Waimea Weekly - 21 June 2023

Locally Owned and Operated

Retiring crewman reflects on career

Wednesday 21 June 2023

Waimea post backto-back wins

‘Game changer’ wasp control insects die

planned to be released in April this year.

A “game changer” wasp biocontrol programme has been delayed after the two insects imported to deal with them failed to breed in captivity and have all perished. The insects were originally

“This was going to be the one thing that would be so awesome for our community,” says Tasman District Council’s environmental information manager, Rob Smith.

Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research has been overseeing the

Cycling the Nullarbor Plain to a wedding

ANNE HARDIE

Hamish and Joan Blanch have lost count of the kilometres they have cycled across the globe and have just added another 3,000km in crossing the Nullarbor Plain between Adelaide and Perth. During the five-week mission to get to their son’s wedding in Perth they tackled flies, road trains and running out of water, yet experienced the incredible vastness of the plain and spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

It was the tenth long-distance cycling tour for the Richmond couple who set out on their first tour nearly 50 years ago and plan an annual long-distance trip. Over the years, they have crisscrossed North America and Canada on their bikes, including the Trans America Trail, explored Europe, cycled in near-freezing temperatures across Iceland despite it being summer, and island-hopped from

application and preparation of the two insects: a species of hoverfly and the wasp nest beetle. Project lead Dr Bob Brown says the two insects are “extremely difficult” to rear in captivity. They were imported from England and are reared in a quarantine facility to meet criteria set

out by the Ministry for Primary Industries before they’re released.

“The colonies of these two species did not survive the simulated overwintering programme that they must go through to synchronise them with the Southern Hemisphere season,” he says. The artificial winter initiates dia-

pause within the insects, an essential step to trigger their development into adults.

“It’s this process in which the insects are at their most vulnerable,” he says.

“While I was extremely

SEE PAGE 2

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

Hamish and Joan Blanch cycled across Australia’s Nullarbor Plain to get to their son’s wedding. Photo: Anne Hardie.

STREET TALK

What would you do with all your new-found time if, and when, you retire?

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“Just have time to myself. Not even retirement, but when the kids leave home and I’ve got time to do whatever I wantenjoy the garden and country.”

“I’ve already got an old person’s hobby. I already crochet.”

“Take up some financially-viable hobby. My mind immediately jumps to dog-breeding or plant propagation, something I can potter on to make me a bit of money.”

“I would travel in between spending time in Nelson and the Sounds, where my husband would like to move.”

‘Game changer’ wasp control insects die

FROM PAGE 1

disappointed in how our attempt at rearing the agents this year turned out, this is a great example of the quarantine working exactly as it should, by preventing the release of any individuals that are not in the very best condition,” he says. Despite the setback, the programme will continue with the aim of releasing the insects next summer, though there are many steps that must go perfectly before they can be released. “Nationally, it will be one of the biggest game changers in biodiversity.

“We absolutely want to see that

happen,” Rob says. “Hopefully, next year we’ll have a better story.”

The two insects, the hoverfly species, Volucella inanis, and the wasp nest beetle, Metoecus paradoxus, both infiltrate the nests of common and German wasps to parasitise the grubs, decimating the wasp populations. The two species go through extensive testing to make sure they’re host-specific to the two wasp species and not any of New Zealand’s native flora and fauna.

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Above: The wasp nest beetle is one of two new insects set to be introduced to help combat the region’s wasp population. Photo: Manaaki Whenua, Landcare Research. Inset left: the Common Wasp. File.

Appeal for missing hospital equipment

KATE RUSSELL

Have you been hoarding a pair of crutches in your garage that you were given to you after that old knee injury? Well, Nelson Hospital wants them back.

Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough is urging people to return any medical equipment they have been loaned - such as walking frames, crutches, and shower stools.

Director of Allied Health, Hilary Exton, says for the year ending 31 March 2023, 4,541 items were loaned out - but hundreds haven’t come back.

“On average, 100 items are loaned to patients every week - however, between five and 10 per cent of this is never returned.”

She says this creates a stack of unwanted replacement bills and Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough spent $16,542 for the year 2022/23 on replacing hospital equipment that has remained unreturned.

“Returning equipment lessens the need for us to replace equipment, leaving more funds available to improve health services for our patients, and helps us to ensure the correct equipment is available for oth-

er patients in need.”

Hilary says they are encouraging Nelsonians to take a look around their garages and storage areas for any forgotten equipment.

“Once a patient has recovered and the equipment has served its purpose, we appreciate the timely return of the item so that it can go on to assist more patients.”

Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough equipment can be identified by a grey barcode sticker, and/or by Nelson Marlborough Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy labelling.

Anything made of soft material like moonboots and elbow slings does not need to be returned, but all mobility, electrical, and respiratory loan equipment needs to come back.

Hilary says, to maintain equitable access to medical equipment, a bond is not charged on any items, as this would be a barrier for some requiring care.

“All patients and whānau are provided verbal and written information of when, how, and where to return the equipment, and patients are contact-

ed at the six-week loan mark to check in if the equipment is still needed, or if it is ready to be returned.”

The return date can be extended if recovery is taking longer than expected.

Returns can be made Monday to Friday at The Allied Health Store on Motueka St, next to Taylor’s Laundry between 8am and 4.30pm.

Crutches are on the list of hospital items that sometimes end up in people’s garages.

Photo: Supplied.

Dancing for a Cause

raises $440k

Dancing for a Cause Charitable Trust has announced the total amount raised from the 2023 NBS Dancing for a Cause event has “shattered” all previous fundraising records. The whopping $440,000 total came from ticket sales, contestant fundraisers and collections on the evening.

Dance contestant Cheryl Candish, Head of English at Nelson College for Girls, was recognised for her exceptional dedication to fundraising at the announcement last week, as she raised $85,462.87. All funds raised from the event go towards supporting the vital work of the Nelson Tasman Hospice.

Salisbury Rd feedback

Tasman District Council say that feedback from their pilot layout of separated cycle lanes on Salisbury Rd has been positive. Comments in a survey of users said they appreciate the buffer it provides between cars and pedestrians, the slower traffic, and raised features that increase awareness of crossing sites. Using the input from survey respondents the council are now ready to make some tweaks and consider extending the lanes further along Salisbury Rd. The use of the white upright lane markers outside Waimea Intermediate has not been successful and these will be removed. Locally-made concrete lane separators on either side of the raised crossings will be trialled.

Entries open for Mask Carnivale

The much-loved Mask Carnivale will be back this year on 27 October and entries are now open. The event, which is part of the Nelson Arts Festival, is set to transform Nelson’s inner-city streets into a colourful explosion of joy, community, and creativity. The theme of this year’s Carnivale is ‘Rewild, Regenerate’. People can interpret the theme as they see fit and are encouraged to get creative. If you’re keen to be part of the Carnivale, go to www.nelsonartsfestival.nz and register by 30 September.

Rescue crewman hangs up helmet after three decades

SARA HOLLYMAN

After 34 years of being in the sky, Paul ‘Ernie’ Bryant is hanging up his helmet as a rescue helicopter crewman. Having notched up more than 4100 flights, he is considered the most experienced crewman in the country.

Ernie says he knew from a young age that he was going to be in aviation.

“I was one of those kids right from the word go, planes, helicopters were always going to be it.”

While going through high school his goal was to join the Air Force.

“It didn’t matter whether I was making cups of tea or flying a jet, that was where I was going to go and that’s exactly what I did.”

Having started flying privately, his first solo flight was just three days after his 17th birthday. He joined the Airforce straight out of school and spent four years learning a ground trade before applying to be an airman aircrew. With 15 applications put forward, he was one of only two that made it through. He trained on fixed-wing planes that did everything from moving people and cars around to paratrooping and air dropping.

The next four years took him on a range of journeys, including a peacekeeping tour to Somalia, before cross-training to the helicopter side of the Air Force. He then took an opportunity working for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in Auckland before later heading to Nelson where he has worked on the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter ever since.

“It was never not going to happen, but it never happened the way I thought it would,” he says.

“When I came to Nelson they had just got the BK117 helicopter and they wanted somebody with experience to be able to train the guys here.”

He says it was the best of both worlds as he still had a core role of being a crewman - managing scene safety, assisting pilots and medics etc. as well as the other side - doing all the training.

In November 2022, Ernie flew his 4000th flight.

“I’m up around the 4100 and something now. We’re pretty sure I’m the first crewman to whistle through the 4000 helicopter missions. That wasn’t a goal, it just sort of happened.”

While he finds it hard to pick a most memorable mission over his 34 years, he says flying to the White Island eruption and assisting after the Kaikōura earthquake are two that have stayed with him.

Night vision goggles are the biggest technology change he’s seen, but safety is the biggest

improvement overall.

Ernie says he’s looking forward to not having to get up when it’s raining and go out on missions, and feels like he is leaving his role in safe hands.

“You look at the team and think ‘if I was sick, would I want you turning up?’ And yeah, I would.”

Ernie says he considers his career both fulfilling and successful.

“I just knew that deep down in my core was to be in aviation and to get myself in the air.

“The hardest thing I have at the moment is to look back with a bit of pride.”

He says seizing the opportunities when they presented has meant his career worked out well.

“I’ve had the opportunity to do this. And a lot of people don’t. I don’t like the word lucky, but I was fortunate. I had to work at it, I had to pass everything, I had to jump through all the hoops. You never stop learning

“And I am proud of what I’ve done.”

He says he doesn’t know what he’s going to do with his spare time yet.

“I’m not going to retire, retire, but I’m retired from the aviation industry. So, I’m not going to fly again, professionally, that’s all over for me. It just felt right to go out at the top of the game. I’m going to chill out for a little bit and see what comes along.”

Ernie has a piece of advice for someone who knows in their heart where they want to be.

“Someone reading this will be another me and they need to follow that. Not so much the dream but they need to follow that path. Whatever it is. If they are hell bent on being a doctor - they should make the effort to find out how to do it and go down that road. If I hadn’t applied for that opportunity in the Airforce, if I told myself they probably wouldn’t take me - I wouldn’t be sitting here now.”

Paul ‘Ernie’ Bryant is considered the county’s most experienced crewman, but he has decided to retire from aviation after 34 years of flying. Photo: Sara Hollyman. Inset: Paul Bryant on his last flight with the RNZAF in 1997. Photo: Supplied.

Waimea South district facility one step closer

STAFF REPORTER

The improvement of sporting, cultural, health and recreational facilities for residents in the Wakefield and Brightwater communities has reached its next milestone with the completion of a Needs Analysis.

The Needs Analysis, conducted by consultants

Global Leisure Group, builds on two years of community engagement activities by the Waimea South Community Facility Charitable Trust, working with the Wakefield and Brightwater Community Associations and the Tasman District Council.

At this stage, a split provision development scenario is preferred.

This may mean the facility is not a single space, but a few spaces spread across both the Wakefield and Brightwater communities. There is potential for modifications and upgrades of existing facilities in Bright-

water, while in Wakefield a new facility is likely to be built on a site at the Wakefield Domain.

It is acknowledged that a new facility in Wakefield will reflect the history and character of the town while providing a centre for sporting activities, performing arts and a community space catering to the needs of all groups and ages.

An allocation of $200,000 for feasibility and design work for the project has been approved under the government’s Better Off Funding scheme. Further funding to progress the facility will be considered under Tasman’s 10Year Plan discussions.

