Wairarapa Midweek Wed 1st Feb

New faces at the helm of Hospice

An experienced public servant and a veteran of the residential and palliative care sector are the new faces at the helm of Hospice Wairarapa.

Gretchen Saulbrey has been appointed as the interim chief executive for the community organisation and Dr Jenny Prentice will take on the role of service delivery manager.

Saulbrey has a wideranging background, including serving as a sworn police officer, managing small businesses and a nongovernment organisation, and in the last four years, working in project and programme management across complex social issues within the Ministry of Social Development, Police and Oranga Tamariki.

“It’s been a privilege working for government agencies and at the pointy end of some very tricky social problems,” she said.

“I’ve learned so much about the need for strong collaboration, multi-agency approaches and enduring partnerships to create the right changes at the right time”

“I’m thrilled to have been given the opportunity to work back in Wairarapa and

to be part of the Hospice team”

Bringing expertise to deliver the services needed, Prentice brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in social work, public policy, aged care, palliative care, the health sector and organisational development.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know the team and continuing the development of palliative care services in Wairarapa.”

Hospice Wairarapa is part of a palliative care system that delivers wrap-around support alongside other community-based services and health providers, such as GPs, medical practices and Kahukura – the Te Whatu Ora palliative care team.

Saulbrey and Prentice look forward to continuing Hospice Wairarapa’s contribution to “a cohesive and integrated palliative care service” across the whole region.

“We want to make sure all palliative care services are easy to access and navigate, and that Hospice supports this journey by providing a welcoming, inclusive and safe experience for individuals and whānau at

READER PHOTOS

Guild gathering to spin ancient crafts

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

any stage of their palliative care,” Saulbrey said.

Hospice Wairarapa’s services focus on caring for the psycho-social, spiritual and cultural needs of individuals and whānau through their end-of-life journey. Hospice services are available to everyone in the community and are free of charge.

To enable these services to remain free, Hospice relies on valued funders and a vast network of committed volunteers – usually found helping at fundraising events or working at Hospice’s various second-hand stores.

Almost everything that is donated is moved through the Masterton and Greytown shops, the Saturday morning garage sale [at Te Kowhai, 59 Renall St, Masterton], or the bookshop – the lesser-known treasure trove behind the Greytown shop. Of the retail arm, Saulbrey said, “I’ve been blown away by the scale of the operation and the exceptional way it is organised.

“The team at Hospice [both staff and volunteers] love what they do, and it shows. We look forward to a fantastic year ahead.”

One of the region’s longest-running creative guilds hopes to pass on the “ancient crafts” of spinning and weaving to the next generation.

Last week, the Wairarapa Spinners and Weavers Guild held its first meeting of the year, marking the occasion with its traditional outdoor crafting session at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton.

About 30 members gathered next to the statue of town founder Joseph Masters, where they worked on various projects – from spinning merino roving fibres to knitting socks with hand-dyed yarn.

The guild, which meets every Wednesday at The Wool Shed, is made of fibre artists of various disciplines, including knitters, crocheters, felters, yarn dyers and tapestry makers.

Founded in 1970, the guild was, until recently, one of the largest fibre arts clubs in New Zealand, with close to 90 members.

President Caroline Melville said membership numbers have dwindled, dropping to 66 – as many of its longest-serving members had died or moved away.

Melville said the club was hoping to attract new members, particularly of “the younger generation”

– not just to keep the club afloat, but to ensure “the old skills” survive into the future.

“Spinning is a dying art. It’s an ancient craft that’s been practised for so many years, and we’d love to see it continue,” she said.

“It would be wonderful to see more young people join and pass on our skills to the next generation.

“We’re always happy to teach new people what we know.”

The guild also hosts twice-monthly crafting sessions on a Tuesday evening and runs a felting group every second Tuesday.

Guild members do regular spinning demonstrations for tour groups to The Wool Shed, sell their handcrafted wares at the museum’s gift shop – and also set up a pop-up shop in Masterton each winter.

Melville said the group has members “from all over Wairarapa”, including as far as Eketāhuna – and any new ones would be warmly welcomed into the fold.

“Our group is very friendly, welcoming, and easy to get on with.”

• For more information about the Wairarapa Spinners and Weavers Guild, go to spinweavewai. wordpress.com or call Caroline Melville on 027 421 0099.

Spinners Josie Wilson [left], Phyllis French, Caroline Melville and Rosemarie Penno enjoy an outdoor crafting session at Queen Elizabeth Park. PHOTOS/ERIN KAVANAGH-HALL

Gretchen Saulbrey, new interim chief executive for Hospice Wairarapa.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Reader Nina shared this stunning shot of the evening skies above the Carterton Railway Station.

PHOTO/NINA TAIGEL

Former orchard now ripe with residents

OPPORTUNITIES KNOCK

Tony and Margaret Long came together from opposite ends of the earth – Margaret from Waipukurau and Tony from Wales. They met in Gisborne in 1970, went on what was to be a brief OE to Australia in 1972 –and didn’t return to New Zealand until 2007. In the intervening 35 years, the couple based themselves in Sydney, taking advantage of every opportunity.

“We haven’t lived remarkable lives,” they agreed. Then Margaret [74] revealed decades of service to Sydney’s preschoolers and disabled children, having trained as a speech therapist and a teacher.

“I was so lucky to be able to teach disabled children alongside physiotherapists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists,” she said.

“The joined-up approach gave children a better start in life.”

Tony [76] worked in commercial radio followed by public relations roles in government and a university. In the 1980s, he bought a newsagent and became a successful businessman. When time allowed, he participated in local ‘Politics in the Pub’ discussions.

Their early years shaped them – Margaret, for example, was aware of disability right from the start.

“My mother was a Rotary wife. She was involved in service, including supporting a woman with cerebral palsy.”

Tony’s mother was also a force to be reckoned with – having brought her husband, five children, and her own mother from post-war Britain to New Zealand. His mother’s capacity to embrace change and global travel is a feature in his own life.

In fact, future travel in the Arctic is on the cards. The couple bought their villa about three months ago after 15 years in Wellington. With a passion for all things cultural [which Wairarapa has in abundance] and the welcome they’ve received from their neighbours at Greytown Orchards, they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

IN MINIATURE

Rio Cox, 82, is embracing her new life at Greytown Orchards. Her husband died in 2006, but Rio only moved to Greytown Orchards about six months ago after living in Avalon, Lower Hutt, for 32 years.

“Avalon has changed a lot over the last few years,” she said. “It was time for me to leave.”

Rio’s passion since the 1970s has been depicting, in miniature, everyday lives, homes and fashions as they change through time using a variety of materials old, new, collected, found, donated or scrounged. She has also sculpted in FIMO, clay and bronze. A founding member of Lower Hutt’s Miniature Makers in 1980 and involved in the New Zealand Association of Miniature Enthusiasts, Rio has spent decades participating in miniaturemaking exhibitions and conventions, as well as teaching workshops.

“I’ve already joined Greytown’s Miniature Makers,” she said.

As a child, Rio learned to dance, which she said helped her gain an understanding of bodies, muscles, and movement: “All of which has been so helpful in making realistic miniature people.”

Rio can remember playing with dolls’ houses and tiny dolls as a child. She also remembers fondly her grandparents’ house on Greytown’s Main St.

Many of her miniatures depict her grandparents’ lives. A miniature oldfashioned washhouse includes an abundance of tiny detail such as a scrubbing brush, plug, St Mungo soap, a newspaper to light the fire under the copper, bellows, and pegs. One of her creations is on display at Cobblestones Museum.

Moving to Greytown Orchards feels like “coming home” for Rio – with both maternal grandparents coming from long established South Wairarapa families [Garrity and Hodge], with her children and grandchildren not far away, and new memories being made.

ENQUIRING MIND

Dr Ian Miller [“Please, call me Ian”] has no regrets.

Gaining first-class Honours in Zoology and a PhD in Psychology, Ian’s career with the corrections sector, the New Zealand Police, and the fire service focused on helping people deal with occupational trauma.

“In my role as a police psychologist, I learned something new every day but also gave something back every day to the officers who look after us.”

Ian’s fascination with human behaviour was “a natural consequence of an initial interest in animal behaviour” –harking back to when he was a child living on his parents’ Taranaki farm. His career may also have been influenced by an unconscious need to understand his parents after World War II. “It began to make sense to me

Don’t let the long weekend pass you by! Don’t let the long weekend pass you by!

why my father was pissed [drunk] so often and why he got angry so suddenly,” Ian said. His stellar career included a stint teaching at Victoria University. There were also nearly 10 years working for Inland Revenue on organisational change and training in relating to customers.

Ian [73] said he has been “very lucky in love”.

Jeanette became his “closest and best friend” as well as a “confidante, wife, and mother of [their] three sons”. Sadly, Jeanette died in 2015 and Ian moved to Greytown, “stepping into a whole new community”.

“Greytown embodies many of the characteristics of 1950s New Zealand. Even strangers greet each other.”

Ian moved into his villa in December and said it has been “pure magic from day one”. He’s content to be largely retired now, listening to music, reading the newspaper from cover to cover, finding new things to investigate to keep him sharp, and cooking Mediterranean food. Cooking has been one of his responsibilities

and passions since he was a boy. That’s not about to change.

CREATING CULTURE

Originally from Christchurch, John Gilberthorpe [77] worked for a while in his hometown before establishing himself in Wellington and discovering local politics. He was first elected chair of Wellington South’s Licensing Trust and then, in 1986, elected on the Labour ticket to the Wellington City Council. Over a decade, he served under three mayors.

“I was lucky enough to chair the council’s Culture and Recreation Committee for several years – the ‘good news’ part of council,” he said.

In 1996, with his passion for culture and heritage evident, John was offered the role of chief executive to establish the Wellington Museums Trust [the Trust].

This oversaw the City Gallery Wellington, the development of Capital E for Children, the Museum of Wellington City and Sea, the Cable Car

Museum, and Nairn Street Cottage.

John is especially proud of the Capital E National Theatre for Children. “It’s one of the few nationally funded theatres in New Zealand and the only nationally-funded theatre for children. It has given incredible pleasure to so many children over 20 plus years,” he said.

“None of these successes could have been achieved without the brilliant and creative teams at each institution.”

One thing has seamlessly led to another for John. After retiring from the Trust in 2008, John moved to Greytown on the encouragement of [among others] Greg Lang from the Wheelwright

Shop in Gladstone – who restored a cable car for the Trust. On moving over the Remutaka Hill, John switched his focus to tourism – advising Destination Wairarapa on sustainable tourism and becoming the executive officer for Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre. John also put his museum talents to good use at Cobblestones

and, with friend Julie Kidd, established the Wairarapa Garden Tour, a major fundraiser for Pūkaha.

Since 2008, John has been very involved with Greytown Little Theatre, as committee chair and director of some of its shows. He also oversaw its relocation to the old St John’s Hall at 73 Main

St, “now rebranded as Studio 73”.

Having moved into his villa at the end of last year, John couldn’t be happier.

“It was time to grasp the next phase of life.”

IN SERVICE

Pauline Donaldson spent 45 happy years in Whanganui, almost all of them in the house she and her husband built. Her husband Russell died about 18 months ago and, in September, Pauline decided to move to Greytown Orchards.

“With my son in Wellington, and daughter and grandchildren in Greytown, it makes sense to be here,” she said.

Originally from Dunedin, Pauline [70] trained as a teacher. She devoted 50 years to children’s education, especially science, while her husband was a textile chemist with a passion for tramping, running, and cycling.

“We supported each other to reach for our work and personal goals.”

Some highlights of Pauline’s career included teaching in North Otago and Whanganui, training teachers all around the world in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years programme, and visiting Antarctica for two weeks in 1997 as part of the LEARNZ programme – which “links scientists on the ice with teachers”. There was a

year of preparation for the visit – but her interest in Antarctica began when she lived as a child on the coast of Dunedin, looking out to the expanse beyond.

“When you visit Antarctica, you get a very real sense of your place in the world,” she said. Since moving to Greytown Orchards, she’s had more time for reading and gardening, and she hopes to start painting. Her graphic artist son and ceramicist daughter support that idea to the hilt. Backstage theatre is another interest to explore. Originating from down south, the rural and provincial feel of Wairarapa feels like a type of homecoming. As Pauline and her threeyear-old grandson Alfie walked along the tranquil fruit-tree-lined avenues of Greytown Orchards, Alfie asked: “Are we still on earth?”

IT TAKES AVILLAGE

Meeting up for the group photo, the residents strengthen their burgeoning friendships over a bottle of red wine. After decades of service to society and family, the residents of Greytown Orchards have an opportunity now to kick back. They could be teenagers starting out in flats and hostels [although some might have had more hair back then], navigating changing identities and new worlds.

Get into your DIY jobs you’ve been meaning to do.

Get into your DIY jobs you’ve been meaning to do.

Our St John Wairarapa Store has something for everyone from good quality clothes to furniture,craft,electrical, vintage items, books, Records, extensive Dvd collection the list is endless.

Downsizing, decluttering?

We would be grateful to accept your good quality donations – call 027 202 0715 to arrange a pickup or drop off in store during opening hours.

Come and see the team at Mitre 10 MEGA. We can help you to get the job done.

Come and see the team at Mitre 10 MEGA. We can help you to get the job done.

OPEN DAYS 100% locally owned and operated

Proceeds from our Store support our Community Health Initiatives including Health Shuttle, Caring Caller and Youth.

Do you have a air for retail or display –we urgently require volunteers to help us in our store –contact Paul for more information.

St John Store, 19 Chapel Street, Masterton

John Gilberthorpe’s colourful career encompasses local government, museums, tourism and theatre.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Rio Cox, with some of her miniature creations.

PHOTO/ANGELA YEOMAN

Pauline Donaldson devoted 50 years to children’s education, with science as her passion.

PHOTO/ANGELA YEOMAN

Sharing colour and fun

– and look at the blank canvas in front of them and feel really intimidated.

