Wairarapa Midweek Wed 19th July

The WOW factor

Featherston’s Taralee Freeman, along with her Wellington-based co-designers, is a finalist in the World of Wearable Arts Show for the fourth time. Full story

Event

Got the tingles

A

Best foot forward

Panning the playlists

When it comes to the best and worst songs of all time, it seems everyone has an opinion. What popular tunes would you be happy never to hear again? Editorial P12.

Success built in a ‘myriad of ways’

offered the chance to sit their learners, restricted or full driving licence with ongoing support from REAP staff.

A REAP Wairarapa programme aimed at helping at-risk rangatahi “realise their potential” is achieving success in Masterton.

Ngā Pūmanawa Tūpuna [NPT], which means “to embrace the skills and talents of our ancestors”, is a tikanga-based work readiness programme targeted at 16- to 24-yearolds who are not in employment, education or training [NEETs].

NPT aims to reduce the number of existing NEETs, and preventing at-risk rangatahi [young people] becoming NEET in the first place – by working with youth to find pathways into sustainable employment and higher education, and teaching the skills needed for success in the workplace.

The programme, which has been running for the past 18 months, has a particular focus on engaging young Māori.

Masterton is home to many vulnerable Māori youth who feel disengaged from their community, the programme’s team leader Ricky Dey said.

“We strive to help young

people feel believed and part of a community, connect back to their culture, their value, whānau and whenua, so they feel important.”

Adopting a tikangabased approach includes kaiarahi [staff ] sharing values that reflect a Māori “way of being” for working with rangatahi: Such as showing genuine care for young people and their futures, believing all young people have the capacity for greatness, and being personally resilient.

“These values form part of the core business of the programme. In essence, they define who we want to be and how we want to be as a group,” Dey said.

NPT participants are also taught about local and personal whakapapa, learn basic te reo Māori, and practice kawa, or protocols, including karakia, mihimihi, waiata, whakatapu and whakanoa [the processes of making something sacred or common].

The tikanga-based

approach helps to meet the core human needs of at-risk Māori youth, Dey said.

“When Māori youth feel welcomed, valued, safe in their own culture, have a relational sense of belonging, and know they will be cared for holistically, they are more likely to engage in and be successful in the desired learning.”

The programme has had multiple successes, Dey said.

“One rangatahi was

offered a position at the New Zealand Film School – where they went on to finish in the top 10 per cent of their class and find employment within the film and television industry.”

For another student, NPT is helping them realise their goal of becoming a marine biologist.

About one-third of NPT’s rangatahi leave the programme to achieve full or part-time employment, and all are

Hoop programme scores a slam dunk

Jane Tiley, who said she had to turn away kids as numbers were capped.

Young Wairarapa basketballers spent their school holidays shooting hoops at the Mahi Tahi Basketball Camp [MTBC], at the St Matthew’s Collegiate gym last week.

The camp ran over two days, with 32 eager primary and intermediate school kids turning up on day one.

The holiday programme was run by

“Some kids go over to Wellington for camps, so I thought maybe it’d be a good time to start it up here.

“It’s turned into something bigger than I thought it would be.”

Year 12 Wairarapa College student and Senior A basketball player

Tohi Valakvijellie lent Tiley a helping hand at the camp.

Valakvijellie is no stranger to coaching the

region’s next up-andcoming players, as he coaches WaiCol’s Junior B Basketball team.

Tiley said MTBC was built on four core values: Belonging and relationships

[whanaungatanga], compassion and empathy [aroha], togetherness and unity [kotahitanga] and respect [manaakitanga].

Subway and McDonald’s generously donated vouchers, which

went towards prizes for the young players. Plans for more basketball camps will depend on demand, but Tiley has high hopes the camp will continue to run during school holidays.

But success at NPT is not just measured by employment offers.

“We see successes occur in a myriad of ways,” Dey said.

“This may be a young person getting out of bed, choosing to come to the course instead of isolating themselves and making unhealthy choices.”

One male student, 19, part of this year’s NPT cohort, said the programme helped him become more motivated and self-aware.

“I manage my time better now that I have to get up early to attend the programme. Otherwise, I’ll miss it, and I won’t be happy because I enjoy it,” he said.

NPT is also fostering powerful friendships amongst attendees.

“Watching them find these connections highlights how being in a group environment can affect self-esteem and connection to a wider community,” Dey said. • For more information, visit https://www. reapwairarapa.nz/ nga-pumanawatupuna/

Correction

In last week’s Midweek, we incorrectly attributed the Conservation K°rero column [page 18] to Katie Abbott. The column was, in fact, written by Ali Mackisack. Also, the photo of the Pingao seedlings [below] was taken by Jane Lenting. We apologise for the errors.

P˜ngao seedlings.

Indila Holani and Lucy Cooper news@age.co.nz

The ÿ rst day of the Mahi Tahi Basketball Camp attracted over 30 keen youngsters.

PHOTO/REBECCA KING

Rebecca King Rebecca.king@age.co.nz

Students and kaiarahi from the 2022 cohort of Ng° P˛manawa T˛puna volunteer at the Wairarapa Community Kitchen.

PHOTO/FILE

Doodle leads to WOW

Erin Kavanagh-Hall

What started as a “little squiggle on paper” has propelled a Wairarapa artist onto one of the world’s most prestigious and colourful fashion stages.

Featherston local Taralee Freeman and her Wellington-based codesigners Marie Wright and Zach McDonald-Wright were among the 15 design teams from the Wellington region chosen as finalists for the 2023 World of Wearable Art Awards Show [WOW], beginning on September 20.

A total of 120 artists representing 23 countries were selected for this year’s competition – now in contention for a prize pool of more than $185,000 across six categories. The event will also feature the annual WOW showcase: Combining dance, aerial performance and lighting effects with outfits made with everything from synthetic hair, to Barbie dolls, to drone waste.

Freeman will be representing Wairarapa for the fourth time at WOW – with her design team selected for the 2017, 2019 and 2022 events.

Last year, the team entered “Gloriana”: A stunning 16th-century gown, comprised of unconventional materials – tissue paper, building underlay, leather EVA foam, and second-hand jewellery – to create the illusion of fabric and metal. “Gloriana”, for which Freeman was the lead designer, was awarded second prize in the Elizabethan section, one of the most hotly contested categories.

Freeman’s team has two entries selected for this year’s WOW – one of which, she said, was the result of an impromptu doodling session. She was tight-lipped about the appearance of said garment [the final version must stay under wraps until the show], but did give a

few hints as to its humble beginnings and avantgrade construction.

“The inspiration came from a little symbol I scribbled down on paper one day. It was basically a squiggle that looked like a teardrop and a question mark,” Freeman said.

“I showed Marie, and she said, ‘I actually really like that’, and it went from there.

“I can’t say too much – but we’ve used a lot of materials you wouldn’t normally think of for clothes. We haven’t used much fabric, but we’ve got a few things builders use.

“We’ve taken elements of what we’ve learned from Gloriana, and have pushed those even further. We’ve gone the whole hog.”

Freeman, a tutor at Featherston’s Fareham Creative Space, said she has been an artist “all [her] life”, and mostly specialises in assemblage sculpture, using found objects

Fashion design had previously never crossed her mind, until she befriended Wellingtonbased Wright – who invited Freeman to collaborate with her and her son McDonald-Wright on their 2017 WOW entry. Their piece, “Theodore”, made from fabric, orange peel and horse hair, was a finalist in the science fiction category.

“We’ve been a team ever since,” Freeman said.

“We work together cohesively – the aim is for our work to look as if one person created it. It’s like when you mix primary colours together [to create new colours] – you can’t have one without the other. It’s a real blessing when you find that.”

However, all team members have different strengths – with Freeman’s sculpting abilities ideal for creating optical illusions. For example, the metallic details on Gloriana were created from tissue paper.

“It was cool to take something soft and gentle, and transform it into a metal that’s hard and heavy. It looked like a big statue. That’s where the artist’s brain comes in – being open to experimenting and bending reality a bit.”

Freeman said creating a piece of WOW calibre can be an involved process –

Exploring choice and day services

Wairarapa’s branch of People First New Zealand is facilitating a meeting to discuss day services for the region’s disabled community.

People First [Nga Tanagata Tuatahi] encourages and supports people with learning [intellectual] disability to communicate what matters in their lives and advocate for their rights as New Zealand citizens.

Stearne and People

First in Masterton next Wednesday.

Stearne would be looking for advice on “how things should change to build more inclusive communities”, Ryan said.

there are usually at least six to 12 months between concept to completion.

“There’s hours and hours of work that goes into it. Our design for this year, for example, involved a lot of embossing – all done by hand.

“There’s some trial and error. You come up with little swatches that might work well, piece them together and give them a test run. Eventually, you hit that sweet spot and run with it.

Freeman said receiving an award last year was a “surreal” experience.

“I didn’t realise we’d won. I was clapping and thinking, ‘wow, those people did well.’ And then someone sitting near us was like, ‘that’s you!’ It didn’t sink in for a while.” • WOW runs from September 20 to October 8 at TSB Arena in Wellington. Winners will be announced on September 22.

The organisation is working with Whaikaha [Ministry of Disabled People] to consult on a national project called My Time My Choice. The project concerns disabled people having choice and control over how and where they spend their time, who they spend it with and who assists them, People First’s Wairarapa-based national funding and project manager Sandy Ryan said.

“For many people with a learning disability, they would have spent their weekdays in a day base often run by their residential service provider, ” Ryan said.

“With the closure of the day bases in many places, including Wairarapa, Whaikaha –working with consultant Claire Stearne – would like to understand how disabled people view day services.”

Members of the public are invited to attend a meeting with

Last week, Ryan visited Masterton community spaces Mahi Tahi Tātou Trust, King Street Artworks and Come Sew with Me, to gather input on the project.

However, the consultation needed involvement from people and whānau in other parts of Wairarapa, she said.

People First delivers a range of services to encourage a more inclusive society for people with learning disability, based on the rights of disabled people. These include the Easy Read Service, which uses clear language with images to present complex information in a way that’s easier for members to understand.

There are 41 People

First groups in six regions of New Zealand, with about 800 members.

• The public meeting will take place at the Rangitumau Room of REAP House, 340 Queen St, Masterton, on Wednesday, July 26, at 1 pm. Afternoon tea provided.

Taralee Freeman [right] with her co-workers Marie Wright and Zach-McDonald-Wright.

PHOTO/FILE

Sandy Ryan, funding and project manager, People First NZ.

PHOTO/FILE

erin.kavanagh-hall@age.co.nz

“Gloriana” – the prize-winning entry from Taralee Freeman’s design team at last year’s WOW. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

Upcycling with a smile

Bella Cleary bella.cleary@age.co.nz

The Wairarapa Resource Centre has a new star worker.

James Haeata, 32, was new to the region – and didn’t have much of a foundation in the area until he started working at the Masterton second hand store three months ago.

Now Haeata, who has special needs, works with centre volunteer Maree Hutchby to upcycle old t-shirts into garden ties and bags to be sold.

Inundated with donations of t-shirts, Hutchby said the centre wanted to come up with something to avoid sending them to landfill.

“We’re doing a bit of recycling, and it’s all about the t-shirt,” she said.

“This all would have gone to the landfill, and these ties would have been otherwise thrown out.”

The ties Hutchby refers to are balls of fabric made from strips cut from the spare t-shirts and used in the garden to prop up plants.

Hutchby, who has been volunteering with the centre for six months, said Haeata is “picking up new skills and settling in well”.

“When I leave for the

day, I just leave James a project like this, and he’s good as gold.”

Haeata has nothing but praises to sing about his new workplace.

“I like socialising, and the people here are very nice,” he said.

“I love it here –everyone is kind to me, and I just love the team.”

Centre manager Trudie Jones said that Haeata has “settled right in” after relocating to the region to live with his niece.

“He’s excellent,” she said.

“His family have noticed an immense change in his persona, happiness, sense of purpose, and looking forward to doing something each day.”

Jones has also helped Haeata map out a route to the local gym, so he can now make his own way there after his shift at the centre.

“I just pointed out landmarks and signs to him the first few times we went there – now he’s good to go there on his own,” she said.

“We take the time to

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.

READER PHOTO

make their life happier because there aren’t agencies out there prepared to do that anymore.”

Jones said she knows the value of having a routine and the importance of a supportive work team.

“You should have seen his eyes when we gave him a work sweatshirt – he was so happy to be part of the team,” Jones said.

“It’s the community, it’s people to have morning tea with, it’s having a space somewhere.”

Reader Jill sent in this beautiful photo, taken at sunrise on Upper Manaia Road. Once again, Wairarapa has the best skies. Though the sheep, of course, are oblivious...

PHOTO/JILL SIMPSON

James Haeata, new “star worker” at the Wairarapa Resource Centre, works on making bags and garden ties out of donated T-shirts.

PHOTO/BELLA CLEARY

Add the juice of a colourful story

Add the juice of a colourful story

Continued from page 1

Another of her recipe books, Cakes and Corsets, carries an intriguing blurb: “You wouldn’t know there are vegetables in my cakes, like you wouldn’t know I was wearing a corset, unless I told you. So, during the covid-19 lockdown period in New Zealand, I decided to combine the two and came up with Cakes & Corsets. I painted corsets inspired by the vegetables in my cakes.”

An old girl of St Matthew’s Collegiate in Masterton, as a teenager Barker lived with her parents and sister in motels, while a house they bought in Lincoln Rd was moved to rural Carterton and pieced back together.

“I enjoyed school but was restless and just wanted to travel,” she said. She answered an ad in the Times-Age for a golf caddie in Japan and got the job – sticking with it for two months despite “hating golf, but it was good money”.

She moved on to work in England and Scotland, before being caught as an overstayer trying to reenter the UK after travels in India and Europe.

“I was taken in a paddy wagon to a detention

centre and spent one night there, before being put on a plane to New Zealand.”

Barker has studied different art forms and worked in the areas of aromatherapy, reflexology, and clinical nutrition.

A diagnosis of arthritis meant a change in perspective and goals, with Barker focusing on writing, illustrating and formatting her fiction and recipe books from the comfort of her kitchen.

“I like thrillers,” she said. “And have many ideas for books with

different genres. The romantic suspense genre excites me the most.”

Her cookbooks reflect her knowledge as a nutritionist, with creations such as purple corn biscuits, pea cupcakes, pumpkin-seed fudge slice, and yam cupcakes.