At a recent workshop with Moutere-Waimea Ward Councillors and stakeholder groups, attendees offered a positive response to the findings of the Needs Analysis report and agreed to progress on key items. They also agreed on the

Seagull euthanised after trapped dangling from Stoke streetlight

SARA HOLLYMAN

importance of bringing the Waimea South District together on the project, proceeding under an expectation of community-led delivery with council support.

Councillor Christeen Mackenzie says the workshop was “an important first step which has recognized the needs of growing communities and the important role access to sporting, recreational and cultural facilities play in community well-being.”

The next step in the process involves taking the needs analysis report to Council as well as ongoing engagement and dialogue between Council, the community and the established working group to refine plans and requirements.

The partner groups in Brightwater and Wakefield will be busy in the months ahead raising the project’s profile in their communities and seeking wider input from residents.

A seagull was euthanised after suffering severe damage to its foot after becoming trapped in a streetlight on Saxton Rd on Monday morning, the second in a matter of months.

The seagull was noticed hanging from the streetlight by its foot on Saxton Rd on Monday morning and was visibly distressed. A similar incident happened in March, with Nelmac assisting with the rescue of the bird.

A Nelson City Council spokesperson says their contractor PowerTech, came to remove the bird and will now install spikes on these particular streetlights to deter the seagulls from perching on them.

“We will also be reviewing the design of the lights to see why and how the seagulls are getting trapped,” the spokesperson says. Onlookers became frustrated on Monday after waiting more than an hour for someone to come and help the trapped bird.

“The fact that it took over an hour and that no one would claim it and shrugged it off, was shocking,” a woman on the scene said.

Council says, in the first instance call the Customer Service Centre on 03 5460200 so a response can be coordinated.

“We are looking into why this has been happening in this particular area of Stoke. The lights were initially installed in 2018, but seagulls getting trapped on the lights have only become an issue in the past few months,” the spokesperson says.

Council says seagulls should not be fed. “They are only coming into more urbanised parts of Nelson to scavenge for food. By not feeding seagulls, you can help prevent unfortunate events like this from occurring.”

The seagull was taken to Victory Vets but had to be euthanised as the injury to its foot was too severe to treat.

A seagull became trapped dangling from a streetlight on Saxton Rd on Monday. Photo: Supplied.

your fingertips

Cycling the Nullarbor Plain to a wedding

FROM PAGE 1

the Shetland Islands down to Scotland. In between, they have cycled the length and breadth of New Zealand keeping bike fit for their next adventure.

This year was the Nullarbor Plain where they carried up to 12 litres of water on their pedal-powered Surly Long Haul Trucker touring bikes. As they travelled through the waterless terrain it could be as far as 200km to the next roadhouse where they could refill their water, camping each night in the sparse landscape beside the road.

“You need some pre-planning and it’s all about water,” Hamish says. “There’s no surface water at all and we totally relied on roadhouses.”

During the entire trip they saw little wildlife in the almost treeless landscape.

“We saw one snake that ran away and a fat snake that was roadkill. But we did get March flies that bite,” Joan says. “They seem to bite through your clothes.”

“You’re biking 18 to 20km per hour and the flies still catch up with you,” Hamish adds. “It’s pretty hard to out-bike the flies.”

He says the bike trip is not for the faint-hearted because road

trains up to 52m in length are motoring past and there are seldom sealed shoulders for cyclists to evade them. All that was part of the challenge though and Hamish, 68, and Joan, 67, averaged 84km a day and up to 125km.

“That was a long day,” Joan says. “You have to work with your mind and just do one day at a time.”

It sounds a grind, but they say it was well worth it to experience the vastness of the country and the sunrises and sunsets. Each day they were on the road before sunrise which meant they “saw a lot of dawns”.

After 10 overseas cycle tours they have their packing down to a fine art, carrying about 20kg of gear to cover the extremes in weather as well as camping equipment and bike

repairs – because in the Nullarbor Plain there are no bike shops within a few hundred kilometres.

The longest distance they have cycled overseas was 11,500km across the top of North America and down the east coast. Next year they are planning to return to North America to cycle from Houston to Mississippi and north to the Great Lakes, a trip that will cover about 3,500km.

One of the biggest hassles organising a bike trip overseas is packing bikes up and carting them through airports, which is why they have three sets of bikes in storage in different countries. Hamish says they will keep exploring the world on their bikes for as long as they can bike and Joan says it will “just be a bit less kilometres each day”.

An 82-year-old great grandmother was among a group of 20 swimmers who took the plunge at the annual Blue Duck midwinter swim at St Arnaud on Sunday. Organiser Bill McEwan says the family-friendly event is quiet, small and natural. “Most of us share a love of our greater-than-human world, gratitude for life and a sense of fun.” The idea for the swim was thought up at a Department of Conservation staff midwinter dinner in 2002 and is now in its 21st year. At 600 metres, it’s the highest altitude midwinter swim in New Zealand. Swimmers go in at the East Jetty at Lake Rotoiti’s Kerr Bay as it’s away from the eels. “It’s a great opportunity to do something elemental. Nakedness is really bonding and if you get a group of people who are willing to be naked together, you know you have a fine bunch of interesting people to talk to.”

Cold water swimming has been scientifically-proven to stimulate the body, increasing blood flow for major health benefits. Photo: Vicki Cowling.

Hamish and Joan Blanch cycled from Adelaide to Perth. Photo: Supplied.

Young actors tackle mysteries in Porridge

Richmond School pupils will be unravelling a plethora of mysteries in their production of ‘Porridge’ during three shows at the Hope Community Church this week. Porridge focuses on the community of Happy Valley that experiences a crime wave and a caseload of mysteries to be solved, from a kidnapped cow to a missing recipe book.

It is down to private detective Jack Spratt to uncover the truth, including the dirty secret Papa Bear is hiding behind his porridge empire. One of the teachers driving the production, Grant Irvine, says the biennial production involves 180 children aged between nine and 11 and involves dancing, singing, acting and a fair dose of dad jokes. “It’s amazing to see children tenta-

tive at the start and blossoming. It’s brilliant for their self-management and working cooperatively with a group.

“Then taking it to the Hope Community Church and performing for their family takes it to the next level again.”

He says students are often hesitant to put their hands up for performing roles, but once they get a taste of it, they wish they had taken up more opportunities.

In the past the school has written its own shows, which Grant says is great but also a huge effort. So this year it has purchased Porridge and that creates a different type of show for the school.

The cast get the chance to perform four times on stage, including a dress rehearsal and then two evening performances and a matinee show.

ANNE HARDIE

Richmond School’s young acting talent will be solving mysteries in their production of Porridge.

Photo: Anne Hardie.

Man admits scissor attack on passenger during ferry crossing

TRACY NEAL Open Justice Reporter

Passengers on an otherwise standard ferry trip across Cook Strait were alarmed to see a man suddenly lunge at another passenger and stab him with a pair of scissors.

A 23-year-old man was remanded for a further psychiatric report in the Nelson District Court on Monday, having pleaded guilty to a charge of injuring with intent/

reckless disregard, after the incident on board an Interislander ferry on February 8 this year. The man, who has name suppression, was on the Interislander ferry travelling from Wellington to Picton. At about 4.20pm he and the victim were in the lounge area of the ferry when the man walked towards the victim with scissors in his hand. The police summary of facts said he then began to “rapidly advance” on the victim from behind with scissors in his

hand, and stabbed him in his left side. He swung the scissors twice more, but missed. In explanation, the man told police he had “wanted to harm the victim with scissors”.

Defence lawyer Mark Dollimore told the court on Monday that psychiatric reports already completed confirmed that the man did not have the defence of insanity available to him, but that he did have a “serious mental health problem”.

Dollimore said discussions with various doctors showed the man, who appeared in court today via video link from a mental health facility, had made “major progress”.

Judge David Ruth remanded the man in the care of the facility until next month for a further report that would help the court better understand the best outcome.

Interislander general manager of operations Duncan Roy told Open Justice it would not com-

ment on this particular incident. It was, however, standard practise for the organisation to review security on its ships ahead of the peak summer period, to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew.

GET UP TO $3,160 CLEAN CAR DISCOUNT

Sundial Square played host to a group yoga session on Sunday to celebrate 25 years of Les Mills Bodybalance routines. Group fitness manager for Richmond Aquatic Centre, Marsha Rogers, says she came up with the idea herself. “We get a new Bodybalance routine every three months and this June marks the 100th one. I wanted to mark the occasion with something fun and what better way than this?” The session was open to everyone and around 20 people turned up for the hour-long class. “The rain held off and we had donuts as a treat afterwards. It was good to see some new faces as well as our regular friends.”

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Photo: Jo Kent.

Making dreams a reality

JO KENT

Richmond real estate agents

Chris Davies and Matt Goodman are the first in the country to use an augmented reality app to give buyers the chance to walk around their house before it’s even been built.

Harcourts owner Chris says the ‘Always-On’ App could revolutionise the future of the housing market.

“The app uses AR to give buyers the ability to scan a QR code and be transported inside a full-scale, 3D model of a house via their smartphones or tablets.

“Being able to stand on a section, hold your phone up and have the house appear in front of you so you can physically walk through it takes traditional printed floorplans to the next level.”

Buyers will be able to use their device to walk from room to room while actually pacing around an empty section. They can also save a version of the house and review it anytime.

“The technology means they will be able to walk through the property and experience things like the views they will get to the garden. Will they

OUT AND ABOUT WITH BLAIR

Nelson Hospital

I am out meeting people in Nelson and Tasman every day, and in the last couple of weeks so many people have approached me to express their disappointment that the Nelson Hospital rebuild has been delayed. I too am extremely disappointed—especially when just eight months ago the Minister of Health promised construction would begin before October this year. But unfortunately, our local hospital has become yet another example of Labour’s failure to deliver.

be able to see the kids playing outside while making dinner, will the layout work for them?

Then, if they want to make a change, we can do it before the build happens.”

AR is an interactive experience that enhances the real world by overlaying digital content on a real-life environment.

Founder of Reactar Labs, the company behind the app, Richard Penny, says the homeAR technology has been around since 2019, but the app has only just been deployed by Chris and Matt making them the first to use it, in collaboration with Homes By Orange.

“We believe this is a key building block in moving towards e-commerce for new homes,” Chris says.

“We are now moving from a situation where people have to buy homes based on a picture on the internet or a PDF floorplan.

“Now they can actually go out on the site and experience the home before it’s been built.”

He says, he believes the technology will make buying a new-build home much more attractive because it will give buyers the confidence to make decisions.

“It allows a house design to be

Stoke to get bigger New World

A land swap between Nelson City Council and Foodstuffs South Island has paved the way for a new 3,229m2 New World supermarket in Stoke. The new supermarket will stretch across the western side of Strawbridge Square, crossing the Neale Ave entrance and also covering the area currently occupied by the old Video Ezy building. Council will use the land vacated by New World in the corner of the square to replace car parking lost due to the new development. Current plans show no loss of parking in the square. The brand-new New World will be the latest generation store design, which when

placed on a section to not only walk-through the home interior, but also to figure out ideal placement on a section, check views, understand proximity to neighbours, and consider sun angles.

“Showhomes are a great way to get a feel for finishings, but there isn’t a showhome version of every single house plan that’s for sale. With the App, you can see the actual layout of the actual home you will be buying.”

He says, until now there hasn’t been a way for buyers to walk through a floorplan before it’s been built, they have had to use pieces of paper and their imagination.

“Our future goal is to make it possible to find, explore, evaluate and buy a house online. We are a long way from that, but that’s the mission we are on.

“To achieve that, it’s about giving buyers the confidence that they understand the house they are considering and the decisions they are making.”

