Marlborough Weekly - 27 July 2021

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Tuesday 27 July 2021

A community effort

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Mako squad named

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EcoWorld owner fights on Matt Brown An embattled business owner at the centre of a bitter lease wrangle is vowing to stay put.

A legal stoush between Port Marlborough and Picton Ecoworld continues, with protests, sit-ins and an imminent battle in New Zealand’s highest courts.

EcoWorld director John Reuhman staged a sit-in at the aquarium on Thursday night – the night of the expiry of their lease.

He has revealed he will keep opening the doors for visitors, although the move puts him in breach of the lease agreement.

“As soon as they come to us, we’ll call 111 and let the court sort it out,” he says.

Port Marlborough have echoed his sentiments, saying while it is within their rights to change the locks – they are willing to let the courts decide.

SEE PAGE 3

EcoWorld director John Reuhman. Photo: Matt Brown.

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TUESDAY 27 July 2021

News

Community patrol on a roll Blenheim Community Patrol has been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for their help in catching a man wanted on arrest.

Patrol supervisor Brent Laurenson accepted the special certificate from Blenheim Community Constable Russ Smith after patrol members helped apprehend the suspect in 2020.

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News

The EcoWorld lease has officially ended, but director John Reuhman has vowed to stay put.

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

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One of the larger tanks full of marine life at Picton’s aquarium. Photos: Matt Brown

Business as usual as lease battle continues FROM PAGE 1 In a document released to media, Port Marlborough says EcoWorld is illegally in possession of the foreshore property.

The ten-year lease of the foreshore aquarium expired at midnight on Thursday.

Terms in the lease mean the land had to be restored to its original condition, meaning the aquarium should be demolished at EcoWorld’s expense.

But John says Port Marlborough changed their mind, and lease

conditions, in the final hour.

“They helped us through Covid – I can’t fault them [Port Marlborough] as landlords,” John says.

“But something changed in November.

“If they [Port Marlborough] were decent, they would have told us [they would not renew the lease] a year ago.

“I’ve been transparent with my plans.”

Port Marlborough have hit back, saying while there were discussions some time ago regarding a possible extension,

the terms repeatedly sought by Mr Reuhman were unacceptable and fundamentally different to his existing lease.

“Port Marlborough could not reasonably agree to them,” they say.

“The lease is simply ending on the agreed terms. Mr Reuhman is alleging that Port Marlborough agreed to renew the lease or to a new one. That is not the case.”

Port Marlborough says they have made repeated offers to assist EcoWorld, including extending the lease at no cost to allow affected animals to be rehomed

and a $75,000 assistance payment.

“Regrettably, Mr Reuhman has publicly mischaracterised these offers, including calling this payment a bribe.

“We are very disappointed and concerned about this and the other statements he is making.

“We believe we have acted outside the terms of the lease in a very generous way, consistent with Port Marlborough’s values and with sensitivity to Ecoworld’s lease expiry.”

On Monday morning John was welcoming patrons, his business

operating as usual.

A tide of tourists, well-wishers, phone calls and people offering to adopt animals kept John busy.

“The support is phenomenal,” he says.

“We’re trading at 129 per cent this month. We’ve had our biggest ever July school holidays.”

John says he doesn’t think he can beat Port Marlborough, but he’s willing to try.

“In reality, they’re so big, they will win in the end,” he says.

“They’ll grind us into the dust.

“We’ll keep going as long as we can.”

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News

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

NEWS Hospitality heroes: Three Marlborough businesses have made the shortlist of a national hospitality awards competition. Renwick’s popular Woodbourne Tavern, Escape to Picton, and Hop on and Hope Off Wine Tours have all made the final cut of the Hospitality Awards for Excellence in Best Local, Best Luxury Boutique Hotel and Best New/Redeveloped Business categories. CEO Julie White says the Awards for Excellence are especially important this year as the hospitality industry grapples with Covid.

Track trouble: Queen Charlotte Track is only partially open due to damage from last weekend’s heavy rain.

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A strip of land at the Wairau Diversion, 30m wide by 360m long, from the river mouth back, has been washed away by flood waters – prompting Marlborough District Council to close the area to the public. Barriers are in place at the road entrance. Pine trees have been undermined and part of the road has collapsed into the ocean. The rest of the Diversion area has suffered only minor damage, however parts of the site will need to be closed while assessments and repairs are made.

Photo: MDC/Supplied.

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Department of Conservation (DOC) tracks, campsites and access roads in the top of the South Island damaged by the severe weather, with some closed.

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Opinion / News

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

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Staff member mourned after sudden lodge death Paula Hulburt

A much-loved member of staff died has died suddenly at Furneaux Lodge.

