Nelson Weekly - 28 June 2023

Locally Owned and Operated

deserve

Almost two years ago, Graham’s* wife was diagnosed with a brain tumour giving her just three to six months to live. He immediately put his hand up to be one of his wife’s carers with a community care organisation.

“Back in my young days, I was a bit of a bad bugger and [my wife] pulled me out of the s*** by paying some of my fines off,” he says. “It’s a thing I have to do because I signed a paper 47 years ago... It’s my turn to look after her.”

His wife has battled on but is now bedridden, and Graham has to help her with everything, including bathing her and changing her diaper.

But now, being part of the care and support sector, he says the industry is in a dire state with administration failures, inadequate training, understaffing, and low pay.

Graham’s wife is meant to be cared for by two peo-

ple at three times during the day – he being one of them. But he says caregivers turning up is sporadic and there was one 50hour period where no one came at all.

He says that entry-level carers are often thrown into the deep-end and have to deal with highneed clients, like his wife, which can involve everything from feeding to bathing and cleaning excrement, without having had proper training.

This is echoed by another carer, Shannon*, who gives an example of a client with a catheter being cared for by someone who didn’t even know what the device was.

“That’s really embarrassing,” she says. “They shouldn’t be sending someone to a client who doesn’t really know what to do… it’s not acceptable.”

But at least that client had someone visit. It’s not uncommon for core businesses to be so under-

SEE PAGE 2

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

‘They

so much more’

RETRO NELSON AIRPORT CARPET INSPIRES T-SHIRT DESIGN: Back, from left: Brighton Lavington, Cushla Vass from Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Nelson Airport communications manager Beth Catley. In front is Caleb Bond, 8. Photo: Kate Russell. Story on Page 4.

Sara Hollyman sara@topsouthmedia.co.nz Kate Russell kate@nelsonweekly.co.nz Jack Malcolm jack@topsouthmedia.co.nz

Support workers undertrained, understaffed, underpaid

FROM PAGE 1

staffed that sometimes people aren’t visited by their carers at all. Graham’s daughter sometimes helps him with the care work, when she can.

“We are lucky that we are close, dad lives here,” she says. “What if that person had no one?”

Public Service Association (PSA) union organiser Kate Davis says there have been cases in Marlborough of clients not receiving care for 10 days.

She hosted a lobbying session for care and support workers in Nelson on 13 June. During the meeting, another effect of understaffing – being overworked – was made known, with a union member saying that one of his colleagues had worked a 275hour fortnight, raising health and safety concerns for both the worker and their clients.

“The Nelson region is desperately short-staffed,” Kate says.

“[Union] members are scared that the chronic staff shortage will lead to more burnout and higher churn.”

She adds that the understaffing issues are exacerbated by low wages.

“They don’t look after their staff,” Graham’s daughter says. “The money that they’re paid is not comparable to the work that they do; they’re caring for people at the end of their life… They deserve so much more.”

Graham gave up his fulltime job, halving his income to about $40,000, when he became his wife’s carer. Currently earning minimum wage, he says it’s not surprising care workers can’t be attracted or retained.

“There’s been a few girls go because they’re pissed off,” he says.

“If you look after your workers,

you won’t be understaffed.”

Shannon does the job because “it’s really rewarding and satisfying, knowing that you’re helping them and making their day better,” but she agrees that she doesn’t feel appreciated.

“We’ve gone straight from Covid into a shortage, a crisis of staff, and you keep on going and keep on going. And how do you get rewarded and acknowledged?

A bloody pin and 70 cents last year,” Kate says, referencing a 3 per cent pay rise offered in 2022.

With the Care and Support Workers (Pay Equity) Settlement Act 2017 set to expire on 1 July, the PSA union, with E tū and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, have lodged a new pay equity claim. That claim only affects workers for the sector’s 15 representative employers, however the unions are also simultaneously pushing for an extension

that will cover all care and support workers in the country. But in the meantime, workers are still grappling with high costs, low wages and difficult working conditions, which is impacting on their clients.

As a worker married to a client, Graham is caught in the middle of the storm and it’s not easy. “Sometimes I can come out here and sit down and just cry my heart out.”

“When you’re at the end of your life,” his daughter adds, “you shouldn’t have to fight for this sort of thing.”

*Names have been changed to protect identities.

Stoke’s Otumarama care centre to close

SARA HOLLYMAN

Stoke is set to lose another aged-care facility, with the closure of Otumarama care centre.

The 37-room facility on Nayland Rd, which is owned and operated by Oceania Healthcare, will close mid to late August.

It follows the closure of Oceania’s Whareama on Neale Ave last year.

Regional manager operations, Jodie Schorn says it had become clear that Otumarama’s current building has outlived its useful life and is no longer fit for purpose as a modern care centre.

“In addition, we have encountered challenges in staffing the centre in recent times,” Jodie says.

The facility is currently home to 34 residents with a staff of 42.

She says the majority of residents have signed an admission agreement, but a small minority have Occupation Right Agreements.

Jodie says the group are “absolutely committed” to finding an alternative living solution for each of the residents,

whether that’s within Oceania or another operator.

Oceania also operates Green Gables in Nelson and the Woodlands facility in Motueka, Jodie confirming both currently have room availability.

“Our team is now working closely with each resident and their family to understand their needs, preferences and expectations, and identify the right care centre options for each individual.”

She says they are also working closely with Te Whatu Ora/ Health NZ Nelson Marlborough and Te Toka Tumai Nelson Marlborough (formerly Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) agency) to facilitate residents’ transfer,

accommodation and ongoing care.

“No resident will be left without a home to go to.”

Jodie says staff will be offered redeployment opportunities within Oceania “wherever possible”.

In terms of the site, which sits between Broadgreen Intermediate and Nayland Primary School, Jodie says they hope to see it repurposed.

“While the 37-room building is no longer fit for the purpose of operating as a modern care centre, it is well maintained and we believe it is suitable for alternative uses. We hope to see it repurposed and we are actively investigating future uses for the site,” she says.

Otumarama on Nayland Rd, Stoke, will close in August.

Photo: Supplied.

Blood donors struggle to get appointments

ANNE HARDIE

The New Zealand Blood Service needs 40,000 more blood donors to meet demand, but local blood donors cannot get appointments to donate.

Motueka resident Mary Russell has been a willing donor for more than 30 years but could not get an appointment for the upcoming mobile blood drive in Nelson this July.

The mobile unit visits Nelson twice a year and has its next three-day visit between 18 - 20 July, but appointments filled up long ago.

Mary, who has made 61 blood donations since 1988, says it is frustrating when the blood service is calling for more blood and people want to donate, but don’t have the opportunity to do so. She remembers when the blood service took mobile units around the region and anyone could turn up to give blood.

She says it is wrong that many people in provincial towns no longer have the option to donate.

“It seems bizarre when there is a lot of New Zealanders ready and

willing to donate blood, but don’t have a unit where they can do so.

“One thing I feel quite strongly about is that young people are growing up without that culture of donating blood. Back in the day they used to visit local secondary schools and that was putting it in front of those kids, so they knew about it. Now it might never cross their minds to donate.”

During National Blood Donor

Week in June, the blood service said it had 117,000 donors who helped save the lives of 30,000 people every year. However, that donor registry had only grown by 9,000 in the past five years and it needed 40,000 more donors to meet rising demand for blood plasma.

A New Zealand Blood Service spokesperson said two three-day mobile blood drives are held in Nelson each year where it aims to collect 200 donations on each visit.

A mobile team travels from Christchurch for the blood drive and each day the collected blood is flown to its processing laboratory in Christchurch.

Donated blood needs to be pro-

New public homes for Nile St

Sixteen new two-storey homes are set to be built later this year by Kāinga Ora on the former Masonic Hall site on Nile St in central Nelson. The Masonic Hall was destroyed by fire in 2019 and the site was purchased by the public housing provider in October last year. Proposed plans for six two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom homes were shared with neighbours last week and a resource consent application will be lodged with Nelson City Council this month. Depending on resource and building consent processes, we expect construction to begin towards the end of this year.

Nelson Institute talk

The Nelson Institute is presenting Rick Kiessig’s talk this Sunday, 2 July, about the underappreciated aspects of viruses and their treatment, including how they are involved in a surprising number of human and animal health issues beyond acute infections, ranging from cancer and Alzheimer’s to MS and fatigue. Rick is co-founder and chief scientist at Kimer Med, here in Nelson. His prior work includes writing software that has flown to Mars three times. The talk starts at 2pm in the Nelson Public Library activities room. The cost is $3.

Nelson Airport development continues

GO Rentals began construction of a new facility for its back of house car grooming and maintenance at Nelson Airport last week and is expected to be complete in early 2024. The facility, a 230 square metre building on a 2000 sqm site, is the first

cessed within 12 hours of the needle being removed. After testing for viruses, each donation is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets. The Christchurch site then supplies and replenishes the blood bank in Nelson with blood products. Until 2013, a Nelson-based team

phase of Nelson Airport’s future development plans. The airport has been granted resource consent to develop 8000 sqm of land and create a road at the southern end of the airport precinct. The next phase of the plan is to create additional commercial and light industrial tenancies in the area currently occupied by the Value Carpark.

I AM HOPE fundraising auction raises $10,000

A community fundraising auction held at the Nelson Club on Saturday 17 June has raised $10,333.00 for I AM HOPE’s ‘Little People, Big Feelings’ project in Nelson Tasman – a mental health education programme designed to inform and support young people in school in language they can understand. The funds were raised through a mixture of ticket sales, raffle tickets, donations, and auction items –many which had been donated by local businesses.

Government ‘unable’ to help Nelson council with landslide remediation

After the August 2022 weather event, some landslides from Nelson City Council-owned land impacted private properties. Council must restore the land back to what it was, but Mayor Nick Smith wants to spend an extra $12.2 million on building back better so the slips don’t occur again. He proposed that Government and council each cover half that cost. But Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty has said the Government is “unable to commit” to contributing $6 million as it prioritises recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle.

operated mobile drives in smaller towns around the region. The service closed the donor centre in Nelson in 2013 due to a decline in demand for red blood cells at the time. After that, a mobile blood service continued to operate out of Christchurch in both Nelson and Richmond until 2018, when

the decision was made to discontinue the Richmond mobile in favour of adding an extra day to the Nelson collection.

The spokesperson said red cells for transfusion will continue to be sourced within New Zealand due to the short shelf life and storage options. Treatments from plasma have longer shelf life which enables them to be sourced internationally and the service already sources about 15 per cent from overseas to meet demand.

“New Zealand is lucky that we are relatively self-sufficient for plasma, but we need 40,000 new donors in the next 12 months to maintain this self-sufficiency.”

To meet New Zealand’s increasing demand, the service is investing more into its fixed donor centres but has no plans to expand Nelson’s collection yet.

“New Zealand Blood Service is certainly fortunate to have a passionate donor community in Nelson which always turns out in force whenever we are in town. We regularly look at where next to boost collections.

“Nelson’s enthusiasm won’t be forgotten.”

Airport carpet inspires t-shirt design

KATE RUSSELL

The retro carpet from Nelson Airport’s old terminal building is making a comeback - in the form of a t-shirt.

If you’re a Nelsonian, then chances are you remember the iconic brown, orange, red, and yellow carpet from the 1970’s. This Saturday, there will be a stall at the airport selling t-shirts with the carpet design, and all the proceeds will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters Nelson Tasman. Nelson Airport communications manager Beth Catley says the idea was born when they jokingly asked the public on their Facebook page if they should bring back the old carpet in the new terminal.

“The response was huge and lots of people thought we should,” she says. “So, we decided that while we probably couldn’t bring back the old carpet, we could give people the chance to own and wear a piece of the nostalgia.”

Cushla Vass from Big Brothers Big Sisters says Nelson Airport has been a longtime sponsor of the organisation and she’s excited to team up with them

for the t-shirt fundraiser.

“The carpet is so iconic, it couldn’t be more 1970’s if it tried. All the money raised will go directly to support our mentors.”

There will only be 100 ‘memory square’ t-shirts up for grabs in a range of sizes for $40 each. Any leftover stock will go to the Nelson Classic Car Museum. The

open from 9am until 5pm on Saturday 1 July, unless they sell out earlier, and will be staffed by mentor pairs throughout the day.

Cushla is now on the hunt for the person who made a jacket and hat out of the carpet for the WOW awards.

If you have any information, email nelson@bbbs. nz

Blood donors can give red blood cells every three months, and the NZ Blood Service Donor app lets you track when you can donate.

Photo: Supplied.

stall will be

Back from left is Cushla Vass from Big Brothers Big Sisters, Brighton Lavington, and Nelson Airport communications manager Beth Catley. In front is Caleb Bond, 8. Photo: Kate Russell.

Gang membership increase not straightforward

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

A 188 per cent increase in people on the National Gang List across the region since October 2017 has been attributed to the Labour government’s “soft-on-crime approach” by National’s candidate for the region, Blair Cameron. “That is totally unacceptable for everyone in Nelson and Tasman,” he says.

