Marlborough Weekly 13 December 2022

Sailing away

Building a career

A map for the future

Tourists’ huge health debt

PAULA HULBURT paula@topsouthmedia.co.nz

Overseas patients who disappear without paying for emergency care have racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt.

Nelson Marlborough Health is owed $211,000 by tourists visiting from abroad who have left the country without settling their bills.

Figures from the financial year 1 July to 30 June 2022 show over-

seas patients paid $471,000 in costs after being treated in either Nelson or Wairau Hospital.

But more than $200,000 remains unpaid and health bosses are urging travellers to the region to ensure they have travel insurance

that includes health cover. A Ministry of Health spokeswoman says patients from overseas who needs critical care will be treated.

“In practice, in situations where a person needs critical, emergen-

A Pollard Park Christmas

cy treatment at a public hospital, but is ineligible for publicly funded health care, in most cases, the patient will be triaged as to how critical their care needs is.

Come and see us for the biggest range of eBikes right here in Blenheim!

Hundreds gathered on a balmly Sunday night to celebrate the message of Christmas. Songs and psalms were sung at the popular Christmas in the Park, at Pollard Park. Bands and dancing, Santa and lollies entertained young and old alike. Photo: Sarah Purser.

I think it’s a bit of fun. We don’t have a work secret Santa, but we do it with family and it’s good. It keeps cost down as well; it’s easier to buy one decent present for one person.

Robyn Blackburn

I think it’s an unnecessary stress. It’s something you need to think about and consider –it’s not as relaxing as it should be. I don’t think you should need to give your workmates gifts.

Robyn Pascoe

At my work, we sign up for secret Santa. They put up a sheet and you sign up for it. If you give a gift, you get a gift. It’s fun with the people that want to do it.

Carmel Ryan

I think secret Santa is amazing. It’s a lot of fun and it really brings the Christmas spirit into the workplace. It’s a good excuse for a party as well.

Visitors’ unpaid bills hit health system hard

tional costs paid in full at the end of treatment.

“If necessary, treatment will be provided first and payment sorted out later. This reflects the professional ethics of providers to provide care.”

At Te Whatu OraHealth New Zealand, Nelson Marlborough, insurance companies will only be billed if they have accepted liability and guaranteed payment.

The estimated cost must be paid in advance and any addi-

It costs approximately $5500 a day for a patient in intensive care.

While there are some exceptions, such as compulsory mental health care, overseas visitors are usually personally responsible for their medical bills.

New Zealand has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and Britain but neither provides full coverage.

The Ministry of Health spokeswoman says it falls to staff at individ-

ual hospitals to check if a patient is eligible.

“Checking the eligibility of patients is the responsibility of all health providers who administer government-funded care.

“People can expect to be asked to prove their eligibility, especially if the provider is seeing them for the first time.

“The government strongly recommends you get comprehensive travel insurance with health cover if you are not eligible for subsidised healthcare.”

Do you think a work secret Santa is a bit of fun, or unnecessary stress before Christmas?

Andrew Simon

Car crash victim in induced coma

PAULA HULBURT paula@topsouthmedia.co.nz

A young driver critically injured in a terrifying car accident has been put in an induced coma.

Mark Adcock, from Blenheim, suffered severe facial injuries in a car crash on Queen Charlotte Drive near Picton on Saturday evening. His distraught family say Mark has broken almost every bone in his face and had to be cut free from the wreckage.

His sister Socorra (Corra) Adcock says her mum and stepdad have flown from Blenheim to Wellington where Mark is in intensive care at Wellington Hospital.

“He has substantial damages to his face, needing intensive facial surgery.

“Doctors are unsure as to the extent of his brain injury. As of now he’s got no bleeding or bruising to it but they won’t know if he’s got any brain injury until he’s awake.”

Corra, who live in Melbourne, Australia says her mum and stepdad flew over on Sunday morning after police broke the news Mark had been in a serious accident. She is now trying to raise funds to

travel to Wellington to be at her brother’s bedside too.

Mark has suffered a lot of trauma, especially to his face, she says.

“All bones in his face are broken. Nose, jaw, cheek and more.

“His lungs are bruised and filled with blood. Doctors have kept him asleep and are awaiting to find out more about his facial surgery.”

A police spokeswoman says emergency services were called to the serious crash involving one car on Queen Charlotte Drive about 7.20pm on Saturday.

St John Ambulance attended the scene, sending both an ambulance and a rapid response unit.

“We assessed and treated one patient who was transported to Wellington hospital via helicopter in a critical condition,” the spokesperson said.

Corra has set up a gofundme page to help her family in Blenheim while they are in Wellington.

“We are all just hoping and praying that Mark will recover fast but we all know that the road to recovery is going to be a long and challenging one,” she says.

“I’m just hoping and praying that I can try and find a way to fly over

to New Zealand to be with my family, but unfortunately plane tickets aren’t that cheap this time of year.

“It’s hard on me to see my baby brother in a hospital bed and my mum in tears, and myself not being able to be there to give her the support she needs.”

To donate to the fundraiser visit Fundraiser by Socorra Adcock : Help Mark Adcock And His Family. (gofundme.com)

Cheesecake mission ends with driver in court on another drink-drive offence

TRACY NEAL Open Justice reporter

Wayne Gardner’s mission to the supermarket for cheesecake on a winter’s afternoon this year didn’t go to plan.

The weekend ended with two drink-drive offences within the space of 12 hours, and an emergency flight to hospital after he crashed his car on the highway near Tuamarina.

In the Nelson District Court on Monday Gardner admitted charges of driving with excess breath alcohol on a third or subsequent time, driving with excess blood alcohol on a third or subsequent time, driving while suspended and careless driving.

The 48-year-old already had several drink-drive offences on his record dating back to 2006, when he was caught again while driving on State Highway 1 at Spring Creek at about 3pm on Saturday Au-

gust 27 this year.

He was stopped by the police and underwent an evidential breath test which showed he had been behind the wheel while just over four times the legal limit, with a breath alcohol reading of 1093 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

The police suspended Gardner from driving for 28 days. At 5.30 am the next morning Gardner was back driving on State Highway 1 near Tuamarina, but crossed the centreline into the southbound lane and crashed into a bank.

Due to his injuries, he was airlifted to Nelson Hospital where a blood sample showed he was still well over the legal limit, with a reading of 221 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 50mg per 100 ml.

Gardner was convicted on Monday and remanded for sentencing on February 20.

Mark Adcock has been seriously injured in a car accident. Photo: Supplied.

New hockey build a game-changer

A state-of-the-art hockey turf will be built at Marlborough Girls’ College to free up space for Bohally Intermediate School at College Park. The international-standard turf is waiting for council resource consent, with a councillor saying the construction costs will be covered by compensation from the Ministry of Education for the early termination of its College Park lease.

Councillor Matt Flight says the Council’s College Park lease was due to expire in 2028, and council staff worked with Hockey Marlborough and the Blenheim Roller Skating Club to find alternative locations for their sports.

Hockey Marlborough’s Andy Rowe says the association is pleased with progress on a replacement artificial hockey turf.

“The proposed site will give us an international-class

pitch to replace our current one with similar amenities but fully modernised,” Andy says.

He says hockey will continue to be played at College Park until the new turf is built.

Construction of the artificial turf is planned to begin on a section of the Marlborough Girls’ College sports field, with access off the school’s bus lane on Nelson Street.

Changing rooms will also be built, along with car parking. The Marlborough Girls’

College site is owned by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kuia and leased to the Crown.

Dave Johnston, Tumu Whakarae/General Manager of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kuia Trust said that the Rūnanga is pleased that the property will provide a home for the facility.

"This will be a brilliant facility that will benefit the community and ākonga who attend the colleges."

Marlborough Girls’ College Board Chair, Brian Roughan, welcomed the move and says

it will be a valued feature of the future co-located colleges’ campus.

