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Christmas finale with circus tricks

Greytown’s second annual Festival of Christmas is set to end on a high note – with light displays, food trucks, exhibitions, snowfalls and some gravitydefying circus tricks.

The month-long festival will conclude this weekend with the Freshchoice Grand Finale, held on Saturday, July 29, from 3pm.

Over the hill to ‘Clarkson’s Farm’

Continued from page 1

prior knowledge of

Mandarin.

Yezi is from a town near the city of Wuhan, in the Hubei province of central China. With a population of more than 11 million, Wuhan is known as the place where the first human cases of covid-19 were reported in late 2019.

She remembers planning a trip to see friends, when something about a virus was posted on the internet. “My parents said perhaps I shouldn’t go but the Government said it was not something to worry about,” she said.

When covid-19 was confirmed, the people were subject to very strict lock-downs, with some families struggling to get enough food and

accepting help from local authorities.

“I did not get covid-19 in China but I caught it in Masterton in 2023!” Yezi said.

At the start of her 10-month posting in New Zealand, Yezi found that she was the sole Chinese teacher being sent to Wairarapa – quite a daunting prospect for a 25-yearold so far from home.

“Most of the other teachers are in Wellington,” she said.

Set to take the train to Masterton, where she would be boarding with a teacher from Hadlow, Yezi found the train had been replaced by a bus.

As she travelled slowly over the Remutaka Hill to Wairarapa, Yezi said the landscape reminded her of a television programme she had

seen in China.

“I had been watching Clarkson’s Farm, starring [British presenter] Jeremy Clarkson. I almost saw the same view - the sheep and cows of Wairarapa reminded me of this.”

Coming from a country where train services are swift and regular, Yezi, who does not drive, has relied on the Wairarapa train line to connect with her Chinese colleagues in Wellington.

However, she has found Masterton people “very friendly” and kind.

“I was walking home one day and needed to rest, so in Chinese style, I squatted to rest at the side of the road. A woman stopped in her car and asked if I needed help,” she said.

Yezi enjoyed the Greytown Festival of Christmas and during the July school holidays visited the South Island. This week, she planned to see her first English language movie without Chinese sub-titles –the Barbie Movie, at Masterton’s Regent Cinema.

“Karaoke is my exercise. I like singing Chinese songs and am a big fan of Taylor Swift,” she said.

Yezi will return to China in December and complete her degree in teaching at Xiamen University, with the aim to become a teacher at university level. She will be reunited with her orange cat called McDonald, her younger brother and her parents.

The headline act for this year’s finale will be Wellington-based circus company Colossal Productions, which will be staging its street performance show, The Biggest Little Circus, outside the Greytown Town Hall.

Best known for its “audience interaction, Kiwi charm, and generous serving of lycra”, the Biggest Little Circus showcase will feature aerial acrobatics, balancing acts, fire juggling, LED light performances, and comedic street theatre.

As well as three separate circus shows, there will be roving performers, live music, artisan markets, food trucks, and snow flurries – courtesy of Showcase Workshop’s snowflake generator –every half hour between 6pm and 8pm.

Nick Rogers, trustee for Country Village Heaven, said the event organisers were “beyond excited” to

Correction

host The Biggest Little Circus for the festival finale.

“We believe [the circus show] is another first-timein-Greytown event,” he said.

“The Grand Finale is the last chance for everyone to rug up, come out and enjoy the festivities, grab food from our restaurants, cafes and food trucks, and take one last look at the animated lighting displays. It’s going to be magic.”

Other highlights for the final weekend include the “Of This Land” exhibition at the Old Library, Martin Bosley’s Oyster Saloon at Pinocchio, the Rose & Smith Mid-Winter Party at Tauherenikau Racecourse, and the Wrap Up Party at The Top Pub.

The festival has again drawn record crowds to the Wairarapa region over winter, with an estimated 10,000 people attending the Big Switch and fireworks events on opening night, and thousands more during the school holidays.

• The Biggest Little Circus will perform at 5.30pm, 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday evening. All performances are free. To see a full programme, or book tickets to events or workshops, go to www. greytownvillage.com

In last week’s Midweek, we incorrectly reported in the photo caption titled “Legs 11...Roger that” [page 8] that the members of the WRAZE Network connect via amateur radio. In fact, the club’s members connect via the Zello, a walkietalkie app used on a smartphone.

At WRAZE, members learn amateur radio concepts and procedures, but all communications are carried out using the cellphone app, as opposed to a Ham radio. We sincerely apologise for the error.

ON

Young visitors get amongst the snow ˜ urries at the Greytown Festival of Christmas.

PHOTO/JET PRODUCTIONS

Yezi Min is teaching Chinese culture to Wairarapa school children.

PHOTO/JULIA MAHONY

Malmo to Mauriceville

When Raewyn Calvert visited Wairarapa and wandered the byways of the Scandinavian settlement of Mauriceville, looking for remnants of her great-grandparents’ lives, she was unprepared for the treasure she discovered. Close friend and feature writer MARLENE DITCHFIELD tells the story of a young Swedish immigrant and eventual Masterton icon.

Raewyn knew very little of her forebears, only that her maternal grandmother had lived in a children’s home in Masterton. She had always wondered why.

Not only, on her trip to Wairarapa, did she find a photograph of her great grandfather, Lars Mattson, at work in the Mauriceville Post Office in 1912 – but she found his grave and impressive headstone, and the site where he built his first house.

Lars was born on December 7, 1864, in Malmo, Sweden and sailed as a 20-year-old to New Zealand. In 1890, he was granted New Zealand naturalisation and settled in Mauriceville, where he was granted title to a block of land [110 acres] on Jackson’s Rd. It was steep

OUT OFTHE PAST

hilly country, covered in bush. On a small flat area, he cleared a space and built a four-roomed cottage, haybarn, and three-bail cowshed.

Lars married Christina Christensen at Kuripuni, Masterton, in 1892 at the home of her parents, Peter and Johanna. Peter was the first person to burn lime in Wairarapa and was the forerunner of what was to become the Mauriceville Lime Company. A proud claim to fame for this small business was that this lime was used in the mortar to build the Houses of Parliament in Wellington.

Lars and Christina’s sons, Anders [known as Alex] and Edward [Ted], were born in 1894 and 1896. A baby girl, Cecilia, was born in 1899 but died aged 10 days. A third

son, Rupert, followed in 1900. Three years on, Lars and Christina adopted a baby girl, Alice Rachael Mattson, who sadly died aged 11.

Lars sold his Jackson’s Line land in 1907 and built a house in the centre of Mauriceville West. When the postal service was transferred to the Mauriceville West Cooperative Store, Lars was appointed postmaster and bought the store.

His young son, Ted, became a junior staff member in the bustling store, sweeping floors before school and helping collect mailbags by horseback from the Mauriceville Railway Station. In 1910, at age 14, he became a full-time employee.

In 1913, Lars and Christina had a sixth

child, Hannah Christina. Hers became a sad life, however, as her parents died within months of each other: Lars on November 15, 1919, and Christina on March 12, 1920. Lars had been held in high esteem in the rural community and, in recognition of his role as postmaster, Mauriceville School closed for the afternoon of his funeral.

An orphan at age seven, Hannah was sent to the Whatman Children’s Home in Masterton. She lived there for the next 12 years until she married Raynham Stewart Middleton in 1932. Her older brother, Ted, continued to manage the Mauriceville store until the trustees of his father’s estate wound the affairs up.

Lars, Christina, baby

Weeding, writing and walking sticks

Retired doctor, Rotarian, amateur ornithologist, photographer, author, woodworker, raconteur and conservationist Tenick Dennison is in print again – for the last time, he insists.

Post Script is the 96-year-old’s fifth and final book, summing up an adventurous life.

Dennison was a

foundation member of Masterton’s Henley Men’s Shed and still attends regularly for a yarn and a cuppa. At his home, in a Masterton retirement village, is evidence of his woodworking skills –ornately carved walking sticks and wooden chains, among other things. He is also an enthusiastic member of the Shed’s writers’ group.

In the early 1980s, Dennison joined the

Cecilia and adopted daughter Alice are buried in one plot at the Mauriceville West Cemetery, atop a hill behind the former school. The small cemetery faces north with views across the valley.

Lars was a settler farmer, storekeeper, postmaster, secretary of the Mauriceville Dairy Company, vice-president of the Mauriceville Cricket Club, a Justice of the Peace, trustee of the Mauriceville Cemetery, a Sunday School supervisor at the Lutheran Church, and secretary of the Kopuaranga Forrester’s Lodge.

Not bad for a 20-year-old Swedish man, who set his sights on the new world. His tale epitomises the

Masterton Rotary Club with his friend and fellow medical man Owen Prior. The club recognised his contribution in 1987 with its highest honour, the Paul Harris Fellowship.

A highlight of Dennison’s time with the club was the “Tonga Team”, in which a group of Masterton Rotarians spent 10 days building a hall at a college in the Pacific island state.

After Dennison retired from medicine, he became very involved in birdwatching and, later, with the Henley Trust. As chairman of the revamped trust, he was instrumental in leading planting and

many early settlers who dared to try new things.

Great-granddaughter Raewyn was mighty pleased with her find.

building projects at Henley Lake and restoring the wetlands. Most of his mornings were spent weeding and tidying at the lake. In 2007, he became a Member of the Order of New Zealand for services to local conservation.

Dennison particularly enjoys talking with Otago Medical School trainees who visit the Men’s Shed. The students are entranced by his stories of old-time doctoring.

Dennison can put his longevity down to good genes: His only sibling, older brother Jim, a farmer in the South Island, died recently at 98.

Kevin Ball

Mauriceville postmaster Lars Mattson [left], Lars’ young son Edward and employee Miss Thompson at the Mauriceville Post O˜ ce in 1912.

PHOTO/WAIRARAPA ARCHIVE

Lars Mattson’s grave at Mauriceville West Cemetery.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Retired doctor, Rotarian and conservationist Tenick Dennison, with his ÿ fth and ÿ nal book, Post Script PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Fashion Extravaganza exceeds expectations

Lucy Cooper lucy.cooper@age.co.nz

Nearly 40 models, ranging in age from 14 to 82, strutted their stuff to a sell-out crowd this month, raising $18,000 for Cobblestones Museum.

The Fashion Extravaganza at Kuranui College, held on July 15, was part of Greytown’s Festival of Christmas and attracted an audience of more than 300 people.

Close to 150 garments were featured in the show, all donated by the Wairarapa community and covering every era from the mid-1800s through to the present day.

Chris Hume, who coordinated the project, was thrilled with the show’s success.

“It exceeded our expectations in all sorts of ways.”

The show was the culmination of months of networking and organising and was “a real community effort”, Hume said.

“It was a pulling together of the Friends of Cobblestones, the local business community and our service clubs - Rotary, the Lions and the Red Robins.

“It just grew! In the end, it was bigger than Ben-

Hur,” she said.

Property Brokers Greytown sponsored the event, and nearly 40 businesses – including Schoc Chocolates, Greytown Hotel and Aroma India – donated goods and services valued over $4000 to a silent auction held during the interval.

Local model Helga Perry hit the catwalk wearing outfits from 1905, as well as the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

“I had never done anything like this before and wasn’t sure what to expect,” Perry said.

