Wairarapa Midweek Wed 7th Dec

Sliding into summer

“It is such a pleasure to walk alongside our young parents as they navigate their journey of learning and preparing for work. Our students are brave and courageous of heart.”

These were the words of Prue Harawira-Smith, manager of PuawānangaWairarapa Young Parents, at last Tuesday’s emotional

end-of-year graduation and celebration of school students with children.

Twenty-four young mums moved through Puawānanga, based at Mākoura College, in 2022 – each of whom is raising at least one child while attending school, and some working part-time.

This year’s students had much to celebrate: Not only receiving prestigious awards and scholarships but working towards

employment opportunities, learning to drive, and staying the course in the midst of covidrelated restrictions and interruptions.

Eight major awards were presented at last week’s prizegiving, including the esteemed Kia Manawanui Award – granted to students who have not only shown aptitude in their studies but have displayed resilience, determination and empathy to their

peers.

Harawira-Smith, now in her 30th year teaching in Wairarapa, said Puawānanga provides connection and safety for young parents – and its staff are committed to supporting students to become their best selves.

Using small group and one-to-one teaching and learning, Puawānanga helps channel natural talents and interests into the achievement of

qualifications.

“We are so privileged to be able to teach in this way,” Harawira-Smith said.

She said the nurturing and creativity the young parents pour into their children is also directed into preparing for future careers – in nursing, early childhood education, retail, art, music and more.

In their studies, students work towards three key goals: Whāia Te Tika

[doing what is right], Whāia Te Pono [wisdom through learning] and Whāia Te Aroha [caring for others].

Six Whāia Awards were presented to the students who had, against the odds, shown dedication to these achieving these goals: Brianna Hislop, Te Rangiwhakawaitau Ihaia, Jordan Laing and Clarissa Wilson.

Kia Manawanui Award recipients Clarissa Wilson [left] and Jordan Laing with Puaw˜nanga manager Prue Harawira-Smith and retiring teacher Hilda Payne.

PHOTO/TRACEY SMITH

Angela Yeoman and Erin Kavanagh-Hall

Rave reviews for Molly’s dream slide

To help keep busy over the summer break, 10-yearold Molly O’Dwyer sent a letter to Carterton District Council, asking if it would be possible to replace the slide at the town’s beloved free pools.

Fast-forward two years, and Molly’s dream has made a splash into reality: Carterton’s brand new rainbow water slide is now open for business, and is set to be “the most used piece of council equipment” in the district.

Late last month, the Carterton outdoor pool complex hosted an informal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new slide, followed by a barbecue and pool party, in which the

slide was well patronised by kids and kids at heart – including former mayor Greg Lang – and met with rave reviews.

The slide, sourced from Whanganui, was made possible with funding from Carterton District Council [CDC] and a community fundraising campaign spearheaded by Molly, now a Year 7 pupil at Chanel College.

The keen swimmer wrote to the council, suggesting an upgrade to the previous slide, which had several safety issues and was no longer fit for purpose.

Encouraged by Lang, Molly made a submission to CDC’s Ten-Year Plan – which resulted in a $10,000 pledge from the council – and set up a Givealittle page to source

the remaining funds.

She reached her goal earlier this year thanks to donations from Trust House, Ka Pai Carterton, Keep Carterton Beautiful, a sponsored 10km swim, Wairarapa businesses, and the wider community.

Funds raised also contributed to a new poolside mural, painted by Carterton artist Adrian Jackman, youth organisation Rangatahi Tū Rangatira, and local school students.

At the ribbon cutting, deputy mayor Dale Williams praised Molly for having the courage to put her idea before the council – which started the “avalanche” needed to bring the project to fruition.

“Sometimes, all it takes

to kick something off is for one person to have a vision they can articulate – and Molly has epitomised that,” he said.

“She has brought the whole community along with her on the journey. Every generation has loved this pool, and so many people have contributed to this project. People of my generation have given money towards it – even if they might not be going down the slide themselves.

“And now we have a wonderful new community asset – which is probably going to be the most used piece of council equipment we’ve ever seen.”

Naturally, Molly was the first to test out the slide – and though she was delighted with the new

“For a long time, the slide just felt like a figment of my imagination – so I couldn’t believe I was seeing it in front of me,” she said.

“It feels amazing – it’s like, ‘wow, I’ve actually done something big’.

“Lots of people told me they really enjoyed the slide – they liked that it’s got lots of space to hang out at the top and that there’s a bit of a drop at the end before you hit the water.

“I think I went down it at least 10 times!”

Mum Amanda O’Dwyer

she said was proud of her eldest daughter for seeing her project through to the end and was thankful for “all the amazing support” from the community.

“It’s awesome – the slide is bright, funky, and summery, and the murals look beautiful. The whole pool is looking really smart.”

Similarly thrilled with the final result was former deputy mayor Rebecca Vergunst, who mentored Molly throughout the submission process and fundraising campaign.

“We want our young people to feel pride in their spaces. Hopefully through this Molly will inspire other young people and show them how to create change in their communities,” she said.

itself,” Ian said.

“What are the chances of three locals, in their 80s and 90s, from a small country school still being with us?

It’s been more than 80 years since they were pupils at the old Mauriceville West School – but the memories are clear as ever for Masterton locals Murray Neilsen, Ivor “Bidge” Williams, and Mervyn Lehmstedt.

Murray [94], Bidge [96], and Mervyn [89] all recently featured in the Scandinavian Trail project by the Friends of Mauriceville committee,

profiling the descendants of Scandinavian immigrants who grew up in Mauriceville and Hastwell.

Committee member Ian Trass, who interviewed the three men, discovered a class photo from Mauriceville West School from 1940 – and found all three were present in the photo as schoolboys.

So, Ian organised a mini school reunion – driving

the men out to the school, so they could explore their old stomping ground and

share

“To

students in the original school photo, 82 years later, was a miracle in

“As we drove past Kōpuaranga to Mauriceville, and along Mt Munro Rd to the school, their memories all came flooding in.”

The Mauriceville West School buildings are currently being restored by various community organisations.

• More information on the Scandinavian Trail can be found at scandinaviantrail.org.nz/.

some memories.

be able to take a photo with three of the 16

Mauriceville West School old boys Murray Neilsen [LEFT], Ivor “Bidge” Williams, and Mervyn Lehmstedt, holding their class photo from 1940.

PHOTO/IAN TRASS

Carterton’s new waterslide, made possible by 11-year-old Molly O’Dwyer was a hit with kids and kids at heart.

Molly tests out the slide.

PHOTOS/DEBBIE HUNT

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

For the next few issues of Midweek, we’ll be catching up with some of the stars of our front-page stories from 2022. Here is what four of them have been up to since their story went to print.

In January, we caught up with Carterton’s Michael Woodcock – founder of Live Like The River Flows, a charitable trust aiming to nourish mental health through connection with the forest and the natural world.

The trust continues working with local groups and has connected with Auckland-based organisation Field Based Stem, which promotes outdoor fi eld activities to enhance secondary education. This partnership has allowed the trust to work with rangatahi [young people] from Upper Hutt and South Auckland.

In 2023, the trust will work alongside mental health and addiction services in Wairarapa to help clients on their wellness journey.

Lessons from the wild forest

Also in February, we had a chat with eb utterfield, founder of the Tinui Food Forest – one of the largest and most established of its kind in New Zealand.

Deb continues to take “many groups” [most of which are from Wairarapa, thanks to the publicity from Midweek] on guided tours of the food forests – schools, families, keen gardeners, foodies and foragers alike. Several visitors, including Whareama School, have now started food forests of their own.

Next year, Deb plans to open a “food forest farmstay” onsite and start selling produce from the forest.

Also in January, we met Wairarapa College student Alex Walsh – a dancer, actor, musician and star of TVNZ’s Attitude – who just happens to have Down Syndrome.

Alex is delighted to report he has had another busy year on the stage: passing his Level 7 Jazz exams with ying colours with his own choreography , taking classes at the Wellington Integrated Dance Academy, performing at the 2022 Disabled Artists estival of Theatre, and doing a film-ma ing course with inclusive arts collective Silver Noodle Soup.

Next year, Alex will continue with his various dance classes, take drama lessons in Wellington, and hopefully land a role in WaiCol’s school production.

n ebruary, we profiled two top Wairarapa sportswomen – motherdaughter bowls team Fiona and Olivia Mancer.

Seperately and together, Fiona and Liv have had a big year on the green: both making the Manawatu Senior Ladies Representative Squad and competing in the Bowls Manawatu pen Triples final. ther successes include Liv’s win at the Wellington Secondary Schools Championship and representing Wairarapa at the Champion of Champions pairs in Dunedin, and Fiona winning the Bowls Paraparaumu Ladies 242 [with partner Dianna McGill].

Next year, Liv will study commerce at Canterbury University and will join the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch.

Live Like The River Flows takes students from Upper Hutt College on an exploration of the Atiwhakatu Hut track.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Star bowlers Olivia [left] and Fiona Mancer. PHOTO/FILE

Deb Butterÿ eld relaxes with a rosé in the Tinui Food Forest. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

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

When Nick Brandon first signed up for printmaking classes, he never imagined his work would eventually be published alongside artists he had admired for years.

Brandon, from Masterton, is one of more than 150 New Zealand creatives to feature in Proof: Two Decades of Printmaking – a coffeetable book by Massey University Press.

Proof, compiled by the Print Council Aotearoa New Zealand [PCANZ] to mark its 20th anniversary, showcases 166 works by upcoming and established printmakers from around the country – many of whom have exhibited overseas or won multiple awards.

The book has several Wairarapa connections –also featuring work from Greytown printmakers Annie Doornebosch and the internationallyrenowned Gary Tricker [who died last year], and Aratoi patron and regional art trailblazer Dame Robin White.

Former Aratoi director

Susanna Shadbolt also wrote the book’s foreword.

PCANZ, which has about 250 members nationwide, is dedicated to promoting printmaking via exhibitions, workshops, and international exchanges – and fostering an appreciation of the sometimes underappreciated art form.

PCANZ member Brandon first dabbled in printmaking in 2013 while living in Auckland – and is now a frequent exhibitor with the Masterton Art Club, and teaches printmaking at the club on Friday mornings.

