Opinion

My mum made the best…

Deb Lodge-Schnellenberg Curried sausages and lemon pudding. Emma Ayling Macaroni and cheese. Nae Kawana Babies! Peter Rayner Spaghetti-based pizzas. Don’t agree with Bill English on much, but that’s how we made homemade pizzas then. Pia Bradshaw Chocolate sauce to go on hokey pokey ice cream. Willow Anna Falleni Tomato soup. Vicki Hookham Daughter! Kasey Harlen Apple crumble. And she always makes an amazing Christmas spread. Mary Reid Rice pudding. Margaret McNaughton Clootie dumplings (a Scottish Christmas dessert). Richard Alan Dahlberg Home for all of us. None better. Pip Clement Soup in the winter. Going to miss that, now she has passed away.

CONTACT US

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. Siné Gold nch Chocolate and walnut slice. Silena Martin Rissoles. Mandy Gibbins Me. Liz Dunning Bowl cuts.

There’s nothing like a bowl of hot soup – especially one made by Mum. PHOTO/STOCK. ADOBE.COM

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ADVERTORIAL

Fitting advice for wearing masks with hearing aids

e ongoing need for face masks has brought about additional challenges for wearers of hearing aids. But Lia Zamora, audiology professional at Specsavers Masterton, has a few handy tips to make combining the two easier.

Regular masks that loop around the ear can be tricky to negotiate alongside hearing aids. A great option, she says, is to wear a mask that ties around the head instead. ese masks are also helpful for those with long hair, as the elastics can be comfortably tied around a bun or ponytail. But Lia reminds us that it’s not just tting masks that can interfere with hearing aids. It’s worth being mindful where you remove them, too. She suggests removing masks in a safe location so, should your hearing aids fall, they won’t be easily lost or damaged. Lia’s best tip for those using regular masks?

Place the string of the mask between the hearing aid and the ear. When you remove the mask, slide the string down against the ear so it doesn’t pull the hearing aid out with it.

care to Lia means patiently guiding people towards better hearing, and empowering them with their hearing aid use. “I love it when I see hearing aid wearers in social gatherings enjoy being part of conversations. eir con dent smiles and selfassured nods signal hearing aid success to me.”

With New Zealanders bouncing back from an isolating couple of years, getting social again with family and friends is more important than ever. If you’re concerned about your hearing or that of a loved one, come in to see Lia for a chat. If you do need help with your hearing, Lia will talk you through the a ordable hearing aid options that attracted her to Specsavers. “When I saw their pricing online, I thought it would be nice for my clients to have better featured hearing aids from Specsavers, and still get change to spend on other things that will increase their level of happiness.” Book a free 15-minute hearing check with Lia now online at specsavers. co.nz/hearing or in store.

Specsavers Audiology, Masterton

Shop 2/217 Queen Street 06 370 1412

Extra

Art works to Martinborough

Aratoi is Wairarapa’s Museum of Art and History and as such endeavours to represent artists in the region and provide accessible experiences for the whole Wairarapa community.

That is why Aratoi is bringing the prizewinning works from the New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Wairarapa Art Review to Martinborough’s Schmid Gallery for a month from February 18th.

The gallery, in the Station House building in Kitchener Street, displays the work of New Zealand artists and jewellers, especially from Wairarapa. On a recent visit to the gallery, I was intrigued by Howie Griffin’s tableau Treaty of Waitangi, a unique depiction of the signing, and by Rebekah Farr’s tiny graphite and wax landscapes.

Sandra Schmid, who owns the gallery, is herself an artist, creating distinctive jewellery at a bench tucked unobtrusively into one corner of the gallery.

She has won many awards for her jewellery and has been exhibited widely in many countries including Italy, China, Melbourne and throughout New Zealand.

Sandra works on commission as well, designing and making bespoke pieces, including wedding rings. To make the rings quite special, she often casts them in soil from the places the couples come from.

