Waimea Weekly

Locally Owned and Operated

Wednesday 5 February 2025

Call to protect the land that grows food

ANNE HARDIE

A Hope resident and an urban designer have joined forces to organise a meeting about planned development in Hope, in a bid to protect land that grows the food and think differently about development.

Garry Higgins is hoping the Tasman District Council will go back to the drawing board on plans for Richmond South-Hope in its Future Development Strategy and

Pedalling the length and breadth of America

ANNE HARDIE

Hamish and Joan Blanch’s latest cycling trip in the United States covered 3,400kms, and over the years they have now cycled 45,000kms in that country alone.

In their latest cycling trip, the Richmond couple spent two months peddling through mainly rural America, from Houston, Texas, in the south to the New York Finger Lakes near the Canadian border.

From hot, humid temperatures in the mid30s when they cycled through the southern states, they completed the tour in cool, frosty temperatures in the north, with a couple of hurricanes thrown into the weather mix along the way.

On their Surly long-haul bikes, they camped

SEE PAGE 2

instead concentrate on intensification within developed areas or on poorer-quality land.

Along with fellow organiser, Timo Neubauer, he has organised a meeting in the Hope Hall to get an overview of the council’s plans

for Hope as well as hear about an alternative approach.

He says many residents say they didn’t know about the plans, so it’s an opportunity to get them together and find out more, as well as ask questions.

His main concern is the loss of productive land and, as the owner of Richmond Roast House, he knows where his vegetables come from and the fluctuations in price

SEE PAGE 3

Joan and Hamish Blanch spent two months cycling from Texas to near the Canadian border. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Waimea Weekly

What does Waitangi Day mean to you?

“We look forward to Waitangi Day festivities in Nelson every year.”

“I will take the day in respect of the Treaty, but it would be interesting to learn what happens on the day for Māori.”

“I don’t know a lot about it since I’m not from New Zealand originally, but it’s pretty well in the media that it highlights equality.”

“I have Māori blood but I grew up overseas, so at the moment it’s a day off, but I’d absolutely like to learn more about [Waitangi Day].”

Pedalling the length and breadth of America

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or stayed in “cheap and cheerful” motels through fields of cotton and other crops, but it was the people they met and the insights into their lives that stand out as highlights.

“Every day we met people and in situations where you wouldn’t have met them if you were travelling in a vehicle,” Hamish says.

“The people come to you,” Joan adds. “If you’re waiting outside the supermarket with your bikes, people come to you and ask where you are from. We quite enjoy having a yak with people – that’s part of the joy of travelling.”

Almost the entire trip was in Trump country where they “listened”, rather than discussing politics, but Hamish points out that rural America is quite different to the cities and how the rest of the world views it.

“Everyone (here) thinks everyone is running around with a gun, but it’s not like that. We felt quite safe, though we weren’t in the big cities. We met a lot of kindness along the way.”

Incredibly, throughout the entire trip, they only saw a couple of other people cycling and one of those was a man on a penny-farthing, riding the huge frontwheeled bicycle as a fundraiser for autism.

Despite no bikes on the roads, they reckon cycling was probably safer than in New Zealand because of the large shoulders on roads and the space drivers gave to cyclists as they passed. One stretch of their journey was 700km on a parkway that was wide with gentle curves and no

commercial vehicles.

“It’s all really cruisy and one of the reasons we really like it,” Hamish says.

The couple have been heading overseas for cycling trips since the 1970s when there was no internet to help them plan their routes and now, as they hit 70,

they have more trips planned. They left their bikes in the United States with a friend for another cycle trip in the future, but before that, they will be joining other cyclists in May to head to Australia to pedal from the Spencer Gulf to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Mika Frei Appleby

Chris Tonkin Wakefield

Laney Ogle Berryfields

Laura Cresswell Richmond

Joan and Hamish on the final day of their trip. Photo: Supplied.

Call to protect the land that grows food

FROM PAGE 1

due to supply and demand. He questions where food will be grown in the future if urban sprawl continues and he is particularly concerned about commercial zoning that allows large areas of prime land to be covered by concrete.

“I see the amount of food that is brought into the country and yet we’re getting rid of prime horticulture land and putting concrete down. That’s not going to help feed our community.

“Throughout the whole country there’s this idea we have to

expand our communities onto good land. We have to retain that land, especially that Rural 1 land where we can grow vegetables and nutritional food.”

Garry says New Zealand’s attitude toward covering its most productive land makes it more dependent on imported foods in the future, and that is risky.

“We only need a major breakdown in shipping or freight and we’re buggered, because we’re putting concrete over our horticulture land. We need to look within the community itself to find land that is already concreted or tar sealed and use land better. It’s just common sense.”

He suggests intensification instead of sprawl, because once the productive land is covered, it’s gone.

“We have to change our attitude throughout New Zealand.”

At the meeting on February 22 at 3pm, the council’s urban and rural policy team leader, Jeremy Butler, will give an overview of plans for Hope, while urban designer and Hope resident Timo Neubauer will talk about an alternative approach. That will be followed by a panel discussion, plus a question and answer session.

Garry Higgins is concerned Hope development plans will cover more foodproducing land. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Planets line up in night sky

ANNE HARDIE

If you want to see all the planets lined up and see where the little blue dot of earth fits into the big picture, now is a good time to see them, from Venus in the west through to reddish Mars in the northeast.

The Grand Planetary Alignment of 2025 has all the planets on view in the night sky and amateur astronomer and part of the team behind Wai-iti Dark Sky Park, Ralph Bradley, says they are usually spread out between the northern and southern hemispheres. But now, if you get a clear, dark sky and good views of the western horizon, he says there is a

good chance to see them all at once – maybe with the help of binoculars for the smaller ones.

“It’s only at night-time we can see our place in the universe and I think there’s something quite wonderful about being able to see, not only the planets, but where we are in the universe and that’s quite humbling to think we’re a little blue dot in this amazing galaxy and galaxies beyond that.”

Venus is the brightest in the west as twilight fades to darkness, but he says it’s pretty low on the western horizon, while Mars in the northeast looks larger than usual and is distinguishable by its red hue.

Have your say on state highway speed limit changes near you

Some speed limits lowered over the past few years will soon revert to their previous higher speed limits.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is consulting with people who use the road and the local community to see if you support keeping the current speed limits in some locations, rather than see them reverse.

Consultation is open until 13 March 2025

To find out more and provide feedback, visit nzta.govt.nz/speed -consultation

Mr and Mrs Ellis 60-love

GORDON PREECE

“Give and take, and whatever we do we support each other, I think that’s our secret.”

Reuben and Leona Ellis have holidayed on land and sea, played tennis, served with community groups and raised their two adult children in their 60 years as a married couple.

Leona, now 82, fell for the “kind and courteous” Reuben when they met at a dance in Hokitika in 1964, oblivious that they lived opposite each other.

While Reuben, now 86, jokes that his Fair Isle jersey and corduroy trousers made his future wife besotted, Leona chimes in that his chivalry fast-tracked them to wed in Christchurch 18 months after meeting.

“When people walked along

the footpath in those days the man always took the outside of the footpath, so he always used to go that side in case something hit me, and the car door always used to come open to get me in the car,” she says.

“We got married in the Sign of the Takahe in Christchurch on a very hot day, about 30 degrees, and there were 101 guests.”

The couple settled in the Garden City and built a house before relocating to Richmond in 1972 when Reuben was appointed to a mental health role at Nelson Hospital.

Leona was a secretary for numerous government departments, and the couple also operated a beekeeping business with around 250 hives in the Nelson region before retiring in 1997.

They have lived in Stoke for the

past 25 years.

Both were active in their daughter Susanne and son Grant’s schooling, along with scouting groups and sports clubs, including their beloved Hope Tennis Club where the pair have played for 40 years and are life members. They celebrated their six-decade union with around 30 club members on 23 January.

“Life has been very kind and we’ve always done it together,” Leona says. “We had a caravan up until we sold it a couple of years ago, we did a lot of camping and touring, and we did a lot of boating with a launch in the Marlborough Sounds.

“Give and take, and whatever we do we support each other, I think that’s our secret and the secret to anyone’s marriage.” Leona and Reuben also have three grandsons.

The Body Shop in Richmond closes

16 stores in New Zealand.

The Body Shop in Richmond Mall permanently closed on Thursday, following the announcement last month that the company had entered voluntary administration. The chain announced it would close the doors of its

In an email to customers, the skincare, hair, and makeup company said six stores would close on 30 January, with another five closing on 2 February. Its Nelson store on Trafalgar St, along with another five stores, are to remain open “for the time

being”.

“We want to sincerely thank you for your loyalty and support throughout the years. It has been our pleasure to serve each local community, and we are grateful for the relationships we’ve built with customers like you,” the email read.

Reuben and Leona Ellis celebrated their diamond anniversary at the Hope Tennis Club where they’ve been members for four decades. Photo: Gordon Preece.

The Grand Planetary Alignment is a good time to see all of the planets. Image: Supplied.

KATE RUSSELL

Ex-council boss urges region to consider merging

MAX FRETHEY

Local Democracy Reporter

Nelson and Tasman must reconsider amalgamation, while also sharing more services, as both councils grapple with rising costs, a former council boss says.

Former Tasman District Council chief executive Janine Dowding made the comment in a June 2024 report commissioned by the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce which was released last Thursday afternoon.

The report, presented to Nelson City Council by Dowding and chamber chief executive Ali Boswijk on Thursday, was welcomed by amalgamation-advocate Mayor Nick Smith.

“Financial sustainability is be-

coming a critical issue for many councils and reinforces the importance of taking measures to maximise efficiency and effectiveness,” the report read.

