Featherston Phoenix August 2023

Community turns out to celebrate Matariki together

The Pae tū Mōkai Matariki committee (Warren Maxwell, Denise Eilers, Sandy Ngamoki, Julie Lewis, Tanja Schubert-McArthur, Rupert Watson, Tana Klaracich, Amanda Cuff)

Matariki is about remembering not only those of our loved ones passed but also our dreams and aspirations for the coming year plus new beginnings. At this year’s Matariki festival we had all the bases covered.

The first event for Featherston Matariki this year was the unveiling of ‘Toro Atu’; a Pou dedicated to a famous Wairarapa Rangatira from the early 1800’sNukupewapewa. This was a serendipitous event that had been organised by mana whenua from Papawai Marae and the Five Towns Trails Trust. It is a beautiful sculpture designed by Eddie Riwai. What really excites us, is to have mana whenua represented through such beautiful artworks here in Featherston and visual recognition of mana whenua to sit alongside our military history and Fell train history. It’s just so wonderful to physically acknowledge the rich Māori heritage that goes back for almost a millennia here in the Wairarapa.

The cemetery event ‘Ka Mahara’ on Sunday was lovely. Not as big a turnout as last year, but it’s not about numbers

- Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu (Although it is small it is a treasure). All three schools had donated some beautiful harakeke putiputi again which some people lay down on graves. This was another chance to reflect on those who had passed away this year - always too many, too soon. When we arrived, there was a lone bagpipe player in full formal attire playing at the cemetery. It was a very touching thing to see and feel.

What better way to finish a celebration than with some live music! Anaru aka Smash, Tyson Smith, Colette Nickelsen, and Lace Reihana took to the stage and the Featherston Vinyl Club DJs played the decks. It was all on at Waimārie for the Matariki Jams

Overall the Featherston Matariki experience of being a noncommercial event, local, small and celebrating community, has felt so positive. It was so much about real people and was a pleasure to be amongst. A big shout out to all who helped make it a success by helping, supporting and showing up!

Ngā mihi nunui ki a koutou!

‘Toro Atu’; at the dawn unveiling ceremony Matariki morning.

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The Featherston Phoenix is published 11 times a year on the 1st of each month (except January) and is distributed free to residents and businesses in the wider Featherston area. The Phoenix is a not-for-profit community enterprise operating with the support of the Featherston Community Centre Charitable Trust. Submissions are welcome and may be edited for space and/or clarity.

Deadline for next issue: 5pm, Friday 18 August 2023

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From the Mayor

Martin Connelly

In this month’s article I cover three topics: rates, libraries and Matariki.

People have asked, why did the council set the rates at the level they have? In April the Council put out a proposed budget, and asked people to ‘have their say’. The proposed budget recommended a rates rise of about 11% for people living in urban Featherston.

The proposal also had four questions, one of which was “Do you think the Council should spend more on water services?” A large majority of people replied “Yes, the council should”. That added $1,330,000 to the council’s expenses, and to our rates. The second change we made concerned the Council’s wastewater plants. After our proposed budget was released, we got notice that we could not make further connections to the Martinborough wastewater plant. There is a long history of problems at this plant. In the past it has spilled waste into the Ruamahanga. The Regional Council has served an abatement notice on the Council to fix problems at the plant. An abatement notice might sound a bit trivial, but it is not. If we do not do what is required, we face prosecution with a maximum fine of $600,000. Earlier this year the Hamilton District Court issued fines totalling $240,000 on a company that was breaching effluent management rules. It would be a ‘bad look’ for the Council to be prosecuted of course, but after we had paid our legal costs and any penalties, we would still be required to fix the problem.

We are budgeting $1,000,000 (from rates) to deal with the wastewater plant problems. The combination of this, plus the $1,330,000 for water service maintenance, is why the rates for people who use our water and waste-water systems have increased as they have.

It goes without saying that no-one is happy about this outcome. There is no getting away from the fact, however, that a district with a small rate-payer base, has considerable financial problems when attempting to meet the expectations of residents for top-quality infrastructure.

Soon after our budget was approved, we were surprised to see a notice saying that the Featherston Library would close two days a week. I put out a statement soon afterwards saying that I, and Councillors, are not all happy with the development. Thank you to everyone who has written to the Council expressing their concerns. As you can imagine, Booktown wrote a particularly well thought out submission pointing out the problems with having a Booktown that closes its library very often. Thank you to Booktown for that submission, and for the follow-up meeting with the Deputy Mayor and myself.

Have you seen the stunning Pou in Clifford Square?

Unveiled at a dawn ceremony on Matariki morning, the Pou tells of the fascinating achievements of Nuku pewapewa. It is a beautiful piece of public art created by Eddie Rewai. Many others from across the district helped bring Nuku pewapewa to Featherston , including the Greytown Trails Trust, Papawai Marae and the Council’s Māori Standing Committee. Nga mihi to Eddie and to everyone who has played a part.

Featherston Community Board update

Hey there, fellow Featherstonians!

I’m still buzzing with excitement as I sit down to write this piece after an incredible weekend spent celebrating Matariki in our wonderful community. It was a powerful reminder of just how much we can accomplish when we come together, and how fortunate we are to be part of such a connected “village”.

One of the accomplishments of the weekend was the creation of the new community garden, this project is being led by a small but mighty team of locals. Located behind St. Andrew’s Church on Fitzherbert Street, this once-empty space is being transformed into a vibrant and productive garden where community members can gather, tend to plants, share produce, and exchange skills and knowledge. It’s envisaged it will be a sanctuary where we can all connect with nature and reap the rewards of our collective efforts.

If you’re itching to get involved, keep an eye out here in the Phoenix and on local social media pages for updates on the next working bee. It’s a fantastic opportunity to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and contribute to the growth and beauty of our community garden. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a novice with a passion for plants, your presence and enthusiasm will be warmly welcomed. The Featherston Community Board (FCB) has been actively supporting initiatives like the Matariki Festival and the community garden as well as others through grant funding. We believe in fostering and enabling the growth of our Featherston community, and we’re always eager to receive grant

applications from individuals and community groups with innovative ideas and projects. If you have an initiative or are a community group that could benefit from financial support, consider submitting a grant application. You can access the application form at www.swdc.govt.nz/community/grants. Our next community board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 9th at 7pm at the Community Centre. We invite you to join us for the “public participation” session, which takes place at the beginning of each meeting. This is a great opportunity to share your ideas, dreams, projects, or concerns with the FCB. It’s a chance to seek collaboration, guidance, and advocacy or to encourage the board to take on your concept. The best part? It’s a friendly and inclusive process that values your voice and contributions. We’re eager to hear your thoughts, so mark your calendars and come share your vision for our incredible community.

It’s important to acknowledge that some families in our community may be facing the ongoing challenge of rising costs of living, which has been further compounded by the recent rates increase. The FCB is fully aware of this situation and remains committed to finding ways to engage with and advocate for the well-being of all Featherston residents. If you find yourself struggling with rates payments, please know that there are avenues of assistance available to you. The South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) offers various options such as rebates, remissions, and postponements to help ease the financial burden. Each option has its own specific criteria, and you can find more information and apply for assistance by visiting www.swdc.govt.nz/services/rates or reaching out to rates@swdc.org.nz via email.

Our strength is our community, not just during moments of celebration, but also in times of challenge or need. Together, we can shape the future of our vibrant community.

The Featherston Community Board is proud to support the Phoenix with this full page sponsorship.

The Image shows “Nuku pewapewa looking towards the Moana”.

Show, Shine & Dine with Breakfast @ BALOO’S

Supporting Featherston junior football club

Barbara Priest

Wai-Wheels Featherston’s Team recently hosted two well attended breakfasts @ Baloo’s at The Workies in Greytown. The breakfast events planned as a lead-up to our upcoming Wheels & Deals Swap Meet & Car Show, Sunday November 12 welcomed car enthusiasts from Manawatu, Wairarapa and the Wellington region to Show, Shine & Dine then explore and enjoy what’s on offer in the South Wairarapa.