An unnamed staff member died at the lodge on Friday afternoon as the result of a serious medical event.

The shock death has left staff reeling says lodge owners Marlborough Tour Company chief executive Abbe Hutchins.

Focus has been very much on the person’s family and staff, she says.

“Everyone is devastated. Our role has been to support the family and staff through this difficult time.”

The lodge opened again yesterday (Monday) after being closed over the weekend.

Police are continuing their investigations as part of a coronial investigation which happens after any sudden death.

Police were told just before 4pm on Friday that a person had died and are making enquiries in relation to the death on behalf of the coroner.

“The coroner will release their finding in due course,” says a police spokeswoman.”

WorkSafe has also been advised as per protocol after a death at work.

Located at the head of Endeavour Inlet in the Marlborough Sounds next to the Queen Charlotte Track, the popular Lodge attracts visitors from across New Zealand.

The Department of Conservation announced last week that the Queen

Opinion

Police are investigating a sudden death at Furneaux Lodge following a medical event. Photo: File.

Charlotte Track is temporarily closed while an assessment of the damage is undertaken and repairs begin, following the bad weather last weekend.

Nelson Marlborough Rescue

Trust helicopter crew flew landed at Furneaux Lodge on Friday afternoon but the patient had died at the scene.

Abbe says Victim Support have been offering help to staff and that

private counselling would also be available for any staff who wanted it.

“This person was a valued member of staff. I was out there [at the lodge] talking to staff, everyone is trying to come to terms with it still.”

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Royal New Zealand Airforce officer inductees from Base Woodbourne have been getting out and doing good in the community. The future leaders spent a day with the SPCA Renwick Centre and helped around the centre with lawn mowing, pruning, weeding, water blasting and general clean up. Photo: RNZAF/New Zealand Defence Force.

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Dear Ed, As a person who does not cook many meals – has them delivered by “Meals on Wheels” and Quest – it was a big surprise and a lovely one to receive a beautiful posy of flowers from each company. These were put together by the ladies of the Marlborough Floral Art group. Being of the male gender, I was as pleased as any female to receive the thoughtful gift.

My wife, who was a florist in our courting days, could not believe how well they had been put together.

I am sure all those that receive the posy would, like me, be most appreciative.

Thanks again to you wonderful group of ladies.

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News

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

In the eye of the storm As the storm evolved into one of the biggest seen in Marlborough in recent decades, emergency response teams swung into action.

Paula Hulburt finds out about a day that will go down in the region’s history.

The river levels were rapidly rising, and predictions were worrying.

Marlborough Mayor John Leggett, deputy mayor Nadine Taylor and Marlborough District Council chief executive Mark Wheeler were getting regular updates about the storm.

Council’s river monitoring crew were already out in force, collecting vital information as the force of the storm waters put stopbanks under increasing pressure.

Outside the ASB Theatre where council were hosting a local government conference, the rain continued to fall ferociously.

The nearby Taylor River turned into a muddied torrent, churning impatiently as it greedily coveted more ground.

The situation was rapidly worsening and still, the rain poured down relentlessly.

Forecasters had warned of a significant storm just hours before and it looked like they were right.

“It [the storm] was much, much

larger than anyone expected when we were talking about it on Friday,” Nadine explains.

“It didn’t behave quite as it should.”

With Civil Defence as part of her portfolio, Nadine and Mark joined the rest of the team and emergency management crew at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on Blenheim’s Wither Road.

With the Local Government New Zealand Conference underway and hundreds of delegates in town, John stayed in town to oversee responsibilities there.

The response that followed was a total team effort, Nadine says, a sentiment echoed by the mayor.

“If a region could be measured by the compassion of its residents, Marlborough would be off the scale, says John.

“This has included several council staff from Canterbury who arrived in the past few days to shore up resources.

“It’s a good time for us to step back and celebrate those who work in these emergency management

Deputy Mayor Nadine Taylor at the Emergency Operations Centre on the day of the storm.

Photo: Supplied. situations.

“Our own council staff and contractors are out there doing the hard mahi and will continue to do so as Marlborough recovers

Newspaper half pages – 180mm high by 263mm wide

from this major weather event,” he says.

He also acknowledged the amazing way communities, especially those in rural areas and in the

Marlborough Sounds, responded.

“It’s been inspirational really. We always talk about the need to be resilient and resourceful and that’s what they have been.

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News

Marlborough Mayor John Leggett with road contractors who have worked tirelessly to reopen roads across the region. Photos: Supplied.

“A big thank you as well to our communities for their understanding and patience as we work to get our road networks back operational again. Rest assured, we are working hard to get these roads assessed and repaired but the task ahead is enormous.”

