Featherston Phoenix September 2023

Tamariki Creating a Difference

Te Kura o Paetumōkai - Featherston School

Art from some of our tamariki featured at Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History!

The students have been privileged to work with artist Jenny Keate and be part of her ‘Looking Sideways’ exhibition. The exhibition will also be shown at the River of Hope Festival in London!

The tamariki worked with Jenny Keate during one of their Ruamāhanga restoration planting days. Like featured in the August Phoenix.

Jenny ran a workshop after this planting day and the students wrote about their experience. These written pieces were then placed over top of some of Jenny Keate’s artwork. There was a great article in the Wairarapa Times Age, Friday 18 August about the event at Aratoi.

We are all very proud of the following students who took part Aniwa Ducommum, Declan Hoyle, Fletcher Baker, Haylow Taitapanui, Hunter Isbister, Jayden Pirimona, Jharal Hophipuha, Jonah Stanley, Khalyous Keir, Myra-Lee Turner-Sinclair, PJ Rogers, Satriani Ngawekwtuhimata and Thomas Cremen.

School Night Market 21 September 4.30 – 6.30pm

Last year was such a success so we are doing it again! Our tamariki and rangatahi will be making and selling a great selection of items. The bake sale is happening again, arrive early for this as last year the baking sold out. We have a huge grocery raffle and candy floss for sale.

There is a bit of room in the hall if you want to have a stall. $20 per table. If you would like to join in, please email office@featherston.school.nz

Te Kura o Paetumōkai team at Ruamāhanga Farm on a recent planting trip.

Volume 28 | Issue 8 | September 2023

Facebook: facebook.com/FeatherstonPhoenix

Web: issuu.com/FeatherstonPhoenix

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, Monday 18 September 2023

Editor:

Joanna Baldwin (editor@phoenixnews.nz)

Advertising & Layout Coordinator: Kristi Chalmers (advertise@phoenixnews.nz)

Sports:

Ritchie Wards (ritchie.wards@gmail.com)

Advertising sales: Nicky Wright (sales@phoenixnews.nz, 027 499 0081)

Proofreader: Lee Priday

Printing: Printcraft

Distribution: Chris Konig, Alistair Reid, Raewyn Russo, Gordon Wyeth

From the Mayor

Martin Connelly

The first comment I make is intended to be helpful for people who are concerned about rates. The council is undertaking a process called a “rating review” which looks at the principals and policies that determine how rates get set in the district. If you would like to be consulted, please let me have your name and contact details and I will make sure you are put on the list of those to be contacted. There will be a public notice when the consultation is occurring, but sometimes notices in newspapers and other such places get missed. My next comment refers to the role that individuals and local groups can play in helping make better communities. Firstly, I wish to acknowledge David Famularo, Featherston resident and art lover. David was concerned about the plight of the longfin eel. Longfin eels, or tuna, used to be observed in very large numbers in parts of the Wairarapa. To Mana Whenua they were a valuable source of food and a culturally significant taonga. There have been reports that tell us that the eel population is now very vulnerable and that eel numbers may collapse.

In 2022 David presented a petition to parliament asking for longfin eels to be protected under the Wildlife Act. Two government departments opposed the petition, but parliament’s Environment Committee agreed with David that the eels are in a “perilous state”. That committee recommended a review of the protection of the eels. By law the government must respond to that recommendation by 25 October. Preparing petitions, gathering evidence, and presenting submissions are not easy things to do. But they can be done and, as we see here, the results are likely to be much better protection for longfin eels. You can assist David by contacting your local MP and letting him know what you think.

Many of us know that Featherston is subject to flooding. Recently the Greater Wellington Regional Council published a regional flood assessment report. You can see it here: https://www.gw.govt.nz/ your-region/emergency-and-hazard-management/flood-protection/ flood-hazard-advice/regional-flood-hazard-assessment/ The focus of the report is on significant but infrequent floods. In the link, above, you can click on a link to a map that shows where these significant floods might occur. For those of us who live in many parts of the Wairarapa, including Featherston, that map is very sobering. We have recently seen that in really bad floods, there is little that can be done to avert the course of flood waters. We have also seen that help and assistance to those affected comes much more quickly from our own community. While national and regional civil defence assistance will arrive eventually, our first line of help will usually be from people who live near to us. A good reason to live in a community where people support each other, such as Featherston. When I became mayor, I inherited a pretty dull office. I decided to turn one of the walls into an “artists’ wall” and display the work of local artists to the many visitors I met. The Wairarapa has numerous creative and artistic people, who deserve to be better known. My office has become a room to “show off” some of those people’s work. This month I am featuring Pete Monk, photographer of Featherston. Pete is a very versatile photographer, and he has a special talent for photographing the night sky. I was, therefore, particularly delighted when Pete suggested that I hang the print you see in the image, in my office.

If you know, or are, an artist who would like to be part of the “artists’ wall” please get in touch.

Night sky by Pete Monk.

Featherston Community Board update

Rebecca Gray

Well, it would be nice to not have to keep talking about the rain, right? We’ve certainly had more than enough recently, with a few more “lakes” in our surrounding paddocks that the poor wee lambs are learning to swim in. One upside though is all the spectacular rainbows we’ve been having. I don’t know if there’s an international rainbow census, but I’d bet we’d be near the top of the list!

All this rain has gotten your local community board talking about the concept of sponginess. The best way to think about sponginess is that hard surfaces block water and send it away, spongy or green surfaces hold onto water. Traditional urban design takes the run-off from roofs, driveways, roads, carparks etc and funnels it into a network of pipes to eventually decant into the ocean. Great plan, except that it tends to fail under extreme volumes of water (like what happened to Auckland), and it robs us of the amazing and free resource that is rainwater, often leading us to use expensive potable (drinking) water to keep our gardens alive. The spongy town concept is one where we capture water where we can (tanks, carbon-rich gardens, ponds), and if we can’t capture it, then we design ways for it to soak in (e.g. porous concrete or gravel instead of paved driveways).

Featherston is uniquely set up to be an excellent spongy town. We don’t have big storm water drains to funnel away the water

on the sides of roads for longer. This water eventually drains away via soak pits or sumps into the ancient riverbed that we are built on. We have lots of green spaces and heaps of gardens to soak up all that lovely water, and we can utilise and enhance this with careful and clever design and planning.

We are getting a lot of rain at the moment. We have had a wet winter following a wet summer, following yet another wet winter, and sponginess is a great flood mitigation strategy. The current best guess however, using climate modelling, is that the good rain times will slow, and we will move more into a period of increased heat and decreased rainfall. Again, this is another tick for spongy towns. If we use this time to build the absorbency capacity in our gardens and properties, we can get ahead and work towards adapting to climate change in our own backyards. Think about planting trees with deep roots that will provide lots of shade and maybe carbon in the form of autumn leaf fall. Think about the high points of your property that water will run off, and the low points that may be able to receive and hold on to the water. Think about hügelkultur, mulching, and composting. Also, keep an eye out for the berm planting plan that your community board is working away on…

In other news we will be starting up regular drop-in sessions for both the Featherston Community Board and the Featherston councillors from next month, dates and location to be confirmed. Keep an eye out on Facebook and the noticeboard at SuperValue for more updates.

Our last community board meeting had some excellent presentations about car shows, Christmas parades and even predator control - such a diverse and passionate community in our little town! We’re already looking forward to our next meeting –7pm, 6 September at the Community Centre. This is a “Meet the Board” session where everyone is invited to come together, kanohi ki te kanohi. All are welcome, and we look forward to seeing you all there.

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

Glamour & Gumboots

Charlotte Harding

The Glamour & Gumboots competition this year was another huge success and the winners have recently been revealed. Judge Nicole Halliday commented -“I absolutely loved the creativity that went into this year’s entries. One thing I have to say is, don’t let creativity take away from the theme, which is ‘Glamour and Gumboots’, ie. you need to include the glamour! It was really, really tough choosing our winners this year and a massive thanks goes out to all of you who participated and helped us to raise just over $500 for each of the four Wairarapa Foodbanks. You’re all winners!”

