Councillors consider wet wipe ‘rebellion’
MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter
Frustrations about flushed wet wipes costing ratepayers thousands of dollars are reaching their
boiling point in Tasman. Of the 49 wastewater pump station blockages that occurred from January to July, 26 were caused by flushed wet wipes, and a further 8 were caused by flushed items of
clothing. The Jenkins pump station in Riwaka, which only serves around 50 properties, is responsible for 9 of the 26 wipe blockages. Flushed underwear also continues to be a problem in Māpua.
The costs of clearing only the blockages until June reached $28,900. The cost of clearing last year’s blockages exceeded $39,000.
This year’s growing cost comes as flushed wet wipes, and oil and grease, caused a sewerage overflow in Motueka that was notified last week.
The overflow has resulted in a
PAGE 2
Big day out for Kahurangi
Kahurangi’s six Mako players East Timor Viliami, left, Tim Sail, Jack Gray, Hunter Leppien, Joshua Te Hira and Louie Chapman with Tito Elisara jumping in too, after the match against Otago.
Photo Supplied/ Lucy Te Hira. Full story on Page 2.
Big day out for Kahurangi
FROM PAGE 1
Tasman Trophy Champions Kahurangi provided six players for the vastly revamped Tasman Mako side that took on Otago on Saturday.
With so many players stars rested including Kahurangi’s Levi Aumua and Willy Havili, halfback Louie Chapman was elevated to the captaincy while winger Jack Gray returned from the shoulder injury he sustained in the
Ranfurly Shield victory against Hawke’s Bay.
Lock Hunter Leppien gained a rare start while No.8 East Timor Viliamu was handed his debut.
When E.T was injured, Tim Sail provided some real experience from the bench.
And a huge cheer went up in Dunedin when hugely popular Kahurangi captain and reserve hooker Joshua Te Hira came on to the field.
His parents flew over from Aus-
tralia to watch him play while his local support crew left Nelson at 3am on Saturday to drive to Dunedin, stopped to pick up a passenger in Christchurch and still made it two hours before kick off.
“It was an awesome day. We were getting a little anxious whether Joshua would get any game time but he was finally subbed on with 18 minutes to go,” says Tito Elisara who was the designated driver.
“We stayed on to watch the All Blacks-Wallabies test on television and got back to Nelson on Sunday.”
While Tito, a Nelson Bays midfield back in 2003, is involved with the Riwaka club he wasn’t going to miss out on such a big day for Kahurangi.
As for the match, helped by Jack Gray’s outstanding performance, the Mako stormed to the front and threatened to maintain its unbeaten NPC record this season.
At least the four try bonus point kept Tasman in third place in the NPC, just two points behind Wellington and Taranaki, with a game in hand.
While Otago staged a final quarter comeback of its own to win 47-31, that couldn’t take away from the “Kahurangi Crew’s” day to remember.
Mako will meet Auckland at Trafalgar Park tonight, Wednesday, 2 October.
Councillors consider wet wipe ‘rebellion’
FROM PAGE 1
boil water notice being applied to a swathe of properties southeast of Grey St who get their water from private bores.
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Testing continues to determine whether contaminants have entered the shallow groundwater aquifer under the area, though initial testing is positive.
The overflow resulted in a sucker truck being sent to the area, traffic management for the truck crew, council staff time across a range of departments being taken away from focusing on different priorities, as well as investigations and water sampling.
“It is not difficult to see this one event costing ratepayers thousands possibly up to tens of thousands of dollars,” a council spokesperson said.
Councillors were frustrated by the continued issue of flushed wipes when briefed during a meeting last week.
“This wipes thing is just doing my head in,” Jo Ellis said. “It’s such a waste of money. Can we take some action now and send a letter to the relevant minister to actually get off their butt and do
something about it?”
Christeen Mackenzie shared the sentiment.
“How are we, as a society, thinking bigger about how to solve this problem?” she asked. “It’s as though we just sit here passively and accept that this is acceptable, and we just carry on letting it happen… There should be a rebellion against these products
being available.”
But the council’s waters and waste manager, Mike Schruer, said the Government and the wet wipe industry had taken some action. A new Australia-New Zealand flushability standard was introduced two years ago, but Mike said the flushable wipes didn’t yet comprise the entire wipe market.
“The issue is the non-flushable wipes that you can buy, like for removing makeup and for babies,” he said. “It’s no different to people throwing diapers down the toilet and clothing, we have an issue with people that just don’t care.”
Group manager community infrastructure, Richard Kirby, said that council officers get “very upset” when there are wastewater discharges but said there are probably more blockages slowly building across the reticulation network.
“We really encourage the community to be very careful what they flush down. We’ve made this message several times,” he said. “What frustrates me is that we have these things just randomly occurring and they happen to be more and more frequent.”
While he suggested the council could investigate a bylaw to prohibit retailers from selling non-flushable wipes and send a signal, that could result in court challenges.
Flushed wet wipes and cooking oil tipped down the sink are inflating an almost $30,000 wastewater bill for ratepayers. Photo: TDC.
‘Neighbour is against neighbour’ – beachside community divided
MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter
New proposals limiting where dogs can be exercised have stoked tensions between dog owners and conservationists across Tasman.
Nowhere is this more evident than at the scenic Little Kaiteriteri Beach where “neighbour is against neighbour”.
Currently, dogs are permitted on the beach, except for summer months when they’re only allowed between 5 and 9am.
But Tasman District Council is now proposing to allow dogs on the beach year-round provided they are on leash.
The council’s reasoning for the change would be to simplify the rules while still allowing dogs to exercise and the protection of wildlife.
Little Kaiteriteri is an important site for little blue penguins/ kororā, which have an ‘at-risk/ declining’ conservation status.
However, the site is also one of the district’s most popular for beachgoers, and many homes and baches are within a short walk of the beach.
Mark Oldfield was one of many Little Kaiteriteri homeowners who presented to the panel of councillors overseeing the hearing for the council’s proposed bylaw.
The division of the coastal community is evident to him, he told councillors on Wednesday.
“Most dog owners are good people, and I love dogs myself,” he acknowledged.
“My besties have dogs at Little Kaiteri – although some of those besties, after hearing this submission, might not be such besties in future.”
Citing concerns about fouling, wildlife, and attacks, he would be “more than happy” for the dogs to be prohibited from the beach entirely, as they are across the bay at Kaiteriteri Beach.
But Oldfield’s perspective wasn’t shared by all in the neighbourhood.
Anna Perkins said the beach was a recreation reserve, not a wildlife reserve.
“It needs to be a space that is shared and respected and can be used by all.”
The problem, she said, lay with a minority of bad dog owners who didn’t respect the rules, and good dog-owning residents shouldn’t have to lose the “special” morning hours that they share with each other and their pets.
Retired vet Kathleen Lloyd represented an informal group of dog owners in Tasman Bay and was highly critical of the council’s proposal, saying that it demonised dog owners and restricted their freedom of movement.
“It’s simply ludicrous to target alleged harms of dogs and to give a free pass to all existing developments and human activities.”
