Waimea Weekly - 1 May 2024

Waimea Weekly

Locally Owned and Operated

Wednesday 1 May 2024

Moutere’s upper and lower strength facility

GORDON

Nelson Obstacle Park in the Moutere Hills is climbing the walls and swinging into the growing world of competitive obstacle course racing in Aotearoa.

Personal trainer Julia Kelly and her builder partner Kevin Ford, who both live in Nelson, have transformed 104 hectares of bushland into a purpose-built obstacle park with 50 arduous obstacles over four courses ranging between 2.5 and 10km.

The couple have also revitalised the annual Wairua Warrior event at their Moutere Highway venue with the first under their ownership taking place in September last year, pulling in 540 international and domestic competitors. The event was previously owned by Greg and Donna Witika and held at Cable Bay Adventure Park, before the pair moved up north.

Julia says it took three months of “hard slog” and “sleepless nights” in May last year to construct the “only permanent [obstacle] park in New Zealand” with assistance from local donors and sponsors.

“It has got over 50 obstacles, we’ve got something called a Valkyrie,

it’s a great big scaffolding arch with hoops hanging off it and you go up and over with your hands,” she says.

“We’ve got a warrior ladder, which

is two ladders, huge wooden ones against each other, and the competitor has to use their hands to go up the inside, across the top, and come back down again.”

“To see all that finally come to

Julia says to go from bush to a dedicated obstacle course and a platform for a bustling local sports event was “absolutely amazing” for her and Kevin, who is also a globetrotting obstacle course competitor.

PREECE

Julia Kelly and Kevin Ford have unleashed their inner warrior by constructing a leading New Zealand obstacle course in the Moutere Hills. Photo: Gordon Preece.

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“The different characters I carry to school on the school bus.”

“The awesome people that I work with [at Gallagher Insurance], we’re under a lot of pressure but we have a lot of fun.”

Moutere’s upper and lower strength facility

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fruition was quite overwhelming, it was breathtaking, it was beautiful, and to be able to provide a service like that was incredible,” she says.

Julia says she and Kevin are also members of the New Zealand Obstacle Sport Association which arranges obstacle course athletes’ entries in major events like the OCR World Championships and the Olympics. She says a group of Nelsonians are currently training for the world champs in Costa Rica in August, including her partner, Cody Scott, Roydon Hawks, Gareth Moore and Nathan Edwards, and the park is a game-changer for them.

“A lot of these guys will be the ones that will be applying for the Olym-

pics,” she says.

“There’s a point system, each race gives you points, there are only four events annually in New Zealand, and we’ve got three of the points.

“The more points you get, the more likely you are to represent New Zealand and at some point the Olympics.”

Julia says the next Wairua Warrior event at the park will be held between 25 and 26 May.

Open days are also held at the park at the end of each month for anyone to unleash their inner warrior.

They also offer private bookings for individuals and groups throughout the year.

Visit www.nelsonobstaclepark.co.nz for more information and to register for the Wairua Warrior and individual and group use.

“The great team environment [at Harcourts Richmond], we’re all working together to get the same result which is the perfect result for our vendors.”

“I work for Nelson Building Society and I enjoy the people and the good we do for the community.”

GO NUTS FOR DONUTS: An abundance of sprinkles topped many icing cascades at the Smoking Barrell’s school holiday donut decorating day. It was the first time the Motueka café has held the event since Covid, and a stream of 260 children tried their hands at creating a circular masterpiece. Nova-Jane Te Heuheu, 3, was one of last Wednesday’s budding pastry chefs. Photo: Elise Vollweiler.

Anne Cox Stoke

Michael Lunt Hope

Bernadine Knight Hope

Steve Thomas Māpua

Hill St parking blues

ANNE HARDIE

Shelley Hand doesn’t know how her 80-year-old mother will visit the family and grandkids now that the car parking space has been removed outside their Hill Street home. The flat entrance at the front of the property was the only way her mother could access Shelley’s home and likewise, the family’s other grandmother has emphysema which makes it difficult to negotiate the steps at the back of the property.

Shelley also runs a small homebased business and customers used the carpark to approach the front door.

“That little parking spot was important for us. It’s part of the reason we bought this house.”

The house sits on the corner of Hill St and an adjoining street, so has access at the rear of the property via a right of way, but she says there is no parking available there and visitors have to walk up steps to enter the house. Hill St is undergoing its revamp for the Richmond Streets for People programme that adds cycle lanes, and in the case of Hill St, introduces a 30 kmh zone.

The project between Champion Rd and Queen St follows the programme’s other projects in William and Queen Sts which has stirred a community debate on cycle lanes, parking spaces and speed.

Council’s communication officer, Tim O’Connell, says Streets for People is trialling a new way of delivering projects, focused on testing and adapting, based on community feedback. The Government-funded project fits the aim of the council’s Walking and Cycling Strategy that revolved around the need to do something about growing traffic congestion and safety for all road users in the urban environment. It is also part of the goal to reduce carbon emissions as transport produces 47 per cent of New Zealand’s CO2.

“Our target is to double the number of trips made by walking and cycling to work and school in our urban areas by 2030 and triple them by 2050.”

So far, Shelley is not impressed, and says the changes have made a lot of people angry. As well as losing the carpark outside their home, she says the stop sign on Templemore Drive is now set so far back to allow for the cycle lane on Hill St that there is no visibility and cars have to illegally edge out into the cycle lane to see traffic approaching. She saw a courier parked in the cycle lane one day because there was nowhere to park and says cars turning right off Hill St into streets such as William St have to sit in the middle of the road now because there is no longer a turning lane.

“It’s quite frustrating and disappointing. The side streets are quite congested now with cars parking. You’re only going to move cars to other streets which is dangerous for cyclists, too. Surely it could have been done in a better way.”

The council is seeking feedback on the changes and Shelley says she given her feedback on Champion Rd and will be doing the same for Hill St, though she says it seems a bit belated when the work has been done.

“Don’t ask for permission, just ask for forgiveness.”

So far, Tim says there has been a range of feedback on William St and though some of it criticised the pedestrian crossing close to Hill St, there have also been numerous positive comments, especially from parents thankful for raised crossings slowing the traffic. A wheelchair user also praised the raised crossings which made crossing the road safer and easier, helping to make Richmond “100 times more accessible for wheelchair users than Nelson”. They wanted to see more raised crossings to improve accessibility for everyone. “Human nature is to take the shortest route and good road design accounts for human nature.”

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Small Yet Mighty amp

Hill St is the latest to lose carparks as Richmond is made more bike-friendly.

Photo: Anne Hardie.

Rush hour on the buses

ANNE HARDIE

The morning rush hour on the buses between Richmond and Nelson is so busy that there are now six buses leaving Richmond in less than an hour every weekday morning.

Two of those morning buses between 7.45am and 8.30am are overflow buses to cater for the number of people wanting to take the bus, including numerous school students.

Nelson City Council group manager infrastructure, Alec Louverdis, says two overflow buses head out of Richmond’s interchange in the morning during the week and one overflow bus heads back at 3.15pm.

A second overflow bus may be added in the afternoon soon.

In March, Route 1, which is the busiest route between Rich-

mond and Nelson, recorded 32,099 passenger journeys, with an additional 3,573 on the overflow bus that follows Route 1. Route 2, that is also between Richmond and Nelson, recorded 28,726 passengers.

The Joint Nelson Tasman Regional Transport Committee has revealed the overflow buses are costing $10,000 a month which is part of the new eBus service overspend of more than $1 million. But it was argued that stopping the service would leave people on the side of the road.

Meanwhile, it has been standing room only for some passengers on the busy routes and Alec says New Zealand public transport rules allow for that.

He says, the rules recognise that urban buses do not have seatbelts and it allows standing

passengers.

The Foton buses that make up the majority of the eBus fleet can seat 40 with 17 standing, meaning each bus at capacity can carry 57 passengers. At peak times, which are the morning commute and afternoon buses, he says the buses are regularly full to capacity with passengers sitting and standing.

“We want to remind all passengers of the best practice for peak-time travel. Please don’t put bags on seats, and if someone boards that may need a seat more than you do, please consider giving them your seat.”

Thirteen new bus shelters have been recently rolled out across Nelson, Stoke and Atawhai. In Tasman, a bus shelter is going up on Wallace St in Motueka, with more shelters planned and included in the budget.

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Not so daft craft at Māpua Makers

GORDON PREECE

Around $3000 was raised at Sunday’s Māpua Hall Makers Market which will help keep the hall in operation.

The event, which drew in 31 crafty stallholders from Nelson Tasman to sell their handmade wares, was to raise funds for the upkeep of the community hall on the town’s main street, and to pay the salary for the hall’s coordinator.

Māpua Hall committee secretary Hilary Clifton says the vibe was “gorgeous” and “vibrant”.

“It’s just magical, and of course all the makers bring that extra vibe, they’re all lovely, community-minded people who enjoy being able to market their product,” she says.

