Waimea Weekly - 28 June 2023

Recording at 10-years-old

Blood donors struggle to get appointments

ANNE HARDIE

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

Motueka resident Mary Russell has been a willing donor for more than 30 years but could not get an appointment for the upcoming mobile blood drive in Nelson this July. The mobile unit visits Nelson twice a year and has its next three-day visit between 18 - 20 July, but appointments filled up long ago.

Mary, who has made 61 blood donations since 1988, says it is frustrating when the blood service is calling for more blood and people want to donate, but don’t have the opportunity to do so.

She remembers when the blood service took mobile units around the region and anyone could turn up

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

“It seems bizarre when there is a lot of New Zealanders ready and willing to donate blood, but don’t have a unit where they can do so.

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

During National Blood Donor Week in June, the blood service said it had 117,000 donors who helped save the lives of 30,000 people every year. However, that donor registry had only grown by

SEE PAGE 2

From left: Jo Loveridge (CLM), Nic Foster (NBS community engagement manager), Patsy Berriman (CLM) and Lisa Stanley (CLM). Full story on Page 8.

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“Ruby

“Mother Teressa. She’s the only one who’s done good in this world.”

“All strong women and women who are not necessarily for women’s rights but accept they can do the same as everyone else.”

The women’s Football World Cup starts in less than a month, who is a woman you are inspired by or look up to?

“The women that value men’s rights the same as women’s rights.”

Concern over lack of blood donation

FROM PAGE 1

9,000 in the past five years and it needed 40,000 more donors to meet rising demand for blood plasma.

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

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

Donated blood needs to be processed within 12 hours of the needle being removed. After testing for viruses, each donation is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets.

The Christchurch site then sup-

plies and replenishes the blood bank in Nelson with blood products.

Until 2013, a Nelson-based team operated mobile drives in smaller towns around the region.

The service closed the donor centre in Nelson in 2013 due to a decline in demand for red blood cells at the time.

After that, a mobile blood service continued to operate out of Christchurch in both Nelson and Richmond until 2018, when the decision was made to discontinue the Richmond mobile in favour of adding an extra day to the Nelson collection.

The spokesperson says red cells for transfusion will continue to be sourced within New Zealand due to the short shelf life and storage options.

Treatments from plasma have

longer shelf life which enables them to be sourced internationally and the service already sources about 15 per cent from overseas to meet demand.

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

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

“New Zealand Blood Service is certainly fortunate to have a passionate donor community in Nelson which always turns out in force whenever we are in town. We regularly look at where next to boost collections. Nelson’s enthusiasm won’t be forgotten.”

Carole Davis

Tui. She’s got flair, she’s a good, responsible member and she scores the most tries.”

Ann Stafford

Mario Paraha

Nannette MacKenzie

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

Photo: Supplied.

The

New Richmond bus depot development underway

SARA HOLLYMAN

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

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

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

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

The SBL site will be where the

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bus fleet start and finish their day.

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

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

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

Your eyes are the first thing people notice about you

If you suffer from excessive skin on your upper eyelids or sagging, puffy lower eyelids, blepharoplasty can give you back a fresh, youthful appearance, as well as improving your vision.

Dr

Boosting Student Opportunities In The Tech Industry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Apply now: nmit.ac.nz /it

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

Thefts taking toll on charity

JO KENT

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

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

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

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

enough.

“Taking the latch means we don’t have a safe space for children anymore.

“What use are these things to anyone else? We’re here to try to support the community and this is how we’re thanked.

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

“I’ve been left with no choice, and I really don’t want to do it, but we’re going to have to put security cameras up because this has to stop.

“There is a lot of stress and anxiety in the world and people are

starting to turn on each other. That also needs to stop. Please think before you act. Exercise some patience and compassion for your fellow humans.

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

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

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

If you’d like to support the charity, you can donate at givealittle. co.nz/org/helping-families-nelson

More parking tickets, less complaints

Tasman District Council’s Environment and Regulatory Committee has been presented with a six-monthly report on activities within its regulatory section. Here’s some highlights from the six-month period from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.

Noise issues

Council has employed a new noise contractor to improve performance in the Waimea area. This has had a beneficial effect and complaints about the service have fallen to almost zero. Noise complaints have dropped 17 per cent compared with the same six month period last year. Council received 448 music and/or party complaints compared to 555 in 2021/22. There were 52 machinery noise complaints and six noisy animal complaints. A total of 547 noise complaints were made compared with 659 during the same time last year.

Dogs

Dog numbers have increased by 2.4 per cent to 12,540 registered dogs – 310 more than last year. Targeted enforcement has kept the numbers of unregistered dogs low. The number of dangerous dogs has decreased. In order to assist census officers, we carried out inspections of properties where dangerous dogs were supposed to be registered and found that some had died or moved out of the district. Fifteen more dogs have been classified as Menacing, this primarily relates to an increase in less serious dog attacks over the period.

During the six-month period a total of 34 infringements were issued, including 15 for fail-

ing to keep a dog confined or controlled and four for failing to microchip.

Parking

Parking has been busy with 747 more infringements issued than the same time last year. A total of 3011 infringements were issued in six months. 477 of these were cancelled and another 719 heading to court. 1876 ticket fines were paid totalling $95,671.

There has been an increase in people not displaying a valid licence registration or Warrant of Fitness label, this is often accompanied by the use of false licence plates.

Freedom Camping

Once again, fewer freedom campers were around this summer. The council said it seems that the scarcity of working visitors from abroad has led to employers being more open to hosting them on their land. This, in turn, has meant that there is not such a volume of people seeking camping spaces in public areas. Just 55 freedom camping complaints were received compared with 187 during the same time last year. Of these, 18 resulted in an infringement being issued. Most complaints came from specific areas where people are sensitised e.g., Little Kaiteriteri, Rototai, Riwaka and Puponga.

Founder of Helping Families Kristy Rowe says enough is enough.

Photo: Jo Kent.

Gang membership increase not straightforward

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

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

In October 2017, the National Gang List (NGL) showed 68 patched or prospect adult gang members in the Tasman Police District – which includes the West Coast, Marlborough, and Kaikōura as well as Nelson and Tasman.

In April 2023, that figure had increased to 196 members, a 188 per cent increase.

The NGL is maintained by the Gang Harm Insights Centre, and does not record gang associates or those who may be affiliated. “Nationwide, gang numbers have increased by more than 60 per cent under the Labour Government,” Blair says.

“Labour still hasn’t woken up to the problem and as a result, it is getting worse every day.” However, Police caution that the NGL was established for intelligence purposes and not for counting membership numbers, and explain that any increase on the list should not be seen as a

definitive increase in gang membership.

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

They add that people who simply drift away from gang involvement

are also much less-likely to be removed due the “the challenges of corroborating their exit” which can have a ratcheting effect on the list numbers.

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

ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION CLASSES

Start dates vary from July – August 2023

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

“I have zero tolerance for the harm caused by gangs in our community,” says Nelson’s Labour MP Rachel Boyack. . “Gangs have existed for decades in New Zealand and the answers to reducing the harm they cause are complex.”

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

“Our funding for Operation Cobalt has resulted in over 38,000 charges laid against gang members and their associates,” she says.

“Police have also seized nearly 400 illegal firearms.”

Rachel also acknowledges that a large proportion of gang crime in Nelson is related to family harm.

“I work closely with organisations like Women’s Refuge and Mana Wāhine, to ensure they have the resources and support they need to help women leaving violent relationships,” she says.