In October 2017, the National Gang List (NGL) showed 68 patched or prospect adult gang members in the Tasman Police District – which includes the West Coast, Marlborough, and Kaikōura as well as Nelson and Tasman. In April 2023, that figure had increased to 196 members, a 188 per cent increase.

The NGL is maintained by the Gang Harm Insights Centre, and does not record gang associates or those who may be affiliated.

“Nationwide, gang numbers have increased by more than 60 per cent under the Labour Government,” Blair says.

“Labour still hasn’t woken up to the problem and as a result, it is getting worse every day.”

However, Police caution that the NGL was established for intelligence purposes and not for

counting membership numbers, and explain that any increase on the list should not be seen as a definitive increase in membership.

“While there has been a general increase in numbers on the NGL since 2016, these are attributable to a variety of factors, including changes in recording processes and methodology, improved intelligence collection, and collation capability, as well as new individuals being identified as joining gangs,” a spokesperson says.

They add that people who simply drift away from gang involvement are also much less likely to be removed due the “the challenges of corroborating their exit” which can have a ratcheting effect on the list numbers.

Detective senior sergeant Shane Dye from the Tasman District Organised Crime Unit acknowledges there has been a general upward trend over the six years to May 2023 in the number of instances where a patched or prospect gang member has been

linked to an offence across the district.

“However, looked at in a broader context, a general upward trend has been observed over the same period for the entire population, gang members and non-gang members included,” he says. The top offence types over the six years to May 2023 by gang members in Tasman are violence – though Shane notes that 43 per cent of the violent offending was committed in a family harm context – drugs and antisocial of-

fending, and dishonesty offending.

“I have zero tolerance for the harm caused by gangs in our community,” says Nelson’s Labour MP Rachel Boyack.

She disagrees that Labour has been soft on crime, highlighting an additional 1,800 police officers around the country – including 54 in the Tasman Police District –and putting 700 police into roles working to dismantle gangs and reduce harm.

“Our funding for Operation Cobalt has resulted in over 38,000 charges laid against gang members and their associates. Police have also seized nearly 400 illegal firearms.”

Rachel also acknowledges that a large proportion of gang crime in Nelson is related to family harm. “I work closely with organisations like Women’s Refuge and Mana Wāhine, to ensure they have the resources and support they need to help women leaving violent relationships,” she says. “The Government is supporting agencies to work together to combat family harm.

Hells Angels members speak with police on the Appleby Highway. Photo: File (2018).

Safety around underground boxes

Have you ever wondered... “What are the little black plastic or concrete boxes on the side of the footpath for?”

Changing the face of the pāua industry

SARA HOLLYMAN

A Nelsonian who has helped change the way the commercial pāua industry operates has been acknowledged for his dedication to fisheries.

Nelsonian Jeremy Cooper, along with Storm Stanley, were awarded for their four decades of “substantial and meaningful” contribution to the pāua industry at this years’ New Zealand Seafood Sustainability Awards.

The Pāua Industry Council, of which Jeremy is founder and chief executive, along with Storm, who chairs the council’s board, were together acknowledged for their work which has seen the fishery flourish in the face of enormous challenges.

The Pāua Industry Council (PIC) received the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Award at the ceremony at Parliament on June 6.

try has always been managed with a country-wide approach by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), but Jeremy has worked hard to get those within the industry to look at it “paddock-by-paddock”.

After years of research to better understand how pāua live and grow, Jeremy says they now have the ability to do things like take slow-growing fish and move them to faster-growing areas.

Understanding the different geological growth patterns has also helped the industry implement voluntary size and catch limits for commercial harvesters.

The minimum legal size to harvest blackfoot pāua in New Zealand is 125mm, but Jeremy says in some parts of the country that means taking them before they have had a chance to spawn.

body knows where everyone is and what’s happening. There’s no bullshit, no skullduggery.”

Jeremy says pāua harvesters in the Chatham Islands are the best example of how the industry has changed.

“Chatham Islands were the cowboys but now they realise how important their industry is - it’s their only income probably - so if they look after it, they’ve got longevity, they’ve got sustainability. Those guys have turned, they’re the absolute best example.”

These are Network Tasman’s ‘underground boxes’. They have fuses inside of them that connect the power cables under the footpath or verge to the service cables that carry electricity to your house or business. We have about 12,000 underground boxes on our network. Most of them are in built-up areas and in public spaces.

These boxes have live electrical components inside of them, so it’s important for everyone’s safety that they are left alone and their covers stay securely fitted.

Boxes can get damaged by:

z Vehicles accidentally bumping into them, causing the cover to loosen or crack. If a box gets repeatedly damaged by vehicles, we will look at putting protective bollards around it.

z People drilling holes or inserting screws into them –this is extremely dangerous!

z Unauthorised people removing the hold down screws. Only Network Tasman approved contractors are permitted to remove the covers.

All of these things can expose the live electrical parts inside the box and put you at risk of electrocution.

If you accidentally damage an underground box, or if you see one that has been damaged, let us know straight away by phoning our fault line 0800 508 100.

If you have any questions about this article, send us an email: info@networktasman.co.nz

Jeremy, who became involved through his commercial pāua quota ownership decades ago, says he found himself going to industry meetings and disagreeing with those who said they just wanted to harvest.

“I’m a farmer and farmer’s think differently. With agriculture there’s a whole lot of management regimes you can employ, you look at each paddock individually.

“With my farming hat on I’d go to meetings and say ‘but, but, but’, and slowly I got more involved.”

Jeremy says it is this way of thinking that they have instilled in the industry over the past 20 years.

New Zealand’s pāua indus-

“Most of the upper North Island pāua die of old age because they never get to 125mm. Down on Stewart Island, they’re only just starting to spawn, and we’re allowed to legally catch them.

“As an industry, what we’ve done is voluntarily lift our size limits, so Stewart Island is 140mm.”

He says PIC systems now mean there is more data and reporting which has, in turn, led to more understanding and buy-in from everyone.

“Our commercial guys go out and they’ve got to electronically report where they were, how much they caught, who was diving, how long they spent in the water, plus their boats have to send a satellite signal to MPI every 10 minutes, so every-

He says a huge part of their work has been involving the industry players from the bottom up and Chathams operators have been at the forefront. “The Chatham Islands guys have been a revelation. They have their paddocks, and they all get round as harvesters and work out how much can come out of that paddock each year, then they come along to the AGMs and tell the quota owners ‘this is what we think you should take off each of your paddocks’. As soon as that’s come out, it’s closed. Some of the areas were c=losed the second week after the start of the season in October, that’s just so cool.”

Jeremy says, currently quota owners in the Chathams are taking roughly 40 per cent less than their entitlement because of the harvesters’ advice.

“And everyone is 100 per cent on board. They’ve realised we’ve reached a position now where the fishery is rebuilding, the fish are getting bigger - which is better for us exporting - so everyone’s happy. You’ve just got to be patient,” he says.

Jeremy Cooper, left, and Storm Stanley with the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Award. Photo: Supplied.

The amazing life of Uli

KATE RUSSELL

At 75 years old, Nelson’s Uli Rainbow has visited 120 countries, met Jimi Hendrix, starred in Lord of the Rings, and is now a local DJ - and he is determined to keep on living life to the full.

Uli was born in 1948 in an almost totally flattened Berlin. “My broken, demolished neighborhood lay in the SouthWest of town, near Wannsee. Our three-storey villa magically survived the never-ending carpet-bombing of American and British bombers and Russian tank assaults.”

His mother was a high school teacher who became a model after retirement into her 90s and his father was a musical inventor who lost both hands in the war on the Russian front.

Uli left school at age 15 and began an apprenticeship in graphic art and printing, working at his father’s printing company.

He started his own printing business at age 20.

“Theh, after 10 years of successful hard work, I decided to sell, retire, and start exploring the rest of the world.”

He took off in a self-built house truck for West and South Europe and the Middle East.

“Many years later I ran out of road and took to the air, firstly migrating to Canada and then the US.”

He inherited his last name ‘Rainbow’ after spending time with the Hopi, a Native American tribe.

By 1984 he’d “had enough” of America and luckily joined

a German container ship to cross the whole Pacific from Long Beach, California via Australia to Wellington, New Zealand, arriving on his 37th birthday.

“When I was eight, I went to a friend’s house and they had a big globe in the living room.

I saw New Zealand, and that stuck in my head - I thought ‘I’m going to go there one day’.

The father of two has made Nelson his home and is now a familiar face in the community. Uli has volunteered for the Nelson Environment Centre, plays football and volleyball, and has also discovered a passion for South American dancing - even teaching Salsa and starting a Salsa band.

Over the last 20 years, this has grown into event organisation and Latin DJ dance parties which he runs as ‘DJ Uli’ - attracting around 200 people on a Friday night.

“I was always into music. I grew up with classical music, jazz, and blues.”

He has organised mass gatherings on Tāhunanui Beach to celebrate his birthday.

“I bring my sound system

NELSON AUTO GLASS SPECIALISTS

LOCAL LEGENDS

THIS WEEK’S LOCAL LEGEND

and make a big square on the sand with a stick and call it the dance floor.”

Uli met an impressive number of people in his younger days living in Berlin, playing in blues bands and photographing musicians - including Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Mick Jagger, and Eric Clapton.

“I’d never heard of Jimi Hendrix before - I was a roadie at the time, it was 15 May 1967. He put lighter fuel on his guitar and burnt it, which was unseen in Germany, everybody was stunned.”

In 2000, Uli became the leader of the Wildmen tribe in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

“I heard the news that they were casting, and my son was interested, so I sent off some pictures of him.”

He included a photo of himself in his track pants, complete with his long wild hair and beard. They liked what they saw and offered Uli a part.

“They rang me saying, ‘Can you come to Wellington, we’ll send you a ticket’. And that was it. It was an awesome experience. I enjoyed the whole process, not just being in front of the camera.”

The experience made him world-famous in Germany.

“I had all the newspapers printing about me - pictures, interviews, and I was on the television. They’d ask me about the movie, and I hadn’t even seen it yet.”

Uli says he has no plans to stop dancing, DJ-ing, and making the most out of life, and next on his bucket list is a trip to Antarctica.

Tracey Alexander, the owner of Joker Coffee Cart located in the centre of New Zealand’s Botanics Park is an outstanding individual in the wider community. Touted as one of the region’s best coffee makers, Tracey takes pride in her role while also providing a supportive environment and listening ear for many different walks of life. Operating from the park for the last six years, Tracey is extremely hospitable and goes above and beyond for her customers providing top quality coffee with a relaxed vibe. Tracey fosters an amazingly positive sense of community amongst both her human and furry friends.

It’s often more than just a space to have a chat and a social outing for people and their dogs. Although it is her business, Tracey is dedicated to creating a positive, friendly and welcoming community of coffee lovers and their four-legged friends to socialise in, while also providing treats for the dogs out of her own funds and donations from customers. Whether its rain, hail or shine, Tracey is out there, with her cart, every day for people with many loyal customers visiting Tracey and her coffee cart for a start of the day ‘positive pick-me-up’. “I have had my own cart for six years now, previously managing the Pomeroys Crema Cart at the Church Steps for six years prior to that. It is about more than the coffee for me, it is seeing people with a smile on their face and walking away feeling special, including the dogs!”

Tracey Alexander has single-handedly created a community hub in the very truest sense of the word, dedicated to helping not just the homeless but anyone in needs. People connect in ways they wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to, they stop and have a chat and sometimes support each other during the tough times. They form connections and bond over a delicious cuppa, starting their day with a smile. This is why she is deserving of Local Legend status.

KEEP IT LOCAL!

Toby Bowden & Francis Lagrutta leading the local team.

Nelson Auto Glass Specialists Toby Bowden presents Joker Coffee Cart owner Tracey Alexander with flowers and a prezzy card, for being a ‘Local Legend’.

Nelson’s Uli Rainbow, aka ‘DJ Uli’, lives life to the full at age 75. Photo: Kate Russell.

Jimi Hendrix and Uli’s band in Berlin, 1967.

...End of Story

Final facts on some of our stories

Finding new feet for donated sneakers, Wednesday

22 March 2023

Nelson Intermediate School students have re-distributed 102 pairs of shoes into the community so far as part of their ‘Lazy Sneakers’ initiative. Teacher Tony Jenkins says a ‘sneaker drop’ was held at the school on 13 June. “This was where we lined up all our shoes on the netball court in their sizes and students were able to come and get shoes.” Tony says they still have lots of shoes left over and when they build it up again, they will look to do another ‘drop’ or go to other schools and organisations to drop off bulk lots.

Central School sets challenge for Nelson, Wednesday

3 May 2023

The Central Challenge on 21 May managed to raise $18,500. The rogaine fundraiser event for Nelson Central School attracted 170 teams with over 1000 people attending - a larger than expected turnout. Rebekah Billowes from the school community group says it was a “fantastic” community event. “There was great food, baking and stalls. The kids’ games and bouncy castles were a huge hit with the younger children. It was a great family day out and we were really pleased with the turnout.”

