Wairarapa Midweek Wed 30th August

Women in top spots at club

Continued from page 1

According to the club’s history published in its 1977 centenary year, it moved from “cramped, unhygienic, smelly, badly lighted and inconvenient” premises to its present site on the corner of Chapel Street and Renall St in 1905.

The total estimated cost of the relocation was £5000 [equivalent to just over $1 million today].

It weathered the Great Depression, survived the dry years of prohibition [1909 to 1946], came through relatively unscathed during the 1942 earthquake and in 1998 welcomed women members.

Women in the club’s governance can “bring a different point of view”, Esler said.

“There was a bit of a

perception that the club was an old man’s club and having a younger, fresh set of eyes perhaps can be useful and

help drive towards that younger demographic to keep the club going.”

For Lidbetter, her and Esler’s appointment “brings balance” to the club.

“We bring a different view to things. There’s always another side to everything and we bring balance to what’s been there for a long time,” she said.

Having women in more

Silver songs for Waicol

Lucy Cooper lucy.cooper@age.co.nz

Wairarapa College’s [Waicol] choir, Cantate, hit all the right high notes at the lower North Island Big Sing Cadenza Festival in Whanganui this month, returning home with a korimako [silver] award.

They competed alongside 12 other secondary school choirs in the Cadenza, which was one of three held across the country.

It marked a fulfilling end to a long musical journey for Cantate [meaning ‘sing’ in Latin], which started earlier this year at regional competitions where 250 choirs, involving about 8000 students from across the country, were whittled down to a top 40.

The 23-strong mixed choir, comprised of sopranos, altos, tenors and bass singers from years 10 to 13, was led by choir

director Andrea Thomson and accompanist Ruth Eckford.

“The kids did a fantastic job,” Waicol’s head of creative arts Maggie Fauvel said.

The korimako award followed two days of intense competition and workshops.

The students were occupied from 8am-7pm: “They were big days,” Fauvel said.

“The students got to meet other choirs and singers and see what’s happening out there in a great competitive, collegial atmosphere.”

Cantate sang six songs across two repertoires, including the Spanish song Un Poquito Cantas, a sprightly folksong about a party that involved choir member Lily Tulloch singing and playing the maracas at the same time.

“I was quite proud of myself,” Lily said.

Being a member of Cantate requires commitment, with weekly two-hour-long rehearsals since the start of the school year.

Several members have juggled choral duties with other creative endeavours, including starring in the recent production of Grease, competing in Showquest and treading the boards in the National Shakespeare Schools Production [NSSP].

In return, the students experience enjoyment, get to hone their singing skills and create solid friendships.

“I feel like we are all closer to each other” after Cadenza, one student said.

All three Cadenza competitions were judged by Dr Andrew Withington.

A former assistant professor of music and director of choral activities at Westminster College in Pennsylvania, USA, Dr

and nail technician at Isme Permanent Cosmetics, was introduced to the club by her boss, Nicole Brown, who invited her to a casino night.

“So, I walked in and thought, ‘This is cool, I really like it’,” Green said.

“I get to talk to people I wouldn’t normally get to talk to, meet people I wouldn’t usually meet.”

Knowing Esler was president “definitely made it more comfortable” for Green to join, she said.

“As a young woman, you can feel pretty intimidated going into those kinds of situations.

prominent leadership positions at the club is already having a positive impact on the demographic and diversity of the club’s membership.

Esler has “signed up a majority of my girlfriends and their husbands”, and in June, the club welcomed Georgie Green, who at 22 is the club’s youngest member.

Green, who is a laser

“But, knowing that Abs is the president and that she is a woman and that she has her own business and she is just as capable as the others. Yeah, it definitely made it enticing to join.”

Esler also appreciates that feeling of safety at the club.

“It’s just a magic place. It’s such a little community. As a female

you feel very safe in the club, everyone is friendly and you can leave your handbag on a table and it’s still there when you get back.”

Membership costs $200 a year, or $100 for those under 40 and spouses of members can join for half price.

The club boasts four full-size snooker tables, a pool table, a full bar, outdoor seating areas, and “an excellent chef,” Sharon Campbell.

For Esler, the club offers members “a place to land, a place to socialise and just catch up and debrief”, Esler said.

Green agrees: “So we go on a Wednesday. Yeah, we just go and catch up. It’s a nice time to put aside in your working week, to wind down and catch up with your mates.”

While Esler and Lidbetter are at the helm, the Masterton Club message is clear: “Our doors are open. Come and check us out.”

Withington is “super high up” in the choral world, Fauvel said.

She was very proud Cantata was part of the Cadenza he considered to be the “highest quality” of

the three he adjudicated.

Fauvel is looking forward to Big Sing 2024 where she hopes to “go for gold” at the Cadenza and grow Cantate’s repertoire.

The students are aiming

higher.

They believe if they work hard enough, they might just make it to the Finale next year – the ultimate competition in the Big Sing festival.

1942 earthquake and

ABOVE: Abby Esler, President of Masterton Club. PHOTO/LUCY COOPER. LEFT: Membership list published 1977. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Back Row (from left): Nikhil Satya, Matthew Mobberley, Baxter Ferguson, Ruby McCartney, Sophie Alexander-Hodson. Front row (from left): Jessica Harvey, Summer Anderson, Zoe Price, Lily Tulloch, Porscha Sanders.

PHOTO/LUCY COOPER

Rainbow of vintage Out & About

Vintage cars in glossy colours shone through an overcast day in a road rally from Martinborough to Masterton, to raise money for theWairarapa Cancer Society this month.

Kevin Topham and his 1930 Model A Coup was the winner of best vehicle at the Wairarapa Vintage Car Club’s Annual Rally for Cancer, which raised $1973. Stewart Barton and his 1927 Chrysler 70 Roadster was named runner up in the rally, which ran along country roads with a choice of two routes to Masterton.

A record number of 77 vehicles participated this year.

A highlight was a loop around Lansdowne Village, to the delight of residents, before the old vehicles parked up beside Farrier’s Bar and Restaurant for a ‘Show n Shine’, judging and sausage sizzle.

handing over of the event’s coordinator wheel – from longtime organiser Val Ball to Jim Laird.

Spoil Dad This

Kevin Topham [left] with Stewart Barton. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

School market day is ramped up

Lucy Cooper lucy.cooper@age.co.nz

“Tasty Toasties. Try the best toasties you’ve ever tasted.”

This was the sales pitch from one of the 28 stalls at Greytown Primary School’s market day run by Year 7 and 8 students selling a range of products including ice cream, cupcakes, popcorn, fudge, candles, bracelets, candyfloss, wheat bags, lip balm and bubble tea.

The event this month not only ensured visitors were well fed, watered and entertained, but the ‘tax’ levied on the students’ profits raised $1100 for the school’s

Trip Trust Fund, providing financial assistance to parents and caregivers for school trips and excursions.

The annual event teaches students about profit and loss, payslips, tax and expenses, as well as how to develop, pitch, market and sell a product.

“It’s all very businessminded and part of the financial literacy and entrepreneurial inquiry unit,” teacher Jody Hart said.

“The students had to pitch their idea and do a mini shark tank for [their teachers] and then we built them up with workshops, like maths workshops, the financial literacy stuff and looking at the

different tax brackets and things like that.”

Paying tax on profits was one element this year that “ramped it up a little bit” for students, Hart said.

Tax brackets mirrored New Zealand tax brackets, “so zero to $14,000, we made it zero to $14 is [taxed] at 10.5 per cent, and then 17.5 per cent, 30 per cent and 33 per cent”.

Some students took a little convincing of the merits of paying tax, Hart said.

“It was a hard thing for some of the kids to understand, but they all got their head around it.”

Knowing it was going to help students participate

in school camp this year was a helpful incentive and taught them about equity and equality.

The students thought it “was awesome to be able to help out people”, she said, “and I think getting the understanding that actually not everybody can afford to do [camp], but it should be something everybody

should be able to, you know, to actually go and do these things.”

Teacher Rachel Burt “loved the atmosphere” on the day.

“It’s great to see the results of the kids’ hard work,” she said.

Students running What the Fudge cooked 110 bags of fudge in parent Aimee Payne’s kitchen.

Sweet Treats made over 50 cake-pops and cupcakes over two days, and Georgie Didsbury, Skylar Spencer and Zara Grant of Aroma Scents made nearly 40 candles.

“I have learned you want to be a good salesperson,” Georgie said, while Zara “learned about teamwork and helping each other”.

Money changed hands fast at market day.

Students made all manner of delicious items for sale. PHOTOS/LUCY COOPER

Zara, Georgie and Skylar selling hand made candles.

Eket˜huna Hotel: Heart of town

Dominating the state highway landscape in the Eketāhuna township is the Eketāhuna Hotel.

It’s the last major building on the right going north and it’s been there for 135 years.

Eketāhuna has grown, flourished, and shrunk in this time, with the sole constant being the old hotel, with its 1970s edifice concealing a once splendid Victorian face.