“We have to spend huge amounts of money to keep it running, the insurance alone last year was somewhere near $23,000,

and we’ve now got bits that need redoing.

“It was refurbished in 2013 and it’s starting to age a little bit… the back deck needs replacing, and it will cost $70,000 to be replaced, we’ve got a ceiling problem in one of the side rooms, and the Bill Marris room needs urgent work,” she says.

Hilary says it costs approximately $85,000 per annum to keep the hall operating.

“Roughly 50 per cent of that amount comes from venue and equipment hire, the balance is raised by fundraising which includes the Māpua Hall Makers Market held three times each year,” she says.

“We aim to raise between $2000 and $3000 at each market event, needless to say, we are incredibly grateful to our makers and our wonderful community as well as

Overflow buses have been added to cater for peak periods. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Māpua Hall committee deputy chair, Jan Heijs, left, and secretary, Hilary Clifton Photo: Gordon Preece.

Lotto win in Richmond

Twenty lucky Lotto players will be in for a treat after each winning $13,549 with Lotto Second Division in Saturday’s Lotto draw. One ticket was sold at Pak N Save Richmond. One lucky player also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $31,774. The winning Powerball Second Division ticket was sold on MyLotto to a player from Taranaki.

New reserve for Berryfields

The development of Ascot Reserve, a 2770 square metre reserve located between Ascot and Bedfont Streets in the Berryfields subdivision, is set to begin in early May. The new park will have a swing, slide, rock scramble and bench seats, as well as fruit and feature trees. Tasman District

Council sought feedback from residents on what they would like to see in the new space back in January.

‘Four Rivers Flow Zone’ opens

Murchison’s new pump track officially opened last weekend, and its official name was revealed. In a nod to the Matakitaki, Buller, Mangles and Matiri waterways that run through or near the Murchison township, the Four Rivers Flow Zone has been chosen from a plethora of suggestions as the name for the track, located beside the Murchison Sport, Recreation and Cultural Centre. People from Christchurch, Rai Valley and Motueka came to celebrate and try out the new track, which started construction at the beginning of the year.

Elation as spotted kiwi sighted in Golden Bay

A conservation worker reviewing camera footage for feral pigs in Golden Bay did a “triple take” when a great spotted kiwi appeared on his screen.

“I was a little bit shocked whenafter passing through a few hundreds of images of pigs and stoats and rats - a kiwi popped out.”

Bert Harris said the discovery of

the distinctive bird, clearly visible in footage taken near Pūponga in Golden Bay, blew his mind given the closest known population of kiwi were some distance away in the Kahurangi National Park. Bert is a field officer for Pest Free Onetahua, a pest eradication project that covers Farewell Spit (Onetahua) and the land south

to Whanganui Inlet, including the Kaihoka Scenic Reserve and Pakawau Forest. He had set up a network of cameras around the base of Farewell Spit to gauge the size of the feral pig population, ahead of a planned hunt to finally eradicate them from the spit itself. The footage mainly captured pest species and the odd blackbird or

thrush. Weka were sometimes seen moving through the area, and a lone fernbird (mātātā) had been detected, along with some little penguins (kororā) burrows, but this was the first time a kiwi had been spotted.

A stoat was detected by the same camera three minutes after the kiwi was seen, sniffing around

where it had been.

“There might be a local resident population of kiwi; that’s probably the most optimistic take on it,” he says. “God knows where it came from but if it has spread out from a local population then it’s vulnerable, probably young and it is not just stoats out there, wild cats show up quite regularly.”

While the Saturday morning cold was too much for some, a smaller than expected but more dedicated crew of paddlers like Glenn Hardinge and his dog David Snr came out for the annual Pooch Paddle on the Maitai River. Photo: Jack Malcolm.

Local hospo helps Jenna fulfill her dream

ANNE HARDIE

Jenna Kersten’s favourite job at The Grape Escape Café is stamping the napkins with its grape-inspired logo, and at some stage sitting down to a cup of jasmine tea. Every Sunday at 4pm she joins the team at the café to help clean up, polish cutlery, stamp the napkins and fold them into triangles.

Come Monday morning, she heads to her second job at McCashin’s Tap Room in Stoke where she can be doing anything from folding napkins to wiping down tables and chairs.

For Jenna, who lives with autism and an intellectual learning disability, her jobs help fulfil her need to be a productive staff member and part of the wider community, and it works both ways. She has been employed at The Grape Escape Café for two years on Mother’s Day after her sister, Amber Healey, told the café’s owners Brad and Nikki Deane that Jenna had always wanted to work there.

“They heard that it was Jenna’s dream to work at the Grape Escape and their response was, ‘well, let’s make it happen’.”

From there, the Deans worked with family to identify tasks that Jenna would enjoy and be capable of successfully accomplishing.

Amber says Jenna’s autism is in

Noise complaints decrease

There have been less noise complaints during the past six months, but the drop is not “significant enough to pat ourselves on the back just yet”, according to Tasman District Council regulatory manager, Shane Bruyns. During the six months from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2024 there were 515 noise complaints made compared to 537

essence, anxiety, which can be debilitating at times and make group gatherings a struggle as well as leaving the security of her home. Too much stimulation can result in anxiety outbursts, and it can be prompted by group laughter, background music or just too much noise. For that reason, her job at the café begins when the doors close for the day but there

for the same time the year prior.

Of these, 434 were for music or parties, with another 49 for machinery noise. The ongoing issues with gunfire noise in Golden Downs continue to take up council time and resource, Shane said in a report to council last week. This is despite both clubs putting in “significant effort” to reduce noise levels from shooting. The main issue to resolve is around scheduling and reducing the fre-

is still the job of cleaning up, and Nikki says staff will often leave some dishes on tables just so Jenna can pick them up and be an important member of the team.

“The café has known Jenna for a long time,” Nikki says. “She’s a lovely, gentle person and if we can help her towards her dream, it’s great. She feels like she is participating, and she is part of the

quency of shooting, which is still up to five days per week.

Cameras deter illegal dumping

TDC regulatory manager, Shane Bruyns says council has had no increase in illegal dumping during the past six months. Shane said, in a report to council last week, that the use of covert cameras at several locations seems

Further blow to Rocks Road

It’s becoming clear to everyone now that the National Government has no intention of funding the much-needed upgrade to Rocks Road. The project wasn’t mentioned once in NZTA’s recently released State Highway Investment Proposal that outlines investment planned for state highways across the country for the next decade.

Rocks Rd is in bad shape. We have a state highway that closes during severe weather and the Government has dropped the project to upgrade the road - it’s outrageous.

Rocks Rd is a priority for our entire region – the project has support from the Joint Nelson Tasman Regional Transport Committee. It’s clear that our communities across the region agree that something needs to be done to fix Rocks Rd.

That’s why Labour in government listened to our regional leaders and made Rocks Rd a priority, alongside the Hope Bypass. I am also very concerned that the consenting and building of the Hope Bypass will be delayed by the National Government.

My thanks to those who came along to our public meeting at the Boathouse last Tuesday. Please visit my office or my Facebook page to sign my petition. Together, we can get Rocks Rd back on the Government’s agenda.

team.”

“The team always say hello to her when she arrives,” Brad says. “They force her to say goodbye because she is sometimes in a bad mood! I like winding her up and she has a giggle.”

He says, employing Jenna helps normalise autism and others with challenges which is good for the whole team, while Jenna has a

to have deterred many would-be dumpers. Over the period, only four infringement notices were issued to people who dumped waste on public land, the same as in the 2023 period. The cameras are still being used and are moved to new and potential hotspots.

Freedom campers make return

Freedom camping numbers are

role she enjoys. Plus, there is the jasmine tea.

“She always has jasmine tea in a green cup. It’s the only reason we have jasmine tea!”

“She’s wonderful,” Nikki adds. “It’s a nice, regular part of her routine and she looks forward to it every week.”

On Monday morning, once she has been coaxed her out of the security of her home, she heads to McCashin’s Tap Room with her support person, where Deborah and Colin Lott offer her a handful of jobs to choose between each week. It’s closed on a Monday, so a quiet atmosphere for Jenna to work, though Deborah says there are always people around, which is also good.

“It’s a feel-good factor for everyone in the brewery to be helping her and she’s invaluable to us now.

“You forget that there’s lots of jobs that can be done when we’re closed and that works for Jenna.”

Amber says Jenna’s workdays are the highlight of her week, even when it is at times challenging to get out the front door of her home.

“She walks away from her shifts at both workplaces beaming and proud as punch.”

April was Autism Acceptance Month to raise acceptance and promote inclusion and connectedness for people with autism.

steadily increasing across Tasman and moving towards pre-Covid numbers, council’s Environment and Regulatory Committee was told last week. In the six months to 31 March 2024, 75 freedom camping complaints were made and 35 infringements were issued. The Government has introduced new legislation which amended the Freedom Camping Act. Fines have increased and the range of offences broadened.

