light Commercial and Renovations across the region.
Darrell, Tina, and the Mag & Turbo Blenheim team had an official opening of a new and expanded retail space at the weekend, located next to Coupland’s Bakery in the old Blue Penguin store.
The new retail showroom boasts a comfortable customer waiting area, as well as a hot desk for any professionals who want to set up at a desk, get their laptop and cell phone operating and get some work done to minimise downtime while the Mag & Turbo team get their vehicle sorted.
All stores are 100 percent locally owned and operated by car people living their passion through their work.
“Unlike some of our competitors, we are not owned by any tyre manufacturing company, meaning we can provide a better range of options throughout our large supply network,” says Darrell.
“This means we are able to provide a perfect solution for our customers based on what they need. We like to offer a good, better and best option to the customer after asking questions to qualify what the customer is using the vehicle for, what they need from a tyre, and what budget they are working with.
“Our point of difference is giving a selection rather than just one option. It is a bit like buying a pair of shoes, we do not all need running shoes, if the wrong choice is made you will be compromised.”
Over the past ten years Mag & Turbo have taken on a number of fleet vehicles and greatly improved the vehicle running costs for local businesses. With passenger cars, SUV’s, utes, vans and 4x4 being their forte, they understand what works best for your trade fleet and depending on your industry and what you do, Mag & Turbo can look at how to can get your vehicle running costs reduced and even reduce your puncture rate by using the right products from their huge range.
“Ensuring that the tyre suits the application also means team safety is increased whilst they carry on about their daily tasks,” says
form
vehicles will
The customer lounge allows a comfortable area for a wide range of customers while their vehicles are attended to.
Darrell. “Getting tradies and workers turned around quickly is paramount for us, knowing that these vehicles and workers need to keep on with their day to meet deadlines and remain profitable.”
Many of Mag & Turbo’s competitors are commercial heavy transport tyre experts who also operate in the retail passenger car, SUV, van and 4x4 tyre market.
Not so, for Mag & Turbo who focus on the passenger car market and leave the heavy commercial market to the others.
“We are actually experts in this market and leave the heavy commercial out of our structure,” Darrell says.
“It’s about staying in your lane and knowing your field well, and providing the best service and solutions to our customers.”
“Our workshop keeps very busy with wheel alignments,” Darrell says, “and we pride ourselves on keeping our equipment and our team up to date with the latest technology and training to provide a quality result. Incorrect wheel alignment can result in premature and irregular tyre wear patterns, compromising fuel economy and comfort for the driver. It plays an important role in routine vehicle maintenance which often gets overlooked. They have also become more relevant as the quality of our roads has deteriorated and there can sometimes be a long wait before road repairs are completed.”
The Mag & Turbo team can deal with all your vehicle servicing needs, whether it’s to improve your safety or simply to keep your vehicle roadworthy. You may have just failed a WOF, or a component is giving you trouble - their workshop can help you out, and offer you expert advice on upgrading your wheels and tyres, and performance parts and accessories to get the best out of your vehicle.
“We are also here for the person who feels the need to give their vehicle a new look, or increase performance or practicality by adding accessories such as towbars, hard lids, roof racks and so on,” Darrell says.
Darrell, Tina, and the Mag & turbo t eam are 100 percent customer focused.
Three Marlborough Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards are testament to this, winning best emerging business in 2017, best medium business in 2018, and best consumer service in 2022.
Darrell says the entries into these awards are very detailed and involved and although a lot of time goes into them, it is worth the effort, getting to know your
business and what it needs from you next.
“When you are visited by a judge and see what other amazing businesses you are running against, it is a humbling process and something we are very proud to have succeeded in, hopefully translating to our customers how important it is for us to provide the best service from our industry in Marlborough.”
Celebrating 10 years in business with a newly expanded showroom and three awards under their belt, you can be sure that when you deal with Mag & Turbo Blenheim, you are in safe hands.
MAC merchandise and trial flight vouchers available at www.marlboroughaeroclub.co.nz
Marlborough Aero Club
Omaka Aerodrome, Blenheim | Ph: (03) 578 5073
email: fly@marlboroughaeroclub.co.nz | www.marlboroughaeroclub.co.nz
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from Marlborough businesses to their clients
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P: 027 700 6647
E: wayne.wiffen@icib.co.nz www.icib.co.nz
from Marlborough businesses to their clients
Not sure where you heard about temperatures 8 degrees above average. The 32 we had on Thurs 5th was 5 degrees lower than the 2015 December record of 37.
I accidentally dropped my expensive Maui Jim sunglasses in Pak’nSave on Sunday 1st December. I hope the person that picked them up really needed a nice pair of sunglasses, shame there isn’t many honest people around.
Thank you to the kind man at ReUse Station in Blenheim last Tuesday who noticed one of the tyres on my car was flat and had the commonsense to tell me. Really appreciated. Able to be sorted out at Bridgestone pronto.
Stadium 2000
Yes I agree, why the limited hours for the outdoor pool. Is it a staff shortage, surely not! We have a fine facility.
Yes fine needs to go up but be careful. I heard of someone who was ticketed for cell phone use simply because their hands were not visible to the cop. They weren’t on their phone, but no amount of explanation would stop him writing the ticket.