“Nelson and Tasman councils need to accept responsibility for genuinely examining both shared services and amalgamation. Any reluctance to do so is not in the best interests of the region.”

In her report, Janine highlighted that amalgamation would take about five years to implement and so cannot be relied on to immediately ease cost pressures.

In the meantime, the two councils should take every opportunity to share services at a significantly greater level than they do now, adding that she believed the current level of service sharing

was “taking the heat” out of expectations that all opportunities were pursued.

While Nelson and Tasman recently lodged a joint bid for a regional deal with the Government, Nelson also opted to explore a solo water model when new water legislation provided an opportunity for greater cross-council collaboration because of the expected cost benefit for its own ratepayers despite Tasman’s willingness to cooperate.

However, Janine added that enduring shared accountability was also needed in areas where services are shared, and that might not be achieved without amalgamation. She had labelled public transport as an area where there was high collaboration between

the councils, and last year a lack of oversight was blamed for almost $2 million in overspend for the launch of the eBus service.

Nelson and Tasman previously voted on amalgamation in 2012. Though 57 per cent of Nelson residents had supported merging, the proposal fell over after 74 per cent of Tasman voters rejected it.

Should the question of amalgamation be discussed further, the issues of rates, debt, and representation which scuppered the 2012 proposal would need to be addressed, Janine said.

Chipper with chipper

GORDON PREECE

Tapawera School and Community Garden (TSCG) has a high decibel addition stemmed from fertile helpers.

A chipper was entrusted to the 2.0 garden, which is next door to Tapawera Area School, on 22 January, and it’s hungry for prunings and other suitable green waste to turn into mulch. Garden project lead Gavin Scoble says the garden has been spruced up since early last year and it currently has raised garden beds, fruit trees, timed irrigation, a tunnel house, and a small equipment shed. He says they have hosted gardening workshops, and an old garage at the site will be converted to an outdoor classroom for the school kids to learn about biodiversity. Gavin says the chipper, from Stihl

Shop Richmond, was a welcome addition, acknowledging those who chipped in to make it possible.

“We need a huge amount of mulch in the garden to use in various ways,” he says. “There’s a project to plant more fruit trees around the village which will be pruned from time to time, and then we’ve been asked whether we can take suitable material from the community [for mulching]. This year we will have working bees on a monthly basis and we’re looking at whether people can drop disease-free material off which will increase our amount of mulch that we have to use in the garden.” funds of $6000 were raised from Judith and Kim Rowe’s donated timber, split by Andrew Burden, and a Tapawera and Districts Community Council grant.

TSCG project lead Gavin Scoble, far left, and the new chipper contributors, clockwise from left, wood splitter Andrew Burden, Tapawera Community Op Shop manager Amanda Beer, garden school lead Sabine Reinert, firewood donor Judith Rowe, and Stihl Shop Richmond manager Arnie Ahnfeldt. Photo: Gordon Preece.

Safety Around Underground Service Boxes

Have you ever noticed the black plastic or concrete boxes on footpaths, in right of ways, or in green spaces around our district and wondered what they are?

These are Network Tasman’s underground service boxes. Inside, they house fuses that connect power cables running beneath the footpath or verge to the service cables that deliver electricity to your home or business. There are approximately 12,000 of these boxes within our network, most of which are located in built-up areas and public spaces.

Since these boxes contain live electrical components, it is crucial for everyone’s safety that they remain undisturbed, with their covers securely in place.

How Boxes Can Be Damaged:

z Vehicle Collisions: When vehicles accidentally hit a box, the cover can loosen or crack. Repeated damage may lead us to install protective bollards around the box.

z Drilling or Screwing into Boxes: Inserting screws or drilling into these boxes is extremely dangerous and can expose live electrical components.

z Unauthorised Cover Removal: Only Network Tasman-approved contractors are allowed to remove the hold-down screws and access the interior of the boxes.

Why It Matters:

Damaging or tampering with these boxes can expose live electrical parts, putting people at serious risk of electrocution.

For everyone’s safety:

z Do not tamper with underground service boxes.

z Report any damaged or compromised boxes to Network Tasman immediately by phoning our fault line 0800 508 100

Remember, only Network Tasman approved contractors are permitted to access these service boxes.

Residents develop their very own croquet lawn

ANNE HARDIE

A group of residents at Arvida Waimea Plains Retirement Village wanted to play croquet, so they got a digger and scraped a site, shifted soil, levelled it and sowed the grass to create their lawn.

It’s their third croquet ‘lawn’ at the village, if you include the patch of turf beside Borck Creek that they mowed for a while, but this one is the biggest effort so far for the group of residents.

Now, about 10 players meet for a couple of sessions every week

and none of them had ever hit a ball with a mallet before living at the village.

Judy Martin says the previous patch beside Borck Creek was “pretty rough to start with and had a huge puddle”, so this one – even though there is the odd little bump – makes it easier to hit the ball in a straight line.

They’ve built a small shed for their gear and Roger Denton says “the only thing we’re missing is the bar”.

“Not sure whether we’re playing by the rules or not!”

Village manager, Kerryn Tasker, says she was pretty keen

on getting the players off the “wetland” beside Borck Creek and found them a space at the front of the village.

“Then some of the residents got together and made it happen.

“They’re just loving it and it’s popular,” Kerryn says.

“It’s getting more people involved that we didn’t see around.”

It’s at the edge of the area designated for the future care centre, so the residents are hoping they will get to keep their patch of lawn when the centre is built.

Croquet players Roger Denton, left, Judy Martin, Wayne Price, Terry Garside and Dave Sigley, ready to play on the croquet lawn built by residents. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Jessica Topping, right, accompanied by a horse named Dougal, and Kuri Kulgar, with her horse Skyla, host ed a large group of horses and their owners on 1 and 2 February for a trail ride and camp at their 4500acre Lamb Valley farm in Glenhope. The farm has been a cherished part of Jessica’s husband Jack’s family for four generations with Jack’s mother, Lee Pettigrew, the current owner. Jessica and Jack extended a warm welcome to the Nelson Bays Trail Riding Club and riders could par ticipate in a competitive or noncom petitive ride, with options to camp overnight. Photo: Supplied.

Plea for peace wins international prize

ANNE HARDIE

At just 10 years old, Shaviva Winslade has already captured attention with her plea for peace by winning the International Mayors for Peace Children’s Art Competition for her age group. Her painting of silhouetted people won her the top prize in the six to 10-year-old category from 2,300 entrants around the world.

Shaviva, or Viva as she is known, is a student at Tasman Bay Christian School after be-

ing home-schooled in the Marlborough Sounds and has been painting since she was little. She says she chose to paint the silhouettes of people so they could represent anyone and everyone.

“The silhouettes mean it doesn’t matter what age, what ethnicity, how rich or poor you are. It just means people should unite in peace.”

Her mother, Melissa Melodious, was asked to sing a song about peace for the competition’s award ceremony and that

prompted her to ask Viva is she wanted to enter.

She says Viva has a “wisdom beyond her years” that showed in her painting.

Another local painter, Gracie Quinney, was awarded a special prize for her artwork, and along with Shaviva will be presented their certificates by Mayor Tim King at the March council meeting.

The competition has been held since 1982 and this year attracted entries from 123 cities across 21 countries.

Shaviva Winslade used silhouettes for her winning painting. Photo: Anne Hardie.

From lighthouse keeper to search and rescue

ANNE HARDIE

At nearly 93, Neil Shepherd still has a paintbrush in his hand, painting delicate pictures from a life that’s been full to the brim, from a lighthouse keeper on Stephens Island to training camps on the Antarctica and creating the police search and rescue training. The Arvida Oakwood’s resident is a bit peeved lately because his son has “stolen my toys” – his kayak and electric bike - but with the good intentions of keeping him safe. The fact he has only just stopped using those toys tells a lot about how he lived his life. A very long time ago, he was an airframe fitter in the air force where he met his wife, Maggie, but was keen on the idea of being a lighthouse keeper. It led to a stint at Cape Brett in the Bay of Islands and then Stephens Island near D’Urville Island. It’s a steep-sided, rocky island frequently lashed by ferocious winds and a haven for tuatara and “wide awake” birds – known as the dove petrel or fairy prion.

“You would hear this cacophony of noise which sounded like ‘wide awake’ and get faster and faster.

Then the tuataras underneath the house would decide to have a fight,” he recalls.

“An old, aged tuatara would have a head as big as your fist and if they clamped on to your hand, you had to put a screwdriver into

their jaws to get your hand out. They were all over the place; it was marvellous. They would lay their eggs in our garden and their eggs would hatch, so you had all these tuatara among the potatoes!”

They were one of three households on the island who had to be reasonably self-sufficient as the weather could delay supplies by weeks. It meant milking a cow, making their own butter and bread and growing as much

as they could. He went on to be head ranger for the Abel Tasman National Park, living at Tōtaranui, before heading south to be a ranger in the southern section of Fiordland. But he had come from a military background where it was easier to get things done, so turned to a completely new career with the police where he spent the next 19 years. He took on the youth aid role after a few years.

At the time, there was no official

search and rescue teams in New Zealand and tramping clubs were usually called upon to search mountainous country.

“I got together some of the blokes interested in tramping and clambering around the hills and got the okay to spend Wednesday afternoon doing search and rescue training. It got me out of having to do sport on a Wednesday afternoon!”

The advent of police search and rescue teams added transport

and radios to searches, along with groups trained for the job, which was more often than not, retrieving bodies.