Jenna Kersten, centre, is an important part of Brad and Nikki Deane’s team at The Grape Escape Café. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Lack of funds make being charitable harder

ANNE HARDIE

Fundraising is becoming harder for charities and nonprofit groups such as Helping Families Nelson, at a time when the need for them is increasing, says its founder Kristy Rowe.

She says those funding organisations do not have as much money as in the past, nor the public, and it is becoming more and more of an issue across the nonprofit sector.

“There’s less money to go around and more people needing it. In the past you might have applied for $40,000 and got it. Now, if you can get $5,000 to $10,000, you’re doing really well.”

Kristy says the charity is not Government funded and can “run pretty tight” if it has to, which it has done for the past few weeks. But it just becomes harder. As times get tougher for charities and nonprofit groups, Kristy says those groups need to work together more and there is a local group working on how that might work.

Donated goods that have to be carted away as rubbish is also a considerable cost and she says there are more goods coming in than in the past, but often poorer condition. Plus, there is the occasional person who uses the charity as a dumping ground for rubbish.

Among new fundraising initiatives, the charity is encouraging people to collect aluminium cans to recycle, because “everything counts”.

Another is increasing orders for Hapori Fruit & Veg Box as it receives $1.75 for every order. It has also set up donation boxes around town in places people are more likely to use cash. The charity is encouraging people in the community to set up regular contributions via their bank and the team has started attending markets with books to sell.

“I think charities or non-profits need to talk to each other more. There’re people who have great ideas but there might be something else similar going on in their centre where they could work together, instead of reinventing the wheel.”

“Filling in grant applications can take days and then to be turned down is really disheartening.”

She would like to see a go-to centre for groups to seek help with governance, writing grants, legal work and simply support.

Like many charities and nonprofit groups, she says Helping Families Nelson is having to work harder to find ways to bring in

money as funding decreases. She is the only paid employee to run the charity which takes donated clothing and essentials and distributes it to those needing a helping hand, while a team of volunteers work alongside her.

Last year the charity held its first book fair in the Hope Hall which raised $3,500 and Kirsty says they will repeat that in September and plan to make it an annual event. “You have to think outside the box. We’re also starting to ask for koha when people take goods. It all adds up – a gold coin per bag or whatever people can afford.”

Helping Families founder Kristy Rowe says it is getting harder to fundraise.

Photo: Anne Hardie.

Full steam ahead for Nelson show

ANNE HARDIE

Canterbury’s A&P Show has been canned this year, but it’s full steam ahead for Nelson’s 130th show in November, and despite changing times it is still one of the largest events in the region.

Richmond Park manager and show secretary, Annette Robinson, has held the job for 16 years and knows that nothing stays the same, and for the show to survive it has had to continually adapt with the times.

The park is owned by the Nelson A&P Association and its 300-orso members are its owners, with a small team employed to run the park and show. Revenue streams are sought from numerous groups that use land and buildings through the year, including visiting motor homes, then the big event in November.

“There are still A&P associations around the country that own their grounds and they all have to diversify for survival.”

Annette says the Nelson A&P Show still attracts 10,000 to 11,000 people through the gates over two days and, combined with its various revenue streams, the association is now at a point it can begin working on maintenance that has been shelved until now. Such as the ageing plumbing and updating the stately Washbourn Gate that has stood at the main entrance for much of its

history. The new gateway will be wider to meet health and safety requirements and Annette says the design will copy the original, while two of the elderly concrete pillars and heavy gates will be resurrected within the park where it leads to the Otterson Woodlands. When it comes to the show, there is a certain amount of psychology needed to work out even the layout of trade exhibitions and food

because these days, she says, the public walk less, don’t look outside their field of vision as much and as always, gravitate towards the food. Even the food on offer keeps changing to appeal to changing tastes, she says.

“The types of businesses coming here is changing. A lot of it is when groups come and present themselves and you think you can adapt and put them somewhere. I

never go and hunt for people because you can waste a lot of time and if people are interested, then they come to us.

“Every year you have to review what you are doing. Is something a waste of money and what can we do to change that?

Some things have stood the test of time and continue to be firm favourites that attract crowds, including the shearing, woodchop-

ping and of course, the animal nursery and terrier racing.

“Terrier racing is hilarious at times. One year there was a family of terriers – one shot off in one direction, one had a pee against the fence and another tore off after someone else.”

Since the show’s beginnings, she is aware of only one year that was missed and that was during World War 1. Through Covid-19, the association ran a competitor’s show but it was closed to the public. It cost just as much to run, Annette says, but without gate sales. Just before the pandemic, the association published From the Country to the Town, which traces the shows’ history through the changing times.

“There isn’t a lot of history books on Richmond and we have been a big part of the scene. In the early days, the show was based around livestock and they would bring their animals in for potential purchasers. It was the big event for the year back then. Now, with the internet to purchase animals, you don’t need to bring your animals to the show.

“We’re more citified now and you’ve got to review it every year. Now, we’re competing all the time with other events like the Christmas market.”

Location wise, Annette says Richmond Park couldn’t be better for the show and events, which bodes well for the future of the show.

Combining a dual passion to provide outstanding local services

workplace, Kath’s melodic renditions promise to enchant audiences. For bookings and inquiries, contact Kath via email at kathmaymusic@ gmail.com.

The entrepreneurial spirit shines brightly through local business owner Kath Pringle, who is embarking on an exciting new journey by launching two distinct business endeavours. With a recent milestone birthday marking the beginning of a new chapter, Kath introduces Phoenix Housekeeping (PH) and Kath May Music (KMM) to her community. Born and raised in Nelson, Kath says one venture showcases her meticulous attention to detail and love for cleaning while the other combines her experience in the music industry with her talent for the creative. Having been part of the band 2 Tribes in the late 90s and early 2000s and serving as a company director for Event Audio, a local sound system company, Kath brings a unique blend of experience to her new ventures. “I am excited to be combining my love of cleaning and keeping people’s homes clean with that of loving the songs of Fleetwood Mac and Steve Nicks.”

Kath May Music: Offering a unique twist on the traditional ‘Singing Telegram’ concept, Kath specialises in the timeless tunes of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks. As a singer-songwriter and worship leader, Kath’s performances on the keyboard add a touch of magic to any occasion. Whether it’s a birthday celebration, wedding ceremony, or a surprise performance at the

Phoenix Housekeeping: On the domestic front, Kath promises to elevate the standard of cleanliness and care in Nelson’s luxury homes and Airbnb’s. Utilising her expertise as an Administration Officer and Health and Safety Officer for the Nelson Tasman District of the Department of Corrections, Kath ensures the highest level of confidentiality and trust in her housekeeping services. Fully police-vetted and committed to honesty and integrity, Kath’s attention to detail transforms every space she touches. “I am fully police vetted and I bring this same level of honesty and integrity to my role as a housekeeper within a client’s property.” Specialising in large luxury homes and Airbnbs, Phoenix Housekeeping offers comprehensive cleaning services tailored to meet every client’s needs. For inquiries and pricing details, reach out to Kath via email at phoenixhousekeepingnz@gmail.com.

For those eager to experience the magic of Kath May Music or the pristine cleanliness of Phoenix Housekeeping, contact Kath directly at 021 615 593.

Richmond Park manager Annette Robinson says part of the gates will be resurrected within the grounds. Photo: Anne Hardie.

More dogs, more infringements for Tasman

SARA HOLLYMAN

Dog registrations in the Tasman District have increased, with 105 more dogs registered compared with last year.

But it may not mean more fourlegged friends, with the increase paired with a sharp rise in the number of infringements issued, mainly for failing to register a dog.

There are now 12,527 registered dogs in the district, compared with 12,422 the previous year.

But Tasman District Council dished out 139 infringement notices during the six months from 1 October 2023 and 31

March 2024 compared with just 35 during the same time last year.

Of these, 102 were for failing to register a dog, 23 for failing to keep a dog controlled or contained, three for failing to comply with a classification and two for failure or refusal to comply with a bylaw.

No infringements were issued for failing to microchip, compared with four the previous year. TDC say targeted enforcement has kept the numbers of unregistered dogs low.

The number of dangerous and menacing dogs has also slightly increased.

There are now 36 dogs classed as ‘dangerous’ and 91 classed as ‘menacing’.

A report presented to TDC’s Environment and Regulatory Committee last week said that the increase may be a combination of the increase in the number of dogs to the region and those dogs potentially being closer together in urban environments.

More than 200 barking complaints were received during the six month period but a “significant portion” of those came from a relatively small number of complainants, the report said.

Maths course free for Weekly readers

Top South Media has teamed up with Boost Your Learning, a fast growing Nelson-based business specialising in one-to-one tuition for students from Primary to NCEA.

The reader offer is designed to provide some essential online support for Year 10 and 11 students taking their Numeracy CAA at NCEA Level 1 at the end of May. The online course normally costs $100 but is being offered free to student readers of Nelson Weekly.

Andrew Board, publisher of Nelson Weekly, welcomed the initiative.