How disappointing to read that people have been disposing of their rubbish in these skips, not being in the Council black bags. There was only one thing asked of the community, “for the use of the black Council bags”. It worked so well... black bags into a skip, onto the recycling building, glass bins, then the recycling shop.
Thank you Council for the Red Skips in the first place.
To the ones who have abused these skips. Think about your selfishness and now this privilege will be removed. All through the actions of those, thinking you had got away with your sneaky disposal, no !
Westwood Mechanical. Awesome and knowledgeable
Sheps has a cricket pitch in the centre of the field. Sheps is great for our multinational who should be welcomed loved and supported.
Sheps is a safe place for them.
Also no booked and scheduled games.
Sheps dog users should concentrate on their dogs and pick up their poo. I picked up 4 lots over my own on the third. Don’t be so prejudiced.
In reply to SIGNAGE, I was gutted to see you fail to recognize the need for these gatherings, to highlight the genocide that has been happening in Palestine since the 1940’s, which has given birth to Hamas, Hezbollah and such to combat the atrocities by responding with similar atrocities. You need to educate yourself.
It is ironic the carol Silent Night is seen as not appropriate for the junior choir to perform at the end of year assembly - after considerable practise.
I wonder what our ancestors would think of that especially the soldiers in the trenches of WW1.
Are we so blinkered that we cannot share our love of music in all beliefs and cultures unless it is on trend.
A big thank you to Bunnings, your staff, the photo booth, and the Scouts on the bbq for holding this event for the children. Sending Christmas cheer to all those involved.
As a visitor to NZ and reading the ‘txt talk’ page in The Sun dated 27th November, could someone tell me exactly when the NZ education system decided to stop teaching the correct use of an apostrophe?
To the person who thought they had more right to my colour changing solar ball you have really upset me and my great grandchildren. You came uninvited on to our property and just helped yourself to something that didn’t belong to you. Please return it. If you really want to keep stolen goods I still have the box if you would like it.
D.O.C. They closed the reserve at the Wairau Bar due to fire risk but since then nobody has been down to mow lawns. Now it’s a bigger fire risk, so dry, and an eyesore.
What a joke our fines system is in NZ for this offense. In NZ $150 + 20 demerit points, this needs to go up dramatically. In Aussie it would cost you up to $1250. In England the fine is £200 or $434 NZ dollars. I’m sure that if equivalent fines were imposed here the number of offenses here would drop dramatically. I would hope!
And a huge tick for the use of facial recognition technology in Supermarkets....especially at the highly vulnerable (and questionable) self service facilities.
With the subsequent reduction/removal of the estimated 16-18% in loses through dishonesty, product prices will surely reduce!
A huge Win-Win...for Supermarket Owners and honest customers.
Perhaps a visit to Spec Savers is needed. Artificial cricket pitch in middle of Sheps Park. Park is for everyone. Contented Dog Walker
How fantastic!! Thank you MDC to finally have one installed for summer swimming.
Good to see a group pulling wilding pines on the coast south of Kekerengu last Thursday. Believe it was a biking group from Blenheim who volunteer this a couple of times a year. Well done guys and girls.
It’s so sad, people abuse good things we’re given, just read about skip bins being removed, and parks getting trashed. It’s really sad those people who just ruin it for others.
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.
Let’s start something new. I’ve been doing this for a long time now and I reckon we could probably all do it and make a huge difference to the world around us. Every few months I get a bag of $2 coins which I keep in my car and when I do my weekly shop I take one with me to donate to whatever collection is being done as most are a good cause. If we all did this every organisation would do incredibly well and most of us wouldn’t even miss the $2 would we.
Incessant (9)
18. Make a mess of (colloq) (5,2) 20. When in fact (7) 22. Work out (5) 23. Stunned (5)
Burial site (5)
Across: 1. Dossier, 5. Extreme, 9. Throb, 10. Cockroach, 11. On the ball, 12. Ocean, 13. Saggy, 15. Gratitude, 18. Bombshell, 19. Macaw, 21. Taste, 23. Downgrade, 25. Half-dozen, 26. Alike, 27. Pie-eyed, 28. Emerges. Down: 1. Duteous, 2. Stratagem, 3. Imbue, 4. Rectangle, 5. Excel, 6. Terrorism, 7. Evade, 8. Enhance, 14. Yesterday, 16. Allowance, 17. Unceasing, 18. Botch up, 20. Whereas, 22. Solve, 23. Dazed, 24. Grave. emu, gem, gen, gent, get, gnu, gum, gun, gut, men, menu, met, mug, mute, net, nut, NUTMEG, teg, ten, tug, tun, tune.
www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz
Associate Minister for Education David Seymour visited Omaka Early Learning Centre in burleigh recently. the opportunity to host him came about through a former OELC parent who had moved to Wellington to work in Parliament.
te tauihu Performing Arts Studio (formerly Dance on Grove) end of year production was a wonderful testament to the arts talent in Marlborough with three shows to receptive audiences at the weekend.