“Having this first-class, multi-purpose community facility on-site and accessible to all students will be a major asset for both colleges as well as the wider community,” Brian says.

The agreement makes way for Bohally Intermediate School to be relocated to College Park.

Ministry of Education project director for Te Tātoru o Wairau, Simon Trotter, says master planning for the intermediate has taken into consideration feedback from neighbouring residents, and the project team is looking forward to sharing the master plans for the three schools with the community early next year.

“Although the master plans aren’t finalised yet, we are confident that the location for the turf works well on the co-located campus site,” Simon says.

Environment thinktank appeals first open-sea fish farm

An environment think-tank is appealing against the first open-sea fish farm being set up - saying it could negatively affect rare dolphins and the local ecosystem.

Last month, Marlborough District Council granted NZ Salmon King consent to start a salmon farm which covers up to 1000 hectares in the Cook Strait.

The company's move to farm in colder waters followed several years of poor fish harvests, and a large number dying because of rising water temperatures.

McGuinness Institute chief executive Wendy McGuinness questioned how such a huge farm of fish tanks was potentially allowed to set up without enough research, and said that it could potentially be allowed to operate for more than 30 years.

There were land-based solutions available, such as large tanks using fresh water from the mountains as opposed to clogging up open waters with acres of fish cages, McGuinness said.

More research needed to be done to clarify whether endangered species such as the Maui dolphin had been seen in the ocean where the proposed farm was located, she said.

The Cook Strait was home to multiple species of fish and birds - and they all needed to have their habitats respected and protected, she said.

The Department of Conservation has also appealed against the fish farm proposal and NZ King Salmon said it will start negotiating with them in the new year.

This article first appeared on RNZ and is republished with permission.

MATT BROWN

The hockey turf, on Stephenson Street, will continue to be used until a new one at Girls’ College is built. File photo.

MAIA HART Local Democracy Reporter

A prominent meeting site for Captain Cook and Māori could soon have better heritage protection.

Marlborough’s council is moving to list Meretoto/Ship Cove as a heritage resource, but wants to exclude the seabed, so vessels can still anchor in the area and access the site.

The remote Meretoto/Ship Cove near the mouth of the Marlborough Sounds was first recognised as a historic place by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga in 2019. The bay and Motuara Island was listed as a Category 1 historic place on the Heritage List Rārangi Kōrero.

The listing prompted Heritage New Zealand to request the Marlborough District Council to also include Meretoto land and seabed as a heritage resource under the Proposed Marlborough Environment Plan (PMEP).

A report prepared on the proposed variation said for

many years, Meretoto had been recognised as a site of significance not only due to its connection with Captain Cook, but also as an important area to Māori.

The report said omitting the site from the plan gave it “minimal protection”. By adding the site to the plan provisions would be able to be put in place to restrict certain activities on the site.

Council’s environmental policy manager Pere Hawes presented the report to the council’s environment and planning committee last month. He said including the

area in the plan would give the significance of the site added visibility.

The report said the seabed had been included in the Heritage New Zealand listing to reflect its importance and archaeological potential as the place where Cook’s ships anchored.

“In this case, the seabed itself is of more importance than merely a space tying together two other features,” the report said.

“Shipping anchorage sites may contain items dropped overboard by crew, or debris left over from vessel mainte

nance activities while in the harbour.

“The seabed at Meretoto/ Ship’s Cove may therefore contain archaeological deposits buried in the sediment.”

However, the report said under the council’s PMEP heritage listing, the preference would be to not include the seabed – despite the fact temporary anchoring of a vessel in the bay could be “destructive”.

This came after iwi raised concerns that activities on the seabed, and on the land, could end up “unduly restricted” if heritage provisions were applied.

The environment and planning committee approved the variation to the PMEP. This was publicly notified for a period of 20 working days to allow for submissions on the proposal.

The PMEP is currently under appeal. Appeal points on heritage resource sites have been resolved through mediation.

Public Interest Journalism

FOUND

A missing Nelson woman believed to be making her way to Blenheim on foot has been found safe and well. Luanna Miller, known as Mia, was reported missing by worried family and friends on 5 December. Her friends have thanked people who helped look for Mia, saying she wouldn’t have been found without the public’s help.

COVID-19

Blenheim businesses have been hit hard as the number of cases continue to grow. Latest figures from the Ministry of Health show the total number of new cases across Nelson Marlborough is 1017. As the numbers of new cases increases ahead of the busy season, businesses are suffering staff shortages. Event Cinema will reopen on Wednesday while other cafes and shops, including Delicia, Café Velvet, Haven Café, Speights Ale House and Just Jeans have had to temporarily close completely, operate at reduced hours or with limited staff.

LOST DOG

The owners of a much-loved family pet that escaped from a sitter’s house are appealing for sightings of their dog, Blue. Blue went missing from the Rose Manor area of Blenheim on 27 November. Her owners are set to move to Christchurch but will stay in Picton until they are hopefully reunited with the 9-year-old

A pouwhenua and storyboards were previously erected in Meretoto/Ship Cove to recognise the site's significance. Photo: Supplied/STUFF.

‘First of its kind’: Economic ‘wellbeing’ strategy launched in Marlborough

MAIA HART Local Democracy Reporter

The Māori economy, aquaculture, aviation, forestry, the screen industry, technology and wine: these are the foundations of Marlborough’s new economic wellbeing strategy.

Deputy mayor and economic development portfolio holder David Croad said the “blueprint” for Marlborough’s future set a direction for the development of Marlborough’s economy.

It sets out the long-term view –including its economic resilience, an ecosystem where start-ups can thrive and support for emerging industries.

Marlborough District Council economic development portfolio manager Dorien Vermaas said the strategy provided vision and guidance.

“It involves all industry sectors working together towards a single vision,” Vermaas said.

“We’re living in times of great change globally and Marlborough needs to be prepared.

Māori Economy

Postgraduate student William MacDonald undertook research

between December 2021 and March to understand how Marlborough’s Māori economy could best be supported.

Three “common themes” were found. These include a central network for Māori businesses in Marlborough, revamping the central business district, utilising the Taylor River bank and telling local Māori stories

Aquaculture

Marlborough produces about 60 per cent of New Zealand’s aquaculture export products, mostly with its mussels and salmon production. This contributed to $108 million in GDP, 945 jobs and 150 businesses.

Strengths included the “worldclass” production of sustainable seafood produce, the sustainability of shellfish aquaculture and significant local investment.

Eighteen different actions were outlined, including developing a committed process of engagement with iwi as treaty partners in development, encouraging improved environmental monitoring and working with Marlborough Airport and Port Marlborough to ensure produce could reach markets around the world.

Aviation

The aviation sector is made up of 33 business, which equated to 955 jobs and $96.6m in GDP.

The strategy outlined the intention to set up a Smart and Connected group for the aviation community, working with Sounds Air, Marlborough Airport and Marlborough Lines to ensure infrastructure was in place for electric planes and support efforts to resolve a land ownership “issue” at Marlborough Airport to “unlock” its potential.

Forestry

There are 285 forestry businesses in the region, equivalent to 487

jobs and $63.2m in GDP.

Challenges included the environment and future expectations, labour shortages, market volatility and industry costs.

Recommendations included a bi-annual meeting with council, establishing career pathways and investigating the co-design of an energy and waste strategy.

Screen and creative industries The screen sector in Marlborough provided 103 jobs, through 36 businesses, and $5.6m in GDP.

Recommendations included updating the Marlborough Arts and Culture strategy, engaging with iwi to tell local Māori stories,

building a crew list with all Te Tauihu (top of the south) talent and finalising the Sawmill Collaborative Trust.

Technology

Marlborough had put itself on the map as an entrepreneurial and innovative region. This sector was made up of 150 businesses, 439 jobs, and $40.3m in GDP.

Actions included meet ups, financial support for start-ups and attracting technologists to Marlborough.