Over the two separate days, the Greytown Working Mens Club car park was filled with 70 plus vehicles of all makes, models and ages. There was an array of classic cars - Cadillac’s, Impala’s, Dodges, Mopar’s and Fairlanes, then the eye-catching hot-rods, the stately vintage cars, and immaculate pick-up trucks including our own leader of the team - the majestic black Mack truck – what a line up!!! THEN the Breakfast!! Our hosts Brad and Toni of Baloo’s had a combined number of 140 hungry tums to feed and feed us they did with a great selection of hot food, plates filled to the brim and cooked to perfection. Spot prizes and raffles added to the enjoyment of both days with a special one-off award on day one presented to one lucky show car enthusiast by Baloo’s host Toni, an avid car enthusiast, who put a new slant on the selection criteria and chose the car she would most ‘Like to take Home’ as the winner. The follow-up breakfast saw Toni and Brad themselves presented with the signature trophy of Wai-Wheels - a gesture of thanks from the team for Baloo’s absolute support of this year’s fundraising venture supporting the Featherston junior football club

At the conclusion of both days the Show, Shine & Dine event saw visitors and locals alike agreeing that Breakfast @ Baloo’s along with some boutique shopping and exploration in the South Wairarapa – should become a regular event going forward.

Building on our strengths – Fab Feathy

Hana Makin

Fab Feathy is a community-led development project based right here in Pae tū Mōkai since 2017. You might have heard us say community-led development (CLD) before.

But what the heck is it?

Well, CLD is a practice that is being implemented all across Aotearoa. A CLD approach supports communities to achieve what they want, not what anyone else wants. It’s a grassroots approach to working alongside communities. Here in New Zealand CLD has five guiding principles. The principle I want to touch on this month is Building from Strengths. I love this one.

Featherston has a great many strengths on which to build on. The biggest strength we have in this town is he tāngata – the people. The passionate, skilled and hard-working people who run our festivals, such as Matariki, First Fridays, Dogs in Togs and Booktown. They run our services, our shops, our incredible local sports clubs. Our schools, our facilities, our community groups. The people of Featherston are what makes it the special place that we all love.

Fab Feathy has had the privilege of working alongside our community for more than five years now. In fact, the community were the creators of Fab Feathy, and we are still run by our steering group made up of local volunteers. The support we provide varies, it might be finding volunteers, advertising events, helping write funding applications or connecting groups with people they need to know. Sometimes it’s even just a friendly ear and a cup of tea! The hard yards come from the community themselves, and it’s a joy to play even a small part in their successes.

As Matariki has passed and we begin to move out of midwinter, it’s a great time to reflect on all that our community has achieved and overcome.

How lucky are we to live here?

What do you think are Featherston’s key strengths? How do you think we can build on them together? I’d love to hear from you! You can call into our office at the community centre, or email me: hana.m@fabfeathy.nz

Some of the cars at the event (above & below).

Photos credit – Paul James & Joanna Scott.

Community Centre

Joanna Baldwin & Peter Paton

Winter is always busy at the Centre, people enjoying the warm, friendly atmosphere.

Our community wellness sponsorship from Jen Bhati Property Brokers is continuing, with Jen’s help we have been able to continue supporting Cancer Society, CAPNZ Debit Management & Money Management, Stroke Foundation & Autism Wairarapa.

Thanks to Jen for her unwavering support of our community.

Pathways

Mental health, addiction and wellness services regularly support people in the Centre. It is convenient, confidential and, with all the sound proofing work we have had done, extra private.

Contact Pathways wairarapa@pathways.co.nz or if you prefer we can help at the office.

IRD

Charles is proving to be super popular! So, make sure you take advantage of this free support. He can help with so muchWorking for Families, Child Support, Student Loans, Personal tax, Business tax, Allowances and much more. Making sure you are getting your entitlements.

Charles is in the third Thursday of each month. These meetings are by appointment through Centre Office but appointments can be made on the day. If he is not with someone you may get an appointment on the spot.

APM Workcare

The Second Thursday of every month, starting 3 August 2023 10.00am to 12.00pm Julian will be available.

From Julian:

If you have a health condition or disability and are ‘fired up’ to want work! Please contact me!

I have been very successful in helping people find work. Minimum requirements for our APM Work Assist Health

program are that you are a NZ Citizen and aged 18 to 64. My speciality is dealing with those who are Neurodiverse, as I too am Neurodiverse!

To contact or drop in to see me.

Julian Walls

APM Work Assist Health – ‘Enabling Better Lives’ Tel 021 449 731 or Julian.Walls@apmworkcare.co.nz

Our AGM on July 27 was great fun, as always. It was also fun in the weeks leading up to collate the data and pictures for the last year. Recap all the fun, events, achievements and support systems that were created.

We have a truly awesome community, seen again with the Matariki festival run by volunteers who all have other commitments, joining together and creating something wonderful. Everywhere throughout the Phoenix we see people stepping up and making the cool stuff happen. Booktown team, Dog Park Committee, First Fridays, Community Garden, Skatepark, Windy Wheels, Beautification Group, Sports groups, Fab Feathy Steering Group, Foodbank and of course our wonderful Community Centre Charitable Trust Board, too many people and teams to name.

These people are all super busy, whānau commitments, jobs, some are fire fighters, teachers, business owners, city commuters, retirees, grandparents raising mokopuna the list goes on.

Wairarapa Warm Winter Jackets

Also run by volunteers!

The rack is still in reception and are getting new stock all the time. If you or anyone in your whānau need a jacket, please pop-in and grab one (or more). They are free. Thank you all for making Pae tū Mōkai such a fantastic place

Matariki community hāngi

Warren Maxwell

Last year’s Matariki hāngi was a definite crowd pleaser, so we had no hesitation including it again in this year’s celebrations. Sandy Ngamoki was delegated the role of organising the kai, making sure everything was in order and leading the process. Sandy was paramount in seeing the hāngi through to its delicious finale! A huge thank you to our amazing wāhine who got on with the business, prepping the kai and dishing it out to the community.

Both Pinehaven Orchards and our own SuperValue were very generous in supporting the hāngi. We received funding from our Featherston Community Board in sponsoring all the kai which is why we were able to offer hāngi for a koha. Our local busker and friendly neighbourhood hāngi master, Anaru, gave instructions on how deep to dig the hole and how to stack the fire etc. Big thanks to our local digger man from W.E.S for saving my sad ol’ vertebrae! Big thanks to Marc and Tristan Van de Loo for going out with Anaru to collect river stones! I turned up to light the fire at 2am - Ryan and his son Max were both waiting for me … at 2am! Due to sickness, Anaru couldn’t finish the process, but luckily our brother Jonson Williams stepped in to save the day and finish off the hāngi, along with a few other keen helpers. Those who partook of the hāngi were treated to a totally different experience. They got to taste kawakawa in a hāngi.

I loved seeing our community come together over kai and especially great to see the kids getting involved. Most people opted for a walk or a nap after the hāngi feast, but about 15 people joined the Kiriata-ā-Noho film screening at 4pm at the Kiwi Hall, some even bringing their bean bags. We watched ‘Matariki kanohi iti’ and ‘Ngā Wai e Rua’, both available on the Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision website. Everyone was treated to some non-alcoholic mulled wine and biscuits. “We should regularly watch movies together, it’s such a great space for it!”, commented one movie fan.

Nurturing our nervous systems for health & wellbeing

Sara Cory Isbister

Have you ever wondered how your body seems to have a “mind” of its own? It can instinctively move, startle, breathe, or sense things before they happen. Maybe you’ve even noticed moments when your body reacts differently from what your mind tells you. Well, all these experiences are connected to the incredible mind-body connection facilitated by our nervous system.

Our nervous system acts as the bridge between our mind and body, orchestrating an intricate dance. It’s responsible for quick responses, like jumping to loud noises, swiftly transmitting signals for our safety. Did you know our gut, often called the “second brain,” communicates with our brain through the nervous system? That’s why we get intuitive “gut feelings” that guide us when logic falls short.

Sometimes, our body responds beyond conscious thoughts. This mind-body dance arises from our nervous system’s ability to react to emotions and stress independently. Understanding this allows us to navigate emotions, manage stress and tension, and cultivate self-awareness for a balanced life.

To nurture our nervous systems and enhance the mind-body connection, we can incorporate mindful practices into our

daily routines. By paying attention to our body’s signals and trusting our intuition, we can make better decisions that align with our true selves. Engaging in activities like mindful movement, meditation, deep breathing, and bodybased restorative techniques empowers us to strengthen the mind-body connection and promote overall wellbeing. There are various forms of mind-body activities available to suit different preferences, and just one form of mind-body awareness can bring benefits. Once we grasp the basics of the mind-body connection, we can apply it to many aspects of life because it’s ultimately about choosing how we want to be, rather than something we simply do.

Embracing the mind-body connection is a journey towards holistic health and wellbeing. By nurturing our nervous systems, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, harmonise our emotions, and make choices that align with our inner wisdom. Through this process, we enhance our self-awareness, cultivate resilience, and improve our overall quality of life.

