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Friday 2 May 2025
Golden Bay remembers
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027 690 0769 Local Water Done Well JO RICHARDS
The Collingwood Anzac parade sets off on the short march to the cenotaph. Photo: Jo Richards. JO RICHARDS
Golden Bay marked Anzac Day with services of remembrance in both its major townships. Well-attended gatherings were held both at dawn, and later in the morning, at Collingwood cenotaph and in Tākaka Memorial Gardens. In a prelude to the 9am Tākaka service, to the sound of marches played by the Tākaka Citizens Band, the Tākaka Mounted Rifles group set off from Junction Green and made its way along Commercial Street to the Memorial Gardens, where hundreds of people had gathered. The horses, riders and foot soldiers were followed by a parade of veterans, current service personnel, emergency service representatives and community leaders. Noel Baigent, president of the Golden Bay Returned and Services Association (RSA), explained that the service would begin immediately after a scheduled flypast. At precisely 9am, three minutes after flying over Collingwood, the Royal New Zealand Air Force
Boeing P-8A Poseidon from No. 5 Squadron flew low across the blue sky directly above the Memorial Gardens. As the aircraft powered on towards its next appointment – 9.15am over Trafalgar Street, Nelson – Noel formally opened the proceedings and invited all to stand and sing “God Save the King” with accompaniment from the Tākaka Citizens Band. The order of service continued with prayers led by pastor Rodney Watson, followed by a hymn and the laying of wreaths. Noel then handed over to two guest speakers from Golden Bay High School – Aliana Bowden and Lucy Muir. Both students delivered thoughtful and moving addresses about the personal sacrifices made by combatants, highlighting the importance of honouring the individuals who fought for a better world. (For full text versions of these speeches, see page 7.) Aliana recounted the story of her relative,
Flight Sergeant Terence John Soper, who died in 1943 when his bomber aircraft was shot down by a German U-Boat off the coast of North Africa. Aliana said his story was “a reminder of the incredible courage ordinary people are capable of in extraordinary circumstances”, adding that Terence’s actions demonstrated values of “selflessness, unity and an unwavering commitment to what is right”. She closed with the words: “In honouring Terence, we honour all those who have laid down their lives in service of others.” While she was speaking, two fantails fluttered above – a spectacle that elevated the poignancy of the moment, and something that members of the congregation later commented on. Lucy followed with her thoughts on war and her hopes for a peaceful world. She lamented how, as time goes by, personal testimonies are being lost. Continued on page 6
Tasman District Council is currently seeking public feedback on its future management of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services. The consultation is part of the Council’s response to the Government’s Local Water Done Well (LWDW) programme which it introduced after it scrapped "Three Waters" legislation in February 2024. LWDW is intended to ensure users pay cost-reflective prices for water services, that those services are delivered to an acceptable quality, and that water services providers invest properly in infrastructure. To that end TDC is required to prepare a Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP) which sets out how water services will be delivered in a sustainable way and meet future health, economic and environmental regulations over the next 30 years. The plan also needs to specify a suitable governance model. TDC’s current preferred option is an in-house business unit managed separately from other operations which TDC says “would be independently monitored to ensure high environmental and customer standards”. The two other options being considered both involve setting up a Water Council Controlled Organisation (CCO), each governed by an independent board, models that TDC says may offer operational efficiencies and cost savings over the long term, but will deliver similar financial outcomes over the short to medium term. In parallel with the current consultation, TDC continues to explore the future possibility of a multi-council CCO with Marlborough and Buller District Councils. Submissions close on 23 May 2025. Council must then submit its WSDP to the Department of Internal Affairs by 3 September, with implementation scheduled for November. For more information about Local Water Done Well, and/or to make a submission, go to: shape.tasman.govt.nz/lwdw.
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Inside: Teentheatre THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 2 MAY 2025
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ISSN (PRINT) 2538-0923 ISSN (ONLINE) 2538-0931
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