“For my recipe books, I get inspiration by researching superfoods

and thinking about how I can put them in a cake.” And Barker’s worlds of cake, romance and art are often folded into each other to create a velvety mix. Her Seduced by Cake trilogy is for sale on Smashwords, a global e-book retailer. The first book tells the story of Scarlet and her boyfriend Matt, who don’t have the money for a deposit on a

house, so the seduction of the new dentist in town is required.

Current projects include romantic-suspense fiction in which people from history meet fairytale characters – which Barker describes as “Jack the Ripper and Sweeney Todd meet Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella”.

“I do take artistic licence,” she said.

She’s also compiling a recipe book of steamed cakes: “I’m happy to help people save electricity by steaming cakes on the fire, instead of turning on the oven.”

Jo-Anne Barker’s books can be found on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords. Orders can be made via email at nutritiondonenaturally@ gmail.com

Barker’s Cakes and Corsets book is illustrated by her own paintings of the garments - in this case a ‘pumpkin-inspired corset’.

One of Masterton author Jo-Anne Barker’s book covers from her Seduced by Cake trilogy.

Masterton

A red corset inspired by sweet potatoes. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

That ‘tingling’ skin

Rebecca King rebecca.king@age.co.nz

A one-night-only performance based around the internet phenomenon of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response [ASMR] is coming to Masterton.

RAW! ASMR, a onewoman comedy show by Wellington-based artist Amy Atkins, will be held at the Majestic Theatre this weekend.

ASMR is a scientifically recognised ‘tingling’ sensation when someone hears whispering, tapping, eating or drinking, or gets the feeling of tracing a finger over their back.

Things that cause ASMR are called ‘triggers’.

This strange phenomenon has become a worldwide fascination,

where audio ASMR on YouTube is perhaps the most well-known and beloved way to trigger the tingles we get throughout our bodies.

Atkins, who has performed her show at the Auckland Fringe Festival and BATS Theatre in Wellington, said she had “always known” about the tingling skin sensation since childhood, but only discovered the word ASMR in 2018.

“It had already been thriving on YouTube for 10 years, and it’s still thriving with new ASMR artists – or ASMRitsts as they call themselves.

“I watched a bit of it but found it a bit weird – but my friend told me in 2020 about some ASMR

another look, and I found some stuff was actually quite soothing.”

Atkins said she often uses ASMR as white noise when working, just noises of tapping – where she sometimes gets the ASMR sensation, and sometimes she doesn’t.

RAW! ASMR is a family-friendly show: A celebration and a slightly satirical poke at the YouTube ASMR craze, Atkins said.

The name RAW! ASMR refers to all the props used in the show being fruit and vegetables – a contrast to the ASMR eating trend on YouTube and

everything a fruit and vegetable.”

Atkins also referred to the show’s name as wild and “rough around the edges”.

“We delve into the medical ASMR videos. There’s a doctor’s and optometrist appointment in the show, which is like a little satirical take on the ASMR version of those appointments.

“You don’t have to know what ASMR is to enjoy the show, and you don’t even have to like ASMR to enjoy the show.”

If you like satirical and surreal comedy, you are sure to have “a fun time”, Atkins said.

The Masterton performance of RAW! ASMR will be held on Saturday, 22 July, at 7pm. Tickets are available at eventfinda.co.nz

Legs eleven ... Roger that!

For the members of the Wairarapa Radio And Zello Enthusiasts [WRAZE] Network, everything is possible with an old-school Ham Radio – including a round of bingo.

At WRAZE’s recent club night, member Rose Campbell [pictured] was presented with the WRAZE Bingo Net Shield: The supreme award for the club’s annual on-air bingo tournament. Over 12 weeks, WRAZE members connect via amateur radio to play the popular pub game of chance – with the winner crowned Autumn Seasonal Bingo Net Champion.

Wellington-based comedienne Amy Atkins will perform her one-woman show RAW! ASMR in Masterton this weekend.

The shield was one of several prizes presented at the club night. The Longest QSO Award went to Matthew Campbell, whose exchange with his Australian radio contact

lasted 21 minutes. Brian Hart, Matthew Campbell, Josie Howells and Casey Shackleton received Echo Awards for making their first contact with a national or international radio user. Kudos Awards for amateur radio skills went to Ian Real, Josie Howells, Matthew Campbell and Rose Campbell. WRAZE is a community programme, where members can learn amateur radio concepts and procedures in a safe environment, and eventually connect with fellow operators around the world. The group offers two meetings a week, a threemonthly BBQ club night, and multiple competitions. • For further information, contact net admin Shaun Evans on 06 377 5064 or skawevans@ hotmail.com

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

WINTER IN THE GARDEN

PROTECT YOUR GARDEN WITH WALLY’S GARDEN PRODUCTS

Have you noticed the changes we’ve made inside our shop? Not only have we moved things around, we’ve reduced our range of garden care products to keep it simpler for our customers, keeping the ones we know, like and trust. Lots of these fertilisers, sprays and tonics are from well known brands (ie Yates), but not everyone is aware of our special section we have for ‘Wally’s’. These products are supplied by Wally Richard’s - nicknamed the ‘gardening guru from Manawatu’. Wally’s products are well worth a look - often o° ering a natural alternative to garden care, and a lot of research has gone into what he endorses. Here’s a few examples to give you an idea, but there’s more in store.

RAINGARD

Have you ever sprayed your garden for weeds, pests or diseases, and then a couple of hours later a shower of rain comes through and washes it all away? If you use a product such as Raingard this won’t be a problem because it is a rainproofer, sticker and spreader, giving rain protection for 14 days, saving you time and money. Raingard is a natural biodegradable terpenic polymer, made from Pine Resin.

MAGIC BOTANIC LIQUID

MBL is a fascinating product that all gardeners should always have on hand, there are numerous beneÿ ts and uses. What it is; the uses; and the beneÿ ts are truly remarkable!

Here are some brief points to give you an idea, but if you can have a search on the internet and read the detailed information I have no doubt you’ll understand how good it actually is for the garden. Magic Botanic Liquid:

 Contains Humate & Fulvic Acids (this itself is fascinating to read about);

 Helps unlock chemicals in the soil;

 Puts essential minerals and elements back into the soil;

 Boosts soil & plant health, increasing the health beneÿ ts of your edibles;

 Increases seed germination and root development;

 Cleans up numerous toxins in the soil;

 Stimulates micro organisms in the soil

 Contains silica which strengthens cell walls + much more!

VAPORGARD

It’s likely you’ve heard of this one, we often advertise it, especially in winter. Basically, Vaporgard is a ‘liquid frost cloth’, putting a protective ÿ lm over plant foliage to protect it from numerous things, including the cold

We are what we eat, but what are we eating?

We all know fruit & veggies are good for us, but not everyone knows that often the ‘fresh’ produce we buy from stores are severely lacking in vitamins & minerals. This is largely due to the depleted goodness in the soil they’re grown in. Growing your own food, and increasing the goodness of that food by adding products such as ‘Magic Botanic Liquid’ is the best way to give your body exactly what it needs to thrive.

freezing plant cells. Vaporgard is a must have for cold tender plants that could be exposed to the elements (passionfruit, young tender citrus), and has numerous other beneÿ ts also.

SILICON & BORON SOIL DRENCH

If you have grown garlic before, you may be aware that a few years ago rust became a problem in many home gardens. When plants get rust on the foliage, it stops the sun getting through, resulting in unhealthy plants with stunted bulb growth.

Another issue many gardeners have faced is the psyllid bug on potatoes, tomatoes and tamarillos. This can cause utter destruction, killing entire crops. There have been products available to try and help with these problems, but Wally Richard’s has discovered something remarkable, plants that are provided with adequate amounts of silicon & boron from an early stage of growth have the potential to grow with enough strength to ÿ ght these problems.

For garlic Wally recommends drenching the soil with his Silicon & Boron Drench when the cloves have sprouted, then again 2 weeks later. For better results weekly spraying with a cell strengthener, super spreader & MBL is also a good idea. For more information, including how to treat for psyllid, check out Wally’s website.

LILY BULBS ARE FLYING OUT THE DOOR!

If you plant a mixture of both Asiatics (from Asia) & Orientals (from Japan) then you will have a beautiful display over a long season. Orientals come into bloom just as the Asiatics are fading. Asiatic lilies are very hardy, but sadly they don’t have the strong fragrance that the taller Orientals have. Come and choose your favourites as soon as you can, beautiful bulbs never last long.

DON’T FORGET!

Peaches and Nectarines need to have a Winter Cleanup Spray to protect them from diseases such as Leaf Curl. This must be done NOW to target overwintering pests and diseases. If you leave it too long there will be very little you can do to to help your tree when deformed foliage emerges in spring. Come and see our friendly team for more advice.

WINTER PRUNING

HYDRANGEAS: The best time to prune mophead & lacecap types is early winter, and paniculata types late winter or early spring. We have a quick and easy to follow video about this on our Facebook page FRUIT TREES: Apples, pears & apricots can be pruned each winter. Grapes can be pruned back to 3-5 buds and their new branches or canes trained to shape. Some berryfruit (boysenberries, blackberries) can be pruned back hard in winter.

FATTEN UP THE BIRDS THIS WINTER

Made of high quality vegetable fat these cakes will give wild birds an immediate boost of energy.

BIRD BISTRO

Fill with wild bird seed and before long you’ll have numerous feathered friends calling your place home.

ROSES: The weather has been quite mild, so there is no rush to prune your roses, but it’s something to keep in mind over the next few weeks.

Just recently Wally has started doing fortnightly talks on Reality Check Radio with host Rodney Hide. These gardening chats are very informative, and are a great way to learn what’s going on in the garden. You can ÿ nd these shows online at: https://realitycheck.radio/ wallyrichards-grow-your-gardeninggame

This specialist feeder will encourage tuis, bellbirds & waxeyes, and keep them sustained when there isn’t a lot of food around for them.

It’s worthwhile investing in good quality pruning tools and important to keep them clean and sharp.

FRANCESSA LA Hybrids

WHITE HEAVEN Christmas Lily

TOP FLITE ENERGY CAKE

TUI WILD BIRD NECTAR FEEDER

LEMBERG

REGALE Christmas Lily

An ultimate waterskiing championship title, a spot in the New Zealand Muay Thai team, and a TimesAge sports award for the mantlepiece – it’s been a big year for the Carterton sportswoman who can, literally, walk on water.

Sarah Linton was named Senior Sportswoman of the Year at last month’s Wairarapa TimesAge Sports Awards –impressing the judging panel and voting public with her achievements on the water and in the fighting ring.

Linton working feet and fists Carterton

Linton, 29, is perhaps best known for her watersporting success: Having represented New Zealand in barefoot waterskiing, or “barefooting”, since her teen years and competing

at both the Oceania Waterski Championships and Barefoot World Championships since 2008.

At last year’s Oceania championship, held in New South Wales in November, she picked up two silver and three bronze medals, and gold in the firstever Women’s Ultimate Skiier event – combining barefooting, traditional waterskiing, wakeboarding and show skiing.

As if representing her country in one high-adrenaline sport isn’t enough: Linton is proficient in Muay Thai and boxing and competed at the International Federation of Muaythai Associations [IFMA] Senior World Championships in

Bangkok, Thailand, in May, as part of the New Zealand Blackgloves team. She has also recently emerged from a professional boxing match against seasoned champion Holly McMath, and a charity tournament for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Though she is clearly multi-talented, barefooting is Linton’s first love. As the name suggests, skiers compete barefoot while towed behind a motorboat – while standing on open water, without the support of skis or boards. Competitors move at break-neck speed, often while performing a series of tricks – from skiing backwards to spinning in mid-air – clearing jumps, or clocking up as many laps

as possible in under 30 seconds.

“You go very fast – I usually go about 45 miles an hour, or 72 km/h,” Linton said.

“The sensation of the water under your feet is really cool. It’s great when you’re teaching people barefooting for the first time – they say they love the feeling on their feet, and they’ve never experienced anything like it before. You are pretty much walking on the water.

“It doesn’t hurt your feet – except if you hit the boards while attempting a jump. And if you fall, it can be a bit like hitting concrete. So, you want to avoid that – otherwise you’ll feel it a few days later.”

Linton, who grew up in Greytown, first learned to waterski on the Ruamahanga River, near Kahutara, at age five. Her first teacher, and later coach, was her father, Ross Linton – a competitive waterskier in his youth and manager of the New Zealand barefooting team.

“Dad started competing again when I started –we’ve gone up against each other in a few events. It’s allowed us to spend a lot of time together – hanging out down at the river and travelling all over the world.”

Linton began competing at the national level in 2007 at age 14, and progressed to her first international event, the Oceania championships,

Creative

the following year. She progressed to the Barefoot World Championships shortly afterwards, and has since competed “all over the show”: South Korea, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

In her most recent world championship, in February, Linton placed sixth overall in the Over 17 Open category, finishing fifth in the women’s jump round, sixth in tricks, and seventh in slalom.

In the jump round, she narrowly missed out on a place in the final – with the fourth spot having to be determined by a “jump-off” between Linton and Dutch competitor Kimberly Smit.

“That was the closest I’d been to a worlds final, so it was pretty exciting. I only missed out by about 20cm.”

Linton said the tricks round, where skiers have to perform as many “stunts” as possible in two 15-second blocks, would be her “most consistent” disciple. Tricks can include skiing on one foot, switching between sitting and standing, turning backwards, 360-degree tumble turns, or holding on by your feet to the tow rope.”

Linton is now training at SMAC Featherston for her next professional boxing match in August. She will begin training for the waterskiing season in September – with the next World Championships in Mexico early next year.

Sarah Linton competes in the slalom event in the recent Barefoot World Championships.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Linton [left] takes on Auckland professional boxer Holly McMath in the boxing ring.

PHOTO/FILE

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

Sarah Linton, Senior Sportswoman of the Year, with award sponsor Maryanne Monastra of Back in Action, at the Wairarapa Times-Age Sports Awards.

PHOTO/PETE NIKOLAISON

Tim Nelson Stella Lennox Paul Sayers

Chinese tea

Panning the playlists

Recently, one of my good mates shared a link on Facebook: “23 songs that should be erased from music history.”

The article, from Spanish newspaper El Pais, collated the opinions of 23 music journalists on the songs “by talented artists with millions of followers” they would be happy never to hear again. Either because “we’ve heard them too much, time has devalued them, or their message is grating”.