Reflect on your experiences. How do you nurture your mind-body connection?

Tāne stoking the hāngi pit.

Bringing up the kai.

Stars of Matariki

Matariki Festival team

Matariki star hunt

First introduced by Fab Feathy and developed by the Featherston Bookshops in 2020. It is now fondly anticipated as part of Featherston’s Matariki celebrations. This is because it is simple and personal to the town and allows time for real interaction between parents and children in their quest to find stars (and a good excuse to walk into the shops). The playground and the train rides are natural complements to the star hunt.

The two lantern workshops run at Fareham Creative Space during the school holidays were attended by small groups of lantern makers. Many returned on the Friday for the Pūrākau and waiata. Erin Banks read three exciting stories, excerpts from books which captivated the audience. And in between Bev, Barb and Jen sang waiata and played in unison with their ukuleles that filled the room with beautiful harmony.

At 6pm after our trial of walking around the driveway at Fareham with our lanterns on and little voices singing twinkle twinkle little star. We set off for the walk to the Mini Fell and in force, arrived with excitement and our lanterns blazing.

Bringing our stars to life

On Monday, the first day back at school, over 150 students from our three local schools joined an interactive, drama-based programme from the National Library, facilitated by Tereora Crane from Auckland and Tanja Schubert-McArthur.

The sound of the pūtātara called each of the five groups into the Kiwi Hall where Tereora told the story of the Māori atua (gods) separating their parents Ranginui and Papatūānuku and how ‘Matariki’ actually means ‘the eyes of the god’ relating how Tāwhirimātea crushed up his eyes in anger and threw them into the sky. Tamariki acted out the story, it was hilarious and we laughed a lot.

The second part was more reflective when the huge mat showing the nine stars of Matariki was rolled out. All the kids got to adopt a star and shared what they can do to look after different parts of the environment in the new year. It was magical when the smallest child carried a twinkling light globe to everyone and they all touched it to make a wish for their whānau. Tereora enjoyed the Featherston hospitality so much, he wants to return for Booktown!

Featherston’s Op Shop

Chanelle McClelland

Kia Ora Featherston. What an amazing month we’ve had. School holidays & Matariki celebrations had Featherston in full swing. We had lots of amazing events around town & I loved seeing the whole community work together to pull off such an incredible weekend. Pae tū Mōkai, the place to be! Over the last month the Op shop saw lots of great donations come in & as quick as it comes in, it goes back out to its new life with a new family. We saw lots of new faces, hunting for new treasure & lots of faces we know well, finding that bargain they’d always wanted. I just wanted to say a quick Thank you to all the magnificent people who made Matariki special. Without all their hard work, time & effort, it would not be possible. You are legends & we all cannot thank you enough. This months “Why I volunteer..” is written by Me. Chanelle McClelland. The current manager of Featherston Op shop. No long introductions needed, as I don’t enjoy writing about myself. I’ll get straight into it. “Why I volunteer…”

For all those who don’t already know, my name is Chanelle McClelland-Kahui. I am the current manager of Featherston Op shop. I have been volunteering since 2020 & took over as manager in August 2021. I grew up in Johnsonville, Wellington, moved to Featherston as a teenager & attended Kuranui College. I instantly fell in love with South Wairarapa, especially Featherston. I knew this town would always be my home.

When I finished college, I ended up moving to Hawera, Taranaki for work, met my partner Willis & had 2 boys, Khan (who you may know from Everest Café) & William.

10 years later & the constant call to come home overwhelmed me so much, I gave in & moved back in September 2019. Once Id settled in, I realised I wanted to do something to give back to this wonderful little

community that means soo much to me. As I already spent so much time at the local Op shop, I decided “Why not volunteer here?” Almost 4 years later & I am still here.

There is just something really special about Pae tū Mōkai. When I was asked to take over as manager, I wasn’t sure I could do it. I was thrown in the deep end, without much guidance & during a turbulent time for the trust. We managed to all work together to get through it. 3 years later, I’m still here, we get lots of beautiful reviews, comments & compliments & the shop is still standing! That’s got to say something!

My favourite part about working at the Op shop is the magnificent sense of community in Pae tū Mōkai. How everyone pulls together to make magical things happen. I really enjoy being able to make a difference in locals lives. Seeing that big smile, as someone brings something they’ve always wanted to the counter. Or being able to donate goods to families in need. We are always happy to help where we can. So, if you have some spare time & would like to be a part of something extraordinary, we’d love to have you come down to Featherston Op shop (or Ᾱ Mua or the Foodbank!!) & fill out a volunteer form. Or just come down for some retail shopping!

We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Cheers 021

[GRAB YOUR READER’S ATTENTION WITH A GREAT QUOTE FROM THE DOCUMENT OR USE

Manager Chanelle McClelland in clothes bought from Featherston Op shop.

St Theresa's students enjoying Tereora's story telling.

Adopting a star.

Conservation Week / Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Tūroa

14-20 August

Three more things you can do about climate

Robyn Ramsden

change

The Department of Conservation is encouraging our Nation on their website to take action for nature by caring. This could be done by organising a community group for a clean-up, donating time, money or simply picking up litter. More info can be gained by signing up on email subscription to their newsletter.

In December last year I realised plastic pollution in Tauherenikau River and Wairarapa Moana the river delta and decided to take action. At first by speaking to governance agencies first, but soon followed by an ongoing private clean up. (See July 2023 Phoenix).

While obvious deposits had been removed by onset of winter, a little bit more is to be done still and could be done during Conservation Week and beyond.

Often people enjoy walking their dogs at Wairarapa Moana. If you do this, maybe fill your pockets with any rubbish you find, or even take a bucket down for a bigger collection. About 200m along from the board walk, by the pine trees you are likely to find some substantial debris still to be removed.

There is still a far bit of plastic pollution in the river, if you are a keen kayaker like me, you may have seen it wrapped around trees along the banks. This is often in hard to reach places but will eventually by washed to the lake when the river floods. A good reason to keep picking up litter every time you visit the moana.

Take action for nature

My friend Mike is a keen drone pilot and recently flew his machine over the delta recording video and photos. The footage revealed previously unnoticeable submerged plastic entangled in driftwood. This will fragment by wave action and eventually wash up at the lake shores. Or worse, enter the food chain as micro plastic.

I’m targeting those spots, conditions permitting, and will not refuse casual help. Ring or text Reiner on 021 182 5070.

Scientists at Purdue University in Indiana have developed a white paint that reflects 98% of the sun’s rays. Why should you care? The colour of your roof influences how warm it gets inside your home. Having a white roof will do a few things; keep your home 2 degrees cooler so you don’t need to use as much electricity in summer to keep cool, increase the efficiency of your solar panels by 5–10 %, and (this is a bit silly) act as ice albedo.

Reiner Schoenbrunn residents use a share of the electricity generated with the excess sold back to the grid. Wouldn’t it be great to offer the same for residents in our social housing? Power bills would drop dramatically and the concerns around keeping cool in the summer would be reduced. For homes with solar panels with a power wall (battery) these are handy during a power cut too. You can keep your power on.

What’s ice albedo? Polar ice caps, glaciers and snow help in keeping the planet cool by reflecting radiation back out into space. We’ve been busy melting a lot of that and now the rock and water left behind is absorbing the heat and helping trap it in our atmosphere. The more highly reflective white we have around the more light radiation gets flicked back out into space. It won’t make a huge difference, but it’s nice to think it’s helping a little.

So, next time you need to paint or replace your roof, consider a highly reflective white. There has just been a solar panel trial started in Christchurch where they are putting solar panels on social housing. The

Tremendous treesthe Lazy Gardener

Julia Nerys-Parry

It’s wet. I’d even go so far as to say it’s horribly wet. Everything is wet. But there’s a wonderful Gerard Manly Hopkins poem that goes:

What would the world be, once bereft Of wet and of wildness? Let them be left, O let them be left, wildness and wet; Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet.

Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Tūroa

1 4 – 2 0 A u g u s t 2 0 2 3

Conservation Week is an opportunity for you to take action and show your support for nature. Taking action not only benefits nature, but also our personal wellbeing. Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata – when the land is well, the people are well. When Papatūānuku thrives, we thrive.

There’s a range of activities happening across the region – planting days, exhibition of children’s art, a talk with fish experts and a competition with some great prizes for schools.

