Bay hosts women's rugby

Community Board

Monday’s Golden Bay Community Board meeting was all done and dusted within 80 minutes. A single contributor to public forum and an absence of formal presentations meant the majority of the board’s time was spent in round-table discussion.

Public forum

The sole speaker, however, did provide good value with a two-for-one address; Anatoki resident Bill Wallis started with a familiar topic – the Anatoki Track Road. For years, Bill battled to have improvements made to the road which Tasman District Council effected a few years ago. The current problem, Bill explained, was a lack of maintenance which was making the road narrower. “I have to almost stop to avoid potholes.”

His other issue was with the public boat ramp facilities at Tarakohe Harbour where, he said, the launch and recovery of his boat was unnecessarily convoluted, physically very demanding and hazardous. “It’s very difficult…it’s really a health and safety issue.”

Bill contrasted Tarakohe’s “one little skinny ramp” with the facility at Motueka where boaties could launch four-to-six boats at a time. “I spend 15-20 minutes and risk health and safety to launch my boat and go sailing. We need a safe launching facility.”

Chair’s Report

Items from May public forum:

Women’s rugby came to Tākaka last Saturday with a Tasman Trophy fixture hosted at the Rec Park.

Although Tākaka doesn’t field a senior women’s team in the Tasman Rugby competition, the Motueka-based Kahurangi squad contains nine players from Golden Bay. The switch of venue for the day was a one-off arrangement in recognition of the Bay players’ commitment to the team.

The golden girls, nominated as the home side by the scoreboard operators, faced the confusingly-named Waimea Old Boys Women in what proved to be a very entertaining match as well as a showcase for the women’s game.

After an initial ebb and flow, with each team taking turns in attack, it was Kahurangi who broke the deadlock with a try on 10 minutes by Maddy Holland. Ten minutes later, Sarah Jones scored the first of her 14 points with a try to give her side a 10-0 lead, but the visitors soon halved the deficit.

Waimea began the second half on attack and got their reward within three minutes of the restart, with a try to level the scores. But it was the last time they were to trouble the scoreboard as Kahurangi responded almost immediately with a breakaway try from Jones, which she successfully converted. Ten minutes later Jarrah Solly scored to extend the home side’s advantage taking the score to 22-10.

Waimea continued to play some good rugby but, as the game wore on, mistakes crept in. And it was a defensive error by the visitors’ defenders close to their try line in the 74th minute that allowed Lucy Brown to ground the loose ball for a further five points. Sarah Jones then completed a highly productive afternoon with a successful conversion to take her side’s points tally to 29.

Final score: Kahurangi 29 v Waimea 10.

Kahurangi coach Weesang Paaka said the Golden Bay players had been a little apprehensive before kick-off. “The girls were nervous for the first time because parents and friends are here.” He acknowledged that his side may have got a bit lucky, but was happy with the result and performance. “Coming away with a win is always good.”

Shortly after the women had left the pitch, Tākaka’s men came on for their Division 2 match against high-flying Riwaka.

The visitors have a reputation for being a very physical side, and certainly did nothing to defy that label during 80 minutes of fierce competition. But the character and discipline shown by this developing young Tākaka side, particularly over the closing stages of the game, steered them to the narrowest of victories.

Tākaka’s Blake Cottle opened the scoring with a try on seven minutes, subsequently converted by Riley Oakden. Five minutes later Riwaka responded with a try of their own, but failed to covert, and on the half-hour mark, Cottle popped up with another try to take the score to 12-5.

The second half started well for the home side with Oakden kicking a penalty to extend...

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The ongoing saga of the naming of a Puponga street, remains ongoing. TDC group manager environmental assurance Kim Drummond explained that “the applicants” had suggested an alternative name for consideration by Manawhenua ki Mohua who were yet to make a decision.

The role of TDC and GBCB in the management of Golden Bay’s private water schemes under the Government’s new regulatory regime was discussed by the board. It was agreed that the board should take a more proactive approach, which would involve making contact with all private water schemes, determine their situation, and explore what support might be available from TDC. Board chair Abbie Langford suggested setting up a meeting in July to define the board’s role.

Special Projects funding: belinda@goldenbayproperty.com

Abbie said that, at a recent discussion with TDC’s financial chief Mike Drummond, the board asked if they could move funds from the Special Projects Fund across to the Board’s Discretionary Fund.

By Dr Nick Baker - Chief Medical Officer/ Paediatrician for