Marlborough Roads Manager Steve Murrin says across nine separate sub-contractors currently active in the region, a staggering 6743 cubic metres of spill material, which includes rocks, dirt and trees, had already been removed.

“That’s more than one thousand

truckloads so far,” he says.

By the end of the day on Saturday, almost 1000 people were evacuated from Lower Renwick, Tua Marina and Springcreek.

One hundred people were rescued from their vehicles, trapped in the rising flood waters on SH1 near the Para Swamp.

Omaka Marae opened its doors to 60 of those people, finding food and beds. Base Woodbourne offered the use of two huge trucks normally used to move troops and posts sprang up on social media offering help and shelter.

Seeing how the community pulled together to help each

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

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Staff from all emergency services gather for a briefing as the storm unfolds.

other was truly heartening, says Nadine.

“I never in my wildest imagination pictured that when I woke up that morning that we would end up with having to evacuate so many people at such short notice.”

“Stand out for me is the way that everyone just got on efficiently and quickly and quietly played their part.

“There was one man, part of the road management crew doing the Stop and Go signs. He put up a social media post saying: ‘Here we go again, putting on my rain jacket and going out for Marlborough’.

“I thought to myself that there are no end of people willing to help. They were out there doing it for Marlborough and their community and proud to be able to do so.

“There was a slight war time feel to it all as people mobilised and information flowed into the operations centre and it is these people that really deserve to be sung about.”

At EOC, representatives from all the emergency services were gathered.

Regular briefings kept everyone abreast of the developing situation.

‘It’s a definite multi agency

approach,” explains Nadine.

“We prepare for this; we train for this and everyone immediately knows the drill.

“It’s not just the emergency before us we’re dealing with but also the fact that the province is cared for in other areas. Life still goes on.”

The immediate threat may have passed by but the response to the storm will continue for months.

But whatever happens next, Nadine says she knows Marlburians will take it in their stride.

“As a community, we are strong and there for each other when it matters the most.”

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TUESDAY 27 July 2021

Feature

Feature

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

Public Public Performance Performance Venues Venues There will also be some public performances at various hospitality venues around the region as follows: Speights Ale House 4 August 6:30pm- 8:30pm 5 Tapped 4 August 6:30pm – 8:30pm Vines Village Café 5 August 2.30pm – 3.30pm Fairweathers 5 August 7:00pm – 9:00pm Woodbourne Tavern 5 August 7:00pm – 9:00pm Biddy Kates 6 August 4.00pm- 6:00pm Oxleys Café 6 August 4:00pm – 6:00pm Le Café 6 August 7:30pm – 9:30pm Clubs of Marlborough 6 August 7:30pm-9:30pm 7 August 11:30am-1:30pm

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Out & About

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

Out&About

HAVING A PARTY OR EVENT: Call our photographer

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HAVING A PARTY OR EVENT? Call our photographer 928 4121

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Sunday afternoon in Picton 1. Adam, Jean, Sean and Monika Frieslaar 2. Carina Bergamini and Isabelle Fitzgerald 3. Carlotte and Oliver Hutchison

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4. Esekia Faiga and Tosca Wilson 5. Ilona and Peter Nel with Hettie and Peter Miller 6. Kara Helm and Seamus Leahy 7. Kyle, Bryn and Rachel Marfell 8. Mak and Brenda King 9. Mandy Stork and Charlotte Chapman

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10. Russel and William Mill

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Tuesday 27 July 2021

Sammie and Michael Parkes’ Tuamarina farm under water during this month’s flooding. Photo: Keelan Walker. Insert: Michael and Sammie.

Flooding wreaks havoc Peering through the windscreen as her car wipers struggled to cope with the deluge, Sammie Parkes was desperately trying to get back to her family’s farm.

It was a Saturday afternoon and the road home to Tuamarina had

been closed as one of the largest storm systems in decades bore down on Marlborough.

Flooding, slips and fallen trees were causing chaos on roads across the region and the main routes in and out of Blenheim on

SH1 were closed as river levels rose rapidly.

Beneath the Wairau Bridge, on the route Sammi would usually take going back to the farm, a torrent of muddied waters churned just below the surface of the road.

The road was closed, effectively trapping 60 motorists who were stuck between the closed bridge and a slip outside Picton.

Determined to get home, Sammi turned her car around and tried another route, not yet closed to

traffic.

“I thought ‘this looks bad’, especially as we were due much more rain,” she says.

As Sammi battled to get home, continued on page 2

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TUESDAY 27 July 2021

Rural News

Flooding wreaks havoc

Distributed to over 19,370 homes and businesses in Marlborough.