The seven works from Aratoi are diverse. Jason Burns, the Rosewood Premier Award winner, makes a bold statement with his large painting Submarine Head, as does Hélène Carroll in her Where Do We Come From which won the Rigg Zschokke Highly Commended prize.

The Pete Nikolaison Photography winner, Lisa Nelson, has captured the beauty of Hyacinths in her photograph and with her linocut Urban View Reduction, Jo Lysaght deservedly won the ConArt Emerging Artist award.

Three quite different works make up the last three of the group. Harry Watson, winner of the Jane Hyder Portrait Award, uses video as the medium in his Portrait of the Artist as a Grumpy Fuck, while Leah Creaven’s Rapa Rising is a rug tufted piece which won the Gwen Saunders Exciting Use of Colour Award. The Hillview Property 3D Award was won by Carolina VargasGonzalez with Break the Chain, a grouping of various ceramic vessels and a chain, which together convey a powerful message.

The prizewinning works will be hung on rotation over the month and will be for sale at the gallery, if not already sold during their time at Aratoi.

Sandra Schmid at her gallery workbench. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Connelly throws his hat in the ring

EMILY IRELAND

emily.ireland@age.co.nz

Greytown’s Martin Connelly has announced his intention to contend the mayoralty of South Wairarapa at this year’s local body elections.

Appalled by the council’s “budget blowouts and fractious relationships”, his goal is to restore public trust in the council.

To restore trust, “we need change, and that change starts at the top,” he said.

Connelly grew up on a Canterbury high-country sheep station but now lived in Greytown.

Before moving into senior public sector roles, he began his working career as a teacher.

With expertise in policy development and fiscal management, he wanted to focus on “leading the council back to the heart of its role: serving its community effectively”.

“I want South Wairarapa to be a region where people want to come to work and live,” he said.

“The best way to do that is to start by looking after those who are already here while carefully planning for what our communities will need in the future.”

In his public statement, he listed his accomplishments as representing New Zealand at the OECD, receiving the Prime Minister’s Prize for Public Policy in 1998, and holding the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel.

He was currently the president of the South Wairarapa Bridge Club, was a keen photographer, and enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.

He said there were many opportunities to strengthen and grow South Wairarapa and said the community had “great ideas about what is needed, and where”.

“It’s the mayor’s job to listen to the people and make these things happen, not to get bogged down in pet projects and petty quarrels.”

Rates increases were a key issue for Connelly.

“The increase of 30 per cent – double what was indicated in the Long-Term Plan – has put intolerable pressure on many of South Wairarapa’s residents, especially those on low and fixed incomes.

“We risk becoming a region where many people are forced to decide between paying their rates or their power bill.

“Rates increased by double what was promised in the Long-Term Plan, but our communities have little to show for it other than financial stress and three very costly barbecues at our public swimming pools.”

His immediate three priorities would be “undoing the 30 per cent rates rise, putting an end to excessive spending, and making sure the council consults communities before doing things that affect or annoy them”.

He said democratic representation and local engagement would improve when the council worked effectively with the three community boards and the Maori Standing Committee.

“The communities of South Wairarapa shouldn’t have to tolerate broken promises, bullying, and blatant disregard from the very people elected to represent them.

Connelly was the first person to publicly announce his intentions to contend a mayoralty in Wairarapa.

Candidate nominations would open on July 15.

Voting would open on September 16 and close on October 8.

Final results would be announced on October 14.

Martin Connelly of Greytown has con rmed his intention to stand for Mayor of South Wairarapa District Council. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

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Does this sound like you? y property is fully fenced y at least one door is accessible by visitors without encountering the dog y dog is de-sexed and microchipped y registration has been paid on time for two years y dog has not been the subject of a substantiated complaint in the previous two years. If the answer is yes, you may be eligible for our responsible dog owner status, saving you 25 per cent off your dog registration fee. An application fee of $20 (non refundable) applies, and you can apply via the website or at the Queen Street Office. Applications close 31 March. Note: some dogs, including rural, menacing by deed, or dangerous dogs are not eligible. Further details available at: www.mstn.govt.nz