Santa Claus Pera wins award p3
Spud longs for own home p6
otakitoday.com
New top cop no stranger By Ian Carson
Sergeant Phil Grimstone, Ōtaki’s new officer in charge, is no stranger to the town. He grew up in Levin and spent three of his 15 years with the police force at the Ōtaki station. There were also six years based at Paraparaumu, and he was promoted to sergeant in Levin in 2012. For the past three years he’s headed the Horowhenua Family Harm Team. It’s no surprise then, that Phil is
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keen to tackle some of the problems afflicting the families of Ōtaki, especially the growing prevalence of methamphetamine (“P”) abuse. “I don’t know that it’s a bigger problem here than in other small towns, but it is a problem and we need to deal with it,” he says. “Drug abuse leads to other dishonesty offending, because that funds the addiction.” Without drugs, he believes other offending would be reduced significantly. So how does a small-town police force deal with the drug problem? Phil believes it’s a social issue that needs to be addressed jointly by the community and police. “We can’t arrest our way out of this problem. We need the support of the community, social agencies and iwi.” Foresaking the “big stick” approach, one of Phil’s focuses is on promoting alternative resolutions to court and convictions. These offer offenders a good chance of rehabilitation and often result in better long-term outcomes. It includes referring offenders for low-level offences to the local Raukawa Whānau Ora, and young traffic offenders to driver training programmes such as Te Ara Tika.
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OCTOBER 2018
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Phil is saddened by the statistics for family harm in the Horowhenua area, of which Ōtaki is part. The area has the second-highest rate of “intimate partner violence” in New Zealand. The effect on children is devastating. “Eighty percent of youth offenders first contact with the police is through witnessing family violence in the home,” he says. It’s clear that Phil is sometimes frustrated with social media comments about how the police “do nothing” in the face of crime. “The challenge for the community is that our response [as police] is only as good as the information the community provides. It has to be credible, reliable and corroborating, which allows the police to target offenders by executing search
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warrants and so on.” He says information can be provided anonymously, and using Crime Stoppers is a good alternative, but it makes a big difference if someone is prepared to speak to police face-to-face and put their signature to an allegation. He can provide assurance of complete anonymity The Ōtaki station has six public safety officers, and two highway patrol officers are based at the station. Flexible shifts ensure officers are available through most 24-hour periods, and the larger Levin station provides support when needed. A front line support officer is available from 9am-3pm during the week (press the buzzer if the door is locked).
challenge for “theThecommunity is
that our response [as police] is only as good as the information the community provides.
”
– Sergeant Phil Grimstone Ōtaki comes under the Manawatū area of the Central Police District, and extends from South Manakau Road in the north to Peka Peka Road. Phil replaces Slade Sturmey, who has transferred to an instructor posting at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua.
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NEWS I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
LOCAL EVENTS THE GREAT TE HORO TRASH AND TREASURE SALE Te Horo Community Hall. Sunday October 21, 10am-1pm. Community sale of good used items to fundraise for a new kitchen for the hall. OTAKI GENEALOGY GROUP MEETING: Thursday October 25, 7.30pm. Supper Room, Memorial Hall. Guest speaker Queenie Rikihand–Hyland, Māori Whakapapa and the importance of honouring our ancestors. TE WĀNANGA O RAUKAWA COMMUNITY OPEN DAY 144 Tasman Rd. Saturday October 27, 11am-1.30pm. MANAKAU SCHOOL COUNTRY FAIR 9 Mokena Kohere St, Manakau Village. Sunday October 28, 11am-2pm. SINGING FOR SPRING The Ōtaki Spring Sing is on at the Memorial Hall from 2-4pm on Sunday October 28. Kāpiti Coast adult community choirs sing with each other, and family and friends. Adults $5, gold coin entry children and seniors. FAMILY LIGHT PARTY: at The Hub Church, Tasman Rd. Thurs October 30, 5.30-7.30pm. WAITOHU SCHOOL FIREWORKS EXTRAVAGANZA 6.30pm Friday November 2 at Haruatai Park. TE HORO COUNTRY MARKET: Te Horo Community Hall. Sunday November 4, 10am-12.30pm. First Sunday of the month. Free range pork, produce, preserves, olive oil, plants, herbs, jewellery, cafe. MĀORILAND HUB: Main St. maorilandfilm.co.nz/events/ ŌTAKI WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CLUB CRAFT MARKET: opposite New World, every Sunday. Ph 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. SEASONAL SURPLUS STALL: Thursdays, buying from 10.30am, selling from 11am-noon, in front of Memorial Hall, Main St. Bring your excess produce, or buy from the stall. 06 364-7762. WAITOHU STREAM AND DUNE CARE GROUP: North Ōtaki Beach. Mondays 9-11am. Phone Sue: 06 364-0641 or email autaha@actrix.co.nz WILD GOOSE QIGONG: Classes beginning at Te Horo Community Hall on Wednesday October 17, 11am-12 noon. Cynthia Shaw 021 613 081, newzealandqigong.com MAHARA GALLERY: Mahara Place, Waikanae. maharagallery.org.nz To list your event contact: debbi@idmedia.co.nz 06 364 6543.
Ōtaki Today is produced monthly by publisher ID Media Ltd, 13 Te Manuao Rd, Ōtaki.
For editorial enquiries or news tips, please contact editor Ian Carson 06 364-6543 or ian@idmedia.co.nz
For advertising enquiries, please contact sales 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) Lea Whittington (The Foot Doctor). Design by ID Media Ltd. Printed by Beacon Print, Hastings. To view Ōtaki Today online www.otakitoday.com
Copy and advertising deadline for the November issue of Ōtaki Today is November 8.
Page 2
CARTOON OF THE MONTH
by Jared Carson
“It’s like Wacky Races out there. SLOW DOWN!”
– local resident’s comment to Ōtaki Today about speeding vehicles on the streets of Ōtaki.
With acknowledgement to Wacky Races, Hanna Barbera (1968)
Open day at Wānanga whare The wider Ōtaki community gets a chance to view Te Wānanga o Raukawa’s newest building, Te Ara a Tāwhaki, on Saturday October 27, from 11am-1.30pm. The whare opened officially in August, two years after a fire on the same site devastated a planned refurbishment and parts of the library. During the past 12 months, the community has seen the front entrance to the Wānanga transform as Te Ara a Tāwhaki has taken shape. The open day is an opportunity for Ōtaki residents to look around the new whare,
which has been specifically built to support teaching and learning at the Wānanga. The state-of-the art building is home to the library, a lecture theatre with not only the latest technology, but also carvings that tell the stories of the Wānanga’s creation, foundation, and iwi and hapū. They include the hapū and marae of the founding iwi of Te Wānanga o Raukawa – the Confederation of Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Toa Rangatira. It is also houses the enrolment centre, pop-up shops, break-out spaces and an area for students to study or relax.
Police urge residents to keep vehicles safe Ōtaki police are urging residents to keep their vehicles and property in their vehicles safe as the summer months approach. “I encourage the community to maintain basic crime prevention measures, such as parking locked vehicles on private property and not leaving items of interest or value visible in the vehicle,” says Ōtaki station officer in charge Sergeant Phil Grimstone. “Summer months tend to result in an increase in opportunistic burglaries and thefts. Some basic vigilance will dramatically decrease the chances of being victimised.” During September, Ōtaki police responded to: • 23 family harm episodes • 7 burglaries • 4 stolen vehicles.
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Visitors can expect to view, feel and hear the stories about the building, its carvings, history and significance as part of a contemporary wānanga. It’s an experience of the values that underpin Te Wānanga o Raukawa, setting them apart from other tertiary institutes. Parking is available onsite and refreshments will be served. Doors open at 10.30am with a mihi whakatau/welcome at 11am. n For more information or a full programme contact:
Marama Bevan, 06 364-9011 xtn 844 or email marama. bevan@twor-otaki.ac.nz
No serious callouts for fire brigade Ōtaki Volunteer Fire Brigade had about 20 callouts in September, but nothing serious.
Chief fire officer Ian King said there were a couple of vehicle fires, assists to neighbouring brigades, several medical callouts to help ambulance staff, a couple of power lines down, and the rest were rubbish fires. “With rubbish fires it’s important to know that Fire & Emergency NZ are not obligated to extinguish rubbish fires unless they are directly threatening life or property,” Ian said. “Often people call us because they don’t like the fact their neighbour is burning rubbish, or they can see smoke in the distance. These are not real emergencies as such and often we have no jurisdiction to extinguish.”
Fireworks – keep family and animals safe It’s nearly Guy Fawkes night (November 5) – which means there will be plenty of fireworks in and around Ōtaki for the next few weeks. If there’s one piece of safety advice, it’s to leave the fireworks to the experts and enjoy the big display by Waitohu School at Hāruatai Park on Friday November 2. Other community groups are also organising informal events in safe places where fireworks can be enjoyed by the whole
family. Keep an eye on your local social media sites for information. If you’re still inclined to let off fireworks yourself, remember that it can also be dangerous, scary for people caught unawares, and even fatal – for humans and animals. If you’re considering your own fireworks party in your backyard, please consider your neighbours and their animals. Let neighbours know when you’re doing it so they can put pets safely inside. If you’re in the country, take
account of farm animals and horses that can get easily scared. Don’t let your pets roam at night around this time – they can easily run into traffic if scared. And a word from the local fire brigade – fireworks are burning objects. They can cause fires in houses, shops and grassy fields. Think about where you’re letting them off, and where skyrockets might land if it’s windy. The rest – such as reading the instructions – is common-sense. Stay safe!
NEWS I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
Page 3
Award to Ōtaki Santa Claus
An Ōtaki man who’s making Christmas special for thousands of disadvantaged children, has won an ASB Good as Gold award. Pera Barrett grew up in Ōtaki and still calls it home. Now living in Wellington and working as an IT manager, he organises Christmas presents every year for kids whose parents and care-givers are close to the poverty line. Called Shoebox Christmas, his programme began four years ago in Wellington, working with low decile schools and early childhood centres. Already, more than 9000 presents have been delivered. He expects this year’s figure to be close to 5000. Often Pera delivers them personally. Students at about 35 schools receive the gifts, based on priorities the schools provide. The gifts have a value up to about $30, and are wrapped and delivered to the schools. Pera works with sponsors who are prepared to buy a gift, asking whether they prefer to buy for a boy or girl. He lets them know when he’s allocated a child for them to buy for. The sponsors include individuals, small businesses and corporates. The effect of poverty on children tugs at Pera’s heart-strings. “Kids just down the road from us have no money to buy their lunch, but we have enough for my kids, and a $4 coffee every day. So as part of the same society, I should help out there."
IN BRIEF Olive oil winners Kapiti Olives of Te Horo won Best in Class, Commercial Mild – Blends, and a host of other gold and silver medals at the 2018 New Zealand Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards last Saturday (October 13). At the same awards, Waikawa Glen on Waikawa Beach Road won a silver in the Commercial Medium – Single Varietal category.
Warning lifted
Pera Barrett with daughter Huhana.
As well as the Shoebox Christmas project, Pera organises stationery starter packs for kids in their first year at college. It came about after one of the Shoebox girls said she wanted stationery for Christmas. “She knew her parents didn’t have enough money to buy what she needed for college next year. She cried about it. That’s not something a girl that young should be worrying about, especially when I know there are people who can help.” The impetus for Pera’s benevolence emerged after he was involved in a fatal car crash in 2005. He had multiple injuries in the crash and it was four months before he could walk again.
Though he was lucky to survive, a woman in the other car died. “We’re not here forever, so we should make the most of our time – sometimes we don’t truly realise that until it’s too late. If I can help others, I should – and I should do it now.” Pera received $3000 from the ASB award to help with the 2018 Shoebox appeal. He was also given $3000 to help him with his writing (he’s already published a novel) and has $4000 to take his family on holiday. The holiday is still not planned, but will be a welcome break after the hectic preChristmas rush of organising presents. n Read Pera’s writing and learn more about Shoebox Christmas at perabarrett.com
A warning about collecting and eating shellfish from Ōtaki region beaches has been lifted. The Ministry for Primary Industries issued the alert for west coast beaches from Waikato to Te Horo in mid-August. It removed the warning on September 20. Shellfish and seawater samples are taken every week from popular shellfish gathering areas around New Zealand and are tested for toxic algae. If the shellfish are not safe to eat, then public health warnings are issued and signs are posted at affected beaches. To receive email updates on warnings, go to “Shellfish biotoxin alerts” at mpi.govt.nz
Bowl up for summer Ōtaki Bowling Club is inviting business houses, sports clubs, community organisations, schools and individuals to join it for twilight bowls during summer. On the Thursdays of November 22 and 29, December 6, January 24 and 31, and February 7, the club is hosting teams of three (join a team on the day if an individual) to enjoy a relaxed, friendly summertime sport with colleagues and friends. It will cost $10 per team per week, with a sausage sizzle $2. Bowls are provided. The club is at 15 Waerenga Road. Contact Maureen (364-0640 or 021 635 445) for information.
