The stranding of 37 pilot whales on the shallow intertidal flats of Farewell Spit on Monday morning triggered a multi-day rescue mission during which the whales restranded several times.
The pod, which first beached approximately 200 metres from the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) at the base of the spit, included a few large adults, some “teenagers” and a couple of calves. DOC ranger Amanda Harvey, who was overseeing the operation, was thankful for the tightly bunched distribution. “Fortunately they are all close together.”
Unfortunately, by Monday afternoon, two had perished with a third likely to follow. “It’s dug itself a deep hole and already taken too much water into its lungs,” said Amanda.
Volunteer rescuers were quickly on the scene; many were well-prepared locals, sporting orange vests – a hi-viz sign they were Project Jonah (PJ) marine mammal medics.
One of the medics – Collingwood resident and HealthPost employee Merith Dobbie – had come straight from work. “I’d just finished an all-team meeting and got a text message,” said Merith who is an experienced whale rescuer. “I’ve done three so far.”
Others happened to be there by chance. On
holiday from Germany, Claas Lindner, watched the incident unfold. “We were on a hike and saw the fins,” said Claas, keen to get involved. By late afternoon, a 50-strong army of rescuers included DOC staff, PJ medics and other volunteers. For several hours everyone worked to cover the animals in sheets, douse them with water, dig holes for their fins, and manoeuvre them into an upright position.
With high tide expected at 10pm, Amanda explained that, due to safety concerns, no-one would be allowed in the water after dark and, consequently, the whales would be left to fend for themselves until the following day.
Tuesday’s dawn revealed that, although the whales had not moved along the shore, they had separated into two groups: a larger cluster of 19 were now several hundred metres from the OHWM, while a small group of five had hardy moved at all. A further 10 whales had failed to survive the night.
As the flood tide gradually lifted the whales, rescuers gently supported the animals to help them restore balance. With each passing minute, the once-immobile creatures became increasingly animated, some thrashing their tail flukes, as they moved around, weaving amongst their human helpers who alerted fellow rescuers with the cry, “Whale coming
through”. Having reconnected with “family” the reinvigorated creatures milled around, while the rescuers formed a human barrier to discourage them from moving towards the beach. Meanwhile, Project Jonah volunteers worked to reunite the divided pod, guiding the five strays offshore towards the main group. Once this was achieved, the rescuers began the long wade back to shore hoping that the rescued would make for deeper water.
But hopes were dashed when the whales restranded in the early afternoon, triggering a repeat of the previous day's exercise.
On Wednesday morning, after another night without volunteer support, the pod was seen stranded approximately 2km along the spit, 600m from the OWHM, and widely distributed. This posed added logistical challenges, but by midday, the 18 surviving whales had been refloated and their subsequent progress was being monitored by a boat crew shadowing the pod. Reporting back by VHF radio, the crew said the whales were "periodically swimming and occasionally milling", which was "reasonably positive".
At the time of going to press (Wednesday evening), with the tide ebbing, the pod was reported to be swimming in the deeper water beyond the shelf edge, and heading south.
Cat bylaw adopted
JO RICHARDS
New rules for cats, applicable from the start of next year, will not be enforced for a further 18 months. As for dogs, amendments to current controls are due to be finalised next week.
Last Thursday, Tasman District Council (TDC) adopted its Cat Management Bylaw which comes into effect on 1 January 2025. However, existing cat owners have until June 2026 to comply with the bylaw requirements, namely: that all domestic cats over the age of six months must be microchipped, registered, and desexed. There are exceptions to the desexing mandate – for cats registered with a nationally registered breeders body, or those animals veterinarians consider would be adversely affected by the procedure. During the consultation period, TDC received 154 submissions, covering a wide range of issues. Community feedback showed that the draft bylaw was widely supported, with well over 80 per cent of submissions in favour of all three main proposals – microchipping, registration and desexing.
The submissions also influenced Council’s decision to bring forward the transition deadline for the new bylaw from June 2027 to June 2026, as well as identifying issues for future consideration – such as cat containment/curfews, limits to cat numbers per household, and the feeding of colony cats – all likely to be on the agenda when the bylaw is reviewed in around five years’ time.
A conservation group which had argued for tighter controls, nevertheless appeared reasonably satisfied with the outcome.
“While the bylaw is not everything Forest & Bird would like to see, compulsory desexing and compulsory microchipping will address two of the issues we have with cats,” said Cynthia McConville, chair of Forest & Bird's Golden Bay branch.
Continued on page 3
Pilot whales, that stranded at Farewell Spit on Monday, mill around towards the end of Tuesday morning's refloating operation. Photo: Jo Richards.
Golden Bay Live Poets will wrap up 2024 with the December edition of Acid on the Microphone, their veryfamous and longest-running-in-the-Bay open mic session.
Featured guests at the 12 December event will be Onekaka musicians Lisa Williams and Brian Smith who bring their energetic mix of word and song and guitar to compliment the poets.
After celebrating their 30th anniversary in November with a packed-to-the-rafters concert featuring 16 poets and nine musicians, it is time for Live Poets to pause and take a breath as they round out a very successful year with this month’s grand finale.
“Each year our December gathering has proved to be an energetic affair,” notes spokesperson Mark Raffills. “It’s always a bit of a buzz to get together and spill some words that inspire and entertain a crowd that is in festive mood. And it is so good to have Lisa and Brian help us round out the year.”
The life blood of Acid on the Microphone is the regular open microphone session for poets and musicians. The open mic always throws up some unexpected treats as new and established performers present their work. Open mic will kick off from 7.30pm. Participants can put their names on the performance list on the night.
Mussel Inn, Thursday 12 December, 7.30pm, $5.
Good value at The Price of Milk
The Village Theatre once more became a live entertainment venue on Friday night for “The Price of Milk” fundraising variety performance.
Seasoned Golden Bay musicians such as KiwiJam, John Black, alanjahjah and organiser Nick Feint shared the stage with rising young talents Maggie Quinn and Zoe Hall. Variety
was maintained with the beat boxing and vocal mimicry talents of young Josh Rose, Martin “Raz” Erasmuson performed stand up comedy, while Martina Maverick and Jude Zwanikken spellbound the audience with storytelling and poetry. “It was a great night and everyone I spoke to really enjoyed it,” says co-organiser Fiona Mountfort. In fact, it seems plans may even be afoot to make this an annual event.
ALISTAIR HUGHES
Master of ceremonies and renowned local poet Mark Raffills kept the variety performance: "The Price of Milk", flowing.
Young Josh Rose astounded "The Price of Milk" audience last Friday with his beatboxing and vocal mimicry. Photos: Alistair Hughes.
Continued from page 1
Cat bylaw adopted
“Compulsory desexing will put a halt to any unmanaged breeding of domestic cats," said Cynthia. "Compulsory microchipping will allow the use of AI traps that can differentiate between microchipped and non-microchipped cats. It's important that cat owners know and understand our reasons for supporting microchipping of their pets.”
Carol Wells of Golden Bay Animal Welfare (GBAW) welcomed the new rules. "We fully support the bylaw to have all owned cats desexed and microchipped," said Carol, while expressing GBAW's concerns about costs and compliance measures. "In these difficult economic times some form of partial funding for people to adhere to the new rules would be helpful to avoid the dumping of cats and kittens. We are also curious as to how TDC will enforce the policy."