One of his jobs followed the crash of a Bristol freighter that had taken off from Woodbourne near Blenheim. Unknown to him, Maggie was supposed to be on the plane, but at the last minute was replaced by an officer. Another time, a man fell off a bluff on Tākaka Hill and during the rescue, Neil fell off a bank into the water in freezing conditions

“We eventually got him to the helicopter and my wet Swanndri jacket was frozen on me. We managed to get a fire going and the canopy cleared to fly him out, but that same trip the helicopter nearly crashed. I was in the helicopter at the time and we thought a torch below was signalling us to the clearing, but it was a torch in a gully flickering.”

Ask Neil how many search and rescue operations he worked on over the years and he says he “couldn’t hazard a guess.”

His adventures took him to Antarctica, which he says was unheard of at the time for anyone not involved in research.

While those adventures may be behind him, his painting continues and one of his favourites is the cheeky tomtit, pecking at a lace on his boot when he was with a police group on the St James Walkway.

The ever-evolving world of Hi-Fi

A look at audio trends with Beggs Musicworks

The world of audio has come full circle. What was once considered obsolete is now back in fashion, with turntables, CD players, and even cassette tapes experiencing a resurgence. Tim Babbage, owner of Beggs Musicworks Nelson, has seen the evolution of hi-fi firsthand over his 40-year career in the industry. “When I first started selling in 1985, most people bought a system that included a turntable, a tuner, a graphic equaliser, a double tape deck— CDs were just starting to emerge—and, of course, a pair of speakers,” Tim recalls. “Over time, we saw pieces disappear. The turntable was the first to go, as CDs took over. Then the tape deck followed, along with the tuner, leaving just the amp and speakers. But now, we’ve come full circle, and the turntable is back in a big way.”

Indeed, vinyl has made a major comeback, and with it, CD and even cassette sales have been growing. “Nostalgia is driving the market. People love the old-school look, just like in fashion where trends always cycle back around.” The demand for hi-fi systems today is a mix of classic aesthetics and modern technology. “There are two main styles in play right now. On one

hand, you have the sleek, modern products with touchscreens, no grills, and flashy displays. On the other, you have the mid-century look with wood and silver accents—styles that were old even when I first got into the industry. It’s a timeless, classic look that people love.” While heritage products maintain their vintage appeal, they now come with vastly improved sound quality. “New technology means these products sound significantly better than their vintage counterparts. Brands like Klipsch, Wharfedale, and Mission are leading the way with their heritage designs that deliver incredible modern sound. We’ve also carried Dual, a German-made brand, for years, with models starting at $900 and offering a five-year warranty.” For those looking to dive into the world of hi-fi, the options are abundant. “The range of products and price points is incredible,” Tim says. “Whether you’re after an entry-level system or a top-of-the-line turntable retailing at $17,000, we’ve got something for everyone. It’s all about picking the aesthetic that fits your space and finding the best sound for your budget.”

Business Update. Adv.

One of Neil Shepherd’s favourite paintings is the tomtit pecking at his boot lace. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Wakefield speed change to save just 7 seconds

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

A lone speed limit reversal for an 800-metre section of State Highway 6 has left some scratching their heads in Wakefield.

The reversal, announced on Wednesday, is part of the coalition Government’s commitment to roll back the previous Labour Government’s “blanket speed limit reductions”.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the changes would make it easier for people and freight to get from A to B as quickly and ef-

ficiently as possible.

An 800-metre stretch of Whitby Road/SH6 that was lowered to 60kmh in mid-2021 will now return to 70kmh before 1 July, cutting travel time by about 7 seconds. The rest of SH6 between Wakefield and Hope, which was also reduced alongside Whitby Rd, will not be reversed, nor consulted on like other sections of state highway around the country.

Wakefield Community Council chair Julian Eggers says the 60kmh speed on the edge of the town had now been accepted by

the community and raising the limit was “pointless”.

“Is it worth putting a speed limit up for just 800 metres of road?

“Other … sections along the state highway, would be more effective in what the Government’s trying to achieve.”

With development ongoing and more proposed for the town in the future, he thinks the lower 60kmh limit was reasonable. Julian adds that he was “surprised” the rest of the SH6 between Wakefield and Hope wasn’t either being reversed on consulted on. Chair of the regional transport

committee and Tasman’s deputy mayor, Stuart Bryant, lives in Wakefield.

He also says it was “strange” the that the rest of the reduced section wasn’t being consulted on. However, he didn’t think the return to 70kmh would be “much of an issue” as the 800-metre stretch was peri-urban.

“I don’t think it makes any significant difference one way or the other. Individually, it’s not going to make much difference to people.” Any time saved, he suggests, would probably be consumed at the Richmond traffic lights any-

way. Stuart’s main frustration was that the New Zealand Transport Agency, as directed by the Government, didn’t have to consult on the reversals, whereas Tasman District Council is currently re-consulting on a raft of speed limit changes after being forced to by a new Government rule. “There’s some inconsistencies in there, between what they have to do and what we’re expected to do.”

A speed limit reversal on Whitby Rd/SH6 has been called “pointless” by Wakefield Community Council chair Julian Eggers. Photo: Max Frethey.

David and Rowena Mitchell

Graham Peattie and Connie Henderson

Judi Eunson and Peter Grig

Lou Reeves and Kerry McConchie

Tim Moriarty and Brian Mead

Emma Silke-French, Brooke Silke-Atkins and Sarah Lindup

Louis Schindler and Nic John

Tony Gray, Donna Ching-Tregidga and Jenny Black

Dan and Jess Cooper

Max Garguilo, 11, with Charlie, 9, and Mary Flintoff

You can get out of debt

SUPPLIED CONTENT

Imagine a world in which you live debt-free and it’s easier to make ends meet. Now let’s make it happen. For those of us dealing with festive financial fallout, it’s time to give ourselves the most valuable gift of all – freedom from unnecessary debt. Run by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission, free money guide Sorted.org.nz has all the info and tools New Zealanders need to pave the way to peace of mind, including these hacks to help reduce your IOUs ASAP.

To make 2025 the year you flip the script, you need a buffer, a budget and a strategy...

Start an emergency fund. This might sound impossible when you’re struggling to meet your minimum repayments. However, whether a flat tyre or a dental bill, emergencies do happen, and the last thing you need is to get further into debt if an overdraft or credit card is your only safety net. Instead, start directing a few dollars every payday into an account set up to have your back.

Get a visual on it. Use a tool like Sorted’s free budget planner to track all your incomings and outgoings, spot leaks where money’s flowing where you don’t want it to go, and suss out where you could create a surplus to direct towards debt.

If it’s a home loan keeping you up at night, even just slightly raising your mortgage repayments can save you thousands in interest.

Think laterally. You might be able to find more money than you think to help you dial down debt.

Could you sell some stuff you no longer need? Is there a service you could offer as a temporary side hustle? Brainstorm things that others dislike doing and charge to do it for them. Speed things up.

Sorted’s free debt calculator will give you an immediate read on your options, and from there you can take a ‘snowball’ or ‘avalanche’ approach.

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A final option is debt consolidation, which involves taking out a personal loan with a lower interest rate and transferring all your debt balances to it. Consider Good Loans or Ngā Tāngata Microfinance for a fair, fee- and interest-free loan you could use to get yourself sorted and make debt stress so last year.

The Tapawera Op Shop is more than a place to shop— it’s a community cornerstone that has been bringing people together for decades. Volunteer manager Amanda Beer, whose mother was a founding member, continues the family tradition of volunteering. “I volunteer just as she did,” she says, reflecting the deep roots the shop has within families and across generations. “It’s not just a place to buy second-hand goods; it’s a place where people come to connect, it’s a place for people to come in and have a chat,” Amanda adds. With a community jigsaw puzzle to work on, a cozy library area for browsing books, and with funds raised supporting local causes and Tapawera’ s local paper ‘The Informer’, it’s a hub for social interaction. Additionally, the shop offers Year 9 students valuable volunteer opportunities. Shop manager Susan Fenemore says that students sort clothes, learn retail skills, and gain life experience while interacting with adults and learning the value of giving back to the community. Photo: Nicola Allan.

Waimea Dam costs

Critical opinion of your 22 Jan Waimea Weekly column hurtfully relates to my $500.00 rates, plus 26,000 others contributing about $13 million to pay interest and capital on Dam loans annually into perpetuity, for what?

The original theory (only) of expensive dammed water released to the Lee - Waimea riverbed soaking through the Plains gravels to top up aquifers, to supplement irrigation for horticulture, and town water supplies, was not evident early January when the Dam valves were open allowing 2 - 3 cubic metres per second of flow at the Hope main rd. bridge, the same volume continuing in the river bed across the plains, under the Appleby Bridge to discharge a kilometre or so downstream into the estuary; to dilute the tide!

Waimea Water Ltd continues to make sweet noises of the theoretical value of the Dam, but seeing actual facts makes those noises sour for me. Perhaps another million or two for an independent legal validation of what appears to be a communal loss ‘might’ mitigate a lot of angst out here?

Ron Sharplin

Council amalgamation

I want you to ask the question of the readers on what they think about joining Nelson & Tasman Councils together, ie: Amalgamation. I think it is time for it to happen because it makes a lot of sense.

TDC now has about 440 staff & the CEO is on a salary of $500,000 plus, & there are a lot of staff being paid well over $100,000 so I guess the lowest being most likely around $50,000.

So, at the end of the day the cost to ratepayers is huge just for their wages & I read

in the local newspaper last year that this year there will be yet another rate rise of 7% that will cost the average household around $330 & yet I read that TDC is short of money just to keep up with their maintenance costs.

So, if they joined together as one, costs would have to be less burden on us, the ratepayer.

I think we should have a vote on it & if the result is in favour then it would be taken out of the councillors hands & would have to amalgamate, end of story.

