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ARATOI VOICES Celebrating Matariki

Our newest exhibition Ngā Haerenga/ Journeys – Celebrating Matariki brings together thousands of years of navigational history to show how people have always used the natural world to explore and help with navigation. The exhibition highlights journeys from legendary Polynesian explorer Kupe through to the presentday commuters; we are all still guided by the stars, animal migrations, and the landscape.

We have enjoyed looking over items from the Aratoi collection to tell this story; with a nod to commuters who travel daily over the Remutaka Hill and young navigators who are rediscovering their traditional ways of travelling across oceans. The exhibition was developed to be interactive and uses a variety of ways to engage the audience, with holiday programmes, talks and adult workshops.

Friend of Aratoi Sam Ludden’s Tātou Tuna, a ceramic sculpture linked to eel migration will be on display. His three-strand eel sculpture suggests that the community needs to live alongside tuna rather than separately.

A highlight of the show offers visitors a closer look at a culturally important waka fragment discovered on the Wairarapa coast and offers an insight to why Matariki and the stars are still important today.

Thanks also to Wellington Museum, three fascinating navigational instruments are on display: a modern compass used by Northern Hemisphere sailors, an astronomical compass and a sextant. These were all vital pieces of equipment on ships for hundreds of years.

So, over these school holidays, pop into Aratoi and discover the amazing journeys people have taken over the years and join in with our free holiday programmes and participation activities.

Free Drop In School Holiday Programmes:

Wednesday and Saturday 11am-2pm Make a Compass and Sea Scape collage and pick up a Hide

John Walsh, He Whanaunga (2013), intaglio etching and aquatint. Collection of Aratoi. Gift of the National Whale Centre. PHOTO/SUPPLIED and Go Seek Aratoi Rock to decorate and hide in the region. A craft table and participation activities will run throughout the exhibition.

State highway roadworks to begin

George Shiers

Construction work on three roundabouts on State Highway 2 between Carterton and Masterton will begin in August, Waka Kotahi has confirmed.

Waka Kotahi awarded the contract for the roundabouts, believed to be worth about $20 million, to construction firm Higgins.

The three roundabouts would be built on the intersections of SH2 and Ngaumutawa Rd, SH2 and Norfolk Rd and Cornwall Rd, and SH2 and Wiltons Rd and East Taratahi Rd.

“Construction firm Higgins Contractors has been appointed to deliver a major safety improvement project between Masterton and Carterton over the next two years,” a spokesperson for Waka Kotahi said.

“Higgins staff will be on site completing preliminary work such as ground investigations and survey, and relocating underground services in the coming weeks.

“Construction on the first roundabout, at Wiltons Rd and East Taratahi Rd is expected to begin in approximately August this year.”

Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships

Construction work on the roundabouts is expected to begin in August. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Emma Speight said that the section of SH2 was dangerous, and it was hoped the construction work would reduce serious crashes on the road.

“Upgrading three key intersections with new roundabouts and physically separating traffic with new median safety barriers will significantly improve safety along this busy corridor, reducing the likelihood of crashes occurring, and ensuring that when drivers do make mistakes those mistakes don’t cost lives.”

According to Waka Kotahi, there were 488 crashes on SH2 between Masterton and Featherston from January 2010 to December 2019.

The roundabouts were among several proposals for safety improvements for that stretch of SH2.

Further safety improvement work included pedestrian crossing upgrades, steel rope barriers and lower speed limits, with limits reduced to 80kmh and 60kmh on some sections of the road.

Waka Kotahi had not yet provided an update on the proposed speed limit reduction.

“The package of safety improvements includes flexible safety barriers, pedestrian crossings for school children, walking and cycling paths, road widening, new signage and new roundabouts.

“These improvements will make it safer for people to do everyday things like taking children to school, travelling to work or the shops, moving goods and doing business.

“We know many of these improvements are longawaited, especially the new roundabouts.”

A HOME FOR A PET

Hi, my name is Blue. I’m a medium-sized, mixed-breed boy, about 18 months old. I am a fun-loving guy who is looking for an active home. I am good at walking on a lead and enjoy exploring new places. Tug-of-war and fetch are two of my favorite games. I am a great listener and have basic manners. I would love to go to a home where my family can teach me new things! If you think I would be a good fit with your family, please give the team at the Masterton SPCA a call on 0800 467 732 and make an appointment to come and meet me.