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Friday 20 November 2020
Carnival vibe at junior show
Perfect balance: Members of the Hack Vaulties troupe perform at the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Show. Photo: Jo Richards. JO RICHARDS
Fine weather, a large crowd, and plenty to do and see combined in a summer carnival atmosphere at Saturday’s Boys & Girls Agricultural Show. On the day, Tak ak a’s Rec Park was transformed from a rugby pitch into an activity-packed showground where people mingled with pets and farm animals. At one end of the field, energetic youngsters scaled a climbing wall and slid down an inflatable slide, while at the other, a collection of trade stands provided information, entertainment, and sustenance. Being late spring, it was the sort of day when coffee and snowcones went down equally well. Horses and ponies were the first animals to perform – along with their riders. Judges Richelle Riley and Marie Pirie cast their expert eyes over turnout, pace and manners. As 14-year-old Natalie Iorns trotted her mare Blackie in the background, Marie explained, “We’re looking at how they move and whether are they relaxed and listening to the riders.” Attention then turned to the dogs parading
around the small show-ring. Pets of many shapes, sizes and colours were led by their handlers, although, in a few cases, it appeared to be the other way around. Just missing out on the top spot, young Issac Otten picked up a second prize for Spud, his four-month-old kelpie cross, and seemed simultaneously proud and a bit disappointed. Entries in the sheep, goat and calf competitions were surprisingly limited to one of each, but, as they say, “You’ve got to be in it to win it”. Nine-year-old Kayla Rose took the rosette for Milly the goat, 11-year-old Naomi Watson did likewise for her lamb Bo-peep; and nine-year-old Ashley Iorns could start celebrating her Wednesday birthday early thanks to her well-turned out calf. Away from the show-ring, other children were busy having their faces painted by Shanti Spoentjes, or watching Tess the Clown twist balloons into all sorts of shapes. Some were even having a go at putting out an imaginary fire using the Takaka Fire Brigade’s hose. As the morning drew on, the Hack Vaulties began their acrobatic routine on the back of
Brown Acre – the large Clydesdale horse that is a key member of the troupe. To a soundtrack from Queen, and loud applause from the many spectators, the leotard-clad girls mounted the moving horse, demonstrating their impressive sense of timing and balance. Following the Vaulties’ final dismount, the audience then saddled up to watch Golden Bay On Stage, which feature talented young performers from across the Bay. Co-organiser Abbie Langford was clearly pleased with the event. “It was a fantastic day at the show - so awesome to see everyone up there, enjoying themselves... everywhere I looked there were smiling, laughing people.” Paying tribute to supporters she said she was already exploring how to expand and improve show day. “The team of Abbie, Tash, and Jenny would like to say a massive thank you to our community for supporting this day. We couldn’t do it without you. We are already planning for next year, and would love to hear any ideas or suggestions that people have.” More photos pages 8 and 9
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THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2020
The Local Government Commission this week announced that it will not proceed with the establishment of a local board for Golden Bay or elsewhere in Tasman District. Reacting to the news, the Golden Bay Local Board Working Group (GBLBWG), which submitted the application for a local board to the Commission in 2018, expressed its disappointment, with secretary Tony Lawton describing the decision as “a significant missed opportunity for this community”. Tasman District Council, which officially took a neutral stance on the issue, appeared significantly more upbeat. “While the full report has yet to be seen and examined, the meeting held between the Commission, Council, Community Board and the applicants shortly after the initial deliberations gave the Commission further confidence the issues behind the original application could be resolved within the current structure,“ explained Tasman mayor Tim King. In announcing its decision, Commission chair Brendan Duffy said, while the Commission had identified a number of potential benefits from local boards, it was also required to consider the scale of these benefits and the likelihood of them being realised. Tony said the GBLBWG understood the factors that led to the Commission’s decision. “Mixed views from our community following TDC’s inflated potential costs and general opposition, an indecisive response from our community board, combined with legislative restrictions on what the LGC can force upon unwilling councils, are all factors, we believe, in our application being declined.” But he remained adamant that changes in local governance were required. “Until all communities across the Tasman district can move together towards communitylevel decision-making, along with the associated changes in TDC’s decisionsupport processes to efficiently enable this, we are unlikely to see local boards and community-level democracy in our region.” It’s just over two years since the Commission received an application from the GBLBWG seeking the establishment of a local board to replace the existing Golden Bay Community Board. In the intervening period, the commission has followed a lengthy statutory process that included a call for alternative applications, the release of a position paper, ... Continued on page 5
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