Regards

Roger Jones

Global warming

I know global warming is a bit of a corny topic these days, but this year – 2025 –has long been regarded as holding the last chance of stopping the world’s greenhouse gas from increasing. But it’s still rising! Yes, in a way, we are sort of like those thousands of lemmings racing non-stop towards the cliff face.

Anton Hyman

DNA test reveals biological father at 83

Wow Mike, what a story, what a beautiful gift to give you.

Christine Langford

Hitting the news again, well done.

Peter Peterson

Ngatimoti farmer wins NZ TUX champs

Well done, nothing better than watching

well trained dogs!

Sally Quickfall

Well done mate

Justin Dunbar

‘Outrageous’ and ‘pointless’the speed limit reversals for Nelson Tasman

It’s good to see abit of common sense from the government I drive these parts of the roads every day it is normally someone that can’t drive properly that causes a crash every one should have to resit there license

to drive on the open road a third of people would probably fail I see some shocking driving every day of the week put the speed limits up to 100km/h and drive to the conditions.

Craig Hocking

Sometimes accidents are accidents, but a lot are down to driver error or bad maintenance of the vehicle. Work on the problem. Some drivers don’t look further than their bonnet and don’t read the road or the conditions. I’m amazed at how many drivers I see with a mobile phone to their ear whilst driving through residential areas. Additionally as an ex mechanic I saw endless cars that should not be on the road with faults on suspension or bold tyres. These are issues that need dealing with rather than speed reductions. Cars since the late 90s have great safety features but if people don’t acknowledge that these need to be maintained and cared for properly then they will not be safe.

Rodney Olive

Petty spite, not data, is the reason these limits are changing back.

Sally Wyatt

About time it got put how it should be back to 100.

Michael Kemp

Speed doesn’t cause crashes. Poor driving does. And the so-called time saving measurements are a nonsense - calculated in best case scenario only.

Lynley Worsley

Dear diary, looks like the lawn mowed itself again today

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Local History

Thrills and spills at first motorbike meet

ROBYN PARKES

In January 1921, at a large and enthusiastic meeting, it was agreed for motor cyclists to form themselves into an association.

A sub-committee consisting of Messrs Allan, Hunter and Coote were appointed to enquire into the possibility of using Richmond Park for racing with a prospect of a race meet to be held in March. Permission was granted to use the Park on the 12 March at no cost, provided that the Association accept all responsibility and repair for any damage done. With the grounds secured and a date in place, Mr Allan donated a silver cup as a championship cup for a nine-mile open roadster race. Four classes for racing were decided on, to be determined by cylinder capacity.

By the 9th, a large number of entries were received by the Nelson Motor Racing Club which neces-

sitated some of the events being run in heats. Multiple entries came from Blenheim, among them the prominent rider Woodman who had raced all over NZ and in Great Britain, and Mr Viggar.

The inaugural meeting exceeded the expectations of the officials with around 1000 people attending, having been assured they would witness some spectacular action. Mr. A. Davies acted as the starter, Messrs G. Best and G. Hogg as judges, and Messrs N. Kerr and G. Shrimpton were timekeepers.

Racing began with a good field, but at the Open race both Viggar and Woodman were forced to withdraw due to engine problems which ruled them out for most of the meeting.

The championship silver cup donated by Allan was won by C. Newport by 300 yards from his nearest rival.

Three interesting races were the side car race won by W. Viggar on his Harley Davidson, the old timers’ race was won by Mr Coote on his 7-9 Indian, and the obstacle race. The latter race provided some exciting moments when the machines, with side cars attached, had to zig-zag through petrol tins, turn round, and come back to the starting point. In endeavouring to turn round Wood-

man’s machine turned a somersault, throwing both men clear.

Without any hesitation, they got themselves up, righted their machine, and finished the race in great style, amid loud applause.

It is interesting to note that although Woodman had lost a leg at the war, it did not incapacitate him at all.

The last relay race between Nelson and Blenheim was aban-

doned with competitors’ machines breaking down. The race meet was declared a complete success and both those participating and those watching went away completely satisfied with the day.

The following year the race meet took place in February with around 40 entries. Such was the interest that it drew around 1500 spectators, most anticipating thrills and spills. There was a good calibre of racer - Percy Coleman (known as the Cannon Ball), recently having returned from America and was the current holder of the world’s grass track, L Mangham holder of the New Zealand heavyweight record among them. Officials were congratulated on the running of the event and a predication was made that the Nelson meeting, in the future, would compare favourably with the best conducted races in the country.

Racing at Richmond Park 1931. Photo: Nelson Provincial Museum, Kingsford Collection.

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EDUCATING FROM THE HEART WITH HOME-BASED EARLY LEARNING

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ONCE YOU NOTICE IT, NOVUS IT!

Over the past four years, Novus Glass Nelson Franchise owners Sam and Michelle Harvey have provided the region with exceptional glass repair and replacement services. Since its inception, the couple have built a team that shares their passion for excellence with a vision to bring top-notch windscreen repair and replacement services to Nelson Tasman.

Alongside Sam and Michelle, is Angelique, who manages the front office, and Brodie, who brings expertise and precision to the workshop.

Located at 10 Fayette Lane, Stoke, the heart of Novus Glass’s operations is a philosophy that prioritises repairs over replacements. “Our goal is to make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible,” says Michelle. “If we can repair the damage effectively, that’s what we’ll do. Replacements are advised when necessary.”

For every repair or replacement, Novus Glass donate to Trees That Count, where 16,830 trees have been donated nationally. This initiative aligns perfectly with Novus

Geeks on Wheels is a mobile support company that has been helping Kiwis with their tech troubles for nearly two decades. Already established in 12 other locations across the country, Geeks on Wheels expanded their services to Nelson Tasman in late 2024, and marketing coordinator Manfred James says the decision was 100% the right choice. “Locals have given us a warm welcome and we’re excited to be here and to grow as a business serving the region.”

Since its inception in 2005, Geeks on Wheels has evolved to become experts across a broad range of technologies, offering so much more than the original ‘fix and repair’ focus. “We discovered the REAL value we bring is not just about fixing a particular issue but is about taking the customer on a personalised journey through advice, knowledge and education about how technology can benefit them in and around their daily lives.”

This ethos has earned the proudly Kiwi-

Glass’s dedication to sustainability and community involvement.

Novus Glass Nelson offer a range of services including vehicle glass maintenance services, windscreen wiper replacements, headlight polishing, and other essentials. In addition, they work closely with all leading insurance companies to process auto glass claims efficiently. This partnership ensures that customers experience minimal disruption and hassle when dealing with glass-related issues.

“From the moment a customer contacts us to the completion of the job, our focus is on providing the best possible experience.” Their connection to the Nelson community is a source of pride for Sam, Michelle, and their team. “Being part of the Nelson community means more than just doing business here,” Michelle says. “It’s about being involved, giving back, and building lasting relationships. We’re honoured to serve this community and to contribute in any way we can.”

owned business the most 5-star ratings of any tech repair provider. “With so much of our lives relying more and more on technology each day we believe that, with the right advice, knowledge, and education, your tech can really be of benefit to you!”

Finlay Langelaan one of the locally based technicians, has a passion for helping others making a real difference in his community. The IT whizz holds a broad range of tech skills making him particularly adept at hands-on IT tasks “I am excited about helping even more Kiwis stay connected, secure, and tech-savvy,” says Finlay.

“Beyond solving day-to-day tech issues, we’re dedicated to educating tech users. That’s why we’re committed to providing information sessions to community groups and aged care facilities, with a focus on scam prevention and online safety.”

Health Beauty andWellness

Experience the joy of dance with Zumba

For Renata Harper, dance isn’t just movement—it’s a way of life. Born and raised in Brazil, Renata grew up surrounded by music and rhythm, making dance an essential part of her daily routine.

Renata offers locals the chance to experience the joy of movement, fitness, and community. Her passion for dance began early, but Renata’s journey to becoming a Zumba instructor took time to unfold. Moving to Christchurch in 2001 with her Kiwi husband, after living in London, she found herself teaching salsa at a local studio. But it wasn’t until years later that a friend introduced her to Zumba. “I was talking about how much I loved dancing and how, after having two kids, it would be great to dance again,” Renata says. One session a week quickly

turned into several, and before she knew it, she was hooked. By 2016, Renata had become an instructor and was covering for other teachers. A year later, after moving to Nelson, she launched her own classes, creating a supportive and fun-filled space for people of all fitness levels.

Renata says Zumba is much more than a workout for her. “With eight years of teaching in Nelson, it’s not only about dancing anymore. It’s about community, health, and of course, fitness.”

The relationships she’s built have become a huge part of why she continues to teach. “I am very blessed to have so many gorgeous friends around me who help all the time, especially when I need a little break.” Renata’s classes are not just about burning calories—

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ing form of exercise. “The music, the movement, the cardio, the laughter—this is a cocktail for endorphins, and you leave the class with a big smile on your face!” For those looking for an extra challenge, Renata also offers Zumba Toning, incorporating light weights or Zumba Toning Sticks to enhance rhythm, coordination, and muscle definition. Renata’s classes take place at 67 Trafalgar Street Hall in Nelson on Tuesday at 9:30am and at the same time on Friday for Toning. Wednesday classes at 6pm are run at Hampden Street School Hall. The cost is $10 per class, with the second class free. “It’s for everyone! If you love music and movement, come along and experience the energy of Zumba for yourself.”

WENSLEY ROAD REBUILD AND REPAIR

Wensley Road is an important road that connects the southern areas of Richmond to the town centre. Some parts of this road need major repairs, and we’re starting this work soon.

What’s happening?