“But then, they’ll relax into it, and end up really pleased with what they’ve done.

offered the use of her “lady cave”, which Kasha decked out with canvases and fairy lights.

Last year, Kasha McKinley-Cross hosted her first “paint and sip” session at Queen Elizabeth Park: With a couple of friends, some art supplies, and “lots of cheese, strawberries and lemon, lime and bitters”.

What started as an informal gathering on a park bench has evolved into a busy and vibrant creative space, allowing people of all abilities to “discover their inner artist” – if desired, over a glass of wine, or two.

Kasha, a multimedia artist, is the force behind Sienna Studio, launched in May from a friend’s converted garden shed in Carterton.

Sienna Studio [named after the reddish-brown paint colour] is dedicated to paint and sip events – where small groups of people can, with snacks, drinks, and the support of an experienced artist, work on creative projects

Kasha spent six months facilitating groups –from baby showers to office parties – from her temporary studio space, and hosts on-location events at private homes or eateries throughout the region.

She is on the hunt for a permanent base for the studio, and hopes to build her own premises — with space for outdoor workshops.

Kasha started Sienna Studio to share the joy of creativity with others — having rediscovered that joy after a long hiatus from the artistic world.

She said people usually attend the studio looking to try new experiences in the company of good friends. Some groups are “raucous”, others are more timid— but it’s “always rewarding” to see them grow in confidence.

“People will often say, ‘I’m going to need to drink a lot in case I’m s*** at painting’,” Kasha said.

“They’ll say, ‘oh, I’m not an artist’, or ‘I haven’t done art since school’

“For me, art is the thing that grounds me, that sets me on fire, and that lets me be completely myself. It feels so wholesome –and I wanted others to experience that feeling.”

Kasha said she has been creative from a young age — early memories include painting rocks for her grandmother’s garden, and making photo frames out of “seashells and glitter”.

Art, photography and design were her favourite subjects at school but, on leaving, she decided not to pursue her creativity further.

“I thought, ‘it’s time to become an adult’. I moved to Australia, got a job, had my kids – and my art never progressed.”

On moving to Carterton in 2019, Kasha picked up a paintbrush for the first time in years — and began developing her abstract style, and making paints using coffee grounds, clay and natural dyes.

After holding her first event at the park, her

Thanks to “word of mouth”, Sienna Studio gained momentum, and Kasha was hosting group events most Friday nights.

Now it has moved out of the lady cave, Sienna Studio has partnered with venues throughout Wairarapa, and has held art sessions at Balter Bar, Brac and Bow, Le Gra and The Screening Room, among others.

Eventually, Kasha hopes to open Sienna Studio to “creatives of all types” to run workshops in other artistic disciplines.

She also hopes to do art therapy with support agencies and vulnerable communities – for example, at marae, with solo parents, and with at-

Once Sienna Studio

moves to its permanent home, al fresco sessions are on the cards.

“I’d love for us to be out in nature – listening to music, doing meditation,

pick up dirt and leaves and throw them at a massive canvas, they can!”

For more information, contact Kasha McKinley-Cross at siennastudiocarterton@

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

Kasha McKinley-Cross – multimedia artist and founder of Sienna Studio in Carterton.

PHOTO/ERIN KAVANAGH-HALL

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FOOTWEAR: Converse, Vans, DC, Globe, Etnies, DVS

Ed a sheer good sport after ID hit

A staff member at a popular South Wairarapa eatery ended up enjoying a selfie with an international celebrity – after insisting on seeing his ID when he tried to buy a beer.

Just after 11am on January 22, a patron wearing a hoodie entered Featherston bar and restaurant Brac and Bow, and asked bar manager Debbie Sinclair “what beers we had on tap and whether [they] did fries”.

After commenting that “you look like Ed Sheeran” – an observation that elicited “a little giggle” from the young man –

Sinclair asked to see his ID to ensure he was old enough to drink, in line with host responsibility rules.

He offered his credit card, but Sinclair was adamant: “I don’t want to see your credit card; I want to see your ID,” she said.

Laughing, the familiarlooking stranger said, “I am who you think I am,” pointing to the name on his credit card.

At this point, Brac and Bow owner-operator John Richards joined the discussion and the identity of the patron was quickly confirmed as the worldrenowned Shape of You and Thinking Out Loud singer-songwriter.

There were no hard

feelings about the lack of instant recognition, with Sheeran and his party staying for about half an hour.

Keen to get a memento of her close encounter with the star, Sinclair couldn’t resist asking for a selfie when she delivered his order.

Sheeran was only too happy to oblige, calling for her to “come over here and bring your phone” before he left so she could take a snap of the two of them together.

Sheeran performed in Wellington at the Opera House on January 25 and 26 and will perform at Sky Stadium this evening and tomorrow as part of his international tour.

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SUE TEODORO sue.teodoro@age.co.nz

Ed Sheeran with Debbie Sinclair of Featherston eatery Brac and Bow. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

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GardenYarn with GardenBarn

GardenBarn IS CLOSING! Have you heard?

But Don’t Panic - It’s Only For One Day. Carol & Laurie have decided that the entire hardworking team at GardenBarn deserve a well earned break, so this means that

WE WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, WAITANGI DAY.

We will be open every other day as normal from 8.30am - 6pm for you to stock up on all your garden supplies - there’s plenty to be done to keep you occupied.

Whether you have room for a home forest, or just a small corner to ÿ ll, we should have something to suit your needs.

There are two main groups of tree ferns in NZ – Dicksonia & Cyathea.

Dicksonia ÿ brosa, or the Golden Tree Fern, grows up to 6m, has a reddish brown, very thick trunk, with a crown of dark green fronds that are pale underneath. The fronds get to 1-2m long. These can be grown in sun or shade but do best in cool damp climates.

Dicksonia squarrosa (Brown Tree Fern) has fronds that can reach up to 3m in length, will tolerate colder temperatures and is best suited in a spot with partial shade and protection from wind.

Jobs to be done

 Water e° ciently using soaker hoses and timers, water the roots not the foliage, and deeply soak soil rather than give quick sprinkles

 Plant winter brassicas but keep them safe from pests with netting and follow a spray programme (organic options available)

Here are some tips for giving your plants the best start to life:

 Most ferns are shade lovers so avoid planting them in windy, sunny spots

 Plant ferns in soil that has been mixed with Daltons Compost and cover their shallow roots with Daltons Mulch & Grow, taking care that the mulch is kept away from the trunk

 Mix some ican 24-Plus Slow Food into the planting hole and side dress with the same once a year. Regular applications of Seamite Seaweed tonic will help keep them healthy

 Adequate watering is essential while they are establishing. During dry periods deeply water the roots and trunk a few times a week, taking care to avoid drenching the top to avoid crown rot

 Avoid pests & diseases by doing a preventative spray and allowing space between plantings to increase air ˛ ow

 Mulch citrus, passionfruit, avocado, camellias, azaleas and rhodos, taking care not to touch the stems

 Stock up and begin sowing ican Chef’s Best Seeds of beetroot, carrots, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, peas, radish

 If you notice fronds browning o˝ before they’re hardened properly this could be due to wind burn. Protect them with wind break if necessary.

 If you notice fronds yellowing this could be because of too much sun exposure (especially with ground ferns). Protect them with shade cloth or taller plants.

 Keep your brassica crops safe from white butter˛ y, moths & aphids by spraying with Success Ultra & Enspray 99 every 3 weeks. Covering with cloches or CropSafe netting will give you extra security.

Every day we give away 2 x $25

GARDENBARN VOUCHERS to GardenBarn Card Holders who have shopped with us. Are you one of the lucky winners?

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Sparrieshoop

Imogen

Golden Fern

There are a few members of the Cyathea family, including dealbata, more commonly known as the ‘Silver Fern’. The shiny green foliage has silver undersides, the crown develops quickly but the trunk is slower to grow.

Blechnum novae-zelandiae (Kiokio) is often seen growing on clay banks and along roadsides and rivers. The bright pink fronds turn light, then darker green as they mature

The Hen & Chicken Fern, Asplenium bulbiferum, is a low growing variety with fronds that are triangular, nely cut, fresh green and can be over 1m long. This is a popular indoor plant variety.

A rolling good time

Helen Holt helen.holt@age.co.nz

You can’t help but be wheely excited for Wairarapa’s largest-ever showcase of wheeled and tracked vehicles.

Wheels at Wairarapa, organised by the Wairarapa Vintage Machinery Club and Wairarapa A&P Association, is set to kick off this weekend – with everything from classic cars to bulldozers on display at the Clareville Showgrounds.

Each day will focus on a different category, including vintage motorcycles and modern cars, trucks, and agricultural and earthworks vehicles.

Event convener Robin Parker said that after two and a half years of planning and covid roadblocks, it’s great to “finally have some traction”.

“It’s been a long time coming, a lot of planning to bring it all together,” he said.

“We are super excited about the event and are anticipating a big show.”

Parker said there

would be “something for everyone”.

“We’ve had calls coming from all over New Zealand. It’s not just cars – it’s anything with wheels, old or new.

“We’ll have food courts, live music, stalls, and rides for kids. We will have Clydesdale horse rides, tractor rides, truck rides, steam rides, Thomas the Tank Engine, and line dancing.

For those wanting their fix of heavy vehicles, Parker said earthmovers will be showcasing their capabilities by shifting dirt and digging holes, while three large steam trains are travelling from Fielding, especially for the event.

The three-day wheel extravaganza is also playing host to the firstever Carterton Truck Show, with 41 classes to enter and prizes to be won.

Parker said a show highlight will be a Caterpillar D9 truck weighing about 50 tonnes: “She’s a big old girl.”

He said the event will also be supporting two worthy causes – Westpac

Life Flight Trust, and Eli Honeysett, who was only five years old when he was struck down by a virus that left him paralysed from the neck down and unable to breathe on his own.

• Wheels at Wairarapa will run from Saturday, February 4 to Monday, February 6 at Clareville Showgrounds, 12 Chester Road, Clareville, Carterton. To download a programme of events, go to wheelsatwairarapa. co.nz/programme.

The varied programme will also include Clydesdale horse rides –as well as food stalls, live music, and line dancing.

PHOTOS/JADE CVETKOV

That gold man syndrome

Last week, the nominations for the 95th Academy Awards were announced. Congratulations to all – not that they’ll be reading this.

I’ll admit it: Unlike friends who religiously live-blog the entire ceremony, I’m not an avid devotee. As a teen, at the height of my Titanic phase, the Oscars was compulsory viewing – but I can’t remember the last time I sat through an awards show.

My thoughts on this year’s picks? For the Kiwis involved, I was pleased the Avatar sequel got a Best Picture nod. It’s great to see Irish cinema get recognition with The Banshees of Inisherin.

Michelle Yeoh is very talented and deserves her flowers. Aside from that? Can’t say I’m that excited. And I’m not the only one. Recently, the Oscars’ television audience numbers have taken a sharp tumble. In 2021, 10.5 million people tuned in to the 93rd Academy Awards – a 50 per cent drop since the previous year, and significantly less than its peak crowd of 55.3 million

Young(ish), scrappy &

hungry

Erin Kavanagh-Hall

in 1998. Last year was a slight improvement, with 16.6 million viewers – and numbers spiking during Will Smith’s infamous beat down of Chris Rock. To quote one of my favourite movie musicals: “Baby, you can’t buy that kind of publicity.”

Industry watchers have their theories. And no, nothing to do with “wokeness”. From Marlon Brando’s protest against the treatment of Native Americans in film to Vanessa Redgrave’s pro-Palestine acceptance speech, social causes on the Oscars stage are nothing new.

As a recent Boston Globe article pointed out, celebrity over-saturation plays a part. As writer Matthew Gilbert noted, the Oscars was once “our rare opportunity to see famous actors in action,

walking the red carpet, making faces from the audience, and coming to the stage as themselves”. In today’s social media age, we have ready access to celebrities – we add them on Instagram, re-Tweet their words of wisdom, and watch them make breakfast on YouTube. A celebrity gala doesn’t have the same allure when said celebrities are living rent-free on our smartphones.

Others put it down to a changing market. Cinema viewership has declined, thanks to covid and streaming services. Scripted television has enjoyed a massive renaissance. Plus, with some exceptions, mainstream films rarely make the Oscars shortlist. So, why should viewers, in the midst of an active pandemic and spoilt for choice at home, watch

an awards show for films they’re unlikely to see?

Plus, viewers are burnt out from, to quote the Boston Globe, the endless “kudos fest” of awards season. “Once again,” Gilbert wrote, “we are asked to watch wealthy, famous people celebrate themselves. That has become increasingly tiresome”.

Actor Seth Rogen cut even closer to the chase: “People just don’t care [about the Oscars]. I don’t care who wins the automobile awards. No other industry expects everyone to care about what awards they shower upon themselves.”

I’m not against celebrating excellence within any industry. But, when it comes to the Oscars, people are clearly starting to see through the BS. Audiences can, perhaps, no longer relate to the pomp, circumstance and clothes no one can afford. Perhaps they’re sick of the sexist banter squeezed in between the liberal rallying cries. Perhaps they’re tired of not seeing their communities

represented – unless it’s a year when the Academy goes all out with selfcongratulatory tokenism. Either way, the Academy is hopeful for a redemption arc. But I’m wondering if the Oscars may be going the way of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard [another musical reference] – with its glory days heading for the rearview mirror. Good luck to this year’s nominees – and may your faces remain unslapped.

Tuesday 7 March is our chance to represent ourselves, our families, whānau, communities and cultures. Census gives us the power to create change that benefits all of us; in our lives, towns, schools, hospitals and streets. Learn more at www.census.govt.nz

All of us count - Tatau tātou

The Wairarapa Midweek is subject to New Zealand Media Council procedures. A complaint must first be directed in writing to the editor’s email

response, the complaint may be referred to the Media Council P.O Box 10-879, Wellington 6143. Or use

the article and all correspondence with the publication.

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When we all take part in the 2023 Census, we all count.

Karen Roberts

To lead all into temptation.

Nikki King

Treat others as you would want to be treated.

Sara Bryan

Do things that are di˜ cult.

