James Appleton is the new Tumuaki/Principal of M kara Model School.
Before his move, James was Deputy Principal at Karori Normal School – a role he held for five years, with time more recently as Acting Principal. James started teaching at Karori Normal school in 2010. Continued on page 2. Mākara Model School’s new Tumuaki/Principal James Appleton and his dog Beau at the school. Photo: Supplied.
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Really enjoying the new challenge
Continued from page 1.
James says, he took up this new Principal role because “I was ready for a new challenge, having been in one place for 15 years,
“I was looking for something completely different.” As James says himself, he certainly found that at M kara Model School.
“Going from a large school in an urban suburb to a smaller school in a rural setting has been quite a change.
“I’m really enjoying it so far,” he says.
James was born in the United Kingdom, moving to New Zealand and then grew up in Karori.
In fact, he attended Karori Normal School where he would later teach, meaning he was at the school for 23 years including his time as a student, teacher and leader.
James did not begin his work life as a teacher.
“I didn’t start as a teacher until I was 30,” he says.
“I retrained in 2009, when my son first started school”.
Before that, James worked in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in Wellington as an analyst.
James believes strongly in the value of communities with schools playing a critical role in them.
In his new role, he sees firsthand the value of community at M kara Model School. James says that
“The school community has been hugely welcoming to him and his dog, who joins him at school,” James says.
Outside of education, James enjoys keeping active through running, keeping fit and building on his younger days playing football for the local Waterside Karori Football Club and the local secondary school, Wellington College.
James represented Wellington and New Zealand at football, playing for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team. He also represented in Football throughout his junior career, up until he was 18 years old.
“I’ve played a lot of Football and I’ve coached my son’s Football teams as well as being a part of a Football committee at Wellington College.
“I’ve also helped manage my daughters’ Volleyball and Netball teams.
“Staying active is a big part of giving me balance and making me a better teacher and Principal,” he says.
James is really looking forward to the exciting opportunities that M kara will bring and being part of a new school community.
The news cycle seems to be dominated by political stories currently, where everyone is struggling to keep up with the latest announcement from Donald Trump. New Zealand politicians are doing their best to get their share of the attention, with anti-immigrant slurs, support for murder suspects, boycotting national events, and even driving up the steps of Parliament, all significant matters deserving attention.
I recently hosted a meeting which included local property developers and representatives from the City and Regional Councils. The background for the meeting was the need to ensure all people involved in providing more housing in our electorate, whether it be those building them or those regulating and permitting that building, understand the issues which govern the ability to build the houses everyone agrees we need.
There are essentially two types of development; greenfields and brownfields. Greenfields means building on currently undeveloped land, typically ex farmland on the edges of current urban areas, where infrastructure like sewers, water supply and other essential services don’t exist are usually built by the developer.
However, watch for the magician’s trick, where what’s happening in one hand distracts from the issues being dealt with, out of sight, with the other. What is directly affecting people’s lives, is housing, jobs and food. In New Zealand’s case the lack of all three is highlighted by the Salvation Army State of the Nation report this week. Most of us will know someone who, in the last year, has lost their job, whose housing is under threat as a result, as is the ability to feed the family. What strategies are in place to improve these things? Will allowing millionaires to live here providing they
Brownfields development means rebuilding on existing sites, and there has been considerable discussion in recent times around how much intensification should be allowed in existing suburbs, especially changing of height limits to allow for more apartments.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages; the Regional Council in particular see their role to prevent more
put money in banks and managed funds, ironically organisations which are largely overseas owned, and who invest a lot of their funds offshore, improve those three things? That same Salvation Army report says building consents are way down, while the biggest social housing build for many years, instigated by the last Government, has largely come to an end.
runoff and other material ending up in our harbours, especially the Porirua harbour in the case of development north of Johnsonville and Newlands. The Wellington City Council are concerned that the existing infrastructure cannot handle the pressure it comes under when new housing areas are developed. Existing infrastructure is aging and needs upgrading across our city, as evidenced by recent pipe failures. An advantage of intensification of existing areas means more people, therefore more ratepayers to pay for those upgrades.
Developers of course need to make a profit, and wish to keep their compliance costs as low as possible. Many believe the Resource Management Act is too cumbersome. We as government for our part have undertaken to rewrite that act.
The feedback was good, but the success will be when there are sufficient affordable houses to meetdemand. That is certainly my goal as your MP.
That, and of course having a vibrant and functioning Johnsonville Shopping Centre we can all be proud of.
There’s plenty to be getting on with.
Most other countries had high inflation and interest rates following COVID; they’ve come down everywhere, but only New Zealand went into recession last year. We need to be concentrating on these real-life issues and ask what is being done to alleviate them. Despite claims, nothing this Government has done brought down interest rates or inflation. The world’s central bankers and our own Reserve Bank did that. What we can legitimately demand is answers as to why we have less jobs, fewer houses being built, and more poverty. Maybe, just maybe, we are seeing the cost of those tax cuts?
Mākara Model School. Photo Supplied.
Record fundraiser by Karori Lions
The Karori Lions say they are very pleased to have been able to donate a record amount of $35,800 to the Spirit of Adventure Trust, to enable the Inspiration Voyage of the tall ship “Spirit of New Zealand”.
The money was collected through an annual appeal to all New Zealand Lions Clubs – first initiated by Karori Lions 27 years previously.
The funds support this very special voyage of five days, crewed by around 30 disabled Kiwi youngsters, with each group of three having a support buddy.
It is a life-changing experience for the youngsters, during which they make friends and do things they never thought possible, thus gaining confidence in their abilities and life expectations.