Our winners line up for 2023 is as follows:

Women’s category

First: Nadia White wins The Fire Inside Photography - Jayne package

Second: Adrienne Staples wins Toast Martinborough double pass

Third: Maree McManaway wins a Claire Mcintosh Massage Therapy 90 min massage

Highly Commended: Crystal Hart with her shot of Nadine wins a Mudita back, neck, shoulder massage

Men’s category

First: Our one and only Richard wins a Copthorne Solway Bed and Breakfast voucher

Group category

First: Tunicliffe Builders win a Martinborough Brewery voucher

Second: Judy, Poppy & Jay win the Ventana $50 voucher and Schoc Chocolate Shoe

Highly Commended: The Tea Ladies, Michelle Thomas,Katie Laporte, Jane Burns, Mary Sykes Wheeler and Nicola Yee win a Brac & Bow $50 dinner voucher

Children’s category

First: Margot Mills wins the Three Peas Tee Pea Party Package

Second: Ted & Chester the dog win a Go Zone 2 x kids entry

Highly Commended: Harrison and Alexandria win a Chicken & Frog $25 voucher

Spirit Award

The Thrive Girls captured by Debbie Hunt win a Case of Matahiwhi bubbles

People’s Choice

First: Receiving 207 votes was the Thrive Ladies captured by Debbie Hunt win a Claire McIntosh Massage Therapy 60 min massage

Second: With 91 votes was Tunicliffe Builders win a Claire McIntosh Massage Therapy 30 min massage.

Thanks to everyone for getting involved. We had some great entries from the Featherston community with the food bank crew even getting involved!

Charlotte & Nicole

Wairarapa Fruit & Vege Co-op

Charlotte Roberts

Wairarapa Fruit and Vege Co-op is a branch of Wellington Regional Fruit and Vege Co-op. We are a not-for-profit volunteer-run organisation with a goal to support communities to gain better access to affordable healthy fruit and vegetables. The Wairarapa branch began in 2019 with 21 orders and now packs 200+ orders each week!

There is no cost to join and no obligation to make an order; some people buy weekly, some monthly! You can come and go as you need. Joining is as simple as making an order/payment. Orders are made one week in advance, between Tuesday and Thursday for the following Wednesday pick up. There are four pick up locations across the region. Featherston pick up is from St John’s church hall, 2:30 to 3:30pm. Options are available for people needing to collect kai outside this time.

Each pack costs $15 each and includes 3 - 4 types of vegetables, and 3 - 4 types of fruit. When you order you don’t know what kai you will get but we regularly get kai like potatoes, carrots, apples and bananas etc. How much kai you receive varies week to week but the more orders, the more we can buy! Our costs are kept low in part because of the invaluable support of our volunteers.

Healthy kai should be an option for everyone. Please consider trying it out! For more information see www.hauorakai.nz or our Facebook page: Wairarapa Fruit & Veg Co-op, or email us at wairarapafruitveg@gmail.com

Featherston Foodbank volunteers.

Featherston First Fridays organisers.

Fab Feathy

Hana Makin

As we leave the winter blues behind us and start to look towards longer days and a bit of sunshine (please!), so too comes closer the fantastic spring and summer events that we so look forward to as a community.

Before the end of the year, Featherston will play host to a fantastic fundraising car show, the return of Featherston First Fridays, a wāhine-focussed sporting event, various school fairs, a Christmas parade and much more!

These events may seem to happen in the blink of an eye, but the amount of mahi that goes in ahead of time is extraordinary. And that work is currently in full swing! Fundraising, planning, crafting, relationship building and marketing all goes on behind the scenes. All of these events are volunteer run by passionate people, who want to give the fair folk of Feathy plenty of opportunities for fun and connection. If any of the above interests you, let me know and I will put you in touch with the organisers!

The people of Featherston are a huge part of why this town is such an awesome place to call home. Thank you to everyone who gets stuck in with such positivity and determination!

Two of 2022’s end of year events – Featherston First Fridays and The Wai Wheels Car Show.

Community Centre

Peter Paton

While the last few weeks have been cold, the fire in the Kauri room has been keeping everyone nice and warm. The heaters have been pumping in the smaller rooms and hot drinks flowing. Thank you to everyone who has given koha towards the drinks, it is really appreciated.

The support services available we are highlighting this month are: Building Financial Capabilities (BFC)

Helping people and whanau to improve their financial well-being BFC takes a strengths-based approach to help people get control of their money, set goals and to achieve long-term sustainable change. Please contact us at the centre for a referral.

Digital Seniors

Volunteer coaches are at the centre every Thursday from 1:30–3.30pm to assist seniors with any issues they may be having with their cell phone, tablet, or computer.

IRD

On the 3rd Thursday of every month, Charles is here to assist you with any IRD matter you have. He can help you with Working for Families, Child Support, Student Loans, Personal Tax, Business Tax, Allowances and much more. Please contact the centre office for appointments. You can turn up without an appointment but may have to wait.

At the centre you will find Jo here Monday to Thursday and Peter Tuesday to Friday.

If you are unsure of support available in the South Wairarapa or need assistance, please feel free to drop in to the centre and talk with us. We are here to help. Have a look at our new, improved timetable, there may be something in it that may interest you.

Ngā mihi, Peter

Op Shop volunteer

Nicky Wright

I moved to Featherston at the end of 2018 with my husband Barry. We have retired early so in between doing up our house I looked around for something to keep me busy as I have volunteered for lots of different things over the years.

The op shop appealed to me as I have worked in lots of retail and sales roles over the years. I love meeting new people and having a chat with those I know and helping them find what they want. The op shop has been great as I can volunteer as much or little as I like. I started out doing two hours and now work most of Friday as well as organising the Op Shop Trade Me account, which works well around my other volunteer roles.

I love the atmosphere in the op shop with our merry band of volunteers and of course our manager Chanelle, who manages to steer our different personalities to the areas we work the best. I am looking forward to the future of the op shop and the wonderful community of Featherston.

I’m here to help

Wairarapa, Tararua District and Central Hawke’s Bay

Get in touch:

06 377 7186 | 157 Queen Street, Masterton kieran.mcanulty@parliament.govt.nz

Authorised by Kieran McAnulty MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Kieran McAnulty MP for Wairarapa

Wheels & Deals Swap

Meet & Car Show

Barbara Priest

Fundraiser for Featherston Junior Football Club

Well folk here we are heading into September, only a couple of months before we stage the 2nd Annual Wheels & Deals Swap Meet and Car Show at Card Reserve.

Colouring competition

As with last year the very popular colouring competition is here for you to participate in and the finished pictures will be on show on the wall of fame at the car show.

Now with the generous sponsorship and assistance of Benn, Erin and the team at Property Brokers here is a great chance for all the kids to colour in the awesome hot rod truck featured on the back page of this Phoenix. We have three age groups and great prizes for each group -1st prize plus a 1st and 2nd runner-up in each group. So kids, colour your copy and get the finished product into either Property Brokers or into the collection box at the supermarket.

‘WHEELS & DEALS’

2nd ANNUAL FUNDRAISER SWAP MEET & CAR SHOW

Sunday 12th November 23 CARD RESERVE - FEATHERSTON

REGISTRATIONS OPEN NOW

• Early Bird Registrations go into the draw for a monetary prize courtesy of …….

‘Jims Barber Shop’ Masterton

• Swap Meet Vendors – excellent spots included within the ‘Show’ area.

• Awesome Trophies & Prizes on the day

• Registration Forms available on Facebook: Wai-Wheels Featherston or contact vbr@xtra.co for some Forms.

For further information contact:

Vinni - 0274 47 9990

Graham – 021 0737 177

Dan – 021 654 725

The power of sunlight for enhanced energy and well-being

Sar a Cory Isbister

In a world inclined towards complex solutions, the beauty of simplicity is often side-lined. As daylight hours stretch, beckoning us outdoors, a captivating scientific narrative unfolds behind our instinctual gravitation towards sunlight. Beyond its visual charm, sunlight, particularly its red light spectrum, conceals a wealth of implications for our energy levels and holistic wellness.

Ever wondered why a sunny day invariably uplifts your spirits? This isn’t just a trick of the mind. Sunlight, especially its red light facet, profoundly impacts our mood. The caress of these gentle red wavelengths on our skin initiates a delightful cascade - the release of serotonin, aptly known as the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter. This biological symphony explains why a stroll in the morning or a leisurely evening moment under the sun can swiftly elevate your mood.