In my younger days as a proud music snob, this was one of the favourite topics of conversation among my social circle. Which songs/ bands/artists, beloved by our less sonically astute peers, were

Erin Kavanagh-Hall

thus unforgivable crimes against the hallowed institution of music. Should anyone disagree, cue the shouting matches. Our music taste was inextricable from our identity, and any slight against our iTunes playlist was blasphemy in the extreme.

These days, I’ve mellowed. My playlists now contain everything from Leonard Cohen, to Dolly Parton, to Rihanna’s “B**** Better Have My Money”. Variety is the spice of life. Still, it’s fun to wade into the occasional rock n roll donnybrook. Nothing gets the internet riled up like “overrated” popular musicians.

So – what songs should be scrubbed from musical canon?

Top of the list was Hotel California by The Eagles – which the “experts” agreed was

“bland” and “unoriginal”. I mean…it’s decent. A biting commentary on consumerism, with a weirdly intoxicating sense of foreboding and some nice guitar licks. It is, however, overplayed – a recent report from a US consultancy firm found the 1976 ditty was played on American radio stations once every 11 minutes.

Scientists have some interesting observations about overplayed songs. According to psychologist Dr Michael Bonshor, the more complex a song, the more likely its longevity – despite initial overexposure. Take Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody: “Its longstanding popularity may be explained by its layers of harmonic, rhythmic and vocal complexity. Over 40 years later, it is still considered one of the most influential

songs in recent history.”

The team at El Pais, however, disagreed.

“Bohemian Rhapsody is a pretentious nuisance in the form of operatic rock…camp and bombastic artifice without any content.” Ouch.

Speaking of British rock royalty, two Beatles songs were included: Run For Your Life and Lady Madonna. The former begins with “I’d rather see you dead, little girl, than be with another man” — sung over a deceptively upbeat chord progression. Not okay, in any decade. The latter, by contrast, is a shrewd commentary on the domestic drudgery of modern life — which mostly, let’s be honest, falls to women. Paul McCartney gets it — thanks, mate.

Not many women made the final 23 — though Someone Like You by Adele was thoroughly panned. “Adele, the gentlemen you’re crying for don’t deserve it. And neither do we,” scolded the journo.

Little harsh. How many over-wrought, break up songs are produced by men without anyone batting an eyelid? Blood on the Tracks, one my favourite albums, is basically Bob Dylan whinging away

about his divorce. God forbid a woman does the same.

What, as a former music snob, would I want scrubbed from existence? Anything by Pearl Jam. Perfectly competent…just dull. And dredges up memories of University — crammed into overcrowded, sticky bars, unrequited longing glances across the dance floor and, eventually, huddled up alone in the back of a cab. So dramatic. I could make an album.

Honestly? It’s all just opinion. My music taste is individual to me. Based on my own preferences, life experiences, and associations. Like I’ve said before — it’s a tough old world and people should be free to like what they like. So, if we’re roasting “overrated” music, play the ball not the fan, yeah?

In summation: Overplaying songs can be dangerous, Queen is wonderfully camp, the Beatles wrote great and terrible songs, women have the right to whiny break-up anthems, and University was just awkward. And if you think a song should be erased from musical history? Good news — you can turn it off.

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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.

CUTIE OF THE WEEK

As a child, I spent a lot of time… Writing and reading books. My friends and loved ones always say I am… Always knitting.

The famous New Zealander [living or dead] I’d like to have a meal with is…

Billy T. James. I brie˜ y met him after one of his shows when I was about 10 years old, and was taken aback by how humble he was. The most delicious ice cream ˜ avour is… I don’t really eat ice cream. If I had to choose, it would be the pistachio ice cream I tried in Italy.

I would love more time to… Write books.

My favourite local shop is…

Vinnies in Carterton. The family member is most admire is… There were a lot of eccentric, creative people in my family – but they are all dead.

A song I know all the words to is… You’re the Devil in Disguise, by Elvis Presley. Wairarapa needs… More music and art venues, and no 5G. The best accompaniment for a cup of co° ee or tea is…

One of my chocolate cakes – made with healthy ingredients and completely sugar-free.

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.

KAHUTARA SCHOOL

Jo-Anne Barker, romance novelist, food writer and nutritionist CELEBRATIONS

125 TH BOOK THE DATE

LABOUR WEEKEND 2023

Friday 20 to Sunday 22 October

Expressions of interest and further information: P School Of ce (9am - 3pm) 06 308 8427

Reader Andrea sent in this adorable photo of grandson Archie O’Neale [4], taken at Palliser Bay after a family ÿ shing trip. Archie caught his ÿ rst sardine – and

Garden Fiesta

Proudly

E celebration@kahutara.school.nz FOR

SatURDAY 19 AugUST 2023

A festival of all things gardening –from plants to produce and everything in between. Indoor

PHOTO/JULIA MAHONY

looks justiÿ ably proud of himself! Archie lives in Featherston with parents Max and Kyra – and grandparents and great-grandparents just around the corner.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Trees with eyes watch with hope

Jenny Keate’s exhibition Looking Sideways opens this week in the Windows Gallery. The exhibition title - Looking Sideways - is derived from two possible meanings of the word “rarapa”, one of which is ‘sideways’, and another is to glance.

These paintings tell a story of changing land use. They return to a past theme in New Zealand painting, the loss of the native forest, but from the perspective of renewal and regeneration.

ExtraWhereas painters of the past used the dead tree as a symbol of everything that had been lost, Keate has painted young trees to represent hope and renewal, and forest remnant trees as sentinels and survivors.

The first four [smallest] paintings are inspired by her time as an artist in residence at Barry Brickell’s Driving Creek, a pottery and regenerating kauri forest in the Coromandel.

Many of the trees at Driving Creek have ‘eyes’ on them; scars from fallen branches. The trees appear to be watching the human efforts with hope.

After the residency, Keate went searching for a Wairarapa eco-restoration project and found Mauri Oho, a wetland and riparian forest restoration project on a family-owned farm block at Ruamāhanga Farm on the banks of the Ruamāhanga River.

The Wairarapa paintings begin with “Closer to home”.

Mauri Oho are working with the community to restore pockets of riparian forest and wetland on their farm. The farm has an oxbough: a place where the river once flowed that now wants to be a wetland. The oxbough had been grazed

and was little more than a ditch but is now fenced and quickly reverting to a wetland.

These paintings draw on her visits to Ruamāhanga Farm, conversations with Mauri Oho, and

her experiences of taking part in community planting days at Ruamāhanga Farm and Wahinga Bush [alongside children from Featherston School].

• Jenny Keate- Looking Sideways

July 15-August 27

Nursery shares native plant profits

Rebecca King rebecca.king@age.co.nz

Wainuioru School and Community Nursery

[WSCN] volunteers have donated $40,000 to Wainuioru School.

WSCN chairwoman

Kelsey Shannon said the nursery started up as an incorporated society before beginning the process of becoming a registered charity.

“The money was always going to go back to the school,” Shannon said.

The organisation started when the Wainuioru Community River Care Group received government funding to establish a native plant nursery on the school premises.

Since then, the nursery has flourished into a

team of hardworking and dedicated people.

“What Kelsey has put in is remarkable; she’s worked tirelessly and selflessly in the nursery,” WSCN secretary Kate Toswill said.

“It wouldn’t be where it is without her, and all the time, effort, and energy that she has put in.”

The nursery has signed a contract with Akura Plant

Nursery, which supplies many of the plants to the Wairarapa planting programmes of Greater Wellington Regional Council [GWRC].

Shannon said the nursery grew 50,000 plants this year, selling 33,000 to the Wainunioru Community River Care Group.

The remaining plants were sold to farmers,

members of the public, and GWRC.

Shannon has hopes the money can go towards getting students involved with the nursery.

“We’ve done a few courses for other nurseries on site, but we’re really keen to get more involved with the kids.

“It’s just about finding the right person and time, and getting it written into

the curriculum,” Shannon said.

Wainuioru School principal Spencer Pallister said he is privileged to have a committed group of volunteers as part of the nursery and greatly appreciates the generous donation.

“We’re coming up with a plan with how we spend the money to provide a mixture of support for students,” Pallister said.

“We want to do a bit more of the outdoor learning, and things around the school that we can set up for the students, to have a mixture of indoor and outdoor learning.”

Pallister and Shannon are eager to have more volunteers join the team.

Wainuioru School and Community Nursery have generously donated $40,000 to Wainuioru School.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Jenny Keate, The visionary, 2023, acrylic on birch ply.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

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Masterton Trust Lands Trust

Annual report for the year ended 31 March 2023

Year in review

The 2023 nancial year saw the Trust mark its 150th anniversary and distribute a record $1.5 million in grants to the community.

Celebrating 150 years

Last winter we hosted a special event at Aratoi to celebrate 150 years of Masterton Trust Lands Trust. Re ecting on a century and a half of the Trust’s work, we paid tribute to the collective contribution of Trustees past and present.

We funded the year-long exhibition Masterton Museum: A Cabinet of Curiosities at Aratoi and published a history of the Trust tracing the last 25 years, Continuing Legacy by historian Gareth Winter.

Our 150th anniversary was a tting occasion to launch the Trust’s public arts initiative. Former chair Leanne Southey announced the Trust’s vision to brighten up Masterton, bringing art to the people by commissioning four murals on Trust-owned buildings. Headlined by distinctive stencil and aerosol artist FLOX – her colourful mural of huia and kōkako on Lincoln Road is now a striking addition to the CBD. We’ve since added a garden to complement the space.

This year, grants funding reached a new high with $1.5 million distributed to the community. Our grants programme re ects the Trust’s vision that learning is life-long and linked to community wellbeing. We supported education, arts and community initiatives for all ages throughout the Trust’s district.

Property

Masterton Trust Lands Trust has 90 tenants in properties across Masterton with rental income funding our grants programme. Occupancy remains strong at close to 100 percent despite some lingering e ects of the pandemic on the local economy.

We entered into an historic 99-year ground lease with Wellington Free Ambulance for approximately 2,500m2 on the corner of Russell and Queen streets. It’s a unique partnership for both organisations where land remains in community ownership and Wellington Free Ambulance enjoys long-term security of tenure.

The site will house a new state-of-the-art ambulance station due for completion in 2024. It will accommodate 30+ emergency response crew including paramedics, patient transfer o cers and rescue squad members who serve the community. Should a natural disaster strike Wairarapa, the station can operate as a Civil Defence Hub.

Community services are supported by the Trust via concessional rent grants. This year, the Trust provided concessional rent grants to the value of $746,413 to support the services of 17 community organisations. These included Masterton Foodbank, Wairarapa College Farm and ConArt Gallery & Studios.

While these properties don’t provide a nancial return to the Trust, they deliver social, cultural, and educational dividends to our community.

Grants

This year’s grants programme helped to deliver a variety of new learning experiences for all ages, in classrooms and beyond. Grants bene t people who reside in Masterton that participate in educational activities across the region.

A $10,000 grant funded a Great Kai Facilitator to work with three Masterton primary schools. It delivered learning bene ts to 180 students on how to grow, harvest, prepare and share healthy kai. As well as gaining practical skills to grow food, tamariki learnt about seasonality and the natural cycles that a ect crops – essential to understanding climate change.

The Trust’s investment in its long-term Whakaoriori Wellbeing Project that fosters social competence in children entered its third year. Masterton Primary School and Masterton Intermediate School are the most

The full 2023 Annual Report is available at www.mtlt.org.nz or from the MTLT o˜ ce, 189 Queen Street, Masterton.

recent funding recipients. Both schools will use the Māori creation story and cultural metaphors to connect tamariki to their mana via Te Ara Whakamana:

Mana Enhancement

After a ve year hiatus, we reinstated community grants – providing more than $150,000 to support Masterton-based non-pro t organisations.

The Inspire a Child to Read programme run by Hedley’s Books during its biennial Yarns in Barns: Wairarapa Festival of Reading was supported with a $16,000 community grant. Around 700 students in years ve and six across eight Masterton schools were given vouchers for a free book. They were also invited to meet four Kiwi writers.

Murals for Masterton

In October, four murals were commissioned on Trust-owned buildings as part of its new public arts initiative. The artworks drew inspiration from Wairarapa’s natural features – from the Tararua ranges to the region’s ve rivers. You’ll nd the murals on Lincoln Road, Dixon Street and in Kuripuni.

To complement the mural Past and Present by FLOX, we developed a mural garden. The green space connects Lincoln Road and Chapel Street for pedestrians. With native plantings, a meandering path and bright blue seating to echo the mural, passers by are invited to sit and take in the mural. A plaque in the garden acknowledges the bequest of teacher and arts patron Ethel Irene Stephens whose generosity helped make the mural possible.

Thanks

Thanks to my fellow Trustees. I’d especially like to welcome our newest board members Monique Kloeg and Bella McClymont who joined the Trust in October. They bring a fresh perspective to our work. With their arrival, we bade farewell to two long serving Trustees – Leanne Southey and Frazer Mailman. Leanne became the Trust’s rst female chair and gave more than a decade of service. Frazer’s lifetime of experience in education was a great asset for the six years he served as a Trustee.

I’d like to acknowledge our loyal family of professionals and contractors who complement and support our small but very e cient management team. Finally, thanks to our tenants without whom we could not ful the Trust’s purpose.

Christine Brewster Chair

Writers Jason Gunn and Fi Colston talk at Masterton Library. Trust chair Christine Brewster looks on.

MPS students prepare a kai garden.

Artist impression of the new Welllington Free Ambulance station, corner of Russell and Queen streets.

Past and Present by FLOX was one of a series of Murals for Masterton. A mural garden complements the space on Lincoln Road.

MTLT Board of TrusteesTom Hullena, Monique Kloeg, Christine Brewster (Chair), Bella McClymont, Bex Johnson, Gary Ca ell, Sandy Ryan, John Bunny.

Lift lines to protect whales

DOC Wairarapa is urging locals to do their bit to prevent humpback whales becoming entangled in fishing gear as they migrate north along our coastline.

“We do get humpbacks coming into Palliser Bay as they migrate,” says senior biodiversity ranger Paul Gasson. “The last thing we want is for one to become tangled and stressed. Entangling can lead to infections from rope cuts, starving or even drowning.”

Marine technical adviser Mike Ogle says humpbacks are most likely to become entangled at this time of year when migrating during winter to warmer waters.