“The Government is supporting agencies to work together to combat family harm, and this is showing good results locally.”

Learning over winter

EVENING CLASSES

Monday

• Guitar (2 Levels)

• NZ Sign Language – Level 1A & 1B

• Digital Photography Painting For All Levels

• Te Reo Māori Beginners

Wednesday

• Ukulele (2 Levels)

• NZ Sign Language – Level 1D

• Thai Cooking Malaysian Cooking

• Life Writing – Creative Non-Fiction

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

• Understanding & Enjoying Shakespeare: The Case of Hamlet NEW

Saturday

Tuesday

• Sewing With Confidence

• NZ Sign Language – Level 1C & 2A

• Take A Chance Singers Xero Basics

• Microsoft Excel Basics

• Woodwork DIY For All Levels FULL

Thursday Speaking Spanish (2 Levels)

• Yoga Flow

• Sewing With Confidence

• Tai Chi

• Belly Dance With Gretchen

• NZ Sign Language – Level 1C

• Te Reo Māori Beyond Beginners NEW

DAY CLASSES

• Introduction to Creative Journaling Workshop

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

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

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

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

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

If you have a keen interest in Shakespeare, you might like to check out the Understanding & Enjoying Shakespeare: The Case of Hamlet Course.

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

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

OUT AND ABOUT WITH BLAIR

Restoring law and order

While out talking to small businesses across Nelson and Tasman last week, many retailers told me their concerns about rising levels of crime in our community. I’m proud of how safe our region is, but the reality is that it is a lot less safe than it used to be. There is no silver bullet when it comes to tackling crime, and we need a range of tools to address it. In the weekend I was at the National Party’s annual conference in Wellington with our Leader Christopher Luxon and Deputy Leader Nicola Willis. Nicola is leading what we call a “social investment” approach to policy, intervening early in people’s lives and using innovative and community-based solutions that are proven to work and that can change lives for the better. By making those investments now, we can reduce crime in the future.

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

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

• provide proper rehabilitation for remand prisoners

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

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

Long Covid puts lives on hold

ANNE HARDIE

Linley Smith is usually a busy person who fits a lot into life, but four months after being infected with Covid-19 her life is still on hold as she struggles through each day.

She is one of an estimated 300,000 New Zealanders who have experienced long Covid, but she says the public seldom see the effect on people because they do not have the energy to go out, and when they do it is for the brief periods they can manage.

A team of researchers at the University of Otago has recently found that long Covid and ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) are one and the same after examining the similarities in the molecular patterns.

The research showed that in both, an ongoing chronic inflammatory response led to a cascade of effects that involved the brain’s immune system, inflammatory system and the central nervous system. The brain then starts to misfunction in terms of its regulation of body physiology. For Linley, that means exhaustion like she has never known before.

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

LAW AND ORDER

Prior to Covid, she led a fullon life as a mother, a commercial business partner with New Zealand King Salmon and wife of Nelson Mayor Nick Smith. Now she manages three hours a day for work, mostly from home where she can spread it out through the day, and social functions with Nick are a thing of the past.

For six weeks, she could not work at all because she was simply exhausted.

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

People only see her out and about when she is at her best and do not realise she will have to go home to rest.

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

She admits she was quite relaxed about getting Covid-19

and thought she would get “get sick, get over it and get on”.

“I’m quite frightened of getting Covid again.

“Ten to 20 per cent of people (with long Covid) get better after their second bout of Covid and 80 to 90 per cent get worse.”

Apart from the physical effects of long Covid, she says it is incredibly isolating for those who are forced to rest at home. For those who can no longer work or not work as many hours, there can be a financial impact on the household and she also feels for employers impacted by staff who cannot work.

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

In Richmond, Nic Ross’ journey with long Covid began 14 months ago when she was so exhausted that she slept most of the day for three weeks.

As time went on, she would begin to recover and then catch a cold or some other virus that would set her right back to square one, sometimes bedbound.

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

Walking even 200m leaves her wobbly and weak and she can only dream of the mountainbike trails she rode before she got Covid.

Reading can make her brain hurt, driving is too demanding, her hair has been falling out and the fatigue can be extreme.

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

Yet she considers herself lucky,

because she knows there are others with long Covid who have it worse and are completely bedridden.

She also has her mother to help her with cooking, housework and getting her to health appointments, and she feels for people with long Covid who have no help as well as family members trying to support those with the condition.

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

She says the Government has decided Covid-19 is over and has little to offer long Covid sufferers.

Instead ,there is the Facebook group and a website developed by people with long Covid where anyone with the condition can register and learn more.

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

According to the Ministry of Health, most people with Covid-19 recover within two to six weeks, while others take up to 12 weeks and some report a range of symptoms that can be ongoing.

A major Covid study carried out by the Te Herenga Waka/ Victoria University of Wellington found one in five people reported long Covid symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, muscle aches and joint pain.

The study pointed out that this equated to as many as 300,000 New Zealanders likely to experience long Covid, yet it was still poorly understood by doctors and those with the condition struggled to get help.

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

Authorised by B Cameron, 544 Waimea Rd, Nelson

Getting the ‘thumbs up’ from a local business owner while out delivering flyers last week

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

Changing the face of the pāua industry

SARA HOLLYMAN

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

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

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

The Pāua Industry Council (PIC) received the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Award at the ceremony at Parliament on June 6. Jeremy, who became involved through his commercial pāua quota ownership decades ago, says he found himself going to industry meetings and disagreeing with those who said they just wanted to harvest.

“I’m a farmer and farmer’s think differently. With agriculture there’s a whole lot of management

regimes you can employ, you look at each paddock individually.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Most of the upper North Island pāua die of old age because they never get to 125mm. Down on Stewart Island, they’re only just

starting to spawn, and we’re allowed to legally catch them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

He says a huge part of their work

has been involving the industry players from the bottom up and Chathams operators have been at the forefront.

“The Chatham Islands guys have been a revelation. They have their paddocks, and they all get round as harvesters and work out how much can come out of that paddock each year, then they come along to the AGMs and tell the quota owners ‘this is what we think you should take off each of your paddocks’. As soon as that’s come out, it’s closed. Some of the areas were closed the second week after the start of the season in October, that’s just so cool.” Jeremy says, currently quota owners in the Chathams are taking roughly 40 per cent less than their entitlement because of the harvesters’ advice.

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

And he says, while it may have taken 20 years, MPI and scientists are saying – ‘they’re making a difference, they’re doing it right’. “But there’s still so much more we can do.”

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

Waimea winners among ‘world’s best’ readers

A group of four Year 7 and 8 Waimea Intermediate students have been hailed as the best readers in the country after winning first place at the Kids’ Lit Quiz National Final in Wellington last week.

“This is the first time Waimea Intermediate have ever qualified for the World Finals and they won convincingly. They were head and shoulders above the other 16 teams making them the best in New Zealand,” event organiser Wayne Mills says. He says they answered the very first question correctly and never lost their lead.

“They had exceptional literary knowledge. The school can be justifiably proud of them. They were remarkably well-rounded and complemented each other, especially with their knowledge of genres.”

The teams had to answer 75 questions across five unknown categories.

“Because of that, the kids have to read really widely, and this is what encourages them to read for pleasure. If they are given a list, it becomes a type of test and that’s

the last thing I want.” They will now compete against some of the world’s best readers in the World Finals at Havelock North on 22 July.