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Ōtaki Today, October 2018
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COMMENT GURU’S VIEW: K GURUNATHAN
Thoughts on diesel-powered passenger rail links still to mature four years on Back on June 10, 2014, I tabled a submission with the Ōtaki Community Board. I referred to a quote from Greater Wellington Regional Council’s rail operations manager, Angus Gabara. In the Kāpiti News front page story of March 12, 2014, he said: “Instead of spending a lot of money on electrifying the line, thought should go into using diesel-powered trains.” In early March that same year, a GWRC delegation, led by chair Fran Wilde, had briefed Kāpiti councillors on rail transport options. We were told electrification from Waikanae to Ōtaki, modelled at a price of between $115 million and $135 million, was
costly. Hence, Mr Gabara’s direction that “thought” should be given to diesel power. “The thing then, is the carriages can be purpose-built, they would be more inter-regional units and you could go as far north as you liked. The focus should not be on extending the electrification but on how you can extend the service,” added Mr Gabara. Alexander the Great would have
LOCAL LENS: EDITOR IAN CARSON
been impressed with this strategy. In the submission to the Ōtaki Community Board, I listed 10 technical points in support of the diesel option. These were crafted by Raumati resident and former Kiwirail passenger manager Ross Hayward. The same points were sent to GWRC’s transport committee chair, Paul Swain. Mr Swain, in his response dated August 14, 2014, basically fobbed off the need to give any thought to the idea of using diesel-powered units, claiming all the options would be “very costly”. “It’s important to note that there is no funding set aside in GW’s current Annual Plan, current LTP [Long
Term Plan] or proposed LTP. Given that, any solutions to the problem is some way off,” Mr Swain said. This political fob-off to give it more “thought” was despite a public statement to do so by his senior manager, Mr Gabara. Mr Swain was also told that the Ōtaki and Waikanae community boards had received Mr Hayward’s points positively. For Waikanae, it would help resolve some of the increasing parking problems. Four years on, the thinking has still to mature. The need for Ōtaki to have a developed passenger rail link to Waikanae and south to Wellington is, in the meantime, becoming more important.
One would think that given the new government’s policy paper on transport and its support for public transport and rail, that there is now a greater fit for a renewed push to better link Ōtaki to the Greater Wellington passenger rail network. A convenient competitive rail service would take cars off the roads, reducing the ability of the new expressways to vomit their choking contents into the already congested Wellington City traffic arteries. And it would ease the current nightmare of reaching, let alone parking, at Wellington’s airport and the hospital. Plus, of course, there is the increasing cost of petrol. n K Gurunathan is the Mayor of Kāpiti Coast and is an Ōtaki resident.
FORWARD FOCUS: JAMES COOTES
High level of volunteerism a unique part of our DNA
Careful how you lean – left or right Should a newspaper have a particular political leaning – left or right? It’s a question that’s been posed in the past month as Ōtaki readers have digested this new newspaper. Hopefully they’ll find no evidence of either. Small-town newspapers throughout the world have been used (and abused) as vehicles for their owners’ political bias. Subtly and sometimes brazenly they push the agenda of local and national government candidates in elections, and in between praise or denigrate the incumbents, depending on which side of the fence they sit. There will be promotions of party events and an unusually large number of photos and articles about preferred politicians – or none for those on the outside. It’s a sad abuse of the press, but not unusual. In many countries, especially the United States, small towns have their own mayor who will often run the local newspaper. As an elected official who appoints the fire and police chiefs, and many other community positions, the influence they can yield through their newspaper to massage public opinion can be huge. Often it is to entrench their own position. Having said that, journalists, editors and newspaper owners all have a subjective view of issues. It shouldn’t come out in news articles, however. Voicing their view – as in this column – should be clearly defined as an opinion, hence the ‘Comment’ strapline at the top of this page. No one can mistake it for news, fake or otherwise. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: If you have something to say and you want if published, 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
Recently I had the opportunity to go on the annual Otaki River walkover to see the tremendous work that the Friends of the Ōtaki River (Fotor) have been doing. It’s not the first time I’ve been on the walkover, but it never ceases to amaze me, actually it humbles me, what this group of passionate volunteers manages to achieve. I imagine many in the community would be unaware of the planting days and years of effort that have gone into planting the Ōtaki River corridor. More recently, Fotor has been successful in securing funding for a toilet to be based at Ōtaki Beach near the floodgates. Although a challenging task at first (I think it was referred to as one of the most challenging sites in the district), they persevered and got there in the end. The toilet is to be installed soon. It’s no surprise then that Fotor receives donations from generous businesses, families and individuals for the work that they do. It’s a testament to the reputation they have earned,
that people generously support their work. It was also great to see that work acknowledged on the day with some Fotor members receiving awards, including chair Max Lutz for his tireless commitment to the cause. Well deserved, Max! Although the group isn’t unique to New Zealand, Ōtaki certainly has an impressive range of groups doing similar work. Whether it’s Keep Otaki Beautiful and the work they’ve done around Pare-o-Matangi reserve, or the Waitohu Stream Care Group and their continuous efforts around the northern beach, we are very fortunate to have such a
passionate community that’s so willing to give of their time. But it doesn’t stop there … we also have Rotary, Lions, Ōtaki CAB, Energise Ōtaki, Ōtaki Promotions Group, Ōtaki Women’s Network Group . . . the list goes on. For a small town with a population of about 7000, I bet we have a high percentage of volunteerism in little ole Ōtaki. It’s part of what makes Ōtaki special, it’s part of our unique Ōtaki DNA. So, if you’re reading this and want to get involved, I’m sure any of these groups would love your support. If not in time, then financially as well because I can assure you it’s multiplied 10 times over! I didn’t have the space to list all the groups I know do so much, but you know who you are and I want to finish by acknowledging the work you do and say “thank you” to all those that volunteer their time. Hei konā rā. James Cootes n James Cootes is the Ōtaki Ward councillor on the Kāpiti Coast District Council.
ŌTAKI OUTLOOK: CHRIS PAPPS
Transport solutions still a community board priority A week or so ago I was invited to talk to one of the Ōtaki women’s groups. I was asked to tell them what I love about being chair of your community board and what it gets up to. I told them I have a real desire to make a contribution to the community we all love. I became a member of the board during its last term. My election “platform”, for want of a better word, was the need to improve our transport system. Along with many other people, I’ve worked on improving the Capital Connection rail service. I doubt we’ll ever see full electrification or double tracking to Ōtaki, but we will see an improved diesel electric service sooner rather than later. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to get us a better bus service. The new timetable is an improvement. We have new services and there are more opportunities to make connections to the south. I really wanted to be chair of Ōtaki Community Board. I have no desire to be a councillor or an MP. I just want to be able to get things done in our community and I believe the
best way I can do that is as chair of the board. Community boards don’t have great powers or what is called “delegations”. We can advocate for and influence things, but we have very little money to spend, and what money we have is disbursed mainly as grants. Each member of the board has the opportunity to attend council meetings. We have council committee meetings where we have speaking rights and can take part in the debates. We can’t vote, but we can lobby – and we certainly do that. As chair of Ōtaki Community Board I take every opportunity to attend full council
meetings. I lobby like mad during breaks and in committee sessions to try to ensure Ōtaki gets its share and view taken into account. Our district councillor, James Cootes, attends our board meetings and he certainly makes sure the Ōtaki view is strongly represented at council meetings. I enjoy attending the council meetings and I enjoy working with groups in the community. As chair of the board I’ve also been fortunate to have considerable involvement with the development, planning and construction of the PP2Ō expressway. I’m chair of the Community Liaison Group which works with NZTA, Fletchers and a whole range of community groups. I think we’re making good progress. I’m also a member of Elevate Ōtaki. This group’s aim is to make sure that while the expressway will go past Ōtaki, we will take advantage of the opportunities for future development. n Chris Papps is chair of the Ōtaki Community Board.
COMM I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
Page 5
GUEST COLUMNIST ADRIAN GREGORY
Better health, well-being goal of advisory group By Adrian Gregory
The Ōtaki Health and Wellbeing Advisory Group, of which I am the inaugural chair, has grown out of recent planning by MidCentral DHB and Central PHO to put a stronger focus on communities and the services they need to ensure the health and wellbeing of everyone in those communities. Ōtaki is one of four areas that MidCentral has focused on to develop a community or “locality” plan. They began in Ōtaki just over a year ago with an “open invitation” workshop. This was followed by meetings with people from the community, an on-line survey, and time spent in Ōtaki by DHB representatives led by Kelly Isles talking to and interviewing residents. While this was under way some of those who were involved – myself, Rex Kerr (Greater Wellington Community Response Forum) and Barbara Rudd (Ōtaki Māori health liaison officer) – have also been playing a part in the Kāpiti Health Advocacy Group. This group has been promoting improved health services for the whole of the Kāpiti district and, in making recommendations to Capital & Coast DHB, has identified priority areas where services need to be improved.
PHOTO MARK COOTE
The most important priority is “Access to Services”, which covers a wide range of issues – such as transport, cost, opening hours – and affects almost all of us, young and old, across a wide range of conditions and circumstances. And that is also the No 1 priority identified by our community in its feedback to MidCentral DHB about what should be in the Ōtaki locality plan. The feedback from their year-long consultation, along with a good deal of background information, has been included in the Ōtaki Health and Wellbeing Plan 2018-2023, which the DHB published in June this year. You can download a copy of it at www.midcentraldhb.govt.nz under ‘Publications’. It is a well presented document, but
the heart of it is the four community priorities: • Access to healthcare • Mental health and addiction • Better communication and connections, and • Healthy living. It’s a five-year plan that “focuses on how health and its partners can work together to make improvements within the priority areas”. And that’s where the Ōtaki Health and Wellbeing Advisory Group comes in, under the “better communications and connections” priority, as the voice of the community helping to guide and drive those improvements. And also, perhaps, holding the DHB to account if we don’t think there’s enough or fast enough progress.
To be the “voice” we certainly need to listen to the community, which we will be doing in three ways: by bringing on to the advisory group other people from the community who are actively involved with local health and wellbeing initiatives; by engaging with some of our outstanding local groups that have similar purposes (we are fortunate as a community to have many of these); and by urging people to contact me directly at adriansgregory@gmail.com We have already started our work, supporting the Women’s Health Centre and meeting with Central PHO senior staff about sustaining services in Ōtaki. We will be keeping the community up to date with our work and progress on those “improvements” in several ways. We’ll certainly be using the local press, there will be occasional drop-in morning teas where anyone can give us feedback or let us know about issues that may need some attention, and then once a year we will be inviting the community to an Ōtakiwide Health and Wellbeing Hui. We have a lot to do, in partnership with the DHB and on behalf of the community, over the coming months and years. But I think we’ve made a good start and I look forward to working with fellow advisory group members on behalf of our community.
Adrian Gregory lives in Ōtaki with his wife, Ann, who was born and raised in Wellington before training in Dunedin as a dietitian and returning to Wellington Hospital for her first post. They met in England, where after an extensive career in education, Adrian was heading up training and development for the National Health Service in Bristol. They worked on the same large-scale training project before settling in New Zealand. Adrian’s first job in New Zealand was with the School Dental Service, out of Hutt Hospital, leading the development of six new school dental clinic hubs in the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington. He then spent six years with Grow Wellington as a general manager working on medical innovation, business growth and workforce development. He started his own consultancy, Helix4, at the beginning of 2017. He is chair of Birthright New Zealand and Birthright Levin, and has strong connections with the wider health and well-being sectors.
NEWS I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
Page 6
Locals remembered at centenary A special First World War remembrance service is to be held at the Ōtaki Cenotaph at 11am on Sunday, November 11. It was 100 years ago on this date that the Allies and Germany signed an armistice to end First World War hostilities. The armistice was signed at 11am on November 11, 1918 – the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – at Compiegne, France. Ōtaki RSA president Mike Fogarty says thousands of New Zealanders were lost, including 72 from Ōtaki, in the war that was supposed to end all wars. “Many young New Zealanders, eager to see
the world, are now buried on foreign soil, some in marked graves and others never found for a formal burial,” Mike says. “New Zealand losses in the disastrous Gallipoli campaign and in Europe numbered about 18,000, a huge number for such a small nation. “We cannot bring them back, but we can ensure that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.” The service will include a fly past by the Royal NZ Air Force and soldiers from the 1st Communications and Security Regiment, Linton will undertake formal duties. A display of naval guns restored and maintained by former Navy engineer and Ōtaki local Royce Bowler will be on the street at the cenotaph for the
public to view. Ōtaki College and local primary schools will again play a key role in the commemoration. Ōtaki School pupils will read out the names of the 72 Ōtaki men who served in the war and who never returned. The Ōtaki College head girl and boy will read the poem In Flanders Field. The service is organised by the Ōtaki and District Memorial RSA, in conjunction with Kāpiti Coast District Council, the Defence Force and Ōtaki community groups. Everyone is welcome to attend. The RSA has invited veterans, families and the public to the RSA rooms in Raukawa Street after the service.
