Ōtaki Today May 2019

Bishop keen to come and stay p7

On the beat: Chris Chapman p2

Obituaries: Duffy Huff, Kevin Smith p20

Where are they now? p14-15

MAY 16, 2019

otakitoday.com

Ngā Kōrero o Ōtaki

Pinched: Where’s our beach bench?

NO BENCH: The site at the estuary (above) where there used to be a wooden bench, and a photo of the bench above right when it was installed.

Cheeky thieves have stolen the wooden bench seat at the Ōtaki River estuary lookout.

On or about April 9, someone – presumably

with more transportation than a bicycle or foot power – unbolted the bench from its concrete pad and disappeared into the night.

The solid wooden structure had been donated

by Rotary, and made and installed by Waikanae MenzShed. It was used by vistors enjoying the view. It’s likely the bench is now adorning someone’s backyard.

If you’ve seen something similar suddenly appearing in a backyard after the brazen beach burglar bolted, or if you have information, local police would like to know about it (06 364-7366).

Rangatahi technology hub a first Ōtaki’s young people are about to learn creative technology skills that could take them into the careers of the future.

The Māoriland Tech Creative Hub (M.A.T.C.H) is to be launched at the Māoriland Hub in Main Street on Friday (May 17). It is part of a two-week expo, Korakora Matihiko, which showcases indigenous games, animation, VR&360 (virtual reality), comics and public kōrero.

M.A.T.C.H will be the first Māori-led tech hub for rangatahi (young people) on the Your one-stop-shop for: Kāpiti Coast. Running weekly after school at • TYRES • WOFs the Māoriland Hub, • VEHICLE SERVICING it was created from • AA BATTERY SERVICE the new Ministry • AA ROADSERVICE of Education digital • STATE ROADSIDE RESCUE curriculum, Hangarau • TOWING & SALVAGE Matihiko, which teaches youngsters how technology works, and how they can use that knowledge to solve problems.

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From term 1 next year, all schools in the country are expected to be teaching Hangarau Matihiko. Its aims are to ensure that rangatahi are able to adapt to and understand technology as it innovates so they are creators, not just users.

“Once the new curriculum is introduced, our kids won’t just be using devices such as computers and smart phones, but also learning the computer science principles that all digital technologies are built on,” says Måoriland Charitable Trust director Libby Hakaraia. “We believe our rangatahi here in Ōtaki have a lot to offer the creative and digital innovation sector that is expanding rapidly. M.A.T.C.H is about supporting rangatahi with experiences and opportunities, and a pathway to the creative and digital innovation sector.”

Otaki

The tech creative sector is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, creating thousands of new jobs in rural and underresourced communities.

Libby says the Māoriland Charitable Trust has created M.A.T.C.H so rangatahi can be leaders in this industry, both at home in Ōtaki and on the world stage.

Presenters at Korakora Matihiko include leading VR and AR filmmaker Gabo Arora of New York and representatives of INDIGI LAB (Australia), Coco Solid (Aotearoa) and Kaupapa (Ōtaki).

Heralded by the LA Times as “game-changing” and “transcending all the typical barriers of rectangular cinema”, Gabo‘s widely acclaimed virtual reality documentaries have all premiered as official selections at major film festivals around the world. He is also a professor at Johns Hopkins University where he designed, leads and is the founding director of the new Immersive Storytelling and Emerging Technologies (Iset) programme and lab.

He was formerly a senior economic policy advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; a UN diplomat with extensive field experience in disaster and conflict zones; and the UN’s first-ever creative director, founding UNVR, a division of the UN focused on virtual reality initiatives and campaigns.

He has championed the potential of VR to make social change.

His VR film, Clouds Over Sidra, in partnership with Unicef, has doubled the number of donations to support Syrian refugees.

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NEWS I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

LOCAL EVENTS KORAKORA MATIHIKO: IGNITING THE SPARK OF TECHNOLOGY FOR OUR RANGATAHI A two week expo with indigenous games, animation, VR & 360, and comics including rangatahi workshops and public korero. May 17-30 at Māoriland Hub. See story on page 1.

THE OTAKI GENEALOGY SOCIETY is holding its AGM on May 23, 7.30pm at the Supper Room, Memorial Hall, Ōtaki. Guest speaker is Merv Judge talking about passenger lists: insight into and from early arrivals into New Zealand by ship. All welcome.

MY NAME IS MOANA Saturday, May 25 from 8-10pm at the Māoriland Hub, 68 Main Street, Ōtaki. My Name is Moana is an intimate 90-minute tribute to the ocean led by singer-songwriter Moana – art laureate, inductee into the NZ Music Hall of Fame and 2019 Distinguished Alumni (University of Auckland). Tickets $20-$25. www.iticket.co.nz OTAKI HISTORICAL SOCIETY June 4, 7.30pm in the Rotary Hall. The history of the dairy industry in our region. Wellknown identity and Ōtaki dairy farmer Carl Lutz will be sharing his experiences and memories of lifetime farming in Ōtaki.

EMERGENCY EXERCISE The public is invited to participate in the Ōtaki Community Emergency Hub, an activation exercise for community response in an emergency. Saturday June 8, 1-3.30pm, Ōtaki Baptist Church, 2 Te Manuao Road. Free sausage sizzle.

OTAKI MUSUEM RSA exhibition: 100 Years Remembrance. Opens July 1. An exhibition to celebrate 100 years since the formation of the Ōtaki RSA. THE HOPE CAFE, Capital Training, 19 Aotaki St. Thursdays 3-5pm. Creative workshops for the non-arty; connecting wellbeing with creativity. Bring your ideas to share. Projects working towards something special for the community. Phone 04 299 6981, email info@tearakorowai.org.nz or just come along. KOHA. ŌTAKI WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CLUB CRAFT MARKET: opposite New World, On the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday of the month over the winter season. Georgie 027 234-1090. ŌTAKI GARAGE SALE third Saturday of the month, 9-11.30am, rain or shine, Presbyterian Church, 249 Mill Rd. 364-6449. ŌTAKI MUSEUM 49 Main St, Ōtaki Village.

Open Thursday-Saturday 10am-2pm.

TE HORO COUNTRY MARKET 54 School Rd, Te Horo. June 2, 10am-12.30pm. 3040 stalls selling food, plants and crafts, much of which is grown and produced locally.

To list your community event, contact debbi@idmedia.co.nz or 06 364-6543.

Page 2

CARTOON OF THE MONTH

By Jared Carson

Chris back, with life experiences There are always pros and cons rebuild their lives after for a policeman who’s grown up the militia wrecked their in a small town. country.”

So it is with Constable Chris After rising to sergeant Chapman, who’s come back to and an instructor to recruits, Ōtaki only in March. Old Chris decided the time was school mates might expect more right to do what he always leniency, but local knowledge wanted to do. counts for a lot.

In 2009 he joined the Either way, Chris is comfortable police, with his first posting in his job. He’s a man who seems in Levin, where he was on confident in his ability to handle the Public Safety Team just about any situation, which is (PST) for a few years before no surprise given his experience working on the Family He was in the Army for several Violence Team, Tactical years, rising to sergeant. He had Crime Unit and then a tour of duty to East Timor in returning to PST. 2001-02 and time as an instructor ON THE BEAT: Chris Chapman over the road from where he used to work in Ōtaki.

In 2017 he went to Police at Waiouru Army Camp.

Training College and taught Police work, howewver, was still very much Chris’s family were farming in Ōtaki Gorge tactical options training and was a firearms part of the career plan. In his early 20s, Chris Road when he was born, and later moved to instructor. In March this year, he was posted was about to join up when he spoke to local Paraparaumu and Ashhurst before returning to back to Ōtaki. He is married with four children.. policeman Dave Pike and got some advice he a farm in the eastern foothills of Rāhui Road.

“I’m enjoying being back,” Chris says. “The wasn’t expecting.

While Dad Alan farmed, Mum Pam ran Te biggest challenge in a small town is always “Get some life experience under your belt,” Moana Rest Home on the highway. going to be that people are reluctant to give us Dave told him.

After leaving college, Chris worked at Mobil information because it might be about someone Chris took the advice and in 2000 joined the for several years pumping petrol, when it was they know, and sometimes because they don’t operating on the corner of the highway and Mill Army instead – still with policing in mind. He think it’s important. But a bit here and a bit was soon in East Timor as a peacekeeper.

Road (where Sunrans Spas is now) and when it there builds a picture that we can act on.”

“Fortunately it was fairly quiet by that time,” moved to its current location.

So what kind of polceman is Chris? he says. ““It was good experience though, seeing He then worked at Chris Thomsen Motors, “I think I’m firm but fair. I’d like to think I how other people lived and helping them to also on the highway. treat people they way I’d like to be treated.”

Ōtaki Today is produced monthly by publisher ID Media Ltd, 13 Te Manuao Rd, Ōtaki. ISSN 2624-3067 For editorial enquiries or news tips, please contact editor Ian Carson 06 364-6543 or ian@idmedia.co.nz For advertising enquiries, please contact general manager Debbi Carson at 06 364-6543 or debbi@idmedia.co.nz PHOTOGRAPHER Simon Neale • CARTOONS Jared Carson CONTRIBUTORS: Fraser Carson (Media & Community) • Kath Irvine (Edible Backyards) • Ken Geenty (Farming) • Pera Barrett (Good Thinking) • Daniel Duxfield (Fitness) • Rex Kerr (History) • Steve Humphries (Food Science) Design by ID Media Ltd. Printed by Beacon Print, Whakatane. Ōtaki Today is a member of the Community Newspapers Association. To view Ōtaki Today online: otakitoday.com ISSN 2624-3067 • Next copy and advertising deadline June 4.

GOT A NEWS STORY? Call us on 06 364 6543. Ōtaki River entrance tides May 17 – June 13, 2019 metservice.com/marine-surf/tides/otaki-river-entrance

HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH

HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH

HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH Fri 17 May

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01:54 08:02 14:18 20:31

Mon 27 May 03:22 09:46 15:56 22:06 -

Thu 6 Jun

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05:18 11:21 17:37 23:48

Sat 18 May

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Tue 28 May

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Fri 7 Jun

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Sun 19 May -

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Wed 29 May

05:21 11:42 17:56 -

Sat 8 Jun

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Mon 20 May

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Thu 30 May -

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Sun 9 Jun

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Tue 21 May

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Fri 31 May

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Mon 10 Jun

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Wed 22 May

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Sat 1 Jun

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Tue 11 Jun

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Thu 23 May

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Sun 2 Jun

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Wed 12 Jun 04:49 11:07 17:23 23:37 -

Fri 24 May

0:41 07:04 13:09 19:18 -

Mon 3 Jun

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03:04 09:03 15:23 21:34

Thu 13 Jun

Sat 25 May

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Tue 4 Jun

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Wed 5 Jun

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Please note: The actual timing of high and low tide may differ from that provided here by LINZ. Times are extrapolated from the nearest primary port for this location, so please take care.

NEWS I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 3

Shuttle gets locals to appointments Public transport and health services are bound to be key issues for Ōtaki residents as the 2019 local body elections loom. Although transport services are limited compared to other small communities in the lower North Island, there are other options. Ōtaki Today looks this issue at the health shuttle provided by St John volunteers.

Hira Royal needs to get to Levin and back twice a week to attend the Marion Kennedy Club in Levin run by Alzheimers Manawatū.

The day programme helps people who suffer memory loss and associated problems that go with dementia and alzheimers. Unable to do it herself, she relies on family to get her there.

However, the visits last five hours, from 10am to 3pm, so the options for the family are to stay and do some shopping in Levin, or return later in the day to pick her up.

To avoid the hassle, the family uses the St John shuttle service. It picks up Hira in Levin and delivers her back to her home at Ōtaki.

“It’s a fabulous service,” says Hira’s daughter, Kahu Coldstream. “Mum is having more and more difficulty remembering things, and we worry if she’s out on her own.

“Sometimes she wants to be dropped in town, but the shuttle makes sure she gets right back to us safely. We find it’s a really good value service that takes the pressure off the family.”

The shuttle also gives the family time to devote quality time to their father.

“We can play cards and rummy. It’s great down time for Dad, especially because we don’t have to pack up early to go and pick up Mum.” Jimmy Anderson needs six-hour dialysis sessions three days a week in Palmerston North.

THE NUMBERS In February, the Ōtaki St John Health Shuttle had:

READY TO GO: Volunteers Cam Ronald, left, and Terry McMinn ready to head out on another St John Health Shuttle trip for locals.

Living an hour away in Ōtaki and not having a vehicle, Jimmy would have had to rely on others for his transport. So he uses the health shuttle.

“It would be really hard on my son to get me there and back,” he says. “The shuttle is great.

It gets me out, I can have a good chat to the drivers and it gets me door to door.”

The shuttle service operates every week day to get Ōtaki people to medical appointments.

It might be for a hospital visit, but it could also be to a medical centre, or ancillary service such as imaging, specialist assessment or treatment.

And it doesn’t need to be out of town.

Shuttle driver Cam Ronald says the service provides transport for people who have no other options to get to health appointments.

“When the shuttle began in 2010, the missed appointment rates from Ōtaki for MidCentral District Health Board services were about 80 percent,” Cam says. “With the shuttle, we’ve reversed that rate, so now 80 percent of appointments are honoured.”

The door-to-door service operates at various times each day from Monday-Friday, usually to Levin or Palmerston North. Users can book through a phone messaging service, and it’s confirmed by a call back for travel arrangements and the pick-up time from homes or other designated locations.

Patients might be attending medical treatment, consultations with specialists, specialist dental care and treatment, eyesight

Passenger trips

302

Hours of volunteer support

416

Kilometres travelled

3529

Donations from passengers and/or families

$1005

and related disorders, renal dialysis, dementia or other age-related care.

The shuttle is staffed by 22 volunteer drivers and companions, who are all trained in first aid skills. It operates on donations from users and the community, through the local St John charity shop and from the health board when people are on long treatment programmes. If five or more visits are required in a six-month period, the DHB pays for the travel.

At present there are two shuttles, with only one having a rear wheelchair hoist. The other is due to be replaced later in the year.

Cam says it’s rewarding to be helping locals, and he urges anyone who has some spare time to join up.

“We need more volunteers, so if you’ve got some spare time one day a week from 8am to 4pm, we’d love to hear from you,” he says. “Full training and uniforms are provided.” n To book a shuttle, phone 06 368-6369. For enquiries, email otakishuttle@gmail.com

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NEWS I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 4

Record number of trees for river project The Friends of the Ōtaki River (Fotor) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a record number of trees to be planted.

A total of 7000 trees are scheduled to be planted, but more could be added. A major planting programme is under way, continuing through the winter months (see table).

Several organisations and individuals have become partners in the planting programme.

One is Manakau School, which is a planting partner for June 5, Arbor Day. Students have already potted 1000 plants and will be on hand with family, supporters and friends to plant them on Arbor Day. The Manakau community has got behind the school, with assistance and services supplied by The Greenery, Manakau Village Nurseries, Ferns of Manakau, Horrobin & Hodge, Quarter Acre Café, Alan Gibson Contracting and Brown Acres Market.

A thousand more trees will be planted thanks to Trees that Count, an umbrella organisation co-ordinating projects nationwide to plant native trees. The trees are supplied by The Greenery, Manakau, and will be planted by Ōtaki Lions Club as a planting partner on Sunday, July 21.

Members of the public are welcome to join in any of the plantings.

• Major works included bank maintenance, planting 1200 willow poles, lower Rangiuru rock wall repairs (700 tonnes), clearing after flooding • 42,162cu m of gravel was extracted.

The GWRCbudget for 2018-19 is $1 ,502,000, including a re-start of the lower Waitohu Stream Project, completion of the Flood Plain Management Review Plan and issues surrounding access to Lake Winstone.