Yet, the sun’s sphere of influence extends beyond emotional well-being. The radiance of morning sunlight, enriched with its red light magic, plays a pivotal role in orchestrating our body’s internal clock, the circadian rhythms. This synchronisation bears a direct influence on sleep quality. Embracing the early sunbeams recalibrates our sleep-wake cycle, ultimately translating to improved nocturnal rest and elevated vitality throughout the day.

The heart of the matter resides in the captivating red light wavelengths, prominently found during dawn and dusk. These wavelengths delve into our cellular world, navigating their path to the mitochondria - the energetic powerhouses nestled within. When red light engages these mitochondria, it’s akin to pressing a throttle on cellular energy production. This phenomenon ushers in a surge of ATP, the cellular fuel that profoundly impacts our energy reservoirs.

What’s even more remarkable is that capitalising on these benefits doesn’t necessitate convoluted strategies:

Rise and shine: Commence your day by basking in morning sunlight. Whether you opt for a brisk walk, a gentle yoga session, or a contemplative moment with your morning brew on the porch, immersing yourself in the red light of the early sun can be likened to an invigorating elixir that sets the tone for the day.

Sunset serenity: As the sun gracefully departs, offer yourself another precious encounter with its warm embrace. Engage in calming activities, enveloped in the soothing, red-tinged rays. This practice not only facilitates a tranquil transition to the evening hours but also acts as a signal to your body, indicating the time for repose.

Amidst the fervour of daily life, it’s imperative to remember that solutions of great impact are often nestled in simplicity. When it comes to boosting energy levels and nurturing overall well-being, the free and accessible resource of sunlight often remains understated. Its red light spectrum holds the key to an array of advantages - from uplifting mood and refining sleep to fostering a tangible surge in overall vitality. By weaving this innate wisdom into our daily routines, we wholeheartedly embrace a scientific yet instinctive path towards nurturing well-being and infusing our existence with a renewed vigour.

Pirinoa School

Richard Goodyear

Imagine if your classroom as a child contained historic cemeteries, pa sites, lakes, wetlands, streams, rivers and forests. A lighthouse, a marae, ancient and modern gardens. Farms of all types and sizes. Dozens of fascinating people, old and young, who are experts, who have achieved great things in their lives, and with stories to tell about the places they love. And an entire mountain range with a rare climbing plant that your school is named after.

Pirinoa School sits at the centre of all this and we are leaving the school grounds more and more to explore this vibrant learning space.

To have a classroom this big, this vibrant, we need to flip the idea of what a classroom is and what a curriculum might be.

Every single site is packed with learning opportunities. We need to think ‘let’s learn about people and places instead of simply learning subjects’. Because the learning that we need to do in schools is bigger than just the subject areas. The kids need knowledge, understanding and skills that are relevant to them and are sparked by what’s around them. By their place. And when we get it right it spurs a whole lot of motivation for reading, writing and maths. What we call the foundational subjects.

This is the idea behind the ‘local curriculum’ that we are developing at Pirinoa School, and many schools are embracing all through the country.

Reading accounts of early settlers, memorising a moteatea about the places significant to mana whenua, calculating the flow of a river in metres/second, creating a model back at school of a pa site during a historic battle.

I guarantee everyone reading this article could come up with dozens of ideas for high quality learning activities that could be spurred by a focus on the people and places of the South Wairarapa. And maybe find it easier than coming up for ideas about how to teach writing, reading and maths in isolation.

It’s early days with this idea, but momentum is building. There are lots of challenges. We have to figure out how best to run field trips that capture all the above opportunities but that are worth the time, money and risk planning required to make them happen. And to be able to capitalise on the trips and visits with the work we do back at home base. How best to thank and acknowledge the people who give up time for us. How to make sure we are contributing to our place and not just sapping goodness from it.

And we don’t want to forget about the ultimate learning space of all: Pirinoa School itself, where we are developing gardens, planning wetlands, trapping predators, playing sports, climbing trees, building huts, and using our indoor spaces to have concentrated bursts of reading, writing, maths and all the other good stuff that needs to be indoors.

Plunket playgroup

Brittany, Roxann and Kristen

Featherston Plunket playgroup is open every Wednesday morning. We run from 10am-12noon.

It’s free to come along, we just have a koha tin next to the sign-in sheet. We appreciate any sort of donation. We supply hot drinks and biscuits for everyone, and the kids have a BYO lunch box system.

It’s well established that we do lots of trips at our school. And they are trips with a purpose. Water testing the local river anyone? Learning the history of the area by viewing the tukutuku at Kohunui marae? Studying the local geology by journeying from the bottom of the Remutaka to the coast with our tame geologist Chris to illuminate the very rocks we stand on everyday? These are but a few of the experiences our students have had recently. We aim to have many more in coming years including finding that elusive pirinoa plant in the wild.

Clive Paton hosted the whole of Pirinoa School on his regenerating farm in the Aorangi Ranges.

Chris Hollis is talking to seven year old Koda about deep geological time.

Parkinson’s Awareness

Roslyn Lafrentz

Parkinson’s Wairarapa will be at Longbush Cottage during its annual Tulip Festival over the weekend of 30th September and 1st October. Our volunteers will be manning the parking and offering refreshments at our pop-up café, as well as providing information on our activities around the Wairarapa and selling wooden tulips.

The Longbush Tulip Festival is a celebration of the majestic tulip and the return of spring. With the red tulip being the international symbol of Parkinson’s, being present in Luke Gardner’s beautiful gardens is magical.

Parkinson’s Wairarapa will also be fundraising during September and promoting the tulip festival. We will be selling raffle tickets outside Greytown Fresh Choice on Tuesday 12th and Carterton New World on Tuesday 19th. Luke has been very supportive and provided the prizes - tubs of tulips (valued at $150 and $40) plus two free passes to visit his lovely gardens over the festival weekend.

Parkinson’s New Zealand (including the Wairarapa) is an organisation that does not receive Government support and relies heavily on the generosity of our communities. All funds raised in the Wairarapa stay in the Wairarapa, and are used mainly to provide weekly singing and exercise classes. These two activities are available to anyone who has Parkinson’s or other conditions that have affected speech or co-ordination.

For further information about Parkinson’s in the Wairarapa please contact the local Action Group by email, wai.parkinsons@gmail.com, check us out on our Facebook page

The Bicycle and Nature

Elisabeth Mikkelsen

Leave the computer and turn off the radio. Your bicycle can help you with the exercise you need. In our little town Featherston, nature is all around. I am calling all who would like to start a recreational cycle group.

My name is Elisabeth Mikkelsen. I have recently moved from Masterton to Featherston. My bike is my main mode of transport for getting around locally, but it is much more than that. Cycling gives me all the exercise I need; it helps me to get close to nature and it always lifts my spirits.

I would like to invite you to come along for the ride with me and share the pleasures and benefits of cycling.

There are two recreational cycle groups in the Wairarapa - Thursday Bikers in Masterton and Greytown Geriatric Bikers for example – but nothing in Featherston at present. If you’re interested in changing that, bring your bike (pedal or electric) and meet me in front of the Featherston Community Centre on Thursday 21 September at 9.30am. I will be there with my Linus cream coloured pedal bike waiting to see you all. We can exchange ideas about rides and determine which day of the week suits you all. We will be doing our first ride that very day if the weather is reasonable.

I look forward to meeting you on Thursday 21 September.

Sunday 29 October 2023

9:30am - 4pm

DUCK E T T FUN E R A L S

Est. 2020

Your only locally owned and operated funeral home, by South Waira r apa lo c al resident s who are passionate about s erving our c ommunity

Mark the date in your calendar, as this wonderful local event bursts into life. Organisers have NINE fabulous private gardens to tour, many not previously open to the public. These gardens range from compact to expansive, some established and some a work in progress. For those who are new to Featherston, this is a chance to see first-hand what plants and landscapes can be successfully grown in the region.

This garden ramble is an important fundraiser to upgrade the patrol car for the Featherston Community Patrol, and will go ahead regardless of weather. It is a great way to support your community as well as a wonderful way to explore Featherston.