IN BRIEF Xmas competition Ōtaki’s business districts – at the highway shops and in the township – are being brightened up for Christmas with a window display competition. Rebecca Whitt of Rentables is organising the competition after being disappointed by the lack of Christmas displays in recent years. Judges will decide on two categories – best day-time and best night-time display. The public will also be able to vote on best overall display and go in the draw for a prize. Competition entries close on November 14. Voting forms and entry forms are available at Rentables, 62 Main St, Ōtaki. Voting will be between December 4 and 12, with winners announced on December 17.
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DVERTISEMENT PROOF SHEET LEFT: The Ōtaki cenotaph in Memorial Park.
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Racing back on
RIGHT: Former Navy engineer and Ōtaki local Royce Bowler with a 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun. Many of his collection of naval guns will be on display at the armistice ceremony.
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NEWS I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
Page 7
The push north offers new opportunities By Stuart Pritchard
When we look at some of the latest trends around the Wellington region, it’s becoming more and more clear that Ōtaki is next on the list for some big growth. So what’s driving this? Firstly, technology is our latest economic growth force. Some of New Zealand’s leading tech companies, such as Xero and TradeMe, have made the Wellington region their home. This is very important as it attracts more and more tech companies to the city, and with it comes jobs and economic growth. The flow-on can be bigger than you think. Although our scale is much smaller here in New Zealand, there’s a clear trend from larger tech companies such as Google, Linkedin, Microsoft and Facebook, that show many employees eventually leave these companies to stat their own innovative companies. These in turn create yet another wave of jobs, and so on . . . So how is this relevant to Ōtaki? At face value, it would seem these newer companies would stay in Wellington and the flow-on would be minimal, right? However, there are some factors pushing all kinds of businesses north, which might just bring them up here to Ōtaki. Firstly, the Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressway and the big Transmission Gully motorway are nearing completion. This is causing a wave of people to move north as commute times are shorter and businesses can get that one step closer to Auckland. Secondly, earthquake requirements are meaning less office space, houses and even parking space in the CBD. Prices are REALLY going up and people are starting to
think twice about whether Wellington is worth the cost. Moreover, young families wanting to buy their first houses can’t pay the higher prices any more. So the next option they see is moving north. For housing, places such as Raumati, Paraparaumu and Waikanae are already offering some big opportunities due to the MacKays to Peka Peka part of the expressway being completed. When these fill up, Ōtaki is next. In the industrial area, Petone has traditionally been the “go to” spot for commercial property because of it’s a close drive to the capital. Yet the new highway is causing businesses to question the logic of paying higher prices to be that close. The good news is that Ōtaki happens to be one of the leading areas for commercial growth due to its newly developed industrial business zone. What’s crazy is that big established companies, such as Fletcher Construction and Transpower, have already set up bases here. On top of this, investors are starting to look for opportunities north of Wellington to make capital gains before the wave of growth. The lower cost of housing and commercial property make now an excellent time to buy. Obviously no one has a crystal ball in which to see how much economic growth we can expect in Ōtaki. All we know is that things are changing quickly and pointing in the right direction, meaning the next five years is going to be exciting to watch! n Stuart Pritchard is managing director of Ōtaki Commercial Park. Read more about Stuart and commercial property opportunities in the region at www.ocpark.co.nz
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Whitebaiting ‘not so good’ this year The whitebait at Ōtaki’s rivers and streams have been elusive so far this season, says long-time whitebaiter Mickey Carkeek. Mickey, who’s been fishing the delicacy for the best part of 70 years, has had little luck, but says that could still change before the close of the season at the end of November. It started on August 15. “I’ve had one or two pounds, but nothing like I usually catch,” he says. “Sometimes I can come away with 20 or 30 pounds.” Mickey usually fishes on the Katihiku (south) side of Ōtaki River. He says that this year the pollution is particularly bad, which is not conducive to whitebaiting. He puts the pollution down to the still waters created by a lagoon on the stream he fishes, and run-off from nearby farms. However, he says others on the Ōtaki River and at the Waitohu Stream are not having much luck, either. “It happens like that sometimes. It’s cyclical. We might get a really good season next year. And it might still turn around this season. I might go down tomorrow and land a bucket-full for myself and all my mates.”
The whitebait have not been filling nets so far this season. – Photo: Mahinarangi Hakaraia
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ARTS I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
Page 8
‘Tough play’ earns Leah top award By Paul Corrigan
Rodrigo Guitar Concerto Rodrigo Guitar Concerto Rodrigo Guitar Concerto Matthew Matthew Marshall
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High School. Before long Leah was doing drama. “My first play in Queenstown was Verity, and then I was Juliet from Sisters from Heaven. I have been in three musicals, one as crew and two as cast.” This year she has been Cassius in Julius Caesar and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. As well, she kept up her school work and did after-school jobs that included cleaning motels. In 2013 Leah had non-speaking parts as Deadbone the Dog and Death Rat in the Ōtaki Players’ production, The Amazing Maurice and
his Educated Rodents. She finishes her year 13 in December. “I want to do costume construction or acting at Toi Whakaari,” she says. “I have a family of McHugos and Corrigans drama in my blood.” Leah is the younger daughter of Allie and Ben McHugo. They returned this year to the family property in Takapu Rd, Manakau, with their son, Theo, and two cats that had adopted Annie the bulldog as their “mother”.
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Leah McHugo, left, and fellow actor Izzy Jack. Former Manakau and Te Horo school student Leah won the Emerging Distinctive Talent award in a national drama competition recently at Toi Whakaari. – Photo Ben McHugo
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The Kāpiti Concert Orchestra will present its final concert for 2018 in Ōtaki at 4pm on Saturday November 17, with Kenneth Young conducting and guitarist Matthew Marshall as guest soloist. The programme includes concert overture The Land of the Mountain and the Flood by Scottish composer Hamish MacCunn. Written in 1887, the overture’s main melody was used in the 1970s Scottish TV series Sutherland’s Law. Matthew, one of New Zealand’s leading classical guitarists, performs Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez along with the Kāpiti Concert Orchestra. The final work on the programme is Elgar’s Variations on an Original Theme, Op 36, popularly known as the Enigma Variations, an orchestral work Elgar dedicated to his friends. Each of the 14 variations is prefaced with the initials or nickname of a friend.
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Tiggy Tiggy Touch Wood, written by Ōtaki playwright Renée, is a tough play to watch. It tells the story of Tig, who was left deranged after being gang-raped, and Missy, her lover and caregiver. It was one of six entries in the national final of a drama competition for one-act plays at Toi Whakaari, the New Zealand Drama School, in Wellington. For Leah McHugo, who went to Manakau and Te Horo schools, playing Tiggy was a tough act, too. Her intensity in the role was specifically mentioned by the competition’s adjudicator, Hilary Norris, an actor and director. It earned Leah the Emerging Distinctive Talent award. “Every time I played Tig I would be physically and mentally exhausted after each performance,” Leah says. “We could only do one full run-through per day at 100 percent.” Tiggy turns from playful, childlike, adult, pleading, begging, seeking to please, and angry. Her behaviour has become too much for Missy (Izzy Jack) – or so the two officials from “the Board” say. And Tiggy is frightening children. She has to be taken away and “cared for”. Leah, 17, who now attends Wakatipu High School in Queenstown, is part of the school drama group that performed the play. In 2015 the family – and Annie the British bulldog – moved to Glenorchy, at the northwestern end of Lake Wakatipu. Her mother, Allie, had been appointed principal of the village school. Leah and her sister, Olivia, went to Wakatipu
NEWS I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
Page 9
Rāhui bridge another step closer Shared path & access way. min 4m wide
Safety fence Southbound expressway
Northbound expressway
Railway corridor
An artist’s impression of Bridge 4, the Rāhui Road overbridge, looking north.
Anyone venturing from the township of Ōtaki can’t help but notice the large mound of earth on Rāhui Road. This is the western abutment for the new Rāhui Road bridge, which will span the expressway and the realigned railway tracks. Like other bridges on the Peka Peka to Ōtaki stretch of the Kāpiti Expressway, this one will be constructed of steel, to allow a greater span with no piers. It will have a single span, be 50 metres in length and made up of five 2m-deep girders. (The School Road bridge at Te Horo will also be steel, but with two spans.) The bridge will have a 2.5m-wide shared pathway on the south side (nearest the railway station) and a 2m footpath on the north side. There will be solid concrete panels on the sides of the bridge with see-through safety rails on top so pedestrians can see over the barriers. The bridge will straddle not only the new expressway and realigned railway line as they veer north-west towards two more new bridges (at the old Ramp), but also a 4m-wide shared path and access way.
The under-bridge pathway, next to the western abutment, will be protected by a 1.5m-high vertical black-slatted barrier fence. It will be next to the railway line, with the northbound expressway next to that, then the southbound expressway. Space underneath the bridge is to be lit with down lights to maximise pedestrian safety. The lighting is aimed at deterring anti-social behaviour, and strong enough to light faces. The type of lighting between the railway station and the bridge is being considered carefully. Ducting will be provided to allow for future upgrades to the Pare-o-Matangi Reserve. The bridge’s western abutment has been completed. During the next few months, there will be work to realign the rail tracks. When the track is moved – the schedule to switch-over is Easter next year – work will begin on the eastern abutment and local road tie-ins to Rāhui Road. Rāhui Road will be closed for several months while this work is done. The new Rāhui Road bridge is expected to be open to local traffic late in 2019.
OTHER WORKS
Roundabout New layout and line markings were installed at the Mill Road roundabout last Sunday (October 14). Single-lane flows around the roundabout, similar to holiday weekends, are now in place. A new signalised pedestrian crossing just north of the roundabout will also be in place soon. This will provide a safe crossing for pedestrians when the underpass closes. Until the crossing is active, the underpass will stay open. Taylors Road Temporary traffic management will be in place soon at the corner of Taylors Road and SH1 north of Ōtaki. The intersection will be reconfigured to create a safe turn-out bay for traffic traveling south from Taylors Road. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h will also be introduced in this area. Railway tracks From 8.30am this Sunday until 5pm Monday
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(October 21 and 22), there will be work on the railway tracks between Waerenga Road and Riverbank Road, as well as in and around the railway station yard. This work is in preparation for railway realignment work in 2019. The Ramp During the next couple of months there will be weekend work at the Bridge 2/3 site (“The Ramp”) north of the roundabout. The bridges are expected to be in use by early 2019. Gorge, Hautere roads Work continues on Old Hautere Link Road and Ōtaki Gorge Road pavements. When finished, the new Old Hautere Link Road willl connect to Ōtaki Gorge Road, and the Old Hautere Road/SH1 intersection will be closed. Te Hāpua Road From time to time over the coming months, stop/go temporary management will be in place on Te Hāpua Road. This will allow the movement of machines and material. The stop/go set-up also involves a temporary speed restriction on the local road through the works.
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NEWS I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
IN BRIEF Renée wins PM award
Ōtaki dramatist and writer Renée has won the award for fiction in the 2018 Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement. The awards were announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on October 8. Critic, curator and poet Wystan Curnow won the award for non-fiction, and poet, publisher and librettist Michael Harlow won the poetry award. Each receives $60,000 in recognition of their outstanding contribution to New Zealand literature.
Arts Trail on again
The Kāpiti Arts Trail is on again over two weekends – October 27-28 and November 3-4. The trail includes many Ōtaki district artists. For more information, look for Kāpiti Arts Trail at kapiticoast.govt.nz
College up the wall
Ōtaki College has received $150,000 from the New Zealand Community Trust to go towards a new climbing wall in the gymnasium. It will be the first stage of an ongoing upgrade of the gym to create a high quality community facility. Kāpiti Coast District Council has also made a commitment of $50,000 a year for six years, beginning in 2020, for the gym upgrade.
Page 10
Collaboration on show at walkover In the best attendance yet at the annual Ōtaki River walkover on September 26, about 220 people saw for themselves how a local community group and the regional council collaborate to create a thriving river environment. They heard presentations from representatives of the Friends of the Ōtaki River (Fotor) and Greater Wellington Regional Council (GW), and from the Fletchers expressway team. In a morning crammed full of activities and talks, visitors were able to see the degradation of the riverbed in the upper reaches of the river, and talk about a revised scheme to widen the channel. A big part of protection against flooding is the thousands of tree plantings along the river corridor. People heard about how some earlier plantings had not been successful because the saplings had not been planted deeply enough – they now go down two metres to the water level to ensure they thrive. About 2000 matsudana willows are going in at present. The saplings are coming from a nearby GW planting area. At the fernery were presentations of cheques from local donors – the Wylie family, Peter and Mary Clare Wilson, and Brigitte and Bram Crysell (Tall Poppy Real Estate). Their contributions will allow Fotor to plant 3000 trees along the river. They will all be native trees potted up at the Fotor nursery and planted out next year. The plantings help to stabilise the riverbank and provide a magnificent natural environment for the public walkways. Winstone’s Lake was a highlight of the walkover for many.