Find out more here: Facebook.com/WellingtonDOC

But what to do about soggy shoes, puddles everywhere? Trees, people! Also, derivatives of trees. I have bark chip paths at my place that absorb 95% of anything that pelts down from the sky. (There was this one time that a combination of deluge-pluswind saw them pushed up into parapets along one side of the path). But for the most part, the greater number of trees you have in your garden the less risk of flooding. Have you noticed how fat and self-satisfied your flaxes are? Well, that’s because they’re absorbing all that excess water.

Look; I know they’re a bit of a pest when they get out of control and no green waste facility seems to want them, but we would be well advised to reconsider the virtue of water-loving plants. We’re going to have to. Despite the vagaries of La Nina and El Nino cycles, the world will get hotter and wetter into the future. Hence flaxes, which could restart a linen industry like we used to have in NZ back in the day. Māori used it (harakeke) for all manner of things, and it used to be milled at Castlepoint in the early 1900s.

I digress. Now is the time of year for transplanting perennials. Magnificent Mike spent a fair amount of time grubbing out a lovely Peace rose from its purgatory against the front fence. There was even a teeny yellow rose that he managed to rescue from certain death, overshadowed as it was by a spreading rhododendron. I’d managed to scoop ordure from my chook run, and Mike clumped it around the transplants. Hopefully, come summer I’ll have a mini rose garden. Meantime, I’m enjoying snowdrops and camellias.

I bet you thought KiwiSaver has nothing to do with carbon dioxide emissions. Then I’ve got some bad news. Where your KiwiSaver is invested makes a difference to your emissions profile, or at least the company holding it. Mindful Money is a website where you can quickly check to see how your KiwiSaver is invested. They report on fossil fuels, animal cruelty, human rights violations, social harm, weapons and environmental harm. I’m not an economist so all of this is outside my wheelhouse. After ten minutes of searching, I couldn’t find where my KiwiSaver is invested.

Like last time, references, links and more information is on my blog https://conglomeratecontemplation.wordpress.com/

Reiner tackling some of the remaining debris.

Photo credit: Pete Monk

Anagrams

Can you unscramble these phrases to reveal the names of our mayor, councillors and community board members?

1. A cake lay yum

2. A cheered Nelson sir

3. A cocoa dork won

4. A drippy man

5. Aerated leftism slurs

6. Cagey bracer

7. Canyon mint roll

8. Cold lions

9. Dismal alien

10. End Josh on inn

11. Hid turret four

12. Maria merits pill

13. Maybe nostril

14. Warm ex ran well

Fuelling ourselves with nature

Te Kura O Paetūmokai – Featherston School

We are excited to say that we have welcomed Te Kura O Papatuanuku Wairarapa into our school. Te Kura O Papatuanuku Wairarapa Earth School is a charity work across the Wairarapa. Their core purpose is education for sustainability.

Earth School has four main objectives:

1. To empower students to take informed action for a sustainable future.

2. Provide students with access to healthy, fresh kai and the skills to grow, cook and preserve their own fruit and vegetables.

3. To use project-based outdoor learning to teach STEAMM subjects (Science, Technology, Art, Maths and Mātauranga Māori. P U Z Z L E T I M E !

4. To build a sustainable and resilient Wairarapa community.

Whea Jules and Whea Emilie from Earth School have been busy with our year 7 & 8’s.

Our tech room has had a layout change and a good spruce up to make it more functional and appealing for our tamariki and they have created a herb garden outside the tech room which the children forage in and use what they have picked straight away. Recently one of the groups created amazing herb focaccia bread and another green fritters.

The goal is to create a Mara Kai (Food Forest), we already have apple trees and a feijoa tree.

In the Mara Kai we are starting with fruit tree guilds, learning about companion planting and the importance of attracting pollinators.

Our planting focus is kai and natives. Many of the plants we use are already here at the school or are donated. In July, local Green Party representative Celia Wade-Brown donated two lemon trees which she propagated herself. This is not about Jules and Emilie landscaping our gardens, our tamariki plan, create and learn every step of the way. This project has become a great way to use the cardboard waste coming from our healthy school lunches programme, the boxes are flattened and used to line garden beds.

Over the July holidays we had some trees removed, as they were becoming hazardous. Nga mihi nui (big thanks) to Kereru Tree Services for their hard mahi. They created beautiful woodchip for us, even putting it in specific areas ready for us to spread, this wonderful woodchip will add carbon to our soil. An enviro team often travel offsite to learn at other places around the region.

On July 20, 14 students helped with planting at Rumāhanga Farm. As well as hands on experience the tamariki are learning how this planting is going to help rejuvenate and restore the river.

In August the team are off to do some Wetland Wanderings! There is a lot going on with a compost and potting shed also in the plan and lots of native planting to go around the school grounds. We are searching for another feijoa tree, lemon verbena and native seedlings. If you are able to contribute, please let us know via email office@featherston.school.nz

The beginnings of our wall murals.

AJ and Fletcher enjoying planting with Whea Jules

Monday

Community Centre and Support Hub

14 Wakefield Street, Featherston info@fcc.nz

11 –3pmFab FeathyᾹtaahuaPae tūMōkai

12 -1pmFeldenkrais ON HOLD

1 –4pm MahJong

1 –4pmSenior’s Cards

7 –8pm Beautification Group 21st only

Tuesday

9 –Noon Mayor’s Office 1st, 15th & 29th

9 –NoonMTFJ (Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs)

9 –4pm Ears to You 29th only

9.30 -10.30MirerePT Session 1st only

10 –2pm Stroke Foundation 15th only

11 –3pm Community Law 8th only

Wednesday

8.30 –3.30Before School Checks 16th only

10.30 –12.30Wisdom & Wellbeing

12.30 –3pmCAPNZ Money Course 23rd & 30th

11 –1pmAge Concern 23rd only

2 –4pm Ukulele

7pm startFeatherston Community Board 9th only

7.30 –8.15pmPop Quiz 9th & 23rd

5 –7.30pm BCITO Apprentices

7 –8.30pm Wāhine Singers

Thursday

9.30 –12.30IRD Compliance 17th only

10 –11amFeldenkrais ON HOLD

10.30–NoonCancer Society Support Group 10honly

10 –Noon APM Workcare 3rd, 17th & 31st

10 –NoonNeurodiverse Support Group 17th only

11 –1pmAge Concern 23rd only

11.30 –3pmBuilding Financial Capabilities

11.30 –1pmBook Group 3rd only

1.30 –3.30pm Digital Seniors

Friday

9 –10amMireiePT Session 1stonly

10 –Noon Friday Knitters and Crafters

10 –12.30pm Feminine Business Connection 18thonly

12.30 –2.30CAPNZ Debit Management Coach

6.30 –7.30pmBelly Dance for Beginners

7 –8pmSW Branch of the Labour Party

7.30 –8.30pmAlcoholics Anonymous

Saturday 9am –10amFeldenkrais ON HOLD

10am –Noon Toy Library

10.15 –11.15Koha Yoga

11.15 –12.15Koha Yoga for Kids

Sunday

7 –9pmNarcotics Anonymous

Casual hire available. Mental Health Services available (times not advertised).

What’s on in Featherston in August 202 3

Feldenkrais –www.movewithease.co.nz

Community Centre and Support Hub

14 Wakefield Street, Featherston info@fcc.nz

This method of movement is different from conventional exercise systems like yoga, Pilates and the gym.(It’s easier!)

What’s special about what this is that it enables you to get free of habitual patterns, so that new and better ways of moving, feeling and acting can emerge.On the way you improve your posture and flexibility, and many common aches and pains disappear.You feel rejuvenated and more at peace with both the world and yourself. Your first session is free, so come along and try it.

Building Financial Capabilities (BFC)

Helping people and whānau to improve their financial wellbeing.

BFC takes a strengths-based approach to empower people to get control of their money, set goals and achieve long-term, sustainable change.

Ask the Centre office for a referral.

The following services are in the Centre thanks to Jen BhatiProperty Brokers:

Stroke Foundation

Cancer Society Support Group

Neurodiversity Support Group

CAPNZ Debit Management Coach

CAPNZ Money Management Courses

Wairarapa Warm Winter Jackets

The rack is still in reception and are getting new stock all the time. If you or anyone in your whānau need a jacket, please pop-in and grab one (or more). They are free.

BCITO Apprenticeships

Local building apprentices are being supported at the centre each week to complete their 'book work’. Apprentices are invited to pop in and have a relaxed, quiet space to upload their work, ask any questions and support each other. Refreshments provided. This is a joint project with BCITO and REAP Wairarapa. Contact daryl.withey@bcito.org.nz or drop in.