International finalists from Indonesia, USA, South Africa and Australia will now fly to New

Zealand to join the Waimea winners at the World Finals. Once here, they will also get the chance to do an author workshop with Mary-Anne Scott, whose books have been shortlisted for the New Zealand book awards.

“The Minister of Education is going to watch the final as the emphasis right now is ‘reading for pleasure’. I can’t emphasise enough just how important that is. It’s taken years and years to get the idea of reading for pleasure introduced rather than reading to test comprehension or to find out how many verbs there are on a page.”

The finalists will have to answer 70 questions across 10 categories.

“Their spread of literary knowledge has to be pretty phenomenal. You would not believe how clever these kids are. These are the world’s best readers. They are precocious, they’re well-read, they are knowledgeable and it’s

wonderful to see them in action.”

Teacher Lucy Pritchard worked tirelessly with the Waimea winners and Wayne says having a motivated teacher makes all the difference.

“Lucy deserves a lot of credit as the kids were telling me she worked with them three times a week helping with their reading and talking about books. It’s brilliant when you have a teacher with a passion like that. And for kids with a similar passion to read, it wasn’t a chore for them, it was a joy.”

As well as the kudos of coming first, the school took home a prize of $1400, which has gone towards the flights to get to the finals.

“Local law firm O’Donoghue Webber are donating the shortfall of $2,218 to get us there, and we are so grateful to them for that,” Lucy says. “I’m so proud of our team and also our one standby student, Florence Rogers...”

Free swimming lessons for 140 kids

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

NBS and CLM will provide 140 children from Nelson Tasman with two terms of swimming lessons free of charge.

The initiative aims to provide invaluable opportunities for children who may not have had access to swimming tuition due to financial constraints.

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

However, the country has unfortunately experienced high rates of drowning, largely due to limited access to swimming education. By offering swimming lessons at the primary school age, NBS and CLM aim to address this issue.

NBS has provided the financial support necessary to facilitate the lessons and purchased 140 pairs of goggles, ensuring that each child receives the necessary equipment to enhance their swimming experience.

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

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

We are delighted to contribute to a large number of lessons for children who may otherwise nev-

Update from Rachel Boyack MP

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

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

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

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

er have the opportunity to learn this essential skill.”

Richmond Aquatic Centre facil-

ity manager, Vaughan Hope expressed his appreciation for NBS’ investment and highlighted the significant need for swimming lessons in the community.

“We are dedicated to delivering high-quality swimming lessons and recognise the immense value in teaching this life-saving skill. We are extremely grateful for NBS’ support, and I am confident that the children benefiting from this sponsorship will be immensely thankful for the opportunity to learn and receive free goggles,” he says.

Richmond Aquatic Centre will be seeking nominations for the free lessons via their Facebook page. Follow NBS or Richmond Aquatic Centre for details.

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

JO

Maia Wingate, Anya Cook, Alice Cameron and Che Harris with teacher Lucy Pritchard and their winning trophies. Photo: Jo Kent.

Croquet champ to run for Greens

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

Jace Hobbs has been selected by the Green Party to contest the Nelson electorate in this year’s election. Born in the United States, Jace moved to this country in 2007.

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

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

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

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

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

Jace is a musician too, having played in several bands and occasionally solo, favouring American-style music such as bluegrass or rhythm and blues.

Though now retired, he says he has served “thousands of happy customers” over the years, having owned six successful businesses – the most recent one seeing him distributing electric bikes around the country from Nelson.

Zero-emission transport is a pas-

sion of Jace’s.

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

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

“The Greens have put in place the strongest climate plan Aotearoa has ever had,” he says. “My priority is more Green MPs so that the brilliant policies that Greens produce are given a mandate.”

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

“Nelson and the country are not separated in the problems we face.

The Greens’ budget would make sure everyone in New Zealand has… food on the table, a safe place to call home, and a life of opportunities – and we will pay for it all with a fairer tax system,” he says.

“This is what the citizens deserve.”

The Vet Centre has a new name and is expanding its premises into the former Souchebys Antiques ‘castle’ on Gladstone Road. The veterinary practice is now part of Vetlife. Richmond’s hub manager Chloe Bartlett-Koen says the expansion into the neighbouring building will primarily cater for office space. Souchebys Antiques has moved into the former Happyz Café on Bateup Road. Photo: Anne Hardie.

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

Photo: Max Frethey.

Debra and Howard McKay Kim and Mark Sutton Matt and Sarah Griffin Siobhian and Tim Bolt Will and Allan Dempster

Alexis Heywood, Steve Lynn, Kris Gargliardi, Nik Walker

Debbie and Bronwyn Yelverton, and Rachel Gargliardi

Haley and Brent Sturm

Mike and Dolly Brennan

David McNatty and Bambi Mitchinson

Filco Farm and Sport’s Breakout

Loving life with the Giants and chasing his NBL dream

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

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

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

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

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

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

right off the bat.

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

Matur is grateful to Mike for

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

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

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

Matur’s also grateful to the Giants’ fans.

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

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

Either The LA Clippers or The Miami Heat.

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

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

Watch or listen on: thenelsonpod.co.nz

At Totalspan, we have been perfecting customised steel buildings in New Zealand for 25 years. Our team of experts, using state of the art engineering and cutting-edge designs can offer limitless alternatives for your design. Whether it’s a workshop, showroom, retail space, office, or warehousing.

Murchison’s healthy lunches going nationwide

Great to see that a local business is providing good quality food as part of this programme. The reporter might like to research information from Dr Libby Weaver, an expert in food and nutrition who says we need to move away from labelling food as healthy or unhealthy. She says food is food and is neither healthy or unhealthy. Food is nutritious or it is not. Our bodies are healthy or unhealthy as a result of the food we put into it. We should instead ask is this food nutritious? Nutritious food = a healthy body.

Linda Hansen

Beechwoods Cafe should consider publishing these recipes in a recipe book!

Clare Monti

That’s awesome. This lunch programme needs to be in all schools in NZ.

Joanna Perrett

This is happening in schools in Christchurch as well, my stepson absolutely loves the lunches.

Racheal Way

Love stopping at this place on our travels.

Tracy Rolle

Good on you, Murchison School and Beechwoods.

Chrissie Coleman

Local lad wins top music award

Yeah. An amazing entertainer. Saw him last year and we were so impressed. Congratulations, Zac. Onward and upward.

Trish Hildyard

That’s awesome, congratulations. Just love it when you sing at MIM Tapawera.

Irene Anderson

Rescue crewman hangs up helmet after 34 years

Congratulations, at long last a well-earned rest.

Wayne Densem

You’re a true legend, Ernie. Proud to know you.

Wayne Densem

Thank you for your service, Ernie, hope to still see ya around. All the best and enjoy a well-earned rest.

Chantell Smith

Thank you for your service. Big boots to fill.

Buck Fenemor

Great service to our community, Ernie, something to be proud of mate.

Gordon Curnow

Wow! A lot to be proud of!

Elisha Marie

Seagull euthanised after being trapped on Stoke streetlight

Wonder why they didn’t amputate foot and save a life? Seen many seagulls with only

one leg.

Craig Barton

Poor thing.

Teressa Obrien

So, what are they going to do to stop this from happening?

Emma May

Bad lighting design. They need to be sorted.

Janet Marshall Fox Blackwell

Richmond’s first undercover market

This market is a joy every Sunday.

Judith Palliser

Fantastic Penny, well done for the perseverance.

Reni Wereta-Gargiulo

Just a thought...

DON MOSES

What’s Love Got To Do With It?

