Nelson Weekly - 21 December 2022

Graduation surprise

Liquor store worker stole 98 times

TRACY NEAL Open Justice Reporter

He stole from his boss 98 times but was charged with only a single offence.

Now the former liquor store duty manager has avoided con-

viction and being named for several reasons, including that revealing his identity would harm his chances of getting another job.The business owner from whom he stole told NZME that he and his wife were “more than extremely disappointed in

this verdict” and described the man as a “calculated and systematic thief who stole from us over a number of months”.

The 51-year-old earlier this year admitted a theft charge that related to 98 separate transactions in which he took a total of $2522

from the sale of alcohol from the liquor store where he worked.

He admitted how he had taken the money while working as a duty manager for the business from January 6 until February 26 this year.

The court heard it had happened

while he was at “rock bottom” in the throes of struggles with a drug problem which had led to stealing in order to help fix drug debts.

On Friday he arrived at the

Sarah Kerby was given a graduation surprise on Friday. Sarah missed yet another graduation ceremony this year while she was with her son Willy, pictured right, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. Friends and family gathered to throw her a surprise ceremony.

Photos: Sara Hollyman. Full story page 4.

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Liquor store worker stole 98 times, but future employers will never know

FROM PAGE 1

Nelson District Court supported by family members who listened while his lawyer Alec Sacheun argued why a discharge without conviction was warranted.

The police said the thefts were caught on the store’s CCTV. They showed how when the man received cash he’d void the purchase on the electronic register and then remove the amount from the daily takings. Judge Tony Zohrab said there was a “degree of sophistication” about it, in that he was not simply putting his hand in the till and then putting the money in his pocket.

He also said some might say it was “extreme stupidity and naivety” to think he might have got away with it when there were CCTV cameras in place.

Earlier this year he remanded him on bail for sentencing, which was meant to have happened in Au-

gust but was adjourned to seek more material to support the request for continued suppression.

Police were neutral about the request for a conviction discharge but said it was an “oversight” when asked by Judge Zohrab why the offending had not resulted in a representative charge, and why the man had only been charged once, instead of multiple times.

“Strictly speaking, there should have been 98 separate charges,” Judge Zohrab said.

Police also said, when asked why he had been charged with theft, as opposed to the more serious charge of theft by a person in a special relationship that it “had been considered”.

The employer said it was unfortunate they were only able to prove eight weeks of offending due to security camera footage being overwritten, but in reality, they believed the value of their loss was four times greater.

“To see someone who actually admitted to this not only get off without having his name known in the community but to escape a conviction is mind-boggling. It really makes you wonder why we put in the effort to bring the charges against him and leaves us with a real lack of faith in the justice system,” the employer said.

Judge Zohrab didn’t accept the argument that credit was due because the man had turned up at the police station and handed himself in – he didn’t have much choice given that he’d been seen on CCTV, and then approached by his employer. “I accept he turned up at the police station, but he wasn’t telling them something his employer didn’t know. I appreciate he’s accepted responsibility, but it was only after he’d been sprung.” Sacheun argued that the impact on the man, including that he had lost his job immediately, had been “sufficiently punitive”. He had been

on a sickness benefit until finding the work he was currently in and planned to get a better job in future. He was also proud that his son had just finished high school and was concerned about the impact on him if he was named publicly.

In considering if the matter warranted a discharge, Judge Zohrab had to be satisfied that the direct and indirect consequences of a conviction were out of proportion to the gravity of the offending. He noted the money stolen had since been repaid as soon as the man was able, using ACC payments he was receiving at the time. He also noted the man’s previous, unrelated offending which dated back a long time, and that generally he was a person of good character who had made a number of contributions to volunteer groups and organisations. He said psychiatric reports revealed the man was at low risk of re-offending, but that

concerns existed about the impact on his past fragile mental health if his name was published. He also considered the argument that a conviction would be a “permanent blight” on his record. “I appreciate you are not a young man, but you still have a family to support.”

He said the cumulative effect allowed him to conclude that the consequences of a conviction would be out of proportion to the gravity of the offending.

Similarly, grounds for continued name suppression were met, in that the principles of open justice, in this case, did not outweigh the public’s right to know, and that it would likely cause extreme hardship if the man was named, Judge Zohrab said.

A final order for name suppression was granted, taking into account the man’s history, the fact he was remorseful, had paid back the money, and factoring in matters around his mental health.

Belinda Clark REGISTERED LEGAL EXECUTIVE (DipLExSt)

Jackie Bennion

“Putting up the Christmas decorations and eating with my family.”

Andrew Houston

“When I was a child waking up and going to the Christmas tree, putting on music and watching a Christmas movie.”

Scarlett Neame

“My favourite part of Christmas is baking with the family.”

Adrian Kingsford

“My mum and my dad.”

What’s your favourite Christmas memory?

SH6 open for Christmas

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

State Highway 6 between Nelson and Blenheim has opened in time for Christmas.

Associate Minister of Transport Kieran McAnulty says it had been a “big job” repairing all the damage that had been done to the road but now the region could get back to normal.

“With this link restored, residents, businesses, and road users can look forward to better times ahead after a very challenging year,” he says.

The opening is a welcome relief for some of Nelson’s most isolated residents who have only had access to the city via a guided convoy through a forestry road at set times.

Natalia McAllensmith owns the Peak View Retreat luxury lodge, above the Whangamoa Valley, and says the road’s closure has had a big financial impact.

“It’s had a pretty severe impact to be honest, we lost most of our business over the seven weeks.”

Kokorua Road resident Nigel Patterson says they had “just got on with it” while the road was closed despite the costs he’s had to bear.

“I work in Blenheim and Nelson, so I end up going the

whole three-hour trip and stay three nights in Blenheim at my cost, but that’s just the way it is,” he says. “You can’t hold grudges, it just needed to be done.”

Mark Owen, Waka Kotahi’s regional manager for Wellington and the Top of the South, acknowledged the impact the repairs have had on local communities and businesses.

“We know it has been hard, and it came after tough times caused by Covid-19 and floods.

Losing access to this route for seven weeks has been difficult,” he says. “I want to thank all those affected for their patience, cooperation, and understanding while the project’s been underway.”

The road opened at 6pm

on Sunday night after seven weeks of total closure. The road was scheduled to open at 10 but Mark says thanks to “hard work” from the crews, it opened early.

More than $15 million was poured into the massive project of repairing the State Highway after the devastating August weather event, with 120 contractors working to get the job done by Sunday. Waka Kotahi advises motorists who return to the road to drive safely as it has changed over the past two months and won’t be like how it was before its closure.

In some places, State Highway 6 had to had to be rebuilt from the foundations up. Photo: Supplied.

1000 bike rides in 1000 days

KATE RUSSELL

When 77-year-old John Masters wakes up in the morning, the first thing he does is put on his cycling gear.

The Stoke resident celebrated his 1000th consecutive bike ride on Monday, having not missed a day since he started on 25 March 2020 during the first Covid-19 lockdown.

“1000 consecutive days seems formidable, but it is really only one day after another - for quite a long time,” he says.

To celebrate the milestone, John was planning on a ride to either Collingwood or Rabbit Island, finishing off with fish and chips in Māpua.

“But the weather wasn’t looking good, so I just did my normal ride at 6.30am - 36km down to Monaco and then off to the back beach, then a loop down to Enner Glynn.”

Over the course of his 1000 rides, John has racked up 29,336km with his average daily distance being 29.9km.