Though he is mostly inspired by “the natural world”, he decided to go in a different direction for Proof – submitting “Purple Haze”, an abstract monoprint inspired by Jimi Hendrix.

Brandon said it was “fantastic” to be published alongside some of his artistic heroes – including distinguished printmakers Rodney Fumpston and Barry Cleavin – so early in his career.

Not bad, he said, considering he started his journey with little understanding of what

printmaking involved.

“I thought it was just creating prints of other people’s works,” he said.

“But the more I got to know, the more fascinated I became. There’s so much to printmaking – it takes time, patience, and real craftsmanship to produce original works. The artist’s hand is evident in the whole process.

“It deserves to be seen by more people and, hopefully, the book will help with that.

“It feels great, and very flattering, to be published among so many talented New Zealand artists – and such a wide variety of works and methods.

Brandon has been interested in art since his youth but, apart from “a couple of night classes”, had no formal training.

He spent most of his career as a corporate property consultant, but had to leave the workforce in 2011 due to ill health –and, loath to “sit around feeling miserable”, enrolled with the Browne School of Art in Grey Lynn.

Encouraged by founder Michael Browne, Brandon took classes with seasoned printmaker and

“It brings together two different artistic expressions – drawing and sculpting.

“You draw something on paper, then you transfer it to the wood, and carve out a sculpture with a threedimensional surface. Then you apply the ink, and transfer it back onto paper.

“It’s very meditative as well. Once you start carving, time flies by.”

On relocating to Wairarapa, Brandon joined Masterton Art Club – and, supported by Masterton

Over the years, he has experimented with different techniques: Lino and woodcuts, etching [with plastic and metal surfaces], and mono printing using plastic sheets and Japanese plywood.

He is currently honing his skills in the “extremely time-consuming” mezzotinting – engraving the entire surface of a copper plate with small holes to create tonal variation.

He said printmaking has been hugely beneficial for his health — and believes it has helped slow the cognitive decline associated with his illness.

“It stimulates my brain, keeps me active, and allows me to throw myself into new challenges.”

Proof is available in Wairarapa at Hedley’s Booksellers in Masterton and Almo’s Books in Carterton.

contemporary Māori artist Alexis Neal – and fell in love with the process.

District Council’s Creative Communities Scheme, helped the organisation secure its own press.

Brandon is an active contributor to PCANZ and regularly attends its annual summer schools, held around the country.

Masterton artist Nick Brandon features in Proof: Two Decades of Printmaking, compiled by the Print Council Aotearoa New Zealand.

PHOTO/ERIN KAVANAGH-HALL

Leaving safe space helps growth

Clarissa and Te Rangiwhakawaitau also received awards for attendance.

For being “courageous of heart, resolute, unwavering, and committed”, Clarissa and Jordan were jointly awarded the 2022 Kia Manawanui Award.

Clarissa, mum to Manaia and Michael, has been with Puawānanga for two years – and, with the support of her partner, juggles motherhood, schoolwork, and a job with an after-school care programme.

“With her work ethic and attendance record, she is a role model to other students,” Harawira-Smith said.

Jordan, mum to Tamaiki, has been with Puawānanga for three years: Gaining NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3 and her restricted driver’s licence.

She now works as a caregiver at Lansdowne Park’s Retirement Village and Rest Home and plans to follow in her mother’s footsteps and train as a nurse in the future.

Jordan’s mother attended the celebration on Tuesday, smiling from ear to ear.

Alongside Jordan, Brianna, Te

Rangiwhakawaitau and Georgia Scott-Williams will also be leaving Puawānanga at the end of the year and embarking on work experience, selfemployment, and tertiary study.

Brianna acknowledged that moving on from Puawānanga’s safe space, where young parents can be themselves without judgement, can be challenging.

“Leaving is a bit scary, but I’m ready,” she said.

Also leaving this year is teacher Hilda Payne – after having spent 20 years at Puawānanga and “a lifetime of teaching maths”.

Harawira-Smith congratulated Payne on her success with “lifting the students’ maths skills by constantly encouraging them to do just a little bit of maths”, despite their “immense capacity” to distract her.

In her speech, Mākoura College principal Marion Harvey acknowledged Puawānanga as “the jewel in the college’s crown” – and thanked Harawira-Smith and her staff [Lindy, Amber, Tracey, Ken, Heather, Lisa, and Hilda] for their “enormous commitment”.

Puawānanga is one of now 24 schools in

Aotearoa for young parents. The first, He Huarahi Tamariki, was established in 1994 by then Porirua College deputy principal Susan Baragwanath – motivated after finding a 14-yearold girl giving birth in the school toilets.

He Huarahi Tamariki is supported by a trust which provides scholarships for students graduating from its own and other young parent schools Trust board member Johnny Bell attended the

Puawānanga prizegiving and became emotional as he presented graduate Reeva Williams with a scholarship towards a degree in cookery.

In 2017, 2,309 women aged 20 years or younger gave birth, nearly four per cent of all babies born that year. Although teen birth rates declined by 50 percent in the 10 years to 2017, the role schools play in supporting young parents remains critical.

A recent Education Review Office review of

young parent schools reveals “highly effective practices [and] positive outcomes”.

Puawānanga liaises with social workers, youth services, and Whaiora’s Family Start programme to provide wrap-around support to young parents, and set them up for lifelong success.

Aroha Pirere, guest speaker at Puawānanga’s celebration, spoke about her own experience of pregnancy during her first year at university, aged 18.

Pierre completed five years at university, giving birth to her second child along the way. She is now a mother of four and assistant principal at Wairarapa College, supported by her partner Roger.

“Every time I thought about dropping out of study, I remembered my babies and was motivated to keep going,” she told the Puawānanga mums.

“Tōku toa, he toa rangatira. Our courage is inherited. Be fearless.”

Teacher Lindy Topp reads out student and young parent Brooklyn Walker’s achievements.

PHOTO/TRACEY SMITH

Out & About

The rain did little to dampen the Christmas spirit at Eket˜huna’s annual Christmas Parade, held on November 26.

got amongst the festivities.

It may have rained on his parade – but, in Eket˜huna, Santa always comes prepared! And rides on a lawnmower.

PHOTOS/ MARLENE DITCHFIELD

Thomas the Tank Engine makes an appearance.

“Kiwi icon” Property Brokers gets into the spirit.

The festive lawnmowers, driven by members of the Eketahuna Lawnmower Racing Club, were one of the star attractions.

Some classic Kiwi footwear.

The local ÿ re engine was popular with the young folks.

Photographer MARLENE DITCHFIELD

Congratulations

Rebecca is pictured here with her mum Elaine & Laurie Hatchard (owner of GardenBarn). Lucky Elaine is having the greenhouse delivered and installed at her house.

Thank you to Sgt Steve Cameron (pictured above) for taking the time to draw the prize. We’re sorry to all of you who missed out on this great prize, we appreciate you taking the time to enter. If you’re wanting a Winter Gardenz greenhouse we are proud to be one of their agents and we have brochures instore.

Ready to Feast

Act early to prevent Psyllid Bugs

These sap sucking pests can cause damage on potatoes and tomatoes, as well as egg plants, kumara and tamarillos. Plants that have been attacked by psyllid may not produce or perform & potatoes can have Zebra chip symptoms and have a horrible earthy taste.

Covering your plants with Cropsafe netting and spraying with BioNeem, Success Ultra or Mavrik is the best method of prevention.

Around this time of year grass grub beetles emerge from deep in the ground, ready to feat, mate, lay eggs and create havoc in your garden by sucking the goodness out of them. You’ve probably noticed these beetles heading for light at night. This can be used to your advantage, making it easier

to see where they’re about (you might also hear them banging into windows trying to get inside).

It’s time to plant Hardy Water Lilies

When planting water lilies half ÿ ll a basket with Aquatic Soil and add in a slow release Aquatic Spike. Make a mound in the middle & compress the edges to stop soil leeching out. Place the plant in the middle of the mound with the growing tip facing upwards and roots spread as evenly as you can. Add more soil up to the growing tip (don’t cover) and again compress around the edges.

Marcelle

Jane

Janice

to the winner of our Winter Gardenz Greenhouse competition...

Charles de Meurville

Chromatella

James Brydon

Carterton

Concert a treat for the ears

For those feeling weary after a taxing year, the Carterton Community Choir proposes a musical antidote – a programme of classic tunes and a group sing-along.

The choir will be holding its annual endof-year concert next week at Carterton School, performing a variety of songs from several different genres.

After the concert, attendees are invited to join in a group singing session, featuring some “well-loved carols”, followed by a “delicious supper”.

Choir secretary Pam Torrington said the “very vibrant” group was set up in Carterton seven years ago, after a gospel singing workshop run by Wellington-based choir director Carol Shortis.

The group specialises in “a wide range of music”: ranging from Bach and Mozart, to South African freedom songs and AfricanAmerican spirituals, to 60s folk to Māori waiata.

It holds two regular concerts each year [held at mid-winter and Christmas] and has run several successful singing workshops, facilitated by composers and educators Julian Raphael and Susie Hardie, leaders of the Wellington and Hutt Valley

Community Choirs.

In its first year, the group took part in an anniversary concert at the Michael Fowler Centre, featuring nine other choirs [including the Martinborough Community Choir] from around the lower North Island.

Torrington said community singing groups have been growing around the country over the last decade – open to people of various levels of musical

experience [or none at all] and mainly focused on the joy of singing together.

“Community choirs don’t require an audition, and the ability to read music is not a requirement. Songs are short and easy to learn, many deriving from the American gospel tradition.”

The Carterton choir is directed by Martinborough-based musician Vicki Jones. Jones played in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for 30 years

and is now busy teaching students cello, piano and double bass across the Wellington region.

• The Carterton Community Choir concert will be held on Thursday, December 15 at 7.30pm. Entry is by koha. The choir rehearses Thursday evenings from 7.15pm to 9pm at Carterton School. For more information, email cartertonsinging@ gmail.com

Choir director Vicki Jones. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The Carterton and Martinborough Community Choirs perform at a gathering of North Island choirs at Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre.