‘What’s love but a second-hand emotion?’ Sings Tina Turner in one of her many hits. The Queen of Rock & Roll has died. I was saddened to hear this. What great music she gave us! But is love just ‘a second-hand emotion’? Or is that about insulating ourselves because [as Tina sings] ‘Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?’

Make-A-Wish fundraiser

Thursday 29 June 6 – 8pm

The Suter Theatre

A movie following Rose and Tom cycling the South Island to raise funds for Make-AWish, and talk by Nathan Fa’avae. Tickets from Carol Parkinson - 0274 862 462.

Helping Families Big Give

Saturday, 1 July, 10-12pm

Headingly Lane, Richmond Toy & Women’s clothing giveaway for families needing help. Please bring bags/boxes to take your items home in.

NTDG Club Trophy Day - Rabbit Island Pop Up Course

Sunday, 2 July, 9am Rabbit Island

The July edition of the club trophy day will be held on a pop-up course at Rabbit Island. We as a club would love to share the vision with as many disc golfers as possible.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica states, ‘Love is a verb, not a noun. It is active. Love is not just feelings of passion and romance. It is behaviour.’ So, love is far more than just ‘a second hand emotion.’ It’s the source of pretty much every act of genuine kindness in our world!

Remember this one? ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Jesus named this as one of his/God’s two greatest commandments. Then he went onto demonstrate his/God’s love for us in the most graphic way. Jesus stated that, ‘There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ Then he went and did just that for all of us. Inviting us into his friendship. Let’s honour his commitment to us by loving our neighbours. You see, love has everything to do with it!

Making musical memories

JO KENT

Music has been 11-year-old Asha Maihi’s passion ever since she was a toddler and she’s just recorded her first song which she wrote herself last year.

Mum Michelle says being a singer-songwriter is more than just a hobby.

“At this young age, she already talks about studying music at university. She has always made up little bits of song while strumming away on a guitar or just beating a beat.”

Asha has been having singing lessons with Joanna Millett and she’s also been taking music lessons on piano, drums and guitar through Wakefield School since she first started there.

“Last year Asha wrote her first full song, including the lyrics and the music, when she was just 10 years old,” Michelle says. “Her piano teacher Margy Wallace is really supportive and has been her guide for many years.”

Managing to keep the track a secret from her friends and family

while she was working on it, Asha revealed the finished song during a school music production.

“She surprised us all at a Wakefield School production where she performed it on stage for the first time.”

Michelle was so blown away that she wanted to get her first song recorded as a keepsake.

“It’s pretty impressive for a song written by a 10-year-old. So, over the last year, I saved up some money, and she’s just recorded it with Bryce Wastney at Hummingbird Recording Studio.”

Bruce says that although it was Asha’s first time in a recording studio, he anticipates she’ll be back soon.

“Asha is consistently writing and has great ideas about the production and layering that goes into a recording. She composed and performed this song on piano and plays the main piano parts on the track.”

Asha says she was nervous, but excited, to get in the recording studio.

“It was amazing, I learnt a lot

about how everything in a studio works. Being a singer-songwriter has been a dream of mine since I was seven.

“There was no real inspiration behind my song ‘I’m Not a Mov-

ie Without You’. I just wanted to write a song, so I played some chords I liked and started writing lyrics I thought were good with it.”

Asha is now working on another

song and this one is also under wraps until it’s finished.

“It’s always top secret and she only shows her music teachers until she’s happy she’s mastered what she wants.”

Retro airport carpet inspires t-shirt design

KATE RUSSELL

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

If you’re a Nelsonian, then chances are you remember the iconic brown, orange, red, and yellow carpet from the 1970s. This Saturday, there will be a stall at the airport selling t-shirts with the design, and all the proceeds will be going to support Big Brothers Big Sisters Nelson Tasman.

Nelson Airport communications manager Beth Catley says the idea was born when they joking-

ly asked on their Facebook page if they should bring back the old carpet in the new terminal.

“The response was huge and lots of people thought we should,” she says.

“So, we decided that while we probably couldn’t bring back the old carpet, we could give people the chance to own and wear a piece of the nostalgia.”

Cushla Vass from Big Brothers Big Sisters says Nelson Airport has been a longtime sponsor of the organisation and she’s excited to team up with them for the t-shirt fundraiser.

“The carpet is so iconic, it couldn’t be more 1970’s if it

tried. All the money raised will go directly to support our mentors.”

There will only be 100 ‘memory square’ t-shirts up for grabs in a range of sizes for $40 each. Any leftover stock will go to the Nelson Classic Car Museum. The stall will open from 9am until 5pm on Saturday 1 July, unless they sell out earlier, and will be staffed by mentor pairs throughout the day.

Cushla is now on the hunt for the person who made a jacket and hat out of the carpet for the WOW awards. If you have any information, email nelson@ bbbs.nz

Asha Maihi says recording her song was nerve-wracking, but exciting. Photo: Supplied.

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

Safety around underground boxes

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

The beginnings of a library for Waimea

ROBYN PARKES

One of the oldest institutions in Waimea was the Waimea South Mechanics’ Institution and Circulating Library. At a meeting held in July 1853, it was resolved that this institution be founded. A committee was set up consisting of many well-known local names: Messrs Jackson, Baigent, Boddington, Wratt, Bird, Dickinson, Jessop, Tunnicliffe and Squire.

The object of the proposed Institution was stated to be, “to provide rational amusement combined with intellectual instruction, by the instrumentality of a library and classes for mutual teaching in literature and science”.

Among the rules developed for the institution were:

one quarter’s subscription in advance.

• That ordinary members under 21 years of age would pay a subscription of 1s. 1d. per quarter, with 1s. 6d. entrance on their admission as members,

• If the subscription of any member should be in arrears by three months, he will cease to be a member, and will only be re-admitted on payment of all arrears, and a new entrance fee, and on the recommendation of two members of the committee.

As the needs of the library and community grew a new site became necessary and a meeting was called in April 1911 to discuss options. This turned out to be very lively as opposing opinions divided the meeting and community. A lengthy discussion followed with an explanation of why the meeting had been called. Previously, a resolution had been passed to accept an offer from James Hooper of free land donated near Wai-iti (Pigeon Valley Bridge) for a new library building.

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

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

Boxes can get damaged by:

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

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

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

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

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

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

• That political and religious books, controversial and otherwise, be admitted to the library but no discussions on those subjects be permitted within the institution.

• That no-one be admitted a member under 12 years old; but all persons above that age could apply for admission, with a written recommendation from two members of the committee, and paying to the Secretary the entrance fee and

A site of two acres was purchased from Messrs Fell and Seymour on Pitfure Road. The first building was opened on 17th July 1856 with the singing of “Rule Britannia”. An address on the progress of literature was delivered and a tea party was later held with 100 persons being present. For many years this institution filled a big gap in the community. Music classes were held weekly, and a good supply of books was kept with six hundred volumes on the shelves by 1860.

On the retirement of Mr Walter Bird in 1880, Mr Fred Faulkner was appointed librarian and secretary, a position he held until 1913.

However, some felt a better offer made by Mr Gibbs needed to be considered. It was noted that the site was warmer, drier and sunnier while Mr Hooper’s was nearer the railway crossing and business corner and was subject to cold winds, damp and liable to flood. Committee members argued, with one trustee threatening to resign depending on which way the site discussion went.

By the end of the meeting a motion was raised to sell the current building and erect a new library, which was passed. The old site was duly sold and in April 1912 the new Wakefield Library opened on the land once owned by Joseph Gibbs.