Greater Wellington Regional Council flood manager Graeme Campbell talks to the crowd that gathered for the 2018 Ōtaki River walkover. At right is Friends of the Ōtaki River president Max Lutz, and far right Penny Gaylor, GW’s Kāpiti councillor. – Photo Simon Neale
It is gradually taking form as a recreational hotspot for leisure, and for water sport training and tournaments for waka ama, canoe polo, model yachts, ironman events and the local surf lifesaving club. In May this year, Winstone planted 2000 trees around the lake. However, there is plenty of work still to be done. Walkover visitors also looked at progress on the new bridge being built across the river for the expressway. Fotor is keen for the shared pathway on the bridge to link directly to the river walkways and is discussing with the construction team how this can happen.
There was also a general discussion about GW’s floodplain management plan, which is under review, and visitors were bussed to the river estuary, where Fotor has raised funds for a toilet which is expected to be installed by Christmas. Every year, a local school gets the opportunity to have a planting day – in 2019 it will be Manakau School. Sponsorships help them pay for seedlings, potting mix and planting gear. It’s a day out that is keenly anticipated by the school pupils, who learn first-hand about protecting the environment.
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Ōtaki Christmas WINDOW DISPLAY COMPETITION We’re brightening up the streets of Ōtaki for Christmas with a 2018 window display competition. Retailers and businesses on SH1 and Ōtaki Village are invited to enter in two categories: • Best night-time window display • Best daytime window display. We invite the public to vote for their overall choice and all votes will go into a draw for a prize. Competition entries close on November 14. Voting will be between 4 and 12 December with winners announced on 17 December. Public voting forms and window entry forms are available at
Rentables, 62 Main St, Ōtaki. Supported by: Ōtaki Promotions Group
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Page 12
HUHA ANIMALS HUHA – a sanctuary for animals HUHA is New Zealand’s leading no-kill dog shelter. It is dedicated to teaching empathy in the community and providing shelter for less fortunate animals that struggle to survive in today’s disposable culture.
Spud longs for home of his own Meet Spud, who’s looking for a new home. Spud is one of the many dogs on HUHA’s farm dog rehoming programme, which has had more than 60 dogs, including puppies, that were "surplus to requirements". There was no plan B for them, so HUHA has been helping them find a home where they will be loved and cherished. Spud came to HUHA very scared. He had never had a collar on, never been on a lead, never known a loving touch. It has taken time, patience and a great bunch of buddies to teach Spud how to be a dog. He’s now doing really well. Every day he learns something new, has a positive experience with each new person he meets, learns to trust a bit more and most importantly, plays up a storm with his doggy mates at HUHA. Meeting some new families is now a priority. The ideal candidate will be on a lifestyle block (this is non-negotiable as he needs a rural home), have another dog to continue to show him that everything is OK, and be allowed to sleep inside in his bed or on the couch. Spud loves to play and snuggle, when he initiates it. He is still working out that all human touches are now kind ones, so interactions are still on his terms. For this reason Spud would be better suited to a home with older children or teenagers, not young kiddies. He is a 20-month-old huntaway, desexed, microchipped, vaccinated and up to date with worm and flea treatments. If you can offer Spud a home, please call Cate, 022 249 1020 or email cate.huha@gmail.com
PROUD FINANNE A brown-spotted Bengal, Finanne Pride of the King Country, was one of the many cats at the Kāpiti-Horowhenua Cat Club’s annual show in the Ōtaki Memorial Hall on Sunday September 30. A total of 122 cats were on show in the first-ever gathering of its kind in Ōtaki. Club show manager Lyall Payne said the show was a great success. “The hall looked magnificent, especially with the huge floral stands created by Lorraine Kirker,” Lyall said. “Local help and community support was overwhelming. We’ll definitely do it again.” Watson’s Garden supplied potted plants that adorned the show cages and Hammer Hardware supplied tops for the tables on which the cages sat. The Kāpiti-Horowhenua Cat Club show has traditionally been one of the biggest shows in New Zealand after the National Cat Show. Contestants came from throughout New Zealand. The photo shows Finanne with Madison Slater, partner of Finanne’s owner, Dean Millar of Otorohanga.
HUHA has two sanctuaries, one in Kaitoke that cares for a variety of farm animals, wildlife and exotic animals such as ex circus and zoo monkeys. The Ōtaki sanctuary moved to Haywards Hill in 2019 and cares for domestic animals, including dogs, cats, and ex battery farm hens. Horses are cared for on a leased property in Te Horo.
The sanctuaries are fun and interactive, to encourage our community to take responsibility for the welfare of animals and the protection of our unique environment. HUHA finds homes and foster care for a multitude of homeless, abandoned, seized and abused animals. See huha.org.nz and
HUHANZ on Facebook.
– Photo: Simon Neale
Ōtaki River entrance tides October 15 - November 15, 2018
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018
metservice.com/marine-surf/tides/otaki-river-entrance
Wednesday 31st October, 7.30pm Rotary Lounge, Aotaki Street, Otaki Business agenda will be followed by an OPEN FORUM, an opportunity for all to discuss FOTOR activities, forward planning and matters concerning the river and environs. Trevor Wylie, Secretary: 06 364 8918
Thu 18 Oct Fri 19 Oct Sat 20 Oct Sun 21 Oct Mon 22 Oct Tue 23 Oct Wed 24 Oct Thu 25 Oct Fri 26 Oct Sat 27 Oct Sun 28 Oct
HIGH 04:58 – – – – – – – – – 00:05
LOW 11:12 00:01 01:04 01:55 02:37 03:15 03:51 04:27 05:04 05:43 06:25
HIGH 17:35 06:11 07:15 08:06 08:48 09:25 10:01 10:36 11:12 11:50 12:32
LOW – 12:26 13:27 14:16 14:56 15:33 16:09 16:45 17:23 18:03 18:48
HIGH – 18:43 19:38 20:22 21:00 21:35 22:10 22:46 23:24 – –
Mon 29 Oct Tue 30 Oct Wed 31 Oct Thu 1 Nov Fri 2 Nov Sat 3 Nov Sun 4 Nov Mon 5 Nov Tue 6 Nov Wed 7 Nov Thu 8 Nov
HIGH 00:51 01:43 02:43 03:52 5:07 – – – – – –
LOW 07:10 08:01 08:59 10:07 11:23 00:08 1:13 02:09 02:59 03:44 04:26
HIGH 13:18 14:13 15:18 16:32 17:48 06:22 07:28 08:24 09:12 09:56 10:36
LOW 19:39 20:37 21:43 2:56 – 12:37 13:41 14:35 15:22 16:06 16:47
HIGH – – – – – 18:57 19:55 20:45 21:30 22:12 22:51
Fri 9 Nov Sat 10 Nov Sun 11 Nov Mon 12 Nov Tue 13 Nov Wed 14 Nov Thu 15 Nov
HIGH – – 00:08 00:47 01:28 02:15 03:10
LOW 05:06 05:45 06:22 07:00 07:41 08:26 09:19
HIGH 11:14 11:50 12:27 13:05 13:47 14:37 15:36
LOW 17:26 18:05 18:44 19:25 20:11 21:03 22:03
HIGH 23:30 – – – – – –
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.
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NEWS I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
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WHAT I LOVE ABOUT ŌTAKI: GUEST COLUMNIST VAL ALDRIDGE
Revived Rangiātea a sign of love for town
By Val Aldridge
“After the conflagration came the rain. Steam rose in little puffs, drifting like a wandering spirit over blackened heaps that were once beautiful Rangiātea.” I wrote that 23 years ago on October 17, 1995. It was my job. I was a journalist and I had been sent to report on the burning of the 146-year-old Māori church. I hadn’t realised how hard it would be. It was like being asked to report on your mother’s funeral. That hard. I stood fighting tears and watched the people of Ōtaki, of many races and ages, singly and by the busload, nearly all with eyes glistening, arrive in their hundreds bearing flowers, notes, wee carvings. Strained faces, fearful even, as to whether this arson would presage a rupture of Ōtaki’s community spirit. And it was then I realised how much I really loved Ōtaki. Not the sort of love I had as a result of spending a lifetime of holidays there and listening to adult family talk of their holiday escapades. Parents, grandparents, uncles and aunties, cousins. The voices and laughter of our children playing in the burning sandhills and splashing in
the mouth of the Waitohu Stream still echo in my head. Lazy days, barbecues, blazing sunsets. Kāpiti Island a reassuring sentinel on the horizon. Beach-bach-dwellers love. Goodness knows there was plenty of that love. But what I felt that day was much deeper. Ōtaki, I realised, was in my DNA. And I was sad and angry and bitter in equal amounts that somebody could have done this to the community and put a whole town in mourning. But instead of anger around me there was communal hope. While the ashes still smoked and groups of Māori women sat grieving silently as they would for a body, buckets for donations towards the building of a new Rangiātea were already being filled. Twenty-five thousand dollars in the first week. In time, after fundraising, periods of discussion, inevitable arguments and planning, the new Rangiātea was built. Built to the original plans and so like the lost one that to see it is to wonder if the terrible events of 1995 ever happened. How could you not love Ōtaki after that? n Val Aldridge is a retired journalist whose family divide their time between
– fireworks set to go off One of Ōtaki’s biggest annual events – the Waitohu School Fireworks Extravaganza – is set to go off again on Friday,
November 2. Gates open at Haruatai Park at 6.30pm. The family-friendly event features not only spectacular fireworks, but also a huge bonfire, bouncy castles, live music, food and drink (plus a hangi), face painting and paintball. The display has been on the Ōtaki calendar for more than 25 years. It’s the only organised fireworks event in KāpitiHorowhenua and attracts thousands of people from throughout the region. “It is only with the support of so many in the community that Waitohu School is able to continue to run this community gathering,” says principal Maine Curtis. “They include the Ōtaki Volunteer Fire Brigade, Ōtaki Police, St John’s Ambulance, many local businesses, student musicians, parents of students and former students at Waitohu School to name just some.” Pre-sold tickets are $5, or at the gate for $8 (adults) and $5 for students. Preschoolers are free. Tickets can be bought from the school, Cafe 66, Mobil (Ōtaki, Levin and Paraparaumu), and Kiss & Bake Up Waikanae.
Wellington and Ōtaki.
Nau mai, haere mai, welcome to
OTAKI MONTESSORI PRE-SCHOOL www.otakimontessori.co.nz
BOOM, BOOM
Kia ora, welcome to the first newsletter from Otaki Montessori Pre-School. Many of you will know where we are, but for anyone new to Otaki you will find us in Harautai Park (opposite the swimming pool). We offer a pre-school choice based on the philosophies of Maria Montessori, a childcentred educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth, and Te Whariki, the NZ Early Childhood Curriculum. We teach how to be a good friend with kindness, self-management skills, and respect for self, others and the environment. It is important that children learn this in their formative years. We are licenced for 45 children, and currently have a full roll and a waiting list. Enrolments are from 2-6 years, and opening hours 8.30am-4pm (sessions start at 9am).
We open through the school holidays, and close for four weeks over Christmas. If you are thinking of choosing us as your child’s pre-school, please contact the office for information or pop in between the hours of 9.30am and 2pm to have a look, pick up an enrolment pack, and secure your place. We are very fortunate with our location, not only is it quiet, but we have a lovely stand of bush to explore and we hope to use the splash pad again this summer. Recently the Tui room visited the planetarium in Wellington as they have been looking at planets and “worldly” things. Our team are: head teacher and centre manager Lynda Wilson, teachers Jo McCallum, Charlotte Graham, Nancy Neale, relief teachers Angela Burke and Carleen Whatford, teacher aide Tracy Connor, office administration Roselle Kymbrekos,
and caretaker Ian Warrington. Each classroom has its own garden tended by the children, and they are also responsible for the care of two hens, two canaries and two fish. Remember if you are looking for a quality and unique pre-school call us on 06 364 7500 to discuss your options.
CENTRE TITBITS: AUDIT RESULTS: We had an audit in September and have been given a three-year review which we are absolutely delighted with. AGM will be held in November. TUI ROOM has been looking at people of the world, the festivals they celebrate, and the food they eat. KEA ROOM has been looking at the weather and taking care of themselves. ONGOING ENCOURAGEMENT for healthy food and lunches.