PHOTO/FILE

Last Saturday, December 3, was International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

This event, spearheaded by the United Nations, aims to “promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society”.

About 15 per cent of the world’s population identifies as disabled –including a quarter of New Zealanders.

The theme for this year’s event was “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and

technological advances to improve outcomes for disabled people in employment, sport, and communities.

Innovation has its place in transforming lives. We have seen this play out with the invention of assistive communication technology, speech recognition software, and braille smartphones.

Amazing mahi. But I wonder ... are we putting the cart before the horse? Should we be focused on innovating our way towards accessibility when we’re falling behind on the most common-sense solutions?

A 2020 survey by accessibility advocacy group Be Lab. found “fundamental areas of public life”, such as

education, access to outdoor spaces, and transport, were rated poorly by disabled Kiwis. More than half of respondents said they were unable to participate in activities such as shopping, going to cafés, and attending sports events.

In Aotearoa, most of our housing stock is unsuitable for disabled tenants – with some having to shower on their front deck, due to inaccessible bathrooms.

Public spaces are largely inaccessible. Last weekend, 1News reported that a young Northland woman was excluded from her gym due to a lack of disabled shower facilities – which the manager was unwilling to implement.

Stats NZ data found disabled people earn

less than half the weekly income of their nondisabled counterparts.

Fifty-three companies employ a Minimum Wage Exemption, allowing them to pay disabled people lower rates based on “lower productivity”.

Despite recent studies finding disabled workers have higher productivity and better attendance than their able-bodied colleagues.

Disabled Kiwis are more likely to be victims of violence – disabled women, for example, are almost twice as likely to experience intimate partner violence.

There are commonsense solutions to all of the above. Incorporating Universal Design principles in our building.

Raising core benefits.

Scrapping Minimum Wage exemptions. Specific funding for violence prevention. Enforceable standards for public accessibility.

Our elected officials are lukewarm on the first two things, and have made only vague noises about progressing the third.

Disabled people were excluded from recent funding for Te Aorerekura – the government’s strategy to eliminate family violence. The long-

awaited Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill does not include mandatory accessibility standards or dispute resolution processes for accessibility barriers – rendering it largely toothless.

And we want to talk about innovation when we can’t even seem to uphold simple human rights?

We have made some strides. For example, establishing the Ministry for the Disabled [Whaikaha], councils adopting accessibility action plans, incorporating New Zealand Sign Language within media, and introducing the Accessibility Charter – stating government information must be communicated in alternate formats [such as Sign Language, braille and large print].

As always, however, there is much more to do. Right now, one million New Zealanders are struggling to navigate their own homes, excluded from the workplace, vulnerable to violence, and unable to participate fully in their communities. And that’s not good enough.

There’ll always be a time for new technology. But let’s get the basics right first, shall we?

Erin Kavanagh-Hall

Jessica Parker

Expensive.

Jean Cretney

Better when you don’t leave it to the last minute.

Debbie Flannery

Nearly completed for me this year.

Nikki King

A nightmare.

Richard Alan Dahlberg A dream of yesteryear.

Christina Schoÿ eld Stressful.

Miriam Coulter Not the reason for the season.

Jocelyn Konig Dreaded.

Raewyn Foster Bak Finished and wrapped.

Nicky Longhurst Stressful as f***.

Tracy Wilson Overrated.

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.

Greater

Seven decades of childcare for kindy

Former pupil Suri Lagolago (7) and Owen Williams cut the cake to celebrate Una Williams Kindergarten’s 70th birthday. Owen, the son of founder Una Williams, travelled with his family from New Plymouth to take part in the celebrations – held over two days in early November.

fThe kindergarten was o˜ cially opened in 1952, established by a group of local women, including Williams, who recognised the need for early childhood education in post-war Masterton. As a young schoolboy, Owen remembered his mother

frantically raising funds to get the centre o° the ground. Very quickly, the centre gained a roll of 40 children and ran ÿ ve weekday morning sessions, led by teachers Marion Hodder, Elizabeth Daniel, and Joyce Falloon. Seven decades on, the popularity of the kindergarten hasn’t waned – now with six sta° and a roll of 46 children. The sta° would like to thank Countdown and Mitre 10 Masterton for their support in helping to make this event so successful.

PHOTO/MARLENE DITCHFIELD

PHOTO/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Art is a conversation

There is great value in good conversation. At Aratoi, over the coming summer months, we will be challenging our audience to take a closer look at the exhibition Look Closely and Tell Me What You See: Photographs from the Collection.

How an artwork is viewed is not always as it was intended. Some of the artist’s intentions may be lost in translation. But this miscommunication is nothing to get hung up on. It is exciting when an art work connects with the viewers anyway, even if it’s not how the artist initially intended. The more perspectives shared, the more interesting the

conversation becomes. But in order to really see the work of art and have it move us, we need the ability to connect the dots and see the larger picture – this is the skill of creative thinking. It’s a skill well worth the effort in developing, and Aratoi is here to help you do it.

Your first challenge has been set to consider two works from a series titled Cabinet of Parallel Stories from a Travelling Mind Told with a Borrowed Split Tongue. Now, that is quite a title! It has the sense of a poem or a novel, that I would love to read. Within these two images a volume of ideas is explored. Come look closely at these works

on display. What do you notice?

Consider the artist intent, but not for too long. Don’t let it change what you think. Your perspective is just as interesting.

These works were created in Masterton, about Masterton, by a traveller trying to understand the cultures of others. Think of these works as narratives about our town; what common characters, events or themes might be linked within the images? Who has the tongue been borrowed from, saying one thing but meaning another?

What else can you see?

Aratoi’s free Education Programme runs throughout the school year. For more information about education head to www.aratoi.org.nz.

Look Closely and Tell Me What You See: Photographs from the Collection. Now showing until February 19.

Braced for kittens now Gavin is gone Extra

you know, a little bit more kind of care around the clock than an older kitten.

ELLIE FRANCO ellie@localfocus.nz

Gavin might be the largest goat to have ever set foot in Wairarapa, but if you want to witness the sheer scale of this horse-sized bovid, you’re too late.

The benevolent clovenhooved beast has already found a home through SPCA Masterton. However, there is no shortage of felines according to centre manager Rebecca Johnston, who is preparing for kitten season.

“Very shortly they will be coming in, in really big numbers. So that’s when we’re just ... lots of foster homes is what we need.”

But with great cuteness comes great responsibility.

Many of the newborn kittens who arrive at the SPCA are sick and require intensive veterinary care.

“Some of them might need bottle feeding or just,

“It’s lots to organise, lots of desexing and then the rehoming,” she said.

“And it’s not just cats who want our attention. We are struggling a little bit to rehome the canines that we have in our care.

“So we’ve had some dogs in our care for a little bit longer than normal. The dogs we have at the moment are amazing.

“It’s just taking a little bit longer to find that perfect match for them.”

Johnston said the cost of living is one of the barriers to rehoming animals at the SCPA.

“People are finding it quite a struggle to look after themselves and their families and dogs are becoming a bit of a luxury that people can’t afford.

“That can be a challenging time for us because we don’t necessarily have the room to take on all of these animals.”

Johnston has a piece

A WORD ABOUT WATER

of advice for pet owners to help mitigate the challenges SPCA is facing.

“The biggest one would be desexing your pet, so that we’re not actually dealing with any of these or many of these unwanted

litters or the volume of animals that are coming in to us,” she said.

If you don’t already have a pet, you can still lend a hand by signing up to be a foster carer.

“You’re just essentially helping an animal transition into a new home rather than being in the centre.”

There is an online form on the SPCA website, or you can pop into your local centre and fill out a foster form.

To become a foster carer or foster home visit here: https://www.spca.nz/howyou-can-help/volunteer/ position/251592/fosterparent-cats-kittens-smallanimals-and-farm-animals

Summer weather could mean water restrictions in Masterton - dependent on flow levels in the Waingawa River, the source of Masterton’s drinking water. For the latest information on what restrictions are in place:

y keep an eye on the billboards around Masterton

y check out our website (www.mstn.govt.nz)

y download the Antenno App. It’s free and you’ll get the latest water restriction information sent directly to your phone. Scan the QR code for links to download for Apple or Android.

SPCA Masterton is preparing for an in˜ ux of cuteness. PHOTO/BEN CARTER

Told with a borrowed split tongue.

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Keeping track of bush treasures

There are over 600km of tracks and 52 huts in the Tararua, Aorangi and Remutaka forest parks. Maintaining them is a mammoth task that the Department of Conservation [DOC] could never achieve alone; and thankfully it doesn’t have to.

The Greater Wellington Backcountry Network [GWBN], formerly known as the Tararua Aorangi Remutaka Huts Committee [TAHRC] has an agreement with DOC to maintain 310km of tracks and six huts. The groups that make up the GWBN membership have agreements to maintain an additional 36 huts.

The group has rebranded but will continue doing the work it has been for the past 30 years. Since the GWBN was launched in October a record 100 members including clubs and individuals, have joined.

GWBN chairman Derrick Field said he started tramping and hunting in the Tararua when he was 13 and has spent his life obsessed with the place, so he’s very keen to preserve it.

“It’s not a short-term thing, it’s a forever thing.

The bush will always grow, it goes on forever. It’s a long-term commitment, to keep those tracks accessible for tramping and future generations.”

In the past 10 months

GWBN volunteers cleared 132km of track in the Tararua and Aorangi forest parks – 1238 hours of effort.

Most recently on the

Mt Frith track, volunteers averaged 10 hours a day, with about seven hours on the scrub bar and the rest of the time walking in and out. The job took 10.5 days to complete.

One volunteer is Alistair Barr, who was ‘roped into’ a day’s track clearing on the Remutaka summit a few years ago by Field.

Barr said many of the

“I’m delighted to help a worthy cause,” he said. “It also keeps me pretty fit. You don’t need to go to the gym, the gym comes to you.”

tracks in the Tararua and Remutaka forest parks were cut by deer cullers in the 1960s. “They were then taken over by DOC, but what has been established is a huge network to maintain.”

An avid tramper of the Tararua since 1963, the thought that the tracks will go if no one makes the effort motivates Barr.