Musicians serve up tunes for tennis, Wednesday

10 May 2023

A concert fundraiser for the Nelson Bays Tennis Association raised around $5000 last month. The event at The Boathouse on 19 May included performances by Bryce Wastney and PlayTime and there were items, such as artworks, auctioned off to raise money. President of the association David Turnhout says the venue was nearly “packed out” and they sold just short of 100 tickets.

Long Covid puts lives on hold

ANNE HARDIE

Linley Smith is usually a busy person who fits a lot into life, but four months after being infected with Covid-19 her life is still on hold as she struggles through each day. She is one of an estimated 300,000 New Zealanders who have experienced long Covid, but she says the public seldom see the effect on people because they do not have the energy to go out, and when they do it is for the brief periods they can manage.

A team of researchers at the University of Otago has recently found that long Covid and ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) are one and the same after examining the similarities in the molecular patterns. The research showed that in both, an ongoing chronic inflammatory response led to a cascade of effects that involved the brain’s immune system, inflammatory system and the central nervous system. The brain then starts to misfunction in terms of its regulation of body physiology.

For Linley, that means exhaustion like she has never known before.

“I’ve never experienced mental fatigue before. On a good day I’ll be up and about for two to three hours and then I’ll have to go and lie down for at least an hour.”

Prior to Covid, she led a fullon life as a mother, a commercial business partner with New Zealand King Salmon and wife of Nelson Mayor Nick Smith.

Now she manages three hours a day for work, mostly from home where she can spread it out through the day, and social functions with Nick

Update from Rachel Boyack MP

are a thing of the past. For six weeks, she could not work at all because she was simply exhausted.

For two days each week, she stays home on the couch and rests – so she can manage a bit more on the other days. Even when she does manage to get outside the house, it is usually only for an hour or so and the last time she walked on the beach was months ago because it is just too hard.

She says people are often surprised that she has not recovered yet, with few realising that long Covid can go on for a very long time.

She admits she was quite relaxed about getting Covid-19 and thought she would get “get sick, get over it and get on”.

“I’m quite frightened of getting Covid again. Ten to 20 per cent of people (with long Covid) get better after their second bout of Covid and 80 to 90 per cent get worse.”

Apart from the physical effects of long Covid, she says it is incredibly isolating for those who are forced to rest at home. For those who can

I know that many Nelson families are doing it tough right now due to the cost of living. Our Government is continuing to focus on supporting people who are struggling with the cost of living, with steps such as increasing superannuation and core benefits, lifting the minimum wage and the Winter Energy Payment.

From this Saturday 1 July, the standard $5 prescription charge at your local pharmacy will be scrapped. This will make medicine cheaper for over three million Kiwis and will reduce pressure on our health system.

Last week we passed legislation to reform the supermarket industry, making it easier for new businesses to enter the market and increase competition. Increasing competition is one of the most important steps we can take to reform this sector and ensure that customers get a fair deal at the supermarket.

This week the Nelson Community Foodbank have launched a winter appeal to help support Nelsonians in need. Donations can be dropped off to the Foodbank at the Habitat for Humanity building on Tāhunanui Drive. I encourage you to be generous towards your fellow Nelsonians who need our support. Finally, we are continuing our work to build more public and community homes in Nelson, with our partners in local government and the community housing sector. Every Kiwi deserves a warm, dry home and I’m delighted that the Government’s housing provider Kāinga Ora have 65 new homes planned for Nelson City and Nelson South.

no longer work or not work as many hours, there can be a financial impact on the household and she also feels for employers impacted by staff who cannot work.

Linley is not alone with long Covid and, like many of those with the condition, is now part of a Facebook group that has an expanding membership.

In Richmond, Nic Ross’ journey with long Covid began 14 months ago when she was so exhausted that she slept most of the day for three weeks. As time went on, she would begin to recover and then catch a cold or some other virus that would set her right back to square one, sometimes bedbound.

“It’s the world’s worst rollercoaster,” she says. “I’m really not getting anywhere because I get these setbacks and I can’t work because even after 20 minutes my brain feels fried.”

Walking even 200m leaves her wobbly and weak and she can only dream of the mountainbike trails she rode before she got Covid. Reading can make her brain hurt, driving

is too demanding, her hair has been falling out and the fatigue can be extreme.

“You feel sad for everything you have lost. A tiny thing that was easy to do before is now so hard.”

Yet she considers herself lucky, because she knows there are others with long Covid who are bedridden. She also has her mother to help her with cooking, housework and getting her to health appointments, and she feels for people who have no help as well as family members trying to support those with the condition.

Doctors have been understanding, but she says a 15-minute appointment is not enough to talk about long Covid and they do not have any solution for fatigue. Instead, it has taken time, energy which she does not have, and money to search for anything that might help her recovery.

She says the Government has decided Covid-19 is over and has little to offer long Covid sufferers. Instead, there is the Facebook group and a website developed by people with long Covid where anyone with the condition can register and learn more.

It can be found at www.longcovidsupport.co.nz.

A major Covid study carried out by the Te Herenga Waka/Victoria University of Wellington found one in five people reported long Covid symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, muscle aches and joint pain. The study pointed out that this equated to as many as 300,000 New Zealanders likely to experience long Covid, yet it was still poorly understood by doctors.

Linley Smith has been struggling with the exhaustion from long Covid for months. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Council grant enables eight new affordable homes

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

A $1.2 million grant to the Nelson Tasman Housing Trust from Nelson City Council will build eight new community homes in Nelson South.

The new houses, all slated to be affordable rentals, will be built on two adjoining properties116 Waimea Rd and 163 Kawai St South.

Housing Trust director Carrie Mozena applauds the council for its initiative in approving the grant.

“Our community needs more affordable homes,” she says, mentioning that there are more than 1,000 households in need of secure and affordable housing across Nelson Tasman.

“The difference that will make in the residents’ lives is immense. What our tenants tell us now is they can breathe again, once they get one of our homes, they can get work, they can keep work, children can go to school, and they can contribute to the community.”

The two existing houses on the properties, both built in

the 1940s, will be removed to make way for the new development.

The eight, single-storey units will each contain two bedrooms, photovoltaic panels to reduce energy costs, and parking for one car each.

At least two of the new units will also be designed to be wheelchair accessible.

Mayor Nick Smith says the Housing Trust has a history of delivering “good value for money”.

He highlights that the total project cost is $4.2 million, which means the eight homes will be delivered for $530,000 each.

“Go out into the marketplace and see how many new properties are available to Nelson for that price.”

Councillor Rachel Sanson heads the council’s Community Housing Acceleration Taskforce and says the new homes will help to address the acute need for healthy and affordable homes in Nelson.

“This is really just a small number addressing that, but I’m really hoping that the Housing Reserve is going to be able to

accelerate housing outcomes and we’re looking at how we can continue to collaborate with our housing providers and iwi trusts to keep that going for the foreseeable future.”

The $1.2 million comes from the third phase of council’s Housing Reserve which was established with the $12 million council received after it sold 142 community housing units to Kāinga Ora in 2020. The Housing Trust is now working to confirm co-funding for this development with applications to the Rātā Foundation for $200,000, and to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s Affordable Housing Fund for $1.9 million. Nick confirms that the council will be working with the Housing Trust to secure funding from the Ministry.

$5.05 million of the Housing Fund has been allocated thus far and the remaining $6.95m is available for community housing providers and iwi trusts with a presence in Nelson to deliver social and affordable housing in the city. The development is hoped to be completed in 2025.

Mayor Nick Smith, Nelson Tasman Housing Trust director Carrie Mozena, and councillor Rachel Sanson say the new homes will help address the city’s acute need for healthy and affordable homes.

Photo: Max Frethey.

Croquet champ to run for Greens

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

Jace Hobbs has been selected by the Green Party to contest the Nelson electorate in this year’s election.

Born in the United States, Jace moved to the country in 2007.

“I consider myself part of the great New Zealand experiment here. Not necessarily a Kiwi, but a New Zealander.”

An immediate job offer as a beach volleyball trainer saw him come to Nelson, but he mentions the variety of outdoor activities and the city’s “vibrant” artistic scene as some of the reasons he has stuck around.

An avid outdoorsman, Jace enjoys mountain biking, playing beach volleyball, and windsurfing.

“Every time there’s windy weather, I windsurf. Summer, winter, any time.”

He also excels at croquet which he plays at the Nelson Hinemoa Croquet Club, having won many tournaments around the country.

Jace is a musician too, having played in several bands and occasionally solo, favouring American-style music such as bluegrass or rhythm and blues. Though now retired, he says he has served “thousands of happy customers” over the years, hav-

ing owned six successful businesses – the most recent one seeing him distributing electric bikes around the country from Nelson.

Zero-emission transport is a passion of Jace’s.

He has delivered talks on the subject around the country for about twelve years, speaking at conferences about the “unique opportunity” that New Zealand has to transition away from fossil fuel transportation.

Jace points to the declared climate emergency and says the country needs to “pick up the pace” in climate action, and he believes the best way to do so is to increase the share of the party vote the Greens receive.

“The Greens have put in place the strongest climate plan Aotearoa has ever had,” he says.

“My priority is more Green MPs so that the brilliant policies that Greens produce are given a mandate.”

Jace says that Nelson, being one of the sunniest places in the country, could benefit from the party’s energy policy that promotes conversion to renewable energy, creating jobs and stimulating the local economy.

“Nelson and the country are not separated in the problems we face. The Greens’ budget would make sure everyone in New Zealand has… food on the table, a safe place to call

Find your career path

Nelson’s Annual Plan adopted

Nelson City Council’s Annual Plan 2023/24 has been adopted at a Council meeting held last Thursday.

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith says council made some sensible tweaks and managed to keep the lid on the rates increase at a time of economic uncertainty.

“Given that inflation is currently so high, it was prudent for us to make sure the average 7.2 per cent rates increase was no more than the inflation rate at the time this plan was written.

“Nelson’s rate increase is also less than most other Councils throughout New Zealand. We were very mindful of how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting our community. Food is up 12 per cent,” he says. “The average Nelson mortgage interest cost is up $350 per week. Nelson rents are up an average $50 per week. Rates make up only 4 per cent of household costs but by keeping the rate increase to no more than inflation, we are not making the problem worse. I think what we have now strikes a balance between the need for Nelson to recover and grow while considering people’s financial situations.

home, and a life of opportunities – and we will pay for it all with a fairer tax system,” he says.

“This is what the citizens deserve.”

Jace’s selection comes two months after Teall Crossen

withdrew from representing the party for Nelson.

“The cost of continuing with the August 2022 severe weather event recovery to ratepayers in 2023/24 is estimated to be $19.6 million, including $8 million approved by Council in May for slip remediation work.”

The total estimated cost for recovery is $77.1 million with 30 per cent expected to be covered by insurance and central government contributions. The work includes fixing roads and footpaths, slips, water infrastructure and tracks.

Boosting Student Opportunities In The Tech Industry

It might have been nerve-wracking but presenting their final IT projects to the IT Advisory Committee members was also a great opportunity for four Bachelor of Information Technology graduates to connect with industry leaders and discover job opportunities.

Celeste Quinn felt her final project was a little easier than previous presentations done in front of her peers. “That’s because I’m now at the point where I know enough about what I’m doing so I can talk properly about it,” she says. Mark Smith is completing a graduate diploma and has found his time at NMIT Te Pūkenga to be engaging.

“NMIT gave me the IT skills level-up I needed,” he says. “The access to so many powerful learning tools and so many experienced IT educators enabled and encouraged me to explore my areas of interest.”

Mark is currently looking for work and is confident he will find something that both thrills and motivates him.

Kenny Williams-Stockdale has already secured employment after his work placement through the Bachelor of Information Technology programme. He worked together with John Dao on their final project that features data from his new employer.

“John did the back-end stuff, and I transformed it and made it look fancy on the front-end,” Kenny said. “After spending three years with John, we finally got to work together and had an absolute blast.”

Throughout his time at NMIT, Kenny found real value in the Nelson IT Student’s Association (NISA). He is currently the team lead for NISA and looks to continue supporting learners after graduating.

“The tech industry doesn’t have a massive community gathering that focuses on helping students transition into the industry, that’s where NISA has come in,” he says.

“There have been some pilot studies to apply this student engagement programme on a national scale, which is really exciting.”

Enrolments are currently open for the Bachelor of Information Technology programme, beginning 17 July.

Apply now: nmit.ac.nz /it

Jace Hobbs, a former croquet champion, is running for the Greens to raise the profile of their policies to try and win them more votes in this year’s election. Photo: Max Frethey.