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Michael Parkes surveying damage at his Tuamarina farm. Photo: Supplied.

her husband Michael was on the farm trying to tend to their 900 sheep and 20 cattle. Getting them to higher ground was a priority.

As the Wairau River broke over its banks, it was “all hands on deck” as the flood waters washed in at speed.

Then an emergency alert went out, telling residents to evacuate as soon as they could.

The whole Tuamarina area was evacuated, following on from Lower Renwick and Springcreek as the sheer force of the river broke through stopbanks.

As the Parkes’ property sat slightly higher then their neighbours, many fled to their home.

Days on and the clean up is still happening with much of the land still underwater.

Seeing the full devastation from above via a drone photo taken by Keelen Walker was quite astonishing, she says.

The photo was taken for Marlborough Weekly and posted on their Facebook page.

Sammi was tagged in the photo.

“It was pretty incredible to see.”

But Sammie says they and the animals are doing alright now. A fact she is really grateful for.

“We are very fortunate.”

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Rural News

Disease eradication on track

The latest report from the independent Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) response shows New Zealand is on track to eradicate the disease. M. bovis Programme Director Stuart Anderson says he knows farmers have found the process challenging. Their contribution has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated, and 4 years on since the disease was first detected, immense progress has been made towards eradication. We now have just three active confirmed infected farms, compared to 34 farms 2 years ago.

Flood feeding problems

Farmers with stock feeding issues in the wake of last Saturday’s storm are being urged to register for help. Marlborough District Council is advising people to contact 0800FARMING to be connected with the Feed Coordination Service. If you have feed you would like to do-

nate, or feed for sale, please also register through the same number. Please use this email if you don’t have cell/ phone coverage: kate@ruraldirections.co.nz.

Pest prank

A dead wallaby found on the side of road, on State Highway 1 in the Whangamoas, is most likely a “transport and dump” situation, a council spokesperson says. Rai Valley residents took to Facebook after finding the carcass of the marsupial. The pest species is prevalent in South Canterbury and would be devastating to pastoral farming and ecosystems in the region.

“Technically the carcass was found in the Nelson region but given we received the reports, the Council actioned a retrieval anyway,” the council spokesperson says. “The Council is confident this is a ‘transport & dump’ situation.

There are no established wallaby populations in Marlborough and our aim is to keep it that way as they would be a devastating pest to ecosystems and pastoral farming if they were to establish here.

Please report any sightings to the MDC Biosecurity team so the appropriate investigation actions can be taken as soon as possible.”

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

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Tohu Wines tastes success

Jo Kent

Tasman’s Tohu Wines are toasting their success after receiving one of the 50 ‘Best in Show’ accolades at the 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards.

Their standout 2018 Whenua Matua Chardonnay held its own among 18,000 other wines judged in the competition.

Tohu were the only New Zealand winery to receive a Best in Show award, so it was a huge achievement for the world’s first Maori-owned and operated wine label.

The Whenua Matua Chardonnay 2018 is a single-vineyard wine grown in the rich clay soils of the Upper Moutere region.

The grapes are handpicked by day, then transported over to their Awatere Valley vineyard in Marlborough for processing.

The wine is then selected from the very best barrels of hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed 15-year-old Chardonnay vines.

As 2018 was a tough vintage with tropical cyclones and torrential rain, chief winemaker Bruce Taylor

Tohu Wines chief winemaker Bruce Taylor celebrates the win. says they are “pretty stoked” to see such a good wine come out of such a challenging year.

“We’re especially pleased for the vineyard guys because it’s all about selecting particular portions of high performing varieties,” says Bruce.

The idea is that it’s not manipulated too much in the winery, so it showcases exactly what the vineyards can do.

“For Whenua Matua to be rewarded for its strengths is really great,” he says.

Winning the Decanter award comes

with worldwide prestige and orders have increased already.

“On the back of the win, we’ve had large orders of pallets going to our UK importers and the South Koreans have also ordered more. It will just keep going from there.”

Tohu Wines is owned by the Kono food and beverage company.

Chief executive Rachel Taulelei says the company is “immensely proud” of the win. Established in 1998, around 200,000 cases of wine are produced at its winery in the Awatere Valley.

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TUESDAY 27 July 2021

Rural News

Farmers make their voices heard

Marlborough farmers joined a chorus of howls earlier this month for the Howls of Protest event.

Several hundred people made their way to Seymour Square in Blenheim to voice their concerns about more and more government regulations being handed down to farmers. Here are some of our favourite photos from the protest from our photographer Matt Brown who went along on the day.

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Rural News

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

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Rural News

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

Beehives awash, but farmers aid Patrick Dawkins Beekeepers have begun counting their hive losses and retrieving equipment following recent flooding in Marlborough, with some having lost hundreds of colonies of bees. However, the state of many apiaries remains unknown as beekeepers remain cut off from their hives.