Similarly to Perkins, she said the proposed bylaw would punish good dog owners and ignored the real problem of wandering dogs that were unaccompanied by their owners.
She rejected the idea of dogs being consigned from beaches to dog parks, which she likened to
“ghettos”.
But conservationists were equally staunch in their assertions that the presence of dogs negatively affected local wildlife.
Linda Jenkins is a resident of Little Kaiteriteri and a trustee of the Tasman Bay Blue Penguin Trust. She said it was “irrefutable” that dogs kill penguins.
“Notwithstanding little penguins have other predators and threats, dogs are the single-most significant and preventable cause of death of little penguins in urban areas.”
She cited a study which showed that while humans walking along a beach disturbed seabirds 47 per cent of the time, that number jumped to 94 per cent when the people had a dog on a leash, or 100 per cent of the time if the dog was loose.
“Penguins in their burrows will still detect the presence of dogs … and could cause them to abandon their burrow and potentially their chicks and eggs,” she said.
“We need to learn to live with them and not force them out.”
Local ornithologist David Melville reinforced that perspective, saying that while the specific fig-
ures varied between studies, there was an “abundance of research” that showed that dogs negatively impacted seabirds.
Scott Burnett, Forest and Bird’s conservation manager for Te Tauihu, agreed.
“A lot of our birds around the Tasman coastline are international migratory birds. While they’re here, they’re trying to put on weight for the next journey,” he says.
“Every time they’re startled into the air by dogs, that’s precious energy that they’re expending, that’s putting them under pressure.”
A dog owner himself, Burnett said he understood the tension in prohibiting dogs from more beaches.
“But given the impact on our coastal birds, we think it’s a necessary action.”
If there was one point where most submit-
ters agreed, it was that the council needed better signage about where dogs were and weren’t allowed, and better enforcement of the rules.
That could be funded by raising dog registration fees, some submitters suggested.
Councillors on the hearing panel will deliberate on the proposed bylaw on 16 October, with the final version to be voted on by the full council on 28 November.
Residents of the Little Kaiteriteri area are sharply divided by the bylaw proposal. Photo: Roady.
Cats disappearing
ANNE HARDIE
The number of cats disappearing around Upper Moutere has been described as shocking by an owner who says many suspect their felines have been killed by people who don’t like cats.
Sophie Browning has lost two cats recently and is aware of about 30 others that have gone missing in the past few years around Upper Moutere. It has got to the point where she says cats need tracking collars, need to be microchipped and owners need to be on alert to keep cats safe. “Just about every month someone will lose a cat. Or two months go by and then all of a sudden people will lose five.” She says many of those who have lost cats know their neighbours do not like cats and will use cat traps to catch and dispose of them, or shoot them on their property. According to SPCA, there is nothing in the Animal Welfare Act that makes it illegal to kill a cat as long as it doesn’t fall under an offence such as causing unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress. However, companion cats are considered property in New Zealand and a person could face criminal and civil liability for harming a cat under the Crimes Act 1961 or face civil liability for damages of the value of the animal.
SPCA scientific officer, Dr Christine Sumner, says the organisation encourages cat owners to keep their cats at home and make sure they are microchipped to help ensure they get home safe.
‘Let’s not pussyfoot around’
– stronger
cat rules sought by conservationists
MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter
Conservationists are welcoming proposed new rules for Tasman cats, but some want tougher restrictions which confine felines to their owner’s properties.
Sophie Davies, speaking on behalf of environmental trust Project De-Vine’s Chris Rowse, described the bylaw as a “good first step”. The bylaw, as currently written, would require all domestic cats over the age of six months to be desexed, microchipped, and registered on the National Companion Animal Register. New cats would have to meet the requirements immediately while existing cats would be allowed a grace period until 1 July 2027. Desexing cats aims to reduce the overall number of cats, especially unwanted cats, which threaten native wildlife, including birds, skinks, geckos, and insects such as wētā.
Microchipping and registering would make it easier to reunite missing or abandoned cats with their owners, while identifying and therefore protecting them from feral cat trapping efforts.
“Many of our precious taonga species are vulnerable to cat predation,” Sophie explained.
“Cat owners, cat control regulations, and cat management have an important role to play in protecting some of our special wildlife.”
To bring about the positive effects of those regulations, Davies was seeking for the grace period for existing cats to be shortened – a popular request of submitters.
Forest and Bird representatives Scott Burnett, Te Tauihu conservation manager, and Cynthia McConville, Golden Bay branch chair, supported that position.
Colleague Gillian Pollock, representing the Nelson-Tasman branch of Forest and Bird, concurred but also went a step further, asking for the eventual containment of cats so they can’t roam free.
“Cats evolved as predators, while our wildlife evolved without mammalian predators.
“We have to take the two apart, they just don’t mix,” she said.
Volunteer pest trapper Linda Jenkins agreed.
“It’s really disheartening to know that despite all the work that goes into rat and mustelid control, domestic cats are still out there at night, predating on our native birds.”
Resident Les Cook protested the nuisance factor of the “urban guerillas” that are cats and added his voice to the request that the pets are confined to their owners’
properties.
Both he and Tapawera farmer Lloyd Faulkner wanted to see a limit of two cats per household.
Deputy mayor Stuart Bryant read Faulkner’s statement at the hearing, saying that cats were “out of hand in places” with more than 100 feral cats caught near St Arnaud over the course of a single year.
Faulkner also wanted more extensive education on how to dispose of cat waste, which can carry and spread toxoplasmosis – the infection that culled his lamb flock by two thirds last year.
“If we are going to be predator free by 2050, we’ve a long way to go.
“Let’s not pussyfoot around, do it once and finish it. It won’t be easy, but to save our birdlife and farming, it’s got to be done and be done properly.”
Councillors on the hearing panel will deliberate on the proposed bylaw on 16 October. The final version will be voted on by the full council on 28 November.
Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
Tapawera farmer Lloyd Faulkner said effective cat controls were needed to protect native wildlife from predation and farm animals from toxoplasmosis. Photo: Max Frethey.
Pet cats are expected to soon come under more rules in Tasman, but more regulations are being sought by groups across the district. Photo: Kate Russell.
Sophie Browning’s son, Mason Endersby, 9, with his cat Luna that has disappeared, along with many others in the community. Photo: Supplied.
A heavy machinery show-and-tell
ELISE VOLLWEILER
The sandpit toys at Nature Kids got a serious upgrade last week, with CJ Industries coming along to show-and-tell.
The earthworks company brought a roller, a digger and a heavy truck to the early childhood centre to give the children a demonstration of how the machinery works.
The children crawled through the cab of truck driver Glen Wilson’s pristine vehicle, felt the rumblings through the earth when site traffic management supervisor Vaughan Lewis turned on his roller, and they were quick to find the horn on supervisor foreman Nathan Timoko’s digger.
The machinery was immobilised so that the kids could safely explore it, inside and out.