Tickets are $20 each, on sale from Monday 11 September and can be purchased from:

Property Brokers, 61 Fox Street, Featherston

LOCO Coffee, Fitzherbert Street, Featherston

NO DOGS. Children under 14 free entry but must be accompanied by a ticketed adult and supervised. Wheelchair friendly gardens will be noted on programs.

The 2023 Featherston Garden Ramble, proudly presented by the Featherston Community Patrol unit, will be held on

Mother Nature prevails - The Lazy Gardener

Julia Nerys Parry

How to say ‘wet’ in a more wholesome way? But wait – wet is just part of what nature presents to us. What I have noticed most in my little patch of paradise is that the constant rain has broken up what were sturdy bark chips into moist and fertile soil. Oh joy! My cunning plan is to have Mighty Mike dig/rake up my bark chip pathways and scatter them around desirable plants. I’ll make sure to have a new heap of unsodden bark chips on hand to replace the paths. Yes, it’ll be a bit of a mission, but Mike is up to it, I know. Spring is almost upon us. The daffodils are shooting up their yellow heads, the lilac buds have arranged themselves on their branches, the garlic Mike planted for me back in May are sprouting, and kale and spinach in the garden have become actual harvestable leaves.

I read an article Wendyl Nissen wrote in Good magazine, where she said she was choosing her organic battles. Having begun with vim and vigour she is now concentrating on things she loves to do. I’m the same. Most women of certain years, ditto. We do our best, just as mother nature does, and she always perseveres. When we set ourselves against her we lose – simple as that.

A couple of tips: if you buy coriander from the fresh market make sure you wash it, dry it (I hang it upside down over my kitchen sink taps) and place it in a Fresh bag. You can get them online or from Countdown. Make sure the stems are at the bottom of the bag. I have preserved coriander for a week using this method.

This month I’m captivated by the glory of wattle.

Blooming Wattle.

CARTERTON | GREYTOWN | WELLINGTON

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

MICHAEL BALE KIRSTEN TOWNSLEY SUSIE BARNES

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

Mitigation vs Adaptation

Robyn Ramsden

Consider the earth is your bathtub and CO2 is your water. Your normal level of water doesn’t overflow, and it’s easy to pull the plug and let the water drain once you are finished. This was our situation, pre-industrial revolution (1750). Now, imagine: While you were outside, the plug got jammed into the plughole and the taps were put on. You come inside to find the water spilling over the edge! This is our planetary situation right now.

What would you do first?

I would turn off the taps. Then, put towels down to stop the water escaping the bathroom. And, find a way to pull the plug allowing the water to drain.

Turning off the tap is mitigation. You are stopping the problem from getting worse. The towels are adaptation, doing something to accommodate the change. And removing the plug is also mitigation, because you are removing the water entirely.

Mitigation is stopping greenhouse gas emissions. Examples include to stop extracting coal, oil, and gas. Swap out petrol and diesel vehicles for electric ones. Stop burning coal, oil, and gas. Reduce emissions of methane and nitrates from farming and landfills.

A plastic story –The big clean up

Reiner Schoenbrunn

The long awaited final Wairarapa Moana plastic clean-up was planned by Greater Wellington Regional Council staff to coincide with Conservation Week on August 15.

Five Hilux utes came from within the region, one as far as Otaki.

Fourteen GWRC volunteers plus Feathy locals, Roger Wales and myself, teamed up. Morning showers with rainbows and an icy westerly turned into a lovely calm sunny day. After the H&S briefing by Senior Biodiversity Advisor and organiser, Ella Buckley, the team swarmed out all over Moana Wetland equipped with waders, saws, spades, forks and a lot of enthusiasm to remove all plastic to be found. And they found, filling many bags and arms full. Some tangled lots required three or four guys to cut clear of driftwood and drag out to a car.

After four hours two Hilux utes were laden with baling wrap, baling netting and silage cover as well as other plastic floatsome like a large planter.

All volunteers were exhausted, that was obvious, with sweat pouring. Everyone was ready for burgers from the bbq and hot drinks. Several collectors quickly changed hats and slipped into the roles of caterers where, again, they worked hard to provide. One guy used his personal generator and water boiler! I readily admit that I was very humbled by so much support and dedication to conservation.

Stop using chlorofluorocarbons. Mitigation also includes carbon capture and storage – e.g., directly from smoke stacks. Adaptation is changing your behaviours or built environment to avoid being affected by climate change. Examples include using air conditioning to keep cool, doing outside work or play in the cool parts of the day, building houses on stilts, stop banks along the coasts and rivers (Ecoreef along the south coast is one example), it might involve moving away from the coast, or from flood prone areas, moving roads and rail networks to avoid flooding or potential damage from landslides. This form of adaptation is called managed retreat. Examples are the red zone in Christchurch, Matatā near Whakatāne, and South Dunedin.

Trees are very good at carbon capture, which is why tree planting is essential. However, once the environment reaches a certain temperature, trees stop capturing carbon and begin to emit it. Trees are prone to getting burnt down during droughts and emitting all their carbon. On the other hand, mangroves are excellent at capturing carbon, and reducing the severity of storm surges and erosion. And wetlands are very good at capturing and storing carbon. We need to do both mitigation and adaptation. Adapting without mitigation will not solve this problem, it will only kick the climate change can down the increasingly hot, rainy road. For links and references see https://conglomeratecontemplation.wordpress.com/

By the time the Phoenix is locked off for the September issue Conservation Week is over, but conservation is ongoing, but only if all of us want it to be.

A big thank you to all!

The clean up crew from GWRC.

One of 5 utes piled up with rubbish.

What’s on in Featherston in September 202

3 St Teresa ’ s s pring g ala , 63 Bell St, 11.30am2pm. Remutaka Hill fivenight closure starts , 9pm. Visit nzta.govt.nz/remutaka for more info.

2 Featherston Community Garden working bee , 64 Fox St, 24pm (bring tools and gloves if you have them).

1 September September Phoenix published. Fareham Creative Space open studio , Fareham House, 80 Underhill Rd, 10am3pm, koha (every Friday )

31 Rubbish day (yellow bag and wheelie bin with ♳♴♷ plastics/tins/paper/card). Monthly knit night , Brac & Bow, 22 Revans St, 7pm.

Ā Mua resource centre open , 69 Boundary Rd, 10am12 noon (every Monday and Wednesday) .

10

9 Featherston Weekly Market , 33 Fitzherbert St, from 8am (every Saturday).

8 Remutaka Hill fivenight closure ends , 4a m. Visit nzta.govt.nz/remutaka for more info. RSA members’ happy hour , Waimarie, 57 Fox St, 57pm .

7 Rubbish day (yellow bag and crate with glass ). Build with Bricks Club , Featherston Library, 70 Fitzherbert St, 3.304.30pm, ages 612 (every Thursday).

1 4

Rubbish day (yellow bag and wheelie bin ).

6

Wairarapa Library Service online book club , 78pm. For info, v isit wls.org.nz .

Featherston Community Board meeting , Community Centre, 7pm.

13

5

What’s Up Down South , hosted by Marina Lira, Arrow FM 92.7, 7 pm .

12 Fareham Creative Space open studio , Fareham House, 80 Underhill Rd, 10am3pm, koha (every Tuesday).

correct at the time of publication . Please s end details of October 202 3 events to annelise@outlook .co .nz by 18 September .

Event Spotlight

Community Centre and Support Hub

14 Wakefield Street, Featherston info@fcc.nz

Wāhine Singers

Whatever your skill or experience we are welcoming.

Come sing with us!

$2 per person

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.

Friday Knitters & Crafters

A friendly social group. Come along and join in!

$2.50 per person which includes a hot drink.

Cancer Society Support Group

This is a place where you can talk about and work through the feelings and challenges you experience with other people who have gone through similar experiences.

This group is designed to give people diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers a chance to learn from and support each other. You do not need to be registered with the Cancer Society to attend.

For more info, please contact waisupport@cancersoc.org.

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.

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

Stroke Foundation

Cancer Society Support Group

Neurodiversity Support Group

CAPNZ Debit Management Coach

CAPNZ Money Management Courses

Look Good Feel Better

Free Feel Better Classes cover simple tips and techniques to look after your skin, hair, body and mind to help you face cancer with confidence. Classes are for anyone with any cancer diagnosis at any stage of treatment

APM Workcare

Julian Walls – Employment Consultant:

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! Drop in to see me.

