Raglan Chronicle

Drum Drum, the Fastest Raft at the Recycled Raft Race. Image thanks to Ken Hansen.

Māui Dolphin Day and the Recycled Raft Race returns

The revival of Māui Dolphin Day this Saturday proved to be a resounding success, drawing in hundreds of community members with the event culminated in the traditional recycled raft race at 3pm. In the spirit of the event, there was

Department of Conversation there was a lot of talk about concerns around the new government but there was also a lot of fun with performances from The Swabs, Soulti and the Blisters Sisters Ukulele Army.

The raft race itself unfolded under ideal conditions, with gentle winds and calm waters ensuring a smooth sailing experience

Among the standout rafts, the "Dream Cream Tri-Marine" crafted by Mike Renfree from Raglan Chocolate, claimed the prestigious Raddest Recycled Raft Award. Constructed from a broken surfboard, a windsurfer board, and a towering milk bottle sourced from Dreamview Creamery, the raft embodied

Xtreme's skilled duo of Trevor and Pete, the raft featured innovative elements such as a repurposed bike for propulsion and steering, showcasing ingenuity and determination.

The "Waitetuna School Wanderer" clinched the title of Best Junior Raft, with its eclectic ensemble of paddlers showcasing teamwork and camaraderie. Meanwhile, "The Sub" from Raglan Area School emerged victorious in the Best Team category, despite its penchant for submerging underwater during the race, thanks to the unwavering determination of its paddlers.

However, it was the "Drum Drum" raft that stole the show, earning the title of Fastest Raft with its sleek design and impressive speed. Constructed from 44-gallon drums and hydrogen peroxide containers, the raft, propelled by a team from Continuous Stainless in Frankton, left competitors in its wake.

Drum Drum - winners of the Fastest Raft Award

The Recycled Raft Race celebrates 20 years.

Dream Cream Tri-Marine - Raddest Recycled Raft Award . Waitetuna School Wanderer - Best Junior Raft

The Sub - Best Team.

Xtreme Zero Waste Raft - Most Ambitious Raft Award.

Early surfer calls time on his Whale Bay idyll

by Edith Symes

You could say woodworker Dennis Conquest has carved his own niche in Raglan.

But now it’s time for this amiable American who came to town in 1968 to surf to finally move on, though ideally not too far from what he calls his life’s work – a four-storey home he painstakingly built on a steep, bushclad section overlooking Whale Bay.

It was back in 1980 that Dennis bought the 2200 sq m property along Whaanga Rd –then a dirt road – and started crafting the kind of house he dreamt of, inspired by famous United States architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

A model built to scale and designed by Dennis and his children still sits atop the kitchen bench.

When asked when he finished the ambitious project, Dennis answers wryly “about a week ago”.

But at 81 he reckons he just can’t stay put. “My mind tells me I’m not very old but my body doesn’t go along with it,” he laughs. Even getting up and down the stairways, both interior and exterior, is difficult for Dennis these days.

Not that he’s lamenting exactly, acknowledging it’s a great feeling of achievement to have built a house “from start to finish … all by myself”.

He’s constructed not only the house itself –from 27 local macrocarpas he felled and had milled – but also all his own furniture. He’s particularly proud of his kauri dining suite which was repurposed from the rafters of St Paul’s cathedral in Auckland.

Getting the timber on site was a bit of a mission early on, Dennis admits, and he called on the “neighbourhood kids” – among them Dom Gavin, ‘Carcus’ and ‘Daz’ – to help lug it up his rudimentary driveway. Their reward was the use of a half-pipe – the first in the Waikato – he’d built on his property.

Dennis had a long association with skateboarding, having made some of the first decks for the legendary Santa Cruz brand back in America. When he came to Raglan he built and sold his own Powerpoint-brand skateboards.

As a woodworker, he’s turned his hand to many things over the years. “You name it and I’ve tried to make it,” Dennis chuckles.

In the 80s he built up a portfolio and sold his cabinetry in New Zealand through an exclusive furniture store, Chandler House. Then there were the little trinket boxes or chests which were sold in 35 shops throughout the country.

His pieces were made of tea tree and other woods he gathered by the trailer-load off the likes of East Cape beaches.

Also a guitarist – with a designated room in which to jam with local musos – Dennis has turned his hand to making his own percussion instruments, among them some box-shaped Spanish-style cajons from recycled wood which local drummer Freddy Limbert helped design.

But now that age is catching up with Dennis he says he has no choice other than to sell his beloved property – bought 45 years ago for $10,000 – which comes with an orchard and a large garden he’s also now finding hard to maintain.

Alongside the orchard is a sizable workshop where he’s spent much of his time over the decades, even living there for 10 years or so with his kids while they were growing up and the house was still in the early stages of construction.

The workshop was built from recycled timber which Dennis sourced – in pieces –for $100. He put the former Te Hutewai Rd house back together again and still it lives on.

Dennis has family in both Raglan and Gisborne so hopes to maybe buy two more manageable homes here and there, affording

He's right at home in his workshop.

him the luxury of flying between coasts on “a trillion airpoints”.

With his reduced mobility he now paddleboards rather than surfs, or hoops along the beach on his fat-tyred e-bike. “My e-bike is my wheelchair,” he half-jokes.

And while he used to flit between Hawaii and New Zealand for surfing, now it’s more likely to be Samoa or Fiji where he can paddleboard, swim, dive and play music.

Dennis is proud of the fact he and ‘Crowie’ – who’s also still in Raglan – were two of the first surfers to live here. He recalls that

people like him living so far out of town were once dubbed the Whale Bay “losers”.

He marvels at how much Raglan has changed in his lifetime. “It used to be a hippie spot. Now it’s full of yuppies who want to be hippies,” he observes.

If you're interested in this property you can contact:

Mark Frost

Residential and Lifestyle Sales

+64 22 150 2244

mark.frost@bayleys.co.nz

Apply now for Meridian’s Power Up Community Fund

At Meridian, we only generate from 100% renewable resources: wind, water, and sun. We’re committed to doing good things with our energy. That means good for people, and good for the environment.

We’re proud to back local projects in the communities around our wind farms and hydro stations with our Power Up fund.

With Power Up, your community has a say on what initiatives we support and fund. Managed by a panel of locals and Meridian staff, we’re working together to build strong, sustainable communities.

Power Up Te Uku provides grants for projects in Raglan, Te Mata, Te Uku, and Waitetuna.

How to apply

Applications for the next funding round are open until midnight on Sunday 21 April 2024.

For more information and to apply: visit meridian.co.nz/powerup email community.fund@meridianenergy.co.nz

• call 04 803 2507

Dennis with one of his original Powerpoint skateboards.

The Whale Bay property has expansive views.

Whāingaroa Raglan water tower reservoir public art mural restoration

Supplied by Whāingaroa Raglan Destination Management Organisation

The water reservoir at the top of Bow St. is about to get a new lease of life, and we want to know what you think.

Thanks to initial funding from the Waikato District Council, the iconic structure will undergo an extreme makeover, with the Whāingaroa Raglan Destination Management Organisation (WRDMO) leading the project to create a sense of place by connecting our communities and organisations together to celebrate our people, our place, and our stories.

The 240 square metre reservoir was last painted more than 20 years ago and since then has faded considerably and been targeted by graffiti so is well overdue for a spruce up.

WRDMO chair Charlie Young is keen to see the reservoir makeover finally get off the ground. “We’re pumped to get this project underway; it’s been a long time coming.”

The organisation is seeking feedback on potential ideas for what the reservoir could look like and is establishing a representative steering group to oversee the project, while a formal call for artists is planned for the near future.

To provide feedback on the plan and have your say on what the reservoir could look like, email: jacqueline@raglanihub.nz before March 14 or visit the Raglan iHub website www.raglanihub.nz

Raglan Golf Club supports Billy Stairmand

by Pete Aim

Billy Stairmand is very familiar with terms like "Surfs Up! Drop in! Kick out! Gnarly! Or so stoked," but when it came to playing in his own sponsored golf competition for the 2024 Olympics, he needed a whole new golfing vocabulary.