LEFT: Trevor Wylie and, from left, son Scott, daughter Deanne and daughter Kerryn Fulford at a riverbank planting last Sunday (May 12). About 65 of the Wylie family, descended from Trevor’s parents, Hector and Violet, gathered from throughout the country with other local Friends of the Ōtaki River (Fotor) members and volunteers to plant 1000 trees. The family-sponsored planting is part of Fotor’s riparian restoration programme.

Other plantings will be done along the riverbank and at the estuary in association with Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Meanwhile, Greater Wellington Regional Council says in the year to June 30: • Ōtaki Flood Protection expenditure was $1.06 million

WINTER PLANTING PROGRAMME DATE

TIME

WHERE

WHO

Wednesday June 5

9.30am

Chrystall’s Walkway

Manakau School & community

Sunday June 23

9.30am

Opposite the fernery

Wilson family

Saturday July 6

9.30am

Chrystall’s Walkway

Brigitte & Bram, Tall Poppy Real Estate

Sunday July 21

9.30am

Waimanu Stream

Trees That Count/Ōtaki Lions

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NEWS I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 5

IN BRIEF Help breakfast club

Ōtaki School is looking for volunteers to help with its breakfast club. The club operates five days a week and gives children toast, cereal and a milo. Another two or three volunteers are needed to help out for only one day a week, from 8am to prepare and finishing about 9.15am. About 25 children drop in for kai before they begin school. Contact the school if you can help out at 06 364-8704.

Pink Ribbon morning tea

Otaki Library is offering a pink ribbon morning tea on Wednesday, May 29. The public is invited, with a ticket price of $5 that includes a selection of locally handmade treats.

Quiet for brigade

It was a quiet month in April for the Ōtaki Volunteer Fire Brigade. It attended 13 calls: one private fire alarm caused by a sprinkler system pressure drop; two motor vehicle accidents; one medical call; one vehicle fire; two special services, including helping to get a horse out of a creek; five rubbish, grass, or scrub fires; and one property fire (on a fence).

BULBS GO IN: Maleah Edwards and Riley Cohen of Manakau School were keen to get the daffodil bulbs in at the Driscoll Reserve planting day on May 6.

PLANTING OUT: Maleah Edwards and Riley Cohen of Manakau School plant out daffodil bulbs at Driscoll Reserve.

Report online

School turns out for daffodil planting day Children of Manakau School had some fun and learnt something about horticulture as they helped to plant 1000 spring bulbs on Monday, May 6. The daffodils were planted out among the grass at Driscoll Reserve opposite the old Manakau Hotel under the supervision of professional gardeners, teachers and Horowhenua District Council. The planting is a community-led project, with locals and the school taking an active part. Along with the bulbs, there are roses being planted, and a range of specimen trees. The reserve had to have a heavy layer of topsoil as it sits on the site of the old Ravensdown fertiliser yard.

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If you’ve lost something or want to report to police anything other than an emergency – such as theft, vandalism or shoplifting – you can now do it online at police.govt.nz The website also gives you updates about a report you’ve already made. In emergencies, always call 111 immediately.

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NEWS I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 6

Councillor quits as Elevate chair Ōtaki Ward councillor James Cootes has resigned as chair of Elevate Ōtaki, citing a lack of support for the group from Kāpiti Coast District Council.

James offered his resignation to a meeting in April, saying he was “extremely disappointed” to be doing so after he’d put so much work into the group and securing the initial funding.

“I didn’t think I could continue to lead the group when, despite repeated requests to KCDC, we weren’t getting the support we were promised,” he told Ōtaki Today.

“It started to impact on my personal reputation and of those in the group who have made a significant contribution of volunteer time.”

He says locals had been asking why Elevate Ōtaki was seen to be not achieving anything, nor making progress on projects. It came to a head when there were bureaucratic delays in appointing Flightdec to work on an Ōtaki identity programme.

“It was enormously embarrassing and frustrating for me and the group to make a decision and then wait months before the appointment could be made, effectively setting us back. If there is any silver lining in my resignation, it’s that the council has finally started acting on its promises of support.”

At Elevate’s May meeting, James agreed to a proposal that he remain on the group as a project co-ordinator so his skills and experience could be retained. It was seen as vital that the identity work continue unimpeded.

The Elevate Ōtaki group is tasked with promoting the town and district, with particular emphasis on mitigating and enhancing the effects of the expressway. (See also James’s column, page 10.)

KCDC declined an invitation to comment.

Action group starts petition for Peka Peka interchange Action group Finish Our Road (FOR) has started a petition asking that Kāpiti Coast District Council support a new business case for the Peka Peka expressway interchange.

‘We need to get the business case done properly, and we need KCDC to support that,” says spokesperson and Ōtaki Community Board member Marilyn Stevens. “The business case done previously by NZTA was flawed and incomplete.”

A decision by the Transport Agency last year to not go ahead with an interchange was based on its business case.

“The flawed business case needs to be re-done with emphasis given to the government policy of safety, access, the environment and value for money,” Marilyn says. “It was compiled under the previous government’s policy and then changed at the last minute to fit the new policy. It failed.

“We’re asking for the continued support and assistance of KCDC on this matter and have already been given the support of the Ōtaki and Waikanae community boards. It’s important to have a robust business case as this will be a good starting point for NZTA to fund full connectivity at Peka Peka in the future.”

A statement from FOR said it also wanted KCDC to ensure that the land needed to build the ramps would not be sold.

NZTA owns the land because it was originally intended for full connectivity at Peka Peka. If it sells the land, a decision to reverse the interchange decision would be harder, FOR says. It is recommending that KCDC add the project to the Regional Land Transport Plan.

FOR says that without the Peka Peka ramps, most Te Horo and Peka Peka trips to and from the south will use Waikanae local roads. As a result, an extra 2300 vehicles a day will use those roads, meaning an extra six million kilometres a year travelled.

It says NZTA limited the scope of its business case to access at Peka Peka, and the poor connectivity for the Peka Peka and Te Horo communities to the expressway.

“It is about much more than this,” the FOR statement says

“NZTA says its reversal of the previous decision to go ahead with the south-facing ramps at Peka Peka is because the current government has different priorities for its roading funding.

Yet in its business case, it did not apply the new government’s guidelines which focus on increasing safety, improving access, safeguarding the environment and achieving value for money.”

FOR says NZTA should have considered: Safety – no safety analysis has been done on the impact on the communities of Waikanae and Waikanae Beach. Extra traffic forced onto local roads will make these suburban streets more dangerous, while the expressway offers safe travel.

Access to economic and social opportunities – travel times (measured by FOR in low traffic periods) are expected to increase by one minute when travelling between Peka Peka and the Waikanae interchange, and by five minutes when travelling between Te Horo Beach and Te Horo township, and the Waikanae interchange. The south-facing ramps at Ōtaki South will only offer a faster route for those north of Te Horo township.

Environmental – the local Waikanae and Peka Peka environment will deteriorate due to the increase in emissions from the additional traffic which will include large trucks. Total emissions, including greenhouse gases, will increase because distances being travelled will increase.

Value for money – NZTA didn’t work out whether the Peka Peka ramps were the “right roads” following the Government’s new policy and then work out the best cost.

Future proofing – NZTA has not considered the effects on traffic volumes on zone changes in the Proposed District Plan where land has been rezoned from rural to rural residential.

This intensification has not been considered. It also has not considered proposed subdivisions north of Waikanae. n The petition is online at www.for.org.nz/petition or can be signed at Harrison’s Garden Centre, Peka Peka; Café Te Horo; and Shine On Hair Design at Hyde Park, Te Horo.

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NEWS I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 7

HUHA ANIMALS

Is Bishop your boy?

Calling all kelpie lovers – Bishop is a 2-year-old pure-bred kelpie who needs an active home.

He was surrendered to Huha recently because his owners weren’t able to give him the time he needed. He has lived in a home with cats. In fact, his best friend was a cat and they would play fight, so if you have cats they would need to be dog savvy and robust because Bishop will want to be a firm buddy.

He loves to play, but is a vocal player and will jump around and bark to engage play. He has great understanding of basic commands such as sit and lay down, waits for his dinner and is house trained.

Kelpies will herd things, so older children are best as he might want to round up little ones, bless him.

An understanding of the breed is important and you will need to get him out running and exploring.

Bishop is high energy, but he has a very loving nature and listens very well to what you are asking of him.

He will need further training and someone to involve him in their day.

This is a fantastic boy who has so much personality and love to give the right person.

Bishop is based at Club Huha in Ōtaki. n Please call (04) 392-3232 if you think Bishop is your boy.

THREE COOKS: Café Te Horo's Amanda Corrigan, left, and Jackie Wood, right, with Edmonds cook Annabelle White.

White toasts a café gem A recent visit to Café Te Horo by legendary New Zealand cook Annabelle White has put the café front and centre on the Edmonds cooking website.

Annabelle was on a road trip for Edmonds to celebrate New Zealand bakers, and along the way uncover some great Kiwi café recipes. She had been at Te Horo’s Ruth Pretty Catering, and Ruth told her to pop in so see café owners Amanda Corrigan and Amanda’s mother, Jackie Wood. Amanda has recently taken over the running of the café from Jackie.

“We had a great time with Annabelle,” Amanda says.

“She’s a true legend in the cooking world and her bubbly, fun and positive personality is infectious.”

Impressed with what she saw, Annabelle featured the café on the Edmonds website – edmondscooking.co.nz – not only with a home page banner, but also a photo and feature about the café’s favourite Edmonds recipes, and Café Te Horo's recipe for its signature toasty cheese gems – also known famously to locals as “Jackie’s Gems”.

The favourite Edmonds recipes? Melting moments and afghans for Jackie; ginger kisses for Amanda. Both come from the family’s well-worn Edmonds Cook Book.

“With Edmonds you know the recipe will work and we have been making them for years,” Amanda says.

GEMS: Café Te Horo's signature toasty cheese gems.

Everything Ōtaki May 19

Local Elections 2019 - nominations open soon Ever dreamed of helping to shape where you live by working with and for your community? Have ideas for your neighbourhood and want to take them to the next level? Then why not consider standing as an elected member for the Kāpiti Coast District Council?

Elections are in October and nominations for candidates open in July. Want to learn more? For information on being an elected member and how to stand as a nominee for local government elections, visit www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/elections2019.

Ōtaki artists in the 2019 Kāpiti Arts Trail

Civic and Community Awards nominations

Dog registrations opening soon

The 2019 Kāpiti Coast Arts Trail is set for the first two weekends of November and artists have been busily getting their applications in.

Do you know a person or group who helps make your community great? Does someone in your neighbourhood or a group in the wider scene shine above the rest? Then now is the time to recognise them and their hard work.

Woof! Marley’s here to give you the heads-up that it’s nearly dog registration time again. Time to get your furry pal upto-date at Council and swap out their old dog tag for this year’s bright yellow one!

So, don’t drop the ball - registration only lasts a month and it starts in June.

Around 20 artists based in Ōtaki and Te Horo joined more than 100 creatives who opened their studios to the public last year and we hope to see even more in 2019.

For everything you need to know about this year’s trail, visit www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/artstrail2019.

Nominations are now open for this year’s Civic and Community Awards. For nomination forms and award criteria, visit www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/civic-awards.

Nominations close 31 May 2019.

For all the details on how to register your canine buddy, visit www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/dog-registration.

NEWS I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 9

Anzac Day well attended

By Ian Carson

A crowd of several hundred gathered in Memorial Park to commemorate Anzac Day early on the morning of Thursday, April 25.

Service veterans wore their medals proudly on their left chest; family members of some who had died or were unable to attend wore theirs on the right.

Others came simply to pay their respects, bringing young children who seemed awed at the ceremony of the occasion.

Local military buff Royce Bowler’s naval gun stood guard on Main Street, soldiers stood silently with bowed heads, wreaths were laid by service associations and dignitaries (including Mayor Gurunathan), there were speeches, of course, and right on cue, two military helicopters flew from the north over the commemoration at 6.30am. They returned shortly afterwards as light grew and the crowds entered the Ōtaki and District RSA. With the more solemn part of the day over, it was chance for people to catch up with old mates and whānau who had come from around the country to attend. It was more smiles than tears, both having their place at the one time of the year when remembrance is so important.

From left, Hohepa (Joe) Wehipeihana, George Tahiwi (uncle of the Waaka men), and brothers Rupene, Henare and Tommy Waaka, who all served in the Navy.

Photos: Ian Carson

John Brown was proud to take his grandson, Scout Emery Brown, along to the Ōtaki RSA after the dawn Anzac commemoration.

Howard proud to carry flag Museum trustees plan for future

One man stood out at the dawn service on April 25 – he was proudly carrying a New Zealand flag.

“I wish more people got a flag and carried it at important events like Anzac Day,” Howard Chamberlain (below) says. “You see it a lot overseas.”

Having visited many European countries and seeing how proud people were to show the flag, Howard thought he would do it as often as he

could in New Zealand, hoping to encourage others to do so.

His flag has travelled with him, and he’s marked the places and dates down the pole to remember them.

They include military sites such as Gallipoli and the Western Front from the First World War, and Crete, Greece and Italy from the Second World War. Howard joined the Army straight out of college at Waihi after growing up in Katikati.

It was to be the start of a long military career in which he saw service in Malaya and Borneo from August 1963 to December 1966.

He stayed with the Army for 31 years, then worked at Defence Headquarters in Wellington for a further 12 years.

He now lives in Waikanae.

“I’m retired in the sense that I don’t get paid, but I’m pretty busy with various things,” he says.

As a military historian he’s already written Service Lives Remembered, which documents recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal from 1895 to 1994, and he’s working on a book about New Zealand’s role in the Korean War. Howard is also honorary curator of the Engineers Corps Memorial Centre at Linton Army Camp, a trained opera singer and accomplished player of the baritone (a small tuba).

He attended the Ōtaki Anzac Day service for two reasons: one is that Waikanae no longer has an RSA; and two, Ōtaki RSA member and resident Richard Collins is an old school mate from Katikati.

He will undoubtedly have his flag at the 100th anniversary of the Ōtaki RSA in early June.

Trustees of the Ōtaki Museum recently spent time considering the museum’s future.

They were led in a discussion by museum consultant Lily Frederikse, who is helping the trust decide priorities for the next few years.

Lisa specialises in visitor attraction planning, design and management, and has worked on projects that connect visitors with places of cultural, heritage and environmental value, including museums, exhibitions and visitor centres.

A big issue for the museum is the building’s earthquake status, as well as the challenge of making the museum a more attractive and inviting space for visitors.

A decision was made to move the work space downstairs, making it easier for people

to use the museum’s resources for their own research and to seek information.

The trustees will also be talking with Kāpiti Coast District Council about getting an engineer’s assessment of what is required to bring the building up to earthquake standard.

A new strategic plan will help the trust to focus on its main priorities.

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OTAKI RSA POPPY TRUST The Trustees of the Otaki RSA Poppy Trust thanks the community for its generous support on POPPY DAY. The funds collected provide support for Veterans and ex-Military Service Personnel and their dependants in need.

Our thanks also go to the many volunteers and businesses who assisted with the collection of donations.

Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 10

COMMENT GURU’S VIEW: K GURUNATHAN

Looking at better meeting the funding needs of our community Back in February, I wrote to NZ Community Trust CEO Mike Knell. The trust owns most of the pokie machines in Ōtaki.

My letter explored the need for the trust to look at better ways of helping community groups to understand how to apply for funding from pokie machine operators. It also pointed out the high deprivation index in Ōtaki and the extensive research showing significant links between this deprivation, pokie machines and Māori communities.