Chris and Matt will be on site at 45 Ascot Street this Sunday 25 June at 1pm to give New Zealand’s very first AR open home.

it opens, will have a larger food hall.

Te Ramaroa returns

The outdoor light festival, Te Ramaroa, is on from 30 June until 4 July, with more than 40 installations created by primary school kids, artists, community groups, architects, scientists, and even dentists. This year, installations will be spread across Nelson’s city centre - including upper Trafalgar St, around the Cathedral, Hardy, and Bridge Sts, Morrison Square, NMIT, Albion Square, and Queens Gardens - and range from tiny discoveries to massive projections.

Two weeks ago, I wrote to the Minister of Health demanding that the Labour government come clean on why they have failed to deliver on their promise and asked for an updated timeline on the rebuild. I am yet to receive a response. We urgently need to get the hospital rebuild back on track because we need safe and modern healthcare facilities that meet the needs of our growing community. National will get New Zealand back on track by fixing the economy so we can invest in our health infrastructure and deliver the healthcare Nelsonians deserve. I will always stand up for our community, especially on issues as urgent as the hospital rebuild. Another issue that has been top of mind for many people this week has been crime and the growing gang presence in our region. In fact, new data shows gang membership has increased by around 200 per cent in Tasman since Labour came into government in 2017. This month I am hosting a public meeting with National’s Police Spokesperson Mark Mitchell to listen to your stories and discuss National’s plan to crack down on gangs and restore law and order.

LAW AND ORDER

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

Authorised by B Cameron, 544 Waimea Rd, Nelson

Harcourts owner Chris Davies and salesperson Matt Goodman say the new technology gives buyers the chance to walk around their house before it’s even built. Photo: Jo Kent.

Justin Gold’s story of success

Justin Gold, the founder of ground-breaking US nut butter company ‘Justin’s’ and a huge Nelson fan, shares his story of success and reveals what New Zealand companies need to do before trying to crack the North American market in Episode 8 of The Nelson Pod. Justin started his company as a university student in Colorado in 2004 and sold it 12 years later for $US 286 million. It’s fair to say, however, that the road to success was a rocky one. A keen mountainbiker looking for a protein snack, Justin came up with the idea of putting his nut butters in squeeze packs. Unfortunately, none of North America’s squeeze pack manufacturers wanted to do business with him because of concerns about nut allergies. Convinced the idea would work, Justin borrowed US $75,000 and bought a second-hand squeeze pack machine. He spent a year figuring out how to how make it, launched the product in the energy bar sections of a group

of supermarkets and, to his horror, watched the product spectacularly flop. After three months of the packs not selling, the supermarkets’ buyer asked Justin to remove them from its shelves. As a last ditch effort, Justin moved the packs to the spreads section and sales took off. Not only did the squeeze packs turn out to be a success, they also led to more people buying them as tasters, which led to even more sales of jars of the company’s products.

Justin has spent the last 12 months living with his family in different spots around New Zealand.

Nelson wasn’t originally on the Golds’ radar but numerous mountain bikers they met told them they would love it. Those people were right because upon arriving in Nelson the family quickly came to the conclusion that they should have spent the whole year here and just done trips to other parts of the country.

UNLOCKING the economic POTENTIAL of Nelson Tasman

“I love the community. I love how it’s a very safe community, it’s a very warm and welcoming community and it’s a cycling-friendly community. I love the markets. Unlike some other communities that we’ve visited in New Zealand, it’s not overly fancy; there aren’t massive homes everywhere and there isn’t a lot of ego in the community and I really appreciate that, Everyone’s really in it together and I really like that,” Justin says.

Nelson’s Proper Crisps wins foodie award

JO KENT

Stoke-based manufacturer Proper Crisps has won Best Food Product for their Cheeza Peno Tortilla Chips at the 2023 Naturally Good Awards held in Sydney.

The two-day event saw over 270 exhibitors showcase food, beverages, beauty, health, socially-conscious products, homewares and more.

Category marketing manager at Proper Crisps, Nikki Neate, says it’s a huge achievement and they are so happy to share it with the whole Proper Crisps team.

“It’s recognition for our team and their total obsession with making every bite matter for customers and consumers. Naturally Good are the purveyors of premium, natural, FMCG products so it’s like the godfathers of natural, saying, ‘Hey Proper, we love what you do and keep doing it.’ And we will.”

The award is the 24th the company has won, but this is the first which has been awarded overseas.

“We’ve been selling in Australia since 2019,” says gen-

eral manager Andy Leonard.

“But only manufacturing there since last year so it’s a great achievement.”

Nikki says that producing a natural crisp is in the Proper Crisps DNA.

“We were doing allergen-free and plant-based be-

fore anyone else in the crisp aisle and using real ingredients. It started when our former owner Mina picked rosemary and thyme from her garden, ground it, and added it to our crisps. That’s all.

“We make all our own sea-

sonings from scratch, sourcing dried and dehydrated versions of the real ingredient – which means we never add chemical flavours, nothing artificial, no essences, let’s-pretend flavours, or cheap fillers and, of course, allergens.”

The NBS Volunteer Expo

Saturday, 24 June, 10-2pm, Annesbrook Church, Saxton

A significant event on the Nelson / Tasman calendar that celebrates and highlights the efforts of all volunteers from cultural groups to environmental charities all the way through to social care organisations. Come and see what it’s like to be a volunteer.

Shortest Day Longest Ride 2023

Thursday, 22 June, 7am, Mapua Wharf

Second edition of the My Ride Richmond shortest day longest ride for 2023. Meet at the Mapua Ferry on Mapua Wharf for a 7am depart to Rabbit Island for a full clockwise lap of the Great Taste Trail.

Nelson Dance Along

Sunday, 25 June, 7.30-11pm, Richmond Town Hall

Plate for Supper, Music by Warren Fenemor, Cost $6 per person Everyone Welcome. Contact Rosalie Winter Phone (03)538-0133.

General manager Andy Leonard and marketing manager Nikki Neate with their awardwinning chips. Photo: Jo Kent.

Justin Gold shares the story of his success and offers advice to exporters on The Nelson Pod.

Photo: Be Seen More. Watch or listen on: thenelsonpod.co.nz

YOU’LL ALWAYS FIND WHAT YOU NEED

in Richmond

SPEND $150 PROMOTION

We were so pleased to see the uptake of our Spend $150 and receive $20 promotion alongside Richmond Mall. It well exceeded our expectations and budget! The promotion has now ended but you can still use your $20 voucher until July 31. A big thank you for supporting our local retailers.

MATARIKI LIGHT COMPETITION

Tasman District Council are running a Light Competition for Matariki. There will be three classes; school/ class, business and household and your task is to create a light lantern, light sculpture or light display which encompasses the essence or a component of Matariki. The winner in each class will receive a lunch shout on TDC! For more information visit – www.tasman.govt.nz

FEAST WHAKATU

Feast Whakatū 2023

– is Nelson/Tasman’s Newest Event. It will be a celebration of the incredible diversity and craftsmanship the Nelson Tasman region has to offer.

Held between the 17th and 26th of November 2023, this 10-day foodie showcase will have over 30 experiences and events for locals and visitors to attend.

This is a great opportunity for Richmond based growers, producers, brands, chefs and eateries to showcase what they have on offer. Get in touch with the team and find out how you can get involved - www.feastwhakatu.nz

Winter energy savings

There was a comment in your Street Talk section in the Wednesday 24 May edition where a lady said her top winter tip for saving energy was to set the heat pump on auto. As a retired heat pump installer and serviceman I can tell you that this is completely wrong and will waste much energy. As heat pumps have one degree of sensitivity, when set at 20 degrees on auto setting it will heat until one degree above 20. It will then switch to cooling until one degree below this setting. It will fluctuate from heating to cooling within this two degree range and so will heat up to 21 degrees then cool to 19 degrees. This two degree range of fluctuation on auto will use much more energy. If you want it to heat, set it on heating. If you want it to cool, set it on cooling. This will save a lot more energy than setting it on auto. AC technicians know this.

Alan Livingstone

Vaping on the rise at Colleges

Thank you to our government who has let this happen with no restrictions on the attractive flavours such as bubble gum targeting kids and no cap on the number of vaping specialists allowed within an area and no restrictions how close they are allowed to operate near schools. When vaping was originally permitted in NZ, it was to encourage smokers to quit cigarettes and lower their nicotine intake. However they were warned by the Asthma & Respiratory Foundation NZ that restrictions should be put in place so that youth wouldn’t take on vaping. Nothing was done, a few years down the line in NZ we have now 20 per cent of 13 to 15 years old who are now vaping on a regular basis. A new problem that didn’t exist before. It really infuriates me how our government is short-sighted at times!!

Ali Baba

Cameras not a goer at notorious Queen St lights

As a taxi driver in Richmond, I see this all the time. I have phoned the police and was

told the cameras don’t belong to them, they are council property and they suggested I write down the plates of the vehicles I see doing it!? It’s not my job to do theirs and they don’t seem to want to do anything about it despite it being an obvious issue with multiple public complaints and news articles about it like this one. By 12pm each day the motorway is backed up past Raewards because of those lights and same issues from 3pm with backed up traffic well past Nelson Pine.

1. Lights need to get recalibrated to alleviate driver frustration 2. The intersection needs to be policed and red-light runners fined. 3. The police and council need to work together to sort this issue and the public need to stop on an orange light before there is a fatality there.

Katie Prosser

Hmm - who would have thought letting developers put a couple of thousand new homes on the opposite side of the road to the town centre would cause traffic issues? Some forward planning wouldn’t have gone a miss.

Janet Ellison

Motueka Library’s award

The headline in the 7 June Nelson Weekly and Waimea Weekly was – ‘Award-winning Motueka Library remains popular’. I saw it last year - and boy - what an excellent building with a true combination of form and function. So much better than the ‘sqare box buildings’ you see going up today.

Anton Hyman

New principal appointed for Waimea College

All the best Fraser, we are going to miss you terribly. Waimea, you are getting an absolute super star, our loss is your gain.

Nicola Mckay

Welcome both of you. We were at Te Awamutu College together. I was a year ahead of you both!

Jo

Brydon

Knew him when he was a first year teacher in Te Awamutu.

Lesley Ormsby-Dodd

Congratulations, to the new

principal and well done to the board on a rigorous process! Big shoes to fill as Scott has been an excellent leader. My four children have had a wonderful experience at Waimea.

Don McLean

Welcome! Buckle up and good luck!

Aimee Louise

So young! Our Dr Gallas seemed very old, austere and scary! Quite a long time ago now!

Lois Ronberg

Gold star service for fire fighter

A truly great New Zealander, amazing achievement and thank you for your service, Nathan.

Pugsy Beau Jangles

Well done Nathan. Simon Collett

Well done Nathan, great work.

John Ross

Woooo!! Love it guys! Congratulations.

Danni Bett

Richmond’s delightful local café

Big thank you from Ulysses Club for excellent service and looking after us.

Lorraine Lindsay

Their eggs bene is spot on! It’s a lovely venue, great service, lots of choices.

Shaz Amatazz

A new medal and no retirement for Eileen

Congratulations, Eileen... so incredibly deserved for such a wonderful and dedicated lady.

Craig

Mills

High fuel prices to get higher

No way, Nelsonians getting ripped off??? Never heard that one before, said not a single person living in Nelson.

Rayon Mackenzie

Yes, and it’s not trucked as far.

Ian Fisher

Matilda was a lady of many talents

ROBYN PARKES

Many times, in days gone past, much is written about the men in a community.