Cheryl Cavanagh

To look after our animals and don’t dump them to fend for themselves.

Richard Alan Dahlberg

Live and let live.

Joanne Waitoa

Don’t give unsolicited parenting advice.

Jude Knight

Don’t follow the rules. Colour outside the lines. Do no harm, but do you.

Leanne Taylor

Never assume.

CONTACT US

Mike Filmnerd

Be open to other perspectives and points of view.

Jean Cretney Put aside all di° erences and get on with each other.

Nicky Longhurst Know someone before you judge them. That tattooed, menacing-looking guy you avoided eye contact with might volunteer for a children’s charity for all you know.

Denyse Clifton Eat dessert ÿ rst, for life is uncertain.

Coral Gri˜ s Be kind.

Tracy Wilson Put the toilet seat down!

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.

CUTIE OF THE WEEK

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.

This

The Farmers Market takes place at Solway Showgrounds every Saturday from 9am to 1pm. This weekend, stallholders will be selling sun˝ owers from the new Gladstone Sun˝ ower Patch –with all proceeds going towards the Kuranui First XI Boys hockey team.

fThe sun˝ ower patch, at 117 Gladstone Rd, will be open to the public all weekend between 10am and 6pm.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

If I could make one rule that the whole world had to follow, it would be…

ARATOI VOICES

Weaving our green

Before humans arrived in New Zealand: “The forest was evergreen and lush and consisted of two main types: conifer–broadleaf dominating the North Island, and beech in much of the South Island. Under the tallest trees were layers of young trees, tree ferns and shrubs, and lower still were ferns and sedges. Vines and epiphytes thrived, and mosses and liverworts carpeted the ground. The result was a dense tangle…” Te Ara encyclopedia.

We all know a good tramp around the bush is good for our mental and physical well-being; being outside in the fresh air, under the canopy of trees, listening to the wildlife and experiencing the colours of nature.

ExtraThe Professional Weavers Network of NZ Inc. have brought this experience to Aratoi’s Wesley Wing using

tapestries, hangings, weavings, and embroidery in an exhibition called Ngahere: The Bush of Aotearoa. This is an exhibition that has been designed to immerse you in the beauty and majesty

CONCERT SERIES

of the New Zealand bush.

Walk behind a waterfall, get close to majestic birds, discover fungi growing, and notice small details on the forest floor.

Ngahere: The Bush of Aotearoa is a tactile

Concert series returns with Mozart, tango and jazz

Wairarapa’s Mulled Wine Concerts are making a return in 2023 – starting in Masterton next week with some “extraordinary and beautiful” harp, violin and cello music.

The concert series, held in Paekakariki since 2007, was imported to South Wairarapa last year: With audiences treated to classical performances from a range of artists, hailing from New Zealand and overseas.

This year’s series will begin with a performance from the Christchurchbased Nikau Harp Trio, offering a programme of music – from Mozart, to 1930s swing, to Argentine tango – arranged for harp and strings.

The Nikau Trio consists

of seasoned musicians Helen Webby [harp], Cathy Irons [violin] and Paul Mitchell [cello], and is named for the carved palm on Webby’s harp – made by her brother, professional harp maker Kim Webby. Webby and Irons are members of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, while Mitchell plays principal cello in both the Auckland Chamber Orchestra and Bach Muscia NZ. All have played regular concerts overseas, including in Spain, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa and Australia.

The group’s Masterton programme will open with “Baroque Trio” by George Frideric Handel, and will

continue with the “world of French romance” with pieces by little-known composer and harpist Henriette Renié and her compatriot Jaques Ibert.

The second half of the concert will include arrangements of “Turkish March” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy, swing tunes by George Gershwin and Cole Porter, and “Tango” by Latin American composer Astor Piazzolla.

Not forgetting their New Zealand roots, the trio will also include a piece called “Koromiko Bells”, written for the group by Los Angeles-based Kiwi film composer Mark Smythe, inspired by the call of the bellbird.

exhibition that blends skill, imagination and creative flair and brings together some of New Zealand’s most talented weavers. The exhibition features 45 stunning artworks, including hand woven

textured and gauze fabrics, tapestries, Jacquard weaves, floor rugs and cushions. This show explores all aspects of our New Zealand bush.

Taking their inspiration from the wide variety of experiences to be found in the bush, and reflecting them in a kaleidoscope of textures, colours and filtered light, the weavers have interpreted the theme in many different ways –keeping the textures and colours of the bush of Aotearoa in mind, though not necessarily being literal in the approach. Come and explore the New Zealand bush at Aratoi, you will be surprised at what you find.

• Professional Weavers Network of NZ Inc present Ngahere – The Bush of Aotearoa Exhibition showing until February 12.

The trio supports Abel Tasman’s Birdsong Trust which aims to return the sound of native birdcalls to the forests and beaches of the Abel Tasman National Park.

• The Nikau Harp Trio will perform in Masterton from 7.30pm on Friday, February

10, at St Matthew’s Collegiate, 33 Pownall St. Tickets are $35 [$15 for children under 16] available from the Masterton and Martinborough i-Site Visitor Centres. To buy tickets online, email mulledwineconcerts@ gmail.com

Detail taken from Agnes Hauptli, Ponga, Hanging. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The Nikau Harp Trio: Helen Webby [left], Cathy Irons and Paul Mitchell.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Lifestyle

Set pace to improve

Midweek Musings

Tim Nelson

This morning I meditated for 12 minutes. All last week I meditated for 11 minutes every day. Before that I had been meditating for 10 minutes daily, and before that I had also been meditating for 10 minutes a day, but had always used a guided meditation on the Calm app. What this shows is a process I have chosen to follow that has made me slightly better at a habit through a slow and consistent process. For example, this morning was my first 12-minute session, but I didn’t really notice the difference between the 11 minutes I had been doing and the 12 minutes I did today.

In a few weeks I’ll get to 20 minutes a day, which is my goal. This is where I’ll stop increasing the time, at least for a while. However, I will have doubled my practice in a barely noticeable way. Had I instead set the immediate goal of doing 20 minutes of unguided meditation I know it would have been very hard to stick to and I probably would have gone back to my daily guided

sessions.

Change and improvement doesn’t have to be instant. Instead, steady and consistent progress is what in almost all situations will get us to where we want to be. The fable of The Tortoise and the Hare is one that we can all learn from.

The day of forgotten resolutions

Just over three weeks ago people all around the world were excitedly setting New Year resolutions. These would have been for all sorts of things, from losing weight to saving money. However, according to research done on New Year Resolutions, almost all have been given up by January 19.

Even if this does apply to you, all is not lost. Yes, that promise to yourself may have been temporarily forgotten, but this doesn’t mean the dream can’t be rekindled. Take a moment to think about that goal, then spend a few minutes to consider why it failed. Reasons for this could be the goal was too big and unrealistic;

or perhaps it was a goal that you were setting to impress others, as opposed to being something you were genuinely interested in. Whatever the reason, have a reset to create a goal that is something you truly want to achieve, then create a manageable plan to get there. For example, you may initially have had the goal of getting fit, with the process being to go to the gym every day. With a reset the goal might stay the same, but the process might now be to go for a 10-minute walk on weekdays.

You don’t need to be part of the majority who gives up on their New Year goals and dreams. Instead, make the time around January 19 your resolution reset date.

While on holiday

I’m on a short holiday, away for two nights for a mountain biking trip. It is something a friend and I have been meaning to do for some time, so it’s great to have woken up on the morning of what will surely be a really nice ride. Reading this you may have noticed I am still doing my daily writing. I have also done my usual morning meditation, have read a chapter of the book I’m currently reading each morning, and I’ll do a quick language session

on Duolingo after I’ve completed this writing. My point here is we can still maintain our positive habits, even when in a different environment. Things might not be the same in terms of where you are, but this doesn’t mean that the positive things that have become a part of your life need to stop.

Why I can read every day

I read every morning without fail. It is a habit I have had for years. I have always been a reader, but it was something I previously did at night. The reason I started reading in the morning was I saw an item on TV many years ago about a successful young entrepreneur who had the habit of reading positive or inspirational material every morning as a great way to start the day. I now follow the same idea, with all morning reading the same sort of content.

It’s all very well having the goal or plan to do something. However, it’s more likely to happen when you have a system or routine to make it more likely to happen. For my

morning reading the following always happens:

• I make a cup of coffee to enjoy while I’m doing the reading

• I always read in the same place

• The book I am reading is always on the table next to the chair where I read.

This system makes the habit easy to do. If I was to spend time each morning looking for something to read there would be a good chance I wouldn’t do it, as a barrier is there to make the habit just that little bit harder to do.

This idea can be applied to many of the things we want to do in life. If we want to do things we need to make them easier: have healthy breakfast foods at the front of the pantry; put Duolingo as the only app on the first page of your smartphone; have your workout clothes set up and ready the night before.

Making do with what you have I saw an inspirational story on an episode of The Amazing Race television programme. It was set in Colombia and involved the

contestants making musical instruments from items found in a rubbish dump. The creations were then given to an orchestra made up of children whose only instruments are made in the same way; there were no Stradivarius violins, everything used is made from the trash of others and at very little cost.

So often there is a feeling we have to have the very best; items of real quality to do the activities we want to be involved in: expensive shoes to start a running habit; an expensive car to drive to work; the most expensive laptop to do our work on. However, the truth is we can do so much with so little if we’re prepared to compromise. We really can get by with a lot less than what we feel is necessary, we simply need to be creative.

Becoming less reliant I was listening to a podcast in which the host was going through the promotional

advertisements for the products that support his show. While talking about one of these products, the Calm meditation app, he said something I immediately found interesting, this being he no longer uses the app, but he had done so when he first started meditating. This was an eye opener to me. I have been using the app for years. It’s something I do automatically every morning. However, hearing the podcast host’s comment I realised I had become dependent on a product [Calm] to do something [meditation] that has been around for thousands of years. Essentially, I had become reliant on the app. I have stopped using the app and now use nothing other than a timer to do my daily meditation. Initially I missed the guidance factor the app provided, as well as the daily quotes I shared on Facebook, but after just a few days I was fine; I am still doing the habit, but am no longer dependent on an external motivation.

Going ‘old school’ Zone 2 training isn’t interesting to most people. However, having heard about it after the last Winter Olympics in regards to the preparation of an extremely successful speed skater, I have done quite a lot of research, looking for ways it can benefit my own training, health and fitness.

I won’t go into the details of Zone 2 training, but I will mention how complex it can get in regards to making sure you’re doing it correctly, which can require expensive fitness equipment to measure and monitor progress. I thought it would be something I wouldn’t try due to the complexity. However, something changed when I found out another way to do it… … all that’s required is to run for a reasonable period of time [for me this is about an hour] at a pace that allows me to have a conversation. More research confirmed this approach is absolutely fine and effective. No equipment is needed, with the only potential downside being looking a little odd as I talk to myself when out running.

My point here is that there are often ‘old school’ methods for all sorts of things, but too often we over complicate things, often using expensive but unnecessary equipment. This can apply to so many areas of life.

• 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.

GREYTOWN COMMUNITY BOARD BY-ELECTION - VOTING NOW OPEN

Voting has opened for the remaining vacancy on the Greytown Community Board. If you live in the Greytown Ward and you’re on the electoral roll, look out for your voting papers in the mail, plus a profile on both of the candidates.

Haven’t received your voting papers? If you’re eligible but not on the electoral roll, or your details are out of date, head to www.vote.nz

Greytown ratepayers who live outside the Ward can also enrol - see our website for details. Special votes can be cast by visiting the South Wairarapa District Council’s Martinborough offices during working hours. Or visit us at the Greytown Town Centre on Saturday 11 February between 9.30am and 2.00pm to cast a special vote.

Voting closes at noon sharp, Friday 17 February.

South Wairarapa District Council 06 306 9611 elections@swdc.govt.nz

www.swdc.govt.nz/greytown-by-election

obtains a rst mortgage which means that any prior mortgage will need to be repaid. Importantly, you continue to own and live in your home for as long as you wish.

The amount you can borrow depends on certain factors such as your age and the value of your home. You are not required to make repayments, but instead, the total loan amount, including accumulated interest, is only repayable when you move permanently from your home or when you sell your property and move into long-term care or the survivor of you dies.

How are Kiwis using their reverse mortgages?

Debt consolidaton - to consolidate debt and enjoy more of what life has to offer.

Home improvements - to future-proof and enhance your home for years to come.

Support your family - to give your children and grandchildren a helping hand.

Day-today expenses - to supplement your income and cover daily expenses with ease.

Visit family and friends - to take a trip to see your children/grandchildren.

Car purchase - to maintain or upgrade your car.

Medical and healthcare - to cover healthcare costs and aged care.

Travel and holidays - to tick off dream destinations from your bucket list.

[1] Lifetime occupancy you can live in your home for as long as you choose.

[2] No negative equity guarantee - the amount required to repay the loan may not exceed the net sale proceeds of the property.

[3] Loan repayment - there is no requirement to make any loan repayment until the end of the loan, although you are free to do so at any time.

[4] The security for the reverse mortgage is a rst mortgage over your property.

It is important that you are completely happy with the reverse mortgage. To ensure this, you must receive independent legal advice from a solicitor of our choice, who will represent your interests and make sure you understand every aspect of the reverse mortgage.

What you need to know

Who can apply? - homeowners but subject to you satisfying any age conditions

Property criteria your property must be residential, of conventional construction and in good repair. It must also meet minimum property criteria, including a valuation, if required.

You may be able to take out a reverse mortgage on an investment property or holiday home. Loans cannot be secured against Occupations Rights Agreements in retirement villages.

Interest interest will be charged on your loan balance at the current reverse mortgage variable rate and will be added to your loan monthly.

The interest rate is variable, which provides you with exibility to make repayments at any time, without penalty.

PHOTO/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Vandals deface chasm

Sue Teodoro sue.teodoro@age.co.nz

A pristine wilderness area that’s one of the region’s most popular visitor attractions is being regularly damaged by vandals.