He has spent 1388 hours and 20

Te Pūkenga NMIT students graduate

Graduating Te Pūkenga NMIT students celebrated in a procession which took them from a ceremony held at the Trafalgar Centre, down through the main streets of Nelson on Friday. Following behind a traditional bag pipe band students walked to a reception held in the gardens of NMIT. The traditional march had returned for the first time after being paused by Covid-19 last year. Around 260 graduates collected their awards in Nelson on Friday in two separate ceremonies, with the largest group of 47 students obtaining Nursing degrees.

Overall, 1500 students graduated

minutes on his bike, which is equivalent to 57.83 days.

John says nothing has deterred him from his daily rides.

He had cataract surgery in February this year and stayed up until midnight to get his ride in before the surgery in the morning.

“I’ve done a few rides just after midnight but some of those have been short rides.”

Even getting Covid-19 earlier this year didn’t stop him.

“I still went for it. It’ll take something pretty serious to make me stop.”

He has had two crashes on his bike this year which haven’t put him off.

“The first one, in August, I got knocked out when a dog and I met very inappropriately.”

One broken thumb later and John was back on his bike the next day.

“The second crash was last week. It’s a bit tricky when cars overtake you and then turn left.”

After a visit from two ambulances and two policemen, he finished his ride.

“I’m pretty certain the ambulances were still waiting to see if I was

from NMIT in 2022.

Two Car Crash blocks Whakatu Drive

A two-vehicle crash partially blocked SH6 Whakatu Dr on Friday afternoon.

A police spokesperson says they responded to the crash in the southbound lane of Whakatu Drive around 12:30 pm on 16 December.

The spokesperson says there appeared to be no injuries.

“The road was partially blocked for a time but believe it has been cleared now,” the spokesperson said shortly before 2pm.

going to make it back,” he says. The daily rides have not only done wonders for his fitness but for his mind, too.

“It’s strengthened my knee up and it’s my time - all sorts of things go on in my head when I’m biking,” he says. “You think about everything and solve all your problems.”

Some of John’s friends joke that he has multiple lives after a neardeath experience in 2005.

The former sailor had to be winched to safety off the Chatham Islands in one of the biggest rescue missions ever mounted off New Zealand and ended up with perforated intestines.

On 25 March next year, it will be three years since John began his journey, but he thinks he may have to break the cycle when he goes to England for a holiday next June.

He says the secret to sticking to it is taking it “one day at a time”.

“If I had said at the start that I was going to do 1000 days in a row it would seem enormous, but when you just do it one day at a time, it’s just another day.”

Nelson Tasman hits new rent high

Rents hit an all time high in November according to the latest Trade Me Property data. Trade Me property sales director, Gavin Lloyd, says the Nelson/Tasman and Taranaki regions saw the biggest jumps with both region’s median weekly rent increasing by 14 per cent. “This resulted in a new record high in the Nelson/ Tasman region of $570.” Demand for rentals dropped in the region by 29 per cent when compared with November 2021. “So long as supply floods the market and demand remains down, we should expect to see rents hold or even cool in the coming months.”

Graduation suprise

FROM PAGE 1

It was fifth time lucky for Sarah Kerby’s graduation ceremony and it bought tears to her eyes. Having just completed her master’s degree in professional practice, Sarah missed her official graduation, instead spending the time with her young son Willy, as he undergoes chemotherapy in his cancer battle.

It’s not the first time she missed a graduation, in fact, Sarah says the surprise ceremony on Friday was her fifth attempt at graduating.

Sarah was described as an inspiration by her friends and family who gathered to celebrate her success at the Family Tree sculpture on Para Para Rd on Friday, which organiser Judene Edgar described as a fitting location.

Judene says all Sarah knew was that she was organising something to mark the occasion of her completing her masters.

What Sarah walked into was friends and family gathered together with balloon garlands, a singer and members of a pipeband to play her in.

“It meant a lot to finally wear regalia and celebrate getting my qualifications. I did them as a sole parent and am one of the first in my family to get university qualified, so it was a big deal to me, and I hope I can encourage others to study too.

Friend and colleague Rachel Boyack kicked off the ceremony describing Sarah as simply “remarkable”.

“She’s worked really hard. It’s remarkable that while she’s had her young son in hospital, she’s managed to complete her mas-

ters. It’s been a really tough year for her so it’s just a nice opportunity for friends and family to celebrate her,” Rachel says.

Rachel says Sarah has a huge heart for people.

“Even when things are tough for her, she’ll still send chocolates to someone whose had a tough day. She goes the extra mile.”

One of Sarah’s accomplishments has been setting up local charity Bellyful.

“Sarah is such an amazing person who set up a charity to help people who need support when they have a new baby or a sick child and none of us ever thought that actually we would need to give that same support to Sarah,” Rachel says.

Sarah says she was overwhelmed but incredibly humbled by the gesture.

“It was incredibly humbling to see the lengths Judene and others had gone to to show up and awhi (surround) me. I had no idea what they had planned, and I never would have expected so many people from so many walks of my life would show up.”

Steve Henry, who mentored Sarah through her degree, says it was a great privilege to guide Sarah through her masters degree.

“The things that stick out to me is your dedication and selflessness, you haven’t just done this for you, you’ve done this to build your own capability so that it can make a difference to others,” he told her.

Steve then presented Sarah with a rainbow graduation robe. Sarah says she is completely in awe of the lengths her friends went to, and full of gratitude.

John Masters of Stoke celebrated his 1000th consecutive bike ride on Monday. Photo: Kate Russell.

The local kids went nuts at the Pic’s Christmas Craft Workshops last week where they got to have their faces painted, make tree decorations and get a photo with Santa. Scarlett Shrimpton chose a cute as a candycane design by tour guide Rachel Wilbury, who transformed into one of Santa’s Little Helpers for the event. Photo: Jo Kent.

$3.4 million bonus coming to electricity users

With rising costs all around, there’s a Christmas bonus on its way.

Customers connected to the Network Tasman Ltd electricity distribution network are set to receive their share of a $3.38 million pay-out thanks to Network Tasman Trust.

Approximately 42,300 customers across Tasman and parts of Nelson will each receive $80, which will be a credit on their next power bill.

Most eligible customers should receive this before Christmas, although some may arrive in January.

As the dividend comes from

Network Tasman Trust, all eligible customers receive the credit regardless of who their retail power supplier is. The $3.4 million represents the surplus accumulated in the Trust’s funds, from NTL dividends along with interest from investments.

“Over the years, the trust has paid nearly $70 million back into the community,” said trust chairperson Gwenny Davis.

“In addition to the $80 dividend, we also recently allocated $160,000 in grants through the Network Tasman Charitable Trust to individuals and groups doing amazing work to

support the community.”

Communications officer at Nelson Surf Lifesaving Club, Mary Seelen, says the club will use the grant that they received from Network Tasman Trust for subscription costs for their GPS tracking devices used by their Search and Rescue squad.

“There would be at least ten rescues a year where this equipment would be used. Callouts can often be quite tricky situations and the Coast Guard and Nelson Surf Lifesaving works in together on those rescues and this equipment just makes it better for everybody.”

Campgrounds prepare for busy New Year period

KATE RUSSELL

Campgrounds across Nelson are preparing for a busy New Year period, with bookings already at capacity for most providers.

Most of Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park’s 600 sites and 89 units have already been snapped up for the New Year period, according to chief executive David Pattinson.

“We are certainly very full at the beginning of January, and the bookings are looking good for the latter part of the month, too,” he says.