Wine

The wine industry, which employed 2900 people and madeup 20 per cent of Marlborough’s GDP, was a key driver for economic wellbeing.

There were 21 actions for the industry.

These including continuing to work with Wine Marlborough on measuring carbon cost, to work on offsetting it, working with stakeholders on the economic wellbeing of the industry and working on land availability for seasonal worker accommodation.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ on Air.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ on Air.

Aquaculture is one of the main industries included in Marlborough’s economic wellbeing strategy. Photo: Matt Brown.

PAULA HULBURT

Students digging for more information on possible careers got a lift in the right direction.

Members of the Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough’s Toroa Career Navigator programme visited the Simcox quarry last week.

The move gave the would-be

ager Calvin Aberhart, the visit helped highlight a possible career path.

As of the end of 2021, 79 per cent of students graduating from the programme had gone on to work or training.

Regional Manager for the Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough, Kelvin Watt, says the initiative is “life chang-

15 to 25-year-olds who are not in school, work or trainingbut keen to be.

Participants benefit from career mentoring, work-readiness workshops, worksite visits and individualised support to develop a ‘career action plan’

Feedback has been very positive, Kelvin says.

“The research shows it con-

Students from the Toroa Career Navigator programme visited the Simcox quarry last week. Photo: Supplied.

End of era as Annies shuts its doors

a couple of outlier results, operated at a loss.

It has been a staple on shop shelves for decades but a wellknown local snack is set to soon disappear.

Annies fruit snacks is set to close its doors for good in February after owners Kono NZ revealed the business had operated at a loss for eight years.

Thirty-nine staff at the Blenheim-based business have been offered opportunities elsewhere in the business says Kono NZ Chief Operating Officer Andy Wotton.

“Despite our very best efforts to rebuild the business over the last seven or eight years, Annies has, with the exception of

“As a business we need to be able to adapt and, though hard, the decision to close Annies is right, rather than continuing to operate unsustainably into the future.”

An associated business of Wakatū Incorporation, Kono NZ purchased Annies in 2014 after it had gone into voluntary receivership.

But its failure to thrive has left the owners with little choice but to close, Andy says.

“Manaakitanga is central to how we operate and this process will be managed as carefully and thoughtfully as possible.

“We

affected people over the coming weeks to explore every opportunity available.”

Annies was started in 1986 by Annie Giles after she was gifted a small dehydrator by her husband.

She began experimenting with extra fruit from the family’s Marlborough orchard and created the famous fruit leathers.

Annies last day of production is expected to be February 24 2023, with its lease ending at the end of April 2023.

It is expected that normal business operations will continue until then and all open sales orders will be fulfilled.

will work closely with our

PAULA HULBURT

Annies was a familiar sight in Grovetown before it was bought by Kono NZ in 2014. File photo.

Volunteers helped rid the Leatham Conservation Area of wilding pines as part of an annual trip at the weekend.

The Marlborough 4WD Club got busy cutting and pulling the pernicious plants along the roads of

the popular hunting and tramping area up the Wairau Valley. The club works alongside the Department of Conservation to rid the accessible areas of the backcountry of wilding pines.

Photos: Matt Brown.

Strategy a map to a bright future

PETE COLDWELL Chamber of Commerce GM

Marlborough District Council (MDC) asked me to be a speaker at the launch of their Economic wellbeing strategy for the region at the Wine Research Centre last week.

The Chamber had been involved a bit through the process of developing the strategy, but I know that some of the questions people would naturally have would be: Why bother having one? What about focusing on sorting out the current problems we face? Isn't that what council should be doing?

It’s all too easy to be cynical and so I wanted to look at the strategy from a different perspective; looking at the past to see where the future might lead.

Einstein said "you can't use old maps to explore new worlds".

He also said, “learn from yesterday, live for today and hope for tomorrow.”

That's why we need a new map for our future which looks at what we did in the past to guide where we might go in the future.

That's what the Economic Wellbeing Strategy is. Quite simply,

it’s a map, for where we might go as a region.

Is it perfect? No, of course it's not. Will we need to change it as we go? Yes, of course we will.

But it gives us a start, to build on what we have, and to look to what the region might look like in 50 years.

It’s impossible to capture every voice in the community or even just in the business community in a strategy like this, but I can tell you that MDC really did attempt to listen to as many of the right voices as possible.

So taking that point of Einstein’s, I wanted to look at how far we’ve come as a region in the last fifty years and then to think about where we might go.

Looking back at Marlborough in the past, innovators and pioneers have led the changes in the region.

It’s always dangerous to mention names from the past, as you always end up inevitably missing some key people out, so please forgive me for the names I’ve missed.

Marlborough is the number one region for aquaculture and seafood processing in New Zealand, with GDP of $108M, 945 jobs

and 150 businesses.

We have one-fifth of all of New Zealand’s coastline in Marlborough, and with the technical skills and businesses in the region, this is a sector which can grow massively.

So, to look at where it was fifty years ago, from the simple early days of just picking mussels from the beaches to supplement family income, a number of crucial people helped get the sector started.

Duncan Waugh came over from the UK, via the mussel rafts in Spain and thought Marlborough was an ideal place to cultivate mussels.

Then families including the Reeves, Godsiffs, Talleys, Flaws, Yealands and Hearns all began to solve the problems which arose. Using the number eight wire mentality, they moved from rafts to floats and longlines, designed new anchors, created weights and developed new floats.

In 1983 the region produced 50 tonnes of Salmon, 7,000 tonnes of mussels and 1,000 tonnes of oysters.

Just consider that for a moment. Now there are 600 marine farms in the sounds. Marlborough produces 6,000 tonnes of salmon and

65,000 tonnes of mussels.

Looking at grapes and wine, Marlborough produces over 80 per cent of the wine in New Zealand. Not just number one, but number one by a country mile.

Next year, we’ll celebrate fifty years since the first Sauvignon Blanc plantings.

There were many pioneers along the way, from Wayne Thomas and Frank Yukich at Montana, to Phil and Chris Rose winning the right to plant in 1978. Jane and Earnie Hunter leading the charge into the UK market. Ross Lawson chairing the New Zealand screwcap initiative, which was crucial

in making the screwcap acceptable for wines across the world.

These early pioneers along with many others paved the way for todays business success.

We need to remember the wine industry makes up 20 per cent of the Marlborough economy and employs over 3000 people.

I’ve only looked at the two biggest sectors, but then you look at aviation, technology and innovation, forestry, film; all of these sectors are growing and doing incredibly exciting things.

Our region may be the first to have electric commercial flights through Sounds Air.

Airbus employ nearly 300 people and do incredible work at Woodbourne.

Marlborough now has its own regional film office.

Companies like Flip Farms are changing the way oysters are grown.

Autoline with robotic net cleaners, Smart Machine with autonomous tractors, the examples of new technology are endless.

When you look at how far we’ve come as a region in fifty years, the sky’s the limit in the next fifty years.

I think it’s incredibly exciting.

Fond farewell for freeze drier

A 28-tonne freeze drier built in Blenheim is on it’s way to Melbourne to help save thousands of books and documents.

Headed up by Cuddon’s engineering projects and sales lead Julio Guimaraes, the 14-metre long freeze drier can remove the moisture from up to 324 cardboard library boxes of documents at a time.

Seven kilos of water can be removed from each box.

About 14 welder and fabricators from the Carbon Steel workshop spent 25 weeks building the chamber, plant skid, frames and trollies, with support from the Freeze Dry workshop team around the fit out of the chamber.

The massive chamber will be transported across the Tasman on a Roll On, Roll Off (RORO) ship, mainly used for cars, due to ongoing freight disruption.

Marlborough Chamber of Commerce general manager Pete Coldwell. File photo.

Opinion

The Unspoken Spirit of Christmas

CHRIS LIPPIATT

It’s the time of the year when we do the spirit of Christmas thing.

It’s this huge Frankenstein monster of smaller well-meaning spirits.