Senior’s Cards Group

We are social group of Senior’s meeting to play 500. We would love to have new people join us. We collect $2 per person koha for the Community Centre and usually have a cup of tea or coffee.

Beautification Group

Our friendly group meets monthly at the Centre to catch up outside our volunteer gardening duties.

We would love to have new people join us. We collect $2 per person koha for the Community Centre, when we meet here. No charge for helping us in the gardens!

Pop Quiz

Fun and quick. Open to all ages.

$2 per person entry. Bring your own refreshments.

Charles can help with so much -Working for Families, Child Support, Student Loans, Personal tax, Business tax, Allowances and much more. Make sure you are getting you entitlements. This is by appointment through Centre Office but appointments can be made on the day. If he is not with someone you may get an appointment on the spot.

Belly Dance for Beginners

A gentle introduction to a variety of Middle Eastern and modern fusion dance styles and music.You do not have to show your belly!Just $2 per person, all abilities welcome. Benefits of dancing include:

•improved muscle tone and strength

•weight management

•stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis

•better coordination, agility and flexibility

Koha Yoga & Koha Yoga Kids –www.yogahorizon.co.nz

Saturday morning there is yoga for everyone at the Community Centre.

For koha you can enjoy relaxing Hatha yoga. Thirumakes koha kids yoga fun.

IRD

Get ready for Carterton’s Daffodil Festival 2023

Jenny Gasson

Carterton is gearing up for another huge weekend in September with the return of the iconic Daffodil Festival on Sunday 10 September, and the Big Wai Art show on 8-10 September. This spring festival is one of New Zealand’s longest running events in our very own daffodil capital which often sees more than 10,000 visitors come to town. People can expect to see all their favourite activities - from daffodil picking at historic Middlerun farm, to steam train excursions, the High Street market, and street performances.

This is one of Carterton’s biggest social occasions with community groups and businesses coming together to showcase what our district is all about.

“We are so grateful for the Daffodil Festival, which is made possible by the Booth family, who through generations have displayed generosity by sharing their Middlerun farm with our community for daffodil picking,” said Mayor Ron Mark.

“When the weather turns on it’s a stunning day for everyone. I never get sick of seeing photos of families and their children sitting in a sea of daffodils and enjoying watching the steam train come in. It’s just a magical day for all.”

Festival planners from the Carterton District Council, Plunket, St Johns, Carterton Train Society, Go Carterton, and Carterton Lions have been in full swing behind the scenes ensuring the day is a success for all.

The festival runs alongside the Wai Art Show at the Carterton Events Centre from 8 – 10 September, making this weekend one you won’t want to miss.

Run by the Wai Art Trust and established in 2006 with the primary aim of supporting and promoting Wairarapa artists, this year’s show would be the trust’s 17th show, spokesperson Anna-Marie Kingsley said.

Head to www.cdc.govt.nz/daffodil or facebook.com/cartertondaffodilfestivalnz for more details or visit www.waiart.nz for the Wai Art Show.

Phantom National Poetry Day 25/26 August

Joanna Ludbrook

Featherston has a way with words; the Karukatea Festival in May attracts thousands of people who read, write, discuss, think and create with a whole dictionary’s worth of words. August 25 is Phantom National Poetry Day and we hope to put Featherston on the map for poetry hounds; people who write, read, create and juggle with words as their raw ingredients. Many of the booksellers, creative spaces and other businesses will host events, display their breadth of poetry books, hold readings and competitions focusing on poetry.

The Chicken and Frog Bookstore is holding its 4th annual competition for school children. The title this year is “At night in the bookstore...” and Joanna is looking forward to some exciting ideas of what really goes on after she’s locked up at night. Joanna is also hosting Katja Stark, an interactive poet who wants you to “grab a book and a neon highlighter and try to find a poem hiding on its pages...” (Saturday 26 July 11am–1pm).

So far, these two wonderful events have been confirmed -

Fareham Creative Space:

Interactive Poetry Workshop with Sara Hirsch

Join UK Poetry Slam Champion Sara Hirsch on Saturday, 26 August 2 - 4pm for a fun, relaxed, and interactive workshop. With a focus on the theme of ‘refuge’ we will use writing exercises and prompts to explore the full potential of our creativity. You might leave with an idea for a story or poem, the first line of a song or even a full manuscript for your debut novel. No experience necessary; all you need is your imagination and a pen and paper. $25 per person, ages 11+

Featherston Booktown Trust:

Featherston Booktown will be doing an online event for NPD this year. We will be launching the video recording of Late Nite Lit: Poets Corner which happened on the Saturday evening of the Karukatea Festival.

Dave at The Dickensian will be giving readings of his muchloved classics, and other events are in the planning. Keep your eye also on the bookshops, Common Ground and Fareham Creative Space.

All events will be registered on www.nzbookawards.nz/national-poetry-day and a local programme will be displayed in shop windows. If you want to know more about getting involved, please contact Joanna – chickenandfrog20@gmail.com

August is all about Poetry!

Have you entered the Children’s Poetry Competition? Write a poem about “At night in the Bookshop…”, deliver it to Chicken and Frog by Sunday, 20 August.

Prizes & Winners announced Friday 25 August, All entries displayed in-store.

Come along on Saturday, 26 August to enjoy a poetry event with Katja Starke. 11am - 1pm All ages welcome. More information in the shop window.

Wairarapa Word

Jan Gerritsen

Wairarapa Word will celebrate noted NZ author Robin Hyde on the anniversary of her death in 1939 in an evening of film, biography, poetry and conversation on Wednesday 23 August at 6pm at the Carterton Community Courthouse in Holloway St.

A fighter for what is just and fair, Robin Hyde (born Iris Wilkinson) was a journalist, poet, novelist, mother, editor, socialist, Māori rights activist, feminist, pacifist, and war correspondent.

This three-part evening provides a special insight into Robin’s extraordinary life. Author Philippa Werry will introduce her biography Iris & Me (2023) written in verse. It was described by noted reviewer, Paula Green, as “Breathtaking, nuanced, unforgettable. This is a remarkable and original book that was runner-up for the NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize 2022. Genius!”

Director Juanita Deely will present a Carterton premiere of A Home In This World (2018), a 15-minute film about Robin and her second son Derek, who lived to the age of 90.

Also, a Carterton premiere, The Uppish Hen (2023) began as a gift to her son Derek for his fourth Christmas. Robin bound the manuscript with a pink ribbon, placed it in his stocking, and on the title page, typed a wish that the poems be printed with “funny pictures, one fine day”. Thanks to Deely and The Cuba Press, that day has come.

Juanita Deely and Philippa Werry will be in conversation with their publisher Mary McCallum.

NZTrio Concert - Greytown Music Group

Juliet Cooke

Described as a “national treasure” and “New Zealand’s most indispensable ensemble”, (William Dart, NZ Herald) NZTrio is renowned for its eclectic repertoire, outstanding talent, and warm Kiwi stage presence. The trio has a remarkable track record of over 75 new commissions to date, with more than two thirds from NZ composers.

Violinist Amalia Hall, pianist Somi Kim and cellist Ashley Brown are looking forward to revisiting Greytown for this year’s concert, entitled Homeland 2: Tunes from my Home. The spirit of folk music is at the heart of “Homeland”, with the music of the great Bohemian composer Antonin Dvorak at the heart of the series. The music of the people: folk music’s ubiquitous influence, is present throughout.

Homeland 2 will begin in Romania with Enescu’s luscious A minor trio, one of the very few works he composed during WWII, and a strong witness to his fascination with the countryside, and the folk music of his homeland.

Iris and Me cover

The event is in collaboration Wai Library Service, The Cuba Press, Almo’s Books, Carterton Events Centre, and Carterton Creative Communities, it is a national poetry day event.

Books will be available for purchase and signing. Koha is appreciated.

Chinese-American composer Chen Yi and her siblings began studying the piano and classical music at the age of three, and a year later she was introduced to the violin. During the Cultural Revolution they were taken to a work camp in the countrysidebut were only allowed to perform “revolutionary songs”. Chen Yi will transport us back to her upbringing in China, with Tunes from my Home, musical stories filled with bustling energies and happy memories.

New Zealander Victoria Kelly not only composes, but also arranges and directs a wide spectrum of musical genres:

contemporary classical, pop, and music for film, TV and theatre. In the gently rhythmic and mystical sound world of her newly commissioned work for this concert, she explores the lure of her ancestral homes of Aotearoa and the Faeroe Islands (between Iceland and Shetland) and the irresistible forces that pulled her forebears towards and away from them. Lastly, we will be transported back to Europe, to Prague, where a 42 year old Dvorak will take us into the depths of Czech music traditions in his broodingly romantic F minor Piano Trio.