Even its plush cousin, once a decorative twostory corner building known as the Commercial, succumbed to fire, and was rebuilt in its singlestorey state in 1952.

The Commercial now operates as the Eketāhuna Inn and is

the last of five hotels that served north Wairarapa.

The Eketāhuna Hotel was built in 1888 and began life

as the Eketāhuna Accommodation House.

After gaining its liquor licence, it became the Universal Hotel, then the Ranfurly, later Liverpool

House, and finally Eketāhuna Hotel. In all its guises, this hotel has been the centrepiece of action.

It has rocked and

rolled through two world wars, prohibition, six o’clock closing, booming farming, women entering the fold, and supermarkets selling liquor.

Back in the 1880s, Eketāhuna was a booming town benefitting from the proceeds of milling the mighty nearby native forests and pubs sprang up all over. The road north from Wairarapa took travellers to Manawatū and Hawkes Bay and its 10 upstairs rooms were often full to brimming.

Daniel Toohill was the first licensee and in 1894 Edward Searl considerably extended the rear of the building. Many licensees followed.

It was catastrophic for hotels like the Eketāhuna when in November 1908 a licensing poll saw the Masterton electorate

introduce ‘no-license’ and vote itself ‘dry’.

Fifteen pubs closed on 1 July 1909 and remained shut until liquor licenses were voted to be restored in 1946.

The Masterton Prohibition League was formed in December 1892 and was mainly composed of members of the local nonconformist churches, like the Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, and Salvation Army. Its pious members were prominent in the business community, and they sank their organisational energies, and wealth, into promoting the no-license cause. Eketāhuna came under this jurisdiction.

In June 1909 Thomas Parsons owned the Eketāhuna Hotel and he saw the writing on

Continued on page 7

After the Dry. Re-opening of Eket˜huna Hotel 1946.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Eket˜huna Hotel, 2023.

PHOTO/MARLENE DITCHFIELD

Marlene Ditchÿ eld marlene.ditchÿ eld@age.co.nz

Eketāhuna Hotel

the wall. To survive as a business, he reverted the hotel to a boarding establishment known as Liverpool House.

The tide finally turned against nolicense in Masterton in 1946, when restoration triumphed 6,777 votes to 4,019.

When its licence was renewed 37 years on, the Eketāhuna Hotel was re-born.

It was post-war times; men were keen to return to regular lives – and they were thirsty!

Around this time Mike Shale was born in Eketāhuna. His father, Mick was the town clerk and his mother, Mollie, the district nurse.

They lived in Liverpool House when Mike was a baby and eventually moved to a council house. He remembers it as a cavernous sprawling building with lots happening within. Mike was 12 years old when he and his widowed mother left Eketāhuna.

The name Mike Shale is synonymous with Wairarapa hospitality. He’s been a great entrepreneur, owning, leasing, and restoring several hotels in the region including the Top Pub in Greytown (1997-2004); the Marquis in Carterton (2004-2008), and both the Eketāhuna and the Commercial Hotels in Eketāhuna.

Mike served in the New Zealand Army in both Vietnam and Malaya. After stints

mining in Rhodesia and Australia, he moved to London where he entered hospitality.

Back in New Zealand, Mike managed for the Masterton Licensing Trust, the Homestead Tavern, Solway Park Hotel, and the Empire Hotel. In 1975 he returned to Eketāhuna with his wife, Holly, and leased the Eketāhuna Hotel.

It was the heyday for such pubs, and it thrived under Mike’s discerning eye. He enjoyed the community which supported the hotel too.

“Farmers were making good money and it passed on to the workers. We had all sorts of competitions and activities. They were happy days.”

Mike reflects that allowing alcohol to be sold in supermarkets from 1999 sounded the death knell for hotels, and it became harder for them to make a living. Food and in-house dining were introduced to help keep the beer pumps flowing.

Mike Parsons was a regular at The Eketāhuna Hotel. He remembers with a wry smile hearing about the “dry years” which simply fostered ingenuity.

Backrooms away from the eyes of the constabulary were great places to gather. Stories go that elaborate trenches were dug between buildings where alcohol could be pumped into hidden barrels, covered by secret, elaborate

trapdoors.

The stories come from the Parsons family who help make up the fabric of Eketāhuna’s hotel industry.

Mike’s great-uncle Tom had a billiard saloon directly opposite the Eketāhuna Hotel, where the service station now stands.

He recalls hearing that his grandfather, Cecil Parsons, regularly took payment for beer in tufts of wool – a valuable currency when wool prices were high. One pound per 1lb of wool was the going rate.

The Eketāhuna Hotel was popular with many from Manawatū, especially a group of bus drivers. It was a favourite stop-off for them.

Mike laughs remembering one riotous night after a group of Eketāhuna patrons went to a pool tournament in Ashhurst, and somehow made their way to Wellington, ended up on the ferry, and landed in Picton.

“One fella had to phone his dad to ask him to milk the cows the next morning.”

Around 2013, the Eketāhuna Hotel closed its doors to the public. It’s now a private accommodation house – some could say it has gone right back to its 1888 roots.

The old building epitomises a time when beer flowed, communities were tight and connected, and “down at the pub” was the catchcry.

A muscle man moved Masterton

Bodybuilding was at a zenith in the 1980s. A Schwarzenegger action ÿ lm could always be counted on to feature a shirtless montage. So when the opportunity came for Masterton residents to see a Mr Universe champion at their local gym, they jumped at the opportunity.

MARK PACEY of the Wairarapa Archive recalls the visit of French bodybuilder Nordine Zouareg.

Zouareg had the most un-bodybuilding-like childhood you could imagine.

He was born at just two pounds and was a very sickly child.

He first met the world as his poor mother gave birth to him on the back of an army truck in Algeria.

He remained sickly for most of his childhood and his family moved to France to try and improve his health.

Along with 13 siblings, he lived in the suburbs of Paris and was an easy target for bullies due to his health and small size.

He had aspirations of becoming a gymnast but after breaking his wrists he changed his goals and turned his attention to bodybuilding.

Through sheer determination and herculean effort, the small sickly boy completely transformed his physique.

In 1985 he competed in the Mr France bodybuilding championship and won the title.

The following year he set his sights higher and added the titles of Mr

Europe, Mr World and Mr Universe, the latter perhaps better known as being won by a young Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1968, 1969 and 1970.

Zouareg took out the title of Mr Universe for a second time in 1988, the same year in which he went on a world tour that would bring him to our shores.

On August 11, Nordine Zouareg walked into Masterton gym, La Physique, to demonstrate some bodybuilding techniques and answer some questions from the public.

For those who were considering taking up the craft, Zouareg shared some interesting facts.

He stated that when he started bodybuilding at age 20, he was just 55 kilograms but within two years of starting to lift

weights he was runner-up at the Mr World contest.

“To get successful, you must see yourself as successful,” he said. He also shed some light on the career of a bodybuilder, highlighting the shortness of it.

“The expected career length of a top bodybuilder is 10 years.”

Aged 25, he was already half way through his career and had added some impressive titles.

Now charging between $1000 and $2000 to appear at gyms around the world to share his experience, the Frenchman was doing well, but it was hard-earned with untold hours toiling with weights in gyms.

His opinion of New Zealand was that we were still a bit behind the times.

He said he felt gymnasiums here were 10 years behind the rest of the world and that in some of the gyms overseas, he could be training with as many as 400 other enthusiasts, nothing like what is in a gym here, even today.

The crowd at La Physique was rather subdued and not many questions were asked.

Gym owner Dave Green summed this up: “It was a pity they weren’t more vocal, but they may have

been a little over-awed.”

From Masterton, Zouareg was off to Wellington where he was to give a seminar on bodybuilding techniques at a nightclub and was also reported to be giving a “musical routine”.

After his New Zealand tour, Zouareg continued to compete in the

bodybuilding world and then, true to his word, he moved away from bodybuilding and became a fitness instructor at Miraval, Life in Balance Resort and Spa in Arizona. He’s written three books on weight loss, health and mental health and today gives motivational speeches on those topics.

Markivist

At Masterton District Library, Mark will share stories from the archives, as well as provide practical tips for budding writers and self-publishers.

Mark will draw on his expertise as a historian as well as his passion for writing and research to introduce people to topics such as Wairarapa’s fascinating shipwrecks and the US Marine Corps, which was housed at the Masterton’s Solway Showgrounds in 1943.

One of the talks in the series will focus on self-publishing.

“I learned the hard way,” Mark said. “I made some shocking mistakes. I’d like to help people avoid those.” Chats with the Markivist is at Masterton District Library from 11am on the ÿ rst Monday of every month. The next talk will be on September°4.

Nordine Zouareg and a young fan in Masterton.

PHOTO/WAIRARAPA ARCHIVE

Local author and archivist Mark Pacey is hosting a new regular event for lovers of local history: Chats with the

Mark Pacey hosts Chats with the Markivist.

PHOTO/LUCY COOPER

Amelia’s star on rise

Former Kuranui College student Amelia Butcher is turning her passion for dance and choreography into a career, with her latest project about to hit the Wellington stage.