But, in comparison, not so much about the women behind the men.

One such lady was Matilda Gustava Croucher, wife of John Martin Croucher, Mayor of Richmond.

Matilda was born in Ranzau in 1845 where she lived for much of her life.

She was the second child of Johann Friedrich August Kelling, better known as Fedor, and Johanna Christiana Lampe.

Fedor and Johanna had arrived in New Zealand via the ship Skiold in September 1844 from Germany.

Fedor and his brother Charles were put in charge of this expedition of German settlers who were

to come out on the ship. The pair were also tasked with the management of the land that Count Ranzau had purchased.

In 1859 Fedor was appointed a Justice of the Peace and in 1869 became German Consul in Nelson.

Life in early Waimea East was tough and the young community experienced many hardships, but with the resolute attitude of Matilda’s father the family overcame the difficulties.

Fedor was a keen educationist and staunch supporter of any forward progress; therefore he saw to it that Matilda, along with her siblings, attended the best schools in the district.

Shortly after leaving school, Matilda established a successful private school in Richmond where she proved to be a very gifted teacher.

She was much thought of by the

parents of her students.

In 1881, Matilda gave up teaching when she became the second wife of John Croucher.

John’s first wife, Elizabeth nee Jary, had died a year earlier in 1880 which had left 10 children motherless.

Matilda stepped into the role as a mother of all ten children, ranging from ages 17 to just one year old.

John and Matilda also had one daughter together, Ethel Louise, who became well-known in musical circles in Christchurch as a violinist.

Having studied for nearly five years at the Leipzig Conservatorium she was awarded the Helbig Diploma and Scholarship of Honours, a distinction that only one other New Zealander, to this time, had been awarded.

Matilda continued to play a role in the community and was, for

many years, a valued worker for the local Anglican Church. She managed the family home which fronted Queen Street and was known as ‘Isleden’, and supported John in his business at Croucher’s Mill.

The mill had experienced a fire in 1878, however, John rebuilt a more modern and efficient mill which he named ‘Phoenix Flour’ in reference to its rise from the ashes.

By 1903 a bakery and store were built in front of the mill.

John was a civic man and served as mayor of Richmond from 1903 to 1907 with Matilda acting as host at many formal functions in her role as mayoress.

Matilda died peacefully at her residence on the 22nd of September 1933 and was buried in the Richmond Cemetery beside her husband who had predeceased her in 1916.

The headstone of Matilda Gustava Croucher, nee Kelling, at Richmond Cemetery, with her husband buried beside her.

Photo: Supplied.

Laying the foundation for growth, success and achievement within its learners

Founded in 2002, Kāreti o GarinGarin College, inspired by the faith and visionary leadership of Father Antoine Marie Garin, embodies the unwavering commitment of the Catholic Community in restoring Catholic Secondary Education in Te Tau Ihu - Top of the South. As a state-integrated co-ed Catholic College, Kāreti o Garin stands as a beacon of excellence, nurturing both education and faith development for learners. Its remarkable growth and enduring presence illuminate a bright future for all. Celebrating 21 years of educating,

supporting and nurturing its learners, the founders believe that the college epitomises the significant work that Father Garin had started all those years ago.

Known as the ‘Apostle of Education’, Father Garin was a French Catholic Marist Priest, a missionary who established Catholic education, churches and faith community in Te Tau Ihu from 1850 and on through the following 40 years.

Father Garin strongly believed that education was the key that allowed young people to make their way into the world. In 1999, Cardinal Thomas

Williams recognised a growing need for a Secondary Catholic College in the region and received the full support of the then Minister of Education, Nick Smith.

Garin was the first state or state integrated College to open in New Zealand for 27 years and within a very short space of time the site was blessed, and the first soil turned in January of 2001. With the Catholic community mission to grow Garin College as a centre of excellence for Education and Faith development, the architecturally-designed college was opened on January 28, 2002.

Principal, John Maguire says the college’s values are founded on the teachings of Christ within the Gospels and underpin the relationships they aspire to where the dignity of all is upheld.

Generosity through service and community, Aroha through manaakitanga and compassion, Rangimarie through whanaungatanga and dignity, Integrity through pono, truth and justice, and New Life through hope and forgiveness lie at the core of the college.

“Our Catholic Special Character and lived Values guide the positive culture and learning

environment we evidence in the College.”

When asked to reflect on his role as the principal, John responded, “I recognise within my role, alongside our board, staff, learners and community, a significant responsibility for guardianship within the college. If we are to succeed in our mission, we must take time to connect, to learn and to know our heritage and our Garin story, it is rich in faith, tikanga māori and wairua.

This is the privilege we share with our learners each day at Garin, it is through sharing in our mission and vision as a

After twenty one years we again acknowledge an architect Les Clapcott, a team leader Arthur Grant, a project manager Greg McFetridge and a group of builders & subcontractors who built a school for the future of the Nelson Tasman region.

Each family that was enrolled at the school upon its inception was invited to bring a rock that they felt best represented their family. These rocks were used to create the school's cairn where the cross was placed. It is an icon and a monument of great significant meaning to Garin College.

College that we can overcome challenges, enlighten the lives of others and lay the foundation for growth, success and achievement within our learners.”

Garin College places active emphasis on inspired student leadership alongside a comprehensive pastoral care

network that includes a vertical Whānau class format that fosters growth and inclusive relationships between the students, their teachers and support staff.

Student well-being and learning is supported by a broad and comprehensive curriculum. Alongside classroom

based learning the College celebrates rich and diverse learning opportunities outside the classroom including the well-established Journey Programme for year levels 9 to 13 each year. Learners enjoy opportunities and outstanding success within the extensive co-curricular programme in sport, performing arts and culture.

John states that, “Our learners are our inspiration, their engagement in our college life and wider community is outstanding, their unique participation, talent and creativity within performing arts, academia, sport and culture is heartening. The environment we strive to create and maintain at Garin is one of inclusion and self-expression, it is within this climate we see our learners at their best, functioning well, growing and flourishing. As a college now 21 years established, we are actively engaged in exploring and developing initiatives to enhance our existing learning and assessment framework. Embracing this change is essential, we look forward to tomorrow and the future to ensure we maximise opportunities for our Rangatahi.”

With a roll of 600 students, and growing, Garin provides a safe space for learners to feel welcome and supported. “The College is on track to

reach our maximum roll of 670 students enrolled by 2025. With approved property development to the value of $5.6 million, the Garin Board is in the process of designing four new classrooms, a multipurpose centre and additional resource space to be built and ready to meet the expected roll growth.” Building completion of Te Wharemaru O Garin - place of shelter and protection, is almost complete and soon to be opened.

“The vision for the whare started with looking at the school's needs, and a limited covered space was a key driver. This is a new and exciting development that will provide increased shade and shelter for learners. The architecture is sympathetic to that of the College and constructed in the form of traditional Māori whare, the decorative panels, facade and four pou recognise and speak to the localised Kāreti o Garin curriculum.”

Established at the same time as the

PROUD TO SUPPLY QUALITY MEAT AND PRODUCE TO garin college

Building of Te Wharemaru O Garin – place of shelter and protection, is almost complete and soon to be opened. (Artist’s impression)

College, the Garin hostel also opened its doors in 2002 to provide boarding for boys and girls from across the top of the South Island and as far away as the Chatham Islands. The vision of the Garin College Hostel is for all students seeking a Catholic secondary education in Te Tau Ihu are able attend the College as a boarder in the hostel.

Commonly, the hostel accommodates boarders from as far afield as Kaikoura, Blenheim, Westport, Golden Bay and everywhere in between.

Garin Boarding Hostels consist of Mother Teresa House for female students and Francis Douglas House for male students. The hostels are modern, and vibrant places, overseen by hostel parents, and designed to be like large family homes, creating a living in a family environment for 28 boarders in each house. Long-time supporter of Garin

College, Bob Powick has been involved with the school since before its inception. He has had a multitude of family members attend the college and was a member of the establishment committee of the school’s two hostels.

“Garin is a great little college that provides above all an extremely safe and caring environment for its families. They are passionate about making a difference and provide a phenomenal remedial system to help those who are struggling. They help to educate and support those who wouldn’t pass otherwise.”

In today's environment especially, it is important for students to have a solid platform from which to learn, says Bob, and Garin College provide that setting, the students up well for the future.

“The people at the top make the difference and set the standard.

They have made a difference for a lot of families, and the school has produced some great students.

I believe people learn better in a caring environment.”

“The main idea behind the hostel was to create a safe home-awayfrom-home environment for students from the Top of South, with people the students can talk to. It is run separately from the college, but we work under the same values as the school to help get the best result for the students.”

The Garin College hostel and the boarders bring a vibrancy to the college community, learners meet and interact with their peers who bring a range of life experiences from their communities across this vast region. Boarding at Garin offers great experiences and the chance to meet new people, experience new cultures and make new friends. Being in Nelson and at Garin College offers great opportunities to be involved in schoolbased, after-school and weekend activities.

The Father Garin carving on display in the school’s library integrates symbols unique to Garin College. Presented to the school by Jim Davis, the silhouette of Father Garin incorporates the names of the then principal, deputy principal, 25 staff members and 305 students who started at the school.

Callout for biosecurity champions

The call has gone out for entries to awards that recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions to protecting New Zealand against unwanted pests and diseases.

Entries are now open for the 2023 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards - a way of celebrating people and organisations across Aotearoa who are contributing to biosecurity.

“There are many incredible people across New Zealand in communities, schools, iwi and hapū,

businesses, government, and their backyards doing their part to protect and preserve our country’s rich and unique biodiversity,” says Biosecurity New Zealand’s deputy-director general Stuart Anderson.

“Their important work plays a critical part in ensuring New Zealand’s biosecurity system remains resilient, effective, and world-class.

“A strong biosecurity system takes all of us. We are grateful to receive continued support for

these awards from our fantastic sponsors – AsureQuality, Eagle Technology, Government Industry Agreement (GIA), Mondiale VGL, and New Zealand’s Biological Heritage – we couldn’t do it without them,” he says. Previous finalists and winners have spanned the entire biosecurity system, from collaborations between central and local government to iwi, businesses and community organisations.

Last year’s Supreme Award winner Wilderlab took out the top

spot for their work in developing technology that can reveal the native and pest species that are present in just a cupful of water.

Shaun Wilkinson, founder and chief executive of Wilderlab, says the laboratory’s success in the New Zealand Biosecurity Awards drove a sharp increase in the uptake of environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring across the country.

“The recognition of our laboratory has drawn attention to the enormous possibilities that

emerging technologies such as eDNA can offer,” Shaun says. “Thousands of kilometres of Aotearoa’s waterways are being monitored for tens of thousands of species every week, enabling early detections of unwanted organisms.”

Entries for the 2023 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards close at 5pm Monday, 31 July.

To find out more about the New Zealand Biosecurity Awards and to enter visit www.thisisus.nz

Celebrating bees with big beekeepers’ day out

ELOISE MARTYN

Distributed to 12,232 homes in Richmond, Hope, Brightwater, Wakefield and Murchison. 5000 rural properties including all farms and lifestyle blocks and small towns.

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With one-third of the world’s food production depending on bees, the insects are vitally important.

We all know that pollination is a necessary process to help crops grow, but did you know that bees pollinate 75 per cent of all leading global crops? In light of how important bees are, World Bee Day is celebrated globally in the month of May. In line with this celebration, a Beekeepers’ Day Out was hosted for South Island Apiarist’s - the fancy and correct title for a beekeeper.

