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Friday 7 February 2020
Handsome haul at competition
Catch of the Bay: Hinemoa (3) and Isaac Thomas (9) show off their snappers. Photo: Shelley Grell. SHELLEY GRELL
Judging by the handsome haul of fish weighed in during last weekend’s fishing competition, sashimi, smoked and pancrumbed fillets will be served on many dinner tables this week. Despite the threat of forecasted westerlies whipping up whitecaps, most competitors in the Pohara Boat Club Fishing Competition returned with a fine and varied catch. Up for grabs were prizes for the biggest blue cod, gurnard, terakihi, kahawai, snapper and crayfish, as well as a plethora of other categories including the most unusual catch, the hard luck story, the scruffiest fisherman, and the biggest drama queen. Saturday delivered the best of conditions for the 106 entrants, with calm sea and little wind for much of the day. And contrary to predictions, the lack of wind kept the swells at bay on Sunday to offer competitors a second bite at catching the big one. On display throughout the weekend
was a bounty of prizes donated by several sponsors, which included quality rods, reels, lures, T-shirts, caps and drinks bottles, home and garden gear, vouchers, flowers, hampers, and more. “A delayed start left us just a few weeks over the busy holiday period to approach sponsors, which wasn’t the best of timing. Luckily this is our third year of running the competition, and we knew what we were doing,” said organiser Amy Ashford. Amongst the winners were James Dunne for the biggest snapper, weighing in at a whopping 7.55 kilograms, and Julian Goulding for hooking the biggest kingfish at 11kg. Kevin Winter, who’d spent all day Saturday fishing with his son Mitchell and Savana Williams, won the prize for catching the most unusual fish – a ling. He, said, “In all the 66 years I’ve being fishing in the Bay I’ve never caught a ling. We got most of our catch today from well out of Separation Point, but we also caught a few as we worked
our way back along the coast towards the golf course.” Young Braxdyn Ray, 4, who won several prizes last year, took away another top prize for his 0.65kg blue cod. The three-generation fishing team that included granddad and “other” prizewinner Chris Ray for his 1.45kg grey boy shark, netted some of the biggest catches on both days. The haul included colourful and big-eyed sea perch called Māori Chief or Jock Stewart. “We use rods and a longline, and we fish all over the Bay, including just off Taupo Point,” said Chris. “We go fishing often and usually share our catch with friends and family.” The competition ended on Sunday evening with the prizegiving and barbecue. Amy Ashford and co-organiser Mark Laycock had put in enormous effort that was greatly appreciated by all, and with many spot prizes they ensured that no one left disappointed. See page 2 for more photos and the list of prize-winners.
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THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2020
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The Local Government Commission (LGC) has released its Investigation Process document outlining the steps required to establish a local board for Golden Bay. The revised timetable detailed in the document shows that a formal proposal will be released in April, with completion of submissions and hearings expected by June. A final decision will be made by September. It’s already been a lengthy process; In 2018, based on a petition by 700 locals, the Golden Bay Local Board Working Group (GBLBWG) applied to the LGC to investigate replacing the community board with a local board. The community board currently makes recommendations on local issues but all decisions are made regionally by TDC. A local board would allow all non-regulatory, and some regulatory local issues, to be decided by locals elected from the Golden Bay community. Last year, the LGC deemed GBLBWG’s application warranted investigation, but the Investigation Process document now specifies how it will be carried out. According to the document, the LGC will focus on a local board for Golden Bay, rather than boards for all Tasman communities. The aim is to use the “Golden Bay local board proposal” as the basis for consultation with the community, setting out what a local board is, what it could do, and the likely costs. During the process, the community will be actively involved via information releases, submissions and hearings, as well as through input from key stakeholders from the wider Tasman District, including TDC and Iwi. Secretary of GBLBWG Tony Lawton says it’s vital that locals get involved. “Change will not be implemented unless we as a community engage in the consultation and accept both the process and the outcome.” The LGC acknowledges that it has no control over how much TDC will charge Golden Bay, via a targeted rate, for supporting a local board, but Tony says the GBLBWG is determined to ensure council does not abuse its position. “The Working Group will do everything in our power to ensure that, if the Golden Bay community, in conjunction with the LGC, decides to upgrade to a local board, any resulting rate increases imposed by TDC are fair, transparent and acceptable to our community.” And he stresses the significance of the local board investigation process. “This is a once in a generation opportunity, as a community, to have a say in how we wish to be governed. Community level decision making has the potential to significantly improve Golden Bay’s economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being.” For further information, see LGC notice on page 4 and/or visit: www.gblocalboard.co.nz or www.lgc.govt.nz.
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