DOC Wairarapa provide an annual grant to support GWBN, but the group relies on donations of funds and equipment too. Stihl Shop Masterton and the Trust House Foundation are both generous supporters.

Along with its track maintenance programme, GWBN plans to undertake repairs to at least four remote huts in the Tararua range this summer. So,

there’s plenty to do if you don’t mind getting stuck in. If you’re interested in becoming a member of GWBN or making a donation, contact info@ tarhc.org.nz

Field said while track cutting is the ‘hardest job you can imagine’ it is also very rewarding.

“I don’t wake every morning and say I want to carry a scrub bar through the hills. But once you’ve done it it’s satisfying. Walking back after a day track cutting, I feel bloody good.”

Dave Eaton and Alistair Barr outside Cow Creek Hut.

Alistair Barr at Washpool.

PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

Full moon occurs around the publication of this issue of Midweek, which means that bright orb washes out most of anything else worth seeing. By the 14th, the moon will be out of the way during the evening, so there’s a good chance of seeing Geminid meteors.

Of course, the sun gets in the way in mid-evening, with twilight lingering to almost 11pm. However,

the constellation of Gemini is only just rising at that time in the northeast. You need to forsake your bed for a couple more hours to see the meteors at their best, around 1am. The good old moon will rise shortly after, so that would be a good time to head for the kip.

From midnight to 1am of the 15th you should see 40 to 50 meteors

an hour coming out of the northeast sky. The Geminid meteors are produced by the atmospheric entry of the particles left behind by a huge 5km wide asteroid named 3200 Phaethon.

You will need to be under a dark sky to see these at best. Get far away from town lights.

Some of the larger meteoroids [which is technically what we call the physical particles] may produce fireballs. These can make really awesome displays that can illuminate the ground with an eerie green light. It’s well worth staying up with the hope of seeing

one of these.

While waiting for the next streaker you should look around that northeast sky, as it is quite spectacular, and of course it will be throughout most of December. Orion is prominent there with his straight-line belt of three stars. Further towards north, the horns of Taurus the bull are prominent, with red Mars matching colours with the star Aldebaran while the little Matariki cluster seems to hover nearby.

I was hoping to get you a Christmas star, and bright Venus usually does the trick even though it is not a star. Unfortunately,

on the 25th Venus will be right down on the western horizon just after sunset and may be impossible to see in the sunset glow. However, the moon may make a good substitute Christmas star.

After 9.45pm, looking just above where the sun set an hour previously, you may see the one-dayold moon as the tiniest sliver of a thing. A few days later, on the 29th, the now plumped up crescent moon sits right by the planet Jupiter.

Wishing all readers the best of times over the holiday. And stay safe. Do not get burned by our own star.

Watch for a nail-clipping moon at month-end.

PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

Nick Sault

Māori in Business

WAIRARAPA

Holmes ConstructionWhen Opportunity Knocks

Ben Holmes says he wasn’t a star at school and didn’t go to university. Now, he’s Managing Director of Holmes Construction. “Yes, my father owned the business and I had a good upbringing, but there were no hand-outs. I had to step up and take a building apprenticeship. Then I had to work bloody hard,” Ben says.

Donna Holmes nee Reid, Ben’s mother, who whakapapas back to Ng˜ti Porou and Te Aitanga˜-M˜haki, says “school didn’t hold a lot of interest for Ben except for eating his lunch and hanging out with his mates. He needed to leave and get on the tools.”

After his apprenticeship, Ben took advantage of every opportunity that came his way. Ultimately, he got o° the tools and became a site manager on commercial projects. “I worked with experienced guys who taught me a lot. It was expected I’d get to work early each day and work hard, and I did. Having a good attitude and getting on with people was also important. Project management roles then came along, and doors opened.”

Down through the generations of Holmes boys, the journey has been similar. Ben’s grandfather, Will Holmes, was born in Greytown in the 1930s and became a building apprentice with the Wellington Education Board by the age of 16. He soon established a construction business with a friend. Will’s sons Tim and Andy joined the business as apprentices in 1979 and took up the reins in the late 1990s. Now retired, Tim and Andy have handed on the Holmes Construction ‘baton’ to the next generation. Ben acknowledges and honours those who have gone before - a concept important to M˜ori.

Ben and his family also recognise the importance of community engagement, applying this through scholarships across sporting codes. The Holmes love rugby, with several of the family becoming lifelong members of the Greytown Rugby Club. Tim Holmes even met Donna, his future wife, there. They went onto have four children including Ben, his sister, younger brother (a Holmes Construction apprentice), and older brother Michael.

“Mike ran a bit wild when he was young,” Ben says, “but now he’s an architect with his own business, Holmes Architecture, and often collaborates with Holmes Construction.”

Holmes Construction operates from Greytown and Wellington but can take on projects across the country. It has also ‘vertically integrated’ by setting up Renalls Joinery and Inÿ nite Landscapes. This allows Holmes Construction to contract out fewer jobs, giving it a competitive advantage.

Examples of local Holmes Construction projects on the go include the Orchards Retirement Village in Greytown, Pain and Kershaw in Martinborough, wineries, and the redevelopment of Wairarapa College and Greytown School. Other work includes social housing for Kainga Ora and Wellington City Council, Kapiti’s Coastal Villas, and Amesbury School. Building for the education sector, which began in 1953, remains strong.

With generations of Holmes boys putting in the hard work, Holmes Construction now has a multimillion-dollar turnover. It has 120 employees, when less than one percent of New Zealand businesses employ more than 100 sta° . About ten percent of its sta° are women in on-site roles, when only three percent of tradies and building apprentices in New Zealand are women. Donna says that, in her iwi, “women are strong, speak on the marae and carry mana down the female line”. Ben has clearly learned his skills at the knees of both parents.

The company has a dozen apprentices in the business at any one time. In July, the Hon. Chris Hipkins, Minister of Education, accompanied Ben to a building site to promote apprenticeships.

In the same month, Ben met with Te Radar and representatives from the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation at the Orchards site to talk about what the company is doing for building apprentices.

“Without new people,” Ben says, “the industry is going to struggle even more than it already is.”

Donna Holmes is proud her boys are incorporating M˜ori values into their lives, into how they run their businesses, and into how they relate to others.

Ben appreciates both his pakeha and M˜ori whakapapa, but “fewer pakeha need role models.” He urges young M˜ori to “recognise and take advantage of every opportunity that comes along.” He says: “put in the hard work.”

Ben & Te Radar talking about apprenticeships.

Lifestyle

Wairarapa’s four foodbanks can add some extra Christmas staples to their shelves this December – thanks to a donation from the Wairarapa Times-Age. The TimesAge donated a percentage of the proceeds from its advertising feature for the 2022 Foodbank Appeal, which was supported by 28 Wairarapa businesses.

Commercial manager ANDREA HAY said the TimesAge was pleased to help support the “superb” services the four foodbanks o˜ er the Wairarapa region.

excellent community goodness

Rare Rugby Photo

Rugby Photo

Martinborough Foodbank coordinator May Croft [left] and volunteers.

Featherston Foodbank coordinator Elaine Corlett [right] receives a donation from Tamara Allerhand of South Wairarapa Rotary.

MastertonFoodbank manager Jenna Matchett [middle] and volunteers Jane Ammundsen [left] and Jane Horsham. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

Carterton Foodbank volunteer and district councillor Steve Laurence in the foodbank’s herb garden – maintained by the Wairarapa Herb Society.

Lifestyle

Wairarapa’s four foodbanks can add some extra Christmas staples to their shelves this December – thanks to a donation from the Wairarapa Times-Age. The TimesAge donated a percentage of the proceeds from its advertising feature for the 2022 Foodbank Appeal, which was supported by 28 Wairarapa businesses.

Commercial manager ANDREA HAY said the TimesAge was pleased to help support the “superb” services the four foodbanks o˜ er the Wairarapa region.

excellent community goodness

Rare Rugby Photo

Rugby Photo

Martinborough Foodbank coordinator May Croft [left] and volunteers.

Featherston Foodbank coordinator Elaine Corlett [right] receives a donation from Tamara Allerhand of South Wairarapa Rotary.

MastertonFoodbank manager Jenna Matchett [middle] and volunteers Jane Ammundsen [left] and Jane Horsham. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

Carterton Foodbank volunteer and district councillor Steve Laurence in the foodbank’s herb garden – maintained by the Wairarapa Herb Society.

Driving after 75:

Requirements for renewing your driver’s licence

When do you have to renew:

Information from the New Zealand Transport Association [NZTA] states drivers must renew their driver licence at ages 75, 80 and every two years after that.

Once you turn 75 there are a few changes to the process for renewing your driver licence:

• Your new licence will be valid for only two to five years

• The renewal fees are lower – because you’re renewing your licence more often

• You need to present a medical certificate each time you apply

• If recommended by your doctor, you will have to sit a 30-minute On-road Safety Test

How to renew your licence: You must renew your driver licence on or before its expiry date if you wish to continue driving –but you cannot renew it more than six months in

advance.

NZTA will send you a driver licence renewal pack about eight weeks before your licence is due to expire. If you haven’t received your pack, you can download the driver licence application form [DL1], or get this form from any driver licensing agent eg Automobile Association [AA]. To apply to renew your licence you need to visit a driver licensing agent in person.

What you need to take

• A completed driver licence application form [DL1] [PDF, 197 KB]

• A current medical certificate issued by your doctor within the past 60 days

• Your current photo driver licence or other acceptable evidence of your identity

• EFTPOS, credit card or cash to pay for your new licence.

Once your application is complete, you’ll receive a temporary licence which is valid for 21 days. Keep this on you whenever you’re driving until your new driver licence arrives in the mail – within two to three weeks.

Getting a medical certiÿ cate

To renew your licence past your 75th birthday you will need to visit your doctor to get a medical certificate for driver licence.

Tell your doctor the certificate is for your driver licence. You will have to pay for the appointment yourself.