NZTrio: Homeland 2: Tunes from my Home. 4pm Sunday 3 September, at 57 Wood St, Greytown. For bookings, contact Ed and Juliet Cooke on 06 304 9497, or efjacooke@gmail.com

Pottery Workshops

Pottery Open sess ons Tuesday & Fr day- 1pm to 3pm We now o fer space for amateur potters o come to the stud o to pot w th own c ay Clay s ava ab e to purchase p us cost of f r ng and g az ng

Please note tha there is no tu or at these sess ons and standard requ rements of exper ence and code of conduc are o be met Koha

your own fe ted arm warmers by ma t ng together ayers o woo rov ng Add to your p ece by n roduc ng ayers o s k and other nterest ng text es Sat 19 Aug - Sewing Workshop w th Anne Benson– 10am o 1pm $20pp Sew a ong workshop easy sew ng pro ects to comp ete n three hours E g Bag place ma and coas er set z p pouch cush on cover handy ro up holder for sew ng k t sew ng machine mat sew ng machine cover

Sat 26 Aug - Polmer C ay ewel ery wi h D ane Coe – 10am to 1pm $50pp - Make your own ewe ery pendan w th g ass nugget - b rd f ower or mushrooms (September workshopEarr ngs

Upcycling – THURSDAYS 10, 17 24, 31 August $80 for 4 sessions

10am to 12pm – Upho s ery w th Ka r na– earn how o recyc e that t red cha r you have a ways wanted o 10am to 12pm -- Mosa c w th Diane – Learn the art o Mosa c where you use a m xture o t es broken ch na and g ass to crea e a beaut fu Mosa c t e 1 to 3pm – Upcyc ed C oth ng Le Mary show you how to tu n hat o d garment to someth ng wearable and modern

Continual Hobby and Art Groups

Crochet w th Tara ee – Sunday 13 27 August 10am -1pm - $20pp f om beginne s o exper enced meet as a group earn rom o hers crochet and chat Knitt ng with Ani Ross – Sa urday 12 August 2 Sep 10am -1pm $20pp An o fers o he p abso u e beg nners to kn t ers who need help and adv ce jo n n Paint ng Ser es w th Joanne R d ey McBeth - Sunday 13 27 Aug 1pm to 5pm - $50pp

Pottery Bas c - Beg nner four-week workshop wh ch covers hand bu ld ng, coi s ab - $80pp b ock.

–Wednesday 9,16 23 30 August with Diane Coe –Sa urday 19 26 August 2 9 Sept with Joanne Rid ey-McBeth

Induction Course – Register your express on o nterest or he nex workshop n September w th oanne R d ey-McBeth and Marshal Owen $120pp

Fareham Creative Space Pottery Membership

Membership which offers studio time, reduced courses, use of equipment and companionship of fellow potters. Complete an induction course and apply for membership, $100 per annum. Conditions apply.

Coming Workshops – Register your interest nd go Dy ng 2 Sept Pr nt ng Rongoa – Māor Med c ne wi h Ed th Ro s 10 Sept Qu ing Wood engraving Po mer c ay ewel ery 2

National Poetry Day Workshop with Sara Hirsch

Writer, Director, Educator. Saturday 26 August, 2 to 4pm $25 pp The focus will be on creating poetry/writing loosely based on the theme of 'refuge' Limited seats

Philippa Werry

Juanita Deely Photo credit: Esther Bunning

NZTrio members: Amalia Hall, Somi Kim and Ashley Brown

The Widow’s Penny - Heritage Museum

Romain Busby

How many times have you received a gift you really didn’t want? I could imagine those who received the Memorial Plaque (also known as Widow’s Penny or Deadman’s Penny), following their loved one’s death during or because of injuries received in World War 1, certainly didn’t want it.

The Heritage Museum has 3 of these ‘coins’ and they came with their own heavy envelope. I feel they are quite macabre as they are 12cm wide, made of bronze and depict Britannia in all her glory with lions and an eagle symbolising Britain and Germany. The service person’s name in capitals, is on the face. No rank is stated as they felt in death all people are equal. These were also awarded to women’s families as a number of women served and died during and after the conflict.

Apparently 450 tonnes of bronze was required and over 1,355,000 plaques were issued from 1918 right through to the 1930’s. What puzzles me is whether the families got anything else to help with the great loss they had experienced. Was there a financial grant or pension awarded? A delightful plaque is not going to feed a family left behind or pay the farms accounts! There may well have been, but I don’t have that information.

I also wonder where the bronze came from. Was there some meaningful origin of the metal, as in the Victoria Cross, and was the copper and tin mined in England itself?

Big thanks to John McDowell for the information in this piece, I certainly appreciate it John, thank you!

Featherston’s Anzac Club

Jocelyn

Konig

Just a little history for you.

In 1916 the minister of defence opened the Anzac Club on the corner of Bell and Birdwood Streets. The building had been built using funds raised by the local community to provide a recreation facility for men from the Featherston Military Training Camp. The club offered the users reading and writing rooms, billiard tables, a card room, a supper room and a bar and refreshment area. The building was used as a hospital during the influenza epidemic of 1918-19.

In June 1919 the club committee presented the building to the Featherston Borough Council as a memorial to Wairarapa soldiers killed during the war, with a condition that a memorial would be erected outside. The gift was recorded by a brass plaque.

In 1950 the Kiwi Memorial Hall was formed from two rooms within the building as the districts Second World War memorial. Now going forward to Monday 23 August 2023, we are holding our AGM at 7pm in the Supper Room and we would like to invite you all to attend. Find out what the club has been doing the past year and what exciting things we have in store for the next year. We hope to see you there.

More on the brake vans - Fell Museum

Romain Busby

Back to the brake blocks from the brake van F210. I have been informed by my expert that yes, they were recycled, and this took place at Petone workshops that were west of Petone station. Then I can assume the work was shifted to the Woburn workshops. As the pads only lasted one trip it was a constant job to replace them.

I again have it on authority that in 1948 a block cost 11/6. That is 11 shillings and sixpence for those too young to recall! The other fact I was given is that a set of 40 blocks would in today’s money cost $5000. Obviously, that would have needed to be built into the cost of freight or passengers. The brake pads on the engines weren’t changed as often because of the fire box above. The brake vans did most of the work!

The positioning of the brake vans in the train is described in W N Cameron’s book, “A Line of Railway”. Depending on the total weight of the train dictated how many vans were used and the number of engines needed. Also, I can imagine if they were ascending or descending the incline. A guard was in each van, but I haven’t found out how they may have communicated with each other. I can imagine their experience must have counted for something!

Call into the Fell Museum and imagine being a brake guard and slowing the train down as you whizz towards Cross Creek!

Featherston Beautification Group

Julia

Reed

This month will be a busy catch up with pruning roses, everyone most welcome to join us for an hour on Wednesdays from 3.30–4.30pm (timing is because I work) to target all our roses in Featherston’s gardens. If you are good at rose pruning and can’t make this time, but happy to do it when you can, please let me know – Featherston.b.g@gmail.com

The weather last month has kept our clippers and weeders indoors. It’s been a stay of execution for the weeds, but this means we need to work harder and ask for anyone who would like to join us in our battle.

We were very kindly donated a picnic table by Anna Crossling; it’s not quite in the location we have planned, but in the meantime if you are visiting the garden and want to read one of our books or a magazine please feel free to bring a coffee or your lunch and enjoy our table.

Our nursery and garden is located at the hill end of Bell Street.

Our email is featherston.b.g@gmail.com

South Wairarapa community to benefit from Rotary fair funds

Sylvia Smith

The new financial year for the South Wairarapa Rotary has begun and our four committees have been allocated funds from the 2023 Martinborough Fairs to be spent over the next 12 months.

After the success of the 2023 February and March Martinborough Fairs, Rotary has been left with a post fair profit of $80,000 for distribution into the South Wairarapa community over the coming year.

Our new President, Glenn Todd, was responsible for setting the annual budget for community funding for each of the four committees.

Our four committees responsible for the distribution of the funds are Youth & Older People led jointly by Leigh Hay and Lindsey Ward; Community led by Glenis Sutherland; Environment led by John Bushell and International led by Ruth Langlands.

In addition to the committee funds, there are special community and Rotary projects which receive money from the fair funds. These special projects include – two annual bursaries for Kuranui students; Outward Bound for one student; other youth initiatives and this year there has been funds set aside for a primary industries bursary. There is also a disaster fund set as part of the budget, which earlier this year we donated to Tinui and Hawkes Bay for flood relief.