The goal of World Bee Day is to acknowledge the role bees and other pollinators have on our ecosystem. Bees are under threat worldwide, they are vital for plant life and if we end up with less bees it would mean far fewer apples, pears, soft fruits, beans, tomatoes and more. New Zealand has 10,165 registered beekeepers with a total of 718,214 hives spread across the country.

Nick Milne has been a beekeeper for the past 25 years and, although based in Wakefield, the bees he cares for are in many locations throughout Tasman and Nelson.

Bulk fuel delivery you can depend on

“I enjoyed attending the Beekeepers’ Day out which was part of World Bee Day and held at Lincoln University. The day is helpful to get insights of what is happening in the industry as well as get information around supporting bee health.” Nick says “There was a good turn out with around one hundred South Island beekeepers attending.”

The beekeepers heard from speakers on a range of topics including honeybee health, honey market updates, sustainability in beekeeping and beekeeper health. A well-received talk was given from New Zealand Trees for Bees research trust, who are a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to solve problems of malnutrition and starvation in bees for agricultural and horticultural production in New Zealand.

“Trees and Bees were one of the organisations that presented, their focus was on the importance of everyone planting a range of bee-friendly plants and in particular planting flowers that bloom at different times of the year, so bees have a constant source of nectar and pollen especially through autumn and winter,” Nick explains. At this time of year locals can help bee populations by planting plants such as lavender, salvia, rosemary and oregano, and shrubs such as michelia yunnanensis and the native koromiko. Those with larger properties might like to consider planting yellow gum trees, lacebark or puriri.

Trees and Bees also highlighted the care needed around pesticides.

“Using pesticides should be

done in a way that can keep local pollinators safe, such as spraying after sunset, in calm and dry conditions and away from budding flowers,” Nick adds.

Before spraying large areas with insecticides, landowners are urged to get in touch with owners of any beehives in the area and inform contractors of the locations of nearby beehives. Bees commonly forage within a five-kilometre radius of their hive and may go further if food sources are scarce.

Here in New Zealand bees supply an export honey industry worth more than $348 million, but they are not just producers of honey. Bees are responsible for pollinating tree and crop farms, dairy farms and some forestry. They also play a part in animal meat production. They have a major effect on our ecosystem, therefore their health and survival have far-reaching impacts on the local economy and environment.

The easiest ways to help bees is to plant bee-friendly gardens, use sprays and pesticides in a bee-safe way and provide fresh, pesticide-free drinking water –fill a small dish and place small rocks or twigs in the water for the bees to rest on.

Beekeepers’ Day Out connected the industry. Photo: Supplied.

Hope-grown flowers head to Japan

ELOISE MARTYN

Nestled away just off the main road of Hope is two hectares of carefully selected, high-quality flowers.

These flowers are grown to meet niche markets overseas, such as Japanese weddings and hotel foyers in the Unites States.

It is also home to the only commercially grown nerines, a lilylike flower native to South Africa, in New Zealand.

Richard and Sarah Mangin purchased the property 23 years ago and transformed it from horse paddocks to a productive flower farm.

“We didn’t have plans to put flowers in when we brought, we explored a range of options but being a small piece of land standard crops weren’t going to be viable,” Richard says.

“There was good logic behind the flower market when we looked into it.”

Due to the climate and location the flowers grown are available on the market when other flower growers are not producing, therefore fitting into niche market windows.

The couple, being the only workers on the farm, have cleverly set the property up to allow them-

selves a summer and winter break.

The cut flower export market for New Zealand sits around $16m annually, which is down from $19m pre-Covid levels.

“Worldwide, Covid lockdowns really affected us,” says Sarah. “In the big lockdown in 2020 we were mid harvest for our nerines, with no planes flying we had no choice but to take to them with the scrub cutter. It was heart-breaking and we received no compensation for a crop that usually produces us 80,000 high-quality stems for export.”

The couple report that the demand for their nerines (colours whites, pinks, salmons) have recently returned to pre-Covid levels.

Hellebores (winter roses) and a selection of proteas (a South African flowering shrub, also called sugarbushes) are also grown on the farm. Proteas date back around 300 million years and are considered to be amongst the oldest families of flowering plants on the planet.

In South Africa proteas symbolize diversity, change and courage.

Richard and Sarah’s proteas are around twenty years old and have a wide variety, including the very popular, and stunning, white king

protea. The increased unpredictable weather events affected them last year for the first time ever. “Proteas don’t like wet feet, they can die quickly if their roots sit in waterlogged or wet ground too long,” Richard says. “Last winter, for the first time ever, parts of our property went under water from the build-up of the constant rain we had received. The water sat around for a few weeks, it wasn’t a good time.”

back well.

The flowers are exported to a range of countries including Asia, Japan, and the USA.

Richard and Sarah hand-pick all the flowers, then package them carefully in a way that the delicate blooms will survive their journey undamaged. They are then delivered to Auckland and sent on to expecting countries from there.

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Luckily, the valuable plants survived and surprisingly bounced

The

It’s an amazing thought to think that 9,346km away in Japan, or even further 12,535km away in the States, fresh flowers that were

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grown locally in Hope are being admired, enjoyed, or put to use in stunning works of floral art. “We enjoy growing things, so this suits us,” Richard says. “Flower farming has given us an amazing lifestyle. When the kids were younger, we were able to be there after school. Our kids enjoyed sailing and we were able to make time to regularly sail as a family which was really neat. We are also in a great location being walking distance to Richmond, you can’t really ask for much more.”

Dried white king proteas. Photo: Supplied.

Richard and Sarah Mangin with their white king proteas. Photo: Supplied.

Learning the art of trapping

ELOISE MARTYN

New Zealand is home to many unique and ancient species of birds, frogs, lizards and plants. Our animal and plant life is distinct because we have been geologically isolated for 85 million years since we split from the supercontinent of Gondwana. Many of our species are found nowhere else on Earth and this isolation makes them vulnerable to introduced predators such as rats, stoats and possums.

New Zealand is working its way towards a very ambitious goal of being predator-free by 2050. To be successful it’s requiring new collaborations, innovation and active communities.

Recently a group of year 11-13 students (16-18years old) have had the opportunity to learn about predator control in the form of ground-based, pest-control traplines. A trapline is a route along which a trapper sets traps to catch

predators. Traps are used to target specific pests such as stoats, rats and hedgehogs and they are designed not to attract or harm other species. This type of pest control is vital to ensure our unique native species survive.

“The state of our environment can be overwhelming for us all, our programme teaches our young people that they can have a positive impact on the environment,” explains Rosey Joyce, lead instructor of the Environmental Sustainability programme offered through Whenua Iti Outdoors.

“Majority of the students on the four-week course had never touched a trap a before, so to see them go from no trapline knowledge to competent to the extent some intend to set up their own traps at home in their back yards is really cool.”

Part of the course involves educating the students on the purpose of trapping and understanding animal be-

haviour. Trapping can help save our native species, prevent costly property damage, keep homegrown food and crops safe, prevent an infestation, and halt the spread of diseases by rats. The group also learnt how to not only check the traps but also maintain them. The group has been involved in different trapline operations. They had a great time checking and carrying out maintenance on traplines in the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park as well as time spent at the Healthpost Nature Trust eco-sanctuary on Cape Farewell in Golden Bay. The sanctuary features a predator-proof fence to protect a bird nesting site where rare and endangered species such as pāteke (brown teal), diving petrels and fluttering shearwaters are being reintroduced. “It’s been really cool for us to be involved in different levels of trapping, some have technology that we had not seen before like trail cameras

and the predator-proof fence.” Rosey adds.

“By providing opportunities for students to take their learnings outside of the classroom and into a practical setting, while still gaining NCEA credits, the students get the freedom to connect with the environment and to species that we are trying to protect,” explains Rosey, “They take that sense of connection with them when they leave the course, they feel and understand that they are Kaitiaki - caretakers of the land.”

Whenua Iti Outdoors have also established a community trapline on their 7.5-hectare grounds located in Lower Moutere. “We really want to support other community groups that want to establish traplines and are not sure how to get started,” says Rosey. “We have different traps so we can show people how to use a range of traps, it’s a free resource and we are happy to show anyone who is interested.”

In our 3rd year under new management Johnson’s Barge Service Ltd continue to provide support to the Marlborough Aquaculture Industry. We pride ourselves on being able to assist in various different areas of the industry with our aim to make their jobs straight forward, cost effective & efficient.

‘Manatu’ & ‘Pukatea’ continue to service the salmon farms in Pelorus along with delivery of Smolt to restock salmon supply. Our harvest barge ‘Mahoe’ harvest salmon in both the Queen Charlotte & Pelorus Sounds all year round & this year set to be joined with other vessels from the fleet later in the year to meet the seasonal demands of New Zealand King Salmon with their new initiatives & requirements.

Our small vessel Titoki tows cages, carts tankers & assist with installing & removing various farm equipment where required. Johnsons Barge Service have a long-standing relationship with the New Zealand King Salmon Farming Industry and are always here to help.

The longstanding relationship with the wider Aquaculture industry continues with the support of the Havelock Mussel Festival, and other industry partners, assisting with a variety of different tasks.

Outside the aquaculture realm we provide support to a wide customer base including Mooring Servicing and Installation, Diving support, Forestry and Logging, Building & Construction, Heavy Haulage and bulk materials among much more.

For all your on water logistics we are here to help.

deliver or collect just about anything, including building supplies, gravel, fertilizer & stock. We also look after swing moorings.

Waimea College’s Cooper Phipps checking a trap in the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park. Photo: Supplied.

Red Cross funds leadership programme

ANNE HARDIE

The first Red Cross-funded leadership programme at Bridge Valley Adventure Centre has got the thumbs up from students and teachers and is likely to lead to more camps.

Students from Waimea Intermediate took part in the threeday, two-night camp at the Wakefield centre recently as part of a pilot project funded by Red Cross.

Red Cross Nelson president, John Davies, says the organisation wants to do more for the region’s youth and that led to the pilot project at Bridge Valley. “We’re in a situation where people can barely feed their kids and so they are not going to send their kids to Bridge Valley because they can’t afford it.”

Legacies given to Red Cross provide funding for community projects and John says the organisation is at a stage where it is re-evaluating where the money will be spent.

Bridge Valley guest services team leader, Kirsty Mercer, says

the leadership development camp worked with student leaders where they were given difficult tasks under pressure.

The goal was to achieve key outcomes such as self-management, conflict resolution, using initiative, working as a team towards goals, plus an instructor-led self-review module.

She says the centre has had a long history with Red Cross, but the pilot project was a new and developing initiative.

The next step will be offering the programme to students from a variety of local schools.

Waimea Intermediate team leader Karina Rako says students gained new leadership skills which they continued to build on back at school.

“It was fantastic to see our students having fun, working together, developing trust in each other and watching them grow as leaders over the three days we were there.”

She says the school could not have provided the experience for students without the funding from Red Cross.

It was grit and determination which got the Year 4 boys through the first race in the Interschool Cross Country 2023 competition last week. Richmond, St Paul’s and Henley were among the primary schools taking part in the 2km loop at Stoke’s Greenmeadows playing fields. Grandparent Kim Sutton says it was a wonderful day to watch the kids battle it out. “It’s such beautiful weather for this time of year, we are so lucky to be able to come and see them in their element.” Photo: Jo Kent.

Update from Rachel Boyack MP

Last week was an exciting week for Nelson, with the celebration of the beginning of one big project, and the start of another.