Goodness, kindness, love, forgiveness, generosity, joy, peace. The list goes on and on.

There’s one spirit of Christmas that we don’t talk about, but it’s there if you look.

I’m talking about the spirit of passive aggression.

It permeates every angle of the festive season.

It’s a perfect time to get some sweet revenge on the pettiest injustices while looking innocent and good natured all along.

Is the year at work coming to an end and your tolerance of your workmates has turned into a thinly veiled hate and you want them all to suffer? Financially?

Organize a Secret Santa. And should anyone refuse? Call them a Scrooge.

It’s not that the cost of living is ridiculously high and even the concept of having more than one meal a day is becoming a luxury. No, they’re too cheap to participate in Christmas. What a Scrooge thing to do. Even if you do participate in the Secret Santa, you have the opportunity of spreading the

spirit of passive aggression. Because it’s secret, no one knows it’s you.

There are two gifts that stand atop the tower of passive aggression.

There is the Kmart scented candle: it sends the message that you don’t care and that there is a high possibility that this is a regifted Secret Santa gift.

But the scented candle is dwarfed by the box of Cadbury Favourites.

Not only does it show the level of care in choosing the gift is zero, the distinct shape of the favourites box ruins any opportunity of surprise, taking away any sense of mystery for the recipient.

Now, not only have you given them an unsurprising naff gift, there’s also an expectation that anyone who gets chocolates, has to share them with everyone around because if they don’t, then they’re a Scroogy Grinch.

That’s right, half Scrooge, half Grinch, all anti Christmas. They’re obliged to give away 80% of their naff, unsurprising gift because Jenny let everyone sniff her scented candle.

Even Santa himself spreads the spirit of passive aggression. In fact, he may be the king of the mean spirit of Christmas. For starters parents can use him.

If your kids are naughty in the festive season, you don’t have to punish them, no, you can do much worse… You can tell on them.

That threat of the naughty list will make any kid turn heel. But still, Santa himself trumps everything.

If you’re good, you get a gift. If you’re naughty, you get a lump of coal.

He could just give you nothing, but no, he makes the trip all the way from the North Pole, takes time out of his busy schedule of delivering gifts to billions of children, just to give you a lump of coal.

A gift so crummy that it makes the 20% of that box of Favourites look good.

Also, there is really only one

use for coal, that is to burn it.

If you use the gift Santa gave you, it will produce greenhouse gasses, which contributes to global warming, which melts the polar ice caps, which is where Santa and his elves live.

It’s the Rube Goldberg machine of passive aggression. Basically, Santa is laying in a guilt

trip so big it puts everybody’s mum to shame.

If Santa left a personalised message with the coal it would say, “Here you go. Because you couldn’t watch your language and play nice, you are literally destroying my home and everything I care about, I hope you’re happy. Merry Christmas’ Just a thought

Comedy Chris

Shanan and Taya Barnett.

Marlborough Brass Band members Connor Graham, Matthew Cutts and Jack Cutts.

Christmas in the Park

AMY RUSS

In many ways, it’s appropriate Marlborough Grape Growers Cooperative (MGGC) should produce a limited release for its members called The Acorn. The proverb, ‘Mighty oaks from little acorns grow’ could be custom-made about MGGC, given its growth into the international wine company the Cooperative is today.

The seeds of MGGC were sown in the early 2000s when a small group of Marlborough grapegrowers started looking for a better way to sell their grapes.

Frustrated by the terms offered by many of the major wine companies, a group of growers formed Marlborough Grape Producers (MGP).

The group partnered with the American company The Wine Group (TWG) and as demand grew, more supply was needed. In 2012 a meeting was organised by MGP where a couple of dozen growers agreed to form a collective. In

Jill Gordon and Donna O’Sullivan

David Hohnen and MGGC chair Ben McLauchlan

Rob & Heather Goulter and Jock Clouston

Former MGGC chair David Smith Mel Hammond, Mandy Morrison and Amy Greig Bryn Cotching and Alastair Campbell

10 years

business accolades on tenth anniversary

October 2012 MGP was incorporated as a company, a milestone that, ten years down the line, the current members of the Co-operative are proud to celebrate. MGP actually became formed into a cooperative structure three years later, in 2015 – as the Marlborough Grapegrowers Cooperative as we know it today.

Several key appointments were made along the journey, Winemaker Drew Ellis in 2005, Craig Howard as GM in 2013, and then Johnny McMillan as Viticulturist in 2016. Drew and Johnny are still with the company to this day.

The current chair of MGGC, Ben McLauchlan, says one of the elements that attracted him to the Cooperative was the direct ownership model, which was a source of great pride for the growers involved but also ensured any prof-

its flowed directly back into the community.

“That’s important,” Ben explains. “Our connection is direct with the community because we are the community. So the business profits flow directly back to the owners’ families. And from a profitability perspective, we’ve been able to deliver a much higher than average per hectare return to our members, who then can flow that back into the community.”

Today, MGGC has several strategies to move the Cooperative further up the value chain. These include moving into even closer arrangements with its customers and launching new brands in markets such as the UK, including one with Cloudy Bay founder David Hohnen. The relationship with TWG, the second biggest wine company in the US, still

nevertheless anchors the business with the wine TWG produce with MGGC fruit, the Cupcake Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, now the best-selling NZ Sauvignon Blanc in the premium category in the US. Another market that goes well for MGGC is Germany, where the Island Bay Sauvignon Blanc is similarly the best-selling New Zealand Sauvignon. Now with some 80 grower members across the Wairau, Waihopai and Awatere valleys, and led by CEO Mike Brown, MGGC has delivered on the benefits of growers owning their own wine company. Grape pricing is well above district average and dividends are paid on top. Beyond this there are the advantages of being a collective entity – sharing of ideas, social events, an insight into strategy and finances, and the ability to vote for leadership in the form of

grower directors. “Members can also feel assured that they are all being treated equitably, that’s the principle of a Co-op,” explains Mike. “Our Membership Manager Craig Thomson has a great value proposition with which to work.”

Mike is also careful to point out the key roles played by Office Manager Amy Greig and Accountant Lisa Strong in keeping MGGC on an even keel. “They are superstars.”

Local relationships are also important for MGGC, with winemaking facilities VinLink and Spring Creek Vintners, harvesting company Flowerday’s Contracting, trucking company Hagen and Herd, and several other partners. “It truly is a community eco-system. A virtuous circle of businesses supporting each other.”

As part of its tenth anniversary celebrations MGGC entered several business awards and was a finalist at the Marlborough Business Excellence Awards, the Co-operative Business NZ Awards and the American Chamber of Commerce Awards. The celebration season concluded with a party for owners at the ASB Theatre, where there was as much chat about the bright future as there was reminiscences about the past.

“Leading MGGC is seriously the best job I have ever had,” says Mike. “Serving growers who want to move up the value chain and have profits support local economic activity.”

“Our model is low risk and relatively high return, what’s not to like? It’s in the Kiwi DNA to collaborate, which means a co-operative model suits us all well.”

Louie leads the way

PETER JONES peter@topsouthmedia.co.nz

Queen Charlotte Yacht Club

sailor Louie Poletti may have been his club’s sole representative at a prestigious Auckland regatta, but he ensured the club’s flag flew proudly.

The 16-year-old took part in the 20th instalment of the Sir Peter Blake Torbay Regatta on December 3-4, an annual event for under-19 sailors across a variety of classes.

Louie, who competed in the ILCA 6 [Laser Radial] class, turned in a consistently-dominant effort to emerge as a clear winner. Over two days, he won four of his six races amid a 33-strong field, shading accomplished Auckland-based sailors George Pilkington and Ethan Fong, who were second and third respectively.

Taking on such a strong field, many more familiar with the local weather patterns, was always going to be a big ask, but Louie left no stone unturned, arriving a week early to train in the prevailing conditions and learn to interpret the forecasts.

Having raced against a few of his higher-ranked rivals before, Louie knew he would have to be on his game to come out on top.