Owls of Featherston Women’s Institute

Barbara Love

We have met twice lately with the Martinborough Women’s Institute ladies; last week it was a luncheon in Greytown. We have been invited by the Greytown Robins to a meal in Greytown, lovely to see our friends again. Their guest speaker was a lady recently returned from India who showed us her collection of saris and how to wear them. Beautiful material and colours. We have been busy catering and recently gave the Night Patrol a donation.

Mid-year luncheon for Women’s Institute members is soon and we have been asked to provide a prize for a big raffle. We have a gift voucher from the Cheese Shop of value $50, promoting Featherston, to add to the raffle. Last month I mentioned the Wairarapa Youth Orchestra, we went and thoroughly enjoyed it. Roger Fraser had a write up in last month’s Phoenix. They played tunes which we were all familiar with, themes from Harry Potter, James Bond, Titanic, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars, Mamma Mia and Chariots of Fire. Marvellous.

Our new lady, Lin, at a recent meeting showed us ladies the many ways of tying a scarf with all sorts of shapes and sizes.

As you can see, we keep ourselves busy and would welcome some new faces. Do contact either Corrie on 3086574 or Lyn on 0274347360, if you would like to know more.

Other recipients of our funds are the two Foodbanks in Featherston and Martinborough and ongoing support for Wharekaka. Since covid the student exchange has not taken place, but we are hopeful that we can resurrect this sometime in the future.

One of our major projects this year will be to support the Çarterton Youth Village for the installation of a new bathroom. We are also applying for a Rotary international grant to assist the village. Leigh and Lindsey are working together on this project.

If you know of a local organisation or other community group who require funding to assist with a specific project or other need, please contact one of our committees via our website www.swrotary.org and click on funding and grants.

South Wairarapa Rebus Club

Dr David J Woodhams

The South Wairarapa Rebus Club, a community of senior and retired people from the Carterton, Greytown, Featherston and Martinborough regions, meets monthly at the South Wairarapa Working Men’s Club, Greytown on the fourth Friday of each month and organises a trip on months with five Fridays. Visitors are welcome to attend our meetings. In June we met for our traditional midwinter lunch, this year at the Carterton Golf Club, enjoyed by all. The following week a group went to Stonehenge Aotearoa for an informative and interesting visit on a rather cold day. Stonehenge is a real Wairarapa gem. Our July meeting, we were addressed by Chris Peterson who introduced “Taking the Jump”, the latest approach to local action to control climate change. Taking the Jump is an evidence-based, international programme that looks at our power, as ordinary citizens, to reduce our carbon footprint. It starts wherever you’re at, is non-judgmental, practical, constructive, not a great hassle - and empowering. A group is now looking to introduce it to the Wairarapa, with help and support from elsewhere in Aotearoa and overseas. Future speakers this year include the Hon Ron Mark, ex minister of defence and current mayor of Carterton, Paul Snelgrove, managing director of Tranzit, who will discuss the electrification of the Tranzit bus fleet and more. In October, we have booked Bill Dolan from Martinborough. In 1979 Bill was a member of the staff of the NZ Embassy in Tehran during the Iranian revolution. NZ Ambassador Chris Beebe and Second Secretary Richard Sewell were instrumental in the dramatic escape of six US diplomats. We look forward to hearing Bill’s first hand story and will be extending a special invitation to seniors to come as visitors.

The South Wairarapa Rebus Club www.southwairaraparebus.com meets in the South Wairarapa Working Men’s Club, Greytown, at 9:45am on the fourth Friday of each month.

Anyone in the retired age group who may be interested in SW Rebus Club is welcome to come along to a meeting as a visitor.

Please introduce yourself at the door from the rear carpark or contact Perry Cameron on 027 430 6988.

Matariki Mini Fell - Cross Creek Railway

Amanda Cuff

On Friday our very own Cross Creek Mini Fell train rides were a big Matariki Festival draw card, with lots of Feathertson tamariki and many visitors going feral after dark. All the mini fell operators are so passionate about their trains and it’s lovely seeing kids (and parents) having so much fun. The Matariki Night Artworks had grown slightly this year - Elise Pallessen brought along one of her stunning artworks - Pīwakawaka. Our phosphorescent stingrays, glow-in-the-dark tekoteko and taniwha were back this year.

Our hope is that over time we can grow our night artworks into a phosphorescent garden of exploration and fun!

Featherston Dog Park group

Romain Busby

Hopefully another couple of Pawfit pieces will be installed soon for your pooches to get familiar with. A nose board and a textured path. With the current weather patterns, I can see some delays though! If you can lend a hand with this job, please feel free to contact the Facebook page.

Another gentle reminder to close the gates when you either enter or leave the park. The wind can blow ferociously, as we all know, and can be strong enough to hold a gate open enough to allow a dog to exit unintentionally. From experience it doesn’t take much to slip the hook through. SWDC has been contacted a number of times to shorten the chain on the north gate so hopefully that will be done when they are able.

We still have wandering dogs around and personally I find that really sad. Not only for the dogs but for those who desperately try and help them find their home again. Facebook postings seem to help but how about ensuring they don’t wander in the first place?

Your Dog Park Committee talked about trying to find a cheaper option for neutering, but we will keep you posted. It may save unwanted offspring and a little more in your pocket if we can organise it.

Continuing thanks to Completely Steamed who are very generous with donating time and energy to keep the weeds at bay inside the gate enclosures. We certainly appreciate your help, thank you. Consequently, no poisons are used at the park for both your health and your dog’s welfare.

Our Bell Street garden.

Sadie at the dog park

Fair Convener Vivienne O'Reilly and President Glenn Todd

Some of Night Art Works on display

Community garden Matariki working bee

Tanja Schubert-McArthur

Our vision for the community garden to be a place for young and old to come together and muck in became a reality when heaps of people turned up with spades, gloves, weed-eaters, trailers, gravel, seeds, plants and kids’ wheel barrows. Within an hour the keen helpers transformed the lawn into a vegetable garden, planted berries along the fence and fruit trees in the middle.

Everyone enjoyed a tasty morning tea in the St Andrew’s church hall while we listened to Diane Buckley’s talk about ancient kūmara gardens in Palliser Bay, where she lives, and we learned some of her secrets to growing a good crop of kūmara. The mounds are ready for planting in October!

Watch out on Facebook for the dates of our upcoming Conservation week working bees.

Featherston Community Patrol

Tana Klaricich

On Saturday 5 August, from 12pm, members of your very friendly Featherston Community Patrol will be manning an information stall at SuperValue and talking about what’s needed for you to become a voluntary community patroller.

Come by and see us, have a chat, grab a ‘snag in bread’ off the barbie that we’ll have going - no cost, but if you feel generous you can leave a koha! It all helps to put petrol in the patrol vehicle and cover costs.

Have a think about whether you have a few hours a month to be part of this very satisfying voluntary organisation that helps keep our community just that little bit safer! We really would love to grow our patroller numbers!

You won’t be able to miss us, we’ll be the ones in the high vis jackets!

The Featherston Knitters & Crafters

Vicky Alexander

Have you enrolled your newborn baby at our wonderful library, and received a gift pack which included a knitted beanie and bootees?

Or perhaps you have been to Plunket, and been invited to choose from a selection of brand new hand knitted baby and toddler clothing to deter the winter chill. What about visits to our medical centre, where your child has been given a small knitted toy to avert any worries or apprehension the visit might invoke? Or where you have received a hottie in a knitted cover to keep your toes warm at night?

Maybe your primary school child has been gifted knitted slippers to wear in the classroom?

Possibly you know someone in a rest home, who has a lovely knitted shawl or knee blanket to keep draughts at bay?

If so, then you have seen just some of the output from the Featherston Knitters and Crafters who provide all of the above, and much more, to services in the South Wairarapa.

In addition, we support Palliser House in Greytown; Women’s Refuge; the Rehab Unit at Wairarapa Hospital, and the district nurse at Five Rivers Medical in Greytown.

We are a group of volunteers who meet up at the community centre on Friday mornings, 10-12 midday, where we chatter and put the (Featherston) world to rights while knitting and crocheting for our community. But we couldn’t do this without the support of Featherston.

If you know someone who has given up knitting or crocheting, and who would like to donate their unused wool to our group, we would be very grateful. We do fundraise, holding raffles at our very supportive supermarket, plus we apply for grants (thank you Rotary), but we would far rather be knitting.