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.

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. Thiru makes koha kids yoga fun.

IRD

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 If he is not with someone you may get an appointment on the spot.

For more details view our Timetable in the Phoenix and Grapevine or contact the Centre office.

Open Day - Fareham Creative Space

On Saturday, October 14, Fareham Creative Space is hosting a fabulous open day, to celebrate and showcase the broad range of creative arts made available, here in Pae tū Mōkai, Featherston. Two years ago, Fareham Creative Space opened their doors offering Open Studio Days and arts and craft workshops available to all from the South Wairarapa, Wairarapa and Wellington areas. At the Open day, there will be a pit firing of works created in the pottery studio, and a host of arts displays and demonstrations between 10am and 3pm. At 12.15pm, students and tutors will take to the catwalk, to show off their wide variety of creations. The demonstrations and displays will include throwing on the pottery wheel, spinning, painting, felting, cyanotype, knitting, sewing, crochet, glass creations, mosaics and more.

With a sausage sizzle, raffle and sale of works, the open day will be full and rich. At 2.30, out of the ashes of the pit fire, will come all the pottery creations.

Fareham Creative Space has received funding from Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and, also generous support from Featherston’s

Kawhe n Kōrero

Warren Maxwell

Kia ora good peeps of Featherston & our wider South Wairarapa community. Many of you are keen to keep growing your reo Māori, to gain confidence and just understand more about Te Ao Māori. So, a small, very passionate group of us have restarted our ‘Kawhe n Kōrero’ sessions.

The wonderful ladies at St Andrews Church have kindly said we can use their hall each week for a small koha. So ... if you want to grow your reo māori, learn waiata, whakatauki, have a laugh, have a kapu tī and be immersed in Te Ao Māori, come along Sunday! All levels of te reo welcome. Bring the kids and a small koha. See you all Sundays, 4pm @ St Andrews Church Hall. Kōkiri mai!!

Own Charitable Trust, Creative Communities, The Freemasons Waihenga, St Marks No. 37, COGS (Community Organisation Grants Scheme) and Eastern and Central Community Trust.

‘We are proud of our vision, “Hauora and wellbeing through creativity”, which places cultural practice and wellbeing with creative expression and artmaking at its core,’ says FCS Co-ordinator Joanne Ridley-McBeth, who also heads up pottery.

This year, the pottery studio, hobby groups, fine arts and the upcycling projects have all really taken off. Most began at basic levels and are now also being offered at intermediate.

‘It has been a pleasure to see the community of potters, artists and crafters forming and building a synergy while creating,’ says Operations Manager, Julie Lewis. ‘We are excited about our open day and looking forward to welcoming more people from our community who wish to engage in the arts.’

What: Fareham Creative Space Open Day

When: Saturday, October 14, 10am until 3pm

Where: Fareham Creative Space, 80 Underhill Road

Booktown

Denver Grenell

We are pleased to announce the upcoming release of the Booklover’s Trail App: a self-guided audio tour that takes listeners on a comprehensive journey of the region’s many bookstores and literary sites. The Booklover’s Trail aims to connect booklovers with booksellers while also telling their stories, as they are as different and interesting as the books they stock. The tour can be done via car or cycle, travelling north or south and has stops in all five Wairarapa towns. Listen to stories from the booksellers, learn about local history, and then browse the shelves of these unique and varied shops. The App is FREE, and available now to download from the Apple and Google Play store, just in time for this year’s Wairarapa Bookshop Hop, which takes place from 6 – 8 October. The app can also be accessed online via a web app. Stay tuned for details

of the Wairarapa launch of the Booklovers Trail early next month. The app is available here: Apple:https://apps.apple.com/us/app/booklovers-trail/id6455989827 Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com. mytoursapp.android.app7749 Web: https://bookloverstrail.stqry.app/

In other news, we acknowledge the retirement of Lincoln Gould, owner of Messines Military Bookshop and the Founding Kaumātua of Featherston Booktown. Lincoln was inspired to help make Featherston into Aotearoa New Zealand’s official Booktown, after hearing about the Booktown of Clunes, just over the ditch in Victoria, Australia. His passion and inspiration is an indelible part of this town and the ongoing efforts of the Featherston Booktown Trust to promote and celebrate reading for all ages. We wish Lincoln all the best for his well-earned retirement and thank him for all he has done for the town, the Karukatea Festival and readers, young and old throughout the region. And word on the main street is that Messines may not be closing down after all!

8th October

What we offer:

Open Studio Tuesday and Friday 10am to 3 pm

Drop-in art sessions Bring your own projects or learn from our Tutors A range of crafts and materials on offer Koha

Workshops:

Wed 6 and Thu 7 Sept, Creative Glass 2- day workshops – with Heather Wedd 10am to 4pm $130 Make craft glass creations for jewellery and garden ornaments using recycled bottles and repurposed glassware Two places left

Sat 9 Sept - Felted Daffodils with Diane Coe 9am –1pm $40pp Learn how to make felted daffodils intime for spring by matting together layers of wool roving Add to your piece by introducing layers of silk and other interesting textiles

Sat 9 Sept – Shibori Indigo Dyeing with Justine 10am to 1 pm $40 00pp Learn to dye on tote bag, plus bring one piece your own cotton cloth(eg T-shirt)

Sun 10 Sept - Rongoā Māori with Edith Rolls 10am to 4pm $60 – Learn the tikanga and how to harvest plants and herbs to make your own muscle soaks, panipani and wairākau for Anxiety and sleep

Sat 16 Sept - Sewing Workshop with Anne Benson– 10am to 1pm $20pp Sew along workshop, easy sewing projects to complete in three hours Zip, Buttons and Loops, great for the beginner sewer – Materials provided e

Sat 23 Sept - Polymer Clay Jewellery with Diane Coe – 10am to 1pm $50pp - Make your own jewellery earring jewellery with created bird, flower or mushrooms

Sat30 Sept/1 Oct Creative Glass 2-day workshop – Full – next workshop 18 and 19 Nov Sat 30 Sept Sew your own clothes– 3 Series 4 Nov, 2 Dec with Anne Benson 10am to 3pm $50p wkp

Continual Hobby and Art Groups

Crochet with Taralee – Sunday 10, 24 September, 10am -1pm - $20pp from beginners to experienced, meet as a group, learn from others, crochet, and chat Knitting with Ani Ross – Saturday 2 Sept, 7 October, 10am -12pm $20pp Ani offers to help absolute beginners to knitters who need help and advice, join in Painting Series with Joanne Ridley McBeth - Sunday TBC - $50pp Continuation from beginners painting series to paint with friends

Life Drawing Class with Joanne Ridley McBeth – Life model to canvas - Last Sunday of the Month $40pp

P o t t e r y S t u d i o

Pottery Workshops

Pottery Open sessions Tuesday & Friday- 1pm to 3pm We now offer space for amateur potters to come to the studio to pot with own clay Clay is available to purchase, plus cost of firing and glazing

Please note that there is no tutor at these sessions and standard requirements of experience and code of conduct are to be met Koha

Pottery Basic - Beginner four-week workshop which covers hand building, coil, slab$80pp block 11am to 1pm

–Saturday 16, 23,30 Sept 7 Oct with Joanne Ridley-McBeth

Induction Course – Saturday 9,16,23 Sept, 7,21,28 Oct with Joanne RidleyMcBeth and Marshall Owen. $180pp

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: Printing, Quilting, Wood engraving, Wool spinning – Beginners and Intermediate Cyanotype, Sashiko and visible mending, Felted bag

Upcycling – THURSDAYS next Upholstery with Katrina, Mosaic with Diane and/or Upcycled Clothing with Mary

Coming event: OPEN DAY SATURDAY 14 OCTOBERDemonstrations, displays, stalls, catwalk, sausage sizzle, raffle.

Register online registrations@farehamcreativespace.nz

INSIDE THE SONG – Wairarapa Word

Madeleine Slavick

Get inside the mind of the singer-songwriter. Listen to the ideas inside the lyrics.

Young artists to veterans. Trip hop to folk noir. Acid jazz to country. Indie rock to waiata. All with a Wairarapa connection. The singer-songwriter concert INSIDE THE SONG happens just once – Saturday September 30 at 6pm at the Old Courthouse Carterton. Doors open 5.30pm.