Renwick Flats

I was appalled to learn that the 10 flats, built 1975, known as The Renwick Flats have been left empty since December. Previously owned by NCC but sold to Kainga Ora March 2021. The excuse being that they are looking to redevel op them the future. What really annoys me is that this Government department has so little concern for both the tax payers, who fund them, and those peo ple desperately looking for affordable accommodation, yet they can’t be both ered to rent them. With all the other developments they have planned, why demolish useable accommodation that is in easy walking distance from the CBD. At the same time this financially inept Labour Government is busy mak ing it very hard for many private land lords by removing the tax deductibility of the interest paid on their mortgage, which is a legitimate business expense. To make matters even worse they are requiring private landlords to spend a lot to meet their new requirements for rental properties yet giving themselves extra time to comply. They are driving more and more private landlords out of the market at enormous cost to all taxpayers, leaving less to spend on other essential public services.

Yours sincerely,

Gaire Thompson

Stoke to get bigger

Blast, though not surprised. I use this supermarket as it is a nice ‘small’ one.

Chris Win

Those two shops have stood empty for too long. This is good news for Stoke.

Andrea Grocott

Stoke has so much potential to fulfill. A

Charlotte

Williams

Would really like to see a better hub in Stoke.

The Isel Park area with the new building is good but the shopping hub is not great. It’s so condensed.

Carolyn Keehan Dave Parata

Hopefully a better layout, too.

Mandi Halliday

The Social Bakers – Pop up Shop

Saturday, 1 July, 9-2pm

101 Bridge Street, Nelson

This Pop up will have everything you crave from Cake by the Slice, Chunky Cookies, Slices, Brownies, Cupcakes and more. ictus Coffee & Eatery will be offering 10% off coffee when you show them your social baker goodies.

Make-A-Wish fundraiser

Thursday 29 June 6 – 8pm The Suter

A movie following Rose and Tom cycling the South Island to raise funds for MakeA-Wish, an inspirational talk by Nathan Fa’avae and fabulous raffles. Tickets $25 from Carol Parkinson 0274 862 462.

Hot Hula Fitness $5 day!

Sunday, 2 July, 6am Studio One Nelson

Easy to preform dance moves set to the sounds of traditional Polynesian drumbeats, hip hop and reggae. $5 day normally $15. Contact Rebecca: 0225057390.

Hon Dr Nick Smith

HELPING OUR CITY THROUGH A TOUGH WINTER

Winter is always a difficult time for our central city businesses but 2023 is shaping up as the perfect storm. Retailers, cafes, bars and restaurants are facing the nationwide recession, sharp rises in costs, increases in retail crime and acute staff shortages. Their trade last summer was shortened by the SH6 closure. A further factor squeezing these businesses is that IRD and landlords allowed deferrals of rents and taxes through Covid but are now requiring repayment.

We have already lost businesses such as Morrisons cafe, Harbour Light Bistro, Amazon, Acquisitions and Samko. More would close if they could but have no way out of premise rentals. The risk is that we lose the critical mass for our city to thrive. The bulk of the economic problems rest with central Government but there are things Council can and should do.

Events help bring life to our city. Te Ramaroa is literally a winter highlight. This stunning Festival of Light runs for five nights from Friday until Tuesday. Zip up your coat, grab the family and come into the city to enjoy this free, iconic event.

Council moved last week to make afternoon central city parking effectively free from 2pm (including the normal one-hour free) from 1 July until 31 October. We are investing bigtime in public transport and cycling but need to recognise that the bulk of customers come by car. There is no sense in Council having empty carparks while businesses struggle.

Uniquely Nelson is running a city promotional campaign next month covering social media, print, radio and billboards, promoting the city locally and nationally with the help of Nelson Airport and our Regional Development Agency.

Council also set aside $20,000 last week for a City Centre Winter Activation Fund for additional events and projects to bring people into the city over the winter months. These short-term measures are about responding nimbly to challenging times. They come with the support of our new Central City Business Forum with Council, ably led by the Deputy Mayor. The next step is developing a long-term strategy with businesses to help make our city a more attractive place to shop, eat, socialise, live and invest.

Nelson Matters Nick Smith MAYOR OF NELSON

Loving life with the Giants and chasing his NBL dream

Nelson is making a seriously good impression on the Giants’ Matur Maker.

Matur joins host Matt Lawrey on The Nelson Pod in Episode 9 to talk about his fascinating past, his love of playing with the Nelson Giants, and his ambition to make it in the US NBL.

Born in South Sudan, Matur’s family fled the country when he was six years old to escape a civil war.

His family arrived in Australia, via Uganda, as refugees and made a home for themselves in Perth, Australia.

Since then Matur has lived and played basketball in Canada, Switzerland, Slovenia, the USA and Australia. Since joining the Giants earlier this year, Matur has become a huge fan of the team’s supportive culture, its coach Mike Fitchett and its fans.

“We all take care of each other, especially the local guys. In my opinion, they make the team, really. They can show us what Nelson’s about,” said Matur. He says Mike impressed him

right off the bat.

“I think he was just like real honest with me...and he’s done everything in his power to basically get me to where I need to be,” he said.

Matur is grateful to Mike for

letting him play in positions that have helped him develop as a player.

“Coach Mike is able to put me into positions to succeed…I’m able to defend guards, I’m able to handle the ball and shoot the

ball and do a lot of different things on the floor…he’s really been helping me and challenging me,” he said.

Matur’s also grateful to the Giants’ fans.

“Everyone is so nice in the community, everybody wants to help. We’ve definitely got the best fans in the league.”

As far as the future goes, Matur’s keen to help the Giants win the Championship and beyond that his goal is to play in the NBA. His dream team? Either The LA Clippers or The Miami Heat.

Wherever he ends up, Matur likes to think he’ll be visiting Nelson again in the future.

“I have family here now. There are guys that I consider family, like my teammates and my coach, of course.”

Watch or listen on: thenelsonpod.co.nz

Thefts taking toll on charity

JO KENT

An organisation which provides every day essentials to families in Nelson and Tasman is struggling to survive after being hit with repeated thefts.

Founder of Helping Families Nelson, Kristy Rowe, says it’s time to stop stealing from the hand that feeds the community or they may have to close the facility down.

New Richmond bus depot development underway

SARA HOLLYMAN

Nelson Tasman’s buses will soon have a new home with development underway of a site in Richmond.

The new bus depot on Estuary Place, Richmond, which is currently being developed by SBL, will become the new home of the region’s eBus fleet. Nelson City Council group infrastructure manager, Alec Louverdis, says while the site is currently only a concrete pad with chargers - it’s a site with ongoing development.

“SBL have a long-term plan to move their offices and maintenance onsite and to install and benefit from renewable sources,” he says. “This will coincide with their long-term plan to repurpose the batteries on the bus when they reach the end of their commercial transport lifetime.”

The plan is for the batteries to be reused to store energy from renewable sources at the depot to charge buses or supply power to the depot.

The SBL site will be where the

bus fleet start and finish their day.

With enough chargers for the full fleet, the buses will be charged onsite and will run their entire day on a full charge.

“Purchasing 17 electric buses to make up the majority of our fleet meant making sure we have the infrastructure in place to store and charge the buses,” Alec says.

“We’re thrilled to work alongside SBL who have secured a location where all their buses will be stored and charged.”

ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION CLASSES

Start dates vary from July – August 2023

EVENING CLASSES

“In the last month or so, thieves have helped themselves to fittings off our new gardens, a plastic garden pipe, items from inside the playhouse and even the chain and padlock from the wheelie bin which was put there to stop people going through it, believe it or not.”

She says many other things have “walked away” and when she discovered the latch for the gate missing, she knew enough was enough.

“Taking the latch means we don’t have a safe space for children anymore. What use are these things to anyone else? We’re here to try to support the community and this is how we’re thanked.

“We barely have the funds to keep the place running and we certainly don’t have money to replace the items, some of which were donated in the first place,” she says. She says the whole ethos of the community hub is run on trust, especially the recently installed food pantry where people can take or leave items as necessary.

“I’ve been left with no choice, and I

really don’t want to do it, but we’re going to have to put security cameras up because this has to stop.

“There is a lot of stress and anxiety in the world and people are starting to turn on each other. That also needs to stop. Please think before you act. Exercise some patience and compassion for your fellow humans.

“Everyone is going through something you might not be able to see, so be kind.”

The organisation is planning a Toy and Women’s Clothing giveaway this Saturday, 1 July, from 10am to 12pm at the Headingly Centre, Lower Queen Street.

“It’s never too early to plan for birthday or Christmas presents and we have lots of new and used items to giveaway this weekend, so bring a bag or box to take your things home in. And, as always, please reach out to the various agencies around if you are struggling in anyway.”

Learning over winter

Monday

• Guitar (2 Levels)

• NZ Sign Language – Level 1A & 1B

• Digital Photography Painting For All Levels

• Te Reo Māori Beginners

Wednesday

• Ukulele (2 Levels)

• NZ Sign Language – Level 1D

• Thai Cooking

Malaysian Cooking

• Life Writing – Creative Non-Fiction

• START – Stress, Tension, Anxiety, Reduction Techniques NEW

• Understanding & Enjoying Shakespeare: The Case of Hamlet NEW

Saturday

Tuesday

• Sewing With Confidence

• NZ Sign Language – Level 1C & 2A

• Take A Chance Singers Xero Basics

• Microsoft Excel Basics

• Woodwork DIY For All Levels FULL

Thursday Speaking Spanish (2 Levels)

• Yoga Flow

• Sewing With Confidence

• Tai Chi

• Belly Dance With Gretchen

• NZ Sign Language – Level 1C

• Te Reo Māori Beyond Beginners NEW

DAY CLASSES

• Introduction to Creative Journaling Workshop

Email: ace@waimea.school.nz | Phone: 544 6099 Ext 870 www.waimea.school.nz/community-education

Enjoy the benefits of interaction with other class members, group learning opportunities and focused classroom attention, all designed to support enhanced learning outcomes in courses offered through Waimea College Adult & Community Education.

Exciting new courses/workshops have been added to the selection.

Te reo Māori Beyond Beginners is an eight week carry on course from the first level beginners’ course with Tutor Sue Pryde. This has an emphasis on communication and understanding aspects of tikanga Māori. In the new START – Stress, Tension, Anxiety, Reduction Techniques course you will playfully learn how to visualise, develop open awareness, and meditate effectively for calm, confidence, and competence in your daily life. Tutor Kindra Douglas brings her extensive experience with groups

and teaches these reliable, precise techniques, new science, and a warm, practical, intuitive approach to support the changes you seek.

If you have a keen interest in Shakespeare, you might like to check out the Understanding & Enjoying Shakespeare: The Case of Hamlet Course. What is so great about Shakespeare’s plays? What are the specific features of the plays that account for their greatness? By taking Hamlet as an example, and reading it closely, your ability to provide clear and compelling answers to these burning questions when they arise at schools, the dinner table, and cocktail parties will be enhanced with the tutoring from Dr. Bill Walker. Many more options can be chosen from the diverse range, but popular courses do fill quickly so book now.

The depot on Estuary Place will have enough chargers for the entire Nelson Tasman eBus fleet.

Photo: Anne Hardie.

Founder of Helping Families Kristy Rowe says enough is enough. Photo: Jo Kent.

Free inner-city parking extended

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

It will soon be free to park in Nelson’s city centre from 3pm during this year’s winter season.

Nelson City Council made the decision last Thursday after Uniquely Nelson suggested the measure to help encourage residents into the city during the slower, colder months of the year.

“We’re at the bottom of the bellcurve,” says Uniquely Nelson manager Simon Duffy. “Winter is always slow, but this winter – interest rates, food, power, all the costs – things have tightened up.”

The idea was proposed during a June meeting of the Inner-City Forum – a council-led group born from a desire of central city businesses to have greater communication and engagement with council on inner-city matters.

The measure is temporary and will start on 1 July through to 31 October, but will run alongside several other efforts to encourage shoppers to visit the CBD, such as a new marketing campaign launching in July.

But not all councillors were convinced that extending free parking was the right method to encourage spending.

This concern was reinforced by senior adviser Stephen Rainbow acknowledging in his report on the topic that no detailed analysis had been done to determine if the change would provide a positive stimulus for businesses.

Councillor Rachel Sanson describes council’s receptiveness to Uniquely Nelson’s suggestion as “admirable” but wonders if instead of parking, it was the high cost of living and a “cataclysmic” shift to online shopping caused by the Covid-19 pandemic that meant fewer people were spending money in the CBD.

Councillor Mel Courtney also says that extending free parking was “not the answer” and was contrary to council’s objectives to encourage a transport mode shift away from cars.

However, Stephen reiterated that the suggestion was made to council by Uniquely Nelson – which represents central city businesses – and that by implementing the measure, it would send a “strong

signal” to the business sector that council was listening to its concerns.

He adds that a detailed analysis of the impacts of the change would have slowed down the process at a time when the inner-city needed immediate assistance.

In a further show of support for businesses in the CBD, deputy mayor Rohan O’Neill-Stevens proposed an amendment to the parking measure to also see the creation of a City Centre Winter Activation Fund of $20,000 to further support events and projects that attract people to the city centre during the season.

“We need to be very active in our role of support and also of inspiration and that direct activation.”

These funds will work alongside pre-planned events, such as Te Ramaroa – the Nelson Light Festival, to stimulate the inner city.