“We are pleased to be able to offer our readers this opportunity to help students for whom this year’s NCEA Level 1 Maths exam is fast approaching. While their interactive course is available elsewhere in New Zealand for $100, it is good to be working with a local business that is clearly an innovator in developing one-to-one tutorials and keen

to give free online support to encourage, complement and reinforce this region’s mainstream educational sector.”

Boost your Learning’s founder and managing director, Amy Johnson added, “Although we only started the business less than three years ago, we have seen outstanding and transformational results from our one-to-one tuition, which is provided by an expanding team of highly experienced and committed teachers. Therefore, creating an online course to cover all the content and skills required to gain basic numeracy skills to pass the CAA was a natural and logical step. We wanted to extend our support to local families through this offer equipping students with the numeracy skills they need to thrive in their exam, while nurturing an enjoyment of mathematics”. With numeracy failure rates at more than 40 per cent nationally, this interactive online opportunity is now freely available to all

local families with students preparing for this important exam. There are four modules in the course: Number, Geometry, Measurement and Statistics. Students taking the course will learn key content and skills in areas such as percentages, ratios, calculator technique, angles, volume and statistical interpretation. Each module is split into a series of five minute lessons with an experienced teacher. Along with an interactive quiz, instant feedback, follow-up work and handy downloadables the total package is cleverly designed to build NCEA Numeracy skills. The tutorials are fully interactive, easy to understand and will help students feel more confident and supported as they prepare for the NCEA exam.

To take advantage of the reader offer, visit www.boostyourlearning.co.nz/courses before May 10 and use the promo code ‘TOP BOOST’

Tasman’s Fergus is just one of more than 12,000 dogs registered in the district. Photo: Supplied.

Jess

Sally-Anne

Local History

Charles Kelling - supporter of Waimea’s settlers

ROBYN PARKES

Carl Friederich Christian Kelling, known later as Charles, was born at Klutz in the grand duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, on 21 June 1818 to Johann Kelling and Louise, nee Harms.

Charles and his brother Johann Frederich August (Fedor), along with Johann Benoit, were appointed as agents by Count Rantzau to manage his lands in Nelson. The brothers, along with 140 immigrants, left Hamburg on board the ship Skoild in April 1844 and arrived in Nelson in September.

Once in Nelson, both Charles and Fedor acted as colonising agents in connection with the settling of Germans in the Waimeas and Upper Moutere, the three villages being known as Ranzau, Sarau and Neudorf. Unfortunately, the timing of their arrival was not good with the collapse of the New Zealand Company. Charles

and Fedor were hard-working men and supported the German settlers through this period. The brothers took up land at Waimea East, later called Ranzau, and began to work their land where they soon planted crops, fruit trees and other produce. In 1850 Charles married Anna Buschl, daughter of Michael and Maria Buschl. Anna was born in Bavaria in 1832 and immigrated to Nelson via the ship St Pauli with her parents. Her father purchased land in the Wairoa Valley and was one of the settlers who petitioned the Provincial Council to assist in opening up a road at the easterly branch of the Wairoa River. This request was referred on to a select committee.

Around 1856, Charles and Anna moved from Ranzau to Sarau where they lived a full and busy life. In total the couple had 12 children, four daughters and eight sons. Charles became a prom-

inent man in the district with his many public roles. He was a member of the first committee for the Moutere Educational District, served on the Moutere Road Board, was elected to the Nelson Provincial Council as a member for Moutere from 1862 to 1869

and for Waimea West from 1869 to 1873 and became a Justice of the Peace in 1867. He was also appointed a trustee of the public cemeteries in Moutere and Riwaka along with Messrs William Cook, William Drummond, William Best and C. Bensemann in

1864, and in November the same year he laid the foundation stone for the Lutheran Church at Sarau. In seeking election onto Nelson Provincial Council, Charles attended many political meetings where he was asked his opinions on a range of topics. At one such meeting he was asked - ‘do you approve of giving pensions or retiring allowances to Government officials?’ His answer was an emphatic ‘NO’, explaining that officials should provide for their old age out of their own income as they were a class that was generally well and regularly paid. In early 1898 Charles contracted influenza, and although he recovered was left in a weakened state and never recovered his strength. He and Anna sold their property around June 1898 and moved to Wakefield. Charles died six months later on 28 December and was buried in Upper Moutere. Anna lived for another 33 years.

Headstone of Charles and Anna Kelling. Photo: Supplied.

Forestry woes cause domino effect

Why export whole logs to China and rely on them when we should be cutting the timber in our own sawmills in our own country for cheaper housing.

Kyle Hedley

$36k for managing estate a ‘farce’

If you get a “free” will, be prepared to lose plenty when your family inherit! We have experienced this firsthand, and it cost the deceased’s wife heaps! They had a very simple Will to administer but overlooked transferring the family house into the widow’s name in the first year. When she rang to ask what was taking so long, they just said it had been overlooked but they charged thousands for the year’s work that hadn’t been done! There’s a charge per year so they let it go well into the second. There’s a lot more to this story but our advice is don’t use them. If you don’t have much, or know your executor is capable, you can do a will yourself, but you must make sure you get it right.

Lyn Timms

Had dealings with an ex-senior manager of that outfit in another Southern district. Seems to be a prerequisite of their upper structure. Keep at them, Steve.

Dave Roberts

How very sad.. When people are going through one of the hardest times in their lives, losing a loved one.

Upcoming events

Willow Bank Heritage Village – Open Day

Sunday, 5 May, 10-3pm Willow Bank Heritage Village Childrens suitcase market, barter and sell market, Victorian school experience, cinema experience, dress up and look the part, Victorian fair, and lots more. $7 per adult / $3 per child. Eftpos available

2024 Hockey Open Day

Saturday, 4 May, 10:30 – 12:30 Saxton Field

FREE Event. Sticks/balls/bibs will be provided. Free sausages & drinks, Fun games/basics skills. For information please contact Daniel Hobbs: rdm@ nelsonhockey.org.nz

Danni Bett

Sorry to hear that Steve about your mum, but absolutely not cool to be robbing people that are not clued up on the end process. Shame on you Public Trust.

Keri Williams

They were talking about this on the radio a couple of weeks ago. Same thing, the Public Trust totally ripping a family off. Sadly some people wouldn’t even realise they were being ripped off.

Ruth McLaren

Former Fonterra site goes up for lease

There you go Council, go demolish that, there’s plenty of room for housing.

Marion

Maxwell

Grand master aims to trump world’s best

Doesn’t matter what it is in life, if you love it you’ll succeed. This guy’s the man.

Ruby Bay Store Presents –The Nile Street Project

Saturday, 4 May, 7pm Ruby Bay Store, Theatre, Gallery, Tearooms

The Nile Street Project are producing lushly harmonic and sonorous modern classical atmospheres with their interpretations of contemporary compositions from around the world. Tickets from https://rubybaystore.co.nz/

Making the Wakefield hub happen

ANNE HARDIE

The trust behind the proposed Wakefield Community Hub wants to talk with the community about the location for the proposed hub and what facilities it needs to house.

Waimea South Community Facilities trustee, Peter Verstappen, says the old town hall is no longer fit for purpose for the growing population around the village and the trust has been working hard at securing a new community hub in the Tasman District Council’s 10-year plan.

“Once it is secured in the plan, then we can really get on with working with our partners – the council and community – to get the design and location.”

At this stage, he says the proposed hub could be built on the Wakefield Recreation Reserve between the existing sport clubs and Baigent Reserve, though that is yet to be decided, while the council’s plan currently has the facility tagged for 2026.

The council has costed a Wakefield Community Hub and the refurbishment of the existing Brightwater facilities to be in the vicinity of $13 million.

While the council will fund the largest chunk of the cost, Peter says the combined communities

will still have to fundraise about $3 million.

“We recognise our two commu-

nities are very close and already share a lot of facilities. One of the reasons we are working together

is to make sure we aren’t duplicating anything.”

He says the trust will be applying for grants once plans are definite, plus approaching their communities and local businesses to raise funds.

“We think it’s a big ask and obviously people are really stretched at the moment in the community.

“Our group’s take is a new community hub in Wakefield is not a nice have - it’s a must have.

If in a few years we don’t have a community facility in Wakefield, then it would be a travesty.”

The next step now is discussing plans with the community, including location, facilities and the type of activities locals want at their community hub.

Other requested facilities in the council’s 10-year-plan include a community hub for Tapawera that would replace the current community centre and bring several services together under one roof, the Motueka Swimming Pool, and an extension to the Murchison Sport, Recreation and Cultural Centre.

A public meeting will be held in the Wakefield Village Hall on 15 May at 7pm to kick off discussions.

Waimea South Community Facilities trustees Jenny Lines, left, Peter Verstappen, and Charlotte Thynne are getting the message out to have a say on the hub. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Dear diary, here’s to the 7-day weekend

Love the choice.

Retirement can be blissfully laid back, or it can be wonderfully unretiring and active.

At Summerset, it’s your choice. From day to day, you have the freedom to pursue all your passions and hobbies, or just find a place to relax. All set within a secure, warm and friendly community. Love the life you choose.