Little Gus Goodman is particularly passionate about heavy machinery and was even wearing a digger-themed tee-shirt on the day of the visit. Nathan, CJ’s digger operator extraordinaire, earned Gus’s approval by manoeuvring the eight-tonne digger to scoop up some fine dirt and delicately fill the back of the four-yearold’s two-kilogram dump truck.
The company has spent several weeks doing construction work on Queen Victoria Street, which is the kindergarten’s access road.
CJ’s health and safety manager Rupert Bunny says that they are aware that the roadworks have impacted local families, and they were keen to give the children a chance to engage with the machinery.
Nature Land teacher/ kaiako Kate Whitehead says that the children have been watching through the fence with excitement as CJ Industries installed a new footpath in front of the centre.
“We were all super excited to have them bring their big toys in for us to see,” she says. CJ’s senior project manager Chris Whale and construction manager Morgan Corrie-Johnston have also given the green light for the donation of staff time and resources so that work can begin on a Nature Kids bike track this week, using the “spoils” that are left from the Queen Victoria roading project. The team say that this won’t cause delays to their primary project, which has about a month left to run, as there are downtimes in their schedule while
they wait for other stages to be finished or services to be installed.
It has been a long-time dream for the centre tamariki to have a bike track of their own, and Kate says that they are so excited to have this become a reality.
“Our tamariki spend a lot of time on bikes at Nature Kids and a lot learn to ride a pedal bike with us,” she says. “We have a pretty awesome hill with lots of tracks, but it is a shared space and we find ourselves bringing our bikes into the driveway more and more often. To have a designated bikes-only space with the bike track will mean our tamariki can build and extend on their current skills and can also provide a space for our whānau to hang out and connect.”
After weeks of watching CJ Industries’ big machines through their fence, the students at Motueka’s Nature Kids got a personalised visit and guided tour of the equipment.
Pictured is Gus Goodman Photo: Elise Vollweiler.
Free-for-all firewood axed
MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter
Lessons have been learned after last year’s chaotic council-led firewood giveaway with priority this year being given to be given to low-income families.
About 400 cubic metres of wood left over from forestry operations will be distributed this October amongst 200 ticketholders.
Tickets are $25 and sales will be coordinated by local charitable trust Fifeshire Foundation.
That approach will ensure tickets will make it to Tasman families who either have previously recipients of the foundation’s winter grant, or to others who are supported by partner agencies. Fifeshire Foundation executive officer
Shanine Hermsen says she is “really grateful” to partner with the council for the firewood event.
“They’ve obviously got a really great
system for this year, and we’re really pleased we can help the people that really need support.”
Shanine says the colder months can be “a hard time” for many.
“When it’s freezing, and if people can’t afford to buy firewood, it’s just an extra cost on top of the regular cost of living. This will help people that are struggling.”
The funds from the ticket sales will go into the Fifeshire Foundation’s winter fund for next year to provide further relief for struggling families, “so it’s a bit of a double-banger, which is great.”
The foundation’s winter grant scheme helped about 200 families this past winter with energy and firewood, exceeding 2023’s total of families by about a third.
The 2023 firewood giveaway was planned to occur across four hours, but firewood ran out in the first 20 minutes.
Vehicles, many with trailers, had
backed end-to-end up the Appleby Highway/ State Highway 60 for more than five kilometres, requiring police and council staff being called in to manage traffic.
At the time, a Tasman District Council spokesperson said the event had “absolutely exceeded” expectations and that there were “many lessons to be learned” from the event.
In addition to a limited number of tickets, the distribution of the firewood for this year’s event will take place during four two-hour slots across two days.
By spreading the time slots and limiting tickets,
the council hopes to avoid the traffic jams seen last year.
Test runs have also been conducted to test the efficiency of the loading and ensuring that the optimum amount of wood can be supplied to recipients within the timeframe.
Ticketholders will be limited to two cubic metres of firewood, and those with unsafe trailers will be turned around with no refund, as will any vehicles with no tickets.
Mechanical loading will take place to speed up and control loading, while improving safety.
Steering
suave for men
American rock band ZZ Top once said every girl’s crazy about a sharp dressed man. Men’s health charity Movember would be equally crazy for them following the funds that were raised at the local Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive on Sunday.
The event’s second edition in Nelson was part of an international event to raise funds for prostate cancer and men’s mental health research and programmes conducted by the charity.
More than $14,000 was raised, blitzing the $10,000 target, and donations remain open for another fortnight.
Co-organiser Kate Cooper says close to 40 dapper drivers from Nelson Tasman along with their passengers drove their classic vehicles from the Nelson Classic Car Museum
to Moutere, Motueka, Kaiteriteri, Mahana, Golden Downs and Wakefield before the event concluded at Tāhunanui.
She says the region has an “amazing” classic car community, and it was great for blokes to get together for a cause.
“It’s good to check in and encourage them to seek help, whether it’s mental health or prostate cancer, both of those can be really hard for anyone, but especially for men,” she says.
“Our aim was to raise $10,000, and we’ve smashed that already thanks to all the drivers.
“It’s a really tough year financially for a lot of people, and to raise what they have raised is absolutely amazing, and I hope that this event continues to grow.”
Visit: www.gentlemansdrive.com/drives/ new+zealand/nelson to donate.
GORDON PREECE
Co-organiser Adrian Curtis revved up his support for men’s health in his Ferrari. Photo: Gordon Preece.
Traffic from last year’s event brought the Appleby Highway to a standstill. Photo: Supplied.
Learning through connection and observation
Rāwiri Taylor reckons that full immersion in te taiao (the environment) is the best way to learn about kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
Rāwiri, a kaiako/ tutor with the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, recently took a group of Indonesian students from NMIT’s Horticulture programme to Marahau to observe and learn about the seashore environment and broad Māori concepts. The learners make up half of the 2024 cohort of IISMA (Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards) scholars, who are supported by the Indonesian government to study at NMIT for the year.
Rāwiri not only shared his knowledge of the environmental factors contributing to a healthy seashore, he also introduced the learners to concepts of tikanga Māori (practices) and the importance of respecting and protecting the land from a cultural perspective.
The group began their hikoi at the waharoa (wooden carving at the entrance) to the Abel Tasman Track. The carvings and the adjacent plaque share the story of the mana whenua (local Māori people) which Rāwiri says is a very valuable asset and aid to teaching.
“It provides a mana whenua presence and demonstrates how kaitiakitanga is essentially an expression whakapapa and ancestral obligation,” he says. “We began with a mihi (greeting) to the atua of the domains we were entering and acknowledged the mana whenua as kaitiaki. With karakia, we declared our intentions and desire for safety and learning.”
They then made their way along the Marahau shore, learning the concepts of taonga tuku iho (treasures handed down) and tohu (indicators). By observing the water clarity, marine life, and birds, they could see the many signs of a healthy seashore.
“It was wonderful to observe the whanaungatanga (connecting) and ako (learning) that happened naturally by just engaging in te taiao,” says Rāwiri. “We also learnt about the concept of tukua (giving back) and scoured the shore for rubbish but we found none, it was so clean.”
A group of Indonesian students, studying horticulture at NMIT, recently enjoyed the immersive experience of a day at Marahau to expand their studies. Photo: Supplied.
Riwaka students learn that success is a marathon, not a sprint
ELISE VOLLWEILER
After weeks of putting one foot in front of the other, about 100 students from Riwaka School have ticked off a 42km marathon, running laps around their playing field to add to their total.
Nelsonian Rod Dixon is an Olympic medallist and a New York Marathon winner, and his organisation KiDSMARATHON aims to teach children the value of good exercise and nutrition.
Riwaka School teacher Krissy O’Donnell says that both the students and teachers were “super keen” to be part of the KiDSMARATHON event, which involves doing laps of a course and recording the cumulative distance over a period of weeks, as well as learning about exercise and nutrition in the classroom.
Their caretaker measured out a course around the field and the 100 participating students calculated how many laps they would need to run to complete a full marathon.
Krissy says that all of the teachers were surprised by
how motivated and eager the students were.
“It was really cool to set up a way to record the laps with each class,” she says. “It was also a great opportunity to reinforce mathematics in a real-life context such as using tally marks and working out how many laps they had left to run.”
Rod Dixon visited the school last week, spending time talking to the students, making connections with them by chatting about his local upbringing, and empowering them to work towards a goal in small steps. He then joined them for their final laps to tick off the full marathon distance of 42km.
Krissy says it has been great to watch the students reach their goal through their motivation, hard work and dedication.
“It really encapsulates students learning how to look after their hauora [well-being] by moving their bodies and keeping active, working hard towards a goal, challenging themselves mentally and physically and doing it alongside their peers.”
23 October
Makita Power Tools – Powerbuilt Hand Tools – Bossweld Welders 6 November Milwaukee demonstrations alongside other popular brands
For 43 years, Bearing and Engineering Supplies Ltd has been a cornerstone of Nelson’s industrial landscape, offering top-quality bearings, engineering supplies, and exceptional customer service. Established on May 4, 1981, as the ‘Bearing and Transmission Centre’ in McGlashen Ave, it quickly became a trusted name in the industry. Over the decades, the business evolved to meet growing customer demands, recently relocating to a larger site at Estuary Place in Richmond.
Manager Rick Ivory highlights the company’s founding principles of honesty, loyalty, and service, which still guide them today. In the late 1980s, they expanded with a Richmond branch, and by 1999, after identifying a gap in the market, began offering specialized engineering supplies. This led to the 2000 launch of ‘Nelson Engineering Supplies’ and
the eventual amalgamation of both businesses, providing a comprehensive range of products under one roof.
In 2005, they began importing key products from Australia, Singapore, and England, enhancing their competitive edge. The foundation of the company’s success has always been built on its commitment to providing high-quality products, excellent customer service, and a team of knowledgeable staff. Today, the company boasts a combined industry experience of over 200 years, ensuring that their customers receive expert advice and solutions.
What sets Bearing and Engineering Supplies Ltd apart from other suppliers in the region is its vast product range, deep industry expertise, and commitment to customer service. With a team of 10 dedicated staff, the company’s motto is to ‘provide solutions
to meet your needs’—a promise that has been at the heart of their business for over four decades. Their willingness to go the extra mile, combined with their ability to source quality products from respected international suppliers, has earned them a loyal customer base across New Zealand.
“Whether a customer needs bearings, power transmission components, or specialised engineering products, they know they can rely on Bearing and Engineering Supplies Ltd to deliver.”
Their new Richmond location, built by InHaus, has been a game-changer for Bearing and Engineering Supplies Ltd and provides more space for better product displays and customer access. With a dedicated team of 10 staff, Bearing and Engineering Supplies continues to grow, offering solutions that meet the needs of their customers across New Zealand.
Business Update.
A 42km goal has kept Riwaka School students moving over the past few weeks, as they work towards their medals in Rod Dixon’s KiDSMARATHON. Photo: Krissy O’Donnell.
Kaiteriteri – our golden jewel - Part 2
ROBYN PARKES
At the first meeting of the new Kaiteriteri Domain Board, Sidney Rowling offered the whole of the pine area at Kaiteriteri Bay to be under the jurisdiction of the Board at a nominal rental, an offer that was accepted. It was agreed that a fixed charge of 5s per week per party for campers be made and 1s per day per party or car for picnickers. In mid-1936, the Commissioner of Crown Lands informed the Domain Board that if they obtained finance by way of bank overdraft, that money could only be spent on improvements at the domain.
Provision for any monies required for improvements of the beach would have to be made by a separate committee.
Following a general discussion, it was agreed that the members of the Domain Board form themselves into a society, to be known as the Kaiteriteri Beach Improvement Society.
Waimea County Council was approached regarding the Board obtaining jurisdiction over the portion of land between the domain and the sea front, and arrangements for laying on fresh
water to the domain was undertaken.
Mrs Hewitt was appointed collector of fees and all persons wishing to camp in the domain had to first apply to her at the store.
Sidney Rowling, with a strong community focus, donated a further piece of land at the eastern end of the bay to the Beach Improvement Society for use for picnickers in September 1936.
Bathing sheds were built and an application to the Waimea Power Board was completed, requesting
them to install electric lighting.
With caretaking and ongoing improvements there was always the problem of needing the funds to be able to do so.
Various avenues were looked at and one that the board decided on was to offer facilities to the public by means of honorary members’ tickets, at 5 shillings each year, entitling the holders to picnic in the pines, except on gala days, free of cost.
In August 1938 negotiations between the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Rowling were
underway for the acquisition and setting aside for recreation purposes the whole of the balance of his area of flat land, together with a proportion of the hillside and water rights at Kaiteriteri Beach.
By December the road to Kaiteriteri had been improved and provided good access for motorists.
In 1939 the membership of the Domain Board was extended to include four ex-officio members—the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Nelson, Mayor of Motueka, Waimea County Council chairman, and a rep-
resentative of the Automobile Association, Nelson. Substantial help was received from the State by way of grants, from the Automobile Association, and from private persons.
The centennial anniversary of the landing of Captain Wakefield at Kaiteriteri was celebrated with a ceremony and the unveiling of a drinking fountain erected within a few yards of the spring from which Wakefield obtained fresh water.
Thanks was given to Rowling for donating the land that the spring was on and to Robert Pattie for building the cairn on Pah Hill. William Rowling, brother of Sidney, gifted four to five acres of land at Kaka Pah Point in 1942 as part of the centennial memorial to be used as a public reserve. Kaiteriteri Domain Board had formed with an area of two acres under its control in 1936. Today the reserve covers 250ha of Crown land that includes Kaiteriteri Beach, Kākā Point Historic Reserve, Kākā Island, Kaiteriteri Estuary, Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park and the hills with native bush surrounding the beach and estuary, and is governed by a Reserve Board appointed by the Minister of Conservation.
Refreshments
Kaiteriteri Beach, 1950. Photo: Nelson Provincial Museum, Kingsford Collection.
Coralie Nankivell and Bruce Mortimer
Dean Taylor, Trish Currie and Wendy Taylor
Ian Poole and Penny Lennard
Jackie Macdonald and Stephen Coote
Lyndal Cruickshank Brunt and Scott Brunt
Michelle Woollaston and Evan Woodruffe
Nolene and Chris McMaster and Racheal Gibbson
Pieter and Elizabeth Swanepoel
Russell and Jeanette Kells
Veronique Bell, Russell Pickersgill-Brown and Pauline Pickersgill
Cat burglar’s gardening glove glut
My sister has a collection of odd shoes that are kindly gifted to her from one of their cats.
Polly Murray
Well, the owner will never be short of gardening gloves lol. Beautiful cat.
Ian Donna Watts
Love this! Cats at their best
Kate Westrupp
I wonder if the neighbours have thought about ‘putting them away’ in a drawer, a cupboard after use? Too easy ... love this.
Christine Brown
Why is it always gloves? My girl is the same! Along with socks, beanies and random fabric.
Paige Hawkins - Heath
Our cat has been doing this for years. Ridiculous amounts of gardening gloves, tea towels, socks, pegs, hats, spoons, cloths, small balls, sports cones the list goes on. He’s now 12yrs old and nothing has changed. Quite often brings home spareribs, chicken breast, whole bones and sausages. Nothing is safe around here.
Cindy Rigg
Five decades going to the aid
So proud of all the recipients, but especially my Dad and, of course, Mum too, as without her support over all those years he couldn’t have done it. What an absolute honor it was to watch him be awarded this.
Nicola Wassell-Jones
‘Let’s not pussyfoot around’
Cats are naturally outdoor creatures and
hunters. If you are worried about bird life, it’s called the food chain. Perhaps we should also ban deer and pig hunting and can you imagine how many rats and mice there will be running around.
Wendy Brabet
If all cats have to be desexed, eventually we will run out of cats.
Kate Westrupp
Just returned from Croatia and there are many many stray cats. Lots of cities and towns are getting them fixed so they can’t breed. Perhaps microchipping and fixing them is better than confining cats to homes and small areas. If we are concerned about our native birds, dogs are the number one predator to Kiwis, and I doubt New Zealand will be confining dogs to backyards and houses anytime soon. I know that in most public spaces, leashes are required but there are so many owners who don’t follow that rule.
Elly Aleksich
And can someone please explain how they plan to know old cats to new ones and take control of this? Are there going to be people walking the streets? Sounds like a bit of a joke trying to set this up. All for the desexing and microchipping but how are you going to many that?
Jess Brougham
Come build me a catio, then. A huge one. Cats aren’t meant to be caged Mandi Halliday
School Holiday programme –Discover Papatūānuku
Search and Find – Monday 30 September and 7 October, 10am-12pm
Get Crafty – Wednesdays 2 and 9
October, 10am-12pm
Lego Fun – Thursdays 3 and 10 October, 10am-12pm
Babbling Books – Thursday, 3 October, 1pm-2pm
Paper Artsy – Thursday 3 October, 1.30pm-3.30pm
Unmet Friends – Friday 4 October, 10.30am-12pm
History Buffs – Monday 7 October, 10.30am-12pm
StitchBloom – Monday 7 October, 1pm-3pm
Board Games – Fridays 13 September – 25 October, 3.30pm6pm
208 High Street, Motueka www.rwmotueka.co.nz
“I
STREET TALK
STREET TALK
Do you support the increaes in parking infrignment fines, including the $600 increase for mobility parking space infringement?
“There
lower cost.”
Enjoy Catan, Chess, Cluedo, Battleships, Risk, Dragon Realm and more. A weekly group facilitated by Sjors Brouwer, bring friends, snacks.
Shocktober – Friday 11 October, 10.30am-12pm 3 Steps for Life training and learn CPR. Book in for this free training nelsonbays. admin@stjohn.org.nz Held at Motueka library.
Rochelle Meikle
Glennis Jessop
Clem Jessop
Justin Flowers
Finally, a designated space for Motueka’s youth
ELISE VOLLWEILER
A space for Motueka’s youth has opened beside the recreation centre, filling a need in the community that was identified many years ago.
The Spot exists “to have a focal point or a central location for our young people”, explains youth worker Isaac London.
It houses a home-recording music centre, a piano, gaming stations and a pool table. The cupboards and fridge are stocked with donated food, and there is also a shower and laundry facilities.
Open 1pm-5.30pm every weekday and until 6pm on Fridays, The Spot is a place for youth to just hang out or join in the organised activities. Mondays are a permanent fixture for music recording, and other events have included mural painting and photography sessions.
he summarises.
Natalie hopes that they might be able to work with youth on goal setting, getting their drivers’ licences and providing mental health support. There are also plans to do a Waka Abel Tasman canoeing trip, and engage a yoga instructor or breath worker. She reckons that there has never really been a space like this for Motueka’s youth - “a space where they can come and hang out.” It’s been a long time coming though. The team have been told about a meeting held almost two decades ago at Hot Mamas, where a concerned group discussed the need for such a facility. A more recent 2016 community survey from what was then Vision Motueka had the same recurring response – that the community needs a “designated space for youth”.
The three youth workers, who include Natalie Young and Logan Blake, are working to create an environment that is safe and non-judgemental for young peo-
The facility, located in the building formerly known as Weka House, is open for all youth/ rangatahi aged 13-24, and the team say that capturing an age group range without discouraging anyone was a challenge that they’ve had to navigate. They ultimately decided to set the lower limit at high-school age, to ensure that their older clientele also had a sense of belonging.
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ple, “whether they just want to hang out, or are in a vulnerable space and need some help”, Logan explains.
“Anyone’s welcome – all walks of life.”
The youth workers are connected with many other agencies and
community providers, and while they aspire to not over-extend their mandate or replicate existing services, Isaac says that they want to be the conduit that connects young people to their work.
“The more collaboration and community support, the better,”
Having helped with The Spot’s establishment, Isaac has since moved on from his role and the team are in the process of appointing his replacement. The Spot is located at 30 Old Wharf Road, in the yellow building to the west of the Motueka Recreation Centre car park, and is open weekday afternoons from 1pm.
Isaac London, Natalie Young (Ngāti Rārua/ Te Atiawa) and Logan Blake (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) are the youth workers who have established “The Spot” hangout for rangatahi. Photo: Elise Vollweiler.
A concert of ‘note’-able female composers
The Motueka Music Group in partnership with the NZTrio (He Taonga Wairere) is bringing another outstanding performance, Triptych3 - Untamed Hope, to the Motueka Chanel Arts Centre this month.
The trio brings together three incredibly accomplished artists - Amalia Hall (violin), Ashley Brown (cello) and Somi Kim (piano), renowned for their eclectic repertoire, outstanding talent and warm, kiwi stage presence.
The NZTrio will present a concert of all female composers with pieces chosen from across three centuries.
The Mendelssohn was composed by Felix’s older sister Fanny. Acknowledged as having ‘prodigious musical ability’ she composed more than 125 pieces for piano and over 250 songs. Because of the mores that existed in the early 19th century, six of her songs were published under her brother Felix’s name.
The programme will bring the
Trio in D minor which is driven by exquisite piano playing, the violin and cello adding the drama that hooks you in. Fanny composed this piece for her sister’s birthday.
Their second piece, Trio Cavany, was written by Joan Tower, an ac-
complished American composer, who The New Yorker claims is ‘one of the most successful woman composers of all time’. In this piece each instrument seems to have their say and then they combine elegantly for group conversation - it is quite dramatic and
crisp in delivery. The NZTrio are supporting a Kiwi composer, Eva Beddgood, and will be bringing a new commission of hers they describe as ‘offering a fresh perspective and intrinsically relevant voice’. Eva is a trumpeter, pianist, and composer who has studied at
the University of Canterbury and Te Kōkī NZ School of Music. She is currently completing a Masters at the prestigious Melbourne Conservatoire of Music.
The final piece comes from Dame Eva Smyth, another 19th century composer from England, the first female composer granted a Damehood.
While, she too, incurred the social conventions of the time, struggling to publish as a woman, she composed an extensive body of work and the NZTrio will play another Trio in D Minor, complex and satisfying, a real treat for chamber music lovers.
The concert is on at the Motueka Chanel Arts Centre on Thursday 11 October at 7.30pm.
Tickets are available from Motueka Floral Studio on High St, Motueka (cash only). Door sales will also be available - cash only/ NO EFTPOS. Adults $25, school children $5.
Motueka’s miniature racing renaissance
ELISE VOLLWEILER
The slot car scene used to be big in Motueka. There still exists a tiny car with “The Guardian” emblazoned on its side, as well as others proudly bearing the monikers of Murray Thorn Motorcycles, Hotel Motueka and The Rolling Pin Bakery. These were found in a box of treasures that Pete Darrell was gifted from the former club, which disbanded some years ago. But Pete, who shifted to Motueka last year from Christchurch, has a quiet but fierce passion for slot car racing, and over the past few
months, he has reintroduced the sport to the town.
The Motueka Slot Car Club Facebook page describes the hobby as racing with powered miniature autos (or other vehicles) which are guided by grooves or slots in the track on which they run.
“Slot cars are usually models of actual automobiles, though some have bodies purpose-designed for miniature racing. Most enthusiasts use commercially available slot cars (often modified for better performance), others motorize static models, and some “scratch-build,” creating their
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own mechanisms and bodies from basic parts and materials.”
The sport recently celebrated its 60th anniversary in New Zealand.
Motueka’s members have been meeting weekly at their dedicated space in Marchwood Park, where they compete on the tracks that Pete brought with him and re-engineered to fit into the small room.
Last month, the fledgling club had a race-off for a radio-controlled boat, which had been given to Pete by an old neighbour in Christchurch. Other prizes were
on offer too, and Pete says he is grateful to Bliss Hair Design and Geoff Sutton for their donations.
He reckons that the racing teaches hand-eye coordination, composure, tolerance and patience.
As well as its larger track with its mix of straights and tight corners to navigate, Pete says that Motueka is the only club he knows of in the country with a dedicated track for younger members. This track is a simple symmetrical flat-sided loop, providing beginners with a great place to start their slot car journey.
He says that slot car racing is an
inclusive sport which offers “an alternative to physical sports that not all kids are into”.
All equipment is provided, and Pete or the other members will happily train any newbies on how to work the hand controller and best race the tracks.
Any new members – children or adults – are welcome to give the slot cars a spin on Sunday afternoons. The club meets at a building near the office at Marchwood Park (on the College St entrance) between 12pm and 3pm. Club night for established racers is Thursdays from 6pm.
Slot car racing is staging a comeback in Motueka thanks to enthusiast Pete Darrell. Pictured are the competitors who raced off for the radio-controlled boat, from left, Aidan, Edward, Malte, Izzy, Tane, Dylan and Isaac, with Edward, taking victory. Photo: Supplied.
NZTrio’s Ashley Brown, Amelia Hall and Somi Kim. Photo: Supplied.
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Local support strengthens Motueka youth football
ELISE VOLLWEILER
Simon and Nicola Hollyer, owners of Motueka New World, are helping local youth achieve a different sort of goal after covering their tournament fees for an upcoming competition in Blenheim.
The couple have supported the Motueka Association Football Club for several years, allowing the club to purchase equipment such as uniforms, pop-up goals, junior nets and first aid kits. Five teams, made up of more than 70 kids, will be attending the tournament, and the donation also helped to cover the costs for a high school team to travel to Christchurch for a recent competition.
Motueka AFC has a record number of youth this year, including a growing number of girls.
Treasurer Tracey Heaven expressed gratitude to the store’s owners on behalf of the club, saying that Motueka New World’s support was a big help in facilitating junior football in the area.
“It’s really exciting to see the growth, and promises a strong future for the club,” she says.
NBS Motueka Golf Club Results
Dozens of young footballers will be attending a football tournament in Blenheim this weekend after a generous donation from Motueka New World owners, Simon and Nicola Hollyer. Photo: Elise Vollweiler.
Super Liquor Tournament winners Chris McGeown, Jan Dobbie, John Inglis and Jenny Van Herden. Right: Spring Cup winner Jane Adams. Photos: Supplied.
The club would like to thank Super Liquor for their continued support of this tournament
Ping Pong Parkinson’s Champion
STEPHEN STUART
Former Golden Bay resident Brian Renwick has cleaned up at the inaugural Ping Pong Parkinson’s Championships in Palmerston North.
After giving away table tennis for tramping as a teenager, Brian returned to the sport when it was launched in Nelson earlier this year for people with Parkinson’s Disease.
“I remembered how to play and all the rules. Once I started the weekly sessions, I realised how beneficial it was for my condition in terms of movement and concentration,” Brian says. He developed symptoms three years ago with tremors coming more and more often in his legs.
Although his mates, on tramping trips, questioned whether he was really sure he had Parkinson’s.
The 69-year-old was brimming with confidence at the nationals which were part of the Manawatu Table Tennis Open.
“Despite the toes of my right foot clenching and a light tremor in my right arm, I only really felt the symptoms between games,” the former New Zealand Navy
marine officer says.
After winning five matches, he prevailed over his Nelson clubmate Lawrie Halkett in the final.
He then combined with the 75-year-old to win the doubles as well.
“The organisers thought we were a couple of burglars, coming up to their tournament and taking the titles,” Brian laughs.
It was a reunion of sorts for the Richmond pair as they had been on tramps more than 15 years ago.
“They had incredible endurance during their matches and that probably goes back to their tramping times,” Table Tennis Nelson president Anna King notes.
She hopes their success will attract more locals to their Saxton Oval base which has had up to 13 people playing.
Anna also reckons Nelson would be an ideal spot to host next year’s Ping Pong Parkinson’s tournament especially as it is staging the table tennis nationals for the first time later this month.
As for the name PPP, before the politically correct brigade start waving its bats in dismay, it is a worldwide brand for the sport.
Brian Renwick, left, and Lawrie Halkett back at training with their medals after dominating the inaugural Ping Pong Parkinson’s tournament. Photo: Stephen Stuart.
Community Notices
MONDAY
SENIORNET MOTUEKA, Mon, 7 Oct, 10am, 42 Pah St.
Join us for a cuppa and to hear John Hunter from Noel Leeming speak at SeniorNet’s meeting. Visitors welcome.
MOTUEKA ELYSIUM Mon, 9.30am, Muses Café. For Widows and Widowers. Join us for coffee and chat, friendship, and support. Ph: Carol 035285027.
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. 142 Saxton Rd. Mon, 5.30-7pm. For other opening times and a map e: bikehubnelson@ gmail.com.
MOTUEKA BETTER BREATHERS, Mon, 11.30am, Motueka Recreation Gym ‘Functional Fitness Room’, Old Wharf Rd. A 60-minute series of guided exercises done seated or standing, specifically designed to help those with breathing difficulties. Ph: Jess 0275467675.
MOTUEKA HIGHLAND PIPE BAND, Mon, 7pm. Band is located beside Motueka Recreation Centre. Promoting Scottish tradition and culture. Look forward to your participation. Info: Ph: 027284 8361.
MAPUA FRIENDSHIP CLUB. Indoor bowls, 1st & 3rd Mon. Mapua Bowling Club rooms. 2pm, Bring a plate of afternoon tea. Lots of laughs. Ph: Val 035403685.
TUESDAY
MOCKINGBIRDS MUSIC GROUP, Tues, 2-3.30pm, Senior Net, Pah St. If you enjoy some fun singing/playing music, come along with your instrument, we’d love you to join us. Beginners welcome. Ph: Sue 02102416155.
HOPE TENNIS CLUB SOCIAL TENNIS, Every Tues, 9.30am, Hope Tennis Courts, Hope Domain. All abilities most welcome. Queries Ph: 0211729257.
MOTUEKA BRASS, Tues Evenings. Discover your musical talent with us! Join our lively brass band for an unforgettable experience To join Ph: 021728168 or come along.
YOGA. If you have or have had cancer, we offer restorative yoga classes. Tues, 12.30pm. To Reg, Ph: 5287669.
WEDNESDAY
MOTUEKA ARTS COUNCIL office at Community House, Decks reserve. Wed, 11-3pm. Inquiries about art activities; funding for Art; Art ideas for Motueka. Ph: 0210589388.
AGE CONCERN TEA & TALK, Wed, 10.30am, The Shed, 24a Tudor St. More info Ph: 0279214074.
KNIT & NATTER Wed, 10-12pm, Motueka Over 50s Social Hub, 10 Pah St. Friendly group for all ages. Includes refreshments. All welcome.
WALK 4 HEALTH, Wed, 9am, Motueka Community Garden. 30-50 min walk at your own pace, for any age, any fitness and size. Ph:0273015598.
MOTUEKA ARTS COUNCIL invites all folk interested in community arts in Motueka, to their monthly meetings. 2nd Wed of month, 7pm, community house.
TOASTMASTERS MOTUEKA meet 1st & 3rd Wed of month, 6.45pm start, St John’s rooms, Jack Inglis Hosp, Courtney St. Gain speaking confidently, friendly environment. More Info Ph: Peter 0277468311.
MOTUEKA SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE CLUB, Wed, 7.30pm, Lower Moutere Hall. Keep fit while having fun. All ages, no partner needed. First time free. Enq Ph: Fay 0210393559.
DEATH CAFÉ, 2nd Wed of month, 10-11.30am. Revite Café, 256 High St. An open space for people to talk about death and dying. e:margaret@margaretmccallum.com
THURSDAY
MOTUEKA LIGHTHOUSE, Thurs, 26 Sept, 7-9pm, Motueka Community House, Decks Reserve. Insightful presentations/ workshops. Donations appreciated. All welcome. Tarot Card Reading. e: angel3000.h@gmail.com.
MEDITATION, Weekly meditation sessions open to all. Thurs, 12.15-12.45pm, Te Noninga Kumu - Motueka Library. During term time. No registration needed. Just come along. Info: Ph: Louise 0278789240.
NELSON BAYS HARMONY CHORUS, (women’s choir), is
DEADLINE: 10AM FRIDAY
50 WORDS OR LESS BY EMAIL ONLY SEND TO: office@topsouthmedia.co.nz
seeking new members to join our happy group. Thurs evenings, Club Waimea, Richmond. Ph: Carole 0274360910.
MOTUEKA 50+ WALKING GROUP Thurs. More info Ph: 0212640403 e: secretary50pluswalkers@gmail.com, or www.motueka50pluswalkers.org.nz.
RUMMIKUB Thurs, 1-4pm, Motueka Over 50s Social Club, 10 Pah St. Friendly group, includes refreshments. All welcome. Ph: Keith 0274516422.
THE DOCTORS MOTUEKA – Walking Group, Thurs, 9am, by the Janie Seddon Shipwreck carpark. Walking for 30 mins, suitable for all fitness levels. Make your daily walk more fun and meet new people. Ph: 035288358.
NVC PRACTICE GROUP (NONVIOLENT / COMPASSIONATE COMMUNICATION), Every 2nd Thurs, 7-8.30pm, Motueka. In school term. For info e: margaret@margaretmccallum.com.
PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP meet 1st Thurs of month, 1.30-3.30pm, Broadgreen House, 276 Nayland Rd. Ph: Bill 035448635 or 035391137.
MOTUEKA G.R.G 2nd & 4th Thurs, 1-3pm, St Andrews lounge, 64 High St. Support group welcomes grandparents/kin raising/ supporting grandchildren. Join us for a confidential relaxed and supportive time with others. Ph: 0211337299.
SENIORNET MOTUEKA. 2nd Thurs of month, 2pm. Hear all about a different country in our Countries & Cultures Interest Group. Join SeniorNet. Ph: Maureen 02102600432
FRIDAY
WAITAKI OLD GIRLS' SOCIAL GROUP NELSON. Fri, 4 Oct, 10am, Zink. Join us for Coffee and chat. Queries Ph: 0276731145
MOTUEKA REBUS CLUB, Fri, 20 Sept, 10am, The Bandrooms. Great speakers, good fellowship, all welcome. Ph: John 0274082206.
SENIORNET MOTUEKA, The Genealogy Interest Group meets 2nd Fri, 2pm. Ph: Maureen 02102600432
SENIORNET MOTUEKA, The Smartphone, iPad, iPhone
and Tablet Interest Group meets 3rd Fri, 2pm. Ph Maureen 02102600432
SATURDAY / SUNDAY
TREWAVAS ST ART WALK. Sat, 30 Nov, 10- 3pm. Artists selling their creations direct to you! On rain or shine.
NELSON RAILWAY Founders Park. Railcar is running Thurs, Fri, Sat this week, weather permitting. Train will run Sun, Both start 11am. Follow us on Facebook.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE Sat, 10-12pm, Motueka Library. Free services, including copy certification and witnessing signatures are available.
NELSON BRANCH OF ROYAL NZ AIRFORCE ASSOCIATION Meet 2nd Sat each month, 12pm, Club Waimea, Richmond, Phil’s Restaurant. Interesting speakers, raffles and members interested in Aviation Ph: Trever Squires 039706644 or John Bethwaite 035476634. Cost of meal
$25
HOUSIE: 1st and 4th Sat of month, 10 Pah St. Over 50s Social Hub. Ph: Jude 0273244226. All Welcome. Afternoon tea included. Cards $4. Raffles available.
GENERAL GROUPS
TRANSPORT FEST, Sat, 5 & Sun, 6 Oct, Pigeon Valley, Wakefield. Awesome Family Event. Lucky Ticket $80 Wakefield Hotel Meal Voucher. Fun Kids Rides. Chicken/ Chocolate Wheel. Demos including Fire Brigade. Food Drinks Raffles Silent Auction, 0272222464
RAKAIA LIONS LILY & FREESIA, proceeds (Cancer Rehabilitation). Bag of 4 oriental Lilies for $10. Bag 20 Freesias $5. e: margaret.ralph.c@icloud.com. Or Ph: 5476571 or Ann Law Ph: 5475661. Plant now & will flower this season.
ENCOURAGEMENT GRANTS of upto $500 for groups & Individuals with an art project involving our local community. Contact: motuekaartscouncil@gmail.com
GATEWAY TO YOUR WELLBEING, Wellbeing is important for all of us to thrive. The shed is a safe place to meet new people in a supportive and caring environment. We can
connect you with other agencies for the right support needed. More info Ph: 0279214074, E: admin@ght.co.nz or pop in 24a Tudor St, Motueka.
GREYPOWER MOTUEKA welcomes visitors at the Community House office, Decks Reserve on Wallace St. for ongoing service requests. Discount provider list available. Ph: 035289076 or e: greypowermot@gmail.com.
INDOOR BOWLS, Mon & Wed, 1.15-3pm, Motueka Over 50s Hub, 10 Pah St. All abilities welcome. Ph: Jude 0273244226.
MOTUEKA DISTRICT BRASS Do you want to be part of a fun, social and competitive band, who make players welcome? e: motueka.brass@gmail.com or Ph: 021728168
MOTUEKA NEWCOMERS New to Motueka? We’re a social group, mostly retired (50+) who meet regularly and welcome newcomers. More info Ph: Jana 035284355.
MOTUEKA MENZSHED, Tues, Wed or Thurs 9-12pm, MenzShed, Marchwood Park, College Rd. Give the missus some space, come to the menzshed. Just turn up or e: secretarymotmenzShed@gmail.com.
MOTUEKA RED CROSS. Open Mon – Sat, 10-2pm, Community House. Donations of clothing, books, shoes, linen welcome.
MOTUEKA TRAMPING CLUB, A diversity of weekend day walks and multi-day trips suitable for a range of fitness levels. Visit www.motuekatrampingclub.org to learn more about your local Club, or e: membership.motuekatc@gmail.com for info on joining.
MOTUEKA DISTRICT TOY LIBRARY, Tues, and Thurs, 9-11am, and Sat, 10-12pm, 44 Pah St. Annual membership $30. Hundreds of toys for all ages.
MOTUEKA RIDING FOR THE DISABLED We need more volunteers to help with therapeutic riding sessions. Tues, Wed, Thurs, 8.30-1pm. Ph: 0211151720 or e: info@motuekarda.nz.
MOTUEKA TENNIS CLUB. INC. Social Tennis, Tues & Thurs, 9.30am, Sun, 2pm. Courts behind the Memorial Hall Pah St. Racquets available to borrow for new Members. All welcome.
Community notices are free to community groups, schools, churches, gold coin donation events and fundraising only. For classified ads and public notices please call
528
2088. Due to the popularity of this column, while every effort will be made, inclusion cannot be guaranteed for free ads.
Weekly Puzzles and Sudoku
ENTERTAINMENT
Needs
TASMAN BLASTING SERVICES
See web-site for details: www.tasmansoda blasting.co.nz or email office@tasman sodablasting.co.nz Ph. 022 528 8159
DEATH
CAMPBELL
Shirley “Dawn”
With heavy hearts, we mourn our Mum, Nanny. Moe Mai Ra. Tangihanga Service at Te Awhina Marae has been held.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
BENSEMANN
John Barnett Judy, Leanne, Wayne & Families wish to thank Friends and Family for all the messages, flowers, cards phone calls and texts received at the time of John’s passing. He will be sadly missed.
SATURDAY 5TH OCT 9AM TO 1PM TREWAVAS ST Household goods, books, clothes etc. Downsizing. Cancelled if wet.
Adventure racing course wins rave reviews
STEPHEN STUART
Tasman Bay sports promoters Nathan and Jodie Fa’avae have gone straight back to work this week after staging their 18th annual womens-only adventure race on Saturday.
“It was a classic Nelson day. A little cool early but then pretty much picture perfect and when you have one those, people are just happy to be out there,” Nathan says on the finish line at Rabbit Island as the teams of three poured in.
More than a thousand competitors took part in the Merrell Spring Challenge which started with rafting down the Lee Valley and included riding through the Silvan Forest Mountain Bike Park in Richmond.
Throw in hiking, running and orienteering as well in what was billed a “hills to the sea” event.
“It was polar opposites to last year’s race where we had to hike through knee deep snow in North
Otago,” three-time world champion adventure racer
Sophie Hart says.
“The course was just incredible. It was authentic yet so close to the city.”
Sophie’s elite Team Racing Donkeys easily defending its title, taking out the supposed nine hour race in just over eight hours.
That was more than an hour and a half in front of their nearest rivals.
The former Nelson GP, who now practises in Blenheim, was joined by Wakefield doctor Eloise Fry and Cawthron Institute scientist Susie Wood, who is their navigator.
“They are a very talented and very smart team,” Nathan says.
There were also two shorter races over three and six hours for the enthusiasts rather than hard core competitors.
Motueka team TOP 10
Inches – experienced adventurer Krissy O’Donnell, Jess Drummond and Ashlee Levien - was first home in the six hour
Open Women’s Divison, taking six hours 47 minutes for their raft, bikes and hikes.
After a gruelling hill climb, Ashlee says she called out to her teamates “just be grateful to be alive”.
It was the fourth time the spring challenge had been staged in the region with the most recent in Golden Bay seven years ago.
The Fa’avae’s are already planning next year’s all women race.
“A big part of adventure racing is having a new and unique course which no one has done before because there is an element of navigation to it,” Nathan concludes. And that is why the course details were only made public on the eve of the race so local teams wouldn’t gain an advantage by training on it. Not that it would have made much difference to the result with the Team Racing Donkeys in a class of their own.
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Ashlee Levien, left, Jess Drummond and Krissy O’Donnell were first home in the six hour Open Women’s Division. Phtoo: Supplied.