The night will open with Keepa Smith who specialises in Polynesian entertainment. He will sing and discuss waiata by the songwriting and kapa haka legend, Tommy Taurima (Rongomaiwahine, Kahungunu) who passed in 2019. “Uncle Tommy” Taurima’s music is traditionally Māori waiata based on myths and legends with complex harmony structures.

Flying Nun artist Vera Ellen won Best Alternative Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards and was nominated for the Taite Prize. She was recently in South Wairarapa as the inaugural SingerSongwriter-in-Residence with New Zealand Pacific Studio, working on her fourth album. Asked to describe her music in five words, she says, “vulnerable, rough around the edges.”

Pianist and singer-songwriter Meg Hunter has opened for Hinemoana Baker and Reb Fountain | Dave Khan, and has won awards at Talent Wairarapa and Smokefree Rockquest. Meg says, “My style is alternative/indie/pop similar to Lorde, BENEE, Billie Eilish, with jazz and soul influences.”

Singer-songwriter and Kuranui College student Maria Gale is in the band Non-Applicable which recently won the APRA best lyric award at Smokefree Rockquest for their song, Aces. Maria says, “Our band is a mixture of rock, alt pop, indie rock, and with elements of punk. We’ve been influenced by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Elton John, Green Day, The Backseat Lovers, and Goodkid.”

Brian Belluomini and Ryan Coles are with Sandcastle, the 9-piece band that recently opened for Stan Walker. They describe their music as “Progressive neo-soul with a little twist of funk.”

Last but certainly not least, Barry Saunders. Lead singer and songwriter of The Warratahs, which has been together for an astounding 37 years, he writes poetic lyrics that have become part of our landscape. He has said that he likes “outsider” songs that seem “to come from another older world.”

Who will hold all of these performers together as mc? Cimone Grayson. She has a background in dance and artist management, and is the person who led the team to bring Stan Walker to Wairarapa a few months back. She works as a community facilitator with Ka Pai Carterton.

Tickets are just $15 for adults and $5 for students. Available from Carterton Events Centre, in person or online, www.cartertonec.co.nz. The concert will be in the foyer.

Vera Ellen will also lead a free workshop for teens to explore their voice and creativity at 11am on the day – spaces are limited – sign up with Wairarapa Word: events.waiword@gmail.com.

Presented by Wairarapa Word, in partnership with Wairarapa Library Service, New Zealand Pacific Studio, Carterton Events Centre, Carterton Creative Communities, Almo’s Books and Meg Hunter Music.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

dates

for 2023.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Māori language week kicks off Monday, September 11 through to Sunday, September 17.

Heritage Museum

Romain Busby

Next time you are in the Heritage Museum have a really good look at some of the items carved by the Japanese internees. You will notice a prevalence of walking sticks featuring snakes and frogs. Why, I asked. Keiko was very knowledgeable and explained that there are snakes in Japan and when they are hungry, they will eat frogs. Whooppee, so what? She explained that the snakes represented the guards and the internees were the frogs!

The timber used for these carvings were the offcuts from the work done during the workdays. The range of items is interesting. Game sets, small boxes, decorative plaques, models of other animals and a variety of other pieces. My thought was why were the interns allowed knives and other cutting utensils while in confinement? Obviously, they were trusted and the guards felt comfortable to allow that to happen.

Keiko also had some other lovely pieces of information to tell me, including a love story and other items that may interest you. I shall try to get some more information for next time. Don’t forget if you fancy helping the museum out by volunteering occasionally, they would love to hear from you.

Fell Museum

Romain Busby

A new addition to the Fell Museum is the restored Control Panel from Featherston Station. It shows very clearly where trains were situated and where they were able to be sited while waiting for other trains to pass through the station environs. This panel was used up until the mid 2000’s when control was taken over by Wellington Central Control, after a stint of control from Upper Hutt I believe. A description of the lights on the panel tells you where, why and how they operated so you can gauge the travel of trains through the area. Alongside the Panel, kindly donated by Greg Hackett, are the Tablet machines that controlled the passage of not only the Fell trains, but other rail stock on the line. A recent visitor told staff that they had serviced these machines up until quite recently, so they obviously had been in use in the past few years. Not quite so antiquated after all! Spring is in the air and visitors are welcomed very warmly by the Museum’s volunteers, do you fancy being one? Great introduction for younger Featherstonians to learn all about Customer Service and relationships with the public. Call in and speak to the on-duty volunteer during the weekend opening hours to see if it’s something you would enjoy.

Featherston RSA

Robbie Taylor

Unlike many RSAs around the country, Featherston’s RSA (FMRSA) membership numbers have been skyrocketing over the past two years and it’s now almost 10% of Featherston’s population! Why are people joining the FMRSA? Although the club is primarily about commemorating service and supporting people affected by service, the RSA is also a thriving social group for all people, regardless of age and service.

Member benefits include food and beverage discounts, opportunities to win cash from our member draws, and invitation to member’s events. Waimarie Eatery & Bar have made some impressive improvements to the RSA building, including repainting and decorating, installing a wood fired pizza oven, and making the place more family friendly. The FMRSA values working in collaboration with the Waimarie team to improve the building so that it is both rich in military/ service history and so it meets the needs of our community.

However, the RSA building is aging, and the committee has the challenge of making significant improvements with limited funding. We’ve made some great progress by getting local business sponsors onboard, applying for community grants, and hosting more fundraising events. A good way people can get behind the FMRSA is by participating in our bi-monthly quiz nights. Our first quiz night on the 28th July was a huge success and a fun evening for all. The next quiz is on the 29th September. You can register a team by emailing us at fstnrsa@gmail.com

A big thanks to Jacqui Jones, salesperson, Ray White, for sponsoring prizes for these quiz nights.

The other way to get behind the RSA is by becoming a member! You can sign-up online by going to our Facebook page or by coming in and filling out a paper application.

Hairy Maclary’s 40th anniversary!!

An

Festive fun at bi-monthly quiz night.

Featherston Beautification Group

Julia Reed

Another month Wow.

A big welcome to our new members who answered the call for help last month, we still have room for anyone else who is interested in getting together and sharing gardening tips, ideas for the beautification of Featherston and of course that all important weeding and garden management.

Stephen fixed our worm farm tap, so we now have worm wee on tap, up at the FBG community garden and nursery at the top end of Bell Street.

We have struggled with the weather in August to allow us to get the weeds under control and the roses pruned. But the daffodils are coming up for spring. It’s always nice to see bulbs coming up especially when you have forgotten where you may have planted them. We are always happy to accept plants and seedling donations for our nursery - native trees/plants are popular along with other plants and flowers. Our fundraising calendar is out for production so we hope we will have these available in October. We have been working on plans for additional artwork in town, but once again like our entrance signs we have challenges by the caused by State Highway 2 that runs through the middle of town. So something that should be simple to arrange seems to take forever. But like all good things it will be worth the wait. And one day our entrance signs will again grace our entrances like they did a few years ago.

Thanks to all our supporters and donors Featherston.b.g@gmail.com.

Featherston Community Patrol

Vicky Alexander

No, we are not a bunch of “narks”. Nor do we drive around spying on our community. BUT

We do act as the eyes and ears for our police when they cannot be in all places at all times. Our members belong because we love our community and want it to be the best place to live, work and play.

Our patrols extend as far as Buck’s Road Reserve, Remutaka Hill, Lake Reserve, Tauwherenikau and all places in between. We have noted, intercepted and reported incidents which could have been detrimental to our community had they continued, and we have helped stranded motorists and pedestrians. We record streetlights when they are out, missing or damaged street signs, check gates are closed at schools, parks and our cemetery, and doors secure at local businesses, plus we note graffiti and vandalism. We pass our observations on to the council where appropriate, and they are quick to respond to items which, in some cases, they might not otherwise be aware of. We can think of no better way to give back to the community where we have chosen to live, and if you love our town you would be most welcome to join us.