“The secret was to have a good start and to get clear air … you don’t want to be stuck behind other boats having to deal with bad wind.

“After that it was just about

choosing the right [wind] shifts up to the top mark. Once you are in first place it is pretty much a case of covering the rest of the fleet and staying in the lead,” said the modest youngster.

Eligible to return for two more years, Louie has plans for another tilt at the Laser Radial title, although he may move up to the full rig ILCA 7 division in the future at a regatta that is firmly fixed on the national calendar, organisers keen to make it the leading national event for centreboard classes and “the highlight of the sailing calendar every year”.

Louie’s sailing calendar is fully booked over the summer months. On December 19 he

returns to Auckland to take part in the AON youth sailing clinic, involving around 20 top laser radial sailors.

In January he will contest the national champs at Murrays Bay Sailing Club, also in Auckland, pitting his Laser against up to 100 other boats across all age groups.

Finally, he will tackle the Ocean Bridge selection regatta, which doubles as under-18 youth trials, the winner going on to represent Team New Zealand at the forthcoming world champs.

“That is what I am aiming for,” added Louie.

Sailing is not the only string to Louie’s bow. He is also an accomplished footballer, a stand-out striker with the

all-conquering 2022 Rangers AFC senior men’s side, and was named Marlborough Football under-21 player of the year.

He is unclear about which sport he prefers, thankful that he can participate in both at the moment given the separate seasons.

“I’m trying to do both [sports] to as high a level as possible,” he said, “and we will see where it takes me.”

For now though, sailing is the focus, with plenty of travel and expense involved. To that end, Louie is quick to praise the input of “the Marlborough community who have helped me in the past”.   “I am very grateful for that help,” he added.

SportInBrief

STAR ATTRACTION

The Rapaura Tennis Club have attracted a star from the golden days of NZ tennis to headline their forthcoming centenary celebrations. Belinda Cordwell, pictured, a former world-ranked top 20 player who reached the semifinals of the 1989 Australian Open, will be guest speaker at the event which will run from November 24-26, 2023. Next year the club will have been located at their current address on Rapaura Rd for 100 years. Organisers are working hard on contacting past and present members, who are urged to register their interest as soon as possible with club captain Glen Cameron via e-mail at rapauratennisclub@gmail.com.

GOLFING SUCCESS

The Lucas Salver and May Rowling events were played at the Kaikoura Golf Club course on Sunday, November 20, the traditional event reduced to 18 holes because of weather. The Lucas Salver was won by Eastern Western (Marlborough and West Coast) 8-4. Marlborough players in that team were Aroha Minhinnick, Tracy Bary, Carol Bates and Rete Kydd. The May Rowling title was shared by Eastern/Western and Nelson, 6-6. Marlborough players in that Eastern/Western team were Sophie van Velthooven, Lynda Shanks, Janet Laing, Bridget Quaife and Pippa Minhinnick.

SINGLES CHAMPS

Glen Cameron and Amber Lyons are the Marlborough residential singles champions after taking out the 2022-23 titles at the Forrest Winery Tennis Centre. Cameron win the men’s title after a tough tussle with youngster Dan Clarke, prevailing 6-7, 7-5, 6-3. Cameron downed Daniel Riordan 2-6, 7-5, 10-1 in one semi-final, Clarke beating Michael Weaver 6-0, 6-1 in the other. Riordan downed Weaver in the third/fourth play-off. Lyons overcame Eveline Apthorp 6-4, 6-2 in the women’s decider. Just eight players contested the men’s section, three in the women’s race.

Louie Poletti at the conclusion of one of his winning efforts in Auckland.

Photo: Live Sail Die.

Tennis finalists found

The finalists have been decided for this week’s Marlborough premier division one and two tennis play-offs. In the top division Marlborough Forrest Wines show the way with 82 points, and will take on Rapaura Wairau River Noir (64) in the final. Rapaura Wairau River Blanc (59) will meet Marlborough Forrest Wines 2 (44) in the third/fourth play-off.

In last week’s penultimate matches, an understrength Marlborough Forrest Wines side lost 5-1 to Blanc. Jared Bell and Donna Clark securing both singles and doubles wins, Clark’s 7-5, 0-6, 13-11 victory over Amber Lyons a battle royal, along with Scott Walpole’s 5-7, 6-1, 10-1 victory over Ant Walkenhorst to earn the competition leader’s sole point.

In the other match, Noir warmed up for the final with a narrow win

over Marlborough Forrest Wines 2. Matches were level at 3-3, sets tied at 7-7, but Noir prevailed 69-66 on a countback of games won.

In division two, Rapaura Wairau River Rose are top qualifiers with 77 points and will meet Marlborough Next Generation (62) in the final.

Marlborough Mix ‘n’ Match (50) are third and will play Marlborough Falcons (44).

In this week’s action, Falcons downed Rose 5-1 while Mix ‘n’ Match accounted for Marlborough Next Gen 7-6 on set countback after matches were shared 3-3.

College athletes take on the best

PETER JONES

James Hansen’s victory in the 300m hurdles in a personal best time provided the Marlborough highlight during the New Zealand secondary school track, field and road race championships in Inglewood over the weekend.

He finished the meet at the top of the Athletics NZ under-18 youth rankings for the 300m hurdles and third in the 110m hurdles, his placing at Inglewood and another PB.

James was one of eight Marlborough college athletes in action at the event, which was cancelled last year due to Covid.

He was joined in Taranaki by DJ Arbuckle, Ronan West, Brooke Harper, Neve McKenzie, Ryleigh Gale, Isla Tilbury and Alex Hansen.

Two other Marlborough athletes earned Athletics NZ rankings, DJ Arbuckle now ranked 9th equal in the under-18 youth high jump while Brooke Harper is ranked 30th in the 200 metres for under-18 youth women.

Marlborough results: Senior boys: James Hansen – 110 metre hurdles 3rd (14.70sec - PB); 300 metre hurdles 1st (37.98sec –PB)

DJ Arbuckle – High Jump 4th equal (1.85m); Long Jump 11th

(6.18m – PB); Triple Jump 9th (11.97m)

Ronan West – 100 metres 7th Heat 1 Prelims (12.65s); 200 metres 5th Heat 1 Prelims (25.10s)

Junior Boys: Alex Hansen – 300 metre hurdles 7th Heat 2 Prelims (46.83s – PB); Long Jump 28th (4.80m)

Junior Girls: Isla Tilbury – 400 metres 6th (60.58s)

Brooke Harper – 100 metres 4th (13.02s); 200 metres 6th (26.57s - PB); Long Jump 12th (4.45m)

Ryleigh Gale – 80 metre hurdles 7th (13.47s); 100 metres 5th Heat 5 Prelims (14.21s);

Long Jump 30th (3.61m)

Neve McKenzie – 1500 metres 8th Heat 1 (5.09.11) missed finals qualification by one place; 3000 metres 22nd (11.49.75).

Masters

Meanwhile, four Marlborough senior athletes made a welcome and successful return to the recent NZ Masters Track & Field Championships. The championships were held at Newton Park in Wellington amid some testing weather conditions. Laura Smidt, Dave Hansen and John Rawcliffe secured records in their respective age groups, marks which are awaiting ratification.

Marlborough results:

Laura Smidt (W30): 200m 1 (29.84sec); 800m 1 (2.42.18); 1500m 1 (5.19.07), 2000m steeplechase 1 (8.19.63) - championship age group record.

Dave Hansen (M45): 200m 2 (24.80sec); 400m 1 (55.33sec); shot put 2 (11.60m); discus 1 (37.17sec), pentathlon 1 (3390 points) - NZ age group record score.

John Rawcliffe (M60): 60m 2 (8.95sec); discus 2 (34.40m); javelin 1 (31.89m); pentathlon 1 (2695 points) - NZ age group record score.