Entire apiaries have been washed away across the region, with flood waters making recovering bees and equipment impossible in many cases.

However, many beekeepers have already completed the arduous task of retrieving flood-damaged hiveware – with some remarkable cases of bee survival and rescue.

Marlborough has 70,000 registered beehives and damage has been widespread, with flooding, washouts and landslides across much of the region.

A particular area of high hive loss was around the confluence of the Waihopai and Wairau rivers, where several apiaries have been washed away.

Taylor Pass Honey Company have thousands of hives spread

“

We had put all the effort into maintaining them and getting them ready for sale in September. So, it is a hit - Dale De Luca

across the South Island and, while operations manager Rex Butt was not able to put a number on their losses, it is likely to be in the hundreds.

Butt says beehive losses are a setback, but as a percentage of overall hives owned it is small and will not have a big impact on the business going forward.

They sent staff out on Saturday July 17 to check on apiaries as flooding intensified. Some hives were moved to higher ground, but it soon became an issue of staff safety and so rescue attempts were cancelled.

Putake Queen Co., which specialises in queen-bee breeding and sales, had two apiaries completely washed away.

Most of the hiveware was retrieved and owner Dale De Luca

says they were very surprised to see some colonies had survived being washed hundreds of meters downstream at a Rapaura apiary. “It was amazing, in that some hives got swept up, were overflowing with water, yet they found air-pockets to survive,” De Luca says. “They have basically been covered in water, bounced and bashed through the forestry and survived. We have recovered about 30 percent of the colonies from that site. We went through and rehomed them and now they are right as rain and the queens are there.”

Despite that survival, the loss of over-wintered queen-bees, the company’s most valuable stock and which were due for sale in September, means the timing of the flood damage is bad for Putake. “We had put all the effort into maintaining them and getting them ready for sale in September. So, it is a hit,” De Luca says.

Restoring hives and cleaning up or burning equipment also comes at a cost, but De Luca says they are philosophical about it and the business will bounce back from the losses.

Beekeepers have been surprised to see bee colonies survive their hives being washed downstream in flood waters, such as this apiary in Rapaura in which hives eventually settled in Wattle trees on the Wairau riverbank.

Several beekeepers have reported near misses to hive sites too, Putake included.

“We had two beekeepers at a site

in the Para and while they were there rescuing our hives the water came up about 600mls. The water reached the hives as they

Rural News

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

7

lucky rescues were being loaded onto the truck.

They obviously would have been gone if they hadn’t been rescued,” De Luca says.

Beekeepers have also expressed gratitude to farmers and landowners who checked on hives and acted to prevent losses becoming worse. In one example, Greg and Helen Neal of Lower Wairau rushed out to place Putake hives on upturned apple crates, surely saving the bees as water later rose to the top of the crates, but not the level of the newly-raised hives.

“Cockys have been outstanding really,” Butt says from Taylor Pass Honey Co’s perspective. “They have carried out a few rescues for us because they knew we couldn’t get in to their sites. They have let us know what is going on.”

While the destruction of hives has come at near to the worst possible time of year for specialist queen-bee producers, for most beekeeping operations the disruptions are better timed. Marlborough beekeepers usually have little reason to access hives in the winter months and main honey flows don’t begin until November, leaving plenty of time to build up colonies.

Well established Marlborough beekeepers J Bush and Sons are thankful for the timing, with road access to the vast majority of their hives cut off through flood damage to Awatere Valley Road and Kenepuru Road in the Sounds.

“Until we get a chance to get around the traps we won’t really know the extent of the damage, but the bees have got their winter food and so from that point of view we are good for another month or so,” owner Murray Bush says.

In the region’s 1983 floods they had three hive sites washed out and while Bush expects some apiaries to have been damaged by slips or flood waters this month, he doesn’t expect it to be as bad as 38 years ago.

With many hive sites across the province only accessible by 4WD vehicle, especially in winter and spring, flood damage to private tracks will be a concern to many beekeepers.

Combined with the growing impact of varroa mite, access issues have the potential to setback hive health this spring if beekeepers are unable to administer treatments on time.

Norwood branch manager Trent Lindsay at a viticulture day at A&P Park in Blenheim last week.

Photo: Matt Brown.

Tractors on show at A&P Park A tractor and viticulture machinery company took to town to show off their latest wares.

Norwood swapped the showroom for A&P Park to give farmers a taste of the latest viticulture technology and machinery.

Branch manager for Marlborough Trent Lindsay says it was a day to showcase the company’s specialised equipment.