The peak season for the holiday park is traditionally between 27 December - 10 January and David says they are also seeing a lot more “walk-ins” this year.

“There are a lot more holidaymakers around and compared to last year we have stronger bookings for a longer period.”

Bookings were strong from Canterbury, West Coast, and Marlborough campers, he says.

“We are traditionally a very South Island-based destination, but we are already seeing overseas tourists coming back and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

The Maitai Valley Motor Camp is booked to “maximum capacity” from a few days before Christmas

Airport sees 70,000 through holiday period

Nelsonians are welcoming friends and family for the holiday season, as domestic and international travellers flock to the region with almost 70,000 people passing through the airport over the three-week holiday period of 19 December to 8 January.

through to mid-January, according to Nelson City Council’s manager of parks and facilities, Rosie Bartlett.

“At the Brook Valley Holiday Park, demand for campsites is up compared to the same period last year.”

The new managers of the Cable Bay Holiday Park, Bert Wilkinson and Matt Sutton, confirmed they are also “heavily booked” over this period.

“We have 32 sites and 31 are booked,” says Bert.

They took over the campground on 1 October and say they are expecting to come into some “crazy times” this summer.

“We are hoping it will be smooth sailing for the season.”

Local baches have also been snapped up for the New Year period, with research from Bachcare showing that holiday home rental bookings are up 71 per cent in the Nelson region compared to this time last year.

Bachcare’s head of revenue, Nick Peirce, says prior to the pandemic, 15 per cent of their bookings came from international guests, however, this will increase to 21 per cent over the coming summer. “What we can see from the data is that overseas visitors are increasingly choosing holiday home rentals and will make up over a fifth of our bookings during the coming peak season.”

The Experts in Denture Care

Nelson Denture Clinic

Friday 23 December will be the busiest day with 3,089 Air New Zealand passengers arriving and departing. 2614 will pass through on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Chief executive Mark Thompson says the airport is preparing for the demand by increasing car parking capacity and they have increased customer service availability.

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CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL: Nelson’s much-loved Nelson Cathedral Christmas Tree Festival is now in full swing, with 70 trees on display this year. From teacups to icing - community groups, schools and organisations from around the city have thought of plenty of creative ways to decorate their trees. One of the festival committee members, Judith Fitchett, says they have had plenty of visitors so far and the trees will be on display until 15 January. “It’s a lovely intergenerational event with lots of grandparents, grandchildren and school groups visiting.”

The festival, which started in 2008, also boasts a lunch time concert each weekday at 1pm up until today. From left are festival committee members David Lucas, Judith Fitchett and Joc Smith. Photo: Kate Russell.

Network Tasman Trust chairperson Gwenny Davis. Photo: Supplied.

Man stabbed woman in ‘cowardly attack’

TRACY NEAL Open Justice Reporter

Trouble arrived uninvited when Anthony Archbold turned up at a house where a group of people had arrived home from a night on the town.

The melee on the night of June 4 last year ended with a 19-year-old woman rushed to hospital with only minutes to spare after the knife Archbold had plunged into her back punctured her lung.

The victim, her partner and her sister-in-law had returned to the home of some friends after they’d all been out at a local bar.

“It was a cowardly stab to the back, and she never saw it coming,” Judge Tony Zohrab told the Nelson District Court on Friday. “It seems that she expected for a moment that she might have ended up dead.”

Archbold was sentenced to nine months’ home detention after earlier admitting charges of wounding with reckless disregard, two charges of burglary and another of carrying a knife in a public place.

The victim had at the time been protecting her sister-in-law, who knew Archbold, from his aggressive stance when he turned up at their Nelson address unannounced and unexpectedly.

The night ended with Archbold arrested after he burgled two properties in the Nelson suburb of Stoke and was found by police, carrying a large machete.

The 25-year-old, who’s been a meth user since the age of 14which “really kicked in” in his late teens - managed to convince the court he had made huge gains in turning his life around, including what he’d learned during time in custody while waiting to be sentenced when he worked full time in the kitchen.

Defence lawyer Mark Dollimore said Archbold had also been a role model and mentor while on a residential rehabilitation programme.

He said Archbold’s meth use had been a big contributor to his downward spiral, but that he had “fought his way into the queue” to get help in rehab and had worked in the prison kitchen for seven

hours a day while there.

“He was a model prisoner,” Dollimore said. “He’s a completely different individual to the young man who went into Christchurch Men’s Prison.”

Crown lawyer Sophie Day said there were three aggravating features to Archbold’s offending that night, including his use of a weapon which had caused the victim serious injury, plus her vulnerability and the fact she had been living at the address when the offence occurred.

She said another aggravating feature was that in the burglaries which followed, the occupants of the properties had been confronted by Archbold.

On that night he arrived at the home where his ex-partner lived, carrying a bottle of Malibu spirits and showing clear signs he’d already been drinking. An argument began between him and his former partner.

Tensions flared further until the woman was stabbed while defending her sister-in-law. She initially thought she had been punched, then suddenly

realised what had happened and screamed, before she was rushed to hospital, where she collapsed on arrival.

The single stab wound to her back had punctured her lung and she was taken into emergency surgery. For some time afterwards, the victim said it still hurt to breathe, and she has been left with a scar as a daily reminder of what happened.

“She spoke of trying to hold in the blood before she blacked out in hospital,” Judge Zohrab said.

“The doctor told her she had got to hospital with only minutes to spare.”

Archbold had by then left the address and later that night, while in “quite a state”, he burgled the two properties.

He was soon found by police and arrested.

Judge Zohrab said in sentencing Archbold that notwithstanding the serious nature of the offending, the Crown supported home detention.

“That may seem lenient considering the facts, but you have taken significant steps to address is-

sues,” Judge Zohrab said.

Taking into account the almost 10 months Archbold had already spent in custody, the gains made in drug rehab and the fact he now had a full-time job, Judge Zohrab arrived at the sentence of home detention, with standard and special conditions including that he does not consume alcohol or drugs, and that he attend counselling and treatment programmes as directed.

Judge Zohrab said prison would likely set Archbold back from the gains made, and it was better that he was able to continue working. He also ordered emotional harm reparation of $750 to the woman Archbold stabbed.

Archbold left the dock with a warning from Judge Zohrab, who said it would be a shame to see him back before the court again but if the judge did, he’d be going to prison.

35 years since the construction of Nelson’s Dam

Some of the decisions and engineering behind Nelson’s Maitai Dam hit the headlines earlier this year when a 12 metre section of the main pipeline was destroyed by a slip during the August storm event.

The pipeline was successfully repaired three months later thanks to innovative engineering solutions, but the dam itself, which turned 35-years-old earlier this year, and some of the people behind it, also deserve some recognition.

Costing $9.7 million in 1987 (over $20 million today with inflation), the “state-of-the-art” dam took three years to build, but the discussions first started back in the 1930s.

At that time, the government funded the Roding Dam as this supplied water beyond Nelson to Richmond Borough and Waimea County council areas.

In the 1950s the council of the day looked at the Maitai River again, and despite the pipeline part of the scheme being constructed in 1963, the dam was postponed due to financial concerns.

However, by the 1970s the town supply was at risk of contamination and running out in dry spells, so the debate ignited once again.

Former deputy mayor Seddon Marshall, a councillor of 33

years (1968 to 2001) was very much in the thick of things.

“We had some pretty irate people,” he says. People were concerned about environmental issues, water flows, costs, biodiversity, earthquakes and the dam bursting.