“I totally loved the experience and feel rather honoured to have been part of such an amazing event.”

The $18000 raised brings Cobblestones closer to realising a new exhibition space to highlight horse-drawn vehicles and Wairarapa’s timber-milling industry.

“It will make a big difference,” Joseph Gillard, co-chair of the Cobblestones Trust Board, said.

“We need to raise a third of the costs of the project before we can make an application for funds to the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board. And with this donation, we are

Local models of all ages showing o˜ the styles of the 1960s. PHOTOS/EVAN DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY

Local model, Helga Perry, in a stunning 1970s poolside pleated dress.

Former Miss NZ, Gay Williams (née Phelps) starred in the show.

Proving a point – young Wairarapa boxers win gold

Determination, confidence and hunger for the fight paid off for two young Wairarapa boxers earlier this month.

Daisee Omundsen and Tyson Noda, representing the Wairarapa Boxing Academy, returned with a gold medal each from the New Zealand Amateur Boxing Championships in Tauranga, which attracted 177 competitors from across the country.

Wairarapa College student Omundsen, who competes in the junior 52kg division, was up against fellow Masterton boxer Brooke Miller –who beat Omundsen in their last encounter at the Wellington Championships.

“I could see [Miller] warming up, and I’m like, ‘okay, she’s been training hard for this. This is gonna be a tough fight’,” Omundsen said.

“That sort of got me in the flow of ‘I’m gonna need to perform for this. This is my space – the ring is mine’.”

Omundsen was able

to turn her earlier disappointment against Miller into fuel for the match.

“If I lose one fight, I’m so hungry for another one. I’m hungry to beat that person.”

Omundsen beat Miller in three two-minute rounds to take gold in her category.

Noda [17] also went into his match with something to prove.

Earlier this year, he lost out on a spot in the Oceania Boxing Confederation Junior and Youth Boxing Championships in Samoa to three-time national champion Kwahli Beauchamp – his

opponent in Tauranga.

“That’s all I was focusing on. I’m just here to prove my point. I just locked in,” Noda said.

It was an emphatic and fast win for Noda.

“I just hunted him down and beat him in two minutes and 30 seconds. No messing around.”

For Omundsen, success in the ring is down to training hard and having “100 per cent confidence in yourself”.

“Other people can have confidence in you, but because it’s a one-man sport, that’s not going help you in the ring.

“You don’t have a team to back you up or take over – it’s just you and

the other person. So selfconfidence is probably the most important part of boxing.”

While confidence is king, respect and humility are also part of Noda and Omundsen’s playbook.

Knowing how losing feels, Noda is “very humble after a fight”.

“I always try and go over to their corner, give them a hug and say good stuff – give them compliments about how they fought.”

Omundsen’s respect for Miller, who also attends WaiCol, goes beyond the Tauranga competition.

“She’s a great boxer. I still have so much respect for her as a fighter and a person,” she said.

“And, it’s cool being two female boxers from this little town, Masterton – two high-level female boxers. So we can relate to each other, even though we fight against each other.”

Omundsen’s next competitive bout will be at the Australian Golden Gloves competition in Brisbane in August. Noda hopes to compete in the North Island Golden Gloves in October.

Diverse artists exhibit at festival

McIvor and Tatyana Kulida, and photographers Esther Bunning and Rebecca Kempton.

A diverse group of emerging and well-known artists will exhibit together for the first time during Greytown’s Festival of Christmas this weekend.

Of This Land is a collaboration between Wairarapa artist and educator Linda Kirkland and 15 artists working and living in Greytown. The two-day exhibition is an opportunity for artists who usually work in isolation to work together, Kirkland said.

Creators involved include ceramic artist Josephine Durkin, painters Nikki

“I think visitors will be surprised by the diversity,” Kirkland said.

“We are all so different. The show will offer something for everybody.”

Kirkland hopes Of This Land will be the start of a regular collaboration between Wairarapa artists.

“We hope this will grow. We will continue to exhibit together, expand the group and welcome new members.”

• Of This Land opens on Friday, July 28, at the old library building, 115 Main St, Greytown.

Lucy Cooper lucy.cooper@age.co.nz

Lucy Cooper lucy.cooper@age.co.nz

Work by Greytown painter Nikki McIvor will be included in the exhibition.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Tyson Noda (left) and Daisee Omundsen won gold at the New Zealand Amateur Boxing Championships in Tauranga in July.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Grease is the word for cast of 55

August, Bushnell was eager to bring it back.

The word is out: Wairarapa College is heading back to the 50s, with rock’n’roll, slickedback hair, poodle skirts and the iconic songs we all know by heart.

Next week, the college will be staging its production of Grease [Schools Edition] –featuring classic fashions, big dance numbers, a live band, and a “super talented” cast of 55.

This will be the first time Waicol has performed its yearly production since 2020 due to disruptions by covid-19.

WaiCol head of drama Alix Bushnell [director] and head of music Maggie Fauvel [musical director] have been working tirelessly on the show, with planning officially starting last year when Bushnell started applying for production rights.

Bushnell said they chose Grease, made famous by the 1978 movie musical, as it is “upbeat, positive and fun”, and “something the public would love to see”.

WaiCol last performed Grease in 2014 and with the passing of Olivia Newton-John [who played Sandy in the film] last

“You also have to look at the kids in front of you in terms of casting – not just the actors, but also the band,” Bushnell said.

“We’ve got kids that are amazing on the bass, guitar, drums, keyboard and piano, who are so strong in playing rock’n’roll music. You want to choose [a show] that plays to their strengths.

“The students all look and sound amazing. The plan is for them to blow people’s socks off – so they leave the show thinking, ‘I want to see that again’.”

Bushnell said the students have been rehearsing for 10 hours per week [including weekends] and, by the time opening night rolls around, they would have been practising for 13 weeks.

As well as directing, Bushnell has also been in charge of costuming, with many of the outfits sourced from Facebook

13 student

and will be in charge of all the lighting design as well as backstage crewing responsibilities. “It’s important to give the kids agency, and for them to feel they’ve got ownership of their show,” Bushnell

said. “This is the first time I’ve directed a big musical, and we’ve taken a really collaborative approach with the students. We’ve asked them to contribute their ideas and what they think will look good on stage. We’ve got 55 brains in the room – chances are, they’re going to come up with better ideas than me.”

Bushnell said they also chose to have a genderdiverse cast – with some of the traditionally male roles

played by female actors. “We’ve got a girl who is a T Bird, because I don’t believe the T Birds have to be boys – they’re just people.”

• Grease will open on Wednesday, August 2, at 6.30pm, and run until Saturday, August 5. There will also be a matinee on Saturday at 12.30pm. Tickets are available at eventfinda.co.nz

• Additional reporting by Erin Kavanagh-Hall

Year

Tianna Jenkinson,

Summer Anderson [left] as Frenchie and Ruby McCartney as the Teen Angel.

Danny [Cody Laing-Bayley] and Cha-Cha [Ayla Wright] at the prom. PHOTOS/SUZANNE OLIVER

Painting our emotions

Julia Mahony julia.mahony@age.co.nz

Picking up the paintbrush and using art to express emotions such as grief and frustration led to a multi-media art exhibition by Masterton pupils last week.

Local artist and art tutor Katie Gracie worked with 16 children from St Patrick’s and Fernridge Schools during Term 2 to encourage them to paint and talk about their feelings.

The sessions, called ‘Exploring Emotions Through Art’, were funded by Masterton District Council’s Creative Communities Scheme.

Each art session had a maximum of four children, which allowed the children to bond, Gracie said.

“We began with a sharing rock, which encouraged children to talk about simple things, such as what they had for dinner. Then they decorated paper hearts to take home and use as a tool in the same way.”

Classes included children painting themselves as flowers, painting clouds,

thunderbolts, or other stormy weather events “because you need a bit of a storm to have a rainbow”, Gracie said. The young artists painted plant pots and then made leaves for them, with the theme: “Keep growing, keep going.”

Each pupil contributed a decorated feather to adorn a korowai [cloak], which was displayed at their art exhibition for whānau at St Patrick’s School last Friday.

“Being immersed in art allowed the conversation to be less confronting and

for talk to happen in a natural way,” Gracie said.

“What the children brought up was lovely – some said the art reminded them of painting with a [deceased] grandparent. I wasn’t prepared for how beautifully they picked it up and executed it.”

The art exhibition had half a dozen focal points, with 16 pieces of art in each, as well as a slide show containing candid photos of the children at work.

“That was their time to shine,” Gracie said.

While not a qualified art therapist, using art to express and cope with grief has been a focus of Gracie’s. Her former job as an embalmer led to

her designing and selling art packs for children to explore during times of sadness, such as a funeral.

“Grief, heartbreak and loss looks different for everyone,” she said. “These school art sessions show children they are not alone.”

St Patrick’s principal Steve Wheeler said the programme was of “huge benefit” to the tamariki.

“The growth in confidence was obvious, in not only their artwork but also in their demeanour and emotional stability,” he said.

Fernridge principal Janine Devenport said she would like the workshops continued: “We hope that we can access more funding to do this.”

Rangatira watches over trail

A rangatira of Wairarapa, famous for innovation in battle, now stands guard over one of the region’s new walking and cycling tracks.

About 70 people gathered in Featherston at dawn on July 14 [Matariki] for the opening of the new multi-media pou, installed at the entrance of the Tauherenikau Cycle Trail.

The pou, by local artist Edward Kerenere, is a tribute to Nuku-Pewapewa – a chieftain of Ng˜ti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, who led his iwi through the Musket Wars of the 1820s and 30s. Among his many feats, NukuPewapewa secured a local victory by masterminding manu tukutuku [kites] big enough to ° y his warriors o˛ a cli˛ – as depicted by the pou – and into a p˜ taken by a warring faction.

At the opening ceremony, Papawai Marae kaumatua Paora Ammunson said it was “ÿ tting that Featherston was its usual windy self” that morning.

The Tauherenikau Cycle Trail stretches from Featherston to Woodside, incorporating the new suspension bridge over the Tauwharenikau River.

Lilith Mead and Amaziah Levy paint together. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

Chances are, at this moment, I’ll be catching as many naps as possible before disappearing under an avalanche of nappies, laundry powder and contact naps. If I don’t emerge after six months, send out a search party.

Joking aside, I’m excited for the adventure ahead. It will, however, be strange being absent from the Times-Age fold until February. The WTA has been part of my life, on and off, for the best part of 10 years. I’ve written for the Times-Age and Midweek as both an employee and a freelancer. Some colleagues I’ve worked alongside almost the entire decade. Have I changed? I hope so.

Either way – je ne regrette rien. This is my second stint as Midweek editor, and there has been no shortage of highlights over the past 18 months.

In April, Midweek was named as a finalist at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards in the Community Newspaper of the Year category. Naturally, I was thrilled to bits. A lot of hard

Erin Kavanagh-Hall

work goes into this wee newspaper – and certainly not just from me. There’s been a lot dashing around the province collecting stories, several hours of research, several more hours of tapping furiously at the keyboard, a few last-minute sprints to the finish [mostly from me], and a handful of tears and tantrums [ditto]. So, to be acknowledged in the same ceremony as the big players in New Zealand journalism, felt hugely validating.

