Wairarapa Midweek Wed 12 June

Erin Kavanagh-Hall erin.kavanagh-hall@age.co.nz

Eighty years ago, in the thick of World War II, a group of young American servicemen set up camp at the Solway Showgrounds in Masterton.

They had arrived to recuperate after months of brutal combat in the Pacific, and to provide protection for New Zealanders during a dark and uncertain time –eventually becoming right at home in the Masterton community.

Now, thanks to a local history buff, the soldiers’ presence in Wairarapa will be immortalised for generations to come.

tall, featuring red granite plaques inscribed with the USMC insignia, and “classical elements” not out of place in grand European cemeteries. The monument, expected to be complete by the end of winter, will be “a labour of love” for Pacey – who has taken on the responsibility of funding the project, and most of the construction work.

Mark Pacey, Wairarapa archivist, historian and author, is hard at work on his latest project: A monument commemorating the men of the 3rd Defense Battalion of the United States Marine Corps [USMC], stationed at Solway from February to September 1943.

The memorial, to be placed at the Showgrounds near where the marines were encamped, promises to be a majestic affair: 7ft [2.1m]

During WWII, the US military was based in the Pacific, fighting against advancing Japanese forces –and soldiers were sent to New Zealand for short periods of “rest and relaxation”, and to train before re-entering combat.

In the event of a possible attack by Japan, the USMC was also on hand to defend the country in the absence of New Zealand’s own troops, mostly stationed in Europe.

Continued on page 6

Wairarapa archivist Mark Pacey and Solway Showgrounds manager Tracey Cooper, with one of the completed

Branch wraps up after 35 years

After 35 years of working with young people struggling with schoolwork, the Wairarapa branch of the Learning Differences Association of New Zealand [LDANZ] is soon to close.

This at a time when thousands of New Zealand children have difficulties with reading, writing and maths – far from a new problem.

LDANZ began life as SPELD in 1971, after a group of concerned doctors and educators called a public meeting in Christchurch. Five hundred people came from all over the South Island, desperate for help for their children, and a steering committee was immediately established.

As Peggy Buchanan wrote in her book, Breaking Down the Barriers, about the first 25 years of SPELD in New Zealand: ‘The objectives of the committee were to provide immediate assistance, based on the study of dyslexia, for

children and adults in need of specialist help, and to convince the Department of Education of its responsibility.”

Professionals such as retired school principals, educational psychologists, and speech therapists came forward to provide that immediate assistance, led by Dr Jean Seabrook, a retired senior lecturer in speech therapy. Dr Seabrook travelled all over the country, setting up groups of parents and recruiting qualified teachers to train as tutors and assessors.

When the first National Conference of SPELD was held in 1975, there

were 17 branches of the organisation. By 1990, there were 35.

Wairarapa SPELD began in 1988, after parent Lyn Laird organised a meeting of concerned parents and teachers in Masterton. The following year, 13 women, all trained teachers from throughout the region, paid to spend three weeks learning about the specific difficulties of the children they would help.

When SPELD’s 28th National Conference was held in Masterton in 2001, over 500 tutors and assessors were working with students on a one -to-one basis.

It was April 19, 2007, before the Ministry of Education formally acknowledged dyslexia, via a media release:

“Dyslexia is a term that is used to refer to a group of students with a range of persistent reading and writing difficulties or disabilities. The Ministry of Education recognises that more needs to be done to identify, as early as possible, these students, and to provide them with effective interventions based on their specific needs.”

Over the years, Wairarapa SPELD’s voluntary committee attended monthly meetings and annual

New social housing at Kuripuni

holiday.

conferences, organised seminars, wrote newsletters, organised fundraisers and made grant applications to pay for resources and rental of an office. However, the recruitment and training of new teachers for the organisation became increasingly difficult.

In 2010, when the then SPELD National Executive centralised with three “hubs”, this created more difficulties – until six branches, including Wairarapa, “resigned” and established a new organisation, LDANZ. However, with trained teachers electing to stay in their schools and

“If the requirements match, we will then proceed with a more detailed design process for the kitchen, dining, living, bathrooms, and bedrooms.”

difficulties with getting more teachers, as well as very few committee members to do the necessary work, the branch is now winding up.

To honour the nearly four decades of important work for children, teachers, assessors and their parents, a afternoon celebration will be held on Saturday, July 27, at the Wairarapa Community Centre, from 4 to 6pm. Anyone who has been involved with LDANZ over the years is welcome. If you would like to attend, please send an email to ldawairarapa@ gmail.com.

The design then goes to a KO panel to be endorsed, Streets, and Irons St North.

The total number of completed units in Masterton currently stands at 59.

KO projects on High St in Carterton, East St in Greytown, and Fitzherbert

Tutors and pupils have some down time during a school

Bookish party for quieter souls

Maggie Lu midweek@age.co.nz

In recent years, book parties for introverts are increasing throughout New Zealand and the world.

Greytown’s Mrs Blackwell’s Village Bookshop is riding the wave – launching Books at the Bar, a gathering for quieter, more retiring bookworms, at the White Swan Hotel.

At introverts’ reading parties, participants gather in spaces such as cafés, bars, or online platforms to quietly read – with no expectation of striking up conversation. One global organisation is Silent Book Club, which has more than a thousand chapters in 50 countries, including in New Zealand.

Mrs Blackwell’s owner Millie Blackwell, an introvert herself, said she empathised with people who enjoyed being alone –

but not lonely – in public places.

Blackwell described how introverts can enjoy grabbing a coffee, going to a movie, and eating a meal alone while surrounded by others.

“It can be a little bit comforting to do that. There’s something about being around other people, but without feeling pressure to interact.”

Blackwell said the idea for Books at the Bar comes from personal experience. While out for dinner, she was reading a book while waiting for her husband to finish his meal – and the inspiration suddenly hit.

“In contrast to a regular book group where you would have to have a lot of conversation, I wanted to reassure people that this is really going to be about coming along and just reading.

“It is quite appealing to people who just want to have an hour to themselves to read – maybe just to

have some time away from their family or the stresses of their working life.”

Greytown’s introverts’ reading party comes at a time of increasing public awareness of introversion.

Susan Cain’s 2013 book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, covered how introverts tend to be undervalued and misunderstood. The book generated much public discussion and news coverage around the world. In addition, the covid-19 pandemic’s forced social isolation with lockdowns put a spotlight on differences between introverts and extroverts, with many extroverts struggling to find ways to socially connect.

Michael Burrows, an anxiety specialist from mental health treatment provider Wellington Anxiety Specialists, said introversion and extroversion relate to energy levels rather than a

preference for socialising.

“Introverts gain energy from within, while extroverts charge by spending time with others,” he said.

“It’s not about not liking spending time with people.”

Although introversion is now more publicly discussed, Burrows said it’s often mislabeled as social anxiety or agoraphobia. In contrast, anxiety is rooted in avoidance, compelling individuals to escape from perceived threats.

Back in Greytown, Blackwell said the Books at the Bar event would start off with some spot prizes, followed by an hour of

‘Take a chance’ on Mama Mia this winter

You could be excused for feeling a tad gloomy at the thought of the chilly fingers of winter spreading across the Wairarapa later this month.

However, don’t despair – a brief antidote is at hand.

You can escape for a couple of hours to the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, as the Rathkeale and St Matthew’s Senior Colleges’ production of Mamma Mia takes to the stage.

of

and St

Rehearsals have been ongoing for several months now and the show, directed by Kiewiet van Deventer, with musical director Lucy Hepburn and assistant director Jonathan Watt, will be a real treat. On the afternoon I called in for a quick preview, I was soon

caught up in the toetapping music and the exuberance of the dancers, beautifully choreographed by St Matthew’s dance teacher Gemma Begg and Year 13 student Lucy

Summerfield.

Mamma Mia, featuring a score of hit songs by Swedish pop icons ABBA, revolves around the wedding of Sophie [Ruby Matthews] to her fiancé Sky [Time

“uninterrupted reading”. She promised the reading party would not be silent all the time – there would be a bell involved, at least.

“Once people have arrived and are settled, we’ll ring a bell. We’ll do some prizes, ring the bell again, then we’ll have our hour of reading. We’ll ask people not to talk or make too much noise during that time.”

Prizes include books donated by New Zealand publishers, and attendees can go into the draw to win a year’s supply of reading material from Libro.FM –an independent bookstore specialising in audiobooks.

Blackwell said the

Jarroenkitchaichana]. As more and more friends and “family” arrive on the island, so do the possibilities for confusion and recriminations – especially as the plot centers around Donna’s [Frankie Shaw] possible liaisons with three men: Sam [Archie Lambert], Harry [Charlie Lynn], and Bill [Blair Gilmour]. Any one of these men could potentially be Sophie’s dad.

More than anything else, Mamma Mia has always been a showcase for those fine songs we have come to love over the years. Just the mention of a few should whet your appetite: “Honey, Honey”, “Thank You for the Music”, “Dancing Queen”, “Super Trouper”, “Knowing Me,

“friendly bookshop team will be at your service” for those who arrive alone, and feel the urge to chat. For those who prefer to blend into the background, cozy spots are available at the bar.

“We want to make it so that everybody feels comfortable.”

• Books at the Bar will be held on Tuesday, July 16, starting at 5.30pm, in the Captain’s Dining Room at the White Swan Hotel. Tickets are $10. For more information, or to buy a ticket, go to https:// www.mrsblackwell. com/events

Knowing You” and “The Winner Takes it All”. The band, apart from deputy principal Adam Gordon and tutor Sam Mchunu, is comprised entirely of students.

And – as a special treat – after the cast have taken their bows at the end of the show, they will be reprising three songs that absolutely call for the audience to sing along.

• You can catch Mama Mama on any one of the following evenings at the Rathkeale College Auditorium: Friday, June 21; Saturday, June 22; Tuesday, June 25; and Wednesday, June 26. All shows start at 7pm. Tickets can be booked at trybooking. com/nz

Members of the Auckland chapter of the Silent Book Club catch up on some reading at the Morningside Tavern in Sandringham. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The cast

Rathkeale

Matthew’s Senior Colleges’ Mama Mia in rehearsal. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Graeme Anderson

Greytown steps it up

Lucy Cooper lucy.cooper@age.co.nz

A new class reviving an exercise classic is taking Greytown back to the future.

In fact, it’s going back to the 1990s, with CrossFit coach Nat Donaldson’s weekly step aerobics session at Kuranui College, Stepping Out.

Donaldson was inspired to start a regular class after her step-based warm-up at her CrossFit sessions at Facing Giants in Martinborough started to gain popularity.

“It’s what got the spark going again,” she said.

Step aerobics is a cardio-based exercise that involves stepping up, down, around, and over a portable block that can be set at a height of 10cm to 25cm.

The music is high-tempo [128 beats per minute] and high-energy, and it was highly popular in the mid1990s. At its peak in 1995, there were estimated to be 11.4 million step adherents worldwide.

Donaldson first trained as a step aerobics instructor while studying at Massey University in Palmerston North.

“I was going to Contours,

which was a women’s only gym, and I really loved my aerobics. They trained me in-house, in how to teach aerobics and choreograph.”

When Donaldson moved back to Martinborough after her studies, she ran a “little aerobics class” at the Anglican Hall, “but there just weren’t the numbers to keep it going.”

With the step movement gaining momentum at CrossFit, Donaldson and the Facing Giants team partnered with Kuranui College to purchase 20 adjustable “steppers” to deliver step classes for the school and wider community.

“We are doing these classes really for fun –and trying to make that

connection for people between social, community and routine, and learning how to move,” Donaldson said.

Step aerobics develops people’s coordination, balance and agility, Donaldson said. “And if we do jumping on our steps, we’re using speed and power, which is really good for bone density. We’re doing cardio and body resistance training, and it’s enjoying fitness together.”

The class has certainly developed a fan base.

“I absolutely love it,” said one attendee.

“I feel like I’m channelling my mother,” said another. “She used to do it in her flouro gear back in the 90s.”

The class’ location in the college means it’s become popular with Kuranui staff, something Maree Patten,

Kuranui’s principal, is keen to build on.

“Facing Giants now provides wellbeing step classes for the college staff. This sort of initiative is just amazing for managing the stresses of the job,” she said.

On the day Midweek joined a Stepping Out class, there were at least eight members of the college staff stepping out, up and around.

“It’s great to have something so convenient,” one stepper who works at the school said. “And my office is just up there, so how could I not come?”

• Stepping Out is on Monday nights 6-7pm.

To register and find out more, contact the Facing Giants team via Facebook, www.facebook.com/ Facinggiantscrossfit/

Check out these fresh faces!

Wairarapa Labour List MP Kieran McAnulty shared this photo of his six-year-old self with TV and radio personality Simon Barnett, taken at the Wellington Christmas Parade in 1991.

“Mum had taken me down from Wairarapa, and I was so excited to see Simon who was a pretty big deal on What Now,” McAnulty said.

“Mum urged me to say hello, but I was too shy. He saw me, stopped and had a chat.”

In a full circle moment, McAnulty got to meet his childhood hero again last month – after doing an interview with Barnett on Newstalk ZB. You’ve barely changed at all, gentlemen!

Wairarapa College

LEFT: Nat Donaldson is reviving the 1990s vibe with her regular step aerobics class. ABOVE: Steppers concentrate on their workout. PHOTOS/LUCY COOPER

A ‘big’ tribute

Continued from page 1

The 3rd Defense Battalion’s stay in Masterton was captured in Pacey’s book Our New Zealand Home – and includes locals’ fond memories of how the Americans “[livened up] a town that had been darkened by years of war”.

While doing the research for his book, it became clear to Pacey that the modern-day Masterton community was largely unaware of the USMC’s visit to Wairarapa.

once a “hive of activity” where the marines’ tents had been set up.

Edinburgh – where some of the tombs are fancier than people’s homes when they were alive.

The location, Pacey said, is particularly poignant, as the Showgrounds has barely changed in the decades since the USMC arrived.

Though, in the mid-90s, a plaque had been erected for the marines of the 4th Defense Battalion at their former campsite at Trust House Memorial Park, the same honour was not given to their Solway counterparts –which Pacey now seeks to rectify.

For example, the grandstand [which served as a makeshift hospital], animal sheds [where the marines stored their equipment], and Trades Hall [purpose built for the Americans], are all still standing.

“I took the design to the Showgrounds team – I thought they were going to say, ‘it’s great, but could you tone it down a bit?’ But they loved it.

“And then I was like, ‘great, now I’ve got to build the thing!’”

“Some of the parks where the marines camped around the country look completely different, and some aren’t there anymore.

“Those guys were in active combat. They’d been at Pearl Harbour when it was attacked, they were at the Battle of Midway Atoll, they fought at Guadalcanal,” he said.

“They were facing the Japanese, who were known to fight down to their very last men. They’d been through the wrangler.

But the Showgrounds looks pretty much the same,” Pacey said.

“Everything we can see now is what the guys could see back then.”

Pacey, a former carpenter, and a good friend have already begun work on the concrete structures – which they aim to make solid progress on throughout the cooler months. All the plaques will be made and inscribed by Headstones Wairarapa.

Pacey began putting plans for the memorial in place late last year, starting with approaching the management team at the Showgrounds. They were “very supportive”, and encouraged him to come back with a design.

“They were here to fill in the gap and protect us as the Japanese advanced further into our backyard. Afterwards, they were sent back to the Pacific into some nasty battles, and several were killed. So, the fact there was nothing to say they’d even been here felt like a crime to me.

Pacey and the Showgrounds team hope to organise an official opening ceremony for the monument later in the year, and plan to invite representatives from the US Embassy and New Zealand Defence Force.

“Once you move a couple of generations away, and people pass on, local history can get lost. Hopefully, thanks to the memorial, people will know those men were here – and we can ensure they’ll never be forgotten.”

The memorial will be set up near the oval at the Showgrounds –

After researching monuments to fallen WWII soldiers overseas, Pacey settled on a concept similar to Victorianstyle memorials, incorporating “several complicated design features”.

“I thought we’d better go big and do ourselves proud,” he said.