Despite this, he says that the severe water restrictions in the 1960s, whereby truckloads of

galvanised watering cans needed to be transported to the city for watering gardens, were still front of mind for many people. A feasibility study was commissioned in 1981, and despite some vocal concerns he says that “the community as a whole appreciated the need for the dam.”

And in 1984 the council gave the go-ahead for the dam ... but

not after many reports and even more fierce debates!

Former councillor Kerry Neal says that one of the big debates centred around the location of the dam.

“Originally it was meant to be downstream of the Forks, taking in both the South and North branches. So the current location was a compromise to en-

sure that the Southern branch remained untouched” as it was considered an important spawning and rearing area for trout.

Unfortunately, Seddon says, it “became a lot more complex” due to that decision.

Works Engineer David Faulkner finalised the designs for the new Maitai Water Supply Scheme in 1984 – a 36-metre-high earthfill dam with the capacity to hold four million cubic metres of water that spans 32 hectares.

And with the mayor out of town, Seddon was given the unenviable task of signing the 600-page contract.

“I had to read and initial every single page,” he says.

Under the careful oversight of the Chair of Works committee Ian Gourdie, construction started later that year and the work was completed in 1987.

“Ian was a great strategist and a great guy as a councillor,” says Kerry. “It wasn’t a simple task, but he had the unique ability to be able to take stress and overcome obstacles.”

And while the Maitai Dam holds lots of water, it isn’t the source of the city’s water supply. Instead, the dam was designed to hold water that could be released at times of need to maintain the flows in the river, but is still there as a back-up in times of peak summer demand.

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Maitai Dam during its construction in 1987. Photo: Supplied.

Rachel Boyack to run again in 2023

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

Nelson MP Rachel Boyack has confirmed she will once again be the Labour Party’s candidate for the Nelson electorate, in the 2023 general election.

“It’s an honour to be selected to run as the Labour candidate for Nelson again,” Boyack said. “I have a strong commitment to this area, and I have worked hard over the last two years to deliver outcomes for Nelson.”

Rachel says Labour has a “strong record of delivery for Nelson,” saying that since she

was elected in 2020 she has successfully advocated for several projects for the region, including securing funding to go towards a major rebuild of Nelson Hospital, increasing the number of community homes and committing $36 million to upgrade housing infrastructure, and delivering greater transport options for locals in walking, cycling, and public transport funding.

Rachel has also introduced the Thomas Cawthron Trust Amendment Bill to parliament to modernise the governance arrangements of the Cawthron Institute Trust

Board, and passed the Plain Language Bill which will require government agencies to clearly communicate with the public.

“I have a proven track record of delivering for Nelson as part of a Labour Government,” she says.

“I’m energised, and excited to be Labour’s candidate in the next general election. Bring on 2023.”

Other parties have yet to officially select their candidates for the region.

A National Party spokesperson confirmed the party’s selection process for the 2023

election was “well underway.”

Applications for National’s Nelson candidate are currently open and will close on Wednesday 11 January. It’s expected that a candidate will be selected by the party by the end of February.

Current ACT list MP Chris Baillie ran for Nelson in 2020 and confirmed he would be putting his name forward to do the same in 2023, but said the decision is ultimately one for the ACT party.

A Green Party spokesperson also confirmed that their candidates will be selected in the new year.

Loving lifeguarding

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

Summer is now here and while locals often head down to the beach or up to the rivers for a dip, many also flock to one of the region’s pools for a swim. But we wouldn’t be able to use the pools at all if it weren’t for the lifeguards.

Scott White and Tayte Jordan find the job to be incredibly rewarding.

Tayte got into the job a couple of months ago after wanting a change of pace after asphalting for two years.

With a background of swimming competitively as a child, applying for the job when saw the advert was “a no-brainer.”

She loves seeing people work up their confidence in the pool.

“It’s nice to be a part of that journey, especially for kids but even for adults, a lot of adults can’t swim,” she says. “If you can get them from being wary

of it, to being more comfortable around water, you’re winning.”

Scott has done Ironman Triathlons and has managed his own pool and gym in Auckland so he is no stranger to the water, but it’s the connections he has made that has kept him in the job.

“It’s the people that make the job great, not just the crew, though we do have a great crew,” he says.

Lifeguarding isn’t just keeping an eye on swimmers. Scott and Tayte enjoy watching the kids have manu competitions (a manu is a waterbomb where you enter the water in a V-shape, tailbone first, to make a huge splash).

“We’re not just lifeguards,” Tayte says. “We’re there to keep you safe, but we’re also there to let them have fun and blow off steam.”

“Watching a five-year-old jump off the three-metre board is

fabulous,” Scott agrees. “There was a kid up there who was literally shaking with fear, and he still did it, and they feel ten feet tall when they get out.”

The job also brings a bit of variety, with lifeguards even occasionally taking over the receptionist desk.

“It’s nice that no two days are the same,” Scott says.

Even the workplace can change, with lifeguards sometimes switching between the Nayland, Riverside, and Richmond pools when needed.

For Scott, the skills acquired from lifeguarding have had a flow-on effect for his wider day-to-day life.

“From a life skill perspective, I feel a lot more confident in my daily life with first aid and lifeguarding.”

Scott White and Tayte Jordan are enjoying their jobs as lifeguards. Photo: Max Frethey.

Rachel Boyack was elected to represent Nelson in 2020 and is seeking to do the same in 2023. Photo: Sara Hollyman.

Berry season kicks off

KATE RUSSELL

Berry season has arrived and it’s shaping up to be a bumper one, according to local growers.

Berry Lands on Appleby Highway, which is owned by Waimea Plains grower family, the Connings, officially opened for pickyour-own berries last Friday. They grow raspberries, boysenberries, and karaka berries which are available for the public to pick, as well as gigantic strawberries. This year they are only open for three weeks, until 8 January.

Manager Josh Koleff says they are on track for a good season if the sun makes an appearance over the next few weeks.

“The strawberries have been a bit slower than usual but once we get some more heat, they will be fine. The raspberries are on track and

the crop looks good considering the weather that winter brought.”

Although it was a rainy start to the pick-your-own side of the business on Friday, Josh expects the next week in the lead-up to Christmas to be “super busy”.

“It’s just another great season in Nelson and we’ve got a great group of staff.”

It’s also been a good start to the season for Tasman Bay Berries, who are preparing to open their

Christmas Wishlists

It’s the time of year when parents are frantically gathering the last of their children’s wishlists.

The list has more than likely changed 500 times since the beginning of the month, but with just four sleeps to go till the jolly man descends down the chimney, Nelson Weekly asked children from local Kindergartens to draw and explain what they would like from Santa this year.

Greta, 5

I want a unicorn teddy.

roadside stall on Paton Rd to the public in time for Christmas.

Director of operations, Arianna Holland, says that the growing conditions have been amazing and once again there is “huge demand” as the season kicks off.

Boysenberries New Zealand managing director Julian Raine said their harvest in Nelson has just begun and it is going well so far.

They manage about 35ha of boy-

senberries and supply processing berries that go into foods such as ice cream and yoghurt.

“It was a very wet winter - we were the latest ever getting things tied up, but flowering has been quite good.”

He says the bushes have largely recovered after the extreme rain the region experienced over June, July, and August.

“They were a bit stressed coming out of winter, but boysenberries

are a bit more tolerant of water.”

Meanwhile, Tony Mihaka-Rodda, chief grocer at Benge & Co Nelson has noticed a spike in customers shopping around for their fresh fruit - including berries. He says prices are definitely going up, but he is confident of his strong customer base. His advice to shoppers in the lead-up to Christmas is “stick to a habit to save money on fruit and vegetables”.