Kāpiti Coast District Council’s recent submission process saw 58 submissions, with 27 coming from

Ōtaki. Of those 27 submissions, 22 were from Māori reflecting serious gambling problems within this community. Given this, I asked if the trust could deliver their mandatory problem gambling programme in a culturally sensitive and relevant matrix – especially given the Ministry of Justice and the police

LOCAL LENS: IAN CARSON

Turn off or turn on, elections loom It’s coming around to that time in local politics that either enlivens people or turns them off completely.

Yes, elections loom, in fact on October 12. Most of our councillors in Kāpiti Coast District Council, and our community board and health board representatives, will have another crack in the elections, but there will be some strong contenders and nothing can ever be taken for granted.

What will be interesting is to see is who puts their hand up. There might be some passionate candidates who have thought about making their mark for some time, or it might be on a whim, or maybe someone’s urged them to stand.

What motivates people to stand has always been interesting to see. You’ll always get people who lobby largely on single issues – which, if it’s topical and a key issue, can make campaigning simple and therefore effective.

Then there are the ones who fire up voters and public meeting audiences with their “anti-everything” stance.

“Vote for me and I’ll sort this lot out. I’ll make sure they’re accountable and I’ll get our rates down.” Of course, they rarely succeed.

There will again be a mixed bunch in our council. Some will cruise through their duties, glance at the reports presented, attend a few meetings and vote on gut feeling or ignorane.

Others will be just as passionate, but meticulous and act with integrity.

Which comes to my key point.

Now’s the time to think seriously about running in the elections yourself. I’m not suggesting you do it because you think you can “sort things out”, but rather that you feel you can genuinely contribute to help make our communities better places.

We need people who have a commitment to communities at a local level. People who can think about how best to use limited resources and harness the skills and experience that’s available in all communities. We have a wealth of talent in Ōtaki, but not all talented people have the time to commit to being a local councillor. So we need to talk to these people, listen to them and soak up the wisdom they are willing to share.

If you think you’re a listener, a doer and have a skin thick enough to shake off inevitable criticism, nominations open on July 19 and close on August 16.

Good information is at www.elections.org.nz

were already looking at such a customised approach to address the disproportionately high numbers of Māori offenders in the justice system.

Mike’s response on May 2 is really interesting.

He noted that the Gambling Act does not make provisions for treating any ethnic group differently.

“As such, we consider that treating Māori gaming patrons differently through, for example, higher levels of scrutiny, could be perceived as unfair and discriminatory, and we expect could amount to a breach of human rights legislation,” he said.

Further, noting that the Ministry

of Health was looking at his cultural aspect within the gambling system, he added that the Government was the appropriate agent to pursue this direction through amendments to the Act. The ministry gathered $31 million by way of a problem gambling levy from the pokies sector, which Mike advised could be used to fund initiatives that target vulnerable groups.

Data submitted by the Problem Gambling Foundation showed that between January 2017 and March 2018, the whole of Kāpiti directly received only $710,000 of pokie

machine funding for community organisations, from a total take of $10.5 million.

I have made no analysis of the total take by NZ Community Trust from its Ōtaki pokies, nor the trust’s total contributions to local community organisations, but I’m sure Ōtaki welcomes the conclusion of the trust’s CEO that the trust is “happy to support further collaboration, particularly ways we can better meet the funding needs of the community through our grants”.

We should take up that offer.. n K Gurunathan is the Mayor of Kāpiti Coast and is an Ōtaki resident.

FORWARD FOCUS: JAMES COOTES

Sharing views on what makes Ōtaki special As many of you will know, for the last 18 months, I have been involved in the Elevate Ōtaki group.

It’s a fantastic bunch of Ōtaki/Te Horo people who volunteer their time to plan for the future of Ōtaki after the expressway opens.

More recently we contracted Flightdec to deliver a piece of work around what is “Otaki’s identity”.

In business, when you’re looking to sell or promote a product or service you need to understand several things to effectively reach your target market.

I can hear some of you already wondering why we need a company to find that out? We already know Ōtaki has great tramping in the Tararuas, rich culture and arts, unspoilt beaches, great educational opportunities, boutique shopping . . . and yes, you’d be right.

In reality, Ōtaki means different things for different people.

For me it’s the friendly, whānau family

community where everyone is happy to help someone else. It’s our “can do” attitude where we always punch well above our weight and find solutions to our own community issues.

I love the laid-back, cruisy pace and if I find time, I love boogie boarding the waves with my kiddies or enjoying a spot of fishing on a calm day, soaking in the sun and admiring the beauty of our coastline and Kāpiti Island.

Flightdec wants to capture what Ōtaki means to you.

If someone asks you what you love about Ōtaki, it’s what you’d say. It’s your Ōtaki

“elevator pitch” if you thought of it in another way.

So over the next few months you’ll have an opportunity to let us know what you think. You might get interviewed in the street, we’ll have a public session where you can pop in, and you can also fill out our online survey on the Elevate Otaki page http://elevateotaki.nz/Have-Your-Say to share your views about what makes Ōtaki special to you.

Once we’ve collated all that information, we’ll start to build a picture of why people live here, why they chose to move here and what might attract others to come for a day, a weekend or possibly to live.

That Ōtaki identity will then help inform how we spend the funds we have to promote Ōtaki in an effective way that helps retain the unique DNA that makes Ōtaki so special. n James Cootes is the Ōtaki Ward councillor on the Kāpiti Coast District Council.

ŌTAKI OUTLOOK: CHRIS PAPPS

Taking the kinks out of a long and winding road Usually when I catch the Ōtaki bus I’m going from Ōtaki to Waikanae Railway Station, and doing the return journey to Wellington on the train.

I catch the bus at the stop opposite Ōtaki New World, which is the last one before Waikanae.

I’ve never travelled the full Ōtaki route.

With the closing of Rāhui Road to build the new connection over the realigned rail and expressway, the bus route has had to be changed for the seven or eight months it will take to build the bridge and make the connection.

Several residents of Rāhui, Freemans and other Waitohu area streets were concerned about the proposed bus services and where buses would stop.

One of these is Joe Stead. He and his mother are regular users and they were worried about the effects the changes

would have. Joe contacted me on behalf of other bus users and, after some discussion, we agreed the best way to look at it would be for me to take him on the existing bus route so he could show me the proposed route and point out the problems bus users saw.

Until then I had not realised what a long and winding road the buses have to take from Waikanae to drop off passengers, and then up onto the Plateau to pick up the next group going south.

The drop-off and then pick-up routes take

nearly an hour going up to the Plateau then down to the Beach, back up to the Plateau and then heading south again.

Having seen the route and where problems might arise, I was able to go back to Fletchers, who had been working with the bus company to sort out the temporary route once Rāhui Road closed.

Fletchers were very responsive to our comments and suggestions, and they sorted them through with the bus company.

For a while there was a bit of a problem with the bus entry to County Road – the bus drivers thought it was too narrow – but Fletchers agreed to make changes to the County Road access earlier than previously planned and that sorted that out.

Well done, Joe Stead, well done, Fletchers and well done to the bus company. n Chris Papps is chair of the Ōtaki Community Board.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: If you have something to say, write to us. Please include your full name, address and contact phone number. Only letters that include these details will be published, unless there is good reason to withhold a name. Maximum 200 words. Note your letter may be edited for grammar and accuracy. Not all letters received will be published and the publisher reserves the right to reject any letter. Write to Ōtaki Today, 13 Te Manuao Rd, Ōtaki or email letters@idmedia.co.nz

COMMENT I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 11

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT ŌTAKI: GUEST COLUMN

Paula’s new home town ‘a small piece of happiness’

By Paula Archibald

With both my and partner Ralf’s grandmothers living in Ōtaki years ago, and Ralf’s job bringing us to the Kāpiti Coast, we decided to live in Ōtaki.

At Christmas 2002 we were welcomed by a lovely elderly couple, a Mr and Mrs Carol, with a rubbish bag in hand letting us know what’s what in Bell Street (also when rubbish day was).

Ever since, we have been part of a wonderful community.

With three boys going to Waitohu School, then on to Ōtaki College, and our daughter in her last year at Waitohu, we have been involved in supporting our children in various activities. Ōtaki is a very strong sports-driven community. It’s helped when the boys were younger as they were involved with the Rāhui Rugby Cllub, the squash and soccer club. When our daughter was younger she was at Ōtaki playgroup. Ōtaki has much to offer, including the sports clubs, Scouts, theatre, music, dance, surf lifesaving, waka ama, canoe polo, plus a range of activities for the retired such as walking groups, singing, exercise, Rotary, Probus . . . the list goes on.

There are many industrial business on and around Riverbank Road who are always willing to help or advise. As for coffee and cafes, there’s a vast range to choose from – believe me, they’re good.

Nearly two years ago my mother-in-law came to stay with us.

She experienced the same generosity as we did. While sitting in the medical centre she mentioned to me that she needed to go to the chemist to get a mirror for her purse. No sooner had we finished our conversation than a lovely lady gave her a spare mirror her sister had given her. How nice was that? Ōtaki has dedicated people, who run the annual kite festival in February, Māoriland Film Festival during March, and the Ōtaki Pottery Club’s Festival of Pots and Garden Art in January.

POTTER AT WORK: Paula Archibald – happy to be part of a “wonderful community”.

I am a local representative on the community arts grants committee, so it’s fantastic to see what’s going on throughout the Kāpiti Coast, and especially Ōtaki. I also tutor pottery at the Ōtaki Pottery Club for children aged 7 to 18, with after-school classes and holiday workshops.

I am myself a potter working from my home studio, which has a small public gallery. This year is the 30th anniversary for the

Photo: Simon Neale

Ōtaki Pottery Club – stay tuned for more information.

It’s fair to say that Ōtaki has much to offer and is still growing.

The Ōtaki Print shop sells a local printed directory of what’s to offer, with business phone numbers, sports groups, schools etc.

It’s well worth having.

What do I love about Ōtaki? Well, I personally think Ōtaki is a small piece of happiness.

Rotunda waits on formalities

Up to date with KCDC app

A trust recently formed to preserve the old Ōtaki Children’s Health Camp rotunda is waiting only on formalities before it gets to work in earnest.

The Friends of the Otaki Rotunda has met with representatives of the Department of Conservation (DoC) and Heritage New Zealand to discuss the current state of the building and the land on which it sits.

The site is being looked after by DoC under a careand-maintenance arrangement while it awaits a report from Heritage NZ on the heritage values of the site – both land and buildings.

“Our hands are tied at the moment,” says committee chair Di Buchan. “We just have to wait until the formalities are completed, then we will know the basis on which the trust can undertake the restoration of this very important building.”

The trust is also waiting to hear the outcome of its application for charitable status, which will be essential to attract donations.

The trust was recently invited to retrieve any items

Antenno is a new mobile app from Kāpiti Coast District Council that allows residents to raise issues with council, and be alerted to council service-related things going on in their neighbourhood.

Residents can send and receive council-related information straight from their mobile device, so they don't have to scroll through newsfeeds to find out what’s going on. They can choose the places and tailor information they want to be alerted about, so they get information only for the locations and topics they care about. This might include their street, place of work, or where their children go to school.

Notifications from council include information about road works, major water outages, pool and library closures, council events, consultations, and rates payment and dog registration reminders.

Residents can also raise issues with the council directly from their smart phones.

“The app prompts you to enter all the information we need to action a service request with the added benefit of being able to upload a photo and geographical location,” says KCDC group manager people and places. “This is a significant step forward for our council as it means people can report issues such as graffiti in public places that needs to be removed or a tree down on the Waikanae River track in real time from their smart phones.”

To alert the council to urgent issues outside working hours, call 0800 486 486.

The app is free to download through the App Store or Google Play.

of historic significance when the previous owners, Stand for Children, were packing up to leave. All items collected, including Pepe the donkey’s coat, are now either in the care of Ōtaki Museum or members of the trust. It’s possible these artefacts will be displayed in future at a special health camp museum run in conjunction with the rotunda.

“There must have been thousands of children who attended the health camp over the years, and who will want to help with the restoration,” Di says. “The rotunda is one aspect of staying at the camp that none of the children forget – even those who are now in their 90s. It’s an awe-inspiring building.

“The health camp was an integral part of the local community for over 80 years. It is important, not just to people who stayed there as children or who worked there, but to the whole Otaki community.”

The rotunda building, originally from King George V Hospital in Rotorua, is one of the last surviving buildings of the hexagon shape in the country and has a category 1 Historic Places Trust designation.

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COMMENT I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 12

The importance of memories from our teenage years What’s the music that means the most to of what was probably Ōtaki College’s finest first you? I mean the stuff you always remember – XV rugby team. It was in 1968, the year before I the lyrics, rhythms and melodies that bring a started at Ōtaki College, but it was memorable tingle to your soul? for me because of that formidable rugby team.

For most I’d bet it’s the music from our Their winning ways, with exceptionally fast teenage years. The years when you were no and hard-running backs, regularly drew crowds longer a kid but not quite yet an adult. The years 10 deep on the college’s western side-line. when our lives absorbed it all and translated it Keith went on to play in an astonishing into how we might live our more serious later Wellington team of the early 1970s, on the right lives. wing opposite the incomparable All Black Grant And so, the Ōtaki College 60th reunion on Batty. Keith scored a late winning try against April 26 and 27 has come and gone as a kind of South Canterbury in 1974 that secured the celebration and remembrance of teenage years.

Ranfurly Shield for Wellington.

It was much more besides, for more than 300 Keith’s cousins, Rupene and Tommy Waka attendees. were at the reunion and I recalled playing with Reconnecting with people from our past took Rupene ( JuJu) in a later first XV, and remember us back to lots of good times and, in some cases, Tommy as the hard man at centre in that 1968 not so good times. Through it team. Tommy told me at the MEDIA & COMMUNITY reunion that his secret weapon all, people were happy just to be in each other’s company again was advice given to him by and tip a hat to a school that has Rāhui coaching stalwart Wiki progressed remarkably in 60 Cook: “Just run straight, Tom.” years.

For the record, the 1968 I’m sure that a stand-out of the team had some good forwards, reunion was the chance to meet including my older brother Don. again with former classmates But the powerhouse strength and teachers. For me, it was that, was in the backs – Dallas Cook but also in talking to someone at halfback, Keith Hawea at firstI’d never properly met before. five, Tommy Waaka at centre, FRASER CARSON Keith Hawea was a member Tam Miratana (Tambo) on the

right wing, Wayne Winterburn on the left wing and Wayne Curtis at fullback.

Any of these players might have become All Blacks, most especially Tambo. They were that good. If anyone can recall the second-five, please let me know?

Speaking of that rugby team, how often did Sandy Saunders’ name come up at the reunion? Sandy was the inspirational coach and a teacher widely respected by all who came to know him. An echo of Sandy’s Scottish heritage and love of education and rugby can be found in CATCHING UP: Fraser Carson, left, at the college reunion with former student and star rugby player Keith Hawea. the current principal, Andy Fraser. acceptance that we can all be proud of.

Sadly, Sandy, along with Dallas The reunion owes great thanks to the Cook, Tam Miratana and Wayne Curtis, has organising committee: Janice Brown, Peter passed away.

Northern, Jackie Sutton, Dale Davey, Matt In reminiscing on all of the above, you could Fogden, John Heenan, Anita Hooper, Rachel be forgiven for thinking I attended a rugby Hooper, Emma Henderson, Kirsten Housiaux, obsessed all-boys school. At the time, for me, Ron Gibbard, Kim Cook, Gavin Case and Brian it almost seemed that way, but it reminds me Winterburn. of how much the school and attitudes have n Fraser Carson is a member of the XŌtaki College Alumni changed.

Trust and the founding partner of Flightdec.com.