During your appointment your doctor will discuss your present state of health with you

and test your eyesight. They will then recommend whether you are:

• Medically fit to drive

• Medically fit to drive with conditions [eg correcting lenses, time-of-day restriction, distance restriction]

• Medically fit to drive subject to an on-road safety test

• To be referred to a specialist [eg optometrist or occupational therapist driving assessor – your doctor will advise you of the results]

• Not medically fit to drive. Your doctor must advise the NZ Transport Agency and your licence will expire on your birthday It is also normal practice by GPs to undertake a cognitive test [a memory test] as well as the above

state of health tests.

If your doctor decides you are medically fit to drive, he or she will provide you with a medical certificate for driver licence.

On-road safety test

The on-road safety test checks that you still have a good knowledge of the road rules and continue to practise safe driving skills.

It takes about 30 minutes.

The testing officer will direct you when to turn, stop and carry out other driving manoeuvres. There are no fixed routes – you must be capable of driving on all types of roads and in all traffic situations.

You must drive safely and legally throughout the assessment. The testing officer will score you using a simple ‘yes’ and ‘no’ method. You need to get a total score of 80 per cent or more to pass the safety test.

Have to sit the on-road safety test?

There are a few things you can do to prepare for your test.

• Read the NZTA guide to the on-road safety test to learn more about what the test will involve

• Consider a refresher session with a driving instructor

• Refresh your knowledge

of the road code

• Ready to book your onroad safety test?

You will need to visit your nearest driver licensing agent to start your application and book your test. Find your nearest driver licensing agent [Wairarapa Automobile Association]

Renewal and test fees

The licence renewal application fee is $18.70.

If you have to sit the Onroad Safety Test you also need to pay a test fee of $41.80. The combined cost of the application and test is $60.50.

If you don’t pass the Onroad Safety Test, you can rebook the test one more time at no cost. However, you’ll have to pay the additional fee of $41.80 each time for any further rebookings.

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

WAIRARAPA

PHOTO/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Lifestyle

Midweek Musings

My daughter is completing a jigsaw puzzle. It is quite a complex one, with 1000 small pieces. When I go into her room I’ll see her patiently sitting there working on it, usually while watching something on a screen at the same time.

I have written about jigsaws before, after finding out that the actor Hugh Jackman is an enthusiast. With both my daughter and Jackman, I can see why people enjoy this timeless activity; it’s the process of working on a challenging task through to its completion. There’s a clear goal to be achieved; the beginning starts off relatively easily as the edges are done. However, things get harder and more complex as you work through the middle parts, perhaps a section of an image of the sky with everything being the same colour. Eventually, as you can see the end in sight, things get easier as

the number of pieces to place get smaller, as do the number of places to put the pieces in.

We can treat any project like a jigsaw puzzle. We know that there will be the initial excitement as we start out with the easy parts. However, just like a jigsaw, progress can slow down and become harder.

If we persevere and get through this things will pick up again and we’ll achieve the success that we are all capable of.

Question things

I heard an interview in which a group of people were questioning the way in which other people look at particular issues. It is often the case that those who question a narrative in today’s society are seen to be completely off track in regards to the perspectives they have.

This could range from views on a type of exercise, the food we eat, the way art is expressed, political

thought, anything at all, really.

I am by no means suggesting we have to take on board every new and different way of seeing the world in regards to any topic or theme. However, I do suggest we take the time to look back in history to those who were also ‘out there’ in regards to the ideas and theories they shared. Here we could include the likes of Galileo, Buddha, Steve Jobs … the list goes on and on.

Be prepared to look at things a little differently; this could lead to wonderful insights that you never before considered.

Positive change

I read about an author who shares positive content on YouTube. When he was in a restaurant a staff member approached him and said how he had enjoyed the content and had started applying what the author was sharing.

Whereas in the past the worker had been critical and cynical about the job he had, he decided to start approaching his job more positively and with a better attitude. This led to things starting to change almost

straight away, with results that included: promotion; more money; enjoying his job more; feeling better about other areas of his life; these being just some of the benefits from his change of perspective and attitude.

Success measures

Talking to author Steven Pressfield on his podcast, host Joe Rogan answered a question he was asked about nerves in regards to performing on stage as a comedian. His answer made perfect sense, this being that when he knows he has done all of the required preparation he is far less nervous, as he knows that thorough prep makes it far more likely the show will be a successful

one, whereas going into a performance knowing the work hasn’t gone in beforehand is going to have him knowing that he won’t be at his best. Regardless of what we do we can all learn from this message from Rogan. Whether it be a day as a teacher in a classroom, a participant in a sports competition, or pretty much anything else, the likelihood of us doing it well and being successful largely depends on the effort we have put in. The empowering thing about this is that this prior effort is something we can control, making us, to some extent, the person who has the most control over how successful we end up being.

just love what I saw with the Japanese fans after their World Cup Football match on Sunday, with them cleaning up the stadium after their game against Germany. This is

prepare for the challenge.

I believe we can too often give up on a goal when things aren’t ideal for one reason or another when, in reality, some adaptation is all that’s

subscriptions, as it’s so easy to get trapped in subscriptions that we had free trials to start with; the one month free can so easily become years of paying for something we

Tim Nelson

Terrier Tina is a mother at last

It was a dark Christmas for two lost kittens, but their rescue came from an unlikely source.

MARK PACEY from the Wairarapa Archive retells the story of Tina the compassionate Fox Terrier.

Just before Christmas in 1965 at a farm in Kokotau, a cat gave birth to three kittens. The small animals came into a new world that bewildered them, but they were comforted by the fact they had a mother who loved them and would look after them.

But it was not to be. The cat was overwhelmed by her new family – she had always wanted a baby, but three babies were too much for her to handle.

Tina was a miniature Fox Terrier who also lived on the farm. She was a bit older and had not been able to have any of her own pups for some time, but she did want to be a mother.

It was on a fateful day that a union was to be made that would alter the course of the sad and unwanted farm animals.

Tina was going about her usual canine activities when she saw something she did not expect to see: The farm cat with two kittens. Cats and dogs do not traditionally get along and it seemed foolish to Tina the cat would deliberately bring her babies to her natural enemy. But Tina was not like that – she had a kind soul, and the cat could sense that.

Jan

are proud to announce the opening of their shop The Big Box of Lavender on site at Lavender Abbey, their Dalefi eld lavender farm.

“This has been my dream for many years,” Jan says, “and it’s fi nally come true.”

You may be familiar with Lavender Abbey’s Pick Your Own Lavender weekends throughout January and might have seen their farmer market stalls selling essential oils, lotions, balms, soaps and more. You might even know about Lavender Abbey’s triumphs on the world stage, winning both national and USA awards in 2021 and 2022 for the quality of Jan and Stuart’s homegrown essential lavender oils. Now, you can drop into the Big Box of Lavender, a 40 ft shipping container fi tted out beautifully both inside and out, from which Lavender Abbey oils and products are now sold. You can buy lavender plants too.

The creativity of Jan can be seen everywhere you look inside and outside The Big Box of Lavender from the products themselves and their packaging to the shop’s decorations and the range of eyecatching gifts available to purchase.

Jan distils the oil from the plants which are “cared for by Stuart, who does all the hard graft.” She dreams up hand and body lotions, pain balms, massage oil and even wood polish, and creates them in

her purpose-made kitchen using all natural products including herbs from her garden.

Creativity dovetailed with business acumen and hard work has helped to achieve Jan’s dream of the new shop. It now sits within the Abernethy’s country idyll of lavender beds, orchards, vegetable gardens, hens, sheep, and dogs. Jan and Stuart want to share this idyll with you. A winding garden path leads visitors from Lavender Abbey’s car park to The Big Box of Lavender.

The Big Box of Lavender is staff ed Thursday to Sunday every week from 10am-3pm and you can also buy products online. New crops, new oils and new products regularly come on-stream.

She picked the kitten that she wanted to rear and then had to decide what to do with the other two. It would be cruel to abandon them and leave them to fend for themselves. If only there were someone who could raise them for her. And then she thought of Tina.

Tina observed as the cat came forward with her two babies. She then watched in amazement as the cat left the bewildered kittens at Tina’s paws and trotted away. The kittens were upset. Why was their mum leaving them with this strange looking cat? They chased after her and back to her den to jointheir sibling. But as the days progressed, the mother cat continued to take the two spare kittens over to Tina. Each time she left them, they followed her back.

Finally, reality sunk in. Their mother didn’t want them.

But they were not alone. Even though this animal they had been taken to each time looked a bit strange for a cat and smelled funny, she was very friendly and welcoming. So they decided they ould be better off ̀

staying with her. Of course, Tina was delighted. She had always wanted a family and now she had two babies that she could call her own.

But young kittens are also hungry kittens and they demanded feeding. Eventually Tina was able to produce milk for the pair.

One would be forgiven for thinking that this is a or of fiction, but it did really happen and even made it into the TimesAge The photo reprinted here, and an accompanying story were printed on December 23, 1965. And despite the fact it was a match many believed

would never work out, in the end it did.

And what became of the two abandoned kittens who were not wanted by their mother, and of the loving Fox Terrier that always wanted to be a mother? They lived happily ever after.

and Stuart Abernethy

Rural

Wairarapa’s soil moisture ranged between 10mm drier than normal, and 40mm wetter than usual.

Dry spell a bit of a dampener

Wairarapa’s soils remained damper than usual after a dumping of rain two weeks ago, but farmers are anticipating a dry summer.

National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research’s [Niwa] hotspot watch said across the North Island, moderate to heavy rain was observed in most places during the past week.

Wairarapa’s soil moisture ranged from 10 millimetres drier than normal to 40mm wetter than usual.

“In much of Northland, Auckland, and the lower North Island, rainfall totals generally exceeded 50mm, while much of the western and central North Island received 100mm or more, with isolated areas of 150mm.”

However, rainfall amounts were lower near Cape Reinga along with coastal Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, where amounts were less than 25mm.

Despite Wairarapa’s soils being no more than 40mm wetter than usual, when compared with more than 60mm wetter than usual in the Coromandel, most of the North Island saw significant soil moisture increases.

Niwa said small soil moisture decreases were observed in coastal Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.

No hotspots were found in the North Island. However, the rural sector is anticipating a hot and dry summer.