“It’s day to get our viticulture clients here, give them a coffee and a feed and celebrate anoth-

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er harvest,” he says.

Their prayers for dry weather held until mid-afternoon, when the rain returned.

Trent says they had a good turnout despite the forecast.

“We’re showing machinery ranging from mowing, smaller tractors, all the way up to the final product – grape harvesters.”

The New Holland T5 viticulture tractor, fresh off the boat, is a first for the market, Trent says.

The top of the line tractor is

specially designed for vineyard work.

“We have new grape harvesters, with side discharging destemmers.”

A digger competition tested attendees’ skill and speed with a small excavator and $500 worth of diesel, courtesy of South Fuels, was up for grabs.

Trent says Covid-hit supply chain issues aren’t a big problem for the company, with enough stock already in the country to last until Christmas.

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TUESDAY 27 July 2021

Sport

SPORT

Rangers joined at top of table Peter Jones With all football in Marlborough cancelled due to the state of the grounds, attention was focussed on the two local sides participating in their respective Nelson division one matches.

On Saturday, the Rangers AFC men’s side lost 4-0 to FC Nelson over the hill while the BV Bullets women’s side drew 1-1 with Nelson Suburbs in a shortened encounter at Renwick.

Rangers, who went into their match three points clear of FC Nelson on the table, did battle on a muddy Guppy Park.

After an even opening, where Rangers created a series of good chances but were unable to convert, Nelson scored on the break to go into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.

Manager Wolfie Waechter said that, in the second spell, his charges became “a bit too eager and gave them too much space” which allowed them to notch a second then, as Rangers pushed everyone

forward, two further goals were added in the final minutes.

Wolfie said the visitors were disappointed at 0-0 when the referee awarded them a penalty for handball only for a linesman to come in and persuade the referee to reverse the decision for offside.

“That’s not an excuse for losing the game,” said Wolfie, “but if we had gone 1-0 up that would have changed the flow of the game, but it is what it is.”

Midfielder Bjorn Waechter was a standout for Rangers, putting in a really good shift, along with keeper Liam Kennedy who was not to blame for any of the four goals.

Nelson possessed a very accomplished forward line, meaning Rangers’ back three of Ryan Palmer, Sam Hickmott and Jordy Columbus were kept busy throughout, a role they handled adeptly.

Nelson have drawn level with Rangers at the top of the standings although the Blenheim side have a better goal difference. Rangers

meet Motueka in Blenheim next weekend.

Meanwhile, despite the rain of a week ago it was all sunshine at the Renwick Domain when the Blenheim Valley Bullets women’s side faced off against Nelson division one rivals Nelson Suburbs on Saturday.

The early stages of the first half were very evenly-matched, the match goal-less for the first 25 minutes.

It was left to BV striker Lauren Sloan to break the deadlock and she took her opportunity superbly, shaking off the final defender and lobbing the ball over Nelson keeper Simone McManus’s head. It slid neatly down the back of net to push the home side into an early lead.

Sloan followed it up a few minutes later with another accurate shot on goal, this one beautifully saved with a dive from McManus.

Undaunted, Suburbs immediately reorganised and then equalised just three minutes later through a solid strike from Amelia Abbott.

As the halftime whistle neared the

Busy midfielder Bjorn Waechter was a standout for Rangers in Nelson on Saturday. Photo: Peter Jones. match was halted because of a nasty injury to Suburbs’ Ellie Kershaw.

She sustained a neck injury in a fall and, after a lengthy wait for an ambulance to arrive, the respective management and players decided to call the game off.

She was taken to Wairau Hospital

for assessment and remained overnight for observation.

BV management considered the 1-1 score was a fair reflection of the abbreviated day’s efforts. Player of the day for the local combination was Iris Nott for her solid efforts on defence and accurate passing.

Sport

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

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SPORT

Mako squad named for NPC Peter Jones Reporter

peter@marlboroughmedia.co.nz

Mitch Hunt and Quinten Strange will lead the 2021 Tasman Mako as they bid for a third consecutive NPC title this season.

The defending champions on Sunday named a well-balanced 33-man squad, packed with talent and possessing experience in key positions for their Bunnings NPC campaign which begins with a match against Bay of Plenty in Tauranga on Sunday, August 8.

Hunt and Strange have been named as co-captains for the new campaign, replacing talismanic leader David Havili, who is part of the All Blacks squad.

Talking points include the naming of hooker Andrew Makalio, who missed the Crusaders’ 2021 season through injury. He forms part of a powerful front row brigade, along with former All Blacks prop Atunaisa Moli, Tongan hooker Samiuela Moli and the vastly experienced Quentin MacDonald.

