Waimea Weekly - 12 April 2023

Locally Owned and Operated

Wednesday 12 April 2023

Waimea Weekly

Wakefield hoons Page 4

Premier off with a bang

Less for food as costs bite

ANNE HARDIE

More Nelsonians are trying to access Kiwisaver to get themselves out of debt as the cost of living continues to rise, while many families are spending less on food so they can pay their bills.

Nelson Budgeting Services’ coordinator Tessa Bell says food is the one cost each week that people can reduce and some single adults seeking the service’s help are spending as little as $38 a week on food, while couples are usually less than $100 a week.

Woodsmen reunite

Denis Wastney thinks back fondly to his time in the forestry service – an industry he dedicated much of his life to.

He was just 15 years old in 1957 when he left home to go to the Golden Downs Woodsman Training School.

“I can’t imagine a 15-yearold being taken 40-odd miles out of Nelson now, by 15 they’ve probably got motorbikes and cars and are probably going out every night, but in those days, we were taken way out into the bush and dropped off.” He was one of 45 young men to begin the training that year, but four years later was one of only 16 who qualified as a skilled woodsman.

Entrants were usually just 15 or 16 years old, and spent the next three years learning forestry skills, two at Golden Downs before heading to Totara Flats on the West Coast to learn more about native species. Over Easter weekend Denis had the chance to reconnect with some of those men at the reunion of the woodsman training school.

Reunion organiser Sally Quickfall says more than 150 people attended the dinner on Saturday night, spending time reconnecting and reminiscing of days gone by. The weekend was packed with activities including heading back to where the Woodsman school once stood in the

SEE PAGE 7

Though the minimum wage has just increased to $22.70 per hour, the independently-calculated living wage which is paid on a voluntary basis by employers is moving up to $26 per hour. The living wage is voluntary for employers who want to make sure

their workers get enough money to thrive and not just survive. However, Tessa says the costs just keep going up to counter any higher wages and the service is now getting people seeking budgeting advice pre-emptively because they see looming financial

Design & Build - Free Quotes

problems. One of those problems is refixing interest rates on mortgages which she says can double their mortgage payments each week or more.

“We’re seeing more and more

SEE PAGE 2

SARA HOLLYMAN

Denis Wastney reconnected with his fellow the Golden Downs Woodsman Training School at a reunion over Easter. Photo: Sara Hollyman.

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STREET TALK

Who is someone in your life you wish you could see more of?

“I have been in a lot less contact with my college friends.”

“My grandma, she’s like the matriarch of my whānau.”

“Jesus Christ, because life is filled with distractions to not spend time with him.”

“My family - my son lives overseas and my sister’s in Taranaki.”

Less for food as costs bite

FROM

people trying to access Kiwisaver to get themselves out of debt and trying to work out how to pay for everything. For a lot of families, food falls off the bottom. There are grown adults on $38 a week which is not enough – there’s a lot doing that.

“We have people wanting to spend $250 a week on food, but when you’ve done their budget, there’s no way they can.”

The Reserve Bank raised the official cash rate to 5.25 per cent last week and she expects there will be another rise to come which puts more pressure on those al-

ready struggling financially. Families are also trying to find ways to eat healthily for less which is why Luke Kirk reached out on Facebook for ideas. He was swamped with feedback from people with a wide range of budgets and it led to further posts on buying healthy food within a tight budget and where to shop.

Luke and his partner Corren Anderson-Melville spend about $200 a week on food for their family that includes a two-yearold, four-month-old baby, two dogs and two cats, but they need to spend less. Luke is a self-employed handyman and says they live from week to week financial-

ly which means an unexpected bill affects their food budget.

“We’re looking at reducing costs as much as we can,” Corren says.

“But there’s only so much you can reduce, so food is the one thing we can reduce.”

Luke says he grew up on a low-quality diet and he is determined his family will have good, nutritious food even when the budget is tight, which is why he sought ideas. They already shop around and use a chest freezer to stock items including milk so they have basics for those weeks when an unexpected bill reduces their spending.

“To live right you have to eat right

and the cheapest food is often not good food. I’d love to be able to buy more so we have everything our bodies need, but it’s so expensive.”

Tessa says multiple issues have compounded the financial challenges in the region. Last year’s flood event increased the need for alternative accommodation for many people, and then there are the increased costs across the board. She personally has a life insurance policy that has just had a premium hike of 38 per cent and she says other insurances are all on the rise.

She is a huge supporter of the living wage because she says it gives

people “a little bit of dignity”, even if the money does go straight out the door on essentials.

“The living wage isn’t an extravagant amount of money and we think it is incredibly important for people to be able to participate – to be able to have those things we take for granted.”

As more people struggle to pay their bills and have less for food, Tessa says there is an increased need for food parcels and many people will be going through incredible stress.

Griffin Terrill

Gaoy Talboy

Meg Goodman

Lyn Emms

Trees felled for development

JO KENT

Groundworks for Olive Estate

Lifestyle Village’s two-storey care facility building have begun with the felling of dozens of mature trees on the land parallel to Hill Street.

A giant gum tree, a willow tree and a myriad of other forestry was removed last Thursday, opening up the space for the next phase of the development.

A section of Hill Street was closed to traffic while the final trees lining the road were felled, and equipment was brought on site to turn the

once majestic forest into wood chip.

In its place, a 108m-long structure will be built, comprising of three wings with a footprint of approximately 4,400m². The eastern and western wings are proposed to house 85 rooms catering for residents with dementia or those needing extra care.

The large ornamental pond, which is currently home to ducks and other wildlife, will be drained and refilled once further work is done. The north-eastern end of each of the building’s three wings is

located between 20m and 30m of the nearest houses in Brenda Lawson Way.

As a result, residents face the prospect of six months of earthworks followed by construction of large structures nearby, elevated above their properties, over a period of up to three years.

A further 61 villas and 23 terrace houses are proposed for the remaining greenspace, with a new public access road connecting Hill Street to Fairose Drive. Will you be affected? Let us know. Email jo@ waimeaweekly.co.nz.

Dozens of mature trees were felled on Thursday as groundworks begin in the next phase of Olive Estate Lifestyle Village’s development. Photo: Jo Kent.

Drivers using petrol station to spin tyres

ANNE HARDIE

A Wakefield woman struggling with health issues is fed up with “hoons” yelling, screaming, revving engines and screeching tyres when they congregate at the NPD petrol station in the middle of the night.

Cheryl Masoumi says she sees up to a dozen cars at the unattended petrol station, where there is a large concrete area for drivers to smoke their tyres and make “one hell of a noise”.

She has taken numerous photos and videos as well as called the

police, but by the time they get to the site, the drivers have fled.

“I’ve had enough. I’m tired.”

While the antics of the drivers annoy her, she says there is also the danger that a driver will make a mistake and hit a fuel tank.

“It’s okay to be silly. But my biggest concern is you have quite a few cars out there and if a foot slips, there’s a dirty great big gas tank over there. It doesn’t take much for something really bad to happen.”

One night about three weeks ago she heard cars and glass smashing and when she went out to the

gate a car drove off, leaving a girl yelling for help. She told the girl she would get help and called the police, but when she went back, the girl had vanished.

Cheryl says she does not blame the police who she says are doing the best they can to manage a large region, and the local police station is not manned 24 hours a day.

“Our policeman here is very passionate about sorting the problem out and I commend him for that.”

When drivers are caught in the act, she would like to see harsher penalties though, that make them think twice about their behaviour.

“Their cars need to be taken off them. Otherwise they just get all these fines and go to court where they say they can’t afford to pay

and judges wipe their fines and just get them to do community service.”

She says she would love to live in a quieter location, but she cannot

afford to shift.

NPD has confirmed it does have cameras operating at the Wakefield site and can supply footage to the police when requested.

The kids at Waimea Kindergarten are going quackers over some special Easter guests, three Pekin ducklings. Briar Rameka and Elle Hall, both 4, got to pet their feathered friends before they head off to live out their lives on a farm in Bulwer, Pelorus Sound. Teacher Kath McCauley says the ducklings were found abandoned by one of the kindy teachers. “She- brought them into the classroom until they are old enough to be relocated to the Sounds.” Photo: Jo Kent.

Cheryl Masoumi is sick of screeching tyres and revving engines.

Photo: Anne Hardie.

Luigi the cat burglar

KATE RUSSELL

There is a toy thief in Stoke, and he comes in the feline form.

Luigi the two-year-old cat has been stealing children’s soft toys and making quite the collection with them. His owner Nikki Wells says it all started with leaves and bugs but it has now progressed into soft toys.

“The leaves were a huge thing for ages, then it progressed into bits of rubbish and sandpit toys before he started finding toys,” she says.

“When he brought in the first soft toy, he refused to drop it. Then, the next night he found the octopus toy. I couldn’t believe it.”

Things escalated when Nikki found a gigantic unicorn plushie on the front lawn.“It had Luigi written all over it.”

Nikki put up a photo of the toys on a local community Facebook group in hopes of finding the owners of the toys, but so far has had no luck.