Photos: Mark Grammer Photography
Mag & turbo blenheim celebrated 10 years in business over the weekend with the opening of their new Super Showroom on the corner of Grove Road and Nelson Street.
the Grovetown School pool official opening took place last thursday to some very excited students, parents/caregivers, whanau and staff. It was also the opening of the newly resurfaced tennis courts, done in conjunction with the tennis club.
Are you a dog or cat person?
Both - I love all animals.
Favourite global cuisine?
Thai food, especially if it has mushrooms or prawns.
What would you buy if money was no object?
All the available land and make homes for all those in need.
Celebrity-wise who would be at your dream dinner party?
Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Veggies or fruit?
Veggies.
The shop you can’t walk past is...? Any op shop or coffee cart.
If you didn’t live in Marlborough where would you choose?
Tauranga – love the beach.
Favourite programme or series currently watching?
Not currently watching anything but I am reading the first book of the Seven sisters by Lucinda Riley.
What do you do for your own mental health?
I sing a lot, pray and cuddle my dogs.
What’s your favourite colour? Green – the colour of life.
If you had to choose another job what would it be? I would be a midwife or music recording artist.
The best advice I ever received was? If you are going anywhere in life, make sure it is better than the last place.
What truly matters to you?
Spreading love, Jesus, family and friends.
My friends would say I am Kind, welcoming and have an inclusive energy.
Your gardens should be doing very well by now, but cucumbers and a few heat loving plants may still be a bit slow growing or in some cases sulking till the temperatures stay more constant.
I had heard a while ago gardeners talking about using ‘Grow Bags’ to grow vegetable plants in, and in particular ones such as tomatoes, capsicum, zucchini, pumpkins etc. Then dependent on the size of the bags two or more salad plants could share the same bag or several carrots or radishes.
I purchased by mail order and obtained 20 bags which are 56.78L capacity or 3 gallon for just under $30.00 so thats about $1.50 each and they about the size of a good size bucket.
Made from black material which means they attract the heat from the sun and thus warm the growing medium.
There is a handle on each sidegood to move around if need be.
I have used my favorite brand compost to fill the bottom of the bag to about one third then I placed a layer of my chicken manure. Sprinkled over that, Wallys Calcium & Health for the lime (Note if you are growing tomatoes use dolomite or for potatoes, gypsum), then some Wallys Ocean Solids, a little Biophos and a sprinkling of Wallys Unlocking your Soil.
If you do not have your own chickens then any animal manure or sheep manure pellets are good. I see Tui have them combined with chicken manure.
Also I saw in the local Mitre10 that they had bags of dried blood and also bone flour from a company in the South Island that mainly has seed potatoes.
Those two products I thought were hard to come by these days.
Now that I am using the grow bags mostly for growing my different types of pumpkins I put one pumpkin plant into each bag.
I like to trail the pumpkins over smaller trees and shrubs so they are out of the way instead of running all over the place.
A gardener asked me recently when should they nip off the pumpkin runner - ideally after a couple of fruit have set. Best to hand pollenate the
female flowers to ensure a good crop.
When you take out the leader then plants will side shoot which means energy goes into side runners rather than the fruit so best to nip off all the side runners where they are attached to the parent runner.
The grow bags means I can sit the pumpkins near shrubs and train the runners up and over them.
On my grape vine, which is on its third year growing, I have a great set of fruit and to ensure that the fruit obtain all the growth I nip off the leader after one or more bunches of grapes have set so that again the goodness will go into the fruit rather than into extending the leader.
Of course within a few days the vine has started producing side runner which every few days I check and nip them off where they are coming from the leader.
Spraying the foliage every week with Magic Botanic Liquid (MBL) has produced bigger leaves which means more energy captured from the sun.
The same principle can be applied to fruit trees and other fruiting plants by nipping off any new growths that form beyond the fruit that has set.
On roses don’t forget to remove any dead flowers which we call ‘Dead Heading’ - this encourages the plant to produce more flowers. Even better, nip off below the branch where the dead flower is which will encourage new growths, more buds and more flowers.
Also you need to keep a check on your tomato plants and remove side shoots which are called laterals otherwise the plant becomes a jungle and fruit size will be smaller.
I also like to progressively remove the bottom leaves as they age - this reduces any insect pest problems on the plants.
If the laterals taken off are 60mm or longer you can strike them to obtain new plants for growing and extending your harvest season.
Another thing to watch out for is with any grafted fruit trees and maybe roses that have shoots growing from below the graft or suckers coming out of the ground where roots are.
You need to remove the side shoots otherwise there is a chance that the fruit tree will die and you will only
have the grafted tree which is not much good. Suckers also nipped off from where they are coming from. Strawberries should be fruiting now and a weekly or even a twice weekly spray of Mycorrcin will make for bigger berries and longer fruiting season.
You can also sprinkle some of Wallys Secret Strawberry Food onto the soil by the plants.
Wallys Secret Tomato Food with Neem Granules and Strawberry Food are very similar and either can be used for both plants and also for other plants flowering and fruiting such as capsicum, chili, egg plants, cucumbers, pumpkins etc.
They will make a difference to all those plants and with a weekly spray of MBL over the foliage you will have plants to be proud of.
For growth of cucumbers and pumpkins you can give the plants a weekly drink of Wallys Super Cucumber Booster.