“What I came up with wouldn’t be out of place in some of the old graveyards in

Once the memorial is complete, Pacey will continue his work to commemorate the USMC’s legacy – including a documentary about their time in Masterton, and books about the marines based in Wellington and Kāpiti.

“It’s exciting – it’s gratifying to know I’m playing a part in preserving history, and creating something that will be here long after I’m gone.”

The soldiers of the 3rd Defense Battalion of the United States Marine Corps were stationed at Solway Showgrounds in 1943.

Marine Corps Drive, at Solway, is named for the American soldiers who became a part of the community.

Lakeview’s winter wonderland

Erin Kavanagh-Hall erin.kavanagh-hall@age.co.nz

Children of all ages and abilities “flying” across slippery surfaces, “only slightly competitive” curling matches between teachers, and 80s-style disco dancing on ice: The Lakeview School community didn’t have to venture far to experience its own “winter wonderland”.

Late last month, Lakeview played host to Waikato-based Ice Skate Tour – which rents out and installs mobile artificial ice rinks at schools, businesses, and events around the country.

Ice Skate Tour, which has been operating since 2014 and services communities from Northland to Queenstown, most often sets up rinks in school halls – providing skating lessons for pupils and after-school “disco parties” for the public.

Ice Skate Tour owner/ operator Robin de Goeij spent seven days at Lakeview, where the rink was traversed by over 1,500 pairs of blades –including Lakeview’s 548 pupils over two lessons, and more than 500 people testing out their skating skills and holding informal

curling tournaments. Not to be outdone, Lakeview staff held a curling faceoff of their own, with “the ladies” emerging victorious.

Lakeview School assistant principal Michelle Kerr said Ice Skate Tour provided “an amazing and inclusive opportunity” for the tamariki – one that would not usually be available to a school in provincial New Zealand.

She said each pupil from every syndicate was able to don a pair of skates and have a whirl around the

rink – including children with additional needs, and several who were quite unsure of themselves to start with.

“As a school, we’re always looking for new and different things for the kids to try. Most of the tamariki had never had this kind of experience before,” Kerr said.

“Some of the kids were a bit anxious at the start – but, once the second lesson came around, they were putting their skates and helmets on, and absolutely going for it.

“Every single child,

from our youngest to oldest, was able to participate. We had our kids in wheelchairs and with different physical challenges give it a go.

“They loved it. Good times were had by all.”

Ice Skate Tour founder Robin de Goeij said the mobile rinks were “a great way” to introduce ice skating – a popular pastime in his native Holland – to New Zealanders.

He said he felt inspired to set up the rinks, which have a similar “gliding capacity” to real ice,

at schools after being involved with the Weetbix Triathlon – and wanted to include children who may avoid traditional sporting events.

“It’s an alternative to a big event, like a triathlon, which can be stressful and overwhelming for some kids.

“People of all abilities can try skating. We often see kids who aren’t usually sporty, or are a bit shy in class, do really well on the ice.”

De Goeij said he “felt really welcome” at Lakeview, and enjoyed

watching the children grow in confidence over the week.

“That’s definitely the most rewarding thing about Ice Skate Tour. At first, some of the kids are very nervous, and there might even be a few tears. But, by the next lesson, they’re practically flying around the rink.

“The social aspect is great as well. You see the kids holding hands on the ice, helping each other move around, checking on each other when they fall down – it’s really cool.”

ABOVE: Lakeview School pupils enjoyed two skating lessons on Ice Skate Tour’s artificial ice rink, set up in their school hall. RIGHT: The young skaters looked out for an supported each other on the ice. PHOTOS/ROBIN DE GOEIG

GardenYarn with GardenBarn

Winter is now upon us, and that means that for our precious birds it gets harder to survive the elements due to colder temperatures and lack of easy to access food sources. There are things that we can do to help them cope over the next few months, and if you plan your garden well you could have some of these special natives calling your place home all year round!

FANTAILS

These friendly birds like to feast on small insects such as moths, spiders, grubs and beetles, and you can help build their food stores by having plenty of mulch and leaf litter around your garden. It’s a common and incredible sight to see fantails bobbing and darting around farm animals, or even machinery, that has stirred up some insects for them. Fantails are drawn to the sound of water, so having a water fountain or bird bath is a wonderful attraction. You’ll notice it becomes a meeting place for many other bird species throughout the year as well, especially summer, so keep it clean and place it somewhere safe.

TUIS

Planting a garden lled with fuchsia, axes, pohutakawa, eucalyptus and kowhai will provide

Bring In The Birds

Putting a range of feeders & seed in your garden is another great way to attract birds to your garden. These make a great gift idea too!

S ave the birds

They bring so much joy to our lives, let’s thank them by providing a safe haven for them in our home gardens.

Tui with their favourite food, nectar and honeydew.

Tui can travel long distances in search of food, some of their ‘territories’ could be 20km apart. You can encourage them to stay close to your garden by having a consistent food source, nectar feeders are a great way to offer a constant food supply. It can take a while for them to build up the con dence to try out these feeders but don’t give up, once they know it’s there they will visit often.

During their breeding season, which is September to January they boost their diet with large invertebrates such as cicadas and stick insects. Conifers seem to attract stick insects, and oaks and maples host cicadas, so having these in your garden will also help.

WAXEYES

These small songbirds are also known as silvereyes, or Tauhou, which means ‘stranger’ or ‘new arrival’ in Maori. This is because they were self-introduced in the 1800’s, and although they’re not exactly a native, they

are protected all the same. Waxeyes are quite common in suburban areas, and in the winter months you might notice large ocks together. They feed on nectar; love berries from natives such as Coprosmas, and insects, aphids, and overwintering codlin moth caterpillars are a treat to them.

Their breeding time is from August to February, and they make nests with lichen, ne grass, cobwebs and lichen in pines, totaras, rimu and bamboo.

BELLBIRDS

Nectar is the favourite for this species as well, and they get it from both native and introduced plants such as Kowhai, bottlebrushes, fuchsias, axes and cabbage trees. They use their brush like tongue to reach deeply into owers to get the nectar, helping us by pollinating many native trees and shrubs.

Plants To Entice The Birds

There are loads of things you can plant in your home garden that will provide food or shelter for many

Bellbird nests are usually found in the fork of a tree that has dense cover anywhere from close to the ground all the way up to 5m high. Their breeding time is from September - February, and pairs remain together for many years and tend to return to the same breeding spot each year.

OPEN 7 DAYS 8.30am - 5.30pm

birds.

Callistemons Commonly known as Bottlebrushes. A great source of nectar for nectar and pollen loving birds. Little John is a perfect for smaller gardens, or even pots.

Crabapple trees (Malus spp.) have fruit throughout winter that can attract thrushes, sparrows, swallows and natives such as tui, bell-birds and waxeyes.

Conifers, such as the fast growing Leylandii Green, provide a safe habitat for birds during the winter months.

Grevillea Flowers provide nectar to tui, bellbirds and waxeyes. Fantails feast on insects, found hiding in the bark.

Flaxes (Phormium) owers are a favourite for Tuis and other nectar lovers. These versatile natives will enhance your garden all year.

Kowhai Birds will ock to your garden when the bright yellow owers of the Sophora start appearing around July.

Viburnums entices both pollinating insects and birds with its fragrant owers and bright berries. Eve Price and Emerald Beauty are great evergreen additions and can be grown alone or as a hedge.

Titoki trees are an incredible sight with lush green foliage all year, woolly rust coloured summer owers and scarlet berries that birds & butter ies love.

Wintersweet It’s no wonder nectar loving birds feast on Chimonanthus, the wonderful scent is irresistible and the dense branches provide a good nesting spot

Camellia Not only do Camellia owers provide us with bright colourful owers when we need them most in winter, they also have nectar for bellbirds and tuis.

Trooper eyes up world cup

Lucy Cooper lucy.cooper@age.co.nz

A Carterton chef is turning up the heat in the sport of paradarts – having secured his place to represent Aotearoa at

Carterton

the Paradarts World Cup in the Netherlands later this year.

Double amputee Matt “The Trooper” Mason earned his spot on the national team after ranking as New Zealand’s number one upright paradarts player at the recent South Island ParaDarts Series tournament in Dunedin, knocking rival Paul Stevenson “off his perch”.

Paradarts players play either from a wheelchair – in which case the centre bull of the dartboard is set at 1.37m – or from an upright position if they wear prosthetics. The board for upright players is set at the standard 1.73m.

It’s a new sport in Aotearoa, Mason said, and is being championed by Dunedin player Rob “The Villan” Gillan.

“Rob’s done an amazing job to get New Zealand affiliated with World

Matt “the Trooper” Mason will represent New Zealand at the Paradarts World Cup in the Netherlands in November.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Paradarts, so qualifying tournaments like the South Island Series are worldranking.”

Mason, the chef at Club Carterton, has overcome some significant health challenges to rise through the ranks of his sport at quite a pace.

Having previously played darts socially, he was introduced to paradarts about three years ago, shortly after losing his left leg as a result of circulation issues related to Type 1 diabetes – a condition he has lived with for 42 years.

When he competed in the inaugural South Island Series competition, he was “very, very ill” and, two weeks later, lost his right leg.

Nevertheless, he came third in the upright competition.

Mason credits his “mental strength” for helping him push through tough times.

“I’m very positive. If your cup’s half empty, then get a bottle and top it up. There are always ways around things,” he said.

“I’ve always been someone who enjoyed life and I’ve always made the most of my situation.

“Three weeks after I lost my second leg, I was back at work. Though I

wasn’t upright or able to use the grill, I could still do things like manage the ordering, and put the stock away. And now I’m upright again, I’m doing more and more.”

However, he said, “it takes a while to settle in with a new leg”.

“You basically have to learn how to throw darts again. Being a double amputee, I use 100 per cent more energy than a normal person to do the same task.”

Wife Rhoda – a competitive darts player in her own right – plays an important role in Mason’s paradarts career as his manager, training partner, and cheerleader-in-chief.

“She pushes me along. She’s very good.”

With the number one ranking under his belt and the World Cup to train for, Mason has his sights firmly set on the New Zealand Paradart’s North Island Series – which will be hosted on his home turf at Club Carterton in August.

With most Kiwi paradarts players based in the North Island, Mason is hopeful for a good turnout.

“There are a couple of paradarts players up here who haven’t had a competition yet because they struggle financially to get down to the South

Island,” Mason said.

“It’s a big expense, especially for wheelchair players, to travel there, find wheelchair-accessible accommodation, and get from the accommodation to the venue. It can be quite a mission.”

Aside from travel costs, paradarts is an inclusive sport, and people of all ages and abilities can play together, Mason said. It’s also reasonably affordable, with a set of darts costing around $150 and replacement flights and shafts costing around $4 and $15 respectively.

“And then you just need space to put up the board at home somewhere, and then you’re away.

“And the great thing with the wheelchair board height and set up is it’s great for little kids to have a throw at.”

Mason has now added fundraising to his itinerary, including setting up a Givealittle page with a target of $8000.

With nearly $2000 donated so far, The Trooper is well on his way.

• To make a donation, visit https://givealittle. co.nz/cause/supportmatt. The Paradarts North Island Series takes place at Club Carterton on August 24 and 25.

Technology helping in tough times

New technology unveiled next month will help us help Carterton’s community through its toughest times.

Carterton District Council is the latest local authority to join the Plotbox digital cemetery management system.

Our Clareville Cemetery, on Chester Road, is the final place of rest for thousands of our loved ones.

The new software will help us manage the behind-the-scenes work more efficiently, with more than 6000 records to maintain.

In time, the software also provide enhanced online data and images of the cemetery, to help families, funeral directors, and those with an interest in the cemetery get requests and information quickly.

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL HE PITOPITO KŌRERO

rules and regulations for cemeteries and crematoria across our Districts.

ƒ If possible, please refrain from taking dogs to the cemetery. If you do take your dog to Clareville, please ensure your pet is always on a lead.

CDC will be using Plotbox from July.

About Clareville Cemetery ƒ We have a specific bylaw for cemeteries in Wairarapa.

The Consolidated Bylaw, adopted in 2019, states the

Cr Steve Cretney voted as new Deputy Mayor

Mayor Ron Mark has welcomed Steve Cretney as his new Deputy Mayor after a Council vote last month.

Councillor Dale Williams resigned as Deputy Mayor earlier this month.

Under legislation, the Mayor can appoint a Deputy Mayor exclusively. Mayor Mark ran a collaborative process, seeking expressions of interest, engaging with all Councillors, and providing an opportunity for all of Council to vote on the appointment.

“I look forward to working closely with Steve, Dale, and all the team as we work together for the betterment of Carterton and Wairarapa.

“I wish to thank Dale for his dedicated service to Council.

Dale’s experience as a former Councillor and Mayor has been invaluable and he has laid the groundwork for me to transition Steve into the role. He remains a valuable and experienced member of Carterton District Council and we will all continue to draw on his knowledge.”

ƒ Each plot is the property of the family of the deceased. Please take care not to disturb or add anything to a grave without express permission from family members.

Te Puketapu o Rongomaiwhakateka: The Sacred Hill of the God of Comets Above Carter’s Reserve or Uhi Manuka is Tiffen’s Hill. Tiffen was a surveyor around Carterton and deserves the acknowledgement he gets. The hill has been acknowledged for other reasons and this explanation fits with Matariki. The sky, Ranginui, has many light shows happening and I am glad we have an excuse to turn to our heavens. The atua, Rongomaiwhakateka, the god of comets, arrived at Puketapu, a sacred hill, to rescue the local chief, Raekaumoana, from an opposing army. In Wairarapa there are other references to Rongomaiwhakateka. This is the same atua that gave rise to the name of our marae, Hurunui-oRangi or the significant feather of the sky. This is the same atua that drank from Lake Wairarapa while transporting the namer of landscapes throughout our province. Enjoy the feast of Matariki.

Young(ish), scrappy & hungry

Erin Kavanagh-Hall

A warning, Wairarapa –this editorial contains a potential philosophical disagreement with one of our Midweek columnists. Written with the utmost respect, of course.

In his latest column, published last week, our regular contributor Graeme Burnard, shared his expectations of the retail, food, service, and medical industries: “Excellence, every time”. If said excellence is achieved, praise is not obligatory. “I shouldn’t have to go shouting for the world to hear about [their] excellent service. Because that is what I expect when I walk in the door. [Good service] should be a given.”

Fair. When keeping the economy chugging along with your hard-earned cash, and the health system afloat with your tax dollars,

it’s reasonable to expect common courtesy at your local watering holes, or emergency department. Anyone who has worked in customer service has had that expectation drilled into them. I’ve worked in retail and hospo – service, even in the event of the Rapture, was to be delivered with the proverbial smile. Which I come across pretty often in Wairarapa. Smiles, not the Rapture.

Graeme’s column brought some recent experiences to mind. Firstly, a letter from one of our Carterton readers – stating how much she enjoyed my weekly Young[ish], Scrappy & Hungry contribution. Very much appreciated.

Secondly, after my son was born last year, I wrote to Te Whatu Ora, praising

Wairarapa Hospital’s maternity unit. Whenever I have since run into the nurses and midwives, they have expressed their deep gratitude.

Finally, my best friend was given a voucher from her local supermarket for “being a lovely customer”. Bestie was touched – but didn’t think she’d done anything other than show “basic manners.”

In each circumstance, Graeme would say, excellence should be the going rate. No need for glowing emails, subsidised foodstuffs, or shouting from the rooftops.

Perhaps. Although, we know our public health system has, for decades, been successively underresourced. Hospital staffing shortages have led to burnout amongst our health workforce. For those on the front line, a

the recent redundancies, closure of local newspapers, and openly hostile attitudes towards journalists, the ground beneath our media landscape has felt a little shaky. So it was rather gratifying to know there are people who still appreciate print media, and will take the time to tell you as much.

And as for my friend’s voucher in return for common decency in the grocery aisles – when you consider the threats, slurs and assaults supermarket workers put up with during covid, I’d wager “basic manners” were a green space in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. For those staffers who maintained professionalism throughout, I’m sure the odd compliment from their patrons wouldn’t have gone amiss.