Matilda, 4

A fake flower, a video game and a love heart teapot.

Layla, 4

Jed, 4

Leandro, 4

Would like Santa to bring Batman Lego with a Bat Mobile and Batman airplane.

Arden, 3

I want a doggie toy.

I want a unicorn, a puppycorn and a baby.

I want an elf and a present.

From left are Christie Gilbert and Annabelle McMiken from Berry Lands during their opening day on Friday. Photo: Kate Russell.

o

Saturday 17 December 9am  –  5pm

Sunday 18 December 10am  –  4pm

Monday 19 December 9am  – 6pm

Tuesday 20 December 9am  –  6pm

Wednesday 21 December 9am  –  8pm

Thursday 22 December 9am  –  8pm

Friday 23 December 9am  –  8pm

Saturday 24 December 9am – 5pm

Sunday 25 December Closed

Monday 26 December Boxing Day 9am  –  6pm

Tuesday 27 December 10am –  4pm

Wednesday 28 – Friday 30 December 9am  –  6pm

Saturday 31 December 9am  –  5pm

Sunday 1 January 10am  –  4pm

Monday 2 January 10am  –  4pm

Tuesday 3 January 10am  –  4pm

Wednesday 4 January: Normal hours

rowandronelectrical.co.nz

Leba Sauira and Kellie Warren

Campbell Rollo, James Hodgson with Charlie Hodgson

John Campbell and Nicki Green

Rachel Tiplady and Simon Perfect Kerry Jimson with Jemima Jimson and Alex Choma

Renee Russell, Michelle Russell and Rowan Hallett

Morgan Scott and Jana King

Geoffrey Hammond, Sarah Hammond, Maximillion McCarthy and Sharon Hammond

Maria, Flavia and Lais Carlini

Jesse Byers, Trudy Byers, Daniel Dornbusch, Tano Arico

Young actor bids farewell to Nelson arts scene

Nelson actor Matthew Edgar is preparing to say farewell to the region, having been accepted to study musical theatre at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) in Christchurch next year, but he has one last show to perform before he goes.

“It’s both the end of an era and the start of something new and exciting,” he says.

A prolific actor, singer and dancer, Matthew has performed in more than 500 shows – everything from Smokefreerockquest to pantomime, improv, school productions, youth theatre, music videos, Shakespeare and Nelson Fringe Festival shows – locally, nationally and overseas.

He first started learning musical theatre with SoundStage at age six with teacher and performer Sophie Ricketts, herself a graduate of NASDA.

Since then, he has furthered his knowledge studying singing for seven years with Claire Stanley, dancing with Empire Dance Company, speech with Karen Austin, improvisation with Body in Space, performing Shakespeare with Laura Irish and The Barden Party, and attended a wide range of workshops, summer intensives and courses.

“There’s so much to learn and so many incredibly talented people

in Nelson. I feel lucky to have had so many great people teaching me and supporting me,” says Matthew.

He has also won a number of awards along the way including Silver Award at the 2022 South Island Big Sing Cadenza with NayCol Chorale and Best Delivery of Lines at the Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival in 2021.

“I’ve had so many great opportunities and experiences,” he says.

“Touring with the Barden Party

in America earlier this year, representing New Zealand in the Junior Theatre Celebrations, and performing Grease at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, have been absolute highlights.”

As much as he’s loved the big experiences, he says that he’s loved every show he’s been in.

“I just love performing, but there are so many people involved in a show, not just the actors, and we couldn’t do it without them.”

Festive foods lost in translation

What traditional Christmas foods would these expats have been enjoying this week if they still lived in their home countries? Jo Kent went on a culinary quest to find out how the rest of the world celebrates.

France Franck Sivignon

“In my family, and throughout France, the Christmas tradition is to eat snails. Definitely not a thing here! The snails are boiled first then put back in their shells and covered with garlic butter. Pop in the oven for 10 minutes et voilà. I loved it. We’d serve a dozen eaten with a baguette to soak up the garlic butter from the plate. Yum. Christmas lunch is onion soup, then turkey roast followed by lots of desserts and cheese. We have seven courses, and it typically takes between four and six hours.”

UK Rachel Foulsham

“Pigs in blankets are traditionally only eaten at Christmas in England. They are miniature pork sausages wrapped in bacon and served either as a side to the main turkey roast or as nibbles with drinks during the festive season. It’s all about the size of the sausage, which are called cock-

tail sausages. You just can’t get them here. It’s impossible to eat just one. They are delicious.”

America Lauren Loghry

“I really miss eggnog. I was younger when I lived in America, so I used to drink the non-alcoholic version. It’s traditionally made with milk, cream, sugar and eggs and spiced with nutmeg or cinnamon. We’d have it during the entire Christmas season. It’s a big tradition over there.”

Holland Maarten van Geldermalsen

“I remember eating Kerstkrans at Christmas which we called Christmas Circle. It’s made with a long pastry sheet wrapped around a mix of almond flour, sugar, grated lemon rind and egg and with the ends joined to make a circle before baking. It’s decorated with reduced apricot jam, cherries and angelica.”

He says that the last few years during Covid have been hard with so many shows cancelled including ‘Children of the Poor’ in 2020 and ‘Mary Poppins’ in 2021, both of which cancelled within one week of opening.

“It’s pretty gutting when you’ve put your heart and soul into something for months, but I wasn’t alone.”

He’s looking forward to his last

show in Nelson, ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)’ at Fairfield House alongside Imogen Vlugter and Myles Smalley. “We’re having so much fun rehearsing – it’s such a hilarious show.”

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) performs at Fairfield House, Nelson Monday 9 January to Friday 13 January 2023 at 6.30pm.

Upcoming Talking Cafés

Tuesday 10th January 10-11 30am

Burning Edge Café, 98 Main Road, Tapawera

Tuesday 10th January 1 30-3pm

Richmond Library, 280 Queen Street, Richmond

Thursday 12th January 10-11 30am

Nightingale Library, 2 Beach Road, Tāhunanui

Tuesday 17th January 10-11 30am

McCashin s Brewery, 660 Main Road Stoke

Wednesday 25th January 1 30-3pm

Halifax Café, 28 Halifax Street, Nelson

Front: Michaela Carruthers, back from left: Becky Davies, Michaela Smith, and Matthew Edgar during a 2018 production of Alice in Wonderland. Photo: Supplied.

Have your say: sara@topsouthmedia.co.nz facebook.com/nelsonweekly

Thanks to Nelson Hospital

I would personally like to thank St John Ambulance, Nelson Hospital Nurses, and Doctors for the care shown to my husband Chris from the date of his serious accident on June the 4th this year. In particular Dr A.J and staff of Ward 9 and 10. Without their care and dedication Chris wouldn’t be where he is now. You lovely people often work under extreme pressure but still manage to smile and show care and empathy along the way.

Merry Christmas and Thankyou to you all.

Leanne Gambell

Ratepayers pushed

to limit

Is it any wonder that Nelson council is contemplating a 17 per cent rate rise in July, when it can afford to write off $85,000 in development levies for a wealthy corporation? I have heard from numerous sources that council is quietly discussing how to bring down a 20 per cent rate rise to something closer to 15 per cent. Ratepayers are going to be pushed out of their homes because council cannot get a handle on financial management.

