The Eastbourne Herald November 2018

The Eastbourne Herald

Marking the old, the new, and the coming Summer

Last weekend was a busy one for Eastboune: Saturday saw the opening of the new Kaeaea Track - above right, East Harbour Regional Park ranger Mark McAlpine with Kura Moeahu, who performs a blessing for the track; top, Armistice Day was commemorated with a full range of activities on Sunday; and, bottom left, Garth Cheyne, Malcolm Sanderson and Glen Meo launched the Days Bay raft - surely a harbinger of warm weather. The raft has been cleaned and repainted - photo, John Rainey-Smith. See pages 5 and 8 for further stories.

BRIEFS

Electric car battery chargers may be installed in Eastbourne. Eastbourne Community Board member Murray Gibbons approached Meridian to see if the stations, which provide free power for people to charge their cars, could be installed near Rona Bay Wharf.

Mr Gibbons also has plans for the triangular ground between the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club and the community hall. The plan, which is yet to receive official approval and funding, includes using old wharf timbers for seating, tiles from the old Lower Hutt Town Hall, and local artwork to provide a more usable area than the often mud-logged grass currently there.

Water restrictions are in place. Wellington Water puts the restrictions in place during Daylight Saving months. As in previous years, those with evenly numbered addresses can water on even numbered days, and those with odd numbers on odd numbered days. The restrictions allow for a single watering system (sprinkler, irrigation system, soaker hose, or unattended hose) between 6-8am and 7-9pm.

Greater Wellington Regional Councillor Prue Lamason says any artwork on bus stops that are demolished in the bus stop upgrade in Eastbourne will be retained and reused. Mrs Lamason told last week’s Eastbourne Community Board meeting said that existing murals would be incorporated into new ones.

The new Eastbourne Pool manager has big

Next ECB Meeting

Tuesday Feb 19th 2019 - 7.15pm

East Harbour Women’s Club, Muritai Road

Previous agendas and papers available Council meetings - Home - Hutt City Council

Board members are:

Virginia Horrocks (Chair) virginia.horrocks@huttcity.govt.nz

Robert Ashe (Deputy chair) robert.ashe@huttcity.govt.nz

Murray Gibbons murray.gibbons@huttcity.govt.nz

Liz Knight liz.knight@huttcity.govt.nz

Anna Sutherland anna.sutherland@huttcity.govt.nz

Cr Tui Lewis tui.lewis@huttcity.govt.nz

Cr Michael Lulich michael.lulich@huttcity.govt.nz

things planned for what is predicted to be a very warm summer. Robbie Veldman says the pool’s hours have been extended until 7pm on some days, and is introducing swim coaching with a qualified lifeguard, yoga, and family game nights. There will be lane swimming on offer from 3pm5pm in the afternoons, and anyone wanting to fundraise will be able to apply to use the barbecue at the pool for sausage sizzles. There is something planned for every day, with inflatables put out on the weekends for family fun. For information about the programme, visit www.huttcity.govt. nz/pools-fitness/summer-pools/eastbournesummer-pool

The Historical Society of Eastbourne has decided to change the name of its Local Studies Room to ‘Eastbourne History Room’, because the current name was thought to be misleading. ‘The new name reflects what we actually do’, says HSE president Dennis Davidson. The room, upstairs in the Eastbourne Library building, houses the Society’s main computer and reference library, and is where volunteers are available to help members of the public with their local history questions. The Society’s large collection of historical photographs, documents, maps, ephemera and other items is stored next door in the Bagnall Room, named after eminent historian Graham Bagnall of Mahina Bay. The Eastbourne History Room is open to the public on Monday afternoons, 2-4pm, and on the last Saturday of the month from 11am to midday.

Depart Days Bay

SAT, SUN & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

Sailings may be cancelled at short notice due to weather. To check today’s sailings, tel. 494 3339

November Eastbourne Community Board

Kaeaea Track now officially open

Get your walking shoes on and come on over to this great new addition to our East Harbour Regional Park.

The track starts at Muritai Park, climbs to the “Lookout” over Eastbourne then up to the Main Ridge. There are no steps!