Relaxed retirement living right in the heart of Richmond

Summerset Richmond Ranges is a modern, established retirement village offering a relaxing and low-maintenance lifestyle, resort-style facilities, and a renowned continuum of care (subject to availability). All safe and secure within our fully gated community.

There are a range of brand-new two and three-bedroom villas available now.*

Pop along to one of our upcoming Open Days and see for yourself why our residents love the Summerset life.

Open Days

Every Tuesday in May 10am - 2pm

Summerset Richmond Ranges 1 Hill Street North, Richmond 03 744 3432 | summerset.co.nz/richmond

And with our Moving Made Easy Offer# there’s never been a better time. Including $2,000 towards your legal fees, a complimentary moving package provided by Smart Express, and a six-month weekly fee waiver. Simply sign a sales contract for a selected home between 20 March 2024 and 30 June 2024, settle by 30 September 2024,* and you could be living the Summerset life sooner than you think.

Love the life you choose.

Nelson Suburbs Football Club

2024 Home Matches at Saxton field

Saturday 18th May 12pm vs Cashmere Technical Away game

Sunday 26th May 2pm vs Selwyn Home game

HIGH LEVEL WOMEN’S BACK FOR

Nelson Suburbs Football Club is bringing high level women’s football to the Nelson/ Tasman region again for 2024 and are currently playing a round of games in the South Island Qualifying League. The girl’s have two more games left against Cashmere Technical and Selwyn, in order to secure qualification into the South Island League. The team was formed at the start of the 2023 season.

A huge amount of work has gone in behind the scenes to get the team ready again this season. The club has appointed head coach Neil Harding and assistant coach Phill Platt. Neil and Phill have worked hard to build a squad that plays attractive football.

Club director of football Ryan Stewart says the club is proud of the football pathway it has created for female players, “The pathway ensures long term sustainability and that there is a flow of players from junior, youth, academy and reserves so the club’s and region’s talented players get an opportunity to test themselves against some of the country’s top teams.”

Post Qualifying round draw TBC PHILL PLATT COACH

WOMEN’S

FOOTBALL FOR 2024

Neil Harding says “the coaches have been impressed with the players attitude, dedication and hard work at trainings and these qualities have helped with match day performances, where we have competed well against good quality opposition”.

Club manager Phil Williams also added “The formation of the Women’s 1st team would not have been possible without the amazing support of our sponsors. Phil Smith of Golden Bay Football Club has personally sponsored the team as principal sponsor and asked for Hope is my Homeboy, a mental health charity, to feature on the front of the playing shirts. Fusion Plumbing and Solar, O2B Healthy and Spark Business Hub Tasman are gold sponsors and Miki D’s Gym and GRACO car seats are also on board as silver sponsors. Along with our team sponsors we would also like to thank all our amazing player sponsors. The support for the team has been fantastic.”

The team plays its final SIQL home game against Selwyn on Sunday 26th May.

GISELLE RYNVOS

LARA TUTTY

GABBY WALTON

Phil & Savannah Smith

Empowering menopausal women in our community

ELOISE MARTYN

Richmond-based Liz van Beek is about to launch an in-person series to empower women to be proactive and self-supporting through the many stages of menopause.

Around the age of 40, Liz started to experience a lot of physical pain and discomfort.

She put it down to her intrepid past of 20 years in adventure tourism, carrying heavy packs and jumping rivers.

However, when she returned home to New Zealand, she realised her symptoms were related to menopause.

So, she took control and embarked on a journey of healing which she is now keen to share with other women through sessions titled ‘Too Hot to Handle’.

“It was a horrible timementally challenging and debilitating for around three years. I had stopped running, it

was that painful,” Liz explains.

Liz began to study and trained under Wendy Sweet, a woman with a swag of experience in nursing, physical education, and fitness training and a menopause expert who has guided women worldwide through ‘the change’.

“I found that small changes brought huge results - things like helping your body by eating less processed food, clean foods, getting back to basics and combining small changes with holistic health modalities that you can do on yourself,” Liz says.

Inspired by the simplicity and vast improvements, Liz has dedicated herself to working professionally in the holistic health field for the past 12 years.

It is this work that she says has given her experience and knowledge that she is keen to share with other women to enable them to support themselves through the many stages of

what’s been labelled as ‘the change’.

“It’s so easy to do these things for yourself once you know how and what to do,”

Liz adds.

Starting this month, Liz is welcoming women to weekly ‘Too Hot to Handle’ sessions rotating between Motueka Library and the Nelson Women’s Centre, to come together and work as a community to support women to examine what’s happening for them mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, to enable them to be proactive and self-supporting.

“Sure, we will have information to hand out, but the sessions will be mainly conversation-based and focused on sharing experiences,” Liz says.

Koha (donation) at sessions towards venue hire cost is appreciated.

Anyone interested in connecting can email Liz at info@natureseffusion.com

Liz van Beek is getting ready to share her menopausal journey with other local women to enable them to support themselves though the many stages of ‘the change’. Photo: Supplied.

Earth Day clean-up for Waimea Inlet

SUPPLIED CONTENT

A community clean-up along Waimea Inlet to celebrate Earth Day kicked off a new partnership between the local Airbnb community and the Great Taste Trail at the weekend.

Top of the South Airbnb Host Community leaders Ellie Hoddinott and Basia Mackenzie say it was an opportunity to celebrate Earth Day, but also demonstrate the group’s commitment to its environmental responsibility as well as its support for regional tourism activities.

“The event was such a success and we ended up filling five big black bags of rubbish. For a place that looked like it was quite clean, it was surprising and a little sad to see how much we collected.

The general feedback was very positive and we all found it to be a very therapeutic and satisfying experience,” Ellie says.

Trail manager Belinda Crisp says the trust is keen to get more people looking after the trail.

A recent survey showed that 89 per cent of Great Taste Trail users are local and she says it is an especially valuable resource for older people, with more than three-quarters of local users old-

er than 50.

She says the trail is “a connector to people, places and activities and has made it easier for people to explore Tasman on two wheels”, with loops and numerous access points providing opportunities for half, full or even multi-day rides.

“I am all about creating great cycle trails for our communities and I get excited when I see

partnerships with iwi, schools, businesses, Rotary, landowners and volunteers. Environmental conservation and sustainability is important and the trust is keen to get more people involved in looking after our trail.”

She says anyone interested in helping can contact admin@ heartofbiking.org.nz.

Belinda knows the trail is popular because in 2023, 419,000 counts

including 90,000 pedestrians were recorded on the Great Taste Trail.

That was an increase of 24 per cent on pre-Covid-19 levels and she expects the figure to be even higher after this past summer’s heavy use.

Construction projects are nearing completion and she says the trust is now turning its attention to the next projects. Top of the

list is constructing an off-road section for the State Highway 6 trail between Hoult Valley Rd and Wai-iti Domain. She says central government funding for new construction has ended, so in addition to local government funding, plus trust reserves, the trust will be seeking support from the community and local businesses to raise the money for the project.

A group of Airbnb hosts joined Great Taste Trail members for a cleanup along Waimea Inlet on Saturday. Photo: Supplied.

Sounding off for International Firefighters Day

Marking International Firefighters Day (IFFD), Whakanuia Ngā Kaipatuahi, on May 4, we reflect on the bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication of those who risk their lives daily to protect communities from the devastating effects of fires. While this day serves as a global acknowledgment of the courage exhibited by firefighters worldwide, it also provides a poignant opportunity to shine a light on our local heroes who tirelessly safeguard our neighbourhoods, often at great personal risk.

Founder of IFFD, JJ Edmondson - a volunteer Lieutenant and firefighter in Australia - selected May 4 as International Firefight-

ers’ Day as it is linked to the feast day of St Florian (the patron saint of all firefighters). Red and blue ribbons are worn to mark the IFFD occasion.

These colours are symbolic of the main elements that firefighters work with – red for fire and blue for water. These colours also are internationally recognised as representing emergency service.

One of the key objectives of IFFD in New Zealand is to raise awareness about fire safety and prevention and serves as a platform to honour the memory of firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It is a time to pay tribute to fallen heroes, acknowledging their courage and sacrifice while offering support to their families and colleagues.

An internationally recognised ‘Sound off’ is made at lunchtime on the first Sunday of May when fire sirens sound for 30 seconds followed by a minute’s silence in memory of, and respect for, all firefighters who have been lost.

Across New Zealand there are around 1,800 career firefighters and nearly 12,000 volunteers in Aotearoa across more than 650 fire stations. Volunteers currently make up 85% of FENZ personnel and provide essential coverage outside of the major cities.

These heroes are critical to our emergency response networks, giving up their time and dedicating it to training and development, before going out and supporting their communities. Over

the years firefighting has become about more than just protecting life and property from fire. The brigades also respond to medical calls, motor vehicle crashes, hazardous substances, technical rescues, severe weather and natural disasters. They also educate through community outreach programmes, education and fire safety messaging, and help communities to recover and get back on their feet after major incidents.