Elected members enthusiastically approved the Activation Fund, and though the free parking

extension proved more contentious with several councillors voting against it, it was also approved.

During the debate on the two proposals, councillor Pete Rainey said that the council is too often reactionary to the economic challenges felt by central city businesses.

“I’ve heard this same issue, and it’s a legitimate issue, of downturn in winter months, come across this table so many times. We need to do something about this that’s more than knee-jerk.”

He suggested an amendment that

council consider developing a City Centre Retail Strategy which was also well-received and approved by elected members. This would give council a codified approach to assisting businesses during the winter slowdown rather than finding itself in a similar situation in future years trying to urgently approve measures to help already-struggling businesses.

Nelson business promoter Uniquely Nelson says that this winter is especially difficult for inner city businesses. Photo: Max Frethey.

Free swimming lessons for 140 kids

School kids who have not been able to learn to swim due to financial constraints will be able to take lessons for free thanks to a local partnership.

NBS and CLM will provide 140 children from Nelson Tasman with two terms of swimming lessons free of charge. The initiative aims to provide invaluable opportunities for children who may not have had access to swimming tuition due to financial constraints.

As an island nation surrounded by oceans, lakes, and rivers, both organisations recognise that swimming is a fundamental skill and a national rite of passage in New Zealand.

However, the country has unfortunately experienced high rates of drowning, largely due to limited access to swimming education.

By offering swimming lessons at the primary school age, NBS and CLM aim to address this issue and equip children with essential water safety skills. NBS has provided the financial support necessary to facilitate the lessons and has, in addition, purchased 140 pairs of goggles, ensuring that each child receives the necessary equipment to enhance their swimming experience.

NBS community engagement manager, Nic Foster, emphasised the long-term value of teaching children to swim.

“Learning to swim is not only a fun skill, but it can also save lives by enabling individuals to navigate dangerous water situations.”

Richmond Aquatic Centre facility manager, Vaughan Hope recognises the immense value in teaching this life-saving skill.

“We are extremely grateful for NBS’ support.” Richmond Aquatic Centre will be seeking nominations for the free lessons via their Facebook page.

From left: Jo Loveridge (CLM), Nic Foster (NBS community engagement manager), Patsy Berriman (CLM) and Lisa Stanley (CLM). Photo: Supplied.

Bringing backyard dreams to life

A prominent player in the swimming pool industry, Narellan Pools Nelson was started by local husband-and-wife team Glen and Julie Berkett in 2005. With six dedicated staff members, the team at Narellan Pools Nelson have been installing fibreglass swimming pools since 2005, amassing a wealth of experience in transforming backyards into dream retreats. Glen is a qualified engineer with a background in excavation and says the enterprise sits perfectly alongside the family’s sister business, The New Gate Company, enabling a comprehensive range of services to their clients. Also working in collaboration with landscape designers, Glen describes Narellan Pools as being able to offer ‘the whole kit and caboodle’ for a seamless and

Proud to support Narellan Pools

cohesive backyard transformation. Taking pride in providing a holistic service, Narellan Pools Nelson ensures that homeowners receive a backyard where the pool and its surrounding features are integrated harmoniously. “The motto of the Narellan brand is ‘Bringing Dreams to Life’, which we take seriously. It gives us great pleasure to see a client's vision come to life and their dream come to fruition,” says Glen. “The ability to engage with landscape architects enables us to fully help our clients on their journey. It can be hard for some people to visualise the end result sometimes, so we are here every step of the way to help guide our clients.”

With nearly two decades of experience in the industry, Narellan Pools Nelson boasts a team

of highly skilled professionals who possess in-depth knowledge of fibreglass pool installations. Their expertise ensures that each project is executed with precision and attention to detail, resulting in beautiful and functional swimming pools. Their extensive experience in transforming

backyards provides vast insight and an arsenal of strategies to overcome any challenge that may arise during the installation process. The team at Narellan Pools are happy to walk clients through their huge range of swimming pools and plunge pools, from the family–friendly Symphony Pool

to the epitome of poolside luxury and relaxation with the Nirvana, turning your backyard into an inviting space to gather with family and friends.

Giving back to the community has long been an important aspect for the team, with the support of local sports teams remaining close to their hearts, specifically local netball, basketball, softball and rugby. In collaboration with the brands' 50th anniversary, a generous nationwide campaign was launched, with a lucky local couple being awarded the grand prize of $15,000 towards a brand new Narellan Pool. The deserving winners, Anna and Jimmy, had previously encountered financial setbacks with another company, says Glen, making them worthy recipients of the prize. “We have done a lot of sponsorships in the community over the years, but this one was really heartwarming. The couple had been left $50,000 out of pocket after another company went under, so the fact they were announced as the winners was really cool.”

From left: Jimmy Hesketh, Anna Hesketh, Glen Berkett, Julie Berkett, Aimee Berkett.

Local owners supporting local

The owners of The Car Company, Shane Drummond and Ben Brownie, have worked hard to build a solid and trusted reputation in the region. They pride themselves on being local and supporting local 100%, their company ethos is to give back to the local community that supports them. Establishing the business in 1996, The Car Company has long been the go-to for locals needing to buy, sell or trade in a vehicle, offering great value for money to their customers.

“Buying is a very important part of our business,” says Ben. “We like to make it easy for our clients by making the process hassle free, money in your account the same day, we will come to you for ease of transaction, and you don’t need to buy from us to sell to us.” Dealing with a huge range of makes and models, the ability to provide instant finance options as well as offer an automotive workshop that provides great service and a high standard of work, The Car Company truly is a one-stopshop for all things on wheels!

The Car Company is a household name, and everyone knows someone who has purchased a vehicle or two from them, if not themselves. The trusted team have earned the right to their success and longevity, with a long list of recommendations and a long history of repeat business. Shane and Ben have been main players in the industry for a combined total of over 50 years, and credit the company’s position of strength to building honest and trusted connections, both locally and nationwide. “Building a strong rapport with our clients, no matter where in the world they are, is key,” says Shane.

“Our customers can trust us to back ourselves when we say we will deliver on something. We have customers that will call and purchase a car from us without even seeing it because they know we will do everything we can to get them exactly what they want.” Bill Liddell, the director of Russell’s Curtains and Blinds has known the team for nearly thirty years, saying he purchased his very first car from Shane.

“I have never bought a vehicle from anyone else. My family members have bought through them, as have some of my employees. When we first started our business, we bought our vehicles through The Car Company, and they have always given us fantastic service and are the complete package. They provide 100% support and will go in to bat for you to get the best price.”

“Great camaraderie between the staff of over

20 employees is also key to the business’s success. We are locally owned and locally operated, working with local people and making local decisions,” says Ben.

“A lot of our staff have been with us for over ten years and that says a lot about our workplace environment. We have the same rapport with our customers. People can trust us to be upfront, provide honest feedback and make decisions easily. They know we will see right by them, every time.” The Car Company’s foresight to adapt, often ahead of the game, has seen them in good stead over their 27 years. “Adaptability in changing times is definitely one of our strengths,” says Shane.

“We have the biggest the Top of the South us in a strong position the best value and range financially stable and and land outright is hugely a company.” Their many years in something to be proud of but at the forefront of supporting the local Fitzgerald, owner of Fitzgerald has also enjoyed a long company spanning nearly says, “They are fantastic

1. Ben Brownie and Shane Drummond from The Car Company have been years. 2. Steve Fitzgerald and Shane Drummond are long-time friends skilful automotive workshop team on St Vincent Street share over 228 years

3.

1.

MASSIVE REDUCTIONS ON OVER 500 VEHICLES JULY

local people - The Car Company

organising collections and fundraisers, discounted vehicles, and donations from their own car sales which has equivalated to over $100k! This money has been spent on technology, vehicle support, nights for women in safe accommodation, and supporting and growing people’s understanding of our cause through their marketing strategies. We wouldn’t be able to do this specialised work without the support of organisations like The Car Company who donate to this necessary work to keep people safe.”

Ben was also a recent contestant in the region’s Dancing for a Cause event which raised well over $400,000 for Nelson Tasman Hospice.

Ben, his wife Wendy and The Car Company team gave the event their all with Wendy saying they are a wonderful cause to help raise money for.

The Car Company makes arranging purchases easy for customers, with them having the ability to process immediate finance approval, leasing, insurance and warranties, and by utilising their fully-equipped Service Centre the skilful team can help install vehicle accessories and assist with repairs, maintenance and servicing needs. The Car Company’s main site and head office is located at 202 Rutherford Street, with additional sites on Haven Road and Tahunanui Drive, and a state-of-the-art, purpose-built automotive workshop on St Vincent Street guarantees the vehicle is in safe hands.

volume of vehicles in with over 500, putting to give our customers range on the market. Being owning our own stock hugely beneficial to us as business is certainly of and worth celebrating, the team’s mind is also community. Stephen Fitzgerald Construction long relationship with the nearly two decades, and fantastic supporters of the

wider local community and will always go above and beyond for people, every time.”

A huge contributor to the region, The Car Company are major sponsors of a myriad of local initiatives and development sports including rugby, soccer, cricket, softball and bowls, and they are key advocates of the Women’s and Children’s Refuge and Men’s Health Trust, along with countless other community groups. Nelson Women’s Refuge manager Diane Strong says the support her organisation has received over the years has been phenomenal and is a real credit to the team. “The Car Company have supported Women’s Refuge over the past decade through

“We can take care of it all, whether buying, selling, trading, leasing, servicing, financing or insuring a vehicle and our onsite business managers are here to help and are committed to tailoring a package to suit your requirements. Customers can bring in their vehicles to be appraised, or we can visit them on-site. Because we are local, we can make decisions on the spot and ensure payments go into a customer’s account that same day. If they are located out of town, we can do the same and even arrange freight. They just need to give us a call.”

“We pride ourselves on stocking quality vehicles. Our cars are priced according to their condition and mileage, and we trade anything of value. We also offer a new vehicle brokerage service, helping with the purchase of any make or model, just talk to us about the process. People keep coming back to us time and again because of our reputation, our contacts and our longevity in the industry. We love our region, our industry, and our people.”

repair & replacement

Repair & Replacement

Secondhand glas

repair & replacement

Secondhand glas

Repair & Replacement

Secondhand Glass

Secondhand Glass

Wing Mirrors

Wing Mirrors

Wing Mirrors

Wing Mirrors

Headlamp Polish/Repair

Auto Glass Tinting

Headlamp Polish/Repair

Auto Glass Tinting

Headlamp Polish/repair Scratch removals

Headlamp Polish/repair Scratch removals

Wipers Caravans and Boats

Wipers Caravans and Boats

We’re “LOCALS LOOKING AFTER LOCALS”

Scratch Removals

Scratch Removals

Wipers

All work guaranteed to WOF/COF standards

We’re “LOCALS LOOKING AFTER LOCALS”

Caravans and Boats

Wipers Caravans and Boats

Call in to see Francis Lagrutta and the team for Hassle Free Insurance Claims or we can come to you

SAVE TIME AND MONEY 0800 545 7139 e: info@nelsonautoglass.co.nz | www.nelsonautoglass.co.nz

Call in to see Francis Lagrutta and the team for Hassle Free Insurance Claims or we can come to you

All work guaranteed to WOF/COF standards

We’re

“LOCALS LOOKING AFTER LOCALS”

SAVE TIME AND MONEY 0800 545 7139

We’re

All work guaranteed to WOF/COF standards

“LOCALS LOOKING AFTER LOCALS”

84 VANguArD STrEET, NElSON

e: info@nelsonautoglass.co.nz www.nelsonautoglass.co.nz

All work guaranteed to WOF/COF standards

SAVE TIME AND MONEY 0800 545 7139

SAVE TIME AND MONEY 0800 545 7139

email: info@nelsonautoglass.co.nz

www.nelsonautoglass.co.nz

email: info@nelsonautoglass.co.nz

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THE CAR COMPANY! to

Best wishes from team marac.co.nz

NELSON CITY 546 6550 | HAVEN ROAD 546 6550 | TAHUNANUI 539 6285

been main players in the motor industry for a combined total of over 50 and business associates of over 20 years. 3. The Car Company Nelson’s years of experience between them.

2.

Arts

Swapping the classroom for centre stage

KATE RUSSELL

Local teacher Lisa McKenzie is swapping the classroom for the Theatre Royal stage this week.

The Nelson College for Girls’ English teacher is taking on the role of Elizabeth Bennett in Nelson Repertory Theatre’s production of Pride and Prejudice which debuts tonight.

Lisa says her passion for literature is essential in helping to bring the character to life and she’s hoping it can inspire some younger students to love Pride and Prejudice just as she did as a teen.

“My senior students select their own texts for their reading projects, but I am yet to see Jane Austen’s work feature in their choices,” says Lisa.

“But this adaptation is infused with a modern point of view,

making it more relatable and appealing to younger people.”

Lisa says her classes favour a mixture of contemporary and historical literature.