On Wednesday we opened 14 new Habitat for Humanity homes in Stoke. 12 of these homes have been built with $3 million of funding support from the Government’s Progressive Home Ownership programme. It was wonderful to celebrate with the families moving into these warm, dry and affordable homes. My congratulations to all involved in the project, especially those who supported the build through volunteering and financial support. Habitat Nelson have more homes planned for Stoke and Richmond, so more local families can be supported into home ownership.

The Government’s public housing provider has also announced 49 new public homes to be developed in Nelson South. These are desperately needed and will make a big difference in addressing Nelson’s housing needs.

On Tuesday we marked the beginning of the development of the Port Nelson slipway. The Government has provided nearly $10 million towards this project, which will support jobs in the marine engineering sector, while also protecting the environment.

This week I’m at Parliament, and meeting with local health and Police leaders. On Friday I’m visiting more Nelson housing projects and the Nelson Community Foodbank.

Waimea Intermediate students tackled a range of tasks during the pilot project. Photo: Supplied.

Empathy Meets Expertise: Atkinson Crehan Law transforms the legal landscape.

Two months in, the new firm Atkinson Crehan Law is going from strength to strength. Keep an eye out for their new signage and branding which they are super proud of!

The firm combines the expertise of former Knapps Partners and now founding directors Jacintha AtkinsonManson and Amanda Crehan, with the ongoing expertise of Christine Allison, Kirsty Goodall, Nick Moore, Merv Huston, Marie Austin, Alison Macbeth, and Sarah Clements, alongside Hamish Kennedy (formerly Kennedy & Associates) who is based in the Motueka office. They are also delighted to welcome Judith Stamper to their Motueka team. You will also find many other familiar faces when you walk into any of their three offices with many of the previous Knapps' support team remaining with the new firm.

By creating a more collaborative environment the team is dedicated to building a flexible, adaptable and cohesive future-focused firm providing a

comprehensive, integrated service. “We believe in making your experience with us as easy as possible. You'll get expert, friendly advice from our qualified legal staff who know what they are doing. We are in the business of law because we love what we do, we enjoy helping our clients, and we believe in making a positive difference.”

With offices in Richmond, Motueka and Nelson, the team at Atkinson Crehan Law have the ability to accommodate clients throughout the region and to ensure they have the best person for the job. The firm has embraced new technology, using cloud-based systems as well as audio visual technology to deliver its services to clients beyond the Nelson Tasman Region- the sky is the limit!

Atkinson Crehan Law are recruiting both legal and non-legal staff interested in a career in the law, with opportunities available across all three sites. "You will be working in a law firm that truly values what you will bring to the firm.

We will provide ongoing mentoring with some well-respected, long-standing staff members who have continued to work with us through the transformation of our new firm. You’ll have the opportunity to build on your skills to develop and grow and also have the chance to extend yourself and build a truly rewarding career. Please check out our careers page on our website for more information.”

Atkinson Crehan Law continues to offer the following services: Property and Commercial Law, Estate & Asset Planning, Estate Administration, Wills and Powers of Attorney, Family Trusts, Dispute Resolution, Subdivisions and Relationship Property.

“You will find useful information about current topics, along with the people you can talk to should you need our help, on our website.”

Atkinson Crehan Law - Where expertise and empathy go hand in hand.

www.atkinsoncrehan.co.nz

Ink Creative specialises in creating brands for businesses, building websites, copywriting, photography, graphic design and launching marketing campaigns across digital and print.

ā-Motu

National Volunteer Week (Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu) celebrates the collective contribution of all volunteers who enrich Aotearoa, including the wonderful locals who volunteer in our region. Running from June 18 - 24, it is a time to recognise and celebrate those who generously donate their time and skills and take a moment to thank our volunteers for the tremendous work they do. Volunteers are a rich collective of people who help to connect communities, through a myriad of organisations - the list is truly endless.

NBS Volunteer Expo 2023

NBS Volunteer Expo 2023 is a collaboration between Volunteer

Nelson and Age Concern, sponsored by NBS and supported by Tasman District Council, which provides a unique platform for community organisations to recruit volunteers and network with the community. It gives exhibitors a chance to engage and connect with visitors and prospective volunteers, and the Expo also enables these organisations to raise their profiles. It is an opportunity for locals to visit over 40 groups that support many different causes. There will be a broad selection to choose from with everything from personal health, aged support, heritage protection, environmental and social responsibility programmes to sporting

associations. Connecting and strengthening social ties with others promotes a healthy mental well-being, and getting involved doesn’t require hours of precious time. Visit the Expo and see how

you can benefit!

There will be a kids play area available as well as a pop-up Wellby Talking Café. Visit Annesbrook Community Church on June 24, from 10am until 2pm.

St John Nelson Tasman

National Volunteer Week is the per-

fect opportunity for Hato Hone St John to shine a light on the amazing work of its more than 8,000 volunteers nationwide.

Hato Hone St John has volunteers across Nelson Tasman who give back via a variety of roles, from ambulance operations and Major Incident Support Team, to St John retail stores and charitable community health initiatives, including Health Shuttles, Friends of the Emergency Department, Therapy Pets, Caring Callers, St John Youth, Area Committees, and community educators. Tracy Simonsen, Hato Hone St John Nelson & Tasman Bays Area committee chair, says, “We are extremely grateful for the time and effort that each of our volunteers give, whether it’s responding to emergencies, helping people live independently or get social connections, raising vital funds or teaching first aid, and skills to our youth cadets. We are always looking for new

Last year our volunteers dedicated hours of van riding, talking, listening, laughing and, playing. �ey positively impacted the lives of so many older people, children, youth and their families in the Marlborough region

Nelson Tasman Hospice Volunteers Liz Gillespie, Krisca Gould and Jan Lord.

volunteers as they help deliver on our Waka Manaaki strategy.”

Visit www.join.stjohn.org.nz or contact (03) 548 8157 for more information.

Connection and community through Presbyterian Support Enliven – Thanks to our

volunteers!

Dale Felmingham was introduced to Presbyterian Support’s Enliven service after being invited to play piano to their members.

Maaike Faber-van Burik, Enliven Team Leader, says Dale connects extremely well with their clients, and brings a warm, fun and positive energy to their programme. Dale is one of almost 200 volunteers supporting their local community through Presbyterian Support Upper South Island (PSUSI) and says he enjoys helping others but being part of the Enliven community has also made him feel valued and more connected.

“Our Enliven volunteers are vital to the work we do,” says Maaike. “They

Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu national volunteer week

help create an environment that is inviting and homely, and something they look forward to each week.”

Last year, volunteers positively impacting the lives of many older people and their families in the region. Opportunities such as minivan driving and helping with programme activities ensure there are plenty of ways for someone to give back. To learn more about Enliven, contact Maaike: 03 265 5224 maaikef@psusi. org.nz or visit www.psuppersouth. org.nz/volunteer.

Honouring Hospice Volunteers this National Volunteer Week Hospice volunteers play an invaluable role in the lives of patients and their families, offering support at a challenging time. National Volunteer Week is the perfect time to acknowledge those extraordinary individuals who gift their time, talents, and compassion to support those in need. Despite the dedication of over 500 volunteers, the ongoing demand for

support means there is always a need for more helping hands. Nelson Tasman Hospice has a variety of voluntary roles available, catering to most interests, skills, and schedules. Krisca Gould, hospice’s volunteer programme Manager, explains that volunteers can focus their time which then makes the role they are performing that much better. “Volunteer roles can fit around your schedule, allowing you to give the time you’d like to give.”

Nicole Goldsmith gave time to volunteer for hospice last year, gaining work experience in an administration role. When asked how she fits volunteering in her schedule, she explained, “You don’t need to give much time; an hour a week is better than nothing.”

Volunteering with hospice gives individuals the opportunity to match their commitment with their personal schedules and interests. For more information, please contact Krisca Gould on 546 3912 or email Krisca. gould@nelsonhospice.org.nz.

We'd like to thank the 500+ Nelson Tasman residents that volunteer for our community Hospice

If you'd like to join the team, please contact Krisca Gould on 03 546 3912 or email krisca.gould@nelsonhospice.org.nz

Celebrating and supporting the work of volunteers in our community

Murchison’s healthy lunches going nationwide

Every day during the week Murchison Area School students get lunches delivered from Beechwoods Café that are so good and healthy that the Ministry of Education wants some of the recipes.

Beechwoods’ manager Jeanine Gill says the cafe has been delivering 180 lunches to the school for the past three years for the ministry’s healthy school lunches programme, and creates recipes. Each recipe has to get the tick of approval from a panel of nutritionists and contain the right amount of fibre, protein, vegetable content, and even a particular weight for each age group.

“Now we’ve been asked by the ministry to use some of the recipes we’ve come up with so they can be shared nationwide,” she says. Students are treated to about 20 different meals, including hot meals through winter such as noodle stir fry, cottage pie, butter chicken and beef and bean burritos, that are delivered in reusable containers which are then sterilised back at the café.

That way there is not even cardboard that needs to be recycled. Jeanine says the aim is to not just produce healthy lunches for the students, but also reduce the carbon footprint of those meals. Instead of getting in a vehicle to deliver lunches the few hundred metres along the road, the meals are loaded onto a trolley and wheeled along the footpath. She says providing lunches to all the students means they are eating the same food together without being singled out and it also encourages them to eat healthily.

“We’ve got kids here who have never tried some of these meals before, but they see other kids eat them and try food they wouldn’t usually eat.

“I think it’s a great programme because it helps families – certainly in these economical times. People living in an isolated community like this have a $50 round trip to get groceries and this means families don’t have to pack lunches. The school is really good at putting (uneaten) meals aside for anyone who

needs them.”

The café has also asked the school for lunch ideas that are then created along the ministry’s guidelines and Jeanine says it now plans to include students in the meal, preparation.

“It all helps them understand what makes a healthy meal and why.”

The school’s deputy principal Sarah Peacock says the school lunch programme has been a “fantastic success” and much needed by many families. “We did a parent survey after it first started and there was overwhelming support for it. Parents were grateful for financial reasons because it makes their weekly budgets a bit easier.

“It doesn’t discriminate for the families that really need it – it puts everyone on an even playing field.”

She says Murchison is a diverse community with many low-income families that are finding it really tough financially and the school lunches are one less cost, while providing really healthy food to all students.

Jeanine Gill wheels a trolley of lunches to the school where Ruby Cooper, Lara Hunt, Hailey Douglas, Phoebe Dineen and Stanley Thomson line up for their meals.

Murchison commemorates earthquake

The anniversary of the largest earthquake to strike Tasman was remembered last weekend.

At 10.17am on June 17, 1929, the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck a sparsely populated area around 65km north of Murchison.

It caused 17 deaths and the rumbling was loud enough to be heard 250km away in Palmerston North.

Members of the Murchison community met together at the Murchison Museum on Saturday to commemorate the event, 94 years later, which they do every year. The church bells rung at 10.17am and was followed by morning tea.

The shaking of the earthquake in the surrounding region was intense enough to cause damage over a wide area. Nelson, Greymouth and Westport were all affected and roads, buildings and bridges were severely damaged throughout an area estimated at 26,000 km2. The worst damage was caused by landslides triggered by the shaking, which destroyed several

homes and resulted in 14 of the 17 deaths.

Two other deaths were caused by coal mine collapses.

Most of the buildings in the Murchison area were built of wood and were warped and moved from their piles, but many brick buildings and chimneys were damaged in Nelson, Greymouth and Westport.