Waimea South Mechanics Institute.

Photo: Waimea South Collection on Tasman Heritage. Date unknown.

Bringing backyard dreams to life

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

Proud to support Narellan Pools

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stoke’s Otumarama care centre to close

SARA HOLLYMAN

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

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

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

Regional manager, operations

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

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

The facility is currently home to 34 residents with a staff of 42. She says the majority of residents have signed an admission agreement, but a small minority have Occupation Right Agreements.

Jodie says the group are “absolutely committed” to finding an alternative living solution for each of the residents whether that’s within Oceania or another operator.

Oceania also operates Green Gables in Nelson and the Woodlands facility in Motueka, Jodie con-

firming both currently have room availability.

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

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

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

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

In terms of the site, which sits between Broadgreen Intermediate and Nayland Primary School, Jodie says they hope to see it repurposed. “While the 37-room building is no longer fit for the purpose of operating as a modern care centre, it is well maintained and we believe it is suitable for alternative uses. We hope to see it repurposed and we are actively investigating future uses for the site,” she says.

Otumarama on Nayland Rd, Stoke, will close in August. Photo: Supplied.

Enterprise Painting and Decorating Limited (PDL) is a locally owned and operated business that prides itself on delivering exceptional painting and decorating services.

Owner operator Bruce Wilson is a highly qualified tradesperson with over 40 years of experience in the industry. This wealth of expertise is evident in every project his team undertake.

Serving the Nelson, Marlborough and Golden Bay regions since 2012, Enterprise PDL are dedicated to ensuring that every job is completed to the highest standards. They understand that attention to detail is crucial in achieving outstanding results and go above and beyond to meet and exceed their clients' expectations. “Whether it's a small residential home or a large commercial project, we approach each task with the same level of professionalism and commitment,” says Bruce. One of their key specialties is wallpapering. They have the knowledge and skill to transform any space with expert techniques by adding texture and personality to a space with wallpaper. “Whether you want to update the look of your home or create a vibrant atmosphere in your office, my team will work closely with clients to bring their vision to life.”

In addition to wallpapering Enterprise PDL offers a range of other services to cater to all decorating needs including interior and exterior decorating. They often use an airless sprayer for a smooth and flawless finish but can be seen with a paintbrush in their hands too, ef-

fectively repairing and preparing walls for a perfect paint job with gib-stopping. What sets Enterprise PDL apart is their commitment to working closely with other tradespeople involved in a project. They understand the importance of coordination and communication between different professionals to ensure a seamless workflow and timely completion. By collaborating effectively with other tradies, they guarantee an exceptional result.

The team at Enterprise PDL will not disappoint, with their attention to detail, professionalism, and dedication to delivering outstanding craftsmanship from modern homes through to heritage properties, they have the expertise to handle any style of house with precision and care.

So, if you're looking for a painting and decorating service that combines decades of experience with a commitment to excellence, look no further than Enterprise Painting and Decorating Limited as your space will be transformed into a stunning masterpiece that you can enjoy for years to come.

Local owners supporting local

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

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

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

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

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

“Great camaraderie between the staff of over

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

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

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

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

3.

1.

Club Manager’s Snippet

Wayne Williams

Hi everyone

Just can’t believe that we are nearly half way through the year already, in fact the day of writing this is the shortest day. Yeah, does that mean I can have an early beer, yeah right!

The Club AGM was held last Sunday with a good attendance, followed by nibbles and drinks. It was great to be able to share with everyone what has been going on, what’s been achieved over this last year, and what’s on the horizon. A proposal was put to the members regarding

the Club going solar. This was met with great support and the members passed to go ahead with this de velopment. Some 240 solar panels will be installed on the Club roof (see picture) and this should help our horrendous power bills become more bearable.

Lately there has been great com ments about the resurfacing of the carpark, refurb of all the gardens, new concrete paths in the caravan park, along with having to replace ex tractor fans in the kitchen, replace aircon cassettes in the bar, and many other things to come. The next few months see aganza, and September will you all at the Club.

Sun City Rockers entertain

On Friday evening, May the 19th, around twenty keen members dressed up in style and entertained a lively crowd at Summerset Richmond Ranges with an hour of

rock'n'roll dancing. This was extremely well received and members were rewarded with a delightful supper and some additional dancing to the lively tunes of "Rocket 88".

CLUB WAIMEA POOL SECTION

Over the weekend of 3rd to 5th June the South Island Ladies 8 ball was held at the Richmond Club in Christchurch. It was attended by 8 local ladies competing in both Singles and Pairs. The results were as follows:

Ladies Pairs:

Main Event: Catriona McLean and Celia Bason reached the ¼ finals.

Flight Event: Gemmah Edgely and Kim Probert got all the way through to the final before going down 3-0.

Ladies Singles:

Main Event: Gina Grimwood and Celia Bason both reaching the last 16 with Gina Grimwood going on to win the final 4-0.

Well done Gina, on becoming 2023 South Island Ladies Singles 8 ball champion.

Main Flight: Laureen McLean and Gemmah Edgley reached the last 16.

Trophy Event: Rachel Palmer reached the last 16.

After the Ladies finished, the South Island Open 8 Ball Tournament commenced at Richmond Club.

Open Pairs:

Main Event: Ceri Worts and Celia Bason, Daniel Cole and Gina Grimwood made it to the last 16.

Main Flight: Nathan Geddes and Tony Roswell made it through to the final, going down 4-1.

Trophy Flight: Rachel Palmer and Laureen McLean reached the ¼ finals.

Open Singles:

Main Event: Ceri Worts and Daniel Cole reached the ¼ finals.

Main Flight: Tony Roswell reached the ¼ finals and went on to win the final.

Trophy Flight: Laureen McLean reached the ¼ finals.

Club Waimea was well represented at both the Ladies and Open with good results, and everyone played their best at both tournaments. Next year it will be held in Invercargill.

Local choir wins bronze at national competition

Making wonderful music in four-part A Capella barbershop style harmony is the reason 40 local women from around Nelson and Tasman come together every Thursday night at Club Waimea in Richmond for a weekly fix of singing and friendship. They have achieved a lot together in recent years and are very proud of it.

They are especially proud to have just returned from a very successful National Barbershop Contest in Auckland.

Their excellent performance on stage enabled them to walk away with 3rd place in the AA (midsize) chorus category, and even better,

Love to Dance? Want to learn how to Rock'n' Roll?

Sun City Rockers invite you to come along to their next set of beginner lessons at Club Waimea Main Hall.

• 25th July – 29th August (6 weeks) time 6:30-7:30.

• Cost $30 per adult and $15 per school student. Lessons are free for Sun City Rocker Club members.

• 6-week block course learning the basic steps of rock’n’roll with a range of basic moves.

• Please arrive at 6.15 pm on the first night of beginners and beginners plus for enrolment so we don’t cut into lesson time. If you have already done a beginner’s course but would like to attend the beginner’s class again it will be half price.

Once you have completed this course you WILL be ready for our next level. Note: Please wear flat-heeled shoes for Rock’n’Roll dancing.

the highest score they have ever achieved in their 30-year history!

“Singing is good for the soul!” says choir member Carole Brown, explaining the buzz of literally being in tune with each other. We love being together, working to improve our personal vocal skills, helping others learn, and most of all we love to sing together. Singing together as a team we create a whole other exciting energy and that connects us with the audience. It is exhilarating for us. We love to see the joy our music brings to people in our audience”.

Although the A Capella group takes its singing seriously and often

competes at a national level, it also works in an encouraging and supportive way.