Carey Dickason (W70): 1500m 3 (7.54.35); 3000m 3 (16.02.02); long jump 2 (2.26m); triple jump 2 (5.50m); hammer 2 (17.50m); pentathlon 2 (1917 points).

Hurdler James Hansen cemented his place at the top of the national rankings.

PETER JONES

Rapaura Blanc player Donna Clark battled to a super tiebreak win on Wednesday. Photo: Peter Jones.

Cup holders prove too strong

PETER JONES

A relatively-inexperienced Marlborough rep cricket side denied Hawke Cup holders Canterbury Country an outright victory during their zone three qualifying clash in Rangiora at the weekend.

The two-day match was drawn, with an experienced, well-balanced Country crew claiming first innings points after an under-par effort by Marlborough with the bat on Saturday.

The visitors were dismissed for a paltry 126 runs, scored in 45.2 overs, then the home side amassed 329-4 before declaring. With a 203-run lead, Country did their best to push for an outright but Marlborough held firm, their second innings effort of 106-4 enough to deny the home side maximum points before the match was called off before tea on Sunday afternoon.

Marlborough’s batting crumbled early on day one. At lunch they were 72-8, unable to handle the pacy Country attack. Only No 5 batsman Corey Bovey stood strong, making his way to a deter-

mined 55 from 89 balls before being the last wicket to fall. He was unable to find an ally with the bat until No 11 Jaden Adams came to the crease, the pair adding some respectability to the Marlborough score with a 52-run partnership that pushed the score past three figures. Adams finished unbeaten on 12.

The home side’s reply was based around three solid partnerships.

Opener Rhys Mariu, 68 from 73, and Harry Chamberlain, 34 from 53, putting on 78 for the second wicket; Frew, 65 from 168, and Zak Foulkes adding 136 for the fourth wicket; then Foulkes, who ended with 101* from 196, and Matt Laffey, 43* from 76, pushing the score past 300 from 99 overs.  Nick Weaver and Sam Boyce, the most experienced of the Marlborough attack, claimed two wickets apiece, bowling 20 and 21 overs apiece. Adams ran in for 21 overs while spinner Griffin Carter bowled 17 on a tough day for the visiting attack, especially after medium pacer Joel Pannell was injured after just four overs.  Country could have settled for

batting practice late on Sunday but decided to give their bowlers another shot at the brittle Marlborough batting. This time they met with more resistance, especially from youngster Luke Pannell who defied both pace and spin to finish with 43 not out from 93 deliveries. Fellow youngster Hunter Ruffell, pushed up the order following an injury to regular opener Jamie McVittie, also stood out with a solid 17 against the new ball.

Country now sit on top of the zone three group after beating Nelson on the first innings last weekend. Buller, who last week secured a first innings win over Marlborough, lost on the first innings to Nelson in Westport on Sunday, meaning Marlborough will likely need an outright win over Nelson in their final qualifying match on January 14-15 at Horton Park to reach the zone final.

Twenty20

Meanwhile, Wairau continued their strong start to the senior Twenty20 competition, racking up their second consecutive win

on Wednesday.

Up against Celtic at Horton Park, Wairau put a decent total of 175-3 on the board then restricted their rivals to 147-9, clinching a 28run victory.  Wairau’s total was based around an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 124 between the in-

New golf tournament planned

PETER JONES

Entries are still open for an exciting new event on the Marlborough golfing calendar.

The inaugural Don Manning Championship tournament will be staged at the Blenheim Golf Club course at Pollard Park on Friday, December 23. Thirty-six players, dressed in

“old school” golfing attire, will vie for a series of sponsored prizes, with all proceeds from the event going to Mike King’s Gumboot Friday charity. The event is the brainchild of former Marlborough rugby personality Jeremy Manning, who went on to play for Irish side Munster against the All Blacks and latterly helped the

Fijian Sevens team claim an historic Olympic gold medal in Rio.

Jeremy’s grandfather, Don Manning, was a life member of the Blenheim club and Jeremy, now based in the United Arab Emirates, said he wanted to give something back to the club, the community and ultimately “the very worthy and

important charity”. He set about organising the pre-Christmas day out and found support readily forthcoming, a series of sponsors immediately hopping on board.

Registration for the tournament, which begins with a shotgun start at 4pm, can be made through the email: jgmanning33@gmail.com

form Andrew McCaa (59*) and Harry Boyce (61*).

Opener Joel Logan did his best to kick start Celtic’s run chase, scoring a rapid 37, but wickets tumbled regularly as they fell behind the asking rate and no-one was able to collar the five-strong Wairau attack.

Meanwhile, at Oliver Park, Wairau Valley picked up a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Renwick.

Renwick batted first with opener Piers Landon-Lane scoring 41 from 48 balls to anchor their innings. However, he was unable to elicit much help from his fellow batsmen, leaving the Green and Whites short of registering a defendable total, slumping to 105-8 when the 20 overs were bowled.  Valley made no bones about the run chase, openers Jamie McVittie, 49 not out, and Sam Boyce, 49 from 59, taking the score to 103 before Boyce departed, the game wrapped up in the 19th over with Valley at 107-1.

Points after two rounds: Wairau 8, MBC 4, Wairau Valley 4, Celtic 0, Renwick 0.

Luke Pannell was unbeaten in Marlborough’s second innings.

Photo: Peter Jones.

The theme for the Don Manning tournament is old school golfing attire. Photo: Supplied.

With the title of second sunniest spot in Aotearoa (top spot goes to Taranaki) comes the great responsibility of being SunSmart. For FREE health advice 24/7 Call Healthline on 0800 611 116

Along with Australia, New Zealand has the highest malignant melanoma rates in the world. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in New Zealand and more New Zealanders die from melanoma than die on our roads.

The good news is that prevention is as easy as slip, slap, slop. Slip on clothing and into shade, slop on sunscreen (broad-spectrum and at least SPF 30), slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses.

More good news: most melanomas can be successfully treated and early detection can lead to more effective treatment. Check your skin and if you notice any unusual skin changes or see/ feel a spot or mole that is different to others, see your GP for a skin examination.

Skin check vouchers

The Nelson Tasman Cancer Society just wrapped up their third year of allocating $75 skin check vouchers, with more vouchers available from October 2023. In the meantime, a number of vouchers have been reserved for GPs to allocate to the patients they know would especially benefit. If you believe you are high risk, please contact your GP to ask about your eligibility.

SunSmart Shade Loan

If your non-profit community group is having an outdoors event this summer, protect your team with a SunSmart Shade from your local Cancer Society. Book online, or call:

The Cancer Society Marlborough (03) 579 4379

3 Visit your Family Doctor/ Practise Nurse for non-urgent healthcare

1 2 Visit a Pharmacy for advice, medications & treatment of minor ailments

4 Go to the Medical + Injury Centre for urgent medical attention only

6 Where should you be?

5 For life-threatening emergencies Go to the ED or Call 111

• Make a plan for if you test positive for COVID and need to isolate or change your plans at short notice • Get up to date with your vaccinations and boosters • Make sure you have a full supply of all your regular medications

Reschedule any health appointments to before or after your holiday

•

MARLBOROUGH’S COMMUNITY NOTICES

MONDAY

MARLBOROUGH GUILD OF WOODWORKERS Mon 9am-12pm, 7pm-9pm. Wed 9am-12pm. Sat 9am12pm. Wooden toys & projects. 1st Sun monthly 1-4pm. Brayshaw Park. Ph Philip 570 5188.

RUMMY-0 CLUB Mon 12.30-4pm Bowls club rooms, Weld St. Ph Joy 577 6191/Mary 5788747.

BLENHEIM SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING Mon 7.30pm Whitney St School Hall. No partners needed. Beginners welcome. Ph Heather 02102587325.

CARE AND SHARE A place for creatives to meet, encourage & share their skills. Mon 9.30am fortnightly. Nativity Centre (76 Alfred St). Ph 5783909 for more info.