The Patuna Chasm in South Wairarapa is visited by thousands every year, and every year a part of the fragile ecosystem is destroyed by some of those visitors.

The walk through the chasm is operated by Alan Wilkinson and his wife Alison Tipler, who own the adjacent Patuna farm.

The three-hour amble along the Ruakokoputuna River takes in the limestone chasm, which was

formed over more than a million years, and wends past ancient fossils and stalactites, as well as local flora and fauna.

The limestone cliffs overarching the gorge, considered the highlight of the walk, are now regularly being defaced by graffiti, with visitors gouging their names and other phrases into the delicate mossy surface of the stone.

“I feel disappointed I live in a society that can be so stupid as to spoil a beautiful natural place,” Wilkinson said.

“I can’t get my head around it – why would you do it?”

Although only a small percentage of visitors are responsible for the damage, it is a regular and ongoing problem,

with people carving out parts of the rocky exterior every year and graffiti inscribed deeply into the moss, lichen and limestone surfaces. Fortunately, “it does recover” from the vandalism, Wilkinson said.

“We and nature reduce the damage every winter, but traces always remain. Then in late spring, people start doing it again. It’s so unnecessary. There’s absolutely no point in it whatsoever.”

Visitors to the chasm are asked not to deface the area in any way.

Patuna Chasm walks will run until about the end of March. More information, including how to book, is at www. patunafarm.co.nz

Inside the Patuna Chasm.

PHOTO/FILE

FROM THE BIG WHEEL

Robin says the weekend has a big emphasis on family entertainment including tractor rides, truck rides, a kids’ corner, stall holders, a food court, and live entertainment.

“We are super excited about Wheels at Wairarapa and anticipate a big event.”

Across Waitangi weekend from 4 to 6 February 2023, Wheels at Wairarapa is the place to be. Find it at Clareville’s A&P Showgrounds, Carterton.

“We’ll be showing off the biggest collection of wheeled and track machinery in the lower North Island,” Parker says. “It’ll be an event to remember.”

Each of the three days of the event offers displays and vehicles strutting their stuff around the oval and each day has a theme or particular focus. Saturday will showcase vintage to modern cars, motorbikes, car clubs, V8s and more. Sunday will focus on

vintage, classic and new trucks, and Monday will offer old to new tractors, earth moving equipment, and agricultural machinery.

In a tilt to the ‘good old days’, steam traction vehicles will be in operation and, in a nod to where horsepower came from, there’ll be a team of Clydesdale horses. For those wanting their fix of heavy machinery, an earthmoving area

will be in operation and stationary engines will work away all day.

A commercial space for vehicle and machine dealers will show new models as well as display their vehicles from bygone eras. Competitions will take place within the different groups and prizes awarded, with evening BBQs on offer for the exhibitors.

Anticipation is for a big show which will grow bigger each time it is held. Profits made from the event will be shared with Westpac Life Flight Trust. Profits from Sunday’s truck rides and some proceeds from the truck show will be provided to the local Honeysett family for help with the costs of their disabled son.

“A big thank you to all of the Wairarapa District Councils and to Trust House,” Parker says, “all of which have given grants to support Wheels at Wairarapa. Thanks go to all the sponsors and volunteers who have helped make this event possible.”

“We’re moving up the gears,” says Robin Parker, immediate past president of the Wairarapa Vintage Machinery Club and convener of Wheels at Wairarapa 2023.

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are key to making Wheels at Wairarapa run smoothly and to providing a warm local welcome to the many people coming from outside our region.

WHO WE NEED

• We need volunteers to operate earthmoving machines, graders, bulldozers, moto-scrapers, and dump trucks.

• We also need general volunteers – we’re looking for awesome, helpful, energetic, and friendly people over the three days of the event to help keep things happening smoothly and on time. It’s all about family friendly fun.

WHEN WE NEED YOU

• On some or all of 4, 5 and 6˜February 2023.

WHAT YOU’LL GET

• Each volunteer will receive a Wheels at Wairarapa cap and tee-shirt, together with a pass to the show. We’ll provide you with shelter, food, and drink while you’re onsite. You’ll get safety and how-to briefings and training where your role requires.

• On Saturday and Sunday late afternoons a happy hour and BBQ is available for volunteers ($20 each).

HOW TO VOLUNTEER

• Please fill in the contact form on the website.

• You will then be recruited into one of our teams and provided a roster for the show.

VOLUNTEER TEAM

CAMPING ON SITE

• If you’re a volunteer and would like to camp on site for the duration of Wheels at Wairarapa, a free camping option is available. Please contact Robin Parker on 027 546 8909, to confirm details.

CONTACT

• With any queries about volunteers, their duties, times, and conditions, please check out the website www.wheelsatwairarapa.co.nz or contact Robin Parker on 027 546 8909.

THE NUTS & BOLTS

• Vehicles – All types of vehicles will parade around the oval each day, based on the detailed daily programmes outlined below.

• Demonstrations –Earthmoving machinery digging, dumping, and backfilling. Gravel screening. Crop to harvest demos with horses and with machinery. Tractor ploughing. Threshing. Chaff cutting. Straw baling. Fertiliser spreading.

• Operating displays –Stationary engines running all day. Generators. Steam traction engines. Wairarapa Vintage Car

Club’s display and workshop on the premises. Horsedrawn vehicles displayed in the ‘stadium’ on the premises.

• Commercial vehicle and machine dealers –New and old models for your inspection.

• Stalls and entertainment –Market stalls. Food court. Live music.

• Rides –Thomas the Tank Engine. Surrey rides. Tractor and trailer transportation around the grounds. Truck rides on ‘truck day’ to raise money in support of Eli Honeysett.

• Accommodation –A caravan park is set aside at the event for motorhomes, where you can be near the action. Check out our wheeles website www.wheelsatwairarapa.co.nz Secure your motorhome spot by booking a ticket for the event through Eventbrite.

• Seating –BYO fold out chairs.

• Terms & Conditions –Check out health and safety terms and conditions on the Wheels at Wairarapa website www.wheelsatwairarapa.co.nz

Horsepower in the flesh.

Waggs gig built more than 100 years ago.

Ford Dexter 1959 tractor with wood splitter.

WHEELS AT WAIRARAPA DAILY PROGRAMME

DAY 1

SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY

Focus on cars and motorbikes

10.00am Opening and welcome – safety messages

10.10am Clydesdale horses

10.15am Tractors

10.30am Crawlers

10.45am Vintage trucks

11.00am Vintage cars, modern cars, motorbikes, and car clubs

Noon Break for lunch

12.30pm Traction engines and steam vehicles

1.00pm Light trucks, utes, and vintage commercial

1.15pm Land Rovers and all 4-wheel drives

1.30pm American classic cars

1.45pm British cars

2.00pm Wheeled earthmoving vehicles

2.15pm Trucks

2.30pm All in motorbikes

3.00pm All in cars and light vehicles parade and park up

4.00pm Exhibitors Awards and Social Hour

5.30pm Exhibitors BBQ

DAY 2

SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY

Focus on trucks and a truck show

10.00am Opening and welcome – safety messages

10.10am Clydesdale horses

10.15am Tractors

10.30am Crawlers

10.45am Vintage trucks

11.00am Big rig hour – classic, modern, and new – all makes and models

Noon Break for lunch

12.30pm Traction engines and steam vehicles

1.00pm Light trucks, utes, and vintage commercial

1.15pm Land Rovers and all 4-wheel drives

1.30pm American classic cars

1.45pm British cars

2.00pm Wheeled earthmoving vehicles

2.15pm Other

2.30pm Motorbikes

3.00pm All in trucks, big rigs and others parade and park up – old and new – and truck show awards

4.00pm Exhibitors Awards and Social Hour

5.30pm Exhibitors BBQ

DAY 3

MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY

Focus on agricultural machinery, tractors, and farmers day

10.00am Opening and welcome – safety messages

10.10am Clydesdale horses

10.15am Vintage trucks and other trucks

10.30am Cars – all classes

10.45am Earthmoving equipment

11.00am Tractor and agricultural machinery both vintage and modern

Noon Break for lunch

12.30pm Traction engines and steam vehicles

1.00pm Cars, all makes and models

1.15pm Land Rovers and all 4-wheel drives

1.30pm Other vehicles

1.45pm Motorbikes

2.00pm All in tractors and agricultural machinery parade and park up

NOTE: The daily programme is subject to change on the day.

4

FEBRUARY 2023 10 AM ˜ 4 PM, CLAREVILLE SHOWGROUNDS, CARTERTON

GREAT ESCAPES: WITH CARS AND MOTORBIKES

LOVING OUR CARS

Cecil Woods of Timaru created the first New Zealand-built motor vehicle in 1896. Only two years later the first imported cars arrived – these were Benz vehicles from France and were paid for by a Member of Parliament.

In the early 1900s when cars cost more than senior public servants earned in a year, the initial market was limited to professionals, especially doctors, and wealthy sheep farmers. The first car in central Canterbury, for example, was owned by the runholder at Rockwood station who had to send to Sydney for petrol.

Cars have been a boon for our small population dispersed over a relatively large land area with rugged terrain. They also provide a sense of freedom. The muchloved kiwi road movie Goodbye Pork Pie symbolises the use of wheels to escape from the dictates of authority.

Today, there are just under nine motor vehicles for every 10 people in New Zealand, giving us the sixth highest rate of motor vehicle ownership in the world.

FASCINATED WITH MOTORBIKES

Motorbikes were invented when people began putting engines on bicycles in the late 1800s. During

the 1920s, when few people could afford a car, motorbikes were popular because of their cheaper running costs. Racing on beaches was one of the earliest forms of motorbike competition with their wide-open spaces perfect for riders to test speeds without worrying about scaring horses on the roads. The first speedway course in the country opened in Kilbirnie, Wellington, in 1929, drawing thousands of spectators.

Our most famous biker must be Burt Munro. His preferred racing spot was the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA. Born on a farm near Invercargill in 1899, Munro was a motorcycle salesman and mechanic who went on to modify his 1920 Indian Scout motorbike from the States. He set an under-1000cc world record at Bonneville in 1967, aged 68 – a record which still stands. The freedom of speed was always in his veins.

HIGHLIGHTS TO LOOK OUT FOR AT WHEELS AT WAIRARAPA:

• Carterton’s well-known surrey, pulled by horses, will deliver Carterton’s Deputy Mayor Dale Williams to the stage to open the show.

• Check out The Stadium for horse-drawn transport and cars that need to be cossetted and kept out of the weather.

• Wellington Vintage Car Club’s fleet of cars from over the hill.

• Vintage and new motorbikes.

• Get a glimpse of the way of the future –electric and hybrid transport options.

1916 American Overland.

WHEELING ON THE LAND WITH AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY

HIGHLIGHTS

TO LOOK OUT FOR AT WHEELS AT WAIRARAPA:

Since the 1840s, the Wairarapa valley has been known as the agricultural powerhouse of the Wellington region. Dairying, drystock farming (sheep, beef, and deer), fruit and olive orchards, mixed cropping, and vineyards all contribute to the area’s economy, together with forestry and fishing.

Agricultural enterprises in Wairarapa have increasingly used machinery and technology to carry out tasks once done by hand or with a horse, which has revolutionised farming. The first tractors into New Zealand, arriving in 1904, were an Ivel and a Kinnard Haines – large and heavy beasts. By 1919 there were 136 tractors on our farms but, by 1931, there were more than 5000. These lighter and more manoeuvrable machines were widely used for towing machines

to cultivate the land, plant seeds, mow, and reap. Some drove small stationary threshing machines called tin mills.

Four-wheel-drives eventually became the ‘go to’ for getting around the farm. Land Rovers were the favourite, but war-

TFM TRACTORS

TFM

surplus jeeps and even bren gun carriers were used to access steep country.

In the 1970s, farm motorbikes made travel on the farm faster. Four-wheel quadbikes were introduced as another way to transport material and workers.

• A million-dollar plus John Deere 9470 (470 horsepower) tractor and Navag 6 metre precision seed drill –which carefully places one seed at a time – the newest and biggest on the market and living on a farm at East Taratahi.

• A Lister stationary engine from a Mauriceville woolshed.

• A 1948 Ferguson TEA tractor initially owned by Robin Parker’s grandfather and now owned and restored by Robin.

• Racing lawn mowers from Eketahuna.

• Land Rovers old and new in celebration of the Land Rover Club’s 75th anniversary.

• Working demonstration of a 1947 McLarenBrush electric generator.

Robin Parker with his Grandad’s 1948 Ferguson TEA.

Million-dollar John Deere 9470 tractor with Novag 6 metre seed drill.

75 YEARS OF LAND ROVERS

This year marks the 75th anniversary of when the Land Rover was first unveiled to the public at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1948. The Land Rover was designed by Rover engineers Maurice & Spencer Wilks, who had the foresight to see a gap in the market for a utility vehicle. Parts from Rover saloon cars were used, including a 1.6 litre engine from a Rover P3 60 saloon. Doors and a canvas roof were initially optional extras.

The original Land Rover was an instant hit worldwide due to its offroad capability. In 1970 the new Range Rover became an instant hit and combined the durability of the Land Rover with luxury driving for the road. The 1,000,000th Land Rover was built in 1976. 2013 and 2014 saw new generations of Range Rover Sport and the development of a Special Vehicle Operations division. In 2015, a one-of-a-kind Land Rover ‘Defender 2,000,000’ sold for £400,000 at a UK charity auction.

The Land Rover is important in New Zealand’s agricultural history, being one of the first four-wheel drive vehicles used on farm. They were easily maintained and, because of their aluminium body, didn’t rust. Land Rovers are quintessential New Zealand farm vehicles into which you can load everything you need for the day, including the dogs.

Land Rovers launched at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1948.

Land Rovers on the factory floor.

Land Rovers advertised in the Evening Post, 19 Feb 1955.