Easy auditions are held for anyone wanting to join. But as Carole explains, “You don’t need to be a 'pro' to join. Those who would like to sing are invited to come and find their voice with us, and we provide heaps of support for novice or firsttime singers”.

Nelson Bays Harmony welcomes new members. If you are interested in coming along to one of their Thursday evening rehearsals as a visitor in the first instance, contact Carole on 027 436 0910 or visit www. nelsonharmony.org.nz.

Sat

Sat

Sat

HOW TO MAKE

Clothespin Dragonflies

Materials Needed:

• 2 Pipe cleaners

• Clothespin

• 2 googly eyes

• Paint

• Glue

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

FUN FOR EVERYONE

Method:

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

Warm cupcakesraspberry with orange sugar drizzle

Ingredients:

• 200g self-raising flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 200g unsalted butter, softened

• 4 eggs

• 200g caster sugar

• 3 tbsp milk

• 50g ground almond

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

• zest of 1 medium orange

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

Sugar Crust:

• juice of 1 medium orange

• 4 tbsp caster sugar

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

Top with the extra raspberries to serve.

School Holiday Fun at Richmond Library

Children’s Winter Reading Bingo Challenge

Saturday 1 July - Sunday 16

July

Let’s get reading these winter school holidays! Pop into your nearest library to collect your Winter Reading Bingo Challenge, complete one line (horizontal, vertical, or across). Bring it back into the library to go in the prize draw.

Blackout Poetry

Saturday 1 July - Sunday 16

July

Young Adults! This one is for you! Help build our poetry wall by crafting your own Blackout poem. Blackout Poetry is any sort of poem that is derived from blacking out any unwanted words from a paragraph, book, sign, etc. using whatever inking or colouring tools you have on hand. Give it a go while visiting the library these school holidays.

Scavenger Hunt - Matariki

Saturday 1 July - Sunday 16

July

Search for iwa (9) posters that celebrate and explain the meaning of the stars in the Matariki constellation, complete the sentences on an entry form to enter our prize draw. This fun activity will help tamariki learn more about Matariki. Ka taea e koe!

“What Does Matariki Mean to You?” Art Workshop

Tuesday 4 July, 1.30pm3.30pm

We invite you to contribute to the Matariki Art Exhibition which will be held from 12.00pm on July 13. It will remain on display for one week.

Te Kāpehu Whetū The Star Compass

Wednesday 5 July and

Thursday 13 July, 10.00am11.00am

Join Kate Souness as she shares her knowledge and her Te Kāpehu Whetū resource. This workshop is an opportunity for you and your whānau to learn about Te Kāpehu Whetū, the traditional Māori Star Compass. This is a free event for all whānau members, suited to older children.

Lantern Making Celebrating Matariki

Thursday 6 July, 12.30pm4.30pm

Drop into the lantern-making workshop and create a lantern to help celebrate Matariki – the new year! You are invited to bring along your creation to the Matariki Celebration at Washbourn Gardens on Thursday 13th July. Library staff will be there to give out spot prizes for lanterns. Aimed at children and families – all welcome.

Stories of Matariki

Tuesday 11 July 10.00am11.00am

Come along and hear some stories and legends about Matariki, told in a fun, interactive way with props and actions. We will sing some waiata as we celebrate Matariki and te reo Māori and make our own Matariki rainbow kite to fly in the sky. All ages are welcome (aimed particularly at primary school-aged tamariki).

“What Does Matariki Mean to You?” Art Exhibition

Thursday 13 July 12.00pmWednesday 19 July 6.00pm Celebrate Matariki with your community by sharing your own piece of art at our community art exhibition. Artwork needs to be delivered to the library before July 12. Everyone from all ages and stages is welcome to contribute to the exhibition.

Cross Math

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

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

Each number from 1 to 9 will be used once.

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

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

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

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

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

Hospital beds under pressure as flu strikes

PAULA HULBURT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Taking practical steps, like

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

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

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

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

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

Community, commitment and a dedication to helping others

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

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

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

simply for the benefit of others. We can’t thank the volunteers, their families and employers enough, when you see a fire truck race by it’s not just the people on-board making a contribution to the community, it’s their families and employers making sacrifices also.

“The fire brigade is like a big family that supports and helps each other without hesitation. FENZ provides top quality training which prepares you well for the role and can be a real advantage in everyday career progression. The job is an absolute privilege, it can

HeslopsareproudtobeassociatedwiththeNelsonTasman FireBrigadesandkeepingtheirtrucksontheroad.

Dot Ashton

Design Windows Nelson are proud to support Fire & Emergency Volunteers

be challenging but extremely rewarding. Not only do you get real chances to save lives, but you can help the community better understand the risks and work with the community to prevent tragedies from occurring.” Deputy Chief Fire Officer at the Wakefield Brigade, Dot Ashton, has recently stepped into her new role after having been involved with FENZ for 22 years. “When I first stepped through the doors at Nelson Station to enquire for my partner, I ended up talking for quite a long time with the Chief at the time, Kevin Smith. Next, I had signed some papers and was coming back the following Wednesday. I’m not sure where the time has gone but the passion I have for the role is seeing people achieve and guiding them through their journey alongside increasing the brigade profile within the community and working on community resilience.” Personal highlights for Dot have been the ability to combine her volunteer fire role with her volunteer St John career over the last 18 plus years. “It worked well and has since opened the doors for others to do the same. Working in Christchurch after the earthquake was a very sobering experience which has certainly provided me with determination and awareness around community resilience.” Becoming involved with the training

department and teaching first aid has been a game-changer she says, which sees her travel around the country working with different brigades. “There are so many opportunities to stay current and up-to-date on courses with FENZ, now especially with the combination of rural. It not only increases a member's knowledge but also benefits their employer too with a skill base that may otherwise not been available to them.We have people from all walks of life that contribute in their own way to the brigade to benefit the community. For anyone thinking of joining, I would say go in and have a good talk about what you can offer. It's a great place to start, especially if you are new to a community as it puts you in contact with a great range of people. Employers are quick to realise the skill set having a firefighter on staff has for them also. The other big draw card with a brigade is it not only the person joining but also their family, partners get to know each other and so do the kids, it just becomes a big extended family. My employer, NZ Safety Blackwoods, is also extremely supportive of my volunteer roles. It's a fantastic feeling to know you have a

competent team behind you.”

FENZ have many support roles that communities can help with that don’t require attending emergencies, including operational and brigade support.

Operational support volunteers respond to emergencies by supporting firefighters and medical first responders at incidents. They carry out tasks to help keep Fire and Emergency people and the public safe at an incident. Roles may include managing traffic and pedestrians, closing roads, transporting equipment and providing lighting and refreshments.

Operational support volunteers receive relevant training and some are also trained as medical co-responders. “Some operational support volunteers do not belong to a volunteer fire brigade. Instead they could be part of a standalone operational support unit or a composite station.”

Brigade support volunteers are key to the success of their brigade, completing administrative tasks and other duties that help to keep the brigade running smoothly. “They may also work with communities help-

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

someone

www.fireandemergency.nz

who wants to be involved but doesn’t want a frontline role.”

JO KENT

It’s been nearly five months since the children at Pinegrove Kindergarten and Brightwater School were given seedlings to take home and nurture. Now they are ready for planting at Snowden’s Bush. Head of Friends of Snowden’s Bush, Alison Pickford, says this is the second year the students will be taking part in the regeneration of the forest.