She says he is pretty good at catching birds and mice too, but prefers to let them loose inside.

“He brings in all sorts of live things and releases them in the house.” He has even come home with a cooked sausage. “I don’t know whose BBQ he stole that off,” Nikki says. She says, when they adopted Luigi he was called Magnum.

“But we changed it to Luigi because of his moustache.”

It seems that Luigi isn’t the only cat thief in Nelson, with many people revealing their cat’s thieving ways in response to Nikki’s Facebook post.

“Our cat does this too,” said one

The Big Latch On is back

KATE RUSSELL

After hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, The Big Latch On event is back in Nelson this weekend. The Big Latch On aims to support parents in their communities on their feeding journeys, by creating safe and accepting spaces.

“It provides an opportunity for parents to connect with and meet new friends, and receive support and information from local services,” says organiser Ruth Brodbeck. Ruth says Nelson has been having Big Latch On events since 2005 when it was first started by Women’s Health Action.

World Breastfeeding Week (1– 7 August). However, it was decided to hold the 2023 event in the warmer month of April.

Ruth says that parents and whānau can attend Big Latch On events in person, virtually, or participate in the online Brelfie campaign.

“This event is an opportunity to come together and connect with others, find out about local services for new mothers, fathers, and whanau.”

commenter. “Her name is Puss and she’s crazy. She will bring pants, undies, socks, tea towels.” Meanwhile, Nikki says she would love to get the toys back to their rightful owners. If you think they could be yours, email kate@nelsonweekly.co.nz

“This is a global event that started right here in New Zealand,” she says. However, due to Covid the 2020 event was a virtual one, and the 2021 and 2022 events were cancelled.

From 2005 - 2019, the Big Latch On took place annually over three days during

Afternoon tea, babywearing information, Plunket, La Leche League, spot prizes, and a DanceFun Babywearing session with Pablo from Nelson Dance and Entertainment will be on offer.

The event is happening on Saturday, 15 April, 1pm4pm at the Victory Community Centre.

For more information, contact Ruth at ruthbrodbeck@ gmail.com or 0272433469.

Luigi with some of the soft toys he has stolen. Photo: Kate Russell.

Plans to conquer the slow cooked world

It’s been a busy six months for Nick Smith, who set up the weekly Sundial Social food market last August and unleashed his Chur Bol brand of low and slow cooked meats to the public for the first time.

While Sundial Social has finished up fof the summer season, things are still as busy for Nick.

Since Sundial’s inception, he’s developed a loyal following and has just launched a ready-to-use range of BBQ meats at Raeward Fresh in Richmond.

“This collab is so exciting. Branching out into retail is everything,” he says.

“I’ve done the hard yards for people so they can enjoy authentic low and slow cooked meats in just 15 minutes at home.”

The pork or brisket is smoked for around 12 hours on a Masterbuilt 1050 BBQ with aged oak red wine barrel slats, pohutukawa and rum and que rubs to enhance the flavours.

It’s then bagged up hot, and frozen, so when consumers defrost it, it’s as flavoursome as the day it was cooked.

“I approached the Raeward team and they’ve really gotten behind the idea as there just isn’t anything else like it available,” Nick says.

Butchery manager for Raeward Fresh, Pierre Marquet, says local

businesses helping each other out is a key part of their brand.

“We’re paired up with Chur Bol to help Nick grow what started as his hobby into something huge. We supply wholesale too and have had a lot of interest from local restaurants who want something quick, tasty and quality to add to their menu.”

When the product first hit the shelves last week, it sold out in less than 24 hours.

“We put the Chur Bol bags out on Saturday and by Sunday there were none left,” Pierre says.

“We went from working with Nick on his initial samples of around 10kg of meat to putting in a 400kg order overnight.”

Nick recalls he was fishing at his bach when he got word from Pierre.

“I thought I’d better get back home and order some more BBQs.

“My trusty Masterbuilt is big, but can’t handle that much meat, so I’ve got two more turning up this week.”

The concept of being able to grab a bag of quality meat, defrost it and have it plated in just 15 minutes is a win with consumers.

“Everyone loves slow cooked meat, but not many people have the time to do it.

“I’ve made it accessible without compromising on quality or taste,” he says.

“I’ve had people message me to say they’ve even taken the bags on hunting trips as they can just heat and eat and get a good meal out of it.”

Thinking back just a few months ago when he’d only ever cooked for friends and family, Nick says taking his brand to the next level is always at the back of his mind.

“I still want Chur Bol to have a spot at local food markets, but I’m hoping to branch into private catering this year.”

One of his first gigs is in May where he says he’ll be serving up his food to some of the world’s most prominent meat industry experts.

“I’m doing the catering for the NZ Butcher’s Summit where all the top players in the meat industry will be under one roof – eating my food!

“It’s a great chance to get my brand out there.

“This is all off the back of my hobby and passion for BBQing, so who knows where Chur Bol will go from here? I want to Chur brand the world.”

Gardening tips for April

Our new site at 38 Artillery Place, Richmond is wonderful - we have everything you could possibly want - a myriad of landscape supplies plus a fabulous range of trees, shrubs, grasses, fruit trees, perennials, vegetables, herbs, bedding plants and more. We’d love you to call in; turn into Sandeman Road by Nelson Pine, right into Artillery Place and drive through the gates at the end – you can’t miss our huge white canopies – your perfect one-stop destination.

Now is the perfect time to plant spring bulbs. We have a great range of anemones (including woodland varieties), daffodils, Dutch iris, hyacinths, ranunculus and more.

If you’re planting in containers, our premium potting mix is the perfect option – your bulbs will love it. Tulips will be in soon – keep them in your fridge until May, the optimum time to plant them.

The rising cost of living is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. We have a wonderful range of vegetables in punnets year-round, ensuring they are the correct varieties for each season. If you have a small garden or a vegetable pod, our ‘Pick and Mix’ seedlings are the perfect solu-

tion - choose from our range of single seedlings and herbs, just $1 each. It’s also a fabulous way to stagger plantings in your vegetable garden. Our herb stand is always packed with gorgeous culinary and aromatic herbs. Pineapple sage is a must-have – the young leaves are beautiful in a ham and cheese toasted sandwich and the gorgeous red flowers are produced through the winter. Everyone raves about our fish compost – it’s perfect for topping up existing ornamental and vegetable gardens. If you are filling raised beds, our garden mix is ideal – it’s a combination of screened topsoil and fish compost. Autumn is a great time to repair patches in existing lawns – cover the areas with our Tub and Plant Mix, then scatter Trophy Lawn Seed around and rake in gently. Trophy Lawn Seed is produced locally using grasses best suited to our area, yearround. If you’re sowing a new lawn, our Lawn Mix is perfect – available by the scoop or cubic metre, it helps ensure you’ll get good results. We also have rollers for hire – rolling the lawn mix first ensures an even surface, then sow your seed and rake it in lightly.

Lucy and Jasmin from Bays Landscapes are always ready with a smile and great gardening advice.

Gardening Column by Bay Landscapes & Garden Centre’s Philippa Foes-Lamb

Chur Bol founder Nick Smith and Raeward Fresh butchery manager Pierre Marquet with the new line of ready to go, low and slow cooked meats. Photo: Jo Kent.

Woodsmen reunite

Golden Downs Forest and a visit to Tapawera – where the school moved to in 1982.

Denis, now 82, still remembers starting at the school in what he describes as the beginning of a physically and mentally tough career.

“It was hard life but an easy life, a lot of people can’t handle the isolation.

“It weeds the wheat from the chaff, it was quite a traumatic experience coming out of town. I wasn’t too bad because I was so used to working outside, I had part-time jobs after school in market gardens and been associated with forestry people all my life.”

Denis’ grandfather, father and uncles had all been in forestry, so he reckons he had a slight upper hand on some of the other young men.

During the first year at the school, he came home to visit just once.

A bus would run to town once a month on the weekend –heading back around 10pm once the final movie sitting had finished, other than that it was their own company and the outdoors that kept them going.

“You went in there knowing nothing about trees. Out there you were taught everything from land-clearing, planting, policing, silviculture work, pruning, thinning and logging.

“It was a dangerous operation,” Denis recalls.

“We didn’t have chainsaws, we had what they called an M tooth crosscut saw – one person on either side of the tree and you had to drag it each time. It would take 2-3 minutes to cut through the tree once an axe had been used to

scarf the tree.

“They didn’t always fall the way we wanted them to go.”

He recalls having great fun setting the trees up like dominoes while on thinning duty.

We could cut the trees partway through and then drop the last one and there’d be a whole crash and maybe a dozen or two dozen trees would come crashing down, we’d see how many we could get down in one go.

“You made your own entertainment up there. We had a lot of fun.”

After graduating Denis headed to Eyrewell forest in Canterbury where he stayed through two major wind throw events. It was here that he met his wife – the daughter of the forest’s 2IC.

“My mate, who was my best man at the wedding, said ‘this family’s got a girl’, the old story happens and I asked her out and she said ‘yes’. We got married in 1965.”

Denis later headed up to the North Island, where forestry was booming, before eventually coming back to the Gold-

en Downs in a management capacity in 1977 before taking over management of Hira Forest.

“I’d been there not very long when the fire broke out in 1981 – that was my big induction into fires.

“We had a very good crew at Hira, I can’t praise them enough, they had been working in Hira since they left school and they just wouldn’t go home.

“Three days later we basically had to force them off the hill, they weren’t going to let their forest burn.”

Denis retired from forestry when the Forestry Service disbanded in 1987.

He did a bit of work here and there before heading to Nepal to trek to Everest Base Camp. He says he never really found another job that filled his heart quite like forestry did.

“I treated the Forest Service like my second home, I was very upset when it disbanded.”

Denis says his best memory of his career is simply being in forestry and he looks forward to the next reunion.

Denis Wastney (pictured fourth from left), with other graduates from the 1957 group of trainees at the Golden Downs Woodsman Training School. Photo: Supplied.

Ferry delays

Third time lucky did not happen for a Nelson couple who have been trying to get their car on a Cook Strait ferry for more than three months. Louise Richardson and Stu Lowe’s latest attempt to get their car back to Nelson was thwarted by yet another ferry cancellation. They will try again with their next ferry booking at the beginning of May.

Discharge flows to estuary

A discharge of what appears to be ‘diesel or a kerosene-based degreaser’ was discovered in the Jimmy Lee Creek South West drain that runs along Beach Road in Richmond on Thursday. The spill flowed out into the Waimea Estuary. “We’re not sure when the discharge happened, but we suspect it was possibly in the past 24 hours - we got the first report of the spill at about 8am this morning with the incoming tide,” said a Tasman Distric Council spokesperson. Environmental compliance staff canvassed the local industrial area but the source of the pollution was not found. TDC staff say the discharge source appears to be from somewhere in the Cargill Place/ Beach Road South West catchment area – possibly between 92 and 78 Beach Road and directly into the creek. If you have information please call 543 8400.

Deputy PM visits

Deputy Prime Minister Hon Carmel Sepuloni visits Nelson today (Wednesday). She will meet with seniors in the region to discuss the steps the government is taking to address the cost of living in New Zealand, including measures being taken to ease the pressure on seniors. “We know that things are tough for many households right now,” says Nelson MP Rachel Boyack. “While there’s no easy fix, every little bit counts when making ends meet.” The Deputy Prime Minister will also meet with the Nelson Tasman Pasifika Community Trust. For the past 20 years, the Trust has supported the Nelson Tasman Pasifika community to grow, achieve and prosper.

Peter’s lifetime of trying to build alternative communities

ANNE HARDIE

Peter Myers admits he has had some “incredibly successful failures” with alternative communities in the past 20 years, but now he is planning a “human sanctuary” where people can escape the modern-day culture.

He has spent a lifetime escaping what he calls the “monoculture of commercialism, capitalism and corporate rule” and reckons the time is right to offer an alternative lifestyle.

In the past, he has lived in a cave in Brazil and spent 13 years living in a tent as he traversed the world.

He was part of an unsuccessful eco-village in the Motueka Valley and in 2020 he briefly owned the wellknown Wellington launch ‘Sealion’, which he planned to use as a base for a small community to live around it in a self-sustained bubble. That was until the high cost of restoring the ageing vessel prompted him to sell it on – before it sunk in the harbour.

He has not given up on find-

ing a way to establish a community with like-minded people who grow their own food, live a different culture and can be “more satisfied with their lives and lifestyle”. It prompted an advertisement on TradeMe under flatmates wanted, where he suggested potential community members could build their own dwelling, pay little and live a healthy live. He got replies, but mostly from desperate people looking for a cheap place to call home because of the high

cost of living.

While he feels sorry for those people, he says it is very challenging to live in a community when there are so many different ideas about what a community should be.

He says communities often fail because people are still living within the capitalist model that they sought to escape.

“I have watched communities fail on so many different levels.”

His idea of a community is

a minimum of 200 people on shared spaces that could be spread over separate blocks of land in the region. Land could be leased, rented or possibly gifted, where small homes are built from recycled materials including building “trash” to keep costs low.

Community members would grow their own food with regenerative methods and potentially trade food for the use of land or have ‘gorilla planting’ where they grow food on somebody else’s land.

“I want to invite people to come and do an experiment – the human sanctuary. “We have basic ideas of what we want to do, which is about improving individual health and collective health and the health of the wider community.”

He sees massive challenges in forming his human sanctuary and the biggest challenge is “finding the pioneers”.

In a bid to find those pioneers, he is in the process of creating the human sanctuary website to explain his vision.

New Horizons for former Knapps’ Partners

On 1 May 2023 Atkinson Crehan Law will commence operating.

Our new firm will combine the expertise of former Partners from Knapps Lawyers, Jacintha Atkinson-Manson and Amanda Crehan, with the ongoing expertise of Christine Allison, Kirsty Goodall, Nick Moore, Merv Huston, Marie Austin, Alison Macbeth, and Sarah Clements. We will continue to be situated at 22 Oxford Street, Richmond.

We will also continue our presence in Motueka with the expertise of Hamish Kennedy [former Partner of Knapps and Kennedy & Associates] leading the team along with an office in Nelson central.

It’s a privilege to maintain our working relationship with our legal and office staff, to continue to offer a great level of service to our clients, existing and new.

We will continue to offer the following services: Wills, Power of Attorney, Estate Administration, Buying & Selling Residential, Commercial, Rural or Industrial Property, Family Trusts & Asset Planning, Relationship Contracting Out Agreements, Buying & Selling Businesses, Developments & Subdivisions, Business Structures. What will you get with Atkinson Crehan?

We believe in making your experience with us as easy as possible. You’ll get expert, friendly advice from our qualified legal staff who know what they are doing. We are in the business of Law because we love what we do, we enjoy helping our clients, and we believe in making a positive difference.

Keep an eye out for our new website which will go live on 1 May 2023. You’ll find on there useful information about current topics along with who you can talk to should you need our help.

We look forward to seeing you.

Where expertise and empathy go hand in hand.

The team at Atkinson Crehan Law

Peter Myers confesses communities can be challenging.

Photo: Anne Hardie.

Entering the portal for hard-out gaming

ANNE HARDIE

A Richmond couple are taking gaming to another level with their party caravan set up as ‘The Gaming Portal’.

Chloe and Clayton Ellery have a family of keen gamers and decided to turn it into a side business by creating a gaming room in a caravan that can be hired for parties, functions and kids’ sleepovers.

The Gaming Portal is a renovated caravan decked out with a couchcome-bed, fridge, 55-inch TV screen and a host of games that cater for kids and adults.

“This brings everything together that we love,” Chloe says. “Gaming is such a big part of our family and this is a portable venue that is a bit unique.”

The couple bought a caravan specifically to renovate as a gaming venue where people could play games, eat and sleep.

Chloe says the multi-player games are a good way to keep kids entertained and are popular during sleepovers, while adults can have a lot of fun competing with each other.

They have tried to cater for a range of gamers in their game selection,

from Call of Duty and Sing Star to Mario Kart and quiz game Buzz. Clayton says they will keep adding to the collection as they find out what people want.

“We’ll be looking at games that target multi-players, so more players can play at the same time.”

He says he uses gaming to chill out after a day’s work and between them they have seven kids aged between eight and 17 who all like gaming, including four boys who are “hard out into gaming”.

“They get good hand-eye coordination and completing missions teaches quite a few things. You don’t just give up because you die a few times.” The Gaming Portal will be launched in May.

Clayton and Chloe Ellery at the controls of The Gaming Portal.

Photo: Anne Hardie.

When Waimea went to war with sparrows

ROBYN PARKES

In 1935 farmers along the foothills from Richmond to Brightwater were loud in their complaints of the damage being done by sparrows.

When insect food was very scarce and crops of grain non-existent, the hungry sparrow would turn its attention to another source of food, thus finding the crops of green peas very tasty.

As the young plant was just coming through the ground the sparrow would pull it up and devour the soft seed pea underneath.

Then, when the pods were growing, they would insert their bill, devouring the young peas inside leaving nothing but a few fragments of skins. In some cases, crops were almost completely destroyed.

In the early days of settlement in Waimea, colonists were threatened with starvation owing to the ravages of caterpillars and other insect pests, and so various British birds were introduced to cope with this plague.

This was done based on knowledge and experience from England but what was not thought about was the difference in the climate. These birds found the genial climate of New Zealand very much to their liking.

Food was to be had all the year round, the ground was not covered with snow in winter for days or weeks at a time causing death to

thousands of birds, as was the case in England, and so they multiplied in great numbers. The most prolific of all was the sparrow, and in a few years the country was overrun by this little bird.

In Waimea, where so much grain was grown and where there was such an abundance of shelter, their increase was amazing.

Rearing two or more broods in a season they multiplied quickly, taking a heavy toll of local farmers’ crops.

This was an issue that had been raised over many years with varying opinions on how to deal with it.

Older residents, at a meeting, recalled that many years gone by the sparrow was far more plentiful than in 1935.

Nests were to be seen everywhere and crops of ripening grain were often completely destroyed, while in the autumn large flocks could be seen in the fields or round the corn stacks, carrying on their endless search for food.

Sparrow clubs were formed, and war was declared on the bird and a price put on their heads, and so as time passed the numbers were greatly reduced.

In those days bird-nesting was one of the chief spare-time occupations of the children, who collected the eggs and handed them in to local-body representatives who then paid out pennies for them. However, this method of dealing with the birds was stopped and the spar-

row increased once again. Back to the 1935 meeting, and there were various methods discussed and considered. Strychnine-poisoned wheat and phosphorised oats were two forms of poison, but both had undesir-

able qualities and were considered cruel.

Netting, trapping and shooting were also looked into, and all considered to have some merit. The meeting was closed with a reminder that farmers who

suffered from the ravages of the sparrows must ensure that if they are going to keep these pests in check, they must take action in the winter and early spring, and not wait for the birds to breed in summer.

Hosting an international student is a fantastic opportunity to bring genuine culture and diversity into your own home.

It enables your family to meet and connect with a family from another country and is an opportunity for your child to have a host sibling from abroad.

If you are a caring, supportive and understanding family who would like to share your home with a young person from a different culture, we would love to hear from you.

Minister visits to Nelson and affordable rental homes

Last week the Nelson Tasman Housing Trust opened five new affordable rentals in Tāhunanui These warm, dry and affordable homes will add to Nelson’s stock of community and public housing These homes have been funded through Nelson City Council s Housing Reserve Fund, which was established following the sale of the Council s pensioner housing to Government housing provider Kāinga Ora

While it was controversial at the time, we are now seeing the benefits of the sale, with more community homes being built in Nelson, and Kāinga Ora upgrading the pensioner flats so that they are warm, dry and accessible for tenants My congratulations to the Nelson Tasman Housing Trust for their ongoing work to increase the number of affordable rentals in Nelson

I’m delighted to be hosting Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni in Nelson this week The Deputy Prime Minister will be meeting with seniors arts representatives and representatives from the Nelson Tasman Pasifika Trust

On Sunday I’ll be hosting Minister for Conservation, Willow-Jean Prime at the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Open Day The Government has invested into the Sanctuary recently through our Jobs for Nature programme, and as Nelson s MP

I m proud to see it flourishing Their open day is on Sunday 16 April from 10am – 4pm, pop on your walking shoes and bring the kids for a stroll through the bush tracks

Sparrows ravage wheatfields. Photo: Supplied.

Drivers run red lights

I am an 87 year old male who lives at Oakwoods Villa 357 Lower Queen Street.Most days I like to walk to the Richmond Mall as a part of my fitness routine. Often the lights at the old Railway Hotel do not appear to be working. As I cross on a green light the traffic is coming around the corner on what appears a very red light, making me feel in great danger. Sometimes I am almost a third of the way across! I request on behalf of the residents of Oakwoods and Waimea Plains, and other people who this love to walk, that this crossing be policed regularly for the safety of the elderly and all others!

Thank you,

Ron Lindsay

‘Game changer’ wasp control insects on verge of release

Any enemy of a wasp is a friend of mine!

Ian McLeod

That would be a good thing. I’ve still got scars from wasp stings at the lake early this year.

Diane Chandler

This is great news for the monarch butterflies.

Karen Reeve

Tapawera student

smashes athletics record

Nice one Sarah Jones didn’t even have to open article and I knew it be your name.. go you!!!

Monique Nicoll

Can remember Marie Dawson and gaining her record. Well done, Sarah.

Lorraine Tunnicliff

Well Sarah...achieving some amazing things.

Anne Dons

Holy Heck girl Go you, super proud. Keep smashing it.

Nicola Turner

School mums’ safety win

The money for these safety projects has come from the Government through Waka Kotahi and the Transport Choices fund. These projects

are being managed and constructed by Tasman District Council. This is not directly ratepayer-funded.

Darryn Palmer

Yay! About time. That crossing

is dangerous.

Mel Johnson

Best news ever. Crossing Hill Street with a 7-year-old is scary at the best of times. Best of all our kids get to finally be able to

walk to school safely and independently in the near future.

Natascha Whitehead

news!!! Marloes Aynsley

Fantastic

Airport ‘absolutely’ right to plan for runway extension – Air NZ chair

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

Nelson Airport is asking “absolutely the right question” as it pursues plans to extend its runway in the future, according to Air New Zealand board chair Dame Therese Walsh.

The airport is independently pursuing an extended runway to better cater for future sustainable aircraft, which are expected to require longer runways than the airport currently provides, in addition to removing existing payload restrictions and improving safety.

“Sustainability and these next generation of aircraft are coming at us really quickly,” Therese says.

Air New Zealand is planning to have a commercial demonstrator of a zero-emission aircraft by 2026, while the airline’s fleet of Q300 planes – the aircraft that provides most air travel services to and from Nelson Airport –is due to be replaced in a staged manner from 2030 onwards with more sustainable options. Therese says the company doesn’t have “total clarity” on what the replacements will look like because a range of options are being considered, including aircraft which are battery-hybrids or those that run on green hydrogen. However, that uncertainty regarding aircraft that may only be seven years away meant that airports were trying to adapt to unknown conditions.

“What all of the airports are trying to do is understand what does that mean for the infrastructure and the airport layouts,” she says. Nelson Airport is seeking the necessary planning approvals to extend the airport’s runway

in the next 10-15 years.

Nelson Airport chief executive Mark Thompson says the airport is committed to contributing to the sustainability of Nelson-Tasman and is in “clear alignment” with Air New Zealand’s pledge to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Air New Zealand, as our national carrier, is a major player in delivering that mission.

Therese made her comments during a “very productive” visit to the Top of the South last week with other board members where they connected with their teams on the ground and met with key

regional stakeholders during their visit, including Mayor Nick Smith.

“It speaks volumes of Air New Zealand’s commitment to Nelson that its board chair Therese, and its full board, has chosen to visit Nelson,” Nick says.

Issues like climate change were discussed and Nick believes the region could be an “early starter” for sustainable aircraft once the Q300s begin to be replaced.

“The Nelson to Wellington flights are relatively short-haul trips that are likely to be well-suited to this new generation of aircraft.”

The “critical” recovery of the local tour-

ism industry was also in the forefront of Nick’s mind. “It was great to interact with the directors around what they’re seeing globally, but also in New Zealand about that sector’s recovery.”

Nelson Airport is the second-busiest regional airport for Air New Zealand in the South Island, behind Queenstown, with about 250 flights leaving each week.

Shoe Clinic MTB Duathlon

Series Race 2

Sunday, 16 April, 10-12pm

Conifer Park, Rabbit Island

Long and short options, plus under-12 race starting at 9.30am. Online registration only. https://www.webscorer.com/nelsontri?pg=register

Higgins Heritage Park Open Day

Sunday, 16 April, 10-3pm

Higgins Heritage Park, Wakefield

Family-friendly day out. Member Sheds

Open Day, come and enjoy a picnic on the village green, jigger rides operating.

Day Rave – Pool Day

Wednesday, 19 April, 11-1pm

Richmond Aquatic Centre

Games, prizes, competitions, aqua run, balloon twisting, music, bouncy castles and the waves. $10 entry.

Charity bike ride raises thousands for Hospice

JO KENT

More than 150 cyclists attended the annual Hybrid eBike Charity Ride recently, raising more than $3100 for Nelson Tasman Hospice. Arvida Waimea Plains village manager Jason Edkins says the day was a great success.

“Our residents jumped at the chance to be involved. We were more than happy to offer our popular clubhouse venue and have our residents help out on the day. We’ve had great feedback from the residents involved.”

Hybrid Bikes managing director Frank Witowski says the main goal of the ride was to show appreciation to the locals who supported Hybrid Bikes and to raise funds for hospice.

“This year, the target was to triple the amount raised from the previous year, and the goal was met with a fantastic $3100 donation.”

West Coast and Christchurch customers also travelled to Richmond to be part of the ride after hearing about the previous event.

“The success was largely due to its excellent organisation, and the sponsors played a vital role in ensuring its success,” Frank says.

“Seeing the locals supporting such events is heartening. Given the overwhelmingly positive response, we plan to hold the event again next year. Hybrid Bikes, Hybrid Bike riders, Nelson Tasman Hospice, and Arvida Village residents all loved it, and it was only possible because of the support of the community.”

Cyclists rode part of the Great Taste Trail en masse to fundraise for hospice.

Photo: Frank Witowski.

Waimea CollegeYour Place to Excel

Waimea College is a vibrant and lively school where we place our students at the centre of everything we do.

Our co-educational college has all the advantages that come with being one of the South Island’s largest secondary schools, whilst offering the warmth and encouragement of a smaller school.

We are a values-based school with a focus on creating good humans. We ensure everything we do is aligned around our values of Manaakitanga (Caring), Whanaungatanga (Belonging) and Akoranga (Learning).

Our goal is for you to become a person able to cope well with the demands of the modern world, showing resilience and embracing social and cultural differences.