Watering should be done regularly every day it does not rain, and ideally done by hand so the soil is kept moist for growth. While watering this way you can remove a few weeds, and see if any plants have a problem with insects or diseases.
Watering is best done during the day rather than late in the day so the moisture drys and that helps prevent leaf diseases.
If your garlic has got the dreaded garlic rust or if your stone fruit have got a crop on but have a lot of curly leaves then there may not be enough energy from the sun to swell the garlic bulbs or hold the stone fruit from falling.
Mix 1 table spoon of molasses into 1L of hot water and spray as often as you like the leaves.
The more carbs you get into the garlic or the stone fruit the better the result will be.
Marlborough Museum:
New exhibition -The Power of Flowers-how flowers inspired fashion. Museum is open Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday 11am-3pm.Adults $10, children free.
Picton Poets:
4th Thursday of the month, 10.30-11.30am, Picton Library, all welcome. Phone Lyn 021 129 4342. NOTE: No meeting in December.
Keep U Moving:
Gentle Walking Exercise for Seniors. 11.30am-12.30pm St Christopher’s Church Hall. $3. 92 Weld St. Ph 0273852333 or donna@stchristophers.co.nz
Older Persons seminar:
Every 4th Thursday of each month. Contact Donna 027 385 2333 or donna@stchristophers.co.nz: 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-noon: 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.
Community Choir: Thursdays 7-9pm, during school terms. St Ninian’s Hall, 1 Riley Crescent, Redwoodtown (opp church). Come and join the community choir Creative Voice. All musical abilities and new members welcome. liz@creativekids. org.nz thursday Quiz night:
2nd Thursday of the month 6:30-8:30pm, R18+, $20. Categories include general knowledge, food & drink culture, music & arts, and more! Fidelio Café and Wine Bar, Blenheim Railway Station.
Friday 13 December
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. Meeting TODAY.
Play and Learn: Blenheim Library, 9am-12pm. Care-giver led play-based learning for children under 5 years old based around a variety of fun themes. Last session for 2024 TODAY. Recommence 21 February 2025. Books, toys, games, puzzles and activities available for use in the library. Term time only. Free and no need to register. Come along and connect with other families!
Vintage Farm Machinery: Open daily, 10am to 3pm, Brayshaw Vintage Farm. Phone John 577 7442.
Live Music Fridays: Every Friday 6:30-8:30pm, R18+, unless with a parent or guardian Free. Enjoy live music with rotating musicians from the Top of the South with varying music styles and genres. Fidelio Café and Wine Bar, Blenheim Railway Station.
Outdoor Youth Movie night in the park: 6-9pm, Churchill Glade, Pollard Park All youth welcome. Food vendors will be onsite selling food and drinks. This is an alcohol and drug free event, security will be onsite. Come along from 6pm, with the movie starting at 7pm. Bring a seat or blanket to sit on the grass. Sponsored by the Marlborough Youth Council.
Menzshed gARAge and BiKe sale:
9am to noon TODAY at the Bright Centre, 4 Dillons Pt Rd, cash only. Adult and children’s bikes from $10, woodworking and garden tools, nails, screws, fittings, wood, pottery and bric a brac.
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.
Blenheim Christmas Parade:
Blenheim CBD, 2.30-5pm. Following the parade come and join us at Pollard Park from 5pm for some Christmas fun for the whole family at the Mitre 10 Mega Marlborough Christmas in the Park. Two hours of entertainment from the Marlborough Brass Band, Mitre 10 Mega Children’s Choir and much much more. Bring a picnic or buy from our multiple food vendors onsite. Churchill Glade, Pollard Park 5pm to 7pm.
Christmas Movie night:
5:30pm - 9:00pm, Port Marlborough Pavilion, Endeavour Park, 1 Joseph Sullivan Drive Picton. Join us for a festive, heartwarming movie night as we celebrate the holiday season with the beloved classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Don’t miss out on this magical movie night— bring your friends, family, and Grinchy spirit for a night of holiday fun!
Christmas through the Ages:
7.30pm, Church of the Nativity. Musical Director Robert Tuckers leads the choir through a variety of Christmas songs and carols, some you will know and some you might not. Johnathan Berkahn, a composer and performer from Wellington will be accompanying the choir on the organ. Come along ready for a beautiful, uplifting evening of music.
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 with giant games of Jenga, Connect 4 and Chess as well as a quiet area for the kids to relax with a book or colouring in under the shade of one of our gazebos.
sunday 15 December
sUnDAY FUnDAY:
15 Dec at Marlborough Museum, Brayshaw Heritage Park, Arthur Baker Place, Blenheim. Classic cartoons continuous in the Theatre, Power of Flowers display, Vintage radio museum, ice cream cart, stables open, train rides, “old school”games for kids to play. Santa’s fire engine and Christmas carols in the historic chapel. 11am – 4pm Museum entry gold coin donation.
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: New exhibition -The Power of Flowers-how flowers inspired fashion. Museum is open Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday 11am-3pm. Adults $10, children free.
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.
Blenheim Bonsai group: Islington Gardens, Rowberry Road on the 2nd Sunday of the month 1pm-3.30pm.