Dan McGuire

Waimea Rd to reopen

Would like to think those affected businesses on the corner have

been compensated for the noise, dust, & especially loss of revenue.

Robin Westrupp

Yes, about time!

Trisha Strickland

Well done with the progress so far.

Dennis Goodman

I quite like the temporary roundabouts, should leave them in situ!

Katie Ben

Wish they’d fix the dangerously rough intersection at Examiner St. I’ve asked them directly and through council. Their response? “we’re monitoring it”!

Doug Barry-Martin

About time, with the increased

traffic expected!

Karen Winton

Ready for another stormwater upgrade and reseal in two years!

Liam Ryan

Wikitoria cabin community opens

Fabulous mahi. Rochelle Johnson-Harawira

How exciting. Michelle Ashby

Most of the cabins at the Brook Street Holiday Park are vacant and there’s a bus service to and from said park.

John Gray

Businesses are hurting – greater police presence needed

We need more cops being trained up. There’s just not enough of them.

Helen Thompson

Might have to start paying for it, they look to be charging for police to be at some events soon.

Brian Bishop

The crime culture change in NZ is so sad. Something has to be done with tougher penalties and less excuses. Fifty years ago we didn’t even have a key to lock our house back door. no one locked their house doors or cars, and they were all safe.

Diane Chandler

Hira celebrates two decades

Congrats Trish, all the best. Joanie Wilson

Sue Grey apologises to judge

Nelson needs her! Glen Baumfield

Supporters outside included a Goat and a Dog. Robin Whalley

Funniest thing I’ve read all day. Micayla Lowden

Showing how desperate they are what a joke! Traceyanne Orlowski

Nelson Special Olympics return with haul of medals and memories

Nelson’s Special Olympics basketball team have returned home with some new bling after finishing third at nationals.

Their result comes alongside a string of impressive performances by local sportspeople at the Freemasons Special Olympic Nationals in Hamilton earlier this month.

The athletics team of Lisa Donald, Maggie Duff, Nigel Fearn, Stephanie Keeley and Charles Shaw brought home five gold, four silver and two bronze medals, as well as nine ribbons.

The swim team notched up a total of 12 total medals, including five golds and multiple personal best times, and the four-person golf team all brought back medals from their various divisions.

But, it was the team of 10 basketballers who were glowing with pride as they arrived home with shiny bronze medals slung around their necks after putting on the club’s greatest performance in its 35 year history, having gone into the tournament with a previous best result of sixth.

In their grading games, wins over Auckland, Waikato and Canterbury earned a place in division one of the tournament, where they won against Auckland and Manawatu/North Taranaki but lost to Canterbury and Counties.

Captained by Sean Tremlett, the basketball team of Dale Smit, Irene Marsters, Suzzane Mohekey (vice captain), Shannon Brandford, Oscar Dorrington, Graeme Porter, Ryan Turner-Maxwell, Dean Skinner and William MacDonald can go into Christmas break content that they exceeded all expectations.

Head coach Wayne Bowen, who

has coached Special Olympic basketball and athletics for longer than he is prepared to acknowledge and was recently named as the head coach of the New Zealand Athletics team for the World Championships in Germany next year, says he’s really proud of the way the team delivered for each other.

“We created upsets with superi-

or fitness, speed and strategy, the team rose above themselves, a real joy to coach.”

After training every Wednesday year-round through the generous support of Nayland College and their facilities, the team were confident in their abilities.

Sean, who has also captained the New Zealand Special Olympic team on the world stage alongside

four other Nelson teammates, says he was proud of the way his team performed when they needed to in game-deciding moments. “These most recent nationals is the best that Nelson has ever performed. At the last nationals, in Wellington, we achieved a sixth place, so we wanted to do better this time round and I couldn’t be any prouder of the team.

“On behalf of the team I wish to say a massive thank you to Wayne Bowen for everything he has done for us.

“We achieved our goal and we gave it everything, but we couldn’t do it without Wayne, he is an amazing coach.”

Wayne says basketball acts as a fantastic avenue to find benefits which extend “far beyond” the game. “It’s a family, a community where everyone is accepted, we all belong. The tapestry that holds it all together is a passion for basketball,”

He also wanted to thank their large list of sponsors who help make their goals a possibility with their “generous, community-minded, local company support (that) hugely shaped this result”. The Summer Games closing ceremony was cancelled due to the risk of Covid-19, with plans to hold an event before Christmas.

Tricky tide catches out the unwary

PETER GIBBS

Nelson Harbour put on a perfect night for more than 100 swimmers in the fifth race of the Rylock Swim Series on Thursday.

Overcast skies meant there was no glare from the setting sun as swimmers set off on a kilometre course in calm seas.

The only fly in the ointment was the outgoing tide pushing swimmers south, which did create some interesting tactics.

While most of the leaders took a straight line from the yacht club to the ‘dolphin’ navigation marker, Tasman school teacher Hayden Squance headed right in hopes that the tide would drift him across to the mark.

His strategy didn’t work out as he planned, finding himself behind Harrison Dean but ahead of Josef

Scott, Terry Bone, Lilly Claridge, Lucas Bell, Sophie Pahl and Emily Chadderton coming into the second leg.

Hamish Neill had started on the left hand of the course and lost touch with the lead group.

On leg two across towards Rocks Rd, the tide created more problems, with many swimmers swept towards the beach.

Hayden kept a straight line, passing Harrison, while Hamish moved into fifth, passing the three leading women who were all swept right.

The third leg was a straight slog against the tide to the final buoy just off the yacht club ramp and nothing much changed at the front, with Hayden covering the kilometre in a brisk 11 minutes 11 seconds, four seconds ahead of Harrison before a gap back to

Josef, Terry and Hamish.

Lilly finished sixth overall, just ahead of Lucas, with Sophie and Emily in virtually a dead heat to take out the second and third women’s spots.

Back in the field, Tahuna GP Stephen Neas continued his impressive improvement, knocking nearly two minutes off his time from comparable swims a year ago.

Perhaps because of Christmas festivities, numbers were down a little, but there were still several new faces as out-of-town visitors joined in.

Amy Young raced competitively for the first time in several years, pushing many regular swimmers hard, while 75-year-old Phil Morrison took a break from his normal haunt of Oriental Bay for his first Nelson swim.

In the short race over about 600m, Nia Linyard continued her unbeaten run ahead of Keshia Old, having her first swim of the season. Grace van Orden celebrated her second swim, coming third again.

The Rylock series is co-sponsored by Port Nelson.

Full results and information at nel sonseaswims.co.nz.

The Nelson basketball team huddles up listening to head coach Wayne Bowen (centre) at the Freemasons Special Olympic Nationals in Hamilton earlier this month. Photo: Supplied.

Stephen Neas was delighted with his swim as he came out of the water last week having sheared a minute off his times from 12 months ago. Photo: Jan Thompson.

Fishing News

The challenges of spring

COREY PARSONS

Spring conditions, and the knowledge that a kayak is very much a vulnerable vessel, are a recipe for what can be a frustrating hobby - Kayak Fishing.

The conditions need to be right and we need to be well prepared, ensuring a safe return to the family and, hopefully, a feed for them too.

This can involve hours of discussing game plans with mates, too much time spent looking over forecasts, scratching your head – “what on earth the forecast even mean?”

Then, checking against local knowledge of the Tasman Bay, deciding which model best fits. All this, thinking you have picked a stunner, only to turn up at the beach and not even take the yak off the car. After a 3:30am wake up – gutted!

Safety first though, as no fish is worth a life.