Perrin Ag said with Niwa predicting a hot, dry summer, dairy farmers should consider once-aday milking as a low-cost strategy to minimise the

impact of dry conditions.

Niwa has published its predictions for the upcoming summer months, with the North Island in for above-average temperatures, near or below-average rainfall, and near or below-average soil moisture.”

Stock feed sold out when Wairarapa was hit by a drought in April 2020.

However, Masterton District Council workers ploughed on during the lockdown, using treated wastewater from the Homebush sewage treatment plant to water nearby land. The resultant plants were cropped and sold as stock baleage.

Perrin Ag senior consultant Rob Brazendale said while he did not know exactly how the season would play out, it was prudent for farmers to start planning now for a dry summer.

“One strategy that is under-utilised, particularly on unirrigated North Island dairy farms, is oncea-day milking.

“Reducing milking frequency to once a day from Christmas onwards has been found to have considerable benefits, including better cow condition, less heat stress, a small reduction in feed demand, and a much more enjoyable summer for the on-farm team.”

Brazendale said a DairyNZ trial where cows were milked once a day from Christmas onwards found the cows had a quarter body condition score higher than cows milked twice a day.

He said the increased body condition score flowed through to improved reproduction

and milk production the following spring.

However, milk production dropped 13 per cent per day when switching to once-a-day milking.

“Because two-thirds of the season’s production had been achieved by the time of the switch, this equated to a five per cent reduction for the full season.”

Brazendale said one argument against using once-a-day milking was its impact on somatic cell count.

“Farmers with herds that have higher somatic cell count would need to manage the transition carefully as somatic cell count could double for a few days after the switch.”

He said it was best to make the transition to once-a-day milking earlier rather than later.

He said if the switch was made while the cows were still milking well, the impact of increasing somatic cell count was mitigated by higher milk volumes.

“If cows are milking well and feeding levels are maintained, the decline in milk production tends to be reduced.

“Avoid the temptation to reduce feed allowances because the cows are being milked once a day.”

Brazendale said planning now for options to reduce feed demand going into the summer should be a priority for dairy farmers.

“We should expect a period where feed supply will not meet demand.”

He said farmers could either increase the feed supply or reduce milk demand.

Brazendale said feed costs remained high, costing from 40c to 50c per kilogram.

He said the milk price

COUNTRY

Report for Week Ending 3˜December.

Sheep

Rams 1@70, 1@70, 1@112 Wethers 2@150

Ewes 10@112, 4@128, 3@112, 3@103, 3@155, 3@100, 1@80, 2@80, 2@100

Lambs 8@116, 4@100, 5@123, 6@90, 4@150, 3@116, 6@97, 5@132, 7@90, 5@79, 4@114, 5@92, 15@120, 4@50, 6@150, 7@114, 17@95, 15@130, 10@75, 1@121, 1@121, 2@72, 2@57, 3@72, 2@71

Goats

Kids 3@25

Pigs

Slips 6@100

Cattle

Steer 18mo 1@900

“Increasing feed supply normally means increasing the use of purchased feed. While this strategy has served dairy farmers quite well in recent years, the terms of trade for purchased feed appear less favourable this season.”was also uncertain.

“Our advice to farmers is to do the maths, use realistic figures for milk responses to feed, allow for wastage and don’t forget about the hidden costs of feeding out, including time and depreciation on machinery.

“As the saying goes, plan for the worst and hope for the best.”

LIVESTOCK

Hereford X weaner heifer 1@310, 2@495, 4@450, 4@500

Red poll feeder calf bull 5@275

Friesian weaner bull 1@50, 1@520, 2@470, Speckle park yearling heifer 1@1600

Hereford X 18 mo heifer 2@1450

Hereford x weaner steer 5@460, 1@530

Hereford x weaner bull 1@450, 1@450

Jersey weaner bull 1@250 weaner steer 1@470, Kiwi x weaner bull 1@300 Speckle park weaner heifer 1@510

Angus x weaner heifer 1@350

Poultry

Group 1 – 3 hens plus rooster 1@11

Group 2 - hen and three chicks 1@11

DairyNZ Update

After a challenging season, everyone on-farm deserves a break these holidays. It’s not easy to devise a holiday roster that caters for everyone and ensures important tasks on-farm are achieved. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to get organised to ensure you’re on top of managing the silly season. Here are some things to think about:

• A good Christmas roster maintains that ne balance between keeping staff happy and engaged and ensuring essential onfarm jobs are achieved.

• Give your staff as much notice as possible when they are needed to work so they can plan their break ahead.

• Get ahead on non-essential jobs so that only crucial jobs need to be done over Christmas. This will hopefully reduce the workload post-break too.

• Annual leave can be taken at any time by mutual agreement between the employer and employee. When these timings are inconvenient, it’s best to sit down and try to nd a solution together. Open and early communication is key.

And don’t forget to celebrate success!! Ensure your team knows you appreciate them and the work they’ve done.

www.dairynz.co.nz - 0800 4 DairyNZ - 0800 4 324 7969

WANT WATER SECURITY...? WANT WATER SECURITY...? The team at Grif ths Drilling will help you get the process underway 06 304 8989 water@grif thsdrilling.co.nz www.grif thsdrilling.co.nz RESULT DRIVEN HYDROLOGICAL SPECIALISTS We’re experts in: Irrigation, Municipal Commercial, and Domestic bores. Wealso provide: Boreservicing, Inspections, Pumpinstallations and Water sampling

Knocks to the ground (5)

ACROSS: 1 Reign, 4

away scot-free,

Admit, 16 Facilitate, 17 Zebra, 19 Pod, 20 Brigade, 21 Direction, 22 Tsetse, 25 Caretaker, 27 Hostel, 28 Hazard, 33 Resistance, 35 Hem, 36 Rarity, 37 Rash, 39 Doe, 41 Relapse, 42 Zipper, 43 Surrender, 44 Unity, 45 Addendum, 50 MM, 51 Deadened, 55 Lingo, 58 Blasphemy, 59 Resign, 60 Hosiery, 61 Pet, 63 Reef, 64 Assist, 65 Ill, 66 Gooseberry, 68 Hiding, 69 Gantry, 71 Duplicate, 76 Spirit, 77 Hotplates, 79 Unlucky, 81 Rue, 84 Lodge, 85 Invitation, 86 Adult, 87 Issue, 88 Dead as a doornail, 89 Brass.

Merit,

DOWN: 2 Endure, 3 Going, 5 Exam, 6 Asinine, 7 Arises, 8 Shaft, 9 Onerous, 10 Fizz, 11

Emboss, 12 Grope, 13 Studied, 14 Martian, 18 Advertised, 23 Faint, 24 Leprosy, 26 Agitate, 27 Humdrum, 29 Abandon, 30 Behead, 31 Shape, 32 Starve, 34 Evil, 36 Relic, 38 Hired, 40 Weld, 45 Amber, 46 Dead end, 47 Nips, 48 Uneasy, 49 Inept, 50 Mortify, 52 Adolescent, 53 Eminent, 54 Errors, 55 Lyrical, 56 Psalm, 57 Agog, 62 Cools, 67 Entitle, 68 Hairpin, 70 Tropics, 72 Uneaten, 73 Riddle, 74 Tattoo, 75 Skills, 76 Sense, 78 Paved, 80 Under, 82 Held, 83 Yogi.

THURSDAY,

DECEMBER 8

Alcoholics Anonymous

Featherston Community Centre, 7.30-8.30pm. Call 0800 229 6757.

Belly Dance for Beginners Kiwi Hall, Featherston, 6.30-7.30pm. Call Antonia Blincoe [021] 105-7649.

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

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

Danzability Class 11am-noon, at Studio 73, Greytown. Call physio. rachel.horwell@gmail.com or [022] 077-2654.

Digital Seniors Wairarapa Call 0800 373 646 for an appointment.

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

Fareham Creative Space Open studio, 10am-3pm, 80 Underhill Rd, Featherston. Email: registrations@ farehamcreativespace.nz Featherston Menz Shed 61 Fitzherbert St, open from 6.30pm.

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

at

Red Star Sports Association 10

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

Ruamahanga Club Cards – 500, 1-4pm, at Wairarapa Services Club, Essex St, Masterton.

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

Steady As You Go Falls Prevention

and Balance Class, 9.30am, Senior Citizens’ Hall, Cole St, Masterton. Call Age Concern [06] 377-0066.

Thursday Morning Bikers Meet at the fountain at the Queen Elizabeth Park entrance, 9.30am. Contact (06) 216-2187

Wairarapa Fern and Thistle Pipe Band Weekly practice, Masterton Brass Bandrooms, Park Ave, Masterton. Email fernandthistle21@ gmail.com

Wairarapa Genealogy Branch Family History Research Rooms, 5 Church St, Masterton, open 1-4pm.

Wairarapa Model Aero Club 9amnoon, at the Masterton Aerodrome.

Whakaoriori Shufflers Line dancing, Red Star clubrooms, Herbert St, Masterton, intermediate, 1-2.30pm. Call 377-5518 or 3771135.

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

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

Justice of the Peace Carterton library noon-2pm; Masterton District Court 11am-1pm; Eketahuna Library 1.30-4.30pm.

Kids Song & Story 9.30-10.30am, for preschool children and their caregivers, Epiphany Church hall, High St, Masterton. Call Anne Owen 377-4505.

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

Masterton Croquet Club Golf Croquet 9.15am behind the Hosking Garden in the park. Call Russell Ward 377-4401.

Masterton Masters Swimming Club Club night 5.30-6.30pm, Trust House Recreation Centre back pool. Call Stu [027] 295-4189 or Lucy [021] 0204-4144.

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

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

Featherston Heritage Museum Behind the Featherston Library and Information Centre. Sat and Sun 10am-2pm, other times by arrangement. Call Elsa [021] 2639403.

Featherston Weekly Market 8am2pm, 33 Fitzherbert St. Greytown Menz Shed 9am-noon.

Call Paul Dodge [021] 0262-6595.

Justice of the Peace Service centre available at Masterton Library, 10am-noon.

Lions Book Sale 9am-1pm, next to Wairarapa Farmers Market, Solway Showgrounds, Judds Rd, Masterton, under the grandstand. Last sale for 2022 is Dec 17.