The ship sails from Princes Wharf in Auckland on 16 February, returning on 21 February.
“The Spirit of Adventure Trust is incredibly grateful for the phenomenal amount that the Lions Club of Karori have been instrumental in raising, from Lions Clubs across the country, to make our annual Inspiration Voyage possible,” the trust’s Head of Philanthropy and Fundraising, Nicola Garland, says.
“The Inspiration Voyage is always a very special voyage.
“Seeing young people living with a disability able to take part in such an adventure is a real privilege.
“For the young people taking part, it simply wouldn’t be possible without the fundraising from the Lions Clubs, Nicola says.
The donation comes just ahead of the biggest event for the year for Karori Lions, the annual Karori Karnival at Ben Burn Park.
The Karori Karnival is on this Sunday, 16 February, from 10am to 3pm.
“We really love to put on this family-friendly event for our community,” Convenor Jo Knight says.
“There will be lots of food stalls, rides for the kids, games, craft stalls and on-stage entertainment. “And a special plug for the ever-popular Lions’ book stall, white elephant and BBQ.”
This family fun occasion is the biggest annual public event in Karori, and one of the longest running events of its kind in New Zealand.
It has now been running for more than 50 years.
Last year’s Karnival raised well over $5,000 and attracted hundreds of people.
Lions is a community service organisation, in which members enjoy socialising as well as taking part in a range of activities to support health, youth, environment, disaster relief and
other community objectives.
They are keen to welcome like-minded individuals to visit one of their dinner or committee meetings to see what Lions do.
For more information and to find out about joining the club contact Trevor at 021 454 056, or leave a message on the club’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/KaroriLionsClubInc.
J’ville video
Johnsonville will be front of camera when filming takes place tomorrow, 14 February.
The Johnsonville Business Group has partnered with a local video production company to create some promotional videos.
The videos will be “showcasing our wonderful little town,” says the Johnsonville Business Improvement District Manager, Oliver Smith.
Bike challenge
The Aotearoa Bike Challenge is back this month.
This is a competition where people and organisations across New Zealand see who can get the most people riding a bike any time in February. There are prizes for both riding and encouraging others to ride too. To register for the event visit www. lovetoride.net/nz.
Look at Golden Mile design
Wellington City Councillors got a first look at the exciting design for the Golden Mile project on 10 February.
“It is incredibly exciting to finally share the preview of this transformative project with our Councillors,” Mayor Tory Whanau says.
“The design represents years of hard work and collaboration, and I’m confident it will resonate with everyone who shares our vision for a revitalised Courtenay Place.
“I cannot wait to share this bold vision with Wellingtonians, which will create a more vibrant and welcoming city that we can truly be proud of.
“The project will deliver wider footpaths, improved lighting, inviting outdoor dining areas, more public seating and a cycle path.
“It also includes essential infrastructure upgrades such as replacing pipes, replacing slippery pavements and enhancing the road for more reliable public transport,” Mayor Whanau says.
The design for the Golden Mile will be unveiled in coming days, the council says in a media release.
All the Fun of the Fair at the Karori Lions Karnival. Photo: Supplied.
The Spirit of New Zealand on an earlier visit to Wellington. Photo: Supplied.
Human chain seeks to save Begonia House
By Frank Neill
More than 300 people stood in a long line around Wellington’s iconic Begonia House in the latest Save the Begonia House event on Saturday 8 February.
“It was fantastic,” says Mazz Scannell, the President of the Friends of the Botanic Garden, which is currently leading the “Save the Begoina House” campaign.
The “human chain” began to be formed at 11:30am and it stayed in place for an hour.
“We all stood in a big long line, all 300 of us, and then we did some chanting.
“It was another opportunity to show that the people of Wellington care about the Begonia House.
“We had people from all ages ... six year olds to 90 year olds.
“It’s a generational treasure, so this illustrates that eveyone has an opinion on the Begonia House,”
Mazz says.
The Begonia House is visited by Wellingtonians and visitors to the city alike in large numbers.
It is, in fact, the third most visited building in Wellington, behind Te Papa and the Zoo.
The petition to save the Begonia House has now been signed by around 11,000 people.
The petition is on the Change. org website, the Wellington City Council website and available as a hard copy.
When this issue of the “Independent Herald” went to print more than 3,800 people had signed the petition on the council website.
This makes it the biggest petition placed on the website in its history.
Last year, a petition to save the Khandallah Pool was signed by more than 3,300 and at that time was by far the biggest petition that had ever been placed on the council’s website. The next biggest was only around 500 signatures.
The Save the Begonia House
Upcoming road works on SH1
The State Highway Summer Maintenance programme remains in full swing with State Highway 1 between Newlands and Tawa the next in line for attention over the next month. Mark Owen, Regional Manager Wellington / Top of the South for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says to date it has been a big maintenance season for the Wellington region, and there
is still a lot of work to do.
“State Highway 1 into Wellington is a critical link, and it needs regular maintenance,” Mark says.
“So, for the second half of February our road crews will be hard at work resurfacing the highway’s northbound lanes between Johnsonville and Glenside.
“These are heavily used routes – for State Highway 1, on an average day
more than 30,000 vehicles use the northbound lanes.
“That is a lot of wear and tear, which is why this resurfacing is necessary. It is all about ensuring the highway remains safe and reliable,” Mark says. From Sunday 16 February until Thursday 20 February, from 9pm to 4:30am, the highway’s northbound lanes will be closed for resurfacing between the
petition is at wellington.govt.nz/ have-your-say/petitions/petitions/ current/2024-12-save-the-begoniahouse.