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
Blenheim Christmas Parade: Blenheim CBD, 2.30-5pm. Following the parade come and join us at Pollard Park from 5pm for some Christmas fun for the whole family at the Mitre 10 Mega Marlborough Christmas in the Park. Christmas Movie night: 5:30pm - 9:00pm, Port Marlborough Pavilion, Endeavour Park, 1 Joseph Sullivan Drive Picton. Join us for a festive, heartwarming movie night as we celebrate the holiday season with the beloved classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
during school holidays. Only 20 cents per ride/yacht hire!
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. Riverside Railway, Brayshaw Park station: Train is being hauled by a Vintage Diesel Engine on the Beaver Line at 1.45pm along the Taylor River and the Omaka Line at 1.15 & 3.15pm. Check Details at www. riversiderailway.nz & Facebook for other information. Next operating 26 December.
lego Club:
Picton Library@ 1-4pm. Marlborough Library @10am-4pm, 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!
Family Movie Afternoon in seymour square: 2pm, with the movie starting at 3pm. Movie - Hunt For The Wilderpeople. Food vendors will be onsite selling food and drinks, but please feel free to bring a picnic and something to sit on. Sponsored by the Marlborough Youth Council.
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
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 worldwide 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 7.30pm at Whitney Street School Hall, Whitney Street. Come and try it! You don’t need a partner. For information ring Miriam 928 4479.
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, 2:00PM - 3:00PM. 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 17 December
Marlborough Museum:
New exhibition -The Power of Flowers-how flowers inspired fashion. Museum is open Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday 11am-3pm.
Adults $10, children free.
steADY As YOU gO (sAYgO): Gentle Exercise/Balance Class for Seniors. 11.30am12.30pm,St Christopher’s Church Hall. $3. At 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.
Persistent Pain group:
Meet every Tuesday at Biddy Kates, 2 Market Street, 5pm-6pm. For people with persistent and chronic pain and their supporters. All welcome.
Picton line Dance:
Group who meet on a Tuesday 10am till 11.30am at the Anglican Church Hall in Picton are going to take a 6 week break from the 10th December, 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. No meeting Dec 24 and Jan 25. Inquiries to Ian Cameron phone 574 2558 tuesday Blind Wine Challenge: Every Tuesday. 11:30am to 9pm. R18+ $14. Challenge yourself to a mysterious glass of wine. Wines and questions change weekly. Great for the novice to the enthusiast! Fidelio Café and Wine Bar, Blenheim Railway Station.
vines village Monthly Market: Next market December 18th from 4:30pm. Our Village is open and ready to greet you for this special event! The stores and tasting rooms will be open, alongside 20 local food trucks and artisan vendors, showcasing the Marlborough Sounds Chorus, a fundraiser performance from the First Class Brass, and a special guest from the North Pole. Family Picnic and sports Day: Saturday January 04 2025. 10am onwards, Admission $5pp, kids 12 and under free. Please bring cash for entry fee. More information on Facebook www.facebook.com/HopaiSports or phone 035798232.
Crop swap:
Saturday 21 December, Crossroads Café, 2pm4pm. Crop Swap Blenheim brings together backyard gardeners for swapping and sharing high-quality food and produce every month. Meeting 2pm Sharp, browse the tables - swap at 2:30pm, afternoon tea follows. There’s a $2 koha for our hosts.
Are you passionate about your local community?
Are you a reporter with a passion for news and a desire to tell compelling stories? The Blenheim Sun is seeking an ambitious and adaptable reporter to join our team.
This full-time position will be based in our Blenheim office, where you will write articles and capture photos for our weekly community paper The Blenheim Sun, keeping the Marlborough community connected through lively, local and engaging news and human interest stories every week. You should have reporting experience or a journalism qualification, along with a strong interest in news and storytelling. You should be enthusiastic about breaking news, covering community events, and able to work efficiently and calmly under pressure to deliver timely stories. A valid driver’s license is required for this role.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
• Journalism skills
• The ability to build connections within the community and engage with a diverse range of individuals
• A genuine passion for sharing the stories of the community
• A commitment to fostering a positive, safe, and inclusive workplace
• Be driven to deliver high-quality work
We offer:
• A permanent position with The Blenheim Sun, Marlborough’s favourite newspaper
• A great opportunity to grow your journalism skills and serve your community
• Supportive on-the-job mentoring
• Flexible hours within a 40 hour week - some weekend work from time to time
• Access to Southern Cross medical insurance
About The Blenheim Sun:
We have been publishing in Marlborough for 22 years and have been the region’s favourite community newspaper for most of that time with a broad and loyal readership.
Recently purchased by family owned Allied Press we are now part of a large group of community newspapers covering the South Island.
As part of Allied Press we welcome your ideas and contributions, as they will help us to continue to expand our services and improve our business for our current and future readers. Join us and be part of an award winning, supportive team that takes pride in delivering quality products for over 160 years.
How to Apply:
If you believe this role is a good fit for you, please apply via SEEK. Applications will be accepted until 31 January 2025. We will be in touch if you are shortlisted for this opportunity. For more information see our website at alliedpress.co.nz/employment for a full position description, or contact Simon Byrne for a confidential discussion (ph. 021 706 936 em. simon@blenheimsun.co.nz)
Darlene
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.