Dedicating over 30 years to firefighting, Bella ClarkMelchers is Appleby Rural Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer. Working as a volunteer has at times pushed her out of her comfort zone, but Bella says she

would not have it any other way. “I have had so many wonderful opportunities to be involved in many different roles over the years and have thoroughly enjoyed the diversity it offers. Being a part of FENZ is a fantastic opportunity for people to broaden their horizons and learn a huge range of differing skill sets, both physically and mentally.”

Working alongside 20 other firefighters, five of them women, Bella is the first female Chief Fire Officer at the Appleby Station. There has been an upsurgence of females joining the firefighting teams overall, she says, since Bella first signed up. “Ideally, I would like to see greater numbers, but moreover, we need the right people with the right skills. We work to people's strengths, and it is

Appleby Rural Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer, Bella Clark-Melcher, has dedicated over 30 years of service as a firefighter. Supplied

important to have the right skillsets on the team. We cover a wide area alongside the other local brigades, and I like to take any opportunity for others to be involved as much as possible.”

As a member of the FENZ Peer Support team, Bella says there is an exciting new project being piloted across the South Island. “It is about mentoring people to move forward toward leadership roles. We will be working with members to help them grow and develop their skillsets to encourage them to be their best versions of themselves. That’s what I love about my

role. When I first signed up it was about doing something positive for our community – and that has never changed – but it is also about helping people to grow and fulfil their potential. When I first started, I didn’t know what I was capable of until I joined the team. But often others can see that which we cannot. And all of the skills that I have now is because of my involvement both with FENZ and other groups, and the strong support of my husband and children. People need to know that they can do this. They just have to believe in themselves!”

The comradery and friendships that she has made along the way have been a huge part of what keeps Bella going.

“You meet some amazing people and make wonderful connections within the community. We have an amazing team with a great support network, it's a win all round!” Regarding IFFD, Bella says her team also recognise those they have lost in their own special way.

“The brigades absolutely feel like family, and we acknowledge that. We work really hard to support our teams. That has always been an urban-rural thing – teamwork and comradery.”

No matter whether its urban or rural, operational or operational support, it is clear that all firefighters are united for the same reason, to serve and support their community.

Building and planting help keep Richmond beautiful

ELOISE MARTYN

Keep Richmond Beautiful, a branch of Keep New Zealand Beautiful, has been making a positive impact in the Richmond area for over 20 years now and have no plans to stop their dedicated working bees anytime soon. Every Wednesday for three hours, a group of dedicated community volunteers get involved in Keep Richmond Beautiful projects. From building, maintaining, and repairing walking tracks, planting native trees and weed control, to coastal clean-ups, the group is diverse in what they commit to. Every project is community-based and focused on enhancing the local environment or improving walking trails.

“I’ve always been into conservation, gardening and plants, and I knew when I retired I would like to do something along those lines,” Keep Richmond Beautiful chairman Greg Pickford says.

“I also found when retirement came around that I needed to find a new group of people who were around during the day, so I joined Keep Richmond Beautiful, that was eleven years ago now.”

The projects are often completed with the support of the Tasman District Council (TDC) and its rangers.

“For example, the TDC might provide the trees and we will provide the labour,” Greg says. Greg loves to walk the hills and says he gets great satisfaction from working on the walking tracks and receiving positive feedback and appreciation from the community. He says these favourable comments and thanks have been a tremendous source of motivation for the group.

The group is a great avenue for those looking to connect with

others and a good motivator to get out and do something during the day. Greg encourages anyone wanting to give it a go to get in touch with him at gregandalisonpickford@gmail.com or look them up on Facebook, ‘Keep Richmond Beautiful’.

WHALE WASHES ASHORE: The carcass of a large whale which washed ashore near the Nelson Golf Course has been buried. The 17.5m whale is thought to be a pygmy blue whale, with tissue samples taken for genetic testing to determine the species. Te Tau Ihu iwi representatives blessed the dead whale, and it was buried on site on Sunday morning. Bystanders were warned not to get too close to the whale carcass because they can explode during decomposition. Photo: Supplied.

Taking pride in cultivating the finest quality fresh flowers and foliage, The Flower Farm, is a family-owned business that is dedicated to providing customers with an exceptional floral experience. With a diverse variety of flowers grown on-site complemented by products sourced from some of the country’s top growers, The Flower Farm blooms are guaranteed to brighten any occasion. Owner Viv Deaker lists four great reasons why The Flower Farm should be your go-to choice for freshly picked flowers this Mother’s Day:

Quality and freshness are guaranteed - When you purchase flowers from The Flower Farm, you can rest assured that you’re receiving topnotch quality that will last. Our commitment to excellence means that each bloom is carefully selected and handled with care, ensuring maximum freshness and longevity. Convenient shopping hours -

The Flower Farm is open from 9am Monday to Saturday, and until 12pm on Mother’s Day. Whether you’re stopping by on your lunch break or picking up a last-minute gift on Sunday morning, our friendly staff are here to assist you. Brighten someone’s day with a beautiful bouquet - Treat them to a stunning bouquet from The Flower Farm! Our expertly crafted arrangements feature an array of vibrant blooms, each hand-selected for its beauty and freshness. Pick-up or delivery options - For added convenience, we

offer both pick-up and delivery options. Simply place your order online or give us a call, and we’ll take care of the rest. Viv will be delivering flowers on Mother’s Day so whether you’re surprising a loved one or treating yourself, our hassle-free delivery service ensures that your flowers arrive fresh and on time.

The Flower Farm team are passionate about sharing the beauty of fresh farm flowers. With new arrivals daily, you’ll always find something fresh and exciting to brighten your day. Plus, they offer a range of vases, giftware, and floral supplies to complete your gift-giving experience. This Mother’s Day, show your appreciation with a gift that truly speaks from the heart. Choose The Flower Farm for quality, freshness, and unmatched beauty. “Visit us today and discover the perfect bouquet to celebrate the special mothers in your life.”

Dedicated volunteers, from left, Neville Henry, Nev West, Greg Pickford, Trevor Gribble, Stephen Richards, David Burt, Lesley Ayrton and Ron Argue are part of the Keep Richmond Beautiful team. Photo: Supplied.

It’s all on the app.

Areyou?

The Nelson App has been the go-to place for the latest news and sport since 2017.

Every day tens of thousands of Nelsonians open the app to stay informed about what's happening in our region.

But it isn't just news on the app, it features up-coming events, funeral notices, the latest property for sale, flight information, places to eat and drink, local businesses, weather and tide reports, a TV guide and much more.

So, next time you open the around, you might be surprised what you find.

• NEWS

• PROPERTY

• SPORTS

• RURAL

• LIFESTYLE

• FLIGHTS

• DINING

• TIDES

• WEATHER

• GEONET

• TO DO

• FUNERALS

• JOBS

• OUTAGES

Nelson Giants shine in Rapid League debut

JACK MALCOLM

In a whirlwind of fast-paced action, the NBS Nelson Giants have stormed into the spotlight of the newly-introduced Rapid League, making their mark on the court since its inception at the beginning of the season. Despite losing their first game over the weekend, an impeccable five consecutive wins to start the season has the Giants as the frontrunners in the innovative addition to the National Basketball League (NBL).

The Rapid League is a new initiative within the Sal’s NBL framework which aims to accelerate local player development while offering burgeoning talents and coaches greater exposure and opportunities.

Unlike traditional NBL matchups, Rapid League games serve as curtain-raisers, played an hour prior to the main event. With four-minute quarters and a unique ruleset tailored to enhance player decision-making, the league presents an intensified version of the sport.

Co-coaches Ben Sheat and Tom Gargiulo have incorporated the wider Giants’ systems with the team, yielding remarkable results on the court.

“I think the boys are really

locked into our systems. We’ve been working on it since last year,” says Ben, reflecting on the team’s stellar performance. “It’s really good for me and Tom to

get experience at this level and it builds our under-experienced players and gives them experience.”

The significance of the Rapid

League extends beyond mere victories for the Giants, serving as a platform for nurturing emerging talents within the squad.

With players like Nick Davidson

and Hayden Jones stepping into prominent roles and thriving under the spotlight, the league has become a springboard for their growth and development.

The introduction of a new league, where starters from the Nelson Giants cannot play, has seen the likes of Hayden Jones improve rapidly with an increased confidence. Photo: Barry Whitnall/Shuttersport.

Free entry for U12 kids to the first stop of Shoe Clinic MTB Duathlon Series saw the biggest junior field in years. It also encouraged family members to race, with 66 competitors, including teams, taking on the various courses at Rabbit Island’s Conifer Park. In the long distance categories, it was Team Fast Fun who took out the top spot ahead of Ethan Helliwell and Sam Durrant, with Amanda Trass the first female finisher. The MTB Duathlon Series continues 12 May at the Cable Bay Adventure Park, a new location for racing. Photo: Janice Coyle.

No slowing down despite big milestone

JACK MALCOLM

While there’s time to celebrate the region sending the biggest team in history to the Halberg Games this year, the work isn’t over for those behind the scenes.