Visit Wheels at Wairarapa to see working demonstrations of a 1947 McLaren-Brush 55W generator that spent most of its working life at the Wairarapa Times-Age offices in Masterton as an emergency back-up generator. This old generator is currently owned and cared for (with the help of a small mortgage) by Jim Clark, after originally being purchased in the 1990s by Chris Slater.

Chris and Jim were founding members of the Wairarapa Vintage Machinery Club, formed in 1982. They worked together on renovating the generator. Chris has since died and is deeply missed by Jim and all Club members.

After WWII, McLaren-Brush generators were made in England and placed in factories to help re-vitalise manufacturing – dieselrun generators were needed in the absence of a reliable electricity grid. Energy supplies in England

were nationalised in 1947, a year in which power stations fell under the weight of massive snowfalls, but establishing the national grid took many years. This type of generator could run on its own or several could be wired together to

KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON RACING LAWN MOWERS

power big factories. They helped keep England’s lights on.

Starting up the old Times-Age

McLaren-Brush is a labour of love – it takes around 20 minutes to get going and is very noisy!

The Eketahuna Lawn Mower Racing Club, founded in 2017, began as a way of raising money for worthy causes and helping out in the community.

The Club has grown to around 30 members of all ages.

It races socially on the second Sunday of each month at its home track in Eketahuna.

The mowers are all custom-built racing machines, some of which are capable of up to 70kmh on the track.

Mower racing is a great way to be a petrol head and have some light-hearted fun. Eketahuna’s Lawn Mower Racing Club will be out and about and putting its

wheels in motion at Wheels at Wairarapa.

Come and talk to us if mower racing interests you.

Wairarapa Time-Age’s old McLaren-Brush 55W electric generator 1947.

Eketahuna Racing Lawn Mowers.

MOVING HEAVEN & EARTH WITH EARTHMOVING MACHINERY

HIGHLIGHTS TO LOOK OUT FOR AT WHEELS AT WAIRARAPA:

• The earthmoving demonstration is a chance to see mighty diggers in action as they tear up the ground, dumping the soil into enormous trucks that move and tip the soil.

• Dump trucks, excavators, diggers, bulldozers, caterpillars, front-end loaders, graders, rollers, crushers and more – old and new.

Before WWII, the government began to expand its public works. This programme involved extensive importation of heavy earthmoving equipment and trucks essential for forestry and for infrastructure works like airports, military camps, hydro-electric plants, and highways cut through mountains.

New equipment enabled works to be completed in double-quick time, at significantly reduced costs.

Infrastructure work today is undergoing another push, all of it relying on earthmoving equipment

and trucks. In 2022, more than 1000 water construction projects and similar numbers of roading and subdivision projects were initiated in New Zealand.

Robin Parker first became involved in earthmoving by buying a Wairarapa business at the tender age of 19.

Back in the day, this sort of transaction by a ‘minor’ had to be verified in court.

The seller gave him five years to pay off the cost of the business which included a bulldozer, two trucks, and a front-end loader.

Although Parker traded earthmoving for selling cars and real estate for a while, he’s been back for a couple of decades moving earth for subdivisions, farms, and roading projects. All three of his sons also work with heavy machinery in the concreting, site works, and Australian road train industries. Come along to Wheels at Wairarapa on Waitangi weekend for a wonderful outing for the whole family.

Kids, bring Grandad along. Bring Mum too. You might be surprised

• A screening plant, with demonstrations of processing gravel (metal) for use on roads and as backfill.

what they know. Demonstrations will take place every day. There will be plenty of noise, squeaking steel tracks, and interesting displays on offer for the whole family to enjoy.

New Zealand has a long and rich transport history with “land freight playing a major part in the success of our primary industries and international export prowess,” according to a company that sells tracking systems for trucks.

It is not known exactly when the first motor truck was imported into New Zealand but over 150,000 trucks were listed on the motor vehicle register by the early 1960s. During all three days of Wheels at Wairarapa, you will be able to see vintage to newly minted trucks of all makes, models and sizes and for different uses such as general freight, logging, livestock, and bulk cartage. On the Sunday, the focus will be trucks.

Jamie Ellison and his Carterton company Ellison Cartage are supporting Wheels at Wairarapa by ‘showing off’ a cross-section of trucks on the Sunday.

Jamie says, “trucking is in my DNA”. He learned to drive trucks on the farm as a “young fella” under the tutelage of his father and has owned his trucking company for coming up 20 years. Ellison Cartage transports bulk supplies across the North Island, including sawdust, woodchip, bark, post peelings, dry shavings, grain, metal, maize, fertiliser, lime, stock feed and more.

Funds raised from the truck rides and some proceeds from the truck show will be donated to the local Honeysett family, longstanding clients of Ellison Cartage.

Eli became paralysed from the neck down and unable to breathe without a ventilator after being struck down with a rare and nasty virus in 2016 on his family’s Kahutara farm. Eli’s ongoing care is costly, and his current allterrain wheelchair - part-funded by Wairarapa locals - will need replacing in due course.

CALLING ALL VINTAGE MACHINERY ENTHUSIASTS

The Wairarapa Vintage Machinery Club is open to new members. The Club provides a Wairarapa venue for people to share their mutual interest in preserving and displaying all types of vintage machinery.

IT AIMS TO:

• Preserve, restore, and display vintage machinery.

• Provide information about - and access to - vintage machinery, to inform the public and future generations about New Zealand’s heritage.

• Provide technical assistance to members in the restoration of vintage machinery.

• Encourage the retention of vintage machinery in New Zealand.

• The Club meets once a month at The Wool Shed at 12 Dixon Street, Masterton. Club nights are informal evenings with speakers, films, videos, and discussion.

It enters the machinery of members in the local A&P shows, parades, tractor treks, ploughing competitions, and more.

It visits other clubs with mutual interests. Advice and help on machinery restoration is shared by

Club members. A monthly newsletter is sent to members with dates of meetings and events, and reports of interest.

The subscription year runs from 1 July to 30 June and costs $50 per annum, including spouse. Contact

for more information and an application form.

The Club extends a warm welcome and hopes to see you at a Club gathering soon.

Jim Clark on 06 306 9990

PUTTING THE WHEELS IN MOTION ˜ PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Wheels at Wairarapa has taken the best of many events around New Zealand – field days, car rally days, vintage machinery club displays, and the Wheels at Wanaka festival – to put on a three-day extravaganza of vintage and new vehicles, steam engines, tractors, farming heritage, cars, Land Rovers, motorbikes, trucks, earthmovers, and heavy machinery.

Looking back, we’ve come a long way in the six or so thousand years from the time when humans invented the wheel.

In the beginning, wheels were used to make pottery, to move things on carts, and to support the cavalry in war.

When people came up with the

idea of using wheels to create energy, the water wheel was invented, and it transformed our world.

The steam engine arrived in due course, leading to the creation of the train.

These made good use of cogwheels which convert a meshing action to torque and speed.

Around the same time as steam arrived, the bicycle emerged. Hot on the (w)heels of the bicycle came the motorbike, the car, and farm machinery.

More modern descendants of the wheel include the propeller, the flywheel, the turbine, and the jet engine. During the industrial

revolution in the late 18th to early 19th centuries, the flywheel (with its ability to store energy) was adapted for use in steam engines. Because most people lived in small, rural communities before the industrial revolution, their lives revolved around farming. The use of the wheel for farming improved food production and changed lives.

Today, even micro-hydropower systems are available on farms – these use a turbine, pump, or waterwheel to transform the energy of flowing water into rotational energy, which is then converted to electricity. Although we’ve come a long way, we still have miles yet to go. Electric and hybrid utes, tractors, motorbikes,

and buses are on our doorstep. Check out the past, present and future at Wheels at Wairarapa.

Wheels at Wairarapa is saddened by the death of Michael Slater in October 2022. Michael was President of the Manawatu Steam Club, a long-time member of the Wairarapa Vintage Machinery Club, and owner of a steam engine.

Club members celebrate Michael’s life and love of vintage machines, especially steam engines. “We are all touched by his loss.”

Game zone and Youth Education Centre for 8–18 years

Crash Coders opens young people’s eyes to the world of computing – from repairing and building their own machines through to robotics, programme writing, coding, gaming, and streaming.

Terms like grinding the algorithm –second knowledge to the initiated – can be bandied about with comfort and ease in a knowledgeable environment.

It’s a dream-come-true to many already using the service, often only available to large centres. Palmerston North has been the nearest go-to place in the past for young teens wanting to develop their computer skills or simply to just have fun gaming. But now under the tutelage of 24-year-old teacher, Dan Alexander, it’s right here on their doorstep – well, actually it’s upstairs on the corner of Queen and Perry Streets, bang in the middle of Masterton. You know you are entering somewhere different and fun when the video icon, Pac Man is giving direction eating his way around the walls. There’s colour everywhere and eye-catching displays of computer gadgetry and gaming items.

Developers of the Minecraft Game Series noticed Dan Alexander when he was just 16 years old. Based in Wellington, he was employed to work for the Swedish company and travelled between Sweden, London and New Zealand thriving on creating many characters for the gaming series.

Covid curbed the world travel and when Dan wanted a more affordable way of living, he settled in Wairarapa. In July 2022, recognising young peoples’ thirst to be presented to all things-computing, he established Crash Coders. Dan is qualified with a Diploma in Information Technology and a master’s in education. He loves teaching and passing on his enthusiasm for technology.

Crash Coders is multi-faceted. It provides a Game Zone (which Dan hopes to establish further downstairs); after school workshops; school holiday workshops; special events and birthday parties based around the computing suites.

Kickstarting 2023, he helped students create games that can be put on Crash Coders’ own arcade machines. Sessions in how to repair your own computer are on offer and there’s another course introducing you to streaming. A virtual reality room has recently been established.

“Kids are taking off in the world of technology and often are more knowledgeable than their parents. We want to help give kids a place of fun and learning where they’re able to express

their creative freedoms, while learning in a safe environment,” says Dan. “We understand that finding fun activities for the holidays can be difficult too, especially with many parents working, which is why we run our compacted workshops during the holidays giving kids a full day’s worth of experience to stimulate their interest and allow them to explore their creativity but still having a fun relaxed time away from school.”

Now school is open for 2023, Crash Coders is offering after-school classes (3.30pm-5pm). Designed over 8-10 weeks, the sessions offer valuable learning and practical time with likeminded computer fanatics.

Dan’s unique and innovative new business has caught the eye of organisations and schools.

The Red Cross has asked him for courses for refugees settling in Wairarapa. Dan is currently applying for NZQA accreditation, so participants’ skills are officially recognised.

Great news too is that most of Crash Coder’s equipment has been recycled from corporate offices and businesses upgrading. “Perfectly good computers were just being replaced by newer models. And, if they aren’t perfectly good, we’ll show how to fix them,” he laughs.

Dan is brimming over with enthusiasm. Watch this space for the ideas brewing.

Crash Coders Creator in Masterton, Dan Alexander

Tutor Dan Alexander with students Aidan King (13) Kuranui College; Ozzy Ashworth (14) Wairarapa College and Grayson Trotman (16) Wairarapa College.

When Masterton tried to be Top Town

Lifestyle

Top Town started in 1976 and was originally hosted by Sir Howard Morrison and Paddy O’Donnell. By the mid-1980s, Mark Leishman and Ross Mackenzie had taken over. While the major towns and cities took an active part in the competition, it also gave an opportunity for some of the smaller towns to show what they were made of. Alexandra, Waihi, even Woodville entered teams in the show. Woodville made it to the finals in 1977.

In the fifth series, Masterton was keen to show it could not only host an episode but be a strong contender.

On February 14, 1987,

Memorial Park was the venue for the first episode of the season where Masterton would battle it out with Taihape and Palmerston North.

Preparations included the set up of a swimming pool.

All the events that were to be played in Masterton were new and the courses

were built by a Top Town team in Wellington. While it was meant to be all in good fun, there was some skulduggery behind the scenes. Game designer Richard Martin said he knew some members of the Masterton committee travelled to Taupo for a look around, and before that, people from Taupo

had gone to Hastings for the same reasons. But as the events were all new and hadn’t been seen before, the trips were of no value.

“Walking the plank”, “Tightrope”, and “Freedom” were the events that had been brought to the playing grounds by the event organisers. One of the perks of being

the host was you could design your own event. The organisers decided there was no better event to showcase our pride than shearing.

The games started with “walking the plank”. Masterton played its joker, meaning all points they earned would be doubled. Unfortunately for the

hosts, the game didn’t go their way and they finished third, their double points barely making a difference. “Tightrope” went a bit better. Masterton had to come from behind, and gave it their all. With a roaring crowd and energetic cheerleaders showing their support, at the sound of the gun the team ran across the tightrope suspended

across the pool, trying to get as many of their team members to the other side. It was not that simple though, it would be too easy to just stroll across the ropes and that doesn’t make for exciting television.

So, the event was spiced up with opposing teams able to hurl wet sponges at competitors, trying to knock them over.

Masterton made a great start, but with time running out, two members tried to get across at the same time.

Unfortunately, they collided mid-tightrope and both fell into the pool.

The third event was “Freedom” in which teams pulled a cart carrying some of their fellows. Each team’s cart was purposely sabotaged by the organisers so a wheel would fall off at some point

for the entertainment of those watching. Unfortunately for Taihape, this happened to both their wheels, and with alarming regularity.

Was this sabotage upon sabotage? To keep the game fair, the event was restarted, much to the disdain of the crowd. However, when the game resumed Masterton dug deep and showed the others what they had, winning comfortably.

Then it was time for the final event, the one conceived by Masterton, called “Golden Shears”. While an attempt at shearing live sheep by newbies was out of the question, the gathering of wool from a sheep was a brilliant idea. A huge wooden sheep was constructed and raised high. Contenders had to climb up, grab as much wool

as they could carry, then run over to an area and dump it. The team with the most wool at the end of the time limit was the winner. Nice and simple.

It was not Masterton that would win this match, but good old Taihape.

At the end of the show Masterton and Taihape were tied for second place with 30 points each. Palmerston North was the Top Town of the day with an unmatched 50 points.

Masterton may not have won in points, but they had a lot of fun, and the crowd supported them every step of the way.