LINE DANCING Beginner line dance classes. Mon 2pm & 6.30pm at Senior Citizens Hall 166 High St. 1st lesson free for new beginners. Ph Judith 5787554 or 0212341095.

ROTARY CLUBS in Blenheim meet Mon & Tues 5.30pm. A world-wide service club for men & women, doing great things in your community. For info on meeting venues, ph Jon 0272229505 or Kevin 0211738784.

TUESDAY

RED HAT SOCIETY The Kiwi Damsels in De-Stress are part of a worldwide organization for women to enjoy fun, laughter & friendship. A specific dress code is part of the fun. This daytime group meets twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Tues mornings. Ph Tina 0211045945.

SAYGO Exercise & Balance for Seniors. Starts 7th Feb 2023. Ph Diana Brooks Eldercare Coordinator 0212694198 for more info. Thank you everyone for your support. Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. See you in 2023!

PICTON NEWCOMERS NETWORK 1st Tues of month ‘COFFEE & CHAT’ 10-11am, Seabreeze Café, London Quay. New to town? Need help to settle in? Interested in local activities? We can help! Ph Cathy (Coordinator) 0210451799 picton@newcomers.co.nz

ST JOHN BLENHEIM YOUTH DIVISION 6-7.30pm Tues (school term) All youth welcome, 5 - 18 years. Adult leaders 18+ Marlborough Youth Trust 18 Kinross St, Blenheim Central.

RENWICK PLUNKET PLAY GROUP Tues 8.45-11.45am during school term. Renwick Playcentre building, Havelock St. Come & join us for some great fun. All welcome!

MARLBOROUGH TENNIS CLUB Parker St. Tues 8.30am-12pm. Social tennis. Morning tea 10am. Nonmembers $5. All welcome. Ph. Joanna 0275 786 436.

PERSISTENT PAIN SUPPORT GROUP Tues 5-6pm, Biddy Kate’s, 2 Market St. Drop-in group for people with persistent pain & those supporting them.

MARLBOROUGH HERB SOCIETY Meets 4th Tues of month. 7pm, various locations. Promote use, educate & identification of herbs. Text only Meredith 0272122773.

SIT AND BE FIT Tues & Thurs 1.15pm Cost $2. Contact Riversdale Community House 5780469 or 0223007342.

BLENHEIM CHORAL (Marlborough Singers) Tues 7pm, Wesley Centre, Henry St. New members welcome, no auditions necessary. www.marlboroughsingers.org.

BLENHEIM AIR TRAINING CORP Tues 6.30-9pm RNZAF Base Woodbourne. Recruiting new cadets aged between 13 & 15 for 2022. For more info email: 27sqn@ cadetforces.org.nz

KNITTERS & SPINNERS MEET-UP Meet up Tues 10am, Picton library. Bring your knitting to the library for this social catch-up.

ART THERAPY GROUP for pregnant women. Tues 5-8pm. Ph Tatiana 0279019807.

TABLE TENNIS for adults Tues 10am-12noon. Little Theatre, Picton. $3 per session. Meet people & get some exercise. New members welcome. Ph Ernest 0275888453.

RENWICK MENZ SHED 54 High St Renwick. Left side of church. Morning tea provided. Tues 9am-12pm. Ph Dave 021 0228 2592.

WEDNESDAY

BLENHEIM PROBUS CLUB Retired/semi-retired? Enjoy good fellowship? We’d love to see you at our meetings, 1st Wed of the month (except Jan), 10am, Wesley Centre. Coffee mornings & outings as well. Ph. Raewyn 5784576 or Robert 5788938

LITTLE CRITTERS PLAY GROUP Wed 9.30-12noon. Community House, 131 Budge St. Ph Linda 0221099242

STRETCH & BREATHE Exercise for Seniors. Starts 8th Feb 2023. Ph Diana Brooks Eldercare Coordinator on 0212694198 for mor info. Thank you everyone for your support. Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. See you in 2023!

MARLBOROUGH MULTICULTURAL CENTRE hosts a newcomers morning tea, Wed 10.30am-12noon, 21 Henry St. Opportunities for Newcomers & Marlburians to make friends, practice English & support each other. Everyone welcome. Tea, coffee & biscuits provided. Ven y practica tu inglés. Te esperamos.

HEART HELP SUPPORT Community group dedicated to the well-being of those who live with a heart condition or experienced a heart attack. Offering support to whanau. Meet 3rd Wed of the month, 10am, Quench Chateau Marlborough, 95 High St. Ph Jenny Goss 0211629102.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS casual parents/caregivers catch up, Wed 10.30-12pm, town Plunket Clinic, 16 Henry St. No charge.

SUPPORT GROUP for postnatal mothers. Every Wed, 9.30am to 12pm. Childminders help with babies. Ph Tatiana 0279019807.

MARLBOROUGH CHINESE FELLOWSHIP Chinese Christian group, whether interested in the Bible or Christianity, desiring to grow in the faith, or would like to meet new friends, we welcome you. Wed 6-7.30pm, St Christopher’s Church. 92 Weld St. Ph Guan 0221 642 782, Mandy 0224 326 886.

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING 7.30pm, Wed, Picton Little Theatre. No partner needed. Beginner’s welcome.

DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP Meets every Wed 1011.30am to support each other, have regular speakers, outings, share in a safe environment. Ph Alistair Crawford for details 0272 883 032.

MARLBOROUGH VINTAGE CAR CLUB MUSEUM Sun & Wed, 1.30 – 3.30pm, Brayshaw Park, Arthur Baker Pl, Blenheim. Donation appreciated. Other times by arrangement. Ph Bill 0275 784 322.

BLENHEIM PETANQUE CLUB Games held at courts, 65A Weld St, Wed 1-3pm & Sun 10am-12pm. Ph Chris 5787303 or Brian 5742267.

LIONS’ CLUB OF BLENHEIM Serving the commu-

nity for over fifty years. Would you like to know more about the Lion’s Club? Interested in becoming a Lion? Tea Meetings held on 2nd & 4th Wed. Ph Delphine Lee 0299425004 Helen Williams 0211458572.

WAITOHI SOCIAL CLUB for a bit of fun & friendship. Join us the last Wed of month, 10am Picton Library. FREE event, all welcome!

THURSDAY

SOCIAL BADMINTON Thurs morning 9-12noon Simcox Stadium Batty’s Rd. $5. All adults welcome. Ph Cathy 021 503 348

INVITING YOU TO COMPANIONS for ages 65+, 1st Thurs of Month. 1pm. Harvest Life Church, 22 Nelson St. It’s free, so no strings attached & there’s YUMMY afternoon tea. We have an interesting programme throughout the year. For more info ph Avon 03 579 2440, Lorraine 03 578 1240, or Shirley 03 578 3728.

KEEP U MOVING Gentle walking for Seniors. Starts 9th Feb 2023. Ph Diana Brooks Eldercare Coordinator on 0212694198 for more info. Thank you everyone for your support. Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. See you in 2023!

COPD SUPPORT AND EXERCISE GROUP Free. Every 2nd & 4th Thur 1.30pm, the Foundry hall, 3 John St. For more info Ph Karen at Asthma Marlborough Inc 035791609 or 0272057244.

KNIT & NATTER Marlborough District Library 2nd & 4th Thur of the month, 10am-12noon, tea & coffee provided. All welcome. Bring your yarn & have a yarn. For info ph Sue 5785317. Last day for the year 2nd Thurs of Dec 2022. Start again 4th Thurs in Jan 2023.

COMMUNITY CHOIR Thurs 7-9pm, during school terms. St Ninian’s Hall, 1 Riley Crescent, Redwoodtown (opp church). Come and join the community choir Creative Voice. All musical abilities and new members welcome. F: CreativeVoice@singforfriendship.

MARLBOROUGH AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 2nd Thurs of month, 7.30pm, Emergency Management Operating Centre. For all interested in Amateur Radio, Electronics & Emergency Communications.