“Cray pot lines are the major cause of entanglements but nets, longlines and other ropes can also snag whales.

“We’re asking people to collect any abandoned rope, fishing gear, lost or cut pot lines, avoid excessive slack in ropes when setting pots and

stay vigilant, particularly from now till August.”

DOC has two large whale disentanglement teams – one based in Kaikōura, the other in the Bay of Islands – which are trained to safely disentangle whales using specialised equipment.

In May 2021 a humpback entangled in

floats was spotted not far from Kaikōura. It took DOC and Whale Watch staff five hours to carefully remove the lines to free the whale.

“No one should attempt to cut a rope off a whale themselves as this is very dangerous”, Ogle said.

“We also ask that people don’t cut off any

line and floats attached to the whale as this can make it more difficult for the disentanglement team to cut any remaining rope from the whale.”

Humpback populations are naturally increasing as they recover from the commercial whaling of last century,

so the number of entanglements may increase each year.

“In Wairarapa we can expect increasing numbers of humpbacks to visit Palliser Bay as they migrate north each winter,” Ogle said.

“We see them cruising close to the shore from time to time, and boaties and fishers can help care for whales by considering gear placement and keeping a good lookout for any interactions.”

• Anyone who sees an entangled whale should call DOC’s 24-hour hotline 0800 DOC HOT [0800 36 24 68.]

• Being able to provide accurate location details of where the whale was seen, as well as the direction of travel, can make a big difference to the response.

• If possible, keep monitoring the animal from a safe distance [at least 50 metres] until help arrives.

Humpback whale breaching the water.

PHOTO/FLORIAN ROHART

OPEN NOW FOR BOOKINGS

Te Whare Taiao o Manukura is open for business: the stars align

Coinciding with Matariki, the new education centre and marae at P˜kaha, Te Whare Taiao o Manukura, opened on 14 July 2023 with about 250 people in attendance, following a Rangit°ne dawn blessing and naming of the buildings the previous day.

Matariki is a celebration to mark the mid-winter rising of the cluster of stars sometimes called the Pleiades and heralding the M°ori New Year in Aotearoa. Traditionally, it’s been a time to acknowledge those who have passed and release their spirits to become stars. It’s also a time to re˛ ect, to be thankful to the gods for the harvest, to feast, and to share the bounty of the harvest with family (wh°nau) and friends.

“We are very excited to be able to open the doors of Te Whare Taiao for students and guests, and to do so at a time that is meaningful to Aotearoa,” says Emily Court General Manager, and a driving force behind the new centre at P˜kaha.

Te Whare Taiao o Manukura is a magniÿ cent, custom-built, and future-looking environmental education centre, with accommodation for up to 32 students, separate rooms with ensuites for eight teachers and parents, a commercial kitchen, hangi pit, drying room, state of the art bathrooms, a carving workshop, room for motorhomes to stay for a couple of nights, and a wharenui (meeting house) and marae for Rangit°ne, which is able to sleep 50. There are even sets of cupboards to house the 50 mattresses.

“The opening of Te Whare Taiao o Manukura has the full backing of the Tararua District Council,” says Mayor of Tararua District Council, Tracey Collis “We were pleased to be able to support P˜kaha in making its vision a reality. P˜kaha is our largest tourist attraction and holds a special place in Aotearoa. It has continued to grow, and beneÿ ts not only our wildlife but also our people, through learning and experiencing the forest and all it provides.”

Valley Plumbing Ltd

Mayor Collis goes on to say:

“The health and wellbeing of P˜kaha has to be experienced. P˜kaha is an important part of Te Tapere nui o Wh°tonga, known as the seventymile bush by European settlers. It is a signiÿ cant part of our culture and identity, and we’re grateful to Rangit°ne for their gift of the forest to all New Zealanders. We are extremely excited at the potential Te Whare Taiao o˙ ers - to young people especially - but also to the many organisations wanting to take the opportunity to utilise the facilities of Te Whare Taiao and experience all that nature has to o˙ er.”

This inspirational joint venture is a culmination of the

commitment of current and past generations (t˜puna). It also embodies the principle of kaitiakitanga, preserving taonga for future generations. P˜kaha and Rangit°ne are leading the way in partnership, conservation, and the preservation of cultural heritage. They’ve also got an eye towards tourism and bolstering the local economy.

“Leaders of Rangit°ne, P˜kaha, and a kaitiaki (guardian) trust organisation, have spent decades working in partnership to achieve the building and opening of Te Whare Taiao o Manukura,” says Mavis Mullins, co-chair of the P˜kaha Board Bob Francis, P˜kaha Board Chair for 14 years, was integral to previous visionary decisionmaking that culminated in the opening of Te Whare Taiao in July this year. Named Companion

of the NZ Order of Merit in 2021 after his 21-year tenure as Masterton’s Mayor, and many other Board appointments and achievements, Bob is delighted that the centre is now open for business.

“I recognised early on as Mayor,” says Bob, “that there was an opportunity to take P˜kaha to another level and bring additional beneÿ ts to the economy. Te Whare Taiao o Manukura is unique in our country and is something for us all to be proud of.” He adds: “this is a special place that will help open young hearts and minds – even change the future –as students learn about the importance of the environment. The centre also provides opportunities for corporate retreats, functions, and weddings, as well as tourism opportunities for locals and the travelling public.”

“Tribute must be paid to the vision and persistence of koro

Jim Rimene, now deceased,” says Tina Te Tau-Brightwell, a

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE

representative of Rangit°ne on the P˜kaha Board. “He grew up listening to his elders. He grew into a man and worked at P˜kaha in the 1950s. He became a kaum°tua (M°ori elder) and shared his vision and knowledge. He enabled the partnership between P˜kaha and Rangit°ne to ˛ ourish and achieve what it has today for the land and for conservation.”

MP, Kieran McAnulty says that “P˜kaha is one of the jewels in the region’s crown. was keen to push for Government support for this project and am delighted to have achieved it. The P˜kaha team has done a wonderful job of putting this together, and it will prove to be a massive asset for both the Tararua District and Wairarapa.”

Kathy Houkamau, Wairarapa Operations Manager for the Department of Conservation says: “our department is one hundred percent behind Te Whare Taiao o Manukura. What a fantastic way to connect our tamariki to nature and teach them the importance of conservation. I have no doubt the centre will be an invaluable

resource for schools and the wider Wairarapa and Tararua communities.”

Gary Ca˛ ell, Mayor of Masterton District Council says that “P˜kaha is a fabulous taonga and a great attraction for the region. The opening of Te Whare Taiao o Manukura further adds to what P˜kaha o˙ ers as a centre of learning for environment and ecology, in the heart of a beautiful space. There is a whakataukˆ that ÿ ts well with the opening: Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro n˜n° te ngahere, ko te manu e kai ana i te m°tauranga n˜n° te ao – the bird that feeds on the miro, theirs is the forest, the bird that feeds on knowledge, theirs is the world.”

OF TE WHARE TAIAO

The new environmental education centre and marae at P˜kaha

PHOTOGRAPHER: GRAEME BOWDEN

OPEN NOW FOR BOOKINGS

From the beginning

P˝kaha, the environmental and cultural taonga situated on the border between Wairarapa and Tararua, is the last signiÿ cant remnant of what was once a great ngahere (forest) known to local M˜ori as Te Tapere nui o Wh˜tonga. The original ngahere containing matai, rimu, tawa, and maire stretched from the mountains north of Dannevirke, across to the Ruahine ranges, and down to just north of Masterton.

“Wh˜tonga is the name of one of three chiefs on the Kurahaup° waka who travelled the seas from Hawaiki to Aotearoa and is the origin of the Rangit˜ne tribe today. The descendants of Wh˜tonga remain to this day as mana whenua (guardians) of the remaining land,” says Mavis Mullins.

We know from the research of Wairarapa local Joseph Potangaroa that the ngahere was intact when Europeans ÿ rst walked through the forest during the mid-1800s. By 1900, it was virtually destroyed, with only the

to Pukaha National Wildlife Centre

We are delighted to have been the designers for Te Whare Taiao. We are excited to see the new opportunities for education coupled with the experience of staying overnight in Pukaha’s beautiful surroundings.

reserve of nearly 1,000 hectares remaining at Mount Bruce. The P˝kaha centre was established in part of the reserve in 1962 (known then as Mount Bruce) to breed and release endangered native birds, starting with takah˙. Twenty years on, a visitor centre opened its doors to the public as part of a four-stage redevelopment plan. A nocturnal house was then built where visitors could see North Island brown kiwi up close. In 1996, k°kako were released and the ÿ rst successful translocation of North Island k˜k˜ took place.

On 6 August 2016, Rangit˜ne o Wairarapa and Rangit˜ne o Tamaki nui-˜-Rua jointly settled their treaty claim. This included ÿ nancial redress from the Crown and cultural redress including the vesting and gifting back of P˝kaha to the Rangit˜ne Tu Mai Ra Trust. In February 2020, Dame Patsy Reddy spoke at P˝kaha to mark its return to Rangit˜ne.

In 2001, the entire ngahere reserve came under the care of P˝kaha, increasing the capacity to breed birds and a diverse range of species. Rangit˜ne then gifted the forests of P˝kaha to the people of Aotearoa with the objective of the continuation of conservation work.

Today, P˝kaha works directly with Rangit˜ne as well as the Department of Conservation to protect the taonga in the ngahere, as an inspiration for future generations.

“More than 120 km of tracks have been cut and thousands of traps and bait stations scattered, setting up an area for wildlife with low predator pressure,” Bob Francis, former Board chair says. “Today, P˝kaha is a place for brown kiwi, brown and blue ducks (p˜teke and whio), takah˙, k°kako, k˜k˜, orangefronted parakeet, shore plover (tuturuatu) and longÿ n eels (tuna). It is a special place.”

Mavis Mullins PŪKAHA BOARD CO-CHAIR

“The relentless eˆ orts of kaum˜tua, our many kuia, koro Jim Rimene, and koro Kuki Rimene have been instrumental in the return into the wilds of P˝kaha many of the native bird species that were once lost,” says Tina Te-Tau Brightwell.

“The journey has been long to reach the opening of Te Whare Taiao o Manukura,” says Mike Kawana, Rangit˜ne kaum˜tua, representative, and cultural adviser to the P˝kaha Board. “It is an environmental education centre the like of which cannot be seen anywhere else in Aotearoa. As Rangit˜ne, from and of this land, we also now have our own wharenui, our own place, within the ngahere, the environment, which means so much to us.”

With thanks to: Te Ara, the government’s Encyclopedia of New Zealand, and Potangaroa, J. (2012). Ta Tapere Nui o Whatonga: The great domain of Whatonga. Rangit˜ne o Wairarpa and Te Puni Kokiri.

Mavis Mullins, P˜kaha Board co-chair since 2021, is also one of Aotearoa’s distinguished business and community leaders, becoming a Member of the NZ Order of Merit in 2002 and receiving an award for Outstanding M°ori Business Leader in 2016.

As a member of the Rangit°ne o Wairarapa and Rangit°ne o Tamaki nui°-Rua negotiation team, Mavis helped achieve a Treaty of Waitangi Deed of Settlement for the iwi, signed in August 2016. She is a professional director and chairs several other boards.

Mavis says that, “at the heart of my purpose lies simple values such as every decision being a mokopuna decision.”

The impact on future generations is what drives her. This ethos can be seen clearly in Mavis’s

co-governance of P˜kaha, the opening of Te Whare Taiao o Manukura, and the centre’s vision for educating students today about the environment with the aim of improving the future.

Locals involved in the shearing industry will know Mavis and her family well: they own the sheep-shearing company Paewai Mullins Shearing, involving multiple generations of the family, and handle over one million sheep each year.

“The whenua and moana are atua (ancestors with continuing in˛ uence), whether we farm or simply enjoy them. People matter the most as we give honour to natural and ancient atua.”

Tini whetū ki te rangi, ko Rangitāne ki te whenua. Ta Taperenui o Whātonga.

The new environmental education centre and marae at Pūkaha

The new environmental education centre and marae at P˜kaha

OPEN NOW FOR BOOKINGS

Tina Te Tau-Brightwell

RANGIT˜NE REPRESENTATIVE ON P°KAHA BOARD

Tina Te Tau-Brightwell has had a close connection with P˛kaha since she was a child. Her wh°nau lived and farmed on the other side of the reserve at M°kirikiri (Hastwell). Her father hunted in the ngahere and Tina played with her older brothers and sisters there.

Tina has contributed to P˛kaha since the 1990s under the guidance of kaum°tua, including as chair of Rangit°ne and as a Rangit°ne representative on the P˛kaha Board.

“It’s been an honour over the years to work with koro Jim Rimene, koro Kuki Rimene, my kuia, Rangit°ne, Tu Mai

PROFILING

Mike Kawana

KAUMĀTUA AND CULTURAL ADVISOR

Many years ago, Jim Rimene, an in˜ uential kaum°tua descended from both Rangit°ne o Wairarapa and Ngati Hamua, named three successors to carry the traditions of the iwi into tomorrow: Mike Kawana was named as the lead torchbearer of the three successors.

Manahi Paewai KAUMĀTUA AND CULTURAL ADVISOR

Ra Trust, and former Board chair Bob Francis,” she says, “to develop and implement the farseeing vision of P˛kaha as an environmental learning centre.”

Tina says P˛kaha is t˛puna whenua (the land of past and future generations), the place where Rangit°ne can retain its culture. “We have a deep spiritual connection to the ngahere and its inhabitants, and it could so easily have been lost.

The 1990s were an important time for P˛kaha as Jim Rimene and koro Kuki embedded our culture in the welcoming back of species to P˛kaha: the place where they could thrive.”

“My people have not only been spiritual leaders and visionaries for the future of P˛kaha, but they’ve done the hard graft too,” she says. In the early 2000’s, Rangit°ne volunteers cut the tracks that make it possible for visitors to enjoy P˛kaha today.

“The partnership between Rangit°ne, Tu Mai Ra Trust, and P˛kaha has made Te Whare Taiao possible,” Tina says. “It’s a place of wellbeing for people and the environment, a place for tamariki (children) to learn and grow, and for indigenous ecological tourism. P˛kaha is a very special place.”

As a Rangit°ne kaum°tua, representative, and cultural adviser to the P˛kaha Board, Mike Kawana plays a signiÿ cant role. “Like Uncle Jim Rimene before him, he helps connect the Department of Conservation, P˛kaha and Rangit°ne,” says Emily Court, P˛kaha General Manager. “He lifts our learning about the ngahere, in the ngahere. And about atua, alongside atua.”