With ambitions to continue growing the space, offering more and more locals a chance to play, compete and create memories with their peers, it hasn’t come without a monumental effort to get them there.

After Neisha Kindley travelled to the games with her son Joel and family in 2023 alongside two other local families, she decided to become the driving force behind Able Tasman Kids, which has seen exponential growth.

With 15 attendees and their families from the region at the games this year, the afterglow of the event hasn’t quite worn off, she says.

“No one knows what the event is like until you’re there.

“You can’t quite fathom how much it means to have people cheering for their kid with a disability all weekend.”

The Halberg Games are a threeday national sports festival hosted in Auckland that’s open to young people aged 8-21 with a physical or visual impairment.

Offers apply to selected STIHL products and valid from while stocks last. Prices are recommended retail prices only. at participating retailers for details.

And Neisha says this year’s team is only the start of what she hopes will continue to grow into something even bigger in the years to come.

She says the event is loved almost universally by attendees, and it shouldn’t be contained to their small group.

“I think we’ve found the start of a community, it means that together we can take action to improve

inclusion and accessibility. We know it’s a gap.

“There are more families and kids that should be part of this.”

While the Halberg Games are still in the rearview mirror, Neisha and the dedicated group of volunteers and organizers are not slowing down.

A South Island edition of the games is held down in Christchurch in October, with ambitions to bring an even bigger team with reduced barriers to en-

try, like travel.

There are also plans to reintroduce wheelchair basketball as a league, with a trailer to transport the equipment needed to get it rolling.

Neisha says none of what they achieved would have been possible without all of the community members who supported their vision.

From the crowd at the Nelson Giants giving the

team a standing ovation during quarter-time entertainment to the local businesses and people who donated, the support did not go unnoticed.

While there are too many to thank in print, with plans for a surprise ‘thank you’ on Nelson Airport’s signage, Neisha wanted to give special mention to the Lions Foundation, who were one of the first on board and brought in about half of everything raised to make it a reality.

Smiles on faces is what the Halberg Games is all about, and there were a lot from locals after the region sent its biggest ever team to the event. Photo: Supplied.

Tasman Rugby’s new chief

PETER JONES

A familiar face has been chosen to lead the Tasman Rugby Union into the future.

Former TRU Operations Manager, Steve Mitchell, was last week announced as the union’s new chief executive officer, starting his new role on June 10, 2024.

The current Southland Rugby Union chief executive boasts a decade of experience in provincial rugby, having served as chief executive of Southland Rugby since April 2020 and previously working with Tasman from April 2014 until February 2020.

The appointment marks a homecoming for Steve, Nelson born-and-bred and a life member of Rangers Rugby Club.

“We are thrilled to welcome Steve back to Tasman Rugby Union as our new CEO,” says

Baz Henare, chairman of the Tasman Rugby Union board.

“His passion for the game, combined with his proven leadership abilities, make him the perfect fit to lead our organisation…”

Steve will take over from interim chief executive Kahu Marfell, who will concentrate on his role as Community Rugby Manager.

The previous chief executive, Lyndon Bray, ended his employment relationship with Tasman in October last year, after being appointed in 2021.

Before deciding on Mitchell, the Tasman board considered 24 applicants from across NZ, Australia and USA.

Steve expressed his excitement about returning to the Top of the South and the opportunity to lead the organisation into its next chapter.

“It was always the intention to

volved in rugby in the Tasman region for 30-odd years,” Steve says. “The time in Southland has been extremely beneficial for my personal development and I look forward to bringing those learnings to the new role in Tasman.

“[Tasman and Southland] are similar-sized unions … Southland was insolvent when I got here. They now have money in the bank which they are now investing in developing their people and their systems.

“When I came down [to Southland], I said [I would stay for] three to five years, I will set up the systems … but I am going home.

head back to Tasman when the time was right. I have been involved with Tasman since its inception … I was on the council of delegates on behalf of the Rangers club so have been in-

Sports Results

Rugby:

Tasman Trophy men: Waimea Old Boys 33 - Stoke 19; Kahurangi 43Moutere 19; Central - Nelson postponed; Marist bye.

Tasman Trophy women: Marist 50 - Kahurangi 15; Moutere 38Waimea Old Boys 22.

Second division: Huia 55 - Nelson 33; Waimea Old Boys 17 - Marist 37; Wanderers 24 - Stoke 26; Riwaka 15 - Takaka 47; Tapawera 36 - Collingwood 11; Murchison bye.

Football:

Southern League: Nelson Suburbs 1 - Cashmere Technical 5.

“So, four years on, the opportunity has come … and I am really, really pleased to have the opportunity to get back home and be involved with Tasman again.”

He is well aware that the rugby landscape is evolving and of the challenges that lie ahead.

“The need to support the community game is paramount … local representation for local people is a priority.”

Women’s South Island Qualifying League: Nelson Suburbs 4 - Universities of Canterbury 2. Chatham Cup round 1: Mapua 0Richmond 2; FC Nelson 9 - Motueka 0.

Premier men: Golden Bay Mountain Goats 1 - FC Nelson Karreni 3. Premier women: Golden Bay Maidens 3 - FC Nelson Swans 3; Motueka Angels 0 - Nelson Suburbs SPL Reserves 11; Sprig & Fern Tahuna Breakers 4 - Mapua Cougars 0.

Basketball:

NBS Nelson Giants 97 - Taranaki Mountain Airs 116

Tuesday, 7th May, 10am - 11.30am

Tuesday 14th May, 10am - 11.30am

Tuesday 14th May, 1.30pm - 3pm

280 Queen Street, Richmond Thursday, 16th May, 1.30pm - 3pm

Tuesday, 21st May, 10am - 11.30am

Steve Mitchell will step into the Tasman Rugby Union chief executive role in June Photo: File.

Brothers on and off the field

JACK MALCOLM

For several Waimea Old Boys’ premier players, the club’s camaraderie runs deeper than others. That’s because they share blood as brothers on the field, with fathers and grandfathers who have also shared the honour of wearing the red and white hoops.

The Coman and the Mcbrydie/ Palmer families both have multiple brothers involved with the team, going back years.

For Lee Mcbrydie, who just brought up his 100th game for the club over the weekend, it’s nine years, Jayde Palmer it’s six and Karl Palmer it’s his second, with Connor Mcbrydie also in the mix. The trio share a mother, with Jayde and Karl’s father Darrin also playing for the club alongside his brothers back in the day.

For the Coman’s, Ben, Mike and Tim, there’s over 20 years of combined service as they all came back to the team to play and coach alongside each other this year. Their father, Gordon, and their grandfather, Bill, were also heavily involved with the club and are both life members of Waimea Old Boys.

Ben, the oldest, stripped up for the club’s top team for the first time back in 2005, while the youngest, Tim, made his debut in 2013.

While both have had time away

from the game, the desire to play for their club and alongside their brothers again was too big to ignore.

Both Ben and Tim made their return to the club this season, having not played rugby at any level for the past several years.

Mike never played senior rugby for Waimea Old Boys, having graduated through to the professional space straight out of school and eventually captaining the

London Irish amongst an armslength list of other accolades.

But that connection to the club meant that while he’s never suited up to take the field, he’s still in the mix as assistant coach this season.

“Although I never played senior rugby for Waimea, the club has always been a big part of my life and I have fond memories of spending Saturdays at Jubilee Park as a young fella playing rug-

by and eating hot chips,” he says.

“I always wanted to help out and get involved with the club at some stage but certainly with Ben and Tim playing this season it encouraged me to get involved sooner than I maybe had planned.”

Both sets of brothers, the Comans and the Mcbrydie/Palmers are Waimea Old Boys through and through, having started playing for the club as young boys.

Having never played for anyone

else, they say it is special to share the field alongside their family members and their experience has paid dividends in an improved performance through the start of this season.

“A big part for me is reconnecting. Us three boys have got a pretty strong bond,” says Ben.

“We all grew up together and are Waimea Old Boys through and through, we all started [playing] when we were five,” says Jayde.

Waimea Old Boys’ Tim, Ben and Mike Coman alongside Lee Mcbrydie, Jayde Palmer and Karl Palmer as familial connections at the club stretch generations. Photo: Jack Malcolm.

Community Notices

MONDAY

JUNIOR BADMINTON has started for school aged kids at Badminton Hall from 6 till 7:30pm. Racquets available. Contact Joe on 0277834720 or joe@peak.co.nz.

SOCIAL EVENING BADMINTON starts Monday 6 May at Badminton Hall from 7:30pm. Racquets available. Just bring indoor court shoes. $5/night. Contact Joe on 0277834720 or joe@peak.co.nz.