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I will never be lost, for I am a seed sown in Rangiātea E kore au e ngaro, he kākano i ruia mai i Rangiātea. I will never be lost, for I am a seed sown in Rangiātea*.

I read “ruia” in this whakataukī+ as meaning the foundation and contributing factors in a seed’s potential.

A couple of generations before me, our people hunted and fished to share. They would string up the tuna or herring catch and take it around to the old people in Ōtaki.

That’s partly because in te ao Māori we understand the village (or hapū/iwi) thrives when one of us thrives.

Naku te rourou nau te rourou ka ora ai te iwi.

With your basket and my basket the people will live.

Also, the young people took care of the kaumātua. That was the tikanga. If you knew where to set the hīnaki or how to smoke the tuna, that knowledge often came from those before you. Your catch wouldn’t be what it was without them. I probably didn’t follow that

their inheritance. Those genes tikanga as well as I should have, but GOOD THINKING and traits now lend my daughter’s I know that now. head her critical thinking, If you are successful in any her heart its courage, and her measure of life, think about the part shoulders their strength. the village around you played. Even After those genes, and for good before you acknowledge the system or bad, the way you were raised of education you went through, and affects you. My wife and I are the specific teachers who helped lucky to have been encouraged you learn, remember the genes by parents who cared about passed down from your tūpuna. reading, education, morals and The way your brain works, your PERA BARRETT community. They painted their raw curiosity and interest. Those are values on the walls of the homes gifts, not rewards you worked for.

That brain and those traits influence the choices they housed us in. you make, and the direction your life goes. That Those values were influenced by the way their parents raised them. And so on, and so on. Up doesn’t make the waka you’re paddling any less yours, but the wood your paddle is carved from through Te Rangihiroa and his line of Toitoi, Pikauterangi, Te Maunu, Marangaiparoa, all the was a gift. Acknowledge and be grateful for it.

I’ll talk to my kids about their great great great way to Toarangatira and beyond. The same for every line that connects us to our tūpuna. great great great grandfather, Te Rangihiroa, A lot of us seem to forget the part the soil and their great x6 grandmother, Pohe, a wartime played in growing us into what we are. We talk wāhine rangatira. They have those genes, that’s

about intelligence like it’s something the thinker created from books or nothing. Grit and work ethic as things we woke up and decided on. As if the genetic lottery and generations before us didn’t play a major part in the way our brains work.

We reward mahi and determination in school and business – as we should. But don’t forget where the spark of that ahi came from.

Acknowledge it and make those gifts worthy.

When you remember you are a seed of Rangiātea, give thanks, then take the time to water the soil that gave so much to you. Give back to that village, however you can. Your roots are still in the soil, you still need it, and the as yet un-sprouted seeds need you.

They won’t all have the same gifts. So use that thinking, that courage and those shoulders for something worthy, give back where you can, like those before gave to you. too. n Pera Barrett is the 2019 Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year for his work providing Christmas gifts to children in low decile schools. He was born and grew up in Ōtaki.

* Rangiātea is the origin of Māori migration. It represents the wider world, a place to put theory into practice and observe others who do the same. Rangiātea marks the start and the end of the journey of potential – He Kākano – as well as arrival at the point of opportunity to realise it – Ruia. + Dr Taiarahia Black, a PhD Supervisor at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi describes Whakataukī (Māori proverbial sayings) as “succinct messages that place high value on certain aspects of human behaviour”.

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COLLEGE REUNION I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 13

Reunion a gathering of smiles and hugs

By Ian Carson

RIGHT: Students in the first classes at college in 1959 and 1960 lead a parade from The Domain along the college driveway.

This lecture series explores how the wellbeing of our environment affects the survival of our people.

Five highly respected kaiāwhina will share their experiences to energise our activities within our communities.

Dennis Emery & Team Kaitiakitanga in practise: Success and challenges Friday, 17 May

Mahina-a-rangi Baker Te Kete Tua-ātea; Mātauranga Māori Future Studies Monday, 20 May

Dr Mike Joy How we fail to protect freshwater Monday, 27 May

i

17, 20 & 27 May 12:00 – 1.00 p.m.

Te Ara a Tāwhaki Lecture Theatre, Te Wānanga o Raukawa No charge to attend

He Oranga Whenua, He Oranga Tangata

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Luncht me Lec tur eS

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ABOVE: Students who began at Ōtaki College in the 1970s gather for a group photo.

ha

The 60th anniversary reunion of Ōtaki College drew well in excess of 300 former students and staff on the two days of April 26-27.

Falling a week after Easter and only a day after Anzac Day, many former associates of the college from out of town and overseas took the opportunity to visit for several days. They met up with family and friends – and even fellow military personnel at the dawn service and RSA on Anzac Day – but it was the reunion that was the highlight for many.

For some, such as Sandy Smith (see story page 13), it was the first time back to Ōtaki for decades. Much has changed in and around the town, but what has been a constant has been the friendships and mateships forged when all of us went to school together.

Smiles led to hugs as recognition was confirmed, sometimes only after a glance at a name tag. Memories came back, and anecdotes of what we all got up to were compared, occasionally embellished for effect. Teachers’ names were to the fore – those liked and those loathed (no doubt in reverse for the staff who also attended).

It’s clear that much has changed at the college. It’s hard to believe that up until the mid 1970s, for example, the cane was still in liberal use by some teachers.

Although most of us still feel proud of our old school, pride was not a key part of what it was about then. Students tended to be manufactured through the system, considered good academically or with their hands, fit for home-making, or just “good for nothing”. We were more of a commodity than an individual.

That has certainly changed.

It will be interesting to hear what students of today say about the school in another 60 years.

, i a m Nau

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 14

Where are they now? The 60th reunion at Ōtaki College drew together pupils and staff who had not seen each other for many years. There were the inevitable questions, largely around what people had done since leaving college, and what they are doing now. We asked the same questions of some of those who have moved on from Ōtaki.

Prankster Lynley ‘most likely to be expelled’ Lynley Solomon (nee Roach) Lynley Roach grew up in Te Manuao Road with her parents, Pat and Glenda Roach. Her sister, Fleur, and brother Chris also went to Ōtaki College.

Pat Roach was a fibrous plasterer and was a handy rugby player in the day. He played for Rāhui and Horowhenua-Kāpiti, and was even invited to try out for the Māori All Blacks.

Glenda worked at Royden Textiles, and later at Kimberley Hospital. She was a good sportswoman, too.

“I remember when we had to play Raukawa at indoor basketball, and Mum and I were on court at the same time playing for opposing teams,” Lynley says.

“My team was beating them and Mum came over, gave me the elbow and told me not to challenge her if I knew what was good for me. Believe me . . . I certainly knew what was good for me.”

At college, Lynley remembers thinking of herself as a bit of a prankster, but in retrospect she believes she must have been a nightmare for some teachers.

“Sorry, Mr [Matt] Coxon. I remember hiding a radio in his

FUN TIMES: Charlie and Lynley Solomon “slumming it” in Queenstown.

classroom and telling everyone to pretend they couldn’t hear it. Mr Coxon kept asking us where the noise was coming from.

“I remember I kept waving out the window and pretending someone was there and he kept trying to see who it was.”

She also got the whole class to hide in the gym and not turn up for English.

“Maybe I should have run as prime

minister instead of doing my nursing training.”

She recalls that everyone at college was given the opportunity and encouraged to do well at sports, and encouraged to stand on their own two feet and be accountable for their actions.

Lynley’s college friends were Leanna Scrimgeour, Vivienne Scrimgeour, Helen Bennett, Annette Sargisson, Noel Wells, Lesley Ferretti

Photo supplied

and pretty much the whole 7th Form in the end.

“Teacher Mr Farthing will always stand out for me as he was such a patient man and didn’t give up easily on recalcitrant students.”

After college, Lynley went to Wellington Hospital with some of her buddies and did her nursing training.

She later moved to Melbourne where she worked in an oncology unit, and then to Hong Kong where she

worked for a multi-talented group of GPs. She started playing netball in Hong Kong after having her second child and went on to play in the world championships in England and New Zealand, as well as two Asian championships.

After her netball finished she concentrated on playing squash and played in the World Masters in Hong Kong.

“Now I’m living on my memories and thinking I can play as well as I used to.”

Lynley married Charlie Solomon, who also went to Ōtaki College.

“He remembers thinking that I’d be the most likely to get expelled, so it goes to show how much he knew.”

They have two children, Mathew, 30, and Helena, 29. They are still waiting with bated breath for grandkids.

Lynley and Charlie live in Melbourne now after living in Hong Kong for 20 years. Lynley has retired from nursing and spends “an inordinate amount of time trying to find my squash mojo”.

“I manage the household, which in itself is a full time job. I’ve turned into a bit of a goddess in the household if I do say so myself.”

From Domain Road to Dominion Road Martin Ferretti Martin Ferretti came to Ōtaki from Lower Hutt with his family in 1960.

He was not yet 5 years old, but the move to Bennetts Road and then Domain Road was to cement a lifetime connection to the town.

The Ferrettis were market gardeners, as were most Italian families who moved to Ōtaki in the post-war period. His grandfather, also a gardener, came to New Zealand from Italy in 1919 after the First World War. His sons, including Martin’s father, Alf, and uncle Lou, carried on the tradition and established gardens in Ōtaki.

Martin was the oldest child of Alf and Lilian; then were three sisters, Donna, Lesley and Sharon.

They all went to Ōtaki School and Ōtaki College. Martin was head boy in his last year, 1973; Donna was also head girl and dux, and Lesley was also a head girl.

Martin says he loved college and still values the friendships forged nearly 50 years ago.

“There were four of us who just had fun – Lewis Meyer, Ian King and Ian Carson,” he says. “We had a great time. We thought we were so funny. Nothing fazed us in those days. Life seemed so simple.”

Even the prospect of leaving college and finding a job wasn’t a worry.

“There were plenty of jobs, so it was just a matter of deciding what you wanted to do.”

In Martin’s case, he went to Victoria University in Wellington to study geography, geology and education. It didn’t last.

“I was there about three months. I was bored so I got a job as a storeman at the Market Gardeners auction house. I enjoyed that more.”

“I think I fancied myself as another Brian Eno, who was a famous record producer. I could see myself in the glamourous world of rock music, rubbing shoulders with the stars.”

BACK AT SCHOOL: Martin Ferretti at the Ōtaki College 60th reunion.

Staying in the fruit and vegetable business, he bought a truck and carted produce on contract to Woolworths for eight years.

“I probably carted a lot of produce from my Dad’s and other Ōtaki gardens.”

They were the days when Ōtaki was still full of commercial gardeners who supplied the auction markets of Wellington and most other major cities in New Zealand.

Martin married Debra, and they moved to Auckland to set up what was then known as a “coffee shop” (now better known as a café) at Titirangi. It was hard slog, however, so they sold and Martin took a job as a real estate agent with Harvey’s.

However, he still wanted to go overseas, and

PHOTO: Ian Carson

after separating from Debra, he ended up in Sydney in 1985. He did a course in live sound and music audio with the School of Audio Engineering (SAE).

“I think I fancied myself as another Brian Eno, who was a famous record producer. I could see myself in the glamourous world of rock music, rubbing shoulders with the stars.”

Clearly excelling in the course and with recognised communication skills, Martin was shoulder-tapped by SAE to teach the same courses. They sent him to Malyasia and London for several years, and back to Sydney.

“I had a great time, but I got to my 40s and I was starting to wonder whether I should do something more responsible with my life. I

thought I’d better get a ‘proper job’. It was a midlife crisis point, I suppose.”

Martin contacted his old boss at Harvey’s in Auckland and was welcomed back into real estate in 1996. More than 20 years later, he’s still selling real estate in the inner-west suburbs of Auckland, from Dominion Road, Mt Roskill, to Titirangi.

Now with Ray White Real Estate, he’s been pretty successful. As one of Auckland top real estate agents, he’s amassed more than $450 million in sales.

And meantime, he’s married Aster.

“I know it’s a cliché, but I met her in a bar in Auckland. We just hit it off.’

Martin’s success has never diminished his connection with Ōtaki, where his mother still lives in Anzac Road. He attended the college 60th reunion, enjoying catching up with some friends he had not seen since the 50th reunion.

His only disappointment was that his old school friend, Lewis Meyer, who also lives in Auckland, was not able to attend with him.

Lewis had just had major surgery, but was recovering well.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 15

Three days in as principal, and baby arrives Mel Cooper For four years, from October 1997 and March 2002, after Rex Kerr and before John Kane, Mel Cooper was principal of Ōtaki College.

It was Mel’s first assignment as a principal, which would have been daunting enough. But on top of that, he and wife, Nan, were expecting a child, Stephanie, who was delivered only three days after the family arrived.

“I recall I could only have one day off, which didn’t impress Nan,” Mel told Ōtaki Today from his home in Auckland.

An English accent gives away the fact that Mel’s roots are a world away. He grew up in Solihull, studied for his degree in Bristol and did his post-graduate teacher training in Loughborough, Leicestershire.

After gaining his qualifications he went to Atlantic City, New Jersey, famous for its boardwalks. Like any self-respecting young man on his OE, he took various jobs, including as a cocktail waiter and hotel bell-hop.

“I loved it. I had a great time there,” Mel says.

“But I met a guy there who wanted to see more of the world, so we hitch-hiked across America.”

They talked about going to Australia and New Zealand, and Mel loved New Jersey so much he wanted to go somewhere similar. What he thought would fit the bill was Mt Maunganui, which he thought would have the New Jerseytype boardwalks.

It wasn’t quite the case, but Mel soon got a job with the old Tourist Hotel Corporation, working at hotels around the country.

He then went to Australia, taking similar work

COOPERS: Mel Cooper at daughter Stephanie's graduation. Stephanie was born on the third day that Mel was principal at Ōtaki College. With them are Mel's wife, Nan, and older daughter, Alex. Photo supplied

on skifields, on the Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef and Perth. He fitted in some travel through Asia and Europe before returning to New Zealand.

He took a teaching role at Rongotai College before leaving to spend six months travelling in South America. He then had two years in marketing for a London publisher before returning to New Zealand to work at Christchurch Boys’ High School and Hornby High School, taking mainly economics and accounting.

Then it was on to a deputy principal’s job at Oxford Area School in Canterbury.

“I always wanted to be a principal, and the job at Ōtaki came up, so I applied and got it.

“I’m pleased I did, because some of my

happiest days in education were at Ōtaki.

“I had a very supportive board of trustees, with people like Judy Whittaker and Trevor Hunter, and some great senior staff like Janice Brown and Ian McMillan. They were all prepared to give things a go to improve the college.”

Having come from Oxford Area School, where courses were limited, it was a revelation to see what Ōtaki had to offer students.

It was not to say the college didn’t have its challenges, as all schools do.

He particulaly remembers that other Kāpiti schools had a higher decile rating, so they were perceived by many parents to be better.

Not so, he says.

“Ōtaki College was every bit as good as those other schools, and in many ways better. I hear that under Andy Fraser, it’s become a terrific college.

“I would have sent my own kids there quite happily.”

After Ōtaki, Mel went on to be principal at Glenfield College in Auckland, which was to be his last appointment as a secondary school head.

Education, however, was to remain in his blood.

Since leaving Glenfield in 2005, he has worked at various tertiary education institutions, and done consultancy work.

He’s helped to write business plans for heads of department at the Waikato Institute of Technology, was general manager of the NZ Institute of International Understanding, led the external review and evaluation of tertiary institutions at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), and was principal of several private tertiary colleges, such as Tasman International Academies and Cornell Education Group.

By November 2016, he thought he would contemplate retirement, but offers of work kept coming his way. He was offered a job as principal of the NZ College of Chinese Medicine, which had only 150 students, so he thought “I can do that”.

It was a job that lasted two years.