I know it’s not necessary to reward the bare minimum. For some, that’s clearly unimpeachable customer service. But is complimenting good service not ... a nice thing to do? The excellent service we expect doesn’t operate in a vacuum. In many industries, it operates alongside uncertainty, job cuts, under-resourcing, and wages barely keeping up with inflation. It operates because people are still turning up, putting on that time-honoured smile, and getting on with the job.

Words of acknowledgment may not keep the lights on –but we know people are more likely to remain in jobs where they feel appreciated. Which can only be helpful for the economy and the community as a whole. We don’t pay compliments because it’s required. We do so because supporting and uplifting our fellow humans is good for the soul – all souls. To quote another Midweek regular, Tim Nelson, “[Positive feedback] costs nothing, but it’s so beneficial to those who receive it.”

To all the service workers of Wairarapa – kia kaha. And, above all, thank you.

FIVE MINUTES WITH ...

Maree McManaway, personal development coach,

author, and LYF4U founder

My favourite thing about winter in Wairarapa is … Home-grown pumpkins made into home-cooked soup – yum!

My friends and loved ones always say I am … Caring of others, and a bit of a comedian.

I decided to become a life coach and set up LYF4U because …

As a broken teen, I yearned for someone who had solutions and tools to help me – and I became that person for others. In doing so, LYF4U was born – and it’s now made up of a team of wonderful people, including six other coaches.

My absolute favourite piece of clothing is …

A beautiful vintage dress my husband’s grandmother wore. I’m a romantic hoarder ...

CONTACT US

A superpower I would love to have is …

To have an avatar do the trivial yet necessary tasks, like housekeeping.

If money were no barrier, I would … travel the world, helping to educate, motivate, and recreate environments with the physical, mental, and material tools people need to help themselves.

The coaches at LYF4U can o er …

Mentoring and coaching in business, professional and personal development, relationships, achieving goals, getting unstuck, developing con dence, reprogramming life in menopause, wellness, healing ... you name it, we have your back.

A café in Carterton I will always recommended is …

MIDWEEK PHOTOS

Have you got a photo you want to share with Wairarapa?

Whether it’s a reader photo, a cutie, or a snap of you with your Midweek, email it to midweek@age.co.nz with ‘Midweek Photo’ in the subject line, and it could be featured in this segment.

They’re all so good. Why not rotate your visits to them all?

The achievements I feel proudest of are …

Writing and publishing my two books, The Mind Mechanic and Mind Fit Farmer. Being a Mum and a Nanny, and having been happily married for 43 years. And becoming a personal development coach and being able to help so many beautiful clients. It’s all about having the courage

You may share your opinion in print and online. To comment online, message our Facebook page and feel free to comment on any of the stories. Please email letters to midweek@age.co.nz or post to Wairarapa Midweek letters, P.O. Box 445, Masterton. Include name, address, and phone number. Noms de plume are not accepted. Letter writers’ town of origin will be published with the letter. Letters should be no more than 250 words, and may be edited for space and clarity.

to step out and give things a go – being a shy introvert, it took a lot of that.

As a community, we can help improve mental health and wellbeing by … Being aware that mind health is as vital as the air we breathe. Approximately 70 per cent of us humans require some mind support in our lifetime. We need to normalise mind health and recognise it is just as vital to our overall wellbeing as a community.

There’s nothing like a sunset above the Waipoua River. Reader Gabrielle sent in this beautiful shot, taken by the Waipoua Bridge, Masterton, at dusk. PHOTO/GABRIELLE MARTELL-TURNER

Extra

A vibrant, diverse collection online

Becky Bateman

The Aratoi Collection is unique in Wairarapa, and contains close to 4,000 items of regional, national and international significance – from taonga Māori and social history to artworks from the colonial to the contemporary.

Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture “Galliard –Forms in Movement” [1956] was the founding work in the collection, and Aratoi was the first institution in New Zealand to own a sculpture by the English artist.

There are works by artists of national importance, such as Colin McCahon, Toss Woollaston, Robin White, Bill Sutton, Israel Birch, Elizabeth

LETTERS

A frightening future

Bill Armstrong [Letters, May 29] shouldn’t worry too much about “bias” in newspapers, radio and TV. Thanks to extremely popular social media sites like TikTok, X, and Facebook, the newspaper media is closing down, and little attention is now given to radio and TV news by anyone except the older

CONTACT US

Thomson, and artists of great local renown. These include Roy Steer, who bequeathed a large collection of his work, and was the subject of one of Aratoi’s first exhibitions when it reopened in 2002.

Over the last two years, our team has been working hard on creating an online collection portal from the Aratoi website.

Aratoi director Sarah McClintock is delighted that a significant portion of the Aratoi Collection is now live online.

“It’s been a massive project,” she said. “You can now search through our collection using criteria – by artist, colour or object type.”

The Aratoi Collection is the only public collection of art works in Wairarapa. Currently,

2,211 records are online.

McClintock explained that not all the collection is online, nor will it be.

“Some of our collection is made up of taonga, which are not part of the online collection for cultural reasons. Others on the site, like the Roy Steer collection, are still a work in progress.”

The Roy Steer Collection by itself has over 1,000 pieces of art, sketchbooks and letters, which await further research, cataloguing and photography.

“If we waited for the collection records to be perfect before launching the site, we might be waiting forever!”

McClintock said. “By giving the public access to our vibrant and diverse collection, we are

giving them a tool for their own interest and research – and we’re also hoping they can contribute to the ongoing work it takes to update collection records and deepen the information and knowledge we hold.”

Collections curator

Jo Torr is tasked with ensuring records are complete and photographs taken where appropriate.

“Aratoi holds these incredible objects, art

and taonga for the region,” she said. “We have such a range of items that we can’t show all of them in exhibitions. But giving the public the ability to look at the collection online is fantastic.”

• Search Aratoi’s collection at https:// collection.aratoi. org.nz/explore, or simply go to our website and click on the “Collection” tab. Happy exploring!

generation. What is predicted to happen is that most people will get their news via social media, where sorting algorithms will ensure that the viewer only gets “news” and “facts” that suit their biases. So, bias is going to be forefront – and that bias may be completely lacking in truth and logic. This is an environment people where like Donald Trump will excel, and one that will undoubtedly lead to conflict, hate, and violence.

Personally, I’d much prefer the occasional display of bias in factual [left or right-leaning]

reporting in newspapers, and on radio and TV, than what looks likely to be a frightening, hate-filled and violent future – thanks to that marvellous invention, the computer.

Allan Kirk Masterton

A disservice to the public

Thank you for publishing my letter concerning media bias If I had sent the same letter to the Stuff-owned Post, it would almost certainly not have been published. Over the past six years, I have submitted many letters to the Post, most of which

have not been published even though I have taken care to make sure they are not offensive. The common theme of rejected letters is that they contain criticisms of some aspect of the previous government’s policies, or the left-wing views expressed by a Post columnist or in an editorial. In short, the Post seems quite happy to censor and try to influence public opinion.

This raises the question of what will happen to the content and editorial stance of the Wairarapa Times-Age [and Wairarapa Midweek] now that it has been purchased

You may share your opinion in print and online. To comment online, message our Facebook page and feel free to comment on any of the stories. Please email letters to midweek@age.co.nz or post to Wairarapa Midweek letters, P.O. Box 445, Masterton. Include name, address, and phone number. Noms de plume are not accepted. Letter writers’ town of origin will be published with the letter. Letters should be no more than 250 words, and may be edited for space and clarity.

A HOME FOR A PET

Hi, we were found on the side of the road in Solway and we need places to call home! There are nine of us, medium-sized cross breed, about 11 weeks old. We have had our first vaccinations, been wormed, and are being well socialised. We love a good face lick, game of tug-o-war, and belly rub.

If you think one or two of us might be a good fit with your family, please provide an expression of interest by email to animalservices@mstn.govt.nz or pop into Masterton District Council and complete an application form.

by the Stuff Group. I feel that by politicising its news outlets, Stuff has done a great disservice to New Zealanders, reflected in the public’s growing distrust of the media and no doubt in declining subscriptions to newspapers. I was brought up to believe that the “Fourth Estate” plays a critical role in our democracy, championing freedom of speech and reporting the news objectively without fear or favour. Call me oldfashioned, but I hope this is still the case.

Bill Armstrong Greytown

“Galliard – Forms in Movement”, by English sculptor Barbara Hepworth, was one of the first items in the Aratoi Collection. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Appreciate the moment

I heard recently about the idea of finitude. Matt Heath, the author of the new book A Life Less Punishing, talks about it when interviewed on the Between Two Beers podcast.

Essentially, finitude is the habit of valuing experiences as if they are happening for the last time. For example, time spent with those we care about would be so much more special if it was happening for the last time. Or it could be something like running on a beautiful outdoor trail. It could be any experience that we are in the habit of taking for granted.

For most experiences, we don’t know when it’s going to be the last time. Imagine if it was, but you were distracted, for example, by your phone when you were with a person you love and care about.

Finitude is something we should all be a lot

more aware of and start practising.

That was nice to hear

On Friday I had a meeting with Sheila, one of the organisers of the Wairarapa Walking Festival. I hadn’t met Sheila before and when I did, she was instantly likeable. I loved the way she was so keen to provide opportunities for the children in my school. She asked for very little in return – it was almost entirely what she and the festival organisers could do for my Lakeview School community. At the end of the meeting, Sheila shared how she reads and enjoys my weekly newspaper column. I always enjoy getting feedback on my writing. It doesn’t happen often – but, when it does, I’m very grateful. However, Sheila shared a little bit more – she sends my column to her daughter in England each week. I have to be honest,

I was very flattered to hear this [a global audience!]. It’s the sort of comment that will have me doing my daily posts indefinitely. We all have numerous opportunities to share positive feedback with others. It costs us nothing, but it’s so beneficial to those who receive it. We should all challenge ourselves to do so as often as possible, knowing that it can only help others to feel at least a little bit better.

Having a purpose

I just read an interesting article about All Black legend Dan Carter’s post rugby career. Carter shared how he struggled post retirement through not having a true purpose. He had been one of rugby’s biggest stars, but knew that he would be out of the limelight once he stopped playing. This is something that could impact on any of us at different stages in our lives. It could be the college sports star who is coming to the end of secondary school education, the person retiring after a long career in any field, or the parent whose children

have left home. The solution to this is having a purpose. This could be a personal quest, such as creating a beautiful garden, or volunteering in a community organisation. It’s not about what you do – it’s about having something to do that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning to make the world a slightly better place.

we take for granted for the first time. We are so very fortunate to live in this beautiful country that has so much to offer. Yes, New Zealand has faults that need to be addressed. But things could certainly be considerably worse.

How fortunate we are Last week, I had dinner with a friend who has only been living in New Zealand for a relatively short time. While it’s seemingly easy for those of us who have lived in New Zealand our whole lives to look at the apparent negatives of our country, the perspective is quite different for someone like my friend. He sees things like how safe and beautiful New Zealand is, the free public health system, the business opportunities, and the education system that caters for the needs of his daughter.

The stonecutter I heard the analogy of the stonecutter shared by Jay Shetty on his Daily Jay session. It’s about perseverance, even when it may feel like you’re making no progress.

The stonecutter may strike at the stone 99 times without seemingly making progress. However, on the hundredth strike the stone breaks – not because of that final blow, but because of a combination of every strike.

Sometimes we need to look at our situations through the lens of a person who is experiencing the things

At times, it may seem like no progress is being made towards a goal, even though the work is being done. Perhaps if we hold on and carry on, we’ll get there just by pushing that little bit more. If we’re taking the right steps, success may be just around the corner. Can’t do it … yet I am sure I’ve shared this

Warren Reiri

before, but it’s worth doing so again, as the idea is so empowering.

In this case, the reminder came from an unusual source – an episode of the comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, when the central character shares how he can’t do a challenging task … yet!

This can apply to so many things in our lives. It’s easy to say that we can’t do particular activities that are hard when, in truth, we could do them if we’re prepared to put in that extra time and effort.

An example for me is the Holy Grail of exercise, the muscle up. I can do the two separate components, but I can’t yet do the move in its entirety. However, with dedicated time and practice I know, I’ll be able to do the exercise. I just can’t do it yet.

before it’s gone

WellingtonNZ has partnered with Hari Mogoşanu and Sam Leske, owners of the Wairarapa business Milky-Way.Kiwi. This partnership is providing local businesses with a unique opportunity to leverage the region’s night sky, a portion of which is now accredited as a Dark Sky Reserve by the International DarkSky Association.

“The Dark Skies Business Capability Course is a pilot to test demand for local businesses looking to add a dark sky element to their core business o ering,” says Jacinda Johnston, WellingtonNZ’s Programme Manager for the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy

Aotearoa New Zealand’s second Dark Sky Reserve, spanning South Wairarapa and Carterton, covers 3,665km of pristine inky blackness now protected from unnecessary light pollution. It was the 21st such site in the world. New Zealand’s other Dark Sky Reserve is in the South Island’s Aoraki-Mackenzie district.

Meet Hari and Sam Star Safari, situated on Mark and Susannah Guscott’s Glen Eden Farm in Carterton’s Ponatahi Valley, boasts two enormous 405mm reflecting telescopes and other fantastic stargazing equipment. Stargazing tours at Star Safari are run by astrobiologist Hari and astrophysicist Sam. They o er many other night sky-related opportunities, too, under the banner of their business Milky-Way.Kiwi.

Hari (from Romania via NASA and analog astronaut training for Mars) and New Zealander Sam (a former

Airforce pilot with a master’s degree in astrophysics) are the real deal. Hari and Sam each independently chose to search the night skies in Carterton, before partnering up in both life and work.

“The stars aligned.”

The couple are following in the footsteps of a historic Wairarapian fascination with the night sky. The earliest surviving astronomical observatory in New Zealand, the Carkeek Observatory, was built in Featherston around 1867. And Charles Rooking Carter, whose legacy includes the town of Carterton itself and the notfor-profit care home Carter Court, also donated the funds to establish the Carter Observatory in Wellington.

Dark Skies Business Capability Course

The Dark Skies Business Capability course – to be o ered between July and September this year by Hari and Sam – is supported by WellingtonNZ and aligns with the Regional Economic Development Plan. It is a must for any Wairarapa business keen to leverage an opportunity from our Dark Sky Reserve status.

Wairarapa tourism already comes into its own in the summer, but stargazing is a perfect tourism opportunity for winter as well.

“People will come for the experience of gazing at and learning about the stars, but will also spend money on accommodation, eating out, retail shopping, and other experiences,” says Hari.

“We can teach businesses about how to position lighting so that it doesn’t interfere with night sky viewing, as well as where to establish the best viewing platform outside, or where to insert a glass panel in the roof for viewing from inside,” Sam says. “Some businesses may want to invest in a telescope or build a platform so that a local mobile stargazing company can visit with their own telescope. We can help with positioning and technical requirements.”

The course has three key parts. The first part involves two theory sessions to be held at the Carterton Events Centre on 18 July and 1 August, featuring guest speakers as well as Hari and Sam. The course

will look at case studies and astro-tourism business development and will provide a practical toolkit for entering this exciting industry. Attendees will hear from tourism experts at Destination Wairarapa, as well as iwi, business growth advisors, and local commercial operators.

Then, throughout August, each course participant can attend a session up at Star Safari.

“This will cover the practical considerations to do with night operations such as health and safety, identifying constellations, and how to use gear such as lasers and telescopes,” Hari says.

The third strand of the course will involve an individual business site assessment and report for developing a night sky experience for each attendee. This will be underpinned by commercialin-confidence imperatives and take place during August and September.

The registration portal and email for enquiries are included below. There are 20 seats on the course and the cost per participant is only $75, thanks to funding from WellingtonNZ. The Dark Skies Business Capability course is an opportunity to connect local potential with subject matter experts and ‘translate’ pathways for growth. Jacinda says that Hari and Sam are organically grown visionaries with extraordinary expertise.

“WellingtonNZ is excited to partner with Milky-Way.Kiwi.”

Hari Mogoşanu (left) and Sam Leske from Milky-Way.Kiwi and Star Safari. PHOTO/HEADSHOTS.NZ

Other Opportunities with Hari and Sam

As well as their Star Safari stargazing tours, Hari and Sam also travel the country teaching children about the night sky.