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
MARLBOROUGH MUTIPLE SCLEROSIS & PARKINSON’S SOCIETY CHRISTMAS RAFFLE RESULT
DRAWN 9 December 2024 First Prize – 13159 – Jan Moody Second Prize: Ticket 12657 – Chrissie Third Prize: Ticket 13130 – Jo Boelcholt. A big thank you to everyone who bought a ticket and gave us your support.
15th
ESTATE BUSTERS. Men’s shed items galore, includes extendable ladder system that converts into tressels, electric lawn mower, wheelbarrow and many more tools. Golf clubs and trundlers, small upright freezer, large fridge freezer, washing machine, dryer, lounge suite, double and single bed, table and 4 chairs. China cabinets, dressing tables, tall boys. Large pots and pans, lots of kitchenware, microwave, 2 vacuum cleaners. Childs piano-accordion, new preserving and jam jars. Very reasonable prices, usual free stuff. Signs out 8am, Saturday 14th Dec, Clyde Street, Renwick.
P ENN y LANE Records always buying records. Excellent prices paid. 430 Colombo Street, Sydenham, Chch. 366 3278 Open 7 days
ENGLAND, Stephen Ashley:
Passed away at Wairau Hospital, Blenheim on Monday November 25, 2024. Aged 70 years. Loved father of Morgan. Loved son of John and Patricia England, loved brother of Philip, Martyn, and Jill Farley. A loved uncle of his nieces and nephews. Messages may be sent to the England Family, c/- P O Box 110, Blenheim 7240. At Stephen’s request, a private cremation has taken place.
T: 03 578 4719 E: sowmans@funerals.co.nz W: www.sowmans.co.nz
GODSIFF, Bruce:
Passed away on Monday December 2, 2024 at Wairau Hospital. Aged 86 years. Bruce was an avid plant lover and gardener who was fiercely independent/preferred a quiet life but was always there for his family. Bruce will be lovingly remembered by his remaining family: his sister Sally; cousins; nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews. ‘Your long journey is done Bruce - rest in peace’. Thank you to all the staff at Wairau Hospital and Hospice Marlborough for the care and support they gave to Bruce (and his family) in his final days. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Hospice Marlborough would be appreciated and may be made online to a/c 03-1369-0365207-00 Ref. GODSIFF. Messages can be sent to c/- 33B Adams Lane, Springlands, Blenheim 7201. At Bruce’s request, a private cremation has taken place, with a private interment to be held at a later date.
T: 03 578 4719 E: sowmans@funerals.co.nz W: www.sowmans.co.nz
HARPUR: William Charles (Bill)
Passed away peacefully at his home on Monday 25th November. Dearly loved husband of Judith. A special Dad to David and wife Donna. Loved Grandad of Daniel and Amanda, and Krystal and Rodney and great grandad of Matilda and Violet. Messages may be sent to 158 Muller Road Blenheim 7201 or www.cloudybayfunerals.co.nz A private family farewell has been held in accordance with Bill’s wishes
RALLS: Stephen Geoffrey (Geoff)
On 2 December 2024, peacefully at Ashwood Park Retirement Village, aged 87 years. Loved husband of Cathy. Loved father, step-dad, grandfather and great grandfather. Messages to c/- PO Box 9 Blenheim 7240 or www.cloudybayfunerals.co.nz In accordance with Geoff’s wishes, a private cremation has been held.
ALL jazz records wanted, Kiwi and overseas artists. Blue Note, Prestige, Riverside, ECM, Verve, Impulse, CTI, Milestone etc. Top prices paid for good titles. Please phone Dave 021 222 6144, Pennylane Records, Chch. 7 days.
container, 6 asst boats, 4 x 11 seater vans, starline glass washer, port a loo’s, old tractors, quad bike, winch, new Nectre fireplace, 50+ solar panels etc. Photos/Info: www.jwauctions. co.nz John Walker, Auctioneer 027 443 2525
JACKSON: Bruce Henry George (Jacko)
On December 1, 2024, Bruce passed away peacefully at Hospice Marlborough aged 80 years old. Dearly beloved husband of the late Janice, and a much-loved stepfather of Christine Daly. Adored Grandad of Ashleigh and James Robinson, Jessy Daly and Brianna. Loved by his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. The family is appreciative of all the love and care from the staff at Hospice Marlborough. A private cremation has taken place with a memorial service to be held at a later date with details to follow. Messages to c/- PO Box 9, Blenheim 7240 or www. cloudybayfunerals.co.nz December 1 is now your date to be shared together forever.
WATSON: Kathleen Avalon
On 1 December 2024, unexpectedly after a short illness, aged 62 years. Loved partner of Phil de Voil. Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Emily and Cleavon Gee, proud grandmother of Zara. Eldest daughter of the late John and Alycen Watson. Precious “Big” sister of Colleen, Judy, Paul, John, Stephen and Michael and a loved aunty to all her nieces and nephews. Messages to 16 March Street Spring Creek 7273 or www. cloudybayfunerals.co.nz Kath was a colourful character with a big personality and a great story-teller. She will be missed by us all. At Kath’s request, a private cremation has been held.