The earthquake was preceded by several foreshocks before the mainshock, accompanied by booming sounds in the mountains around Murchison.

There was a large surface fault rupture visible in the Buller River, indicating about 4.5 m of vertical movement and 2.5 m of lateral movement.

The earthquake triggered many landslides and these created 38 new lakes, of which 21 still exist, including Lake Stanley, on Stanley River. The Maruia Falls are also a notable by-product of the earthquake.

All dressed up for day on the green

Fifteen teams took part in an 18-hole ambrose at the Murchison Golf Club during the annual Farmers’ Day Golf. Club president Josh Penman says the event originally began as a day for farmers to get off the farm and have a social day out together. Now it brings a mix of lo-

Kiwi Park

cals, as well as a few from Nelson, to play some golf together.

“It’s all fun and games, not a serious tournament. It’s been going for years and the idea is to work in with the time farmers have off, but now it’s about 50:50 farmers and anyone else who wants to take part in it.”

Apart from the main golf event which was won by The Ball Bags, novelty prizes were awarded to teams including best dressed, while teams got into the spirit of the event with names such as Guns and Poses, Broomless Witches, Four Swordsmen, Tow Balls and Ball Bags.

Matiri Hydro Scheme Community Fund

The contractors who helped build the Matiri Hydro Scheme have kindly donated to a special community fund.

Applications for this funding are now open. To be eligible for funding your organisation will be involved in one of the following areas:

• Health

• Education

• Sport

• Volunteer services

The funding must benefit members of the wider Murchison community (full criteria are on the application form).

To apply, please email for an Application Form at enquire@pioneerenergy.co.nz

Applications close on 31 July 2023.

Best dressed for the day were the Guns and Roses team of Holly Youngman (left), Matthew Johnstone, Angela Hunt and Graeme Hutchins.

Recognising service above and beyond

Margaret Eames has been recognised for her service to Wakefield Bowling Club with a Life Membership at their recent AGM. Having spent the last 15 years as the club’s secretary alongside filling multiple other roles, including being a top player and international umpire, the decision wasn’t hard to award her with the honour.

Club captain Tony Eames says that while he might be a bit biassed, having been married to Margaret for the past 40 years, her impact on the club cannot be understated. After joining the club in 2008, she was elected to the position of secretary within the year, only stepping down recently at the end of the summer season as the couple plan to move out of town. Alongside her time as secretary, Margaret has also run an overview of all club activity, acted as the club’s delegate to Bowls Nelson, privacy officer, health and safety officer and compliance officer. She has also kept the Club constitution and regulations under review and up-to-date and was integral to the Club achieving the Bowls New Zealand Gold Award, for which she was also a finalist for the Administrator of the Year Award in the same year. Her accolades as a player and an umpire have also brought recognition to the club, with Tony saying she’s “done everything” the club’s asked of her.

Barbarians on the march forward

JACK MALCOLM

After just one win last season, it was all about keeping the winning feeling alive for the Waimea College Barbarians over the weekend.

Their massive 67-0 victory over Hillmorton Combined’s Horomaka in the Miles Toyota first XV Championship has given the team back-toback wins as they put on a display of dominance on their school’s main field.

With conditions perfect for running rugby, the Barbarians were in top form as they notched up 11 unanswered tries as they were dominant in all areas of the park, not letting the Horomaka into the game by starving them of territory and possession.

There were gaping holes in the visitors’ defence right across the park and the Barbarians pounced, finding inroads around the flanks as they stretched the Horomaka thin on the edges.

They were also able to find strong metres through the middle of the park with their big forward pack, as they dominated all aspects of the game. By the end of the game, Waimea Combined was almost returning the kick-off restarts straight back down the park for another try.

They would take less than five phases for their final three tries as they capitalised on the fading Horomaka defence and resilience.

Waimea Combined Barbarians forwards coach Don McClean says he was happy with how the team kept their structures despite the scoreline, calling the win a good

reward for their hard work.

“Horomaka are a developing young side and you can’t take anything away from them, but once in a while it was good to be too big and too strong.

“I’m happiest with the zero. We wanted to work on our exits, and we did that well.”

Don was also happy with the way the team kept hold of possession while creating chances with their offloads.

“We want to eliminate those 50/50 balls, but we still want offloads.

“I was really impressed to see the amount of offloads.

“We just carried on where we left off last week.”

Waimea College Barbarians now sit sixth on the competition table, with a tough match next weekend where a win will see them pushing for a spot in the top four.

“We have our toughest game next week at home against Christchurch Boys High (second XV), who haven’t lost,” says Don.

James Bolitho takes the ball into contact, slipping the tackler and scoring a try for the Barbarians in their 67-0 domination of Horomaka. Photo: Jack Malcolm.

Strong local representation in national volleyball squad

JACK MALCOLM

Three local volleyballers have been selected for the women’s national team for a tour of Chile, flying out this weekend.

Lily Zwart, Holly Chandler and Katie Adamson were selected in the 12-person Volley Ferns squad announced last week.

Holly says it’s exciting to make the next step up and to be recognised as one of the best in the country, having previously made national agegroup teams in both indoor and beach volleyball.

Having made the squad last year, she says they did not travel to compete because of costs and Covid 19 and it’s exciting to get the opportunity to wear the silver fern and represent her country.

“This is my first time playing for the Volley Ferns. . . It will be cool to play with the people I’m usually playing against.

“It’s a cool achievement to come from New Zealand and to go over there and compete at that level. Everywhere else is so much bigger than us.”

Holly says Chile is known to have a strong volleyball programme, but she’s just excited to have been given the opportunity.

Having travelled to Christchurch multiple times for training camps, she says she still didn’t expect to make the team.

“I guess I’m not one to rate myself, so I kind of hoped but didn’t actually really expect it.

“It’s always been on the radar, but never something that I fully thought about until last year when I got invited to the camp.”

After being told on a Friday that she’d made the team, Holly didn’t tell anyone, not even her closest friends and family, until the announcement was made early the next week.

She says it was “weird” knowing before everyone, but she was so busy that it didn’t really have time to sink in.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s actually happening because you can’t tell anyone.

Party for a week at Filco Farm & Sport

Celebrating ten years since the launch of the 2013 Harley Davidson Twin Cam Breakout, Filco Farm & Sport are inviting the public to help them kick off their Breakout celebrations with barista-made coffee and bacon butties on Saturday June 24, from 10am to 1pm.

Running through to July 1, the owner of Filco’s, Dave Filer says the week-long anniversary bash will also include outstanding specials across the store. “We will be offering anywhere from 10 percent to up to 50 percent off ranges of products along with amazing prices on motorcycles. We will also be giving away free barista-made coffees from 10am to 11am throughout the week.”

Selling and servicing for over 36 years, Filco Farm & Sport stock a large range of new, used and demo motorcycles from Harley Davidson, Triumph, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Aprilia, along with a massive range of riding gear, parts and accessories.

“I didn’t really think about it until it was announced.”

She says her phone started popping off with notifications the moment it was announced, probably in part because a photo of her was used to make the announcement, and she was able to tell everyone then. With a large squad, she doesn’t know how much court time she will get but isn’t phased by the possibility.

“I guess it is up in the air. Personally, I don’t expect to be in the starting six, but like it’s an achievement just to make the team.”

Time is short for the squad, having been announced early last week and flying out to Chile this weekend.

Holly says it will be challenging to come up against a team who will have likely been together much longer, but all the players in the New Zealand team are fa-

miliar with each other and a lot of them were in the squad last year too. The short timeframe has also seen her be unable to do any significant fundraising, but she does say the Chilean Volleyball Association are subsidising their trip.

For Lily Zwart, the opportunity comes on the back of her making the U19 tournament team at the Interprovincial Championships earlier in the month.

The photo of Holly Chandler at the 2022 NVL was used as the main picture to announce the team.

Photo: phototek.co.nz.

Mika Vukona celebrated as a Giants legend

Mika Vukona’s #14 jersey was immortalised on Saturday night as it was lifted into Trafalgar Centre’s rafters to be retired.

As one of only three players to receive the honour, emotions were raw as the crowd gave Mika multiple standing ovations as he walked onto the court after the game to watch his number hung in the rafters alongside Phill Jones’ #4 and Nenad Vučinić’s #13. Having played 11 seasons for the Giants between 2004 and 2020, Mika was a crucial part of the team’s culture throughout his over decade-long service.

In attendance were some of New Zealand Basketball’s royalty and former teammates, Tom Abercrombie, Pero Cameron and Dylan Boucher alongside Phill Jones.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” said Mika during the ceremony after the game.

“To all (Mike) Fitch and the Giants organisation of past, present, and future, thank you.

“I’m truly blessed to have played this sport in a place like Nelson.”

Before the ceremony at a fireside chat alongside his past teammates, he says the whole thing still hadn’t quite sunk in.

“It’s hard to explain, man. There’s two main legends of this city up there already and to be a part of that, I’m honoured.

“Nothing’s ever expected. It’s a blessing even to be asked.”

He says the retirement of his number isn’t just about him, it’s about everyone who’s been a part of his journey.

“It’s not just my jersey.

“When you come into

Nelson, like I had done, there was a history of making it to the Tall Blacks. . . and as a young 17 year old coming down from Tauranga and learning the ropes from these guys. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

The culture of Nelson is what kept him coming back, saying “it’s who we are” that makes it “the best place to play”.

“It was us against everybody else. It’s head down, ass up and go to work, and that’s who Nelsonians are.”

The ceremony culminated a busy day for the NBS Nelson Giants as they posted their first back-toback win of the season to re-enter

the playoff picture. The 100-91 win over the Hawke’s Bay Hawks has bumped the Giants up to sixth on the competition ladder and into a playoff spot if they can hold their position. Having started the season on a slide, it’s been a big comeback by the team as their imports continue to improve and their midseason changes pay dividends. Giants coach Mike Fitchett says he challenged the team before the game to play like Mika did, and Sam delivered.

“Sam D came out and had his performance of the season, I think. He showed his hustle and his defending, and he shot well.”

Matua Maker’s confidence has grown week-on-week and he has now completely broken out as a star player who will have a bright future. While he had some early timidity to start out the season, that has completely vanished as he’s found his feet as one of the league’s stars, finishing with a game-high 26 points alongside 11 rebounds.

Callum McRae continued to impress in just the second professional game of his young career. The Giants’ season doesn’t get any easier this week as they travel to Auckland for a Saturday encounter against the top-of–the-table Tuatara.

Mika Vukona (centre) and his family were presented with his game jersey from their 2007 championship winning season by Hew Beynon (right) as part of the ceremony retiring his jersey number. Photo: Trina Bererton/Shuttersport.

Community Notices

Community Notices

MONDAY

WAIMEA GARDEN GROUP..ST PAULS CHURCH HALL BRIGHTWATER , Meet 2nd Monday of each month at 6:45pm Speakers. Garden Visits etc. All Welcome. Enquires. Ph. Ellen 5418955 or Donna 5423754.

ELYSIUM WIDOW AND WIDOWERS GROUP meet each Monday for coffee and friendship at Oxford St Cafe at 10am. New members welcome. Phone Margaret 027 2600 748

OSTEOACTIVE COMMUNITY FITNESS CLASS for participants with osteoarthritis. Exercise and education. Seated and standing options. Mondays 9.30am. Holy Trinity Hall, 27 Dorset Street, Richmond. Cost: koha. Nicola 021 0788609 or nicola@bfit4ever.nz

TUESDAY

BEDTIME STORIES FOR ADULTs Mapua Live Poets, 7pm Tuesday 27 June Boat Club, Mapua Wharf Open Mic and Northland Guest Poet Keith Levy, Storyteller, Roaming Rhymester and guitarist. Pyjamas and dressing gowns are acceptable attire.