Nowadays, Mel is happy to be doing only consultancy for the college.

At the back of his mind, after all the roles he’s had in so many different educational organisations, it’s always Ōtaki that comes back to him with fond memories.

Sandy Dorne – gymnast and Aussie truckie Sandy Smith (nee Dorne)

“When I was carting concrete I would take it to some of the big roading projects around Brisbane, like the Clem Jones Tunnel on the M7. I go through that tunnel now and say, ‘I helped to build that’.”

To those who knew her in Ōtaki, she was always Sandra Dorne, and remembered for her prodigious talents as a gymnast.

Travelling back to Ōtaki for the first time in 31 years for the college reunion, she’s now Sandy Smith, gymnastics days behind her but still diminutive and living a happy life as a truckie in Brisbane. It’s a lifestyle that suits her.

“I lost my job in supermarkets a few years ago and a neighbour in Brisbane had a concrete trucking business,” Sandy says. “He suggested I get my heavy licence and work for him, which I did for a while.

“I loved it. I went on to drive general freight, and then traffic control trucks – the ones with the lights. That’s what I do now on the roads around Brisbane.”

The hustle and bustle of a big city are a far cry from the country living Sandy enjoyed growing up in Ōtaki in the 60s and 70s.

Sandy was born in Whanganui, and adopted

by George (Dodge) and Beryl Dorne in Ōtaki soon after.

They lived originally near the Lutz farm in Rāhui Road, then to the house they were to keep for the next 50 years, on the highway just south of Waitohu Valley Road.

Dodge, a Gallipoli veteran, had a commercial cleaning business and Beryl was a seamstress.

Sandy went to Ōtaki School for a year, then to Waitohu School when it opened in 1963. They were to be some of the best days of her life.

“The teachers would take us out of class and play games and there was always swimming after school,” she says. “I loved all the sports we played.”

She was to prove herself particularly good

BACK: Sandy Smith, back in Ōtaki for the first time in 31 years.

at gymnastics, just when the HorowhenuaKāpiti Gymnastics Association was gathering momentum.

By secondary school she was a standout among many young gymnasts being coached

by Mari Housiaux at the new Ōtaki Gymnastics Club. As Mari’s proteges, Sandy and Levin girl Keri-Lyn Edwards were to rise to the top of New Zealand junior gymnastics.

It didn’t end after college days for Sandy. She continued her gymnastics with Wellington coaches and clubs and had a tour to the United States with the New Zealand team.

In her career, she took five national titles,

PHOTO; Ian Carson

including two years in a row as New Zealand women’s champion.

Meanwhile, earning a living was required.

Sandy got a job at BNZ Ōtaki, working as an input clerk and teller with people such as Daphne Meyer and manager Brent Bythell.

She later married local man David Russell and had two daughters, but the marriage was not to last.

Sandy left for Australia and soon found work with Woolworths in Brisbane. She managed the fish department in a local store and brought its takings from $7000 a week when she started, to $47,000. She later managed a Woolworths

liquor store, BWS, for a time.

Sandy had another daughter, but was in unhappy and abusive relationships for several years.

It’s been only in the last six years that she’s felt free to truly enjoy life.

The trucking work has taken her to interesting places where she meets interesting people.

“When I was carting concrete I would take it to some of the big roading projects around Brisbane, like the Clem Jones Tunnel on the M7,” she says. “I go through that tunnel now and say, ‘I helped to build that’.”

Sandy was excited about coming back for the college reunion.

“I caught up with so many people. Ōtaki has certainly changed – I can’t believe the bumperto-bumper traffic. The expressway has to be good for Ōtaki.”

Life enjoyment now comes with her family, a job she loves, and the ability to reconnect with old friends she’s not seen for years.

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‘LOCALS HELPING LOCALS’

Page 17

Ōtaki Today, May 2019

IN THE GARDEN THE EDIBLE GARDEN

Red clover orchard ground cover

I’m Kath Irvine. I’ve been growing all the vegetables to feed my family of six for 20 good years. Spray-free, natural, low-input food gardens are my thing.

I believe in smart design – it saves time, and money, and the planet, and makes a garden hum. I recycle, reuse and forage, and use as little plastic as possible.

I believe in a daily serve of freshly picked organic greens for a happy mind and strong body, and it’s my dream that every New Zealander has this.

So I aim to provide the best organic gardening advice through my articles, writing books, workshops and garden consultations.

KATH IRVINE

Go nuts with fruit tree spraying

go further. If you have only a few trees to spray, Oceans Organics sells a handy little spray pack that clicks onto the end of your hose.

COPPER Copper is a fungicide and it’s very good at its job, but there is a trade-off. Fungicides are nonselective, meaning they wipe everything out – both the bad and the good. Think of copper as a short-term solution when populations of fungal spores become overwhelming.

Copper builds up in the soil and is toxic to bees, so use it wisely. There are three key moments – the first at leaf fall, the second late winter when the fruit buds start to fatten just before pink shows, and the third a fortnight later.

The two sprays aren’t mutually exclusive, they can tag team. To get on top of persistent

Autumn is a key time to spray fruit trees. All those tiny openings left by detached leaves means spray really gets in! Do this for trees that have suffered fungal infections, but equally for trees in good health. Keeping them hearty and strong happens with consistent care.

There are two options here: BIOLOGICAL SPRAYS Biological sprays do your trees and the eco system around them the world of good. It’s a fruit tree version of eating sauerkraut and Bok choy organic vegies!

These sprays build beneficial bacteria, fungus, nematodes et al, to the point where there’s little room for the bad guys, and the good guy army is too strong for the pathogens to get a foothold.

Make the time to spray monthly. To reap

results, you need to be whole-hearted about it and regular. Spray for complete cover – bark and foliage – and the soil beneath. Go nuts!

Here’s my magic brew: • EM (EMNZ.co.nz) – beneficial organisms to out-manoeuvre and out-compete detrimental fungi and bacteria. EM speeds decomposition and cleans up infected leaf litter. It boosts “good” fungi for balanced nutrition.

• Seaweed (oceansorganics.co.nz) – for good all-round nutrition, which prevents pests and builds strong root systems. Seaweed stimulates soil biology, making nutrients more available.

• Neem (naturallyneem.co.nz) – disrupts pest feeding and mating abilities while safe for beneficial insects. Good to add to your autumn spray to smother hibernating pests.

A good backpack sprayer makes your spray

Quince espalier and companion plants

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problems, look to improve your whole orchard system – companion plants, mineral fertiliser, mulch, shelter, airflow and right variety. There’s loads of information on my website to help. As you build strength, fungal issues will abate and you’ll be able to leave the copper behind.

A HAPPY CUSTOMER I’ve been working with Sue up Ōtaki Gorge for the past few years, helping her bring her orchard to good health and production. I love working with someone who’s in boots and all, and the results speak for themselves. It’s only taken her two years to turn her orchard around. Monthly biological sprays, pruning, building herbal ley and mulching have rewarded her with less blackspot, less leaf curl and heaps more fruit.

Not a copper spray in sight. How that orchard glows with good health and vigour now.

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HEALTH I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 22

Rice syrup - the not so healthy alternative Local scientist Steve Humphries, Hebe Botanicals, The hype: ‘It’s brown rice syrup.’ exposes the not so healthy sweetener alternative.

The reality: The multiple processing steps required to make rice syrup remove the At a time when excessive calorie nutrients found in brown rice. Ignore the puffery consumption is recognised as a major health of web pages and front labels and read the legally problem there have never been so many high binding Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) for calorie sweeteners on the market. accurate nutrition information.

One of these is rice syrup. Rice syrup is made Rice syrup is an empty calorie food - it by enzymatically breaking down rice starch into supplies minimal levels of nutrients a number of sweet carbohydrates FOOD SCIENCE at the expense of massive amounts that include maltose (malt sugar), of calories. maltotriose and maltodextrins.

The dark brown colour of rice Water is added to these syrups gives the impression that it carbohydrates to make it a syrup. is natural, healthy and nutritious.

Rice syrup is only half as sweet It’s not, the colour simply comes as sugar so by consuming more rice from browning reactions that occur syrup to get the same sweetness as during the manufacturing process. sugar you consume more calories.

Studies have found substantial The hype: ‘It’s malt rice syrup.’ levels of arsenic in brown rice The reality: Malting refers to the enzymatic conversion of any STEVE HUMPHRIES syrup (arsenic accumulates in the outer layer of the rice grain that is cereal starch into malt sugar so removed when making white rice). any commercial rice syrup can be called a malt Consequently organic brown rice syrup has rice syrup. The health connotations of the word higher levels of arsenic than white rice syrup. ‘malt’ simply provide a marketing advantage.

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HELPLINES AND LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES It’s OK to reach out for help – never hesitate if you are concerned about yourself or someone else.

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If someone has attempted suicide or you’re worried about their immediate safety, do the following: • Call your local mental health crisis assessment team 0800 745 477 or go with them to the emergency department (ED) of your nearest hospital • If they are in immediate physical danger to themselves or others, call 111 • Stay with them until support arrives • Remove any obvious means of suicide they might use (eg ropes, pills, guns, car keys, knives) • Try to stay calm, take some deep breaths • Let them know you care • Keep them talking: listen and ask questions without judging • Make sure you are safe.

For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, medical centre, hauora, community mental health team, school counsellor or counselling service. If you don’t get the help you need the first time, keep trying.

Services offering support and information: • Lifeline 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) • Samaritans 0800 726 666 - for confidential support for anyone who is lonely or in emotional distress • Depression Helpline 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 - to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions • Healthline 0800 611 116 - for advice from trained registered nurses • www.depression.org.nz – includes The Journal free online self-help.

For children and young people • Youthline 0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@ youthline.co.nz or webchat at www.youthline.co.nz (webchat available 7-11pm) – for young people and their parents, whānau and friends • What’s Up 0800 942 8787 (0800 WHATSUP) or webchat at www.whatsup.co.nz from 5-10pm for ages 5-18.

• Kidsline 0800 543 754 (0800 KIDSLINE) – up to 18 yrs.

For more options: www.mentalhealth.org.nz

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This has raised concerns as arsenic is a carcinogen with no known safety threshold and organic brown rice syrup is used as a ‘healthy alternative’ in cereals, energy bars and infant formulas.

The hype: ‘Rice syrup is absorbed slowly providing a steady supply of energy.’

The reality: All the carbohydrates in rice syrup are rapidly broken down into glucose, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream.

So, as far as the body is concerned, a jar of rice syrup is simply a jar of glucose. Rice syrup provides no slower release of energy than glucose or any other sugar.

Consequently, rice syrup and glucose have the same high glycemic index (100) – a measure of the spike in blood glucose levels following digestion.

The hype: Rice syrup contains no fructose.’

The reality: The rice syrup I have described so far is indeed fructose free, and some people do wish to limit their fructose consumption given that excessive fructose consumption has been associated with a number of health problems.

Of course rice syrup is still an empty calorie sweetener, which has its own health risks.

But manufacturers can enzymatically convert rice starch to fructose to make a far sweeter high

fructose rice syrup (HFRS). These rice syrups contain up to 90% fructose and are used in beverages and processed food. It is not possible for a consumer to determine the fructose content of rice syrup as there is no requirement to declare fructose in Nutrition Information Panels.

In summary, rice syrup is not a natural healthy alternative, it is a highly processed empty calorie sweetener. The opportunities are limitless for food manufacturers to enzymatically convert complex carbohydrates into sweet addictive sugars – for example, agave syrup and high fructose corn syrup.

Exercise to get past the soreness

By Daniel Duxfield

The thing to remember is that GETTING FIT the more exercise you do, the So you’ve found a personal trainer, more your muscles become used a gym or perhaps a group class to the challenging exercises and you like. You bought the clothes soreness occurs less often. It’s and have started exercising at also something you shouldn’t be an intensity appropriate to your aiming for with each workout. current fitness. Well done.

Something else to keep an eye There are a few things that will out for is your heart rate, especially occur, which perhaps you didn’t your resting heart rate. As you expect. The first thing you’ll notice is exercise your heart rate increases that your muscles will feel a bit sore DANIEL DUXFIELD and as a result your heart gets the day after the first session or two, stronger. The heart is as much a and they’ll be sore for a day or more. muscle as it is an organ. Your heart is made up of What is this soreness? muscle fibers, so as you exercise your muscles, It’s called “delayed onset muscle soreness” you also exercise your heart. A strong, healthy or Doms for short. Your muscles will feel tight, heart can pump more blood with fewer beats. fatigued and like they don’t want to move, Think of your heart as your body’s fuel pump. either contracting or lengthening. As we know, Pumping oxygen and glucose to your muscles muscles are made up of fibers just like a rope. gives them the fuel they require to activate, The more fibers you have, the bigger and and you need that pump to be efficient and stronger your muscles will be, in the same way a powerful, especially if you play sport or have thick rope differs from a thin one. physically testing leisure activities.

When you push your muscles with new or Heart fitness and health is the foundation of challenging levels of intensity, either with heavy better health and fitness. weights or lots of new movements, the muscle I read a study about heart health recently, fibers will become damaged – they will form tiny which showed those people with healthier tears in them. This is the cause of the soreness. hearts and lower resting heart rates lived longer But don’t worry, these tears heal very quickly. that those who didn’t exercises. The best time Your nervous system has detected that you are to test your resting heart rate is first thing in the doing new movements or lifting heavy things, so morning before you do anything. it will tell the muscles to literally grow stronger A couple of final thoughts – always warm up by growing new muscle fibers. before your exercise session.

Your muscles, tendons and ligaments are 20 percent more flexible once you’re warmed up. So better to exercise warm than cold and risk an injury.

Also remember to stretch AFTER your exercise session when your muscles are warm and much more flexible.

Photo: Matthew Henry from Burst.

n Daniel Duxfield is an exercise professional who operates DuxFit Functional Fitness from a private studio in Ōtaki. Contact 022 1099 442 or danielduxfield@gmail.com and see https://www.facebook.com/ duxfitfunctionalfitness/

PARENTING I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 19

Helping young ones become aware of their behaviour Parents can sometimes use far too much praise in a well-intentioned attempt to build their child’s self-esteem: “You’re an awesome climber, you’re a great artist, you’re great at sitting quietly.”

However, these remarks can teach children to depend on praise for motivation to do something. When we praise children for doing something like eating their vegetables or putting on their shoes, what we are really saying is that they did what we wanted them to do.

Research shows that the present culture of over-praising children leads them to feel that they have a right to things in life irrespective of the amount of effort they put in.

Overpraising our children confuses them about their own self-worth. They are not able to judge for themselves how good they are at something if we always tell them they are doing well.

This is not to say that you should not encourage your child. Your child will thrive on positive statements, just as we do when our effort is appreciated by work colleagues or family members.

If we are to think about the way we encourage children we need to do some work on training ourselves in a new approach so we don't fall back on the kind of praise that we hear all around us these days.

Focus on the action or effort, not the person Instead of saying “you’re such a good helper”, say “thank you for setting the table”. Instead of saying “you’re such a good chopper”, say “thank you for cutting the carrots for dinner”.

Nurture empathy Instead of saying, “I like the way you comforted Anna”, call her attention to the effect

of her action on the other person: “Look, Anna stopped crying when you brought her a tissue and hugged her. She must feel better now.”

This is completely different from praise, where the emphasis is on how you feel.

Quietly observe Your child does not expect praise. You might be surprised to see that your child works and plays with more persistence when you say nothing.

Express gratitude When you are in a rush, instead of saying, “You are going to make us late with your dawdling. Hurry and put on your coat”, say, “You are helping us get to the dentist on time because you are putting on your own coat”.

Observe rather than evaluate When your toddler is building with blocks, instead of saying, “Your blocks are all over the floor”, say, “You are using all the blocks”. An observation may build interest and reflection, but a judgement can be discouraging.