I am beyond grateful to the Midweek crew for their mahi and dedication: Our production team, sub-editors, designers, ad reps/feature writers, and circulation managers. Thank you for your unwavering support – and helping make our paper a joy to read.

After 10 years, it’s still a privilege to commit Wairarapa stories to print.

I’m always staggered by

Difficulties hearing?

Personally, one of my career highlights has been, as a great lover of drag, interviewing Anita Wigl’it, the delightful and hilarious star of RuPaul’s Drag Race

the sheer variety of people – and, likewise, talents, passions and ambitions – our teeny community has to offer. The common stereotype is that you go to your free weekly newspaper for tea and knitting, bake sales and pet days. Nothing wrong with that – all staples of a thriving rural community. But I’d like to think Midweek reflects a region equally known for its diversity, imagination and originality as for its pastoral traditions.

This year alone, we’ve featured floorball champions, Border Morris dancers, korowai weavers, 11-year-old fertiliser entrepreneurs, a chinchilla rescue ranch, teen dog handlers, balloon sculptors, and the team behind a new skating-based youth facility – to name a few. All part of a thriving rural community, and one I am proud to illustrate for our readership.

Off to rock my ‘other’ baby Opinion

Down Under – who, in June, visited Masterton for a drag bingo night at the Copthorne Solway Park.

On a serious note, Anita addressed the recent backlash against drag performers and LGBTQ+ Kiwis, and what the wider community can do to support our Rainbow whānau. Wairarapa was the world’s first community to elect a transgender woman as Mayor – so it’s heartening to see our region is still providing the spaces for queer New Zealanders to showcase their art and, most importantly, be themselves.

Finally, a clear highlight has been working with some brilliant people. Thank you to my editorial teammates for their wit and wisdom. Julia Mahony, my right-hand woman, for her writing talent, cool head, and loyal friendship. News director Roger Parker for

his down-to-earth guidance and steady supply of Dad jokes. And my fellow WTA long-server and new māmā Emily Ireland for seeing in me what I couldn’t see for myself. Arohanui. I’ll now leave you in the capable hands of my successor, acting editor Lucy Cooper. Enjoy yourself, Coops – the stresses can feel numerous, but the rewards are far greater. Much like parenthood, I imagine. So long [for now], Wairarapa, and thanks for all the yarns.

N�A�M�

G�A�E� G�I�D C�A�I�Y R�D�

SUNDAY 6 AUGUST 2023 - START 9AM

ALL PROCEEDS TO THE WELLINGTON FREE AMBULANCE STATION BUILD

REGISTRATION: Te Wharau Hall 2338 Te Wharau Road, from 8am START: Anytime between 9.00am-10.30am

LAPS - Complete as many laps as you like, final lap cut off time at 11am

ENTRY FEE - EARLY BIRD $37.00 UNTIL SUNDAY 27 JULY 2023 - MIDNIGHT

A late entry fee $50 from this date.

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By the time you read this, I’ll have started maternity leave.

The Wairarapa Midweek is subject to

Midweek editor Erin Kavanagh-Hall, after finding out the newspaper was a finalist in the 2023 Voyager Media Awards. PHOTO/FILE

...Sarah Linton, barefoot waterskier and martial artist

As a child, I spent a lot of time…

At the Ruam˜hanga River, waterskiing with my family. My friends and loved ones always say I am… Crazy for the sports I do.

The famous New Zealander [living or dead] I’d like to have a meal with is… [Mixed martial artist and kickboxer] Israel Adesanya.

The most delicious ice cream ˜ avour is…

Chocolate.

I would love more time to… Travel.

CONTACT US

MIDWEEK PHOTOS

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

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

CUTIE OF THE WEEK

My favourite local shop is… Stitch Boutique in Greytown. The family member I most admire is…

My partner Scott – who is a pro Ironman athlete and puts a lot of hard work into his training. A song I know all the words to is…

Most Ed Sheeran songs. Wairarapa needs…

A waterski/wakeboard cable park.

The best accompaniment for a cup of co° ee or tea is… Caramel slice.

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.

“I see you have food. I also like food.”

Reader Kaylee [age 10] sent in this cute and mischievous shot of her cat Teddy – perched in his “favourite food-stealing spot”. How could you say no to that face?!

PHOTO/KAYLEE HUCK

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Friends of Aratoi busy

The Friends of Aratoi committee has not been idle in the last few months: planning for 2023’s programme has paved the way for some eagerly anticipated events.

Last year’s October AGM had some changes to the committee. Newly elected were Kathryn Seagrave, whose interest in the arts includes having been on the board of the Kokomai Creative Festival, and Simon Dixie, a past treasurer of the Friends, who has taken on the job of membership secretary.

Sandra Debney remains as chair with Rob Sewell deputy-chair, Tess Mills as secretary and Robyn Cornford as treasurer.

Apart from the work done in hosting openings

and fundraising, committee members have their own tasks.

Marilyn Hunt, Mary Blakemore-Francis and Sue Harraway lead the catering team and Stephanie Chilcott is an expert on the logistics of organising the entries for our major exhibitions, Little Jewels and the Wairarapa Art Review.

Jo Nelson keeps track of all the volunteer hours the committee members rack up, several thousand a year.

The day-long bus trip is not to Wellington this year, but makes a change of direction to Palmerston North. Final arrangements and a firm date for later in the year are being discussed, but

one visit planned is to Te Manawa Museum, where Susanna Shadbolt, the former director of Aratoi, is now CEO.

The New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Wairarapa Art Review is held biennially

and is set to happen in December this year. The exhibition in 2021 drew 145 entries, leading judge Marcia Page to say that it was a challenge to narrow down the selection and make the awards. With entry forms ready to pick

June, this

is a call-out to Wairarapa artists to begin thinking about their entries.

Other events this year will include another movie fundraiser and exhibition openings, keeping the committee busy in its support of Aratoi.

Roadworks finish line growing slowly closer

Flynn Nicholls ° ynn.nicholls@age.co.nz

No exact completion date has been confirmed for the Carterton-Masterton State Highway 2 roadworks, but Waka Kotahi NZTA indicates work will still be wrapped up next month.

Contractors will return for three weeks in late November or early December for line marking and to lay the final asphalt layers.

Last week the TimesAge asked Waka Kotahi what date in August it will complete construction work and remove the temporary speed limits on the corridor.

The transport agency could not confirm specifically but said it will put out a statement to confirm completion closer to the time.

It confirmed that work is

running to schedule.

The roadworks – the scene of crashes and traffic jams – have been a controversial feature of Wairarapa for the past year.

When the project of installing roundabouts and median barriers began last August, Waka Kotahi’s initial plan was to build over two years, taking one roundabout at a time.

But it decided to revise the schedule to work on all three roundabouts

concurrently, creating more disruption to traffic but for a shorter period.

A week after work started, there were six crashes in six days, including a five-vehicle nose-to-tail, causing Waka Kotahi to close both passing lanes and impose speed limits of 70kmh or lower across the entire project area.

Since March this year, the new roundabout road layouts have caused

traffic jams to stretch for kilometres, with some motorists reporting delays of over an hour.

Over 1300 members of the public submitted feedback on the safety improvements in 2001.

The roundabouts at Ngaumutawa Rd and Norfolk Rd had broad public support, as the two intersections have been the site of several serious or fatal crashes.

The Wiltons Rd roundabout had less public support.

Almost all submitters opposed the decision to lower all 100kmh sections of SH2 between Masterton and Featherston to 80kmh.

The safety improvements are part of the government’s Road to Zero strategy, which aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on New Zealand roads by 40 per cent by 2030.

DOG REGISTRATION DUE MONDAY!

Don’t let dog registration creep up and bite you!

Dog registration payments must be made in full by Monday (31 July) to avoid penalties. Pay in full before 31 July and your dog will also go in the draw to win a refund of its fee. There are a range of ways to pay. For more information visit: www.mstn.govt.nz

The Friends of Aratoi Committee. Back, from left: Stephanie Chilcott, Kathryn Seagrave, Sue˜Harraway, Jo Nelson, Mary Blakemore-Francis. Front, from left: Rob Sewell, Sandra Debney, Robyn˜Cornford.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Waka Kotahi NZTA could not conÿ rm the exact completion date of the SH2 roadworks but said it was on schedule for an August ÿ nish.

PHOTO/FILE

HETĀKAI KŌRERO MAI I WHAKAORIORI

MASTERTON MONTHLY WRAP

New Chief Executive appointed

Masterton District Council has appointed Kym Fell as its new Chief Executive, starting on 25 September 2023.

Mr Fell is currently the Chief Customer and Community O cer at Wellington City Council where is he is responsible for 1061 sta managing Parks, Sports and Recreation, City Housing, City Parking, Connected Communities, Libraries and Community Spaces and the Creative Capital.

He also holds the roles of Deputy Chief Security O cer and Local Controller for Civil Defence Emergency Management and led the council response to the parliamentary protests last year.

Prior to this, Mr Fell had six years as Chief Executive of the Whanganui District Council where he played a pivotal role in transforming Whanganui into a vibrant and thriving city through the enablement of economic, social, cultural, and environmental initiatives, several of which were award-winning projects.

He led two civil defence emergency declarations relating to major weather events in the Whanganui district.

Born in Masterton, Mr Fell has now returned to Wairarapa after recently completing a twoyear house build on rural land just outside of Greytown. He is married to Karen, who works in the wine industry, and has two adult daughters, Aspen and Lucia.

Masterton Mayor Gary Ca ell said the appointment of Mr Fell followed an exhaustive recruitment process which attracted 50 applicants, many of them leaders in their fields.

“We had an absolutely outstanding response and to finally appoint someone of Kym’s experience and expertise is huge, not only for councillors and sta but for the community in general. He has a record of making a di erence and getting things done, and that’s what we wanted.”

Mayor Ca ell said the Council had a busy time ahead with work about to start on its 2023-34 Long Term Plan which would see a number of major projects come under the spotlight.

Don’t get bitten by rego penalty

Dog owners have until 31 July to pay the registration fees for their furry friends or face a 50 per cent penalty for late payment.

All dogs must be registered once they are three months old. Invoices have been sent to all currently registered dog owns and these can be paid online, through the Council website (www.mstn.govt.nz) or at the Council’s o ce at 161 Queen Street, Masterton.

You will need your owner number to pay online. This is on the invoice.

HŌNGONGOI 2023 JULY 2023

Community Climate Fund grants decided

Eight groups have been allocated funding from the inaugural Masterton District Council Community Climate Fund.

Applications were assessed by the Climate Advisory Group set up following the adoption of the Council’s Climate Action Plan last year.

Advisory Group member Cr Marama Tuuta said it was important a range of groups and activities were supported through the fund.

“One of the main aims is to try to involve as many people in the community as possible, coming from varying age groups – it is our children who will inherit the environment, so they need to be represented,” she said.

Cr Tuuta said it was important to support as many projects as possible.

All applications were assessed against alignment with the Plan’s action areas, themes, and goals, and the advantage they would bring to the Masterton District and its community.