Material from Mike Kawana and Joseph Potangaroa, fellow researchers and cultural advisers, can be found on the Rangit°ne education website page. There, we learn about mythology, local M°ori history, world views, tikanga, te reo M°ori, the natural world, basic needs such as food, and social structure.

“All the birds, insects, trees, plants, and kohatu (stones) have their own whakapapa,” Mike says, re˜ ecting on kaum°tua Jim Rimene’s thinking. “This is part of the M°ori world view (te ao M°ori). All living and non-living things are interconnected and interrelated. To be in harmony, all things need to be in balance. P˛kaha is a place where this can be true, while also pursuing the dream of economic opportunity, and progressing cultural education and traditional learning.”

Te Whare Taiao o Manukura brings us one step closer to Uncle Jim Rimene’s vision.

Manahi Paewai is a kaum˜tua and representative of Rangit˜ne o Tamaki nui-˜-Rua. He provides te reo M˜ori and tikanga guidance and teachings at P°kaha, and took on a full-time role as cultural adviser to Rangit˜ne in 2019, alongside Mike Kawana. Previously, Manahi had held this position parttime while also teaching at Te Kura Kaupapa M˜ori o T˜maki nui-˜-Rua. His role in M˜oridom, even parttime, was signiÿ cant enough for Manahi to be named a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for services to M˜ori in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours. Along with wh˜nau member Mavis Mullins, Manahi was also integral to the Rangit˜ne Treaty claim.

Manahi says he had M˜ori culture and language instilled in him by his parents from a young age, and “was ˝ uent in te reo M˜ori by the time I went to Te Aute College as a boarder”.

Speaking about Te Whare Taiao, Manahi says “having a purposebuilt facility at P°kaha dedicated to educating and inspiring New Zealanders to be true guardians of Te Taiao (the environment) and to connect with the mauri (life force) of the forest – well, that’s been a vision down through our generations. Now it’s taken on its own life force.”

OPEN NOW FOR BOOKINGS

Emily Court

PŪKAHA GENERAL MANAGER

Tipene Kawana KAIWHAKAIRO | MASTER CARVER

The carvings for the new wharenui at P˜kaha are from locally sourced and ancient totara logs that will last forever.

Traditional M°ori tools such as handheld patu are used to guide the chisels. Tipene Kawana works with fellow kaiwhakairo (carvers)

Carl Rongonui, Tamai Nicholson and Justin Kawana in a purposebuilt whare whakairo (carving workshop).

“The tekoteko has been installed at the centre of the wharenui and shows our ancestor Wh°tonga. We’re now working on the other carvings to be placed around the marae,” Tipene says.

Tipene was born and bred in Masterton. Two local kaum°tua, Mike and Manu, are his older brothers. Tipene’s feet directed him towards carving when he was only ten years old, doing his ÿ rst course with the renowned David Taylor. The desire to carve stayed with him, doing more courses and focusing on carving at the marae at M°koura College.

At an early age Tipene was already teaching other young people how to carve, and so is excited about the possibility of o˝ ering traditional M°ori carving courses to students at P˜kaha in the near future.

“I’ve carved for Hau Ariki marae in Martinborough and, more recently, restored the carvings on Te Amorangi at Whakaoriori marae (UCOL). I’d worked on the originals as an °konga (learner) decades before,” Tipene says.

As well as being known for his M°ori carving, Tipene is internationally famous for his traditional M°ori kites, but he’d rather talk about family than fame. “I’m lucky enough to have a lovely wife and ÿ ve children,” he says.

Tipene has been at P˜kaha for a couple of years now and says, “it’s an honour to carve these ancestors of ours and to know that people in the years to come will be able to embrace their heritage at the wharenui.”

Emily Court became General Manager at P˜kaha about ÿ ve years ago, and has since driven a renewed strategic plan, the rebranding of the environmental centre, and the implementation of the vision of Te Whare Taiao o Manukura.

“We’re enabling young people to learn about the environment through overnight and daytime sessions. We can keep costs low for students because our wonderful new centre will be ÿ nancially sustainable through its use for conferences, weddings, and events. And we’re working in a solid partnership with the original owners of our ngahere: Rangit°ne. The marae attached to the education centre is their space.”

Emily’s career has been in commerce, banking, and economic development, largely based in Christchurch and Auckland. For four years, she worked in the earthquake recovery domain including Christchurch’s rebuilding of its business sector and international education industry. Having moved to Wellington to take on a role for a couple of years at the Public Trust, she met the man who

Kelly Body POU MĀTAURANGA | EDUCATION DIRECTOR

was to become her life partner, based herself in rural Carterton on a 200-acre block, and took on the exciting and challenging GM role at P˜kaha.

As a charity, P˜kaha relies on donations and doesn’t make a proÿ t. Every cent is reinvested back into the ngahere, its wildlife, and the team of nearly 40 sta˝ who manage the centre’s conservation plan, predator management, professional environmental education, marketing, and tourism.

“An amazing team has gathered around me,” Emily says, “and made our next steps with Te Whare Taiao possible.”

Kelly Body, Pou M˜tauranga (Education Director) at P°kaha since 2021, comes to her role with qualiÿ cations in zoology, ecology, and science communications, as well as a tonne of experience and enthusiasm. Previous roles include four years of designing online science lessons for national and international schools and completing an internship with Zealandia’s education team.

“It is such a privilege to be working for P°kaha,” Kelly says. “The knowledge of the sta˝ here is second to none and everyone is so welcoming and willing to share that knowledge.”

Sponsorship from Farman Turkington Forestry enables P°kaha to run a car and go as far as Feilding and Wellington for outreach science lessons. P°kaha also has a “beautiful partnership” with REAP, enabling community workshops and school visits.

“The opening of Te Whare Taiao now enables us to o˝ er amazing on-site sessions,” Kelly says.

“Our core sessions o˝ er a broad introduction to local history, ˙ ora and fauna, conservation heroes, evolution, and threats.

Then there are Rangit˜ne-speciÿ c sessions and ‘teaching the teacher’ sessions. We also o˝ er customised sessions to align with secondary school unit standards.”

Nocturnal visits include discovering weta, lizards and invertebrates, and hearing nocturnal birds such as ruru (morepork). “Sometimes we even see them,” Kelly says in excitement. Dawn walks encompass the dawn chorus and the rising of the sun. Fresh water lessons include tuna (eels) and kˆura (freshwater crayÿ sh).

“We’re taking bookings for terms three and four this year,” Kelly says.

“Now’s the time to contact us.”

Lester Wolfreys

PROGRAMME MANAGER

Principal of the management consultancy company Focus Consulting, and with decades of experience behind him consulting in the public sector and with not-for-proÿ t organisations, Lester Wolfreys was the ÿ rst choice of the P˝kaha Board as Programme Manager for Te Whare Taiao o Manukura.

His successful feasibility study was followed by an equally impressive business case. Funds approved from the government’s Provincial Growth Fund and its successor K°noa provided cornerstone funding; to be met dollar for dollar by P˝kaha from other sources.

The opening of Te Whare Taiao o Manukura is “testament to the skills and commitment of all involved. We’ve experienced the highest in˙ ation in decades, price pressures, lack of supply of materials, and geo-tech and septic system issues that needed to be overcome,” Lester says.

Shane & Grace Lehmstedt QUALITY BUILDERS

“What is so exciting is that the partnerships we’ve formed with Rangit°ne, the district councils, the Board, the sta˜ , Quality Builders, and the community, have made it all possible.”

Buying 200-acres in rural Carterton in 2013 and moving onto the land with partner Emily Court ÿ ve or so years ago, has cemented Lester’s love for Wairarapa and for the natural environment. “It’s all about making a di˜ erence,” he says.

“The impacts of climate change make it real. We need to turn that around.”

The environmental education centre is a low carbon building, with materials being sourced locally if possible. “We’ve also taken a long-term view,” Lester says.

“The most sustainable materials have been incorporated into the build – this means it hasn’t been cheap, but it’s value for money and long-lasting.”

Environmental education for all

“Quality Builders, owned by Shane and Grace Lehmstedt, have been outstanding,” says Emily Court, GM at P˝kaha. “And that is true whichever way you look at it – price, local sourcing of materials, sustainability, and commitment to young people and M°ori.”

“We’re on board with those values,” Shane says. “And we’re exceptionally grateful to have had the opportunity to be associated with the environmental centre at P˝kaha. It’s unique.”

Establishing Quality Builders in 2005, Shane and Grace have since built the team up to about 20 sta˜ Both went to Wairarapa College and got together at a young age.

“Nathan, our foreman, has been with us since the start,” Shane says. “Nathan, Paul our project manager, the whole team, and our subcontractors: I just can’t praise them enough for the skills and e˜ ort they’ve brought – and bring – to this, and every, job.”

The build at P˝kaha has involved some ÿ rsts. Cassette

˙ ooring, for example.

It’s made in Masterton but has not previously been used in the district. And screw piles were the perfect solution for foundations in an ecologically sensitive site; a ÿ rst for the region. Lester Wolfreys and Emily Court have nothing but praise for the builders “who worked all hours, in all weathers, including under gazebos in terrible downpours.”

“P˝kaha has been the biggest project we’ve done,” Shane and Grace agree. And they’ve since won the contract to build the Wellington Free Ambulance station in Queen Street: another community-based project. Grace has also partnered with Bunnings to o˜ er Clever Living transportable homes to Wairarapa.

“We’ve just stayed true to our values and treat people how we want to be treated. It’s all about relationships.”

Te Whare Taiao o Manukura o˜ ers guided overnight education sessions as well as guided day education sessions. Students, their kaiako (teachers), and any parents who are staying overnight, get to experience modern, custom-built accommodation.

A commercial kitchen, eating space, AV equipment, showers, and a drying room are all available for use.

Per person costs are modest and are value for money given the extraordinary experiences on o˜ er. Light catering can be purchased from the K°k° Café for an additional cost per person.

The full overnight education experience for years 4 to 13 includes:

 Start at 11am one day and ÿ nish at 9.30am the next day.

 Two P˝kaha education guides to facilitate the sessions.

 A guided day education session.

 A guided dusk experience.

 A guided dawn experience.

The overnight (dusk and dawn) experience for years 4 to 13 includes:

 Start at 3.30pm one day and ÿ nish at 9.30am the following day.

 Two P˝kaha education guides to facilitate the sessions.

 A guided dusk experience.

 A guided dawn experience.

Guided day sessions can be standardized or customised for any age group from ECE to year 13:

 Four-hour sessions.

 With learning outcomes tailored to curriculum levels and unit standards.

 Kelly Body, Pou M°tauranga Education Director works with kaiako to develop teaching and learning to suit the students.

 Rangit°ne instructors take

Te Hikoi o P˝kaha sessions designed to share Rangit°ne knowledge, history, te reo M°ori, and te ao M°ori skills.

Just a few of the highlights of learning at P˝haka – depending on the session chosen and the ages of the students – include seeing Rangit°ne carvers (kaiwhakairo) in action, a tuna (eel) feed, the dawn chorus, a ÿ ve-minute bird count, walking the trap line as part of a predatorfree session, conservationspeciÿ c learning, understanding adaptations of ˙ ora and fauna, plant identiÿ cation, stream health, and so much more.

“While we design sessions around unit standards and curriculum requirements for students studying science, we can o˜ er just as much to students in other areas of study too,” says Kelly Body. “English classes could do nighttime poetry sessions, for example, or art classes could paint and create works of art and installations drawing on cultural and conservation themes.”

To investigate options further, contact Kelly Body, Pou M˜tauranga | Education Director on kelly@pukaha.org.nz Bookings enquiries can be made by calling 027 445 5272 or emailing bookings@pukaha.org.nz

The new environmental education centre and marae at Pūkaha

OPEN NOW FOR BOOKINGS

Ng˜

“Ng˜ mihi nui ki a koe,” says Mavis Mullins to all sponsors, donors, and supporters of Te Whare Taiao o Manukura and P°kaha, on behalf of the P°kaha Board.

“Thank you so much. We have such immense gratitude for all the sponsorship and support received that has made Te Whare Taiao possible,” says GM, Emily Court. Sponsors and supporters are listed below:

Central government:

 $2.5 million from the Provincial Growth Fund and a further $1.2 million from its successor K˜noa.

Local government:

 Tararua District Council with a $1 million loan and excellent support through the planning process.

 Masterton District Council contributed $335,000 of Better O˛ funding to the project. Better O˛ funding was received from the Government as part of the A˛ ordable Waters reform.

“It made such good sense to support this project with its o˛ -

nui ki a koe – huge gratitude to you

the-grid water system,” says Mayor Gary Ca˛ ell.

Personal donators:

 Rob Smith, local Rotarian and private donor in the name of his late wife Helen.

 Lesley Christian and David Cleal, retired chartered accountants from Featherston who founded the arts focused trust, Acorn Trust.

 Karl Rossiter, who has donated in the name of his grandchildren.

Many more private donations have been made and all of these people will be acknowledged on the supporter’s wall inside the building.

Business Supporters:

 Farman Turkington Forestry, long-term sponsor and supporter, which funds some of the wages and the cost of a vehicle for the Pou M˜tauranga | Education Director at P°kaha.

 Sponsorship from Dulux. With a special thank you to Mitchell Simmonds, Guthrie Bowron franchisee, and to Dulux’s regional manager Jason Radovanovich.

 Guthrie Bowron provided the blinds for Te Whare Taiao at a discounted rate.

 Juken New Zealand (JNL), with a special thank you to Karl Burling. JNL donated $50,000 worth of framing timber.

 Tumu, Masterton, with a special thank you to Corrie James. Many local businesses have also supplied goods and services to the project at reduced rates to show their support – these businesses will all be acknowledged on the supporter’s wall inside the building.

Community Groups & Schools:

 The Rotary Club of Masterton has paid for the log burner in Te Whare Taiao.

 Ruamahanga Restoration Trust is a local conservation charity that supports environmental education programmes including the purchasing of trapping and biodiversity kits for local schools. The Trust will meet the costs of the ÿ rst schools to stay at the new whare at P°kaha.

 Masterton Primary School Enviro Group – students fundraised and donated funds.

 Te Kura Kaupapa M˜ori o Wairarapa – donation from the Board of Trustees.