Top Town ran for another three years before it was taken off the air in 1990.

In 2009 it was revived for one season with Masterton competing in the first week of competition but beaten by a top-notch Ashburton.

It was a gameshow of unusual sporting events that graced our television screens for all of the eighties, and in 1987 Masterton got to be the host.

MARK PACEY of the Wairarapa Archive recalls the fun that was Top˜Town.

The Masterton contribution to the show, the wool grab. PHOTOS/WAIRARAPA ARCHIVE

The wheels come o˜ for the Masterton team.

Bats move in near towns

Ronnie Priest

A resident population of long-tailed bats has been discovered in Lowes Bush Scenic Reserve about 5km from Masterton and Carterton.

SWI [Sustainable Wairarapa Inc] Bat Group member Julia Ryan said they were excited to find significant activity in the areas sampled within the reserve, as well as a neighbouring property.

“The survey results

largest and most intact area of podocarp swamp forest in the Lower North Island, providing ideal habitat for bats.

The reserve is located between Perry’s Road and Hughes Line around

A social bat group may use more than 100 different roosting trees, making it possible that you could sight a longtailed bat in town. If you do, the SWI Bat Group want to hear from you. All sightings help form

liaising with landowners and people who have sighted bats.

“It’s a fantastic group to be involved with because we see all sorts of interesting parts of the Wairarapa. We get invited onto properties

where they feed and what the threats are, then you can’t protect them.”

If you sight a bat or are interested in joining the SWI Bat Group, contact them on swibats@ outlook.com or facebook. com/sustainable.

Māori in Business

Inspire Living

Encouraging and celebrating diversity

Inspire is a great name for this multi-faceted business which o˜ ers a broad range of trade services under one roof, making home renovation and building a seamless and rewarding experience.

To inspire is to embolden, enliven, encourage and to energise, and that’s certainly what Tavita and Jessica Isaac have done for many in Wairarapa in the past decade.

They have built up a company, Inspire Living, to around 30 employees. This band of people includes 10 apprentices, 30 per cent women and around 60 per cent of M°ori/Paciÿ ca descent.

Tavita is proud to point out this diverse mix. It’s not just culturally based but wh°nau oriented. There’s a father and daughter working together, siblings, and couples included in the team mix.

It’s important to Tavita and wife, Jess that their business encourages people to enter the trades and that they represent present day society. Its wh°nau-based atmosphere makes for a great congenial workplace. The team is youthful too with the average age in the mid-20s. It makes for great vibrancy.

The company includes six o˝ ce-based people and there are ÿ ve di˜ erent trades on o˜ er, plus one full contract bathroom renovation service. Their in-house trades include tiling; masonry; internal plastering; painting and Rockcote – the latter being an exciting new service.

Rockcote by Resene Construction Systems can transform any ˙ at internal or exterior surface by adding a textural coating. Their Rockcote team, led by foreman

Richard, are licensed applicators and have the vision and knowledge to customise unique ÿ nishes.

“As a group, we are stoked that we encourage those wanting to learn a trade and support them as they navigate their early careers on the tools.”, says Tavita, whose personal trade qualiÿ cation is as a tiler. The trades opened up a career path for him and when he and his wife, began a family. Formerly he was in hospitality.

“My Dad highly encouraged me to get a qualiÿ cation. Looking at the various skill sets, tiling appealed because of its ability to be so creative.

The look of gratitude on clients’ faces when they see the result is wonderful.” Taking his dad’s advice was a good move and from there, he and Jess decided to make a further step and create their own business.

Their desire to encourage others and create a positive team spirit has had an overwhelming impact attracting many to want to work for Inspire.

“We’re all going in the same direction and that certainly helps in today’s business world.”

Having a wide range of trades to call on within the one company means it can take on multiple projects, large and small, and they can all be catered for simultaneously. Each trade has a team leader. When another trade outside their sphere is required, Inspire uses the same trusted contractor to ensure the seamless progress.

Be

Growing within the job

heart

Father/daughter duo, Pio and Staci are a perfect example of how life in the trades can inspire upcoming generations to also pave a path in the industry. Pio is skilled in both plastering and painting whilst Staci is doing her painting apprenticeship. They are both keen and key parts of Inspire Living’s decorating division and add another dimension to Inspire’s approach to wh°nau culture.

The unique Tokelauan and Samoan values that the two hold, such as Pio’s modesty and humbleness, is admired by the wider team. Whilst Staci is new to her painting career, her attitude towards learning and the friendly approach to teamwork is highly valued by the group. Born and raised in New Zealand, Pio believes that the cultural values he was taught by his parents have been embedded in his everyday life. He was taught to ‘be respectful, work hard and give the heart’ –a mantra that many Tokelauans live by.

Max Telford, one of Inspire Living’s senior tilers, is excelling within his trade and setting himself up for ongoing success in the future. Joining the company in 2017, he is now a highly skilled and qualiÿ ed tradesman, juggling multiple jobs and junior team members. He is a perfect example of one who has been personally rewarded by taking an o˜ er from Inspire Living to gain a skill.

After starting his young family with his partner Alisha, life in the trades became the ideal career path to support his wh°nau, whilst being able to work in a hands-on environment with plenty of opportunities to work on jobs both large and small.

Originating from Te Aitanga-a-M°haki, an Iwi in a remote part of Gisborne, Max has grown and learned to bring his cultural values into the workplace. From the viewpoint of his colleagues his approach to teamwork, respect for others, and general collectiveness is a key part of his success within the Inspire Living crew.

respectful, work hard, and give the

Pio & daughter, Staci

Max Telford

Back Row: Staci, Jamie, Taylor, Mikey, Wero, Paige, Chris, Tihemi. Front ROW: Joseph and Peter.

Grand plan for power puffs

Wairarapa has the potential to be a national centre for wind farmgenerated electricity as the world works to decarbonise.

Three wind power projects have been earmarked in the region for development or expansion by Meridian Energy and Genesis Energy.

By 2050, it is expected New Zealand will need to have created at least 20,000 GWh and potentially as much as 60,000 GWh of new power generation, according to Meridian Energy’s 2022 integrated report, which was presented to the Government.

Rural“This equates to between $14 billion and $44b in today’s costs, though technological advances are expected to bring those costs down,” it said.

Wairarapa’s Mt Munro has been identified as one of the potential answers to the energy problem.

Meridian said it is progressing with studies into the viability of a wind farm at Mt Munro, where it is considering seeking consent for a 90MW site.

The company said it has also secured an additional battery site at Bunnythorpe, near Palmerston North and land for a potential wind and solar farm in Taranaki, and is also prospecting for solar and wind sites in the North Island and targeted South Island locations.

Meanwhile, Genesis Energy is also looking to develop its Wairarapa wind farm capacity.

It noted in its 2022 annual report that it is investigating the possibility of a resource consent extension for a wind farm at Castle Hill in Wairarapa, which was approved by the Environment Court in 2013 and is due to expire this year.

Currently consented for a site about 20km northeast of Masterton, the Castle Hill windfarm could double Genesis Energy’s annual renewable electricity generation and would be the biggest wind farm built in New Zealand for the past nine years – generating out the equivalent power produced by at least 850,000 tonnes of coal each year.

At the time the consent was granted, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges said the project was a “major boost to our continued confidence in renewables” and showed that “companies are clearly willing to invest in progressing cost-effective options to meet New Zealand’s future electricity needs”.

Genesis also has a strategic review under

have created at least 20,000 GWh and potentially as much as 60,000 GWh of new power generation. PHOTO/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Conservation Authority report, Review of New Zealand Wind Energy Potential to 2015, cited Wairarapa’s hills and coastal areas as having the second-highest potential renewable energy output in New Zealand.

However, Meridian has said the talk of 100 per cent renewable energy nationally is overly optimistic because although there will be no new gas power, it will have a role to play in keeping peak power loads running as reliably as possible.

The company also noted that, as climate change awareness increases, the ways customers want to

use energy are changing.

Genesis said it aims to have removed more than 1.2 million tonnes of annual carbon emissions by 2025, including reducing generation emissions by 36 per cent.

It has already reduced its emissions by 1.8m tonnes during the 10 years to 2020.

“We believe few, if any, New Zealand companies have reduced emissions on that scale in that timeframe.”

It said the target to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above preindustrial levels will be difficult but achievable.

COUNTRY LIVESTOCK

Report for Week Ending 27 Januar y 2023.

Sheep

Ewes 12@ 100

Lambs 4@120, 4@91, 4@90, 6@100, 2@75.

way of its Hau Nui wind farm in Wairarapa that is considering options for repowering and refurbishing the site, given the advances in technology since it was built in two stages in 1996 and 2004.

Hau Nui wind farm is located on Range Rd, just off White Rock Rd in Martinborough.

Hau Nui was New Zealand’s first wind farm, beginning with the installation of seven wind turbines in 1996.

As of 2019, there were 15 Enercon E-40 wind turbines on site, after eight more were installed in 2004 during the second stage of the energy hub’s development.

Owned and operated by

Genesis Energy, the wind farm provides power to up to 4200 homes.

Meridian said its development pipeline amounts to 2.3 gigawatts, which means it is having to work hard to keep up with projected demand.

“While we continue to look for new wind and solar sites, there are additional uncertainties.

“New resource management legislation is proposed to be more restrictive because of the requirements for environmental bottom lines, and with transmission load and connections growing, more capacity will be needed.”

The May 2001 Energy Efficiency and

1@50, 6@105, 11@120, 14@120, 11@100

Cattle

Friesian weaner bull 5@450

Hereford x weaner steer 2@480, 2@500 Angus x weaner heifer 4@470

Wairarapa Data week ending – Wednesday 25 January 2023

Farm Sys Soil Temp GrowthAPCRain mm MS cow MS ha Rot Greytown Irr 3–––––––Kaiwaiwai* 418.6––11.222.9326

Masterton Irr 219.939215041.494.4328

For more information view the full farm walk data on the DairyNZ website Farmwatch page at dairynz.co.nz/farmwatch. *Kaiwaiwai is a split calving / winter milk farm.

DairyNZ Update

Cows in their first lactation are still growing. With all the summer pasture growth we’ve had, hopefully they’re doing pretty well, but they should still be preferentially treated. Cows in their first two lactations tend to suffer more body condition loss over summer than older cows. Being mindful of who needs extra TLC now puts you in good stead for getting their BCS right at calving. The cows at greatest risk of poor reproductive performance are first and second calvers.

Four main strategies are used to help achieve BCS targets at calving. Choice of strategy will depend on the gains required for individual cows, and practicalities of managing a specific farm.

These are:

1. Increase feed allocation to lactating cows

2. Reduce milking frequency in mid-late lactation

3. Dry-off cows early, and/or

4. Feed dry cows for BCS gain

Visit Body condition scoring (BCS) – DairyNZ for more information on body condition scoring

0800

Windmills near the back of Birch Hill, Martinborough.

Wairarapa could become a centre for wind-generated electricty. PHOTOS/FILE

By 2050, it is expected New Zealand will need to

Grace Prior grace.prior@age.co.nz

Jumbo crossword

Sudoku

Last week’s crossword solution

ACROSS: 1 Waste, 4 Lose one’s tongue, 11 Venus, 14 State, 15 Absenteeism, 16 Amicable, 19 Harrier, 20 Guilt, 21 Elevation, 24 Disguised, 26 Settle, 27 Pigeon, 31 Cider, 32 Continue, 34 Tambourine, 38 Edition, 39 Cabins, 40 Unique, 41 Kiss, 42 Legally, 45 Gargantuan, 50 Essence, 54 Clue, 55 Garnet, 56 Follow, 57 Iceberg, 60 Missionary, 61 Obedient, 62 Bread, 65 Pamper, 66 Turret, 67 Imitation, 72 Afterlife, 73 Score, 74 Heading, 79 Skeleton, 80 Sidetracked, 81 Sight, 82 Debut, 83 Go up in the world, 84 Heart.

DOWN: 2 Astral, 3 Tutor, 5 Orbs, 6 Execute, 7 Nettle, 8 Sped, 9 Obsolete, 10 Enmity, 11 Victorious, 12 Nibs, 13 Sweeten, 17 Ledge, 18 Evaluation, 22 Bigot, 23 Meridian, 25 Inertia, 26 Stetson, 28 Fiddle, 29 Ending, 30 Obtuse, 33 Tiara, 35 Ensue, 36 Poll, 37 Guru, 42 Locum, 43 Gruesome, 44 Yearns, 45 Generously, 46 Rate, 47 Affront, 48 Tiller, 49 Aioli, 51 Sect, 52 Embargo, 53 Cereal, 58 Side effect, 59 Knots, 63 Graffiti, 64 Strew, 65 Praised, 68 Morocco, 69 Belong, 70 Scarce, 71 Anchor, 75 Drive, 76 Herb, 77 Feat, 78 Seal.

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

GET CASH for your unwanted vehicle

If you have a vehicle to get rid of, call Tristan at Barnett Automotive and Transport.

Tristan offers $50 to $1000 for complete cars, vans, utes, 4WDs and trucks depends on condition. Mechanical problems, de-registered, or no WOF - Tristan wants it.

Tristan also removes wrecks and scrap metal for free anywhere in the Wairarapa.

He offers a transporting service with truck and trailer, and sells used car parts and installs new and used tyres.

PROPERTY WASH WAIRARAPA

Property Wash Wairarapa provides an affordable quality exterior washing service throughout Wairarapa –both for residential and commercial premises. Why not treat your house or business to a spruce up? We provide pre-paint and pre-sale washes; wash decks, driveways, roofs and gutters, treat moss and mould, and spray for spiders & insects.

Our high-grade property wash can prolong the life of an expensive paint job, keep it looking fantastic and help to maintain your property’s value. A standard wash involves applying our specially formulated detergent, brushing the outside of the gutters, eaves, and walls down to the foundations. This is then rinsed off with a low pressure wash using a wide span nozzle.