Wisdom & Wellbeing

Pauline Cave

Our lovely seniors group, Wisdom and Wellbeing, meets every Wednesday morning at the Featherston Community Centre for a hearty morning tea, a fair amount of chatter and banter, a guest speaker or an activity. Sometimes we even take a trip to Lake Ferry or The Gladstone for lunch. Age Concern join us once a month and they bring along a presenter or topical speaker. It is great to have Age Concern as a regular agency contact. They are also available for individual meetings with folk from the South Wairarapa so check with Jo or Peter at the community centre if you would like to know when next they are in town.

Our Wisdom and Wellbeing Group is run by a bunch of fabulous volunteers. Without their contribution it would be very difficult to put a weekly programme together and for the group to run smoothly. Our volunteers also bring new ideas and help with transport, getting some members to and from the weekly meeting. We have a regular weekly attendance of between 20 and 30 members and we welcome anyone who would like to join the group. We are short of menfolk at present and would like to encourage more men to come along and be part of the group.

Good Bitches Baking have been keen supporters of Wisdom and Wellbeing for several years now and provide lovely weekly home-baking for us all to enjoy. We have received grant funding in the past from South Wairarapa District Council, Featherston’s Own Charitable Trust, Trust House, and Helen Stewart Royale Trust. Without such generosity, this essential community group would not exist.

I have been co-ordinating Wisdom and Wellbeing for 17 years now and I am delighted to tell you that several of our members have been attending for all of that time. I feel privileged to have been part of their lives for so long. I love Wednesdays and the friendly people I come in contact with, not just our group members but everyone at the Featherston Community Centre.

If you would like to learn more about Wisdom and Wellbeing, what is on the agenda for the coming weeks, become a volunteer or a guest speaker, please give me a call on 021 102 8857.

Owls of Featherston Women’s Institute

Barbara Love

Like most this month we have been enjoying our fires and heaters although some have ventured out for coffee and the movies.

Our guest speaker this month was the wonderful Mary Biggs who came along to our meeting to explain the Booktown plans for next year’s event. With the international Booktown event it appears to me that we need as much publicity as possible. The international event is in March with our annual Booktown event in May. Several of our members are volunteers for Booktown with at least two who in the past have gone to schools for reading with children and they felt the children did benefit from the one on one. We are very supportive of helping Booktown, the only one in New Zealand. Our Owls have for years provided books for babes along with the Featherston Knitting group who knit garments, this is provided by Plunket and the library.

Wonderful to hear our library is to open on Saturday mornings, please support it or as the saying goes ‘use it or we will lose it’. Spring is just around the corner, now’s the time to come and join our friendly club.

Contact us: Garry - 0274500660

Featherston Dog Park group

Romain Busby

What an amazing idea! I listened to a recent news item about a European city that was taking the DNA of all dogs when they were registered, to cope with the growing problem of dog faeces. Other cities and towns in Europe and the United States are doing this and apparently compliance has hit an all-time high! If we can do it with human DNA and fingerprints, why not try a canine option? By being caught and having to pay for your dog’s excrement it may leave our streets a little cleaner as well as other areas.

Congratulations to the SWDC for winning an award at the Local Government New Zealand Awards, held recently, for the new dog pound, using various innovative techniques in the build. Well done guys and thank you. Still hoping it won’t be used very often! Big thanks to Rosco, once again up to the task of helping to keep the park looking good. You are a treasure! Spring is in the air and hopefully everything is drying out enough to make walks more enjoyable as we move towards Christmas and summer holidays.

Hemi 6yo foxie cross enjoying himself.

Get more from LifeJoin South Wairarapa Rotary

Sylvia

Smith

Do you live in South Wairarapa, are retired and discovering that those rounds of golf and keeping the garden tidy are not fulfilling enough?

South Wairarapa Rotary is currently seeking new members. As a Rotarian you get to socialise with a diverse group of other members; be inspired and widen your knowledge with our meetings’ guest speakers; help us to run our primary fundraiser the Martinborough Fair and identify those in our community who will benefit the most from our financial support.

Our Rotary club is incredibly lucky to have over 50 active members - but we know we cannot rest on our laurels. We need to continue to recruit new members to replace those leaving the area and/or “retiring”.

Being a member means that you are entitled to join us once a week at a local café to socialise and enjoy a meal; participate in the club activities and business before hearing from one of our organised speakers. Each meeting is around two hours from 6.00pm to 8.00pm.

There is no obligation to attend each week. Some of our members are still working so may attend on an ad hoc basis or just once a month.

When you become a member, you get to choose which Committee you feel your talents would be best employed. The Committees are where discussions and decisions are made about the most appropriate way to assist the community with the money that is earned from running the two annual Martinborough Fairs.

Being a Rotary member doesn’t mean you can’t go on trips or holidays or miss out on family time. The club is flexible and will fit in with your lifestyle and commitments. Many find that they make new friends in conjunction with the satisfaction of doing some good for the community and its local organisations.

To find out more about what South Wairarapa Rotary does check out our website or if you’d prefer to talk to someone about joining or would like to attend one of our meetings, please make contact by email -membership@swrotary.org.nz

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 in Greytown on the fourth Friday of each month. Visitors in our senior age group are welcome to attend our meetings.

At our next meeting on 25 August the guest speaker was Hon Ron Mark, Mayor of Carterton, and Minister of Defence for Jacinda Ardern’s coalition government from 2017 to 2020. Our July meeting was addressed by Chris Peterson, ex Wairarapa district councillor, who introduced “Taking the Jump”, a recent European approach to local action to control climate change based on behavioural science. Most people by now understand that global and local climates are changing rather more quickly than many of us expected. We are experiencing the rapidly increasing rate of change that is inherent in exponential progression, with positive feedback from year to year. Realistically, by far the greater part of what is required to counteract this must happen at international, national and local government level, largely outside our immediate and personal control. But it has been an issue on the global, national and local “to do” list for the last 20 years. Someone, somewhere, somehow should be doing something about it!

A New Zealand study last year, by global market research company Ipsos, revealed 72% of Kiwis stated that if individuals don’t act now, they will be failing future generations. This aligns with local sentiment, particularly in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, but many of us feel powerless and confused about what we can do at a local and personal level. Where do we start?

Chris told us that: “Taking the Jump” is an evidence-based, international programme that looks at what we can do that is within our power as ordinary citizens to handle. It starts wherever you’re at. It is non-judgmental, practical, constructive, no great hassle - and empowering.”

The Nelson Tasman Climate Forum, a regional group has been figuring out the change needed locally to keep global temperature increase to not more than 1.5°C. The fair share target they have calculated is to reduce the region’s ‘long-lived carbon’ (CO2 and N2O) emissions by 8% a year, annually, until 2030, aiming at a 44% reduction by that date.

The aim of Take the Jump is to develop and encourage behaviour change, not to go back to the Stone Age, just finding a balance. Less consumption can mean more contentment. Less stuff more joy. www.takethejump.org.nz

The South Wairarapa Rebus Club meets in the South Wairarapa Working Men’s Club 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 David Woodhams 027 673 1027. www.southwairaraparebus.com

Featherston Amateur Wrestling Club

Edwin Read

For the first time in over 15 years Featherston Wrestlers represented New Zealand recently with Nate George and Angus Read taking part in the Oceania Championship and pre-tournament Training Camp over early August. Both boys enjoyed the time at the Australian Institute of Sport focused on wrestling and return with new skills to share with their club mates.

Nate & Angus follow in the footsteps of their Coach Jeremy Sargent and his forebears such as Robert Algie, Nigel Sargent and many others who all performed with distinction for New Zealand wrestling teams in the past. The club has a long history of producing wrestlers of excellent quality and with the right mix of technical skill, strength, and guile required to excel in the sport. Pop down to 52 Fitzherbert Street on a Wednesday evening to see the honours board and recognise those legends that have laid the foundations for today.

Coming up are the National Secondary Schools tournament with Club wrestlers representing Kuranui, Rathkeale and Palmerston North Boys High School, the Wellington Regional Championships and the National Championships in Tauranga in early October. We wish our competitors all the best.

Too much stuff? Space at a premium? Boomerang family?