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IN THE GARDEN I Ōtaki Today, October 2018 THE EDIBLE GARDEN
Page 14 Kath Irvine is a permaculture designer and has been designing and managing edible gardens since the late 1990s. Passionate about growing food and good design, Kath runs workshops from her Edible Backyard in Ohau, showing people how it is done. Get a glimpse of the good life at an event or get Kath in for a consultation at your place.
Edible Backyard is a series of gardening workshops run from Kath Irvine’s permaculture home garden. Created to support you on your journey to becoming a food gardener, Kath will teach you how to design and run your own Edible Backyard. It’s a unique opportunity for hands-on, organic learning from a working permaculture garden. Kath serves the Wellington, Kāpiti and Horowhenua districts with the best organic gardening advice. See www.ediblebackyard.co.nz for information.
KATH IRVINE
Ready for action in on-the-job October Action stations my gardening friends! Block yourself out as much garden time as you can manage this month. You’ll find me toe-deep in soil every spare minute. It’s time to sow seed and prep beds for longterm crops such as pumpkin, melon and kumara. It’s worth the push to plant these out as early as possible for deep, rich flesh and long-keeping qualities. There is, however, one small obstacle – about now the soil is way too cool. My outside beds are only 10C, yet 20C is what these summery crops need to boom away. We need tricks! Create raised ridges or mounds and put an old window or plasticcovered cloche over them, or lay black plastic on the soil. Plant seedlings as soon as conditions are right. A soil thermometer (Farmlands stocks them) will help you here.
ACTION STATIONS: There’s plenty to do in the garden during October, so get stuck in now to reap the rewards in summer.
OCTOBER CHECKLIST, THINGS TO DO October is when seed raising peaks. It makes it easier, this busyness, when you know it’s just for a short burst. It settles down again come December when all the long-term crops are well and truly in, and we go back to little and often sowing for continuity of supply. Prepare zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin and corn beds with good compost and dollops of well rotted manure. Prepare tomato and pepper beds with good compost, gypsum and seaweed. Cover with mulch. Leave the soil to percolate and settle, ready to go when the soil temperature is right. Gather robust stakes and frames for beans, cucumbers and tomatoes. Tie broadbeans to keep them upright through spring winds. Make a compost pile (or three), with all your spring clean-up material. Thin September sowings of beetroot and carrots to 10cm spacings for good-sized crops.
If you’re careful you can transplant the spare beetroots in any gaps. Carrots however, don’t appreciate being moved. Plant out chives, thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary and lavender. Protect all new shoots and seedlings with slug bait and bird net. SEED TO SOW AND SEEDLINGS TO PLANT Under cloches, on the porch or in the greenhouse: Direct sow another lot of dwarf beans. Direct sow basil, cucumber and zucchini. Cruise it here. Remember you can tick away with these guys over the next four months, planting out a new one every month for regular supply. Plant out tomatoes, peppers, chillies, eggplants, basil, zucchini and cucumbers. Hello summer! Pot yams into individual pots to give them a head start. Ōtaki Hydroponics stocks quality organic potting mix.
Tray sow: Pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, melons, corn, salads, basil and tomatoes. Companion flowers such as sunflowers, gaillardia, calendula, zinnias and oodles of marigolds. Direct sow outside: Radish, daikon, coriander, carrot, beetroot, florence fennel, dill, peas, sno peas, rocket, salads, spinach, leafy greens, calendula, borage, sweet peas and cosmos. Once the soil hits 15C you can direct sow beans. Wait until soil is 20C before direct sowing or planting heat lovers such as zucchini, tomato, pumpkin, melons and kumara. Plant outside: Plant out salads, red onions, celery, silverbeet, perpetual beet, asparagus crowns, potatoes, rhubarb and parsley. Calendula (at right) can be tray-sown and used as a valuable companion plant.
TE HORO GARDEN CENTRE Hyde Park complex SH 1, Te Horo 06 364-2142
OPEN 7 DAYS 9am-4pm • Bedding plants • Perennials • Ornamental trees • Shrubs • Natives • Fruit trees • Garden pots • Potting mix and compost • Eco-friendly sprays
• Gifts & gift vouchers
Te Horo Garden Centre is busting at the borders and bursting into bud. Eugenie is happy to help with friendly, expert advice on everything to do with gardening.
specialist roofing · safety surfaces · epoxy works · joint repairs and sealant pressure grouting · floor toppings & preparation · remedial concrete waterstopping · tanking · FRP application 10 Rimu Street, Otaki 5512 New Zealand Ph +64 (06)3648634 Email: contact@concretedoctor.co.nz Website: www.concretedoctor.co.nz
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FOOD I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
Rēwena, pararoa parai and takakau When Pākehā settlers arrived in New Rēwena bread is a sourdough bread that is leavened with a culture made from the juice of Zealand, Māori quickly embraced the new boiled potato. Although its ingredients are simple, foods they brought, in particular: wheat for it takes time to master rēwena breadmaking and flour, sheep, pigs, goats and chickens, and achieve the perfect flavour – both sweet and sour, vegetables such as pumpkin, potato, corn and texture – not too dry and crumbly. and maize, carrots and cabbage. Rēwena bread uses a pre-ferment starter, These newly introduced crops grew well also called a “bug”. It is created by boiling and in the New Zealand climate and could be mashing potatoes, then adding flour and sugar. harvested several times a year. Many of the Kūmara, or sweet potatoes, may also be used. traditional foods were set aside and much of The mixture is then allowed to ferment from the knowledge associated with harvesting and one to several days, depending cultivating them disappeared. on the ambient temperature As Māori became a largely and humidity. As with most urbanised people after the sourdough breads, the starter Second World War, they began can be maintained and used to buy most of their food instead indefinitely, as long as the of purchasing basics such as yeast is kept alive with regular flour and sugar, and hunting and feeding. The potato starter and harvesting the rest. However, fermentation lends rēwena bread they also adapted and combined its characteristic sweet and sour traditional and introduced foods taste. The starter is then mixed to develop distinctive new dishes. with flour and water, kneaded, and The potato was introduced baked, frequently in a round loaf. to Māori in the 1780s by Rewena bread baked by, and Paraoa parai (fried bread) visiting sailors. It was easier to photo Mahinarangi Hakaraia is made from a simple dough, grow than kūmara and became kneaded and cut or rolled into individual buns established throughout the country. Because it and deep-fried in fat or cooking oil until golden. helped feed war parties, some historians have The bread is split and spread with jam or golden suggested that the New Zealand wars of the syrup or savoury fillings such as kina (sea urchins). 1840s (sometimes called the “musket wars”) Takakau, also called flatbread or cartwheel be renamed the “potato wars”. Early potatoes bread because of its shape, is a simple damper looked different from modern varieties. In 1999 cooked in the oven or the fire. It is delicious Massey University began a project to increase with butter and jam or can be used to mop up production of these heritage varieties. the juices of a boil-up or hearty stew. With the availability of wheat and flour, Māori n Charles Royal and Jenny Kaka-Scott, ‘Māori foods – kai embraced the art of breadmaking and created Māori – Foods introduced by Europeans’, Te Ara - the three favourite breads which are still widely Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/ en/maori-foods-kai-maori/page-4. Wikipedia. made today.
St John Horowhenua
Enhancing health and wellbeing From the Area Committee for Horowhenua and Ōtaki St John has a vision of ‘enhanced health and wellbeing for all New Zealanders’. We help people in our communities with a range of services and programmes. These benefit not only our clients and members, but also our invaluable volunteers who gain social interaction, plus the personal satisfaction of helping other people and giving back to the community. And, we really appreciate the efforts and commitment of every one of our volunteers. Thank you! If you would like to chat about how we can help you, or if you’d like to offer your help to us, please give me a call on 027 227 1394. Yours in St John, Clinton Grimstone, chairperson, St John Horowhenua.
St John in our communities There’s a lot more to St John than ambulance and event medical services, first aid training and first aid kits. We also offer community programmes, such as: St John Health Shuttles A community service that transports people to-and-from medical and healthrelated appointments, between Otaki, Horowhenua and Palmerston North. To enquire, please contact Jen on 06 368 6369 or otakishuttle@gmail.com. St John Caring Caller A free friendship service for people who are housebound or feel lonely, providing regular telephone calls with a trained volunteer - a chat that the client and caller can enjoy. To enquire, please phone Pamela on 06 367 2467 or 021 131 8344. St John Youth For young people up to 18 to learn first aid, leadership and life skills; enjoy new experiences and have fun! With divisions in Levin and Foxton, to enquire about enrolling or becoming an adult helper, please call Angela on 027 344 3779.
E TELE’ ‘ TigH h calorie locality H
The old Telegraph Hotel (built 1872) has two bars, a lounge/ dining room and refurbished backpacker-style accommodation.
The perfect venue for a family g e t - t o g e t h e r, birthday function or a drink with friends.
THE TELE
cnr Rangiuru Rd/Tasman Rd, Otaki Township Contact Duane 06 364-0634, 021 0220 3105, or duane@thetele.co.nz
St John Medical Alarms St John medical alarms help seniors and people with disabilities to enjoy their independence for longer, and provide reassurance for families and friends. They are the only medical alarms monitored directly by St John and are recommended most-often by GPs. For a demonstration and/or free trial, call 0800 50 23 23. St John in Schools ASB St John in Schools community educators visit pre-school, primary and intermediate schools to provide children with the skills and confidence to take action in a medical emergency. Programmes also available in te Reo Māori for kura and kōhanga reo! To enquire, call St John or email schools@stjohn.org.nz
www.stjohn.org.nz 0800 ST JOHN (0800 785 646)
NEWS I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
HEALTH
It’s amazing what a little sugar can do Diabetes is a lifelong condition, which can cause significant and limb threatening foot problems amongst other things . . . read on. The higher the blood sugar is maintained, the more likely and sooner it is that you will experience issues. The key effects result from the damage caused by high blood sugar on the nerves and blood vessels. Diabetes also has adverse effects on the ability to fight infection and can even affect the integrity of the bone structure of the foot, making the bones weaker and more likely to fracture/dislocate. A doctor, famous in the field of diabetes and diabetic research called Mike Edmunds, described diabetic foot disease as complex, making the foot vulnerable to irreversible damage.
Some of the complexities of the diabetic condition that might also surprise you are the multiple health problems that continued raised blood sugar can cause. They include: hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and raised cholesterol; damage to the micovas ulature (the smallest vessels that supply blood to the tissues of the
ŌTAKI COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE 186 Mill Road, Ōtaki Rooms available for rent: short or long term. For information on services phone: Janet ot Michelle
06 364 6367
body) which is why THE FOOT DOCTOR notice them. This is why diabetics can be prone it is essential you attend to high blood pressure, your annual diabetic cardiovascular disease review. (heart disease), You must also receive angina, heart attack, a foot screening and stroke, diabetic assessment from your nephropathy (kidney podiatrist or GP surgery disease), diabetic every year and attend an retinopathy (damage eye exam. to vision, which can All of this helps to lead to blindness), keep you informed so peripheral vascular you know how you are disease (progresssive LEA WHITTINGTON managing your diabetes and make changes to reduced circulation keep yourself as healthy as possible. to the legs) and neuropathy (damage If you are starting to get problems, to the nerves) which can lead to foot these appointents help you develop a ulcers and amputations (surgical personalised care plan with the help removal of part of the foot or leg). of your health professional. This will It is a little known fact that 80 help you to preserve your general percent of all amputations start with health, foothealth and eyesight. an ulcer. It is also not commonly Its more than “just a little sugar”: known that a • Keep your blood sugar under diabetic has control. one chance in • Check your feet and shoes daily, four of having wash and care for them. You only an ulcer in have two. their lifetime. • Get your foot problems treated by One of a podiatrist. my very dear • If you have lost feeling in your feet, patients once get your shoes fitted – you can’t tell said this to me if they’re too tight. as a message • Flag up any problems straight away. to give to • Keep your appointments for all other patients your checkups. after he lost Take your diabetes seriously, it’s a his leg due lifelong condition. Be responsible and to serious and untreatable diabetic look after yourself. compications: Your health team cannot be with “Take your diabetic health you at every mealtime and when you seriously, you only have two feet, take your medication. We can guide eyes and kidneys, and only one heart. and support you to take charge. It is rare to successfully replace what You can do this! the good Lord gave you, and when it’s n Dr Lea Whittington, PhD (Radiography), gone its gone.” MSc, BSc (Hons), D.Pod.M, Postgraduate Diabetic changes can be very Certificate in Education, owns Aotearoa gradual and subtle; you might not Podiatry Clinic in Ōtaki.
n Otaki Women’s Health Centre Sexual health clinics Cervical screening clinics Counselling Total moblity agent Health information
n District Nurse wound clinic
n Mid-Central DHB Alcohol and other drugs service Child, adolescent and family mental health Health service (CAFS) Adult mental health
n Yoga: Tuesday nights, Thursday mornings
Old School Beauty and Electrolysis Welcome to Old School Beauty and Electrolysis. Come and see Deb Shannon, qualified, experienced and passionate about beauty therapy. Treatments available: • Electrolysis • Facials, microdermabrasion • Eyes, shapes and tints • Waxing • Body Massage • Skintag and redvein removal • Manicures and pedicures • Makeup
MAKE TIME FOR YOU
06 364 7075 174 Waerenga Road, Otaki
www.oldschoolbeauty.co.nz
n The MenzShed n The Hearing Company n SkinTech Kapiti
n Social work practitioner: Ann-Marie Stapp n Narcotics Anonymous
GOT A NEWS STORY? Call us on 06 364 6543
STRESSED OUT? Free counselling available for parents and caregivers with children 0-17 years. Otaki Women’s Health Centre offers free counselling on Tuesdays by appointment.