“We are really encouraging people throughout the country to sign this petition, because the Begonia House is bigger than Wellington,” Mazz says.
“We are the hosts and we should be looking after it.”
After people sign the petition they should receive a verification email, Mazz says, and it is important that people do verify that they have signed.
If people do not receive a verification email it means something has
gone wrong and people will need to re-sign the petition.
“If you look at the online petition you will see people from all over the world. It just shows what a universal building it is,” Mazz says.
The future of the Begonia House is to be considered by Wellington City Council’s K rau T t p Ū Long Term Plan, Finance and Performance Committee meeting today, 13 February. The meeting was scheduled to start at 8:30am.
The Friends of the Botanic Garden have planned to stage a protest at the council buildings, 113 The Terrace, from 8:30am to 10am on the day of the meeting.
Helston Road overbridge and the Grenada/Glenside offramp. A local road detour will be available via Johnsonville and Middleton Road.
People who live in Johnsonville who need to travel north will need to use the Glenside northbound onramp. The highway’s southbound lanes will be open at all times.
The week following, contractors will resurface the Takapu Road
roundabout at Tawa/Grenada North interchange. NZTA will provide a further update once these details have been confirmed. “We are doing these works at night when there is less traffic on the road,” Mark says. “Closing the road lets us get the job done quicker and reduces traffic management costs. “It is also safer for road workers and the public.”
The human chain around the Begonia House. Photo: Mazz Scannell.
Onslow history –Penguin disaster
By Felicity Wong
Wellington perches on one of the most treacherous straits.
Connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Tasman Sea, the tides rise and fall between the two oceans creating a constant rush of water backwards and forewards through the Cook Strait twice daily.
A jet skier was lost recently and ferries have run aground.
Last weekend The Friends of Karori Cemetery held a talk and tour of the graves of its largest group of maritime lost lives.
The SS Penguin was operated by the Union Steamship Company making a regular Wellington-Picton-Nelson run.
The vessel left Picton for Wellington at midday on 12 February 1909.
It had about 102 passengers, many of them women and children.
At about 10pm in a violent southerly storm it struck rocks off Tongue Point, on Wellington’s south coast (between Makara and whiro Bay).
An hour later the ship broke up and sank. One life boat carrying women and children got clear.
The second boat gave way at its stern while being lowered during its launch and its occupants were tipped out, with some drowning.
The boat was then flung against the ship and damaged, breaking up.
Three more boats were launched. One later capsized.
Rafts were thrown overboard and the remaining men scrambled on board.
A survivor said "the raft was tossed about like a cork by the huge waves, twisted round and round, and on three or four occasions was turned completely over, throwing all into the sea."
Three or four hours later the boats and rafts were driven onto the rocky coast.
Some of the few survivors scrambled over the rocks and made their way up the gullies to the McMenamen homestead.
Others, in the torrential rain and dark, leapt for the rocks and climbed the cliffs to shelter in the scrub until morning.
William Webb Luke, the second engineer, was rescued from halfway up the cliff by some of the station hands who went to help as soon as the first survivor gave the alarm.
They also rescued Mrs Hannam and a young man who were trapped under an upturned boat floating in the surf.
Mrs Hannam was pregnant and her four small children and husband drowned.
Although shipwrecks were a common hazard in New Zealand, it was a profound tragedy on Wellington's doorstep.
Seventy two people drowned, including all the child passengers. Only one woman survived.
Only a handful of passengers and crew made it to shore from the boats.
Most survivors were on rafts or had swum to shore when the rafts broke up on the rocks. When the first survivor reached the Terawhiti Station homestead, John McMenamen sent
two station hands over the steep, muddy bridle track to M kara to phone the Police.
Frank Shaw said the response was "they could not do anything until further information was obtained."
The survivors were desperate.
Captain Naylor asked for a man to ride to Island Bay (10 miles away) to report the details of the wreck to the Union Company by telephone.
Some survivors walked to Island Bay with torn up canvas on their feet.
Near Island Bay they met rescuers coming to help including two Police constables, Sims and Gardener who spent the next two days recovering bodies from the sea, often up to their necks in pounding surf.
Police stayed for a fortnight patrolling the beach for further bodies and friends tried to identify those found.
A detachment of the Royal New Zealand Artillery arrived to take the bodies out by pack horse, but the weather cleared enough for the Union Steamship salvage tug the “Terawhiti” to arrive.
The tug carried a party of sailmakers who sewed the bodies into canvas or blankets and ferried them to the tug by surfboat.
The surfboat searched nearby inlets but the last lifeboat was never found.
The tug took 45 bodies to Miramar wharf.
Six bodies were taken by pack horse to Mkara. One was found some days later and 13 others were confirmed dead but never found.
Bodies were returned to families, some in Australia. Seven others were unaccounted for and perhaps transported by others.
Some had private burials but a public funeral procession was held on 16 February.
Businesses closed for respect that morning.
The funeral procession went from the military Drill Hall in Buckle St through the city and out to Karori Cemetery.
The procession of horse drawn carriages had flag draped coffins, including small white coffins for the children.
It was led by a muffled brass band and included Prime Minister Joseph Ward and the Mayor.
The streets were lined with citizens and boys hung from fences and trees.
Two thousand people met the procession as it arrived at the Karori Cemetery with another four to five thousand people within.
The Evening Post reported: "It was plain that the horrors of the catastrophe were still unblurred in the people's minds.
“Their knowledge of the agonies endured by the stricken was something that reached well down into the heart, and a sorrow was in their faces.
“The tempest and the sea destroyed a ship and 70 people, but that destruction was at once attended by the creation of a warm feeling of fellowship between the people of New Zealand and the bereaved."
At least 35 people from the Penguin are buried at the Karori Cemetery. (From Deirdre Wongan’s “The Tragedy of the Penguin”, Stockade 28, 1995. For events and activities see https://friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz/).
Welcome to 23 The Drive, where size really does matter! You read the property's attributes correctly, this stunning corner site, grand home holds six bedrooms on the main living floor and a separate one bedroom studio style unit below! Home and Income Potential? YIP!
Sitting on an elevated corner site just under 850m2, enter the front door to see your wide and welcoming hallway, making it feel like you're entering into a mansion. To the right is a massive lounge overlooking the hills in Tawa, flowing into yet another massive space for your dining.
Price By Negotiation
The SS Penguin. Photo: Supplied.
New RVs have dropped 24.4%!
Hey Everyone! After much delay, and strategic dodging, the new RVs are here and they have dropped! On average in Wellington, the RVs have dropped 24.4%, which conservatively reflects the drop in property prices in most areas. Unlike previous years, where the rates went up due to RVs going up - this time the RVs have gone down and the rates have skyrocketed in proportion to RVs. It appears they have just changed the formula that they use to calculate rates, to justify the increase. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for paying rates (whether the rates get used effectively is a whole other point), but if the RVs have zero relevance to rates, zero relevance to market value, and zero relevance to the household composition, then why do we even have this. Good luck trying to find a simple answer on the WCC website, the ‘differential’ answers will create more questions. Should a young couple pay the same water component of rates, than a family of 6 staying in the same type of house? When you compare two identical houses, it is common that the RVs are different. Historically, if a property has sold many times, the RVs are typically higher and if someone has owned a house for a long time the RVs are typically lower. Should people who recently bought a house pay more rates than people who lived in a house longer? If you complete some renovations on the property, technically this adds value and should increase your RV (and rates paid), so should people who have the money to invest and grow their property pay proportionately lower rates than those who can’t afford to do so? This rates review was the perfect opportunity to have a robust debate around this system, but sadly we are still stuck with the same system. The good news is, that you have an opportunity to ‘challenge/appeal’ your new RV - but before you do so, here are some points to consider.
Market Value: Although RVs are not indications of market value, there are plenty of misleading guides that use the RV and a blunt mathematical formula to create ‘market estimations’. Some people use these online guides are facts. So if you are considering selling, a lower RV will translate into a lower ‘online’ market estimation of your property. Most online ranges can be adjusted by your real estate agent, but some you cannot change.
Mortgages: Banks can rely on these arbitrary ‘values’ above to decide if a mortgage deal should go ahead or not. This is commonly called an ‘e-value’, with the e
standing for extortion. Should a buyer try to offer you more than ‘e-value’ for your house, the banks may in some cases trigger the need for a valuation (which can create delays or obstruction to achieving a higher sale price). So a lower RV will result in a lower ‘e-value’. Even if you aren’t selling, but you want to take some equity out to buy another property or help a family member out - the amount you can borrow will again be measured against this ‘e-value’ and if you want to borrow more, you be asked to pay for a registered valuation to ‘prove’ that your property is worth more. Registered valuations can cost around $1000 give or take depending on the size/type of your property.
Challenge or not? Firstly, you could ‘challenge’ your RV and end up with the opposite result, as you will be at the mercy of the valuer assigned. Sure there are some things you could do to increase your chance of getting a higher/lower change, but you should consider your situation before challenging. If you have spent $100k on renovations, then a challenge will certainly increase your RV, if your property is in very poor condition, then a challenge will certainly bring it down. If your property is in average condition, then it may be a case where they exclusively look at recent sales and there will be sales that support an increase or a decrease (so being prepared with your comparable sales, may save the valuer some time) If you are thinking of selling or using the equity in your property over the next 3 years, then you should consider a challenge strategy that will hopefully result in a higher RV. If you are staying put then maybe look at a strategy to reduce your RV.
The high rates are not going to be going away any time soon, and sure we can argue it is a long time coming. But yesterday was always the best time to get into politics, until we have a complete nation that is passionate about our democracy, politics, voicing our opinions, and championing change within our communities, we will never see any improvements. If we all tried every day to improve the lives of others, shop locally owned businesses, and encourage good people to be elected (not just who’s popular, or what party they are with), we can start to make a difference.
If you have any questions relating to your property, the market or your RV review – get in touch! Love to hear from you!
Written by William YIP Your friend in Real Estate 021 106 9997 William.YIP@CollectiveFN.co.nz
Churton Park fun night
Churton Park School. Photo Supplied.
Churton Park School is holding its Family Fun Night at the school from 5pm to 7pm on Friday 21 February.
The fun night will feature a bouncy castle, face painting, local heroes, a hangi, pizza and refreshment stalls.
Tracing a black sheep
A newspaper heading about the ‘black sheep’ ancestor. Image Supplied
Finding a disreputable ancestor is the topic for the first meeting of the year for the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists.
Cathy Clarke, the guest speaker, is a very experienced family historian and active member of the Hutt Valley branch.
Her lively presentation will be a case study on using newspapers to trace a ‘black sheep’ in her family tree from Ireland via the United States of America, Canada and Australia to Palmerston North.
She will demonstrate where to find newspaper records, search tips and strategies to take people further in their research.
The great thing about having a seedy ancestor is that they create paperwork and, with more searchable unindexed records available now, they can show up in unexpected places. This convoluted tale of Cathy’s great-greatgreat-grandparents also confirms that you can’t always believe everything that you read in a newspaper!
Attend the meeting to hear the full story.
The meeting is on Wednesday 19 February in the Collective Community Hub, Johnsonville Road, with refreshments and a chance to meet others starting at 7pm.
The meeting itself will start promptly at 7:30pm. Visitors are very welcome.
Ngaio bike tour
Wellington City Council, Ngaio Going
Carbon Neutral and Pedal Ready are teaming up to run a social bike tour of the recent street changes in Ngaio and the surrounding area on Saturday 15 February.
The ride starts at Switched on Bikes on the waterfront, at 15/22 Herd Street, at 9:30am and will finish at Ngaio Union Church at 11:30am.
The aim of the bike tour is to build confidence and skills to travel safely and efficiently by paihikara (bike) while getting to know the bike improvements in Ngaio.
People can register for this event at https:// www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/welly-onwheels-ngaio-confidence-skills-for-biking/ wellington.
Five arrested in Makara
Five people were arrested following an incident at a property in Makara Road on 6 February.
property in a vehicle.
Both cash` and EFTPOS will be accepted. For more information email cphomeandschool@gmail.com.
“Join us for a fun evening, rain or shine,” the school says. “Bring the whole family, a drink bottle and a blanket to sit on.”
Police were called to the residential address at 1:50pm after a report of a person being threated with a firearm.
The Armed Offenders Squad was deployed as a precaution and cordons were put in place on Makara Road.
Three people were arrested as they left the
Two other people who had fled the property on foot were subsequently located by Police nearby and arrested. Nobody was injured during the incident.
The Police say they would like to thank nearby residents on Makara Road for their patience and co-operation while cordons remained in place.
A black sheep among the flock. Photo: Supplied.
Surveillance Strategy will strengthen how the Ministry of Health gather and coordinate public health information to better protect them against threats
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ACTIVE autumn
and Beauty to come back to and woodland March
The Goldfields Mining Centre is a special place where visitors can gain an appreciation of the life and working environment of those early miners who struggled against the harsh and sometimes dangerous
conditions along Central Otago’s famed Kawarau Gorge. Walk along the paths of the old miners. Find out about gold and where it came from. Discover how the goldrush has impacted places
throughout the world. Learn the technique of gold panning, and then try your luck at panning for gold. Allowing at least two hours to enjoy the full experience is recommended.
www.woodlandglen.co.nz relax@woodlandglen.co.nz Tel 03 755 6252
Woodland Glen is a peaceful base for West Coast action
Whether you want a passive few days or to make it the base for experiencing the West Coast, Woodland Glen Lodge Bed and Breakfast – accommodation set in a beautiful country house 2km out of Hokitika is the perfect choice.
With five guest rooms, three of which are en suite; the other two share a private bathroom, but can be booked individually. Escape the bustle of the city for tranquility when you stay. They have 21 acres of park like grounds to
Otapawa – an amble through nature
Off the beaten track and set in a peaceful valley with views of the Puketoi Ranges and hill country farmland. Otapawa gives visitors a taste of the country lifestyle.
With both farmstay (optional B & B)) and backpacker accommodation availableOtapawa Farmstay and Backpackers is suitable for families, group bookings or backpackers wanting a rural experience.
wander through, they also have a wonderful orchard to sit and enjoy listening to the birds maybe enjoying a glass of wine and a picnic. Drive out to one of the beautiful local lakes where you can sit or swim in the crystal waters. State Highway 6, Cromwell
Situated on State Highway 6 in the picturesque Kawarau Gorge is the Goldfields Mining Centre, an historic site from 1862
We are open every day between 9am and 5pm for you to come and explore the goldfields, spend time with our tour guide learning the history and seeing the relic machinery working, and then of course try your luck at panning for gold.
Otapawa is also able to cater for groups who would like to gather together for a special occasion. Located at Tiraumea on a hill country sheep and beef station. One-hour drive from Masterton.
Otapawa makes an ideal halfway stop between Wellington and Hawke’s Bay. Campervans and Caravans are also welcome.
The Royal Albatross Centre
The Royal Albatross Centre is nestled at the tip of the Otago Peninsula, ŌtepotiDunedin. Here visitors have the unique opportunity to view the only mainland nesting site of one of the greatest seabirds in the world.
The Northern Royal Albatross – with an impressive three metre wingspan is definitely an extraordinary bird to watch.
Site admission: $35.00 per adult $15.00 per child (5yrs-15yrs) No booking necessary.
The Albatross colony can be viewed from our observatory, which is located a short walk uphill from the Albatross Centre on a guided tour.
At the Albatross Centre visitors can also learn about the Albatross and the history of the headland.
Our on-site Toroa Café provides freshly baked and cooked meals and our Giftshop has a big range of New Zealand and locally made treasures.
ACTIVE autumn
Urenui Beach Camp is great for the whole family
Off the beaten track and set in a peaceful valley with views of the Puketoi Ranges and hill country farmland. Otapawa gives visitors a taste of the country lifestyle. With both farmstay (optional B & B)) and backpacker accommodation available - Otapawa Farmstay and Backpackers is suitable for families, group bookings or backpackers wanting a rural experience.
Otapawa is also able to cater for groups who would like to gather together for a special occasion. Located at Tiraumea on a hill country sheep and beef station. One-hour drive from Masterton.
Otapawa makes an ideal halfway stop between Wellington and Hawkes Bay. Campervans and Caravans are also welcome.
Kayaking – a great way to get back to nature
By dealing with Canoe & Kayak owner Andy Blake you have the benefit of his 30 years of kayaking experience. He can tell you all you need to know about Wellington’s best spots, what to look out for and how to get the most out of your kayaking. Currently Canoe & Kayak have the popular Moana kayak at $899. This model is stable and easy to paddle, an ideal boat for the surf and is suitable for beginners as well as advanced paddlers.
This is an incredibly stable platform and is very easy to control as it comes with a new custom designed rudder system. It makes steering a cinch.
The Kai Waka has stability, lots of storage, a customised rudder system and is made for NZ conditions. At the Special price of $1599 it includes paddle and buoyancy aid.
Andy and co-owner Jenny also run The Roof Rack Centre so if you need more carrying capacity make sure you inquire about roofboxes and roof racks. They use their expertise to fit them safely and securely - and fitting is free for most roofracks!
See Andy and Jenny at 2 Centennial Drive, Ngauranga or contact them on 477 6911.
Okarito Boat Eco Tours
Okarito is a hidden gem in New Zealand, a magical place teeming with natural beauty. We’ll guide you through the expansive Okarito lagoon, wetlands, and rainforest waterways, which cover over 3000 hectares and form NZ’s largest unaltered wetland. This ecosystem, from sea to mountains, functions as perfectly today as it always has.
During your visit, we’ll introduce you to the diverse birdlife that thrives in both fresh and saltwater habitats. From tiny banded dotterels to hardy godwits journeying from Alaska, majestic great white herons, and unique royal spoonbills, there’s a plethora of species to observe. Especially on a clear day, with Mount Cook, Tasman, the Southern Alps, and Franz Josef Glacier in the background, your camera will be indispensable.
With the endless rainforest, birds in the foreground, and tranquil waterways, Okarito is a memory you’ll cherish forever. Our most popular and all-encompassing 2-Hour EcoTour departs at 9 AM, with an optional 11:30 departure. Starting from Okarito Wharf, we traverse the main lagoon channel, spotting a multitude of wading birds. We’ll discuss the wetlands and ongoing conservation efforts. On clear days, we pause for scenic mountain shots. The tour then proceeds leisurely through rainforest waterways, with a break for a warm drink and snack.
What’s hot in the
Wairarapa
Harvest Wairarapa Wine Festival: this weekend!
Set against the stunning natural beauty of ‘The Cliffs’ Riverside Reserve on Saturday, 15 February, the Harvest Wairarapa Wine Festival marks the beginning of the 2025 grape harvest season in grand style — award-winning restaurants, top-notch food producers, and live entertainment. Due to popular demand, the Wine Geek 101 experience is back for its second year— and it’s already one of the hottest tickets in
town. With only 4 spots remaining, this exclusive masterclass is perfect for both seasoned connoisseurs and those new to the world of wine.
engage directly with the 14 wineries
Just 20 minutes north of Masterton, Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre offers a chance to reconnect with nature. Visitors can see tuatara and kiwi, search for the elusive kōkako on the scenic Loop Track, and enjoy the daily ranger talks. You can also see master carvers in action and witness tuna (long-fin eels) being fed. Plus, there’s an onsite café where you can relax and enjoy a bite to eat after your adventure.
Pūkaha is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm in summer, offering an unforgettable experience with wildlife talks, scenic
One of the most anticipated features of the festival is “Meet the Makers,” where festival goers can connect with the winemakers
wines and enjoying expertly curated food pairings in the beautiful riverside setting.
“This is an incredible opportunity to
walks, and close encounters with New Zealand’s most iconic species—perfect for nature lovers of all ages. Check out pukaha.org.nz for more information.
meet the passionate winemakers behind the the craftsmanship and dedication that make Wairarapa’s wine scene truly exceptional,” said Geary.
The festival will also feature an impressive line-up of 14 wineries from across the region, including Big Sky Wines,
Cambridge Road Vineyard, Colombo Martinborough, Coney Wines, Fairmont Estate, Gladstone Vineyard, Grava, Johner Estate, Le Gra Winery, Matahiwi Estate, Nga Pari, Stad_ko Wines, Te Hera Estate and URLAR Gladstone
Geary says getting to Harvest has never been easier with Tranzit Coachlines offering expanded regional shuttle services, making it simple for attendees to relax and enjoy the day without the hassle of parking or driving.
Watch and learn about spinning and weaving!
If you want to know what’s made New Zealand a great agricultural country you can learn about it by visiting the Museum of Sheep and Shearing in Masterton. The complex is housed in two authentic old wool sheds trucked in from local farms, plus a newly constructed gallery building –full of sheep farm gear, including shearing and wool handling equipment. of sheep farming and its importance to our nation. For many years New Zealand was said to “live off the sheep’s back.” Demonstrations are held about spinning and weaving on Wednesday mornings and by arrangement. See the history of spinning from ancient times and our collection of spinning wheels.
Greytown Butchery keeps on winning the Golds
Greytown Butchery has added to their impressive reputation of winning Gold Awards, this year they’ve won it for the Italian Tomato & Spinach Sausage. They consistently win awards with their multi-award winning sausages having so far clocked up 26 awards in the last 19 years.
Established in 1873, Greytown Butcheryis still operating in the same historic building and still keeping old butchering traditions alive since it
was first opened by original owner, Sam Haigh. Artisan butcher Gavin Green and Julie Fairbrother, have transformed this iconic and popular business into a gourmet, European-styled butchery. It prides itself on top quality cuts with exceptional service to match. Remember to bring your chilly bin with you next time for your goods –there’s always plenty to choose from! See them at 67 Main St, Greytown.
Have fun learning about early Wairarapa European
Come and explore the ways in which European knowledge in the early days of Wairarapa. Discover the histories of the heritage listed church, woolshed, school, stables, cottage, and hospital, along with the incredible stories of bravery, resilience, and determination. Take a stroll through the picturesque gardens and park-like grounds and see how life was revolutionised by farming, transport, saw milling, and dairy industries. Have some fun and photo opportunities in
the stocks and lock-up or take a seat in the glass coach and marvel at the horse-drawn taonga and waka displays and delve into the narratives of the visionaries who shaped Wairarapa.
Or simply bring a picnic, sit under the trees and soak up the unique setting that is Cobblestones. Spring and summer hours are 10am to 4 pm. Autumn and Winter 10am to 3pm. www.cobblestonesmuseum.org.nz or visit our Facebook page.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SHEEP & SHEARING HOURS OF AMAZING DISPLAYS AND INFORMATION
Shearing and farming memorabilia plus types of wool and their uses.
The story of shearing – its beginnings and how it became an international sport.
The history of sheep farming.
Live shearing demonstrations for groups arranged with prior notice.
Spinning and weaving demonstrations on Wednesdays or by arrangement.
Wool garments and souvenirs.
Special kaka photographed
A special k k has been spotted at tari-Wilton’s Bush, Wellington City Council has announced on its website.
The amazing discovery was made by local photographer Tony Stoddard when he was out on a photoshoot at the reserve.
Tony was keeping a close watch on a mother k k at an active nest in an old hinau tree.
He got photos of the bands she was wearing, and passed the information on to the team at tari, who then worked with colleagues at Zealandia.
Together, they were able to figure out that this k k was actually one of the original chicks from the k kcam livestream a decade earlier.
Back in 2015, one of the council’s Park Rangers started an initiative called the k k cam, which showed a livestream of a k k nest in one of Wellington’s reserves.
This k k cam allowed staff to monitor how a mother and her chicks were developing.
Thousands of people from around the world tuned in to watch the fluffy chicks grow, and it became a social media sensation.
tari-Wilton’s Bush Manager Tim Park says that banding is important to keep track of movement across
the city.
“We are really lucky in P neke to have the largest wild population of k k in the world. This is pretty phenomenal.
“Only a small proportion of k k are banded as many nests aren't monitored.
“We are very fortunate that the bird Tony photographed happened to be one of the YouTube stars that were banded back in 2015,” Tim says.
Even better, this grown-up chick is now a mother herself, and is nesting with her own chicks at
tari-Wilton’s Bush.
Tim is incredibly proud to be able to see this full circle moment.
“It's amazing that this project I was involved in almost a decade ago has come back to me. It's a really lovely surprise,” he says.
“This wouldn't be possible without the massive volunteer trapping effort and the investment the council has put into pest control in tari-Wilton's Bush and other council reserves to make them safe for k k to thrive.
"It's really cool that k k have been successfully nesting outside Zealandia in council reserves for multiple generations and we have the data to prove it,” Tony says.
The mother kākā at Ōtari-Wilton's Bush. Photo: Tony Stoddard.
ON... O WHAT’S
Don’t Chuck It. Fix It
Ngaio Repair Cafe is free, open Saturday 15 February,10am - 1pm, Ngaio Union Church, corner Crofton Road and Kenya Street.
KAT - family theatre
The Man Whose Mother Was A Pirate Khandallah Park, 1.30 and 3.30, February 15, 16, 22, 23. Details at www.kat-theatre.org.nz.
Play in the Park finds early fan
Just a few more rehearsals and KAT Theatre’s production of “The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate” is all set to go in Khandallah Park this weekend.
Tim Bray’s fun-filled adaptation of a Margaret Mahy picture-book tells the tall tale of staid and steady Sam who finds adventure when his former pirate mother hears the call of the sea again. On Sunday afternoon the crew had their first outdoor rehearsal, in a sheltered courtyard at Raroa Normal Intermediate School.
We
For the rest of the week they’re fine-tuning their performances in the Park itself – as well as in Cochran Hall in case wet weather means they’ll have to perform inside. Every day the set has to be unpacked and put in place – and then packed away again into the club’s purpose-built trailer hut. On Monday four-year-old Eleanor Web-Blossom, whose mother is one of the actors, was keen to lend a hand with the pack-up. Eleanor has watched several rehearsals now and if she had her way she’d watch a lot more. Her favourite bit, she says, is the wheelbarrows dance. KAT committee member Mary CollieHolmes says that one thing the club has noticed over the 25 years they’ve been performing a summer play in the Park is the number of children who, like Eleanor, want to see it again and again.
“They seem to get a little bit more pleasure from it each time,” she says. “And because you don’t have to book and we ask for a koha instead of charging a set ticket price, it’s easy and affordable to bring them a second or even a third time.” She also notes that it’s quite a short show, lasting only about 40 minutes.
“So it’s a good idea to give yourselves plenty of time to get there. You don’t want to miss the beginning if parking’s scarce and you have to walk a bit further than you expected.”
Frequency: Weekly, with breaks for school holidays
For who?: Men and women, all ages.
Denomination: non-denominational
Contact: Bruce Harding. Ph 027 490 0007
With lots of action and a good smattering of audience participation this lively production is ideal for younger children, as well as the young at heart among their family and friends. So grab a rug and a picnic, put on your best pirate outfit, and head on down to Khandallah Park on 15,16, 22 or 23 February for 1.30 and 3.30 pm performances. If the weather is looking piratical, check the KAT Theatre Facebook or Instagram pages for news as the show may relocate indoors to Cochran Hall.
(3)
Air Traffic Control(abbr) (3)
Couch (6)
Supplement(pl) (7)
Gemstone (4)
Day before (3)
United (3)
Unpowered barge (4)
Overshadow (7)
Abuses (6)
English city (9)
Waters (9) 51. Inspire (5)
Journeys (7)
Running loop (5)
Of the stomach (7)
Shop assistant (11) DOWN 1. Canal boat (5)
Of little importance (5-6)
Captivated (8)
Swoop (6)
Abides by (5)
One who shoes horses (7)
& 18 ACROSS. By fair means or foul
Funeral Directors
Trades & Services
Ettiene Kirsty
The dance of the wheelbarrows (Eleanor’s favourite part of “The Man Whose Mother Was A Pirate”) being rehearsed by (from left) Brooke Harris, Stanford Reynolds, Krzysztof Kowal and Jaron Peek. Photo: Supplied.
Four-year-old Eleanor helps actor Stanford Reynolds pack the set into the trailer at the end of a rehearsal of “The Man Whose Mother Was A Pirate”. Photo: Supplied.
New junior bowling champion
Terry Dean is the new Johnsonville Bowling Club junior singles champion, winning the C H Grant Cup.
Terry won the title when he defeated Jonathon Goldstein 21-14 on 10 February.
With his victory Terry repeated his win in the same event during the 2022-23 season.
Terry got off to a sound start in the final, with the score at 7-0 in his favour after three ends. However, Jonathon came back into the game, challenging at 14-16, before Terry clinched it with a straight run to 21.
Following the earlier rounds, six bowlers qualified for the final day’s play on 10 February.
Terry Dean beat Wayne Kennedy and Lloyd Allison to reach the final.
Jonathon had a first round bye and then beat Ian Hutchison to reach the top two.
Junior bowls players are those with up to five years’ experience.
Fourteen teams from seven clubs took part in the Over 60s Mixed Triples Tournament played at the Johnsonville Bowling Club on
Johnsonville dominant in Cricket
By Frank Neill
Johnsonville’s premier Cricketers finished the first day of their two-day match against Wainuiomata in an incredibly strong position.
Johnsonville won the toss and batted first on Wainuiomata’s home ground of Bryan Heath Park on 8 February.
They then scored 263 before bowling Wainuiomata out for 119
Johnsonville enforced the follow-on and Wainuiomata reached 17 without loss at stumps.
This meant Johnsonville was well placed for an outright victory, having already secured first innings points.
If they do gain an outright win it will be their second in a row in the Wellington division two competition.
They defeated Victoria University outright on 25 January and 1 February.
Andrew Moir was outstanding with the bat for Johnsonville, scoring 81 and Gareth Severin also batted very well, contributing 70 runs.
Reece Edgecombe bowled outstandingly, taking three wickets at a cost of just 19 runs. Maximus Petrie also took three wickets while conceding 30 runs.
Ben Stephen took two wickets for 24, Connor Lusty one wicket or 17 and Sean Wakelin one wicket for 18.
The Johnsonville premier women did not fare so well in their top of the table clash with North City.
Batting first at Linden Park, North City scored 160 for the loss of eight wickets.
They then bowled Johnsonville out for 116.
Vice Captain Dhriti Girish bowled well for Johnsnville, taking four wickets for 38.
Estella Wallace took two wickets for 16 and Captain Annissa Greenlees took 2 wickets
The entrants included one team from Martinborough.
There were plenty of tight games but, at the end of play, just one team emerged the winner – the Johnsonville team of Phil Todd, Paula Meredith and Keith Alexander.
The win was icing on the cake for Paula, who recently played her 150th Wellington representative game, and who was also playing
for 31.
Anvi Verma was comfortably the best of the Johnsonville batters, scoring 37, while Kacey McCully scored 22.
Johnsonville’s next match is against City Suburbs at Alex Moore Park on 15 February.
Onslow, who currently lead the division one competiton, conceded first innings points to Eastern Suburbs.
Batting first on Nairnville Park, Onslow was all out for 226. Eastern Suburbs reached 264 for seven at stumps.
Ryan Tsourgas came close to a half century but was out for 47.
Elliott Seddon batted outstandingly and was 38 not out when the Onslow innings ended.
Logan Malthus also contributed well with 32.
Daniel Rose was the best of the home team’s bowlers, taking four wickets at a cost of 61 runs.
Captain Micah Conroy bowled a miserly two overs, where he conceded just two runs and took one wicket.
Elliott Seddon backed up his batting peformance by taking one for 49 and Oscar Jackson took one for 20.
Taita was dominating Karori at Karori Park on 8 February.
Batting first, Taita was all out for 384. They then had Karori at 104 for seven wickets at stumps.
Yasraj Kalsi took four wickets for 74 for Karori and Liam Roche took three for 62.
Oscar Wilson and Jakob Vandenberg took one wicket each.
Karori will be looking to its two high scoring batsmen to continue their good run on day two – James Hartshorn, who finished the day on 38 not out and Max Sargentina, who was 26 not out when the stumps were drawn.
on her birthday.
The format was four games of two-bowl triples, each over an hour and 20 minutes.
Thanks to the generosity of the club’s sponsors, teams in this tournament competed for eight substantial prizes.
The club is therefore most grateful to Lychgate Funerals and New World, Churton Park for their on-going support of the event.
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Jonathon Goldstein (left) and Terry Dean, who contested the final of the Johnsonville Bowling Club’s junior singles championship. Photo: Supplied.
The Johnsonville winners of the Over 60s Mixed Triples Tournament (from left) Keith Alexander, Paula Meredith and Phil Todd. Photo: Supplied.