New map boards are up at each park entrance to point you in the right direction.

Thanks to the groups involved for their support in getting this great track ready to be enjoyed by all.

Calls continue for council to reconsider SNAs

By Carl McRae

Chris Bishop is reiterating calls for Hutt City Council to immediately halt its SNA process and go back to the drawing board.

“This process has been a debacle from the start,” Hutt South MP Mr Bishop said. “Around 1500 letters were sent out of the blue to residents all around the Hutt telling them their land (or part of their land) has been identified as being part of a “Significant Natural Area”. The restrictions that could potentially be imposed on this land are quite significant, including stopping not only sub-division, vegetation clearance, earthworks, but also possibly vege gardens, playhouses or BBQ patios a few metres from residents’ homes.”

The Lower Hutt Landowners' Group met with Mayor Ray Wallace, Deputy Mayor David Bassett and Eastern Ward Councillor Lisa Bridson in late October to further talks and in hope of compromise over the issue.

Council is currently deciding if it will go ahead with submitting the proposed District Plan review (with the inclusion of SNAs) by year’s end, despite the group suggesting that the Christmas holiday season is not an ideal time period for the community.

The group tabled the idea of February workshops, but in a letter distributed to members, say they were advised by HCC that they had already "bent over backwards" for landowners, were not keen on workshops, and had sought legal advice which indicated that their current approach had been sufficient.

“Nobody doubts that the Council has legal obligations under the Resource Management Act,” Mr Bishop says. “What is in dispute is the way the council is going about giving effect to those obligations.”

In the letter, Landowners' group

spokesperson Kathryn Cretney says the group recommends that people seek to understand the process and ensure that they prepare a submission in time, should they wish to do so. The group is currently considering how it can help the community with the submission process, which is multi-faceted and potentially daunting to some.

Submissions, submissions on submissions, a hearing for those submissions (with independent commissioners), a post-hearing recommendation to council and a full council hearing where the plan is formally debated and adopted or rejected, follow. Then there is a thirty working day period for any submitters to lodge an appeal with the Environment Court.

Voting on SNAs through the District Plan ultimately comes down to elected members including Ray Wallace, David Bassett, Josh Briggs, Campbell Barry, Tui Lewis and Michael Lulich, and the Landowners' group suggests that individuals may wish to express any concerns to

those members directly.

In its letter to members, the Landowners' group says it is essential that people clarify with the councillors where they stand.

"It is their collective opinion that these councillors are being paid by the tax payer to confiscate the private land rights of individuals." The letter says the councillors have to vote for the plan and should be held accountable for their stance during local body elections in 2019."

“The council’s approach is actually undermining good conservation outcomes,” says Chris Bishop.

“Council should be working with, not against landowners. Private landowners already do a huge amount to protect our biodiversity. But the council’s heavy-handed approach has set the community against them and will have the opposite effect of what is intended.”

“Other councils have undertaken to protect significant natural areas,” he adds, “by engaging in good faith with affected landowners, working in conjunction with them, and approaching things on a case-by-case basis.

“That’s what the council should do now. Throw out the current process and start again.”

The Landowners' group say they are intent on fighting for their rights to the end of the process and will do all they can to support their cause.

Council has indicated that they do not intend to use their power under Section 333 (‘Power of entry for survey’) of the National Policy Statement (NPS) Act to carry out sight visits, which the Landowners' group say is likely to mean that, despite their failings, desktop assessments will stand, until owners allow a site visit.

Ultimately, landowners need to make this decision as individuals, they state.

MP Chris Bishop.

Eastern Bays shared path planning a balancing act

by Louise Parry

Planning a new shared path around the Eastern Bays is no easy project.

In fact, getting the balance right between climate change resilience, road use and ecology is taking longer than predicted, meaning a delay in a finished plan being lodged for consent.

The shared path - the scope of which is pictured, right - will cost around $14.8m and will take up to six years to complete.

Seven point eight million dollars over three years has been allocated from the National Land Transport Plan, with the bulk of the remainder budgeted for in the Long Term Council Community Plan.