There will be a full road closure on Wensley Road between Richmond Cemetery and Waverley Street from Monday 17 February until the end of April, weather permitting. This will also affect side roads connected to Wensley Road within this area.

Work will generally take place from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm. Outside of these hours, the worksite will remain closed, but residents will have access.

What does this mean for me living in the area?

Residents within this area will receive direct communication from the team about how this work impacts them and how we will work in with them to access their properties.

What does this mean for me driving through the area?

Traffic detours will be in place for the duration of the work. You can detour via Bateup Road, Gladstone Road and Oxford Street, or alternatively via Hart Road, Hill Street and Queen Street. Please allow extra time for your journey while taking these detours.

Richmond Cemetery and Church access will be available via the Bateup Road/Hart Road intersection.

What does this mean for me taking the eBus?

Due to this closure, the eBus Routes 2 and 6 will not travel along Bateup Road and Wensley Road, and the bus stops on these roads will be closed.

Instead, the eBus will detour via Gladstone Road and Queen Street, and then carry on as normal. There will be three temporary bus stops on Gladstone Road, two near Jubilee Park, and one outside Waimea Village. The Waimea Village stop will be the end stop for Route 2, and it will turn around at Three Brothers’ Corner so passengers can get on here to travel in either direction.

What does this mean for me walking or cycling?

There will always be pedestrian access along Wensley Road. Cyclists will need to dismount their bikes and walk them through the works area.

Why are we doing this work?

The current road structure was built over 50 years ago and wasn’t made to handle the traffic we see now, which has doubled in the last 20 years to around 8,500 vehicles every day.

Increased traffic has also caused a lot of wear and tear, leading to the road needing more repairs. It is time to rebuild the damaged and weaker sections of road, so it is future proofed for decades to come.

What exactly are we doing?

We will rebuild two key sections of Wensley Road, making the road stronger. We will also widen the narrow section at the top of the hill to make it safer for everyone. In between the two main rebuild areas, we will be doing smaller repairs to improve the road’s overall condition.

What about the work from last year?

Last year, we carried out necessary quick fixes to address urgent problems and prevent them from becoming safety hazards. This work was temporary before the bigger rebuild we’re doing now that funding is available.

Widening the hill section will also enable the speed cushions, which were installed last year to improve cyclist safety, to be removed, and the speed limit restored to 50km/h.

What challenges might we face?

We expect to come across a material called coal tar in the old road layers, which will need special handling.

To widen the road, we may need to take away some topsoil and other landscaping on the road verge, which could make things look messy for a while.

The work will take about three months. However, weather and other factors beyond our control might delay things. We will work as quickly and efficiently as we can as we understand how important this road is to everyone who lives here or travels through the area.

Will this fix everything on Wensley Road?

The sections we are rebuilding will be designed to last for several decades. Like any busy road, other areas will continue to wear over time. While we’re fixing the main issues now, new ones will arise in the future.

We monitor deterioration on all roads and carry out more expensive reconstructions when this is needed. Sometimes it is more cost efficient to just do specific repairs, and sometimes the long-term least-cost option is to do a full reconstruction.

Do we really need to do this?

We understand road works can be frustrating, however so are potholes and damaged roads. It’s important that we invest in making repairs and upgrades to maintain the longevity of our roading network, and ensure it is safe for all users.

maintain

infrastructure.

Banged up, blistered and burnt out

remarks.

It was all about mind over metres for Ed Shuttleworth on the longest run of his life over the weekend.

The Sport Tasman chief executive set off on his “210 Reasons to Run” fundraiser for Nelson Tasman Hospice from Farewell Spit at 3am last Saturday morning and admits he went out too hard.

“It unravelled a bit, but so many people kept coming out and supporting me I was literally carried along by them,” says Ed, after completing his 210-kilometre trek to the Nelson Tasman Hospice in Stoke just after 8.30pm on Sunday.

Do the math and the ultra-marathon runner was averaging just over 5kms an hour.

“It was a good time wasn’t it,” he

But Ed reveals this was no fun run, as he had never gone further than 160kms before the weekend.

“It was brutal.

“I was really trying to stay in the present and not think about what lay ahead.”

He couldn’t eat and brought up everything for about 19 hours.

“I think I held a lot of nerves so I just couldn’t hold food.

“I really suffered but it was beautiful to go through the communities and chat to maybe 400 to 500 people about the story of hospice.

It was one of the most incredible things I have ever done, and it carried me,” declares Ed, who thrives on community engagement in his day job.

He ran through the night and admitted suffering hallucinations in the dark.

“I thought I had glasses on, and I would go to take them off and realise I didn’t have them on. And every face I looked at, I couldn’t recognise.”

But worse was to come on the second day as he battled the summer heat.

“It was so hot I was hiding in the bushes for shade and having to lie down.”

As for sleep, he only had two one-minute naps during his entire 41-and-a-half-hour haul, if you can call one-minute a nap. They were both on Sunday and once, when he tried to sleep for all of two minutes, Ed couldn’t. Despite all of that, and running on empty, the long-distance specialist still finished way ahead of schedule.

“The final 50 kilometres was very hard.

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“What I got wrong was trying to go at the same pace as I would for 160kms.

“I didn’t respect the amount of walking I should have done early on, and my legs got burnt out. Looking back, I was a bit over aggressive,” Ed acknowledges, while praising his support crew who accompanied him.

A big crowd of supporters gathered at the Nelson Tasman Hospice in Stoke as news spread of his impending arrival.

He looked gaunt and confirmed his knees were “pretty banged up” and his feet were in even worse shape.

“I have no skin left on the bottom of them.

“They are blistered to pieces and wrecked. I know I suffered but it was incredible,” he declared at the finish-line.

I wasn’t running for me. It was the most special and spiritual two days of my life.

“The support was amazing and I am very proud to be here,” insists Ed, just minutes after finishing the equivalent of five marathons. He has this week off and confirms it won’t be pretty.

Then it is back to training for his next fundraising mission NBS Dancing for a Cause.

His dance partner Brooke Silke-Atkins has given him this week off training and Ed reckons his feet will be ready to go again for the May event.

Nelson Tasman Hospice estimates Ed’s efforts have raised almost $50,000 so far and donations can still be made.

To donate visit 210-reasons-torun.raiselysite.com/

STEPHEN STUART

Ed Shuttleworth during his epic 210 kilometre run that took him from Farewell Spit to Stoke. Photos: Todd Starr

Powerboat regatta returns to Rotoiti: The Rotoiti Power Boat Club regatta is set to be bigger and better than ever this year. The roar of power boats will hit the water on the weekend of 8-9 March for the 102nd edition of the popular event. Club spokesman, Joe Blakiston, says the huge interest in the GP Hydroplane division, with the final round of the Hydro Thunder series being held at the event, will make for exciting viewing. South Island hopes rest on the shoulders of Christchurch-based Raymond Hart in Thunderstruck - the winner of Round 2 held recently - and Jason Haggerty in Lady Liz from Te Anau. As an added bonus, on each day a fighter plane display from the Blenheim based Yak 3 ‘Steadfast’ will be held in the lunchbreak, which is always a crowd favourite. Photo: Supplied.

James Lowe provides highlights in six nations opener

STEPHEN STUART

Former Tasman Mako star and Waimea Old Boy, James Lowe, produced arguably the best performance of his 37-match international career as Ireland began its defence of the Six Nations rugby crown.

The 32-year-old made a triumphant return from a calf injury to feature in three of Ireland’s four tries in the 27-22 win over England in Dublin.

James showed strength to brush off a defender and beat two others before putting Kiwi teammate Jamison Gib-

son-Park away for his side’s opening try.

Slipping into first receiver, he caught the English out with his pace before supplying the pass for lock Tadhg Beirne to score the third try.

The “Waimea Wonder” then hauled in a high pass from reserve hooker Dan Sheehan, went around his marker and turned the ball inside to Dan again for the fourth try as Ireland scored 22 unanswered points.

Ironically, the other try, the second, went to the third Kiwi, Bundee Aki, on James’ left

wing while he was caught up in a maul.

Despite taking a heavy knock to his right quad, James played the whole game as Ireland avenged its loss to England last year.

And his Nelson College mentor, turned Ireland assistant coach, Andrew Goodman, couldn’t hide his delight as the home side rebounded from a disappointing end to last year. Surprisingly, James wasn’t named player of the match for Sunday’s effort, with Jamison Gibson-Park honoured instead.

Cricket

The Nelson Griffins are hoping for a form reversal when they play Canterbury Country in the Hawke Cup Zone 3 final in Rangiora this weekend.

The side was crushed at Saxton Oval by the Canterbury outfit last December.

“It was a bad toss to lose against such a strong bowling side. We could only make 165 so they won on the first innings,” recalls Griffins player-coach Sean Neal. If the Griffins can upset Canterbury Country in their three-day clash, they will earn a Hawke Cup Challenge

against holders Hawke’s Bay. “It is easy to get up for this. It is our test match of the season,” declares Sean.

He reckons it is almost easier for smaller provincial cricket associations to win the Hawke Cup than to back up quickly and try to defend it.

James Lowe makes a break on the way to setting up Ireland's fourth try. Photo: Brendan Moran/ Sportsfile/Getty Images.

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Ruth on a roll at tennis masters

STEPHEN STUART

Recovering from a broken leg kept top masters tennis player Ruth Seeman from the national tournament in Auckland last year, but normal business resumed at the championships in Nelson last month.

Ruth, who moved to Richmond from Christchurch four years ago, won nine of her 10 matches across three divisions.

The former professional player, who represented New Zealand in 1989, was unbeaten in her singles matches in the 60+ grade at the Tahunanui Tennis Club.