Her contemporary dance show, Zenith, opens at BATS Theatre September 5 for five nights.

The 45-minute performance “explores the process and depth of perceptions connected to achieving one’s ‘zenith’”, Butcher said.

The cast of five dancers – which includes Butcher – are all current students or graduates of the commercial dance course at Te Auaha, the New Zealand Institute of Creativity.

It is Butcher’s second show under her emerging choreography brand, Jenire.

“After my first show, Amygdala, at the NZ Fringe Festival in Wellington, I didn’t want it to end,” Butcher said.

Her pitch for Zenith to BATS was successful and she decided to “go for it”.

Butcher’s former

Herbal infusion

Wairarapa people interested in the healing and culinary benefits of herbs can now apply for a scholarship to complete a national certificate, made possible by the Wairarapa Herb Society.

The Certificate Course in Herbs and Their Uses is administered and run by the Herb Federation of New Zealand.

The course is self-paced but must be completed within three years.

People can read more about the course at: https:// herbs.org.nz/ education/ certificatecourse/

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

teacher at Kuranui, Juanita McLellen, is not surprised by her success in her chosen career.

“Amelia shone as a dance and drama student when she was at Kuranui.

“In her final year, she choreographed a beautiful piece for Showquest around the battle of Wairarapa Moana, which was nationally placed.”

In between preparing for Zenith and teaching dance privately, Butcher, who “enjoys being busy”, is also covering maternity leave at Kuranui, teaching students a couple of hours a day.

• Zenith opens at BATS Theatre in Wellington on September 5. For tickets, visit www.bats. co.nz/whats-on/zenith/

“The Wairarapa Herb Society holds regular meetings and field trips, where our members learn about a range of herbal topics and share relevant experiences and knowledge,” committee member Cindy Munn said.

“Herbs and their culinary and healing benefits are endlessly fascinating. They also add beauty and purpose to our gardens.

“In accordance with The Wairarapa Herb Society’s charitable purpose, we also aim to support our community through the promotion of herbs and herbal knowledge. We are excited to offer up to five scholarships.”

The course consists of 12 modules that cover topics including botany, growing and harvesting herbs, medicinal uses, herbal and product law.

Applications close on September 30. Email waiherbs@ gmail.com with your phone number and why you are interested in the scholarship.

One recent topic of discussion by the Wairarapa Herb Society is flavonoids – the bright colour in our foods.

“Albert Szent-Gyorgyi discovered these brightly coloured substances in 1930 and isolated them from paprika. He called them vitamin ‘P’,” committee member Christine Voelker said.

“His suggestion was that they were very crucial for the integrity of the small blood vessels. However, scientists at the time refused to acknowledge the value of flavonoids.

“We know now that flavonoids possess anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-

carcinogenic properties. Flavonoids are found in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and in many herbs.”

When we consume citrus, we should include the white pulp of our organically grown lemons, oranges or mandarins, as citrin, hesperidin and rutin are abundantly found in there,” Voelker said.

“We also find these flavonoids in grapes, plums, black currents, apricots, buckwheat, cherries, blackberries and rose hips. These flavonoids are known to remove copper and protect the uptake of vitamin C.”

Five categories of flavonoids are known and research is progressing fast to determine their possible use in the treatment of cancer and

inflammatory diseases, she said.

Celery, parsley, red peppers, chamomile, mint and ginkgo are the best herbal sources of flavonoids, according to Herbal Medicine, Healing and Cancer by Donald Yance and Arlene Valentine.

• The Wairarapa Herb Society meets every third Tuesday of the month at the Old Court House, Holloway Street, Carterton, 1.30pm3pm. Speakers, activities, sales table, cuppa and a chat. Herb garden maintenance every third Thursday 1pm2.30pm, Haumanu Community Garden. Access from the laneway between Carters and the town clock.

Calling for stall holders

Zenith is Amelia Butcher’s second project under her brand, Jenire.

Lucy Cooper lucy.cooper@age.co.nz

The information board in the Wairarapa Herb Society’s community herb garden in Carterton.

PHOTO/FILE

Spring has sprung ... hasn’t it?

I’m calling it: Spring has sprung.

This pronouncement should come with a hefty health warning and mind how you go with that wheelbarrow of salt.

Because, as a Brit, you should know I am genetically predisposed to be obsessed with the weather and to overreact at the merest sliver of sun, particularly after a long winter.

And boy, has this been a long winter.

I come from a grand tradition of buying a disposable barbeque as soon as the mercury creeps above 17 degrees,

The scoop with Coops

Lucy Cooper

optimistically wearing summer clothes at the sight of blossom and planting zucchini too early.

With 47 springs under my belt, you would have thought I’d have learned.

But no. Even now, as I write this I’m thinking of spending the kids’ college fund at the garden centre. While wearing shorts and a singlet, of course. Oh, and let’s throw on the jandals while we’re at it.

[Nothing beats the singular discomfort of breaking your feet back into flip-flops after a winter of gumboots.]

I think I have chosen my adopted nation well, though.

Kiwis also exhibit signs of barometric buoyancy, climatic confidence, or meteorological merriment [note to editor: don’t let

Spring, anyone?

Coops near a thesaurus].

Mooching along the Warehouse aisles at the weekend, I couldn’t help but notice a proliferation of barbeque equipment on the shelves, including heavy-duty barbeque cleaning fluid. Because sadly, the self-cleaning BBQ has yet to be invented.

And within the pages of this issue of Midweek, there are several signs that, as a region, we are crawling out from under our 15-tog duvets and considering a future in which we don’t have to wear all our clothes all at once.

Greytown Primary School’s market day and the vintage car rally are healthy indicators we are ready and willing to spend more time outside, to enjoy one another’s

PHOTO/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

company and feed our senses.

Kōanga is the Māori word for spring. According to the online resource, Te Ara, it includes the word ‘kō’, a digging implement – a call to gardening action if ever there was.

I’m also quite fond of the whakatauki Te Ara shares in its entry for

kōanga: takē kōanga, whakapiri ngahuru’ which means ‘absent at planting time, close by at harvest’ and refers to people who disappear during the hard work of planting in spring, but show up when food is abundant at the autumn harvest.

I can identify with that!

The Wairarapa Midweek is subject to New Zealand Media Council procedures. A complaint must ÿ rst be directed in writing to the editor’s email address. If not satisÿ ed with the response, the complaint may be referred to the Media Council P.O Box 10-879, Wellington 6143. Or use the online complaint form at www.presscouncil.org.nz. Please include copies of the article and all correspondence with the publication.

Collectors gathering donations for Da° odil Day 2023.

PHOTO/JULIA MAHONY

John Bush, coordinator at Henley Men’s Shed

As a child, I spent a lot of time…

Playing outdoors with other kids.

My favourite local shop is…

Urban Eats.

A song I know all the words to is…

Dancing Queen by ABBA.

Wairarapa needs…

More industry.

The most awe-inspiring place I’ve visited is... Smedjebacken in Sweden.

The best souvenir I’ve picked up anywhere in the world is...

Cutlery set off an Amtrak train in the USA.

The most famous person I’ve met is… Helen Clark [former prime minister].

CONTACT US

You may share your opinion in print and online. To comment online, message our Facebook page and feel free to comment on any of the stories. Please email letters to midweek@age.co.nz or post to Wairarapa Midweek letters, P.O. Box 445, Masterton. Include name, address, and phone number. Noms de plume are not accepted. Letter writers’ town of origin will be published with the letter. Letters should be no more than 250 words, and may be edited for space and clarity.

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.

WHERE IN THE WORLD

The best raffle or prize I’ve won is … Bugger all.

I own [nine] pairs of shoes and my favourite is...

My steel cap work shoes. I have an unusual collection of... Model railway.

The most amazing thing blokes have made at Henley Men’s Shed is... WWI crosses [which go on display outside the shed on Armistice and ANZAC days].

My favourite wood to work with is... Rewarewa [NZ honeysuckle].

It really makes me smile to see... Other people succeed.

SUNDAY 3RD

12 free

REGISTRATION

$15 PER CAR TAUHERENIKAU RACECOURSE 1498 STATE HIGHWAY 2 Register on the day from 8am Cars must be parked by 10am HOT RODS - MUSCLE CARS - CLASSIC CARS SPECIALIST VEHICLES - BIKE

Passengers please supply one item of non-perishable food for the food bank NO DOGS!

FOOD TRUCKS - LIVE MUSIC - BAR

SAUSAGE SIZZLE - MINIATURE RAILWAY PRIZE GIVING: 1pm INCLUDES ‘60’S DRESS UP PRIZE’

For more information email: ramrodders@yahoo.com

John Bush of Henley Men’s Shed.

PHOTO/FILE

Reader Meg took this photo of her husband, Simon Perry, having a rest with Midweek outside the parliament building in Budapest, Hungary, during their trip to Europe.