 Rathkeale College – donation from the school.

 South End School – students fundraised and donated funds.

 Lakeview School – students fundraised and donated funds.

 Trinity Schools foundations – jointly invested in the new build and an exciting ÿ ve-year education partnership.

Charitable Trusts and Grant providers include:

 Central Energy Trust.

 Trust House.

 Eastern and Central Community Trust.

 Aotearoa Gaming Trust.

 Pharazan Trust.

Rangit˜ne Tu Mai Ra Trust, Rangit˜ne o Wairarapa and Rangit˜ne o Tamaki nui-˜-rua have jointly underwritten the ÿ nal borrowings required to complete the project.

The new environmental education centre and marae at P˜kaha

MT BRUCE

A decent crack

Bella Cleary bella.cleary@age.co.nz

“He has weathered storms I can barely conceive of, endured hardships and belittlement, ignorance, and stupidity.

“Through it all, he has maintained his dignity, his sanity, and his love of his fellow man.”

This excerpt is taken from the foreword of Ian McDonald’s autobiography, written by actor and NZ Order of Merit recipient Peter Elliot.

It’s safe to say McDonald – a prominent figure in Greytown’s sporting community, owner of the Greyfriars Motel and now a published author – deserves a break.

But as suggested by the title of his newlyprinted autobiography, Life Isn’t Fair – but I’ll Have a Bloody Good Crack at It, McDonald certainly isn’t sitting around waiting for one.

He never intended to write an entire book – it just blossomed out of a covid-19 lockdown project.

“During the first lockdown, I started writing a few notes,” McDonald said.

“Those notes turned into chapters, and those chapters turned into a book.”

Three years later, that book – which covers McDonald’s prolific work in sport management and disability advocacy – is

now published.

McDonald was born with arthrogryposis, a condition affecting the joints, and said he has no time for people who complain about various hardships and woes.

“It just annoys me when I hear people go, ‘Oh, it’s not fair’ – well, build a bridge and get over it,” he said.

“Apart from ACC after my hip operation and when I broke my ankle, I’ve never really stuck my hand out for anything.”

McDonald was referring to a hip replacement operation 12 years ago during which the femoral nerve in his good leg was damaged, leaving it “effectively paralysed”.

Already navigating life with limited mobility and movement due to arthrogryposis, this operation permanently consigned McDonald to a wheelchair, a setback he has tackled like a pro.

But in much the same way McDonald has rolled with the punches his whole life, adjusting to life on wheels was no different, he said.

“It has its good points and its bad points.

“The good thing is I can still go for walks, and I can go for however

long the battery will let me.”

McDonald’s wheelhouse is anything sports related, although baseball is a particular speciality, one that’s described in the foreword as his “raison d’etre”.

In 2018 McDonald was the recipient of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust fellowship, which enabled him to research communications in baseball management in New York. He now sits on the trust’s board.

As he has said in his autobiography, having taken on life with a physical disability from birth, McDonald has never known any other way of being – and he doesn’t let it slow him down.

“I just get on with life and do the best with what I’ve been given. I’m not backwards in coming forward, and if I want something, I work out how I’m going to achieve it,” he said.

“Despite not being taken seriously by many employers, coaches, managers, etc because of my disability and by ultimately proving them wrong – this is my life.”

Life’s Not Fair – But I’ll Have a Bloody Good Crack at It is available

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR LIBRARIES?

Tune into Our Library - 2:30pm Friday 21 July

Arrow 92.7FM and Wairarapa TV - Channel 41

Learn about new books coming to the five Wairarapa libraries, listen to book reviews, and find out about upcoming library events.

For more information, including a video of the latest show, go to www.arrowfm.co.nz and look for ‘Our Library’ under Programmes.

WAIRARAPA

STAY IN GOOD HEALTH Changing our Brains

According to The Emotional Life of Your Brain, written by Richard J. Davidson PhD, meditation is one of the most practical and e˜ ective ways to improve our resilience in life.

People who can either shrug o˜ setbacks or actively ÿ ght back have a resilient brain: they recover quickly from adversity. A brain that is not resilient is experienced by people who get so beaten down by adversity that they recover slowly or not at all. Through the mental activity of meditation, we can intentionally change our own brains and become more resilient.

Meditation is all about regulating our attention and cultivating self-awareness and awareness in general. Focusing on our breathing and scanning how our bodies are feeling are common ways of regulating our attention and, if our mind begins to wander, we simply and gently bring our attention back to our breath and our body.

People who are not self-aware, can often deny experiencing much in the way of anxiety or stress, but their bodies tell a very di˜ erent story: heart rates and skin conductance (which measures sweating) can go o˜ the charts even while they are denying feeling anxious.

OPENING HOURS

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8am-5pm Tuesday 8am-7pm, Friday 8am-4pm P 06 379 8799

E appointments@truedentistry.co.nz

1A Seddon Street, Carterton (behind Carterton Medical Centre)

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME

A place where change is possible

If you are experiencing troubling issues like anxiety, grief or depression, or if you’ve been affected by family violence, we can help. We offer a non-judgmental, respectful, caring space where we help people through their process of change.

P: 06 3775716

E: admin@changewairarapa.org.nz www.changewairarapa.org.nz

The more self-aware you are, the more likely it is you can be resilient through troubled times.

“Dozens of clinical trials,” Richard Davidson writes, have shown that meditation can “relieve psychological distress in breast cancer survivors, reduce side e˜ ects in organ-transplant recipients, relieve anxiety and depression in people with social anxiety disorder, and help people cope with chronic pain.”

Meditation can carve new channels in the streambeds of our minds, make us more aware of our bodies and minds, and improve our ability to deal with stress. This shifts us toward the ‘fast to recover’ end of the resilience spectrum and the ‘positive end’ of the outlook spectrum.

As well as improving self-awareness, lowering stress, reducing anxiety, enhancing mental health and increasing concentration, meditation generates empathy and kindness (towards ourselves and others), and improves our sleep.

Some of the meditation options advertising in Wairarapa are:

Mindfulness Wairarapa | Phillipa Mills

37 Perry Street Masterton phillipa.mills@gmail.com

027 433 2214

Wairarapa Women’s Centre

41 Perry Street, Masterton wairarapawomen@xtra.co.nz

020 4084 8921

Love and Core

39 Vintners Lane, Martinborough hello@loveandcore.com

027 227 4003

Focuses on yoga and pilates, with explorations of breathing and meditation techniques.

For all ages No GP referral for ACC necessary 06 377 3117

Greytown’s Ian McDonald

Form your own opinions

Tim Nelson Midweek

Musings

Our purpose: is for older people kaumātua to live a valued life in an inclusive society.

Our Vision: To be recognised as a leading contributor to the wellbeing of older persons / kaumātua in our Wairarapa community.

Our Mission: Helping, connecting and empowering older persons in Wairarapa.

Services that we provide include:

• Age Concern Visiting service: is a befriending service that matches older people who are lonely or socially isolated with volunteers who are keen to spend time getting to know them. The focus for the visits is to increase the social connection and participation of the older person and improve their overall well-being.

• Buddy Up: is designed to connect people through forming friendship groups based on similar interests and needs. The intent is social integration, the by-product is happier, healthier and longer lives through close relationships within small communities of belonging.

• Coffee mornings: Held in Masterton every second Tuesday, Carterton, Featherston and Martinborough once a month. There is a guest speaker and then there is a time to chat and catch up with friends.. There is a guest speaker and then there is a time to chat and catch up with friends.

• Elder Abuse Service: Provides information and support to older people/kaumātua, their families/

Our Values: The work of Age Concern Wairarapa is based on these values, with special reference to older people, koroua and kuia Being responsive, Respecting all, Caring, Being committed to wellbeing.

Our Guiding Principles: are that our services are accessible, appropriate and affordable, inclusive, culturally appropriate and equally available to all.

whānau and carers, to enable them to make decisions that maintain their safety of older people to stop them from being Physically, Psychologically, Sexually, Institutionally and financially abused.

• Exercise classes: this includes Line dancing, Keep fit and Steady As You Go; a strength and balancing class. We have Classes is Masterton, Greytown and Featherston.

• Staying safe: is an approved NZ Transport Agency driving refresher programme designed to update older people with traffic rules. It is a classroom-based course with the key elements being; Keeping Safe (thinking about your safety), Being Safe (driver skills), Safe Journeys (managing road situations), Keep Moving Safely (alternatives to driving).

• Trips: Once a month there is a planned trip to various places in Wairarapa, Wellington and Palmerston North. Some of the trips include historical places and there always is a guest speaker to give insight and knowledge about that place.

Lifestyle

More advice from The School of Life, this time on judging what you might think of others.

It’s easy to make judgements based on the way a person looks as you see them passing by, or, perhaps, on feedback from another person who shares their feelings with you. For the celebrity or public figure, the judgement could be made based on gossip pages or news articles, as these are more than likely to be the only ‘insight’ we have into the lives of those with high public profiles.

A better way to judge those in our own communities is through our direct interactions with them. In many cases these interactions need to be initiated by us, something that isn’t always comfortable to do, as we fear rejection.

It’s more than likely the other person will appreciate not having to ‘go first’ and will be grateful to the person who starts the conversation, as they are more than likely to be just as shy as we are. Conversely, if a person we approach is rude and offhand, then we, as least, have something tangible to base a negative judgement on.

It’s a different story with celebrities and public figures, as these are people we don’t have access to. My only advice here would be to look at ways in which they interact with people who they have nothing to gain from, such as restaurant staff, but still don’t make any real judgement based on just one tabloid article, as looking at overall patterns will give you a far more accurate overall perspective.

Success and well-being

Being a school principal I see a lot of programmes in my email inbox that come with the promise of education success and well-being for children. For a vast amount of what I see there is very little evidence to back up claims, despite the banners that suggest whatever programme being offered will have all sorts of positive outcomes. However, listening to Radio New Zealand’s Sunday Morning Show there

was a feature about a strategy that is backed by numerous research showing extremely positive outcomes that impact children throughout their school years and beyond in the following ways:

• Better brain structure.

• Better academic performance.

• Better mental health.

• Lower symptoms of anxiety and depression.

• Few behaviour problems. What process or strategy could possibly have such a positive impact? Surely it must be something developed in the most advanced labs and will only be available to those from wealth and privilege. This strategy is available to anyone and it is … to develop reading skills and a love of reading for pleasure as children.

Recall the good moments

I just watched The Last Rider, a fabulous movie about the 1989 Tour de France, which was won by Greg Lemond. The film focuses on the epic battle between Lemond and the French rider and two-time champion Laurent Fignon. The tour came down to a time trial on the last day, with Lemond having a miraculous comeback to make up what seemed like an impossible amount of time to win by only eight seconds; an incredibly tight result after three weeks and thousands of kilometres of riding.

What seemed apparent to me after seeing the film and doing follow up reading afterwards is that, rather than celebrating the two tour wins he did have, Fignon was more haunted by the one he lost in 1989.

Fignon passed away very young, dying of cancer when he was only 50. I truly hope that he reflected more positively on his incredible achievements as he approached the end of his life; he was an incredible rider.

Interestingly, the 1989 tour wouldn’t have been won by either rider had the previous year’s winner, Pedro Delgado, not arrived at the first stage time

trial eight minutes late [he was only 2.5 minutes behind, finishing in third place, at the end of the tour].

The thing about Delgado is that he seemed to be able to laugh this off, while still having a great tour for a podium finish.

True superpower

More wisdom from the fabulous TV series Afterlife. I can’t remember the scene specifically, but what was said has stuck with me, this being about the idea of superpowers, with the superpower mentioned being something that is so often overlooked, and can be seen almost as being a weakness, this being kindness.

To me, there is no value I place higher. I like to be the recipient of it, but appreciate it even more when those I care about most benefit from it. I also feel a warm glow when I am able to use this superpower on another person.

The thing with kindness is that anyone can apply it, regardless of the situation they are in. It can be a comment or something more tangible. When it is applied both the giver and recipient will benefit, as well as anyone else who is aware of it happening. To me, kindness is a superpower that is accessible to all of us.

Angels among us

I just watched the very last episode of the series Afterlife; an absolutely wonderful show with so many fabulous messages, one of which really stood out in the final episode.

A scene has Ricky Gervais sitting with his

friend next to his wife’s grave, where he and the friend spend a lot of time chatting. The friend shares with Ricky her feelings about angels, this being that they are among us now, but not necessarily in the biblical sense. The angels among us are out there doing things that make people’s lives better: people like Lyn Tankersley, who ran the food bank for many years; Doug Bracewell, with all of his contributions to children’s sport; Frazer Mailman and Laurence Titter, working so hard to get children to school. I could list countless other examples, these are just four people who come to mind.

Thank you to all of these angels, they really do make our community a better place to be.

Take a challenge

I have completed several challenges in my life in a range of areas; things like training for and running marathons, organised gym fitness challenges, completing online courses… all sorts of things.

To me, these are great opportunities to push myself in a particular area, or to reset after letting things slip for a while. Either way, I find these challenges to be motivating and have in the past proved to be very beneficial.

Challenges can be those set up by others, with examples being like the F45 45-day challenge, or we can make up our own. Either way, a key requirement is to stick to whatever you have chosen to do and not compromise.

My view is that the compromises we make are essentially what have got us to the point where we feel the challenge we have set ourselves is necessary.

Simple answers

I attended a presentation in which the person everyone came to see was asked questions by the audience.

At one stage a very complex question was asked that I really had no idea about in terms of either the question or, I initially thought, any possible answer. However, the answer given was both so clear and so simple I was immediately able to understand what the question was and what the answer meant.

After the presentation I commented on her answer to the question. She told me when she used to get questions of that nature she would answer them in a very complex way. However, one day she came to the conclusion only very few would benefit from her answers.

It was at this point she worked out that complex things could be shared in simple language, and, in doing so, far more people would benefit from the response.

• Tim Nelson is principal of Lakeview School and author of the book Small Steps for a happy and purposeful life. He endeavours to learn something new every day by reading books, listening to podcasts, and engaging with a wide range of other content.

Orthodontics as a youngster or a grownup?

Implant dentures with Dr Kenny and Dr Akash

Masterton Dental has the answers

Masterton Dental is the place to go for advanced dentistry. Last month, we focused on dental implants. Today we spotlight implant dentures and, next month, we’ll feature implant bridges.