Allow room for self-evaluation Instead of saying, “I love your painting”, say “You filled the left side of the paper”. This focuses your child’s attention on the painting and not your opinion of it. Instead of “What a great horse”, say “You painted a red horse”. This focuses your child’s attention on evaluating the painting for himself rather than on your evaluation of the painting.

Accept that rewards are not necessary An activity that your young child is engaged in is rewarding in itself. When your child is learning how to peel a banana, the joy is in the skin coming off in clean strips and revealing the banana and the joy of eating the banana.

When she fills the dog’s bowl and sees him

come running with his tail wagging, that is her reward.

Research has shown that rather than motivate children, rewards can have the opposite effect.

Rewards erode your child’s inner motivation.

Even small children can work out that if they have to be rewarded for doing something that something might not be something nice to do!

Accept that punishment doesn’t work Punishment tells the child what not to do, not

what to do, and it often makes a small problem bigger. Your young child may remember the punishment, but might not connect the punishment to the behaviour that triggered it.

A child who has been punished can feel powerless, humiliated, defiant, and resentful.

Research demonstrates that punishment has the short-term effect of stopping the offending activity but has no long-term effect on behaviour.

When children are punished, the adult solves the problem in the short term and the child doesn’t learn how to solve problems in the long term.

“Time out” is commonly used to control children’s behaviour these days. In “time out” children are typically confined to a chair, room or space for a set period of time to gain control of themselves and think about their behaviour.

The problem with this approach is that if the child was capable of thinking about his behaviour he probably would not have done it in the first place. But more importantly, “time out” does not provide any help for the child to start controlling his behaviour from within.

Make time for your child's awareness to emerge It takes time for your child to start to become conscious of how her actions affect others.

Your child is at the beginning of a journey of self-realisation that will last for life. But when you are patient and keep using an approach that helps her to become aware of her behaviour rather than overpraising, judging or criticising her she will gradually become aware of the reality of her own behaviour and start to take control for herself. n Source: aidtolige.org

Family day out on the trains Diary a fun day out with the kids and ride a real heritage steam train. The Kapiti Family Express, operated by Steam Incorporated, will be running between Paraparaumu and Paekākāriki railway stations on Sunday, June 9.

Two coal-fired steam locomotives will be used to haul the train – Ja1271 in one direction and Ab608 “Passchendaele” in the other. All trains will be using the fleet of red heritage carriages, many with open-end balconies.

Steam Incorporated is the leading operator of heritage rail excursions in New Zealand. The society was formed in 1972 with the aim of rescuing some of the last steam locos for use back on the main line. A comprehensive depot and workshop was established at Paekākāriki. Besides steam locos and three main-line diesel locos, the collection comprises a large carriage

THE KĀPITI EAR NURSE Adele Macklin RN now available in Ōtaki

MICRO SUCTION WAX REMOVAL recommended best practice method for removing excess wax and debris from the ears

CLINIC OPEN TO EVERYONE held at Ōtaki Medical Centre, 2 Aotaki St, Ōtaki (appts available Monday mornings)

TO BOOK: phone or text 027 233 5300 w: the EZYBOOK link on thekapitiearcarenurses.co.nz e: kapitiearcarenurses@gmail.com PLEASE DO NOT CALL ŌTAKI MEDICAL CENTRE FOR BOOKINGS

THE TEAM AT CHAIRS

welcomes you to their salon to enjoy a total experience: • Creators of amazing hair COLOURS with La Biosthetique • Pamper yourself with a luxury hot oil hair treatment.

• Beautician + nail technician Victoria is available

OPEN Tuesday to Saturday from 9am til late 54 Main Street Ōtaki Village

06 364 7039

fleet that was necessary to enable excursions.

Excursions, maintenance and restoration activities are carried out by a group of dedicated and passionate volunteers supported by a trio of employees. New volunteers are always welcome for a wide range of roles.

The round trip between Paraparaumu and Paekākāriki will take about 45 minutes. Trains will depart from Paraparaumu at 9.40am, 10.40am, 11.40am, 1.10pm, 2.10pm and 3.10pm. Report 10 minutes before departure to catch your trip.

Return fares are adults $22 and child $11. A special family fare of $55 (2A & 2C) is also available. Child fare is for under 13s, and there will be no charge for infants under 2 sitting on an adult’s lap.

Tickets are available from the Coastlands service desk at Paraparaumu. Prior ticket purchase is advised.

Book by phone and collect on the day, 04 902 9885.

NEWS I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

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ZIRKA CIRCUS: The circus came to town and impressed locals who attended their performances. Zirka Circus set up their big tent at Te Kura-ā-Iwi o Whakatupuranga, next to Ngā Purapura, on Wednesday and Thursday, April 30 and May 1. The troupe of Chinese acrobats, clowns and magicians put on a show rarely seen in Ōtaki. Though circus performances are always a hit with children, adults also enjoyed the polished acts that included dangerous high-wire stunts, juggling and slapstick comedy.

OBITUARIES

Kevin Smith retained sense of humour despite tragedy KEVIN LESLIE SMITH born August 14, 1955 died May 5, 2019

MATES: Duffy Huff, front, with mates from left, Jimmy Winterburn, Wehi Nicholls, Peter Davis, Robbie Nicholls and Peter Hakaraia. Photo early 1950s at Manakau Hotel, courtesy of Norman Huff.

Chuckler Duffy Huff ‘quiet, funny and loyal’ JOHN (DUFFY) HUFF born July 6, 1933, died April 16, 2019 John Huff was known to everyone as Duffy. It was a name that stuck from his earliest days growing up – mostly with his Dad – in the house at the back of Tainui Marae in Ōtaki.

His Dad, who was also John (which is perhaps why Duffy acquired his assumed name) is recorded as having served in the 28th Battalion in the Second World War. He was also an accomplished rugby player and coach for the Rāhui Rugby Club.

Duffy’s mother, Janet (nee Hakaraia) died in Palmerston North Hospital in September 1934, with Duffy only 14 months old, after a long illness. She was a prominent hockey player and known for her “quiet and unassuming manner”, which it seems Duffy inherited.

Duffy was brought up as an only child, enjoying his days at the convent school (St Peter Chanel) just down the road from the marae. He began work at an early age, possibly without attending college, as he was keen to get into the workforce.

Useful with his hands, he worked initially for the Ministry of Works and then private construction companies building roads and bridges around the lower North Island. He was skilled at working the machinery required.

Duffy married Hunia Davis and together they had Norman – who like his father, was an only child. Hunia died in 1989. Norman remembers his father as quiet, funny and loyal.

“He was always good with his hands, and was always doing something, right up until he died,” Norman says. “He always biked to work and back if he was working somewhere local.

“And he was always chuckling. Nothing fazed him. He was a good dad and well liked by everyone who knew him.”

He was also a keen rugby player, turning out for Rāhui like many young men of the era.

Rugby mate Colin Bird remembers Duffy as a bit of prankster, but never with any malice. “He was a quiet sort of bloke, but he was always smiling and having fun.”

Duffy died in Palmerston North Hospital on April 16 after a brief illness.

– By Ian Carson, with information from Norman Huff and Papers Past (National Library)

Kevin Smith (aka Crafty Guins or Wily Higgins) was born in Hunterville in 1955. The family moved to Ōtaki when he was 8.

His father, Raymond (Ray), and mother Delwynne had four other children, Lance, Wayne, Chris and Raewynne. Kevin later gained two half-siblings, Lisa and Nigel, after his father remarried, and two step-siblings, Paul, Mark and Ruth, when his mother remarried.

The Smith family had been drawn to Ōtaki when Ray was offered a job as an ambulance driver.

They lived first in Mill Road, in a house behind what is now the Presbyterian Church, then to a hospital board house at 279 Rangiuru Road. Kevin attended Ōtaki Primary School and Ōtaki College.

He was known as a quiet but bright student. He loved gymnastics and cars and was always going to do well in the emerging field of computer technology.

Meantime, his parents divorced and the family merged with that of Alan Lewin, Delwynne’s new husband. They all lived in a large two-storey house in Babbacombe Avenue, only recently demolished.

Kevin went to Wellington in 1974, keeping in touch with school friends who had also moved from Ōtaki to study and work.

He returned to Ōtaki in 1979 and fell in love with Rangiwehia Rikihana, who already had two daughters, Jayme and Janet.

They had two children, Katera in 1981 and a year later, Kevin Smith with his daughter, Katera, and son Taipari in 2013.

Taipari. Kevin immersed himself in computer work, Photo courtesy of Katera Rikihana proving himself adept at programming, which he used to good effect helping out at local marae and kohanga. He also embraced the kawa and tikanga observed by his wider whānau, and insisted that his children have Māori names and carry the Rikihana surname.

Then on July 11, 1989, tragedy struck. Travelling home from work in Wellington one evening, he and brother-in-law Rawiri Rikihana were involved in a three-car crash on the Lindale hill. One woman in another car died, and Kevin was left with severe head injuries from which he never fully recovered.

He was to spend the next 30 years unable to walk and with limited communication, relying on rest home care and the love of his family for support. However, he retained his quiet nature and sense of humour.

“He might have had terrible injuries, but he was the happiest man in the world,” says Katera.

“He was always gentle and kind, which showed even when he was in pain. He loved to count and play peaknuckle, but he always cheated and gave up when we cheated.”

For more than 20 years Kevin was at Cartref (now Ocean View Rest Home), overlooking the beach at Ōtaki that he loved, and for his last year he was at Stokeswood Rest Home in Stokes Valley to be near his sister and in a hospital facility.

Kevin was farewelled with an intimate tangi at Te Pou o Tainui Marae in Ōtaki on May 8.

– By Ian Carson, with information from Katera Rikihana and Wayne Smith.

Ōtaki Today, May 2019

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ARTS Exhibition features beach artwork A short art exhibition featuring the work of Lee Robinson is on at Ōtaki Museum from May 26 to June 9, with a public opening at 4pm on Saturday, May 25.

The exhibition will be open Thursdays through to Sundays from 10am2pm.

Lee is an established painter who has moved recently from Wellington to live at Ōtaki Beach, after holidaying here with her family for many years. Since moving she’s been working on paintings of the beach, offering startlingly realistic depictions of the beach landscape and people.

“I was looking for somewhere local to exhibit, and the museum seemed like the perfect place to share my work with the community,” she says. “The museum trust has been very welcoming and helpful.”

Lee is largely self-taught, developing her painting practice for the past 15 years.

She exhibits work regularly and has completed many commissions, with paintings held in private and MUSEUM ART: Artist Lee public collections not only in New Robinson, whose work is at Ōtaki Zealand, but also Australia, Canada Museum from May 26-June 9. and Europe.

“Acrylic is my preferred medium and I enjoy painting a wide variety of subjects in a realistic style,” she says.

,v

The Art of Collage An exhibition by Anna Collings & Richard Evans, until May 27.

Te Tiriti - me huri whakamuri, ka titiro whakamua display panels in place. An exhibition showcasing the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi and tāngata whenua of the Kāpiti Coast District.

June 3-30.

Renee Gerlich exhibition featuring portraits of women writers.

July 1-22.

Ngā Wāwāta - Ōtaki Library Art Space

OPEN Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm Saturday: 10am-4pm BEACH WORK: One of Lee Robinson’s beach artworks, Ōtaki Pirate HQ.

“From still lifes and landscapes to figurative work and portraits, my paintings explore our beautiful landscapes, home environment and people.”

She’s enjoying Ōtaki: “I’m loving the change of pace, the weather and the friendly, relaxed atmosphere.” n See more at facebook.com/leerobinsonartist/

Gow to play at Mulled Wine concert

Cellist Inbal Meggido and pianist Mary Gow.

Ōtaki Art Space

Acclaimed international pianist Mary Gow will be performing with a group of special friends at a Mulled Wine concert on May 26 in Paekākāriki’s St Peter’s Hall.

Cellist Inbal Megiddo will join Mary to perform Schumann’s Five Pieces for Cello and Piano, preceded by Bach’s Suite for Solo Cello.

They will be joined by pianist David Barnard and bassist Paul Altomari.

Also on the programme is Bach’s Suite No 5 in C Minor for Solo Cello, Franck’s Sonata for Cello and Piano, Rossini’s Duo and Goltermann’s Souvenirs de Bellini.

The Mulled Wine concert series, which has been running for 10 years, is the brainchild of Mary Gow. She studied music at Victoria University, Wellington, and later took up a Belgian government scholarship to the Royal Brussels Conservatorium, gaining first prizes and higher diplomas in both piano and chamber music.

In addition to presenting the Mulled Wine concerts, she has continued playing and organising concerts in Europe.

Inbal is a senior lecturer in classical performance at the New Zealand School of Music. David Barnard forged his career in the UK and has recently been appointed to the New Zealand School of Music as head accompanist and vocal coach.

Paul Altomari has led the bass sections of several orchestras in the United States and is now the section principal double bass of Orchestra Wellington. n Mary Gow, Inbal Megiddo and friends, St Peters Hall. Beach Road, Paekākāriki, 2.30pm May 26. Tickets $25 adults, $15 students from Magpie at Paremata, D’Arcys Paekakariki Fruit Supply, Milk and Ginger at Raumati Beach, Moby Dicken’s Bookshop at Paraparaumu Beach, La Chic Hair Design at Kapiti Lights, Lovely Living at Waikanae. Information: 04 902-2283 or 021 101 9609. Door sales $30. Online sales: marygow@gmail.com

Ngā Wāwāta is the art space to the front and side of Ōtaki Library’s main desk. The art space has a strong focus as an exhibition space for community groups, schools and individuals who otherwise might not have access to exhibition spaces. It is promoted as a “user friendly” place where artists can (with the guidance of the art space co-ordinator) have the experience of organising and curating their own exhibition.

Contact Tiriata Carkeek: Tiriata.Carkeek@kapiticoast.govt.nz or 04 296-4883.

IN BRIEF Artel moving in

Maude Heath’s art gallery and design store, Artel, is due this week to complete its move into the old Rembrandt clothing shop at the highway shops. The gallery is moving from Mahara Place in Waikanae.

Ōtaki film premieres in Sydney

Ōtaki director Libby Hakaraia’s film The Gravedigger of Kapu (2018) will have its Australian premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in June. The film is about the last gravedigger in a Māori community, Hone, who struggles to find a younger man to whom he can pass on his skills and knowledge. Hone is the link between the living and the dead, keeping their secrets, but he’s worried his apprentice, Tana, might not be up to the task.

Be bold and uniquely you Use an image of your choice.

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HISTORY I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 22

An invitation to the missionaries Part 5: local historian Rex Kerr continues his series on early Ōtaki settlement.

The decision to invite a missionary to the Ngarongo) – on behalf of their hapū and their iwi signed the Treaty of Waitangi at Ōtaki on May 19, Kāpiti Coast grew out of two circumstances.

1840.

First, Christian teachings had already arrived Initially Hadfield lived at Waikanae as he had in the district with the Māori catechist, Hohepa found Te Ati Awa more receptive to the gospel Ripihau, a former slave who settled in Waikanae teachings than Ngāti Raukawa. after being taught in the mission school at Paihia.

However, Hadfield persevered, spending Second, this influenced several younger chiefs, more time in Ōtaki and building a whare and including Tamihana Te Rauparaha and Matene Te Whiwhi, who were sick DESTINATION OTAKI small church between the two principal pā, Pākatutu of the constant warfare and and Rangiuru. By late 1840 killing and wanted a better he had baptised the leading way. Consequently, with the Ngāti Raukawa chiefs and their permission of the older Te wives.

Rauparaha in 1839, Tamihana In 1843, impressed by the and Matene went to Pahia in new church at Waikanae, Te the Bay of Islands to invite a Rauparaha asked Hadfield to missionary to bring the gospel build a more magnificent one to Kāpiti. at Ōtaki. The site chosen was Octavius Hadfield accepted under the hill of Mutikotiko, the invitation. Accompanied and totara trees from Te by the Rev Henry Williams, REX KERR Rauparaha’s forests at Ōhau Hadfield arrived in Waikanae were cut and brought to the site. in November after a long walk Unfortunately, Hadfield’s prolonged illness in from Wellington to find Te Ati Awa and Ngāti 1844 and Te Rauparaha’s arrest in 1846 delayed Raukawa embroiled in inter-tribal warfare.

The early teaching of the gospel appears to have the building. On his return from captivity in 1848, Te Rauparaha challenged Ngāti Raukawa to had an effect. After the final battle at Kuititanga, complete the task. although Ngāti Raukawa prisoners were killed, The church known as Rangiātea was completed they were not mutilated or eaten as would have under the guidance of Te Rauparaha and the Rev been the custom, but were respectfully buried Williams who had arrived in Ōtaki in 1847 to in the European fashion. In association with Te take over the parish from the Rev Henry Govett, Rauparaha and Te Rangitake (Wiremu Kingi), who had filled in during Hadfield’s illness.

Williams and Hadfield brokered a lasting peace.

Rangiātea, although not quite completed, was Encouraged by Williams and Hadfield, the consecrated in 1849 just after Te Rauparaha’s leading rangatira of Ngāti Raukawa – Aperahama death and in time for Hadfield’s return.

Te Ruru (Ngāti Huia), Matenga Mātia (Ngāti Hadfield did not have it all his own Pare), Horomona Toremi (Ngāti Kahora), way. Father Jean Baptiste Comte arrived in Ōtaki Hori Kingi Te Puke (Ngāti Pare), Kingi Teaho in 1844 and established a Catholic mission just (Maiotaki), and Ihaka Tahurangi (Ngāti

down the road from Rangiātea, at Pukekaraka.

His adherents were mainly members of the Ngāti Kapumanawhiti hapū.

The mission prospered with its gardens, bullock team and its own flour mill on the banks of the Waitohu Stream. It even had a trading ship.

Building of the new church, St Mary’s, began in 1853. However, Father Comte resigned in 1854 to return to France and the mission went into decline until Father Francois Melu arrived in 1888.

During the construction of Rangiātea, the pā of Pākatutu and Rangiuru were gradually abandoned, partly as Ngāti Raukawa had relocated to live nearer Rangiātea and partly because the pā had been damaged by flooding.

And more peaceful times meant there was less need for defensive pā.

Also during this time, at the instigation of Bishop George Augustus Selwyn, a plan was drawn up for a model Māori Christian community, the square street pattern built around what are Main and Matene Streets and Rangiuru Road today.

Sections on these roads were allocated to Ngāti Raukawa whānau. Originally the township was called Hadfield, but by common usage became known as Ōtaki.

In 1870, Hadfield left Ōtaki a peaceful prosperous Māori community to become Bishop of Wellington and his place was taken by the Rev James McWilliam, who retired in 1900.

In their ministry to Ngāti Raukawa, these missionaries were assisted by the Revs Richard Taylor and John Mason, the latter being drowned crossing the Turakina River.

However, more importantly, they were well served by the Māori converts, such as Pastors Riwai Te Ahu, Rawhiri Te Wanui, Rota Waitoa,

NEW CHURCH: In 1843, impressed by the new church at Waikanae, Te Rauparaha asked Hadfield to build a more magnificent one at Ōtaki.

Rangiātea (above) was the result.

Te Hana, Paerata, Pineha Te Mahauraki and the teachers Hakaraia Kiharoa, Henare Taratoa and Katerina Te Kaiwakaroto.

During Hadfield’s time, Ōtaki was indeed a prosperous model Māori community with two churches, schools and cultivated fields. It sold its produce – including wheat, pork, pumpkins, corn and fruit – to Wellington and even Australia.

Much of this trade was carried on by locally owned schooners operating out of the Ōtaki River.

The peace and prosperity Ōtaki enjoyed was to attract a new, more varied class of European settler. n References: Lethbridge, C, The Wounded Lion, Caxton Press.

Christchurch. 1993.

Ramsden, E, Rangiatea, A H & W H Reed. Wellington 1951.

Taepa, Rev Canon H, The Rangiatea Story. Vestry of Rangiātea.

Wellington Pastorate Record of Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths. Micro MS-O883 and Micro MS-0803. ATL.

Next, part 6: More Påkehå arrive.

PM Savage’s ‘permanent’ health camp not to be

By David Klein, Ngā Taonga

The Ōtaki Children’s Health Camp was a beacon in the lives of many young New Zealanders for several generations.

Opening in 1932, it took in children for six weeks at a time and enriched them with healthy food, activities and outdoor lessons.

A charming 1935 newsreel from the Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision archives entitled Health Camps For Happiness shows the camp at Ōtaki and others around the country, and features New Zealand Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage singing its praises.

Savage describes how the camp was founded with help from the King George V Memorial Fund and created as a “tangible memorial in a form that he himself would have preferred”.

Located near Ōtaki Beach on Health Camp Road, it could accommodate up to 80 children at a time – most from poorer families.

When it opened in 1932 it was called Raukawa Camp. One of its most distinctive features was the rotunda, which can be seen in the film footage at 1min 25sec. This was one of two rotundas originally built in Rotorua as part of a convalescent hospital for those injured in the First World War. When Raukawa Camp was established to provide respite care for children affected by poverty and tuberculosis, both rotundas were dismantled from their original sites and carried by train to the site of the camp, which had been bought by local philanthropist Byron Brown.

The rotundas served as accommodation for guests, but were commandeered with the rest of

the camp during the Second World War for use as a hospital. Then in 1963 one of the rotundas was demolished and a new accommodation block built – the remaining rotunda was converted to an activity room.

In the 1935 newsreel, Savage declares that “the purpose of the health camps is not to cure disease in children, but to prevent it by building their reserves of health and fitness”.

To that end we see children exercising, playing games in the forest and cleaning their teeth. There’s also a large focus on feeding “undernourished” children with regular meals.

Their weight is measured when they arrive and depart. The progress of one child is shown in their report card – in six weeks they gained an impressive 11 pounds (5kg).

Savage says that after their six weeks of food and healthcare, the children “return home with a health insurance policy fully paid up for several years ahead”.

An Ōtaki Museum exhibition stated that “meals were plentiful and outdoor activities were held to expose the children to fresh air and sunshine. The local community has always supported the camp, making donations of food and helping with provision of equipment”.

In 2001, charitable trust Stand for Children took over the running of the Ōtaki camp.

Children who had been abused or had special

HAPPY MEAL: A girl enjoying a meal at Ōtaki Health Camp, from the 1937 newsreel, Health Camps for Happiness (see http:/bit.ly/HealthCamps). Ref No S0996, Health Camps For Happiness (1937) [1]. Stills Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Courtesy of Government Film Studios.

needs became the main focus of the programme.

From 2010 onwards there was much uncertainty about its ongoing operation and its closure in the middle of 2018 was met with great sadness.

Savage ends his newsreel address by stating: “With all the sincerity that is in me I commend to you the people of New Zealand, the King George V Memorial Fund for the permanent

establishment of children’s health camps”.

With the modern preference for noninstitutional forms of care, permanence was not to be. Nevertheless, many New Zealanders hold feelings of nostalgia for their childhood days at the camp. n Health Camps For Happiness can be viewed at http://bit.ly/ HealthCamps.

FARMING I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

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Global warming an opportunity for farming events are the well-known climate With about 40 million sheep, cattle change consequences. Under the 2015 and deer, New Zealand is one of the world’s most densely populated Paris Agreement, our government pledged to reduce greenhouse gas countries with farm animals. emissions by 30 About 44 percent of FARM FOCUS percent below 2005 our total greenhouse levels by 2030. gases are emitted as The Independent methane from burping Climate Change ruminants.

Commission (ICCC) Methane is a potent is working towards greenhouse gas with carbon neutrality by one tonne having 2050. Legislation the equivalent of 25 which should be in tonnes of carbon place by the end of the dioxide. The less year is labelled by significant but highly potent nitrous oxide DR KEN GEENTY Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as comes from dung “ground-breaking”. Farming group fermentation.

Beef + Lamb NZ is supportive and These gases, along with carbon has agreed to help ICCC ensure the dioxide, damage the protective framework works at a farm level. ozone barrier near our stratosphere, Farming’s biological emissions offer contributing to global warming. better opportunities for reductions Sea level rises and adverse weather

than the other 43 percent of greenhouse gases as carbon dioxide from transport and industry. Even though carbon dioxide is worse as it stays in the atmosphere much longer.

A farming-based New Zealand emissions trading scheme to reduce greenhouse gases is growing.

Farmers Marlene and Pat Anderson are early adopters on their steep 800-hectare property in the Tararuas near Shannon. Their conservationmotivated emissions plan sees 70 hectares in pines and 90 in native trees. Typically trees annually mitigate between CARBON FLEXIBLE: Farmers Marlene and Pat Anderson say their carbon trading venture 4 and 25 tons of carbon is “easy to run . . . and flexible”.

Photo: Luke Anderson dioxide per hectare. At $25 For carbon credit rewards, farm are needed in the quest for carbon per ton these areas earn the forestry needs to be specifically for neutrality. This could well change the Andersons just over half their farm greenhouse gas mitigation and not face of our hill country farms. income. About 200 hectares is for sheep grazers and the rest is retired as a cash crop at the end. Longevity Alternatives for reducing ranges from 50 to 100 years for pines, greenhouse gases from a Biological land with mature pines and native cypresses, eucalypts and natives.

Emissions Reference Group include bush.

Costs include initial preparation and reduced stocking rates and increased The Andersons say the Ministry planting as well as a start-up fee, per head production, reducing of Primary Industries-operated maintenance including pruning, fertiliser applications and once-daily emissions scheme is easy to run, with milking for dairy cows. the help of a consultant, and is flexible. thinning and fencing, and annual returns to MPI. Sheep and beef farms have made a They can trade carbon credits and Tree planting can include marginal good start with 30 percent reduced there is scope to develop further areas areas on farms or at least 30-metre-wide emissions during the past 25 years. with eucalypts as “nursery trees” riparian strips protecting waterways. earning carbon credits with native n Dr Ken Geenty has had a 30-year research and With 42 hectares of growing trees bush regenerating underneath. They development career in the New Zealand sheep and mitigating equivalent emissions from beef cattle industry, including pioneering research want to avoid monocultures on their in sheep dairy production. He now lives in Ōtaki.

100 dairy cows, large-scale plantings idyllic bush-clad holding.

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TAMARIKI FUN PAGE

TAMARIKI I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

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   

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     Unscramble the names of things you can see at the zoo.      1. n o i l  INSTRUCTIONS:   Think about all the    2. g r i t e   animals  you might  see at the zoo. Then    3. b a r e z      see if we've included     4. k n o y m e   those in our list.    5. t h e l e a n p  Write each word       correctly beside  6. t o g a    the scrambled       7. s c e g a words. Check your   answers below. (Hint:  8. l a s e  One of the words is   9. c a p c o e k NOT an animal.)       10. r o l a p r b a e        

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AT THE ZOO 

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SMOOCH TIME: Kaia Howland cuddles up with her cat, Stripey. 

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ANSWERS: 1. lion 2. tiger 3. zebra 4. monkey 5. elephant 6. goat 7. cages 8. seal 9. peacock 10. polar bear

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 Kia ora, Mother’s Day may be gone  for this year, but mother’s day should and  could be any day. Perhaps this month’s 1. To spell words in this puzzle, you  winner can shout mum for lunch!

Drop your may start at any letter and move one   picture into RiverStone Cafe, SH1, to be in space in any direction to another  to win a $40 voucher to spend at the café. letter that is next to it.

Entries must be in by 4pm, June 9.

2. Don’t go back to the same space in any one word, but use the letters GET COLOURING NOW! The winner is the over and over for different words. first drawn.

For example, notice that you can Congratulations to last month’s winner, make the word BUTTER. Brelle, aged 7.

3. Now look for these words in the We’d love to see photos of you and your puzzle. Circle the ones you find. pet! Email them to debbi@idmedia.co.nz eat fruit maple snack or drop a photo in to RiverStone Cafe. syrup year play store Make sure you include your name, your pale buy toaster yummy pet’s name and a contact phone number.

WAFFLE WORDS

BE A IN TO WIN

$40SPVEONUDC AT

HER

TO

ONE RIVERST CAFE

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NAME: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AGE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PHONE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

COMMUNITY I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 25

COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

GAME ON: Val Clark tosses a boule at the Ōtaki Petanque Club, as fellow club member Carolyn Graham looks on.

Petanque ‘game of skill, lots of fun’ They’ve had their fair share of competition success, but members of the Ōtaki Petanque Club say that’s not what they’re about.

It’s more about the social aspect of the game, and giving locals an opportunity to relax and socialise with a non-contact sport.

Petanque shares grounds and clubhouse facilities with the Ōtaki Bowling Club, which works well for both of them.

“It’s great that after a game of petanque we can all go the clubrooms and have a cup of tea or a glass of wine and just chat,” says petanque club member Carolyn Graham. “Not many clubs have those kinds of facilities.

Club members meet on Wednesdays and Sundays (1-3.30pm in winter, 1.304pm in summer), and have a casual day for everyone – non-member players at $2 – on Fridays.

New members are welcome, and

CHURCHES Rangiātea 33 Te Rauparaha St, ŌTAKI • 364 6838 Sunday Eucharist: 9am • Church viewing hours, school terms: Mon-Fri 9.30am- 1.30pm St Mary’s Pukekaraka 4 Convent Rd, ŌTAKI Fr Alan Robert • 364 8543 or 021 0822 8926 otakiandlevincatholicparish.nz, for other masses Sunday mass: 10am. Miha Maori Mass, first Sunday: 9.30am Anglican Methodist Parish of Ōtaki • 364 7099 otakianglican.xtra.co.nz 1st and 3rd Sundays 9.30am, All Saints’, 47 Te Rauparaha St, Ōtaki; 2nd and 4th Sundays 9.30am, St Margaret’s, 38 School Rd. Te Horo; 5th Sunday 9.30am, St Andrew’s 23 Mokena Kohere St, Manakau.

Ōtaki Baptist cnr SH1 & Te Manuao Rd, ŌTAKI Pastor Roger Blakemore • 364 8540 or 027 672 7865 • otakibaptist.weebly.com • Sunday service: 10am The Hub 157 Tasman Rd, ŌTAKI • Leader Richard Brons • 364-6911 • www.actschurches.com/church-directory/horowhenua/hub-church/ Sunday service and Big Wednesday service: 10.15am

Ōtaki Presbyterian 249 Mill Rd, ŌTAKI • Rev Peter Jackson • 364 8759 or 021 207 9455 www.otakiwaikanaechurch.nz • Sunday service: 11am Jehovah’s Witness 265 Mill Road, ŌTAKI 364 6419 • www.jw.org Sunday meeting: 10am QUOTE OF THE MONTH Corinthians 5:17

“Old things are passed away, all things are become new.”

receive a 50 percent discount off the annual membership fee of $94 for the first year. Coaching is provided.

“It’s not a difficult game to learn,” Carolyn says. “It’s a game of skill, but lots of fun and not physically demanding and you don’t need special clothing, so just about anyone can play.”

Boules are provided for anyone who wants to give it a go. n Interested in petanque? Call Val Clark on 06 364-5213

MEDICAL CARE Ōtaki Medical Centre 2 Aotaki Street, Ōtaki • 06 364 8555 Monday-Friday: 8.15am-5pm • Saturday: 9am-noon.