Cost of compliance
• Microchipping: This usually costs around $60 but is often discounted when combined with other procedures such as registration or desexing.
Registration: The cost of joining The National Companion Animal Register for cats is currently a one-off $15 fee. Registration ensures that when a stray cat’s microchip is scanned, the pet can be quickly reunited with its owner. For details see: https://www.animalregister.co.nz/
• Desexing: The procedure usually costs between $120–$300, but local veterinarians can provide individual estimates.
From time to time GBAW subsidises the above procedures, explained Carol. "By having a dedicated funding officer on our committee we are able to obtain grants to offer free desexing and microchipping at times throughout the year and are always happy to help, at any time, those people finding it difficult to afford desexing costs."
Reference copies of the new bylaw will be available soon at Tasman District Council Libraries and Service Centres, or via the TDC’s website: https://shape.tasman.govt.nz/cat-bylaw
Dog Bylaw
TDC’s revised Dog Control Bylaw is currently being finalised and is due to be adopted by council on 11 December. Although the content of the bylaw was essentially agreed upon at the recent council deliberations, there is still potential for minor changes to be made before the process is concluded.
TDC councillor and chair of the Environment and Regulatory Committee, Cat Budai, explains that there will be a short delay
before the new rules are applied. “If adopted, the bylaw will not come into effect until 31 March 2025. This delay is to enable the updating of signage, provide time for education and to minimise potential confusion that may arise from changing the bylaw during the summer months, when several places have altered rules during that time.”
For more information, go to: https://shape.tasman.govt.nz/ dog-bylaw-review
Call anytime or email maureen.pughmp@parliament.govt.nz
Maureen Pugh West Coast - Tasman MP
Photo: Nicola Wells.
DECEMBER DEADLINES
As usual, we have some very early deadlines for our Christmas and New Year editions.
Our “Christmas” issue will be delivered on Friday 20 December
Our “New Year’ issue will be delivered on Friday 27 December
The deadline for the 27 December edition is very early - see below
There will be no paper on Friday 3 January.
The first paper for 2025 will be Friday 10 January.
PUBLICATION DATE DEADLINE
Friday 20 December Tuesday 17 December 12pm
Friday 27 December Wednesday 18 December 12pm
Friday 3 January 2025 NO PAPER
Friday 10 January 2025 Tuesday 7 January (Deadline as normal) 12 noon
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The GB Weekly office will be closed from 5pm on Thursday 19 December, reopening at 9am Monday 6 January 2025
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LETTERS
Flawed reasoning reveals hopeless tangle
Bruce Collings ( GBW , 29/11) has got his numbers in a hopeless tangle.
Key facts are: in 1965 the atmospheric CO2 concentration was 320ppm (parts per million); now it’s 420ppm. That represents an additional half-trillion tonnes of CO 2 in the atmosphere. Since 1965 we have emitted nearly three times that amount, mostly by burning coal, oil and gas.
Bruce’s claim that "95 to 98 per cent of the CO2 in the atmosphere is from natural processes" is plain wrong. And never mind the 500 million years since the Cambrian era. We’ve done this in just 60 years.
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas but it’s an effect of global warming as much as a cause of it. Global temperature and water vapour are both being driven by CO2 emissions.
It is extremely troubling that the fuel we burn to support our economy and lifestyles is wrecking the planet’s ecology, which we depend on. But denying the facts or pretending it doesn’t make much difference is unhelpful. The central question we all face is: How shall we stop making the problem worse?
Andrew Yuill
Climate change stance a big gamble
Regarding Bruce Collings' letter “Earth's ever changing climate” (GBW, 29/11): I suppose it's possible that the vast majority of scientists have got it dreadfully wrong and that we can dump as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as we see fit with absolutely no harmful effects whatsoever.
Question: What planet are you planning to live on if the scientists are right and you are wrong?
Or, isn't that a possibility? It's a bit of a big gamble wouldn't you say? Surely it is better to be safe than, well, not so much sorry, as extinct?
Mark Doyle
Not worth bothering about greenhouse gas
Methane is a greenhouse gas, apparently 28 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. There are now a wide variety of products and practices that can help to reduce methane emissions from domesticated animals, these include a type of red seaweed, stock feed additives, inhibitors and vaccines. Searching the internet and asking AI bots, it seems that only three to four per cent of global atmospheric methane comes from domesticated animals, hence 96% of methane comes from other natural sources like wetlands, ocean, termites, fossil fuel production, etc.
Whilst the potency of methane as a greenhouse gas sounds alarming, there is only a tiny amount, a mere 1.92 parts per million parts of our atmosphere, hence 0.000192%. If domesticated animals produced no methane at all, we would be looking at 0.0001843% or 1.843 parts per million.
I was able to find the cost of one stock feed additive, Bovaer®, which is not yet sold in New Zealand. It would cost farmers about 80 cents per cow, per day.
Is it really worth considering such an additional cost burden to farmers when domesticated animals' contribution is tiny and methane is such a miniscule component of Earth’s atmosphere?
Bruce Collings
Keeping Living Wood Fair alive
Just wanted to remind those that want to support the 2025 Living Wood Fair that the Pledgeme crowdfunding campaign is finishing at 5pm, this Friday, 6 December. Now is the time to pledge to pre-purchase your ticket, a special edition t-shirt or a unique one-on-one workshop. It is an all or nothing situation; if we don’t reach the target you don’t get charged, we don’t get the funds and there will be no Living Wood Fair on 12 and 13 April 2025. We are here ready to do all the mahi to bring this fun, educational community event to you but you need to show us you want it by pledging. Please share this link and the information with all your friends and anyone who would love to make the event happen.
Soft plastics: a plea to the hard of understanding
This letter is probably the ultimate exercise in futility as those it is directed at clearly can't read. Or perhaps they choose to just pretend that they can't. Who am I writing about? Let's not beat about the bush – it's those people who are jeopardising our wonderful soft plastics recycling facility at the supermarket. Surely its not that difficult to understand the straightforward recycling requirements. In case anybody needs reminding it's simple: Clean, soft plastics only. If you know anybody who needs educating on this issue please point them to the notice on the recycling container at the supermarket. We don't want to go back to the situation where all that otherwise locally recyclable material has instead to go to landfill. Meantime thanks go to Mike Reynish and his team for providing such a great service at nil cost to the Golden Bay community.
Richard English
Universal non-truths
Dear Larry Petterson,
I would have thought that my letter (GBW, 22/11) regarding the age of the universe was obviously tongue-in-cheek. It seems you took it seriously (GBW, 29/11). So, lets be honest... I have no idea how old the universe is and don't much care.
I have yet to notice any side effects!
I would guess that there must be at least a thousand ways of guestimating the age of the universe. Some more scientific than others. You state that “we are not being told” that the “Big Bang Theory” is “unravelling”? Who is not telling us? I feel certain the web is full of people denying all sorts of things. Maybe the Earth is flat? Maybe Donald Dump is honest. Maybe “time” is not a straight line.
I gather, from your book plug, that you do know the age of the universe. Well done! Wouldn't you be better off telling NASA rather than the readers of The GB Weekly?
Mark Doyle
Governance vs sovereignty
Article One of Te Tiriti did not give the British mere governance, as Robert Jenkin mistakenly claims (GBW, 29/11), but rather governorship (sovereignty) over all of NZ forever. The governor has the delegated authority of the monarch, which is subject only to the absolute sovereignty of the British Parliament (nowadays the NZ Parliament), which makes the law and chooses the government. What remained of Māori sovereignty therefore consisted only of chiefly authority over their own iwi (within the limits of the law) and rights over their own property, as confirmed by Article Two.
Peter Entwistle
Two sovereignties, one nation?
Two letters in The GB Weekly (GBW, 29/11) asserted that the Treaty of Waitangi did not give full sovereignty over New Zealand to the British Crown. This is a claim that is becoming more common and needs to be challenged.
Much is made of the fact that most of the Maori signatories signed the Maori-language version of the treaty, whose meaning, it is said, varied from the meaning of the English version. Any variation that may exist is irrelevant to the question of sovereignty. The Maori version has been translated back into English by the eminent scholar, Professor Sir Hugh Kawharu. His translation of the vital section reads, " The Chiefs... give absolutely to the Queen of England forever the complete government over their land."
Certainly the treaty confirmed the authority of the chiefs in their own territories but even that can have little effect in our modern situation.
The idea of having two sovereignties in one nation is a nonsense.
I recommend the reading of the book, One Sun in the Sky, being a study of this subject by Ewen McQeen.
Robert Kennedy
Whooping cough: the high cost of protection
Last week, health agencies declared a whooping cough epidemic across Aotearoa; of particular interest to any pregnant people or those with newborns, as whooping cough can cause permanent brain and lung damage or even death in young babies. Pregnant women and people between 45 and 65 are funded, but everyone else, including dads-to-be, have to cough up a breathtaking (no puns intended) $76 for their shot. No wonder there is an epidemic. Probably a good chunk of New Zealanders, in our current climate of increasing unemployment, couldn't afford to vaccinate themselves even if they wanted to. No life-saving medication should have such a high price-tag during an epidemic.
Sunny Ēa
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The GB Weekly welcomes letters to the editor. Please email your letter to us at admin@gbweekly.co.nz by 12pm Tuesday. Include the writer’s full name, home address and daytime phone number. Letters will be printed over the name of the writer; names are withheld only when compelling reasons can be established. Letters must not exceed 250 words. Letters that are too long will not be considered. All correspondence is at the discretion of the manager, who reserves the right to decline, edit, or abridge letters without explanation or further discussion. Links to third party websites will not usually be published. The views expressed are those of the correspondents and are not necessarily endorsed or shared by The GB Weekly.
BOOKS WANTED
Motupipi Hall
Books wanted for upcoming Book Fairs esp Men’s & Women’s Novels, Children’s Picture Books Drop off in
PORT TARAKOHE DRAFT SPATIAL PLAN
The Port Tarakohe draft Spatial Plan is a high-level plan designed to guide the future use and development of Port Tarakohe.
It aims to balance economic growth, environmental protection, and community and cultural needs at the Port. You can read the plan here at shape.tasman.govt.nz/ port-tarakohe-spatial-plan and provide feedback up until 10 February 2025.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION AND MEET THE PLANNERS
Open meeting
• Tuesday 10 December 2024, 11.00 am – 2.00 pm
Pōhara Boat Club, 995 Abel Tasman Drive, Tākaka
• Just walk-in, no appointment necessary
If you’re
Feedback on Tarakohe plan
JO RICHARDS
The public can now provide feedback on Tasman District Council’s plans for Port Tarakohe.
The Port Tarakohe draft Spatial Plan attempts to reconcile commercial and recreation interests and special/ environmental values.
Feedback is being sought on the three objectives of the draft plan and the actions that will support their implementation.
The three objectives focus on improving certainty around use, providing for appropriate growth and change, and protecting the special spaces, places and environmental values.
Actions supporting the objectives include separating uses, drafting new rules, ensuring safe access, management plans for storm and wastewater, support of cultural and environmental values and community-based biodiversity restoration and enhancement, among others.
In addition to the council’s online consultation, the public is being invited to drop in, meet the planners and give feedback in person at Pōhara Boat Club next Tuesday, 11am-2pm. No appointments are necessary.
To read the plan and provide online feedback, go to: shape.tasman.govt.nz/port-tarakohe-spatial-plan
Feedback is open until Monday 10 February 2025.
Kensington Court can tailor a solution to fit your needs
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18 McMahon Street, Stoke, Nelson 7011
Christmas fortune cookies
JOYCE WYLLIE
This month is when end-of-year functions and preChristmas meals happen, and I have some to look forward to. For our Pākawau Rural Women lunch I planned to bake something special to share with my friends so I checked my little book of “edible gifts” for inspiration. Fortune cookies seemed like a good idea. The recipe suggests that these are fun to make with jokes, fortunes, funny quotes or sayings folded into the centre of the cookie. I figured I could make “Christmas cookies” with personal season’s greeting messages tucked into the folded edible gift. Sounded a bit fiddly for someone like me who usually “bakes basic”, but I was up for the challenge.
Fortune cookies
Heat oven to 180 degrees.
Ingredients:
100g flour
Two teaspoons of ground ginger
Three large egg whites
100g icing sugar
115g unsalted butter
Method:
Sift flour and ginger into a small bowl.
Put egg whites into a large bowl and whisk until frothy. Add icing sugar and melted butter and whisk until smooth. Beat in flour and ginger until mixture forms a smooth paste. Set aside to rest for 20 minutes.
Lions fund key kit for firefighters
Things got “heated” at the Tākaka Bowling Club last Thursday evening when the Golden Bay Lions Club hosted a special event to support the Tākaka Volunteer Fire Brigade –known as the 39ers. The club’s members came together for a shared dinner, with the highlight being a generous donation from the Lions of two key pieces of firefighting equipment: a “Keiser” and a “hammer”, to assist in the brigade’s training for the World Firefighter Games in 2025.
Mark six circles about six centimetres diameter on baking sheets.
Working one sheet at a time, put a heaped teaspoon of mixture in the centre of each circle and smooth to fill the circle.
Bake at 180 degrees for six–seven minutes until edges start to brown.
Remove sheet from the oven then carefully and quickly slide each cookie onto a flat surface.
Put message in the centre of each one and fold the cookie in half, and then fold two points together, (the dough is pliable while hot).
Cool on a wire rack until completely dry.
Continue baking, filling and folding cookies. You can only do one sheet of six at a time as cookies dry if left too long and cannot be folded. Wrap in tissue paper as a gift. It sounded easy enough but my cookies don't look a lot like the near-perfect ones in the book. My first batches stuck to the baking paper which would have made for chewy gifts, so I just cooked them on the tray. The paper messages I wrote were too large to be concealed, so I resorted to briefer smaller “love”, “joy” and “peace” notes. The cookies were hot to handle and when I did get them folded, they quietly unfolded on the cooling rack while I worked on the next one. The solution I found was to carefully stuff the folded cookie down between the wires in the rack. Yes, it was fun and I do have cookies to share but I think the fortune message for me would be “needs more practice”, or “it's no riddle, don’t fiddle, more to gain by baking plain”.