The following grants were allocated:

y Divine River Trust has been allocated a grant of $7,750 towards the delivery of workshops focused on sustainable personal care products in the Masterton District.

y House of Science Wairarapa has been allocated a grant of $3,000 for ‘A Load of Rubbish He Putunga Para’ science kit and consumables for this kit for one year to be used in schools throughout the Masterton District.

y Sustainable Wairarapa has been allocated a grant of $7,750 towards setting up a working group to engage local stakeholders, develop resources and train local ambassadors for the Take the Jump initiative in the Masterton District.

y Te Āwhina Community Hub has been allocated a grant of $5,000 towards an electric bike or cargo bike to be stationed at the Community Hub.

y Te Kura o Papatūānuku Wairarapa Earth School has been allocated a grant of $7,750 towards the Healthy Kai programme in the Masterton District.

y The Shady Mellow has been allocated a grant of $7,750 towards a part-time Youth Climate and Sustainability Leader to support sustainability projects at Shady Mellow and in the Masterton community.

To keep up-to-date and report issues, download Antenno from your Apple App Store or Google Play store.

“There’s a lot of exciting stu on the horizon and I am confident our new chief executive will be up to every challenge that provides.”

Current Manager of Strategy and Governance, Karen Yates, is acting CE until the arrival of Mr Fell.

Rates finalised

The Masterton District Council has adopted its Annual Plan, outlining key projects and activities for the 2023-24 year.

The plan also confirms an average rates increase of 6.2 per cent.

Because the growth in the rating base has been stronger in the urban area, the urban residential properties rates increase will average 5.3 per cent. The increase for rural properties will average 9.1 per cent but with variations between di erent types of property.

Masterton Mayor Gary Ca ell said it was a challenging time for many across the District, but the council were determined to continue to deliver for the people of Masterton.

“It’s been a tough few years with increases in the cost of living impacting many in our community. This has also seen cost increases in all aspects of Council business,” Mayor Ca ell said.

“We’ve worked hard on this year’s plan to minimise the impact of rates as much as we can, while continuing to deliver the services the people of Masterton expect.”

“Feedback in our Annual Plan consultation held earlier this year showed that our community wants us to keep Masterton moving, but we also needed to tighten our belts where we could. We’ve responded to that feedback and this Annual Plan delivers against those expectations.”

The rates increase will vary across properties. The full and final Annual Plan will be available on the Council website before the end of July.

“One group alone can’t stop climate change. We need a lot of people involved to help us adapt.”

y Oxford St Community Garden has been allocated a grant of $7,750 towards the employment of a coordinator for 4 hours per week for the 2023/24

financial year to enable them to increase the size of their gardens and their impact.

Find the right spot for soft plastics

New signage is now in place showing where to put soft plastics for recycling at the Masterton Transfer Station.

Soft plastics include bread bags, produce bags, packaging for toilet paper, cereal bags, courier packs, lightly foiled packs, biscuit and chippie packets, bubble wrap, garden potting mix bags, dry pet food bags – basically, anything that can be scrunched into a ball that won’t immediately spring back.

Much of our litter is soft plastic due to the fact it is so lightweight, which allows it to get into our waterways and natural environment, causing irreversible issues for our native wildlife.

Soft plastics are collected and baled at Earthcare’s Mixed Recycling Facility before being transported to companies like New Zealand’s Future Post,for use in such things as fence posts, boards, and panels.

y Wairarapa Community Centre has been allocated a grant of $3,250 towards bug hotel workshops with the community and establishing bug hotels in relevant Masterton District parks and reserves.

Council Meetings

The meetings of the Council and its committees for the coming month are listed below.

Unless specified, all meetings will be held in the Kiwi Room at Waiata House, 27 Lincoln Road, Masterton. Members of the public are welcome to attend these meetings. The meetings will also be accessible to the public via the livestream on the Masterton District Council YouTube channel. Agendas will be available on the Council website (www. mstn.govt.nz) and copies will be available for inspection at the main Council o ce, 161 Queen Street, and at the Library, 54 Queen Street, two working days prior to the meeting.

Opportunity for Public Comment

At the beginning of some meetings, a period is available for those who wish to speak or comment on any matter relevant to the meeting in question. Requests to speak at a meeting should be made to Harriet Kennedy, Governance Advisor, phone 370 6300 or email mdc@mstn.govt.nz at least one clear day before the meeting.

What’s On

Monday 31 July

4:30pm Community Event Fund applications close Community Wellbeing Grant applications close Masterton Welcoming Communities survey closes

Wednesday 2 August 3pm Council Meeting

Wednesday 16 August 3pm Infrastructure and Services Committee Meeting

Wednesday 23 August 3pm Audit and Risk Committee Meeting

Words to roll off the tongue

My wife loves a good old hurkle-durkle. I’m sure most of you do, don’t you?

I’ve tried numerous times but just can’t do it myself anymore. I used to when I was younger. I liked nothing better, but these days, nah, hurkle-durkling is definitely out.

That’s not to say I don’t like to lollygag.

Lollygagging is one of my favourite pastimes. I am a bit of an expert at it. It’s much easier now I am retired of course. In fact, nudiustertian, I lollygagged for most of it.

For me, it’s a choice of hurkle-durkle or jentacular but since being diagnosed

Graeme Burnard

will be watching intently, always on the lookout for tittynope, post-jentacular but ends up quite bumfuzzled when I just say no, and walk away. Don’t get me wrong. I am not always lollygagging. I am often heading off for the day and can’t finish jentacular without rushing and I ending up having to xertz. And if that happens there

my hallux. It caused a real hullabaloo. If you had been nearby, you would have heard a few gadzooks.

Comment – Pick ‘n Mix Lifestyle

It held me up something terrible and I could have been very late to a meeting. I really wanted to be there too as it was a lecture on quomodocunquizing and if I missed the beginning I would really struggle to understand the -

rrhaphiophobia and I was over my the last thing I needed

Anyhow, I arrived on time and the whole thing was ellogofusciouhipoppokunurious.

Afterwards, a group of us went to a cafe for an early dinner. One person, who I had never met before was pauciloquent and I found them to be quite ill-willie. I am not sure why they bothered coming, but the rest of us were very largiloquent, so we certainly made up for it.

There was a lot of Rabelaisian chatter which is right up my street. One of the women who was there told us that she suffers from Zoanthropy. Well, did that cause a lot of kerfuffle. It had the rest of us completely bumfuzzled because she was adamant about it.

I asked her if she was sure it was Zoanthropy and not Cacodemonomania. She was quite discombobulated after that and said maybe I had a point. One chap even suggested she might be erinaceous. Well, I said. She is a bit prickly.

Sitting at the table next to us were a couple of people who continually bibbled. It was very unpleasant so we decided to mabble our gathering and head off home.

You might think this is all a lot of poppycock

and baboonery but these are real words from the English language that have been used in the past. I have done my best putting them into the correct context.

It’s not just a load of jabberwock. However, if some of you pedantic people out there find an error in my use of a word, please don’t embarrass yourself by correcting me in public. I can take it, but trust me, I will find an excruciatingly bad ancient word to describe your behaviour and the world will know.

I think these old words are wonderful and it’s such a shame they are no longer used.

Our new words have no character to them.

Come on yoose, just chillax. You just have to aks Bro.

Doesn’t do it for me.

My favourite old word isn’t heard now, simply because we have drainage.

As a bucket of household liquid waste is thrown on to the street from the window above, you would hear the warning cry gardyloo and have .3 of a second to get out of the way.

I like the word so much I might just use it when I pull the plug. For old times’ sake.

A place where change is possible

An established support group in Wairarapa for men who are living with a diagnosis of or treatment for prostate cancer.

CO-ORDINATOR Robert & Susan Brader, 370 8699 or 027 272 1892

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

P: 06 3775716

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

The writer’s wife loves a good old hurkle-durkle.

education focus 2023 - 2024

REAP Wairarapa works from Twinkle to Wrinkle

Meet REAP Wairarapa, the cheerful champions of education in the area! They’re always buzzing, supplying schools and teachers with resources, events, and professional development. They work closely with parents, early childhood educators, and playgroups for children’s early development and enhanced communication through the Chatterbox program.

For young people seeking longterm employment, REAP Wairarapa operates the Youth2Work Wairarapa initiative in partnership with Carterton District Council and the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs, bridging the education-employment gap by

Palmerston North Design School of Design

The creative industries are booming! The Creative Industries have grown faster than any other field of employment and there are now more than 130,000 designers in New Zealand. The opportunities are huge. More than 70% of designers are self employed and can choose to work on the projects that they are passionate about and follow their dreams and aspirations wherever they lead. And as more and more people realise the benefit of good design, job opportunities are expanding year by year.

At The Design School we focus on Graphic or Fashion Design as the pathways to any

Fashion

creative people who need an opportunity for success? Courses at The Design School are starting soon. Contact us now.

offering career guidance and work opportunities. Their Ngā Pūmanawa Tūpuna program encourages cultural pride and engagement with Māori traditions among youth, whilst getting them work and further education ready.

REAP Wairarapa assists individuals of all ages with driver’s licensing for independence, provides adult education programs for lifelong learning, and offers Building Financial Capabilities to empower personal financial management.

Covering Ngawi to Mangatinoka, their dedicated team of 30 works to grow great communities. Learn more at www.reapwairarapa.nz

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.

Malcolm X

Design by Level 2 student Jade Malins. Winner, Student Wearable Arts Section. Bernina Northland Fashion Awards, Photo by Sarah Marshall Photography. of the creative disciplines. Do you know

Wairarapa College Kāreti o Wairarapa

At Wairarapa College we strive to prepare all students for life ‘with wisdom and courage, kia mātau, kia māia.’ Our dedicated and hard-working staff are committed to realising the vision and values of the school and ensuring all students thrive and succeed.

Our culture of care is evident from the first day of the year where new students are welcomed with a pōhiri and a three-day induction programme. Our student support team includes counsellors, nurses, learning support coordinators and youth mentors.

We take pride in our diversity by taking time to understand and celebrate our students’ identities, background and cultures. Te Ao Haka, Language Weeks and Matariki are now significant aspects of school life. Being the largest school in the Wairarapa means we cater for a wide range of learning needs. Our innovative, diverse and

2023 - 2024 education focus

Primary Industry Trade Academy course in New Zealand. We have even our own breed of sheep called the Kaimac.

A Performing Arts academy will run from 2024, after successes this year in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, Talent Wairarapa, the Big Sing and Rockquest.

Our Sports Department offers over 30 sports with our top teams competing at a national level. Our Sports Academy students excel in NCEA and their chosen fields.

Enrol now at waicol.nz or by contacting our school office by phone 06 370 0400 or email office@waicol.nz

Solway College – Te Kāreti o Manaia

specialised curriculum offers tailored learning programmes and success for each and every student.

Agriculture students benefit from our 30-hectare farm equipped with a shearing shed, olive trees and new cattle yard. We offer the largest Agriculture

Te Kāreti o Wairarapa

Preparing for life with wisdom and courage, kia mātau, kia māia

• Start of year Orientation Programme to welcome new students.

• Diverse curriculum –contextualised junior courses, Te Ao Haka, Sports Academy and new Performing Arts Academy.

Solway College began the year by celebrating outstanding 100% attainment across all NCEA levels, one, two and three. The school continues to epitomise being ‘aspirational in the pursuit of excellence’ and achieving at the highest level, across all areas of its special character and holistic education, which remains at the heart of the school.