“There were only four entries so it was round robin competition rather than going to a final. Women’s numbers are diminishing worldwide,” comments the 61-year-old.

Ironically Ruth didn’t get to play on her home Richmond courts as she won her singles match, scheduled there, by walkover.

She teamed with Auckland’s Angela Swinkels for the 55+ doubles and they won all four of their matches in straight sets.

The former physiotherapist then linked with Taranaki tennis coach Mark Belcher and they reached the final of the 60+ mixed double as she went after the treble.

They came up against the top seeded men’s player John Lawrence and his partner Angela Holtom at the Nelson Lawn Tennis Club at Rutherford Park.

was much nicer on the final day.

John won all eight of his matches over the tournament.

“Some of those masters men are very competitive,” observed Ruth.

nual highlight,” recalls Ruth. She teamed with Julie in doubles for the Federation Cup Tie against Italy in Tokyo in 1989.

They lost the match but won the tie.

ken leg in 2023.

“I was skipping down the Involution Trail in Marsden Valley when I tripped on tree roots.

“Fortunately, my son was there to help me up,” reflects Ruth.

The Aucklanders won the first set 6-1 but Ruth and Mark fought back to take the second 6-4, but then lost the super tie 10-6.

Organisers brought that final forward to day four and it was played in very windy conditions and, of course, it

Mind you, she has been too, going back to 1980’s where she was part of the golden era of New Zealand women’s professional tennis.

“I played with Belinda Cordwell, Julie Richardson and Claudine Toleafoa and the Nutri-metics tournament in Auckland used to be an an-

Tennis is still keeping Ruth very busy in retirement as she belongs to the Richmond, Hope and Tahunanui clubs and plays socially at Nelson too, during winter. And how’s this for going full circle, just days after her hectic playing schedule she returned to walk the track where she sustained her bro-

Having safely negotiated the track this time, Ruth is set to return to the local club tennis scene and is keen to defend her masters’ titles next year.

“Although no one could tell me where the venue will be,” concludes the former age grade international.

Schoolboy rugby wrangle closer to resolution

the make-up of this year’s schoolboy sides.

Nelson College should know by the end of this month whether it will still be able to field its own teams in the local teenage club rugby competition. New Zealand Rugby has held separate zoom calls with college and Tasman Rugby Union officials over

NZR general manager of community rugby Steve Lancaster has asked both parties to back up their hearings with a written submission. Nelson College is urging the NZR to establish a new and fairer club status application process for age grade competitions

after being the only boy’s college in the country to be excluded from Saturday club play.

The Nelson Bays Rugby Sub-Union is sticking to its decision that college students should play for established rugby clubs, arguing that otherwise their age grades teams could fold, especially in the coun -

try areas. Sub-union delegates voted 9-2 in favour of excluding Nelson College sides and the Tasman union rubber stamped that. Registrations have already opened for teams to play in the new schoolboy club season which is due to start in April and pre-season training is due to start soon. ing is due to start soon.

Former international tennis player Ruth Seeman in action at the TNZM National Championships in Nelson last month. Photo: Supplied.

STEPHEN STUART

Frost runs hot at speedway’s T.Q title

JODY SCOTT

The Meat Merchant NZ T.Q. Grand Prix proved a happy hunting ground for local driver Morgan Frost after a frustrating start at the Milestone Homes Top of the South Speedway.

Afternoon rain left the track saturated and it took several hours of wheel packing to bring the surface back to race condition.

There was plenty of bite in the track as racing got underway with three rounds of qualifying ,before a last chance race before the 25-lap championship decider.

Six Nelson drivers made the final.

Alicia Hill, Kohen Thompson, Ben Stillborn and Morgan Frost all qualified directly to the final with Jonti Austin and Kynan Bezett making it through the last chance race.

Alicia and Morgan lined up on grids 7 and 8 respectively for the feature, which proved one of endurance.

Several incidents throughout the race, including a huge rollover from Ben Stillborn, kept the field tightly packed.

Six-time NZ Champion Jeremy Webb sat behind the lead car of Dylan Cooke, but on lap 21 his rear wheel detached leaving him

Netball

Nelson’s leading netball umpire Myron Elkington is Brisbane-bound this month.

Fresh from officiating at the FAST5 international tournament in Christchurch last November, Myron will be running the sidelines at the PacificAus Sports Series 16-22 February.

The Australian Government supports the competition which brings together teams from the South Pacific nations - the Fiji Pearls, Papua New Guinea Pepes, Samoa Tifa Moana and the defending champions Tonga Tala.

Australia will be represented by the indigenous Black Swans and Scot-

parked on the infield.

It moved Morgan up to 2nd spot on the restart, but the Kihikihi driver was dominating the race as the field battled for the minor placings.

Morgan was runner-up, holding off the hard-charging 2nz of Regan Tyler, former-2nz Kayden Barker and 3nz Peter Hunnibell as they crossed the finish line.

Alicia finished 6th, with Kohen 14th just in front of Jonti and

Kynan was 17th.

Dylan won his first major SNZ title, Morgan emotional with his second placing as the hard work finally paid off.

The majority of the drivers will now head to Greymouth to contest the South Island title.

The Stock cars stirred it up once again with Harlen Brunt having three wall rides on the night.

The Streetstocks weren’t to be outdone with several riding the

land has been invited to attend, sending the Thistles.

Super rugby

It was like a Tasman Mako reunion when the Crusaders faced the Blues in their Super Rugby Pacific pre-season opener in Kirwee last Friday.

Returning from a calf injury, Ethan Blackadder captained the side in the absence of a rested All Black David Havili.

He headed the list of five Mako starters and came through a typically physical 20 minutes in his first match since Tasman’s Ranfurly Shield loss Taranaki four months ago.

pole line in block mode, much to the crowd’s delight.

Youth Ministocks and Quarter Midgets got a couple of races in as time got tight, with Meneka Rawson, Leilah Jefcoate, Darcy Rasmussen and Josh Lovell all recording wins.

Jack Rarity, Toby Walker and James Mackel won the blind triples in the Stock cars with debutant Shaun Heath joining William Sherlock and David Allen as

Wing Macca Springer, who had an underwhelming NPC campaign, also impressed with one of the Crusaders’ three tries in the 35-19 loss. Halfback Noah Hotham, centre Levi Aumua and lock Antonio Shalfoon also started as the Crusaders rested their All Blacks.

Seven Mako were also on the 20-strong list of reserves with Harry Inch, fresh out of Nelson College, getting game time at second five outside veteran Australian import James O’Connor.

Meanwhile Finlay Christie and former Tasman star Anton Segner started for the Blues.

Anton having a huge game against his old Mako mates.

Production Saloon winners. Midgets made their first visit to Nelson this season, racing for the Leigh Marquet Memorial.

Local driver Nathan Wilkie held on to the win after a great battle with Christchurch’s Ben Morgan with Craig Cox third.

The Nelson track staff did an amazing job getting the Appleby circuit back to speed to race on the night. The next local meeting is War of the Wings on 15 Feb.

Nelson driver Morgan Frost, pictured front, was the best of the locals in the T.Q title race. Photo: Rebecca Connor Maling.

Community Notices

MONDAY

TASMAN AQUARIUM CLUB. Meet 2nd Mon of month, 7pm. Inspiration, advice and general chat about fish and aquarium hobby. Ph: Robin 0275442518.

PHILOSOPHY GROUP First meeting for 2025 is 10 Feb. New venue: Nelson Buddhist Centre, 11 Buxton Square, 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at 9:20. All welcome. Text Zoe: 027-9741758.

OSTEOACTIVE, Mon, 10am, Holy Trinity Hall, Richmond. Exercise class for participants with osteoarthritis. Seated and standing exercises. Exercise tips for osteoarthritis self-management. Ph: Nicola 0210788609. Koha $5-$8.

JUNIOR BADMINTON, Mon, 6-7.30pm, Badminton Hall. For School-aged kids. Racquets avail. Ph: Joe 0277834720 / e: joe@peak.co.nz.

SOCIAL EVENING BADMINTON, Mon, 7.30pm, Badminton Hall. Racquets avail. Bring indoor court shoes. Ph: Joe 0277834720. $5/night.

TUESDAY

HOPE INDOOR BOWLING CLUB, Tues,7pm, Hope Hall. All ages welcome. Wear soft soled shoes. First 2 nights free. Ph: Bill 035449273.

DEMENTIA FRIENDLY LIBRARY GROUP Tues, 10.30-11.30am, Richmond Library. If you are living with Dementia, this group is for you. Come along to this supportive, friendly group at your familiar local library. Free.

RICHMOND TENNIS CLUB SOCIAL TENNIS Tues, 9.30am, Richmond Tennis Club, Gladstone Rd.

If raining, we play card games. Morning tea provided. Info Ph: 0274872480.

RICHMOND SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING

Beginner classes, Stoke Methodist Church Hall, 11, 18, 25 Feb - 7.30pm. Contact 021 141 8989

WEDNESDAY

CENTRAL GARDEN CLUB, meet 2nd Wed of month, 1.30pm, Methodist Church Hall, Neale Ave. New Members welcome. Guest speakers, followed by afternoon tea. Enq Ph: Lynn or Bob 0275418448.

RUMMIKUB Richmond Town Hall 1st and 3rd Wednesday. 1pm – 3pm. Phone Linda 022 681 4129

TASMAN TRACKIES CYCLING Saxton Velodrome. Track racing 5 Feb – 9 April, Wednesdays 10am – 11.30am. Track bikes available FOC, Road or mountain bikes can be used. Social coffee & chat after at local café - ZINK. Murray Cameron 0276450033 murray.r.cameron@xtra.co.nz

RICHMOND GARDEN CLUB (2019) meet 1st Wed of month, doors open 1pm, Whakatu Presbyterian Hall, Champion Rd. New members are welcome. Ph: Coral Ellis 0272262913.