Golden Bay Lions Club president Wendy Brooks explained the importance of these donations. “The Keiser is a machine used to simulate “forcible entry” during a firefighting scenario. It’s especially useful for training in situations like breaking down a door.”
The evening quickly became “hands on tools” as Lions Club members and firefighters gathered next to the green for a live demonstration. The firefighters demonstrated how the equipment is used, giving everyone a chance to try it out, often to commentary and laughter. The Lions Club members, under the expert guidance of the firefighters, took turns using the equipment.
In addition to the donation, the evening marked the visit of Pam Harvey, Lions Club district governor for the top of the
South Island and West Coast. Pam’s annual visit to every Lions Club is an opportunity for her to connect with members, offer encouragement, and highlight the unique ways each club serves its local community. “Every club is different, and they all do things according to the needs of their community,” said Pam.
The Golden Bay Lions Club has long been a stalwart of local support, with donations made to a wide range of causes over the years. From Big Brother Big Sister, to the Mohua Social Services Foodbank, the Mountain Bike Club, the Golden Bay Youth Mountain Bike Club, the Cancer Shuttle Bus and the Golden Bay High School Educational Trust, the Lions are active in addressing the needs of the community.
“We just tick over quietly,” says Wendy. “But we are always here to serve, and we’re grateful for the support we get from the community.”
The Lions Club’s involvement extends beyond financial contributions. Their work spans many areas, including youth services, health, education, and local sports clubs. And as always, their message to the community is one of openness and invitation. “If you want to help us, that would be great. We enjoy helping out the community,” says Wendy, encouraging anyone who wishes to get involved.
ROSA VOLZ
The fortune cookie recipe was a little trickier than I anticipated.
Photo: Joyce Wyllie.
Golden Bay Lions and Tākaka Volunteer Fire Brigade members gather before testing out the Keiser. Photos: Rosa Volz.
Former GB Lions president Colin Langford, instructed by fire brigade member Kyle Gardiner, demonstrates forced entry using the Keiser.
Can Drive can make a big difference
SUBMITTED
Following last year’s success (see photo, right), “Golden Bay Can Drive” is returning in time for the upcoming festive season.
Next Friday, young players from the Bay's rugby clubs, are taking up the responsibility of checking every letterbox from Upper Tākaka to Wainui, Tākaka to Bainham, all the way out to Pūponga, and everywhere in-between.
The youngsters are asking Golden Bay to donate any spare cans of food they may have by leaving them in their letterbox on Friday 13 December, for collection after 3.30pm.
The donations will go to the Mohua Social Services Foodbank, a valuable part of the Golden Bay Community. "A little bit from everyone can make a huge difference for a few."
Pohara
IN BRIEF
Golden Bay Choir sings
Last Saturday, Golden Bay Choir added its voice to the festive atmosphere at the Golden Bay Community Health garden party, with a light-hearted bracket of songs. It was a wonderful opportunity to give thanks to all who provide healthcare in the Bay and to those they care for.
This coming Sunday the choir will again be singing, not only for invited guests, but also for all those who enjoy music. The programme this time will include two of the great composers of the late Renaissance period, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina from Italy and the Spaniard, Tomás Luis de Victoria, as well as the very popular 19th Century composer Giuseppi Verdi. The programme will also include a few Christmas songs too, given the season.
While this part of the programme will be directed by Jochen Maurer, a short bracket of songs will be provided by local singing tutor Hera Livingston and some of her students.
Jochen is keen to offer a platform to other performers: “While the Bay is full of musicians, it’s great to introduce just a little of the music that has been composed for choirs to those who haven’t heard it before. We all get great joy out of singing and we hope our listeners do too. And just, maybe, they might like to sing with us in the new year,” says Jochen.
The concert is Sunday 8 December, 2pm, at the Senior Citizens’ Hall, 94a Commercial St, Tākaka. Entry is by koha, and a light afternoon tea will be provided afterwards, which offers the opportunity for all to mix and mingle.
Join The Barden Party
The Bard + Garden Party = The Barden Party!
Get ready to spice up your summer with a thrilling, saucy rendition of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, Macbeth. Picture the dark and twisted tale of ambition and betrayal reimagined with a sassy, sexy bluegrass flair, performed at the amazing Mussel Inn. Award-winning theatre company, The Barden Party, is coming to Golden Bay for the first time, with their signature blend of humour and heart, transforming Macbeth into an unforgettable experience full of music, mischief, and magic.
All music is played live by the cast of actors and includes songs by artists like Mumford & Sons, The Steeldrivers, Dolly Parton, Noah Kahan and more.
This show is raucous, rocking, and ridiculously entertaining, presenting Macbeth like you've never seen before. It's accessible, professional Shakespeare, combining the timeless appeal of the Bard with the lively energy of bluegrass. This show is suggested for audiences 12+ because of depictions of violence, mild adult themes and the use of coarse language in one of the songs.
Join us for an evening where tragedy meets toe-tapping tunes and Shakespearean sorcery meets bluegrass bravado. Don’t miss out on this unique theatrical experience.
The Mussel Inn, Sunday 15 December, 7pm. Tickets $25 at Eventfinda or $30 on the door.
Duo forge creative partnership
Tucked behind a tranquil tree lined lane in Tukurua lies an unexpected salute to ancient times. Ironwood is the purpose-built smithy Michael Hurst built to ancient traditional specifications to fulfill his blacksmithing ambitions.
It all began 20 years ago when Michael attended a workshop at Wakefield’s steam museum. Inspired, he set about purchasing tools and equipment.
His dream began to manifest six years ago when construction of the smithy commenced. He purchased framing built by Graeme Scott, who used medieval carpentry techniques such as mortise and tenon joints with big pegs to hold the beams together. Michael and his wife Catherine then added the roof and lined the walls.
About three years ago Monica Naudin, a sculptor-turnedblacksmith from Spain, serendipitously connected with Michael. Meeting him was a clear sign to her that she was meant to continue working in the medium that was her primary occupation.
“In Spain the knowledge and tradition is very deep. It was the most important. This country is very new in this activity. I try to put to the community the things I can make,” Monica says.
She and Michael built a forge from bricks cemented together, to replace the farrier’s forge Michael previously used, and set wooden cobbles into the floor. Monica’s partner installed solar panels to power a fan that circulates air, oxygenating the forge’s fire, which is fuelled by coal.
Describing Monica as “the striker” and himself as the
apprentice, Michael says he has learned a lot. While he creates “useful things for around the home” such as hooks, handles, hinges, towel rails and toilet roll holders, Monica creates artistically designed pieces to sell at Living Arts Gallery and Tākaka Village Market.
“Monica does most of the forging work and if she needs a hand, I’ll help, but other times it’s a team effort,” says Michael. He likens the process to a surgical operation, “It’s not the same hygiene level! But it’s a team effort because we decide what we’re going to make, who’s going to make it and who’s going to do the other functions to help. So everybody’s coordinated, everybody knows what’s going on, because when the iron comes out of the fire, you’ve got to strike while the iron’s hot”.
Impressively medieval-looking equipment completes the smithy, such as a giant 170kg anvil made in England in the 1880s. Adorned with a heavy iron chain it sits on a lead plate atop an elm stump, all of which helps dampen the ring of the anvil when struck. Michael loves his hand operated blacksmith’s drill-press made in Ontario around 1900, and a huge vice built to take the hammer’s strike. A rack displays hammers of varying weights used for flattening or texturing the iron. Various heavy, long handled sledgehammers sit alongside the slack tub of water, used for cooling the iron.
Visiting Ironwood is akin to time travel, back to when things were built to last a lifetime. Fortunately a renaissance is currently sweeping the globe. Long may “smiting the black” continue.
RONNIE SHORT
Michael Hurst and Monica Naudin in Michael's Ironwood smithy at Tukurua. Photo: Ronnie Short.
GBCH celebrate end of year
After a few years’ absence, the annual Golden Bay Community Health (GBCH) end-of-year garden party was held again last Saturday. A warm spring day, good crowd, and live entertainment created a happy, relaxed afternoon in the grounds of the rest home. Family, friends and GBCH supporters joined with residents to listen to the band playing Christmas carols, the choir singing cheerful songs and Maggie Quinn performing with her guitar. GBCH general manager Ruth Robson, welcomed everyone and thanked all the people who contribute so much to making the rest home/hospital community such a good and friendly home for the people who live there. The list of supporters is extensive, from people who garden, to Meals-On-Wheels volunteers, those who visit or help with activities, and others who donate financially. Ruth
also praised the wonderful staff who go beyond their duty to make GBCH a safe and welcoming place.
Following entertainment and speeches, the crowd moved from comfortable chairs in the shade to enjoy a festive afternoon tea provided by the GBCH kitchen team. A friendly, family pre-Christmas garden party was a good way to celebrate together and may it become an annual event on our community calendar again.
HEALTH HAPPENINGS AT YOUR LOCAL HEALTH CENTRE…
We welcomed our new permanent GP on the 19th of November. Dr Petra Watson comes to us from Christchurch where she has been working as a GP at Mt Pleasant Medical Centre. She has also been working as an urgent care doctor at Thames Hospital and at urgent care clinics in Christchurch. She is a fully trained GP and an urgent care doctor. She will be working 4 days per week (Tuesday to Friday). She has relocated to Golden Bay with her partner and young son.
If you need emergency care call 111. For same day or routine care, give us a call, ph 03 525 0060.
JOYCE WYLLIE
The Takaka Citizens' Band played as people gathered for the GB Community Health end-of-year garden party. Photos: Joyce Wyllie.
The Golden Bay Choir also performed at the party.
Peter Miller enjoying the GBCH garden party with his family.
Eco Tours - a history of evolution
ALISTAIR HUGHES
At the most recent of the University of the Third Age’s (U3A) Friday morning talks, Paddy Gillooly entertained the packed Senior Citizens' Hall with the history of the Farewell Spit Eco Tours.
The story of guided excursions along this unique habitat is closely linked to local families and Collingwood itself, so Paddy began by describing the seven-decade lineage of various owners, drivers and vehicles to make the Spit Lighthouse run since 1946.
Jumping ahead to the 1980s when Farewell Spit Tours came up for sale, Paddy described how his own involvement began. A consortium of local business-owning couples (including Tinky and Heather Hovenden of the Collingwood Tavern), believed the Spit tours business should stay in town and formed Collingwood Safari Tours.
At this time Paddy worked at Miller’s garage, and was approached by Tinky and Heather in 1985 to maintain the tour buses. Initially reluctant to change jobs, he ended up helping in his spare time, but by 1990 had become fully involved in the business.
“When someone wanted to book a trip but I was out, there was a notice on the door that said, ‘go across to the tavern’. And that's how it worked, I would drive the bus, I would come home, I'd fix it.”
Paddy also got himself out of a spectacular fix when the new custom tour bus he was driving ended up trapped in quicksand. “I couldn't call for help, so I remembered what I had been told… to dig a hole ten metres down, and the water that's all around your bus flows into it.”
It worked and the sand around the trapped vehicle hardened again, enabling Paddy to drive his passengers to safety. “Quite a relief,” he said with typical understatement, “because all the firm's money had gone into that bus.”
If possible, an even bigger challenge presented itself soon afterwards. Suddenly faced with competition from another Spit tours operator for the first time in almost half a century, Paddy responded by tapping into the previously under-utilised
power of marketing. He invested in initiatives created by the recently formed Tourism Nelson, which attracted international attention. “It was an opportunity to get our name in front of potential customers while they were still overseas, before they came here,” says Paddy. He and various others also spent six months refitting their existing bus to provide an enhanced experience for passengers, with tiered seating and much larger windows. They even eventually achieved the Qualmark Gold accreditation in tourism.
Rebranding to Farewell Spit Eco Tours in 2000, Paddy’s business is still going strong. After peppering his talk with many anecdotes and memorable slides he concluded by thanking the region and others closer to home for their support. “I know a lot of tourism people whose marriages haven't hacked it, but mine has. I couldn’t do what I do without the support and love of my wife and family, it has been huge in keeping this business going.”
Paddy Gillooly entertained a large U3A audience recently with a talk about the history of Farewell Spit Eco Tours. Photo: Alistair Hughes.
Milnthorpe Park: the forest hits 50
JO RICHARDS
Last Sunday was a milestone day for Milnthorpe Park.
In the eastern corner of the park, a few strides into the forest along The Esplanade track, a group of around 90 people gathered in a clearing for an anniversary celebration. Laid out on picnic tables was a fine spread, an ice bucket full of drinks, and a birthday cake.
The occasion marked 50 years since the birth of the Milnthorpe Revegetation Project, now known as Milnthorpe Park and Arboretum.
The ambitious project was the brainchild of Dick Nicholls, who has spent the past five decades transforming 160 hectares of desolate pakahi wasteland into a spectacular forest of exotic and native tree species. For much of that time, he relied solely on hand tools and hard toil, but the fruits of his extensive labours are ripening throughout the forest.
Some of the original eucalypt saplings that Dick and his early helpers planted in the impoverished acidic soil have broken through the iron pan and grown into impressive specimens reaching heights in excess of 30 metres. In the shade of the rising canopy, a whole new ecosystem has evolved, including an under-storey of natives, some of which have been planted, while many others have germinated from seeds imported by the burgeoning bird life.
When the legendary founder turned up at Sunday's party, the proceedings began. Secretary of the Milnthorpe Park Society Liz Thomas welcomed everyone before chair Mik Symmons addressed the group.
Mik started with a reminder about the intergenerational timespan of the project. “Fifty years might seem like a long time for us humans, but it’s quite sobering to realise that we are probably only a quarter of the way to achieving climax vegetation…”
He talked in some detail about the interconnection between ecosystem components. “Those early pioneering Australian trees started to provide shade and drop bark and leaves which, with our high rainfall, began to create a forest floor mulch that conserves moisture and provides invertebrate habitats.
Underground mycelial networks harvest minerals and nutrients exchanging subterranean treasure for photosynthesised sugars and proteins with trees above – solar power in action.”
look at the detail here, there’s a whole universe if you choose to see it."
to Dick, “for his foresight and tenacity,” and his unwavering commitment to the cause, then acknowledging contributions from the early “slashers and planters”, donors, trappers, the incumbent caretakers, and the Department of Conservation.
The dense, shady woodland is criss-crossed by over 20 kilometres of interconnecting tracks enjoyed by walkers and their dogs all year round. But it’s also highly appreciated by the scientific community: The park is home to a recognised collection of eucalyptus species, hosts a wide range of research projects, and is seen as a more biodiverse alternative to radiata monoculture for carbon forestry.
Having covered past and present, Mik turned to the future, explaining that the management of the park will continue to align with Dick’s guiding principle: following initial planting, nature should be left to do the transformational work. “Our management plan stresses minimal human intervention, the main mahi has been done, now it’s time to watch and observe,” said Mik, explaining the need for some intervention. “We try to keep predators at a low level, manage 'old man’s beard' and other scheduled weed species, and monitor and observe what’s going on.”
This work, along with jobs, such as track maintenance and replacement of traps, requires ongoing funding and Mik encouraged everyone to make a contribution. “Whether it’s a coin at the carpark, a one-off donation, or a bequest in your will, it does make a difference.”
In another 50 years’ time, when the forest is half-way to achieving climax vegetation, few of those gathered in the shady clearing on Sunday afternoon will be present. But their celebration was an acknowledgement of the groundwork done to enable the park to prosper through future generations.
Milnthorpe Park Society committee members at last Sunday’s 50th anniversary celebration of Milnthorpe Park. From left, chair Mik Symmons, secretary Liz Thomas, park founder Dick Nicholls, caretaker Tim Eckert, Dick’s partner Reen McMillan, and caretaker Jane Greatrex.
Photo: Jo Richards.
CLASSIFIEDS
RESULTS
BRIDGE
20 November. Pakawau Pairs Session 2: L Scurr/B Adams 61.85%; P Panzeri/P Nelson 60.83%; A Gray/C Webster 54.91%. H/cap: P Panzeri/P Nelson 60.47%; L Scurr/B Adams 59.80%; A Gray/C Webster 58.23%.
22 November. Individual Session 11: P Jayne 71.88%; D Perreau 62.50%; Lorna Scurr 59.38%. H/cap: P Jayne 79.55%; D Perreau 62.12%; L Field 61.25%.
27 November. Pakawau Pairs Session 3: N/S: D Sarll/L Field 60.42%; B Burdett/L Roberts 58.33%; J Harper/H Curtis 54.58%. E/W: L Scurr/B Adams 65.42%; R McDonald/J Cooper 55.83%; Phillippa Smith/John Pemberton 49.17%. H/cap: N/S: D Sarll/L Field 62.48%; A Bradnock/J Hannan 56.18%; B Burdett/L Roberts 54.88%. E/W: L Scurr/B Adams 63.36%; R McDonald/J Cooper 52.72%; Jude Edmondson/ Ginny Hope 48.69%.
29 November. Rainbow relaxed 1 Session 17. C Browning 62.50%; C Furness 57.95%; J Massey 56.82%; E Bradshaw 56.82%. H/cap: C Browning 70.50%; Leanne Field 63.68%; C Furness 57.95%. GOLF
26 November. Stableford: B Miller 36. Closest to pin: 3/12 L Jerram, 9/18 M Dobbie. 27 November. Stableford: G Allen 40, S Kerr 36. Closest to pin: 3/12 C Hadler, 4/13 D Jerram, 8/17 C Hadler, 9/18 C Hadler. Best gross: C Hadler 83. 30 November. Stableford: M Shannon 40, W Dobbie 38, M Stephens 37. Closest to pin: 3/12 G Rowe, 4/13 N Barnes, 8/17 S Ransley, 9/18 Brian Miller. Twos: W Dobbie. Happy wanderer: R Heuvel. Best gross: N Barnes. WOODCHOPPING
23/24 November. Brian Godsiff was the Golden Bay Club's sole competitor at the recent Nelson A&P Show and he did himself and the club proud. There was a field of over 60 axemen including a representative squad from New South Wales and the competition was fierce. On day one Brian finished 2nd in the 3rd division underhand and 2nd in the 4th division standing. On day two he once again finished 2nd in the 4th division standing then 4th in the 3rd division underhand. Brian's most impressive performance of the weekend was in an open class event, coming in 4th in the Alex Hedley Memorial Underhand. The same weekend there was representative relay racing with the South Island taking on the team from New South Wales. There were three relay races with NSW winning all three of them but not by more than half a block, with the second race being very close with several lead changes.
AGM NOTICES
The Mohua Marine Trust AGM
The Mohua Marine Trust will be holding its AGM early in 2025. This is later than we are officially required to hold the meeting but we hope our supporters and friends will forgive us. We recently obtained some reef ball moulds on loan. We are in the process of teaching ourselves how to use them to produce viable reef balls. We have postponed our AGM and annual public engagement meeting in the hope that we will have a reef ball to show our supporters. Season’s greetings. See you in the New Year. Watch the GB Weekly for news of our meeting. If you are on our contacts list you will receive a personal invitation.
Neil Wilson Sec MMT
RECENT AGM / Hui ā tau - Nō nā tata nei
ORGANISATIONS may have their committee members’ names printed in this column for free. Email admin@gbweekly.co.nz
PUBLIC NOTICES / Pānui a whānui
MEMOIRS, life stories and family histories - would you like yours written and produced by a local team with decades of experience? Head to www.charlottesquire.co.nz to learn more. LEARN to fly with Golden Bay Flying Club. Email: zktkagbfc@ gmail.com
DRAMALAB'S musical fundraiser raffle thanks the following brilliant people/businesses for their generous prizes: Rustic Retreat Nature Stay, Aroha Health Spa, The Dangerous Kitchen, Waitapu Springs, The Village Theatre, Enfys Bellamy, Stone Arrow Jewellery, Hesta Macready, Erihapeti Mc Pherson, Mazarine Fitzgerald, Paper Plus Tākaka, Gary Bowden, GroWise Consultancy Sol Morgan, Earth Gems, Golden Bay Sustainable Living Centre, Hammer Hardware. Raffle winners: Pamper Pack, Megan Edwards; Art Pack, Mark Holley; Garden Pack, Kaye Stark. NARCOTICS Anonymous Golden Bay meeting, Mondays 6pm, 42 Commercial Street, hall behind church. All welcome.
GB Animal Welfare Society Inc (ex-SPCA). Ph Carol Wells 525 9494, 8am-5pm weekdays.
ALCOHOLICS Anonymous, open meeting, all welcome. Thursdays 7pm, 94 Commercial Street. Hall behind the Catholic Church. Ph 0800 229 6757.
FRESH FM needs your help. Are you willing to host a fundraising event to support local radio? Or help run one? Check out our website freshfm.net. We’re a Charitable Trust – a $30 donation (that can be made on our website) is tax deductible.
GB WEEKLY: Stitch ‘n Sew, Tākaka is our agent or you can email us: admin@gbweekly.co.nz (preferred). Office hours are Monday-Wednesday, 9am-5pm. Ph 027 525 8679.
A courtesy message to all our customers that we are closing the workshop for the Xmas break. Dates are as follows:
CLOSED from Monday 23rd December 2024 RE-OPENING on Monday 6th January 2025
HEALTH & WELLBEING / Hauora
APOTHECARY, medical herbalist, iridology, reflexology, reiki. Lisa Williams, ph 027 451 9797, www.goldenbayiridology.com
MASSAGE. Ph Willem 022 134 1726.
MASSAGE. Ph Paul Frika 027 772 7334. 30 years of experience.
Please note a change in our hours over the holiday period:
If you have an accident or are in need of urgent care
Urgent Care appointments only: 21 December 2024 – 20 January 2025
Please note additional surcharge applies
Open again for appointments as normal from: 21 January 2025
Call us on 0800 PhysEx (749 739) for further information or to book your appointment.
Yours in Health The PhysEx Team
Abel Tasman Accounting Limited
Xero Certified, Public Practice CA.
Taxation services and general business support for clients of all shapes and sizes. Available evenings and weekends. Ph Bronwyn 027 268 4010, bronwyn@abeltasmanaccounting.co.nz
ACCOUNTANT and tax advisor. All Inland Revenue returns filed for big and small businesses and individuals. Self-employed and rental property reports prepared. Day and evening appointments available. Ph Susan Ayton Shaw 929 7507 or email taxayton@gmail.com
ACCOUNTANT. Long-standing market leader with unbeatable professional qualifications and experience. Warn & Associates, ph 525 9919.
ARBORIST, qualified, ph Jack Stevens 021 211 5580.
ARCHITECT, registered. Please phone Ben from Allinson Architecture, 020 471 2479.
ARCHITECT services. Building and resource consents. Residential, commercial and industrial. Chris Pyemont Architects, ph 021 0278 4729.
BUILDER: Alistair Middleton, Homes Created Ltd. Renovations, new builds, decks, etc. Ph 027 654 0316, al.homescreated@ gmail.com
CARS wanted. Will pick up for free (some conditions apply). Motueka Auto Parts. Ph 03 528 9576.
CHIMNEY cleaning, handyman. Ph Ry South 022 513 3947.
PAINTING and interior, exterior plastering. Licensed qualified local tradesman. Ph CM Coatings 027 222 0507.
PENINSULA Plasterers for all your interior plastering needs. No job too small. Quality assured. 20+ years’ experience. For a free quote ph Craig 027 472 4376.
SEPTIC TANKS EMPTIED. Ph Shane 027 647 4913.
SEWING SERVICE, NEEDLES, THREADS, WOOL, BEADS. Stitch ‘n Sew ph 525 8177.
STUMP grinding specialist. Tree care and property maintenance. Ph Carl 027 263 5353.
MOHUA Glass and Glazing. Ph 027 410 9105, mohuaglass@
GARAGE sale. Saturday 7 December, signs out 9am-1.30pm. Abel Tasman Drive opposite the camp. Crafting stuff, tools, furniture.
CONCRETE water tank, 15000 litres. Used last two years for rainwater, recently emptied and moved. Sound lifting lugs and structurally sound. All offers considered. Parapara. Ph 027 421 0289.
WAIMANGA Firewood, old man pine, hot mixes, 4m3 loads.
Ph 027 345 4626.
SUBARU Forester, 2002, 348,000km, new WOF. $1,800. Or 1996 Isuzu Bighorn diesel, 307,000km, $2,500. Ph 027 212 4020. FIREWOOD, good selection. Ph Bay Firewood 027 769 6348. DOUBLE bed and mattress, excellent condition, $120. Bath, $120, and taps, $20. Under bench fridge, $120. Email alli@ gbwct.org.nz
TO GIVE AWAY / Koha
FREE firewood. Felled gum trees, you cut and take. Beach access Patons Rock, so need 4WD. Ph 021 931 395. TOP loader washing machine for washing hard core stuff. Goes well. Free to a good home. Email alli@gbwct.org.nz
CHURCH SERVICES ON SUNDAYS
GOLDEN Bay Anglican Parish warmly invites you to join them on Sunday, 10am at Takaka or 4.45pm at Collingwood (starting with a cuppa). Fellowship gatherings (fellowship, songs, prayer and bible study) held fortnightly, 1, 15 and 29 December; traditional services (with a speaker) held on alternate fortnights, 8 and 22 December.
SACRED Heart Catholic faith community, December timetable: Mass: Saturdays 7 and 21 December, 5pm; Christmas Eve, 24 December, 4.30pm preceded by carols starting at 4pm. Service of the Word with communion: Sunday 15 December, 9.30am, followed by a chat and cuppa. All warmly welcome.
ST Andrews Presbyterian Church extends a warm welcome to join us at 10am for a time of worship and fellowship, with Ian and Karen Davidson.
WORKER wanted for residential property, part time. Basic arborist skills an advantage. Ph 525 9091.
SEASONAL and year-round jobs available. Job entails mainly filleting, smoking, slicing and serving premium Anatoki Chinook salmon. Previous experience in filleting would be advantageous but full training will be given. To apply email info@anatokisalmon.co.nz
CAFÉ employment, full time, available 5km from Tākaka at Anatoki Salmon fishing & cafe. New team members have to perform a variety of duties in the Anatoki Salmon kitchen/café counter to ensure an excellent customer experience. If you love to work in hospitality, please apply to start mid-December. Email info@anatokisalmon.co.nz
The DBT Residential Trauma Treatment Centre, located in Takaka, is a six- bed residential programme providing intensive DBT and Trauma Treatment Therapy for clients with problems related to being chronically distressed and often chronic self -harming and suicidal behaviours.
Due to an internal promotion, we have an exciting vacancy for a Care Co-ordinator / Social Worker. This role is varied requiring organizational, clinical and interpersonal skills. Candidates need to be flexible and have good computer and time management skills. The role includes:
Empowering the client to advocate for themselves
• Liaising with referrers and DBT team in the best interests of the client
• Liaising with external agencies; assisting clients with forms and practical steps
• Coaching clients and helping with action steps to move closer towards ‘a Life Worth Living’.
Preferred applicants will have either social work or occupational therapy NZ registration or training in these areas, as well as DBT knowledge training. However, TWM will invest in training for the right candidate.
Benefits: 4 weeks paid vacation, generous training budget and flexible work schedule. You will also have the amazing lifestyle of living in Golden Bay.
Applications – Open until filled
For a job description and TWM application form please email hr@twm.org.nz
ANATOKI SALMON fishing and café. Catch your own lunch or order from the menu. Open every day from 9am-4pm. www. anatokisalmon.co.nz
COLLINGWOOD TAVERN. Open 7 days, 11am till late. Catering and large group bookings available. Ph 524 8160.
EATING OUT / Kai wahi kē
COURTHOUSE CAFÉ, Collingwood. Open 7 days, 8am-3pm. Ph 524 8194.
COURTYARD CAFÉ, Tākaka. Open 7 days, 7am-5pm. Also, bookings for dinner. Ph 525 8681.
DANGEROUS KITCHEN. Open Wednesday-Saturday, 9am8pm. For bookings and takeaways ph 525 8686.
DE-LISH DELICATESSEN . Sumptuous, delicious food. Lunches, catering, coffee, chocolate, cheeses and epicure items. Weekdays from 6.30am. Ph 525 7111.
ESSENCE of AROHA AHORA, 90 Commercial St, Tākaka. Fresh frequency food and divine delectable drinks. Vegan, vegetarian, GF, DF. Open everyday. Ph 525 6111.
GOOD AS GOLD CAFÉ, Tākaka. Open Monday-Friday, 7am4pm. Ph 525 8193.
LANGFORD STORE, Bainham. Perfect scones and more. Open Saturday-Thursday, 9am-5pm. Ph 524 8228.
MOLLY B’S, Pōhara. Open 5 days from 9am, weekend brunch 9-11am. Tuesday open from 3pm. Closed Mondays. Ph 525 7678. NIKAU BAR AND CAFÉ, Pōhara. Open 7 days, 8.30am to late. Bookings ph 03 970 3992.
O’SHA. Open Tuesday-Sunday, lunch 11.30am-2.30pm and dinner 5-8.30pm. Ph 525 6117.
THE MUSSEL INN. Open 7 days from 11am. THE WHOLEMEAL CAFÉ. Open 7.30am-3pm daily. TOTO'S CAFÉ PIZZA. Open Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting, 11am-4pm. Updates on Facebook and Instagram. Ph 03 970 7934, totoscafegallery@gmail.com
UPCOMING EVENTS / Mea pakiri haere
FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER
BADMINTON, REC PARK CENTRE, 7.30-9.30pm. All welcome. Ph Kerry 027 525 7007.
YOGA WITH KIMMY, 5pm, with weekly theme and poetry included. $10 donation appreciated. Being Presence CentrePossibilities, 90 Commercial St.
SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER
FESTIVE BOARD GAMING AT ONEKAKA HALL, 12.30pm to 5pm. All ages welcome. Koha. See the Facebook group "Board Gaming in Golden Bay", or ph Karen 022 655 9725.
SUNDAY 8 DECEMBER
GOLDEN BAY CHOIR CONCERT, for all who love listening to music. Senior Citizens' Hall, 2pm. Koha appreciated. Afternoon tea provided.
DISC GOLF: 6.30pm, Park Ave. All levels welcome, disc hire $2.
TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER
BALFOLK DANCE WORKSHOP. Folk dances made new with live music. 5-6.30pm, Senior Citizens' Hall. Koha appreciated. DISC GOLF: 5.30pm, Park Ave. All levels welcome, disc hire $2. GB WEEKLY DEADLINE: noon on Tuesdays. Late fees apply until 4pm Tuesdays, if space is available. Stitch ‘n Sew is our agent in Tākaka. Or you can email us: admin@gbweekly.co.nz or phone us 027 525 8679.
WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER
O NEKAKA PLAYGROUP, all welcome, Wednesdays 10am12.30pm, Onekaka Hall.
THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER
DAYTIME BADMINTON, Rec Park Centre, 9-11am. All welcome. Ph Kerry 027 525 7007.
GOLDEN BAY SENIOR CITIZENS CHRISTMAS LUNCH will be held at Nikau Café & Bar, Pōhara at midday. Numbers attending to 525 9242 by 10 December.
LATER EVENTS
LUNASA FESTIVAL 31 January - 3 February 2025. Live world music, inspirational workshops, Canaan Downs-Pikikirunga. www.luminatefestival.co.nz/lunasa
The Mussel Inn Coming Up...
Sat 7th DOUCE AMBIENCE Jazz Quartet, 8pm. $20 tickets @ Eventfinda. $25 door.
Mon 9TH SINGALONG ‘ROUND THE PIANO with Craig Denham, 7pm. All welcome.
Thu 12th ACID ON THE MICROPHONE - $5 door. 7.30pm. All welcome.
Sat 14th RAMSHACKLE - goodtime local rockers, 9pm. $10 door.
Sun 15th MACBETH - reimagined with a sassy, fun bluegrass twist, 7pm. $25 tickets @ Eventfinda. $30 door.
Mon 16th SINGALONG ‘ROUND THE PIANO FINALE with Craig Denham, 7pm. All welcome
Wed 18th FORGOTTEN ATLAS - RENNIE & COLM - Celtic roots and global grooves, 8pm. $15 door.
Thu 19th QUIZ, 7.30pm. All welcome.
Sat 21st THE COWPOKERS plus THE FAIRY DOGS. No covercharge! for more details see www.musselinn.co.nz
Golden Bay Promotion Association invite past and present members to celebrate
Friday: Gusty southwesterlies along western coasts and down some valleys, lighter winds elsewhere. Mainly fine and mild in sheltered areas
Saturday: Gusty southwesterlies in the west, light winds with afternoon sea breezes elsewhere. Fine and mild
Sunday: Northerlies becoming strong about Farewell and freshening elsewhere. Rain developing, possibly heavy over the ranges later
Monday: Southwesterlies soon developing, becoming fresh and gusty. Becoming fine during the morning
Tuesday: Gusty southwesterlies, easing later. The odd shower in the west otherwise fine and briefly mild. Continuing fine and warm
This
and ready for you to view. With a new kitchen, updated electricals, new carpet and freshly painted interiors. A woodfire and heat pump heat the home. Located on the school bus route, it’s ideal for a young family. The property offers stunning garden and farmland views. Arrange your private viewing today! 4
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is
J Barnes 021 236 2840
Viewings by appointment
16 Gibbs Road, COLLINGWOOD UP THE GARDEN PATH
To this charming villa with verandah and deck allowing views of Collingwood, sea, mountains & estuary. Timber floors & high ceilings, with plenty of gardens to enjoy. It must be viewed to appreciate the character, charm & potential. Call me for private viewing
Belinda J
a wraparound veranda, all beautifully paired with an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area.
OpenHome
This charming home offers breathtaking sea views, timber finishes, and modern amenities. Located near Pohara Beach, cafes, and restaurants, it’s an ideal retreat for downsizers or those seeking a serene coastal lifestyle - call today to arrange a viewing.
James Mackay 027 359 0892
1065 Tak-Cwd Highway, ONEKAKA
ONEKAKA DAIRY OPPORTUNITY
This 272-ha farm, spread over five titles, offers endless possibilities— continue as a dairy unit, switch to beef grazing, or explore subdivision potential. With a 3-bedroom home, three pole sheds, and a 21-bale rotary shed, this property is ready for its next chapter. Call me now.
James Mackay 027 359 0892
The perfect Christmas present does exist! Yes, this beautiful home is still available. It features an open-plan living area with estuary views and an expansive deck for entertaining. The flexible integrated studio is perfect for a home office or a holiday let. Call now!
Jana McConnon 021 245 2197
Paul McConnon 027 504 2872
Bay Vista Drive, POHARA FULLY LOADED + SEAVIEWS!
This stunning furnished 2019 home boasts sea views and seamless indoor-outdoor flow, featuring a generous kwila deck perfect for gatherings and peaceful mornings. Inside, enjoy an open-plan living space with a cozy fireplace. Come along to our open home on Sunday!
Jana McConnon 021 245 2197 Paul McConnon 027 504 2872
This substantial family home has been thoughtfully designed to take full effect of the sun and lovely rural views. The separate garage provides plenty of storage for all the toys. A central location close to Takaka and Pohara. Call me today.
James Mackay 027
POHARA
This stunning 2022 build captures breathtaking sea views. The home boasts a designer kitchen, open living spaces & a beautifully landscaped garden. Soak in the bath and enjoy the ever-changing seascape. Don’t miss out, call now to arrange a viewing!
James Mackay 027
A fully renovated large home on half an acre, all you need to do is move on in. Not only is it like a new home but it is also rural and private too. Set over two levels this home has ample space. So come and see what all the fuss is about. Call Jana or Paul today. Jana