New Zealand Team at the Oceania Championships

NZ Team taking part in the Olympic Solidarity Youth Athlete Development Program Oceania Championships Training Camp

Featherston Rugby Club

Raewyn Williams Karaitiana

2023 saw the Featherston Rugby Club join forces with the Featherston League club to support two our teams, an under 11’s / Under 6 rip team. The help from Damian, Rachelle, Rosco and Bruce was greatly appreciated by all. Featherston rugby football club thanks them immensely for their time this season. A highlight of the season was hosting the ripper circuit for the South Wairarapa towns Martinborough, Greytown, Carterton, Tuhirangi, the Featherston rugby football club learnt from that experience and had a great time, the new rips had an amazing environment to learn from while being on their club grounds. Afterwards all the clubs came up to the clubrooms for chocolate and chips juice and it was great to mingle as clubs and fuel up before trips home.

Well done to our littlest team and their whānau, who helped a lot throughout the season. Our under 11s had a learning season, a few have played together trying to bond as a team proving hard for some.

Featherston Bowling Club

Rose Clement

Welcome all to the Featherston Bowling Club 2023/24 season. We are having our opening day on 3 September at 2.30pm. All members and intending members are welcome. Please bring a plate. The club held its AGM with a reasonable turnout of members. Election of officers are Patron Doug Bennett, Patroness Val Watkins, President Steve Chapman, Treasurer Toots Boswell, Secretary Robbie Prince, Greenkeeper Les O’Donovan, Assistant Greenkeeper Darryn O’Dwyer, Committee Jean Hayes, Jason Kawana, Jo Coley, Allan Brookes, Winston Tawhiri, Rose Clement.

The bowling club has not increased its membership fees. Social $20, New Bowlers $75, Bowlers $150. These must be paid by the end of October. We do need new members.

The 1st Tournament is on 23 September, weather permitting. Would like to thank Steve Chapman for organising the monster raffle. This was drawn on the 17 August. I hope you were one of the lucky winners.

Still a very positive last half season or this team who nearly always played with no subs, getting help from the other teams was appreciated, a positive sideline. The last game was sensational with all players emptying their tanks and giving it all they had. Well done to our under 11s and their Parents.

Last but, definitely not, least to our main sponsors Property Brokers Featherston, and to our other supporters, businesses we thank you all for your continued support.

Featherston Netball Club 2023 season

Nifo ILI – President & Coach / Featherston Netball Club

Senior netball

It’s been a busy year for this small club now including the Featherston Property Brokers Senior Development Netball team, which consisted of ages 12-15. I had the pleasure and honour of coaching these young ladies, who are all very talented. They are Ane Pailate, Bobbiegee Matenga, Khalia Wilson, Leighabella Ginnane, Lilly Padlie, Lyric Clifton-Sinclair, Mirabelle FesuiaiWallace and Summer Jephson.

It was their first ever season playing at a higher grade, we had a lot of wonderful comments and feedback from other coaches, umpires and spectators of how amazing these young ladies were. Their ability to be able to cope with playing against adult ladies and in this grade and their friendly nature and manner on court. I advised them that ‘this year we will go out play and improve as we go, no matter the outcome’. We won some and lost some, the games we did lose was only by a small margin. Next season I will have high expectations of these young girls and know they can excel and exceed to their ability. They all have flair and the ability to reach their highest at this game.

I am also privileged to coach five of these girls playing in the Kuranui College Junior A team. The Featherston Netball Club would like to congratulate Lilly Padlie, Lyric Clifton-Sinclair and Summer Jephson who were selected this year in the Wairarapa Netball U-14 Representative team. This club has coached and come through with a few champions and there is plenty more in the up-and-coming Featherston Juniors.

Junior netball

Our junior teams have been amazing this year, we had Featherston Property Brokers Year 7/8 playing in Masterton at the Netball Wairarapa Competition Year 7/8 (Section 4) grade, who were a mixture of years 4-7. They played every Tuesday night and exceeded my expectations. They wowed the other teams, especially our youngest players and identical twins, year 4’s Kaia and Zoe Wilkes, so tiny but lethal on court. They ran rings around kids those Year 7/8 teams. Team members are: Myra-Lee TurnerSinclair (Captain), Ava Wratt, Aliza Fearnley, Anika Burt, Aniwa Ducommun, Haylow Taitapanui, Kahuma Baker, Kaia Wilkes, Kairi Fesuiai-Wallace, Prayalini Nirmal, Samara Williams and Zoe Wilkes. Each and every zone of these girls played their hearts out and special mention to Samara Williams who had an outstanding season at goal defence together with Haylow Taitapanui at goal keep (best defensive duo) and Prayalini Nirmal at wing defence.

I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have coached both the Year 5/6 & 7/8 teams, thank you girls for making it so worthwhile.

Playing in the South Wairarapa competition is our Year 3/4 team, coached by our wonderful Anna Hull. A fantastic season, for our kids and winning their grade. Congratulations to Anna and her team, I have seen how much work Anna has put into coaching, your time and expertise is hugely appreciated. Well done team Featherston PB Years 3/4 we salute you.

This team consisted of Ayva Clifton Sinclair, Cat Ginnane, Elena Oeng, Holly Reid, Kayal Nirmal, Maeve Brennan and Marcia Prestidge. We are proud of you and the achievements of 2023.

In Greytown our Year 5/6 played and came 3rd overall in the South Wairarapa competition grade and I was so proud of their achievement. Especially some of these girls had never played before and came from playing 5 aside netball to the 7 aside game. Team members are: Aliza Fearnley, Amelia Padlie, Ava Wratt, Isabella Harrrow, Jordan Beavis, Kaia Wilkes, Kyra-Lee MacGregor, Paige Baldwin, Prayalini Nirmal, Serena Johnson and Zoe Wilkes. A fabulous season and well-deserved placing.

The Featherston Junior Netball prize giving will be held on Sunday, 17 September 2023, 2.30pm at the Featherston Property Brokers Sports Hub (Featherston Rugby club rooms).

Huge shout out to our sponsors Benn, Erin & Jillayne at Property Brokers Featherston for the support you have given to provide our kids with uniforms and more. Please support our sponsors, with these guys we would not be where we are today. Thank you.

Year 3 & 4 netball team. Year 5 & 6 netball team.

Year 7 & 8 netball team.

Senior development team.

Wairarapa under 14 Rep players.

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, Underhill Rd Rock up and join us!

Basketball – Youth (9-15yrs)

When: Fridays, 4.30pm

Where: Sports Stadium, Underhill Rd Fstnsportshub19@gmail.com

Bowls – Social

When: Tuesday 6.30 – 8.30pm

Where: 66 Fox Street

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

Where: Turf courts, Underhill Rd

Hockey – Senior

When: Tuesdays, 6.30pm or Thursdays, 7.30pm

Where: Turf courts, Underhill Rd

Karate – Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-Do

When: Wednesdays, 6pm

Where: Featherston School Hall iogkfnz@gmail.com

Muay Thai – SMAC Featherston

Where: 52 Fitzherbert Street 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

Tennis - Social

When: Mondays and Thursdays, 6pm weather permitting

Where: Turf courts, Underhill Rd

Touch Rugby

When: To be confirmed

Where: Card Reserve Featherstonrugby@gmail.com

Wrestling When: Wednesdays, 5.30pm

Where: 52 Fitzherbert Street featherstonamateurwrestling@gmail.com

Sports currently off season

Cricket –FeatherstonCC@gmail.com

Athletics –Athleticsfeatherston@gmail.com

Swimming –swimfeatherston@gmail.com

Futsul

Netball - Youth & Senior featherstonnetballclub2014@gmail.com

Rugby - Youth

Featherstonrugby@gmail.com

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

COLOUR & WIN!

Supporting the Featherston Junior Football Club

Hey kids, here’s your chance to WIN!

Get creative and use your felts, crayons, paints and glitter to decorate this picture as best you can. We will draw the most unique and creative picture received to be our winner.

Parents/guardians: Once your child has finished creating their masterpiece, fill in the details and drop your entries into Property Brokers, 61 Fox Street, Featherston. We will liaise with the schools and supermarket to arrange collection on Wednesday 1 November 2023.

Full Name:...............................................................................................

Age:...........................................................................................................

Phone number:......................................................................................

School:............................................ Class:...........................................

Caregiver name:....................................................................................

Age groups:

5 years and under 6 years to 9 years

10 years to 13 years

Competition closes: Tuesday 31 October 2023 Property

If you’re looking to buy or sell call us today!

Property Brokers Featherston

Proudly sponsored by Erin, Benn and Jillayne