PHOTO/MEG WHEATSTONE

GOLD COIN ENTRY! kids under

The floods and the rabbit

Carterton artist Rebekah Farr’s new exhibition O Deluge, Stop Singing, We’re Drowning opens this weekend at Aratoi in the Windows Gallery.

Farr’s exhibition started life as a series of small landscapes using watercolour and monotype techniques – working sketches for larger paintings exploring family histories.

Extra“Although I have a passion for landscapes, I always feel they’re empty without a figure in them. Photographs I took of flooded roads in Wairarapa during the winter of 2022 served as inspiration for some

sketches that often featured people swimming in the floodwaters. This imagery highlighted the state of our polluted rivers, leaving floodwaters as the alternative for swimming,” she said.

A rabbit/human character emerged in her work, initially as a playful reference to ‘the present’, inspired by Maurice Sendak’s rabbit from Mr Rabbit and the Lovely Present “Then, as I moved away from the family history theme, the rabbit changed and came to represent my hopes for the current year – The Year of the Rabbit.”

The theme further

evolved, presenting the rabbit figure as a plot device – a ‘Deus ex Machina’ – introduced to resolve the dilemma of fixing the flooded

landscape. Eventually, the rabbit transformed into several flood gods with rabbit-human bodies, frolicking while the world around them drowns.

Funds for predator control

Southern Wairarapa has received a $700k injection from the Department of Conservation [DOC]

The Aorangi Restoration Trust was one of just 32 successful applicants out of 234 in total. Collectively, $59,361,664, which far exceeded the $7.2 million

newly acquired funds will be spent on a three-year ‘Aorangi to Wairarapa Moana Project’ to provide landscape predator control across 20,000ha from the Aorangi Forest Park to Wairarapa Moana. Patton said landscape predator control will improve outcomes for nationally critically threatened species such as the Australasian bittern/ matuku and long-tailed bats/pekapeka.

“You can’t just do bits and pieces. You have to do the whole lot otherwise you’re running this constant battle. This project will create an established trap network which will benefit the Remutaka Forest Park, Wairarapa Moana, Aorangi Forest Park and anything in between.”

Nearly 50 landowners have agreed to have trap lines established and maintained across their

“My process underwent a transformation as well, as the graphite sketches and the monotypes merged. I used the monotype technique to create large areas of flat colour and texture, then drew over the top with water-soluble graphite to add line, motion and more linear texture.”

The artworks are created on 300gsm Strathmore Bristol paper, which works well with various media.

“I also find it interesting that the artworks are vulnerable to flooding. Despite being protected by a thin layer of wax, they would disintegrate if exposed to water.”

• Rebekah Farr’s exhibition runs September 2 –December 3 at Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History in Masterton

“We’ve been talking to Ngāti Kahungunu and Rangitāne because Wairarapa Moana is their taonga and we have acknowledged we are going in the same direction. We all need to work together to make the most difference.”

Aorangi Restoration Trust is targeting 100 additional volunteers at the end of three years. They’re looking for people with a variety of skills including trapping, public relations, connecting with other organisations and funding applications. If

Rebekah Farr Darling Debut , 2023, mixed media and wax on paper.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Ronnie Priest Senior Community Ranger

Using the Citizens Advice website

Yes, you can access our website to look up the answer to a question.

You can go into the website by typing citizens advice bureau in the browser.

The front page will come up, a yellow backed page looking like this:

Your RightsCommunityWhat we DoFind a CAB

You can click on any of the above

Kia Ora. We help people to know and understand their rights

Then there is the space to type in your question:

Your question could be something like this:

Do I need to have a lawyer to set up an Enduring Power of Attorney?

We have 2755 answers, and you can usually find the answer you want.

The categories are shown below: Consumer

• Basic consumer rights

• Before the sale

• Utilities

• Goods and services

• Ways of buying

• Complaints and mediation

Employment & Business

• Employment relationships

• Hours of work and wages

• Types of leave

• Problems at work

• Leaving your job

• Small business

• Industries

• Commercial premises Family & Personal

• Children

• Parenting after separation or divorce

• Relationships

• Violence and abuse

• Death

• Education Government & Law

• NZ Government

• Legal services

• Rights of the individual

• Immigration and citizenship

• Law enforcement

Health & Wellbeing

• Health

• Your health rights

• Health providers

• Community

• Recreation and culture

Housing, Land & Environment

• Residential tenancy

• Home ownership

• Flatting and boarding

• Social housing

• Māori land

• Neighbours

• Sustainability

Money

• Benefits

• Loans and credit

• Inland Revenue and taxes

• Banking, investments and trusts

• Insurance

• Budgeting and debt

Travel & Transport

• Overseas travel

• Driving and licences

• Alcohol and disqualifications

• Driving and safety

• Parking and infringements

• Buying and selling

Not sure? Ask us.

As you can see we have a lot of answers to a lot of topics. Sometimes your question may be outside our regular answers but in this case the answer will direct you further for the information you require.

For example: Do I need to have a lawyer to set up an Enduring Power of Attorney?

Answer: An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) is a legal document that allows you to choose someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself. This person (your attorney) can make important decisions about your finances, property, and personal care, if you become mentally incapable. Find out what you should consider when setting up an EPA.

Learn how “mentally incapable” is defined. You need a lawyer, qualified legal executive

or authorised office of a trustee corporation

If you want to set up an enduring power of attorney you will need a:

• lawyer

• qualified legal executive or

• an authorised officer or employee of a trustee corporation. Trustee corporations can help manage the property of people who are not capable of managing their own assets.

Find out more about trustee corporations, on the Ministry of Justice. At this point there will be an arrow linking you to the Ministry of Justice site.

It is very easy to use our website (called CABNET) but sometimes you want to speak to someone about the question that is worrying you. Our volunteers are on duty from 9am until 4pm Monday to Friday and have lots of resources to search to find out an answer for you. We have a very comprehensive book The Law Journal, Google, various pamphlets and people we can phone on your behalf.

You may be surprised when you ring us that we ask a few questions such as your gender, ethnicity, residential area and (roughly) your age. WE NEVER ASK

YOUR NAME. All of your enquiries are analysed by our Board every month into categories, eg employment, tenancy, troublesome neighbours, legal issues and financial issues to name a few. This way we can see what is trending and discuss where to find answers to some questions in these areas. Our volunteers write up your enquiry into the Day Book together with the suggestions and advice they have given you. This way other volunteers can see for themselves what answers have been given. This is CONFIDENTIAL to our staff.

While we would like you to be familiar with our website we are always there for you personally and continue to want to give our recommendation on resolving your problem.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION FREE

06 377 0078 or 0800 367 222 43 Perry Street, Masterton Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm wairarapa@cab.org.nz www.cab.org.nz

Lifestyle

Chip away at the challenges

Lonergan’s lesson

I heard an awesome interview on the excellent Between Two Beers podcast, with the guest being the event promoter, Dean Lonergan. Before I heard the interview, I had assumed that Lonergan was someone who had gone from success to success in his post rugby league career, always finding a way to turn a profit, especially through the Fight For Life events he made a name for himself through staging.

It turns out that I was wrong. Yes, there were the well publicised successes, but there was also one significant failure in regards to losing money. This had him at the point where he had essentially lost everything, having to spend the next four years paying back creditors almost $2 million.

A message that Lonergan shared about this time, is that when you are up against what seems like an insurmountable challenge, the one thing that you can do is chip away, constantly taking steps, no matter how small to overcome the obstacle.

Lonergan took this approach and eventually got there and has now re-emerged as a successful events promoter. This would never have happened if he had given up. Lonergan is where he is today because he faced up to a massive challenge and did whatever it took to overcome it.

What to do in times of turmoil

There will be times in our lives when we go through significant change. Sometimes this will be because of decisions we have deliberately made, other times will be when unexpected things have happened. In either case, the situation is likely to be extremely unsettling.

When change happens to us, a way to get through the challenge is to maintain the systems and habits that we do have control over. Although this can be hard to do, as our motivation might not be there and it’s easy to mope and feel sorry for ourselves, if we are able to do the things that we do when times are good, then we’ll be better for it. You might have habits like meditation, reading, exercise, something you’re learning… if you can maintain these habits then it’s going to have a positive impact in so many ways.

We often take up and do new positive habits when times are good. However, it’s maintaining these in the challenging times that will show their true worth and value.

Freedom

I heard recently a perspective on freedom

Midweek Musings

Tim Nelson

that I haven’t heard before, with the idea being that we become more free when we don’t want certain things. For example, a person who is happy with any car that takes the owner to where he or she needs to go, has more freedom than the person who has to have the latest car whenever it’s released. The person pining for the latest will suffer if it can’t be obtained, whereas the person who is satisfied with a lesser product won’t suffer, as his or her happiness isn’t dependent on having the very best.

Once we learn that life is fine with less, or a lesser item, than than having to spend time and resources on obtaining it, we can instead dedicate our time to more worthwhile pursuits – time with family and friends, experiences, community… there’s so much more to life than the pursuit of items and the sooner we realise this, the more freedom we will have.

Doing hard things

As I was out running today, I was listening to health advocate Andrew Huberman being interviewed. He shared about his views on the importance of doing hard things. For me, the topic couldn’t have been more appropriate, as I had just started out on a run that I really didn’t feel like doing.

Andrew Huberman believes that it’s important to do hard things. He feels that the satisfaction we get on completing the task makes it worth it, as we are left with a feeling of having accomplished something that has benefited us in some way. It could be completing a challenging work task, learning a new skill or, as in my case, doing physical exercise. All of these things can be done in a relatively short period of time and in most cases the things we do when we don’t do the hard thing – scrolling through social media, watching others living their lives being a prime example –can often leave us with a sense of disappointment in ourselves or envy.

When I got back from my run, I felt a sense of positivity and accomplishment. Yes, it was hard, but it was certainly worth the effort I put in. Hard work really does pay off.

Each to their own I just saw a documentary on people and organisations from all over the world who are researching and

implementing practices to either slow or reverse the ageing process. One person in particular really stood out – a man in his early 30s who made a large amount of money setting up a business, then selling it when he turned 30. At this point, he decided to dedicate himself to the study of ageing. Watching what this man did was quite astounding. He spends a huge amount of money on his research, with a lot of it being on the sorts of things that aren’t accessible to most people.

At the point where I was about to roll my eyes and shake my head at what he was doing, the person interviewing him asked if he was happy doing what he was doing – the answer he gave was a definite ‘yes’ and he also gets considerable satisfaction doing something that he feels will have a positive impact on humankind.

My perspective changed completely at this point. What right have any of us to judge what others do, especially if it’s done for a good reason? When I consider the things I do for fulfilment [exercise, reading, learning, cafe society], perhaps there are those who find what I do a little ridiculous. The point is, provided we don’t harm anyone, it really is a case of ‘each to their own’ as we all live our own versions of our best lives.

Why study history?

There will be some who will have the view that history is something that has happened in the past and that, rather than looking back, we should instead be looking forward, looking to put in place plans, strategies and ideas that are concerned with what is and what will happen, as opposed to reminiscing on the past.

This, however, isn’t the view of The School of Life. In their new book, A History of Ideas, the focus is on the past and what we can learn from it, looking back on what has happened as a guide to what could happen in the future, in both a negative and positive sense.

So often we see decisions made that ignore past mistakes. As an educator, I see this constantly, with old ideas

rebranded as something new, leading to them being implemented when evidence from history shows that they simply don’t work. Education is just one area but I am sure many reading this post will recollect how it has happened in their own area of work and expertise.

Rather than brushing off history as nothing more than a recollection of dates, we need to instead see it as a place to go to learn from, to help create a more positive future for all of us.

Accept where you are, but…

Where we are in our lives right now is almost entirely down to the actions and choices we have made. There will be some exceptions due to unfortunate events, but these are, as the word states, exceptions. We really do need to take ownership for the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Accepting where we are doesn’t mean we should

accept that this is where we will stay. If we do like our current circumstance, then we should keep doing the same actions that have us at this point, perhaps with the occasional tweak as the environment or our needs change. However, if we don’t like our current circumstance then we need to reflect on our actions, then take deliberate steps to change them.

Yes, sometimes circumstances haven’t been fair, but constantly dwelling on and blaming a lack of fairness will simply mean that this is where we’ll stay.

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

Dean Lonergan.

PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES PHOTO/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Wai Art Show - Friday 8 - Sunday 10 September

FEATURED: CORI GONZALEZ-MACUER

Friday 29th September from 7:30pm

Billy T James winner, 7 Days regular and star of “What We Do In The Shadows”, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer has been performing his unique brand of self-deprecating, observational and deadpan comedy since 2003. Whether it’s on the stage or screen, Cori’s reluctance to accept a career in entertainment is what has made him the performer he is today. This event is suitable for persons 16 years and over.

Reviews:

“… keep an eye out for future works by the man with exponential potential, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer.” – Concrete Playground

“While his cynicism might make you think he is making lemons out of lemonade he does it in such a cool manner, standing alone with his mic, his great eyebrows adding emphasis, that you know he’s speaking truths we all feel “Awesome? Nah, Bro” is comedy fest at its best. Get in before the tickets dry up.” – Theatreview

Daffodil Festival Steam Train - Sunday 10 September

The Pantoloons present Peter Pan - Monday 2 October

Queen: It’s A Kinda Magic - Sunday 8 October

See the rock spectacular that everyone RAVED about, bringing their big sound, big screens, crazy lighting and outlandish costumes back for a night of non-stop rock anthems, including Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, Another One Bites the Dust and so many more.

The 17th Annual Wai Art Show held over Carterton Daffodil Festival weekend in September is a huge cash and carry art show. Paintings, prints, pottery and garden sculpture works from 82 artists across our region. Open 9am to 5pm both days.

Take a fairy tale flight to Neverland in the swashbuckling family adventure Peter Pan as it swoops into the Carterton Events Centre for another unmissable Pantoloon pantomime production.

Take this opportunity to experience a heritage passenger steam train trip from Carterton to Masterton and return. Take a glimpse of a bygone era with 13 passenger cars dating from the early 1900s through to the 1930s.

Folk spirit to the fore

Described as a “national treasure” and “New Zealand’s most indispensable ensemble” [William Dart, NZ Herald], NZTrio is renowned for its eclectic repertoire, outstanding talent and warm stage presence. The trio has a remarkable track record of over 75 new commissions to date, with more than two-thirds from New Zealand composers.

Violinist Amalia Hall, pianist Somi Kim and cellist Ashley Brown are looking forward to revisiting Greytown for this year’s concert, entitled Homeland 2: Tunes from My Home. The spirit of folk music is at the centre of Homeland, with music of the great Bohemian composer Antonin Dvorak at the heart of the series. The music of the people – folk music’s ubiquitous influence, is present throughout.

Homeland 2 will begin in Romania with Enescu’s luscious A minor trio, one of the very few works he composed during WWII and a strong witness to his fascination with the countryside and the folk music of his homeland.

Chinese-American composer Chen Yi and her siblings began studying the piano and classical

music at the age of three and a year later she was introduced to the violin. During the Cultural Revolution they were taken to a work camp in the countryside – but were only allowed to perform “revolutionary songs”.

Chen Yi will transport us back to her upbringing in China, with Tunes from My Home, musical stories filled with bustling energies and happy memories.

New Zealander Victoria Kelly not only composes, but also arranges and directs a wide spectrum of musical genres –contemporary classical, pop, and music for film, TV and theatre. In the gently rhythmic and mystical sound world of her newly commissioned work for

Winter woolcraft at Waicol

this concert, she explores the lure of her ancestral homes of Aotearoa and the Faeroe Islands [between Iceland and Shetland], and the irresistible forces that pulled her forbears towards and away from them.

Lastly, we will be transported back to Europe, to Prague, where a 42-year-old Dvorak will take us into the depths of Czech music traditions in his broodingly romantic F minor Piano Trio.

• Greytown Music Group presents NZTrio, Homeland 2: Tunes from My Home, 4pm, Sunday, September 3 at 57 Wood St, Greytown. For bookings contact Ed and Juliet Cooke 06 304 9497 or efjacooke@ gmail.com

If crafting spins your wheels, head down to Wairarapa College this Saturday and have a go at a ‘Spin-In’.

Members of the public are invited to try spinning, weaving, knitting, crochet and felting between 10.30am12.30pm on the guild table of event organisers – Wairarapa Spinners and Weavers Guild.

Stay for the fashion parade in the afternoon and perhaps win one or more raffles on offer.

Traders on the day will include Almo Books from Carterton, Caroline Melville with wool for spinning and knitting, DEA Yarns with Italian

wools and wool blends, silk, mohair, cottons, linens and socks made mostly from New Zealand yarns.

Elite Wools will bring fleece wool from their flock of rare Teeswater and Wensleydale sheep breeds, while Good Wool Hunting will offer yarns including sock yarns and accessories.

Kane Carding will be selling natural and dyed crossbred wool for spinning and merino wool for felting.

Little Wool Company boutique spinning mill will offer a variety of Corriedale yarn for knitting, crochet and weaving and many fibre

blends for hand spinning; Raydene offers Gotland and Alpaca fleeces and wool in shades of grey from medium to dark.

Rewa Rewa Station’s Patrizia has designed and produced a Romney wool blanket, yarn and fibre for knitters or spinners, while Rose Spud Yarns has naturally dyed product, with most dye material from their own property.

• Wairarapa Spinners and Weavers Guild Spin-In, Wairarapa College, 83 Pownall Street, Masterton, Saturday September 2 from 10am-3pm.

Entry $5 includes morning and afternoon tea.

Members of the Wairarapa Spinners and Weavers Guild, Tracy Orr [left] and Libb Couborough in warmer months.

PHOTO/FILE

NZTrio left to right: Amalia Hall, Somi Kim and Ashley Brown.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Blokes rocking the shed

Kevin Ball

Bert Gray reckons he’ll keep working at Henley Men’s Shed until he gets “a letter from the king, or Scotland beats the All Blacks”.

Keen Scotsman Gray completed the refurbishment of a charming rocking horse, which is ready to rock its new owner. The art was done by the Masterton shed’s resident ‘brush man’ Jim Brady.

Another men’s shed specialist, Murray Campbell, is learning the secrets of a century-old English oak decanter set.

When the beautiful piece arrived in true Repair Shop style, for cleaning and refurbishing, sadly no liquor remained, so Campbell set about bringing it back to life.

After around 60 years of shed storage, the decanter set was in a sad state.

Campbell reckons it must be at least 100 years old. He has brought the oak back to its beautiful best and polished and re-fixed the cut glass that is a feature of the relic.

The 10 glasses –six tumblers [one a mismatched replacement] and four tiny glasses – are highly polished and await the next tippler. Because of a lack of inscription, Campbell presumes it was a presentation set that was never presented.

Campbell is also working on a 140-year-old mangle, found abandoned in a Wairarapa garden. He said the mangle’s owners wanted it for “purely decorative” purposes, but for his own satisfaction, it needed to be functional.

First up was a lengthy soaking in a molasses solution to remove 140 years of gunk and rust. While that was happening, master woodworker Terry Schischka turned two perfectly-matched rollers to replace the rotted originals.

A fresh coat of green paint and the mangle was ready for reassembly. At this stage, cast iron being a fragile metal, a leg broke off. Fortunately engineer Graeme Whittaker was successful in welding the leg back on.

Projects like these give the blokes in the shed the satisfaction of having restored something from the past, using their

Celebrating three decades, shoulder to shoulder

Mens Shed Week 2023 CONNECTION COMMUNITY CAMARADARIE

collective skills to save it, as well as creating beautiful items from scratch from a variety of materials.

• Henley Men’s Shed, Colombo Rd, Masterton is open Monday-Thursday 8.30am-1.30pm and Friday 8.30amnoon. National Men’s Shed Week runs September 3-9.

MASTERTON HENLEY MENS SHED

Not just another week, its Mens Shed Week (3 Sept to 9th Sept 2023) an annual event that aims to raise awareness, knowledge and interest in Mens Sheds around the world.

It’s also an opportunity to re˜ ect on what has happened in a local Mens Shed over the past year and the things that have been achieved for the blokes at the shed and the community.

It’s not just a local thing, Mens Sheds have become a global phenomenon and far reaching from their birthplace Australia.

For many men the local Mens Shed o° ers somewhere to go, something to do and mates that make it all worthwhile.

New Zealand currently has approx. 130 sheds either open or getting started. Our Masterton Henley Mens Shed has been operating for over 13 years, and has a membership of 131 blokes who have come from all walks of life to be involved in doing things for the community.

In all cases it’s thanks to the support the Mens Shed gets from local and national businesses with products and materials to enable the community good things to be completed.

All Sheds are created to re˜ ect the interests and ambitions of those who join in and the community where they are located, as can be seen with those in every one of the nearby towns from Pahiatua to Upper Hutt, each one is di° erent, but the philosophy is much the same, creating a place that fosters Mens Health and Wellbeing.

Every day at the Mens Shed is a little di° erent, that is the blokes that come through the door each day where you can see new faces, some come ÿ ve days a week others just on their chosen day, some make a point of coming to particular events and activities in the Shed which can range from Mens health sessions, games day, writers group, or just to check out the latest o° ering from the oven.

On another day it is to sit and share a yarn, watch YouTube from sheds around the world, there’s so many di° erent aspects to what goes on in the shed.

The blokes like the elves are working to have a vast array of goods available for the Xmas Shop which is open at the Mens Shed between 4th and 22nd December, with Christmas themed items and unusual gifts and toys, they even have EftPos to help shoppers get just what they want.

Not to be left out are the many projects on the go in the workshops, some for family and friends, but most are for community organisations, clubs and groups who have engaged with the Mens Shed to gain support to see something rather di° erent made or repaired, and that can keep the blokes busy for days.

At last count more than 160 local community groups, organisations and clubs and the like have received assistance from local Mens Sheds, which reinforces the motto at the Shed “In the Community, For the Community”.

If you are passing along Colombo Road, why not drop in (8.30am to noon Mon to Fri) and see for yourself the projects on the go, some of the local sheds are also holding a BBQ Breakfast during Mens Shed Week so keep an eye out for those, everyone’s welcome.

There are also some unique items available for sale to help with running costs. You may even witness the Intergenerational Mentoring that goes on with school age kids learning from an old hand, the blokes have a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience under their belt and it doesn’t go to waste at the Mens Shed.

One of the most wonderful things about the Mens Shed movement is that it has been a grassroots and community e° ort at all levels. Todays sheds are not the product of one person’s ideas. There have been, and continues to be many great contributors.

Mens Shed Week 3-9 September 2023

Almost there... Graeme Whittaker and Murray Campbell survey the almostcompleted mangle.

ABOVE: The 100-year-old oak decanter set may one day hold a tasty drop.

LEFT: Matthew Nolan with an ornate cheese platter he made.

As good as new. Bert Gray with the rocking horse. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

Prize-winning

A Bakery in the making

When Mike and Rose Kloeg opened their bakery in Clareville’s heritage church 10 years ago, they knew they were in for hard work, but they also knew it was the right thing for them.

“We wanted to have our own business, we loved baking, giving people a great ea�ng experience, and we wanted to exercise our personal values – that of suppor�ng local suppliers, being sustainable, and offering quality employment opportuni�es. Their eight loyal staff have grown to 28 these days.

The quaint and a�rac�ve building right on the state highway just north of Carterton was a drawcard; they were keen to offer good quality baking using fresh, local ingredients, where possible, and they knew their four children, under the age of 10 at the �me of opening, would see first-hand the reward of dedicated work. Fast forward a decade and Mike and Rose let out an audible sa�sfying sigh as they reflect how Clareville Bakery has taken off in the community.

Success

Open six days a week, it’s a busy place and come Saturdays, the line of people wai�ng to be served is o�en out the door. Being able to just pop off the main road is a dis�nct advantage.

It is the regular mee�ng place for many locals, including cyclists who come from around Wairarapa.

It’s also an unofficial business hub where many workers meet over a coffee and in weekends, it’s the go-to place for families who spill out onto the veranda and sit under

trees while children enjoy the playground. The dedicated children’s nook inside is popular too.

Award homemadewinningcuisine

But it’s not just the ambience and loca�on that a�racts. The food – all made in the Clareville Bakery kitchen from scratch – is greatly sought a�er and award winning. Men�on pies to anyone in Wairarapa or further afield and the Clareville Bakery comes to mind instantly. In 2014, it won the Supreme winner in the Bakels Pie Compe��on for its quirky lamb cutlet pie. Yes, the en�re lamb cutlet sits pride of place within the pie locally farmed, of course. In 2016 and 2017, they won Café of the Year in na�onal compe��ons and in 2019 the Wairarapa Business Award acknowledged the bakery with a Best Team Award. The Kloegs pride themselves on crea�ng a family environment for its staff.

The latest pie crea�on to come from the Clareville kitchen is a ‘Boil Up Pie’ - a conscious nod to Māori culture and to celebrate Matariki. Encased with the homemade pastry is a meat and watercress filling which sends the tastebuds direct to a boil up. The delicious smoky flavour is unmistakable.

“We like to try new recipes and offer new tastes to the public,” says Mike who enthusias�cally encouraged the sugges�on of one his chefs to develop the recipe she made at home suitable to be used in a pie.

Natural ingredients

Mike knows why their baking is so popular.

“We use tradi�onal recipes

which reflect tastes of yesteryear.”

He emphasises that their baking uses BUTTER not margarine which makes a huge difference to the pastry’s flavour and texture. He sources his free-range eggs and vegetables locally.

When it comes to the sweets, cronuts and the custard squares are top of the list with customers.

“Again, the custard is made from scratch – eggs, milk, sugar, bu�er, and vanilla – no nas�es. It makes for such a simple, winning combina�on”. Their sour dough bread is made tradi�onally with NZ grown and milled wheat.

A nod to history

When Mike and Rose visited the building at Clareville, they liked that it had begun

life in 1872 as a church. As Chris�ans, they felt the building spoke to them and have always liked the feel of the place. Known as ‘Dippers Chapel’, and later the Clareville Hall, it was built by William Corpe.

From Somerset, England, he sailed to New Zealand with his wife, Susan Crease, in 1858 and a�er a decade in the Nelson district, they moved to Clareville establishing a flax mill with Susan’s brother, Edwin Crease.

In 1872, Corpe built the Taratahi Store on the Main Road, opposite Chester Road, and the chapel. He joined the Open Brethren and learned to preach, holding regular services and a Sunday School. An enterprising fellow, he moved with his family to Makino, near Feilding, and was the first in the area to begin an industry

manufacturing bu�er and cheese, earning him the �tle the ‘Father of the Bu�er Industry.’

Mike and Rose are happily following the tradi�on insis�ng on using bu�er in all their baking.

“As in everything in life, there are good times and difficult times. The Clareville Bakery is no different. We are thankful to our God who has provided what we needed, when we needed it, and continues to provide for us. We are also thankful for being part of our wonderful community and appreciative of everyone who chooses to eat at our place.

It is a privilege to serve you. Thank you so much for your patronage and support over the past 10 years.”

Mike & Rose Kloeg

Farmers see negatives in plans for emissions

Agriculture Minister Damien announced last week the government’s final $370 million plan to help New Zealand farmers reduce their emissions.

According to the minister, the new emissions reduction plan will “future-proof” the country’s agricultural sector.

O’Connor said the plan supports farmers’ transition to loweremission practices, helps secure their future export growth, and works alongside other climate policies to continue reducing emissions.

RuralThe plan follows a fiveyear-long process during which O’Connor said the government worked closely with farming leaders to finalise the recent announcement.

“Future export growth

Lamb prices have dropped 25 per cent in the past 12 months, and the milk price forecast has tumbled several times, putting it below breakeven for most dairy farmers.

– Federated Farmers president David Hayes

to a 50 per cent reduction of scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2030. Many more companies have similar targets. This is a tectonic shift in our export markets, meaning our farmers will have to reduce their emissions in order to sell to them.”

The new plan will see mandatory reporting of farm-level emissions starting in the last quarter of 2024.

However, Federated Farmers president David Hayes is calling the new plan “ill-timed”, because he believes now isn’t the right time to weigh down food and fibre producers and processors, and the

putting it below breakeven for most dairy farmers.”

Hayes said Wairarapa farmers are already low carbon emitters. “Pasturebased systems and on-farm sequestration with forestry and native regeneration offer benefits compared to farming internationally.

“When the government announced last year a $300m fund over four years to research and develop new tools and technology to reduce on-farm emissions, Wairarapa Federated Farmers was very supportive.

“The global atmosphere does not benefit from New Zealand’s shrinking food production,” Hayes

“Our farms’ emissions footprint is world-leading in terms of kilograms of meat and milk produced; forgone production here would just shift offshore to high-emission farming

Public consultation on the plan is still open, and ends on September 6, 2023.

Mating is fast approaching, are you and your team ready?

Over the coming weeks: tail painting, heat recording, mineral checks, metri-checking, will be well underway.

Now is a key time to review your teams heat detection skills. Does everyone know what to look for when detecting cows on heat? Then, decide which combination of heat detection aids is most appropriate for the team to use during AB. If several people are involved in heat detection, now is the time to create and implement a system to ensure that all involved share their records. For example, a whiteboard at the dairy, texting, or use of apps.

Pre-mating heat detection is an opportunity to practise heat detection skills and gain insight into which cows should be cycling once mating starts. It is also the easiest way to identify non-cycling cows, and gain insight on whether intervention is required. Have a plan ready for non-cycling cows, such as once-a-day milking and preferential feeding.

For more information visit Reproduction and Mating – DairyNZ. www.dairynz.co.nz – 0800 4 DairyNZ – 0800 4 324 7969

COUNTRY LIVESTOCK

Report for Week Ending Friday 25 August 2023.

Feeder Calves

Bulls – 2 Simmental @115ea, 2 Freisan @40ea, 2 redpoll @50ea Heifers – 2 redpoll @80ea and 2 @45ea

Pigs

Weaner pigs – 6 @50

Sheep

Rams – 2 @40

Orphan lambs –10˜@20ea, 1 @25 , 1 @32, 1 @40, 1@75

Ewes with lambs at foot – 21 @72 ea, 9 @86ea

Ewes – 1@85, 1 @30, 1@50, 1@86

Lambs – 2 @110, 2 @115, 1 @66, 2 @134, 4 @94, 6˜@87, 2 @25, 5 @118, 3˜@50, 12 @60

Rebecca King rebecca.king@age.co.nz

ROOF PAINTING

Be Warm this Winter with a Daikin

Jumbo crossword

Sudoku

Last week’s crossword solution

ACROSS: 1 Shaft, 4 Wild goose chase, 11 Choir, 14 Final, 15 Documentary, 16 Abundant, 19 Thieves, 20 Fleet, 21 Imaginary, 24 Imprecise, 26 Canary, 27 Scheme, 31 Rotor, 32 Clavicle, 34 Overloaded, 38 Admiral, 39 Aghast, 40 Litter, 41 Stun, 42 Feigned, 45 Telephoned, 50 Embrace, 54 Rash, 55 Vigour, 56 Oldest, 57 Volcano, 60 Disruption, 61 Entreaty, 62 Sinus, 65 Scenic, 66 Agrees, 67 Ambiguity, 72 Marmalade, 73 Prone, 74 Phoenix, 79 Marzipan, 80 Safeguarded, 81 Eject, 82 Drawn, 83 Knock on the head, 84 Hyena.

DOWN: 2 Height, 3 Frame, 5 Iron, 6 Doubles, 7 Opened, 8 Site, 9 Ceremony, 10 Ebbing, 11 Contractor, 12 Oval, 13 Retinue, 17 Merry, 18 Aggravated, 22 Scald, 23 Vendetta, 25 Mooring, 26 Cheetah, 28 Poodle, 29 Octane, 30 Breeze, 33 Vogue, 35 Dense, 36 Take, 37 Plan, 42 Fired, 43 Insisted, 44 Dainty, 45 Thoroughly, 46 Lyre, 47 Process, 48 Oddity, 49 Ensue, 51 Moon, 52 Receipt, 53 Census, 58 Jubilation, 59 Attic, 63 Feedback, 64 Pushy, 65 Slimmed, 68 Monarch, 69 Embark, 70 Grouch, 71 Zircon, 75 Enjoy, 76 Aria, 77 Seen, 78 Beta.

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

All puzzles © The Puzzle Company www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz

Public

Public Notices

Gardening Landscaping

Paul August Landscape Design

For

FOR LE AS AR ERT ON Storage Yard

Water Closure Ruamahanga River

Saturday 22nd September 2023

Club Day Sunday 23rd

September 2023

Kilo Speed Trials

Landscape Consultation & Design Service 027 446 8256

august.landscape@orcon.net.nz www.augustlandscapes.co.nz

Public Notices

OFFICIAL NOTICE.

CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL

PROPOSAL TO CLOSE ROADS TO ORDINARY VEHICULAR TRAFFIC PURSUANT to the Transport (Vehicular Traf c Road Closure) Regulations

1965, notice is hereby given that the Carterton District Council proposes to close part of Gladstone Road for the purpose of the Daffodil Festival for the period indicated hereunder:

Period of Closure:

Sunday 10th September 2023 6.00am – 4.00pm

Roads affected:

Gladstone Road between DOC Carter Reserve and Fisher Monoplane Statue to have no parking on one side of the road. Road remains open. Public parking available beyond/east of Fisher Monoplane memorial statue, cones installed at driveway entrances. The closed section will be adequately and properly signposted, at the beginning of the closed road, being manned with radio communication to allow the passage of through traf c in an emergency.

Johannes Ferreira Infrastructure Manager

1277m2 completely fenced flat area For further enquiries

Ring Lou 0274 433 276

FIREWOODSUPPLIES.CO.NZ 06 306 9110

SPRING SPECIAL

2M3 GUM & 2M3 SPLIT PINE $600 SAVE $60 ˝ 2024 BURNING

$720 GUM & MAC $720

GUM & S/PINE $660 D/FIR & MAC $710

D/FIR & S/PINE $650 MAC & S/PINE $650

MANUKA & D/FIR $960 Delivery & GST included, Winz Approved

Public Notices

www.cdc.govt.nz

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

OFFICIAL NOTICE.

PROPOSAL TO CLOSE ROADS TO ORDINARY VEHICULAR TRAFFIC

PURSUANT to the Transport (Vehicular Traf c Road Closure) Regulations

1965, notice is hereby given that the Carterton District Council proposes to close various roads for the purpose of the Daffodil Festival for the period indicated hereunder:

Period of Closure: Sunday 10th September 2023 6.00am – 4.00pm

Roads affected:

Broadway, between High Street and William Wong Place – closed Holloway Street, from High Street to Dixon Street intersection

– closed

Memorial Square, from Park Road entrance around to exit on High Street – closed Masson Street, from Broadway to Stubbs Service Lane intersection

– closed

Nelson Crescent, from Holloway Street to number 30/car park area

– closed

High Street North/South, Pembroke Street to Belvedere/Park Road

– closed.

The closed section will be adequately and properly signposted, at the beginning of the closed road, being manned with radio communication to allow the passage of through traf c in an emergency.

Johannes Ferreira

Infrastructure Manager

2024 CON DAR HOO CHOL RS HI PS Are available for years 9 to 13

The Wairarapa Secondary Schools Principal's Association are searching for an energetic and forward thinking individual to take up the position of Sports Director.

The successful applicant will be able to plan, coordinate and implement intercollegiate sporting opportunities for all secondary school students in the Wairarapa.

You will liaise with all schools and sporting bodies to continue to grow participation and engagement in sports and recreation

You will require strong skills in administration, computer literacy, communication, team building and relationship management, leadership, fundi ng procurement and budgeting

You will be a people-person who is able to work flexible work hours and have a real passion for enhancing and developing sport and recreational activities for our students

Send your CV, application and direct any enquiries to: Simon Fuller principal@kuranui-college.school nz

Applications close Wednesday 13 September 2023 at 3pm.

Employment

Missed Your

This week or had a late delivery?

DENTAL ASSISTANT WANTED

Short term contract, from September, Mondays and Fridays, could lead to a permanent role. Must be confident with computers and happy to join our small friendly team and participate in all aspects of a busy dental practice. Experience preferred but not essential. Please email with cover letter and CV araman@xtra.co.nz

CALL 06 378 9999 option 5

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

Clinical finish gets Wai-Bush the win

Wairarapa-Bush 30 Poverty Bay 24 Copthorne Wairarapa-Bush finished the stronger to come away with a confidence-boosting bonus point victory over Poverty Bay at Trust House Memorial Park on Saturday.

13

1

2

Are you interested in working in and giving back to your community?

If you are, we are interested in you. Te Hauora Runanga o Wairarapa is seeking staff for the following permanent positions.

• Community Support Worker – Access and Choice – Full-Time (1x38 hours per week). To support tāngata referred from primary care, to become active participants in their self-care.

• Community Support Worker – Ngā Kete Programme Support (1 x 10 hours per week). To support/strengthen Mātauranga Māori of our organisation. May provide support for other teams working with whānau and tāngata in our community.

• Community Support Worker – Kaumatua Navigator (1 x 20 hours per week fixed term for 1 year). To navigate and help Kaumātua access the right services for any needs identified. Ability to engage with Kaumātua and knowledge of services available for the older people is essential.

• Community Support Worker – Family Safety Team – Full-time (1 x 40 hours per week permanent). Provide a Multi-Disciplinary response to family violence, working alongside NZ Police. Advocate for adults/child victims working together to ensure full range of needs for family are addressed.

• Community Support Worker – Te Ao Health Promotion Mental Health and Addictions (36 hours per week, fixed term 1 year). Working alongside iwi promoting mental health and addiction through tāngata and whānau access and engagement with taiao and the environment. Tackling climate change joint project. Experience with health promotion and/or the environment preferred.

Te Ra Kati -Closing Date Monday 4th September2023 at 5pm

email cir@tehauora.org.nz

The home side went into the third-round game determined to bounce back from their humiliating 50–3 defeat away to North Otago the previous weekend.

The initial signs were promising for Wai-Bush, and they took an early 8-0 lead through a Ben Brooking penalty and a try to Marcus Ale from a 5m lineout.

A try in the corner to Poverty Bay winger Tane Okuri, superbly converted by Kelvin Smith, closed the gap to 11–7 before a second Brooking penalty gave Wai-Bush an 11–7 lead after 17 minutes.

The visitors finished the half the better, taking advantage of the sin-binning of Wai-Bush centre Fiula Tameilau for a professional foul, with a penalty and a converted try to lock Jordan Kingi for a 17–11 lead at the break.

The second half, though, was all about the impact off the bench, and it was significant.

After the game stuttered along for 15 minutes, it came alive when replacement back Harry Eschenbach put through a beautifully weighted kick for winger Nikora Ewe, who outgassed two defenders and dived on the ball for the home side’s second try.

It was then Poverty Bay’s turn to play with 14 men after prop James Higgins was sin-binned for punching replacement hooker Lewis Bush and Wai-Bush made the visitors pay.

Fullback Aseri ‘Ace’ Waqa perfectly timed his run onto a flip pass from Sam Walton-Sexton and out-sprinted the defence to extend the lead to six points. Big Fijian Isireli Biumaiwai, who gets better with every game in the No. 8 jersey, sealed the win charging from a breakdown after a powerful tackle from replacement flanker Epeli Rayaqayaqa forced a turnover.

Poverty Bay scored a converted try to fullback Moses Christie under the posts in the final minute, but it was too little too late, and the home side celebrated a deserved victory, much to the delight of coach Reece Robinson.

“At the end of the day, we finished strong, and the guys that came off the bench made good impact, and that’s what we want from them,” Robinson said.

“We spoke about being a lot more direct early on in the game, and we definitely did that. We created opportunities, but there were several that we didn’t execute and punish them, but it’s pleasing to see what we worked on Tuesday and Thursday to put it out on the field, and it made a big difference.”

Outstanding for the home team

were player-of-the-day, lock Logan Wakefield, who Robinson reckoned had his best game in the green and red, even chasing down an opposition back to stymie a try, while fellow middle-rower and captain Sam Gammie put in a typical no-holds-barred ‘Gammie’ shift.

Starting halfback Isaac Bracewell provided quick ball for the backs with his slick passing, and his second-half replacement Walton-Sexton was a constant menace to the tiring defenders with his probing runs around the fringes of second-phase play.

Hooker George Parke made a good fist of his debut start, and Bush was his usual menace at the breakdown when he came on, while veteran flanker Jared Hawkins had a strong game after coming on for the injured Ale after 15 minutes. Eschenbach also impressed with his speed and creativity until he was forced off with a hip flexor injury.

“It was good to see us pull away because it was a very tight game until the last 10 minutes,” Robinson said.

“We were really confident before the game, and the good thing about this group is we have a fantastic culture and win or lose, we’re still here to work hard and

Continued on page 30

RUGBY

Chris Cogdale chris.cogdale@age.co.nz

Nikora Ewe dives on the ball to score Wai-Bush’s second try.

PHOTOS/GRAEME BOWDEN

ABOVE LEFT: Fullback Aseri Waqa strolls in for what was the match-winning try. ABOVE RIGHT: Logan Wakeÿ eld had arguably his best game for Wai-Bush.

At the end of the day, we ÿ nished strong, and the guys that came o° the bench made good impact, and that’s what we want from them.

– coach Reece Robinson

become better players on and off the field, and the team is pretty stoked.

“Everyone played their part, and now we just have to shift our focus to Horowhenua-Kapiti.”

The win lifted WaiBush to equal fifth in the Heartland Championship race.

They also lifted the Jeremy David Memorial Cup, which is played for between the two unions in memory of David, who represented both provinces.

Brief Scores

Wairarapa-Bush 30

[Marcus Ale, Nikora Ewe, Aseri Waqa, Isireli Biumaiwai tries, Ben

Brooking 2 pens, Fiula

Tameilau 2 cons] Poverty

Bay 24 [Jordan Kingi, Tane Okuri, Moses Christie tries; Kelvin Smith 3 cons pen] HT

11-17

Other Heartland

Results

East Coast 38

North Otago 29, Mid Canterbury 43

Horowhenua-Kapiti 14, South Canterbury 56

Buller 0, West Coast

22 Thames Valley

30, King Country 23 Whanganui 17.

Standings

S Canterbury 15; Thames Valley 14; North Otago, East Coast 11; West Coast, WairarapaBush 10; Poverty Bay, Whanganui 7; M Canterbury 5; King Country 4; Buller 1; H-Kapiti 0.

Wairarapa-Bush 17 Whanganui 40 Whanganui were too slick and polished for Wairarapa-Bush in a

North Island Heartland Championship game at Trust House Memorial Park on Saturday. The home side made

the early running, jumping out to a 12–0 lead in the first 15 minutes, but the visitors slowly began to assert dominance of possession and spread the ball wide to their elusive wingers

Alice Ireton and Paris Munro, with both dotted down to give Whanganui a 19–17 halftime lead. Another three converted tries in the second spell, all longrange efforts, including one started from their

own goal line, wrapped up a deserved win for the young Whanganui side.

While Munro capped an outstanding game with 25 points from three tries and five conversions, the standout for the visitors was young openside flanker Anehera Hamahona, who forced numerous turnovers and was a constant threat with the ball in hand.

For Wai-Bush, there was no harder worker than No. 8 Paige Walker, who made several punishing runs, including one 45m charge where she brushed aside four or five would-be tacklers before being pulled down just short of the try line.

Halfback Kate Donald, in only her second game in the role, prop Annemieke van Vliet, lock Gracie Donaldson, first-five Lisa Te Moananui, and hooker Bridget Gavigan were other standouts in a Wai-Bush side that never gave up.

Wai-Bush host Thames Valley in the third round on Saturday.

WAIRARAPA COMMUNITY LAW

1ST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH PAHIATUA: 10am-noon Heartlands Office EKETAHUNA: 1-3pm Public Library

1ST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH 11am-3pm CARTERTON: Carterton Events Centre

2ND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH 11am-3pm FEATHERSTON: Community

A place where change is possible

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

ABOVE: Paige Walker on one of her many charges.

RIGHT: Lisa Te Moananui scores Wai-Bush’s third try. PHOTOS/GRAEME BOWDEN