STORYTIME AT RICHMOND LIBRARY, Wed during term time, 10-10.30am, Join us for exciting stories and songs for 2-5 year olds and their caregivers. Free.

SING YOUR LUNGS OUT: Wed, 10am, Club Waimea. A fun filled singing class for those with respiratory conditions. No singing experience is necessary. Ph: Jess 0275467675 – Respiratory Support Nelson.

THURSDAY

ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUP, Thurs, 1112pm, Richmond Library. Improve your English with a qualified, experienced ESOL teacher. Join our friendly English conversation group. Free.

DO YOU WANT TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS join a friendly group for coffee and a chat.1st & 3rd Thurs of month, Paragon Cafe Langdale Drive Richmond. Ansley/ Phillip 5410 350 or 0272212943

FRIDAY

WAITAKI OLD GIRLS’ SOCIAL GROUP NELSON Fri 7 Feb, 10am. Coffee and chat at Comida Cafe, Buxton Carpark. Under the name Prego. All Oamaru ladies welcome to join us. Queries 027 673 1145.

ELYSIUM WIDOW AND WIDOWERS GROUP meeting for lunch at Columbus Coffee, Richmond, Fri 14 Feb, 12pm. Phone Margaret 027 2600748.

CAKE DECORATORS workshop, 14 & 15 Feb. You will learn how to make a 2D water drip elephant cake. Contact Desiree 0276302359.

SONGBIRDS LADIES CHOIR new members welcome, especially sopranos and altos. Reading music helpful. Practice Friday mornings in Stoke to sing and socialise then entertain in retirement homes locally. Ph: 0274745511

BETTER BREATHERS, Tues and Fri, 10am, Wed, 11.15am, Club Waimea. A series of guided exercises - seated or standing - to help those with breathing difficulties. Run by Respiratory Support Nelson. Ph: Jess 0275467675.

SATURDAY

NELSON BRANCH OF ROYAL NZ AIRFORCE ASSOCIATION, meet 2nd Sat of month, 12pm, Club Waimea, Richmond, Phil’s Restaurant. Interesting speakers, raffles & members interested in Aviation Ph: Trever Squires 039706644 or John Bethwaite 035476634. Cost of meal $25.

RICHMOND TENNIS CLUB SOCIAL TENNIS, Sat, 1.30-3pm. Open to club players, visitors & members of other clubs. $5 non-members. Ph: 0274872480.

FREE GUIDED MEDITATION, Sat, 3pm, under the white pergola of Washbourne Gardens. Relax, unwind, and enjoy inner peace & stillness. For info e: meditaterichmond@gmail.com. Free.

SUNDAY

NELSON SPIRITUALIST CHURCH, weekly service, Sun 7-8pm, Cnr Tipahi and Motueka St. All welcome. Healing avail before and after service.

SUNDAY WORSHIP You are warmly invited to attend weekly worship. Sun, 10am, Nelson Tasman Methodist Parish Church, 94 Neale Ave Stoke. Morning tea follows the service.

GENERAL GROUPS

SENIOR MOBILITY CLASSES Tues, Thurs & Fri, 10.30am, Wanderers Community Gym, 12 Charlotte Lane, Brightwater. Improving balance, mobility & independence among our aging populations (55+). Ph: James 021 0441526. $2 donation.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for 1.5 hours one day a week either 8.30am or 2.30 pm. Assist elderly for

pick up and drop off in Presbyterian Support van from Annesbrook. Ph: Maaike 032655224. PARLEZ-VOUS FRANÇAIS? French conversation, Fri, 4-6pm, Honest Lawyer Stoke or Vic Rose Nelson. Alliance Française. Ph: Doug Hill 035446288

NELSON WOODTURNING CLUB. Join us at our clubrooms for Turning, camaraderie & sharing of knowledge. Ph/Txt: Allan 021543345, for info. FALLS PREVENTION. More Stable More Able. FREE 2 hour session for anyone who has fallen or is at risk of falling. Relaxed & informal setting. Ph: Ange 021790415 from Nelson Bays Primary Health to book.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS avail in Nelson or Richmond for people with CG/CSF (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), FM (Fibromyalga) or Long Covid. 0800224787 or e: nelson.ccisupport.org.nz for info.

PICKLEBALL, Mon & Wed, 4pm, Tues & Fri, 9.30am-11.30am, Richmond Tennis Club. Bats, balls and coaching available. $5 non-members. Enq Ph: 0274872480.

NELSON TASMAN HOSPICE SHOPS need volunteers in their Nelson Richmond Motueka & Takaka shops. Volunteering is great & a good chance to meet new people, gain new skills & help your hospice. Ph: 035463912.

GROW needing help. Use a Program and Method. We are here for your mental health. Ph: 035476120. BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP, Cancer Society Nelson, 102 Hardy St. Reg Ph: 035391137 or info@cancernelson.org.nz.

BLOOD CANCER SUPPORT GROUP meet monthly. Info Ph: Heather 0274444708.

will be

public notices on 544 9037.

House lot of mainly furniture. Includes beds, drawers, new leather recliners, tables, fridge, washing machine, vacuum cleaners, TV, stereo, lamps etc. all in top condition. Tele: 021355622. Saturday 8th of February from 8am.154 Ridgeview Road, Redwood Valley.

ROMANO Raffaele

Passed away 9/2/1993

Loved husband of Daphne (deceased) and loved father of Gloria and Guy

Always caring, loving and supportive

TASKER

Lindsay James

26.7.33 - 30.12.24

and

Lifestyle specialists, any farm fences and gates, to swimming pool fences in town. High quality, well-built and strong, no job too big or too small, immediate start. Quick tidy worker Call me now. ASTIN KNOWLES FENCING. ANYTIME ON 021-022-11068.

LEASE WANTED

Always remembered Gloria Mary Janet Scott (Leary)

least 5 years preferably re-newable and will pay all costs, including resource consent fee. Anywhere from Wai-iti Valley to Redwood Valley considered. References available. Please phone: 0274 649 532 or 021 0240 9317

91 years. Lyn passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on 30.12.24. Dearly loved husband of Derilene and married 63 years. Much loved Dad of Brent, Melody, Brady, Mistril and Abbey and caring Father-in-law. Adored Grandad to all his Grandchildren. You will be dearly missed. A private family celebration has been held.

30-01-37 - 19-01-25

Dearly loved wife of Denis for 69 years. Adored Mum and Mum-in-law of Trevor & Leigh, Greg, Lindsay & Sally & Brenda, Denise & Aaron (Tombs). Cherished nana of her 10 grandchildren & 9 great grandchildren. A much loved sister, sisterin-law & aunty. Mary’s wishes were for a private service which will be at a later date.

Forever in our hearts.

Trades&Services

Darren Friend with NBS Richmond Branch Manager, Brent Williams.

Nelson Grey Power

Helping women find housing and companionship

A new initiative is making a difference in Nelson Tasman by helping women find affordable and supportive living arrangements. HomeShare for Her, a charitable trust, has launched its website (www.homeshareforher.nz) to connect women seeking to share homes and living costs. In just one year, more than 200 women have registered, with 12 successful matches and over 25 home-

share opportunities currently listed online.

As the first free home-sharing service of its kind in New Zealand, HomeShare for Her is open to women aged 18 to 70+, with plans to expand into other regions.

Nelson Tasman has an increasing number of older women living alone in larger homes, often in need of company and occasional assistance. Meanwhile,

smaller rental homes remain scarce and expensive.

“With 60% of those registered being home seekers, we are eager to hear from more women homeowners interested in sharing their homes,” says co-founder and trustee Chloe Howorth.

“Women looking for homeshare opportunities come from all walks of life—some are working, studying, or retired. The website allows them to create

profiles, list home offers, and connect through a private messaging system.”

HomeShare for Her offers practical tools to help women establish successful living arrangements, including sharing agreements, communication templates, and reference check guidelines.

For some homeowners, this initiative provides a way to stay in their homes and communities

while gaining financial and social support. Home seekers can register their housing needs, browse available homes, and even connect with other home seekers to find a place together. However, HomeShare for Her is not an emergency housing provider, as finding the right match can take time.

For more information, visit HomeShareforHer.nz or email hello@homeshareforher.nz.

Team members and associates of HomeShare for Her. From left, Chloe Howorth, Anna-Mae Angeles, Kindra Douglas, Liz Price, Bev James and Lindsay Neumann.

Nelson Grey Power

President’s Report

Sue Sara President

Happy New Year, everyone!

Sue Sara

As we step into another busy year, I want to take a moment to encourage more members to get involved. Our committee works hard to represent you at various meetings, but we could use more hands on deck. With the largest membership in New Zealand, it’s disappointing that we have to keep asking for help.

Can you spare just two hours a month? If so, please pop in for a chat—we’d love to have you on board.

Our membership currently stands at 4,676 and continues to grow. The new discount book is ready to be distributed with your renewal or new membership.

Our AGM will be held on 26th April at 2pm at Stoke Methodist Church. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

We are also exploring some exciting and innovative ideas for the year ahead—so watch this space! And remember, we are here to advocate for you. If there are any issues you need assistance with, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Celebrating milestones

Throughout history, cultures worldwide have marked life’s significant moments—birth, coming of age, marriage, and passing—through traditions that shape communities. Some celebrations are religious, such as Christmas, Ramadan, and Diwali. Others recognize nature’s rhythms, like the changing seasons or migrations of wildlife. Still others honour national or local customs, like America’s Thanksgiving, Spain’s Running of the Bulls, or the UK’s Glastonbury Festival.