All dust, dirt, spiderwebs and grime will be removed. All jobs are quoted as a fixed price before the job is done. You will never pay more. We guarantee all workmanship. As a member of Hazard Co we also have the appropriate certification for working at height. Property Wash Wairarapa is 100% locally owned. If you are looking to clean up your property, choose the professionals.

GUTTER

COOLAVIN

& OPERATOR 027 238 6753, 06 377 1285 bjpope@xtra.co.nz

THURSDAY,

FEBRUARY 2

Alcoholics Anonymous Featherston Community Centre, 7.30-8.30pm. Call

0800 229 6757.

Belly Dance for Beginners Kiwi Hall, Featherston, 6.30-7.30pm. Call

Antonia Blincoe [021] 105-7649.

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

Carterton Community Choir 7.159pm, at Carterton School, Holloway St. Call [022] 373-4299.

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

Vivienne 379-5564 or email carterton.

hist.soc@gmail.com

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

077-2654.

Digital Seniors Wairarapa Call

0800 373 646 for an appointment.

Martinborough St Andrew’s Church, 9.30-11am; Featherston Featherston Community Centre, 1.30-3.30pm.

Fareham Creative Space Open

studio, 10am-3pm, 80 Underhill Rd, Featherston. Email: registrations@ farehamcreativespace.nz

Featherston Menz Shed 61

Fitzherbert St, open from 6.30pm.

Food Market Food trucks, 4.307.30pm outside the Masterton Town Hall, rain or shine.

GirlGuidingNZ Carterton Pippins, 5-7 years, 4.15-5.30pm. Carterton

Brownies, 7-9½ years, 6-7.30pm. Call Sharon [021] 033-0550.

Justice of the Peace Masterton CAB

9.30am-12.30pm.

KeepFit! 10.30am,

Club, Essex St, Masterton.

Social Learners Bridge 1-3.30pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Barbara [06] 304-9208.

Steady As You Go Falls Prevention and Balance Class, 9.30am, Senior Citizens’ Hall, Cole St, Masterton. Call Age Concern [06] 377-0066.

Thursday Morning Bikers Meet at the fountain at the Queen Elizabeth Park entrance, 9.30am. Contact (06) 246-0295.

Wairarapa Fern and Thistle Pipe

Band Weekly practice, Masterton Brass Bandrooms, Park Ave, Masterton.

Call Sara Uruski [0274] 474-959. Dance Fit At Carrington Park, Carterton, at 6-7pm. Text dance groove to [022] 321-2643.

Greytown Music and Movement

For pre-schoolers, 10am, at St Luke’s Hall, Main St. Contact email admin@ stlukesgreytown.co.nz

Fareham Creative Space Open studio, 10am-3pm, 80 Underhill Rd, Featherston. Email: registrations@ farehamcreativespace.nz

Free Community Fit Club 6am and 11am, Carrington Park, Carterton. All ages, all fitness levels. Call Di [027]

498-7261.

Justice of the Peace Carterton library noon-2pm; Masterton District Court 11am-1pm; Eketahuna Library

1.30-4.30pm.

Kids Song & Story 9.30-10.30am, social hour during school terms for preschool children and their caregivers, Epiphany Church hall, High St, Masterton. Call Anne Owen

377-4505.

Masterton Croquet Club Golf

Croquet 9.15am behind the Hosking Garden in the park. Call Russell Ward

377-4401.

Masterton Masters Swimming Club Club night 5.30-6.30pm, Trust House Recreation Centre back pool.

Call Stu [027] 295-4189 or Lucy [021]

0204-4144.

Needlework & Craft Drop-in

10am-noon, Featherston Community Centre. Call May [06] 308-6912 or Virginia [06] 308-8392.

Featherston Assembly of God cafeteria, 22 Birdwood St, 10am4.30pm. Contact featherston. fusiliers@gmail.com

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

Cobblestones Early Settlers

VIllage Open 10am-4pm seven days. History comes alive with six heritage buildings, carts and carriages, set in two acres of beautiful gardens, bring a picnic to enjoy.

Featherston Heritage Museum

Behind the Featherston Library and Information Centre. Sat and

Sun 10am-2pm, other times by arrangement. Call Elsa [021] 263-9403.

Featherston Weekly Market 8am2pm, 33 Fitzherbert St. Greytown Menz Shed 9am-noon. Call Paul Dodge [021] 0262-6595.

Justice of the Peace Service centre available at Masterton Library, 10amnoon.

Lions Book Sale 9am-1pm, next to Wairarapa Farmers Market, Solway

Showgrounds, Judds Rd, Masterton, under the grandstand.

Martinborough Museum Open Sat and Sun at No 7 The Square, 10.30am2.30pm. Donation/koha appreciated.

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

Parkrun Weekly 5km run/walk.

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

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

TK Markets At Martinborough’s Te Kairanga Vineyard from 10am to 2pm. Carterton Farmers Market Memorial Square, 9am-12.30pm. Call [027] 663-9011.’

Featherston Menz Shed 61 Fitzherbert St, open from 1pm. Masterton Park Bowling Club Queen Elizabeth Park, bowls roll up at 1pm, names in by 12.45pm. Call 377-5458.

Masterton Petanque Club Club day

2pm, in Queen Elizabeth Park. Call Myrna Lane 377-3064. Masterton Toy Library 10am-1pm, 365 Queen St. Narcotics Anonymous Featherston Community Centre, 7-9pm. Call 0800

628 632 Rotary Sunday Market 6.30-

11.30am, Essex St car park. Contact thehodsons@xtra.co.nz

South Wairarapa Pipe Band Practice at St John’s church hall, Featherston, 4-6pm. To confirm time please call Gordon [027] 414-7433 or [027] 628-5889. Wairarapa Model Aero Club 9amnoon, at the Masterton Aerodrome.

MONDAY,

FEBRUARY 6

Citizens Advice Bureau Free and confidential advice, Mon-Fri 9am4pm, 43 Perry St, Masterton. Call 377-0078 or 0800 367-222.

Creative Hands Programme At Hospice Wairarapa, 59 Renall St, Masterton, 10am-noon. Call Kirsten 399-1050.

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

Epilepsy Support Group 11am at the Salvation Army office, 210 High St South, Carterton. Call 0800 20 21 22.

Featherston Music Club 7-9pm. Call Shaun O’Brien [027] 672-6249.

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

GirlGuidingNZ Masterton Rangers, 12½-18 years, 6.30-8pm. South Wairarapa Guides [Greytown], 9-12½ years, 6-8pm. Call Sharon [021] 033-0550.

Hospice Wairarapa Support Services Free of charge for anyone dealing with a terminal illness. Call [06] 378-8888.

Justice of the Peace Masterton CAB

9.30am-12.30pm.

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

Line Dancing 10.30am, Senior Citizens’ Hall, Cole St Masterton. Call Age Concern [06] 377-0066.

Literacy Aotearoa Free computing and digital device classes for adults.

Call 377-4214.

Featherston, 6.30-8pm. Call Pavla Miller [022] 075-3867.

Aratoi Leah Vivienne Creaven: Land Girl, to Feb 12; Professional Weavers Network of NZ presents Ngāhere –

The Bush of Aotearoa to Feb 12; Look Closely and Tell Me What You See:

Photographs from the Collection to Feb 19; Julia Teale: Koha - Presenting Plenitude to Feb 19; Masterton Museum: A Cabinet of Curiosities to July 2023.

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

787-8558.

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

Cloth Collective Sewing Workshop 10am-2pm, Kiwi Hall Supper Room.

Seniornet Wairarapa Computer/ cellphone help, 1-2.30pm, Departmental Buildings, 33 Chapel St, Masterton. Call John [027] 383-5654.

Wairarapa Kids Choir Choral singing for children aged seven years up,

3.50-4.50pm, Courthouse, Holloway St, Carterton, during school terms.

Call Jill [027] 347-5891.

Wairarapa Stop Smoking Service

Quit Clinic at Whaiora 9am-noon. Free support available across Wairarapa.

Call Whaiora 0800 494 246.

Walk and Talk Meet outside Dish

Cafe, First St, Masterton, 9.30am.

SATURDAY,

FEBRUARY 4

Wairarapa Spinners and Weavers

10.30am-2pm, in the Wool Shed, Dixon St, Masterton. Call Trish 3788775 or Lynette 377-0236.

Featherston Fusiliers Wargaming and boardgames club, meet at

Measured, timed, free. 8am start, at the Woodside end of the Greytown rail trail. Info: parkrun.co.nz/

greytownwoodsidetrail

Saturday in the Park Food trucks by the Skate Park, QE Park 10am-2pm, rain or shine.

Tinui Craft Corner and Museum

Open Sat/Sun 10am-4pm. Call Lesley Hodgins [06] 372-6433.

Toy Library Masterton 10am-1pm, 365 Queen St. Featherston 14 Wakefield St, 10am-noon. Wairarapa Cancer Society

Supportive Care Services Free services for anyone needing support after a cancer diagnosis. Call (06) 378-8039.

Wairarapa Farmers’ Market 9am1pm, Solway Showgrounds, Judds Rd, Masterton, under the grandstand and nearby redwood tree.

Wairarapa Genealogy Branch Family History Research Rooms, 5 Church St, Masterton, 10am-noon.

Masterton Branch of the Labour Party Meet at 6.30pm in Carterton or Masterton. Txt Helen [027] 497-4902 to check venue.

Art for Everyone Featherston Community Centre, 7-9pm. Call Sandie [021] 157-4909.

Carterton Alcoholics Anonymous

8pm, Salvation Army Community Rooms, 210 High St. Call Bob [021]

042-2947 or Martin [06] 372-7764.

Carterton Community Toy Library Events Centre, Holloway St, Mon-Sat during CDC Library hours. Carterton Scottish Dance Club

7.30pm, at Carterton School Hall, Holloway St. No partner required. Call Elaine 377-0322.

Carterton Food Bank 10-11am Mon-Fri at Haumanu House. Call 379-4092.

CCS Disability Action Wairarapa Office 36 Bannister St, Masterton, 10am-1pm Mon-Fri. Call 378-2426 or 0800 227-2255.

Mah Jong 1-4pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Pat Hamilton [06] 308-9729. Masterton District Brass Band Rehearsals at 7pm, in the Band Room, Park Ave, Masterton. Call [022] 574-0742.

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

Red Star Table Tennis Club 6-8pm at Red Star Sports Association 10 Herbert St, Masterton. Call Peter [027]

566-4664 or Brian 377-4066.

Senior Citizens Club Cards 1-4pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Val [06] 308-9293.

Steady As You Go Falls Prevention and Balance Class, Featherston

9.30am, A/G Church. Masterton 1.30pm, Senior Citizens’ Hall, Cole St. Call Age Concern [06] 377-0066.

The Dance Shed 450A Belvedere Rd, Carterton. Beginners Linedance Class: 6-7pm. Linedance Intermediate

Class: 7.30-8.30pm. Call Wendy [027]

319-9814. Troubadour Music Group 6-8pm, Wairarapa Community Centre, 41 Perry St, Masterton. Contact Stefan [027] 226-6019.

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

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

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

Wairarapa Embroiderers Guild

Meet at the Ranfurly Club Rooms, Chapel St, Masterton. Call Billie Sims

378-2949 or Jenny 377-0859 or email Wairarapaembroiderers@gmail.com

Wairarapa Spinners & Weavers

Meet 7pm in The Wool Shed, Dixon St, Masterton. Call Trish 378-8775 or Josie

378-6531.

Takahe Probus Club Meet 10amnoon, at Masterton Club, Chapel St. Call Richard Jackson [027] 811-006 or Pam Hill [027] 370-5012.

Featherston Toy Library

Featherston Community Centre, 9-11am. Masterton Toastmasters Meet in the Salvation Army Hall, 210 High St, Carterton, at 7.30pm. Call Ben [027] 892-0730.

Caregivers Programme At Hospice

Wairarapa, 59 Renall St, Masterton, noon-1.30pm. Call Kirsten 399 1050. Clareville Badminton Club Main Stadium at Clareville, 7.30pm -9pm. Call Steve [027] 333-3975.

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

406-672.

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

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

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

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

Digital Seniors Wairarapa Call 0800 373 646 for an appointment.

Carterton 3 Mile, 66 High St, 9.30-11.30am; Greytown Greytown Library, 1.30-3.30pm.

Fareham Creative Space Open studio, 10am-3pm, 80 Underhill Rd, Featherston. Email: registrations@ farehamcreativespace.nz

Featherston Amateur Wrestling Club During school terms. Classes are weight and skill dependent;

Beginners, 5-9 years, 5.30-6.15pm; 10 years+ [including adults] 6.15-

7.30pm.

Featherston Menz Shed 61

Fitzherbert St, open from 10am.

Featherston Wahine Singers

7-8.30pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Susan [021] 246-4884.

Free Community Fit Club 11am, Carrington Park, Carterton. All ages, all fitness levels. Call Di [027] 498-7261.

Free Literacy and Numeracy Classes

At Literacy Aotearoa Masterton. Call Carol [022] 524-5994 or visit us at 340

Queen Street, Masterton.

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

372-7646. Justice of the Peace Masterton CAB

11am-1pm.

Paint/draw From live model,10am-

noon, at Masterton Art Club, Victoria St. Call Elissa Smith [027] 470-6528.

Masterton Alcoholics Anonymous

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

Masterton Croquet Club Golf

Croquet 9.15am behind the Hosking Garden in the park. Call Russell Ward

377-4401. Masterton Senior Citizens and Beneficiaries Association Meet for social indoor bowls, 500 cards, or a chat 1-3pm, Senior Citizens hall, Cole St. Call Ngaire 377-0342.

Masterton Toy Library 10am-1pm, at rear of Masterton YMCA, 162 Dixon St, Masterton.

Red Star Table Tennis Club 9amnoon at Red Star Sports Association

10 Herbert St, Masterton. Call Peter [027] 566-4664 or Brian 377-4066.

Seniornet Wairarapa Computer/ cellphone help 1.30-2.30pm, Departmental Buildings, 33 Chapel St, Masterton. Call John [027] 383-5654.