Simon Cager, Hutt City Council project manager says resource consent should now be lodged in February 2019, with construction likely to begin at the end of 2019.

Community engagement began back in 2015. Mr Cager says the complex coastal environment has meant input was needed from engineers, planners, landscape architects and scientists.

A survey of Little Blue Penguins was undertaken to ensure their habitats are preserved when the path is constructed.

However, it’s the future of the sea level that is of utmost concern.

The 2017 edition of the Ministry for the Environment Coastal Hazards and Climate Change manual recommends assessing the effects of a range of sea level rise values of between 0.5m and 1.35m over the next hundred years (as measured above a baseline mean sea level averaged over the period 1986–2005). The actual rate of sea level rise will depend on the rate of global emissions and efficacy of emissions reductions. It also recommends taking a precautionary approach to building on the coast as climate change also affects waves and storm surges. It is predicted there will be an increase in frequency of storm surges and their severity and effects on the New Zealand coastline.

NIWA coastal engineer Dr Michael Allis says while this plan is geared specifically towards a shared path for the eastern bays, it needs to look beyond that. There are major services such as power, water, sewage and internet under Marine

Drive, and these need to be protected, along with maintaining access along the road itself.

"This project will eventually fit into a longer term strategy for this road," he says.

"Whatever we put forward needs to be adaptive and responsive to the uncertainties of future climate change and sea level scenarios."

Mr Cager says a large part of the design work has concentrated on the effects of inundation caused by southerlies and storm surges.

"As much as possible we will reduce those effects. We will work within the council environment and sustainability strategy and the Long Term Plan," Mr Cager says.

However, as evidenced by the recent survey of Little Blue Penguins and their nests; there is more than just the water and climate to take into consideration for the shared path project team.

Stantec senior planner Caroline Van Halderen says it's assessing each potential issue against those that will arise from the solution. For example, ensuring the penguins have a suitable nesting habitat following any changes.

"It's a juggling act for each different location; we need to find the best possible solutions for all areas," Ms Van Halderen says.

"This balancing act means something may miss out."

Public feedback to date has indicated many locals want to be able to retain use of the small beaches around the bays, which they fear may be destroyed as part of the walkway design.

"We're trying to achieve the best combination of considerations," she says.

"It’s a matter of trying to balance the tensions between different needs. That’s all part of working as in a team of experts - which, in the end, will give the community a really good outcome," she says.

Reclamation is one of many options being looked at in what Ms Van Halderen describes as "throwing everything into the mix".

Even the alternative solution - constructing the shared path on the property side of the road, must be considered. a

Mr Cager says this may seem extreme, but it is a necessary element of the planning exercise.

"As part of looking at those alternatives we have to look at all options. For some people they would consider the property side extraordinary or unachievable, but under the Resource Management Act we have to look at all the alternatives," he says.

Once the plan has been thoroughly costed, it will be lodged for notified Resource Consent. At this point, the public will be able to submit written submissions about it. There may also be meetings during the consent process.

Mr Cager says, if all goes well with the application, in the latter part of next year. "How long it takes depends on how we segment the construction, but we anticipate completing one bay a year. "

The project will take up to six years.

Armistice Day in Eastbourne a varied affair

by Carl McRae

Armistice Day was commemorated at the site of New Zealand's first war memorial - the Pohutukawa tree in Rata Street,on Sunday - one hundred years to the day since the end of WWI was declared.

The sun came out in Eastbourne, and locals were able to carry out their commemorative service, something they were unable to do a century ago, owing to a lethal influenza pandemic that struck New Zealand between October and December 1918.

In two months New Zealand lost about half as many people to influenza as it had in the whole of the First World War. No event has killed so many New Zealanders in such a short time. The death toll reached 9000 and Maori suffered heavily, with about 2500 deaths.

Eastbourne Memorial RSA president, Colin Hemingway-Ruston, opened proceedings by thanking everyone for their attendance. At 11am, across the country, commemorations simultaneously began, with Wellington hosting a 100-gun salute.

Following a Karanga by the Muritai School kapa haka group, two minutes' silence was observed, remembering all those who had made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.

On November 12, 1918, The Evening Post newspaper described the celebrations: “There were songs and cheers, miscellaneous pipings and blastings, and tootings and rattlings-a roaring chorus of gladsome sounds.”

The celebrations were a little more muted in Eastbourne, although those present cheered and clapped when the two minutes' silence was up.

Ship horns and other associated sounds of remembrance drifted across the harbour.

Commemorations were followed by ‘God Save the King’ (the National Anthem in 1918) and an opening prayer and prologue delivered by St Alban's Minister, the Reverend John Hughes, who quoted British author Sebastian Faulks.

“We are paying our respects to the ordinary people, who showed tremendous courage to stay alive and to get home,” Reverend Hughes

said. “Such was the quality and character of Eastbourne folk who went to war and we honour and remember them.”

War veterans Ken Longmore, Roy Beeby and Mr HemingwayRuston then laid a wreath at the unnamed cross, a tribute by the EMRSA on behalf of the community. This was followed by a prayer in commemoration of the end of WWI and a requiem.

A personal tribute to each of Eastbourne’s WWI fallen was then carried out by family members and members of the Eastbourne Community Board and the New Zealand Armed Services. The New Zealand Fire Service (Eastbourne Brigade) and Stephen ‘Snifter’ Phillips of the EMRSA completed the list as Muritai School children placed flowers on each white cross. George Tuffin played Piper's Lament throughout the reading of the list.

Les Bergman read a tribute to those who had died from The Fallen by Laurence Binyon, reminding us that almost ten percent of our country’s population had served in the Great War, with 18,000 of them not returning and tens of thousands more seriously wounded.

The Last Post and Reveille was played by Seager Mason, Benediction was read by Reverend Hughes and commemorations were closed out by the singing of our current National Anthem.

Commemorations continued at the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club with an afternoon football match between teams representing the Allies and Germany, replicating the famous Christmas Day truce match in 1914. Speculation as to the credence of such a match has always been expressed, with no German account of the game, which the British claim was played with a beef-bully tin instead of a football.

Rolling slideshows, memorabilia sing-a-long of war songs completed proceedings, which were also held at the ESSC.

Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe members brought to life the stories of local men and women involved in the war, written by local author Julia Stuart.

Ken Longmore and Bill Wollerman. Bill Wollerman hit his head on the day, but continued playing the keyboard to accompany singers of some war songs. "The show must go on," he said.

Park belongs to all of us

With regard to recent complaints about deer entering people’s property from the East Harbour Regional Park (EHRP), it is noted that the complaints are coming mainly from members of local environmental groups. Despite ethical issues, Greater Wellington Regional Council are currently undertaking culling of heavily pregnant deer in the EHRP.

There are over 100 properties in Eastbourne which back on to the East Harbour Regional Park. How many people are actually complaining about the deer – a handful? We need to put this into perspective.

You can’t have it both ways. An unfenced back yard which borders a regional park and not expect the odd deer coming onto your property – animals which have resided in the park for over 100 years. Perhaps MIRO should take their own advice as stated in their latest Annual Report on page 3 “..it is hoped that a new boundary fence will be constructed to reduce sheep infiltration into the Lakes block”.

Instead of thinking of your property as an “extension of the East Harbour Regional Park”, you may consider fencing off your property as well.

For over 60 years a limited number of permits were made available to enable local people to hunt in the Eastbourne Domain in safety. These permits were issued for use between April to August, ensuring that other park users were at a lower level and hinds were not being killed while pregnant.

With the advent of the EHRP, a Management

Plan was implemented stating that “with careful management the activities of users should be provided for.” That plan has resulted in a balloted hunting period for two weeks in April. Surely this massive reduction in recreational hunting use has also contributed to the perceived population increase in deer.

It is of great concern that Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) has failed to consult all interested groups such as Fish & Game, Deerstalkers, and Wildfowlers etc which they committed to do in the original 1995 Plan. Indeed when you look back at over 20 years of submissions on the management of the EHRP, virtually all the recommendations that have been adopted are those of small environmental groups but no other interest groups.

GWRC have not abided by their original objective, specifically… “in order to protect the environmental and cultural values and recreational opportunities of this area”.- Preface EHRP Management Plan 1995.

The introduction of a Mainland Island was never in the original discussion documents yet that became a reality without due process. Moving forward, the liberation of any ground dwelling birds into the Park should not be allowed without full public consultation. The implications for recreational users of the Park as well as cat & dog owners, is significant.

The EHRP belongs to the whole community.

John Martin Gollans Valley

Lions raise more than $8k

The Eastbourne Lions Club wish to thank all those people who supported us with our annual auction and garage sale on Friday and Saturday, 2nd and 3rd November. The weather was not a great help on the Saturday, so the number of people were down but we were still able to make in excess of $8,300 gross.

A very special thanks to the people who donated goods, as without you we could not have held the auction and those who turned up on Saturday and bought items there would not be money for us to help in the community.

The following need a special thank you because we would not have been able to run the event and make it a success without you: Lions current and past, friends of Lions, Eastbourne Scouts, Chris Brown from Handy Rentals, Macaulay Metals, Waste management, Waste services, the ladies in the kitchen who fed us on both Friday ad Saturday, and all others who donated their time in the weeks leading up to and on the day.

Lorraine Shorter and Richard Robinson Lions Auction Organising Committee

Gathered in a corner of Eastbourne Library are a group of keen readers - the Eastbourne Library book group.Today there are only nine, but the group surges to the mid twenties most months.

Sipping coffee, librarian Jacquie Arnot produces a list of contenders for this month’s topic - humour. This has not been an easy task, she tells the group.

“Humour is such an individual thing,” she says, adding that her favourite author on the list of homorous writers would be Alexander McCall Smith.

“His humour is humane,” Jacquie says.

As she goes through the list, reading small reviews from the Good Reads website, there is much laughter when it comes to the title Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal. It's a novel about a woman who takes on a creative writing job at her local temple, only to find that the assembled women are after something completely different - an English language course. However, as they want to be able to tell their stories in English, it soon tells their memories. “There are some slightly raunchy details,” Jacquie says.

Once the meeting is over, everyone adds their

Email:

own ideas and the conversation continues with book recommendations.

The group meets on the first Wednesday of the month.

For more information, contact the library.

Book club members with librarian Jacquie Arnot (right).

"Walking encyclopedia" recognised for work

Local legend Ray Smith, was recognised for his twenty years' service as an Eastbourne Forest Ranger on October 28th, with an official ceremony which took place on Matiu/Somes Island.

Before officially becoming a member of the EFRs, Ray (pictured) was instrumental in helping set up the island as a visitor centre. Before it was open to the public, he was engaged in trapping, hunting, clearing and organising tours, ensuring that the Island was available for all people to go and enjoy.

With such a rich history - the location for New Zealand’s first inner harbour lighthouse, a human quarantine station, an internment camp, military defence position and an animal quarantine station - Ray and the Department of Conservation were able to combine the past with pest eradication and the reintroduction of some of New Zealand’s rarer native flora and fauna species.

Opened to the public in 1995, Matiu/Somes Island is now home to the Kakariki (red-crowned parakeet) and a host of other native and seabird populations. It also provides a critical habitat for the world’s smallest penguin, Korora (little

penguin). 500 species of invertebrates and eight species of reptiles found only in New Zealand, also call the Island home.

Ray’s grand-daughter, Tabitha Hinewai, says that her grandad is a humble man who would be equally embarrassed and stoked about receiving his award, a plaque which now sits proudly in the visitors' centre.

Besides recognition for the uncountable volunteer hours that Ray has put in, mostly

Blessing for new EHRP track

The Kaeaea track was officially opened last Saturday morning, with a blessing from Kura Moeahu from Parliamentary Services, followed by short speeches from Greater Wellington Regional Councillor, Prue Lamason and GWRC Parks manager, Amanda Cox.

Mr Moeahu said that the New Zealand falcon/Karearea was not native to Wellington, but having migrated here, the Kaiwharawhara Pa was visible directly across the harbour from the point of the redeveloped lookout, from which a new link track begins.