New Kea Club Programme

We offer a broad curriculum, with one of the largest range of subjects and opportunities of any school in the country, meaning you are bound to find something that sparks your natural curiosity and creativity.

We know that success can take many forms. Some will shine in the classroom, others, the sports field or the arts. No matter what your passion, our modern student-centred curriculum is technology rich and responsive to student needs, ensuring individualised learning to experience success in any field. You will feel at home in our large, parklike grounds where you will find excellent facilities to support all your needs. This is your school community. Waimea College – Your Place to Excel

Bookings now open for Waimea College Adult & Community Education night classes and weekend workshops.

For full details and to book a course please visit us at; www.waimea.school.nz/community-education/

The owner of Richmond Preschool, Stacey Gallagher, provides a strong focus on family within a quality nurturing environment, for children to grow in at the centre. Teaching and leading in the early childhood sector for many years, Stacey says the 100% locally owned and operated preschool supports the very best of care in a loving environment.

Giving four-year-olds the best possible start for school, Stacey is excited to launch their new Kea Club programme.

“The Kea Club will focus on literacy and numeracy skills so that 4 year olds can have the best possible head start and achieve success at primary school.”

Richmond Preschool’s one-to-eight ratio of staff to children encourages a warm, relaxed and happy environment for their children. “We cater for children aged two through to five years old, and we really enjoy focusing on this age group.”

“Our amazing team are very much heart led in what we do. We all know every child and their whanau by name.

“Nothing brings us more joy than seeing a child be successful whether it is making the next rung on the monkey bars or connecting with others.”

The smile is contagious as Stacey’s face lights up when she talks about the children and her staff. “This centre is very personal to me. We are here for the children and their families. They are what’s most important.”

Contact us at Richmond Preschool for more information. “We welcome parents and caregivers to pop in and visit.

Come and see what’s behind the doors!”

Phone: 03 5440556 or email: enquiries@ richmondpreschool.co.nz for more information.

Nelson College for Girls

Nelson College for Girls / Te Kura Tamawāhine o Whakatū has a long history of education in the Nelson/Tasman region with strong academic results alongside a focus on inclusion and student wellbeing. We work to ensure all students are empowered to discover their potential; academically, and in sporting, arts and cultural pursuits.

Our kura lives by its PRIDE values; positivity, respect, integrity, diversity and empathy. We are very proud of what our students achieve with the support of passionate and committed kaiārahi, deans and subject teachers.

Heather McEwen, Acting Principal

Student leadership is a focus where students are empowered to be innovative in their approach to creating new and exciting challenges with their peers.

We want our students to thrive as strong, independent individuals, who are truly engaged

as relational, reflective, resourceful and resilient learners. Our vertical ārahi system of pastoral care is based on the principles of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and kotahitanga where students work toward successful learning outcomes which are mana enhancing, build relationships with others and have a shared understanding and commitment to learning.

As we move forward, Te Kura Tamawāhine o Whakatū will take aspects of the past to create a fresh and inclusive vision for our future.

...where our students are given opportunities to excel.

Taster Day leaves an appetite for learning

After seventeen years in the food industry Tayshana (TJ) Mayer decided to take her creative streak in a totally different direction.

“I grew up in the far North, where there weren’t a lot of opportunities, so I was just cooking, cooking, cooking - paying the bills and raising my two children,” she says. “I loved making beautiful food, but I always wanted to do something arty.”

TJ took a job at Café Ake Ake in the Nelson Campus Student Centre so she could get a feel for life at Te Pūkenga NMIT. Her next step was to sign up for the Interior Design Taster Day session, although that nearly didn’t happen.

“I liked being around the students and I thought ‘maybe I can do this?’— but I almost didn’t because my nerves got to me. However, I knew if I didn’t do it now, I never would.”

TJ remembers how she felt when the Taster Day session started, and the tutor walked them over from the administration building to the Creative Industries G-block.

Although she had been working on campus, she’d never been inside G-Block, and was impressed by its beauty.

“Then we went upstairs, and I thought ‘I really want to be here’.”

“I remember sitting in the class with the tutor and thinking it was really cool to be in a space with all these creative people…

After the Taster Day session, TJ kept thinking about enrolling for the one-year Diploma in Interior Design. “I hadn’t studied since I was 17 and the enrolment deadline was getting closer and closer.

A week before I was watching all the students coming back on campus after the summer break and I thought ‘I have to be part of it’.”

Six weeks into the programme, TJ says she made the right choice. “I love being here. It is so much more than I thought it would be, and it’s cool being surrounded by other people who like the same stuff.”

Taster Days

“Taster Day made me hungry for more.”

TJ, getting a taste of Interior Design at the 2022 Taster Days.

Think 70 is the new 50

Just because your hair might be grey, doesn’t mean your life needs to be.

Today’s 70-year olds are the healthiest, strongest, and most mentally agile history has even known. So Summerset Retirement Villages are designed for the active lifestyles of the youngest “oldies” there’s ever been. Plus, with six months to sell your home, help with your legal fees, a complimentary moving package, and no weekly fees for six months* – it’s never been easier to make the move. Think this sounds like you or someone you love?

Open Day

Wednesday 19 April, 10am - 2pm

Summerset Richmond Ranges

1 Hill Street North, Richmond 03 744 3432 | summerset.co.nz/richmond

2022 AgedCare & RetirementVillages AgedCare & RetirementVillages

Hospital equipment amnesty

Do you have any Nelson or Wairau Hospital equipment that you are no longer needing? A shower stool in your back shed? A raised toilet seat in a hall cupboard? Or even something in the garage - perhaps a walking frame that’s now home to a spider?

If hospital equipment has served its purpose in helping you or a loved one, please return it so the equipment can go on helping more people. On average, 350 items leave the Nelson Hospital store every week, so getting items back that are no longer in use is very important.

You can identify equipment as belonging to the hospital if it has a grey barcode sticker with hospital identification on it.

Monday to Friday, drop it by:

Nelson

The Allied Health Store, Motueka Street, next to Taylor’s Laundry 8am to 4:30pm

Takaka

Golden Bay Community Health, 10 Central Street

8:30am to 5pm

Motueka

Motueka Health Centre, 15 Courtney Street

8am to 4:30pm

Blenheim

Taylor Pass Road, southern entrance to the hospital via the service entrance 8am to 2:30pm

We’ll clean it, check it for health and safety criteria, and reissue it to another patient in need.

We really appreciate your assistance in helping us help others.

Many thanks from the Occupational Therapists and the Physiotherapists of Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough.

Chaneys Real Estate - A trademark friendly service with a tailored approach

As the New Zealand economy slips closer to recession, interest rates keep edging up and properties are languishing on the market and getting harder to sell. It’s times like these when you definitely need a very special real estate agent working for you.

Grant Chaney, owner of Chaneys Real Estate, is certainly that special agent who can help you to achieve your goals.

Boasting a career selling Nelson residential and lifestyle real estate that spans nearly twenty years, and expert marketing and negotiation skills, Grant is the salesperson you want on your side.

As one of the former owners of Ray White Nelson and Richmond, Grant chose to branch out on his own late last year and launched his locally owned business.

Focusing on providing friendly personal service and achieving outstanding results for clients, without the high price tag associated with the larger franchises, Grant provides a personal and tailored approach to suit his cli-

ent’s requirements and offers a high level of service alongside his award-winning experience and expertise.

Grant has consistently been one of the region's top performing Real Estate Agents, achieving multiple local and national awards including being ranked amongst the top ten in New Zealand for Ray White and achieving Elite status with the company for nine consecutive years - ranking in the top 2% of real estate agents across the country.

Teaming up with avid community supporter, Revolution Real Estate, gives Grant and his team great back-up and support, and maximises their client's exposure to a wider range of buyers. With so much experience in the region, Grant and his team have the local contacts to make the process from getting an evaluation to handing over the keys as seamless as possible. Call 027 533 1759 or email grant@chaneys.co.nz for more information.

“Whether you are looking to buy your next dream house or wanting to sell, they are perfectly equipped to help you whatever your requirements may be!”

High speed internet for those hard to reach places

0800 999 589

www.kiwiwifi.nz

NAVIGATING A HARD INSURANCE MARKET

Insurance brokerage Crombie Lockwood’s Chief Broking Officer, Mark Jones, analyses the insurance implications of recent weather events in NZ and their impact on businesses. The North Island has experienced a catastrophic start to 2023. Significant flooding and cyclone damage has been caused and is estimated to result in claims as high as those from the Canterbury Earthquakes. The impact on insurance companies has been immense with premiums predicted to spiral upwards putting more pressure on SMEs already grappling with rising interest rates, inflation and depleted capital.