Joining Strange and NZ Maori lock Pari Pari Parkinson in the middle row are new faces Max Hicks and Antonio Shalfoon, who have forced their way into the squad with top club and preseason efforts.

The loose forward mix is predictable, Super Rugby standouts Hugh Renton (Highlanders) and Sione Havili Talitui (Crusaders) being joined

by NZ under-20 flyer Anton Segner plus regulars Te Ariwaru Cirikidaveta and Jacob Norris.

Finlay Christie, an All Black earlier

this year but in the back-up squad for the Rugby Championship, is one of three halfbacks named.

His availability will be subject to international demands. Jack Grooby returns after a lengthy injury break along with the upand-coming Louie Chapman.

Hunt’s back-up in the 10 jersey is the talented Campbell MorganParata while block-busting ballcarrier Levi Aumua joins Tim O’Malley, Alex Nankivell and Fetuli Paea, who is coming off a long injury break, as midfield options.

Timoci “Jim” Tavatavanawai joins the outside back brigade, the Fijian excitement machine poised to take his talents to another level, although with Super Rugby stars Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders) and Mark Telea (Blues) also in the wing mix, opportunities will be limited.

Taine Robinson, another to come from club rugby, joins veteran Tom Marshall as fullback options.

Marshall’s vast experience and poise will be crucial with the likes of Havili, Sevu Reece and Will Jordan absent on All Blacks duties.

Canterbury beaten Prior to the team’s naming players had a final chance to press their selection claims during a preseason match against Canterbury in Hanmer on Friday.

There were plenty who put their hands up too, a last-gasp penalty kick seeing the Mako get home 37-35 over a powerful opponent stacked with quality players.

The Mako led by 15 at one stage but Canterbury fought back to hold a narrow 35-34 advantage with time nearly up on the clock.

Fortunately for Tasman they were

Mako leaders in 2021, Quinten Strange, left, and Mitch Hunt. Photo: Shuttersport. able to claim their own kickoff and, following a succession of phases, Canterbury were penalised 40m out on the angle.

Replacement first five Campbell Parata stepped up and displayed nerves of steel to drive the ball between the uprights and clinch Tasman’s first victory in the fixture.

Next up for the Mako is their final pre-season match, against Southland in Christchurch on Friday, July 30.

Tasman Mako 2021 Props: Atunaisa Moli, Isi Tu’ungafasi, Isaac Salmon, Sam Matenga, Ryan Coxon.

Hookers: Andrew Makalio, Samiuela Moli, Quentin MacDonald.

Locks: Pari Pari Parkinson, Quinten Strange (co-captain), Antonio Shalfoon, Mahonri Ngakuru, Max Hicks.

Loose forwards: Te Ahiwaru

Cirikidaveta, Anton Segner, Jacob Norris, Hugh Renton, Sione Havili Talitui, Taina Fox-Matamua.

Inside backs: Finlay Christie, Jack Grooby, Louie Chapman, Mitch Hunt (co-captain), Campbell Morgan-Parata.

Midfield: Tim O’Malley, Alex Nankivell, Levi Aumua, Fetuli Paea.

Outside backs: Leicester Fainga’anuku, Mark Telea, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Taine Robinson, Tom Marshall.

Several Development Squad players were also named as backup. They are: Matt GrahamWilliams, Luca Inch, Taya Brown, Noah Hotham, William Havili and Macca Springer. Unavailable due to injury was Kershawl Sykes-Martin.

Mako women hang tough The Tasman Mako women’s team got their Farah Palmer Cup championship campaign off to a promising start on Saturday,

fighting hard before going down 35-32 to North Harbour in Albany.

The home side, inspired by former Tasman favourite Hayley Hutana, went out to an early 15-3 lead before Tasman, with loose forward Sui Pauaraisa to the fore, narrowed the margin to 15-8. A third Harbour try saw the Mako trail 22-8 at the break before MGC student Eleri James-Sitters sprinted away for her first try at this level.

Harbour added a fourth before Tasman came up with a couple of their own to level the ledger at 2727 in the 65th minute. However, a penalty and another try to Harbour sealed the deal, although winger Eve Finlay ensured the visitors had the final say.

The Mako tries were scored by Easter Savelio, James-Sitters, Karla Wright-Akeli, Jess Foster Lawrence and Findlay, who kicked two conversions and a penalty.

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Sport

TUESDAY 27 July 2021

SPORT

Semifinals next for club teams Peter Jones Reporter

peter@marlboroughmedia.co.nz Pre-match predictions went out the window during the final round of Marlborough SubUnion premier rugby on Saturday.

Central, who had beaten all their provincial rivals so far this season, were downed 13-8 by Waitohi in Picton while Renwick and Moutere/Awatere drew 34-34 in a thrilling encounter at Renwick.