SUNDAY,

DECEMBER 11

Masterton Marauders Wargaming Club At the Masterton Croquet Club, 1-5pm. Call Vince Cholewa [027] 344-1073 or visit http:// mastertonmarauders.blogspot.co.nz

Carterton Farmers Market Memorial Square, 9am-12.30pm. Call [027] 663-9011.’

Featherston Menz Shed 61 Fitzherbert St, open from 1pm.

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

Masterton Petanque Club Club day 2pm, in Queen Elizabeth Park. Call Myrna Lane 377-3064.

Masterton Toy Library 10am-1pm, 365 Queen St.

Narcotics Anonymous Featherston Community Centre, 7-9pm. Call 0800 628 632

Rotary Sunday Market 6.3011.30am, Essex St car park. Contact thehodsons@xtra.co.nz

4pm, 43 Perry St, Masterton. Call 377-0078 or 0800 367-222.

Creative Hands Programme At

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

East Indoor Bowling Club 7pm. Call Julie 377-5497 or George 3789266.

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

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

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

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

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

Justice of the Peace Masterton CAB 9.30am-12.30pm.

Intermediate Class: 7.30-8.30pm. Call Wendy [027] 319-9814. Troubadour Music Group 6-8pm, Wairarapa Community Centre, 41 Perry St, Masterton. Contact Stefan [027] 226-6019.

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

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

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13

Caregivers Programme At Hospice Wairarapa, 59 Renall St, Masterton, noon-1.30pm. Call Kirsten 399 1050.

Clareville Badminton Club Main Stadium at Clareville, 7.30pm -9pm. Call Steve [027] 333-3975.

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

Free Literacy and Numeracy Classes At Literacy Aotearoa Masterton. Call Carol [022] 524-5994 or visit us at 340 Queen Street, Masterton.

GirlGuiding Masterton Pippins [5-7 years] 3.45-5pm. Call Chrissy Warnock 372-7646.

Justice of the Peace Masterton CAB 11am-1pm.

Paint/draw From live model,10amnoon, at Masterton Art Club, Victoria St. Call Elissa Smith [027] 470-6528.

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

Masterton Croquet Club Golf Croquet 9.15am behind the Hosking Garden in the park. Call Russell Ward 377-4401.

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

5.45-7pm, Colin Pugh Sports Bowl, Masterton, all ages and abilities welcome.

Cards “500”, 1.15-4.15pm, at the Carterton Club. Call Barbara 3796582 or Val 379-8329.

Carterton Cycle Group An informal group of ‘leg power’ and e-power cyclists, from Belvedere Rd [weather permitting] for 20km or 40-60km rides. Call Irene [027] 634-9167 or Lesley [021] 299-6389. Dance Fitness 9.30-11am, preschoolers with parents or caregivers, music and movement and art, at Fareham House Hall Featherston. Call Justine [0204] 105-2830.

Digital Seniors Wairarapa Call 0800 373 646 for an appointment.

Masterton Citizens Advice, 10noon.

Free Classes Literacy, language and numeracy for adult learners. Call Literacy Aotearoa 377-4214.

Greytown Menz Shed 9am-noon.

Call Paul Dodge [021] 0262-6595.

Greytown. Call Marguerite Chadwick 379-5376.

Rangatahi to Rangatira Youth Group Join us for sports, food, and leadership, Carterton Events Centre.

Text “R2R” to [027] 742-2264.

Recreational Walking Group 9.30am, Essex St car park. Call Ann Jackson, 372-5758, or Ann Duckett, 378-8285.

Scrabble Club 1-4pm in Masterton.

Phone Sue McRae [027] 449-0601 for venue details.

Silver Ukulele Club 1-3pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Jan [06] 308-8556.

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

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

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9

Seniornet Wairarapa Computer/ cellphone help, 1-2.30pm, Departmental Buildings, 33 Chapel St, Masterton. Call John [027] 3835654.

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

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

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

GirlGuidingNZ Carterton Pippins, 5-7 years, 4.15-5.30pm. Carterton Brownies, 7-9½ years, 6-7.30pm. Call Sharon [021] 033-0550.

Justice of the Peace Masterton CAB 9.30am-12.30pm.

KeepFit! 10.30am, Senior Citizens Hall, Cole St, Masterton. Call Age Concern [06] 377-0066.

Masterton Art Club 10am-2pm, tutored classes available, also print on Fridays, at 12 Victoria St. Call Sue 377-7019 or Elissa [0274] 706-528.

Masterton Petanque Club 2pm, in Queen Elizabeth Park. Call Myrna Lane 377-3064.

Masterton Toy Library 10am-1pm, 365 Queen St.

Narcotics Anonymous 7.308.30pm, at St Matthew’s Church, Church St, Masterton.

Parkinson’s Exercise Class 1.30pm, at the Wairarapa Boxing Academy, Dixon St. Call Roslyn [027] 264-8623.

Patient Activity Programme At Hospice Wairarapa, 59 Renall St, Masterton, 10am-1pm. Call Kirsten 399 1050.

Red Star Table Tennis Club 5-7pm

Aratoi Look Closely and Tell Me

What You See: Photographs from the Collection to Feb 19; Julia Teale: Koha Presenting Plenitude to Feb 19. In Conversation: Saturday, December 3, 11am; Masterton Museum: A Cabinet of Curiosities to July 2023.

Carterton Craft Market Mon-Sat: 9am-4pm, Sun: 10am-3pm, 25 High St North, Carterton. Call Desley [027] 787-8558.

Carterton Senior Citizens 1.304pm, play cards, Rummikub and Scrabble, Carterton Memorial Club, Broadway.

Cloth Collective Sewing Workshop 10am-2pm, Kiwi Hall Supper Room. Call Sara Uruski [0274] 474-959.

Dance Fit At Carrington Park, Carterton, at 6-7pm. Text dance groove to [022] 321-2643.

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

Wairarapa Stop Smoking Service Quit Clinic at Whaiora 9am-noon.

Martinborough Museum Open Sat and Sun at No 7 The Square, 10.30am-2.30pm. Donation/koha appreciated.

Wairarapa Model Aero Club 9amnoon, at the Masterton Aerodrome.

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

Carterton District Historical Society 142 High St North, Carterton, open Tues and Thurs 2-4pm or by appointment. Call Vivienne 379-5564 or email carterton.hist.soc@gmail.com Central Indoor Bowls Club 7.30pm, Hogg Crescent hall. Call Mathew or Graeme 378-7554.

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

Red Star Table Tennis Club 9amnoon at Red Star Sports Association 10 Herbert St, Masterton. Call Peter [027] 566-4664 or Brian 377-4066.

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

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

Free support available across Wairarapa. Call Whaiora 0800 494 246.

Walk and Talk Meet outside Dish Cafe, First St, Masterton, 9.30am.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER

Parkrun Weekly 5km run/walk.

Measured, timed, free. 8am start, at the Woodside end of the Greytown rail trail. Info: parkrun.co.nz/ greytownwoodsidetrail Saturday in the Park Food trucks by the Skate Park, QE Park 10am2pm, rain or shine.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12

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

10

Painting Exhibition By Fredericka Walker-Murray, Martinborough Town Hall, Sat/Sun 10.30am-5pm.

Aratoi Leah Vivienne Creaven: Land Girl, to February 12. Artist Talk: 11am; Professional Weavers Network of NZ presents Ngāhere – The Bush of Aotearoa to Feb 12.

Christmas In The Park Masterton District Brass Band along with their learner bands and Wairarapa Fern & thistle Pipe Band are playing some of your favourite Christmas tunes, 2pm in Queen Elizabeth Park in the grass space by the cafe among the trees, Bring a blanket or chair and sit back and enjoy.

Tinui Craft Corner and Museum Open Sat/Sun 10am-4pm. Call Lesley Hodgins [06] 372-6433.

Toy Library Masterton 10am1pm, 365 Queen St. Featherston 14 Wakefield St, 10am-noon.

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

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

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

Carterton Alcoholics Anonymous 8pm, Salvation Army Community Rooms, 210 High St. Call Bob [021] 042-2947 or Martin [06] 372-7764.

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

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

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

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

Citizens Advice Bureau Free and confidential advice, Mon-Fri 9am-

Literacy Aotearoa Free computing and digital device classes for adults. Call 377-4214.

Mah Jong 1-4pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Pat Hamilton [06] 308-9729.

Masterton District Brass Band Rehearsals at 7pm, in the Band Room, Park Ave, Masterton. Call [022] 574-0742.

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

Red Star Table Tennis Club 6-8pm at Red Star Sports Association 10 Herbert St, Masterton. Call Peter [027] 566-4664 or Brian 377-4066. Senior Citizens Club Cards 1-4pm, Featherston Community Centre. Call Val [06] 308-9293.

Steady As You Go Falls Prevention and Balance Class, Featherston 9.30am, A/G Church. Masterton 1.30pm, Senior Citizens’ Hall, Cole St. Call Age Concern [06] 377-0066.

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

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

Seniornet Wairarapa Computer/ cellphone help 1.30-2.30pm, Departmental Buildings, 33 Chapel St, Masterton. Call John [027] 3835654.

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

The Dance Shed 450A Belvedere Rd, Carterton. Line Dance Class 6-7pm; Rock N Roll Dance Class: 7.30-8.30pm, Beginners/Couple Coaching, Social/Competitive. Call Wendy [027] 319-9814.

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

Digital Seniors Wairarapa Call 0800 373 646 for an appointment.

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

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

Featherston Amateur Wrestling Club Beginners, 5-9 years, 5.306.15pm; 10 years+ [including adults] 6.15-7.30pm.

Featherston Menz Shed 61 Fitzherbert St, open from 10am.

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

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

Social Bridge At South Wairarapa Workingmen’s Club, 1.30-3.30pm.

Call Lesley [021] 299-6389.

South Wairarapa Workingmen’s Club Games afternoon. Call Doff 304-9748.

Wairarapa Genealogy Branch Family History Research Rooms, 5 Church St, Masterton, open 1-4pm.

Wairarapa Services Club Cards –Euchre, 1pm, at the club, Essex St, Masterton.