“The oldest text I teach is 100 years old, but even then, the language is a bit more accessible than Austen’s 19th Century expressions.”

Because of this, she sees this theatrical adaptation as a chance to bridge the gap and inspire her students to appreciate the classics.

“By taking on this role, I’m hopeful that I can spark interest in some people who might think the classics aren’t for them.”

Directed by Hugh Neill, this adaption from actress Kate Hamill puts a modern twist on the enduring classic novel.

The script breathes new life into the story, and Lisa says

people often forget how funny the original novel is and how modern it seemed at the time.

“I love this adaption because Kate Hamill has simply expanded on what is already there, and it really shows what an enduring story Pride and Prejudice is.”

The cast of 14 and the creative team behind the show have worked tirelessly to bring this adaptation to life.

From the exquisite set design to the captivating costumes, every element has been carefully crafted to transport the audience to the enchanting world of 19th-century England.

Pride and Prejudice is on at the Theatre Royal from Wednesday 28 June until Saturday 1 July. For tickets, go to www.theatre royalnelson.co.nz

Nelson College for Girls’ English teacher Lisa McKenzie is taking on the role of Elizabeth Bennett in Nelson Repertory Theatre’s production of Pride and Prejudice.

Photo: Francesca Beckett.

Te Ramaroa returns to light up Nelson

SARA HOLLYMAN

Nelson’s city centre will transform into a winter wonderland of colour and light on Friday, marking the beginning of Te Ramaroa.

Te Ramaroa, formerly Light Nelson, will see a trail of 40 light installations across the city for the five-night festival. It has a wide footprint across the city, with the trail of carefully curated installations placed around the Nelson CBD, the Cathedral gardens, Morrison Square, NMIT and various streets and laneways, as well as in Queens Gardens and Albion Square.

This year’s installations have been created by a diverse range of locals including school children, NMIT students, artists, community groups, architects, scientists, and even dentists. Alongside them, there are some of the country’s top light-installation designers, bringing their creations to brighten up our city streets, laneways and gardens. Nelson Intermediate School have been working on their installations for weeks.

The students will have a series of tents displayed in the Cathedral gardens, each one telling its own stories via silhouette.

NIS STEAM leader Sarah Johns says the focus this year was on creating wonder that will take even the most mature mind back to childhood memories.

“We started with understanding how light and shadows work,” she says. “Then the challenge was to create an experience that uses light and shadows to provoke a sense of wonder and joy for our community.”

She says the experience - a first for many - has involved a lot of learning, with trial and error,

OUT AND ABOUT WITH BLAIR

Restoring law and order

While out talking to small businesses across Nelson and Tasman last week, many retailers told me their concerns about rising levels of crime in our community. I’m proud of how safe our region is, but the reality is that it is a lot less safe than it used to be.

There is no silver bullet when it comes to tackling crime, and we need a range of tools to address it. In the weekend I was at the National Party’s annual conference in Wellington with our Leader Christopher Luxon and Deputy Leader Nicola Willis. Nicola is leading what we call a “social investment” approach to policy, intervening early in people’s lives and using innovative and community-based solutions that are proven to work and that can change lives for the better. By making those investments now, we can reduce crime in the future.

taking risks and trying again when things don’t work out.

“A lot of them have attended Te Ramaroa as children, so have experienced being able to connect to this sense of wonder and what it is to move around the city and how exciting it is - to then be part of that was an easy connection.”

Every tent will have two scenes, and each will have different light treatment.

Event director Michaela Blackman says Te Ramaroa is genuinely a unique event.

“There are so many talented people in Nelson with their ideas and imagination literally lighting up our city, the stellar line-up of musicians and performers on the Community Stage, and the phenomenal crew that bring it all together.

“We’ve worked hard to present an event that is truly accessible to as many people as possible, by keeping it free, by giving plenty of room for people to move between installations, and by nurturing and encouraging a broad cross-section of our community to take part. It all comes together to show Nelson Whakatū at its best.”

Upper Trafalgar St will be a gathering point with a Community Stage, the Info Hub, and Selwyn St, which is closed to allow safer access to the Church Steps and Cathedral

Gardens.

There will also be a Food Hub in Kirby Lane, as well as other food vendors in upper Trafalgar and Morrison Square. Te Ramaroa has also been encouraging local restaurants and cafés to stay open.

The Community Stage will feature a line-up of local musicians and performers. There are also dance performances at Cultural Conversations (Morrison Square), an aerial performance near the Church Steps, and glassblowing demonstrations in flamedaisy studio on Trafalgar Square.

At the Refinery ArtSpace, visitors can take a moment to listen to the stories of Matariki, with Te Oro Hā collective creating a sanctuary of projections and recordings of artwork, waiata and spoken word.

Chairman of the trust, Annette Milligan, says they know how much people love Te Ramaroa and have high expectations

“This year, we’re confident that the variety of awesome installations will show Nelson in a whole new light, and create a truly memorable experience for everyone.

At the same time, we need to make some immediate changes to address our escalating crime problem. Labour’s approach to law and order was to repeal the three strikes law and set a goal of reducing our prison population by 30%. I think that was the wrong goal. We should instead be aiming to reduce crime. Two important ways to do that are a) to have serious sentences for criminals that will act as a deterrent, and b) to have accessible and effective rehabilitation programs to reduce re-offending rates. On Sunday, Christopher Luxon announced that the next National government will:

• set limits to how much judges can reduce sentences for convicted criminals

• provide proper rehabilitation for remand prisoners

• cut taxpayer funding for offenders’ cultural reports, and instead use those funds to support victims.

I’m hosting a public meeting with Mark Mitchell, National’s Spokesperson for Police and Corrections, at Club Waimea in Richmond this Friday. Mark and I will listen to your thoughts on crime and answer any questions on National’s new policies.

LAW AND ORDER

Public Meeting with Mark Mitchell, Spokesperson for Police & Blair Cameron, Candidate for Nelson

by B

Authorised

Cameron, 544 Waimea Rd, Nelson

Nelson Intermediate students will have a series of tents - each one telling its own story. Photo: Supplied.

Bloom by Angus Muir and Harris Keena installed at the 2021 event. Photo: Supplied.

NOWOUT

Public Service Association (PSA) union members held a lunchtime picket outside of Nelson City Council on Monday to rally in support of council workers who are dealing with low wages, high turnover, and poor working conditions in the Elma Turner Library. The PSA is currently in bargaining with the Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough councils to renegotiate the Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) it formed last year. Last year’s MECA was the first of its kind in the local government sector and aims to ensure the union’s members are paid fairly and uniformly across the Top of the South with consistent benefits and work conditions. Photo: Max Frethey.

Slipway blessed ahead of $20 million upgrade

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

Local leaders came together earlier this month to bless the Nelson Slipway ahead of a $20 million upgrade which will see the facility able to cater to larger vessels.

Kaumātua Harvey Ruru blessed the site as the sun rose on a crisp morning with a karakia and karanga alongside other Te Tauihu iwi leaders.

Port Nelson chief executive officer Hugh Morrison says it’s “exciting” to finally commence with work on the upgrade which he admits has a “tricky” history.

“This project is about the marine engineering industry and the marine service industry. Quite simply, if we did not invest in this project, that industry over time would begin to lose customers and then lose staff. This amazing reputation that Nelson has would diminish and eventually this whole area would cease to be what it is.”

Speaking to industry representatives, Hugh added that he hopes the slipway upgrade “moves your careers and your aspirations forward”.

The focal point of the upgrade will be the $4 million Cimolai marine travel lift currently being built in Italy.

Weighing 300 tonnes and able to lift vessels up to 550 tonnes, Hugh says the 18-metre-tall machine is “an absolute monster”.

“This is going to be a serious piece

of equipment. Other than the four tall cranes that we have, it will be the tallest thing down this part of the neighbourhood.”

The Government, through Kānoa – Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit, is has invested $9.8 million into the $20 million project through a combination of grant, equity, and debt.

Nelson MP Rachel Boyack says the Government was “proud” to be involved in the funding of the slipway upgrade project which will deliver a real “step-change” for the marine sector in Nelson.

“We have a vision for… the marine sector in Nelson that it be one that drives our economic growth, that drives decent wages, and drives decent jobs for our region, and that’s exactly what this project is bringing.”

She adds that the investment into the slipway upgrade stood alongside other Government investments into the Moananui Oceans cluster project and local tech business SnapIT that aim to ensure the marine sector remains the “heartbeat of Nelson in an even bigger way”.

Nelson’s deputy mayor, Rohan O’Neill-Stevens says the region has at times neglected to invest in the marine sector.

“Now is the time that we can actually turn and embrace our relationship with the ocean… as part of a future of economic development in this region. We have huge potential.”

Re-creating dream homes that last!

With a passion for delivering high quality finishes and outstanding customer service, builder Dylan Clarke will work alongside clients to help make their building dreams comes to life. Working in the industry for over ten years

Dylan recently set up his own business, Dylan Clarke Builders, and says he has never looked back.

“I first entered the industry when I was 16 years old by doing work experience through Nayland College and I got offered an apprenticeship at the end of that year. I found my passion for having a hands-on job and helping customers make their dream a reality on their property. What drew me into owning a business was the challenges and learning more new things, but also the opportunity to work more closely with clients.”

“A key moment for me would be after I first started the business and had my first job site completed. Working with the client was second to none. With my experience in the industry, the whole process went smoothly, and I was able to receive amazing feedback and praise giving me the drive to continue my business career.”

Offering a wide range of building services including renovations, ex-

tensions, exterior re-cladding, fences, retaining walls, decks, garages and carports, three things Dylan and his team never compromise on is quality, reliability and workmanship.

“I have a passion for delivering the best possible result for the customer on job sites I run. I believe this passion is shown through my work and I believe my clients will agree, as I am asked regularly to come back to sites and do more work. I believe this passion is the key to my success.”

Locally owned and operated, Dylan Clarke Builders cover most of the Nelson Tasman region right through to Murchison but will travel anywhere across the Top of the South. “We also cover the smaller towns and villages like Rai Valley, Havelock and places in the Marlborough Sounds.”

Whether it's one room that needs doing or a whole house, the professional team at Dylan Clarke Builders are experienced in all renovations and extensions and Dylan is always willing to have a chat or provide pricing for your upcoming project. Contact Dylan at info@dylanclarkebuilders.co.nz or give him a call on 0278629382 for more information. dylanclarkebuilders.co.nz

HOW TO MAKE

Clothespin Dragonflies

Materials Needed:

• 2 Pipe cleaners

• Clothespin

• 2 googly eyes

• Paint

• Glue

Start by having the kids paint stripes on their clothespins. Put dots of glue on the front and stick on the googly eyes. Take a pipe cleaner and bend both edges to the middle and twist. Once you have two, criss-cross them and put them inside the clothespin. You can use hot glue to secure it, otherwise they are fine!

FUN FOR EVERYONE

Method:

STEP1: Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/ gas 4. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper muffin cases. Tip the first 8 ingredients into a large bowl and beat with electric whisk until smooth. Fold the crushed raspberries through the batter.

Warm cupcakesraspberry with orange sugar drizzle

Ingredients:

• 200g self-raising flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 200g unsalted butter, softened

• 4 eggs

• 200g caster sugar

• 3 tbsp milk

• 50g ground almond

STEP 2: Divide the batter between the cases (they should be about half full) and bake for 20-25 mins or until golden and just firm. Make the topping by mixing together the orange juice and sugar until well blended.

• zest of 1 medium orange

• 150g punnet raspberry (or frozen), lightly crushed, plus extra to decorate

Sugar Crust:

• juice of 1 medium orange

• 4 tbsp caster sugar

STEP 3: Remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow to cool a little. Drizzle each with the orange and sugar crust mix.

Top with the extra raspberries to serve.

TRY THESE Riddles

Riddle: If you drop a yellow hat in the Red Sea, what does it become?

Answer: Wet!

Riddle: Tom’s father has three sons: Jim, John, and what’s the third one’s name?

Answer: Tom

Riddle: What vehicle is spelled the same backwards and forwards?

Answer: Racecar

Cross Math

Fill in the grid using all the numbers from 1 to 9.

The 3 vertical and the 3 horizontal equations must be true.

Each number from 1 to 9 will be used once.

Calculations are done from left to right, and from top to bottom.

MOI Holiday Programmes in STEAMS Learning offered in Nelson and Blenheim!

Programmes are designed to teach an integrated approach to hands-on fun! Ages 7-13 (up to year 8). Nelson has Art and Engineering or Cooking and Science-all during the first week. Blenheim has Science and Engineering for two days during the second week. Nelson courses held at Nelson Intermediate. Blenheim course held at Marlborough Girls College.

For Nelson: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../holiday-programmes-july...

For Blenheim: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../holiday-programmes-july...

Hospital beds under pressure as flu strikes

PAULA HULBURT

A sudden rise in seriously ill flu patients has seen hospital staff struggling to find beds. Influenza A is rife across the region with some people needing extra care in hospital. And staff have had to make room in the hospital’s paediatric ward as the main ward fills up fast.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Steve Low says both Nelson and Marlborough have experienced a rise, with rates climbing rapidly.