Social Bridge At South Wairarapa Workingmen’s Club, 1.30-3.30pm. Call Lesley [021] 299-6389. South Wairarapa Workingmen’s Club Games afternoon. Call Doff 304-9748.

Wairarapa Genealogy Branch Family History Research Rooms, 5 Church St, Masterton, 1-3.30pm.

Wairarapa Services Club Cards –Euchre, 1pm, at the club, Essex St, Masterton. Woops A Daisies Leisure Marching Team practice 4-5pm, at the Trust House Rec Centre Stadium. Call Cheryl [06] 370-1922 or [027] 697-6974.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8

AA Meeting At 7.30pm, Epiphany church hall, High St, Solway, Masterton. Call [027] 557-7928.

Athletics Wairarapa Club night, 5.45-7pm, Colin Pugh Sports Bowl, Masterton, all ages and abilities

welcome.

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

Carterton Cycle Group An informal group of ‘leg power’ and e-power cyclists, from Belvedere Rd [weather permitting] for 20km or 40-60km rides. Call Irene [027] 634-9167 or Lesley [021] 299-6389.

Dance Fitness 9.30-11am, preschoolers with parents or caregivers, music and movement and art, at Fareham House Hall Featherston. Call Justine [0204] 105-2830.

Digital Seniors Wairarapa Call 0800 373 646 for an appointment.

Masterton Citizens Advice, 10-noon.

Free Classes Literacy, language and numeracy for adult learners. Call Literacy Aotearoa 377-4214. Greytown Menz Shed 9am-noon. Call Paul Dodge [021] 0262-6595.

GirlGuidingNZ Masterton Brownies, 7-9½ years, 5.30-7pm. Call Sharon [021] 033-0550.

Healing Rooms Confidential prayer for healing or any situation, 2-4pm, at St Matthews Church Hall, Church St, Masterton, no appointment necessary. Call [027] 245-2819.

Heart of Arts Wairarapa A community gallery, 47 High St North, Carterton, Wed-Fri, 10am-4pm, weekends, 10am-2pm. Juesday Art 10am-12.30pm, AOG Church, Birdwood St, Featherston. Call Julia [06] 308-8109.

Justice of the Peace Masterton CAB noon-2pm.

Kiddie Gym For 0-3-year-olds, 9.3011am, at St David’s Church, corner High and Victoria Sts, Carterton. Call Lorna or Abby 379-8325. Masterton Art Club 10am-2pm, also print on Fridays, at 12 Victoria St. Call Elissa [0274] 706-528.

Masterton Park Bowling Club

Queen Elizabeth Park, bowls roll up at 1pm, names in by 12.45pm. Call 377-5458.

Masterton Croquet Club Association

Croquet 9.15am and 12.45pm behind the Hosking Garden in the park. Call

Carl Redvers 378-7109.

Parkinson’s Singing Group 10.30am, at the South Wairarapa Workingman’s Club, Main St, Greytown. Call Marguerite Chadwick 379-5376. Rangatahi to Rangatira Youth Group Join us for sports, food, and leadership, Carterton Events Centre.

Text “R2R” to [027] 742-2264.

Recreational Walking Group

9.30am, Essex St car park. Call Ann Jackson, 372-5758, or Ann Duckett, 378-8285. Scrabble Club 1-4pm, Senior Citizens Hall, 8 Cole St, Masterton. Phone Sue McRae [027] 449-0601. Silver Ukulele Club 1-3pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Jan [06] 308-8556.

South Wairarapa Caregivers

Programme At a café in South Wairarapa, 10am. Call Kirsten 3991050.

Soulway Cooking and Crafts 10amnoon, High St, Masterton. Call Nikki Smith 370-1604 [church office].

Te Runga Scouts Cubs, 6-7.30pm, 45 Harley St, Masterton.

The Dance

DRESS TROUSERS Top NZ Brands Classic & Slim t Wool Blends, Machine Washable SAVE $30 to $40

DRESS TROUSERS FROM $79.90

R.M. WILLIAMS Mens Moleskins, Jeans, Shirts, Sweatshirts, Jackets SAVE up to $20, $30, $40, $50 Mens Boots 7 Styles SAVE $70

THOMAS COOK

FURTHER MARKDOWNS

FASHION SHIRTS By Ben Sherman, RM Williams, Country Look, Lacoste SAVE $30, $40, $50

CASUAL SHIRTS

Bisley Short Sleeved SALE $29.90, $39.90

AERTEX SHIRTS SAVE $10

SWANDRI SHIRTS FROM $69.90

CASUAL SHORTS

Short and longer length styles by Savane, Ben Sherman, Farah, RM Williams, Bob Spears, Canterbury SAVE $10, $20, $30

WOMENSWEAR TOP FASHION BRANDS

CASUAL PANTS Country Look, Farah, Savane, Bob Spears

SAVE up to $20

Farah Cotton Pants SALE from $74.90

SELECTED CASUAL PANTS

Top Brands SALE $59.90, $69.90 etc

PYJAMAS & NITESHIRTS

By Summit, pure cotton blend, medium weight plus brush cotton Winter Warm SAVE 20%

TEE SHIRTS RM Williams, Thomas Cook, Levi’s SAVE 20%

LESS 20%

SHOES Casual & dress styles By Reiker, McKinlays, Julius Marlow, Wild Rhino SAVE $30-$50

SELECTED SHOE

ODDMENTS SALE from ½ price

KNITWEAR By Silverdale, Fields, Noble Wilde, Merino Possum SAVE $20, $30, $40, $50

KNITWEAR Fisher Rib, Pure Wool NZ Made FROM $110 JEANS All Styles SAVE $15

ckn ow ledg emen ts

HOY, etty ra nee eg nault

Doug, Evan and Sue, Stephanie and Richard wish to express their heartfelt thanks to all who have supported them in various ways following their recent loss of Betty

We have appreciated the lovely cards, letters, flowers, food, phone calls, tributes and visits.

A special thanks to the Access workers who cared for Betty at home; to Emergency Services

Personnel who attended to Betty, Peter and Jenny Giddens and the staff at Richmond Funeral Home, Pam Bailey and to all who travelled from near and far to be with us at this time We are comforted in the knowledge that Betty has touched the lives of so many wonderful people. Thank you one and all.

Funeral Directors

For Sale Opening Hours:

Tues, Wed, Thurs 7:30 - 5pm

For all your iron and rooÿ ng needs call

34 Daleÿ eld Road, Carterton Email: admin@CtnCF.co.nz

Firewood

Gardening Landscaping

Paul August Landscape Design

Landscape Consultation & Design Service 027 446 8256

august.landscape@orcon.net.nz

www.augustlandscapes.co.nz

We are looking for an amazing cleaner to join our dedicated team of support staff

This position is critical to the effective operation of our school - you will be responsible for helping keep our school clean and tidy for our tamariki

This is a 20 hour per week position to be worked Monday to Friday (outside of normal school operating hours) during term-time plus 10 hours during each term break and up to 20 hours of the summer break to prepare the school buildings for the summer closure and get ready for start-up in the new school year

Hourly rate: As per the Caretakers , Cleaners and Canteen Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement

Please note:

• We require candidates to under take a police security check Only candidates with a satisfactory police record are eligible for employment

For a copy of our Job Description please email: office@eketahuna.school.nz

To apply please send a copy of your CV and a covering letter to our Principal, Melind a Cowe via office@eketahuna.school.nz

Applications close Friday 10th February, 2023.

Public Notices

SOUTH WAIRARAPA DISTRICT COUNCIL NOTICE TO CLOSE ROADS TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC

Pursuant to the Transport (Vehicular Traffic Road Closure) Regulations 1965, notice is hereby given that the South Wairarapa District Council, for the purpose of the Martinborough Fair, will close the following roads to ordinary vehicular traffic for the period indicated hereunder.

During the period of closure, vehicles will need to take these alternative routes:

• Alternative roads/streets into Martinborough can be accessed by using existing roads and streets.

Roads to be closed:

- Jellicoe Street

- Oxford Street

- Texas Street

- Cambridge Street

- Kitchener Street

- Ohio Street

- Kansas Street and SH53 between Ohio St junction and the Martinborough Square, and the roads surrounding Martinborough Square

Period

pr duc n Travel Agency Brand is best for you!

Feel free to contact us for a confidential chat or apply now to hotcareers@hot.co.nz

Property For Sale

Currently tenanted - 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1970's family home in Trentham needs a birthday and a new owner

Will sell outright or swap for something tidy in Carterton or Masterton 2 or 3 -bedroom with section

Text Edwin on 021 619 401 after 5 pm.

Need staff!?

Buy

Don’t delay, contact us today

06 378 9999 Option 2 or email classads@age.co.nz

MEETING NOTICE CORRECTION

This notice corrects the time for the following meeting:

Thursday 16 February

1pm Wairarapa Combined District Plan Joint Committee Meeting Hurunui o Rangi Meeting Room, Carterton Events Centre, 50 Holloway St, Carterton

Employment

Employment XPE RI NCE F NCE BUI

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 Wednesday 8th February 2023. Email: tim@erectafence.co.nz or call 027 247 7990

Work Wanted

Person with disabilities looking for work Can work up to 15 hours a week to start. Cannot stand or sit for long periods, have done office and reception work, small business owner Car drivers licence. Reliable and punctual Early riser Personal interests in law, psychology, culture, politics, disability advocacy, chess/scrabble/cards, music, poetry, art.

Any work considered

Phone Jayne 027 304 0120

PS To our new PM Hipkins, Deputy PM Sepuloni & MP McAnulty - ACC, MSD, The Market and you have all failed local disabled people like myself

Employment

Youth 2 Work Wairarapa Employment Facilitator

Are you passionate about rangatahi/youth?

Our job is to coach, mentor and support 16 to 24 year olds into sustainable employment or training in the Wairarapa and the demand is so great we need someone else to join our close knit and successful team.

Your experience connecting with rangatahi supporting their achievement and growth in any of the following backgrounds would be fantastic but not essential:

•Education

•Community service

•Coaching

Most important is a passion to support youth to succeed and if you have that drive we’d love to hear from you.

It’s a challenging role but so rewarding because you are helping our Wairarapa rangatahi reach their potential and navigate the challenges that life and work can throw at them.

The role is a fixed term contract for up to 20 hours per week until 30 Ju ne 2023.

Applications close Sunday 12th February 2023

To apply for this position please visit: www.reapwairarapa.nz/vacancies/

For any queries regarding this position please contact: Jenny Gasson REAP Youth Manager on 021 612 540

Thomson remembered as the ‘crouching cricketer’

Wairarapa Cricket life member Dermot Payton remembers double international Keith Thomson, who died last Thursday aged 81, as a knowledgeable and tough cricketer.

Thomson played for Greytown and represented Wairarapa from 1978 to 1982 when he was deputy principal at Makora College [now Makoura College].

“He was quite helpful to me in a way as the captain because he was a very good cricket captain himself,” Payton said.

Sport“He captained Canterbury and played for New Zealand, and he was a fairly knowledgeable cricket personality.

“He made a good contribution to the wellbeing of the team and the success of it while he played for us, and I found him very helpful.

“He could have come to Wairarapa and tried to own the place, but he didn’t, and he fitted in quite well.”

Thomson’s best effort for Wairarapa was 90 and 54 not out in the district’s last successful defence of the Hawke Cup against

Poverty Bay in January 1979.

Thomson also coached the Wairarapa men’s representative hockey side while in the region.

Thomson first pulled on the silver fern in hockey in 1961, going on to play 28 tests over the next decade, including the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, scoring three goals in eight games.

The double international earned his international cricket test call-up in 1968 after impressing for Canterbury, the province he represented in 58 games.

Thomson scored 69 on debut in the first innings against India at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, adding 119 with captain Graham Dowling [239] in New Zealand’s total of 502 in what was New Zealand’s fourth test victory.

His only other test was a week later, where he scored 25 and 0 in the eight-wicket loss to India at the Basin Reserve.

Thomson was noted for his unorthodox crouching stance at the batting crease and his powerful hitting.

His highest first-class score was 136 not out for Canterbury against

Northern Districts in 1968-69. He was also a fine fielder and excellent closein catcher.

After retiring from cricket, Thomson was

fast-tracked as a firstclass umpire and went on to stand in 13 first-class matches and 11 List A [one day] games from 1983 to 1987.

Thomson was also a New Zealand-graded hockey umpire and refereed two New Zealand internationals against Canada and India.

Keith Thomson in typical batting pose.

PHOTO/FILE

Wairarapa College Centenary

10–12 March 2023

100 YEARS

Join us in celebrating 100 years of Wairarapa College in 2023 with an exciting schedule of events.

10-12

March 2023

A dedicated Centenary organising committee has been working hard organising an awesome range of events to celebrate Wairarapa College’s Centenary. Join us to catch up with old friends, make new ones, and enjoy the range of events we have on offer for the weekend.

Check out

waicolcentenary.nz for all the details and to register your attendance. Your registration affords you entry to over 15 free events over the weekend.

HOW TO REGISTER

WAIRARAPA COLLEGE

CENTENARY 1923-2023

The WaiCol Centenary Golf Day

Join Sir Bob Charles and other NZ sporting icons (to be announced) in the eld at the Masterton Golf Club for a fun 18 hole Ambrose golf event.

WaiCol Centenary Breakfast

Start the day with a full buffet breakfast at Copthorne Solway. Former college house pupil -Luther Toloa will host this special event 'A conversation with the two bobs' - Former Mayor Bob Francis and 1963 British Open winner Sir Bob Charles.

The Centenary Dinner

Join us for a relaxing formal 2 course buffet dinner at Copthorne Solway Park. Time to unwind for the day and relax over ne food and wine – a chance to mix and mingle and an opportunity to reminisce.

The WaiCol Centenary Ball

The weekend's agship event is to be held in the iconic school hall. Our theme is the 1920's. Enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbles, and a two-course dinner, and be entertained by the incredibly talented "[The] Beat Girls".

In addition to the free events you can choose to buy a ticket to: