Waimea Weekly
Affordable Funerals and Cremations We can provide every service and option, and leave you with memories of a lifetime of love. 03 544 4400 • www.wrfs.co.nz
Locally Owned and Operated
Wednesday 1 March 2017
A home warming warning
Page 8-9
Volunteer Fire Fighters Awareness
Page 16-17
Giants triple threat revealed
Page 25
Fire-starter’s ‘error of judgement’ Andrew Board Editor
andrew@nelsonweekly.co.nz
The man whose fire sent black smoke over parts of Richmond last year says he’s embarrassed and remorseful. Brett Mytton has owned land
near Three Brothers Corner for more than 30 years and had numerous controlled fires over that time. But a fire to burn an old fibreglass boat last May ended with him facing a maximum sentence of a $300,000 fine or two years in jail. He says the boat was salvaged by
a friend after it was wrecked on the Boulder Bank. After salvaging some parts from it, they’d decided that burning it would be a good way to dispose of it. Brett says that decision was “an error of judgement”. He is now undertaking a restorative justice process, which
includes donations to the Richmond Library and the Richmond Fire Brigade, as well as an article in the Weekly to educate the community about open air fires. “I did a pretty silly thing and I’m facing the consequences of it. I’m still to face a judge and see what they say. But I’ve put my hand up
and pledged guilty, and I feel a lot of remorse and embarrassment about my actions.” He says he did get a permit for the fire, but didn’t tell the Waimea Rural Fire Force what he would be burning.
SEE PAGE 2
Showing some love with baking Jessie Johnston Nothing shows love and support more than a bit of home baking, which is exactly how parents at Pinegrove Kindergarten in Brightwater are helping out parents with newborns. “We hear from staff when families here at the kindy have a new baby, so we just put the word out on the notice board and Facebook page,” says Pinegrove parent Brenda Helliwell. “It’s just a really nice way to acknowledge
that they’ve had a baby and it is quite hard when you’ve got a new baby, so it’s just good to give them some love.” Led by the kindergartens family liaison group, many other parents also contribute and it isn’t always just baking. “We’ve had nappies and fresh produce, eggs, just anything that would be useful for them,” says Brenda. “We also have a former teacher and her mother who knit little booties and a cardigan to
SEE PAGE 2
From left, Brenda Helliwell, Chantelle and Abe Gibson and Eva Stryder, with some of the baking that is collected for Pinegrove Kindergarten parents with new-borns. Photo: Jessie Johnston.
Come in and talk to the fun, friendly team at helloworld Richmond
HELLO RICHMOND helloworld Richmond
Additional copies $1
Travel is exciting, and the excitement should start with your travel consultant helloworld Richmond - the fun way to book a holiday! 231 Queen St, Richmond
richmond@helloworld.co.nz
100% locally owned and operated
TIM
RHONDA
(03) 544 6640
www.nelsonlive.co.nz
VICKY