06 364 6367
Page 16
GOOD ON YA, The ‘Souper Heroes’
SOUPER HEROES: From left, Sheila Hart, Tony Hart, Lyn Eathorne and Jill Watson. – Photo: Simon Neale
A discussion among helpers at the Cobwebs charity store has led to a community project that’s literally feeding many Ōtaki residents. They talked about providing soup for local people. It was considered a good idea and so the weekly “Cobblers” was born. Under the umbrella of Cobwebs and with the help of some of the Cobwebs staff and others, the lunchtime soups are served every Thursday at the Gertrude Atmore Lounge (the Supper Room) next to Ōtaki Library. Adamant that the concept is not a “soup kitchen” because it has connotations of a charity for poor or disadvantaged people, Tony Hart and wife Sheila say the people they serve come from all walks of life, with all sorts of financial and social circumstances, and all ages. “I know that some of our ‘customers’ are quite well off, and others are genuinely hungry and happy to to have at least one good, nourishing meal in the week,” Tony says. “Whoever they are, they’re all welcome. They seem to appreciate our hospitality.” When the group first started Cobblers in July last year, people sat on their own – now everyone looks forward to what has become a social event, where people can come in and chat with friends and neighbours. Up to 50 people drop in from about 11.15am to 1.30pm on a Thursday. Tony and Sheila are joined by several other volunteers, including Mary Molloy, Lyn Eathorne, Jill Watson, Cherie Wood and others. They make and serve the soups – about six pots a week – do the dishes and tidy up. They are well supported by local businesses such as Penray Gardens, Ōtaki Meats and Countdown. Tender Tips Asparagus in Foxton even supplied plenty of their products for the latest creme of asparagus soup. The soups are all made at home, and include staples such as leek and potato, pumpkin, mixed vegetable, tomato, and beef bone, but there are also exotics such as Mexican black bean, curried carrot and cashew, pumpkin and kumara, and even a cold cucumber soup. All are served with bread rolls. While donations are appreciated, there’s no obligation to pay anything. The group was highly commended in last year’s Wellington Airport Community Awards. So our “Good on ya” accolade this month goes to Ōtaki’s “Souper Heroes”. n If you know of someone who deserves a “Good on ya!” please let us know at Ōtaki Today, 06 364-6543, or otakitoday@idmedia.co.nz
MEDIA I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
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Connected communities are stronger communities Our sense of community and interdependent connectivity was once almost unshakable. Nowadays, perhaps in the face of overwhelming globalisation, rampant inequality and relentless information (and misinformation), we seem less certain. In fact, we are seeing a worldwide trend towards protectionism, isolationism and populist nationalism. Some of this regression is also tied up with ideas of cultural, religious or racial superiority where outsiders are openly maligned and shunned. In all this the revolution happening in media and technology is playing its part. Consider just one telling aspect? In rural New Zealand, up until at least the 1880s, communities were relatively isolated from each other. The only connections were horse and walking tracks, or boats. Then a technical revolution occurred that would provide New Zealand with its first major economic and social boost. Refrigerated shipping started with the sailing of the Dunedin from Port Chalmers in 1882. The revolution refrigerated shipping provided was not merely from the ability to export perishable products, but also the profound impact it had on breaking down community isolation and replacing it
MEDIA & COMMUNITY
FRASER CARSON with interdependent connectivity. Previously farms producing perishable items could sell only locally, so dirt tracks and horseback provided sufficient transport. From 1882, it became obvious that a community response was needed to fund and build ports, roads and railway lines so that all producers could participate and contribute to the nation’s burgeoning wealth. Naturally enough infrastructure that assisted farms and businesses to create wealth, also played a role in developing our social and community cohesion. Things such as health, education and social mobility vastly improved, and New Zealand has hardly looked back. These days it’s often said that the infrastructure tool of the current
The Dunedin (above) was instrumental in breaking down community isolation and replacing it with interdependent connectivity. – Photo: Wiki Commons
age is digital and the internet. But while it remains largely open to anyone, the internet’s development has not enjoyed the same collective community focus as, say, our roads, bridges and railway lines. Instead the public space is largely dictated by corporates with a profit-only motive, and enhanced connectivity is developed by individual groups and businesses that can afford to go-it-alone. They have created their own digital systems and protocols, where enhanced connectivity operates in a silo for the benefit only of the owner and their direct stakeholders. In the meantime, digital
infrastructure for ordinary citizens is lagging far behind and doesn’t deliver much that contributes to our sense of community, whether it’s global or in our neighbourhoods. So instead of people being better informed, knowledgeable, open and tolerant, we are seeing evidence of the reverse. Where’s the solution? Tim Berners-Lee, the man credited with inventing the internet, once said: “The original idea of the web was that it should be a collaborative space where you can communicate through sharing information.” Some would say that Google and social media have already delivered this, but the evidence is mounting to
suggest this is only partially true. So, is it a failure of the internet to deliver on Tim Berners-Lee’s promise, or have we failed as a community to recognise its true purpose and potential to wring the kinds of revolutionary changes that occurred in the 1880s? I think the latter. In my own web development business, we are seeking to do our bit by challenging the status quo of the internet by offering enhanced connectivity and collaborative ability to everyone in a community. At the same time, we are working with community organisations on a mission to offer people access to more reliable and valuable citizen-generated content through ecosystems of interconnected websites, that form their own clusters and communities of mutual interest. Naturally enough, we welcome interest and feedback from anyone interested in building better communities. n Fraser Carson is a member of the XŌtaki
College Alumni Trust and the founding partner of Flightdec.com. Flightdec’s kaupapa is to challenge the status quo of the internet to give access to more reliable and valuable citizen-generated content, and to improve connectivity and collaboration. He can be contacted at fraser@flightdec.com
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EVENTS I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
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Hub’s trick-or treat alternative The Hub Church is inviting the community to a Light Party, a fun alternative to the trick-ortreating of Halloween. It’s a great opportunity for visitors to mingle while the children get their face painted or take part in some of the games on offer. “Our goal is to create a safe environment where the children can have some fun and meet new people,” says organiser Laurie Ann Nutsford.
SAUSAGE SIZZLE
“There will be carnival games to play, and even a craft table to make things for anyone interested.” Children will receive a carnival card to be stamped as they move around the games set-up, and there will be loot bags to win when the cards are all stamped. The number of cards is limited to 150. “We also have spot prizes for costume, so make sure you dress in your bright and colourful clothes,” Laurie-Ann says.
OTAKI HUB CHURCH
SPOT PRIZES
157 TASMAN ROAD
GOLD COIN
AGE 3-14YRS
GAMES
PARENTS TO ACCOMPANY THEIR CHILD
DRESSCODE – BRIGHT AND COLOURFUL
MUSIC
Contact personPERSON: – Laurie-ann 0279318020 027 931 8020 CONTACT LAURIE-ANN
PERSONAL TOUCH: Zoe Royal, 9, puts her own personal touches to a piece of pottery in an exhibition for young people at Otaki Library. Organised by local artist Paula Archibald, the exhibition was an opportunity for young artists to show off their creations and talent to the local community. The exhibition early in October was for children aged 7-13.
– Photo: Simon Neale
TAMARIKI I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
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TAMARIKI FUNPAGE
Kia ora koutou katoa, hello to our Otaki tamariki ... thanks to those of you who sent in your coloured in Pig that Digs picture. Remember to send us a photo of you and your pet, with your names, age, and phone no! Word List: ANKYLOSAURUS BONE BRONTOSAURUS CARNIVORE CRIORHYNCHUS CRUSTACEOUS EXCAVATE EXTINCT FOSSIL GORGOSAURUS HERBIVORE JURASSIC LIZARD MESOZOIC OMNIVORE PALEONTOLOGY PREDATOR PREHISTORIC PREY PTERODACTYL REPTILE SKELETON STEGOSAURUS TRIASSIC TRICERATOPS
Who is Annabella? My name is Annabella but I want to tell you now, About my Mum and Daddy and of when they met and how. She cooked food in a restaurant, a big one in the city. He strode in, ordered steak and eggs and said, ‘I think you’re pretty. She said, ‘My name’s Elizabeth,’ and he said, ‘Mine is Harry. I like the way you fried my chips so I think we should marry!’ They bought a house in Waikanae, a blue one by the sea. Then later on, about a year, SURPRISE, they both had ME! From A Cabbage in a Spider Web, by Jonathan Harrison, illustrated by Jared Carson. Copies available from RiverStone Cafe.
Seven-year-old Rā Kapa Epiha-Hall with her gorgeous rabbit, CoCo.
WINNER OF THE PIG THAT DIGS VOUCHER IS: 9 year-old Rose Reynolds. Congratulations Rose!
Have fun colouring this month’s picture, Annabella. Drop your entry into the box at RiverStone Cafe to win a $40 voucher! NAME: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AGE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PHONE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
HISTORY I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
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Research box reveals Ōtaki’s ‘royal’ Merwoods By Debbi Carson
The passing of my aunt last year rekindled an interest in my family history, spurred on by the arrival of a box of her research that traced her mother’s family, the Merwoods of Carterton. Having researched my own mother’s whakapapa 10 years ago for a small family reunion in Ōtaki, I learnt I was a seventh generation pakeha New Zealander, descended from early 1800s whalers and their Māori wives. Both my maternal grandparents, Ashton Cootes and Enid Maddock, had ancestors whaling around Kāpiti, Te Awaiti in the Marlborough Sounds, and Kaikoura. Surely, I pondered, my whaler great-grandfathers, James Cootes and Tame Norton had met, given the small population in New Zealand at that time and being in the same occupation. My aunt on my father’s side, Margaret MacLeod, had talked about her and her sister Heather’s research over the years, telling us we could trace back to English royalty. Margaret MacLeod However, she had not been able to pull together the research in a format, readily available today, for us to be able to easily see the lineage. Going through her hundreds of pieces of paper and poring over snippets that needed to be put together proved to be fun and exciting. My father, and Margaret’s older brother, Colin Bird, was blown away at the history unfolding. We had always known there was a strong Carterton connection, but little knowledge of how. My grandmother, Madge Merwood, was born
in Carterton in 1916, one of 13 the boys housed in an army children. Her father, Stanley tent outside! They did at least Merwood, was born in 1889 have a wooden floor built in Richmond Road to Charles underneath their beds. Stanley Merwood and Sarah Madge married Tom Bird, Jane Goodin. and they had six children. Stanley worked on his Her siblings were Gordon family’s farm in Richmond Stanley, Raymond, Jean Aileen Road, as well as at the local (Taucher), Ronald Charles, brick and tile works. After Lorna Mary (Berryman), marrying Margaret Ann Kenneth, Dorothy Esma (Orr), McFarlin Woods of Oamaru Joyce (Bloomfield), Allan, in 1909, he joined the Post Morris, Lindsay, and Phillis and Telegraph Department, Fay (Skipper). later working in Hawera before A lot of information is held settling the family in Ōtaki in Stanley and Margaret Merwood. by the Carterton Historical 1924. Society, and this is where we started our New Madge was only five years old when her Zealand Merwood journey. family arrived in Ōtaki. She remembered being My great, great-grandparents, Charles and on the train travelling to Ōtaki on Armistace Sarah, were early settlers in Carterton, where Day, with the train stopping at 11am. they brought up 11 children. After her schooling she learnt her amazing Charles was born on the Isle of Wight in baking skills under the tutelidge of Mrs 1830. The family story has it that his father (Paddy) Royal, a generous and well-liked lady, died when he was very young and Charles did who owned a sweet and icecream shop plus a not enjoy life with his stepfather. He left home catering business in Main Street. The shop was at the age of nine and went to sea as a young opposite the Civic Theatre just west of the Ritz ship’s boy – a venture for a nine-year-old almost Milk Bar, where The Nest Chinese Takeaways unbelievable today. is today. He served in the Crimean War (1854-1856), The Merwood family lived in Rangiuru and clearly had thoughts about emigrating. In Road, with the girls living in the house, and 1858 he “jumped ship” in Wellington. For the next few years he did itinerant work in sawmills and on farms. Charles married Sarah at East Taratahi in 1871. Sarah already had a son, Alf, and it seems likely that the 59 acres (24 hectares) in Richmond Road was a dowry from Sarah’s father, Phillip Goodin. Charles worked as a shearer while clearing his land of bush. He Three Merwood sisters left to right, Lorna (Berryman), Lorna’s and Sarah milked a mixed herd daughter Shirley, Madge (Bird) and Joyce (Bloomfield).