Billy is a social golfer who plays a few rounds to chill out between surfing competitions. He was surprised when the idea to hold a sponsored 9 hole competition was raised one afternoon up at the golf course with Club Manager Julian. The idea gained momentum and soon all 18 holes had full sponsorship.

"I was stoked, the Golf Club supported the idea 100% with the emphasis on a fun and relaxed mentality. I've even learnt a few golf sayings like, "Fore! Ambrose! Divot," added Billy.

Overall winners on the day were the Old Skool team who had a narrow win over Shank You Very Much.

Billy competes at the Paris Olympics over four days from the 27th July to the 4th of August 2024.

Give it heaps Billy.

From the Deep South. ..off the tee...Pete Aim.

While the factors driving the housing market activity have shifted with the seasons, there’s one thing you can count on. With a unique blend of expertise, international networks and a suite of innovative marketing tools, Bayleys is the agency for all your property needs.

This page is proudly sponsored by

2024 International Women’s Day Gala

March Science Night: forest restoration

from Whāingaroa Weedbusters

Come to March Science Night and take home for yourself one of 12 free bottles of bamboo buster to despatch some pesky pest plants.

Whether you have blown in recently or lived in Whāingaroa a long time there is one thing we all agree on - we love and cherish this place.

For a small town we punch above our weight with environmental initiativesPara Kore, Xtreme Zero Waste, KASM and Karioi Project. Whāingaroa Weedbusters, a local volunteer group celebrating its third year, wants to add to that list as leaders in eradication of pest plants. We're asking you to join in.

A pest plant is not just a plant in the wrong place. The nature of our environment is changing in front of our eyes in what the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment called "a silent invasion". We are losing plant species and don't even notice. You might not recognise this as a threat but did you know there are 2500 native plant species in Aotearoa and there are a staggering 25,000 introduced species - they aren't all pests but the ones that naturalise are very successful at competing with native species for light, nutrients and space, and as anyone who has ever tried to clear a garden will know, they are fierce and can quickly take over an area, ultimately creating a monoculture which pushes out native plants by creating environments where they will not survive, and limiting sustenance and habitat for native birds and insects.

Wayne Bennett from Forest Flora in Ngaruawahia has a stark photo of a forest which once would have been home to 250 native plant species and is now reduced to just two species - kahikatea and tradescantia, otherwise known as wandering willie. This

is not a forest that sustains tui, kereru, ruru. We can all identify pohutukawa, kauri, silver fern and kowhai but we run a very real risk of losing these well known and loved species under veils of plants from elsewhere around the world. Naturalising species from South America, China and Europe are changing the face of our Ngahere into something we no longer recognise. Do we want to see Karioi ablaze in yellow flowering privet, woolly nightshade, and draped in climbing asparagus with all the natives gone? Just take a look at the foothills. Pest plants are on their way.

The cliff side on Ngarunui has remnants of toetoe but is actually vastly Argentinian pampas grass. A fire risk and a cosy home for furry pests and wasps. Got it in your backyard?

Why are we asking for your help? While we're trying to protect the native forest

environment it's the road sides and backyards where most of these pest plants are emerging from.

If you have a privet drenched backyard but it’s a cliff face and you're worried it will collapse downhill if you take out the privet you need to hear these guys.

Come to science night and hear from two knowledgeable and entertaining experts in environmental protection. Geoff Reid and Pete Russell speak around the country.

For the inspiration Geoff Reid has a focus on urgent action related to climate, biodiversity collapse, forest restoration, human health, animal welfare and the loss

of resilience. He speaks up to big business and takes beautiful film footage. Find him on Instagram or Youtube. His latest film is The Unseen, Saving Te Waikoropupu Springs.

Pete Russell gets practical. Having worked in a variety of environmental settings, in 1995 he came to realise weeds were a hugely under-recognised threat to Aotearoa's biodiversity and chose to focus on weed management long before most others.

