New beginnings for Pōhara café

Learn how to crowdfund

JO RICHARDS

Pōhara’s café scene has received a caffeine boost – and more – with the rebirth of a well-known watering hole.

The Nikau Café and Bar opened this week on premises that formerly hosted The Penguin and The Kororā’s Nest. Since the latter closed for business two-and-a-half years ago, the building has remained unoccupied, compounding the recent loss of two other local favourites – Totally Roasted and Sans Souci. Understandably, there is a big appetite for the new venture and the news has created something of a buzz around the Bay.

When The GB Weekly visited last Saturday morning, new owners Don and Gail McKnight and daughter Angela were busy with final preparations. As Don tidied up the grass verge in front of the café, Gail cooked up some tasty test menu items in the kitchen, while Angela made sure the dining area was all spick and span.

The family trio are no strangers to customer-focused business, or hard yakka; Don and Gail built up Cape Farewell Horse Treks from scratch into a world-beating tourism experience before selling it in 2014, and Angela has a strong background in food and beverage hospitality, including a two-year stint managing a craft brewery. Having catered for countless guides and large groups at the horse treks, Gail says she feels right at home in the kitchen. “Cooking for a lot of people doesn’t faze me.”

Looking for their next challenge took the trio some time, but Angela says they’d had their eye on the Pōhara café for a while. “We were pipped at the post last October, but it came back on the market, so we decided ‘let’s have a crack at it.’”

It has not been a case of just turning on the lights and opening the doors, however; time had taken its toll on the building and its facilities. “We’ve had to dig it out of a hole, and start again,” explains Don.

During the excavation, they discovered that all the necessary operating licences had lapsed, so fresh applications were required. To date, all the paperwork is in place or in progress – the on-site liquor licence is subject to hearing next week at the insistence of Tasman District Council, which declined the initial application.

Consequently, the Nikau will open initially for breakfast, lunch, drinks, and snacks, serving a range of wholesome food prepped and cooked in the café kitchen throughout the day. The menu includes open sandwiches, tortillas, pizzas, nachos, cakes, and scones – and locally roasted coffee.

The owner of Pōhara’s other local “pub” has welcomed the new venue. “Amy at Molly B’s has been so supportive; she has a wealth of knowledge and is an amazing neighbour,” says Gail, adding that they intend to co-ordinate hours. “We’ll make sure there’s always one café open.”

The opening of the café also means a timely fillip for the local economy. “We’ve already employed people and will be looking for more staff as we approach the busy season,” says Gail.

Angela anticipates they’ll be “absolutely flat stick” when that time comes but says their main focus will be on the year-round community. “The big emphasis is looking after the locals.”

Nikau Café and Bar, 822 Abel Tasman Drive, Pōhara: Open 8.30am-4pm, 7 days/week. Ph 03 970 3992 or email: nikaucafenbar@gmail.com.

Local writer Charlotte Squire is giving a talk about the art of crowdfunding, in a venue that was once crowdfunded itself.

Next Friday evening, Charlotte will be sharing her presentation “How to successfully crowdfund the things you

Charlotte has worked for the Kiwi crowdfunding platform PledgeMe in the role of projects and marketing lead for the last 20 months. She is part of a team who have helped people seeking to make a positive difference in their fields, raise millions of dollars to fund projects and

During her talk, Charlotte will explain the most important ingredients in a successful crowdfunding campaign and will

Crowdfunding campaigns that Charlotte has been involved with include: Happy Cow Milk, which raised nearly $280,000 to enable dairy farmers to supply ethical and sustainable milk locally; sustainable toothpaste company Solid Oral Care, which raised $23,000 to upgrade to a larger laboratory; and Taranaki microbrewery Three Sisters which

Charlotte’s talk is on Friday 4 August, 5-6pm at the Golden Bay Community Centre, Mohua Social Services, 88

Kia ora e te whānau,

We are seeing an increase in calls to service and the same is being experienced by our response partners St John and Community Mental Health. Often we attend the same jobs and police are there to ensure everybody is kept safe. Sometimes our very presence is inflammatory to those needing assistance. This is unfortunate but won’t necessarily mean we will leave if we believe there is a risk of harm to anybody present. Safety of ourselves and our community is our priority and we will deal with whatever unfolds.

• 21 June: A 48 year-old local male was spoken to by Police for resorting to harassment following a civil dispute. Often a little light and perspective is achieved by taking a breath and a step back.

• 24 June: A 44-year-old was trespassed from a local address on behalf of the owners after claiming he owned the property.

• 27 June: A 30 year-old male living in a van was arrested and referred to an iwi panel for threatening council rangers in Tākaka township.

• 11 July: A 23 year-old local male was arrested and charged with threats to kill and 3 counts of wilful damage. He was also warned for a separate incident of threatening behaviour. He is on bail to appear in the Nelson District Court on 31 July. Police hope to get him some help with his anger.

• 13 July: Police are investigating unlawful hunting in the Pakawau Bush Road area.

• 14 July: Police colleagues from Nelson assisted local police at the stop co-governance meeting in Motupipi Street and it was disappointing that arrests were necessary. The majority of those attending (on both sides of the fence) did so peacefully. Two arrests for assault were made at the event and a number of complaints were received and investigated following the scuffle at the front door of the hall that Police broke up. After a thorough review of events a 66 year-old local male was warned for disorderly behaviour likely to (and did!) cause violence and a 31year-old local female was warned for assault. It was deemed not in the public interest to pursue any charges. The 56 year-old male organiser from Christchurch who was initially arrested for assault was deemed to have acted in self defence and was released without charge after being interviewed and all video footage was reviewed. His behaviour, videoing everyone with his cellphone, was certainly inflammatory but something that is not unlawful. Police endure this regularly from disillusioned customers.

• Two 16 year-old students have been referred to Youth Aid on drug related offences following an incident on the 11 July. They had purchased large quantities of cannabis at a music festival in the Cobb Valley earlier in the year and this has lead to a very bad year for them and their whānau.

• 19 July: A 70 year-old local male was convicted of five charges relating to the sale and supply of alcohol from a local business. He appears for sentencing in the Nelson District Court on the 24 August.

• 22 July: A 42 year-old visiting male from Christchurch was issued a number of infringements and had his bogus number plates removed from his vehicle. He did not believe the Land Transport Act applied to him and apparently he didn’t have to pay to stay at the DOC campsite either. I have no words!

Have a great weekend, stay safe, Tākaka Police

Turning to paganism?

Malcolm Muggeridge is credited with having said, "When we stop believing in God we will end up believing in anything." This truth has suddenly become much more evident here in New Zealand. We have largely lost our Christian heritage and now pay homage, laud, revere and even deify the created order rather than the Creator. All this is tantamount to worship and such practice was once called paganism.

Larry Petterson

The freedoms of a modern democracy

We can be thankful we live in a modern democracy. Those millions of innocent people in China, Russia, and Cambodia who died at the behest of their tyrannical leaders, Mao, Stalin and Pol Pot, would be envious of us. But only if their innocent lives had been spared. In New Zealand we are still free to assemble peacefully in protest and to assemble peacefully to speak and listen. We have the right and responsibility to do both, for how else can we engage with one another to understand, learn and co-exist peacefully. In our Parliament, sustained interruption is not tolerated. Unpalatable ideas are not met with violence and disorder but with further ideas. That’s how successful and cohesive democracies operate and flourish. This is not Stalinist Russia. All credit to the peaceful protesters at the "Stop Co-Governance" rally last week. All credit to the police for maintaining order. All credit to those who came to listen peacefully. The United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous people underpins our government commissioned He PuaPua report, a blueprint for New Zealand’s future "Vision 2040". Both reports are far reaching in their potential impact on the NZ we loved. That’s why the "grey-haired" and others who have children and grandchildren are concerned. Feel free to read these documents, listen to others, discuss, then smile. This is not communist China, Russia or Pol Pot’s Cambodia, or Zimbabwe!

Warwick Stubbs

Co-governance in practice

Tena koutou

Maunga Taranaki as part of the collective redress, for the eight tribes of Taranaki is finally to be settled between the Crown and the Taranaki tribes, or is it? The settlement is a cogovernance arrangement with the proposed governance entity with four trustees appointed by the Minister of Conservation and four appointed by representatives of the eight tribes. Nothing novel there and most would say extremely sensible and practical. No challenge to democracy and certainly nothing that would even come close to apartheid – a word very loosely and incorrectly used nowadays.

The Taranaki settlement which is currently with the tribes for ratification would see the mountain have it own legal personality – it would own itself! DOC would remain the manager, but they would get much need help from tribal involvement. There is money with the settlement to ensure the tribes can be an effective partner – no gravy train there. The settlement monies are to be invested by a commercial entity to give a sustained income. The tribes will gain from this as will DOC which surely needs the help. The people of Taranaki will benefit as will New Zealanders generally.

The access to the mountain will remain, with some altered arrangements consistent with a jointly produced management plan. The snag could be the “Stop Co-Governance” misinformation peddled by the likes of Julian Batchelor – who knows? I certainly hope not, but his disinformation needs the disinfection of sunlight – one cannot claim freedom of speech when it is promulgated in secret.

No reira, heoi ano

Harmful rhetoric

Morris Te Whiti Love

For years, the NZ Islamic Women's Council tried to have their deep concerns heard about the threats of violence and anti-Islamic rhetoric aimed at their community. By and large, they were ignored.

In 2019 was the Christchurch massacre occurred. Barely four years ago. Proof that ignoring something doesn't necessarily make it go away.

Similarly, this anti co-governance roadshow is spreading alarmist disinformation, directed at Māori. Disinformation that can lead to radicalisation and harm. It's all part of the same hateful ecosystem.

Personally, I'm grateful to every person who could show up on Matariki to reject this mischief and reassured by their commitment to a peaceful future.

Jenny Randall

Sharing good ideas for healthy debate

The dictionary definition of a democracy is; "a country in which the citizens choose their government by voting".

As humanity evolves, it would be great to see more compassion and wisdom prevail and healthy debates taking place where good ideas can be shared.

Peace [it's cheaper] and love [it's free and feels better than hate],

Victoria Davis

Addendum from the Global Federation of Rabbits

The Federation feels it necessary to point out the mainstream media rabbit hole, comfy as it is - and also the most shallow - is not exempt from our immediate notice of eviction. We do see humans jumping out daily from this one but many others seem part of the furniture. It might be worth asking other humans why they've taken to exploring the warren, and perhaps explore together the green pastures of understanding above our accommodations. As a parting gift, please accept our softness as you take these brave steps.

Yours sincerely,

Samantha Blanchard, on behalf of the GFOR Shout-out to district nurses

We are writing to acknowledge the wonderful work that the district nurses do. They have been coming to our home twice a week for several months to dress surgery on Ross's head. Rain or shine, always cheerful and carefully done, then out the door at a run. Really brightened our week. Thank you Nurses. We are very fortunate here in the Bay.

Lee and Ross Ogle

Correction

In last week's article about the Joy Wells fundraiser "Support for teen's recovery and family" (GBW, 21/7, page 3) we stated that the prize raffle is being organised by Collingwood Rugby Club. This is not the case; the raffle is being run by a group of indviduals from the local community. Apologies for the error and any confusion caused, Ed

Letters To The Editor

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