However, when things line up and the wind stays away it can be a highly rewarding past time.

Meeting new and interesting people has to be one of the major bonuses and it seems that most kayak fisho’s tend to look out for each other and go the extra mile to help.

The sunrises alone are worth the kilometres of paddling in the pursuit of ‘a feed’.

‘Cause let’s be honest, the main reason most people get into this yak fishing addiction, is to get a feed and not have to spend a ton of money doing it.

The fitness and health benefits are secondary to a wonderful way to fish.

And sometimes, when the stars align you can even snag a stonker of a fish anyone would be envious of.

Local sports presenter wins Olympic silverware

JACK MALCOLM

Kristina Eddy has the dream job of many sports fans, travelling the world for Sky Sport to cover some of the biggest sporting events.

As a presenter and reporter, she has attended the most recent editions of the summer and winter Olympic Games and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games to cover all of the action from the ground.

When she’s not globe trotting around the world, Kristina is based in Auckland but still travels around the country covering everything from the New Zealand Men’s Timbersport Championship to appearing on the Sky Speed show alongside motorsport legend Greg Murphy.

Kristina grew up locally, attending Nelson Girls College where it became clear that covering the news was something that she wanted to pursue.

After multiple teachers suggested she might be suited to working in the media, Kristina spent a month in Ghana while still in high school doing work experience for Metro TV, their state-owned version of TVNZ.

“It was all sorts of news-based reporting. I think I did one story on football, but it was everything from (covering) protests, and Ebola was kicking off in West Africa at the time,” she remembers.

After graduating high school, Kristina studied at the New Zealand Broadcasting School in Christchurch before finding employment at Mediaworks as a sports reporter on TV3’s Newshub.

“For some reason, sports reporting wasn’t seen as much of a pathway, but I’m in the right spot, and I love it,” she says. “We got so lucky with the Tokyo Summer Olympics, we came back and went straight into the Winter Olympics and then the Commonwealth Games.”

It’s not all rosy being a television reporter, however.

Alongside facing the full force of Tokyo’s summer heat and a

Beijing winter, Kristina stands at 5 ‘2 and regularly has to conduct interviews with athletes on a ladder so they can be at the same eye level for the camera.

At the Tokyo games, the stepladder her cameraman brought her started to melt after two weeks out in the sun.

“When I interviewed (former world #8 tennis player) John Isner, we made him sit on this tall box thing to be the same height as me standing,” she laughs.

Kristina’s reporting saw her travel around the country sharing the stories of some of our Olympic hopefuls as they prepared for the Winter Games in Beijing.

Her coverage of Nico Porteous’s journey as he looked to improve on a halfpipe bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics when he was 16 years old was awarded bronze for ‘Best Athlete Profile’ at the 2022 Olympic Golden Rings Awards.

“I was so stoked for us to make the top three in the first place. . . I saw us up against CBC and NBC, whose production qual-

ity and budgets are next level. “Credit goes to him (Nico). He’s an incredible athlete and had a great story to tell.”

Nico would go on to win the gold medal at the 2022 games, with Kristina saying that the added background of spending days shooting the preview had heightened the tension. “One beauty doing these stories before you go. . . you see the effort.

“We knew what was on the line for him, being there at the top of the halfpipe knowing he had one run to put down the run he wanted.”

Her highlights also include watching the ‘magic hour’ at the Tokyo games.

Kristina was right in the thick of the action as the men’s rowing eight won the country’s first gold medal in the event in nearly 50 years, following up the silver won by the women’s eight, their first medal in the event since 1976, and a gold by Emma Twigg in the women’s single sculls. “It was one after the other and all this history playing out in front of you, developing one of the greatest Olympic moments.”

Brought to you by:

Fishing gear from Deep Blue, Outboards from Mercury

STIHL SHOP MARINE

Kristina Eddy, pictured onsite at the Winter Olympics, and Sky New Zealand were awarded a bronze for ‘Best Athlete Profile’ at the 2022 Olympic Golden Rings Awards for her coverage of halfpipe skier Nico Porteous’s road to Beijing. Photo: Supplied.

Community Notices

MONDAY

PHILOSOPHY CLUB meets 2nd & 4th Mon of the month. 10am, Melrose House. Continuing with "How do you know if you're really real?" Ph: Zoe 027 974 1758

WOULD YOU LIKE A BIKE? Bike Hub Nelson accepts donations of good used bikes, fixes them up and gives them away for a small koha. Come and see us at 142 Saxton Rd Mon 5.30-7pm. For other opening times and a map E: bikehubnelson@ gmail.com

ACTING UP DRAMA GROUP Mon 10.30- 12pm, Whakatu Presbyterian Church Hall. 271 Songer St Stoke. New members welcome. Ph: Anne 538 0400.

FITNESS & FRESH-AIR. Mon & Thurs 12pm. FREE outdoor exercise program for seniors. 30 mins walk & 30 mins use of outdoor exercise equipment at Saxton & Tāhunanui. Fun & enjoyable. Practice strength & balance. Ph: Ange 021 790 415.

TUESDAY

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ Tues 10 Jan, 10- 11.30am. Burning Edge Café, Tapawera. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection and finding out about groups, activities and services. www.wellby.org.nz 03 5467681.

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ Tues 10 Jan, 1.30-3pm. Richmond Library. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection and finding out about groups, activities, and services. www.wellby.org.nz. Ph: 03 546 7681.

COFFEE & CROSS Want to talk to someone about God, church, Jesus? No catch - join me for coffee at YAZA, 11-12 Tues. I'll listen. Rev. Gordon, wearing a Cross & Collar.

SIT AND BE FIT Tues 11-11.45am, Victory Community Centre. Enjoy Exercising sitting down. Keep your heart healthy and lose that “lockdown loaf” while listening to great music! A great way to make friends and meet new people. COST: $4

STOKE CENTRAL COMBINED PROBUS Wishes everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. Next meeting will be Tues 4th Feb, 10am. Stoke Methodist Church Hall, 94 Neale Avenue, stoke.

WEDNESDAY

PLAY PÉTANQUE at Nelson pétanque club. Wed and Sun. 1.15pm -3 .00pm. A game for all ages. Come along and try us out. Ph: Roger or Shirley 546 6562.

THURSDAY

START-UP TAI CHI every Thurs 9-10am. Victory Community Centre. Tai chi is often described as "meditation in motion," but it might well be called "medication in motion". Join Jingjing from the Healing Hut for this gentle form of exercise that can help maintain strength, flexibility, and balance. It could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life.

COST: $50 for 8 weeks

FRIDAY

COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE every Fri, 9-11.30am. Victory Community Centre. Designed to make treatment affordable and accessible for all. Dress comfortably in loose fitting clothing so you can roll up your pants and sleeves. Cost: Sliding Scale - $5 - $40.

AIKIDO Want to learn self-defence and become more confident? Do AIKIDO a Japanese Martial Art.

DEADLINE: 10AM FRIDAY

50 WORDS OR LESS BY EMAIL ONLY

SEND TO: myevent@nelsonweekly.co.nz

We have children’s classes from 8 -16yrs Wed & Fri 5-6pm. Check out www.aikidonelson.nz or Ph: Callum 021 069 4211.

AMPUTEE SOCIETY Top of the South meet last Friday of the month for coffee and a chat at the Honest Lawyer around 10am. Outside if sunny –inside if wet. Bring a friend or support person. Look forward to seeing you there.