“Since May both Nelson and Wairau Hospitals have seen an increase in presentations due to respiratory illness, including the flu.

“The level of respiratory illness is increasing quite fast at present,” he warns. While health bosses could confirm a rise, no figures were immediately available as to the number of people currently admitted to Wairau Hospital.

The influenza virus infects people’s noses, throats, and lungs. It spreads quickly from

person to person through touch and through the air. Symptoms come on suddenly and can include fever, chills, muscle aches, runny nose, cough and stomach upsets.

The Emergency Department at Wairau Hospital has seen a rise in the number of people suffering from severe respiratory infections.

Many of these people test positive for Influenza A and some have been be admitted for ongoing care. Others are well enough to be cared for in isolation at home.

The hospital has around 65 patient beds within its inpatient units while the paediatric ward has five in Blenheim. All patients admitted with Influenza are cared for in isolation.

Dr Low says the best way to prevent becoming seriously unwell is to get vaccinated.

“Flu can be a very serious illness for the very young, for older people, and for anyone who has a condition that makes it harder to cough and breathe easily.

“Taking practical steps, like

being vaccinated to make sure you don’t get seriously unwell, is the first line of defence this winter”, he says.

Latest figures from the Ministry of Health show a total of 40,793 people have had a flu vaccination across Nelson and Marlborough.

A total of 23,542 people to be vaccinated were aged over 65 years old and 6,426 were aged between 55- and 64-years old bracket.

You can book flu and COVID-19 vaccines now at bookmyvaccine.health.nz. For advice, call the Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26, or contact your GP, pharmacy, usual healthcare provider or local medical clinic.

The flu jab is free for people aged 65 years and over, Māori and Pacific people aged 55 years and over, pregnant people, and people who have longterm conditions like diabetes, asthma, or heart conditions, children aged 6 months to 12 years old, and people with mental health and addiction issues.

Community, commitment and a dedication to helping others

Behind every region is a team of ‘ordinary people’ doing extraordinary things. They are vital cogs in the community wheel, attending scenarios that would give people nightmares and educating and improving fire safety in the region. A humble bunch of extraordinary people, from all walks of life, they will say that they just love helping people, but our service volunteers and crew are much more than good samaritans. They are the superheroes of our community, the rescuers, the knights in shining armour. They are amongst the first people who will be there to help in an emergency, no matter what. Often unpaid and unmentioned, our first responders work tirelessly to save the lives of people they don’t even know. The commitment and sacrifice involved is mammoth, from not just the service people themselves, but also the families, friends and employers who stand by them, supporting the people who dedicate their lives to helping others.

A firefighter of 22 years, Darren Crawford has spent 18 months in his role as Nelson Marlborough’s Senior Advisor Community Readiness and Recovery for Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) and says the personal growth developed from becoming a volunteer for FENZ can be substantial.

“I have the greatest respect for our volunteers, they dedicate their time and energy

simply for the benefit of others. We can’t thank the volunteers, their families and employers enough, when you see a fire truck race by it’s not just the people on-board making a contribution to the community, it’s their families and employers making sacrifices also. “The fire brigade is like a big family that supports and helps each other without hesitation. FENZ provides top quality training which prepares you well for the role and can be a real advantage in everyday career progression. The job is an absolute privilege, it can be

HeslopsareproudtobeassociatedwiththeNelsonTasman FireBrigadesandkeepingtheirtrucksontheroad.

Lance Williams

Design Windows Nelson are proud to support Fire & Emergency Volunteers

challenging but extremely rewarding. Not only do you get real chances to save lives, but you can help the community better understand the risks and work with the community to prevent tragedies from occurring.”

Chief Fire Office for the Stoke Brigade, Lance Williams, first joined when the organisation was called New Zealand Fire Service back in 1999. “I had some rugby friends in the Greymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade and went along to a couple of training nights and liked the community spirit and comradeship within their Brigade environment, as well as the variety of new skills and challenges it brought, so I joined.” His role varies from meeting operational and legislative requirements and ensuring resources are organised and coordinated, through to riding the appliances in whatever role is required. “I have always had a strong background in giving back to the community. When the pagers go off it means someone in the community needs our help. We are well trained and skilled to deal with most situations that may be thrown at us.” Knowing you are making a difference in helping someone in need and that what you do really counts is one of the key drivers for Lance and his role.

“Over the years, seeing new members of the Brigade de-

velop and gain self-confidence within themselves as they progress in the Brigade has been a real personal highlight. And knowing that what we do, really does matter to someone in our community who is in need of assistance.” Lance says he is extremely proud of the service in which the Brigade and the wider FENZ family of Volunteer Brigades throughout the country deliver quality service to those who need help, no matter how it personally impacts on their own lives. “Having a supportive family and encouraging employer is extremely important in the roles we undertake as a Fire Volunteer.” Every Brigade is different in the way things are done, he explains. “The common factor between Brigades throughout the country is the people who serve in FENZ do so because they care for the community they live in and no matter what role they have within a Brigade they are delivering quality service. There is a job for anyone who may wish to become a Volunteer Fire Fighter. Anyone who would like to consider joining FENZ, I'd encourage them to go onto the FENZ public web page and register their interest, attend some training nights and

see if it's for them.”

FENZ have many support roles that communities can help with that don’t require attending emergencies, including operational and brigade support. Operational support volunteers respond to emergencies by supporting firefighters and medical first responders at incidents. They carry out tasks to help keep Fire and Emergency people and the public safe at an incident. Roles may include managing traffic and pedestrians, closing roads, transporting equipment and providing lighting and refreshments.

Operational support volunteers receive relevant training and some are also trained as medical co-responders. “Some operational support volunteers do not belong to a volunteer fire brigade. Instead they could be part of a standalone operational support unit or a composite station.” Brigade support volunteers are key to the success of their brigade, completing administrative tasks and other duties that help to keep the brigade running smoothly. “They may also work with communities helping them to

reduce the risk of fire in homes,” says Darren. “Volunteering in brigade support may be ideal for someone

who wants to be involved but doesn’t want a frontline role.” To learn more, www.fireandemergency.nz.

Marist back-to-back women’s champions

JACK MALCOLM

Marist captain Manaia Ulutupu doesn’t know if this will be her last season at the helm after leading her team to back-to-back championships in the Tasman Trophy. She says she isn’t sure what the future holds as she gets old enough to feel the effects after the game following the convincing 38-5 win over Kahurangi at Trafalgar Park. “I say that (I’ll retire) but I’m just going to keep going. I say that as a joke, but we’ll see this year.”

After the game, which doubled as her 90th premier cap for the team, Manaia, who many know as Ash, was “speechless” of her team’s performance on the park.

She says it was exciting to see the raw talent on display in the team working together on a common cause.

With a lot of new faces in the squad this season, they didn’t know how their chances stacked up, but they have created a strong culture.

“To my team and my sisters, we did it. We thought one year was impressive, and we came back and did it again.

“Most of us are mothers. . . some couldn’t play because they’re pregnant. . . but with our culture, I don’t think we would have been overlooked.”

With conditions not up to scratch for expansive running rugby, the big Marist women were too strong

as they muscled their way up the park.

They dominated at scrum time and were quick to counter-ruck when they were given half a chance to force a turnover.

On defence, they were solid and held out wave after wave of attack from Kahurangi, who didn’t give up the fight until the final whistle.

In her victory speech after the Saturday afternoon game, Ash dedicated the win to Billy Guyton, who passed away earlier this year but had coached the team last season. Kahurangi coach Weesand Paaka says they were outclassed by a better side on the day. “That’s finals footy. . .” you need that experience and Marist have finals players.”

Looking to share her World Cup wisdom

JACK MALCOLM

The Tasman Mako Farah Palmer Cup team’s new assistant coach hopes she can impart her World Cup winning experience on her new squad.

La Toya Mason was born in Auckland, but played professionally for eight years between 2009 and 2017 in the UK. She notched up 70 tests for England including three Rugby World Cup finals, before returning to her homeland with a goal of sharing her knowledge of the game. Having started coaching while she was still playing, firstly as a community rugby coach and later with the girls’ academy at Bishop Burton College in England, she

says the plan was always to come back after she finished playing. In recent years, La Toya has spent time with the Chiefs and Taranaki women’s sides and says it’s exciting to now be with the Mako as they look to start their season against Otago in less than a month’s time.

“For the Tasman team, you can see them grow over the last four years and they’re definitely a top four team.

“I’ll be working with the backs and running the attack we have. Getting the girls to express themselves and doing the basics well.”

Speaking at the local women’s

premier grade final, she was impressed with the level of play and says it made her even more excited to jump into the role.

Having arrived in town less than 48 hours before the game, she hadn’t yet had the opportunity to connect with the players but is excited for what the future holds. She says the chance to coach and learn alongside head coach Mel Bosman was an opportunity too good to pass up.

“Lyndon (Bray) and Mel approached me. Working alongside Mel, she’s got so much experience, it’s an opportunity I couldn’t really turn down.

La Toya Mason has most recently plied her trade with Taranaki’s women’s team, but says working with the Tasman Mako as a coach was an opportunity that she couldn’t pass up. Photo: Taranaki Rugby.

Marist captain Manaia ‘Ash’ Ulutupu and her team celebrate after lifting local women’s rugby’s highest honour for the second time in as many years. Photo: Chris Symes/ Shuttersport.

Orienteering Local orienteerers Lani Murray, Tide Fa’avae, Eddie Swain, Riley Croxford and Zefa Fa’avae have been selected in the New Zealand Secondary School Southern Cross team to compete in Western Australia later this year.

Rugby Marist and Kahurangi have a date to decide the top fin-

isher in the Tasman Trophy after both posting wins over the weekend. Marist’s 13-0 over Stoke and Kahurangi’s 36-33 win over Central has the two teams sitting first and second on the table before their game this weekend at Trafalgar Park. Other local results saw Waimea Old Boys beat Nelson 30-12 and Moutere best Waitohi 15-12.

Suburbs Nelson Suburbs men’s and women’s teams couldn’t exact revenge on Cashmere Technical in the second double-header with the club in as many weeks. After being knocked out of their respective Chatham and Kate Sheppard Cup competitions last week, the women fought to an improved 3-1 scoreline, while the men came away with a 5-4 loss in the Southern League.

Giants The NBS Nelson Giants’ winning streak has been snapped as they fell victim to Auckland Tuatara on Saturday evening in an away 104-70 loss. After scoring just seven points in the first quarter, the local side had their backs up against the wall and were unable to mount a comeback as they trailed from

the outset.

Rugby Nelson College’s first XV travels to Wellington this week for the annual Quadrangular Tournament. Their first game, against Wanganui Collegiate, is on Tuesday at midday, with the finals played on Thursday afternoon.

Matt Donald says the first people he told after being informed he’d made the Māori Football Aotearoa U18 Tane was his mum and dad, giving them a call straight after he got the email. Photo: Supplied.

Matt gets call up to Māori football team

JACK MALCOLM

Matt Donald says he’s excited to represent his country, iwi and whānau after being selected for the Māori Football Aotearoa U18 Tane.

“I was ecstatic. It felt like a really big achievement. I was happy, gracious and honoured.”

As a member of Taranaki

iwi, he says it’s been exciting to have the opportunity to showcase his skills on the international stage.

“It’s something I’m proud to be a part of and proud to be representing my people.”

Having played in the North against South match which doubled as a trial earlier in the year, he says the intensity of the game was on full display with everyone knowing the selectors were watching.

“I think it was more so my attitude on and off the field, but I obviously played well

enough to be selected.

“I left everything out on that field.”

As a centre back, he believes his communication and ability to read the game were also big factors in why he was chosen for the team.

Matt is also currently the head boy of Nelson College and plays in their first XI football team as they look to qualify for national level competitions.

While he’s confident as a leader, he says it’s been good to let others take charge.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing around the leadership.”

With his sister Jasmine in the mix for the senior women’s Māori Football Aotearoa team, he says it’s an exciting time for the family.

He says they were the first people he got to share the news with after being emailed of his selection, giv-

ing his mum and dad a call to break the good news.

It’s the first time he’s been selected to represent a national team and he says it’s almost a two-for-one deal of being able to represent his people and his country at the same time.

“It’s a massive cultural experience as well to get in touch with my Maori side. Growing up, I didn’t get much opportunity to connect.

“Now there’s a platform for Māori footballers to show off our talent and our culture.

“It’s simple stuff like doing the haka before the game that I’m looking forward to.”

With a two-match series against the U18 Boys Hawaii Indigenous team on the cards for the start of July in Auckland, Matt says he’s looking forward to his time with the team.

They plan to have a week together, going up a few days

earlier to train together before their first match.

“It’s great facilities up there, way more than what Nelson has with training grounds, gyms and recovery centres.”

Matt was also grateful of the people who have helped him get to this point, saying they were all crucial in helping mould him as a player and young man.

He says that numerous coaches over the years have all played a role, but didn’t want to single anyone out for having more influence than another.

As for his future in the game, he sees football as something that is more of a “hobby” than a career pathway.

“It’s totally something I’m fully keen on and I give it my all every time.

“I don’t see myself taking on the international stage, but it’s something I’m passionate about.”

Photo finish required after dramatic final lap

It was a photo-finish sprint for the line as the action heated up in round two of the Nelson Cyclocross.

After leading by an almost unassailable margin, Seamus O’Donnell’s chain fell off on the final corner of the race and he

was forced to sprint to the line with bike in hand to take the chequered flag. Having come into the race as a favourite after a few recent wins under his belt in Nelson and Marlborough, he quickly found himself chasing after the mass start saw the field

quickly broken up and a dark horse, Martin Blackman, taking out an early lead. A photo finish saw Seamus just make it to the finish line and take out first place in what organisers called the most exciting Cyclocross race in local history.

NBL BASKETBALL TIPPING

New disc golf course sets Branford abuzz

Branford Park is abuzz with activity after an 18-hole disc golf course has been newly installed. Hundreds of players have been making the most of the new course, using it before it had even been fully completed with concreted tee boxes and new signage.

Nelson Tasman Disc Golf council member Andy Klun says they’ve had over 250 rounds recorded on the UDisc app in the last month alone, with even more people playing without recording their scores.

“For every player recording, there’s probably four more who aren’t.

“It’s great to see more of the community out and walking around.” He says players had been using Branford unofficially as a course for the better part of a decade, with trees and landmarks used instead of the more traditional baskets. The decision to make it into a fit-for-purpose course was made more recently, with countless hours of time being donated to make it a reality.

“(Club member) Anthony Andrews put in hundreds of hours, making paths in the hill and clearing rocks.

“We designed the course about a year ago, and had a series of one day tournaments. . . with one at Branford to get feedback from everyone.”

Alongside club members putting in the hours, Andy was also extremely thankful for the support of the Nelson City Council, as well as local businesses who had donated their time and money.

Higgins Concrete donated the material used for the tee boxes, dropping it off in batches when they had left-overs from jobs, while

Rowberry Builders installed them. As part of the grand opening of the new course there was always a tournament planned but the decision to donate the funds raised to Rowberry Builders was more recent, says Andy.

“We wanted to say our thank yous to them, they donated so much time and money. . . even when it started taking a bit longer than we thought.

“We’ve had members who aren’t evening playing in the tournament donate money.”

The new Branford course is just one part of a wider plan the club has to expand the sport in the region.

It’s designed to be an ‘intermediate’ course, with the newly-updated course at Isel Park more introductory and a new course at Saxton Sports Grounds more challenging.

The club is already hard at work making a championship level course on Rabbit Island, while Redstone Golf also has nine holes with three tee boxes of varying difficulty.

The tournament, hosted on Sunday July 9, has two divisions, with Andy saying they encourage everyone to come down and give it a go.

Alongside a sanctioned Professional Disc Golf Association division, there will also be a recreational one for more casual players and families.

The one-day tournament includes two laps of the 18-hole course and a BBQ lunch, with multiple prizes on offer. Andy says spots are filling up quickly, so while sign-ups on the day are welcomed, people are encouraged to pre-register for the event on the club’s website.

JACK MALCOLM

Nelson Tasman Disc Golf members Ben Cooper, Andy Klun, Dan Richardson, Patrick Ludlow, Tony Mac, Anthony Andrews and Justin McComb-Kennedy celebrate the opening of the new disc golf course at Branford Park. Photo: Supplied.

Seamus O’Donnell (centre) had to push his bike over the finish line as his chain fell off on the final corner of the race. Photo: Supplied.

Community Notices

MONDAY

ACTIVE STRENGTH/BALANCE CLASS: Also seated options presented. Mon, 1pm. Tāhunanui Community Hub, Muritai St. ACC accredited provider. Get fitter to great music. Ph: Shirley 035471433 / 0211218023.

SENIOR 3D FLOW FITNESS WITH COACH D: Mon, 1pm. Come join in and improve your health and fitness, including strength, coordination, balance, mobility, and agility. Tāhunanui Community Hub. Ph: 021411700. $5 per session.

HIRA COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP Mon during term time, 1-3pm. Hira Kindergarten. Ph: 035450224. Cost $5 per term, includes children's afternoon tea. YOGA for people who have or have had cancer. Mon afternoons, and Tues evenings. Reg: info@cancernelson.org.nz or Ph: 035391137.

TUESDAY

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ: Tues, 4 Jul, 10 – 11.30am, McCashin's, Stoke. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection and finding out about groups, activities, and services. www.wellby.org.nz 03 5467681.

LAUGH FOR NO REASON. Tues, 4 Jul, 9.30am, Victory Community Centre. You will feel better and enjoy yourself. Laughter Yoga. Victory Community Centre. Bring something to lie on. Ph: Cath 035451207 or 0220829779. $3.

LAUGHTER YOGA 1st Tues of month, 9.30-10.30am. Victory Community Centre. Laughter is good for you! Laughter Yoga combines laughter with yogic breathing exercises to provide an aerobic workout and the perfect antidote to stress. Bring something to lie on for relaxation at the end. For info Ph: 035451207.

COST: $3.

TUESDAY MUSIC - Sadly, can't run our July or Aug

programmes - back in Sept. Till then, keep well, keep warm! Ph: Christine 0212486038 or 035442375.

VICTORY SOCIAL GROUP. Play Five Hundred and Rummikub every Tues, 1:30- 3:30pm, Victory Community Church, 238 Vanguard St. Gold Coin donation.

Queries Ph: Jan 0274577955

NELSON NEWBIES WALKING GROUP welcomes new people. Every Tues & Fri, 10am in Nelson, Stoke, Richmond. Ph: Karin 0221529963.

WEDNESDAY

SPIRITED CONVERSATIONS, Wed, 28 Jun, 7.30pm, Yaza Café. "Chat GPT and the AI boom": Don't miss Wellington software developer Nick Koirala on the technology behind the 'magic', its implications, and opportunities. Yaza opens 6pm, Ph: 035486241. Koha.

COMMUNITY SING A LONG. Wed, 5 Jul, 1.30pm, Stoke Methodist Hall, 94 Neale Ave. Afternoon tea. Gold coin donation for Nelson Hospital Chaplaincy. All Welcome.

WOMEN’S MULTICULTURAL MEAL Meet 1st Wed of the month, 12-1pm. Victory Community Centre. A “pot-luck” group lunch for women from all cultures to share kai (food) and meet new people. Bring some food from your own culture to share with the group but please don’t worry if you’re unable to bring food, just join us! Free!

SCRABBLE CLUB meet Wed, 7pm, Nelson City Club 1 Kinzet Terrace. Ph: Tony 035451159 or Genie: 0212141270. All ages welcome.

VOLUNTEER GARDENING Wed, 9.20-12pm. Waimarama Community Gardens Tantragee Rd, The Brook. Tools provided on the bus stop. Ph: 0211709443.

NELSON NEWBIES coffee morning every Wed, 10.30-11.30am. Deville's Cafe, 22 New St. Want to

DEADLINE: 10AM FRIDAY 50 WORDS OR LESS BY EMAIL ONLY SEND TO: myevent@nelsonweekly.co.nz

get out and meet people? Join us for coffee and chat. New people always welcome. Ph: Clive 0212054731.

THURSDAY

LOCAL HISTORIAN, Heather Thomas, will share lots of ways to share your family's stories, and why it's so important. Thurs, 29 Jun, 1.30-3.30pm. Victory Community Church, 238 Vanguard St. RSVP by 20th. Ph: Tracey-Lynn 0220996556. Gold Coin entry.

MAKE-A-WISH FUNDRAISER, Thurs 29, Jun 6-8pm, The Suter. It involves a movie following Rose and Tom cycling the South Island to raise funds for Make-AWish, an inspirational talk by Nathan Fa’avae and fabulous raffles. Tickets are $25 from Carol Parkinson 0274862462 & Janet Growcott 0274530755.

LEGO @ VICTORY COMMUNITY CENTRE Meet Last Thurs of the month. 3.30-4.30pm. Get creative, playing with Lego. Free Event, All ages. Ph: 0211069000. NEW NELSON TAI CHI CLASS with Gretchen. Thurs mornings. ACC approved falls prevention, strength, and balance instructor. E: kitesfun@gmail.com or Ph: 03548 8707 for info.

KEEP ACTIVE, STRENGTH, BALANCE, and general fitness. Thurs, 9.15am. Holy Trinity Hall, 27 Dorset St. All ages welcome. Standing and seated options, resistance bands, circuits. Ph: Nicola 0210788609 nicola.rae.11@gmail.com.

FITNESS & FRESH AIR IN THE CITY. FREE supervised exercise sessions for seniors. Thurs, 12pm. Maitai river walkway 30 mins walk & learn to use the outdoor exercise equipment safely. Ph: Ange 021790415.

FRIDAY

MID-WINTER CEILIDH DANCE with Footloose Ceilidh Band. Fri, 30 Jun, 8pm, The Boathouse. Live Celtic band and caller. No experience or partner

needed, family friendly. Cash sales at the door only, $15/adult, $10/18 yrs and under, $40/family.

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

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

SENIOR 3D FLOW FITNESS WITH COACH D Every Fri, 1pm. Come join in and improve your health and fitness, including strength, coordination, balance, mobility, and agility. Tāhunanui Community Hub. Ph: 021411700. $5 per session.

CULTURAL SOCIAL ACTIVITIES Fri, 10-11am. Come along and share morning tea & a cuppa with Victory’s friendly multicultural roopu. Volunteer opportunities for all people to participate

SATURDAY / SUNDAY

STOKE MONTHLY MARKET, Sat, 1 Jul, 9-noon. Methodist church grounds. Ph: 039276130 to book site. Supporting Nelson Hospital Chaplaincy and LifeLink.

HIGGINS HERITAGE PARK, Sun, 2 Jul, 10-3pm, 222 Pigeon Valley Rd, Wakefield. Park open day & museum sheds of vintage vehicles, machinery & equipment open, bus & bush rail jigger rides. www. higginsheritagepark.co.nz

THE NELSON INSTITUTE PRESENTS: The wonderful world of virus research, a talk by Rick Kiessig. Sun, 2 Jul, 2pm. At the Library. Cost $3.

VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT CLUB of Nelson con-

cert, Sat, 8 July, 2pm, Whakatu Presbyterian Hall

Songer St. All Welcome Ph: Ken 035474301 Robyn 035473231 Admission $5.

HAVE TYPE 2 DIABETES & want to improve your health? Sat, 5 Aug, 16 Sept, 28 Oct, 09 Dec. 9-1pm, Nelson Bays Primary Health. Free lifestyle & medical information group session on type 2 diabetes. Includes a free lunch/light dinner. Ph: Celeste Keesing 021790894. E: celeste.keesing@nbph.org.nz.

RADIO CONTROL MODEL PLANES at the Wakapuaka flying site on Wed & Sun. 10am to midday, weather permitting. New members welcome. For Info Ph: Murray 021457663.

GENERAL GROUPS

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP. Cancer Society Nelson, 102 Hardy St. If you have or have had breast cancer, come along to this friendly atmosphere. Register Ph: 035391137 or info@cancernelson.org.nz.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for our day programmes for the elderly. Serve refreshments, join in singing, games, chat or assist on vans. Ph: Maaike 032655224, E: maaikef@psusi.org.nz.

FREE FITNESS FRIDAYS – PT in the Park. Bringing communities together for fun and fitness. Free fitness with your neighbours, family, and friends in a local park near you. Become active in our local parks. E: Nicola@bfit4ever.nz for dates and park locations or look on Facebook Bfit4everNZ.

FREE FUNCTION ROOM HIRE to all community groups. Avail 7 days. Wakatu Hotel 83 Collingwood St. Ph: Craig 035484299.

EVER THOUGHT OF BECOMING A VOLUNTEER? Are you a community organisation looking for volunteers, training, info, or advice? Check out our website www.volunteernelson.org.nz Ph: 035467681.

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.

GARAGE SALE

Fundraiser for Whanake

Youth and SYP Cafe

Saturday 1 July 8am-12pm Stoke Youth Park

Toys, books, games, kids and adults clothing.

Come along and grab a coffee and support your local youth charity. Postponed if wet.

HONDA JAZZ 2005 - Blue 1300cc. 67,000 Kms.

WOF & Reg. Great little runabout, very economical on petrol. $5000.

Tel: (Nelson) 548 4083

CLEANER CLEANER - recently relocated and requiring work in the area. Has excellent references. Ph: Debbie 0212152276. $35 per hour charge.

Huge selection at our

shop. Sell - Buy - Value. Over 30

experience. Open 6 days. Peaceful easy parking now @ 92 Bateup Rd, Richmond. (Formerly Happy Z Cafe & adjoining MacMillans/ Alchemy Pottery) Ph 5440723 www.antiquesnewzealand.co.nz

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