LEARN Te Reo Māori in Blenheim! Join ‘He Waka Kuaka’ workplace PLD programme. 10-week blocks, flexible hours, 1hr/week. $280+GSTpp. Visit www.tereomaori.org
YEALANDS: Peter Wayne Maurice
On 30th November Peter, 76 years, peacefully passed away with family at his side. Lovingly missed by his family, Vai, Aaron and Kath, and Danielle. Grandchildren Stephanie, Tay, Tula, Amy and Jayna. Siblings Sue, Kevin and Stephen. In accordance with Peter’s wishes, a private family memorial service has taken place on the 6th December. The Yealands family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Hospice Marlborough also the Oncology staff at Wairau and Christchurch Hospital for their care and compassion. We thank the wider community for their messages of support and condolences already sent on other platforms. Messages of condolence can be sent to c/o Cloudy Bay Funeral Services PO Box 9 Blenheim 7240. Tributes can be sent to www.cloudybayfunerals. co.nz. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Marlborough Hospice Trust would be appreciated to Acc. No. 031369 036520700
Ref: Yealands. With thanks from the Yealands family.
MenzShed Blenheim are holding a GARAGE and BIKE sale from 9am to noon on Saturday 14 December at the Bright Centre, 4 Dillons Pt Rd, cash only.
Adult and children’s bikes from $10, woodworking and garden tools, nails, screws, fittings, wood, pottery and bric a brac.
We carry out a wide variety of work throughout the top of the South Island and we have a vacancy in our Blenheim office suited to a school leaver. The role is a survey assistant/trainee survey technician.
You might have some of the following attributes:
• Have excellent interpersonal skills along with written and verbal communication
• Be physically fit and enjoy the great outdoors
• You should be motivated to expand your skill base and have a positive attitude
• Be able to work unsupervised as well as part of a team
• Have completed mathematics to a satisfactory secondary school level
We will provide support, progression, and training and highly value an individual with the right attitude. Options for on-the-job formal qualifications are available to a diploma level.
To apply for this position,
By Maia Hart Local Democracy Reporter
Buses will not be available for those planning to spend their New Year’s Eve in Picton due to a scheduling clash with cruise ships visiting the region.
The annual party usually attracts about 6000 people to the Picton foreshore for live entertainment and to watch the fireworks at midnight. The event, organised by Pure Events Marlborough in partnership with the Marlborough District Council, normally provided buses to help people travel between Blenheim and Picton.
At one stage those buses were free. But at a council committee meeting last week, the council’s regional events adviser Samantha Young said the buses would not be available this year.
“The organisers have been trying for months to try and organise this,” she said.
Young said at one stage Pure Events Marlborough thought they had found an option, but it fell through.
“Unfortunately a cruise ship is in town so all the bus transport is taken up with that.
“The drivers can only have so many hours. They have looked into so many different avenues.”
Port Marlborough’s cruise ship schedule showed that cruise ships Silver Muse and Ovation of the
Seas were expected in Picton on December 31, and Norwegian Sun on January 1. A similar roadblock hit organisers in 2022 when there was not enough drivers around and the bus service had to be cancelled.
Young said of the 6000 to 7000 people who attended the previous new year’s event in Picton, only 160 people used the bus.
Pure Events Marlborough director Katrina Lange said this year’s event would have a larger children’s area.
The event had secured two new sponsors, Ray White and Bluebridge.
“So we’ve got a kids’ entertainer to kick things off, and then also an area with kids’ activities and face painting and all that sort of thing,” she said.
“Then we’ve got some fantastic bands playing right up until obviously the wonderful fireworks at midnight over the water.”
Given it was a family event, Lange said she did not think the lack of bus service would be an issue. While there were bars in Picton, people could not bring alcohol to the event,
Pure Events Marlbor-
By Chris Valli
Blenheim’s Karen Ramsay is humbled to be giving back to an “amazing local organisation”.
Karen is the Packhouse Co-ordinator at Thymebank and has worked at the Hammerichs Road facility for over five years. Thymebank grow and supply a wide range of fresh herbs and lettuce products to restaurants, wholesalers and supermarkets throughout the country, and to the general public.
she said.
Lange said the buses had been subsidised in the past. They found they needed to charge a small fee otherwise people would book the bus and not show up.
“We have low numbers booking on there anyway, because people are wanting to come and go themselves, and not be restricted to a particular time.”
Meanwhile, this year’s Blenheim Christmas Parade, also organised by Pure Events Marlborough, had so many floats signed up, there was a waitlist, Young said.
“It’s fully booked and we’ve got such a fantastic variety and it’s just lovely to see everyone making so much effort.” The parade would be held a week later than usual, on December 14, and would run as usual through the central business district, but would continue on to Pollard Park where Santa would open Christmas in the Park from 5pm. The New Year’s Eve party will kick off at 7pm on the Picton Foreshore.
Marlborough Women’s Refuge provides family violence services for women, children and young people covering the Marlborough region. Their service offers 24/7 crisis response, information on family violence, advocacy and support with Police and WINZ, education programmes, referrals to counsellors, and safe emergency accommodation.