“The school pupils took charge of their trees in February, potting seedlings and caring for them until the winter planting day. It has been a great growing season and the height of last year's plantings is impressive.”

Department of Conservation

botanist Laura Parks has advised the group on appropriate plants, which include totara, kanuka, mahoe, titoki, hebe stricta, several coprosma varieties, lemonwood, ngaio and cabbage trees. Brightwater School principal

Glenda Earle says the whole school is taking part with everyone excited by the initiative.

“It encourages the values of respect and responsibility, our theme of tūrangawaewae, and a sense of involvement within

the local environment. It will be a great way to be involved in the community and take pride in our contribution over time."

Many families have been back to visit their plantings from 2022 and the kindergarten also take

regular walks through the reserve.

Snowden's Bush is one of three remaining remnants of the original Waimea Plains indigenous forest, which includes Faulkner's Bush and Edward Baigent Re-

serve. It contains a number of huge pre-European totara, and the Friends of Snowden's Bush is working alongside DOC with the aim of increasing the resilience of the forest in the face of climate change and nearby development.

“As a stony plains site, the reserve is particularly sensitive to spells of dry weather. Alterations in the way water enters the reserve, and a lower water table due to development around it, adds much stress to the trees during summer,” Alison says.

“Planting the forest edges to reduce drying from wind through the trees, as well as grouping single trees together, helps protect roots and allow for regeneration. It is a real joy to walk the paths and listen to the numerous birds singing in the early mornings and evenings.”

There’s a public planting day at the rear of the reserve on 23 July at 9am (weather postponement date 30 July).

Parker and Eva proudly show off their seedlings that will be planted today.

Photo: Jo Kent.

Pass your passion to Brightwater students

JO KENT

As part of a new lunchtime initiative, Brightwater School students will be able to learn from members of the community who volunteer their time to share their skills, expertise or talents. Principal Glenda Earle says it will only be successful if the local community get behind the idea.

“Brightwater community is full of talented, creative people who have skills and knowledge that our tamariki would enjoy learning.

“The lunchtime clubs will provide support to students, extend their learning in a fun environment and enrich community engagement.”

It’s hoped all manner of topics will be covered, with everything from knitting, chess, astronomy, music and art to chats about various careers and what they entail.

“I would like the clubs to be a regular thing - maybe once a week - so the children can get some continuity with learning a new skill.”

Students Nina Strang and Isla Eggers say they would be keen to learn about acting, dancing or music. “I would definitely go to a session on dancing or even how to learn the guitar. Anything like

First Matariki event for Brightwater

ANNE

HARDIE

proactive within the community on fire prevention.

performing arts would be really interesting,” Isla says. Nina says she already does hip-hop, but would be happy to get into drama and to hear from someone in local theatre would be interesting. “I love anything like that and it would be such a great use of a lunchtime to learn something new,” she says. Glenda says no topic is off limits. “We don’t have any volunteers just yet, but if you think you can offer something to our students, and have a spare hour, then please get in touch.”

Brightwater is holding its first Matariki this year where astronomers will set up telescopes to view the night sky and families can take a lit-up walk through Snowden’s Bush. Event organiser Eloise Martyn says it is an opportunity to bring the community together, while learning about Matariki.

“Matariki is a special time for communities in Aotearoa New Zealand and we want to make it a special time in Brightwater. The community is expanding and it’s nice to have something to strengthen our community and bring in an element of Matariki. That helps build resilience.”

The evening kicks off at 5pm and includes the walk through the bush where there will be a fire engine for children to explore and interact with local crew. That is also part of the local brigade’s effort to be more

At the Wanderers Rugby Club rooms, astronomers from the Wai-Iti Dark Sky Party will set up telescopes, depending on the weather, for children to view the night sky. Eloise says it will be too early to see Matariki, but everyone will be able to take home information to locate the Matariki cluster in the skies.

Matariki-inspired crafts and artwork from local schools, kindergarten and playcentre will be on display at the club rooms. A musical performance from the kindergarten and a special fire poi performance will also take place. Local businesses are supporting the event and Eloise says the funds raised will go towards next year’s Matariki to work towards making it a sustainable event.

The Brightwater Matariki will be held on July 7 if weather allows, or otherwise postponed until July 12.

Nina Strang and Isla Eggers, both 10, say they’d love to learn more about acting, dancing or music. Photo: Jo Kent.

Barbarian captains all class

JACK MALCOLM

Waimea College Barbarians

co-captains Nathan Downey and Harry Horncastle were disappointed after their loss over the weekend.

After back-to-back wins, they were unable to overcome the undefeated Christchurch Boys’ High School’s second XV in a 2417 loss, all but eliminating them from playoff contention of the Miles Toyota Championship.

“If you compare the first game to now, how much we’ve improved, we’re just building every week,” Nathan says.

That rapid improvement shows how much potential the squad has, but also means they were unable to start the season strongly enough to be in the hunt come the business end of the season. Having been selected to both captain the side this season, the pair say they see no downsides to having two people in the leadership role as it allows them to work it out together.

Nathan is in his final year of high school and has taken on more of the captaincy roles, like doing the toss, while Harry is in Year 12 and says he’s happy to learn off his teammate.

With both players packing down in the scrums arm in arm as the locking partnership for the Barbarians, they say they’re eager to show their leadership qualities that saw them selected for the role.

“During the preseason, we both put our hands up from the start,” says Nathan. Both players were quick to jump on the positives from their game over the weekend, saying it was unfortunate their late comeback didn’t come sooner.

Having trailed 24-5 midway through the second half, the Barbarians fought their way back into contention with a series of

strong team tries.

Capitalising on a mistake at the back by the visitors, Nathan was able to burrow his way over the try line after an attacking scrum as the momentum swung in their favour.

The final 15 minutes of play saw them camped inside the attacking red zone, but the defence was able to hold them out long enough to concede only one try.

After driving it forward through pick-and-goes in the forwards, the Barbarians took the scoreline back to a one-try game. However, their time had run short as they wasted precious minutes unable to find a breakthrough.

Nathan says it was a testament to the team with the way they were able to fight their way back into the game.

“The ticker the boys showed. Running up they had no more steam left, but they kept going.” Harry agreed, saying it was a performance to be proud of. “We did well considering there’s 1200 boys at their school who play rugby, compared to our 18,” he says.

Photo finish required after dramatic final lap

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

After leading by an almost unassailable margin, Seamus O’Donnell’s chain fell off on the final corner of the race and he was forced to sprint to the line with bike in hand to take the chequered flag. Having come into the race as a favourite after a few recent wins under his belt in Nelson and Marlborough, he quickly found himself chasing after the mass start saw the field quickly broken up and a dark horse, Martin Blackman, taking out an early lead.

Martin had raced Cyclocross in the UK, but hadn’t competed for the last 10 years after making the transition to enduro.

A cracked chain-stay saw him break out the gravel bike with slick tyres, but three laps in and with a good lead, Martin’s front tyre popped and he needed to pull over for a quick pump up. Seamus and four other riders were able to pass Martin, even if he would have won a record for quickest tyre pumping.

Three laps later, Martin had made up ground and was in second place, behind Seamus, and was given a sniff of stealing the win as he looked to overtake the stricken rider and his bike on the finish line.

A photo finish saw Seamus just make it to the finish line and take out first place in what organisers called the most exciting Cyclocross race in local history. The final race culminated an

exciting and fun day of action which kicked off with 30 kids under-10 lined up to do laps around the shorter course.