WEC and Whāingaroa Weedbusters are hosting Science Night, March 14th, 7- 8pm at Harbour View Hotel.

We have 12 bottles of Cutnpaste Bamboo Buster to give away.

Singles champs decided at Raglan Bowling Club

from Raglan Bowling Club

Both the Senior and Junior singles championships have recently been completed at the Raglan Bowling Club. All events were hotly contested with good fields in all divisions. Games are decided with the first to 21 being the winner.

The senior men’s was won by Bill Bond who last triumphed in 2015, but it wasn't without some drama. The semi finals saw both hot favourites eliminated; firstly second year junior bowler Mike Kiely caused a boil over when he eliminated the experienced Peter Puschmann 21 to 15. Then Bill Bond upset last year’s champion Colin Bouzaid. Bill Bond, fresh off the operating table and on the comeback trail, was too strong and experienced for Mike Kiely in his first ever final winning by 21 to 13.

The senior ladies saw last year's winner and Waikato singles champion runner up Maureen Wahanga claim back to back titles. She first had to account for the well performed Eileen Stephens in the semi finals before meeting Bev McDavitt White who is in the Waikato under 5 rep team and eliminated Pim Blair in her semi final. The stage was set for an epic final with Bev having earlier won their encounter in round robin play. The final was very even throughout and was 18 all after 19 ends and although Bev White put up a great fight Maureen Wahanga was too good at the business end and took the title by 21 to 18.

The under 5 junior singles also produced a high calibre of bowls; the men's trophy

was claimed by Robin Pipe who accounted for Bill King in his semi before meeting Gavin Crowley who had dealt to Ian Latham to reach the final. Both players played great draw bowls but Pipe's greater consistency and experience saw him take the title 21 to 9.

The ladies under 5 title was won by the effervescent Coleen Parkes who beat Bev McDavitt White in one of the best finals seen for many years. The two friends went head

to head with White taking a commanding lead only for Parkes to stage a remarkable comeback and lock the scores up at 20 all after 24 ends. With both players having bowls close to the jack and being too close to call White had one last bowl to claim victory. Unfortunately her bowl just promoted her friend’s bowl and Coleen Parkes had her first title.

Geoff Reid.

Peter Russel with monkey apple seedling in rare coastal forest.

Under 5 Junior Champions Coleen Parkes and Robin Pipe

Senior Mens Champion Bill Bond with runner up Mike Kiel

Senior Ladies Champion Maureen Wahanga with runner up Bev McDavitt White

Wander Women Adventure Race Raglan 2024

The sixth Wander Women Adventure Race will take place in Raglan on Saturday 4 May 2024. The race is designed by women, for women and is both a great introduction to adventure racing for beginners, while optional extra checkpoints provide the right level of challenge for experienced teams.

Wander Women is a navigational team race – in teams of either two or four fabulous wāhine, teams will navigate a stunning secret course by foot and mountain bike to collect checkpoints and complete fun mystery activities along the way in either the short or medium secret course.

Event Organiser, Fiona Cederman said:

“Every year, Wander Women Adventure Race is held in a different location – I’m so excited to showcase beautiful Raglan this May and bring teams here to take part. Teams will have a unique experience, navigating the course which includes amazing and exclusive views.

“Wander Women is more than an adventure race. It’s also a well-deserved break and girls weekend away. Locals can expect to see teams enjoying restaurants, cafes, local activities and shopping while they are here for the weekend.

“Wander Women Adventure Race is really special – the atmosphere is so supportive and teams have lots of fun out on the course and over the weekend. Team entries are still available at soakedinadventure.co.nz – we’d love to have you join the adventure on 4 May in Raglan.”

Race venue announcement: Race HQ and the start/finish line will be announced to

teams on Saturday 27 April 2024 - one week before race day.

Race day timings: Registration opens at Race HQ at 6.30am on Saturday 4 May 2024.

Medium Course race briefing will begin at 7.30am and race start at 8am. Short course race briefing will be at 8.30am and race start at 9am.