Solway College is an inclusive, close-knit,

Christian, family boarding school for girls, where rather than being restricted by a capped roll, instead ensure that every one of the 200 students counts, and all 200 are a unique, important and treasured member of the Solway family. This family of 200 students, both individually and collectively, achieve amazing things. New Zealand national swimming gold medalist Ava Wilson, New Zealand Race Unity Speech Champion Sheryl Chand, Bronze medalist

North Island Secondary Schools Equestrian team, Fourth in the North Island for the junior girls 100m relay team, award winning musicians, and the DanceNZ Made Regional Champions, are just a few of the gifts and talents that shine brightly from within this Solway family. Solway College students are taught to be aspirational, that anything is possible for them, and the school strives to ensure that each student not only achieves, but thrives.

GROWING GREAT GIRLS

E TIPU ANA WAHINE TOA

Year 7 - 13 boarding and day girl options

• Extensive range of extra-curricular opportunities.

• Innovative onsite school farm

• New building redevelopments.

Enrol now at waicol.nz

Solway College has a lengthy waiting list due to it being recognised both within the Wairarapa and nationally as a top educational choice for young women. Enrolments for the 2024 school year are full, however families wishing their daughters to be part of the Solway success are welcome to join our waitlist, or are encouraged to submit an enrolment now for 2025 and beyond.

Are you looking into intermediate or secondary school options for your daughter for 2025 and beyond?

LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE. ENROL NOW

Tuamaki/Principal – Matt White

Together As One TRINITY SCHOOLS

Our Anglican family of Trinity Schools in Wairarapa educate students from age 3 to year 13. We welcome everyone, from all faiths and background to enjoy our educational philosophy which includes our values, diversity, equity, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging.

Our best-practice teaching and learning are at the heart of our schools, providing students with unique learning opportunities, extracurricular activities, and experiences so they continue to thrive in an ever-changing world.

HADLOW PREPARATORY

At Hadlow Pre-school we pride ourselves on providing quality early childhood education for tamariki ages three to ÿ ve years. We welcome families from throughout Wairarapa to our calm and caring space on the grounds of Hadlow Preparatory School. Our tamariki transition to a wide range of schools, including Hadlow Preparatory School. We are licensed for up to 30 children per day and our sessions run 8.30am-3pm during term time. Our purpose-built facilities provide great indoor/outdoor ° ow encouraging exploration of both the inside environment as well as our beautiful gardens and play area.

At Hadlow Pre-school we prepare tamariki for a lifetime of learning by providing a balanced programme. Highly qualiÿ ed Kaiako/teachers ensure each child builds a strong sense of belonging and meaningful relationships. We provide a respectful and inclusive environment full of laughter, exploration, and excitement.

The development of early literacy and mathematical skills, along with our Anglican Special Character and Pre-school values (kindness, respect, conÿ dence, perseverance and independence) form the basis of our programme. Each child is encouraged to develop and extend their leadership skills during their time at pre-school with our support. Each term tamariki are encouraged to set their own learning goal, guided by their parents’ aspirations.

Hadlow Pre-school has a special relationship with Hadlow Preparatory School. Regular visits with the new entrant class and to the school library ensures a seamless transition from Preschool to Hadlow Preparatory School. We currently have limited spaces available so please get in touch if you would like to visit and enrol your child today. We look forward to meeting you.

Hadlow Preparatory School is a state integrated, co-educational, Anglican school for students in Year 1 – 8.

Hadlow Preparatory School˛is part of the Trinity family of Anglican schools which includes Hadlow Pre-school, St Matthew’s Collegiate and Rathkeale College, all located in the Masterton area, educating students from the age of 3 to year 13.

At Hadlow a strong link between home and school is fostered and encouraged. School culture, community, wellbeing, our vision, our values, and special character underpin everything we do here at Hadlow.

At Hadlow we provide an education with traditional values and responsive teaching and learning, where we prepare our students for today’s world. We pride ourselves on modern and structured learning, focusing on the core foundation areas of reading, writing and mathematics. Our goal is to ignite and develop children’s passions through a range of experiences and opportunities we o˝ er here at Hadlow.

Our classrooms are bright, modern and purpose built for Years 1-8, maintaining signature small class sizes and a fun, stimulating environment with a caring family feel - alongside the superb facilities on our campus, including specialist teaching spaces for music, dance, drama, and art, we have extensive sports grounds and turfs where students grow and become their best selves.

Hadlow Principal, Andrew Osmond explains “It is about giving our children a quality education that gives all students lifelong skills and conÿ dence, where they feel safe to explore a range of opportunities. A great school starts with great teaching and learning. At Hadlow, we want our students to be happy, ready to embrace the world and to strive for personal excellence.”

ST MATTHEW’S COLLEGIATE RATHKEALE COLLEGE

St Matthew’s Collegiate is a Years 7 to 13 boarding and day school for girls, located in a picturesque Wairarapa setting in central Masterton. St Matthew’s Collegiate has ÿ rstclass boarding facilities and is easily accessible from the wider Wellington region.

St Matthew’s is over 100 years old, proudly celebrating its traditions while embracing modern learning settings and technologies. Academic excellence is central to the St Matthew’s philosophy.

We achieve a consistently high academic record. Our educational programme is designed to support each student to reach their potential.

At St Matthew’s we believe building strong values, resilience, ° exibility, and conÿ dence will serve our students well in a rapidly changing world.

At Years 12 and 13 St Matthew’s girls join with boys from Rathkeale for co-educational instruction at Senior College located at Rathkeale College.

We have strong links to our whanau and encourage their involvement in school life. The support of Old Girls, our Foundation, and our Friends of St Matthew’s is valued and nurtured, as is our connection to Mana Whenua.

Cultural pursuits, compulsory sport, and our Anglican Special Character play a huge role in the lives of our students, enhancing their time at school and preparing them for life beyond.

Students can choose from a range of opportunities in visual and performing arts, music, sport, and so much more. In these challenging yet safe environments, the girls can explore their own limits, learn what it means to be part of a team, and beneÿ t from a holistic educational experience.

Prospective students and families are welcome to register for enrolment interviews for 2024.

Set in 66 hectares of grounds and gardens in the heart of the Wairarapa, Rathkeale College is one of the most beautiful school campuses in New Zealand, with extensive playing ÿ elds and native bush, bordered by the Ruamahunga River. Rathkeale o˝ ers day and boarding options to boys from Years 9 to 13, with a co-educational Senior College based onsite comprising Year 12 and Year 13 students from Rathkeale and St Matthew’s Collegiate. We challenge individuals to become their best selves: achieving their best and acting with courage, kindness, and integrity, in keeping with our Anglican Special Character. Our aim at Rathkeale is to cultivate open minds, open spaces, and open futures for our students, underpinned by our four pillars of the Good Rathkeale Man: students are encouraged to be at ease with themselves, have an awareness of others, are prepared to step forward and know they stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before them.

For a small school, Rathkeale competes and achieves consistently well on the regional and national stage in academia, sport, and the performing arts.˛Through nurturing our relationships with the community and local Iwi, Rathkeale places signiÿ cant importance on sustainability, culture and partnership.˛

Rathkeale College prepares young men to be global citizens, and to embrace diversity and inclusivity. Our vision statement of Open Minds, Open Spaces, Open Futures speaks to this.˛

The next frontier for successful schools is student health and wellbeing, and learners at Rathkeale College are provided with wrap-around pastoral support by deans, school counsellors, a Chaplain, and the boarding house team.

Come and see for yourself by booking a tour.

Athletics 2023

Chapel Choir

Hadlow Year 1’s start their cross country race held at Rathkeale College. Chapel

Cultural Prefect, Kaahurere MacKay (R), leads the combined Rathkeale and St Matthew’s culture group, Ngātahi in a Pōwhiri for the Ngā Manu Kōrero competition.

Students from all the Trinity Schools gather annually at Rathkeale for activities, followed by the Trinity Schools’ Chapel Service.

Regular visit to the Epiphany Church

2023 - 2024 education focus

Opportunity Knocks

“Our school is an exciting and welcoming place,” says Paula Weston, Greytown School’s Tumuaki (Principal). “We strive to provide a quality and exciting curriculum that caters to all learners.”

“At Greytown School, we provide amazing opportunities for students to shine across the curriculum and experience as much as they can in

We are proud of our school at Wainuioru

At Wainuioru, we are proud of our school and community. With a range of new initiatives starting up and fantastic community support, 2023 is proving to be a productive year. We are excited about what lies ahead and the partnerships we are developing with our local community, exploring our local history and developing our own local curriculum. With a current roll of 82 students, we are well placed to provide a sound, foundational education across our four classrooms,

with a well balanced approach to teaching and learning. Our teachers have a range of extra capabilities and interests and enjoy providing our tamariki with a wide variety of engaging programmes, such as our FAME (Forest School/Arts/Music/ Environment) programme on Fridays, as well as our Year 8 William Pike Challenge programme. We look forward to continuing the journey with our students and community.

their primary years in a school that has the best of being centrally located with a community feel.”

There are also numerous opportunities at Greytown School for children to experience and shine in sports, the arts, kapa haka, and an outstanding EOTC programme. Come and take a look.

Located in Carterton and Martinborough, we offer classes for Pre-schoolers through to adults

Jacqui is a member of the NZ Association of Modern Dance and has been teaching for over 30 years. There are classes for all ages with specialised pre-school classes right up to Adult classes.

All children who are involved in Jacqui Murray School of Dance have the opportunity to learn different types of dance in a fun and warm environment.

Exams are held mid-way through the year where the pupils are assessed against the NZAMD standards. This is a great opportunity for the pupil to see how well they are doing. Each year the dance school has a Cabaret performance held in November at the Carterton Events Centre. All the pupils are involved and it’s a great way to end the year.

Wairarapa Montessori Preschool

Wairarapa Montessori Preschool offers a peaceful and orderly environment that enables children to become independent and confident learners who have a love of learning. A structured curriculum is supported by Montessori trained teachers and special Montessori equipment.

Children are allowed to work at their own pace using unique materials. These encourage self-confidence, independence, self-discipline and concentration.

The Montessori classroom is a thriving community of learners where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Small groups and a rich Montessori programme foster love of learning, independence and creativity.

For 116 years Montessori methods have transformed education in nearly every country of the world. Wairarapa Montessori began 27 years ago. With exceptional support from parents there are now four Montessori primary classes in Carterton. This is what parents say about Wairarapa Montessori:

“We knew from our first visit that our daughter would love her time here and would learn a great deal.

Everything has exceeded our expectations. The teachers have fantastic parent-teacher relationships and do an amazing job caring for and teaching to every child’s individual needs. We recommend this centre to anyone!”

“We highly value Montessori as the focus is on our children becoming confident, engaged, independent learners. Excellent learning materials, working at their own pace using their interests as motivation in close

collaboration with their caring interested teachers in a supportive learning environment, is the key. Consequently our children are thriving, becoming more confident in their own abilities and most importantly, are happy.”

The curriculum features five key areas:

 MATHEMATICS – GEOMETRY: Learning subtle gradations in size, length and weight, exploring solid and plane geometry shapes. Vocabulary expands as children revel in wonderful sounding names such as ovoid, ellipse, sphere and parallelogram.

 SENSORIAL – ART: Working with size, colour, sound, weight, textures & shapes.

 SCIENCE – GEOGRAPHY Puzzle maps, globes, pictures and classification games teach the child about the world, our place in it and respect for other cultures.

 PRAC TICAL LIFE: Real-life activities such as scrubbing, polishing, washing, cooking, sewing and food preparation, giving children skills to care for themselves and developing concentration and co-ordination.

 READING & LANGUAGE: Building vocabulary and developing handwriting skills. Your visit is welcome: Experience first-hand what makes the Montessori approach unique. To accommodate working parents, the centre is open throughout the year, only closing for the Christmas –New Year holidays.

Chanel College - Te Kāreti o Kanihera

CHANEL COLLEGE VALUES

Chanel College is a Catholic community; we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and the founding orders of the Maris Brothers and Brigidine Sisters. We apply a Maori world view of the Marist Pillars and the Brigidine charisms to promote and live by a set of core gospel values.

ThroughWhanaungatanga

we demonstrate a commitment to positive relationships that build a sense of belonging, community and family spirit, merciful and gracious in our actions and interactions.

ThroughManaakitanga

we show kindness, generosity, hospitality, care and support for one another and are examples of Christ’s love to all.

ThroughKaitiakitanga

we are stewards of Te Ao, caring for the gifts God has given us including the environment, resources and our talents.

Whanaungatanga, Manaakitanga and Kaitiakitanga exemplify the values we want to instill in our rangatahi at Chanel College. Our vision of “growing confident, connected, future ready Catholic citizens” is embedded throughout our curriculum and learning experiences because we believe that ākonga (students) of today, need to be developed as moral and ethical citizens of society. We are guided by gospel teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church and hold firm to our beliefs that positive relationships combined with excellent teaching is the key to success. We value the home and school relationship and work closely to ensure that we are developing learning programmes that suit the aspirations of our students and their whanau.

Dalefield School

Located close to the foothills of the Tararua Range, Dalefield School has been on this site since the 1800s. We are a full primary school offering a quality education for around 80 students, that makes use of our rural setting.

With access to a full range of digital tools and hands on learning experiences across the curriculum, we

Active in the wider Wairarapa community and a future-focused ethos, we look forward with a positive mindset to new opportunities for our community.

Russell Geange Swim School

To those who have been taught to swim by Russell Geange, it’s no surprise he was crowned both Coach of the Year and the People’s Choice at the 2023 Wairarapa Times-Age Sports Awards.

With about 40 years of coaching under his belt, Russell says the secret ingredient to being a good coach is patience. “People learn at their own pace,” he says. His aim is for children to be able to

Carterton School - The school of CHOICE

confidently swim 200 metres by the time they finish primary school. Many go even further and end up swimming competitively.

“Learning to swim is critical for staying safe in the water,” Russell says. “It’s also good for you mentally and physically.” Swimming makes you move all parts of your body without stressing the joints. Go on, take the plunge.

Our kura is a full primary school educating New Entrants to Year 8 students. Conveniently situated in the centre of Carterton, neighbouring Carrington Park, Carterton School has a modern teaching environment complimented by fantastic facilities and services.

These include Ākonga Māori Te Reo immersion classrooms, all weather turf, established ngahere, abundant adventure play options, swimming pool, school skateboards and ramps, Breakfast Club and school led After

We are a small school with a rural heart, 5 km from the centre of Carterton. A full primary, we offer exceptional learning opportunities for our students, in a country setting.

School Care and School Holiday Programmes.

Creating a sense of belonging, connection and passion for learning is vital to our core values. We achieve this by having a range of activities and equipment available for all tamariki. Camps, day trips, pet day, school gala, buddy classes, swings, hoverboards, mountain bikes, tree climbing are all key aspects of Carterton School. Seeing is believing - so come and check out our amazing kura for yourself.

education focus

Mākoura College

Mākoura College is a nurturing educational institution that focuses on both knowledge and the development of essential life skills. With a curriculum blending traditional subjects and innovative programs, students receive a holistic education that encompasses science, technology, the arts, and humanities. We aim to create diverse experiences that foster a lifelong love of learning.

What sets us apart is our commitment to personal growth. Our dedicated teachers go above and beyond, instilling a sense of purpose and guiding intellectual curiosity. We foster a supportive community where students feel valued, respected, and inspired to explore their full potential.

Mākoura College is not just academically rigorous but also offers a range of extracurricular activities. Through sports, arts, and cultural programs, students discover and

cultivate their unique talents while developing life skills like teamwork, leadership, and perseverance.

In this era of constant change, we prepare students for future challenges. Our forward-thinking approach emphasises critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability. We nurture a growth mindset that empowers students to overcome obstacles, embrace innovation, and shape their destinies.

By choosing Mākoura College, parents invest in their child’s future. Our school is not just a stepping stone to higher education but a springboard to success in life. We are dedicated to moulding future leaders who will make a positive impact on society.

Visit our campus to witness the passion of our educators and the contagious energy of our students.

Join our inclusive community and experience the incredible transformations happening at Mākoura College.

Opening doors for our children

Decades of research shows that education at a young age not only improves our earning potential as adults, but also supports our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

Our children might gravitate in their learning and education towards the arts, to science and maths, to reading and writing, to farming, or to sport and physical activity. All areas of interest and talent are valid, and the schools in Wairarapa aim to nurture those interests and talents, whatever they happen

Mākoura College is a state coeducational school situated in an attractive setting on the east side of Masterton. Our school caters for all students in the Wairarapa.

Mākoura College has a clear direction that includes being inclusive of all who come through the gate; a focus on strengths as opposed to weaknesses, a focus on building relationships; and a focus on delivering a meaningful curriculum designed to meet the needs and interests of students. We are ‘The College with The Big Heart’. This is what our values centre around – Kia Manawanui. We are big enough so that students have a range of opportunities in and outside the classroom. We are small enough that we have a whanau feel. Teachers know their students and care about their progress.

Our students are not a number, but a person with a story. We know that students bring strengths to school and our job is to unpack them.

to be, at both primary and secondary levels. One of the great benefits of education is its ability to help us think rationally and logically. It can open doors for our children and help them avoid making rash or even bad decisions. Participating in a class also allows children to learn from each other and make friends which, sometimes, can last a lifetime.

Wairarapa schools and teachers are second to none, and we applaud their dedication to their pupils. We also support and encourage parents in their efforts to give their children all the advantages possible from education.

WIZwireless: new home for local business

Trio with a fresh vibe

WIZwireless may have a new location, but the team is still doing what it does best – connecting Wairarapa to the world.

“It’s a great space,” operations manager Ben Seddon says. “We have multiple o ices, a practical space for our gear, and the room to combine our IT and tradie work. From here, we can do what we do best every day across the district.”

The company delivers broadband across Wairarapa and Tararua, including some of the district’s remotest areas. In both rural and urban settings, people at work and play need decent and resilient internet connections that they can rely on to keep them connected. WIZwireless’s broadband is powered by sturdy and reliable generators, batteries, and solar panels.

“The weather is changing in Wairarapa and there’s increased recognition of the need for what WIZwireless o ers. People are doing it tough but we’re here to help”, Ben says. “We’re out and about every year and we’ve never encountered a year so wet.” The company is ready with more batteries and more solar panels to help its customers prepare for increasing climate change challenges.

Farmers and the businesses that service them need to be able to rely on their broadband to update records in real time. “We’re talking about their livelihoods here.” And people working from home or needing to stream events and movies need the same continuous service. “Give us a call and see what we can do to make life easier, more predictable, for you,” says Ben.

WIZwireless and its team of six outgrew its First Street, Masterton premises which, as Ben says, “is a sign of the business’s year on year expansion and progression”.

“We’re here, we’re staying, and, by the way, you probably need us. We’ll support you in ways the big telecos can’t.” Customers can call and reach a real WIZwireless person (“there’s no call centre here”) and issues are usually resolved within 24 hours.

A point of di erence for WIZwireless is its community-first ethic. They’ve sponsored internet connections while people get back on their feet after weather events. They even provide free Wi-Fi for community halls, recreation centres, and sports halls across the region. “We’re proud of what we do and proud to support our local community.”

They’re still unpacking at Hope Street but are continuing to work at full capacity through the change. “Don’t mind the mess,” Ben grins.

Check out www.wizbiz.co.nz for plans and rates, call 06 370 9210, or visit WIZwireless in Hope Street behind Masterton’s Fire Station.

YOU TOO CAN ENJOY GREAT BROADBAND INTERNET!

No matter where you are in Wairarapa, from home to woolshed we can connect you with world class rural and urban broadband.

The Greytown Music Group is pleased to be supporting young and innovative Rakuto Kurano, a versatile performer and composer. As a multi award-winning violinist, pianist, conductor and composer, Kurano has completed numerous concert tours around New Zealand , and averages 60 concerts each year. He has played twice previously in Greytown, and for this Greytown concert on July 30 his fellow musicians will be Gabriel Baird on piano and Boudewijn Keenan on cello.

The programme features Piano Trio No 1 by Anton Arensky [Russian, 1861 1905], Piano Trio by Guy Ropartz [French, 1864 1955], “Fantail in Tokyo” by Kurano, and a new composition by Gabriel Baird.

Baird is a pianist, bassoonist and composer. He frequently performs with the Christchurch

Symphony Orchestra, and is an accompanist and musical director for choirs and ensembles. He has been described as “having a unique sense of creatitivity” and “an inspiring young musician”. He played in Greytown in 2021 in a concert with Professor Mark Menzies.

Keenan is a second year music student at Otago University. For a cellist of his age he has had extensive orchestral experience with Dunedin Youth Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra and now Dunedin Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of Rakuto’s Magic Carpet String Quartet that toured the South Island last year, and is delighted to be part of this new series of trio concerts. Richard Mapp heard him perform at the Dunedin Concerto Competition earlier this year and thought he was a very good player.

Kurano made his debut as a composer in 2016 with his composition “Angelic Glow” selected as a winning work in the NZ Harp Duo composition competition. In 2019 his “Fantail in Tokyo” was selected as a winning work in the NZ Trio competition, and it was performed by the NZ Trio in Auckland. In 2021 he was commissioned by the Baroque Music and Educational Trust of NZ to compose a Concerto Grosso, a neo-Baroque style work for three soloists, string ensemble and harpsichord, for a national tour. The work was met by a standing ovation at every concert.

• Piano Trio Concert, 4pm Sunday, July 30 at 57 Wood St, Greytown, $30 adults, children $10. For bookings, contact Ed and Juliet Cooke on efjacooke@ gmail.com or call [06] 304-9497.

Rakuto Kurano, Gabriel Baird, and Boudewijn Keenan of the Magic Carpet Piano Trio.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Ben Seddon (second from right) and the WIZwireless team outside their new Hope Street premises

F�L� O� F�A�O�R

Adamsons Service Station

Family-owned since 1927

Motorists – locals and travellers, rely on Adamsons Service Station in Featherston for their friendly, thorough, and reliable service. The service station is an integral part of the townscape. When you see the Adamsons sign – you know you have arrived in Featherston

For nearly 100 years, there has been a garage in the town at the base of the Remutaka Hill and it’s the go-to place to get fuel and supplies before heading over the hill, going to the coast, or north into the Wairarapa valley and beyond. When hordes of visitors pour into Featherston for the Book town Kurukatea Festival, the Adamsons sta˜ are up for the challenge to keep everyone moving.

Manager Maria says Adamsons has always been proud to serve the Featherston township and beyond. We are particularly thankful for the many dedicated community groups, like Featherston Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Community Patrol, whose members re-fuel at the station.”

With winter settling in and conditions on the roads sometimes challenging, Adamsons have important vehicle safety°tips:

• Never let your fuel run low

• Warm your car up before leaving. Allowing your car engine to warm means that the oil has had a chance to be less viscous so that it more readily lubricates the engine

• Check vehicle ˛ uids

• Check tyre pressures

• Wiper blades – replace these if they are wearing

• Emergency kit – always have one in your vehicle

Pick up a free Ice-Scraper for your windscreen (while stocks last), courtesy of the NZ Road Safety Council.

And, if it’s ÿ rewood you want, Adamsons has manuka and pine for sale, along with kindling and coal. For ÿ shing enthusiasts, Adamsons stock bait, ice, salt ice, and tackle. For overnight travellers, there is an after-hours pay terminal on the forecourt with petrol and diesel pumps.

Adamsons is open weekdays 6am-7pm, weekends and public holidays 7am-7pm. Motorists enjoy the famous personalised service with the team ready to help customers ÿ ll their tanks, pump tyres, check oil and water, and wash windows. Everything you need is at Adamsons.

YEARS Golden

Taking a trip down memory lane

Many of us decide at some point that we have a story to tell, and we’d like to put down a few things on paper or have them captured orally.

Writing our stories down can be therapeutic. Writing helps us process things and can beneÿ t our brain’s health by activating neurons – a sort of exercise for the brain which helps keep it ÿ t. Writing our memoirs can give us peace. Memoirs may also be enriching for others, such as family members, to read.

HOW IS A MEMOIR DIFFERENT TO AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY?

Autobiographies and memoirs are both the story of someone’s life and are written by that person. They both use the pronouns “I” and “me” (written

in ÿ rst person) and they’re both true stories from the author’s life. There are some key di° erences between them, however. An autobiography is a factual and historical account of an entire life from beginning to end, whereas a memoir is a nonÿ ction narrative in which you either share your

memories from a speciÿ c period or re˛ ect upon a string of themed occurrences throughout your life. Memoirs can take many di° erent forms: they might be a photo album with carefully written photo captions, an incomplete journal, a video recording, or a 500-page book.

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YEARS Golden

Getting started with your memoirs

SOME EXAMPLES OF MEMOIRS

Henry David Thoreau’s Walden is a popular and well-known example of a memoir. It focuses on the period the author spent in a cabin he built near Walden Pond amidst woodland in Massachusetts. The work is described as a personal declaration of independence, a social experiment, a voyage of spiritual discovery, and a satire.

Becoming, by Michelle Obama lives up to its description of being an intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States. Listening to Michelle reading her work on audiobook is a treat.

James Comey, former FBI Director, wrote a memoire called A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership after being spectacularly ÿ red by

President Trump. He discusses ethics, leadership, and his experience in government. The memoir went on to become a number one bestseller on Amazon.

Closer to home, in the awardwinning memoir Goneville New Zealand writer and musician Nick Bollinger talks with complete candour about his unorthodox childhood, his obsession with music, the impact of a family tragedy, and the journey that would decide the course of his life. The work is both a comingof-age story and an intimate look at the evolving music scene in the˝’70s.

Do you want to launch yourself into writing your memoir, or would you like some help? Wairarapa’s U3A hosts a lively group that meets monthly to write down their life experiences. You might want to start there.

U3A WAIRARAPA. WITH LOVE

˜ GIFTING YOUR STORIES TO GRANDCHILDREN

The aim of the group With LoveGifting Stories to Grandchildren is to produce a collection of stories covering each person’s life experiences, to be able to share with grandchildren. Being part of a memoir-writing group helps participants – they can be motivated by each other and even

draw from the writings and similar experiences of other participants.

Each month, there is an optional topic to write about. The group meets on the third Monday of each month at 1.30pm at REAP House, Masterton, and ÿ nishes up at 3pm. Co° ee is available after each meeting, for those who wish to continue discussions.

Contact Christine Paul on 027 962 9565 or email paulownia@farmside.co.nz for more information.

HOSPICE WAIRARAPA COMMUNITY TRUST’S BIOGRAPHY SERVICE

Hospice Wairarapa has a team of trained, volunteer, biographers. Anyone who has been given a terminal diagnosis and is at any stage of their palliative journey is eligible. This service provides people who have a terminal diagnosis with the opportunity to capture their life story for their

family and wh˙nau to keep and treasure.

Each biography can take around four hours per week over a fourto-six-week period. Find out more on 06 378 8888 or at admin@hospicewairarapa.co.nz

IF YOU WANT TO GO IT ALONE, HOW DO YOU START?

To start, it’s a good idea to think about your memoir as you would a novel – you need structure, a plot or theme, and a sense of where your book is going.

Memoirs aren’t simply random anecdotes from your life. You need to make a bigger point, giving these stories a reason to exist. You need to connect these anecdotes in some way and write about related events that work together to tell a cohesive story. The way to do this is by ÿ rst ÿ guring out what your narrator wants or desires.

That’s where structure starts and that is what you will base your memoir on. What does your narrator want? In essence, your memoir should be divided into three ‘Acts’.

 Act I is all about what your narrator (you) wants.

 In Act II, your ‘want’ or desire needs to shift in some way.

 In Act III, you re-consider your desire again, musing on, and making new conclusions about, what your life journey has meant.

Happy writing!

Environmental campaigner and lifetime green-thumb gardener

Helen Dew knows a thing or two about living a sustainable lifestyle.

The 85-year-old has been a vegetarian for over 40 years and said that all her food comes from her garden, or she’ll sometimes buy produce from the Carterton Farmers’ Market, only if it’s not in her garden

already.

Dew said, “It’s not about getting the recipe book out and seeing what I have to buy to make this lovely meal, I just see what’s ready and what needs to be used, and that’s how the meals are planned.

“A lot of people wouldn’t understand what eating in seasons means because you can get anything, any time, at the supermarket. We’re thoroughly spoilt and disconnected from where food comes from.”

The Carterton resident runs workshops on edible gardening from her 400 square metre garden, focusing on vegetable production, compost making, pruning and seed saving.

Dew moved to her home in William Wong Place at the beginning of 2018, after leaving her Costley St home of 60 years. By August of that year, Dew had already got her hot house up and was supplying produce to the farmers market.

“When I start my workshops, I always start with the reason why I do this, which is front and centre, climate change.

“The way we feed ourselves, primarily, relying on a supermarket, it’s a huge carbon footprint.

“You start with the seed, which is often produced overseas in Europe or California, a little bit in New Zealand, but not much,” Dew said.

“Those seeds are produced using farm implements, which use

fossil fuels, which first create your implements, then the fossil fuels for running them, transporting them, and then the distribution system.”

Although the demand is there, Dew hasn’t done any workshops for a while but is planning to get them back up and running once she has found some dates.

Her passion for the potential of complementary currencies for environmental, social, and economic well-being started in 1991 when she joined the Wairarapa Green Dollar Exchange.

Meanwhile, in 2002 Dew became a founding member of the Living Economies board and the New Zealand distributor of Margrit Kennedy’s Interest and Inflation Free Money.

Dew has urged Kiwis to check the ‘Mindful Money’ website to see what their Kiwisaver is invested in; she said most people are shocked after looking at and discovering what their funds are invested in.

“It’s about building local resilience.

Dew keeps it sustainable Rural

“Localising your money is just as important as localising your food supplies; money is the lifeblood of how we swap

things,” Dew said. Dew represents not needing a lot of room to build a garden that produces copious amounts of food.

“There’s more than enough for me and to take some to the farmers’ market as well.”

Dew hopes people can get an enthusiasm to grow at least some of their own food, basics like silverbeet, herbs, spring onions, and lettuce.

Dew’s passion for gardening has been passed

down to her children and grandchildren.

“They’ve all got their fingers in the soil, to some degree.”

Dew is also the subject of a children’s book called ‘Good For You, Helen Dew!’, written by Catherine Cooper and Ali Foster.

“Two of my friends, on their morning walk, often discussed issues such as community resilience, and planetary challenges, and began talking about my lifestyle.

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“Both being published authors led to the idea of writing a book for children, using me to deliver a message about caring for the planet and for one another.”

The icing on the cake was the illustrations in the book Dew said; the only thing she would’ve changed was the front cover illustration; instead of Dew’s arms wrapped around mother earth, mother earth should have wrapped her arms around Dew.

“Mother Earth has been very good to me,” Dew said. The topics covered in the book help create discussion between children and others around intergenerational play; creativity; responsible use of nature’s resources; expectations and behaviour; changing attitudes, resisting consumerism; repurposing, refusing, reusing, recycling, buying “local” and much more.

Based in both Masterton and Wellington, 2Fathers Driver Training is your go-to for driver training.

Learn to drive in a safe and supportive environment. Grow your career. Become more independent.

2Fathers Driver Training can help you achieve:

Car (Class 1 Driver Licence).

Heavy Tra c (Class 2, 4, or 5 Driver Licences).

They also provide Licence Endorsements such as wheels, tracks, rollers, dangerous goods, and forklift. NZTA and MITO Approved.

“Our sta have extensive experience in the transport industry, and we o er competitive rates to corporate clients wanting to upskill or assess groups of sta ,” says James Ford-Hathaway, founder and trainer.

www.2fathers.co.nz | Contact James: info@2fathers.co.nz | 027 287 3748

Book, Music and Lyrics By JIM JACOBS and WARREN CASEY

WED 2 - SAT

Logo created and designed by Maggie Taft and Harry Bogosian BY ARRANGEMENT WITH ORiGiNTM THEATRICAL www.origintheatrical.com.au

Rebecca King rebecca.king@age.co.nz

Helen Dew in her “happy place”. PHOTOS/REBECCA KING

Helen Dew’s worm farm.

PHOTO/FILE

Helen Dew’s garden.

TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS

: At Your Service

Skip bins come

Yellow Bins is a locally owned and operated skip bin service with a friendly, personal touch.

Established by father and son, Warren and Mark Adam, one year ago, Yellow Bins operates everywhere from Eketáhuna to Featherston.

Yellow Bins provides a full range of bins sized from three to nine cubic metres – big enough to suit both residential and commercial customers.

When you order a bin, you’ll always get either Warren or Mark who’ll deliver it on time and with a smile.

Repairs

Leaf Builders Tama Leaf 027 201 8442

022 171 2901  06 929 8955 E: rayandloriswhitcombe@gmail.com

ROOF PAINTING

Be Warm this Winter with a

Jumbo crossword

Sudoku

ACROSS: 1 Brass, 4 The gutter press, 11 Prone, 14 Snoop, 15 Celebration, 16 Drunkard, 19 Rafters, 20 Offer, 21 Matriarch, 24 Space walk, 26 Aslant, 27 Blonde, 31 Cobra, 32 Compress, 34 Likelihood, 38 Manuals, 39 Apathy, 40 Eulogy, 41 Snap, 42 Stables, 45 Precarious, 50 Discard, 54 Eddy, 55 Snooze, 56 Honest, 57 Genuine, 60 Lithograph, 61 Rotating, 62 Stood, 65 Phobia, 66 Orally, 67 Treachery, 72 Night time, 73 Cargo, 74 Gruyere, 79 Premiere, 80 Incredulous, 81 Below, 82 Talon, 83 Slap on the wrist, 84 Odour.

DOWN: 2 Runway, 3 Shout, 5 Heel, 6 Gleeful, 7 Target, 8 Eats, 9 Probable, 10 Spread, 11 Penicillin, 12 Oval, 13 Endorse, 17 Truce, 18 Principles, 22 Swoop, 23 Insomnia, 25 Perturb, 26 Assayer, 28 Mozart, 29 Septic, 30 Merged, 33 Piper, 35 Duped, 36 Clue, 37 Memo, 42 Steel, 43 Addition, 44 Señora, 45 Prosperity, 46 Épée, 47 Ashtray, 48 Innate, 49 Upset, 51 Idea, 52 Cluster, 53 Ransom, 58 Politician, 59 Knead, 63 Flamenco, 64 Shard, 65 Parapet, 68 Regular, 69 Chorus, 70 Dawdle, 71 Ormolu, 75 Yield, 76 Seal, 77 Trot, 78 Fuss.

Fill

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

Classified

Gardening Landscaping

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Trades Services

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Public Notices ancer Society Wairarapa

Executive Board

Annual General Meeting

37 Te Ore Ore Road, Margaret Chi ttick House, Masterton Monday 14th August 2023 at 5.15pm Phone: 06 3788039

Enquiries & RSVP: waisupport@cancersoc org nz This advertisement serves as formal notification to all paid members

august.landscape@orcon.net.nz

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Public Notices

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GUM & S/PINE $640 D/FIR & MAC $690

D/FIR & S/PINE $630 MAC & S/PINE $630

MANUKA & D/FIR $940

Delivery & GST included, Winz Approved

EY T WN ISTR T TR ST S TR STEES

The ANNUAL MEETING of the Greytown District Trust Lands Trustees electors will be held for the purpose of receiving the Annual Performance Report for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Date: Tuesday 8th August 2023

Time: 7.00pm

Venue: Greytown Fire Station 54 Main Street, Greytown

The general public and electors from the Greytown Ward of the South Wairarapa District are invited to attend this meeting Copies of the audited Performance Report for the year ended 31 March 2023 will be available at the Tru st Office and at the meeting.

Helga Perry Trust Manager

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 Festival of Christmas, will close the following roads to ordinary vehicular traffic for the period indicated hereunder.

The Festival of Christmas (FOC) is a winter festival that provides a largely free programme for the whole month of July in Greytown. The 2023 festival has a focus on lighting, snow machines, events, activities and free entertainment for residents and visitors to enjoy. The closure is for the Grand Finale when we anticipate significant crowds.

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

• Southbound on Main Street (SH2) – Left onto Jellicoe Street – right onto East Street – right onto Church Street –rejoin SH2

• Northbound on Main Street (SH2) – Left onto Hastwell Street – right onto West Street – right onto Kuratawhiti Street – rejoin SH2.

Roads to be closed:

• Main Street (SH2) between Jellicoe Street and Hastwell Street.

Period of closure:

• Saturday 29 July from 4pm – 9pm

PostponementdateisSunday30July

Stefan Corbett Group Manager Partnerships & Operations

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 Festival of Christmas, will close the following roads to ordinary vehicular traffic for the period indicated hereunder.

The Festival of Christmas is a month-long programme of spectacular lights, Night Markets, workshops, events, Matariki activities, parties, food and free entertainment that takes place in Greytown in July 2023. The Festival is designed to bring together families, school children, community groups and locals, and attracts people from all around New Zealand to the Wairarapa to eat, drink, shop and celebrate. The festival aims to enhance the reputation and strengths of our region, and deliver social & cultural benefits.

The opening and closing nights in particular attract large crowds of people to Main Street. In addition, we would propose Night Markets along McMaster Street. To ease congestion, maximise safety, and provide more space for crowds, we would like to close McMaster Street from Main Street to East Street during the busy times.

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

• Cars can travel down East Street or Main Street, turning at Church Street or Jellicoe rather than McMaster. Residents in McMaster would not be able to access their driveways with vehicles during this time, only by foot..

Roads to be closed:

• McMaster Street, Greytown, full road closure between Main Street intersection and East Street.

Period of closure:

• Saturday 29 July 2023, 1pm – 9pm

PostponementdateisSunday30July

Stefan Corbett Group Manager Partnerships & Operations

Classified

Employment Drive in Milker Required

Extra jobs also available over calving. OAD once calving ends.

Experience preferred but not necessary. 5 mins out of Carterton

Please call Garth 027 414 4356

Missed Your

Social Worker / Advocate

We are seeking an exceptional social worker/advocate for a new position within our team providing specialist family violence support for families throughout the wider Wairarapa/Tararua region. This role will require a person who can evidence experience in our field and is able to work in a fluid environment.

This is a full-time position and our service is 24/7 so we envisage this role as being 2 weekdays and 2 weekend nights.

Suitable applicants will be required to undergo a NZ Police Vetting Check and possess a full, clean NZ Driver Licence. If you require more information or wish to apply, please send a covering l etter and cv to barb@wairarapawomensrefuge.org.nz prior to the 2nd August 2023.

Public Notices

Dalefield on cusp of final

WOMEN

Daleÿ eld 4

Karori

This week or had a late delivery?

CALL 06 378 9999 option 5

TO VIEW ONLINE times-age. co.nz/ e-editions/ midweeke-edition

MEETING SCHEDULE.

Council Meeting – August 2023

Tuesday 22 August

Hearings Committee

• Freedom Camping Bylaw

• Disposal of 29 Holloway St

• Revocation of Reserve Status at 583 Belvedere Rd (Belvedere Hall)

9:00 am

Meeting location: Meetings are at the Carterton Events Centre.

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

Attendance at meetings:

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

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

www.cdc.govt.nz

28 Holloway St, Carterton. info@cdc.govt.nz

0

Farriers Dalefield are on the cusp of next month’s Wellington Women’s Premier final after Saturday’s win over a brave Karori at the Trust House Wairarapa Hockey Complex at Clareville.

Dalefield were hoping to pick up a bonus point for winning by five or more goals over their winless opponents but had to settle for three points. That took them 10 points clear of third-placed Harbour City, with Hutt United, who were upset 4-1 by Toa, a further two points off the pace.

With three rounds to play, Harbour City would probably need to win at least two games with bonus points, and that would seem unlikely with fixtures against Hutt and unbeaten leaders Northern United ahead of them, while Dalefield can seal their place in the decider with a win over Hutt away on Saturday.

The bonus points looked a formality for Dalefield against Karori when they took a 4-0 lead after a bright first half on the back of goals to Felicity ‘Fliss’ Reidy and Reese Robertson in the first quarter, and Emma McLeod and Pippa Raleigh in the second period.

However, in the second half, although Karori lifted their defensive effort, Dalefield still created numerous opportunities but failed to capitalise in what co-coach Michael O’Connor described as a scrappy effort where his players lost their rhythm and structure.

“We’re winning, and we’re in charge of this game, so let’s do it our way and concentrate on playing well, but we lost our way a bit,” O’Connor said.

“I don’t think we underestimated them; I just think we lost our way in the third and fourth quarters. We could’ve been a lot better, a lot tidier, and our passing could’ve been a lot better, like in the first quarter.”

The home side’s attacking prowess, though, was dampened somewhat by the loss of Reidy with a hamstring strain in the third quarter.

“‘Fliss’ is such a high-calibre player, and if you take her out of any team, it’s a bit of a loss, but the young ones do really for us, and they’ve learnt a lot off Fliss.

“We’ll keep an eye on her over the next couple of weeks because hammies can always be a bit dodgy, and see how it goes,” O’Connor said. There was, however, good news for the team, with NZ under-19 cricket international Emma McLeod named in the national under-18 squad after her outstanding form for Wairarapa at the national tournament.

A poor middle two quarters proved costly for Farriers Dalefield as they stumbled to a disappointing 5-3 loss to a talented, skilful Indians at Clareville.

Dalefield player-assistant coach Benedict van Woerkom predicted before the game that Indians’ pace and skill would severely test his team’s defence, and he was spot on.

However, it was the home side that started the best, with captain Rowan Yeo scoring the opening goal with a brilliant individual run along the baseline.

Indians equalised with a minute left in the quarter and took the lead in the second corner, converting a penalty corner [PC].

Two goals late in the third quarter gave Indians an almost unassailable 4-1 lead.

Not to be denied, Dalefield showed more intent in the final period and were rewarded after three minutes when Hamish Finlayson found the back of the net.

The move to replace goalkeeper Jack Wylie with an outfield player for the final five minutes paid off when Daniel van Woerkom scored to close the gap to one goal, but Indians replied immediately when a Dalefield pass went straight to an Indians player who passed to a teammate to sweep the ball into an empty net.

“The matchups weren’t good for us,” Ben van Woerkom said, “they’ve got some skilful strikers, and they throw the ball into space and play some good one-two hockey.

“We gave their strikers too much space, and we weren’t collective enough in our press. One or two of us would do our job, but you need the next three or four guys to do their job, and that’s where it became unstuck.”

Ben van Woerkom admits to being frustrated with the lack of variety and width in their attack, saying they didn’t shift the ball around the Indian’s defence well enough.

Indians also exposed Dalefield in the midfield, taking advantage of big gaps as players pushed forward.

“We needed to do a better job of presenting for our back guys. We also didn’t hold the ball well enough at the back, so in terms of trying to set up some shape and change our shape to get a run up the line, we didn’t move the ball from sideline to sideline to allow us to do that.”

Despite the loss, Dalefield remain on track for a top-two finish for the playoffs, with only the winless Northern United to play at Clareville on

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL

Emma McLeod [centre], on the attack against Karori, scored a goal on Saturday. She was also named in the NZ U18 squad. PHOTOS/JADE CVETKOV

‘Fliss’ Reidy [right] assesses her option.

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

MEN’S & WOMEN’S CREEK CROSSER JACKETS

Stay warm and dry this season. Perfect for those weekend sport games supporting on the side line, or that quick dash outside during bad weather. Light, 100% waterproof, 100% windproof and full zip. Great urban colours, so you can keep your good camo jacket for hunting only!

WOMEN: LRW-0320-JNA SIZE: 8-20

MEN:

HRM-3322-JBK SIZE: S-4XL

MENS,

FLEECE

One of our best-selling Hurricane Sale only products is back this year, now available in Kids and Womens and in new colours to suit their style. Get geared up for the cooler months ahead.

KIDS: LMK-3308-IBA SIZE: 2-16

WOMENS:

LMW-3310-INA SIZE: 8-20

MENS:

LMM-9306-ABK SIZE: S-4XL

wairarapa.store@huntingandfishing.co.nz