More and more adults are opting to straighten their teeth. Often, misaligned teeth get more crooked as the jaws continue to reshape and grow in maturity. Or, adults who had braces when they were younger may nd themselves back where they started if they haven’t routinely worn retainers.

Implant dentures are a great alternative to ordinary dentures whether for the top gum, the bottom, or both.

“Options for tooth straightening are similar for adults and youngsters,” says Dr Akash Kota. “Braces are still one of the most common and proven methods for correcting bite problems and misaligned teeth for both children and adults. And there are ranges of braces available today that are increasingly popular among adults.”

To begin with, two to four titanium rods (‘implants’) are inserted into the gum. Removable dentures are then clipped onto the implants.

Regardless of age, braces do the same job: They shift and realign teeth and correct bite problems. So, what makes adult braces different to braces for younger people?

philosophy is that people get treatment that lasts. We take a holistic approach with the mouth.” With 3D scanners, CBCT x-ray machines, and more, Masterton Dental can do a lot of things in-house having to send things out to a lab which would draw process.

And if rather be than have anaesthetic, options

Dr Kenny Kim and Dr Akash Kota, principal dentists at Masterton Dental, are strong supporters of implant dentures. “They give you more bite force, which means you can eat anything. There’s less chance of implant dentures falling out when talking. And, for top dentures,” Kenny says, “there’s less plastic covering the roof of your mouth. Implant dentures are also very effective for the bottom gum. Ordinary dentures at the bottom can move around when your tongue moves, but implant dentures eliminate that annoyance.”

One of the key differences between adult braces and child braces is the amount of time it takes to shift teeth. “Orthodontic treatment takes longer for adults,” Dr Kenny Kim says. “Adults have fully developed teeth and jaws, so their bones are harder and the tissue around their teeth has already settled. But that shouldn’t stop you from considering treatment as an adult. It’s never too late!”

and nitrous ‘laughing’ gas to give to avoid uncontrolled laughter,” Kenny grins. “Too much laughter would make the dental work dif cult.” Nitrous has few aftereffects and you can even drive home safely.

Are there any other considerations for adults?

The clip-on implant dentures can be removed to be cleaned and should be removed from your mouth at night.

This sort of work may sound major, but Kenny and Akash make it straightforward. Treatment plans are developed to respond to your unique needs. “Our team’s

Adults who are conscious of the appearance of braces might want to choose invisible aligners or Invisalign instead of braces. The length of this treatment is dependent on the severity of each person’s orthodontic issues. Treatment may vary from anywhere between six months to two years, although the average treatment time is around a year.

Yes, a couple. The rst is that some areas in adult jaws lack density – if this is the case, then even if the teeth could be shifted into new positions with either aligners or braces, they wouldn’t be able to anchor properly without adequate bone support. Another issue is that adults are more likely to have had tooth extractions, creating gaps between teeth.

Kenny and Akash bring a depth of knowledge across multiple areas of dentistry, having trained together in Otago, Australia, America, and Central America. Masterton Dental and sister clinics in Masterton, Geraldine, Kapiti, and Wellington are one stop shops for all your advanced dentistry needs. And Kenny Kim is committing an increasing amount of his time to the Masterton clinic.

“But all these challenges can be addressed prior to braces or aligners,” says Dr Akash.

“If you’ve been dealing with bad dentures for years,” Kenny says, “come and talk to us about implant dentures. We can advise on payment options too. Implant dentures will give you a new lease on life and you’ll look great too.”

“Come and have a ‘smile assessment’ with us,” encourages Dr Kenny. “We can explore advanced dentistry options with you –whether you’re an adult or a bit younger.”

PHOTO/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Dr Kenny Kim at Masterton Dental

Dr Kenny Kim and Dr Akash Kota discussing options with a patient.

The ins and outs of making a will

properly drawn up and valid.

agreement you have made.

Lifestyle

How do I make a will?

Because of the importance of your will, the law says it must be made in a prescribed manner. Do-ityourself kits do not always cover all the aspects you need to consider and the technicalities can be complicated, so you should get legal advice about how to make your will.

Why should see a lawyer?

Though you choose what to say in a will, the law specifies how you should say it. If you do not comply with the law, your will – or parts of it – may be invalid. A lawyer can:

• Suggest how you can best and most fairly provide for your family and dependents.

• Express your wishes so they have the legal effect you intend, and ensure your will is

• Tell you about alternatives you must consider [including who may challenge your will and why –this can be a complex area of law].

• Advise on the appointment of suitable executors.

• Advise on and form trusts for your beneficiaries.

• Explain extra powers available to your executors and trustees that you might want to include in your will and advise on the appointment of suitable people to take on these roles.

When you see your lawyer, take along:

• A list of your assets and debts.

• A list of the names of people and charities to whom you want to leave your assets.

• A list of questions you want to ask.

• Any trust deed or relationship property

How much will it cost?

Whoever you consult about making your will, make sure you check their charges beforehand. Consider any charges that might apply if that person is going to administer your estate when you die.

At the end of the day, having an expert prepare your will could save your relatives the grief and expense of you having an invalid will or no will at all.

What should my will include?

Executor. Your will should name at least one executor. An executor is a responsible person who will see that your wishes, as expressed in your will, are carried out and who will administer your estate until it is properly distributed. Your lawyer can assist the executor in their duties, which may include paying debts, selling property and distributing the estate in terms of the will.

If any claims against the estate are made during this

process, your lawyer can advise the executor.

An executor can be named as a beneficiary in your will and if you want you can direct that your executor should get paid for the work they do. You should give some thought to this even if your executor is a friend or relative, as administering an estate can involve a lot of work.

A person named as an executor can also witness your will but this might affect any gift you leave that person. This does not apply to payment for services as an executor. Your will should provide for payment of your liabilities such as mortgages, overdrafts and debts. It should make adequate provision for your dependants [partners, children, adult children not able to look after themselves and,

sometimes, parents]. If it doesn’t, they may be able to make a claim on your estate.

A gift to one of your children who dies before you will pass automatically to their child [that is, your grandchild] unless your will says otherwise.

Your will should say who you want to inherit your personal possessions as well as your general assets. Some people make a provision in their will asking the executor to observe any list they leave about who is to receive particular less valuable items. If this is handled properly, you may be able to update it without changing your will.

Property owned with others

Any property you own as joint tenants automatically becomes the property of

the surviving partner with whom you own it, unless there is an agreement otherwise [subject to rules in the Property [Relationships] Act]. Your will does not apply to any property held that way. Alternatively, you may own property with others in equal or unequal shares, as tenants in common. On your death, your share of the property becomes part of the assets in your estate and is dealt with as your will directs.

Other things you may wish to include in your will

Your will can name preferred guardians of your children [see “Guardianship of children”].

You can set out any specific funeral arrangements that you want, though those organising your funeral are

not legally bound to follow those instructions. Where there is no agreement as to burial arrangements, your executor[s] have the right and duty to decide.

You can state your wishes about being an organ/tissue donor. Anyone up to 80 years of age [or 85 for corneas] can be a donor. However, it may be better not to do this in your will but in another document and to make sure your next-of-kin know about your wishes, as it is unlikely your will would be read in time. However, your wishes in this regard are likely to be sought from your next of kin, and consent confirmed by them

If you are interested in leaving your body for teaching and medical science, you need to arrange this with either the Otago or Auckland Medical School before you die. If they agree, you will be asked to lodge the relevant forms with the school. A copy of those details should also be kept with your will.

Your will can also include a bequest or a gift to charity. This might be a specific gift, such as an amount of money or shares or a residue gift – that is, part of anything that is left of the estate after specific gifts.

You can give directions as to how a business you own should be dealt with

when you die. That is a complex topic, so you need to consult a lawyer.

What about Māori land?

There are special laws governing who can inherit Māori land. The process is known as succession and it is covered by Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 [also known as the Māori Land Act].

Does making a will restrict what can do with my property during my lifetime?

A will does not prevent you from selling or giving away anything or dealing with your property in any way you choose during your lifetime.

Your will takes effect from the date of your death, not from when you sign it. However, often two people make mutual wills agreeing on how to dispose of certain property. They can agree to keep the same arrangement in any future will, by way of a separate contract.

Also, under the Wills Act 2007, if the first person to die keeps the promise but the second person to die does not, then the intended beneficiary can make a claim against the second person’s estate. Can I cancel or change my will?

You can revoke [cancel] your will at any time [while you are still of sound mind] by:

• Making a new will. Declaring in writing

[similar to making a will] that you revoke your existing will.

• Destroying your will with the intention of revoking it.

• Otherwise showing an intention to revoke it [but that can cause problems if there are photocopies available and people don’t know you have revoked it].

When you make a new will, you should start by inserting a clause revoking any previous will. It is a good idea to tell anyone holding a previous will that it is no longer current.

You should also consider advising any previous executors and trustees if they have been replaced [though that is not legally necessary].

In some circumstances, you can change part of your will without making a new one. However, you should consult a lawyer if you want to do this, to discuss the consequences on other provisions in your will.

How often should I review my will?

You should review your will regularly, say, every five years. You should also review it whenever your circumstances change – if you marry or enter into a civil union or de-facto relationship, or when such a relationship ends; if any trustee or significant beneficiary named in the will dies; or if your assets or debts change

significantly.

You should also review your will if the law changes. Some major changes in recent years have affected wills so if you have not already done so, check to see if your will is still valid and if it is likely to be challenged under any of the new laws. If your will has been made since November 1, 2007, it is probably valid under the new laws.

You can also write your own will, using the Do It Yourself Will Kit, which can be found by typing do it yourself will kit nz into the search browser on your computer and downloading the form. However, they are quite basic and not suitable if you have complicated assets or wishes. Citizens Advice Bureau can give free and confidential advice regarding making a will. However they are legally not allowed to write your will for you.

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Snowy blast from the past

Cars that had parked on the sides of the roads found it difficult to drive up from the gentle slopes of the roadside, with the council doing its best to clear the roads.

Wairarapa Archive’s MARK PACEY digs into the 1939 snowstorm.

On the evening of July 24, Masterton residents were turning in for the night when a clap of thunder exploded overhead. This was followed by a severe hailstorm and strong winds.

Although the wind died down and the hail subsided as the night progressed, it was to turn out the weather’s assault on the region was far from over.

When residents rose the next morning, they found their town covered by a cold, crisp white blanket of snow. And Masterton wasn’t the only Wairarapa town to be affected, with other settlements in the area also experiencing snow, which was still falling in Carterton at 10am.

“The trees and hedges are covered and as far as the eye can see it is white,” a farmer from Blairlogie reported.

Sheep and cattle were finding the conditions tricky but fortunately lambing season had yet to start so farmers at least did not have the challenge of keeping newborns alive in the freezing conditions.

While the weather was unpleasant for animals, Wairarapa’s children were delighted. Many took the opportunity to build a snowman or have a snowball fight, resulting in hordes of soggy children heading off to school.

At 9am the snow began to disappear when a breeze arose. The snowmen melted and the children dried out.

But although the snow had gone, it continued

to be bitterly cold, and the Korker Korner Shop on Queen St adjusted its advertisements accordingly: “Gee! It’s so cold! Yes, my fingers are even too cold to roll a cigarette. Well, don’t go without your smoke –oh, no! Smoke a pipe.”

Just two days after the first snowfall, the region experienced another, heavier dump.

“Residents awoke this morning to find the whole countryside as far as the eye could see under a white blanket,” the Times-Age reported.

“At an early hour the effect was most picturesque, but a strong wind sprang up and dislodged snow

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from trees and shrubs. A feature of the storm was the peculiar, green-coloured lightning seen in the south between six and seven this morning.”

Travelling the streets became quite hazardous – not because of the snow underfoot, but the snow that was travelling horizontally at great speed, due to residents young and old enthusiastically joining the combatants in what evolved into a great Masterton snow fight.

Defensive positions were taken up on the streets, while the strategic high ground on the rooftops was seized in order to rain down a barrage on those below.

The wheels of those cars that attempted to traverse the streets caused deep furrows that were then utilised by grateful cyclists who travelled in the convenient grooves.

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Whether due to the difficulty of making the journey or just because it was such a great opportunity for unmissable fun, attendance was very low at Masterton schools that day. Masterton Central School, for example, reported just half its students had shown up. The snowfall was so heavy that the clock on the Post Office had its hands stuck at 2.25am due to being weighed down by snow.

Farmers were concerned about this second fall of snow and the effect it would have on those animals unable to find easy food due to the grassy paddocks being under snow in what was the worst snowfall since the 1918 storm. Fortunately, the next day brought no new snow. Some telephone and electricity lines had been cut but were quickly repaired, and some poles required replacing.

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The devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle reminds us that nature can be unpredictable.

ABOVE: A snowbound house in Masterton. LEFT: Snow covered Queen St. PHOTOS/WAIRARAPA ARCHIVE

Be Warm this Winter with a

Jumbo crossword

Sudoku

ACROSS: 1 Sighted, 4 Medication, 9 Sarcasm, 13 Aped, 14 Jaguar, 15 Office, 16 Gearbox, 19 Discipline, 20 Steerage, 21 Evade, 24 Mantis, 25 Waders, 27 Itinerant, 32 Sampling, 33 Blocks, 34 Impasse, 38 Imagined, 39 Thrift, 40 Norm, 41 Bogus, 42 Ebony, 45 Put on a pedestal, 52 Sever, 55 State, 56 Taxi, 57 Dagger, 58 Igniting, 61 Wealthy, 62 Forces, 63 Gleaming, 66 Strangest, 68 Runner, 69 Siesta, 73 Soapy, 74 Welcomed, 76 Craftiness, 81 Drooped, 82 Plasma, 83 Erased, 84 Star, 85 Tsunami, 86 Topsy-turvy, 87 Dynasty.

DOWN: 1 Scald, 2 Greasing, 3 Deadly, 4 Mourn, 5 Darn, 6 Chooses, 7 Toffee, 8 Occur, 10 Axed, 11 Caravan, 12 Scolds, 17 Similarity, 18 Agent, 22 Lengthen, 23 Frame, 24 Massive, 26 Arid, 28 Takings, 29 Upkeep, 30 Rotted, 31 Assume, 33 Blimp, 35 Alone, 36 Sago, 37 Area, 43 Bitter, 44 Natal, 46 Utah, 47 Ominous, 48 Addict, 49 Edges, 50 Emerging, 51 Legume, 52 Scientific, 53 Veil, 54 Regalia, 59 Ahead, 60 Here, 64 Agree, 65 Asbestos, 67 Typhoon, 68 Radiant, 70 Boards, 71 Amuses, 72 Offend, 75 Cello, 77 Ready, 78 Sorry, 79 Berm, 80 Wear.