PICTON TABLE TENNIS 10am-12pm, Port Marlborough Pavilion, Waikawa Rd. All adults welcome. $3 incl. morning tea. Equipment supplied. Ernest 0275 888 453.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Thurs 7-8pm Riversdale Community House, 131 Budge St.

FRIDAY

RENWICK SOCIAL TENNIS Fri 4.30-6.30pm weather permitting. Members $2. Visitors $5. 10 Uxbridge St (behind Bowling Club). Ph Leigh Andrews 0211913034 or visit our Facebook Page for more details & other upcoming events. UPBEAT ORCHESTRA community orchestra for all ages, instruments, from beginner-grade 5. St Ninians Church Hall, Alabama Rd every Fri 5-6.30pm For more info email upbeatorchestra@gmail.com.

PICTON NEWCOMERS NETWORK ‘SUNDOWNERS’ @ Chart room, Picton Yacht Club Hotel, 25 Waikawa Rd, 5-6pm. New to town? Need help to settle in? Interested in local activities? We can help! Ph Cathy (Coordinator) 021 045 1799 picton@newcomers.co.nz LINK Fun & board games & afternoon tea for all in the lounge at Nativity Centre, 76 Alfred St every Fri 1pm. Gold coin donation appreciated. Ph 5783909 for info.

SATURDAY / SUNDAY

MARLBOROUGH TENNIS CLUB Parker St. Every Sun 3-5pm. Social Tennis Non-Members $2 All welcome. Ph Joanna 0275786436

BLENHEIM ROTARY BOOTSALE MARKET We’re back! Railway station carpark, Sat, 8am-12pm. Blenheim Rotary Bootsale operating over 25 years, funds to local/ international projects. New or used items, plants, food, coffee carts welcome. See bootsalemarket on Facebook.

THE ROADHOUSE BREAKFAST for car enthusiasts of all genres. 1st Sun of month, Riverlands Roadhouse, coffee cart on site, cafe has great food. 100+ cars at each of first two events.

BAHÁ’Í DEVOTIONS 1st & 3rd Sun, 11am, Marlborough Community Centre, 12th Lane, Blenheim cnr Farmers carpark. “In the garden of thy Heart plant naught but the rose of love”. www.bahai.org.

CRUISEY CHURCH for kids of all ages & their families. Includes bible stories, games, songs, crafts & dinner. 3rd Sat each month 5-6.30pm. St Andrew’s Church, 5 Henry St, Blenheim. Koha appreciated.

REDWOOD MARKET Redwood Tavern car park, Cleghorn St. 8am-noon every Sat. Plants, garden products, flowers, crafts including handmade soaps, cards & jewellery. Raising money for your community.

MARLBOROUGH STROKE CLUB is a voluntary organisation dedicated to the wellbeing of those who have experienced a stroke, and to the support of their caregivers. We offer support, friendship & education with various meetings held each month. Ph Vyvienne Dunlop 5783837 / 021929955.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Sat 7-8pm Riversdale Community House, 131 Budge St.

MARLBOROUGH MUSEUM at Brayshaw Park, open 10am-4pm. Maori treasures, the Wine Exhibition, Wairau Bar 1250 AD, Early settlers, Asian Dolls & Textiles, local pottery plus more! FREE entry on Saturdays.

MARLBOROUGH MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB committed to seeing mountain biking flourish in Marlborough. We hold regular rides suitable for all levels of fitness & ability. Including back country expeditions, easy local rides, more serious mountain bike races. marlboroughmountainbike@gmail.com.

BLENHEIM FAMILY HISTORY GROUP Interested in Family History Research & building your Family Tree? Contact us for advice & assistance. Informal gatherings held 3rd Sun of month, 1.30–3pm, Family History Rooms, Brayshaw Park. Ph Lauri 578 8385.

MARLBOROUGH ARTISAN CRAFT MARKET Sat, Market Place. Come down & meet your local craft people. Children’s area with games for young & old. A free Community Site to promote or fund-raise your organisation. Renwick Tennis Club 8 Uxbridge St.

REPAIR CAFÉ New community initiative. We’ll fix your small repair on site, on the day, while you wait & have a cuppa. Sewing/darning, bikes, small furniture/wooden items, toys electronic & mobile phones. Every 4th Sat monthly, 9am-12pm, John’s Kitchen, 2 Redwood St. Donations accepted.

PICTON RAIL & SAIL on the Foreshore. Mini train rides & yachts from 20 cents. Every Sunday & the school holiday’s, subject to weather.

BLENHEIM RIVERSIDE RAILWAY Runs 1st & 3rd Sun of

the month. We have Eftpos. facebook/RiversideRailway. MARLBOROUGH TENNIS CLUB Parker St. Every Sun 3-5pm. Social Tennis Non-Members $2 All welcome. Ph Joanna 0275786436.

MARLBOROUGH FARMERS MARKET A&P showgrounds, 9am-12pm Sun, local fresh & seasonal produce & products.

BARNABAS CHURCH BLENHEIM Sun services, 4pm (all welcome). St Ninians Church, corner Riley Cres & Alabama Rd. Scripture-based, church (est. Jan 2019). Affiliated to Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa New Zealand (CCAANZ). More info: barnabas.org.nz.

WORKING BEE Te Whanau Hou Grovetown Lagoon, followed by BBQ. Every 2nd Sun, Feb to Nov. Planting & tending trees, weeding, mulching & continued conservation. Meet at Wairau Rowing Club, Steam Wharf Rd, Grovetown. 9.30am-12pm. Email Justine: Johnsonmarlborough@gmail.com

KETO SUPPORT GROUP meets Sat fortnightly (approx. beginning & mid-month), 10am, Revival Cafe, Springlands. Informal gathering of folk interested in this dietary practice. No charge, no obligation - but the coffee’s great! Ph 027 505 7774 for more info.

MARLBOROUGH ASSOCIATED MODELLERS SOCIETY miniature train rides, $2, 1st & 3rd Sun of month, model yacht & boat sailing Sun, 1pm-4pm, Brayshaw Park.

GENERAL GROUPS

CRAFT FAIR Havelock Town Hall 31st Dec, 1st & 2nd Jan 10am-4pm daily. Free entry. Supporting Simply The Breast Dragon Boat team. Lots of crafts, plants & a sausage sizzle.

BROOKLYN CROQUET CLUB Tues, Thurs, Sat, 1pm Golf Croquet, Whitehead Park grounds, Brooklyn Dr. Mallets supplied.

MENZ SHED Blenheim, 4 Dillons Point Rd, Bright Centre Complex. Where men of all ages can meet to just chill out or do projects for themselves or the community. We provide equipment, tools & workspace for most woodwork & metalwork projects. Open Sat 9am12 noon. Mon & Thurs 1-4pm. Ph Dave 0212340057.

MARLBOROUGH YOUNG PROFESSIONALS (MYP) not-for-profit networking group dedicated to the next generation of professionals. Connecting like-minded people & fully integrating them into Marlborough lifestyle. Connect with us on Facebook.

MARLBOROUGH COMMUNITY VEHICLE TRUST Have difficulty getting to medical appointments in NELSON? This trust was created to carry people to Nelson for medical appointments. Ph 574 1311 or soundsvehicle@ gmail.com.

AA MEETINGS Marlborough area. Ring alcoholics anonymous for help to stop drinking. Ph 0800 229 6757. www.aa.org.nz.

SENIORNET MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Linkwater Hall, Queen Charlotte Drv for people 50+ to learn about technology & what it can do for them. Includes monthly ‘Drop-In’ session open to all. Interest groups meet monthly. Digital imaging, Family History, Smartphones, Tablets. Ph Liana Bull 027 255 1511.

MARLBOROUGH TRAMPING CLUB A very active club, holding mid-week & Sun trips & regular overnight tramps. Extended trips further afield also on the cards. marlboroughtrampingclub@gmail.com

Helen Montgomery