Short course overview: The Wander Women short course is suitable for beginners and first-time adventure racers. In teams of two or four, the Wander Women will navigate the secret short course to collect checkpoints by mountain bike and foot. The navigation will be basic and appropriate for everyone, and the mountain biking will

be non-technical. The race is set so most teams will finish in between 2-6 hours – the course includes 5-7km walk/jog off road and mountain biking 10-15km.

Medium course overview: The Wander Women medium course is also designed for beginners; however the terrain may be tougher than the short course. The medium course has optional extra checkpoints which mean experienced racers can set the right level of challenge for their team. The race is set so that most teams will finish between 5 – 9 hours – the course includes 10-15km walk/jog off road and mountain biking approximately 25km on forestry and farmland.

What local businesses are involved and supporting the event?

Raglan Kayak and Paddleboards

RSA

Newave Surf NZ

Raglan Rock

Dreamview Creamery

Karioi Project as our Charity

Super Value

Harbourview Hotel

Further information: Fiona Cederman: Tel. 0276267910

Website: https://soakedinadventure.co.nz/ wander-women-raglan-2024

Good debt vs Bad debt

Financial

Mortgage

Over the last 15 years of operating here in Raglan we’ve put thousands of people (local and across NZ) into debt. That sounds bad, but to put that into perspective we need to look at the distinction between good debt and bad debt.

Good debt contributes to your wealth and happiness and obtains something useful, for example a mortgage to buy a home, a student loan to obtain a tertiary qualification or a business loan to acquire or grow a business. Good debt can bring long term financial benefits if applied well.

Bad debt is the opposite. It’s money borrowed to purchase rapidly depreciating assets or consumer products, for example credit card spending, loans for luxury items that don’t hold their value, payday loans, buy now pay later and car loans. Bad debt makes it difficult to achieve your goals, can erode your credit score, and is typically regretted.

In February we saw 6 of our clients make the final payment on their mortgage. Each of these people initially took a 25 or 30 year mortgage within the last 15 years. They used different methods to repay their mortgages which I’ll detail below, but they all had one thing in common:

They all avoided bad debt and used good debt in moderation.

Here’s what they did to repay their mortgages:

One client received an inheritance and used it to repay their mortgage.

Four clients structured their mortgage payments so that they overpaid each week/fortnight/month and ended up halving the time to fully pay off their mortgage.

One client upgraded their home, kept their first home and turned it into a rental. 10 years later they sold the rental and used the sale proceeds to pay off their mortgage.

Aside from the inheritance, each of these people stuck to a plan to repay debt quickly and now have between 10-15 years of working life before retirement with no mortgage. They can use their incomes to save or invest to have comfortable retirements and still have enough money to travel and have fun in the meantime.

Before you borrow money, ask yourself if the debt is going to help you achieve your goals or steer you away from them. If it’s not going to help, consider giving it a miss and using what those payments would have been to pay down your mortgage or other debt you may have quicker.

Of course if you don’t have a plan to reach your goals you’re more likely to succumb to bad debt and less likely to become one of those ‘lucky’ people who’ve paid their home off early. Everyone’s circumstances are different so reach out to us for tailored advice.

Arthritis is a condition that leads to pain and progressive degeneration of the joint. It affects many aspects of your pet’s life causing limited mobility, painful joints and poor quality of life.

Signs of Arthritis

Limping after exercise

Lagging behind on walks

Slow to rise or feeling stiff

Difficulty in jumping, or with stairs

We can’t stop the disease but we can help alleviate the pain. Long term, this can help maintain muscle, reduce weight gain and improve quality of life.

Speak to our Veterinary team at Anexa for advice and treatments, such as these monthly subcutaneous injections:

Beransa (dogs) & Solensia (cats), a biological therapy, known as Monoclonal Antibody that works on your pet’s immune system. The active ingredient targets nerve growth factors, and neutralises a protein that stimulates pain in patients with arthritis.

Synovan is slightly different, but also another option.

Mortgage advisor Brett Wood. Contact Brett on 021 886 444 email brett.wood@loanmarket. co.nz

Raglan Junior Football

KiaOra and welcome back to the newest season of football. 2024 is going to be a corker, the year when Raglan teams thrash the Hamilton teams from the start. Joke joke joke, it’s not about the winning it’s about the taking part, and thanks to Johnny we have another year of a seamless, trouble-free online registration system.

Please head to the website, or if you have a returning player it is likely you received an email last week.

As always, we want zero barriers to participation. If your family is broke this year, make contact with us (website, email, Facebook page) and we can rustle up a scholarship place for your child. We have been supported by Meridian, COGs and WEL this year, so do not hesitate to contact us if you need support with kit and registration.

Also a shout-out to Pauline at Community House for always finding a way to recycle soccer boots in our community; this kindness is so appreciated and helps make the Raglan Football Club a thriving place for our tamariki to keep active throughout winter, stay engaged, form new friendships, and develop life skills of team work & sportsmanship.

This entire thing is 100% volunteer run. If you want to join our committee get in touch; if your child is thinking about joining First Kicks or Junior Football and you don’t know how it works - parents coach and manage teams; we try to “keep teams together” year on year wherever possible.

Because of this it is really important that you get the registrations in before the close date of March 23rd so that we can get the RFC teams graded up and into the wider network of Waibop (Waikato Football)…

…Then we get to thrash Hamilton hahahaha.

After registrations we will host a combined Muster and Kit Day. More details on that soon.

See you on the fields soon.

Open Homes

this weekend with Ray White Raglan

Saturday

12.00 - 12.45pm 121 Maungatawhiri Road, Raglan

12.00 - 12.45pm 1 Lily Street, Raglan

1.00 - 1.45pm 23D Violet Street, Raglan

By Negotiation

1.00 - 1.45pm 54 Rangitahi Road, Raglan Deadline Sale (unless sold prior)

1.00 - 1.45pm 16 Calvert Road, Raglan

2.00 - 2.45pm 11 Primrose Street, Raglan

3.00 - 3.45pm 5B

3.00

Sunday 10 March

11.00 - 11.45am 11 Primrose Street, Raglan

12.00 - 12.45pm 35 Long Street, Raglan

12.00 - 12.45pm 41 Bay View Road, Raglan

1.00 - 1.45pm 57 Hills Road, Raglan

1.00 - 1.45pm 16 Calvert Road, Raglan

1.00 - 1.45pm 15 Tutchen

1.00 - 1.45pm 233 Maungatawhiri

By Negotiation

what’s on

CROP SWAP. First and third Sundays of the month. 9.30 -10.30am at Bowling Club, James Street. Bring anything from the kitchen or garden to swap – seedlings, plants, produce, preserves, baking. It’s not direct swapping, we share abundance, and everyone gets a bit of everything! All welcome

WED 13 MAR

RAGLAN

RAMBLERS 9am from James St near Wallis St - Kauri Loop - bring lunch

WED 20 MAR

RAGLAN

RAMBLERS 9am from James St near Wallis St - Arapunibring lunch

WEC AND WHĀINGAROA WEEDBUSTERS

ARE HOSTING

Science Night, March 14th, 7- 8pm at Harbour View Hotel. We have 12 bottles of Cutnpaste Bamboo Buster to give away.

For Sale

FIREWOOD DRY, DELIVERED. Phone 021 0771524. Trailer Load Pine $205, Oldman Pine $210, Gum - $215

QUALITY HORSE HAY

$8.00 per Conventional Bale Pickup behind baler Waingaro Location main tar sealed road Phone 078254843, or 021932431

Situations Vacant

WE REQUIRE A GARDENER and a person who understands shrubs and flowers, it’s a part time regular position pay is negotiated and is paid weekly but tax will be deducted. Hours of work will vary to suit applicant We are situated half an hour from Raglan township for further details contact Barry 021932431 most mornings any message left will be returned.

SHONEN KNIFE @ THE YOT CLUB, Fri 8 March from 8pm THE MAD PROFESSOR, MISLED CONVOY @ THE YOT CLUB, Sunday 10 March RAGLAN GROWERS MARKET Held weekly Fridays 5-7pm at 1 Stewart Street.

FRIENDS OF KAITOKE WALKWAY meet on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays every month at 9am to remove pest plants and restore the native environment. Email Whāingaroa weed busters @gmail.com for the meeting point.

MANU BAY SINGLE FIN CLASSIC 2024 ( King of the Single Fin) Saturday, March 16 from 8am. - Single fin's only, must be made before 1980! $35.00 entry fee, cash only

5 Stewart St, Raglan

WHAT'S ON

CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATES

CALL FOR ARTISTS – IRIDESCENCE

EXHIBITION Entries invited for wall-hung works on the theme Iridescent – all mediums welcome. Work should include elements of iridescence, lustre or brilliance. For full details email shona@ raglanartscentre.co.nz

LIVE AND LOCAL – FRIDAY 8 MARCH A showcase for local performers, from songwriters to comedy, this month featuring Matt Kambic, Greta O’Leary and Vicki Greetis. 7.30-9.30pm, doors open 7pm. Koha entry. Licensed bar and café open.

RAGLAN CREATIVE MARKET – SUNDAY

10 MARCH 10am – 2pm at the Old School, 5 Stewart Street. For more info - www. raglanmarket.com

EXHIBITION – 12 – 28 MARCH Toitū Te Tiriti - a Raglan Naturally initiative. Learn about the Treaty of Waitangi and Te Whakaputanga/ Declaration of Independence. Discover the signatories from the Whāingaroa/Raglan Area. Open daily 10am – 2pm. School visit enquiries to Lisa Thomson, 0211 798 256.

POTTERY WHEEL WORKSHOP SERIES FOR ADULTS 6-week programme with Sarah Bing | Thursdays 16 May – 20 June | 7pm – 9.30pm | $295 RCAC+Clay members $315 RCAC members $335 non-members | all materials and firing included | Bookings essential www. raglanartscentre.co.nz/workshops

MOVIES AT THE OLD SCHOOL

HOW TO HAVE S*X

(R16 | 88 mins)

Sat 16 Mar 5pm

ANATOMY OF A FALL (M | 151 mins)

Sat 16 March 7.30pm

THE CONVERT (R13 | 119 mins)

Sun 17 Mar 4.30pm

Sat 30 March 7.30pm

Sat 6 Apr 7.30pm

Sun 7 Apr 7.30pm

Sat 20 Apr 7.30pm

Door sales 30min prior raglanmovies.co.nz

REGULAR EVENTS AT THE OLD SCHOOL

Clay Shed Members’

Night weekly on Wed 5-7pm

Karioi Quilts & Crafts

Monthly on 2nd Thurs, 10am

Raglan Art Group

Monthly on 1st Fri, 10am

Backgammon Club

Monthly on last Fri, 5pm

Mens’ Group Wed 21 Feb 7pm, then fortnightly

Contact 825 0023 | www.raglanartscentre.co.nz/

email: classifieds@raglanchronicle.co.nz

Are you passionate about Whāingaroa Raglan?

Are you ready to engage in community-led development and represent your local community members?

Do you take pride in this place?

Raglan Naturally Community Trust has a vacancy for a board member as a ‘Community representative’. The existing board has been supporting RN since 2020 and the makeup of the board is 4 Hapū representatives, 1 Raglan Community Board representative and 3 ‘Community representatives’. Any and all community members from within the Whāingaroa, Raglan township and surrounds are welcome to be involved and put forward a nomination.

Trust Objectives

• To oversee and support the implementation of the aspirations and projects documented in the Raglan Naturally Community Plan.

• To work in partnership with iwi and hapū, recognising the intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of the partnership.

• To ensure all people in the Raglan area have ongoing opportunities to be engaged, have input and be informed about the aspirations and projects of Raglan Naturally.

• To work collaboratively and strengthen partnerships with relevant organisations and statutory bodies.

• To create opportunities for Raglan’s communities and organisations to connect and learn from each other.

• To grow community capability by supporting the development of leadership, organisational capacity and skills, through training and provision of resources.

• To support, promote and uphold the mana and values of “Raglan Naturally”.

• To seek funding, policies and resources which promote and support Raglan Naturally to deliver its aspirations and projects.

• To document and share Raglan Naturally values, objectives, processes and achievements, to learn from and /or assist other communities.

• To periodically review and refresh the plan and to evaluate the achievements of Raglan Naturally.

For all information on the Raglan Naturally Community Trust please visit our website at www.raglannaturally.co.nz and go to the ‘Recruitment’ page to learn more and apply today.

Important Dates: Nominations open 7th March Nominations close 28th March

For more info visit our website or contact Raglan Naturally Coordinator Gabrielle Parson www.raglannaturally.co.nz | 027 887 8877 info@raglannaturally.co.nz facebook.com/raglannaturally

letters

Dear editor/s

As a local resident being involved in the fantastic local food security movement of Raglan/Whaaingaroa (eg crop swop, community gardens, Friday Market, Horticultural Society etc) I am deeply concerned about the closure of SWOP. SWOP was a sustainable business that provided residents with a huge variety of organic and nonorganic products. Grains, cereals, nuts, snacks, dog treats, oils, vinegars, teas, spices, locally produced dairy and toiletries could be bought and filled into your own containers or free containers available in the shop.

SWOP survived for three years and was run by two owners and 2 staff members. The shop was very clean, the staff members very friendly and knowledgeable and the prices very competitive, in particular organic produce.

I spoke to many regular customers who were all very devastated about the closure of this sustainable rubbish free business. Reasons given included central location with close parking facilities for bikes/cars, easy access

and support for parents with young children, provisions of foods otherwise unavailable in Raglan, great place for shopping for single people (" I buy small amounts, exactly what I need and have zero waste”) and of SWOP being another step towards a circular, zero waste economy and ultimately a more sustainable future for our tamariki and mokopuna. SWOP has been an important asset for this town and as one resident put it " the most logical shop in Raglan who has been leading (and is famous for) in many sustainable projects”. For instance, Raglan has been the first township in New Zealand to go plastic free.

I would like to appeal to the property owners in Raglan to support our local sustainable businesses by carefully considering their decisions regarding rental rates.

And finally on a positive note; we in Whaaingaroa are NOT giving up finding solutions and putting in the hard mahi to further support and encourage local, zero waste initiatives.

Pia Willmann-Huerner

Raglan 64A Greenslade Road

Open Home

Two dwellings - Expansive views - private

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3 2

Open Home

Elevated living - unobstructed views

The vendors have discovered their perfect home, are highly motivated, and have set a definitive timeline - making it imperative to view this property at your earliest convenience! Crafted by the award-winning Anthem Homes and meticulously refined by its current owners, this one-year-old residence can be your forever home, a lock-and-leave haven, or a lucrative rental investment. Architecturally designed for seamless living, this quality home revolves around the 2.7m stud, open-plan living area and a wellappointed kitchen.

Sat 9

Owners heading to Oz, must be SOLD

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2 1 2 For Sale $1,220,000 View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/RGL174573 Mark Crarer M 027 433 6083

Westside gem

Welcome to 23A Uenuku Avenue, a well presented modern and tidy 2-bedroom home that comes complete with an additional converted sleepout for extended family, teenager, or additional income stream.

•The roof on the home has recently been replaced.

•Converted garage has its own shower and toilet.

•Double glazed joinery.

•Large covered deck area ideal for entertaining and alfresco living.

•Outdoor bath set in a private wee nook.

•Consented garage is tenanted.

3 2 1 For Sale $910,000 View Sat 9 Mar 1.00 - 2.00pm Sat 16 Mar 1.00 - 2.00pm Web pb.co.nz/RGU115575 Debbie Crarer M 027 253 6344 Mark Crarer M 027 433 6083 Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz Proud to be here