STEAM CLUB RICHMOND LIBRARY 3.45pm – 4.45pm, Mondays for 6 weeks. STEAM Club is a science, technology, engineering, arts & math-based programme for children 9 years old+. ph: 03 543 8500 to register your interest as spaces are limited

ELYSIUM WIDOW AND WIDOWERS GROUP meet each Monday at 10am at Ginger, Richmond Mall for coffee and friendship. New faces always welcome. Phone Margaret 027 2600748

TASMAN AQUARIUM CLUB. Inspiration, advice and general chat about fish and aquarium hobby. Meet monthly first Monday at 7 pm - Next meeting 13 May, Ph Robin 027 5442518.

PHILOSOPHY GROUP meets in Trafalgar Hall, 67 Trafalgar St., Nelson, on the 2nd and 4th Monday each month at 10am. All welcome. Text Zoe: 027-974-1758

TUESDAY

LUNCH ON THE HILL Come join us for hot drinks at 11am and lunch at noon on Tuesday the 7th of May. Koha welcome. 27 Dorset St, Richmond. Ph (03) 5448844

RICHMOND TENNIS CLUB Social Tennis Tuesday mornings 9.30am at Richmond Tennis Club, Gladstone Road. If raining we play card games. Morning tea. provided. Enquiries 0274872480.

TUESDAY MUSIC 10a.m 7 May, Commmittee Rm Richmond Town Hall. Includes Bryn Terfel, Amira,& many instrumental & beautiful choral items you will love. Come join us! Christine 0212486038 AT RICHMOND LIBRARY: DEMENTIA FRIENDLY LIBRARY GROUP If you are living with Dementia, this group is for you. Come along to this supportive, friendly group at your familiar local library. Every Tuesday 10:30am – 11.30am. Free.

HOPE TENNIS CLUB Social Tennis every Tuesday morning from 9.30 a.m. at Hope Tennis Courts, Hope Domain. All abilities most welcome. Queries 0211729257

NELSON 50+ WALKING GROUP Tuesday May 7th. BarnicoatGlider Road. Meet at 9.45am at the top of Marsden Valley. BYO lunch. Contact Irene 021 1225312.

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ: 10am – 11.30am, Tuesday 7 May, McCashin’s, Stoke. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection & finding out about groups, activities & services. www.wellby. org.nz 03 5467681.

SING WITH TASMONICS! Friendly mixed 4-part harmony chorus seeks new singers for our varied repertoire. Rehearsals Tuesdays 7.15 at Club Waimea, Richmond. For infor ph: Philippa: 027-549-7713.

HOPE INDOOR BOWLING CLUB. Playing Tuesday nights Hope Hall 7pm. All ages welcome.Wear soft soled shoes. First 2 nights free. Phone Bill 5449273.

RICHMOND TENNIS CLUB social tennis 6pm onwards. Open to club players, visitors & members of other clubs. FREE Contact 0274 872 480

BETTER BREATHERS: 60-minute series of guided exercises done seated or standing, specifically designed to help those with breathing difficulties. Club Waimea – 10am Tuesdays & Fridays. Contact Jess 027 546 7675.

STOKE TAHUNANUI MEN’S CLUB welcomes new members. Meeti 10am 3rd Tues monthly with guest speaker. 15 Burrough Pl, Enner Glynn. Regular outings & activities. Ph Ian 0211482580

WEDNESDAY

AT RICHMOND LIBRARY: 1. STORYTIME 10am-10.30am, Wednesdays during term time. Join us for exciting stories & songs for 2-5 year olds & their caregivers. Free. 2. GOOD CRAFTERNOON! Bring your craft project & work on it in the company of other crafters. Bring your own materials & lunch. Wednesdays, 12.30pm-2.pm. Free.

CAKE DECORATORS next meet Wednesday 15 May. We are creating chocolates flower pots & sugar paste flowers. Desiree 0276302359

BETTER BREATHERS: a series of guided exercises - seated or standing - to help those with breathing difficulties. Run by Nelson Asthma Society at Reformed Church Nelson, 1.00pm Wednesdays. Contact Jess 027 546 7675.

CENTRAL GARDEN CLUB, meets every second Wednesday of each month at the Methodist Church Hall , Neale Avenue Stoke. 1,30 pm, New Members most welcome. Guest speakers followed by afternoon tea. Enquiries phone Lynn or Bob 0275418448.

SING YOUR LUNGS OUT: A fun filled singing class for those with respiratory conditions. No singing experience is necessary. Wednesdays 10.30am, Reformed Church Nelson. Contact Jess 027 546 7675.

THURSDAY

WAYNE GREIG TALK: A Life-Long Adventure in Model Making. Richmond Library 1.00pm – 2.00pm, Thursday 2 May. Presentation on the building of Wayne’s HO scale (1:87) model railway and his 1:48 scale model of the merchant ship HMAV Bounty.

MOTUEKA LIGHTHOUSE presents Greg Jones, Transforming Your Life Within. Specialist in back pain, arthritis and more. Motueka Community House, Opposite the ISite. Donation Appreciated. All welcome. Thursday 25 April 7-9PM Contact angel3000.h@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/lighthousemotueka/ NELSON MALE VOICE CHOIR ANZAC Day concert at the Nelson Cathedral on Thursday 25h April 2024 at 2:30pm. Adults $35/Concession $28 under 18s $5; tickets www.ncma.nz or cash/ EFTPOS at the door

RICHMOND CREATIVE FIBRE Meets at Birchwood Hall, Richmond Showgrounds. 9.30 am every 2nd , 3rd & 4th Thursdays of the month. Come & meet others who enjoy working with fibre.Ph 5445023 (Janie).

JUDO 20A GLADSTONE RD (upstairs Waimea Old Boys Rugby) Juniors Thursday 5-6pm. Seniors/Competitive Tuesday/Thursday 6pm. Pee wees Thursday 4.30 pm. Contact Michelle 0275422254

FRIDAY

RUMMIKUB AT RICHMOND LIBRARY 1pm-3pm, Fri. 3 May. Join us for a game. New players welcome. Bring a game if you have one.

WAITAKI OLD GIRLS’ SOCIAL GROUP. Pop in for a coffee and chat on Friday 3rd May from 10 am at Lily’s Cafe, 19 Buxton Square. Queries 027 673 1145

FRENCH CONVERSATION every Friday 4-6pm at Honest Lawyer

Stoke or Vic Rose Nelson. Alliance Français. Doug Hill 5446288

WAIMEA LADIES FRIENDSHIP CLUB welcomes new members Interesting speakers, morning tea, dining out, outings. 3rd Fri each month 9.45am. Richmond Church of Christ, corner Croucher and D’arcy Sts. Ph: Bev 5441469

SATURDAY

RICHMOND OLD TIME DANCE, May 4, at Richmond Town Hall, Cambridge St. Richmond, 7.30 untill 11 pm. Live Music, Raffles & Prizes, popular Programe.. Entry $8 & Supper Plate, please. Ph Richard, 5444 120.

WAIMEA HARRIERS, Welcome all abilities for running % walking to join us for the 3rd Wallace Shield event Sat. 4 May. Registration from 1.45pm at Old Domain, Rabbit Island. See website for info, waimeaharriers.nz

VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT CLUB OF NELSON Concert Saturday 11 May 2pm Stoke School Hall, Main Road Stoke Admission $5 All Welcome Phone Wayne 0272049772 Robyn 5473231

HIGGINS HERITAGE PARK Pigeon Valley Rd, Wakefield, Sunday 5 May

10am - 3pm Last Traction Engine steam up before the winter maintenance shut down, jigger & honey barrell rides, model trains, sheds open. Something for everyone young & older. Ph 027 6316786.

NELSON ELECTRONIC ORGAN & KEYBOARD CLUB meet the first Saturday of the month at the Stoke Baptist Church Hall at 1.30 pm. If you enjoy music as either a listener or player please come along. Next meeting on 4 May. Ph: Yvonne 027 607 0050.

CELTIC PIPE BAND CEILIDH DANCE, Sat, 25 May, 7-9pm, Nayland College Hall. An evening of vibrant Traditional Scottish Dancing & Music. Enjoy the spirit of the Highlands with our Licensed Bar featuring Whiskey, while relishing a delightful Haggis & light Supper. Don your Kilt, Highland dress, Tartan Accessories. Tickets at Richmond Mall Info Desk.

NELSON BRANCH OF ROYAL NZ AIRFORCE ASSOCIATION Meet 2nd Sat each 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 AMPUTEE SOCIETY OF TOP OF THE SOUTH holding a morning tea at Toad Hall on the 4th May -10am onwards for amputees and their carers. RICHMOND TENNIS CLUB social tennis 1.30 - 3pm. Open to club players, visitors & members of other clubs. FREE. Contact 0274 872 480 FREE GUIDED MEDITATION Meet Saturdays 3pm under the white pergola of Washbourne Gardens. Relax, unwind and enjoy inner peace & stillness. meditaterichmond@gmail.com for questions. Absolutely Free

SUNDAY

GENERAL GROUPS

gold & Silver. Old coins & Jewellery. Vintage / quality tools. Military & Firearms items. General antiques. Also buying estate & shed items. Collection & downsizing. Phone Tim Gladstone. T&B Vintage 0800 653 935 or 548 5235.