After hours, including weekend and public holidays 06 364 8555 Emergencies: 111 Team Medical, Paraparaumu: After hours: 04 297 3000 Coastlands Shopping Mall. 8am-10pm every day.

Palmerston North Hospital emergency department, 50 Ruahine St, Palmerston North • 06 356 9169 Healthline for free 24-hour health advice 0800 611 116.

St John Health Shuttle 06 364 5603 Ōtaki Women’s Health Group 186 Mill Road, 364 6367

P-pull walk-in Drug advice and support, Birthright Centre, every 2nd Thursday 6-8pm.

COMMUNITY ŌTAKI POLICE 06 364 7366, cnr Iti and Matene Sts. CITIZEN’S ADVICE BUREAU ŌTAKI 06 364 8664, 0800 367 222. 65a Main Street, Ōtaki. otaki@cab.org.nz AROHANUI HOSPICE SHOP 11 Main St. 06 929 6603

BIRTHRIGHT OTAKI OPPORTUNITY SHOP 23 Matene Street, Ōtaki. 06 364 5558

COBWEBS OPPORTUNITY SHOP TRUST Main St. HUHA OP SHOP 208 SH 1, Ōtaki. 06 364 7062.

OCEAN VIEW RESIDENTIAL CARE 06 364 7399 ST JOHN’S SHOP 4 Arthur St. 06 364 5981 THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ANIMALS OP SHOP 236 SH1. 06 364 2241

AMICUS CLUB OF ŌTAKI 364 6464 FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY Joan Leckie 368 1277 FRIENDS OF THE ŌTAKI RIVER (Fotor) Trevor Wylie 364 8918 GENEALOGY SOCIETY Len Nicholls 364 7638 KĀPITI COAST GREY POWER JUNE SIMPSON 021 109 2583 KEEP ŌTAKI BEAUTIFUL Margaret Bayston/Lloyd Chapman LIONS CLUB OF ŌTAKI Peter 364 5354 MORRIS CAR CLUB Chris Torr 323 7753 ŌTAKI BRIDGE CLUB Tim Horner 364-5240 ŌTAKI COMMUNITY PATROL Errol Maffey 027 230 8836 ŌTAKI & DISTRICT SENIOR CITIZENS’ ASSN Vaevae 027 447 7864 ŌTAKI FLORAL ART & GARDEN CLUB Maureen Jensen 364 8614 ŌTAKI FOODBANK 43 Main St, Lucy Tahere 364 0051 ŌTAKI HERITAGE BANK MUSEUM TRUST 364 6886 ŌTAKI HISTORICAL SOCIETY Sarah Maclean 364 2497 ŌTAKI PLAYERS SOCIETY Roger Thorpe 364 8848 or 021 259 2683 ŌTAKI POTTERY CLUB Rod Graham 027 445 7545 ŌTAKI PROMOTIONS GROUP Ian Carson 364 6543 ŌTAKI RAILWAY BOWLING CLUB Maureen Beaver 364 0640 ŌTAKI SPINNERS & KNITTERS’ GROUP, Barbara Austin 364 8381 ŌTAKI WOMEN’S NETWORK GROUP Carol Ward 06 364 7732 ŌTAKI WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CLUB/SUNDAY MARKETS Kirsten Housiaux 027 466 3317 ŌTAKI WOMEN’S INSTITUTE Rema Clark remaclark@xtra.co.nz RESOURCE RECOVERY CENTRE Jamie 027 444 9995 or Drew 021 288 7021 ROTARY CLUB OF OTAKI Michael 021 294 3039 TIMEBANK Suzanne Fahey 021 1275 074 TRANSITION TOWNS Fiona Luhrs 364 6405 WAITOHU STREAM CARE GROUP Lyndsay Knowles 364 6283

CHILDREN

ŌTAKI TOY LIBRARY 027 621 8855 every Saturday 10.30am12noon at the Memorial Hall, Main St. KIDZOWN O.S.C.A.R. 0800 543 9696 LITTLE GIGGLERS PLAYGROUP Baptist Church Hall, Te Manuao Rd. 10am-12noon Friday each fortnight. Denise 027 276 0983 MAINLY MUSIC, Hadfield Hall, Te Rauparaha St. 021 189 6510 ŌTAKI KINDERGARTEN 68a Waerenga Rd. 364 8553. ŌTAKI MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL Haruatai Park, 200 Mill Rd, Roselle 364 7500. ŌTAKI PLAYCENTRE Mill Rd. 364 5787. Open 9.30am-12 noon Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. ŌTAKI PLAYGROUP Fiona Bowler otakiplaygroup@hotmail.com ŌTAKI SCOUTS, CUBS AND KEAS Brent Bythell 364 8949.

PLUNKET MANAKAU PLAYGROUP Honi Taipua St, Tuesday and Thursday 9.30am-12noon.

SKIDS OTAKI - out of school care based at St Peter Chanel School. Sonia: 027 739 1986.

TE KŌHANGA REO O TE KĀKANO O TE KURA Te Rauparaha St, 06 364 5599 TE KŌHANGA REO O RAUKAWA 5 Convent Rd, 06 364 5364

SPORTS CLUBS

EASY-CISE/WALKING GROUP (BODY & SOUL) Joseph 364 6191 EQUESTRIAN HORSE CLUB 364 6181, Horse Trekking club Debbie 364 6571, Ōtaki Pony Club Paul Pettengell 364 5781 GAZBOS GOLDEN OLDIES Doug Garrity 364 5886 HAWAIKINUI TUA RUA KI OTAKI (WAKA AMA) DeNeen Baker -Underhill 027 404 4697 ŌTAKI ATHLETIC CLUB Kerry Bevan 027 405 6635 ŌTAKI BOATING CLUB Trevor Hosking 364 8424 ŌTAKI BOWLING CLUB Paul Selby 927 9015 ŌTAKI CANOE CLUB Jane Bertelsen 364 5302 ŌTAKI DANCE GROUP Barbara Francis 364 7383 ŌTAKI GOLF CLUB 364 8260 ŌTAKI GYMNASTICS CLUB Nancy 027 778 6902 ŌTAKI INDOOR BOWLING Jane Selby-Paterson 927 9015 ŌTAKI MASTERS SWIMMING CLUB Sonia Coom 04 292 7676 ŌTAKI PETANQUE CLUB Val Clarke 364 5213 ŌTAKI SPORTS CLUB: TENNIS, SQUASH & SOCCER Hannah Grimmett 027 327 1179 ŌTAKI SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB Kirsty Doyle 021 102 0058 RĀHUI FOOTBALL AND SPORTS CLUB Slade Sturmey 021 191 4780. Rahui Netball Kylie Gardner 0275 490 985. Junior Rugby Megan Qaranivalu 022 165 7649 TAE KWON DO Rachael or Jim 06 364 511 TAI CHI Gillian Sutherland 04 904 8190 WHITI TE RA LEAGUE CLUB Kelly Anne Ngatai 027 256 7391 WILD GOOSE QIGONG & CHUN YUEN (SHAOLIN) QUAN Sifu Cynthia Shaw 021 613 081.

To list your group here, or update contact details, email debbi@idmedia.co.nz

AUTUMN LEISURE I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 26 SUDOKU PUZZLER

© Lovatts Puzzles CROSSWORD #5453 May 2019

www.sudokupuzzler.com

by Ian Riensche

Use logic and process of elimination to fill in the blank cells using the numbers 1 through 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and 3x3 block.

Puzzle solutions below.

DIABOLICAL #18

HARD #17

HARD #17

DIABOLICAL #18

GAIL HALL

CROSSWORD SOLUTION (see page 27)

DOWN 1. Clown 2. Writer, ... Christie 3. Strolls 4. Skies 5. Organiser 6. Cave-dwelling monsters 7. Towards the top 8. Seoul natives 14. Unrestrained 16. Anaesthetic gas 17. Bar account 18. Inquire 19. Distressing 22. Sneeze noise (1-6) 24. Twiddles with 25. Shout 26. Goaded (5,2) 28. Earmarked 29. Solid CO2 (3,3) 30. Biblical prayers 31. Tennis ace, Andre ...

CLASSIFIEDS

SUDOKU ANSWERS

ACROSS 1. Actor/director, Kenneth ...

5. Randomness (3,4) 9. Show of courage 10. Lethal 11. Yearly holidays, annual...

12. Perpetual 13. Spoken tests 15. Family car 17. Russian emperors 20. In the past 21. Owned 23. Roasted 27. Carried (gun) 30. Collision 32. Knocks back (proposal) 33. Drenched 34. Astonish 35. Set up (machinery) 36. Weirdness 37. Space flight

DEATH NOTICES HANNAH, Robert George (Robbie) of Feilding formerly of Otaki. Peacefully on 3 April 2019 at Woodfall Lodge, aged 87 years. Dearly loved husband of the late Phyllis and loved father to Sharon and Colin McAsey, Wayne and Sue, Mark and Joyce, Dean and Lauretta.

CLASSIFIEDS

KIA HIWA RĀ!

GRANTAVAILABLE Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti is pleased to announce that applications are being considered now through the Māori Economic Development Grants Fund. A total of $65,000 is available for projects that align to the Māori Economic Development Strategy.

The Fund aims to assist whānau, hapū, iwi, mātāwaka and Māori business within the Kāpiti Coast District with costs associated with the ongoing development of Māori economic activity, in particular activity associated with:

Manaakitangata – leveraging the potential of rangatahi and building whānau capacity, Kaitiakitanga – Whatungarongaro te tangata toi tu te whenua – working with the whenua, and Kotahitanga – supporting whānau to achieve economic wellbeing – capacity, collaboration, innovation and Māori business.

This is a contestable fund, whilst a maximum amount is not specified; the amount awarded will be based on the strength of the applications alignment to the Māori Economic Development Strategy.

Download the application form and strategy at www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/maori-ed-grant.

Applications to the Māori Economic Development Grants commence on Wednesday 1st May 2019 and close at 5.00pm on 31st May 2019. Final decisions will be made by the Grant panel on 7th June 2019.

For further information, please contact: Samara Shaw Executive Secretary samara.shaw@kapiticoast.govt.nz 04 2964892

CLASSIFIEDS

Loved Grandfather to all his grandchildren.

HUFF, John (Duffy) born July 6, 1933, died April 16, 2019 after a brief illness. Loved husband of Hunia Davis (dec) and son Norman. See page 20 obituary.

LUCINSKY, Barry Edmund of Te Horo: aged 84. Passed away on 28 March 2019.

Dearly loved husband of Anita. Loving father of Warren and Kimberley, Katrina and Malcolm, Sharon and Steve.Loving Grandad of Cole, Marcus, Ashley, Jack, Henry, and Madison and Great Grandad of Piper-Mae, Hunter, and Marlon.

SMITH, Kevin Leslie. Passed away peacefully on 5 May 2019, aged 63 years. Kevin was loved by everyone he came into contact with.

Loved father of Katera and Taipari. “Moe mai ra e toku Papa, i roto i te ringa o te atua.” See page 20 obituary.

MAKE SURE YOUR LOVED ONES AND YOUR SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ARE REMEMBERED WITH A BIRTH, DEATH OR MARRIAGE NOTICE IN ŌTAKI TODAY. CONTACT DEBBI 06 364 6543 or otakitoday@idmedia.co.nz

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SPORT I Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 27

New ball game catching on Women’s catchball is taking off in Ōtaki.

The sport that’s similar to volleyball now has a small but growing membership, which gathers weekly on a Tuesday night at Ngā Purapura to toss a ball across the net.

Catchball was brought to Ōtaki recently by Andrea Wheatley, who first saw it through a friend in Nelson.

The friend, Muriel Ronen, herself brought it to New Zealand after playing it and coaching in Israel, where it is a popular sport.

There are already enough players in Ōtaki for two teams, with capacity at Ngā Purapura for many more.

“It would great to have two courts going, which is four teams,” Andrea says. “Then if other nearby towns started, we could have some competitions.”

So far, only Nelson has women’s catchball While similar to volleyball, catchball is less physically demanding

because it’s essentially catching and throwing the ball, rather than hitting it with the arms.

Women who have played volleyball, baskeball or netball enjoy the game.

“It can be played by anyone from teens through to grandmothers,” Andrea says.

“We’ve got some women here who are quite competitive, and others who just enjoy getting some exercise and socialising with other women.

“It’s a great way for women to have some fun.”

Games are on Tuesday nights throughout the year, from 6.3080m at Ngā Purapura, opposite Te Wānanga o Raukawa.

Casual players are welcome and there are no long-term commitments required. There’s a charge of $5 per evening, payable on the night. n If you’re interested in catchball, come along to Ngā Purapura Tuesdays 6.30-8pm, or call Andrea Wheatley on 021 866 010.

GOING FOR IT: Catchball players enjoying the game at Ngā Purapura.

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The Ōtaki College equestrian team, and organisers, with their winning ribbons. Photo supplied

College rides high Ōtaki College came up trumps after hosting its inaugural inter-school show jumping event on Wednesday, May 8, at Waikanae Park. Ōtaki College had 12 riders competing and won the overall team competition. The event attracted 100 riders from schools thoughout the region. Riders from both primary and secondary schools competed over a series of jump courses as individual competitors and teams.

Several local sponsors donated goods and services to help make the event a success.

Planning for 2020 is already under way.

Equestrian at the college has been growing steadily during the past few years, thanks to a talented group of students who have strong parental support.

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Ōtaki Today, May 2019

Page 28

SPORT

Locals take on Chatham heavyweights Ōtaki’s senior footbal team, Purutaitama, took on a Wellington premier side at the weekend in the Chatham Cup and came away with a creditable 4-0 loss.

Tawa had some former Wellington Phoenix players in their squad and are about four grades above the Ōtaki team.

Consequently, a win was probably unlikely, but as with any open competition like the Chatham Cup, anything can happen. And it almost did as a couple of early chances at goal were missed.

Brendon Hennan, who’s part of the club’s management team and plays at goalkeeper, was impressed with the performance.

“This is probably the best team Ōtaki has ever had,” he said on Saturday. “They’re fit, they’ve got good all-round ball skills and they know they can win. The game today was great experience for them.” Ōtaki play in the Horowhenua-Kāpiti division 1 competition and are expected to do well in the coming season. If they win the local competition, they go automatically into the Wellington Capital competition next year.

Brendon is hoping for great things in coming years.

“There’s lots of potential there, and in our reserve team, which is also very strong. I can see them both building for a great season next year and beyond.”

With local Māori traditionally playing rugby or league, Brendon, and father/son Waka and Hape Porter are keen to develop the Māori element of the club – in much the same way as the local Rāhui and Whiti te Rā clubs.

There are already many young Māori players

who take pride in pulling on the Ōtaki football jersey.

The club is part of the Ōtaki Squash, Tennis and Soccer Club. All three codes share the clubrooms at Haruatai Park, providing a venue to host visiting teams such as Tawa.

The football fields are considered excellent and used for all grades – from juniors through to the senior grades.

PURUTAITAMA: Ready for their clash against Tawa last Saturday (May 11) were Ōtaki’s Purutaitama team. Back row, from left: Hape Porter (trainer/coach), Daniel Clode, Harry Urlich, Sam Ward, Isaac Duker, Brendon Heenan, Dillon Young, Matt Bertelsen, Tom Mackley, Jacko Murray. Front row: Jackson Pidduck, Jaziah Lewis, Chris Hawley-Stone, Waka Porter (coach), Huia Cook and David (Dubbs) Reynolds.

Photos: Ian Carson

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www.harveybowler.co.nz COMING THROUGH: Chris Hawley-Stone looks to get the ball past a Tawa defender, as Sam Ward (No 6) waits and Jaziah Lewis chases.