Karen says she is very humbled to be able to help out and give back to an amazing organisation. “In recent years there was up to 90 boxes going out but I am glad to say the numbers have now dropped to 50 this year, which hopefully means there isn’t as many families in need this year.”
The Roberts family have owned and operated Thymebank since 2013. Their products are grown in a hydroponic spray-free environment, using plant based, friendly solutions
to produce premium products.
Over the past three years the Thymebank team of 10 along with local businesses, have got behind the Women’s Refuge with the festive season approaching, rallying together, and collecting donated goods, then packing them into Christmas boxes for families that are in the Women’s Refuge system at this time of the year.
In April, a campaign designed to empower the “brave voices” of children by encouraging them to speak out and find help if they experienced abuse was launched. It was supported by the Life Education Trust, Save the Children, and Women’s Refuge.
The campaign aimed to break the culture of silence which surrounded sexual and other forms of abuse by delivering the vital message, “to seek out a trusted adult until they find someone who believes them and will act on their behalf to help keep them safe and secure.”
If any Marlborough businesses are able to donate any goods for the Christmas boxes, Thymebank would love to have you on board. They are collecting donations from Monday December 2 for packing on Tuesday 3rd December.
Locals can drop any donations to 31 Hammerichs Road between 6am and 2.30pm or phone 577 9499 or email orders@thymebank.co.nz with the details of your donation.
By Chris Valli
A small but determined group of Blenheim nurses took to The Forum in Market Street last Tuesday to highlight being under resourced and undervalued.
Nelson and Marlborough nurses joined about 36,000 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants nationwide and walked off the job for eight hours over what they say are critical threats to patient safety.
Nurses Organisation chief executive Paul Goulter says collective bargaining had stalled over “the big ticket items”, which centred on patient safety.
Marlborough’s Union members were particularly worried about Health New Zealand’s/Te Whatu Ora plan to pause the Care Capacity Demand Management programme, he says. The programme calculates the number of staff and the skill mix needed to safely care for patients according to how sick they are, in real time.
“Ultimately, patients will pay the price for hospitals that are continuously understaffed and under-resourced,” Goulter says. Members were also disappointed
Blenheim nurses took to The Forum in Market Street last Tuesday with a collective voice of having had enough of being under resourced and undervalued.
with Te Whatu Ora restricting bargaining parameters for the settlement to 1 percent of total employee costs.
This would equate to just 0.5 percent in the first year, and up to 1 percent in the second year.
“This means nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora will be offered a wage increase well below the rate of inflation
- effectively a pay cut. Nurses should not have to prop up the health system by taking cuts in pay,” Goulter says.
“This could lead to a further exodus of New Zealand nurses to Australia.
Nurses need a pay rise that reflects at least the cost of living and recognises their skills and knowledge.”
Christchurch nurse Debbie Handisides says she was striking for future nurses and patients.
“We have fought for years for nurses to be paid equally to a male comparator, but with the parameters that Te Whatu Ora are proposing up to 1 percent total cost of a nurse won’t even meet the household cost of living, so why would anyone pick nursing as a career if they can’t pay their household bills?”
Sat 30 Nov Nett-Wayne pratt 66;Jock Mannington 69,Jeff Pascoe 69;Aaron Wilson 70,Brian Carver 70;Antia McCaffrey 71,Richard Avery 71. Sun 1 Dec Closing day American Foursomes-Tim & Anita McCaffrey 58;Mike & Ricky Ashworth 59;Pauline Pottinger & Wayne Pratt 63;Angelique Van Dyk &Annlize Erasmus63;Iain Berrie & Andrew Sunley62;Matt
18 Twilight 9 holes Stableford Brian Yarrall 23 Dawn Walker 22 Sam Rainbird 21 Elaine Brown 20 Andre Tewhiu Margaret Hamilton 18 Shirley Godsiff 18 Don Lamond 18
Dec 7th Medal and Gross Don Lamond 75 Nett Jane Ingram 59 Don Lamond 65 Ray Herd 66 Karandeep
McCormick & Hayden Gaudin 64;Jerome January & Norman Mclachlan 65; Thurs 5 Dec S/F-John Saxon 44;Leigh McGlynn38;Jeff Pascoe 37,Leigh S/Smith 37;Graham Morell 36;Brian Carver 35;Aaron Wilson34;Ian Johnson 33,Jock Mannington 33. Fri 6 Nov 9H S/F-Lin Stone 24;Lyn Pawson 21;Margaret Frisken 20;Ellie Gillies 19. Dec 2nd 9 hole stableford Dawn Walker 24 Elaine Brown 21 Vickie Lane 20 Christine Burns 20 Shirley Godsiff 20 Jenny Evans 19 Mike McConnell 21 Graeme Barsanti 21 Leo McKendry 20 Dave Dyer 20 Hay Montgomery 18 David Waters 18 Dave Horrell 17 Justin Taipana 17 Ray Herd 17 Dec 4th Summer Stableford 1/5 Vickie Lane 37 Ida BeetsHuchshorn 34 9 holes Stableford Odette Roper 19 Trees Rewi