King Edward I of England.
of cows and she sold the produce in Carterton. As the story unfolded, we were able to follow through the centuries of the Merwood families’ lives in the Isle of Wight, back to the birth of my 14th great-grandfather, William Merwood, in 1488. This is where we left the Merwood line to follow the well documented history of William’s wife Joanne de Courtenay’s family. Joanne’s father was Humphrey de Courtenay, born 1430 at Powderham Castle in Devon, England. Following back through the de Courtenay line to 1325, Joanne’s third great-grandfather, Hugh de Courtenay, married Margaret de Bohun. Margaret’s parents were Humphrey de Bohun and Elizabeth Plantagenet, 12th child of King Edward 1 of England and Eleanor of Castile. How exciting it was to finally understand the lineage, and as with all famous characters throughout history, so easy to find information. But wait, before we could get too big-headed about it, my son-in-law decided to asked Mr Google a few questions about my claim to fame and came back with this: my 23rd great-granddaddy, King John, grandfather to Edward I, is believed to have 1.5 billion descendants! How to take the wind out of a girl’s sails!
Local film premieres at Toronto
Brent Bythell enjoyed the opportunity to talk to people about the Ōtaki Scouts at the seventh community expo.
Expo a ‘resounding success’ Ōtaki’s seventh annual community expo on September 22 attracted a record number of stalls and visitors. Forty stalls packed the Memorial Hall, where there were opportunities for community, sports and leisure groups to talk to the hundreds of visitors. Coordinator Carol Ward said the event was a resounding success. "Feedback from the stallholders was enthusiastic,” she said. "The sunny day helped bring residents out, and the attention groups gave to their stalls made it work well. There was even a demonstration from Zumba Gold by Rebecca.” A J Senele of Capital Training thought it was the best $25 and four hours she had invested in a work day. “The opportunity to connect with the other clubs and providers in Ōtaki was awesome. I'm really looking forward to having catch-ups with those I met with to help build numbers at our centre.” The Otaki Women’s Institute said it had 15 people interested in joining and The local bridge club had several enquiries for membership. Carol said the Ōtaki Promotions Group, which organised the event, appreciated the support of many local businesses that donated prizes.
A film written and produced by the director of Māoriland Film Festival is to have its world premiere in Toronto. The Gravedigger of Kapu was written and directed by Libby Hakaraia and filmed at Te Pou o Tainui Marae in Ōtaki. The film tells the story of a traditional gravedigger, Hone, who is anxious to pass on the responsibility of preparing the final resting place of his dead releatives. However, for Hone, the work of a gravedigger is more than physical work. It’s also spiritual and this forms the logline for the film “You can handle a shovel – but can you handle the truth?” Libby and producer Tainui Stephens successfully found support from the New Zealand Film Commission’s Fresh Shorts film fund for the The Gravedigger of Kapu. The fund is highly contestable and includes development support from some of New Zealand’s best writers, producers and directors. The film stars Jim Moriarty, and Ōtaki’s Tanira Cooper in his first screen role, as Tana. Tanira is a teacher at Te Kura a Iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano. “It is important to me that the film was authentic in both its story, its setting and in the people who bring the story to life,” Libby says. “Tanira is my cousin and I am very proud of his performance, which is in part, informed by his own life journey. “Jim Moriarty is a masterful actor and was able to share some of his decades of acting work with Tanira. Together they were magic to work with.” It’s the second short film written and directed by Libby at her Ngāti Kapumanawawhiti marae in Ōtaki. Her first film, The Lawnmowermen of Kapu, has screened at more than 25 festivals around the world.
Jim Moriarty, left, and Ōtaki’s Tanira Cooper in The Gravedigger of Kapu.
To have The Gravedigger of Kapu selected for the imagineNATIVE Festival, which opened on October 17 in Toronto, is no small feat. More than a 1000 short films were submitted to the festival. The renowned Berlin Film Festival has also asked to see the film.
COMMUNITY I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
Page 21
Playgroup in an idyllic setting The Ōtaki Playgroup is looking for babies and preschoolers to join them. Located in an idyllic setting right next to Hāruatai Park, the group offers parent-inclusive play every Monday and Friday morning from 9am to midday. Parents and guardians have the opportunity to bring their children along to play with other children, and use the playground and house. Children are from newborn up to the age of 5, and must be accompanied by their adult carers throughout the mornings. There are plenty of toys for them, a well equipped playground and sandpit, an enclosed veranda, lots of books, an arts-and-crafts space, a new playpen for babies to crawl in and safely explore, and there are soft foam mats for the flooring. The kitchen has a fridge and a new bench-top oven for baking and making soups with the children. The oven is ideal for heating sausage rolls, pizza or cheerios for birthday parties. There are currently about 10 children in the group, but there’s capacity for plenty more. “We’ve got lots of space, and this time of the year is just fabulous for the kids, who can play outside under the trees,” says Ōtaki Playgroup president Fiona Bowler. “Parents love it, too, because there’s lots of safe outdoors space where they can play with their children.” With the Hāruatai Pool and splashpad close by, plus the park, there are plenty of opportunities for safe
Ōtaki Play Group co-ordinator Fiona Bowler at the playgroup’s facilities at Hāruatai Park.
walks outside the centre. The building, which had a previous life as a work smoko room, was moved to the site about 30 years ago. The play group is run by volunteers, and receives some funding from the Ministry of Education, but this has to be topped up with donations to continue operating. Work on the building or grounds also relies on voluntary labour, and the donation of paint and other materials. The site is ideal for birthday party hire and other child-friendly events, and includes the
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: 11am, 5pm. Miha Māori Mass, first Sunday: 9.30am All Saint’s 47 Te Rauparaha St, ŌTAKI Rev Ian Campbell • 364 7099 • wn.anglican.org.nz Sunday services: 8am and 10.30am
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 meeting: 10.30am
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
St Margaret’s Te Horo School Rd, TE HORO Sunday service: 9am St Andrew’s Mokena Kohere St, MANAKAU Sunday service: 9am (except first Sunday of month)
use of the toys. The cost is only $30 for members ($50 non-members) with a $20 bond. It’s OK to bring a barbecue, and tables and umbrellas are kept in the shed. n For more, contact otakiplaygroup@hotmail.com and look for Otaki Playgroup on Facebook
MEDICAL CARE Ōtaki Medical Centre 2 Aotaki Street, Ōtaki • 06 364 8555 Monday-Friday: 8.15am-5pm • Saturday: 9am-noon. Emergencies: 111 Team Medical AFTER HOURS: 04 297 3000 Coastlands Shopping Mall, SH 1, Paraparaumu. 8am-10pm every day Out of these hours Palmerston North Hospital emergency department, 50 Ruahine St, Roslyn, Palmerston North • 06 356 9169 For FREE, 24hr health advice, call HEALTHLINE on 0800 611 116. St John Health Shuttle 06 364 5603
Ōtaki Women’s Health Group 186 Mill Road, 364 6367
COMMUNITY ŌTAKI POLICE 06 364 7366, cnr Iti and Matene Sts. CITIZEN’S ADVICE BUREAU 06 364 8664 65a Main Street, Ōtaki. otaki@cab.org.nz AROHANUI HOSPICE SHOP 11 Main St. 06 929 6603
BIRTHRIGHT ŌTAKI 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
COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS EASY-CISE/ WALKING GROUP (BODY & SOUL) Joseph 364 6191 EQUESTRIAN HORSE CLUB 364 6181, Horse Trekking club Debbie 364 6571, Otaki Pony Club Paul Pettengell 364 5781 FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY Joan Leckie 368 1277 FRIENDS OF THE ŌTAKI RIVER (Fotor) Trevor Wylie 364 8918 GAZBOS GOLDEN OLDIES Doug Garrity 364 5886 GENEALOGY SOCIETY Len Nicholls 364 7638 HAWAIKINUI TUA RUA KI OTAKI (WAKA AMA) DeNeen Baker-Underhill 027 404 4697 KEEP ŌTAKI BEAUTIFUL Margaret Bayston/Lloyd Chapman KIDZOWN O.S.C.A.R. 0800 543 9696 MAINLY MUSIC 021 189 6510 MORRIS CAR CLUB Chris Torr 06 323 7753 ŌTAKI ATHLETIC CLUB Lisa Pu’e 06 364 6075 ŌTAKI BEACH COUNTRY WOMEN’S INSTITUTE (CWI) Ngaire Mann ngaire.mann@xtra.co.nz ŌTAKI BOATING CLUB Trevor Hosking 06 364 8424 ŌTAKI BOWLING CLUB Paul Selby 06 927 9015 ŌTAKI BRIDGE CLUB Lyn Edwards 364 7771 ŌTAKI CANOE CLUB Jane Bertelsen 06 364 5302 ŌTAKI GOLF CLUB 06 364 8260 ŌTAKI COMMUNITY PATROL Errol Maffey ŌTAKI FLORAL ART & GARDEN CLUB ŌTAKI FOODBANK 43 Main St, Lucy Tahere 364 0051 ŌTAKI GYMNASTICS CLUB Nancy 027 778 6902 ŌTAKI HERITAGE BANK MUSEUM TRUST 364 6886 ŌTAKI HISTORICAL SOCIETY Sarah Maclean 364 2497 ŌTAKI INDOOR BOWLING Jane Selby-Paterson 927 9015 ŌTAKI MASTERS SWIMMING CLUB Sonia Coom 04 292 7676 ŌTAKI NETBALL CLUB Kylie Gardner 06 364 5405 ŌTAKI RAILWAY BOWLING CLUB Maureen Beaver 364 0640 ŌTAKI SPINNERS & KNITTERS’ GROUP, Barbara Austin 364 8381 ŌTAKI SPORTS CLUB: TENNIS, SQUASH & SOCCER Adrian Mourie 364 3032 ŌTAKI SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB Kirsty Doyle 021 102 0058 ŌTAKI PETANQUE CLUB Val Clarke 364 5213 ŌTAKI WOMEN’S NETWORK GROUP Carol Ward 06 364 7732 RAHUI FOOTBALL AND SPORTS CLUB Rex Kerr 364 5605 Senior Terama Winterburn 364 0334 Junior Clubrooms 364 0274 ŌTAKI PLAYERS SOCIETY Roger Thorpe 364 8848 021 259 2683 ŌTAKI PLAYGROUP Michelle Eastwood 027 234 7104 ŌTAKI PROMOTIONS GROUP 06 364 6543 ŌTAKI SCOUTS, CUBS AND KEAS Brent Bythell 364 8949 ŌTAKI TOY LIBRARY ŌTAKI WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CLUB/SUNDAY MARKETS Kirsten Housiaux 027 466 3317 ŌTAKI POTTERY CLUB Rod Graham 027 445 7545 AMACUS CLUB OF ŌTAKI 364 6464 THE ROTARY CLUB OF ŌTAKI Warren Irving 021 294 3039 SENIOR CITIZEN’S CLUB TAE KWON DO Rachael or Jim 06 364 511 TAI CHI Gillian Sutherland 04 904 8190 TIMEBANK Suzanne Fahey 0211275074 TRANSITION TOWNS Fiona Luhrs 06 364 6405 WAITOHU STREAMCARE GROUP Lyndsay Knowles 364 6283 WHITI TI RA LEAGUE CLUB Kelly Anne Ngatai 027 256 7391 WILD GOOSE QIGONG, Te Horo Cynthis Shaw 021 613 081 If you would like your group listed here, or your contact details need updating, please email debbi@idmedia.co.nz Thanks to those of you who let us know updated contacts.
Qigong classes at Te Horo New classes exploring the ancient Chinese skills of Qigong and/or Chen-style Taiji Quan (Tai Chi) have begun at the Te Horo Hall. Practitioner Cynthia Shaw is taking the classes every Wednesday from 11am-noon. Cynthia has taught Wild Goose Qigong in Wellington for many years and has recently moved to Te Horo. She says Qigong is about movement, breathing and relaxation to balance the body, build immunity, and increase energy for optimum health. “We have many people who use Qigong to fix the body’s ailments, but it’s just as important as a way of maintaining optimum health.” Cynthia is prepared to do an evening class if there is demand. For more, see newzealandqigong.com or find Wellington Qigong on Facebook.
LEISURE TIME
ARTS I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
Page 22
Potent ‘actinic rays’ ideal for 1920s film-making
A Maoriland Films poster from the 1920s.
Chaplin impersonator called Leonard Doogood. Otaki Gorge Buller Lake and Otaki Maori Life, which unfortunately no longer exists, consisted of scenic views around Ōtaki, while the third, Historic Otaki, includes the Tangi and Funeral of Te Rauparaha’s niece, Heeni Te Rei. Heeni Te Rei was known for her philanthropy, often gifting money to those in need by selling land. She was the daughter of Mātene Te
CLASSIFIEDS NEW WORLD OTAKI PRODUCE ASSISTANT: We require a fit and active person to work in our busy produce dept. It is a full time position working from Tuesday to Saturday. ABOUT THE ROLE: The role requires some heavy lifting; you will be filling shelves, trimming and preparing produce for sale. THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT WILL HAVE: A great attitude and strong work ethic. Be able to lift heavy items. Be computer literate. Would like a career and to further themselves. Be well presented. HOURS: Tuesday to Saturday 6am-2.30pm. GROCERY FILLER: We require a fit and active person to work in our busy grocery dept on the weekend filling stock. ABOUT THE ROLE: The role involves filling cartons of stock on the shelves. So heavy lifting is involved. You also will be required to help any customers with enquiries. THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT WILL HAVE: A great attitude and strong work ethic. Be able to lift heavy items. Be able to read and write. Be well presented. HOURS Saturday and or Sunday, hours to be discussed. To apply please send a CV to: Jane.Henderson@foodstuffs.co.nz or drop a CV and expression of interest in to the Service Desk at the checkouts in store. Applications close on Sunday November 4.
Whiwhi, the son of Te Rangi Topeora, who in turn was a niece to Te Rauparaha through his sister, Waitohi. Her genealogical connections meant Heeni had a substantial standing in the community. Historic Otaki begins with a shot from the top of Mutikotiko, the high ground behind Rangiātea Church, with a shot of the then Ōtaki Native College, now the site of Te Wānanga o Raukawa. Panning around it takes in wide panoramas of open farmland, Rangiātea Church and the township. Other shots include the Ōtaki Sanatorium near Hāruatai, which was opened in 1907 and eventually demolished in 1997. The intertitles that accompany the film are typically poetic in the way silent film informed the viewer of what they were looking at, for instance: “Where Tasman’s heaving ocean Rolls its breakers on the strand Or sleeps in gentle motion On its bed of silver sand.” The film then shifts to the second part, the Tangi and Funeral of Te Rauparaha’s niece Heeni Te Rei. Dr Māui Pōmare, MP for Western Māori, is one of a large number of manuhiri who converge on Kāingarakiraki, a homestead on Waerenga Road, Ōtaki, to attend the tangihanga of Heeni Te Rei. Kuia and whānau sit with the tūpāpaku of Heeni Te Rei in a tent throughout the tangihanga, where the Union Jack-draped coffin is surrounded by photos of her relatives who have passed on, with the Ngāti Huia flag, gifted by Lord Onslow, proudly flying in front of the tent.
n Lawrence Wharerau is senior curator at Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH Ephesians 4:29
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
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VICTORIA’S BEAUTY RETREAT
www.victoriasbeautyretreat.weebly.com
54 Main Street, Otaki 027 825 9580 06 364 7039
phone PAUL 06 364 5759 or 027 448 3910 or Wellington 04 472 9948
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Gail Hall Celebrant
Independent marriage and civil union celebrant
“Your special day is important to me.”
e: victoriasbeautyretreat@gmail.com Facebook.com/vic.retreat Manicures, pedicures, eyes, wax, facials, makeup and massage
06 364 5865 hw.hall@slingshot.co.nz
Victoria Hill-Matthews
UNWANTED ANTS ARE OUR SPECIALTY!
PROTEKT PEST CONTROL
DIABOLICAL #4 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.
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ANTI ANTS Our treatments are guaranteed odourless and stain free. We also have solutions to control wasps, flies, spiders, cockroaches, mosquitos, silverfish, moths, plus rats and mice
HARD #3
HARD #3
Who knew that in the early 1920s sunny Ōtaki by the Sea was poised to become “The Los Angelos (sic) of New Zealand’s Moving Picture Industry. . .”? Early in 1921, Frank Moore visited New Zealand on behalf of an Australian film company proposing to establish a branch in New Zealand to produce feature films. Frank recommended Ōtaki as the best site for the studio because of its varied scenery, and more importantly, its “potent actinic rays” (white light). Interest was strong and soon Maoriland Films was established as a subsidiary of The New Zealand Moving Picture Co Ltd. A flurry of activity saw three films produced in the six months the company survived. One, Charlies Capers, was a comedy starring a Charlie
Various kaumātua deliver their whaikōrero following the flowery intertitle, “extolling the virtues in the life of the deceased”, and there are brief shots of beautifully hand-woven kākahu, whāriki and mere pounamu on display. Later, a horse-drawn glass hearse conveys the coffin from the home to Rangiātea Church. Led by The Ōtaki Brass Band, the procession makes its way along Main Street, Ōtaki. The shot is from the balcony of the Telegraph Hotel and looking back towards Raukawa Marae. The procession is then shown entering the grounds of Rangiātea before making its way to Mutikotiko, where Heeni Te Rei is laid to rest next to her father, Mātene Te Whiwhi. There is much amusement and clowning around for the camera during preparations for the hākari. A group of Māori girls perform the poi, to the accompaniment of the banjo by Hēnare Tahiwi and violin by Ellen Cook of the famous musical family group, The Tahiwis. The current Māoriland Film Festival takes its name from this earlier company.
DIABOLICAL #4
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SPORT I Ōtaki Today, October 2018
Page 23
Vince Bevan, Ōtaki’s only All Black Ōtaki’s only known All Black was Vince Bevan, a dynamic halfback who was best known for the games he was never allowed to play. A passing reference in a newspaper to traces of his Māori ancestry through his mother meant the New Zealand Rugby Union would not select him for a tour of racist South Africa in 1949. He was ruled “ineligible for selection” because South Africa would allow rugby to be played only by Europeans. It was acknowledged after the All Blacks lost the Test series 4-0, that the team lacked the skills at halfback that Vince clearly possessed. Other Māori players who might also have made the tour included Nau Cherrington, Ron Bryers, Ben Couch and Johnny Smith. In a farcical irony, Vince was not considered eligible for the New Zealand Māori team that visited Fiji in 1949 because he had too little Māori blood, but was ineligible for the South Africa tour because he had too much. He never made himself available for selection to the Māori team. Vincent David Bevan was born in Ōtaki on Christmas Eve 1921 to Winifred Bevan and Louis Holmes. He went to the Convent School (now St Peter Chanel) before moving to Wellington some time in the 1930s. He attended Wellington College, where he was recognised as a superb rugby player and later played for Wellington College Old Boys, Athletic and Tawa. As with many great sportsmen of the era, the intervention of the Second World War curtailed his ambitions. Vince served in the North African and Italian campaigns during the war
and played for several brigade teams, as well as the 22nd New Zealand Battalion team that won the Freyberg Cup in 1944. After the war he was selected to represent the Wellington provincial team, but had to compete for the halfback position with All Black Manahi Nitama Paewai. However the nuggety player was widely considered New Zealand’s best halfback of the immediate post-war period. He finally made the All Blacks in 1947, with a tour to Australia, and was a regular selection – barring the South Africa tour – until 1954. The war, the racist policies of South Africa and the acquiescence of the Rugby Union1, meant Vince was severely limited in his ability to show his best. His official All Blacks profile says that “he is best remembered for games he didn’t play and the tour he was not allowed to go on”. “Bevan’s career, indeed, is one of the starkest examples of some of the gross stupidities, even injustices, New Zealand rugby created for itself by trying for too long to fit in with the colour bar, later formalised as apartheid, being enforced
in South Africa. “Bevan should have been the All Blacks’ number one halfback on the tour of South Africa in 1949, but an inadvertent reference to his trace of Māori ancestry a year or two beforehand meant he was ruled ineligible to be selected”.2 The captain of the 1949 All Blacks in South Africa, and later coach of the All Blacks, Fred Allen, was perplexed by Vince’s exclusion. “If we had had him we would have squared the series at least instead of losing all four Tests,” Allen told the NZ Press Association in 1996. Fred played with Vince in Australia in 1947 and was full of praise for his qualities as a halfback. Vince Bevan, who was not considered for the Māori team that visited Fiji in 1949 because he had too little Māori blood, but was ineligible for the South Africa tour because he had too much.
“He was a delight to play outside, a very fine player, a great little general and a beautiful passer of the ball.” Vince played his first two Tests in 1949 against the touring Australians. It coincided with the Māori-free All Blacks team touring South Africa. He played all four Tests in 1950 against the touring British Lions before injury prevented him from touring with the 1951 All Blacks to Australia. In 1953-54 he toured with the All Blacks through the UK, Ireland, France and North America, making 16 appearances. However, his cousin, Keith Davis, who was nearly 10 years younger, was preferred for all five Tests. Vince played a total of 25 matches for the All Blacks, including six tests. His only points for the All Blacks came in a match at Manchester, England, on February 17, 1954, when he scored a try against North-Western Counties. In 75 matches for Wellington, Vince scored seven tries, two conversions and two dropped goals. He finished his long career with several appearances in festival-type matches for the Centurions (1952, 55-56), bringing his first class match tally to 121 points. In 1960, Vince and several other sportspeople, academics, church and Māori leaders, and trade unionists, sponsored a petition calling for the abandonment of that year’s All Black tour to South Africa and for the Government to intervene. It was unsuccessful. The tour went ahead. Vince died in Wellington in 1996 aged 74. 1. 2.
The Rugby Union formally apologised in 2010 By Lindsay Knight, 2014
Test your Kiwi knowledge 1. New Zealand produces how much butter per person per year? 100kg / 5kg / 300kg / 2kg? 2. Unscramble the names of these famous New Zealanders in the film industry. Erpet Sconjak. Mas Illne. Ejan Pionmac. Culy Selawis. 3. Barry Crump featured in a series of TV adverts for which car company? 4. What breed of dog is Hairy McLary? 5. What is the slogan for Edmonds baking products? 6. Who was Ngaio Marsh’s fictional detective? 7. When was the School Journal first published? 8. The Piano, a 1993 film about a mute female piano player, was directed by which New Zealander? 9. What was the name of the Ōtaki actor in The Piano? 10. In 1893, what was a worldwide political first for New Zealand?
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Ōtaki Today, October 2018
Page 24
SPORT
Fit surf lifesaving patrols ready for summer Surf lifesaving patrols at Ōtaki for the summer begin on December 1. Patrol members will be fit and ready. The assurance of readiness is testament to the training and dedication of the volunteers who patrol the beach every year, and the instructors who pass on their skills and experience. While the warmer weather is approaching, it’s actually winter when the Ōtaki Surf Life Saving Club is at its busiest. It’s when it spends time ensuring patrollers are fit and ready for summer. During the past few months, 26 of the club’s lifeguards have completed the training in level 1 and 2 first aid; marine VHF radio operation; a Riversdale IRB (inflatable rescue boat)
development weekend for drivers, instructors and examiners; and patrol captain and instructors courses. Additionally, swimming sessions are held at Hāruatai Pool on Monday and Wednesday evenings and IRB training on Sunday afternoons. The club begins weekend patrols on Saturday December 1, which will continue every weekend until Sunday March 10. Weekday patrols start on Monday December 17 and will continue through to the end of January. Training for new lifeguard recruits has begun with pool swimming on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Ōtaki pool. A new lifeguard instruction weekend is scheduled for Saturday
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and Sunday November 24 and 25, 9am to 4pm. Recruits need to be aged 14 or older. The junior surf group, also known as Nippers, has grown to nearly 90 over the past season. Nippers are aged between 7-13 and must be able to swim a full length of the 33.3m Hāruatai Pool without stopping. Swimming for the nippers is on Thursdays from 7-8pm at the pool. The first beach session for 2018 will be on Sunday November 11, sign-in starting at 3.15pm. Nipper sessions run until about 5pm (weather dependent). After a successful programme earlier in the year, the club is again offering Ōtaki youth the opportunity to take part in water safety sessions
during the next few months. The sessions help participants learn basic swimming techniques and learn about water safety around rivers and at the beach. This programme is free, but participants are expected to commit to attending the sessions on Tuesday and Thursdays up until the end of November. All sessions are run by experienced members of the club or by suitably experienced local providers. Participants need to be aged between 12-14.
n If you’re interested in finding out how to become a lifeguard, or would like to know more, email otakisurfclub@gmail. com or phone Kirsty on 021 102-0058. To find out about the Nippers programme, see Ōtaki Surf Club Nippers on Facebook or email otakinippers@gmail.com
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