If you like the sound of our group, do come along on a Friday morning - you would be very welcome. We can provide the needles, pattern, and wool, help for new knitters, and a morning of chat and laughter.

Contact: Mary Mason - 027 452 8921, or just turn up - we are a friendly bunch.

Volunteer Noticeboard

Phoenix Puzzle Master

Are you great at creating small puzzles? The Phoenix is looking for puzzles to include in our newsletter.

Contact Jo: editor@phoenixnews.nz

Food and Kai Security

Are you an ideas person? Do you have experience in a large kitchen environment?

A keen fruit preserver, biscuit maker, quick cheap meal extraordinaire?

Our Community Kitchen is getting close and we would love to hear from people who are keen to be involved in the planning of kitchen courses, workshops or could supervise the safe production of community kai.

Please email jo@fcc.nz

Digital Seniors Coaches

Join a friendly team of Coaches who meet and help people over 65 years old with technology support. Tasks and responsibilities include:

• Support and empower Seniors with tech

• Attend the Hub to be present to offer support

Email: contact@digitalseniors.co.nz

Op-shop Helpers

The Featherston Op-Shop is looking for proactive, friendly, and trustworthy volunteers. Contact Chanelle: featherstonsopshop@gmail.com

Community Patrol

Volunteers needed for community patrol in both Martinborough and Featherston neighbourhoods Martinborough email: martinborough@cpnz.org.nz Featherston email: featherston@cpnz.org.nz or private message on Facebook

Wisdom & Wellbeing

We are looking for an organiser for our group. If you can spare a half day once per week, February to December we would love to hear from you.

If you are responsible, interested and caring, please contact Indigo via info@fcc.nz

Many of these volunteer opportunities can be found on Be Collective - a digital platform matching volunteers with opportunities. Find more details at nz.becollective.com (search for opportunites within 25km of Featherston).

To find out more about joining Neighbourhood Support contact Ava Sanganoo nsswcoordinator@gmail.com

#ReachOut #HelpOut

Some of the CP team in our high vis

Doing the hard mahi

Hand knitted toys ready to go to their new homes

Featherston men’s football Richie Wards

Featherston men’s football team has performed a stellar first half of the season recording some great wins and draws. Lessons have been learned from odd loss.

Danny “keepers ball” Kitching has saved many a goal from passing through. His goalie skills, garnered from his childhood in Glasgow, are the envy of all opposition teams. He is willing to put his body on the line for the team and not afraid to show the opposition who is boss.

Other recent outstanding performances have included Tommi Lloyd, Lincoln Williams and Adam Mattsen. While the whole team always gives 100% these players recently went the extra mile to help secure consecutive wins against Masterton teams.

The shock of the season was when club president Ritchie Wards scored a goal against Masterton.

Wednesday night trainings are popular. Featherston’s wind has been helping the lads hone their skills by practising in dynamic conditions. Come game day these techniques and team spirit are helping to make Featherston a champion team in the Wairarapa.

You would have seen the team and their families out pounding the pavements recently reading water meters and delivering the yellow pages. Through letter box chats we have gained a few extra players.

Massive shout outs to Benn and Erin from Property Brokers and A1 homes for making the season possible through their sponsorship

Featherston Amateur Wrestling club

Edwin Read

The wrestling season is well underway with the start of the national tournaments in late June seeing our competition team returning with a full set of medals from their trip to Katikati for the North Island championships. The Katikati event was preceded by a national run training camp for our senior wrestlers.

Term 3 saw training start in week one on Wednesday 19 July at 5.30pm and with the final of our tri-series with local clubs held in Tawa on Saturday 22 July. These local competitions are an ideal introduction for beginners and provide good competition at all levels.

The competition team for the Tawa tournament led by Wairangi Sargent including Archer Coulson, Charlie-Maree, Taine and Ashlyn Sargent all wrestled with distinction. A great example of the effort was young Taine coming from 6-0 down at half time to win 9-8 in his final match. The team were a credit to the trainers Chris & Jeremy who have been working hard to prepare for this tournament season.

Also on our calendar are the Oceania championships at the Australian institute of Sport in Canberra, where Nate George and Angus Read are representing both their club and country - both boys have been training hard under wrestling legend and trainer Jeremy Sargent. We wish Angus and Nate well and are very proud of the work they have put in. The club championships (Hamilton) and national secondary schools (Auckland) tournaments round out the competitions over August.

Sports Directory

Here is an overview of what is available in Featherston. Note: Some sports only run during school term time.

Badminton

When: Tuesdays, 7pm

Where: Sports Stadium Rock up and join us!

Basketball – Youth (9-15yrs)

When: Fridays, 4.30pm

Where: Sports Stadium Fstnsportshub19@gmail.com

Floorball - Feathercats

Social for age 16+, equipment provided, no pressure, no experience required.

When: Thursdays 7pm

Where: Sports Stadium, Underhill Rd feathercatsfloorball@gmail. com

Football – Women’s Feathy Fantails

Social, no pressure, no commitment, no experience needed.

When: Saturdays Fortnightly, 2pm Where: Card Reserve Rock up and join us!

Football/soccer Men’s Featherston united. Trainings and social kick around 6-7.30 pm Wednesdays. Games Saturday. All welcome. Turf courts fufc2014@gmail.com

Football (Soccer) – Junior

When: Training Tuesday, Thursday or Sundays

Where: Randolph Park and Sports Stadium Games: Toddlers kicks Sundays, all other leagues Saturday mornings

featherstonjuniorfootball@ gmail.com sporty.co.nz/featherstonjuniorfc

Gymnastics – Youth

When: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday afternoon featherstongymnasticsclub@ gmail.com

Hockey – Youth

When: Thursdays, 3.30pm

Karate – Okinawan Goju

Ryu Karate-Do

When: Wednesdays, 6pm

Where: Featherston School Hall

iogkfnz@gmail.com

Netball - Youth

Training: Mondays @ 3.30pm

Where: St Teresa’s kura if fine, Sports Stadium if wet

Games: Tuesday afternoon or Saturday morning, Wairarapa region featherstonnetballclub2014@ gmail.com

Netball - Senior

Training: Mondays @ 7.00pm

Where: Sports Stadium

Games: Saturdays, Wairarapa region featherstonnetballclub2014@ gmail.com

Muay Thai – SMAC Featherston

Where: 52 Fitzherbert Street, Featherston smacfeatherston@gmail.com

Rugby League - Featherston

Kuri Masters

When: Training Tuesdays, 5.30pm

Where: Card Reserve

Games: Saturdays Fortnightly, in the Wellington region. featherstonrugbyleague@ gmail.com

Rugby - Youth

When: Training Thursdays, 4pm Where: Card Reserve Games: RIPPA & U11’s Fridays or Saturdays in the Wairarapa region. Featherstonrugby@gmail.com

Tennis - Social

When: Mondays and Thursdays, 6pm - weather permit-

ting

Where: Turf courts, Underhill Rd

Sports currently off season

Cricket – FeatherstonCC@ gmail.com

Athletics – Athleticsfeatherston@gmail.com

Swimming – swimfeatherston@gmail.com

Futsul Bowling Touch Rugby

Have we missed your sports club or do you need details updated? Please email editor@phoenixnews.nz

The Phoenix news is not responsible for requesting, monitoring or updating this information.

Please email any changes to editor@phoenixnews.nz

Anagram Answers

It’s not too late to be part of one of the Wairarapa’s most successful sports clubs, to experience some honest values in a sport that rewards hard work, all the while having fun. See Facebook for more info.

Where: Turf courts, Underhill Rd

Hockey – Senior

When: Tuesdays, 6.30pm or Thursdays, 7.30pm

Where: Turf courts, Underhill Rd

Wrestling

When: Wednesdays, 5.30pm

Where: 52 Fitzherbert Street, Featherston featherstonamateurwrestling@ gmail.com

North Island Champs Team - Duncan Allen-Alloway, Nate George, Angus Read, Wairangi Sargent, Taine Sargent, Ashlyn Sargent, Charli-Marie Sargent

CARTERTON | GREYTOWN | WELLINGTON

When the outcome matters, you want the WCM Legal team on your side.

MICHAEL BALE KIRSTEN TOWNSLEY SUSIE BARNES

Properties sold by us in 2023

With recent changes in the property market, and a substantial amount of media coverage regarding these changes we have found that many homeowners are curious to know what their properties are worth in the current market. If you would like an up-to-date property appraisal, give us a call and book a free no obligation appraisal. You do not need to be selling! It’s that simple.

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