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

Wairere hitting country roads to talk rams with farmers

Rebecca King rebecca.king@age.co.nz

Masterton-based awardwinning ram breeder business Wairere Rams

[WR] is travelling across New Zealand this month to offer advice to sheep farmers.

Local and retired farmers gathered at the Gladstone Inn to kick off the first of WR’s roadshow events.

For the second year in a row, sheep and beef farmers are experiencing

previous year.

Since 2002, sheep numbers in NZ have plummeted by 14.2 million, or 36 per cent.

A recent slap in the face to sheep farmers was the government’s decision to supply synthetic carpet sourced from the United States to roughly 800 small and remote schools.

“They’ve got so clever

“It’s

have dropped, WR’s productivity has increased.

The WR roadshows are about adapting, doing more with less, and passing on information they have learnt from their clients.

“Not only have sheep numbers shrunk, but people use fewer rams per 1000 ewes. Therefore, the number of rams required continues to drop away,” Daniell said.

“One could be optimistic looking at what farmers have paid for bulls this season, but I think it’s normally the case that farmers pay three times as much for bulls relative to the value of progeny than they do for rams.”

WR believes it’s too early for farmers to throw in the towel when it comes to making a profit from wool, as the business is keeping in close contact with research and development programmes that aim to make wool a valuable product again.

“It’s my fond hope that we can get to a position where wool is worth at least $10 greasy at the farm gate, and therefore we could be making $400 per hectare gross revenue from wool,” Daniell said.

The second direction WR is heading towards is developing a flock of sheep that grow no wool.

In April, the WR team and veterinarian specialist Ian McDougall transferred 458 Bare Hair

sheep embryos from the UK into recipient ewes.

McDougall inseminated 637 Wairere ewes with Bare Hair sheep semen.

Several NZ farmers have already made headway on breeding sheep without wool,

and WR anticipates the number will increase if wool prices continue to sit at a depressing low for another three years.

“We’ve got to make your sheep farming easier and more profitable.”

Daniell said WR has

had endorsements from clients who have complimented them on how well their rams have done.

“We had a client who started buying rams from us in 2004, and his accountant said to him some years later, ‘Just as

well you changed your sheep breeder or you wouldn’t be here now’.

“He typically does 160 per cent lambing, and a lot of lambs go to the works at weaning time; he said it’s the virtuous system that keeps on working year on year.

Wairere Rams kicked o˜ the ÿ rst roadshow at the Gladstone Pub.

“The sooner the lambs are gone, the sooner the workload drops off,”

Daniell said.

The business has up to 40 years of long-term clients spread across New Zealand, with half of its rams going to the South Island.

Calves are starting to appear around the district and its important they get off to the right start. Colostrum, AKA Liquid Gold, is one of the best ways to ensure that. Remember the 3 Q’s of colostrum management: 1. Quality Gold (1st milking) colostrum is the highest quality colostrum and should be fed to newborns, but quality can vary. Brix refractometers are small, simple tools that can be used to measure the antibody level in colostrum. Gold colostrum that measures 22 percent or more with a Brix refractometer is considered high quality.

2. Quickly It is most effective to feed colostrum in the rst 6-12 hours of life as antibodies cannot be absorbed after 24 hours. Every hour counts when it comes to feeding colostrum.

3. Quantity Newborn calves need at least 10 percent of their bodyweight gold colostrum within the rst 6-12 hours of life. Calves can only take 1.52 litres in their stomach (abomasum), so two feeds within the rst 12 hours is the target.

PHOTO/REBECCA KING

Wairere Rams principal Derek Daniell.

Wairere Rams business manager Simon Buckley.

PHOTO/FILE

my fond hope that we can get to a

who mean business

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS

We support hundreds of people impacted by Alzheimers and other kinds of dementia and are seeking volunteers.

Are you –

• Open-minded?

• Full of ideas?

• Creative?

• Fun, ready to banter, able to laugh and see the bright side of life?

• Able to think outside the box?

Can you -

• Forget people have dementia?

• Treat our clients like everyone else and do normal things with them?

• Empower and encourage?

From van drivers to day activity assistants, there’s a volunteer role to t around your time and commitments.

For more information: 06 377 7522 or esther@alzheimerswairarapa.co.nz and tam@alzheimerswairarapa.co.nz

DAVE THE Handyman

TAKING CARE OF THE JOBS OTHERS HAVEN’T GOT TIME FOR

Dave the Handyman is just the person you need for all types of jobs around the home and business. Whether it’s assembling at pack furniture, putting up shelving, changing a lightbulb or building bespoke furniture, Dave has a wide knowledge of trades and range of skills to complete most jobs around the house or workplace.

Dave will happily take on jobs that would be too small or inconvenient for other tradespeople.

Among recent jobs are building and installing a new gate, wallpapering and painting for sta facilities at a business; building shelving units for record storage and construction of pergolas and decks.

If you’re looking for someone to get those ‘to do’ items o your list, call Dave the Handyman for a FREE QUOTE.

P 021 227 7338 E davethehandyman11@gmail.com @Davethehandyman11

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We have ap osition for an experienced lawn mowing position in a Lifestyle Village environment

The position entails lawn mowing a lawn maintenance for 75 Units in addition to common areas.

Applicants will need to be f amiliar with operating the usual tools of t rade necessary to carry out the work

Interested parties should contact Leanne Elliot, 920-2195 or email leanne@rjker.co.nz to arrange a time to inspect the property and obtain a full job description

Tenders close on Monday 31 July 2023

Public Notices

N

A I SPORTS FISHIN L IN

Annual General Meeting

To be held on Saturday 5th August 2023 at the Community all, Ng awi commencing at 2.30pm Trophi will be

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A ual er al Meet ng of Alz ime Dise se Re la De me ia ie

(Al ime ir I cor por at ed

Will take place on Saturday, August 19th, 2023, at 1pm, Doug La mb Building, Cnr York and Fleet Sts, Solway Showgrou nds, Masterton All welcome - Phone 06 377 7522

Public Notices

MEETING SCHEDULE.

Council Meetings – August 2023

2 August

9 August

Grants Committee

open to the public)

To

Employment

23 August

Meeting location: Meetings are at the Carterton Events Centre.

Agendas: Meeting agendas are available for public inspection two days prior to the meeting at the Carterton Library and on the Council’s website.

Attendance at meetings:

• You can attend the public section of Council and most committee meetings in person. Meetings are also uploaded to YouTube within 48 hours of the meeting.

• Members of the public who wish to participate in a public forum must register their intention with the Democratic Services Of cer on 06 379 4030, or by email to demservices@cdc.govt.nz at least one full day before the meeting date.

Employment

LIFESTY LE LO OR ER

Seeking ag eneral hand for a lifestyle block in the Wairarapa Region, clo to Riversdale Beach to carry out ground and maintenance operations

The role includ general land type work, performing maintenan and all round upkeep of the land and property Two or three days per week. Competiti rates and conditions available. Applications to Grace at grace.n.clark@outlook com

Are you interested in working in and giving back to your community? If you are, we ar e interested in you Te Hauora Runanga o Wairarapa is seeking staff for the following permanent positions

• Community Support Worker - Youth Mental Health – Full-Time (1 x 40 hours per week)

To support young people experiencing Mental Health and/or Addictions by daily activities and assisting to provide therapeutic care.

• Out of Gate (1 x 20 hours per week)

To support and assist the reintegration of tangata that have served less than two years or have been remanded in custody within the Wellington, Wairarapa and Manawatū area

To work with the tangata to identify and create their goal plans through a mix of mentoring, whanau ora services and any other relevant service that will support tangata i n the community.

• Youth Peer Support & Youth Development Programme (40 hours combined a week or 20 hours per role separate) Is a rangatahi service specifically Māori to work with those who are affected from domestic violence, relationship issues or at risk of offending. To support rangatahi to identify their goals while being supported through a mix of mentoring, whānau ora services and any other relevant service that will support young people in the community

If any of these position s sound like you, please send your CV with a covering letter to cir@tehauora.org.nz

Closing date 21st of July 2023

Employment

Erecta Fence is a well -established company that has been providing commercial and residential fencing and gate solutions in Wairarapa for many years.

We are currently looking to increase our workforce due to a busy workload. Applicants must be hard working, fit, honest, reliable and drug free and have a high quality standard of workmanship, good people/communication skills and enjoy working as part of a team. Need to have a current clean drivers licence. This position would suit someone who has relevant experience either in fencing or building who is able to work unsupervised and supervise others if required.

Pay rate will be determined by the work experience shown.

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa. Application should contain a brief CV detailing skills and work history and will close on Friday 21 July 2023.

Email: tim@erectafence.co.nz or call 027 247 7990

CARTERTON 29 GREYTOWN 26

Ben Brooking was the hero for Carterton as he slotted an 82nd-minute penalty to secure their second consecutive Chris ‘Moose’ Kapene Memorial Cup championship on Saturday.

With 80 minutes up on the clock, the match looked almost certain to be heading to golden point sudden death when Greytown replacement prop Tolu Fahamokioa conceded a needless penalty at a breakdown, 25m out and 7m in from touch.

Up stepped Brooking, who had been solid off the tee all game, to calmly slot the winning goal, sending the big band of maroon and black supporters in the crowd into raptures and being swamped by his teammates, including a thrilled captain Daryl Pickering.

“As soon as we got that penalty, he walked up to me and said he wanted it,” Pickering said.

“I love the confidence in that man. He’s kicked us to victory so many times this year, and I back him in those situations over and over.

“We said we’d do whatever it takes to get the win, and it took until the 80th minute to do that.”

Expectations before the final were that it would be tight and uncompromising and not much would separate the sides at the end, and that is how it panned out, with both teams having their periods of dominance.

Greytown had the better of the first 20 minutes, going out to a 9-3 lead, courtesy of assured goal-kicking from former Hurricane Andre Taylor, with Carterton’s only response coming from Brooking’s boot.

Carterton were beginning to gain some dominance at the breakdown and in the loose with their Fijian trio of flanker Inia Katia and brothers Malakai and Isireli Biumaiwai to the fore with prop Tupou Lea’aemanu and lock Logan Wakefield not far behind.

That pressure paid off when lock Malakai Biumaiwai crashed over close to the posts for the opening try.

Just when it looked as if the defending champions would take a 16-9 lead into the break, Greytown winger Joseph Te Naihi dived in to score in the corner but was hit in a high tackle.

After consultation with his assistant referee Scott Andrew, referee Alistair Payne awarded the penalty try.

Katia restored Carterton’s lead shortly after the resumption with a well-deserved try, but five minutes later, he went from hero to zero when he was yellow-carded for a high tackle. That opened the door for Greytown, and halfback Sam WaltonSexton found a big gap and ran 15m to score.

Taylor and Brooking then traded penalties making for a tense finish, but with errors creeping into the game and the scrums becoming messy, it led to a stop-start final few minutes until the drama of the clinching penalty.

Winning captain Pickering was naturally thrilled with winning backto-back titles.

“It’s always harder the second time around with a target on our backs, but we were prepared for whatever was to be thrown at us today from Greytown and anything that was out of our control.”

Pickering said the whole team put in a massive effort, but he made special mention of the team’s Pasifika connection.

“They’re outstanding, eh? They carry our team forward, as well as everyone, to be fair, but those boys have really been putting it together, with Inia at the forefront, and those boys have all brought us tighter.”

The victorious captain was also full of praise for a brave Greytown side.

“As soon as we thought we had the foot on their throat, they would always bounce back and find something, and it was to and fro there for a while, but it comes downs to moments like that [late penalty] in games like this.”

Greytown also had their outstanding performers,

none more so than Taylor, who was brilliant at firstfive, with his astute kicking in general play and assured goalkicking.

Blockbusting prop Lewis Bush wasn’t as prominent as in some games but still made several telling runs, while underrated Rihi Brown was a workhorse at blindside flanker. Greytown also suffered a massive blow after veteran No. 8 Tana Isaac walked off with an injury.

Although gutted with the loss, veteran second-five Cyrus Baker was rapt with his team’s effort and felt the game could have gone either way.

“It was a game where the momentum changed a few times. I think once we got into their half and played our own game, that’s when we mounted some pressure, but it was the ones who could mount the pressure in the 22s, and I think Carterton did a bit better,” Baker said.

“The game changer there was their Fijian trio. They seemed to march quite easily through the middle and got them going forward. It’s pretty tough to contain them when they get going, and they got going pretty early, so it was tough.”

Baker was also proud of making the final after a rocky start to the season, which saw them suffer heavy losses to Carterton, Martinborough and Marist.

“To turn the season around like that is something special, and that would’ve been the icing on the cake, but either way, I’m pretty proud of this team and what we’ve achieved.”

Hats off also to referee Payne, who was whistling his ninth consecutive final. Payne was calm and in control, and most importantly, made the crucial calls – the penalty try and the last-gasp penalty – and again showed he would not look out of place on the Heartland panel.

BRIEF SCORES

Carterton 29 [Malakai Biumaiwai, Inia Katia tries, Ben Brooking 5 pens 2 cons] Greytown 26 [Penalty try, Sam Walton-Sexton try, Andre Taylor 4 pens, con] HT 16-16

Ben Brooking kicked the matchwinning penalty

PHOTO/GRAEME BOWDEN

RUGBY CHRIS COGDALE chris.cogdale@age.co.nz

It's time to say THANKS!

Since announcing plans to build Wairarapa Station in January this year we’ve been overwhelmed with the support and generosity from the community.

Donations, o ers of support for building materials or services, wholehearted appreciation for the work of our crews and the a rmation of the important role Wellington Free holds across the Wairarapa, we couldn’t be more grateful.

Although we are yet to start building the Station, the BBQ is your opportunity to meet some of the WFA team and check out the site where the building will be.

Onsite BBQ kindly provided by:

Please join us for a community celebration

To mark the milestone of moving on site and to thank everyone who has donated or supported the Station Build, please join us for a BBQ at the site of the soon to be Wairarapa Ambulance Station in Masterton.

Thursday 27 July

Time: 11.15am - official welcome

Open to the public until 1pm Location: Corner of Russell and Queen Street, Masterton