The cuteness factor was high, with organiser Vaughan Watson proudly running around after his daughter alongside other parents keeping their young ones close,

with lots of slips in the mud, mostly from the parents. Next was the short course race, which is for any type of bike as they ranged from single speed, hardtails, full suspension, and even city bikes with panniers.

Alan Newton took the win for the fastest male after a close race,

while Sandy Vincent took out the fastest female win on her full-suspension bike after a last-minute change of course due to some mechanical issues with her Cyclocross bike. Round three of the series will see competitors move venues to Rabbit Island on 16 July.

Full match report on the Nelson App.

Waimea College Barbarian co-captains Nathan Downey and Harry Horncastle led from the front in their 24-17 loss, putting in the hard yards to bring their team back into the game. Photo: Jack Malcolm.

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

Looking to share her World Cup wisdom

JACK MALCOLM

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

La Toya Mason was born in Auckland, but played professionally for eight years between 2009 and 2017 in the UK.

She notched up 70 tests for England including three Rugby World Cup finals, before returning to her homeland with a goal of sharing her knowledge of the game.

Having started coaching while she was still playing, firstly as a community rugby coach and later with the girls’ academy at Bishop Burton College in England, she says the plan was to come back after she finished playing. In recent years, La Toya has spent time with the Chiefs and Taranaki women’s sides and says it’s exciting to now be with the Mako as they look to start their season against Otago in less than a month’s time.

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

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

Speaking at the local women’s premier grade final, she was impressed with the level of play and says it made her even more excited to jump into the role. Having arrived in town less than 48 hours before the game, she hadn’t yet had the opportunity to connect with the players but is excited for what the future holds. She says the chance to coach and learn alongside head coach Mel Bosman was an opportunity too good to pass up.

design print deliver.

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

Photo: Taranaki Rugby.

Orienteering

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

Rugby

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

Suburbs

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

Giants

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

SUPER RUGBY TIPPING

While Marist were the ones celebrating after their 38-5 Tasman Trophy finals win in senior women’s rugby on Saturday, Kahurangi could keep their heads held high after a monumental turn around for the team this season. Having been kept winless last year, making this season’s final was an achievement for the group of young women. Chris Symes/ Shuttersport.

New league looks to boost youth numbers

JACK MALCOLM

Local table tennis offerings are expanding with a new league for youth in the region.

After watching their primary and intermediate school league, the Lionel Wells Shield, continue to grow and players age out, the decision was an easy one to include a new secondary school competition, says Table Tennis Nelson president Mark Nalder.

“As the kids come through, we want to build leagues as they age up.

“We had probably the most intermediate students playing in the last couple of years moving into college level.

There’s a big group of kids playing this year and we wanted to get the colleges involved.”

The newly-formed JJ Shield competition, also known as the Summit League, starts at the end of July and will run for eight weeks.

Named after John Jari, a coach at the club for almost six decades, the shield will be played for by two-player teams of any gender combination.

Teams can be any size, so they can rotate out players if they’re not available, but two players must play each week if they want to remain in the hunt for the trophy.

Entry is free for the JJ Shield and equipment, including

bats, is all provided by the club.

Mark says the level of table tennis in high school-aged players has gone through peaks and troughs, with Waimea and Nelson Colleges historically being quite strong.

Their recent Tasman Secondary Schools tournament attracted well over 100 competitors, including players from the Marlborough region.

“We have some good young players.”

Mark says table tennis is an appealing sport for a whole bunch of reasons, but on a wet and windy wintery day it’s a “bloody good game”.

As part of their plan to ex-

pand into the college age grades, the club has teamed up with Summit to increase the appeal.

With $1500 in prize money available, the top two schools in the region will receive $500 each, while the remaining money will be divided by the finalists.

Summit operations manager David Turnhout says it didn’t take long to decide to team up with the club after they were approached, having already established a working relationship together.

“It was a no-brainer to give it some support,” he says.

“Summit has always had a big involvement in the community and especially sports.”

Summit operations manager David Turnhout, Table Tennis Nelson president Mark Nalder and coach Anna King hope a bigger prize pool will continue to grow the sport locally at the youth level. Photo: Jack Malcolm.

Community Notices

Community Notices

MONDAY

NELSON-WAIMEA POWERTALK. Mon 3rd July. 9.30-11am. Sport Tasman/ Richmond Town Hall, Cambridge St. Theme: Small Talk with Big Results . Contact: Sandra 027 766 0347

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

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ: 10am – 11.30am, Tuesday 4th July 2023, McCashin’s, Stoke. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection and finding out about groups, activities and services. www.wellby.org.nz 03 5467681.

LUNCH ON THE HILL. Come join us for hot drinks at 11am and lunch at noon on Tuesday the 4th of July. Koha welcome. 27 Dorset St, Richmond. Ph (03) 5448844.

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 & 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

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

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.

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

CENTRAL GARDEN CLUB meet 2nd Wedn. monthly 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

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

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 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 & 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 10:00-11:30 Regular, 12:00-1:00 Beginners. Stillness, breath, movement. Quiet Heart Tai Chi, Anglican Church, Dorset Street. By donation. Contact Merrick, email quiet.heart.tai. chi@gmail.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

SARAU WINTER SALE weekend – 22-23 July 11am – 3pm. Choose a new wardrobe, enough books for a year & of course soup,

or coffee. This year we also have a section with old books & china.

SUN CITY ROCKERS CLUB mid winter dance. Saturday 24 June, 7.30-11pm, band “don’t Frett”. $20 members, $25 non members, $10 under 18, supper provided. Venue- Club Waimea. All Welcome.

NELSON SOCIAL DANCE CLUB SOCIALDANCE, July 8th, Club

Waimea 7.70pm to 11pm, Paradise Band. Entry $12 members, $17 non-members, $5 students and non-dancers, all welcome. Contact Bernard 0276478827

STOKE MONTHLY MARKET, Methodist church grounds, 1st July

9.00 am to noon. Phone 9276130 to book site. Supporting Nelson Hospital Chaplaincy and LifeLink.

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

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

NELSON PHILATELIC SOCIETY Meet on Sunday 9 July Doors Open

1.30pm - Meeting Starts 2pm. At Stoke Baptist Church. Mitchener

Cup-Letter “C”. Presidents Display. Call Robin 0275442518

HIGGINS HERITAGE PARK 222 Pigeon Valley Rd, WakefieldSunday 2 July, park open day & museum sheds of vintage vehicles, machinery & equipment open, bus & bush rail jigger rides.10am3pm www.higginsheritagepark.co.nz

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

CENTRAL GARDEN CLUB , PROPOSED CLUB BUS TRIP TO CANTERBURY 15/16/17 September 2023. Visits to local gardens, Including NZ Alpine Show held at Lincoln Cost of $335.00 which includes accommodation and bus fare. For further information phone either Bob or Lynn 0275418468.

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.

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.

FOR

AGM NOTICE

Nelson Harness Racing Owners, Trainers, Breeders Association.

We

For

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

11am Sunday

9 July 2023 at OTB Room Richmond

CHRISTADELPHIANS

The Bible Our Guide

We warmly welcome you to hear Joel Struckman

The Bible - Answers for Today and Hope for Tomorrow

Join us Tuesday, 4th July 2023 at 7.30pm Richmond Library, Constance Barnicoat Room, Queen Street Entrance www.nelsonchristadelphians.nz

FOR RENT

Your for rent ad here. Phone 544 9037

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

create@inkcreative.nz inkcreative.nz

563 Main Road, Stoke, New Zealand

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