RICHMOND PIPE BAND, welcome past players and new to join us for social playing of pipes and drums. Meet Richmond Town Hall, Tuesday nights 7-9pm. Contact Margaret 0275440460

‘500’ CARDS Players are invited to compete in our recently formed “No Trumps” Trophy competition. Venue: Waimea Lounge A&P Showgrounds. Tues. & Thurs. 1.30 - 4pm. $2 entry fee covers organised games, prizes afternoon tea and spacious parking. Contact Kath ph 5445563

HOPE INDOOR BOWLING CLUB Tuesday Nights 7pm at Hope Hall Main Rd Hope.Starts 7 pm. Everyone welcome. Soft soled shoes.. All bowls supplied. Great for families. Info Bill ph 5449273

STOKE INDOOR BOWLS CLUB 2023 season has started, Warnes Stadium, Songer Street, Stoke. New members welcome. Please wear flat soled shoes. Enquiries ph Lynn 547 7112.

WEDNESDAY

U3A - Guest speakers & Study Groups keep us actively involved, challenged & stimulated. U3A is sociable, enlightening & fun. Join us at our bi-monthly open meeting 28th June 10.00am at Elim Church, Main Rd, Stoke, Guest speaker: Author, journalist, photographer; Gerard Hindmarsh. All welcome. www.u3anelson. org.nz

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ: 1.30pm -3pm, Wednesday 28th June 2023, Halifax Café, Nelson. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection and finding out about groups, activities and services. www.wellby.org.nz 03 5467681.

CAKE DECORATORS meet Wednesday 21 June. We are learning a new skill, painting with cocoa butter on a plaque. Starting at 6:30pm. New members are welcome. Contact Desiree 0276302359

SPIRITED CONVERSATIONS Wednesday 28 June “Chat GPT and the AI boom”: Don’t miss Wellington software developer Nick Koirala on the technology behind the ‘magic’, its implications and opportunities. Yaza Cafe opens 6 pm, speaker 7.30 pm. Koha. Contact 548 6241.

CENTRAL GARDEN CLUB meet 2nd Wednesday each month

1.30pm at stoke methodist church hall, Neale Ave Stoke. Guest speakers & afternoon tea new members welcome contact Lynn or bob 5418468

NELSON NEWBIES, coffee morning every Wednesday 10:3011.30 a.m. at Deville’s Cafe, 22 New St. Want to get out and meet people? Join us for coffee and chat. New people are always welcome. Ph: Clive 021 205 4731.

THURSDAY

EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME AND HYPERMOBILITY coffee group meeting Thursday 6 July 12.15 Kush cafe please join us

MAKE-A-WISH FUNDRAISER, The Suter, Thursday 29 June 6 – 8pm. It involves a movie following Rose and Tom cycling the South Island to raise funds for Make-A-Wish, an inspirational talk by Nathan Fa’avae and fabulous raffles. Tickets are $25 from Carol Parkinson 0274 862 462 & Janet Growcott 0274 530 755

‘500’ CARDS Players are invited to compete in our recently

DEADLINE: MIDDAY FRIDAY - 30 WORDS OR LESS BY EMAIL ONLYPLEASE SEND TO: events@waimeaweekly.co.nz

formed “No Trumps” Trophy competition. Venue: Waimea Lounge A&P Showgrounds. Tues. & Thurs. 1.30 - 4pm. $2 entry fee covers organised games, prizes afternoon tea and spacious parking. Contact Kath ph 5445563

NELSON CITY PROBUS CLUB welcome both men & women. We meet 2nd Thursday each month (Feb-November) at 10 am, The Nelson Golf Club, 38 Bolt Rd, Tahunanui. Contact the Secretary on nelsoncitygroupgmail.com

WAIMEA COMBINED FRIENDSHIP GROUP meet monthly at 9.45am on 3rd Thursday of month in Hope Church, Ranzau Road for Friendship, Fellowship & Learning. Contact Denise on 027 765 000 or Rosalie on 027 249 1080.

TAICHI Thursdays, Regular 11:00-11:30, Beginners 12:00-1:00. Stillness, breath, movement. Quiet Heart Tai Chi, Anglican Church, Dorset Street. Donation. Contact Merrick, email quiet.heart.tai. chi@gmail.com <http://mail.com> Ph 021 063 6620

RICHMOND WELCOME GROUP: Want to make new friends join a friendly group for coffee & a chat.10am on the 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month at Paragon Cafe Langdale Drive Richmond . Ansley /Phillip 5410 350 0272212943.

FRIDAY

LINE DANCING Diane mornings Richmond from Friday 19th May 9 30 am Birch Hall Lower Queen Street by A&P grounds. all ages/ gender free morning tea.We are a caring community phone Diane 027 4491 569 dianeneil@gmail.com

TAI CHI Qigong All welcome, lasses at Tahunanui Community Hub, 55 Muritai Street, Tahunanui. Every Friday until 2nd June 9.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Koha. Contact Jodie 021 259 5876.

SATURDAY

VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT CLUB OF NELSON CONCERT Saturday 8 July 2pm Whakatu Presbyterian Hall Songer Street Stoke

Admission $5 All Welcome Phone Ken 5474301 Robyn 5473231

NELSON ROSE SOCIETY Rose Pruning Demonstration. Saturday

24 June 2023, 1.30pm Broadgreen Rose Gardens. (If wet Saturday 1 July) All welcome. Enquiries ph 0272054586

NBS VOLUNTEER EXPO, 24th June 10am-2pm, Annesbrook Community Church, Stoke. Looking for a volunteering opportunity? Begin your search here; over 35 organisations to talk to! Coffee/food cart and entertainment. www.volunteernelson.org.nz

WAIMEA HARRIERS running and walking Club Winter season. Events every Saturday. We welcome everyone and of all ages and abilities. See website for details.

RICHMOND TENNIS CLUB - Gladstone Road Social hit for members & non-members Saturday afternoons All levels of ability welcome. 1.30pm onwards. Contact 0274872480.

SUNDAY

ELYSIUM WIDOW AND WIDOWERS GROUP meeting for lunch at Squires Cafe and Bar, Main Road, Stoke on Sunday 25th June at midday. Phone Margaret 027 2600748

WAIMEA MUSIC CLUB meets at Methodist Church Hall, Neale Ave, Stoke on Sunday, 25 June at 1.15pm. All welcome. Ph Jim 5449446 or Clive 0211431138

SUNDAY MEDITATION – every Sunday 10am – 11.30am, plus free vegetarian lunch. All warmly welcome, for all ages and walks of life. Chandrakirti Meditation Centre. 289 Sunrise Valley Rd, Upper Moutere. 03 5432021

NELSON SPIRITUALIST CHURCH weekly service Sun. 7pm8pm. Corner Tipahi & Motueka Sts.

RICHMOND MARKETS: Richmond A & P Showgrounds Sundays

10-2 Indoor/outdoor market in the spacious ground of Richmond Park,. Food & drink, local & exotic products, fresh fruit & veges, wellbeing practitioners & products, jumble sale, hairdresser, kid’s play equipment, picnic tables. Dogs on leads welcome.

GENERAL GROUPS

CAPELLA SINGING WORKSHOP Love to sing? Sign up for Nelson Bays Harmony’s. Learn Brooke Fraser’s ‘Something in the Water’.

All levels of singing catered for, beginners welcome. Training by experienced vocal coaches. Ph Carole 027 436 0910 or nbharmony@gmail.com

FREE TRAINING: NEW CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU VOLUNTEERS! Qualifications Needed: Desire to help, Common Sense, Some Life Experience, Enquiring mind! Information Pack Available from Citizens Advice Bureau Nelson Tasman, Ph: 03 5482117, nelsontasman@cab.org.nz Applications close on 21. July 2023.

WAIMEA MENZSHED - catering for the interests, health and well-being of men since 2010. The shed is open Monday - Friday at Richmond Park, 384 Lower Queen St. Inquiries: mens.shed. waimea@gmail.com 027 282 0185.

SENIOR MOBILITY CLASSES Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays from 10.30am at the Wanderers Community Gym 12 Charlotte Lane, Brightwater. $2 donation. Improving balance, mobility & independence among our aging populations (55+).Contact James Cooper for info: 021 044 1526.

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS TO HELP SUPPORT NELSON HOSPITAL. For info visit www.nmdhb.govt.nz and search ‘volunteering with us’. A social opportunity for people to donate their time to a 3-4 hour shift during the week in a variety of roles. Supporting our patients, visitors, whānau & staff while receiving sense of purpose. JOIN CAKE DECORATORS You don’t need any skills. Come & learn how to work with fondant, sugar paste & chocolate. Creating flowers, figurines & covering a cake. Desiree 027 630 2359. NELSON WOODTURNING CLUB. Join us at our clubrooms for Turning, camaraderie & sharing of knowledge. Ph or txt Allan for more information 021543345.

HELP NEEDED. WAKEFIELD COMMUNITY BUS Nelson Tasman Community Transport Trust dedicated to providing affordable community public transport in the areas where little is available. Contact: 020 4196 0553 Wakefield Bus is in need of some support – can you help? Contact - 020 4196 0553, marketing.ntctt@ gmail.com / www.ntctt.org TO BOOK A SEAT on the Wakefield buscall or txt 020 4195 8866.

Community Notices are free to community groups, schools, churches, gold coin donation events and fundraising. Due to the popularity of this column,while every effort will be made, inclusion cannot be guaranteed for free ads. If you want to place a business advert or want to advertise a course you are running, please call classified ads and public notices on 544 9037.

9am)

Complete clearance of house, garage and sheds w/ware, furniture, toys, trucks, badges, collectables. Photos / info www.jwauctions.co.nz

Payment Cash-Eftpos-Visa-Mastercard

John Walker Auctioneer 027 4432 525

AGM

31st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Monday 26th June 2023 at 2pm

LeCren Room, Broadgreen House Nayland Road, Stoke

All those interested in the care of our aged are urged to attend. Abbeyfield House provides companionship and an affordable home for older people. For further information phone 0273314677

FOUND

Handheld Radio at the Maitai Dam. Contact the caretaker on 548 4055.

FOR

SALE

2004 Subaru Legacy

Station Wagon. All wheel drive. New WOF (09/06).

Current rego. Recent oil change and new brakes all around. Has a tow bar. $12,600 ONO 021 2167654.

ANTIQUES

ANTIQUES & ART. Huge selection at our new shop. Sell - Buy - Value. Over 30 years experience.Open 6 days. Peaceful easy parking now @ 92,Bateup Rd,Richmond (Formerly Happy Z Cafe & adjoining Alchemy Arts/ MacMillans Pottery) Ph 544 0723. www.an tiquesnewzealand.co.nz

BIRTH

Erin and David Rush along with their families are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of ALFIE DEXTER RUSH

Born May the 4th. Thank you to our amazing midwife Casey Ogilvie for all her support.

BUCKLEY

Peter Hewitt

Passed away peacefully on 13 June 2023 at home surrounded with love aged 73. Loved husband of Julie, cherished father and father-in-law of Craig & Megan, Jason & Rebecca, Aaron & Laura, stepfather of Shaun, Trudy & Mark. Loved Grandad to his Grandchildren. As per Pete’s wishes a cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at a later date.

NELSON

It’s all on the app. Are you?

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 Nelson App around, you might be surprised what you find.