3 minute read
Ian Blackman and
Matt McCrorie Reporter
matt@waimeaweekly.co.nz
Advertisement
A range of newspaper clippings, dating years back, sits spread across local man Patrick McMahon’s dining room table. While they may seem random at a glance, there’s one thing that the various stories have in common. They all refer to Richmond, as Nelson. Whether it’s a story about a Waimea College student who has done well in their sporting career and grew up in Richmond, or a new building development in Richmond, each article refers to Richmond as Nelson. “I’m a proud Richmond resident, I raised our three children here, and I think Richmond is a great place to live. I think Richmond doesn’t get a fair crack.” Patrick points out that Richmond is treated like a suburb of Nelson. “We’re our own town. We have 15,000 people. That’s bigger than most towns in the South Island, so I get confused when we are treated like a suburb of Nelson.” “Motueka gets its recognition. If someone lives in Hokitika, would they say they’re living in Greymouth?” Patrick thinks that Richmond needs to carve out its own identity.
“Everyone knows where Westport is, but we’ve got a bigger population than they do,” he says. “It’s amazing to me how many people in New Zealand don’t know where Richmond is.” Patrick has been making a note of when Richmond is referred to as Nelson for years in various different forms of media. One example is an article about the construction of the Warehouse on Queen Street in Richmond, but the headline reads, ‘Innovation starts in Nelson.’ “This is on Queen Street, Richmond. If it was on Trafalgar Street Nelson, would they write ‘Trafalgar Street, near Richmond?’ I don’t understand why people want to refer to us as Nelson.” Patrick says that Richmond residents need to be a bit more passionate about claiming Richmond’s identity as separate from Nelson. Richmond has not been part of the Nelson Province since 1876, when the Waimea County was created. “Where are the people who are meant to be promoting Richmond? Sometimes I think it’s just laziness.”
Patrick McMahon, a Richmond resident, thinks that Richmond needs more recognition after repeatedly being referred
to as ‘Nelson’ in national media. Photo: Matt McCrorie.
Got some news? Phone us on 544 9037
Waimea Weekly Locally Owned and Operated
Mortgages Made Easy Let me help you obtain the best home loan for you
MARK LANGDON
Mortgage Services
Ph 03 544 9977 or 027 262 3594 mark@langdonmortgages.co.nz www.langdonmortgages.co.nz
Staying safe with buried power cables around your home
Many of us know that Contractors have to look out for buried power cables when they are doing roadworks. But did you know that there might be power cables buried around your house as well.
Many houses built since the 1980s have underground power supplies. This means there may be an underground power cable (your service line) connecting your house to the network cables that run under the strip of land between your house and the road.
Property line
Your underground service line Network cable
Buried cables can present a serious and potentially fatal hazard if you damage them. You should always check for buried cables before digging and before driving stakes, fence posts or warratahs into the ground on your property or in the strip of land between your property and the road.
Unsure where cables are located?
We can advise property owners whether there are buried service lines or network cables on or near your property. If there are cables near where you are planning to work, you should have a cable locate carried out. Network Tasman approved cable location services are available from these contractors: z DELTA Utility Services Phone 03 543 8071 z Power Trace Phone 03 545 8300
We are here to help
Get in touch with us at info@networktasman.co.nz if you have to dig near where a cable has been found and we can discuss how to complete the job safely. Phone Network Tasman faults immediately on 0800 508 100 if you accidentally hit an underground cable, even if there appears to be no damage. For more safety tips visit our website and download a copy of our Keep Yourself Safe brochure www.networktasman.co.nz/ keep-yourself-safe
We’re here to help
Consumer owned