“Over the last two and a half years, we’ve delivered our space science programme to about 30,000 teachers, students, and other interested people across 135 schools and public events,” Hari says.

And because of Hari and Sam’s links to NASA, they’re

able to take 23 very lucky Mount Maunganui College students to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in July. The school has raised funds for the trip.

“We’ll be stopping over in Hawai’i, as well, to visit the Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory site on the island of Maui,” Sam says.

The site is managed and operated by the University of Hawai’i to support high quality, high-impact research, education, and space surveillance. Sam recalls

being drawn to the night sky ever since 1986 when his great uncle showed him Haley’s Comet. His great uncle could even remember the hype of the Comet’s last visit in 1910.

Sam moved to Wairarapa in 1999 to run his own home observatory. Hari came to New Zealand in 2005 to see Canopus, the second brightest star in the sky and one which is used by spacecraft for navigation.

“You used to be able to see Canopus from Europe 2,000 years ago,” Hari says, “but not anymore due to the wobble of the Earth. The Southern hemisphere is the best place to be to see both Canopus and the centre of the Milky Way.”

Expecting to stay in New Zealand for maybe a year, she got a job at Carter Observatory and a space science communication career followed. Later, she met Sam and has since

become a settled part of the fabric of Wairarapa.

Hari and Sam have named their business Milky-Way.Kiwi because a dark patch shaped like a kiwi lies at the heart of our galaxy made up of billions of stars.

Economic Development Potential

The Regional Economic Development Plan identifies high-impact opportunities for investment over the next 10 years. The plan is owned by all the mayors and iwi leaders across Wellington, Wairarapa and Horowhenua, and managed through WellingtonNZ. Leveraging the Dark Sky opportunity is one of five Wairarapa initiatives earmarked for support.

“The economic potential is significant” says Jacinda. “For example, visitor spend in the Mackenzie District has tripled to $360 million per year since the area first achieved Dark Sky Reserve accreditation. We want to build pathways for Wairarapa to leverage similar success.”

Wairarapa’s tourism market is di erent to Tekapō‘s but “if we build astro-tourism opportunities in Wairarapa, then people will come,” Sam says.

Hari points out that Wairarapa’s Dark Sky Reserve is situated in a renowned wine-producing region that is only 80 kms away from an international airport – a unique point of di erence.

In May this year, WellingtonNZ hosted the TRENZ international tourism event in Wellington, attracting 600 international buyers and sellers. Alongside Destination Wairarapa, Hari and Sam held

a stall at the event to promote the region to international buyers such as airlines and major tour operators.

“There is so much that Wairarapa has to o er the international tourist market,” Hari says.

The Dark Skies Business Capability course will help WellingtonNZ gather intelligence about local business needs and start to fill gaps in support and growth.

“WellingtonNZ can help businesses navigate the complex and often intimidating landscape of support services across central government. This might include the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Callaghan Innovation, Kānoa, and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, depending on the needs of the cohort,” says Jacinda. Hari and Sam want to hear from anyone considering adding an astro-tourism element to their core business, including those in the feasibility or start-up stages. If you’re not sure, get in touch with them via the email below.

You (or your business) must be resident in the Wairarapa to apply.

GO TO www.tinyurl.com/ mydarksky and register for the Dark Sky Business Capability Course @ $75 per person. Enquiries to info@wairarapa.space

GO TO www.milky-way.kiwi/ for more information about Hari and Sam’s night sky business Milky-Way.Kiwi

Sam and Hari with a Star Safari stargazing group PHOTO/JET PRODUCTIONS

Lifestyle

Council’s holiday park is ‘struggling’

Students learn to protect sacred sites

The New Zealand Certificate in Conservation [Level 4] at UCOL is now into its second term, and in full swing. Having previously focused on risk assessment and industry-based field skills, the ākonga [students] are now turning their hands to developing knowledge of the ecological environment to deliver strong conservation outcomes.

The ākonga are also gaining learnings around mātuaranga Māori [Maori knowledge] and preservation of wāhi tapu [land of cultural and spiritual significance] and taonga

tūturu [protected objects]. They are learning to understand the significant tikanga associated with a site, according to tangata whenua.

With a focus of hands-on learning experiences and fieldwork opportunities, this course provides students with the chance to engage directly with conservation efforts in their local community.

Through lectures, workshops, and practical exercises, students are encouraged to embrace kaitiakitanga [guardianship] and to consider how their actions can positively impact future generations.

Rhys Watkins, one

of the new lecturers of the programme, said he was “very excited” to be part of the learning experience for these students.

“It’s such a fantastic pathway into conservation mahi –attending to not just the physical work, but the considerations with stakeholders and community engagement,” Watkins said.

“In taking on a tutoring role this year, I have been privileged to work with these ākonga and community groups supporting our work.”

• The Wairarapa Midweek has partnered with conservation groups to put a spotlight on conservation efforts locally.

Emily Ireland emily.ireland@age.co.nz

Masterton’s councilowned Mawley Holiday Park is “struggling to meet financial targets”, with occupancy bookings sitting at only 50 per cent last month.

A recent report to Masterton District Council [MDC] said feedback suggests that Mawley Holiday Park “doesn’t offer enough of what consumers are after”, such as cabins with ensuites.

MDC infrastructure and assets general manager Maseina Koneferenisi said the council has done a Section 17a review of the contract to evaluate options to lift the profile of the park.

Under the Local Government Act, councils must review the costeffectiveness of current arrangements for the delivery of services to meet the needs of communities within the district.

A review must be undertaken within two years before the expiry of a contract, or at “such other times as the local authority considers desirable”.

Koneferenisi said the outcome of the review was to roll the current Mawley Holiday Park contract over until next year to align with the council’s recreation centre contract. At that stage, there will be an opportunity to “go back out to market”, she said.

“But ultimately we will need to consider what support we provide in terms of how can we help the existing contractor with marketing, and get beneath it a bit more to understand what is happening.”

Belgravia Leisure was awarded the Mawley Holiday Park contract in 2018 and has held the council’s Recreation Centre contract since 2017.

The holiday park declined to comment, but a council spokesperson responded on its behalf.

“Council staff actively work in partnership with their contractors, and work is underway to identify the factors influencing occupancy rates at Mawley Park.

“This review process will include identifying opportunities with the contractor to develop responses to the challenges being faced.” – NZLDR Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air

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Winter Wellness drop-in clinics

Whānau and Pēpi coffee and kōrero

Masterton Intermediate School Dental Clinic, Masterton For more information about vaccinations, talk to your Doctor, nurse or health care provider, call Healthline on 0800 611 116, or visit info.health.nz/immunisations

Tuesday 11 June, 2 and 16 July 5pm-7pm

Whaiora, 394 Queen Street, Masterton Providing vaccinations for National immunisation schedule, overdue immunisations, Flu, Covid-19, and Wellness Checks

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Whaiora, 394 Queen Street, Masterton Join us for an interactive immunisation education session for whānau and pēpi, learning about protecting our little ones through vaccination. Discover the facts, asks the questions and empower your whānau with knowledge

UCOL’s Certificate in Conservation students on a recent field trip to Castlepoint to remove wilding pines from the sand dunes.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Rhys Watkins

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• monitor active conversation and then prioritise speech.

• use sensors to detect your physical movement, to understand the type of communication situation you are in, one-on-one or in a group.

Playground upgrade progresses with pace

Freddie Wilkie freddie.wilkie@age.co.nz

The FlexiPlay construction team is progressing with upgrades to the playground at Masterton’s McJorrow Park. Workers have now removed an area of bark chip and are

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replacing it with a soft pour flexi surface. The works also include a path being built to the Lilypad swing to improve access for people with mobility issues, alongside the instalment of two interactive play panels. All work, totalling $28,000, is being funded using a Trust

House Foundation grant.

Masterton District Council facilities and open spaces manager Ian Osland said while the construction work be “a temporary inconvenience”, he is confident it will be a real benefit “to all playground users”.

FlexiPlay construction team are progressing with upgrades to the

THURSDAY 20 JUNE 2024, 7PM

Partnering with your community to grow your child’s future

The

McJorrow Park Playground. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Electric vehicle uptake surges

Wairarapa electric vehicle [EV] users are calling on the government to invest in charging infrastructure – as parts of the district see the strongest uptake of EVs in the country.

Despite only having one public charging station, South Wairarapa was the district with the highest number of new EV registrations in 2023.

Martinborough business owner Conor Kershaw said he is in the process of getting fast charging stations installed in the P&K General Store car park after introducing four electric forklifts and a Renault Kangoo delivery vehicle to the business’ fleet.

“When you get involved with companies like Meridian, they’re more interested in connecting back to the actual transformers,” Kershaw said.

“We’ve got an option to do that, but they’ve got to work out grid infrastructure first.”

Kershaw said central government needs a clear strategy for clean electricity production and use.

“We’ve got a lot of big issues coming with our power grid. I think it would be great if the government could take the lead on that,” he said.

EV sales have been down in 2024 off the back of record highs in 2023, following the government replacing the Clean Car Discount scheme with road user charges for electric vehicles.

Last month, Energy Minister Simeon Brown announced 25 new highspeed charging hubs along key routes, and the removal of resource consent requirements for public EV charger installation.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority group manager Richard Briggs noted there were no Wairarapa sites included in the announcement. But improvements to the region’s charging infrastructure may be on the horizon. Meridian wants to invest in more public charging infrastructure, the power company’s chief customer officer Lisa Hannifin said.

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“We’d be very interested to hear from businesses in the Wairarapa region that may have ideal locations for EV drivers to charge,” Hannifin said.

Carterton EV owner Minty Hunter said he is happy the government is talking about a better charging network, but wants to avoid polarisation between electric and petrol vehicle users.

“I think the government can have a lead in that by not playing the politics of splitting people to have them fight against each other,” he said.

Hunter said Wairarapa needs better fast-charging infrastructure because he expects EVs sales to increase as EV technology improves.

“They’re getting better –less expensive for what you get, range is getting better, and new battery technology is coming online.”

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EV user Minty Hunter says more public fast chargers like the ChargeNet station on Masterton’s Dixon St are needed. PHOTOS/DYLAN JONES

Jones news@age.co.nz

wants to partner with local businesses to install chargers in “ideal locations” in the region.

Britain’s standing in an unstable world

John Pearson, United Kingdom Deputy High Commissioner, will speak to the Wairarapa Branch of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs at next week’s meeting on what is meant by “Global Britain”.

Pearson is an Asia specialist, who came to Wellington directly after serving as the British Ambassador to Laos. Previously he was the deputy head of the China Division at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and has also worked in Hong Kong and Singapore. A graduate of King’s College, London, his studies focused on sustainability and climate change.

Since Brexit, British foreign policy has pointedly reached out beyond Europe. Fifty years ago New Zealand trade was being marginalised by British membership of the European Union [EU] common market. Today, the UK is out looking for business and striking new trade deals, not least in Asia, where partnership in the 11 nations free trade bloc is a notable success.

Britain and New Zealand are geographically distant, but close in many

important ways. “Standing with your friends is needed in an increasingly unstable world”, has meaning both to our nation and to the UK. In the 1970s, British forces had withdrawn from “East of the Suez Canal”. Now, there are continuous deployments, while a Royal Navy aircraft carrier strike group is planned to operate in Asia/Pacific waters during 2025. Beyond

this is AUKUS, aimed at assisting Australia with its future submarines, while Britain has also entered a joint combat aircraft programme with Japan and Italy.

But British security “hard power” remains primarily Atlanticcentered. Britain has assumed leadership of a joint expeditionary force comprising all the Nordic countries. A shipbuilding revival is

underway, with about 70 per cent of tonnage under construction in Scottish yards. There was, prior to the UK’s election campaign, a commitment to 2.5 per cent of GDP for defence, but some experts are calling for 3 per cent.

Britain is currently going through a general election – polling day is 4 July – and the next UK government will face challenging times. Rising friction between the US and China complicates relations with both countries. Having stepped back from Europe, the UK has emerged as one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters. Leadership –within NATO - is welcome, not least as American commitment to Europe seems more doubtful.

Strengthening the UK role in in a rules-based global order is a priority, while advocates of international development want the UK to return to allocating 0.7 per cent of GDP for foreign aid.

Last year’s appointment of former UK Prime Minister David Cameron as Foreign Secretary by the Rishi Sunak government was an indicator of how serious the Conservative Party is about international affairs.

Present Labour spokesman John Healey seems pretty much on board with present policy, too. He is keen to give Russia an “offramp” from the Ukraine War and a road map for re-entry to the global community – supposing the Russians want that.

Regional issues also impact on a not-so-United Kingdom. The Irish/ EU border issues are unresolved, while the initiative to send some refugees to Rwanda from the UK continues to be strongly opposed. In Scotland, politics are in confusion, and the threat of breaking up the Union remains.

So there will be much for the UK Deputy High Commissioner to speak about, and the meeting, under the usual rules for public discourse, will be open to the public.

• The next meeting of the Wairarapa Branch of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs will be held at Rosewood, 417 Queen St, Kuripuni, at 7pm on Thursday, June 20. Coffee and tea are available from 6.30pm. A koha from non-members is appreciated.

Richard Jackson

John Pearson, United Kingdom Deputy High Commissioner. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

et Chat V

Expert advice from The Vet Clinic Wairarapa

Winter Management for our beloved pets

As we see the seasons changing onwards to another chilly Wairarapa winter, the cold has started to make itself felt in a hurry. We thought it would be helpful to share a few tips on management of your beloved pets over the colder portion of the year.

As dogs and cats get older they start to slow down and various health issues arise. Mobility impairment due to arthritis is one of these issues and can be very painful and greatly affect your pet’s quality of life.

Osteoarthritis is a disease which leads to in ammation and damage to joints. Initial stiffness can progress to lameness and joint pain as the wear and tear reach a stage where areas of cartilage become worn, exposing bone. Animals of all ages can be affected and breed, obesity, injuries and genetics can also be a factor, but older animals seem more susceptible. Signs to look out for in your dog are reluctance to walk and play, stiffness or limping, showing personality changes, dif culty getting up after rest and not able to jump into car/chair. In cats obvious lameness may not be seen, instead they have dif culty grooming,

jumping on furniture and seem to be more irritable.

A vet can examine your pet to diagnose arthritis. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment and management can be initiated. Early detection and treatment can help improve quality of life. We have multiple treatment options ranging from naturopathic dietary supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin, through to injections which can promote joint uid production, promote cartilage healing and diminish in ammatory mediators, as well as a raft of anti- in ammatory medications if appropriate. Also performing xrays can allow us to identify which regions of the body are affected.

Dog trainer has eye on those pesky stoats

sound so similar.”

WINTER IS HERE!

We have a large selection of quality winter pet bedding, dog bedding and joint supplements available for your pet.

affected.

Other lifestyle your dog or

A dog whisperer’s “special bond” with one of her seven hounds has led to a new business opportunity that could have conservation benefits across the region.

Pip DellaBarca, a veterinary nurse, puppy school teacher, and dog trainer based in Carterton, has been training her 15-monthold lurcher Jet to locate stoats – an animal in the mustelid family –by their scent.

Fortunately, Jet took to the new scent straightaway: “One day I stuck a piece of goat out in the garden, and a piece of stoat about three metres away. She found the goat straightaway but just ignored it, and then went back for the stoat. She totally got it.”

extinction of the South Island subspecies of bush wren, the laughing owl, and New Zealand thrush.

Wade-Brown, who has over 180 traps across her Wairarapa property, has caught 71 mustelids this year alone.

DellaBarca’s has trained Jet to “indicate” for stoat, meaning she doesn’t catch the stoat, but instead locates and then sits by the scent of the animal.

comfortable. Changes management as

Other lifestyle changes in your dog or cat can help with making their life more comfortable. Changes such as strict weight management as obesity puts extra stress on joints. A balanced exercise regime to maintain mobility, and providing comfortable warm bedding and kennels out of draughts, particularly in the winter all help.

As always, if you are concerned about your pet please call us to book in a consult with one of our veterinarians. joint uid production, promote Also performing

Initially, DellaBarca trained Jet for goat baling – when the dog rounds up pest goats –to support son Mario, a professional hunter.