SATURDAY / SUNDAY

PRETTY CRAFTY Christmas Eve Market. Sat 24 Dec, 10-2pm.Richmond Town Hall. Last-minute stressfree shopping from a range of quality, affordable, locally made gifts. With refreshments & live music plus free gift wrapping and kids craft corner. Gold coin koha entry welcomed to a local cause. Ph 021 0246 5396.

NELSON RAILWAY Founders Park. The Railcar will be running on Sat 24 Dec. We are closed on Christmas Day. Check Facebook for timetable from Boxing Day.

NELSON SPIRITUALIST CHURCH weekly service Sunday 7pm-8pm. Corner Tipahi and Motueka Sts.

GENERAL GROUPS

NELSON CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS TREE Until-15 Jan. Daily 8.30 – 7pm. Late night Fridays 30 Dec.

THE SUTER ART SOCIETY Summer Exhibition. “Pay and Collect” until - 22 Jan. A selection of small paintings ideal for giving or posting to friends.

NELSON TASMAN HOSPICE Trees of Remembrance around the region. Until 24 Dec, Nelson & Richmond Farmers, Nelson & Stoke New World, Richmond Mall. 2–9 December, Motueka House of Travel & Mapua Wharf. Remember loved ones and

raise much needed funds. All money raised locally stays locally.

BEYOND THE FACE EXHIBITION by Age Concern Nelson Tasman. Until 27 Jan, 9-5pm. Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows. Come along and find out the interesting story behind the face.

COULD YOU VOLUNTEER on a Thurs or Mon morning 8.30-10am to assist elderly people on and off our van? And take them to our day activity programme in Annesbrook Drive. Please Ph: Maaike 03 2655224 email maaikef@psusi.org.nz

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN wanting to make a difference in the life of a child? We are looking for caring Christian people who are willing to open their home to care for a child/young person. To find out more, Ph: Mika at Open Home Foundation 027 461 0497 mika.ito@ohf.org.nz.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - Is alcohol causing problems for you in your life? Want to stop drinking but can't? Maybe we can help. Support meetings every day. Call 0800aaworks 0800 229 6757.

SURVIVORS AND THRIVERS If you have or have had cancer, supporting someone with cancer come and meet others in this friendly atmosphere. Register info@cancernelson.org.nz or P: 539 1137 for details.

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP. Cancer Society Nelson 102 Hardy Street, if you have or have had breast cancer come along to this friendly atmosphere. Register 539 1137 or info@cancernelson.org.nz.

BIRDLIFE CENTRE OF NEW ZEALAND needs volunteer pest trappers in the Centre of NZ Reserve in Nelson city. No experience needed; full training given. If you are interested, reasonably fit and can spare two hours a fortnight Ph: Gretchen 021 266

3867.

FEELING SAD, STRESSED, DEPRESSED, OR STUCK? Identify and explore new ways to move forward with a Life Linc Counsellor. Up to 10 face to face counselling sessions available now for individuals and couples. 548 2400 lifelinc.co.nz

LUNG CANCER CONNECT for those who are going through or who have gone through lung cancer Register 539 1137.

NELSON WOODTURNING CLUB. Join us at our club rooms for Turning, camaraderie and sharing of knowledge. New Learn to Turn classes starting soon. Ph: or txt Allan for more information 021 543 345.

ST JOHN COMMUNITY SHOP friendly and fit volunteer needed to assist with furniture deliveries and donation pick-ups around Nelson. Ph: Stacie 03 548 8598 or visit instore 46 Rutherford St, weekdays 10am - 4.30pm.

ENLIVEN POSITIVE AGEING social and activity groups. Looking for volunteers to help on vans or chat, make tea, help games etc. Ph: Trish 265 5224.

NELSON TASMAN HOSPICE Need volunteers to help in Nelson, Richmond, Motueka and Takaka Hospice Shops. Volunteering is a great chance to meet new people, gain new skills and help your Hospice. Morning or afternoon availability appreciated. Ph: 03 546 3912 or Email Krisca.gould@ nelsonhospice.org.nz

GROW Needing help. Use a Program and Method. We are here for your mental health. Koha appreciated. Ph: Patricia 547-6120.

KIDS YOGA 6-12 years old in bright new studio in Tahuna. Book 03 545 8289 info@cancernelson.org. nz or Ph: 539 1137.

Community notices are free to community groups, schools, churches, gold coin donation events and fundraising only. For classified ads and public notices please call 548 5900 Due to the popularity of this column, while every effort will be made, inclusion cannot be guaranteed for free ads.

PRIVATE NOTICE

Full

blogspot.com

SITUATIONS VACANT

Tahunanui Community Hub

MANAGER - TAHUNANUI COMMUNITY HUB

• Great opportunity to make a difference in your community

• Part-time flexible hours

• Multi-faceted role

The community of Tahunanui is connected, resilient and has a sense of pride and belonging. The Tahunanui Community Hub provides a safe, warm and welcoming place for our community to access support and enjoy social interaction knowing that great collaboration exists to achieve the best outcomes for the people in our community.

ALLIANCE – SEASONAL TEAM MEMBERS

Are

give us a shout, but if you’ll be coming in fresh and just keen to learn and earn - that’s good too, we can train you up! We’re recruiting Butchers, Boners, Halal Slaughterers, and Labourers.

Ngā painga - what’s in it for you?

• Butchers: potential to earn an average of $1,365 based on a 40-hour working week, exclusive of overtime

• Boners: potential to earn an average of $1,374 based on a 40-hour working week, exclusive of overtime

• Halal Slaughterers: potential to earn an average of $1,353 based on a 40- hour working week, exclusive of overtime

• Labourers: earn a minimum of $26.50 per hour across a day, inclusive of allowances

• Minimum of 30 hours a week, usually 45 hours a week

• Up to 7 months of full-time seasonal employment

• Upskill yourself with an opportunity to gain NZQA qualifications

• Receive ongoing training and support

• Access to free onsite health services including a nurse, physiotherapist, counsellor

• Access to our free employee assistance programme

Ō pūkenga - about you

• You are eligible to work in New Zealand

• You will pass a pre-employment drug test and medical assessment

• You are willing and able to follow and respect workplace health and safety

• You enjoy working within a team environment

• You are physically fit, committed, and reliable

Apply online at www.alliancejobs.co.nz, by emailing nelson.botas@alliance.co.nz, or visit us at the Nelson Plant, 910 Main Rd Stoke, 7011.

at www.alliance.co.nz

This is a great opportunity to manage and develop the services at TCH improving connections across the community, reducing social isolation and making the Hub environment a place where people can connect socially and get the services they need.

Key responsibilities of the role include staff and volunteer management, reporting to and liaising with the board, planning new services, programmes and activities, building strong relationships with stakeholders and completing funding applications. Day to day responsibilities include activities coordination, developing and implementing systems, health & safety and quality management and the preparation of budgets and financial reports.

If you have strong management and finance skills with a passion about making a positive difference in our community and enabling others to do the same – we would love to hear from you. Key to your success in the role will be your ability to network and build strong working relationships and provide great support to all internal and external stakeholders. A high level of integrity and discretion is essential, along with a drive for outstanding customer service.

Along with your CV please include a cover letter outlining your availability, skills and experience that you could bring to the role.

A job description is available from the Chairperson Jac Stevenson email robjacwave@hotmail.com.

Applications to the above email by 15 January 2023.

A Christ directed invitation by minister James of the Braithwaite family to a celebration of agreement has been received and accepted by Richard John [Russell].

text of the Celebration invitation may be viewed at allcreatorsgifts.