What is a hard insurance market? Most financial markets have cycles. The stock market has its bull and bear markets and in the insurance world these are known as hard and soft markets. NZ is entering its hardest market in over a decade, triggered by a combination of high inflation, interest rate increases, depleted capital, fractured energy markets, the Ukraine war, and recent weather events. This will result in

increased costs and higher retentions that will be passed on to insurance buyers. What do SME’s need to consider in a hard market? It is essential for businesses to prepare detailed insurer submissions and allow plenty of time to engage and negotiate, including being willing to consider alternative programme options that optimise what is available. Expect insurers to request a sizeable volume of information – more than they usually would. Start renewals early - the more time a broker has, the more likely there’ll be a good result. Also, a common reaction to escalating premiums is reducing cover to help the stressed-out cashflow situation, but it can be a false economy with serious repercussions.

Summary: Only time will tell what the final insurance cost of the extreme weather events will be. However, they demonstrate the need to have a strong relationship with your broker and robust insurance protection, because the worst can happen. www.crombielockwood.co.nz

GETTING INTERNET TO WHERE YOU NEED IT THE MOST

Kiwiwifi is a 100% New Zealand owned rural wireless internet service provider that is certainly making its mark on the wider Nelson Tasman region. Considered to be the key to broadband in rural New Zealand, Kiwiwifi is an independent, purpose-built wireless network focused on delivering affordable high-speed wireless internet into tricky rural communities. Owner and managing director, Chris Mayer believes that everyone in New Zealand should be able to access good and affordable Internet everywhere they live or work. “Kiwiwifi is continually improving the quality of Broadband services available in these rural areas, and if you’re not in our coverage area, we may be able to install a custom link to a specific location at your request.”

With an extensive background in the industry, Chris was the founder of The Internet Kiosk Specialist, before establishing Kiwiwifi.

“When connecting kiwi properties, we use fixed wireless technology. This means to access our service you’ll require a small wireless radio transceiver to communicate with our towers. You will need to be in range, and within the line of sight of one of our many our hilltop towers. Wireless radio transceiver and a wireless router are included in the wireless installation upon signup.”

chris@kiwiwifi.nz

www.kiwiwifi.nz

0800 999589

TOP QUALITY GARDEN TOOLS FROM WORLD RENOWNED MANUFACTURERS

Eric has long had a love for gardening and, along with his background in cheffing, a passion for growing fresh foods. Starting his business in 2020, by providing garden services to locals, Eric saw a gap in the market for acquiring quality gardening tools. The launch of his online store, ‘All Incredible Garden’ just one year later, led Eric to open a local retail store in Papps Carpark on Cambridge Street in October last year. Providing a vast range of quality garden tools and landscaping products for keen gardeners and professional arborists alike, Eric’s store and website offer brands from the world’s best manufacturers including Silky Saws, Bulldog, Wolf Garten, ARS, Samurai, Maruyoshi, Okatsune, Castellari, Idealspaten, Pro Horto, Lowe and more.

Locally owned and operated, Eric says he enjoys sourcing superior tools and equipment for the avid gardener. “I avoid cheap quality products. Everything I have is on my website, and I can have

items shipped out fairly quickly.” Recently showcasing his products at the region’s Better Living Show, Eric looks forward to offering new services to locals as the business grows. “We strive to continually offer an extensive range of quality products for all enthusiasts. We value every one of our customers and we will do whatever we can to ensure your shopping experience is a great one.”

All Incredible Garden is open five days a week, Monday to Friday, from 10am to 5pm, and Eric offers free nationwide shipping on all products purchased from the All Incredible Garden website.

Visit Nelson Tasman’s go-to store for quality gardening equipment. Eric’s superb knowledgeable helps him go the extra mile to understand your requirements. Make sure to pop in and see their extensive range in Papps Carpark, Richmond.

0508 462 733 or email

sales@allincrediblegarden.co.nz

Outdoor champion recognised

JO KENT

Local trailblazer Bill Gilbertson has been acknowledged by Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, the Outdoor Access Commission, for his substantial contributions to public outdoor access in New Zealand with an Outdoor Access Champion award.

His lifetime of hard work and contributions to Nelson Tasman’s Great Taste Trail and access improvements to the Abel Tasman National Park are just two highlights from his career in outdoor recreation and conservation which spans back to the 1980s.

Outdoor Access Commission chief executive Ric Cullinane says Bill’s thoughtful leadership and hard graft “bring people together and help get trails built”.

In a ceremony held at Saxton Field last week, Bill was presented with the trophy by Ric. “It’s about achieving the goals that I wanted to achieve rather than about me personally,” Bill says. “That’s how I feel and what I’m proud of. The things that have actually happened over the years. Trails are just something which need to be worked on all the time.”

Bill was a conservation board member and national park management plan convenor for the West Coast and Tasman regions. He has provided leadership for Forest & Bird and the Forest Stewardship Council.

He co-founded the Nelson Tasman Trails Trust in 2009 after moving to Nelson from the West Coast in 2000 and getting into biking with his son. He was looking for potential long-distance biking trails in the region.

“It was more from a transport point of view that I was looking,” Bill says. “Sure, recreation,

but more about ‘Let’s get safe places for bikes to go’.”

In 2008, he formed a small group to investigate forming a cycle trail between Picton and Murchison. The next year, the Government announced its $50 million Great Rides funding opportunities.

“We formed the trust so that we could apply for that funding as an entity, and we applied for the Great Taste Trail and the Coppermine Trail,” Bill says.

At 200km, the Great Taste Trail is the longest of the 22 Great Rides and is the fourth most used. More than 315,000 people rode it during 2021, with over three-quarters being locals.

Nelson Tasman’s only private surgical hospital.

Manuka Street Hospital is a Joint Venture partnership between a local Nelson Trust, Manuka Street Charitable Trust, and Southern Cross Healthcare Limited. This combination of expertise, local knowledge and history, ensures the people of the Nelson Tasman region are provided with a first class surgical hospital.

We provide our skilled surgeons with modern, state-of-theart theatres and equipment so that Nelson Tasman residents can have access to the very best in surgical procedures. Contact us to find out more.

Champion Bill Gilbertson (centre) with Outdoor Access Commission board member Celia Wade-Brown and chief executive Ric Cullinane at the award ceremony. Photo: Ange van der Laan.

Premier rugby season starts with a bang

an unconverted try. They would hold on for a bit before the floodgates opened as Kahurangi started to put the squeeze on. They scored 28 uncontested points through four converted tries to end the first half up by 21 points, with the home side needing a sizeable comeback to win.

from their performances last season in their loss to Marist.

They, too, started the scoring with a penalty less than two minutes into the game before Marist answered back.

JACK MALCOLM

Premier rugby kicked off on Thursday night as local teams rejoined the race for the Tasman Trophy for 2023. With Wanderers not posting a premier-grade team, Stoke had a bye to start their season, while runners-up Kahurangi put on a 40-19 win over Waimea Old Boys at Jubilee Park.

At Trafalgar Park, it was Marist who came out firing under the lights with a 46-13 win over Nelson, while over the hill Central kicked off their defence of the Tasman Trophy with a 41-17 win over Moutere.

Waimea Old Boys started strong and had the first points on the board less than five minutes into play, with winger Jacob Broadbeach scoring

As with the first half, WOB came out strong, with flanker Von Richardson dotting down a try within the first three minutes before lock Sio Latu got them back in the game. With Corey Grimes making both conversions they were back within grasp of Kahurangi. Unfortunately for home fans, it was all their team could muster as two late tries sealed their fate. Despite the loss, they will be happy with a marked improvement from last season against last year’s best team this side of the Whangamoas. It’s the same story for Nelson, who also saw improvement

The lapse in defence was just one of a few for the Nelson side, who defended with passion through the first half despite having their backs up against the line. When they did have the ball they weren’t afraid to run with it, as they looked to take it from inside their goal line and, with multiple ‘tap and gos’, from within their own 22. That pressure saw them retake the lead with two back-to-back tries, with the latter being just before the halftime break.

Marist, not to rest on the pressure they had put on, scored after the hooter to take a lead into the sheds. Their final try, a 75-metre intercept runaway to winger Timoci Sauira, capped off a fantastic start for the team.

Win this EV!

Von Richardson made a strong first impression in his Waimea Old Boys debut as he burrowed over for a try to start the second half, giving his team a glimmer of hope.

Photo: Barry Whitnall/Shuttersport

Club champs a dress rehearsal for nationals

Tasman Wheelers’ summer programme culminated with their annual club championships to kick off April.

And what a difference 24 hours makes, with Saturday seeing a much reduced field of 12 keen riders face up to race in the pouring rain.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s road race saw perfect conditions, with a warm sunny day and light winds that made for some close results. The improved weather also saw a larger turnout, with 30 keen riders taking on the race, starting and finishing at the Moutere Village on a circuit covering Old Coach and George Harvey Roads and the Moutere highway.

Saturday’s racing saw Seamus O’Donnell, riding in the under 23 age group, take home the title of fastest rider over the 22km course down the Lee and Wairoa Valleys, averaging an impressive 40kph speed.

He was in the mix again on Sunday, producing another winning

Giants stumble in season opener

JACK MALCOLM

The NBS Nelson Giants have started their season with a tough home loss to the Auckland Tuatara, 86-91.

performance to hold off a strong finish from Cameron Beaumont in the under-23 age group. In the female category, it was Josie Wilcox who notched up another top result.

The highly competitive racing in each of the 6 groups saw several tight finishes and fast times. In four of the six race groups less than 2 seconds separated first and second. The M7 category saw a tight finish as Steve Brough managed to edge past Symon Mitchell on the hill just before the finish, while there was less than a wheel in it as Ian Worthington and Dave Bagshaw crossed the line in the men’s 75+ age group.

For riders heading to the Age Group Nationals in a week’s time, the local club champs provide a good dress rehearsal.

With a contingent of about 20 riders from the Tasman Wheelers scheduled to race in the nationals, there are high expectations after some of the recent local performances.

It was a race right to the end in the men’s 75+ race, with less than a bike length separating Ian Worthington and Dave Bagshaw as they crossed the finish line after 22km of racing.

With the top two teams from the 2022 regular season, it was set to be fireworks from the outset for the sold-out crowd at Trafalgar Centre, and they were not disappointed.

With some early nerves in their first game back for the year, the Giants trailed by two at the first break, having been behind for most of the quarter. Early foul trouble plagued them throughout the game, with several quarters seeing the Tuatara go to the line for bonus freethrows after the Giants used up their five fouls early. With them all gone in the opening five minutes, Auckland was sent to the free-throw line nine times in the first quarter.

Ten Giants players got minutes in the opening 10, with coach Mike Fitchett looking to share the action between his team. Both imports, Avery Woodson and Matur Maker, had a muted impact on the opening quarter, taking a more quiet but effective role to their work rate.

Giants import Matur Maker had a team-high 20 points and nine assists as he fought hard to keep his team in the game down the stretch. Photo: Evan Barnes/Shuttersport.

They improved as the game played out, with Matur having a team-high 20-point performance and Avery having 14 points. Whatever the message was at halftime, it sunk in as the Giants were a markedly different team after the break, with more meaning in their offence. They were rewarded by strong ball movement with better shot options and clawed back the deficit to see the game even up by the end of three-quarter

time.

The last 10 minutes were allor-nothing as the home-crowd looked to be the point of difference, with nothing separating the two teams through the first half hour of play. Unfortunately for the home side, they weren’t able to walk away with the win despite their best efforts. “Sometimes we looked really good and moved the ball well, but there were some stagnant and stuck-in-the-mud patches,” Mike says.

Photo: Supplied.

Suburbs women continue hot start

JACK MALCOLM

Nelson Suburbs women’s team have continued their hot start to the South Island Qualifying League with another win. Both local teams were in action on Easter Friday, with the women taking down Selwyn UFC Women in a 4-1 away win, while the men drew with Ferrymead Bays 1-1.

Despite playing against a team ‘parking the bus’ and taking time to adjust to the turf, it took just four minutes for the women to get their names on the board with a header from Jasmine Barney. Wanting to play positive football

and score goals, the visitors found themselves frustrated against the nagging defence but were able to regroup at halftime.

Coach Neil Harding says he was happy with how the girls responded to get such a strong win.

“After a good talk and a few changes at half time we went into the second half confident and strong and the girls played well to win 4-1.”

The highlight of the game came in the 67th minute as the floodgates started to open and Jasmine scored her second, ‘a screamer’, says Neil.

Jasmine’s goal came just five minutes after Ruby Smith had slotted

one into the bottom corner, with Tessa Hyland sealing the victory with a 78th-minute goal.

Having formed this season, the women’s team have started their competition strongly with backto-back wins as the competition’s front runners are found, with Cashmere Technical putting up a 12-0 win over Selwyn to start their campaign following a first-week bye.

Neil says they are already looking forward to next weekend where they return home for a game against Coastal Spirit at Saxton Field.

In the men’s campaign, Suburbs were unlucky to not come away

with the three-points for a win after a late goal sealed a 1-1 draw. Looking to hold on to their slim lead after a goal to Alex Risdale late in the first half, they were able to hold back Ferrymead Bays until the 83rd minute, with Andrew Tuckey slotting one in to

take away the visiting side’s first win of the season.

After three matches, they sit eighth on the competition leaderboard and will be eager to get some points on the board as they are away against Green Island AFC next weekend.

The Suburbs women and Katie Pugh (pictured) have run away to a hot start in the women’s qualifying league with two wins to start their season. Photo (file): Evan Barnes/Shuttersport.

Community Notices

Community Notices

MONDAY

ELYSIUM WIDOW AND WIDOWERS GROUP meet each Monday for coffee and friendship at Oxford St Cafe at 10am. New members welcome. Phone Margaret 027 2600 748

NELSON WAIMEA POWERTALK: Mon 17April 9.30-11am

Richmond Town Hall. Giving & Receiving Evaluations - interactive workshop. Contact: Sandra 027 7660347

TUESDAY

NELSON 50+ WALKING GROUP Tuesday April 18. Wakefield Wander. Meet at 9.45am at the corner of Bird Lane & Higgins Road, Wakefield. BYO lunch. Phone Juanita 027 2437554.

NELSON MALE VOICE CHOIR are holding an ANZAC concert at Nelson Cathedral on Tuesday 25h April 2023 at 2:30pm. Adults $25 under 18s $5; tickets www.ncma.nz or cash/ EFTPOS at the door

NZ CHRISTIAN WRITERS NELSON GROUP. Tuesday 18 April in Richmond Baptist Church Lounge. 1-4pm. Open to writers at all stages from wanna-be writers to published authors of all ages and whatever genre you use. For further details please contact Kay 0275476777 or kaypeterson4@xtra.co.nz.

NELSON WAIMEA POWERTALK: Mon 17April 9.30-11am Richmond Town Hall. Giving & Receiving Evaluations - interactive workshop. contact: Sandra 027 7660347

‘500’ CARDS Players are invited to compete in our recently formed “No Trumps” Trophy competition. Venue: Waimea Lounge A&P Showgrounds. Tues. & Thurs. 1.30 - 4pm. $2 entry fee covers organised games, prizes afternoon tea and spacious parking. Contact Kath ph 5445563

WELLBY Talking Café: 10am– 11.30am, Tuesday, 18h April 2023, McCashins, Stoke. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection and finding out about groups, activities, and services. www.wellby.org.nz 03 5467681.

COMPLETE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME (CHIP)

A lifestyle medicine programme focused on exercise, eating, stress, rest & sleep. To find out more come to the free information

sessions at Putangitangi (Greenmeadows Centre) cnr Main Rd & Songer St, Stoke. 2 Sessions available Sunday 30th April 2023 at 7pm or Tuesday 2nd May at 7pm

HOPE INDOOR BOWLING CLUB Tuesday Nights 7pm at Hope Hall Main Rd Hope.Starts 7 pm. Everyone welcome. Soft soled shoes.. All bowls supplied. Great for families. Info Bill ph 5449273

STOKE INDOOR BOWLS CLUB 2023 season has started, Warnes Stadium, Songer Street, Stoke. New members welcome. Please wear flat soled shoes. Enquiries ph Lynn 547 7112.

NELSON CIVIC CHOIR rehearses 6.45-9.00pm Tuesdays at NCMA, Nile Street, Nelson. Preparing to perform Mozart’s Coronation Mass in May. No auditions. Call 021 102 4436.

WEDNESDAY

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ: 10am– 11.30am, Wednesday, 19h April 2023, Motueka Library. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection and finding out about groups, activities, and services. www.wellby.org.nz 03 5467681.

FOREST & BIRD Wednesday 12 April. Evening illustrated talk by Craig Potton about Rewilding of Mind and Place. 7.30pm Tahunanui School Hall, Muritai Street, Tahunanui.

CAKE DECORATORS meeting is on Wednesday 19 April. We are creating bees, bee hive, honey pot and mini flowers using sugar paste. All are welcome to join. Contact Desiree 0276302359

CENTRAL GARDEN CLUB meets 2nd Wednesday of each month

1.30pm at stoke methodist church hall, Neale Ave Stoke. Guest speakers and afternoon tea new members most welcome contact Lynn or bob 5418468

NELSON NEWBIES coffee morning every Wednesday 10:3011.30 a.m. at Deville’s Cafe, 22 New St. Want to get out and meet people? Join us for coffee and chat. New people are always welcome. Ph: Clive 021 205 4731.

THURSDAY

‘500’ CARDS Players are invited to compete in our recently

DEADLINE:

formed “No Trumps” Trophy competition. Venue: Waimea Lounge A&P Showgrounds. Tues. & Thurs. 1.30 - 4pm. $2 entry fee covers organised games, prizes afternoon tea and spacious parking. Contact Kath ph 5445563

GRIEF SHARE COURSE Help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend 13 week course starting Thursday 13th April 7-9pm @ Side Room, Richmond New Life Church 85 Wensley Road, Richmond $45 for Manual Txt or phone Marcia 021 127 0001 griefsharenn@gmail.com

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ: 1.30pm – 3pm, Thursday, 13h April 2023, Nightingale Library, Tahunanui. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection and finding out about groups, activities, and services. www.wellby.org.nz 03 5467681

NELSON CITY PROBUS CLUB welcome both men & women. We meet 2nd Thursday each month (Feb-November) at 10 am, The Nelson Golf Club, 38 Bolt Rd, Tahunanui. Contact the Secretary on nelsoncitygroupgmail.com

WAIMEA COMBINED FRIENDSHIP GROUP meet monthly at 9.45am on 3rd Thursday of month in Hope Church, Ranzau Road for Friendship, Fellowship & Learning. Contact Denise on 027 765 000 or Rosalie on 027 249 1080.

TAICHI Thursdays 12:00-1:00pm. Beginners class starting 27 April. Stillness, breath, movement. Quiet Heart Tai Chi, Anglican Church, Dorset Street. Donation. Contact Merrick, email quiet. heart.tai.chi@gmail.com Ph 021 063 6620

RICHMOND WELCOME GROUP: Want to make new friends join a friendly group for coffee & a chat.10am on the 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month at Paragon Cafe Langdale Drive Richmond Ansley /Phillip 5410 350 0272212943.

FRIDAY

WIDOW AND WIDOWERS GROUP to meet for lunch on Friday 14th April at Armidillo’s, Queen St, at 12 midday. Phone Margaret 027 2600 748 .

WAITAKI OLD GIRLS’ SOCIAL GROUP NELSON. Pop in for a

MIDDAY FRIDAY

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coffee and chat Friday 14th April at 10am. Venue Cafe Alioke Eatery, 4a Central Park Lane, The Meadows. All Oamaruians welcome. Queries 0276731145.

SATURDAY

QUALITY CRAFTS NELSON in the Church Lounge at RBC 123

Salibury Rd, Sat. 15 Apr 8am – Noon. Come & check out our wide selection of quality local handmade crafts with something for everyone & Mother’s Day is coming! Ph Kay 0275476777 for details.

CAR BOOT MARKET Richmond Baptist Church, 123 Salisbury Road Saturday 15th April 8am-Noon stall holders from 6.30am. Heaps of bargains, yummy food and free coffee. Facebook –“RBC

Bootmarket” Contact: Mark 0224695367

NELSON SOCIAL DANCE CLUB: Social dance May 13th Club

Waimea 7.30pm – 11pm. CD Dance, all welcome. Entry $8 for members, $10 non-members, $5 students and non-dancers.

Ph Bernard 0276478827

RICHMOND TENNIS CLUB - Gladstone Road Social hit for members & non-members Saturday afternoons All levels of ability welcome. 1.30pm onwards. Contact 0274872480.

SUNDAY

HIGGINS HERITAGE PARK 222 Pigeon Valley Rd, WakefieldSunday 16th April, park open day with museum sheds open and bus & jigger rides. A great place for a picnic 10am- 3pm www. higginsheritagepark.co.nz

COMPLETE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME (CHIP)

A lifestyle medicine programme focused on exercise, eating, stress, rest & sleep. To find out more come to the free information sessions at Putangitangi (Greenmeadows Centre) cnr Main Rd & Songer St, Stoke. 2 Sessions available Sunday 30th April 2023 at 7pm or Tuesday 2nd May at 7pm

SUNDAY MEDITATION – every Sunday 10am – 11.30am, plus free vegetarian lunch. All warmly welcome, for all ages and walks

OR

LESS

BY EMAIL ONLYPLEASE SEND TO: events@waimeaweekly.co.nz

of life. Chandrakirti Meditation Centre. 289 Sunrise Valley Rd, Upper Moutere. 03 5432021

NELSON SPIRITUALIST CHURCH weekly service Sun. 7pm-8pm. CornerTipahi&MotuekaSts.

GENERAL GROUPS

POPPY DAY 2023 on Fri 21 April. The Nelson RSA would appreciate some help in manning our collection tables on the day. Poppies both red & purple will be supplied for kind donations. People wear the poppy to remember those who died serving their country. If you can assist call into the office at Stoke Community Centre betw 9am & 12noon Mon. to Thurs. or call 03 265 6513.

WAIMEA MENZSHED - catering for the interests, health and well-being of men since 2010. The shed is open Monday - Friday at Richmond Park, 384 Lower Queen St. Inquiries: mens.shed. waimea@gmail.com 027 282 0185.

Senior Mobility Classes Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays from 10.30am at the Wanderers Community Gym 12 Charlotte Lane, Brightwater. $2 donation. Improving balance, mobility & independence among our aging populations (55+).Contact James Cooper for info: 021 044 1526.

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS TO HELP SUPPORT NELSON HOSPITAL. For info visit www.nmdhb.govt.nz and search ‘volunteering with us’. A social opportunity for people to donate their time to a 3-4 hour shift during the week in a variety of roles. Supporting our patients, visitors, whānau & staff while receiving sense of purpose. JOIN CAKE DECORATORS You don’t need any skills. Come & learn how to work with fondant, sugar paste & chocolate. Creating flowers, figurines & covering a cake. Desiree 027 630 2359.

HELP NEEDED. WAKEFIELD COMMUNITY BUS NelsonTasman Community Transport Trust dedicated to providing affordable community public transport in the areas where little is available. Contact: 020 4196 0553 Wakefield Bus is in need of some support – can you help? Contact - 020 4196 0553, marketing.ntctt@ gmail.com / www.ntctt.org TO BOOK A SEAT on the Wakefield bus- call or txt 020 4195 8866.

Community Notices are free to community groups, schools, churches, gold coin donation events and fundraising. Due to the popularity of this column,while every effort will be made, inclusion cannot be guaranteed for free ads. If you want to place a business advert or want to advertise a course you are running, please call classified ads and public notices on 544 9037.

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PLANNED POWER OUTAGES

Every week, Network Tasman is carrying out planned maintenance somewhere on the power line network. This requires us temporarily turning the power off to some houses or businesses.

We let your electricity retailer know well in advance when a power outage caused by planned maintenance is due to happen. They will let you know, usually via email, that your power is going to be turned off while we carry out the work. Sometimes customers phone us after the power has gone off to say they were not notified of a planned power outage. Not knowing about an outage can be hugely disruptive for customers, which is not what we want. We want you to know in advance so that you can make plans for the outage.

There can be a number of reasons why you might be unaware that the power will be temporarily turned off for maintenance work, but there are some things you can do to make sure you get planned outage notifications:

Î Check the contact details that your electricity retailer has for you, and make sure they are correct.

Î Check your email settings to make sure emails from your electricity retailer don’t accidentally end up in your ‘junk’ folder or somewhere else that you don’t usually look.

Î If you are not the electricity account holder, make sure the person or company who is, knows to pass outage notifications on to you. For example, if you are a tenant and the landlord gets the power bill, the landlord will get the outage notification, not you.

Î Ask your electricity retailer how they let you know about planned power outages, and think about whether this will be okay for you.

Î Some electricity retailers can provide outage notification by text message. If you want this, ask your retailer if they can do it for you.

Î Keep an eye out for more than one outage notification from your electricity retailer. Sometimes we need to have two or more outages in the same area to get the work done. Each outage is notified separately by your electricity retailer.

Contact your electricity retailer if you want to know more about how they notify customers of planned outages.

If you want to know more about how Network Tasman plans maintenance work, get in touch with us at info@networktasman.co.nz

/ COLLECTABLES. NZ paintings & books, musical instruments, toys, cameras, clocks, silver, fine china, morris minor, etc. Closing Shop after 22 Years!

miss the bargains this week at Souchebys

The Castle, 75 Gladstone Rd, Richmond

Electric fence unit portable battery - B11. $110. Call or text 027 206 0183.

FURNITURE

FURNITURE - MAKE AN OFFER Final weeks of our Closing Shop Sale @ Souchebys Antiques, The Castle 75 Gladstone Rd, Richmond. Open 6 days. Ph 544 0723 or 021417413. Don’t miss this after 22 years!

DENTURES

paid for old wristwatches. Scrap gold & Silver. Old coins & Jewellery. Vintage / quality tools. Military & Firearms items. General

Also

shed

New dentures, relines, repairs. Phone Daniela at Bays Dentures 546 4455.

Farming

TOP SOUTH MONTHLY

CIRCULATION 14,500

Delivered to all rural homes from Greymouth to Golden Bay and Kaikōura to Marlborough Sounds. We’ve got you covered.

Caltex Wakefield

Farmlands Richmond

Farmlands Motueka

PGG Wrightson Murchison

Brightwater NPD

BMTT

Tractor Repairs & Spares Richmond

Harcourts Richmond

Bayleys Wakefield

Tasman Honda

MS Ford

Top South Media

WEST COAST

Farmlands Hokitika

Farmlands Greymouth

Tasman AG Ikamatua

Farmlands Westport

Karamea Visitor’s Centre

PGG Greymouth

Buller Vets

Farmlands Blenheim

Seddon Supermarket

Renwick Supervalue

Tractor Repairs & Spares Renwick

Farmlands Kaikoura

PGG Kaikoura

Danielle Brown 0221605094

danielle@topsouthmedia.co.nz

Rai Valley Brick Oven

4 Square Havelock

TSM Marlborough