When Jet became her dog, she quickly realised goat baling might not be the most practical option: “Why do I want to do goats? I don’t have a gun!’.”

Chatting to her friend of nearly 40 years, Celia Wade-Brown, a local Green list MP and keen mustelid trapper, DellaBarca changed tack to stoats.

“I thought I’d made a boo-boo, though,” DellaBarca said, “Because

Trappers can then use this “indication” to lay traps.

It’s an approach DellaBarca and WadeBrown think could be highly effective in settings where stoats and other mustelids undermine conservation efforts.

According to the Department of Conservation, the impact of stoat predation on “the survival of many of New Zealand’s bird species cannot be underestimated”.

Introduced in the 1870s along with weasels and ferrets to control the pest rabbit population,

As well as indicating where stoats are, and supporting Predator Free 2050 groups across the region, dogs like Jet can also provide “proof of absence”, Wade-Brown said.

“Say you want to bring back whio [blue duck] to an area – you need to show that there aren’t stoats around. You’ve got to prove that, and proving something’s not there is quite difficult.”

DellaBarca is looking forward to the opportunity to train more dogs to indicate for stoats through her business, Predator Dog Control, and believes any dog with a “strong prey drive and good work ethic” could make a good candidate.

“In reality, all dogs need a job,” she said.

“Jet is a really satisfied little dog, and content, because

Lucy Cooper lucy.cooper@age.co.nz

From left, Pip Dellabarca, Jet, and Celia Wade-Brown. PHOTOS/LUCY COOPER

Sarma and Jet, who can “indicate” the location of stoats,

our newly renovated DELLER WING of care rooms

CARTER COURT celebrating &

our partnership with Hospice to renovate our PALLIATIVE CARE ROOM

Building on more than 125 years of compassion

Carter Court, based in Pembroke Street in Carterton since December 1964 and with a story that goes back to 1896, has modernised and refurbished its Deller Wing of care rooms. Carter Court’s palliative care room has also been renovated, with the support of Hospice.

Bishop Waitohiariki (Wai) Quayle – raised in Gladstone and the rst Māori wahine to ever become an Anglican Bishop – commenced the opening ceremony at Carter Court on 30 May with a karakia.

Sharon Parker, brought up on a Masterton sheep and beef farm and now chair of the Carter Society’s Executive Committee, thanked the many Carter Court sponsors, residents, sta , Manager Jo McDonald, Tararua Builders, the

architect Daryl Silverwood, and Hospice for its partnership with Carter Court. She also thanked the former chair of the Carter Society Executive Committee who was so instrumental in getting the renovation project started.

“This project has been a coming together of the entire community to support aged care, a sector that is massively underfunded in New Zealand,” Sharon said.

That sentiment was echoed by guest speaker Carolyn Cooper, sister of Sharon Parker, a former nurse and now New Zealand’s Aged Care Commissioner.

As a watchdog and advocate, Carolyn speaks with and for older people when and where they receive health or disability care. “There is simply not enough funding in New Zealand to provide the quality service older people need. But I can see that the quality of care at Carter Court is outstanding.”

Carter Court in Pembroke Street, Carterton. PHOTO/SALLY BARRAUD CONTINUED OVER PAGE

our newly renovated DELLER WING of care rooms

CARTER COURT celebrating &

our partnership with Hospice to renovate our PALLIATIVE CARE ROOM

Building on more than 125 years of compassion

Gretchen Saulbrey, Chief Executive of Hospice Wairarapa, spoke about the innovative partnership between Hospice and Carter Court, saying “it has been an easy partnership because it was the right partnership.” She gave thanks to the Hospice Board, the Carter Court team, the Carter Society, and all the people in Wairarapa

Tararua Builders

who have been so generous to Hospice over the years.

Prayers and blessings were given by Bishop Wai Quayle, Reverend Judith Wigglesworth, Roger Wigglesworth, and the Reverend Hennie Nothnagel from St Mark’s Anglican Church. Kaumatua Mike Kawana, Rangitāne o Wairarapa, blessed the shared afternoon tea.

Bishop Wai Quayle addressing the Carter Court opening of the renovated care rooms and palliative care room.

Opening and blessing of the renovated Deller Wing. PHOTO/SALLY BARRAUD.

The care home’s Deller Wing: refurbished and modernised

“We’re upgrading our bedrooms to better meet the needs of very elderly residents,” says Jo McDonald, Carter Court’s Manager. “The average age of residents in Aotearoa New Zealand rest homes today is 85 and some of the facilities here are about 60 years old. They were designed for younger residents with lower levels of care needs.”

Carter Court, governed by the not-for-profit Carter Society, includes a 43 room care home, senior rental units (six on the grounds and 32 elsewhere in Carterton), and 10 licence-tooccupy villas.

The renovated care home bedrooms are dual purpose so that residents can stay in place while the level of their care increases from rest home to hospital level care, depending on the acuity of need.

The original Deller Wing once housed 11 small rooms. These have been transformed into six larger rooms. And whereas residents shared bathrooms and

toilets previously, each of the Deller Wing rooms now has its own ensuite bathroom. A large and modern family/whānau room with a kitchen has also been built, making whānau both welcome and comfortable.

Government provides a nightly rate for rest home residents, but this part of the business would not be self-sustaining without income from the sale of the licence-to occupy villas. The refurbishment of the Deller Wing was made possible by grants and donations by the Carter Society and other local and national organisations.

“Each room has been sponsored either by an organisation, such as Carterton Rotary, or by family members of former residents,” Jo says. “They’ve essentially funded the cost of the furniture, and their names as sponsors are being placed over the doors.”

Seven beautifully crafted quilts have also been donated by the Wairarapa Quilters: one for each of the six care rooms and one for

the separate palliative care room.

Jo McDonald, originally from Ireland, has managed Carter Court for three years. Some of her previous roles have included Wairarapa Red Cross, WorkSafe and, back in Ireland, with a not-for-profit called Dinit (meaning ‘Dignity’ in Gaelic) – this entity recruits volunteers and links them to the International Humanitarian and Development Aid sectors.

Jo’s compassion for people and

her sense of social obligation align perfectly with the ethos underpinning the Carter Society and Carter Court.

TOP: Jo McDonald, Carter Court’s Manager, in one of the refurbished Deller Wing rooms. PHOTO/SALLY BARRAUD. ABOVE: Jo in the refurbished Deller Wing corridor.

Palliative care room:

our newly renovated DELLER WING of care rooms

CARTER COURT celebrating &

Carter Court has maintained a palliative care room in its facilities for some years, with Te Whatu Ora fully funding the bed for short-term stays. However, “it was time for the room to be upgraded, refurbished, and better equipped in order to be t-forpurpose for palliative care,” says Jo McDonald.

our partnership with Hospice to renovate our PALLIATIVE CARE ROOM

“The community has been asking Hospice Wairarapa to deliver an inpatient unit (IPU) bed and palliative care service for some time,” says Gretchen Saulbrey, Chief Executive of Hospice Wairarapa. “But the cost would have been prohibitive of establishing and running a standalone facility with round-theclock patient care and Kahukura palliative care nursing.”

Gretchen and Jo realised that a collaborative partnership was potentially an innovative and sensible way forward to meet everyone’s requirements. Their interest is to improve systems for ageing in the community.

And their collaboration to refurbish the palliative care room at Carter Court is an example of alignment and leveraging at its very best – involving

the Carter Court space, its nursing resources, Te Whatu Ora’s funding of a bed for palliative care, and Hospice’s fundraising in the community to support palliative care.

The result was a $145,000 renovation of the IPU room. The money had been raised from the community and ringfenced by Hospice Wairarapa. The upgraded IPU room now includes a large bedroom, an ensuite bathroom, a whānau area, pull-down beds, and a kitchenette. The room has fully accessible external access that is separate to the Carter Court’s main entrance.

While nalising the room’s design, a small group of clinical experts, iwi representatives, and Māori and Pasi ka health providers were consulted.

“We wanted to make sure we got this right,” Jo said. Patient use of the room is by agreement between Carter Court and FOCUS, Wairarapa’s Needs Assessment Coordination Centre that works with the Kahukura Palliative Care team and other clinical services. Patient use of the

room is supported by the funding agreement with Te Whatu Ora.

Like Jo, Gretchen Saulbrey has a background in caring professions including the New Zealand Police and Oranga Tamariki. As Chief Executive of Hospice Wairarapa for the last 18 months, her whānau support team is made up of two social workers, an education and bereavement facilitator, and a spiritual carer.

“Our people are our service,” Gretchen says. “And to be able to o er our service, we rely on the generosity of the community for volunteers, retail, donations, and grants.”

Gretchen Saulbrey (right), Chief Executive of Hospice Wairarapa, with Bernie Sellwood, Nurse Educator at Kahukura in Carter Court’s renovated palliative care room.

Quality of care, quality of life

IAN & MARGARET’S STORY

Ian has his life displayed around the walls. There are photos of him racing motor bikes and others of family members – his three children and their partners and children, as well as his siblings and their families.

Now aged 91 and affected by Parkinson’s Disease, Ian has resided at Carter Court for nearly four years, with occasional respite care experiences before that. Their home is only “two hops” away – the same home they’ve lived in for 30 years. His wife Margaret visits him almost every day and holds his hands tightly.

“We met in 1966 or ‘67,” she says. “Ian was a builder/carpenter with Wellington Hospital’s works department, and I was a nurse.”

“Carter Court, as a not-for-profit, has some great things going for it,” Margaret says. “And the staff go out of their way to make residents feel at home. For example, each resident is offered a choice about what they’d like for dinner, every single day. It’s the personal side of things that is so lovely.”

Margaret is a quilter and her Greytown quilting group (which Ian refers to as a ‘talking’ group) donated the quilts in the Deller Wing and palliative care room.

MOYRA’S STORY

Carter Court has a reputation for its skilled and caring team of staff and volunteers dedicated to the wellbeing of Carter Court residents. Moyra, a senior enrolled nurse, is one of that team.

A Greytown girl, born and bred, she says “the furthest away I’ve ever lived was the Masterton nurses’ home while I trained and then worked at Masterton Hospital”.

Moyra’s been back at Greytown ever since, raising five children and lots of grandchildren, working as a practice nurse, in aged care facilities, at the old Greytown Hospital, as a phlebotomist, and even commuting to the brain rehabilitation unit over in the Hutt. Then, 21 years ago, Moyra began working at Carter Court.

“I love it here,” she says. “I’m passionate about how things are done.”

Something Moyra admires about Carter Court are the hoops the staff go through to allow residents to make choices. “One size does not fit all,” she says. That’s important because people are making the choice to leave their own homes and move to Carter Court. The nurses need to operate as social workers, psychologists, and friends as well as nurses.

“We become family.”

FAYE’S STORY

Wairarapa born and bred, and with 45 years in Carterton, Faye has worked as a diversional therapist for 16 years, 13 of them at Carter Court. Her work journey has taken place within the aged care sector, starting out as a health care assistant.

Diversional therapy is something she loves. “It’s all about quality of life,” she says, “and we take a holistic approach.”

New residents are asked about their backgrounds, interests, and the things that make them happy, and

“we bring those into their lives again,” Faye says.

There’s gardening, an orchard, music, films, art, quizzes, bowls, housie, outings to Lake Ferry for fish and chips, morning teas at Dickensian Bookshop in Featherston, trips for Christmas shopping, and so much more.

Pet therapy is a key element of diversional therapy with Lucy the house cat and Faye’s 10-month-old cocker spaniel Alice being spoilt rotten and loved to bits.

It’s all about stopping the isolation,” Faye says. “People connect and even reconnect from decades ago.”

Even day clients can join in some days each week for social interaction and a hot meal.

Moyra, a loyal senior enrolled nurse at Carter Court.

ABOVE: Ian and Margaret enjoying the ride in a Masterton Lions’ cart, pushed by Carterton Lion, Paul. BELOW: From left: Shirley (resident) and Faye (diversional therapist), with Malcolm and

Carterton’s history of compassion

CARTER COURT celebrating &

Charles Rooking Carter, an English builder, architect, and engineer, was inspired by the English Chartists, who strove to establish a charter of rights for the working classes, such as the right to join a union. He brought those ideals of a fairer society with him when he emigrated to New Zealand in 1850.

When he died in 1896, one of Carter’s bequests was that over 2,000 acres from his estate be used in a manner that the rent could maintain a ‘Carterton Home for Aged Poor Men’ - his liberal beliefs and empathy for those less fortunate than himself were evident to the end.

Carter’s wishes included the establishment of a Carter Home Committee comprising the Borough of Carterton’s Mayor, a resident clergyman of the Church of England, and three members of the Borough Council. The Moreton Street home opened in 1900 and was only later sold to allow for the building of the larger and more t-for-purpose Carter Court, which opened in 1964. The Carter House Committee was replaced by the Carter Society, underpinned by The Carter Trust Act 1961 – the spirit of Charles Rooking Carter’s wishes would continue to

be honoured. Government agreed to subsidise some of the beds at Carter Court and the rst women residents were welcomed. Villas were built, funds were donated, and the Carterton District Council gifted rental pensioner units to the Carter Society.

The sense of obligation to other people, which moved Charles Rooking Carter over 125 years ago, continues to survive in the small town that took his name.

With thanks to Yerex, D. (2003). The Carter Legacy. Published by Lamb-Peters Print, Greytown.

ABOVE: Original Carter Home in Moreton Road as it was in 1937

ABOVE: Charles Rooking Carter. LEFT: Residents of Carter Home enjoying the sun outside the residence. Early 1900s.

MICHAEL BALE KIRSTEN TOWNSLEY

SUSIE BARNES

GREYTOWN SURROUNDS & LOCAL SUPPORT FROM THE POPE AND GRAY CONTRACTING TEAM

From its Greytown base, Pope and Gray Contracting has been meeting Wairarapa’s earthmoving, subdivision, and roading requirements since the 1970s.

From subdivisions to roads, farm tracks, driveways, paths, and an array of drain laying services, including water and septic tank installation, Pope and Gray can handle it all. Even as it has grown to more than 25 sta , the earthmoving company’s ‘family feel’ has been retained. Excellent customer service and quality workmanship are the result. Its small tipping trucks can get into di cult areas, while its large trucks

With its focus on helping to service Wairarapa with all its civil construction and drainage needs, Pope and Gray

The Pope and Gray contracting team

National Volunteer Week

“If you have a little bit of time to spare and want to put it to good use, come and talk to us at Masterton Lions,” says long-time Lion, Gary Pickering.

“We exist to serve the community but couldn’t do it without our volunteers.”

There are many ways in which volunteers can make a di erence.

Just a few are: ra es and street collections

Volunteering NZ says nearly 116,000 non-for-pro t institutions are registered in Aotearoa New Zealand, and that 89 percent of them do not employ sta , relying instead on the generosity of volunteers.

The value of this voluntary labour was estimated at $4 billion in May 2020, up $0.5 billion since 2013.

On average, just under 51 percent of New Zealand adults volunteer their time, although the average is nearly 59 percent in rural areas.

Volunteers are a diverse bunch but have one thing in common –an empathetic heart that desires social justice.

Thank you, volunteers, for all you do at every layer of society.

for big charities, directing parking at big community events, running youth projects, and book sorting or sales at the Solway Showgrounds.

Whether you’d like to become a Lion or would prefer to just donate some time to Masterton Lions’ projects on a exible basis, contact Gary Pickering on 06 377 7160.

Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu

“As we celebrate 40 years of service at the Wairarapa Cancer Society, we re ect on the incredible journey we’ve undertaken, a journey made possible by our dedicated volunteers,” says Amber Arkell, Wairarapa Centre Manager of the Cancer Society. “From the very beginning, our volunteers have been fundamental in helping us achieve our goals. They have o ered their time, skills, and hearts to ensure that no one faces cancer alone.”

Wairarapa’s Cancer Society volunteers contribute in numerous ways: providing transport to cancer-related appointments, supporting the centre’s

operations, assisting in fundraising e orts, and so much more.

Amber says, “their roles are as diverse as the individuals themselves, yet each contribution is invaluable. Additionally, our executive board members, who govern us with unwavering commitment and guidance, play a crucial role in our success.”

As more people are impacted by cancer, the need for volunteers has never been greater. Volunteers not only make a di erence to the lives of those a ected by cancer but also strengthen the fabric of Wairarapa’s community.

“To our volunteers, past and present,

we extend our deepest gratitude. Your generosity, compassion, and dedication have brought us to where we are today.

As we look to the future, we know that with your continued support, we can face any challenge and continue our mission to support those a ected by cancer in the Wairarapa region.”

Join Wairarapa’s Cancer Society this National Volunteer Week in celebrating our collective impact and the incredible spirit of our volunteers.

“Together, we weave a stronger, more compassionate community. Thank you for being the heart of the Wairarapa Cancer Society,” Amber says.

Some of Wairarapa Cancer Society Volunteers

“Volunteering with us is like nothing else,” says Alzheimers Wairarapa nurse, Tam Williams. “Every Tuesday and Friday we get to help with entertainment, physical activities, brain stimulation, and socialisation. We have fun, we challenge the brains of our clients – and ourselves too – and we have a laugh!”

Volunteer drivers and assistants pick up the clients between 9 and 10 am, drive them to Glenwood Masonic Rest

Home, and then pick them up around 2:30 to deliver them home.

The fun might include a quiz or current event discussion. There could be music, games, exercises, or a walk. An open mind to quirkiness and a keen sense of humour are advantageous.

“Volunteers can do as little or as much as they want – once a month or once a week, for example,” Tam says.” Call me and have a chat about how you could contribute.

Alzheimers Wairarapa is a charity, with no government funding. Our volunteers are vital. Join us!

He taonga rongonui te aroha ki te tāngata. Goodwill towards others is a precious treasure.

We acknowledge the volunteers who so generously give their time to older people across Wairarapa.

The support given to our organisation enhances the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of many - through activities

and outings, visits and conversations, and exercise classes. It makes our o ce a warm and friendly place to visit or call.

To our volunteers - you make a real di erence, you are valued, enjoy National Volunteer Week.

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”

Mary Curnow, Head of Volunteering with Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support extends a massive thank you to everyone who volunteers with us in the Wairarapa.

“Without our volunteers, we couldn’t provide our service to people a ected by crime, suicide, and traumatic events,” she says. “Our service is available to all victims who need our support, whether they are referred via the Police or contact us direct.”

Find out more about volunteering with us at www.victimsupport.org.nz.

“We’re looking for people who are empathetic, good listeners, and resilient, who can support someone through the dark times.”

Victim Support o ers comprehensive training and support, so you can make a di erence in your community.

DOES THE COLOUR PURPLE SUIT

YOU?

(Of course, it’s everyone’s colour)

Join our dynamic and fun-loving volunteer team and wear purple with us, to help people with dementia.

Are you a caring people person?

• Do you like to have fun, joke around, play games, share stories, and keep physically active?

• Our day activity programme needs people like you!

Can you drive?

• Assist people in and out of our van?

• Our transport team needs people like you!

Do you like to talk and engage?

• Our fundraising pool needs people like you!

Are you a team player, good at planning and ideas?

Our executive committee meets monthly for an hour or two and needs people like you!

Age Concern Wairarapa is deeply appreciative of all those who volunteer their time in our community, it is a tremendous gift of generosity. We have volunteering opportunities for anyone who wishes to make a di erence in the lives of older people. Thank you.

Alzheimers Wairarapa Volunteers

Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu

“Volunteers bring a lot to Hospice and the community,” says Sally Barraud, Community and Volunteer Coordinator with Hospice Wairarapa.

She expresses appreciation to the 120 or more volunteers who give their time to Hospice and its clients.

“Our volunteers come from all walks of life. Some have an hour a week to contribute, while others have more time. We train and match our dedicated volunteers to the best jobs or clients for them.”

The volunteer workforce is integral to the operation of Hospice and its services, be it working at the Masterton or Greytown Hospice shops either in

retail or out the back (dropping o and sorting out), being part of the garage sale team, gardening, helping with fundraising, or keeping the house running.

Working with clients is the other critical strand of Hospice volunteering.

Care companions provide companionship to clients and can provide additional support for carers. Sheryl says she loves her role as a Hospice care companion.

“There are a lot of lonely, scared, and distressed people in the community, many with life limiting illnesses. It always humbles me to listen to their stories and be able to share with them.”

Other volunteers are biographers who sit with the clients and record their life stories, transcribing them into a printed booklet.

“Our care companions and biographers have good listening skills and empathy, and can provide a comforting presence for someone and their whānau,” Sally says.

If you’d like to know more, contact Sally at sally@hospicewairarapa.co.nz or go to www.hospicewairarapa.co.nz/vacancies.

To nd out more about Hospice services or to refer yourself or a loved one to Hospice Wairarapa, go to www. hospicewairarapa.co.nz/referral-form.

Hospice Shop volunteers Sally and Sheryl

COBBLESTONES The Best Little Museum

At Cobblestones Museum, visitors often tell us it’s the best little museum they’ve seen. But we couldn’t do it without the fantastic job done by our volunteers. So take a bow volunteers, thank you for all your hard work!

If you believe it’s important to conserve our heritage and make sure it’s available for future generations please consider joining us. There are lots of ways you can help – spring

cleaning, painting, historical research, guiding groups, welcoming people at the entrance, gardening, open days, and more. Plus we are a friendly bunch and you are never too old. Here’s Bob Campbell, age 92, getting stuck in to his latest project, restoring an old cart!

Phone Julie on 06 3049687 to register your interest. We’ll invite you to come along, meet us, and see what’s going on.

“Members of Carterton Rotary have been volunteering in town for over 60 years,” President Steve Laurence says. The club has an emphasis on youth initiatives but it alos supports the whole community including sponsoring a room in the renovated Deller room at Carter Court, the Christmas Parade and working with the local Lions Clubs to raise funds for a new building over Carterton’s indoor pool.

Steve says, “We also have ‘Friends of Rotary’ who lend a hand without becoming members.”

An example of the club’s wider presence is its emergency response kits for the Pacific and Global initiatives such as the eradication of polio.

Go to Facebook to find out more and explore becoming a Rotarian.

Lifestyle

New chapter for library Council backs $10m upgrade in Masterton

Emily Ireland emily.ireland@age.co.nz

Masterton’s library will be upgraded and extended after a slim majority of councillors voted on the project.

At a council meeting last Wednesday, councillors voted 5-4 for the upgrade as part of the Long-Term Plan [LTP] deliberations.

If the council’s LTP is adopted at the end of the month, the library project, which was the council’s preferred consultation option, will cost $10.75 million and be loan-funded, with $500k from reserves.

The council will take a staged approach, upgrading and expanding the library first, and then consider further expansion to accommodate the archive in the future.

The initial focus will

be on essential repair work and extending the library to provide additional space for public programmes, a creative classroom, a workroom, and an openplan office space.

The library footprint will increase by 440m2.

Councillor Stella Lennox moved for the council to support this option, which was seconded by Mayor Gary Caffell.

Councillors David Holmes, Craig Bowyer, and Deputy Mayor Bex Johnson voted in support and the motion passed.

Prior to this, councillor Brent Goodwin moved for council to complete only essential library repairs and maintenance, at a cost of $2.3m.

This was supported by councillors Marama Tuuta, Tom Hullena, and Tim Nelson.

Nelson signalled he had only supported this cheaper option for the library after the council had earlier voted to build

Weather delays work on Aerodrome

Emily Ireland emily.ireland@age.co.nz

Work to upgrade Hood Aerodrome’s sealed runway has been delayed due to “inclement weather” affecting the contractor, but the runway will still be available for use during winter.

Masterton District Council’s [MDC] Hood infrastructure project includes widening and refurbishing the sealed runway.

The completion date for the opening of the upgraded sealed runway

was recently reset to May 25 due to the delays caused by weather conditions.

MDC infrastructure and assets general manager Maseina Koneferenisi said the contractor advised MDC last month that it would not be able to meet this new delivery deadline.

“With the inclement weather, there was a very high risk of the asphalt not meeting the quality requirements,” Koneferenisi said.

a new town hall, which he did not support.

Also during last Wednesday’s deliberations, councillors voted unanimously to complete essential work to improve water and roading infrastructure in the town centre, with no other improvements to Queen St.

This will cost $6.48m and will be funded through depreciation reserves, rates, and NZTA subsidies.

Other changes to the LTP include reduced funding to the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy [saving $20k], ceased funding for regional walking and cycling facilitation [saving $35k], and continued funding of $40,500 for regional positive ageing strategy facilitation.

Council agreed to seek further external funding for Welcoming Communities facilitation, or cease the projects and activities that are currently delivered when current

funding expires in 2025.

Council also agreed to increase the Community-Led Climate Initiatives Fund from $50,000 to $100,000, rather than funding Climate Activation beyond April 2026, when external funding ends.

Council also voted to maintain existing council funding arrangements instead of switching to a model that would have resulted in all organisations contesting annually for funds.

Under the chosen option, $85,000 will be available through annual general contestable applications, and $316,300 will be available through the LTP submissions process.

This option gives more certainty for organisations that currently have funding through the LTP submissions process, and results in less administration for the council and those organisations.

“In response, we directed the contractor to implement an agreed contingency plan we had established for the project.

“This involves

completing all basecourse construction of the runway and apron areas, and applying a prime coat seal to the new construction areas to protect the surface during the winter season.

“This will ensure the sealed runway can reopen for use over the winter months.”

Work on upgrading the runway will resume around November and is expected to take six to eight weeks.

The purpose of this $17 million project is to transform Hood Aerodrome into a more modern, functional airport and centre for aviation activity, with capacity for growth beyond the current activity.

Of the total budget, $10m was funded from the government’s

Provincial Growth Fund. The project will deliver: Runway widening and resurfacing; an extension of the terminal apron; an in-fill of an open drain on the eastern side of the sealed runway; a replacement of airfield fixtures; an upgrade of security fencing [to meet CAA requirements]; water, wastewater, and electrical upgrades, and extension to support hangar development; support for the aerodrome to meet the Civil Aviation Authority Qualification Certification deadline of June 2025; and the development of access roads to support hangar development. – NZLDR Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air

These changes will be made to the LTP, which is scheduled to be adopted by the council on June 26.

In the LTP Consultation Document, the council signalled an average rates rise of 10.6 per cent, driven largely by higher costs in the roading and water activities.

After further work before deliberations, the average rise was signalled to be 10.2 per cent, although this is subject to change based on deliberations decisions.

For example, the council’s preferred option in the consultation document for the town hall was at a cost of $42.6m, but council has voted to proceed with a project with an overall cost of $33.7m [$8.7m for Waiata House expansion and $25m for a town hall project, including demolition]. – NZLDR Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air

Masterton library.

Hood Aerodrome in Masterton. PHOTO/FILE

Jumbo crossword

ACROSS

1 Sacred song (5)

4 Knitwear (8)

9 Severe food shortage (6)

14 Map book (5)

15 Elusive deceitful person (8,8)

17 Water vapour (5)

18 Take to court (3)

19 Diluted (7)

20 Mind-reading (9)

21 Hold tightly (6)

24 Film machine (9)

25 One who suffers for the sake of principle (6)

26 Go after (6)

29 Concerning schools, education (10)

31 And not (3)

32 Tell about (6)

33 Makes a mistake (4)

35 Realise (3)

37 Denuded (4)

39 Cruel ones (anag)(9)

40 Make known (9)

41 Shoe-ties (5)

42 Chum up with (8)

47 Graveyard (8)

51 Utilising (5)

55 New York island (9)

56 Light metal (9)

58 Pitcher (4)

59 Fish (3)

60 Set of clothes (4)

61 Hackneyed phrase (6)

62 Fuel (3)

63 Embellishment (10)

66 Young swan (6)

67 Intelligent (6)

69 Able to adjust to new conditions (9)

72 Hardly ever (6)

73 Character met by Alice (3,6)

75 Marzipan ingredient (7)

77 Tank (3)

80 Severe (5)

81 It is difficult to regain a lost reputation (4,1,3,1,3,4)

82 Dapper (5)

83 Follow secretly (6)

84 More ingenious (8)

85 False blow (5) DOWN

2 Type of acid (9)

3 Flowering plant (5)

5 Type of quartz (4)

6 Most noisy (7)

7 Business venturer (12)

8 Lively ballroom dance (5)

9 At a greater distance (7)

10 Disguise (4)

11 Sewing implement (6)

12 Drastically reduce (5)

13 Crux (7)

14 Non-professional (7)

16 A like punishment (3,3,2,3)

22 Infected, pussy (6)

23 One-eyed giant (7)

24 Trailblaze (7)

25 Crumb (6)

27 Outlast (7)

28 House for horse (6)

30 Pen (4)

32 Gag (5)

34 Sordid and run-down (5)

36 Flying device (4)

38 Mature (3)

42 Shells (5)

43 Paying for (7)

44 Boy’s name (4)

45 Stinging plant (6)

46 Finely chopped meat (5)

48 Collected souvenirs (11)

49 Letters (anag)(7)

50 Bitterly regret (3)

51 One-horned animal (7)

52 Small ingenious device (6)

53 Establish by evidence (12)

54 Good-hearted (4)

57 Provoke to action (6)

64 Complaintinvestigating official (9)

65 Rich (7)

66 Strong desire (7)

68 Scottish city (7)

70 Inspiring wonder (7)

71 Quarter (6)

72 Condition (5)

74 Chaos (5)

76 Unit of weight (5)

78 Storage building (4)

79 Appraise (4)

Sudoku

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

ACROSS: 1 Equal, 4 Give the game away, 14 Purée, 15 Rival, 16 Diagonally, 17 Curio, 19 Kid, 20 Whetted, 21 Falsehood, 22 Mantle, 25 Perimeter, 27 Feeble, 28 Loosen, 33 Waterproof, 35 Wee, 36 Brazil, 37 Flag, 39 Cur, 41 Trinket, 42 Embark, 43 Fluctuate, 44 Llama, 45 Scullery, 50 ME, 51 Maintain, 55 Villa, 58 Xylophone, 59 Rector, 60 Oversee, 61 Orb, 63 Stem, 64 Tender, 65 Law, 66 Theatrical, 68 Cotter, 69 Access, 71 Sculpture, 76 Strobe, 77 Quarterly, 79 Poacher, 81 Bow, 84 Stain, 85 Transcribe, 86 Helix, 87 Nymph, 88 Behind the scenes, 89 Cleft. DOWN: 2 Quiche, 3 Apart, 5 Iris, 6 Engrave, 7 Honest, 8 Gulch, 9 Maypole, 10 Arch, 11 Aerial, 12 Brake, 13 Deadpan, 14 Portion, 18 Hemisphere, 23 Helot, 24 Alfalfa, 26 Eternal, 27 Freckle, 29 Sultana, 30 Fabric, 31 Swear, 32 Fibula, 34 Fame, 36 Break, 38 Green, 40 Stun, 45 Sexes, 46 Ugliest, 47 Laps, 48 Rioter, 49 Floor, 50 Marbles, 52 Invitation, 53 Terrier, 54 Icecap, 55 Verdict, 56 Scowl, 57 Loft, 62 Jelly, 67 Refresh, 68 Carbine, 70 Erupted, 72 Calorie, 73 Ablaze, 74 Census, 75 Belief, 76 Swami, 78 Reach, 80 Creel, 82 Anti, 83 Able.

5x5

Insert the missing letters to complete ten words — five across the grid and five down. More than one solution may be possible.

Pupils help with wetlands Rural

Kate Judson kate.judson@age.co.nz

Kahutara School’s wetlands are flourishing in South Wairarapa with its seventh pupil-led annual plant out.

Thirteen students from the 100-strong school, aged five to eight, volunteered to get their hands dirty at the wetlands’ Mangatete site, alongside one school leaver who had returned.

Wetland organiser and Kahutara School teacher aide Mary Mason said she was thrilled the site had been transformed from an unused “swampy land farm corner”.

“When we first came over here in 2017, this was just bare – absolutely bare,” she said.

“When you look at the difference now, it’s quite amazing.”

Over the past seven years, pupils, parents, teachers and local farmers and teachers have been developing the school’s wetlands for the past seven years.

In 2017, Fraser and Margaret Donald, the grandparents of a former pupil, donated their farmland and began the restoration work by landscaping it to form two ponds.

They installed a solar pump from the farm, which brought water to the site.

This source encouraged ribbonwood trees to thrive, which had reached four meters tall in a short time, as well as kowhai, kahikatea, harakeke, cabbage trees and black beech.

Mason noted that the pupils who have helped grow the area’s biodiversity were always “really enthusiastic” about planting days and taking care of the area.

Ruamahanga Restoration Trust aided the project by donating 230 plants from Norfolk Road Nurseries and predator traps for the “non-stop rats and mice,” she said.

The trapping supports wildlife present in the

wetlands, including kingfisher, fantail, kotare and ducks coming into the pond, as well as the occasional white heron.

“I’ll never see this at its full potential, but you always have to think about future generations,” Mason said.

“The kids talk about coming back – and say, ‘When I am 50, I am going to come back and see what it looks like’”.

Parent volunteer Tracey Honeysett said it was “a great day with the kids”.

“My older son is here, and that is on a teacheronly day. He has done

this for the last few years at school, and now his younger brother is in the same group,” she said.

“This was quite a bit of wasted land, and it is amazing now to see what they have put into it, and they can see the results of the environment coming back.”

Former Kahutara student Isaac Honeysett, now in Year 9 at Rathkeale College, said it was “fun” using his teachers only day to help out.

“It is really interesting to see how things have grown, and now it looks really cool.”

Year 8 pupil Brooke Davies said the wetlands were meaningful because the project brought people together while working in collaboration.

“I think the wetland is an amazing place to be,” she said.

The wetlands project has also received support from numerous community groups, such as South Wairarapa Rotary, Ducks Unlimited, South Wairarapa District Council. and Featherston’s Own Charitable Trust.

Last year, the school won the annual Challenge Shield – a historic school gardening competition in southern Wairarapa – which included the wetlands in its entry.

ABOVE: Kahutara School pupils and teachers have maintained the school’s wetlands since 2017. LEFT: Pupils get stuck into planting.

PHOTOS/KATE JUDSON

Big bull comes with sizeable price tag

Kate Judson kate.judson@age.co.nz

A Carterton farm has welcomed the arrival of an exceptional $34,000 sire.

The McFadzean Cattle Company bought the two-year-old Simmental bull, advertised as having “phenomenal early growth” and a scrotal circumference of 44cm from Kerrah, a Wairoa-based farm.

What convinced Johnie McFadzean –manager of the 4500acre family farm – to make the investment was the “massive impact” the bull would have due to being “very well put together”.

“He’s the type we are after, which is a moderate, well-muscled, deep-bodied, very quiet bull that is going to produce good females.”

The bull has “perfect feet and a great temperament”, he said “We have bought a lot of Kerrah bulls over the years, and they are really good bulls – durable and last forever.”

McFadzean said he plans to enter the sire, which has an “excellent set of genetic traits”, into the farm’s meat maker

programme early “to get a good chance” with the cows.

He predicts that about 50 calves will be produced annually over the next five years.

“I think he’ll have an immediate impact, particularly when crossed with Kerrah Euro offspring, which we’ve used heavily the past four years through our meat maker cattle,” he said.

McFadzean said the Simmental bull was the top-priced for its breed in the country for this year.

Despite bull auctions being “back a little bit,” they are continuing to sell, he added.

“Times are tight, and you need the best bang for your buck.”

McFadzean Cattle Company owner John McFadzean began 45 years of crossbreeding between Simmentals and Angus.

Both breeds are strong maternally, whereas “Simmentals have more growth, and Angus are medium-framed”.

“I thought that these two breeds would complement each other,” he said.

The McFadzean herd

continues to evolve, with numbers increasing to 2000 females calving this coming spring.

PGG Wrightson sheep and beef representative Andrew Jennings said bulls were bought during this season to join the cows in spring and summer.

“It’s a whole novel of what you look for in an animal that makes it superior to the next,” Jennings said.

“It’s fitness, spring of rib, it’s rump bone, head carriage, flank, heart room, neckline muscling.

“Some are genetically proven to have a higher intermuscular fat content or external fat content.”

Jennings explained that bulls with a larger testicle circumference are desirable because they are able to service more cows.

The McFadzean Cattle Company’s yearling Angus Bull open day is on August 28, and the auction will be held on September 13.

Both will include three types of Angus, including the McFadzean Meat Maker, Super Angus Bulls, and McFadzean Cruizy Calves.

DairyBase is a powerful farm analysis tool that identi es strengths and weaknesses of your farm business when compared to other farms and businesses, with the ability to compare to other regional and performance-based benchmarks, breaking down cost (and income) categories to identify opportunities. This also makes it easier for you to demonstrate the value of your business to banks, accountants, or prospective new sharemilking jobs. DairyBase data is completely anonymous and especially helpful when advocating for farmers on policies both at a national and local scale. The more farmers we have completing DairyBase the rmer our argument can be. DairyBase means people are being presented with facts, not predicted modeling.

If there are goals you’re aiming to achieve and you are looking for ways to improve your operation, a full DairyBase report can highlight the areas in which to improve. Having an informed discussion with your DairyNZ Area Manager or farm consultant is a good start to get you on track.

For more information on Dairybase go to; www.dairynz.co.nz/ business/dairybase/

For earlier availability of benchmarks please get your nancial info to accountants.

To learn about the Baseline Project, click here: https://www.dairynz.co.nz/business/dairybase/benchmarking /dairynz-baseline-project/

McFadzean Cattle Company’s new addition – a Simmental bull with a $34,000

Concrete demolition and removal

Ashley Turner from Ash Contracting has the machines and the experience to sort out the jobs at your place - big and small, residential, and commercial.

His concrete breaker is a big hit with DIYers and builders alike whether digging up concrete foundations or anything concrete or demolishing a building.

Matt Laing is ready to spruce up your home. He has 20 years’ experience of indoor tiling and outdoor paving in Wairarapa, building on tiling skills originally perfected in London’s tube stations.

Recent indoor tiling projects include kitchens and bathrooms. When the weather allows, he works on fireplaces and outdoor paving.

And if you need something carted, Ashley and his truck are ready to go. Wairarapa-wide. Responsive. Dedicated.

With his digger and truck, Ashley can also deal to your earthworks, farm work, site work, trenching, and foundations.

Ashley Turner 027 444 0323 ashcontracting@xtra.co.nz

Matt can meet your every tiling need from porcelain or glass to ceramic, stone, and mosaic. He can suggest design and layout options and is a Certified Waterproof Membrane Applicator which comes with a ten-year guarantee. Underfloor and ceiling insulation is another string to Matt’s bow.

Events

THURSDAY JUNE 13

Alcoholics Anonymous: Featherston Community Centre, 7.30-8.30pm. Call 0800 229 6757.

Belly Dance for Beginners: Kiwi Hall, Featherston, 6.30-7.30pm. Call Antonia Blincoe [021] 105-7649.

Carrington Bowling Club: 57 High Street, Carterton,1pm for 1.30pm start. Call Pauline Hodgson [027] 406-672.

Carterton District Historical Society: 142 High St North, Carterton, open 2-4pm or by appointment. Call Vivienne [06] 379-5564 or email carterton.hist.soc@gmail.com

Carterton Scout Group: Rangatahi Hub [behind Carterton Event Centre], Scouts [11-14 years] 6.30-8.30pm. Contact Sylvia [027] 249-3395.

Danzability Class: 11am-noon at Studio 73, Greytown. Contact physio. rachel.horwell@gmail.com or [022] 077-2654.

Digital Seniors Wairarapa: Call [0800] 373-646 to book or for advice. Martinborough: 9.30-11.30am, Heartland Services, 29 Jellicoe St; Featherston: 1.30-3.30pm, Featherston Community Centre. Fareham Creative Space: Fri/Tues, open studio, 10am-3pm, 80 Underhill Rd, Featherston. Email: registrations@ farehamcreativespace.nz

Featherston Menz Shed: 61 Fitzherbert St, open from 6.30pm. Food Market: Food trucks, 4.30-7pm outside the Masterton Town Hall, rain or shine.

GirlGuidingNZ: Carterton Pippins, 5-7 years, 4.15-5.30pm. Carterton Brownies, 7-9½ years, 6-7.30pm. Call Sharon [021] 033-0550.

Housie: Carrington Bowling & Croquet Club, Carterton, [behind clock tower]. Be there by 12.30pm. Jeanne Emery [06] 379 5444. Justice of the Peace: Masterton CAB, Perry St. 9.30am-12.30pm.

KeepFit!: 10.30am, Senior Citizens Hall, Cole St, Masterton. Call Age Concern [06] 377-0066.

Masterton Petanque Club: Club Day 1pm, Queen Elizabeth Park. Call Myrna Lane [06] 377-3064 or [027] 4559 733. Masterton Toy Library: 10am-12pm, 365 Queen St. Narcotics Anonymous: 7.30-8.30pm at St Matthew’s Church, Church St, Masterton.

Parkinson’s Exercise Class: 1.30pm at the Wairarapa Boxing Academy, Dixon St. Call Roslyn [027] 264-8623.

Patient Activity Programme: Hospice Wairarapa, 59 Renall St, Masterton, 10am-1pm. Call [06] 378-8888. Pickleball: Masterton Rec Centre, 2 Dixon St, 5.30pm-7pm. All gear provided. Contact Sue [027] 449 0601. Red Star Table Tennis Club: 5-7pm at Red Star Sports Association, 10 Herbert St, Masterton. Call Peter [027] 566-4664 or Brian [06] 377-4066. Ruamahanga Club: Cards, 500, 1-4pm at Wairarapa Services Club, Essex St, Masterton. Social Learners Bridge: 1pm3.30pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Barbara [06] 304-9208. Steady As You Go: Falls Prevention and Balance Class, 9.30am, Senior Citizens’ Hall, Cole St, Masterton. Call Age Concern [06] 377-0066. Thursday Morning Bikers: Meet at fountain, Queen Elizabeth Park entrance, 9.30am. Contact David [021] 246-0295.

Wairarapa Fern and Thistle Pipe Band: Weekly practice, Masterton Brass Bandrooms, Park Ave, Masterton. Email fernandthistle21@gmail.com

Wairarapa Model Aero Club: 9amnoon at the Masterton Aerodrome.

Wairarapa Quilters: Meeting in Idea Rooms, 46 Bentley St, Masterton, 7pm. Erica [027] 343 3897.

Whakaoriori Shufflers: Line dancing, Red Star clubrooms, Herbert St, Masterton, intermediate, 1-2.30pm. Call [06] 377-5518 or [06] 377-1135.

FRIDAY JUNE 14

Aratoi: Jane Sinclair: Quiet Observations to June 16; In Recognition to July 28.

Carterton Craft Market: Mon-Sat: 9am-4pm, Sun: 10am-3pm, 25 High St North, Carterton. Call Desley [027] 787-8558.

Carterton Senior Citizens: 12.303.30pm, play cards, Rummikub and Scrabble, at the old courthouse next to the library.

Cloth Collective Sewing Workshop: 10am-2pm, Kiwi Hall Supper Room. Call Sara Uruski [0274] 474-959. Dance Fit: At Carrington Park, Carterton, 6pm-7pm. Text dance groove to [022] 321-2643.

French Conversation: U3A-affiliated group, Education Centre, Dixon St, Masterton, 11am-1pm. Converse in French or improve speaking in French. Brett [027] 363-4039 or Robyn [021] 169-9415.

Greytown Music and Movement: For pre-schoolers, 10am, at St Luke’s Hall, Main St. Email admin@ stlukesgreytown.co.nz Justice of the Peace: Carterton library noon-2pm; Masterton District Court 11am-1pm; Eketāhuna Library 1.30-4.30pm.

Masterton Bowling Club: Funzie Friday, 12pm for 12.30pm start. Call [06] 377-4664 after 4pm.

Masterton Croquet Club: Golf Croquet 9.15am behind the Hosking Garden in the park. Call Russell Ward 377-4401.

Masterton Masters Swimming Club: Club night 5.30-6.30pm, Trust House Recreation Centre back pool. Call Stu [027] 295-4189 or Lucy [021] 0204-4144.

Needlework & Craft Drop-in: 10amnoon, Featherston Community Centre. Call May [06] 308-6912 or Virginia [06] 308-8392.

Road Cycling Martinborough: Year round, 8.30am from The Square, Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun. 50km-plus, moderate pace. Call Steve [022] 690 8837. Spontaneous Dance: Kiwi Hall, Featherston, 6.30-8pm. Call Pavla Miller [022] 075-3867.

Sunset Cinema: Carterton Events Centre, Rangatahi Hub. Doors open 7pm, movie starts 7.30pm. Info at sunsetcinemacarterton.com

Wairarapa Embroiderers Guild: Ranfurly Club Rooms, Chapel St, Masterton. Email Wairarapaembroiderers@gmail.com

Wairarapa Kids Choir: For children aged seven years up, 3.50-4.50pm, during school terms, Courthouse, Holloway St, Carterton. Call Jill [027] 347-5891.

Wairarapa Stop Smoking Service: Quit Clinic at Whaiora 9am-noon. Support across Wairarapa. Call Whaiora 0800 494 246.

Walk and Talk: Meet outside Dish Cafe, First St, Masterton, 9.30am.

SATURDAY

JUNE

15

Carrington Bowling Club: 57 High St, Carterton, behind clock tower. Call Pauline [027] 406-6728. Cobblestones Museum and Heritage Village: Main St, Greytown. Open 10am-4pm seven days. [06] 304 9687. Crop Up Greytown: Fresh produce from South Wairarapa, from 9am at Truckstop Greytown, 102 Main St. Check Facebook.

Featherston Heritage Museum: Behind Featherston Library and Information Centre. Sat/Sun 10am2pm, other times by arrangement. Call Elsa [021] 263-9403.

Featherston Weekly Market: 8am2pm, 33 Fitzherbert St. Greytown Menz Shed: 9am-noon. Call Paul Dodge [021] 0262-6595. Justice of the Peace: Masterton Library, 10am-noon. Lions Book Sale: 9am-1pm, under the grandstand, Solway Showgrounds, Judds Rd, Masterton. Martinborough Men’s Shed: Old Courthouse, 20 Cork St, 9am-noon. Call John [021] 314-2485.

Martinborough Museum: Open Sat/ Sun at No 7 The Square, 10.30am2.30pm. Donation/koha appreciated. Masterton Croquet Club: Association Croquet 9.15am and 12.45pm behind Hosking Garden in the park. Call Carl Redvers [06] 378-7109.

Masterton Tennis Centre: Organised doubles from 12.30 pm at 147 Dixon St, Masterton. Sue McRae [027] 449-0601.

Parkrun: Weekly 5km run/walk. 8am start, Woodside end of the Greytown rail trail. Info: parkrun.co.nz/ greytownwoodsidetrail Tinui Craft Corner and Museum: Open Sat/Sun 10am-4pm. Call Lesley Hodgins [06] 372-6433. Toy Library: Masterton: 10am12pm, 365 Queen St. Featherston: 14 Wakefield St, 10am-noon.

Wairarapa Cancer Society

Supportive Care Services: Support after a cancer diagnosis. Call [06] 378-8039.

Wairarapa Farmers’ Market: 9am1pm, Solway Showgrounds, Judds Rd, Masterton.

Women’s Self Defence: With Dion, 9am, band rotunda, Queen Elizabeth Park. Call [020] 4124-4098.

SUNDAY JUNE 16

Carterton Farmers’ Market: High St, Carterton, 9am-12.30pm. Cobblestones Museum and Heritage Village: Main St, Greytown. Open 10am-4pm seven days. [06] 304 9687. Featherston Menz Shed: 61 Fitzherbert St, open from 1pm.

Indoor Bowls: Club Carterton, Broadway. 2pm. Rex Kenny [06] 379 7303 or Kyra Garrity [027] 6333 569. Masterton Park Bowling Club: Queen Elizabeth Park, roll up at 1pm,

names in by 12.45pm. Call [027] 957-1012.

Masterton Petanque Club: Club Day 1pm, Queen Elizabeth Park. Call Myrna Lane [06] 377-3064 or [027] 4559 733.

Masterton Tennis Centre: Social doubles from 10am at 147 Dixon St, Masterton. Blackboard draw. Narcotics Anonymous: Featherston Community Centre, 7-9pm. Call 0800 628 632.

Pickleball: Makoura College Gym, Masterton 5pm-6.30pm. Gear provided. Contact Sue [027] 449 0601. Road Cycling Martinborough: All year round, 8.30am from The Square, Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun. 50km-plus, moderate pace. Steve [022] 690 8837. Rotary Sunday Market: 7-11.30am, Essex St car park. Contact thehodsons@xtra.co.nz

South Wairarapa Pipe Band: Practice at St John’s church hall, Featherston, 4-6pm. To confirm time please call [027] 628-5889 or [027] 453-0182. Wairarapa Model Aero Club: 9amnoon at the Masterton Aerodrome. Masterton Marauders Wargaming Club: Masterton Croquet Club, 1-5pm. Call Vince Cholewa [027] 344-1073 or visit http://mastertonmarauders. blogspot.co.nz

MONDAY JUNE 17

Art for Everyone: Featherston Community Centre, 7-9pm. Call Sandie [021] 157-4909. Beginners Linedance Class: 6-7pm. Linedance Intermediate Class: 7.308.30pm. Call Wendy [027] 319-9814. Carterton Alcoholics Anonymous: 8pm, Salvation Army Community Rooms, 210 High St. Call Bob [021] 042-2947 or Martin [06] 372-7764. Carterton Community Toy Library: Events Centre, Holloway St, Mon-Sat during CDC Library hours. Carterton Food Bank: 10-11am Mon-Fri at Haumanu House. Call

Citizens Advice Bureau: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, 43 Perry St, Masterton. Call [06] 377-0078 or 0800 367-222.

Creative Hands Programme:

Hospice Wairarapa, 59 Renall St, Masterton, 10am-noon. Call Kirsten [06] 399-1050.

East Indoor Bowling Club: 7pm. Call Julie [06] 377-5497 or George [06] 378-9266.

Featherston Music Club: 7-9pm. Call

Shaun O’Brien [027] 672-6249.

Free Community Fit Club: Mon/Tues/ Fri, 6am and 11am, Carrington Park, Carterton. Call Di [027] 498-7261.

GirlGuidingNZ: Masterton Rangers, 12½-18 years, 6.30-8pm. South Wairarapa Guides [Greytown], 9-12½ years, 6-8pm. Sharon [021] 033-0550. Hospice Wairarapa Support Services: For anyone dealing with a terminal illness. Call [06] 378-8888. Housie: 7pm, Club Carterton, Broadway. Call [06] 379-8069. Justice of the Peace: Masterton CAB 9.30am-12.30pm.

Keep Fit!: 9.30am, Senior Citizens’ Hall, Cole St, Masterton. Call Age Concern [06] 377-0066.

Line Dancing: 10.30am, Senior Citizens’ Hall, Cole St Masterton. Call Age Concern [06] 377-0066. Literacy Aotearoa: Free computing and digital device classes for adults. Call [06] 377-4214.

Mah-jong: 1-4pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Pat Hamilton [06] 308-9729.

Masterton District Brass Band: Rehearsals at 7pm, in the Band Room, Park Ave, Masterton. Call [022] 574-0742.

Masterton Food Bank: 9 Church St, Mon-Fri 10am-12.30pm. Call [06] 370-8034.

Play Gym: St James Church Hall 116 High St, Masterton, 9.30-11am, for 0-3-year-olds.

Red Star Table Tennis Club: 6pm8pm at Red Star Sports Association 10 Herbert St, Masterton. Call Peter [027] 566-4664 or Brian [06] 377-4066. Road Cycling Martinborough: All year round, 8.30am from The Square, Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun. 50km-plus, moderate pace. Steve [022] 690 8837. Senior Citizens Club: Cards 1-4pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Val [06] 308-9293.

Steady As You Go: Falls Prevention and Balance Class, Featherston: 9.30am, A/G Church. Masterton: 1.30pm, Senior Citizens’ Hall, Cole St. Call Age Concern [06] 377-0066.

The Dance Shed: 450A Belvedere Rd, Carterton.

Troubadour Music Group: 6-8pm, Wairarapa Community Centre, 41 Perry St, Masterton. Contact Stefan [027] 226-6019.

Wairarapa Futsal: 6pm Clareville Showgrounds. Robyn [027] 235-8673.

Wairarapa Services Club: Cards, 500, 1.30pm, at the club, Essex St, Masterton.

Wairarapa Stop Smoking Service: Call a Quit Coach based at Whaiora 0800 494 246.

TUESDAY JUNE 18

Caregivers Programme: For those caring for unwell loved ones, Hospice Wairarapa, 59 Renall St, Masterton. Kirsten [06] 399-1050.

Carrington Bowling Club: 57 High St, Carterton, behind clock tower. Call Pauline [027] 406-6728.

Carterton District Historical Society: 142 High St North, Carterton, open 2-4pm or by appointment.

Vivienne [06] 379-5564.

Central Indoor Bowls Club: 7.30pm, Hogg Crescent hall. Call Mathew or Graeme [06] 378-7554.

Chair Exercise: Gentle chair exercises, 2pm-2.45pm, at St John’s Hall, Greytown.

Clareville Badminton Club: Main Stadium at Clareville, 7.30pm-9pm. Call Steve [027] 333-3975.

Dance Fitness: 6.30-7.30pm at Fareham House Hall Featherston. Call Justine [0204] 105-2830.

Digital Seniors Wairarapa: Call [0800] 373-646 to book or for advice.

Carterton: 9.30-11.30am, Carterton Library; Greytown: 1.30-3pm, Greytown Library.

Featherston Amateur Wrestling Club: During school terms. Classes are weight and skill dependent; Beginners, 5-9 years, 5.30-6.15pm; 10 years+ [including adults] 6.15-7.30pm. Featherston Menz Shed: 61 Fitzherbert St, open from 10am. Featherston Wahine Singers: 7-8.30pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Susan [021] 246-4884. Free Literacy and Numeracy Classes: At Literacy Aotearoa, 340 Queen St, Masterton. Call Carol [022] 524-5994.

GirlGuiding: Masterton Pippins [5-7 years] 3.45-5pm. Call Chrissy Warnock 372-7646.

Justice of the Peace: Masterton CAB 11am-1pm.

Knit and Natter: 3pm, Wairarapa Community Centre, Perry St; 7pm, Te Awhina Cameron Community House, 2 Stuart Cres, Masterton. Mah-jong: Carterton Memorial Club, Broadway, 1pm. Call Faye [021] 1606637.

Masterton Alcoholics Anonymous: 7.30pm, St Matthew’s Church Hall, 35 Church St. Call Anne [06] 378-2338 or David [021] 116-5505.

Masterton Croquet Club: Golf Croquet 9.15am behind the Hosking Garden in the park. Call Russell Ward [06] 377-4401.

Masterton Judo Club: Tues/Thurs, youth class 5-6pm, adults 7-8.30pm, Nga Totara Dojo, 205 Ngaumutawa Rd, Masterton. Simon [021] 248-6111.

Masterton Senior Citizens and Beneficiaries Association: Social indoor bowls, 500 cards, or a chat 1-3pm, Senior Citizens Hall, Cole St. Call Ngaire [06] 377-0342.

Masterton Toy Library: 10am12pm, 365 Queen St, Masterton [021]0716634.

Red Star Table Tennis Club: 9amnoon at Red Star Sports Association 10 Herbert St, Masterton. Call Peter [027] 566-4664 or Brian 377-4066.

Scallyrag Border Morris Dancing: 7-8pm at the Auditorium, Kuranui College, Greytown. Contact Alison [021] 111-1894.

Social Bridge: At South Wairarapa Workingmen’s Club, 1.30-3.30pm. Call Lesley [021] 299-6389.

South Wairarapa Badminton Club:

Featherston Sports Stadium, Underhill Rd, 7pm-9pm. Rackets available.

South Wairarapa Workingmen’s Club: Games afternoon. Call Doff [06] 304-9748.

Wairarapa Heart Help Group: 1.303pm, Wairarapa Community Centre, 41 Perry St, Masterton.

Wairarapa Modern Jive: Carterton School hall, 7.15-7.30pm Intermediate workshop; 8-8.45pm Beginners class. Lance [021] 134-5661.

Wairarapa Services Club: Cards, Euchre, 1pm, at the club, Essex St, Masterton.

Wairarapa Toastmasters: Meet fortnightly, Salvation Army Hall, 210 High St, Carterton, 7.30pm. Call Wayne [027] 335-5825.

Woops A Daisies: Leisure Marching Team practice 4-5pm, at the Trust House Rec Centre Stadium. Call Cheryl [06] 370-1922 or [027] 697-6974.

WAIRARAPA COLLEGE

WEDNESDAY JUNE 19

AA Meeting: At 7.30pm, Epiphany church hall, High St, Solway, Masterton.

Artspace: 10am-2pm. AOG Church, Birdwood St, Featherston. Call Stella [022] 014 2403.

Athletics Wairarapa: Club night, 5.45-7pm, Colin Pugh Sports Bowl, Masterton.

Cards: “500”, 1.15pm-4.15pm, at the Carterton Club. Call Barbara 379-6582 or Val [06] 379-8329.

Carterton Cycle Group: From Belvedere Rd [weather permitting]. Call Irene [027] 634-9167 or Lesley [021] 299-6389. Dance Fitness: 9.30am-11am, preschoolers with parents or caregivers at Fareham House Hall, Featherston. Call Justine [0204] 105-2830. Digital Seniors Wairarapa: Call [0800] 373-646 to book or for advice. Masterton: 10am-noon, Masterton Library. Free Classes: Literacy, language, numeracy for adult learners. Call Literacy Aotearoa [06] 377-4214.

GirlGuidingNZ: Masterton Brownies, 7-9½ years, 5.30-7pm. Call Sharon [021] 033-0550. Greytown Menz Shed: 9am-noon. Call Paul Dodge [021] 0262-6595. Heart of Arts Wairarapa: A community gallery, 47 High St North, Carterton, Wed-Fri, 10am-4pm, weekends, 10am-2pm. Justice of the Peace: Masterton CAB, Perry St, noon-2pm. Kiddie Gym: For under-5s, 9.30-11am, at St David’s Church, corner High and Victoria Sts, Carterton. Call Judy or Joan [06] 379-8325.

Martinborough Men’s Shed: Old Courthouse, 20 Cork St, 9am-noon. Call Doug [027] 444-7331.

Masterton Art Club: 10am-2pm, also print on Fridays, at 12 Victoria St. Call Elissa [0274] 706-528.

Masterton Croquet Club: Association Croquet 9.15am and 12.45pm behind the Hosking Garden in the park. Call Carl Redvers [06] 378-7109.

Masterton Park Bowling Club: Queen Elizabeth Park, 1pm, names in by 12.45pm. Call [027] 957-1012.

Men’s Group: Support and friendship, Salvation Army Village, Ngaumutawa Rd, Masterton, 7-9pm. Parkinson’s Singing Group: 10am, at the South Wairarapa Workingman’s Club, Main St, Greytown. Call Marguerite Chadwick [06] 379-5376.

Pickleball: Masterton Rec Centre, 2 Dixon St, 9.30am-11am. Gear provided. Sue [027] 449 0601. Rangatahi to Rangatira Youth Group: Sports, food, and leadership, Carterton Events Centre. Text “R2R” to [027] 742-2264.

Recreational Walking Group: 9.30am, Essex St car park. Call Ann Jackson [06] 372-5758, or Ann Duckett [06] 378-8285.

Road Cycling Martinborough: All year round, 8.30am from The Square, Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun. 50km-plus, moderate pace. Steve [022] 690 8837. Scrabble Club: 1-4pm in Masterton. For venue details, call Sue McRae [027] 449-0601.

Silver Ukulele Club: 1-3pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Jan [06] 308-8556. Soulway Cooking and Crafts: 10amnoon, High St, Masterton. Call Nikki Smith [06] 370-1604]. South Wairarapa Caregivers Programme: Caring for your loved one who is unwell, at a café in South Wairarapa. Call Kirsten [06] 399-1050. Taoist Tai Chi: From 5.30pm at St Mark’s Church Hall, 185 High St, Carterton. Contact www.taoisttaichi.

org

Te Runga Scouts: Cubs, 6pm-7.30pm, 45 Harley St, Masterton. The Dance Shed: 450a Belvedere Rd, Carterton. Line Dance Class 6-7pm; Rock N Roll Dance Class: 7.30-8.30pm, Beginners/Couple Coaching, Social/ Competitive. Call Wendy [027] 3199814.

Wairarapa Rockers: Rock’n’roll. Couple inquiries to [027] 333-1793. Wairarapa Services Club: Rummikub, 1pm at the club, Essex St, Masterton. Wairarapa Singers: Choral singing. Call Graeme Burnard [027] 270-5666. Wairarapa Spinners & Weavers: 10am The Wool Shed, Dixon St, Masterton. Call Trish [021] 292 8010. Whakaoriori Shufflers: Line dancing, Red Star clubrooms, Herbert St, Masterton, improvers 5-6.30pm. Call 377-5518 or 377-1135. Wisdom and Well-being: Featherston Community Centre, 10.30am-12.30pm. Call Pauline [021] 102 8857.

• To have an event listed please email event@age.co.nz by noon Thursday prior

If

Crown Lynn and other makes of early New Zealand pottery, Beswick, Lladro, Royal Albert and other quality makes of China ❯❯ Collection of vintage toys including Fun Ho, Matchbox, Dinky, Corgi and any other related items

Early glass, Lalique,

Thanks

He Pounamu early nurture opened in June 2020

It is with deep sadness that we have closed our business and no longer operate as an early childhood centre.

We would like to thank the kaiako and kaimahi who have worked for us over the years, who have given so much of their time, passion and aroha to the kaupapa, whānau and tamariki

We will be forever grateful to them

We also would like to thank the whānau and community for trusting us with their most precious taonga, and all the aroha and support we have received from everyone. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou

GUM 4m3 $720, 2m3 $420

DOUGLAS-FIR 4m3 $710, 2m3 $410

By supporting your employee’s decision to volunteer, you’re directly responsible for making your

Public Notices

Notice of a Proposal to Alter a Geographic Name Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board invites submissions on the place name proposal below. Submissions can be made online at www.linz.govt.nz/consultations/place-name-consultation, or by email to: nzgbsubmissions@linz.govt.nz, or by writing to the Secretary of Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand Geographic Board, PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145.

Submissions must state if you support or object to the proposal and the reasons why. If you object, you may suggest another name or support the existing name.

Proposed Altered Geographic Name Geographic Feature Type and DescriptionSubmission deadline

Abbotts CreekA stream that flows eastwards from Remutaka Pass to Featherston. NZTopo50-BP33 875461 to BP33 941463. Alteration from Abbots Creek (official by New Zealand Gazette, 10 December 2019, Notice No. 2019-ln5662).

sporting items including badges, medals and programs, early crocks and bottles, postcards, early tin toys, teddy bears and dolls, all tools, shipping items and nautical items

Maori artefacts

Carved Ivory and Jade

Firewood

����at�on grants available no�

Masterton Trust Lands Tr�st is offering grants to ����o�t education ��o��a����t��o��� it� �a���t�� ���cation ��n�� ����ication� a�� in�it�� f�o� non��c�oo� o��ani�ation� t�at ��o�i�� �i���� �a���� ���cation ��o��a���� ��ic� ��n�fit t�� �a�t��ton co���nit�� ��io�it� �i�� �� �i��n to ��o��a���� �it� a foc�� on�

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Community grants available no�

Masterton Trust Lands Trust provides grants to support local community organisations that bring services, programmes and activities that benefit the Masterton community.

Grants of up to ���,��� are available to local non-profit community groups for:

„ programme and activity costs, workshops and events „ operating expenses, core service costs, training and development

Applications close 30 June 2024.

�or information, ����s and to apply go to� www.mtlt.org.nz

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