Woops A Daisies Leisure Marching Team practice 4-5pm, at the Trust House Rec Centre Stadium. Call Cheryl [06] 370-1922 or [027] 6976974.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14

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

Athletics Wairarapa Club might,

Heart of Arts Wairarapa A community gallery, 47 High St North, Carterton, Wed-Fri, 10am4pm, weekends, 10am-2pm.

Juesday Art 10am-12.30pm, AOG Church, Birdwood St, Featherston. Call Julia [06] 308-8109.

Justice of the Peace Masterton CAB noon-2pm.

Kiddie Gym For 0-3-year-olds, 9.3011am, at St David’s Church, corner High and Victoria Sts, Carterton. Call Lorna or Abby 379-8325.

Masterton Art Club 10am-2pm, also print on Fridays, at 12 Victoria St. Call Elissa [0274] 706-528.

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

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

Parkinson’s Singing Group 10.30am, at the South Wairarapa Workingman’s Club, Main St,

Wairarapa Rockers Rock’n’roll. Couple inquiries to [027] 333-1793.

Wairarapa Services Club Rummikub, 1pm, at the club, Essex St, Masterton.

Wairarapa Singers Choral singing, based in Masterton. Call Sean Mulcahy 379-9316.

Wairarapa Spinners & Weavers 10am in The Wool Shed, Dixon St, Masterton. Call Trish 378-8775 or Josie 378-6531.

Whakaoriori Shufflers Line dancing, Red Star clubrooms, Herbert St, Masterton, improvers 5-6.30pm. Call 377-5518 or 3771135.

Wisdom and Well-being Featherston Community Centre, 10.30am-12.30pm. Call Pauline [021] 102 8857.

Events Events

* To have an event listed please email event@age.co.nz by noon Thursday prior

Public Notices

SOUTH WAIRARAPA

COUNCIL

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

• Detour - from Greytown

o Turn left on to Waite St

o Turn right on to Brandon St

o Follow Brandon St

o Turn right on to Moore St

o Turn left on to SH2- Towards Remutaka Hill

• Detour - from Remutaka Hill to Greytown o Turn right at Moore St

o Turn left on to Brandon St

o Follow Brandon St

o Turn left on to Waite St

o Turn right on to SH2 towards Greytown Roads to be closed:

• SH53 road closure from SH2 to west of Daniel St. Daniel St remains open at intersection of SH53 but closed at intersection of SH2. Closed from 9am-2pm

• Wakefield St/ Bethune St/ Revans St

• Daniel St both sides of SH2

• Birdwood St/ Lyon St

• Ludlam St

• Lyon Both sides- SH53

• Fox St- both sides SH2

• Hickson St/ Wallace St

Period of closure:

• Saturday 10th December 2022

CASTLEPOINT RACING

CLUB (INC) Treasurer Secretary

The Castlepoint Rac are an iconic Wairarapa event spanning over 150 years and we are on the search for a super star to join our team

If you have administration and financial experience, lo maintai ning relationships and are organised then we would love to hear from you

This is ap art time role where the hours vary throughout the year with the busiest time in the lead up to race day. You get an honorarium payment and accommodation on the weekend of the races.

If you would like to know more or to apply please send your CV and covering letter to lorinah@ hotmail com by 11th December

Perm ane nt Te acher acancy

We are looking for aN ew Zealand registered teacher with strong curriculum and assessment for learning knowledge, and a commitment to learn alongside an extremely well resourced and supporti learning community

The successful candidate will be positi and committed to bringing the curriculum to life, in ar elevant way, for our tamariki

You will have a strong understanding of PB4L a the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with our tamariki, their whanau, your colleagu and the wider school and education community

In your application, pl state your strengths, experience, interests and preferred year level

Please send your CV and cover letter to principal@huiarange.school nz Applications close at noon on Wednesday 14th December, 2022

Visits are welcome a encouraged. The position commences Te rm 1, 2023.

Serving up a New Zealand first on court Sport

slippery.

ELLIE FRANCO ellie@localfocus.nz

Wairarapa’s Red Clay Tennis currently leads all other tennis courts.

Using red clay imported all the way from Italy, construction is underway to create two European club-style courts in the heart of Martinborough.

The red clay courts will be the first in New Zealand.

Tennis coach and land owner Jacob Emery has been coaching for 15 years. He says clay is considered the best surface for development.

He struck on the idea of building the private red clay courts and bought an empty section in 2020, where he now lives with his partner Teresa.

Since then, they have built two houses on the site and began working on the tennis courts six months ago.

On clay courts, Emery says the ball bounces high and slow.

“So then the rallies are longer and you have to play better points to win the point,” Emery said.

“That’s going to also develop your athleticism with it being a little bit

“Your endurance, with the longer points, the ball grips a little more on the surface, so you’re encouraged to spin the ball more.

“There are lots of little things that add up when you spend more time on the surface to help make you a better player.”

Altogether 83 tonnes of Italian red clay were imported for the build, followed by 3000 tonnes of river stones and 2500 cubic metres of ground dug up.

Emery said the private tennis courts cost about $750,000 to build.

Red clay courts will give New Zealand’s aspiring tennis champions an advantage in their training.

“The idea here is that we’re going to open it up to players from around the country, so they could come up here with their coach or they could work with us,” Emery said.

“Previously, they had to go overseas to get experience on clay, so we’re looking to give them a chance to get that here.

“But also, when they go overseas to play on clay, they could start their training block in New Zealand, and it would be a little bit cheaper that way before they head off to clay court events overseas.”

Clay Tennis is going to be a training centre.

says

“We’re not looking to replace local clubs,” he said.

“There is Martinborough Tennis Club, and we’re working with them and all the clubs around the region.

“The idea here is that players would come in and do training blocks, whether it’s just for the weekend or for a week or even longer.

“We could have half a dozen to a dozen players in here at any one time … potentially a few hundred over the year.”

Working with local players is important to

Emery’s vision for the sight.

“I’m here with a team of coaches, and we’re working throughout the region with all the tennis clubs and the associations.

“We really want to develop some great tennis players out of the region and in the Wairarapa here as well. That’s a big part of what we’re doing, is bringing players in from around the country.”

Most developed countries have clay tennis courts for young players to train on, but despite various attempts, New Zealand does not.

Emery hopes Pacific Island nations can also benefit by sending rising

stars to train in New Zealand first.

“Historically, New Zealand was strong, we had a good tennis culture, but in the last 50 years, the Europeans have taken over,” Emery said.

“In New Zealand, we have some players doing really well in the double circuit, we have a grand slam champion right now who won on clay at the French Open.

“So we have some great individuals, but we’re looking to build the player stocks all round.”

Red Clay Tennis hopes to complete the construction of the courts by the end of this week.

Emery

Red

Martinborough’s clay tennis courts have arrived.  PHOTO/ELLIE FRANCO

Jacob Emery has achieved a New Zealand first.

PHOTO/FILE

Gold start to Nepia’s career

Masterton amputee Jamie Nepia is “proud to be a Māori and proud to represent our country” after winning a gold medal in her first competitive boxing fight.

Just four years after her leg was amputated when she was shot in a ‘meth-fuelled rampage’ in Masterton, Nepia has returned from the World Kickboxing and Karate World Championships in Prestatyn, Wales, with a precious gold medal.

She was joined by three other Masterton fighters, who also came home with championship titles.

SportJust getting to the championships was a challenge for Nepia, who took up training at the Undisputed MMA gym just 18 months after losing her leg.

Her road to representing New Zealand wasn’t easy, with trainer Emilio Johnson’s first goal to teach her how to walk again.

Months of hard work followed and Nepia was selected as one of three Kiwi para-athletes to travel to the world championships, originally scheduled for Ireland but later moved to Wales.

Getting an opponent

proved challenging, with Nepia’s para combatant withdrawing at late notice, only for able-bodied boxer Sian Bamping of Scotland offering to step into the ring.

Nepia dominated the fight, winning all three of the three-minute rounds, but in the end, was just thrilled to be given a belated chance for a fight.

“We had to quickly try and adjust and this lady from Scotland, bless her soul, for getting in there with me and she made this happen,” Nepia said.

“As long as I got in there and showed the world what I’m made of – and I certainly did.

“I gave it my all and I’ve always wanted people to know that just because we’ve got a disability doesn’t mean we can’t box.”

Johnson said the late change of fighter was just another challenge along the way and for Nepia to come away with a win was a brilliant achievement.

“The biggest thing was it was five to six months in planning to get her to that state and for her to face an able-bodied person and more experienced fighter showed a lot about her commitment. She came out fighting and she did pretty much everything we’d trained for her to do, down

to a tee,” Johnson said.

“The biggest thing I was afraid of was probably just her confidence in going into it, but she pretty much got called up to the fight and she just stepped up and did the business.”

Nepia’s journey from being shot to becoming an amputee and gold medal winner was filmed for a television documentary, which she said will be screened early next year.

Her next target is a fight in Masterton in April, followed by the world championships in Bali.

“I cannot wait until I get to Bali and grab that title belt because that’s

where it’s at. I still have a lot of work to do and I’m obviously looking for other para-athletes to fight because, mentally and physically, it’s bloody awesome.”

There were also outstanding individual efforts from three other Masterton fighters.

Corban Mita from Undisputed MMA was the top Kiwi performer on the individual medal table with three gold medals in the men’s 67.1-70kg Combat Boxing, Muay Thai, and Glory Rules.

Clubmate Zacharius Rowe also picked up two gold medals in the 76.1-

79kg Glory Rules and Combat Boxing.

Boston Moylan, who fights out of The Fortitude Gym, won three medals in the 16-17 age group 54.157kg class, including a gold medal in Glory Rules, silver in K1 and bronze in Muay Thai.

Another local, Chris Peachey, was a late inclusion in the Emerge Fight Series eight-man tournament with only two days’ notice.

Thirty-seven athletes, including three paraathletes represented New Zealand, winning 73 medals.

BOXING Chris Cogdale

Jamie Nepia, centre with the other Masterton ÿ ghters – left to right – Zac Rowe, Corban Mita, Chris Peachey, Boston Moylan. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV