Ashburton Guardian, Thursday, May 7, 2020

Thursday, May 7, 2020

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Show’s fate hangs in the balance

By Sue Newman

except between 1942 and 1944 due to World War Two. The grounds during that time were used as an army camp.

Schedule preparation for this year’s show would normally be under way by now but this has been delayed. The association’s annual meeting has not been held yet, and Butterick said that now needs to be held with some urgency. Plans are under way to hold that in a contactless way, he said.

Christchurch’s show was cancelled for both public health and over the financial hit that would occur if hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent preparing for an event that may or may not be able to proceed.

sue.n@theguardian.co.nz

Burrows’ success P4

With Christchurch’s three-day A&P show called, off, a big question mark is now hanging over the future of Ashburton’s annual two-day show in October.

The Ashburton A&P Association board is still unsure whether the show will go ahead, but the countdown is on until a decision must be made, president David Butterick said.

“We’ll be leaving that decision until early July. We’re hoping we can run something but it depends on how things are at that stage,” he said.

Ashburton’s annual show began in 1878 and has been held every year since,

Ashburton, however, does not have the same financial pressures that Christchurch has, Butterick said.

“We’re okay on the money side of it and this is a credit to our committees over the years, with money put away for a rainy day.”

That rainy day might have arrived however, Butterick said and if the show is held, the association might need to dip into its reserves.

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Thursday, May 7, 2020

■■ NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURAL SHOW

A ‘gut-wrenching’decision

By Heather Chalmers

heather.c@theguardian.co.nz

Mid Canterbury farmer and Canterbury A&P Association board member, Richard Lemon, says the New Zealand Agricultural Show in Christchurch is completely different from smaller district shows.

Financial uncertainty and public health concerns around running the event during the Covid-19 pandemic have led to its cancellation for the first time since World War Two. The November three-day event features hundreds of trade and animal exhibitors and attracted almost 100,000 people through the gates last year.

Lemon, a former association president, said the decision was made for the long-term viability of the show.

“Even for me, it is gut-wrenching.

“We can’t afford the risk of an alert level that would restrict us from having 50,000 people on site.

“It is completely different to a local show of the likes of Ashburton, Methven and Mayfield.”

The show’s scale meant the association had to commit to contracts months ahead, such as $140,000 for marquees, which it might have to forfeit because of Covid-19 restrictions.

“It has been hell for us on the board at Canterbury. We have had hard decisions to make. For us, the risk of not staying viable was too great.”

Lemon said he had started riding ponies at the Christchurch Show in the 1950s, but had mainly been involved breeding and showing border leicester sheep.

The property was now dairy farming.

The association had made the decision to cancel while it was still in a financial position to meet its current obligations and return money to those businesses that had already invested in the 2020 show.

The association had also been mindful of the bottom line of its trade exhibitors.

“For them to come to the show is a large investment and the site fee is probably the minimum cost.

They also have to set up the site and have staff for the three days of the show. That can cost many thousands of dollars. We are better to say no to this year and make sure their businesses are viable.”

As an alternative to the show, the association planned to hold minor exhibitor events, such as a sheep show weekend.

“We could split horse events into three sections and have, say, show jumping one weekend, so you are not bringing a large num-

Left – Dromore farmers Mark Copland (right) and his son Hugh won the supreme wool breed sheep exhibit at last year’s New Zealand Agricultural Show in Christchurch.

Financial uncertainty and public health concerns have led to this year’s show being cancelled.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

ber of people together at any one time,” Lemon said.

The association had launched a Show Saviour campaign which called on anyone who had a connection with the show to donate to help bankroll a 2021 restart.

“We will be coming back in

2021 with a revived, strong event,” Lemon said.

Dromore sheep breeder Mark Copland, whose family have exhibited at the New Zealand Agricultural Show in Christchurch every year for four generations, says that cancellation of this

year’s event was “unfortunate, but a sign of the times”.

Mark Copland and his wife Robyn last year won show ambassador of the year for being longtime supporters and exhibitors of the event.

The Coplands, who farm and exhibit as Westmere Farming Company, also completed an almost clean sweep of the combined wool breed classes with their border leicester sheep, culminating in the supreme wool breed sheep exhibit.

Mark Copland said that, if New Zealand could navigate the Covid-19 pandemic with only a small rate of infections, then the cancellation of events such as the show was “a small price to pay”.

“You can always look forward to the next one.”

While the show was part of the family’s farming calendar, exhibitors had been given plenty of notice of the cancellation, Copland said.

Fate of local A&P show hangs in the balance From P1 “We’ll be a bit concerned around sponsors, particularly the smaller ones around Ashburton, we’re a bit concerned about approaching them,” he said.

A decision on whether or not Ashburton’s show will go ahead will be based on the likely Covid-19 Alert Level New Zealand will be at in late October.

At Level 2 gatherings of no more than 500 people out of doors are allowed, but at Level 1 there are

no restrictions on numbers.

For the show, which traditionally attracts between 3000 and 4000 people over two days, New Zealand would need to be at Level 1 for this year’s show to go ahead.

And with planning needing to begin in earnest in early July, where the level sits at that point is likely to be the deciding factor, Butterick said.

The cancellation of the Canterbury show had come as a shock, Butterick said, but with uncertainty over finances if the show

went ahead, that decision was understandable.

Regardless of the outcome of Ashburton’s show day decision, there would be no need to mount a Show Saviour campaign locally, he said.

While the Mayfield Show was held in March, Methven’s show, to be held one week later, was cancelled.

The Ashburton A&P Association was formed on October 1, 1877, when a meeting of farmers was held at the Somerset Hotel

and the first show was held on November 15, 1878, probably at Tinwald. John Grigg of Longbeach was the first president In the 1920s the show was a two-day event, held during the week. This was reduced to one day, increasing to one and a half days in the 1960s, before reverting again to a full two-day show again.

Up till sometime in the 1930s a Winter Show was held in the Arcade in Ashburton.

In 1957 the association took

over the old Ashburton Saleyards and extended the grounds towards the main road which gave the association valuable space which is well utilised at show time.

The show grounds are hired out regularly to various groups during the year and it has been the home base, since 1956, for the Mid Canterbury Rugby Union.

During the summer months large show jumping events are held regularly, along with other smaller horse events.

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Thursday, May 7, 2020

The disconnect between a suit and some gumboots

By Sue Newman

sue.n@theguardian.co.nz

There’s a huge disconnect between bureaucrats in Wellington and farmers on the ground in Mid Canterbury, says Valetta farmer David Clark.

He’s running his farm under strict Covid-19 Alert Level 3 requirements but has been told that he and his staff should be working from home, that he should complete a WorkSafe Level 3 plan and that he should expect a visit from that organisation to check his compliance.

He has surface sanitising, hand hygiene and social distancing requirements in place for staff and a register prepared for any off-farm contractors coming onto the property. His team on the Valetta farm are operating within their own work bubble.

“We have a plan and we’re absolutely sticking to that plan and it’s quite draconian,” he said.

Clark is steaming.

He’s done everything by the book, he said, and it’s the ultimate insult to have a bureaucrat sitting behind a city desk ringing to ask a raft of nonsensical questions around compliance.

It was not unreasonable to ask whether he had a plan in place, he said, but what irked him was that confirmation of that plan wasn’t enough, the caller was hell-bent on finding out why he and his staff were not working from home, Clark said.

“The guy just had no concept of why we couldn’t operate a farm from home.

His questions were absolutely pointless, he just didn’t understand the reality of the world we’re trying to operate our business in, of what’s required to run a farm under these conditions.”

Clark was told that the phone survey information would be passed on to WorkSafe and he could then expect a visit from the organisation.

“What are they trying to achieve? The highest risk thing I can possibly do is to go to the supermarket. And the absolute highest risk is to go to McDonald’s and Burger King. Why the hell are they open?

If they’re sending WorkSafe to me, send the police there.”

Times were as challenging for farmers, as they were for anyone running a business during the pandemic, he said, and when everyone was trying to do their absolute best to keep the economy ticking

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Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers’ president David Clark. over, the last thing that was needed was a raft of pointless, ill thought out questions being fired down the phone.

“He just didn’t understand that the brutal reality is we cannot drench sheep sitting on the couch at home.”

Clark has been sent a copy of the Level 3 WorkSafe plan and it’s identical to the one he has in place on his farm.

“We understand what it is we have to do, and we’re doing it, and at a time like this we need ideas, not ridiculous questions.”

Clark expects the survey will have been fired at plenty of other farmers and said it smacked of a whiteboard exercise at a Wellington-based meeting attended by people who had no idea how the primary industry sector operated.

Clark has taken his concern to Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor by email and has posted a transcript of the survey on social media where it has generated wide community interest and comment.

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Contactless

So I’ve just had a phone call from MPI, apparently on behalf of Worksafe. They wanted to know what Health and Safety Plan we have in place for Level 3 Covid-19 Restrictions.

MPI, “Are you working from home during Level 3?”

Me, “No.” MPI, “Why not?”

Me, “I can’t plough a field or plant a crop from the

living room.”

MPI, “Do you have staff?”

Me, “Yes.” MPI, “Have you made arrangements for them to work

from home?”

Me, “No.” MPI, “Why not?”

Me, “Can’t shift break fences, drench or crutch sheep

or load grain from the couch in the living room.”

MPI, “Are you planning on developing a Response

Plan to allow your staff to work from home?”

Me, “No.” MPI, “Why not?”

Me, “As I said, can’t plough a field, plant a crop or

cut the shite from the ass of a sheep with your

slippers on sitting on the couch.”

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A random act of kindness sue.n@theguardian.co.nz

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By Sue Newman

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Ashburton Guardian

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A simple act of kindness from a stranger on Tuesday has warmed John and Beverley French’s hearts.

The retirees had spent weeks at home, relying on friends and family to supply them with life’s necessities during the Covid-19 lockdown, but on Tuesday decided to take their first trip in weeks into town.

It was a big day for them, returning to the world outside their front gate and after they’d bought a few supplies they decided to make a day of it and shout themselves a takeaway lunch.

“I asked mum what she wanted and she said, ‘let’s get a Subway’, but when we got there we found we could only order by email or by mobile phone and we don’t have those,” French said.

The couple were about to head for home when a customer collecting her own order stopped them in their tracks, spotting their disappointment, and saved the day.

“She went to her car and came back to us with her phone and asked us if we wanted to order. I told her, ‘yes’, but we couldn’t because we didn’t have a phone.”

The woman smiled, and told the couple to leave it with her.

She placed the order, the food was delivered and to the couple’s surprise, the good Samaritan refused to accept payment.

It was a generous and heart-warming moment, French said.

“It was lovely. We don’t have Subway very often so it’s a real treat. We don’t know who the woman was but she made our day and we just want to say thank you,” French said.

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Ashburton Guardian

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Thursday, May 7, 2020

National recognition for Tania The Dairy Women’s Network inaugural regional leader of the year award has been won by Mid Canterbury farmer Tania Burrows.

The award recognises grassroots dairy farming leadership efforts by more than 70 volunteer Dairy Women’s Network regional leaders throughout New Zealand.

Burrows said it was a “huge honour” to be the first winner of the award.

“I have a real passion for helping people grow,” she said.

“My goal is to be able to support regional leaders with a mentor programme to grow themselves as leaders in their communities and in the industry.”

Tania and her husband, Johno Burrows, are lower order sharemilkers, milking 1000 cows at Valetta.

Burrows earlier trained as an early childhood teacher, progressing to management roles.

Now a mother to three girls, she is involved full-time in the dairy business and also does some work as a personal development coach.

Burrows has volunteered as a Mid Canterbury regional leader for DWN for the last four years, helping rural women to get offfarm and connect with each oth-

In brief Baby in stolen car Police were scouring part of Whangārei after a man was reported to have stolen a car from a service station with a baby in the back seat. The car was dumped and the man ran off. Officers found the baby who was not injured. It’s believed the man had taken the car from BP Wylies about 11.35am yesterday while the baby’s mother went inside. While police did not have an exact age for the baby a spokesperson said it was very young.

– NZME

Tame goats shot

Mid Canterbury lower order sharemilker Tania Burrows has won the national Dairy Women’s Network 2020 regional leader of the year award.

PHOTO SUPPLIED er by holding social events and learning workshops.

DWN chief executive Jules Benton said that its regional leaders were the vital lifeblood of its organisation.

“It’s so important to acknowledge their efforts and celebrate their leadership in the dairy industry and their communities.

All four finalists showed a real

passion for leadership and for making a real difference, not only in their farm roles, but for the network and in their personal lives as well. All were committed to ensure the dairy industry thrives.”

As the 2020 DWN regional leader of the year award winner, Burrows receives registration for the New Zealand Women’s Lead-

ership Symposium in Auckland in late September that includes travel and accommodation and two mentoring sessions.

The other finalists were Sue Skelton, who is farming southwest of Whangarei, near Waiotira, Central Southland sharemilker Jessica Goodwright and North Canterbury contract milker Rebecca Green.

The shooting of 11 farm goats on a property north of Napier has raised fears that a new spate of poaching in Hawke’s Bay could lead to people also being shot. The latest shooting happened over the weekend near Tangoio, an area which still holds memories of a farmer being shot dead when confronting poachers in the mid-1980s.

– NZME

Exemption plea A New Zealand woman begging for an exemption to quarantine rules to see her critically ill father in hospital says she feels “utterly helpless” to stop him dying alone. Rachel Henderson is flying here from Los Angeles, as her father lies in a Christchurch Hospital intensive care unit with failing kidneys, he is in an induced coma. Rachel has been told he is likely to die shortly. – NZME

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Thursday, May 7, 2020

Determination and plants thrive at Lushingtons

By Susan Sandys

susan.s@theguardian.co.nz

Nature’s best time of year for planting is autumn, so Lushington’s is busier than ever.

However, garden centre team members are having to work harder than usual for a fewer number of orders as they meet the Covid-19 Alert Level 3 restrictions.

The centre was closed during Level 4, with just a small team visiting for plant care only.

Owner-operators and sisters, Miranda Sinton and Sophie Duff, said it had been fantastic to be able to open once again.

The centre was selling more vegetable plants than normal as customers took a cue from current times, and moved to having a garden which could support sustainable living.

Overall, business levels were nowhere near as high as in a normal season, with customers no longer able to browse on the shop floor, instead having to remain outside for picking up their order.

Each order had an associated paper trail, as they were submitted via phone and email, as well as Lushington’s newly-launched online ordering platform.

“It’s been exhausting, but we are running on adrenaline at the moment. I think that survival instinct comes in, and you don’t just want to survive, you do want to thrive in the end,” Sinton said.

Sales were reasonably strong nonetheless, as Mid Cantabrians, confined at home, were appreciating their gardens more than ever.

The centre also has a café, which has been open for takeaway coffee and food as of this week The government’s wage subsidy had helped with retaining the centre’s approximate 30 workers.

“We are so grateful for the local support that we are getting,” Sinton said.

“I think in times like this, gardening is a bit of a sanctuary, what better place to be than in the garden.”

Right – Lushington’s owner-operators, Miranda Sinton (left) and Sophie Duff, are busier than ever as Mid Cantabrians nurture their autumn gardens. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Ashburton Guardian

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News 6

Ashburton Guardian

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Thursday, May 7, 2020

We’re all in this together A heartwarming Methven photographic collage is testament to the spirit of togetherness forged in the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We Are All In This Together, Let’s Stay Positive Methven, Kia Kaha,” is the message held by smiling faces of the ski town’s hospitality premises.

Creator Katrina Wijesinghe of Arabica Licensed Café said she had wanted to do something positive for the restaurant, café and pub owners affected by the pandemic.

“Although we are all competing for business to get our customers through the doors, we all support one another and look out for each other,” Wijesinghe said.

She put the collage together after messaging the participants a word to display.

The project had gone well with lots of interest on social media, with even the Prime Minister being tagged in to MP Jo Luxton’s post.

The mural features (top row, from left) Victoria at The Pantry, Iva at The Blue Pub, Lynda and Donna Topp at Topp Country Café, Mango Fisher at The Green Parrot Bar & Grill, (middle row, from left) Sharlene at Cafe 131, Ole Wallis at Methven Resort, Yuki, Yuki and Juju at Aqua Japanese, Katrina, Ranga and Theo Wijesinghe at Arabica Licensed Café, (bottom row, from left) Pip and Levi Dixon at Crossroads The Lodge Methven, Debbie at The Brown Pub, and Marya Trengrove at Primo e Secundo Café.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

■■ TALES FROM THE BACK SEAT

I would tip it all into the river

T

he young preacher who got the numbers mixed up when he spoke about the miracle of the Lord feeding the multitude decided he would champion the cause of temperance.

He decided his life’s work would involve warning people about the evils of the devil’s brew.

His first sermon went like this, and in keeping with real revivalist tradition, his tone got louder and more fervent as he went.

“If I had all the beer in the world, I would tip it all into the river!

And if I had all the wine in the world, I would tip it all into the river!

If I had all the sherry in the world, I would tip it all into the river!

And if I had all the whisky in

Bernard Egan

TALES FROM THE BACK SEAT

the world, I would tip it all into the river!

If I had all the gin in the world, I would tip it all into the river!”

Reaching a crescendo, he thumped the lectern, and said, “And, if I had all the rest of the devil’s brew, I would tip it all into the river as well!”

Now, in true preacher style he stopped, and allowed the congregation to take it all in.

Then quietly he said . . .

“Before we join in prayer please open your song books to

Guardian motoring correspondent, Bernard Egan is well known around these parts. Over the next few weeks, he’s agreed to share with us some of his tales from yesteryear. Some will be his own telling while others will come directly, or indirectly from others. The whole truth of some, can be left for public opinion. Readers are invited to share tales with Bernard by emailing geegeeber@gmail.com

hymn number 365 and we’ll sing together that wonderful hymn of praise Shall We Gather At The River.”

One fellow who didn’t get the message ended up in a bar where the barman asked him what he would like to drink.

The chap said, because he couldn’t decide, would the barman make up a mix in a long glass.

No problem said the barman, what would you like?

“Well let’s start with 2 nips of whisky, followed by 2 nips of gin, 2 nips of vodka, let’s throw in some sherry and some port and then a good measure of brandy.”

The glass was getting fairly full so the barman asked what would the chap like it topped off with and the customer said, “how about some bubbly, then

give it a stir”.

Stirred not shaken – the barman realised this bloke was no James Bond.

The barman also wondered what on earth it would taste like so he waited in trepidation for the customer’s reaction After the first sip he seemed happy and soon downed the rest.

“How was that?” the barman asked.

“Well it was great but because of what I’ve got I don’t think I should have had that,” said the chap.

Now worried from a Health and Safety point of view the barman thinking the bloke must have a medical issue very tentatively asked the customer, “what have

you got?”

“Only about $3.50,” replied the customer.

My offices in Ashburton and Timaru are closed due to COVID-19 For any assistance you can still contact me by ringing 03 308 7510 or email me directly at: andrew.falloon@parliament.govt.nz Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should phone their doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453

Authorised by Andrew Falloon MP, 139 Stafford Street, Timaru.

Andrew Falloon MP for Rangitata

Image Credit: thespinoff.co.nz ,@SIOUXSIEW, @XTOTL Source: WHO, CDC - CC-BY-SA

For the latest info: who.int, health.govt.nz

Rural www.guardianonline.co.nz

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Ashburton Guardian

7

Self-sufficiency in wheat sought

By Heather Chalmers

heather.c@theguardian.co.nz

A shift towards the planting of more milling wheat looks set to continue after a bumper 2020 harvest.

Total tonnages of milling wheat lifted by 31 per cent in the last harvest to 109,200t, compared with 83,100t in 2019.

The Arable Food Industry Council has set a goal of achieving self-sufficiency in milling wheat, used to make bread, by 2025.

Three-quarters of the bread sold in New Zealand is made from grain grown overseas, primarily Australia.

In the latest Arable Industry Marketing Initiative (Aimi) cereal growers’ survey, early indications showed that the milling wheat planting area may be up by 1500ha for the 2021 harvest. Growers also indicated their intention to grow an additional 1200ha of malting barley.

In contrast, autumn and winter sowings of feed wheat were predicted to be down by 2200ha on predicted sowings a year ago, with feed barley down by 3200ha.

Federated Farmers’ grains spokesman Brian Leadley, of Dromore, said the shift to milling wheat was in response to the good yields achieved with some modern varieties, as well as the timing of planting.

Milling wheat, depending on the variety, can be planted until spring. “If you are sowing from June to August there are milling wheat varieties that can potentially yield as well as feed wheat.

“So going from a feed to a milling wheat variety opens up opportunities.”

Flour mill contracts for the 2021 harvest were expected to be released about midMay. “We encourage mills to get their contracts out as early as possible to give farmers an indication as to what varieties are in demand so they can do their planning and budgeting,” Leadley said.

The Covid-19 pandemic had shown the benefits of food security and having a domestic supply. It had also highlighted people’s reliance on cereal-based food, with flour flying off supermarket shelves during the lockdown as people returned to the comforting skill of home baking.

Sowing intentions for feed wheat and feed barley were down as there were not a lot of contracts and more grass seed crops were being planted.

Demand for unsold stocks of feed grain was likely to come from drought-affected regions in addition to the usual pork and poultry feed markets.

With Covid-19 likely to impact on the availability and timing of overseas-sourced stock feed supplies, this may open opportunities for domestic feed stocks to fill any gaps, Leadley said.

“It would be good to see more domestic product going into these markets.”

Feed wheat and barley was a nutritious supplementary feed option heading into winter and spring, but required careful

management to prevent acidosis in livestock.

“There are willing buyers in the market and we expect that the 118,000 tonnes of uncontracted feed wheat and 126,900 tonnes of feed barley as at April 1 will soon find a home,” Leadley said.

“Anecdotally, arable farmers report that grain has been selling since the survey was completed.”

The Aimi survey showed that yields for the 2020 harvest were up 16 per cent across all the six cereal crops surveyed compared with a poor 2019 harvest.

Despite fewer hectares being planted for

the 2020 harvest (98,000ha) than the previous year (104,000ha) tonnes harvested were substantially up at 873,080t compared with 796,700t in 2019, Leadley said.

“This is despite a severe early season hailstorm, flooding in some regions and some pretty variable weather. It just highlights that our arable farmers are world class.

“When you get results such as a 17.7 per cent increase in feed wheat despite a 6 per cent decrease in hectares planted, and a 31 per cent increase in harvested milling wheat from only a 13 per cent increase in hectares planted, that’s really pleasing,” Leadley said.

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20

WOOL PRICES

NZ$ / tonne 6,000

c/kg clean, coarse>35mu 380

5,000

340 300

4,000 260 3,000

2018

2019

2018

20

EXCHANGE RATE

90 DAY BANK BILLS % pa

US$ 0.72

2.0

0.66 1.0 0.60 2018

2019

20

0.0

2018

World 8

Ashburton Guardian

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Thursday, May 7, 2020

■■COMMENT

Is a US-China cold war likely?

By Ian Bremmer NZME

As the push to reopen economies intensifies, world leaders face mounting pressure to successfully balance health concerns, national economies and their own political futures.

That’s true of United States President Donald Trump as he heads into his re-election campaign this northern autumn, but a surprise addition to this list of vulnerable world leaders is Chinese President Xi Jinping.

This new reality may bring the US and China to the cusp of a cold war.

Xi was supposed to be immune from this kind of political pressure.

China isn’t a democracy, and Xi has spent his years in charge consolidating power at an impressive clip. Even a costly trade war with the US did little to damage his political standing at home.

But the initial cover-up of the virus enabled its spread both in greater China and the wider world, provoking unprecedented domestic and international backlash to Chinese leadership.

China’s continued decision to be less than forthright with what it knew and when it knew it hasn’t won them many friends; neither has their attempt at crisis diplomacy, undercut by faulty medical equipment.

And that’s before China began threatening countries pushing for an international investigation into the origins of the virus.

The virus has left Xi feeling the political heat like never before, in China and outside it.

For the first time, there are rumours from Beijing that Xi isn’t assured a third term.

Not that US leadership has much more to boast about.

Trump spent much time downplaying the threat of the virus in the early days of the pandemic.

The US still lags stated goals in getting a widespread testing regime in place, a prerequisite for reopening the economy

Dench a Vogue cover at 85

Visitors, wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus, pose for a selfie in the Forbidden City in Beijing.

PHOTO AP safely.

And while China at least attempted to signal some international concern, the Trump Administration did even less – in a virtual vaccine conference this week, the US didn’t even bother to show.

But for Trump, most concerning of all is the devastation of the short-term US economy, whose strength was supposed to be the linchpin of his re-election campaign.

Trump is falling behind Democrat Joe Biden in critical battleground states according to his campaign’s internal polling.

But while Xi and Trump are both feeling the political blowback of their early coronavirus missteps, coronavirus actually strengthens the US and China over the long run relative to the rest of the world.

And that combination of political pressure at home and additional strength abroad is a combustible mix.

For China, much of its international strength is tied to its critical position in global sup-

ply chains, as well as its general importance in 21st century international trade and credit markets.

Its key role in the global medical supply chain means that it will be essential in the coronavirus fight, damping international criticism of Beijing.

China is also in a better position to economically emerge quicker from the crisis given its reliance on surveillance and isolation techniques that don’t work nearly as well in democracies.

China, in other words, is indispensable to the restart of the global economy.

And at a time when more of the world is moving online, its imminent rollout of 5G only increases its geopolitical footprint.

That latter point is critical, and underscores a similar advantage for the US – while some of the tech companies best prepared to help the world cope through lockdown and our new social distancing reality are Chinese, many more of them

are American, and no other country is anywhere close.

American allies who are wary of Chinese tech will have no choice but to accept Washington’s standards because the tech companies they will depend on will have to as well.

Factor in food and energy independence at a time of increased nationalism – not to mention the continued dominance of the US dollar as a safe haven in the times of economic crisis – and the US is poised to emerge even stronger on the back of this crisis, at least compared to its allies.

This combination of leaders’ short-term political weakness and their countries’ long-term structural strength makes it all the more likely both Xi and Trump lash out at each other to deflect the political heat at home, and will be doing so from positions of international strength.

Hard as it may be to believe, coronavirus may be just the beginning of the world’s geopolitical troubles.

Actor Judi Dench has become Vogue’s oldest cover star at 85 years old. The June issue of British Vogue magazine was going to print in early March, just as the world was going into lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although the cover photographs of Dench in floral Dolce & Gabbana were taken by Nick Knight in February, according to editor-in-chief of British Vogue Edward Enninful, parts of the interview had to be done over the phone. In the magazine interview, the award-winning actor says she hopes “a great deal of kindness” will come out of the pandemic. When asked about retirement by British Vogue journalist Giles Hattersley, Dench responded: “Wash your mouth out!”

New Twilight book soon “Twihards” across the world have rejoiced at the announcement of the return of the vampire series, Twilight, which first captured the world’s attention in 2005.

Author Stephenie Meyer made the announcement about the release of the book, titled Midnight Sun, which is due to hit shelves on August 4. The new novel tells the story of Twilight from Edward Cullen’s perspective, played in the movie series by British actor Robert Pattinson.

The original series, Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, takes readers through the eyes of story by protagonist Bella Swan, played by actress Kristen Stewart. In a blog post, Meyer said there was “a lot more” to Edward’s story.

OUT TOMORROW Check out Guardian Property in tomorrow’s Ashburton Guardian. www.facebook.com/ashguardian

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Business www.guardianonline.co.nz

Thursday, May 7, 2020

9

Ashburton Guardian

■■TOURISM DOWNTURN

Ngai Tahu confirms 309 jobs cut NZME The deep and far-reaching impacts of Covid-19 have led to 309 job losses at Ngai Tahu Tourism, it has been confirmed.

In a joint statement chief executive Mike Pohio and kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai confirmed Queenstown-based Dart River Adventures and Shotover Jet would go into “hibernation” along with Agrodrome, Dark Sky Project, Franz Josef Glacier Guides, Franz Josef Hot Pool, Guided Walks New Zealand, Hukafalls Jet, Rainbow Springs and Vantage Helicopters.

“Consequently, our Ngai Tahu Tourism workforce will be reduced from 348 kaimahi to 39 kaimahi for the time being.

“We expect to write off the equivalent of the last five years of Ngai Tahu Tourism profits.

“Even if the domestic market soon picks up, it will not be enough to sustain our current operations or staffing.”

But, the company leaders said Ngai Tahu remained “deeply com-

mitted” to promoting tourism in New Zealand and would adapt to meet opportunities in the months and years ahead.

“With this in mind, we have retained the key capabilities we need, so we are able to reopen at least to the domestic market when conditions permit, starting with Shotover Jet and Hukafalls Jet.” They said they would do all they could to support staff leaving.

Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters would continue to operate at reduced capacity.

Work has also restarted on the All Blacks Experience in Auckland since the country moved to Alert Level 3, although the opening date was under review with partner New Zealand Rugby.

“It is paramount tourism, alongside the rest of Te Runanga o Nga Tahu Group, emerges from Covid-19 well-positioned to continue serving the best interests of Ngai Tahu whanau.

“These steps have been taken with our ultimate goal in mind.”

Big delays as online shopping boom swamps retailers

By Aimee Shaw NZME

Some of the country’s largest retailers are struggling to meet demand as the number of online orders soars amid physical shops remaining closed under lockdown.

While some retailers have reportedly gone radio silence and switched off their phones to customers, others are warning shoppers that they face wait times of up to 14 days for orders to be processed and sent out.

Some retailers, including The Warehouse, Farmers, Rebel Sports, Kathmandu and Whitcoulls, have been forced to put up notices on their websites warning of “unprecedented demand” and delays to standard delivery times.

The Warehouse’s website says “Please be patient, please be kind.

We’re shipping orders as fast as we can”, while Farmers’ reads: “Due to unprecedented demand through our website and the courier network, your delivery will take longer than normal to reach you”.

The Herald has heard complaints of waiting time for orders running more than six weeks at retailers such as Cotton On, and there are frustrations around why click and collect orders are taking up to 14 days to be processed at The Warehouse – the same amount of time as those for delivery.

New Zealand shuttered its shops and went into lockdown ahead of Australia and now Australia has already opened up and loosened its

restrictions to allow physical trade amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Online sales volumes at retail chains Briscoes and Rebel Sport are eight to 10 times higher than usual volumes under Level 3 lockdown, Briscoe Group managing director Rod Duke told the Herald, while online sales at outdoor equipment and clothing retailer Kathmandu are 2.5 to 3 times higher than this time last year.

Retailers were unprepared for the “massive boom” in online spending and many were working at capacity to fulfil orders, Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford said.

“Retailers are doing their best to meet what is unprecedented customer demand and the reality is they weren’t allowed to prepare for it,” Harford said.

The sector had received a surge in online orders, particularly at the start of last week, when the country moved to Alert Level 3 and online shopping opened up to include all items outside of just essential items, Harford said.

Duke describes the surge in online orders as “just like Christmas time”: “You just can’t prepare enough to accommodate these sorts of volumes in the run-up to opening.”

Selling only essential items under alert Level 4 lockdown accounted for around 2 per cent of the group’s regular 10 per cent online sales.

E-commerce sales volumes were “better now than they will ever get”, he said.

“There’s a whole bunch of peo-

ple out there ordering online not because it’s their preferred way to purchase; they are doing it because it is the only way to purchase.”

Duke said he thought New Zealand’s lockdown had “gone on a bit long” and that now was the right time for shops to reopen to take the pressure off e-commerce.

The Warehouse Group, which is due to release its Q3 sales update to the stock exchange later this week, was unable to comment on the increase in online orders it had received at its retail chains since the country moved to Level 3 lockdown, but said order processing times were taking longer due to “unprecedented demand”.

A spokeswoman for the company, which operates The Warehouse, Stationery Warehouse, Noel Leeming and Torpedo7, said its online orders were being shipped in 10–14 days and estimates wait times for click and collect orders ranged from five to 10 days for standard items and seven to 10 days for larger items.

In emails sent to customers, it has advised waits of up to 14 days for click and collect items.

Cotton On Group, which operates Cotton On, Cotton On Kids, Cotton On Body, Typo, Rubi and Factorie stores, said it was currently processing online order volumes six times its normal daily amount.

“Like many retailers, we’ve seen a significant surge in online orders as a result of Covid-19 and in some regions,” a spokeswoman for the Australian retail company said.

Guardian Shares & Investments Compiled by

NEW ZEALAND SHARE MARKET

Source: NZX

S&P/NZX 50 Index Gross constituents Company CODE

a2 Milk Company ATM Air NZ AIR ANZ Banking Gr ANZ Argosy Prop ARG Arvida Gr ARV Auckland Intl Airpt AIA Chorus CNU Contact Energy CEN Ebos Gr EBO F&P Healthcare FPH Fletcher Building FBU Fonterra Share Fund FSF Freightways FRE Genesis Energy GNE Gentrak Gr GTK Goodman Prop Tr GMT Heartland Gr Hldgs HGH Infratil IFT Investore Property IPL Kathmandu Hldgs KMD Kiwi Property Gr KPG Mainfreight MFT Mercury NZ MCY Meridian Energy MEL Metlifecare MET NZ Refining NZR NZ X NZX Oceania Healthcare OCA Port of Tauranga POT Precinct Properties PCT Prop for Industry PFI Pushpay Holdings PPH Restaurant Brands RBD Ryman Healthcare RYM Sanford SAN Scales Corp SCL Skellerup SKL Sky Network TV SKT Skycity Ent Gr SKC Spark SPK Stride Prop & Inv SPG Summerset Gr Hldgs SUM Synlait Milk SML Tourism Holdings THL TrustPower TPW V ector VCT V ista Gr Intl VGL V ital Hlth Prop Tr VHP Westpac Banking WBC Z Energy ZEL

Buy price

Sell price

Last sale

At close of trading on Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Daily Volume move ’000s

1971 1985 1981 –13 246.9 125.5 126 125.5 +0.5 2.3m 1717 1719 1719 –17 82.11 104 105 104 –2 608.2 132 135 133 –2 225.7 583 588 583 –3 1.8m 709.5 710 709.5 +1.5 261.4 614 625 622 +2 658.4 2208 2222 2222 +4 155.2 2866 2880 2880 +100 1.1m 354 358 355 –6 838.3 364 366 365 –4 424.1 665 669 669 +11 142.1 286 292 286 –4.5 825.4 143 145 145 +2 57.35 220.5 225 223 –3 930.0 113 115 115 +2 402.5 457 459.5 459.5 +12.5 263.4 168 170 169 –1 267.1 90 92 91 +8 8.8m 92.5 93.5 93 –2 1.3m 3623 3625 3625 –25 32.57 448 459 449.5 –1.5 272.6 443 450 448 +1 728.4 416 418 416 –2 155.4 90 91 90 – 180.9 127 129 129 +2 135.6 73 74 73 –1 1.6m 681 685 683 –5 61.61 148 149 148.5 –1.5 805.3 223 225 223 –0.5 143.3 535 550 550 +95 3.9m 1210 1229 1215 –5 11.79 1205 1222 1220 +20 164.6 700 703 703 –2 20.80 483 495 487 +7 141.8 192 197 192 –5 83.13 29.5 30 29.5 +0.5 431.8 245 249 246 –2 2.0m 447.5 451.5 448.5 +8 2.5m 152 154 153 +1 238.1 590 610 595 +7 315.2 695 699 698 +3 165.6 136 139 136 +1 342.6 661 669 661 –4 15.58 352 360 360 +9 67.77 119 120 120 +1 356.1 231.5 237 231.5 –2.5 165.5 1685 1710 1686 –24 43.56 313 318 314 +2 849.7

p Rises 82

q Falls 50

Top 10 NZX gainers Company

Pushpay Holdings Kathmandu Hldgs NZ ME Health Innovation F&P Healthcare Serko Auto & Robotics Tower ikeGPS Gr TIL Logistics Gr

daily % rise

+20.88% +9.64% +4.65% +3.70% +3.60% +3.51% +3.36% +3.23% +3.13% +3.13%

Top 10 NZX decliners Company

daily % fall

PaySauce –4.26% Skellerup –2.54% King Salmon –2.50% Marsden Maritime –2.12% Kiwi Property Gr –2.11% Templeton EM Inv Tr –2.10% EROAD –1.89% Argosy Prop –1.89% Turners Auto Gr –1.76% Fletcher Building –1.66%

METAL PRICES

Source: interest.co.nz

p Gold

1,709.10

London – $US/ounce

p Silver

14.93

+6.6

+0.39%

London – $US/ounce

+0.18

+1.22%

p Copper London – $US/tonne

5,111.50

+53.5

+1.06%

NZ DoLLAR

Source: BNZ

Country

As at 4pm May 6, 2020

TT buy

TT sell

Australia 0.9592 0.9231 Canada 0.8669 0.8342 China 4.3872 4.1869 Euro 0.5692 0.5478 Fiji 1.4007 1.3235 Great Britain 0.4963 0.4776 Japan 65.58 63.11 Samoa 1.7423 1.5778 South Africa 11.4224 10.9622 Thailand 19.98 19.21 United States 0.6167 0.5935

Disclaimer: NZX and MetService have endeavoured to ensure the correctness of the information; neither NZX, MetService related companies, nor this newspaper, nor any of their respective employees or agents make any representation as to its accuracy or reliability nor will they, to the extent permitted by law, be liable for any loss arising in any way from, or in connection with, errors or omissions in any information provided (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence). Please note: All products and services are subject to change without notice.

Your Place 10 Ashburton Guardian

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Thursday, May 7, 2020

TEST YOURSELF Test yourself with the Guardian’s weekday quiz 1 – What does PPE stand for? a. Personal Protective Equipment b. Personal Practice Etiquette c. Private Protective Equipment 2 – Dominic Raab is the Foreign Secretary/Minister of which country? a. Israel b. Germany c. UK 3 – Which of The Beatles suffered from dyslexia? a. John Lennon b. Ringo Starr c. George Harrison 4 – The term gaslighting is currently used to mean ...?

a. Highlighting something b. Destroying someone’s reputation c. Manipulating someone 5 – American Vice President Mike Pence was previously governor of which state? a. Indiana b. Wisconsin c. Alabama 6 – Which of these actors stars in the Oscar-winning film Gravity? a. Kate Winslett b. Sandra Bullock c. Emily Blunt 7 – What is chianti a type of? a. Mushroom b. Cheese c. Wine 8 – Which NZ political party did Sydney Holland lead? a. National b. Labour c. Social Credit

6 5 7

Autumn colours Gorgeous autumn colours and falling leaves show the Ashburton Domain is gorgeous yearround. Robin Pridie’s photograph is called A Walk in the Park, taken near the entrance.

Do you have any photographs you could share with our readers?

Write to us!

Email us!

Call us!

Editor, PO Box 77

editor@theguardian.co.nz

03 307-7929

Answers: 1. Personal Protective Equipment 2. UK 3. John Lennon 4. Manipulating someone 5. Indiana 6. Sandra Bullock 7. Wine 8. National.

Fish fillets with curried cauliflower

■■ Pre-heat oven to 200°C. ■■ Bring a pot of water to a gentle boil and blanch the cauliflower florets for 1 minute, taking care not to overcook (very al dente).

Chill in cold water (refresh). Set

4 2

8 9

4

8

aside and allow to dry.

■■ Place ¾ of the lychees into a small saucepan with the coconut cream and half of the cream.

Place onto a low heat, simmer and keep warm. Season as required. Add the remaining cream just prior to serving.

■■ To a blender add egg white and blend until half whipped. Add a little of the lychee juice to taste.

This is the base for our foam.

■■ To a sauté pan or small saucepan add half the butter and a little

olive oil. Add the cauliflower florets, the turmeric and the curry powder to taste. Sauté and season well.

■■ Heat a flat pan for the fish, add a splash of olive oil and remaining the butter, season the floured fish fillets and place into the pan for 2 mintues, turn over and finish in oven for 5 minutes (or flip in pan and cook for a further 2 minutes.

■■ To serve, place the cauliflower on the plate, drizzle a little of the sauce over, with the fish on top.

Spoon the lychee foam around the dish and place the remaining few whole lychees around the plate as garnish.

■■ Use a few micro leaves (or flowers if using) as garnish strategically placed around the plate.

■■ This recipe serves 4 people.

Recipe courtesy of www.seafood. co.nz Seafood New Zealand

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6 3 2 3 9 5 5 7 4 6 TUESDAY’S 1 2ANSWERS 1 6 5 7 3 8 4 9 2

2 9 7 1 4 6 3 5 8

4 8 3 2 9 5 6 1 7

5 3 8 4 2 1 9 7 6

9 1 6 8 5 7 2 3 4

7 4 2 9 6 3 1 8 5

6 2 1 5 8 9 7 4 3

3 5 9 6 7 4 8 2 1

8 7 4 3 1 2 5 6 9

EASY SUDOKU

QUICK RECIPE Half a white cauliflower, cut into florets 250g tin lychees, tin, save the juice (leave half lychees whole, remainder cut in half) 250ml coconut cream 50ml cream 1 large egg, white only extra virgin olive oil 50g butter 1 t turmeric powder 1-2 t madras curry powder (mild) 4 x 160g fish fillets – skinned and boned and lightly dusted in flour (snapper, tarakihi) salt and cracked black pepper 25g micro leaves or edible flowers (Thai basil flowers, chive flowers and borage)

2

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1 5 7 2 1 6 4 5 6 3 3 7 4 7 4 8 8 3 1 Solutions for today in tomorrow’s Your Place page.

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Opinion www.guardianonline.co.nz

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Ashburton Guardian

11

OUR VIEW

Matt Markham

EDITOR

A united front

M

ost of the world seems to have stopped for the past month or so, but one sector of life has remained almost as vibrant as ever. Wandering the streets in the early stages of Level 4 lockdown, it was hard not to notice the amount of rural activity among us.

Contractors, farmers and suppliers going about their business as if nothing was wrong with the world. An essential service by term, but also by definition – rural work is set to play a key role in bringing New Zealand back to life in the coming months.

But they haven’t been untouched by Covid-19 and events like the New Zealand Agricultural Show and the hugely successful Fieldays being under the microscope won’t help things, especially for those in the supply area of the industry.

But they’ll bounce back, rural folk usually do. They’ve faced some pretty massive uncertainty in recent years and have always held their heads high, picked themselves up and provided a united front against all challenges.

It’s an approach all walks of life should share.

Maybe now more than ever, it’s important to push aside the urban and rural divide and understand that both are unable to function properly without the other.

Everyone is working towards the common goal of the betterment of our district, our region and our country.

A lot of blame is apportioned to the rural sector, especially when it comes to the environment. A lot of it seems unjustified too and accusations like that must be hard to shoulder.

Sometimes I don’t think a huge part of the population realises just how lucky they are to live in a rural stronghold.

Thought of the day: Farming looks mighty easy when your plough is a pencil and you’re a hundred kilometres away from the cornfield.

Let’s finish the job ...

A

s I write this column, New Zealand has left the full lockdown of Alert Level 4 behind.

If everyone in our team of five million continues to be careful and work within the rules, hopefully we’ll never see that level of restriction again.

I feel really heartened by how our communities came together to make Alert Level 4 work.

There were, of course, isolated exceptions, but the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders did an amazing job.

We stayed home to save lives.

We were careful when exercising or getting groceries. We were kind to one another. We did each other proud.

You’ll have seen in the news from overseas just how bad this crisis could have got.

The fact that we’ve avoided the worst of it so far, and we can now start rebooting the New Zealand economy well before many other countries, is a credit to every New Zealander.

But we’re not out of the woods yet. This is a marathon, not a

Jo Luxton

LABOUR LIST MP

sprint. That means at Alert Level 3 we all have to be just as resolute and disciplined as we were at Level 4.

So stay faithful to your bubble, even if you expanded it a little in the move to Level 3. Work from home if you can and practise physical distancing and other safety precautions if you’re back at work. Keep your exercise safe and local. And, most importantly, take care.

As you’ll know, Level 3 does mean the economy has started to open up again.

Important sectors like construction and forestry are operating once more.

Many of the Government’s big infrastructure projects are on the move, employing New Zealanders today, and improving our

country for decades to come.

Online retail is up and running again in all sectors, from business clothes to playing cards, and everything in between.

And Level 3 also means you don’t have to cook for yourself all the time anymore!

If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who took the opportunity to get your first taste of espresso coffee, other takeaways or homedelivered food, I hope you enjoyed it – you’ve earned it.

As well as enjoyment, those little pleasures fulfil a greater purpose. They help businesses big and small get back up and running again, and they help tens of thousands of New Zealanders heading back to work in the retail sector.

A great resource encouraging the importance of shopping local in order to boost our local economy and support our business owners is the new Mid Canterbury Open for Business campaign.

You can look up their website and see what businesses are

Still want to view properties? take a 3D virtual tour of any property from the comfort of your home!

currently operating at Alert Level 3, how to purchase and contact them. There are graphics available for use on social media also.

Now, more than ever before, is the time to support local.

So, at the start of Alert Level 3, thank you for taking the chance to support local businesses who have been doing it tough.

They need you more than ever right now, so if you feel a hankering for a scone or a new pair of pants, please don’t be shy.

Give your favourite shop a call or head to their website and see if they can help you out. You’ll be helping them out, too.

Most of us are still staying home to save lives. But now we can help many local businesses get back on their feet again, too.

Jo Luxton is a Labour list MP. The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the author and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of the Ashburton Guardian Co Ltd or any employee thereof

Travel 12 Ashburton Guardian

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Thursday, May 7, 2020

■■NEW ZEALAND

Thomas, three kids and me . . .

By Greg Bruce NZME

T

he drive was 53 kilometres.

We had covered 450m of it when Tallulah, 6, the oldest of the three children in the car, said, “I’m already bored.”

We conceive grand family outings like this one, ideally, then we live them imperfectly.

We conceive of them as platonic ideals of memory creation, ignoring the impending messiness and melodrama of applying sunscreen and finding shoes and hats and all the endless instances of micro-management required to keep our children from the life-endangering acts they find so attractive. We conceive of them as epics, then we live them as farce.

On arrival, we had to walk 100m or so through the death trap of the car park. I told the children to stay in the space between me and the line of parked cars, so they didn’t get run over but every one of them proved incapable of that.

Thirty times or more in the 100m or so between our car and the entrance, I had to grab them, steer them back to safety, yell at them to slow down or otherwise stop them getting run over. I was so deep in the intricacies of saving their lives, which they appeared to value so little, I had no time to indulge in fantasy about the golden times that lay ahead.

From the moment they had woken me up, four and a half hours earlier, just after 6am, and begun asking when we were leaving, I had hardly had a moment to think about the outing, so busy was I preparing for it.

Now I was on it, it was clear the chances to think about it were not going to be much greater.

But now I am beyond all that, I am able to view these logistical issues not as the major component of the day – which they were – but only as impediments to the development of rich, emotional familial connections, which they also were.

Casper has just turned 3. I never intended to get him interested in trains, because I was never much interested in them myself.

Dad bought him a train set for his first birthday and he likes playing with it. I don’t know why he likes it. I particularly don’t know why he likes Thomas. As far as I know he’s never watched it on TV. He has two Thomas T-shirts. Maybe that’s it.

We were at Glenbrook mainly because of Dad, for whom trains were central in life and are now central in death, because he is buried next to the tracks at Purewa. For years, at the slightest hint of a train, he would tell the story of the time he took me to Glenbrook when I was a toddler and I spent the whole time screaming.

As I got older, I became increasingly aware the reason he kept repeating the story was that he wanted us to go back. We never did.

Trains were everywhere in his life and he had attempted to pass them down as they had been passed down to him. His

Thomas at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. father – my grandfather – who I can’t remember, as Casper won’t remember his, had made his living driving steam trains. Where?

When? What was that like? I will now never know.

For years in my childhood, Sunday afternoons were trips with Dad to the miniature steam train at Waipuna. Later in life, Dad took all the train journeys he could, both the great Australian multi-day journeys The Ghan and The Indian Pacific; and the great New Zealand journey: Auckland to Wellington.

For his trip on the Indian Pacific, he shared a sleeping compartment with his elderly mother – my grandmother, my children’s great-grandmother – only three or four years before her death, an epic act of late-life reconnection.

I met them on arrival at Central Station in Sydney, where I was living at the time.

Dad was pleased it was over.

I think all his trips were nods to the approach of death.

For many years, I had thought about going with him to Glenbrook, a nostalgia trip that would, I assumed, have allowed us to access our shared history and reclaim the pure bond a small child has with its parents.

After I’d had kids, I imagined it more as a connection between him and them, via an emotional tightening with me. With both those options now gone, the only possibility left was to do what could be done.

Our first sighting of Thomas was from the car park. The engine was a good replica and Casper yelled “Thomas!” with a degree of joy that matched my expectations and lifted my spirits. Thomas was noisy though: there was the concussive burst of steam as he accelerated and the obnoxious hoot of his whistle.

All my children covered their

ears in panic, as they do at home whenever we turn on a blender or the waste disposal, or let the water out of the bath.

Casper was obviously scared.

He said: “I don’t like the steam!

Why Thomas keep pooping out steam?!” Tallulah didn’t want to get on board but I couldn’t leave her behind, so I had to bribe her with the promise of donuts.

The queue for Thomas was no joke. To accommodate the crowds, he ran only in short shuttles a few hundred metres down the track and back. Still, we waited for at least 20 minutes, during which time my children were mostly silent.

It’s rare for me to initiate conversation with them, because they leave so few spaces in which to do so but I was unsettled by their lack of noise, so eventually I said: “Do you guys know your great-grandfather used to drive a steam engine like that one?” They looked at me blankly. I said, “Just to break that down further, that’s Daddy’s granddad, Granddad Gavin’s daddy.

Nobody made a sound. Complete silence.

I said, “Does anyone have any response to that? Or find it interesting?” After a while, Tallulah said: “I’m itchy from the moths.”

Once we were on board, Casper said, excitedly, “I can’t believe I’m in Thomas!” Neither he nor either of the girls cried, nor clung to me, terrified. Afterwards, while we ate our donuts, Casper, who had never before eaten donuts, said: “These donuts are pretty delicious!” and “It was a nice day on Thomas and finally we’re having something to eat because we’re pretty hungry.”

We spent a lot of the day waiting. Had we been at home, where my children have endless access to the toys they once told us they would never get sick of, they

would have been ignoring those toys in favour of hitting each other and crying and whining about how we had promised to bake muffins, even though we hadn’t and never would.

At Glenbrook, though, they didn’t whine at all, not even after we’d been there five hours and were stuck in a half-hour queue for balloon animals in the hot, hot sun. I don’t believe in miracles, magic, spiritual presences or even the mystical blokery of [psychic] Kelvin Cruickshank but something beyond my ken was definitely taking place.

The day’s central attraction, for me at least, was the ride on the big steam train with its old carriages, with their smell of old wood and leather and their gaping windows letting in the nostalgia alongside the early autumn air. We waited on the platform for what was clearly forever. Time extended unto infinity. Still no one complained.

When the train pulled in, we took our seats in what I assume was once a first-class carriage, a luxurious old room filled with four-seater, leather-covered booths. Casper stood on my lap looking out the wide-open window, the girls sat in the booth across the aisle. As we rolled out into the countryside and I looked across at the girls, set against the rich afternoon sunlight and the rolling, golden fields, I felt an overwhelming sense of love and fatherliness. I made eye contact with Tallulah and she winked, which stunned me because, as far as I know, she hasn’t yet learned to do that. A few seconds later, I looked back at her and she looked back at me. I tried to project the enormous love and warmth I felt. She seemed to absorb it and to reflect it, which is unlike her.

Five or six times this hap-

pened, the same look, the same feeling. I was flooded with the sense that striving for more from life was futile. I was looking out on the same dry fields Dad presumably looked out on 40 years before while holding, on his lap, a screaming child who was me. We can’t force emotions on ourselves and neither can we force them off ourselves.

While the kids were getting in the car at the end of the day, Clara told me I wasn’t allowed to get in. I had to wait far enough away that I could no longer hear her shouting at me to go further away, which worked out to be about 30m.

After a minute or two standing there in the hot, hot sun, I came back to the car, at which point she yelled at me to go away again, while Casper yelled at me not to. I ignored him, because Clara was more likely to have a long and difficult emotional meltdown.

I said, “I’m going to do this one more time Clara, then I’m getting in.”

When I came back, I saw she was buckled into her car seat, which was a big deal, not because she can’t do it, but because she so seldom does. I said: “Well done Clara! You got buckled in by yourse....”

Big mistake. She burst into tears and wailed at top volume: “NO DADDAAAAA! I DIDN’T WANT YOU TO SAY THAT!” which she followed up with more wailing and crying. I wanted to take back my comment more than anything I’d ever said, because it was nothing, had added nothing, and had led to this. it couldn’t be taken back, but that didn’t mean I shouldn’t try.

“I didn’t see!” I said, desperately. “I won’t say anything!”

“NO DADDAAAAA! STOP!” she screamed. She wailed and wailed.

There was nothing I could do but wait it out. This messy car – scene of so many prior wailings – was just a car and not a place of magic, which – again – is not something that’s real.

I assumed everyone would go to sleep on the long drive home, since that is what they always do on long drives home. I would have been surprised had Casper stayed awake even five minutes.

But no one went to sleep; no one even looked like going to sleep.

When Zanna put Casper to bed that night, I assumed he would fall asleep within minutes, if not faster, but that turned out to be quite wrong: He was still awake after nearly an hour.

Zanna, lying next to him, asked if he needed to go to the potty.

He told her he didn’t.

“Why are you still awake?” she asked.

“I’m not,” he said.

She told me this story later that night. I laughed, because I was reasonably sure he wasn’t telling the truth.

Check out Glenbrook Vintage Railway on Facebook or www.gvr. org.nz for future Day Out With Thomas and other train-related events.

Sport www.guardianonline.co.nz

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Ashburton Guardian 13

■■QUIZ NIGHT ONLINE

Methven FC get quizzical

By Heather Mackenzie

heather.m@theguardian.co.nz

Necessity is the mother of invention and so it was for the Methven Football Club’s fundraising efforts on Saturday night.

Needing to raise funds to purchase the clubrooms building off Methven Hockey and with Covid-19 lockdown putting a stop to public gatherings, club members turned to the internet for help by the way of a virtual quiz night.

Senior football coach Marc Davies said player Jan Lukasek was the driving force behind the live-streamed quiz.

“Jan organised the whole thing really, the rest of us just went to town on social media gathering up as many participants as possible.”

This self-promotion worked a treat as around 70 households from several different countries tuned in at 8.15pm. International time zones meant some were answering questions while enjoying their early morning coffee.

As well as chief organiser, Lukasek adopted the role of quiz master on the night too.

Davies said there was an amusing moment when Lukasek, originally from the Czech Republic solemnly asked, “In what year

Methven Football Club’s, Marc Davies. was the Methven Football Club estimated?”

Confusion reigned for a minute or two until it was pointed out the word Lukasek was looking for was actually – established. Davies

PHOTO HEATHER MACKENZIE

explained that the club logo includes EST. 1982 which Lukasek interpreted as estimated.

As the questions flowed, and local businesses promoted, quizzers were encouraged to

head to the Givealittle page and donate.

The amount raised exceeded all expectations and Davies said he cannot thank everybody enough.

“The givealittle page is currently sitting at $1950, that is astounding. I thought if we raised $400, we would be doing well.”

A live quiz night was not the only thing scuppered by the Covid-19 lockdown. The group’s hope of securing a grant to go towards the building purchase has also been interrupted as many organisations have put a hold on new applications for the time being.

Davies admits in this unusual time it is necessary to think outside the square when it comes to getting the money for the clubrooms together.

In a bid to think big they have floated the idea of naming the clubrooms after a major benefactor.

“We would be more than happy to name it after any individual or company who stepped up to help us out.

“This building is so much more than just somewhere to store stuff, it’s a social space too.

“Methven Football Club is unique in that we have many different nationalities in our team, this building provides a space to get to know each other.”

For more info or to make a donation go to the Methven Football Facebook page.

■■OPINION

The problem with new All Blacks captain Sam Cane

By Chris Rattue NZME

T

he mind has plenty of time to wander, and hardly a day goes by when I don’t think about Jonah Lomu during this sporting hibernation.

Superstardom didn’t come any bigger, rugby-wise, and when the national sport re-emerges it will look paler and paler in comparison to the days when the big man ran amok.

What a character and through the ups and downs, he had two great World Cups. The man – his rampaging style and his life – held us captivated. Oh for another Jonah Lomu right now – New Zealand Rugby need him, like the NBA needed Michael Jordan.

And what do we have instead?

Sam Cane’s elevation to the All Black captaincy is an iconic moment, a good keen man elevated to a job enhanced by the

test greats Tana Umaga, Richie McCaw and Kieran Read for so long.

He is a default option in desperate times, when star power, vitality and charisma have never been so low.

Cane represents a sport which has turned into a system, one obsessed with churning out versatility and dependability, where centrally controlled succession planning was touted as a cure-all but has turned into

a sickness.

The game has become so divorced from its public that many fans would struggle to know why Cane is valued so highly. Amongst the wider community I would suggest that the overlooked All Black coaching candidate Scott Robertson is better known.

In the true sense, there is hardly a household name in the All Blacks any more.

Cane is a terrific footballer,

no doubt about it, but not a publicity magnet or guaranteed starting selection even.

Captaincy was once a matter of hot debate, particularly when Taine Randell, Todd Blackadder, Reuben Thorne and Anton Oliver failed to reign supreme about two decades ago.

Those sort of invigorating arguments seem to have gone out of the window but I’m picking Cane might find himself in a very hot seat when tests resume.

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Racing 14 Ashburton Guardian

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Thursday, May 7, 2020

■■HARNESS RACING

NZ racing’s biggest day to go ahead

By Michael Guerin The show may not go on but the cup definitely will.

That is the pledge from Addington bosses who vow the famous New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting will proceed even though Canterbury’s Agricultural Show, the other centrepiece of the region’s biggest week, has been cancelled for the first time since World War Two. The no show will be a huge loss for the Christchurch economy as it brings so many people to the region and goes hand-in-hand with the racing of cup week at Addington and Riccarton.

But Addington chief executive Brian Thompson says while he feels the pain of the show organisers, his club’s cup day will definitely go ahead.

“We don’t know what it will look like of course but there will be a cup day and a cup week at Addington,” said Thompson.

“Like everybody else we are hoping the whole country is back to Level 1 by then and we can hold the traditional cup week and give people an experience they can enjoy.

“But if for some reason we are at Level 2 by then or even a Level 1 with restrictions we will be hold-

M9 Christchurch Greyhound Racing Club Venue: Addington Raceway Meeting Date: 07 May 2020 NZ Meeting number: 9 Doubles: 1 and 2; 3 and 4; 5 and 6; 7 and 8; 9 and 10; 11 and 12 Trebles: 1, 2 and 3; 4, 5 and 6; 7, 8 and 9; 10, 11 and 12 1 3.23pm (NZT) THE FITZ SPORTS BAR SPRINT C3, 295m 1 61572 Smash Achiever 17.15........................M Grant 2 64831 Major Storm 17.39............................C Roberts 3 73553 Jaded Affair 17.33............................ L Waretini 4 76711 Goldstar Clover 17.31 S &...................B Evans 5 64351 King Kali 17.19....................................M Grant 6 2118x Homebush Liam nwtd................... J McInerney 7 65411 Opawa Waihemo 17.33.......................R Wales 8 42112 Tricky 17.03.......................................... D Lane 9 3478x Loco Lola 17.18.............................A Bradshaw 10 46741 Kea Viking 17.32 J &...........................D Fahey 2 3.46pm KOLORFUL KANVAS DASH C3, 295m 1 14713 Homebush Stasser 17.74............. J McInerney 2 21224 Mitcham Becky 17.28......................... C Steele 3 23432 Ring Clown 17.19................................M Grant 4 3Fx52 No Kissy Missy 17.58....................A Bradshaw 5 711F7 St Andrews 17.36................................. D Lane 6 44273 Man Of Letters 17.19..............................A Lee 7 82157 Punters Kirsty 17.27............................R Wales 8 23484 King Toliman 17.32...........................D Roberts 9 34777 Opawa Lacy 17.04..............................R Wales 10 864x2 Ineffable 17.34......................................B Dann 3 4.05pm CULVIE BOY’S SYNDICATE STAKES C3,

M3 Waikato Greyhound Racing Club Venue: Cambridge Raceway Meeting Date: 07 May 2020 NZ Meeting number: 3 Doubles: 1 and 2; 3 and 4; 5 and 6; 7 and 8; 9 and 10 Trebles: 1, 2 and 3; 4, 5 and 6; 8, 9 and 10 1 12.10pm (NZT) WELCOME TO CAMBRIDGE RACEWAY SPRINT C0, 375m 1 46854 Xena Poppy nwtd R &........................L Udy 2 423 Nana Molly nwtd U &...................... Cottam 3 8882 Clever Ester nwtd W &...................T Steele 4 68665 Kapai Chris nwtd W &....................T Steele 5 56567 Clever Harper nwtd W &................T Steele 6 5367F Loudred nwtd............................M Prangley 7 35 Electric Shock nwtd..........A J Christiansen 8 77346 Fernando Charm nwtd...................T Green 9 88x58 Chong Lai nwtd.......................... R McPhee 2 12.28pm FARMLANDS COPRICE SPRINT C1, 375m 1 6165 Marked Man nwtd W &..................T Steele 2 58242 Fancy 21.71..............................M Prangley 3 43423 Tamantha nwtd............................... B Bond 4 87476 Don Morocco 21.33.................... P Cleaver 5 48878 Tilly’s Silly 21.55 R &.........................L Udy

For the harness racing industry in particular the New Zealand Cup will be even more of a focus after the Inter Dominions, which has followed two weeks after in recent years, were postponed for this year by Sydney harness racing officials.

That could even mean Australian horses who might have stayed home could be lured to the cup meeting providing travel between the two countries is relatively open by then.

Thompson would not be drawn on the stake for the great race, or the other group ones of cup week, suggesting there are too many sums to be done before that can even be guessed at.

While it looks certain the 2020 cup will be worth a lot less than the $750,000 it was run for this season, if the crowds are allowed back to Addington for the second Tuesday in November they really won’t care. ** Racing returned to New Zealand’s tracks for the first time in six weeks on Tuesday with greyhound meetings at Addington and Wanganui and they went went off without a hitch under strict new Covid-19 protocols.

Harness racing is scheduled to return on May 29 and thoroughbred racing on July 3.

The New Zealand Cup is certain to held and Addington bosses are hopeful crowds like those who saw Cruz Bromac win last year will be possible.

While Thompson and his team lack the crystal ball we would all love at the moment, they held their first planning for cup day this week, with the different scenarios bandied around.

“Our dream result will be hav-

ing cup day, we will just have to operate within what rules are in place at the time.

“We would even hold the races themselves without a crowd if we have to but thankfully it looks like that won’t be the case.”

ing cup day like usual and it is still six months away, so hopefully a lot will change between now and then because we want to give racing people and even those who love the week something to aim at.”

Christchurch dogs Today at Addington Raceway 520m 1 24276 Goldstar Sydney 30.14 S &.................B Evans 2 36734 Ophelia Allen 30.09..........................D Roberts 3 16785 Rivalries 30.16 J &..............................D Fahey 4 27142 Know Denying 30.37......................... G Cleeve 5 14315 Homebush Fonzie 30.29.............. J McInerney 6 11331 Punters Bolt 30.59...............................R Wales 7 83142 Famous Lee 30.51 S &........................B Evans 8 41381 Opawa Cutie 30.29 J &.......................D Fahey 9 78478 Creme Brulee 30.26......................... L Waretini 10 7588x Sefton Joy 30.38.................................R Wales 4 4.23pm DURASTEEL STRUCTURES PH 033796195 SPRINT C5, 295m 1 21211 Mustang Tully 17.00.............................. C Weir 2 24571 Opawa Oscar 17.10............................R Wales 3 51177 Know Equal nwtd.............................. G Cleeve 4 43131 Beck Eleven 17.04........................... L Waretini 5 31674 It’s A Joke 17.26........................... J McInerney 6 33161 Just Izzy 17.19.....................................B Dann 7 52618 Chanyaka 17.20...................................B Dann 8 77841 Pita Ramos 17.14..................................J Dunn 9 27527 Hankenstein 17.19........................A Bradshaw 10 17645 Know State nwtd............................... G Cleeve 5 4.47pm THURSDAY PLACE PICK STAKES C3, 520m 1 13467 Alotta Talk 30.46 S &...........................B Evans 2 15624 Know Conclusion 30.31.................... G Cleeve 3 3264x Opawa Hilary 30.07 J &......................D Fahey 4 21163 Punch On Buzz 30.27.................. J McInerney 5 55122 Punters A Hero 30.40 J &...................D Fahey

6 x5141 Opawa Pink 30.65...............................R Wales 7 65777 Longshanks 30.35.........................A Bradshaw 8 11737 Zefside 30.23............................... J McInerney 9 78478 Creme Brulee 30.26......................... L Waretini 10 7588x Sefton Joy 30.38.................................R Wales 6 5.03pm SUCK IT UP LTD SPRINT C4, 295m 1 12675 Wildebeest 17.20..........................A Bradshaw 2 36244 Souffle Sue 17.19......................... J McInerney 3 116F4 Oakmont 17.04..................................... D Lane 4 21122 Homebush Velma 17.24............... J McInerney 5 72653 Know Majority 17.20.......................... G Cleeve 6 73243 Special As 17.30 J M..........................McCook 7 F3252 Amuri Magic 17.28....................... J McInerney 8 11363 Opawa Di 17.10...................................R Wales 9 17572 Goldstar Major 17.24 S &....................B Evans 10 17187 Smash Damage 17.17........................M Grant 7 5.22pm SWIMMING GOAT @ STUD DASH C5, 295m 1 24518 Disobedience 17.19 S &......................B Evans 2 41135 Memoir 17.30......................................D Voyce 3 42437 Jinja Dylan 17.18................................. A Joyce 4 21727 Fired Up Jed 17.21...............................B Dann 5 23126 High Dreamer 17.11............................M Grant 6 14512 Archie John Hill 17.08 J &...................D Fahey 7 16522 Little Krakatoa 17.24.....................A Bradshaw 8 84148 Martha Magic 17.33......................... L Waretini 9 51668 Go Gunna 17.25..................................R Wales 10 17645 Know State nwtd............................... G Cleeve 8 5.38pm ACTIVE ELECTRICAL CHRISTCHURCH DASH C4, 295m

1 42544 Ulyssa Bale 17.30............................C Roberts 2 12537 Black Tori 17.35.............................A Bradshaw 3 21325 Homebush Boots 17.20................ J McInerney 4 56514 Citizen Aguero 17.25.................... J McInerney 5 11315 Vegan Express 17.22............................ C Weir 6 14436 Know Charisma 17.19....................... G Cleeve 7 52222 Jinja Ellie 17.24................................... A Joyce 8 82875 Golden Bay 17.13 J M.........................McCook 9 14546 Our Dazzel 17.00................................R Wales 10 17187 Smash Damage 17.17........................M Grant 9 5.53pm AMBER CLEANING SERVICES SPRINT C5, 295m 1 36471 Culvie Ness 17.22 H &........................... Taylor 2 11131 Seve nwtd............................................. D Lane 3 27143 Hilton Forabet 17.06.............................B Dann 4 22411 Calm Inferno 17.19...............................B Dann 5 11163 Select Trick 16.95.................................. C Weir 6 37415 Shaw Lee 17.10 J M...........................McCook 7 55137 Homebush Caesar nwtd............... J McInerney 8 18712 Pearls Are Us nwtd............................ G Cleeve 9 27527 Hankenstein 17.19........................A Bradshaw 10 17645 Know State nwtd............................... G Cleeve 10 6.11pm GREYHOUNDAUCTIONS.CO.NZ STAKES C4, 520m 1 62663 Opawa Toddy 30.18 J &......................D Fahey 2 22741 Opawa Slick 30.23 J &........................D Fahey 3 63118 Electric Silk 30.11 J &.........................D Fahey 4 63461 Classy Witch 30.29............................ G Cleeve 5 61675 Start The Show 30.02........................R Adcock

6 53573 Know Refusal 30.35.......................... G Cleeve 7 21212 Ozzie 30.01.......................................... D Lane 8 4666x Opawa Rooster 29.99.........................R Wales 9 7x174 Translation 30.33 J &...........................D Fahey 11 6.32pm HART FAMILY GREYHOUND RACING STAKES C5, 520m 1 72855 Thrilling Watch 30.60........................D Roberts 2 12344 Dyna Dave 29.67..............................C Roberts 3 71531 Go Vegas 30.03 J &............................D Fahey 4 43564 Gem 30.15 J &....................................D Fahey 5 31412 Xabil Bale 30.03...............................C Roberts 6 18721 Goldstar Mauney 30.06 S &................B Evans 7 43413 Spring Falcon 29.98 J &......................D Fahey 8 11525 Ringside 29.84..................................R Adcock 9 52846 Opawa Nat 30.01 J &..........................D Fahey 12 6.49pm PROTEXIN SPRINT C4, 295m 1 18668 Kiwi Gunn 17.22................................R Adcock 2 56141 Jinja Liv 17.52 J M..............................McCook 3 24651 Amuri Liv 17.16............................ J McInerney 4 11111 Zipping Houdini 16.88........................... C Weir 5 28848 Homebush Alexei 17.14............... J McInerney 6 25626 Sozin’s Empire 17.26................... J McInerney 7 1254x Know Debt 17.17............................... G Cleeve 8 13754 Smash Wild 17.07...............................M Grant 9 14546 Our Dazzel 17.00................................R Wales 10 17666 Forehand Raid 17.19.............................J Dunn LEGEND: fsdt - First Start Here nwd - No Win this Distance fstd - First Start This Distance

4 46774 Flying Huey 21.37.......................... M Black 5 15467 Stay Rich 21.46 M &.......................J Smith 6 76845 Noah Who 21.03.......................M Prangley 7 73355 Busy Flash nwtd W &.....................T Steele 8 12767 Frosty Blaze 21.31.........................T Green 9 57454 Eddie Hemi nwtd W &....................T Steele 10 62657 Rod’s Girl nwtd U &........................ Cottam 8 2.13pm MIKE STENT DECORATORS LTD SPRINT C4, 375m 1 71248 Waiterimu Ripper 21.28 R &..............L Udy 2 84613 Kiwi Gal 21.27 U &......................... Cottam 3 23116 Thrilling Hudson 21.13...................K Walsh 4 34752 Our Rick nwtd..................................E Potts 5 31338 Tres Vite 21.28.............................. T Patton 6 33711 Jinja Nice nwtd................................E Potts 7 66237 Native Scout 21.34........................P Green 8 53462 Djay Dynamix nwtd...................M Prangley 9 4276x Thrilling Peta 20.93........................K Walsh 10 71344 See Eye Be 21.04.....................M Prangley 9 2.31pm FARMLANDS VIRKON SPRINT C2, 375m 1 5216x Burning Rain nwtd........................ T Patton 2 21737 Paddy Fast 21.35 M &....................J Smith 3 23168 Botany Esmay 21.27......................P Green

4 21252 Opawa Nemo nwtd W &................T Steele 5 21422 Ma Chere nwtd.............................S O’Neill 6 66561 In Focus 21.61............................ P Cleaver 7 47121 Kapai Stewie 21.70 W &................T Steele 8 24343 Enjoy The Perks 21.06......A J Christiansen 9 62657 Rod’s Girl nwtd U &........................ Cottam 10 57454 Eddie Hemi nwtd W &....................T Steele 10 2.51pm SUPERIOR CHUNKY DOG ROLLS SPRINT C5, 375m 1 1416x Thrilling Talk nwtd..........................K Walsh 2 18727 Relevance 21.20 R &.........................L Udy 3 24418 Spring Mechanic nwtd R &................L Udy 4 35213 Keysile 21.29........................... P Ferguson 5 82x11 Iron Eyes 21.04...............................E Potts 6 54241 Our Hemi 21.15 U &....................... Cottam 7 17212 Thrilling Bruce 21.02......................K Walsh 8 5x13x Due To Burn nwtd..........................K Walsh 9 75176 Raging Demon 20.99 R &..................L Udy 10 88377 Odnoc Ankie nwtd................... P Ferguson LEGEND: fsdt - First Start Here nwd - No Win this Distance fstd - First Start This Distance 31 13 - Best Winning Time This Track

31 13 - Best Winning Time This Track

Waikato dogs Today at Cambridge Raceway 6 37777 Agbeze nwtd.................................. M Black 7 1114 Thrilling Izzy 20.94.........................K Walsh 8 52745 El Narco 21.57...............................P Green 3 12.45pm MAYHOUNDS RACING RETIREMENT PROJECT SPRINT C1, 375m 1 3775x Tango Miss 21.46..........................T Green 2 62211 Bobble nwtd W &...........................T Steele 3 21413 Dobby Who nwtd......................M Prangley 4 87665 Talkabout Sophie 21.54................. M Black 5 Vacant Box Five n & a 6 25668 Smash Burton nwtd R &....................L Udy 7 36873 Little Apple nwtd W &.....................T Steele 8 47725 Crackling Gal nwtd U &................... Cottam 4 1.03pm GARRARDS HORSE & HOUND SPRINT C1, 375m 1 74863 Dignity Dented 21.67.....................T Green 2 152Tx Thrilling Dora 21.52.......................K Walsh 3 72524 Fall Gracefully nwtd..................M Prangley 4 445x8 Mobility Scooter 21.20................... M Black 5 36476 Bailey And Cream nwtd R &..............L Udy 6 32582 Ginny Weasley nwtd........................E Potts 7 85868 Hua Hua nwtd............................ R McPhee 8 14344 Bugsy Brown nwtd W &.................T Steele

5 1.20pm FOND FOODS LTD SPRINT C1, 375m

1 57587 Just Maddie 21.72......................... M Black 2 44214 Thea Who 21.51.......................M Prangley 3 48446 Hi Ho Tonto nwtd...........................P Green 4 58342 Stellar Babe 22.10...................... P Cleaver 5 21247 Get Me Home nwtd U &.................. Cottam 6 67866 Opawa Queen nwtd W &...............T Steele 7 34733 Jinja Lad 21.72.......................... R McPhee 8 43468 Kapai Tahi 21.56 R &.........................L Udy 6 1.38pm VETORA CAMBRIDGE SPRINT C3, 375m 1 3284x Botany Wayne 21.22......................P Green 2 88642 Quara’s Yoshi nwtd..................... P Cleaver 3 63422 Jinja Murphy nwtd W &..................T Steele 4 45221 Jinja Jay nwtd W &.........................T Steele 5 32573 Go All Lin 21.54............................S O’Neill 6 78145 Jinja Bailey nwtd U &...................... Cottam 7 4114x Opawa Light nwtd............................E Potts 8 27834 Go Falcon 21.39 W &.....................T Steele 7 1.55pm AFFORDABLE PET ACCESSORIES SPRINT C2/3, 375m 1 21577 Just Nia nwtd................................. M Black 2 64447 Tommy The Jett nwtd..................... M Black 3 758x8 Party Every Day 21.50 R &................L Udy

Sport www.guardianonline.co.nz

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Ashburton Guardian 15

■■FOOTBALL

Mainland Football gathering views

By Adam Burns

adam.b@theguardian.co.nz

Views are being gathered at Mainland Football to help local administrators paint a footballing future.

A survey was issued by the organisation on its Facebook page on Monday where everyone involved in football was asked to provide feedback.

“This information will be vital so that we can attempt to provide positive footballing experiences for as many people as possible in 2020,” a Mainland Football spokesperson said.

“Like you all, we are desperately keen to get back on the pitch to start kicking a ball around.”

The move was widely applauded by Mainland followers on its Facebook page this week.

Other sporting codes have reached out to the community amid the Covid-19 lockdown period including rugby and hockey.

New Zealand Football have stated that community football would be the main focus once football restarted as several representative events around the country have been cancelled.

Community football has been postponed until May 30, subject to further advice from the Government.

Right – A footballing picture for the coming months is currently being painted.

PHOTO ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

■■TENNIS

Nadal’s sad prediction for the return of tennis NZME If given the option, Rafael Nadal said he would scrap this season entirely so tennis could resume normally in 2021.

The second-ranked Spaniard, who is 33 years old and has won 19 Grand Slam titles, said he hoped to resume playing this year but doubted it could happen because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I would sign up right now just to being ready for 2021,” Nadal said yesterday.

“I’m more concerned with the

Australian Open than with what happens later this year. I think 2020 has been practically lost. I’m hopeful of being able to start next year.”

Nadal said the logistical difficulties of having to move people from country to country for tournaments make it hard for tennis to resume safely amid the pandemic.

“Sadly, I’m not going to lie to you, the feeling is that we are losing a year of our lives,” Nadal said.

“And at 33, 34 years old, that is more valuable than at 20, when you have more time ahead of

you.”

Nadal recently said he was concerned with the risk of new injuries when players return to action after a long time without proper training.

The Spaniard has had to deal with a series of injuries throughout his career and expects his body to struggle again when competitions finally resume.

Nadal also complained about “confusing” information regarding the return to practice of tennis players in Spain.

He said he went to train on a

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broke confinement rules on Monday for going onto a tennis court at a club in the Spanish city of Marbella.

The tennis federation had said players are not yet allowed to practise on courts.

“It’s not clear to me whether I can go practise or not,” Nadal said.

He said he won’t be able to use the main courts at his tennis academy in Mallorca because there are still 85 kids confined there.

“Nobody can get in there,” Nadal said.

private court because it wasn’t clear to him whether he could practice normally after the government eased some of the lockdown measures that have been in place in the country since midMarch.

Professional and high-performance athletes have been allowed to resume practising at any time this week, but sports facilities and training centres are to remain closed, with some exceptions for soccer clubs and a few other sports.

Novak Djokovic apparently

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*While stocks last on Saturdays

NETHERBY

2019

$1.25

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Age no barrier

Classifieds 16 Ashburton Guardian

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Thursday, May 7, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICES

GARDENING

PEA straw $5. Phone/text 027 734 6005 for weeknight deliveries Ashburton.

Call David Rush today on 03 307 1990 for expert advice and a free no For all subscriber obligation assessment.

Level 2, 73St, Burnett Ashburton | Members of I.B.A.N.Z & Brokernet NZ Ltd. & NZBrokers LevelSt, 2, 73 Burnett St, Ashburton | Members of I.B.A.N.Zrisk Brokernet Level 2, 73 Burnett Ashburton | Members of I.B.A.N.Z NZBrokers Level 2, 73 Burnett St, Ashburton |& Members of&I.B.A.N.Z Level 2, 73 Burnett St, Ashburton | Members of I.B.A.N.Z & Brokernet NZ Ltd. NZ Ltd.

73St, Burnett Ashburton Members I.B.A.N.Z & & Brokernet Ltd. LevelSt, 2, 73 St,|Ashburton Members of NZBrokers I.B.A.N.Z & NZ Brokernet 2, 73 Level Burnett Ashburton | Members of|of I.B.A.N.Z Level Level 2, 73 Burnett St,2, Ashburton |Burnett Members of I.B.A.N.Z & Brokernet NZ Ltd. NZ Ltd.

Level 2, 73 Burnett St, Ashburton | Members of I.B.A.N.Z & Brokernet NZ Ltd.

Level 2, 73 Burnett St, Ashburton | Members of I.B.A.N.Z & Brokernet NZ Ltd. enquiries,

Level 2, 73 Burnett Ashburton Members|ofMembers I.B.A.N.Z & Ltd. LevelSt, 2, 73 Burnett St,|Ashburton of Brokernet I.B.A.N.Z & NZ Brokernet NZ Ltd.

Level 2, 73 Burnett St, Ashburton | Members of I.B.A.N.Z & Brokernet NZ Ltd. | Members of I.B.A.N.Z & NZBrokers 73 Burnett St, Ashburton Level 2, 73 Burnett St, Ashburton | deliveries, Members of I.B.A.N.Z & Brokernet NZ Ltd. missed

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Please

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IMPORTANT NOTICE The Ashburton Guardian office remains closed.

Due to Covid-19, the Ashburton Guardian office at Somerset House remains closed for face-toface enquiries. However, we are still open for business and encourage anyone wishing contact us, to do so at any of the following.

Advertising • Phone 03 307 7900 or email classifieds@theguardian.co.nz Subscriptions • Phone 03 307 7904 or email circulation@theguardian.co.nz Accounts • Phone 03 307 7906 or email accounts@theguardian.co.nz Editorial • Phone 03 307 7969 or email matt.m@theguardian.co.nz The Ashburton Guardian wishes to thank everyone for their continued support and loyalty during these times.

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307 7900

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E L A S E * E G E R F r o f GARA sale notice e

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Puzzles www.guardianonline.co.nz Puzzles and horoscopes

Cryptic crossword

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Simon Shuker’s Code Cracker

ACROSS 2. Go and get the ghost of somebody still with us (5) 5. He makes a noble fist of it (4) 7. To be accustomed to something second-hand (4) 8. Carrying a load, might go under when in bed (8) 9. Architectural feature of Mint, deep in trouble (8) 11. Lose colour in Florida and Delaware (4) 12. Feeling of pleasure if turning into a tragic form of it (13) 15. Sound angry when prices rise like this (4) 17. Omit pile that’s made by being rude (8) 19. If focal, one may be issued by authority (8) 21. Whistled if one sounded depressed (4) 22. Let go of a small amount of liquor (4) 23. Gluttony of King George need not have started (5) DOWN 1. Wrongly understand the words, her aims being different (7) 2. A passing enthusiasm will not quite 11 Across (3) 3. List of numerical information on Pembroke (5) 4. He hasn’t the conventional view of cheer, it might appear (7) 5. Ought to be paid what one has a right to (3) 6. Work at making dough out of necessity, one is told (5) 10. The season has not begun to put one in the ground (5) 11. A flat to be made over may be the death of one (5) 13. One is not making it, due to weakness (7) 14. Being active, it’s when one starts the race (2,3,2) 16. The first advance to lay before one (5) 18. The measured beat of a bean plant (5) 20. One politician who’s a bit of a devil (3) 21. Visible rudiment of a limb not yet in flower (3)

Insert the missing letter to complete an eight-letter word reading clockwise or anti-clockwise.

D E I K L WordBuilder D E I K L

WordWheel 679

R M O ?

Quick crossword 1

2

3

4

6

5

7 9

eight-letter word reading clockwise or Previous solution: ANNOUNCE anticlockwise. Previous solution: ANNOUNCE

11

12

13 14

15

16

17

18 20

22

ACROSS 6. Writer (6) 7. Hurry (6) 10. Sudden urge (7) 11. Claw (5) 12. Dread (4) 13. Disfigures (5) 16. Small hill (5) 17. Cycle (4) 20. Peculiarly (5) 21. Tumbler (7) 22. Squealed (6) 23. Meeting plan (6)

I

Insert the missing letter to complete an

10

19 21

23

DOWN 1. Acceptable (12) 2. Temporary (7) 3. Demurely (5) 4. Portable light (7) 5. Lacking freshness (5) 8. Incidental (12) 9. Requiring great strength or effort (9) 14. Proteins (7) 15. Poking fun (7) 18. Fully grown (5) 19. Narcotics (5)

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): Without a jovial touch, people get bored and touchy. That’s where you come in. You possess an unusual talent, which you will use to help, amuse and delight others.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): While it is possible to be anything you want, it generally takes time.

Meanwhile, you can dabble in whatever tone, feeling or mood you want to take on if you know the mental route to the place.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): More sunsets are caught than sunrises because a greater number of people are awake in the evening than are watching for the break of dawn. Get on an early tract.

There’s something spectacular in it for you.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): Relationships will have a feeling that is greater than the sum of their parts. Just as there’s a certain dynamic present in togetherness, there’s also a dynamic present in apartness.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): Goal setting doesn’t always work for everyone or every situation. Right now it’s enough to be on a certain kind of path.

Your motivation and momentum are slowly picking up. Trust the journey.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): A teacher/student relationship is cyclical. The teacher is always learning from the student and vice versa. And yet it is important to keep the roles intact today.

That’s what makes the relationship work.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): In all your dealings, seek first to position yourself well. Where you are coming from matters big time. Get a firm footing and take a posture of readiness and strength right from the beginning.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): Prioritising becomes a challenge when everything coming your way seems to be a priority. You’ll have to ask more questions to learn the truth and decide what to participate in and what to skip.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): Being rigid with your rules only leads to frustration. Regardless of what’s bothering you, there’s more than one solution. Stay agile and open-minded and you’ll create advantageous conditions for yourself.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): To stay calm and objective through everything that occurs is a sign of maturity and a quality of power players. It’s also what robots do. Temper your strategic calm with great empathy and a drop of desire.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): One way to catch fish is to stir up the water and get them moving, jumping and showing themselves out in the open. Stay calm and scoop them up.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): When you’re in a position of power, you don’t have to observe the protocol that others do, and yet it is a sign of respect and high character to do so anyway.

783

783

How many words of three or more letters, including plurals, can you make from the five letters, using each letter only once? No foreign words or words beginning with a capital are allowed.

There’s at least one five-letter word.

Good Very Good How 9many words 13 of Excellent three or 16 more letters, including plurals, can you make from the five letters, using each letter only once? No foreign words or words beginning with a capital are allowed.

There’s atsolution: least one five-letter Previous ace, aces,word. cafe, cafes, faces, sac, safe, Goodcase, 9 Veryface, Good 13 Excellent 16sea, sec

E D N

8

Your Stars

WordBuilder WordBuilder

WordWheel

Ashburton Guardian 17

Previous cryptic solution

Across: 1. It goes to show 8. Opencast 9. Bran 11. Small 12. Modicum 13. Dace 15. Stir 19. Remorse 20. Hooch 22. Beet 23. Sturgeon 24. Enterprising 6 Down: 2. Theta 3. Occult 4. Sesame 5. Haricot96. Wine merchant 7. Considerable 10. Ode 14. Comment 16.

8 Try 17. Beater 18. Charms 21. Ocean

2 4 9 7 Across: 1. Jilt 8. Abbreviate 9. Statutes3 10. Ales 12. Deters 718. Idol 19.4Totalled5 14. Detour 15. Starve 17. Perils 21. Imperative 22. Drew 6 5 Previous solution: ace, aces, cafe, Down: 2. Ill-treated 3. Tart 4. Abates 5. Ceased 6. Disaster www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz 7 cafes, case, face, faces, sac, safe, sea, 7. Begs 11. Ebullience 13. Enrolled 16. Extras 17. Patois3 sec 18. Ibis 20. Lied 7 8 7/5 9 6 2 2 1 5 8 7 PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS Sudoku Fill the grid so that every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

8 1 7 43 9 65 4 2 5 58 3 6 52 4 8 1 7 3 9 6 9 3 3 1 2 9 2 419 7 5 1 6 8 3 4 5 3 6 8 2 9 1 7 1 7 8 4 9 5 3 1 7 9 2 4 1 5 8 3 6 2 1 6 8 9 7 3 5 4 4 2 4 1 7 9 6 8 7 9 2 7 3 96 1 9 8 4 5 3 6 7 1 8 3 9 2 5 4 6 2 4 9 3 6 7 4

4

8 8 1 9

3 7 6

6 4 2 1 5 2 5 3

5

2

5

6

Previous quick solution

5

9

9

3 7

4 1 2

“Keeping it real” estate!

8 HARD

EASY

3 9 2 7 5 6 1 8 4

4 5 8 1 9 2 3 7 6

6 1 7 3 4 8 5 2 9

7 3 9 5 6 1 8 4 2

1 6 4 2 8 9 7 3 5

2 8 5 4 7 3 6 9 1

5 2 3 9 1 7 4 6 8

9 4 6 8 3 5 2 1 7

8 7 1 6 2 4 9 5 3

2 3 7 1 4 8 6 5 9

6 4 9 2 3 5 1 8 7

1 5 8 7 6 9 2 3 4

Deborah Roberts 021 075 2180

9 1 5 4 2 7 8 6 3

3 2 4 8 5 6 9 7 1

8 7 6 9 1 3 5 4 2

7 6 1 3 8 2 4 9 5

5 9 2 6 7 4 3 1 8

4 8 3 5 9 1 7 2 6

3 2 5 1 6 4 7 9 8 1 2 7 8 6 4 9 5 3

8 5 3 2 1 9 7 4 6

6 9 4 5 7 3 8 1 2

9 8 6 4 5 2 1 3 7

3 4 5 1 9 7 2 6 8

2 7 1 6 3 8 5 9 4

5 6 8 3 2 1 4 7 9

7 3 2 9 4 5 6 8 1

4 1 9 7 8 6 3 2 5

2 7 1

6

6 1 7 4

4 8

6

Guardian

Family Notices

18

15

RANGIORA

LAKE COLERIDGE

Weather

17

18

18 Ashburton Guardian DEATHS

Happy Birthday Thomas Tippet

20 years old today.

Still cute as ever.

Lots of love Mum and Dad.

WOODS, Janet Estelle (nee Manson) – Peacefully sleeping, on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, aged 95 years. She has gone to join her dearly loved husband, Walter John (Wally) and her three sons. Loving mother and mother-in-law of Murray, Russell and Kristine, and Wilbur (Keith) and Vicki.

Also adored grandmother and great-grandmother of Darren, Sue and Hannah, Kimberlee, Jason, Kade and Jake and Kelvin, Tui, William and Griffin. Messages to the Woods family c/o PO Box 472, Ashburton, 7740. A memorial service will be held for Janet – details to follow.

Rest in peace and love xx

SATURDAY: Fine. Northerlies.

Ash

Geraldine

Canterbury owned, locally operated

Ra n

Patersons Funeral Services and Ashburton Crematorium Ltd

to ensure publication.

To place a notice during office hours please contact us on 03 307 7900 for more information.

Any queries please contact 0800 ASHBURTON (0800-274-287)

ka

ia

MAX

bur to

OVERNIGHT MIN

21

OVERNIGHT MIN

9 9

Midnight Tonight

n

20

Ph 307 7433

Waimate

NZ Situation

Wind km/h less than 30

FUNERAL FURNISHERS

fine

30 to 59

For all your memorial requirements New headstones and designs Renovations, Additional inscriptions, Cleaning and Concrete work Carried out by qualified tradesmen.

620 East Street Ashburton Ph/Fax 308 5369 or 0274 357 974 ebcarter@xtra.co.nz NZMMMA Member

fog

isolated snow thunder flurries

sleet thunder

Canterbury Plains

snow

hail

60 plus

TODAY

FZL: Around 2500m

Fine apart from isolated showers west of the divide, mainly from afternoon.

Wind at 1000m: NW 55 km/h.

Wind at 2000m: NW rising to gale 70 km/h in the morning.

Fine, areas of early frosts. Northerlies.

TOMORROW Fine then cloud increasing in the afternoon.

Light winds.

TOMORROW

FZL: Around 2500m

Fine, apart from areas of morning cloud.

Wind at 1000m: NW 55 km/h easing to 45 km/h in the morning.

Wind at 2000m: Gale NW 70 km/h easing to 55 km/h in the morning.

SATURDAY Morning cloud, then fine. Northerlies.

SUNDAY

SATURDAY

Fine. Northerlies.

Adelaide Amsterdam Bangkok Berlin Brisbane Cairns Cairo Calcutta Canberra Colombo Darwin Delhi Dubai Dublin Edinburgh

Cloudy about the divide, fine further east with areas of morning cloud. Northwest.

SUNDAY

Mostly cloudy about the divide, fine further east with areas of morning cloud.

Northwesterlies strengthening.

showers fine showers cloudy fine showers fine fine fog thunder fine fine fine showers cloudy

Frankfurt Geneva Hobart Hong Kong Honolulu Islamabad Jakarta Johannesburg Kuala Lumpur London Los Angeles Madrid Melbourne Moscow Nadi

15 3 29 6 15 22 17 26 5 27 23 22 28 9 7

fine fine fine fine showers fine cloudy fine thunder fine fine fine windy rain showers

22 24 20 33 28 32 32 21 33 21 35 27 21 21 30

4 7 11 27 21 15 26 7 25 6 20 14 14 13 22

New York Paris Perth Rarotonga Rome San Francisco Seoul Singapore Stockholm Sydney Taipei Tel Aviv Tokyo Washington Zurich

fine fine showers showers fine fine fine thunder showers fine cloudy fine fine showers fine

Find out how you can help by visiting: www.otago.ac.nz/chchheart

Thursday

m am 3 3

6

9 noon 3

9 pm am 3

3:07

Call me for all your real estate needs

6

9 pm am 3

6

9 noon 3

6

9 pm

9:15 3:33 9:47 3:59 10:08 4:27 10:43 4:52 11:03 5:22 11:39 The times shown are for the Ashburton River mouth. For the Rangitata river mouth subtract 16 minutes and for the Rakaia river mouth subtract 4 minutes.

Rise 7:32 am Set 5:26 pm Bad

Bad fishing Set 6:36 am Rise 5:33 pm

Full moon ©Copyright OceanFun Publishing Ltd.

Honest. Trustworthy. Local.

9 noon 3

1

7 May 10:46 pm

A University of Otago Centre of Research Excellence

6

Saturday

2

0

shower

Hamilton

fine

Napier

fine

Rise 7:33 am Set 5:25 pm Bad

Bad fishing Set 7:56 am Rise 6:08 pm

Last quarter 15 May 2:04 am www.ofu.co.nz

Rise 7:34 am Set 5:23 pm Bad

Bad fishing Set 9:13 am Rise 6:48 pm

New moon 23 May 5:40 am

Maori Fishing Guide by Bill Hohepa

For the very latest weather information, including Weather Warnings, visit metservice.com

Happy Birthday

6 9 10 25 12 12 14 24 3 12 23 13 13 3 6

18 17 20 17 16 18 19 15 19 20 15 18 15

Palmerston North fine Wellington

fine

Nelson

fine

Blenheim

fine

Greymouth

showers

Christchurch

fine

Timaru

fine

Queenstown

fine

Dunedin

fine

Invercargill

rain

River Levels

13 9 9 13 11 12 7 9 6 5 8 10 9

cumecs

1.89

Selwyn Whitecliffs (NIWA) at 3:05 pm, yesterday

Rakaia Fighting Hill (NIWA) at 3:00 pm, yesterday 218.0 Nth Ashburton at 2:00 pm, yesterday

7.24

Sth Ashburton at 2:00 pm, yesterday

10.4 nc

Rangitata Klondyke at 3:00 pm, yesterday

123.9

Waitaki Kurow at 3:02 pm, yesterday

387.4

Source: Environment Canterbury

Canterbury Readings

Friday 6

18 23 19 27 24 24 26 31 12 24 26 24 22 18 22

overnight max low

Auckland

Forecasts for today

21 18 36 16 25 29 33 36 19 32 34 38 40 18 17

Tides, Sun, Moon and Fishing

We help save lives every day through the research and development of improved diagnosis, better prediction and treatment of heart disease in our hospital and community.

NZ Today

Canterbury High Country

TODAY

World Weather

We Help Save Lives

rain

Thursday, 7 May 2020

A ridge builds over much of the county today from the Tasman Sea. However, a front brushes the far south of the South Island. A series of troughs affect the west coast of the South Island tomorrow and Saturday while a ridge remains over the North Island. A northerly flow strengthens over the South Island on Sunday.

mainly isolated cloudy drizzle drizzle few showers fine showers clearing showers

Increasing high cloud. Scattered rain developing in the south. Northerlies.

WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

21

gitata

MONDAY

Mick Hydes 027 437 9696 mick.hydes@bayleys.co.nz

MAX

SUNDAY: Fine. Northeast breezes.

Office and Chapel Corner East & Cox Streets, Ashburton

E.B. CARTER LTD

deathnotices@theguardian.co.nz

17

TIMARU

MASTER MONUMENTAL MASON

Please note all late death notices or notices sent outside ordinary office hours must be emailed to:

AKAROA

Ra

19

6

OVERNIGHT MIN

www.guardianonline.co.nz MAX 17 OVERNIGHT MIN 5

18

DEATHS ASHBURTON

19

TOMORROW: Fine, cloud increasing in the afternoon. Light winds.

LYTTELTON

LINCOLN Rakaia

GREETINGS

MAX

CHRISTCHURCH

19

METHVEN

TODAY: Fine, possible early frosts.

Northerlies.

19

DARFIELD

Map for today

Ashburton Forecast

Wa i m a ka r i r i

Ashburton Airport Temperature °C At 4pm 14.8 16.9 Max to 4pm -0.4 Minimum -2.9 Grass minimum Rainfall mm 0.0 16hr to 4pm May to date 7.2 Avg May to date 12 2020 to date 139.2 232 Avg year to date Wind km/h NE 13 At 4pm Strongest gust N 26 Time of gust 8:46am

© Copyright Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited 2020

to 4pm yesterday

Methven

Christchurch Airport

Timaru Airport

14.0 14.3 1.5 –

15.4 16.8 0.8 -0.9

18.2 18.9 -1.2 –

– – – – –

0.0 10.0 10 108.0 201

0.0 4.8 6 103.8 174

N 11 – –

NE 15 SW 35 12:36am

NE 11 NW 19 6:13am

Compiled by

For just $10!* Book your birthday greeting, including a photo, for just $10!

Ten words only.* (Under 12 children’s birthday greetings remain FREE) *Terms and conditions apply.

Phone 03 307 7900 Email: classifieds@theguardian.co.nz Level 3, Somerset House, 161 Burnett Street

Television www.guardianonline.co.nz

tVNZ 1

tVNZ 2

©TVNZ 2020

Thursday, May 7, 2020 ©TVNZ 2020

tHREE

PRIME

6am Breakfast 9am The Ellen DeGeneres Show Ellen is joined by Scandal star Kerry Washington. 0 10am Tipping Point 3 0 11am Cash Trapped 0 Noon 1 News At Midday 0 12:30 Emmerdale PG Graham admits his feelings; Kerry waits for a verdict on her discharge from hospital; will Vanessa be released from police custody? 0 1pm 1 News Special 1:30 Coronation Street 3 0 2pm The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3 0 3pm Tipping Point 3 0 4pm Te Karere 2 4:30 Highway Cops 3 0 5pm The Chase 3 0 6pm 1 News At 6pm 0

6:30 Rescue Bots Academy 0 6:40 MyaGo 3 0 6:50 Bluey 0 7am The Jungle Bunch To The Rescue! 0 7:25 Ben 10 3 8:15 Moon And Me 3 0 8:35 Mission Force One 0 9am Infomercials 10am Neighbours 3 0 10:25 Mike And Molly PG 3 0 11:10 Army Wives PG 3 0 Noon Selling Houses Australia 0 1:05 Judge Rinder PGR 3 2:05 Cougar Town PG 3 0 2:30 Home And Away 3 0 3pm Shortland Street PG 3 0 3:30 Get Clever 0 3:50 Get Arty 4:15 Holly Hobbie 0 4:40 Friends 3 0 5:05 The Simpsons 3 0 5:35 Home And Away 0 6:05 The Big Bang Theory 3 0 6:30 Neighbours 0

6am The AM Show 9am The Café 10am Infomercials 11:25 Millionaire Hot Seat 3 0 12:20 Face The Truth PG 12:45 Dr Phil PG Alexis, 23, completely changed when she met 30-year-old Lance, who has been caught committing armed robbery and auto theft.

1:45 The House That £100K Built Heidi and Steven try to build a house in the countryside near Inverness, but their strategy is a risky one.

2:55 Restoration Man PG 0 3:55 F Chris Humfrey’s Animal Instinct 4:30 NewsHub Live At 4:30pm 5pm Millionaire Hot Seat 0 6pm NewsHub Live At 6pm

7pm Seven Sharp 0 7:30 Your Home Made Perfect 0 8:40 Gordon, Gino, And Fred’s Road Trip 0 9:40 Coronation Street 0 10:10 N Episodes Sean and Beverly prepare for their Pucks series premiere. 0 10:40 Seven Sharp 3 0

7pm The Project 7pm You Got This! 0 7:30 Lego Masters USA PG 0 8pm Pooch Perfect 8:30 Dai’s House Party M Stylists must transform their 8:55 The Graham Norton pooches into a wild lion, a Show M 0 bison, a monkey, or a bear. 0 9:05 F Motorway Patrol M 3 9:30 Rebuilding Paradise With Paul Henry 9:30 Renters 10pm NewsHub Late 9:55 You Got This! 0 10:30 NCIS M 3 0 10:15 Why Women Kill 16L 0 11:15 Police Ten 7 3 0

11:10 20/20 3 Current-affairs programme presented

by Carolyn Robinson, featuring international content and in-depth investigative pieces. 0 12:05 The Job Interview 3 0 12:55 Emmerdale PG 3 0 1:20 Te Karere 3 2 1:45 Infomercials 5:35 Te Karere 3 2

11:50 Pennyworth 16VL 0 12:45 F Cougar Town PG 3 1:05 Happy Endings M 3 0 1:30 Regular Show 3 1:40 Infomercials 2:45 Scandal MV 3 3:30 Desperate Housewives M 3 0 4:15 The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air 3 4:40 Emmerdale PG 3 0 5:05 Neighbours 3 0 5:30 Infomercials

11:20 Millionaire Hot Seat 3 Six contestants compete to win cash, hosted by Eddie McGuire. 0 12:05 Infomercials

MOVIES PREMIERE

Seven Sharp

7pm on TVNZ 1

BRAVO 10am Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry 3 10:55 Snapped PG 3 11:50 The Kelly Clarkson Show 12:50 The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills M 3 1:45 Below Deck PG 3 2:45 Keeping Up With The Kardashians PG 3 3:45 Wahlburgers 3 4:15 Dance Moms 3 5:10 Judge Jerry 5:35 Hoarders 3 6:30 Love It Or List It 7:30 Tattoo Fixers PG Jay gives Ieuan a tribute to his late sister; Sketch removes the eye on reality-TV addict Mike’s thigh; Glen tackles Ben’s big boy boasting tattoo; Alice redecorates Abbie’s drunken doodle.

8:30 Below Deck Sailing Yacht M 9:30 The Real Housewives Of New York City M 10:30 Snapped PG 3 11:20 Killer Couples M 3 12:10 Infomercials

Dai’s House Party 8:30pm on Three

SKY 5 6am Jeopardy! 6:25 Wheel Of Fortune PG 6:45 The Simpsons PG 7:10 Parking Wars PGL 8am Border Security – Australia’s Frontline M 8:25 Storage Wars PG 8:50 Storage Wars PG 9:15 Hardcore Pawn PG 9:40 Hawaii Five-0 MV 10:25 SVU MV 11:10 Parking Wars PGL Noon Jeopardy!

12:25 Wheel Of Fortune PG 12:50 Shades Of Blue MVLSC 1:40 FBI MV 2:25 Hawaii Five-0 MV 3:10 Parking Wars PGL 4pm The Simpsons PG 4:30 Jeopardy! 5pm Wheel Of Fortune PG 5:30 Hardcore Pawn PG 6pm Storage Wars PG 6:30 Storage Wars PG 7pm Border Security – Australia’s Frontline M 7:30 Hawaii Five-0 MV 8:30 NCIS MV 9:30 Seal Team MV 10:30 SVU MV 11:15 Storage Wars PG Friday 12:05 Parking Wars PGL 12:55 Wheel Of Fortune PG 1:20 Jeopardy!

1:40 Border Security – Australia’s Frontline M 2:05 Seal Team MV 2:55 NCIS MV 3:40 SVU MV 4:25 Hardcore Pawn PG 4:50 Hawaii Five-0 MV 5:35 The Simpsons PG

CHOICE

6am Ben 10 – Ultimate Alien 3 0 6:50 Endangered Species 3 0 7:15 Trulli Tales 3 0 7:30 Atomic Puppet 3 0 7:40 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 0 8:05 The Thundermans 3 0 8:30 The Moe Show 3 0 9am Game Shakers 3 0 9:30 Portrait Artist Of The Year 3 0 10:30 The Chase Australia 3 0 11:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 3 0 Noon Inside Windsor Castle PGR 3 0 1pm American Pickers 2pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 3 3pm Wheel Of Fortune 3:30 Jeopardy 4pm A Place In The Sun – Winter Sun 3 5pm Frasier 3 (Part 1) 0 5:30 Prime News 6pm Netball Zone 6:30 Isolation Nation 7pm The Crowd Goes Wild 7:30 Mayday PGR 3 0 8:30 N Bull M As Bull prepares for fatherhood, his work at TAC suffers without his top attorney Benny, who left in reaction to Bull’s romantic reconnection with Isabella. 0 9:30 N New Amsterdam M 10:30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert PG

6:30 Paia 6:40 Pukoro 2 7:10 He Rourou 3 7:20 E Kori 3 7:25 E Ki E Ki 7:30 Mahi Pai 7:40 Tamariki Haka 7:50 Huritua 8am Polyfest Kapa Haka 3 8:30 My Country Song 3 9am F Pete And Pio 3 9:30 Opaki 3 10am Wairua 10:30 On The Ladder 3 11am Nga Tangata Taumata Rau 3 Noon F Funny Whare – Gamesnight PG 3 12:30 It’s In The Bag 1pm Nga Pari Karangaranga O Te Motu 3 1:30 Ako 3 2 2pm Toku Reo 3 2 3pm Nga Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua 3 3:30 Playlist 4pm Swagger 4:30 Patapatai 5pm Paia 5:10 Pukoro 2 5:40 He Rourou 3 5:50 E Kori 3 5:55 E Ki E Ki 6pm Mahi Pai 3 6:10 Tamariki Haka 6:20 Huritua 6:30 Te Ao – Maori News 7pm Tangaroa With Pio 7:30 Cam’s Kai 3 8pm Aroha Bridge 3 8:30 Waiata Nation 9pm Sidewalk Karaoke 3 9:30 The Koi Boys MCL 10pm Only In Aotearoa MCL 3 10:30 JC Tha Barber 16CL 3

11:30 Love Island UK 16LS There is a new man in the villa and, after taking some of the women on dates, he may already have managed to turn someone’s head.

12:30 Closedown

11pm Te Ao – Maori News 3 The latest news, with an inclusive approach to Maori news by connecting directly with communities.

11:30 Closedown

MOVIES GREAtS

7:05 The Fault In Our Stars ML 2014 Drama.

Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff.

9:10 Gangs Of New York 16VLS 2002 Historical Drama.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel DayLewis, Cameron Diaz.

11:55 2 Guns 16VL 2013 Action. Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg. 1:45 RIPD MV 2013 Action. Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges. 3:25 10 Things I Hate About You PGS 1999 Romantic Comedy.

Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles.

5:05 The Hangover 16LSC 2009 Comedy. Bradley Cooper.

6:45 Taking Lives 16VLS 2004 Crime Drama.

Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, Kiefer Sutherland.

8:30 Dracula Untold M 2014 Action. When his kingdom is threatened by the Turks, young Prince Vlad Tepes must become a monster in order to protect his family and his people. Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon.

10:05 The Next Three Days MVL 2010 Crime. Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks.

Friday 12:20 The Hangover 16LSC 2009 Comedy.

Friday Bradley Cooper. 2:05 Taking 1:38 The Hate U Give Lives 16VLS 2004 Crime Drama.

MVLSC 2019 Drama.

Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall. Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, Kiefer Sutherland.

3:46 The Making Of Bad 3:50 Dracula Untold M Boys For Life MVLSC 2019 3:56 Little PGLS 2019 Comedy. 2014 Action. Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon.

Regina Hall, Issa Rae. 5:43 If 5:20 The Next Three Days Beale Street Could Talk MVL 2010 Crime. Russell Crowe, MVLS 2019 Drama. KiKi Layne, Elizabeth Banks.

Stephan James.

7:20 Mary Queen Of Scots 16VC 2018 Drama.

Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie.

9:25 Robin Hood MV 2018 Action. Taron Egerton, Jamie Foxx.

11:20 Child’s Play 16VL 2019 Horror. Aubrey Plaza, Mark Hamill.

12:50 Unbroken – Path To Redemption PGV 2018 Drama.

Samuel Hunt, Merritt Patterson.

2:30 The Hate U Give MVLSC 2019 Drama.

Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall.

4:40 Little PGLS 2019 Comedy.

Regina Hall, Issa Rae. 6:30 If Beale Street Could Talk MVLS 2019 Drama.

KiKi Layne, Stephan James.

8:30 Annabelle Comes Home 16C 2019 Horror. While babysitting the daughter of two demonologists, a teenager and her friend unknowingly awaken an evil spirit trapped in a doll. Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson.

10:18 Alpha PGC 2018 Adventure. Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson.

11:55 Top-End Wed ML 2019 Comedy. Miranda Tapsell, Gwilym Lee.

MAORI

MOVIES ExtRA 6:02 Steve McQueen – The Man And Le Mans MLC 2015 Documentary. 7:52 Between Worlds 16VLSC 2018 Thriller.

Nicolas Cage, Franka Potente.

9:21 The Keeper MVL 2019 Drama. David Kross, Freya Mavor. 11:16 1 ML 2013 Documentary.

Michael Fassbender, Lewis Hamilton, Niki Lauda.

1:04 Helmet Heads MC 2018 Comedy.

Arturo Pardo, Daniela Mora.

2:28 Josie 16VLS 2018 Drama. Dylan McDermott, Sophie Turner. 3:55 Austin Found 16VLSC 2017 Comedy.

5:40 Messi And Maud 18SC 2017 Drama. 7:10 Canadian Strain 16LC 2019 Comedy.

When cannabis becomes legal in Canada, a boutique weed dealer goes to war with the biggest gang in town – the government. Jess Salgueiro, Colin Mochrie. 8:30 Old Boys MLS 2018 Comedy. An awkward but imaginative student helps the handsome but dim school hero pursue the daughter of a visiting French teacher. Alex Lawther, Pauline Etienne.

10:08 6 Days 16VL 2017 Action. Jamie Bell, Mark Strong.

11:43 Dropping The Soap 16LS 2017 Comedy.

Jane Lynch, Paul Witten.

Friday 1:18 Woman On The Edge 16VC 2017 Thriller.

2:48 Josie 16VLS 2018 Drama.

4:15 Austin Found 16VLSC 2017 Comedy.

0 Closed captions; 3 Repeat; 2 Maori Language; HLS Highlights; RPL Replay; DLY Delayed. CLASSIFICATIONS: 16/18 Approved for persons 16/18 years or over; C Content may offend; L Language may offend; M Suitable for mature audiences 16 years and over; PG Parental guidance recommended for young viewers; S Sexual content may offend; V Contains violence. Local Radio: NewsTalk ZB 873AM/98.1FM FM Classic Hits FM 92.5; Port FM Local 94.9, 98.9 and 106.1

Ashburton Guardian 19

6am Orang-utan Jungle School 7am Gino’s Italian Escape 7:30 Flour Power 8am Equator From The Air 9am Best Cake Wins 9:30 Hugh’s Wild West 10:30 Mysteries At The Museum 11:30 Gem Hunt 12:30 The Curse Of Oak Island PGC 1:30 Running Wild With Bear Grylls 2:30 Alone PGC 3:30 Seasonal Wonderland 4:30 Hairy Bikers’ Comfort Food The Hairy Bikers cook some of their favourite comfort food, from feasts for friends and family to meals inspired by pub grub.

5:30 Mysteries At The Museum 6:30 American Pickers 7:30 Yukon Gold PGC A month into the season, Al is still searching for a new pit after the failure of his first cut and, with no gold coming in, and his test holes coming up empty, he becomes increasingly desperate.

8:30 Discovering… Coldplay 9:30 Ozzy And Jack’s World Detour PGC 10:30 American Pickers 11:30 Mysteries At The Museum 12:30 Hairy Bikers’ Comfort Food 1:30 Best Cake Wins 2am Ozzy And Jack’s World Detour PGC 3am Love Nature – Seasonal Wonderland 4am Ozzy And Jack’s World Detour PGC 5am Mysteries At The Museum

UKtV 6:35 Insert Name Here M 7:05 The Graham Norton Show M 7:55 The Bill MVC 8:45 Inspector George Gently M 10:20 Grantchester M 11:10 Doc Martin PG Noon Midsomer Murders MVC 1:45 The Bill MVC 2:35 Lewis MVC 4:15 The Graham Norton Show MLS 5:15 Who Do You Think You Are? PG 6:20 Qi MLS 6:55 EastEnders PG 7:30 Qi M With Alexander Armstrong, Jeremy Clarkson, John Sessions, and Alan Davies.

8pm Would I Lie To You? M Joining the teams are Bob Mortimer, Gabby Logan, Katherine Parkinson, and Steve Backshall.

8:30 The Graham Norton Show ML Bruce Springsteen joins Graham in a rare UK TV appearance; Robert De Niro talks about his role in The Irishman; music from James Blunt.

9:30 The Jonathan Ross Show MLS 10:25 Ackley Bridge PG 11:15 Midsomer Murders MVC Friday 1am Qi MLS 1:30 Qi M 2am Would I Lie To You? PG 2:35 Who Do You Think You Are? PG 3:35 The Graham Norton Show ML 4:25 The Jonathan Ross Show MLS 5:15 Holby City MC 7May20

DISCOVERY 6:35 Fast N’ Loud PG Racing a 1967 Dodge Dart 1/2.

7:30 What On Earth? PG Mafia Ghost Ship. 8:20 Alaskan Bush People PG Beyond the Bush. 9:10 Alaskan Bush People PG Where There’s Water There’s a Way. 10am How It’s Made PG 10:25 How Do They Do It? PG 10:50 Strange Evidence PG Curse of Osiris. 11:40 Aussie Salvage Squad PG The Tide is King. 12:30 Web Of Lies M Control Alt Delete.

1:20 Blood Relatives M Wasted Away. 2:10 Top Gear 3pm Alaska – The Last Frontier PG 3:50 Gold Rush PG 4:45 Fast N’ Loud PG Racing a 1967 Dodge Dart 2/2.

5:40 Aussie Salvage Squad PG Man’s Best Friend.

6:35 Gold Rush – White Water PG Enter the Superclaw.

7:30 Aussie Gold Hunters PG 8:30 Gold Rush – White Water PG Birthday Gold.

9:25 Aussie Mega Mechanics PG Shiny and New. 10:15 Alaskan Bush People PG Where There’s Water There’s a Way. 11:05 What On Earth? PG Beasts of the Lost Jungle.

11:55 How It’s Made PG Friday 12:20 How Do They Do It? PG 12:45 Naked And Afraid M 1:35 Gold Rush PG 2:25 Moonshiners M 3:15 Alaska – The Last Frontier PG 4:05 Strange Evidence PG 4:55 Naked And Afraid M 5:45 Gold Rush PG

metservice.com | Compiled by

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Sport

20 Ashburton Guardian

Nadal’s sad outlook

Captain Cane caned

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Rugby clubs are being urged by the Mid Canterbury Rugby Union to be ready for action as the country makes its way out of lockdown.

Call for Level 2 readiness

By Adam Burns

adam.b@theguardian.co.nz

The Mid Canterbury Rugby Union (MCRU) is urging its clubs to prime themselves for action as the country makes its way out of lockdown.

A definite date for a return to community rugby and what it will look like remains unclear, however the MCRU says it is “well positioned” to come out the other side.

Board chairman Gerard Rushton said a key factor will be how long the country stays in Alert Level 2.

“That’s the crucial thing.

“Two weeks, four weeks, anything longer than that then we’ve

got some challenges.”

Current guidelines stipulate contact sport can return no earlier than Alert Level 1.

Despite the local community operating on a day-to-day basis, Rushton said clubs should be putting plans in place for a return to the field in Alert Level 2.

“Under Level 2 they’ve got to be ready to go.

“Clubs need to be communicating with their players and coaches and getting their player registrations done so then we can communicate with those players when we get to Level 1.”

The MCRU were still discussing possible options alongside neigh-

bouring sub-unions in terms of the make-up of the local combined club competitions.

Rushton did not rule out a re-modelled club competition for this season.

“Clubs need to get their own house in order.

“The unions are setting up delivery plans and systems to deliver the game safely when we can.

“We can formulate competitions really easily and really quickly and we have a number of options which may or may not involve Ellesmere.

“They’re in the same position as us.”

The financial implications of

Covid-19 for various sporting organisations has been a common talking point during lockdown.

Rushton said strong support for the game in Mid Canterbury had set them up to withstand this latest challenge.

“Everyone thinks rugby is broken,” he said.

“Mid Canterbury rugby is in a sound financial position to deliver the game of rugby to the community when and how we are allowed.

“We’ve had good support from the community and sponsors in the past which has enabled Mid Canterbury to have a platform.

“We’re ready to go.”

There may be no show, but Cup Day to proceed

About 25 per cent of the Ashburton population were involved in rugby to some degree, Rushton said.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) who are conducting two independent reviews into the New Zealand game, have suggested they are facing a multi-million dollar loss this year.

Rushton said with the remote prospect of international rugby for the forseeable future, it presented an opportunity for the governing body to channel its resources into the grassroots.

“They’re going to have to rely on building it from the bottom up which will be quite good.”

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