Nelson Weekly
Affordable Excellence 69 Haven Road, Nelson 7010 24 Hour Service - 7 Days
03 539 0066
Locally Owned and Operated
www.simplicity.co.nz
tuesday 1 May 2018
Get ready for
‘Veggie butcher’ hits town
Winter
page 4
Page 16-17
Giants tower over rangers
page 21
Breaking free from meth Tracy Neal of RNZ Cayden Minto says meth is a religion. “I believe there are spiritual forces that govern its use and whether you get free of it,” he says. A clue that the 27-year-old has not yet broken free of its grip is strapped to his ankle. The electronic bracelet ensures he’s not likely to skip
court on yet another burglary charge. Seven years ago Cayden was still struggling to deal with the death in 2009 of his older brother Troy. He was shot in the chest in a broad daylight fight at a public picnic spot in Nelson’s Maitai Valley. Cayden, in prison at the time on violence matters, wasn’t allowed out to attend the funeral. More prison time followed for burglary and theft, and then a period of grace before a provocative comment one night triggered a moment’s rage, and a longer violence record. He broke the noses of two women after punching them in retaliation over a comment about his dead
brother. He’s turned his confinement into a time to read and reflect. “When he’s like this he’s amazing and I love him,” says his mother Shirley Way. “My biggest wish is that he stays on track, and the falling off becomes less frequent.” Shirley, who knows the pitfalls first-hand but with less powerful drugs, hates the person her son becomes on meth. “I don’t understand the drug – I just understand the impact it’s had on us. I can’t stand the person it makes my son. It’s easy to swap from being chill to having a psychotic episode where the person on it wants to slit someone’s throat.” She calls it “the most evil
drug” she has ever come across. Cayden was 17 when he first tried it. He says it took a while to feel its effects, by which time he was in deep. Meth became his one object of desire, but it cost so much he started making it. He says the money came so easily it was hard to justify getting a real job. “I could make 3 times the amount in less than a third of the time. Once you’ve seen that it’s hard to sit on $17 an hour when I could make $500 an hour.” But the money is a trap. “It’s like trying to hold a handful of sand when you have drug money. It comes with ties, and great risk.” Shirley says it’s heart-breaking watching her son fall, get
up and fall again. But there’s only so much she can take. “Over the last few times he’s slipped, I’ve had him buried and shut the door.” Cayden wants to rid meth from his life, and says he’ll use faith as his weapon. “You can’t serve God and money. When I’m close to God I see my family restored. I’ve learned to be a giver, not a taker. I’m learning to be content with who I am and to feel valued and approved of.” And he’s also learned to thank God for his mum. For RNZ’s full investigation into the impact of meth across New Zealand visit www.rnz.co.nz Photo: Charles Anderson.
History recreated at school of music Charles Anderson Editor
charles@nelsonweekly.co.nz
When Ian Bowman first walked into the then Nelson School of
Music in the late 1960s he was just a child learning the violin. Then, on the outside of the building were ornate decorations that welcomed Nelsonians into the building that was originally con-
structed 117 years ago. But in 1970 it was earthquake strengthened and large reinforced buttresses were put in. Those ornate decorations were destroyed. So, for 50 years, Nelsonians have
not seen the building as it was originally intended. “It was butchered really,” says Ian who is now a heritage architect tasked with recreating buildings true to their original form. “I im-
agine they thought it was easier to knock it down.” But there was a desire to bring the school, renamed the Nelson
SEE PAGE 2
Use your outdoor living areas all year round! Custom designed to suit your space Engineered for NZ conditions 99% UV protection in summer Warm & dry in winter Stylish & permanent Optional side curtains
NELSON
CALL PHIL & REBEKAH SCAIFE FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
Freephone 0800 759 952 | E ptscaifebuilding@gmail.com | www.archgola.co.nz Additional copies $1
100% locAlly owned And operAted
15 month
INTERES
Normal le nding
s
T FREE
criteria ap ply
www.nelsonweekly.co.nz