Closer to home, the Nelson Mask Parade and Arts Festival has been a beloved local tradition for 30 years, bringing colour and creativity to the region. But it’s not just people who celebrate milestones— places and institutions do, too. Nelson has honoured the arrival of New Zealand Company settlers every 1st of February for 182 years, marked the city’s 150th birthday in 2008, and, in 2024, Nelson City Council celebrated 150 years since evolving from a Board of Works into an elected council.

This year also marks another significant anniversary—Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Nelson Tasman is celebrating 40 years of freely sharing knowledge and guidance with the community. Since opening in 1984, CAB has been a trusted source of independent advice, helping thousands of people navigate everything

A family legacy of care

from consumer rights to tenancy issues.

When CAB first opened, information was stored in ring binders, thick manuals, and an efficient card index system. Without computers or the internet, staying up-to-date was a challenge. Today, technology makes finding basic information easier, but many people still need help when their issues fall outside standard categories. In 2023 alone, over 3,000 clients turned to CAB Nelson Tasman for assistance, with the 30–39 age group being the largest group seeking support.

New Year celebrations are often a time for reflection and fresh starts. For those looking to use their skills and experience to give back, CAB Nelson Tasman is welcoming new volunteers. Being part of the team means not only helping others but also discovering more about the local community. Volunteers often say they learn something new every shift!

A comprehensive training programme begins on 1 March, offering an excellent opportunity to become part of an organisation that has been supporting the region for four decades. If you’re interested, request an information pack today by emailing coordinator. nelsontasman@cab.org.nz.

CAB Nelson Tasman: Offices in Nelson, Richmond & Motueka Phone: 548 2117

An independently Incorporated Society serving people over the age of fifty

Elizabeth Perrone, chair for the Nelson Marlborough governance, receptionist Ella and Peter Seelen, branch manager.

CCS Disability Action welcomes Nelson community to its open day

For nearly 90 years, CCS Disability Action has been a pillar of support for disabled New Zealanders.

Originally known as the New Zealand Crippled Children Society, the organisation has evolved over time to reflect a more inclusive society while maintaining its commitment to ensuring disabled people can live with dignity, independence, and full participation in their communities.

Founded in 1935 by Rotary New Zealand in response to the polio epidemics of the early 20th century, CCS Disability Action has grown into the largest pan-disability support organisation in the country. Its services extend beyond childhood care, assisting people of all ages with essential support, advo-

Open Day Invitation

cacy, and mobility services.

The Nelson office, located opposite the Tides Restaurant, serves as the regional hub for CCS Disability Action’s work. From administering the Mobility Parking permit scheme to providing Total Mobility Assessments, the organisation collaborates with individuals, families, and local businesses to create a more accessible community.

The local committee, chaired by Elizabeth Perrone, works actively with councils and businesses to advocate for better transport options, improved parking facilities, and increased inclusion for disabled residents. Their goal is to ensure every disabled person can participate fully in the community.

CCS Disability Action invites Grey Power members and anyone interested in accessibility and community support to attend the upcoming Open Day. This event offers an opportunity to meet the team, learn more about the organisation’s work, and contribute ideas on how to enhance accessibility in Nelson.

Date: Wednesday 19 February, 10am – 2pm

Location: 65 Trafalgar Street, Nelson

Highlights: Engaging discussions, friendly interactions, and a welcoming space to explore ways of making Nelson a more inclusive place.

For

Community Newsletter

More community transport options

Exciting news for residents of Motueka and Tapawera—greater transport options are now available, making it easier than ever to travel between Motueka, Richmond, and Tapawera. These affordable and accessible community transport services are provided by the Nelson Tasman Community Transport Trust (NTCTT) and operated by a dedicated team of friendly volunteer drivers.

When not in use for scheduled services, NTCTT vehicles are also available for community group hire. With the capacity to transport up to 11 passengers, they are perfect for group outings and adventures.

February 2025 – Free Small Coffee!

Planning a trip to Richmond?

In February 2025, passengers using NTCTT services to Richmond can enjoy a free small coffee courtesy of the Richmond Mall. Simply speak to your driver for details on how to redeem this offer.

Motueka – Richmond Service

The Motueka Coastal Bus operates on:

• Saturdays: Departs Motueka at 9:30 AM, returns from Richmond at 2:00 PM.

• Sundays: Departs Motueka at 1:00 PM, returns from Richmond at 5:00 PM.

Great news for cyclists—bikes

Bikes loaded on the bus ready to travel. Nelson CT Trust.

can be transported for free with a fare-paying passenger. If you’re bringing an e-bike, please remove the battery before transport.

With fares at just $6 each way, this service offers a great op-

Changes to the national Grey Power Magazine

Due to rising postage costs, Grey Power Federation has made the difficult decision to introduce an annual delivery fee of $10 for the printed version of the National Grey Power Magazine, starting from Issue 2 in June 2025.

With annual postage expenses exceeding $200,000, these costs have significantly impacted the federation’s ability to invest in advocacy and other essential services for members.

To ensure a sustainable budget for 2025, the federation has opted to im-

Just to let you know,

and still

Tapawera Transport Services

Regular transport services operate as follows:

• Tuesdays: Tapawera to Richmond (via Kohatu, Wakefield). Departs Tapawera at 9:30 AM, returns from Richmond at 2:00 PM.

• Thursdays: Tapawera to Motueka (via Woodstock, Ngātīmoti, Motueka Airport). Departs Tapawera at 9:30 AM, returns from Motueka at 1:00 PM.

Fares are $6 each way, payable to the driver. To ensure your seat, pre-book at the Motueka i-SITE by calling 03 528 6543. The bus can stop at additional locations along the route by prior arrangement, provided it is safe to do so.

Keeping Communities Connected

portunity for a family day out on the Great Taste Trail. Ride one way and take the bus home! Seats and bike transport must be booked in advance via the Motueka i-SITE. Motueka i-SITE: 03 528 6543

plement this delivery fee.

Members who prefer not to pay the delivery fee can still access a free digital version of the magazine. To opt out of the printed copy, members can contact Nelson Grey Power or visit

The NTCTT is committed to keeping communities connected, reducing carbon emissions, and easing congestion on local roads.

For full details on bus stops and schedules, visit www.ntctt.org. nz.

the NZ Grey Power website at https:// greypowermag.co.nz/subscribe/ to receive the magazine via email.

Further details will be provided in the Quarter 1, 2025, edition of the Federation magazine.

Nelson Grey Power

Where to find us out & about

Grey Power volunteers and/or staff will be at the following venues in March and April so that members have an opportunity to pay their subscriptions somewhere more convenient with renewal due 31 March. New members will also be welcome to join at these places.

Tuesday 4 th March

Wednesday 5 th March

Thursday 13 th March

Saturday 15 th March

Tuesday 18 th March

Friday 21 st March

Wednesday 26 th March

Saturday 5 th April

Thursday 10 th April

Saturday 12 th April

Tuesday 15 th April

Nelson Public Library

Waimea Village - Hall

Richmond Mall

Grey Power Office

Oakwood’s Village

Ernest Rutherford

Richmond Summerset

Positive Ageing Expo

Richmond Mall

Grey Power Office

Stoke Summerset

NELSON GREY POWER ASSN INC.

Membership Form

10.00am - 12.30pm 2.30pm - 3.30pm 9.30am - 3.30pm 10.00am - 12.00

10.00am - 11.30 3.45pm - 4.45pm 10.30am - 11.30am 10.00am - 2.00pm 9.30am - 3.30pm 10.00am - 12.00 10.30pm - 11.30pm

Payment methods:

Visit Nelson Grey Power, 33 Putaitai St, Stoke (Eftpos available) or Post to PO Box 2190, Stoke, 7041. Internet Banking: 03 1709 0071804 001. Please use surname as reference and mark NEW if a new membership.

Subs can be left at Triton Hearing, 95 Bridge St, Nelson or McGlashen Pharmacy, Richmond.

Your details will not be given to any other organisation for the purpose of sending you promotional material.

All memberships expire 31 March.

Phone 547 2457 | Office hours 10am to 3pm | www.greypowernelson.org

An independently Incorporated Society serving people over the age of fifty

* Use of Nelson Grey Power discount book – which gives more than one hundred business discounts and is updated and republished biennially.

* Membership confers automatic free $2000 accidental death & dismemberment insurance.

* Provides an avenue for bringing concerns and ideas for improving welfare and wellbeing of older persons.

* Opportunity to meet with other members and socialise and form friendships.

* Access to a wide range of information brochures and education/learning opportunities.

* Opportunities to volunteer in the work of Nelson Grey Power.

To become a member visit greypowernelson.org.nz

10am - 3pm Ph: 03 547 2457

P. O. Box 2190 Stoke 7041 admin@greypowernelson.org.nz www.greypowernelson.org.nz

MEMBERSHIPS DUE FOR RENEWAL SOON - CAN BE DONE NOW

Memberships are due to be renewed 31 March but paying early before lapsing puts you in February and March Prize Draws and avoids the busy time, with all members being due on the same date. New members in February will get extra time on their membership until March 2026. We will be available in quite a few other places in March & April to make it more convenient for you to see us. Look for the out & about list.

A timely renewal helps you hold onto all the perks, including discounted rates on electricity through Grey Power Electricity. You will also find that businesses offering Grey Power discounts on products and services will withdraw any savings to you when they notice your membership has expired.

Grey Power members benefit from discounts at a range of local businesses with a new discount book out this year which you will receive once memberships are updated or gained.

We appreciate your support and look forward to helping you enjoy the full benefits of Nelson Grey Power.