The latter match was a topsy-turvy affair, the combined side leading 19-7 after a dominant first half, then increasing that advantage to 31-12 midway through the second spell.

However, the Green Machine finally found top gear and ran in four late tries, including a hattrick to replacement midfielder Zac Harrison Jones, to draw level.

The home side had a chance to kick a penalty and win the match in the final moments but missed, bringing the curtain down on a match that appeared to have slipped well out of reach.

Apart from Harrison Jones, lock Jaydn Holdaway, halfback Rua Swan and fullback Michael Dillon had strong games. Winger Mesake Bula, who bagged two tries, and prop Losi Malimali also impressed.

Moutere/Awatere will be rueing a missed opportunity.

They were well in control until the third quarter, experienced heads Ben Finau and Laurie McGlone controlling play and showing the way.

The early loss of Tristian Taylor was offset by a strong game from Clyde Paewai who stepped into the first five’s role.

Up front, Caleb Avery and Jack Robertson were to the fore, along with Tiko Onolevu.

Meanwhile, in Picton, Waitohi managed to hold on to grab the spoils during a hard-fought clash with the Blues.

The home side led 6-5 at the break through two Corey Bovey penalties, then added a try when

Moutere/Awatere utility back Clyde Paewai spies a gap against Renwick on Saturday. Photo: Peter Jones. their forwards drove over the line in the second spell. The Blues could only manage a penalty in the latter stages although coming mighty close on occasion to getting over the Tohis’ line.

Waitohi player/coach Jimmy Giles described it as a “very close, tough, physical game”.

“We really threw the kitchen sink at each other,” he added.

Although Giles and Karlos Tatauri were named the home side’s players of the day, Jimmy said “it was a day when all of the boys stepped up”.

He said Waitohi were happy to take some sort of momentum into next weekend’s semifinals, where they will

travel to play Renwick and Central will host Moutere/Awatere.

Final standings: Central 22, Renwick 17, Waitohi 11, Moutere/Awatere 10.

The Marlborough Boys’ College First XV were well aware of what their forwardoriented Timaru Boys’ High School rivals would throw at them at Renwick on Saturday. However, stopping them executing those plans is another matter as they went down 28-8.

The visitors score early from a wellorganised lineout drive but MBC hung tough for the remainder of the first half, a Hugh Robinson penalty closing the margin to 7-3 at the break.

The home side were right in the battle

after the break, centre Cooper Roberts, No 8 Penisimini Fihaki and halfback Jack Kelly showing the way, before two tries, created in similar pick-and-go fashion, handed Timaru a 21-3 advantage.

Again MBC came back, Roberts helping create a try for replacement Cohen Stewart but the visitors had the final say, again from a set piece, an area they were dominant in throughout.

In division two action, leaders Central had their colours lowered again, beaten 14-5 by Moutere, while Awatere accounted for Renwick 29-7 and Waitohi downed Pelorus 27-0.

In next week’s semis Central host MBC Old Boys while Moutere are at home to Awatere.

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Passed away peacefully at home on Sunday July 18, 2021. In his 92nd year. Dearly loved husband of the late Doreen. Much loved Dad of Petrina (Tina) and Les, Peter and Janene, Michael and Kara, and Karen (Lizzie). Loved Poppy George of Brendon and Sonya; Callum, Dylan and Rachel, Bryce and Maddy; Nevada and Rawhiti, and Eli; Kyla and Ayla; Sasha, Adele and Aaron, and great grandson Noah. Messages may be sent to P O Box 46, Picton 7250.

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On Sunday July 18, 2021, unexpectedly whilst with friends in Westport. Aged 58 years. Cherished son of David and Kath. Loved father of Wayne, Dennis, Samantha and PJ. Loving partner of Stephanie.

Loved grandfather of all his grandchildren. Much loved brother of Barry and Mel, Joy and Joe; awesome uncle of all his nieces and nephews.

Messages may be sent to 295A Anakiwa Road, RD 1, Picton 7281. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust would be appreciated and may be made at the service, or deposited to account number 030703-0370729-01, ref FISHBURN. A celebration of Graeme’s life will be held at the Queen Charlotte Yacht Club, Shelley Beach, Picton at 2pm TODAY Tuesday July 27, followed by private cremation at the Sowman Crematorium.

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Messages to c/- PO Box 9, Blenheim 7240 or www.cloudybayfunerals. co.nz A funeral service for Peter will be held at the Springlands Chapel, Cloudy Bay Funeral Services, 15 Boyce Street, Blenheim on Thursday 29 July at 1.30pm followed by interment at the Kaituna Cemetery.

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