He said that he struggled to believe it had been four years since he first blessed the track, when the plan to develop it was first mooted by the GWRC. Prue Lamason agreed, adding that it was unbelievable that opening day was

finally here.

“Four years in the making,” she said, “with a little controversy along the way. But it’s fantastic and just look at that view! Open just in time for summer, so that locals, but also families from across Wellington can come and enjoy it.”

She offered thanks on behalf of the GWRC to Amanda Cox, East Harbour Regional Park Manager, Mark McAlpine and local councillor Murray Gibbons, without whom, she said, the whole venture would never have eventuated.

“It’s tremendous,” Murray said. “People have been U-turning their opinion on the new track, the gravel and they now believe it is wonderful. The new heritage plaque at the top of the track adds another dimension.”

Amanda Cox paid tribute to the Historical

in the East Harbour Regional Park, local residents also enjoy his most informative posts on the Eastbourne Community Noticeboard page on Facebook. “He’s the smartest person I know,” says Tabitha. “He’s like an ageless walking encyclopaedia. I consider him to be the Eastbourne version of David Attenborough. He turns 90 next year and he’s still making the trek over the hill to Butterfly Creek.”

“I still slowly make my way to Butterfly Creek,” he says. “But now I stop and see different things I never used to when I was younger. One of the only beauties of ageing I guess.”

Those observations are now shared with locals who have warmed to his social media posts, his in depth knowledge of the bush and its surrounds unchallenged. It pleases him that many are now looking at the bush and our environment in a different way also. “And, although I hadn’t expected more than a few words,” he adds, “I am chuffed with my award. It’s very special and I feel very honoured.”

“It’s a big thank you from all the people he has served or taught, including myself,” says Tabitha. “He has helped so many to see something beautiful and special in our world.”

Society of Eastbourne, whose work in conjunction with Murray was a highlight in telling the important story of the area.

“It’s been a long time in the making,” Amanda said, “and we are very proud of the track and the efforts put in by all our team who have done an amazing job. Special thanks must also go to the landscaping production supervisors.”

Harbour Ward Councillor, Michael Lulich, said that it was excellent to have the support of the Hutt City Council for the project, working in association with the GWRC.

A walk to the top of the track by the few members of the public who attended the opening was followed by ceremonial tea and cake.

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Hutt Hamper Elves embrace the spirit of giving

by Carl McRae

For the past four years, the Hutt Hamper Elves have been fund-raising, to provide hampers of food for families in need across the Hutt Valley at Christmas.

Claire Turner, one of the coordinators for the Elves, says that the festive season can be a really hard time financially, when you’re already struggling to make ends meet.

The Elves work hand-in-hand with schools across the Hutt Valley, delivering hampers to them to pass on to local families they’ve identified as most in need. The Elves ask for cash donations, rather than donations of food, so they can get the advantage of bulk purchasing power, getting the most they can for families out of the donations received.

They’ve received generous support from individuals and local businesses, enabling them to provide over 500 tubs of food to over 250 families. INSIDE Recruitment, Wasabi Air, Pak n’ Save Petone, Warehouse Petone and Eastbourne Four Square have all committed to supporting the Elves again this year.

“We know the hampers make a real difference,” Claire says. “Some of the feedback we’ve received from schools and families has been amazing. These are people who can’t afford to live day to day let alone have a Christmas. It’s difficult, as we don’t see the gratitude on their faces, but we know the hard work and effort has been well worthwhile.”

“All of our work is done by volunteers,” she adds, “and every dollar donated goes straight to the families who need it most. The Eastbourne community has pitched in and helped as well, not just with donations as in previous years, but with a large team of volunteers (including children) who have helped pack and deliver the hampers to the Schools.”

Muritai School has also generously allowed

the Elves to use the school to store the food and assemble the hampers and this year the school is looking to hold a fundraiser to raise donations.

“Each year, we’ve seen the need grow and this year will be no different,” says Claire. “We’ve communicated with the schools and have received a wish-list of 150 hampers this year. But we still need more and some extra help. We’ll

need to raise $20,000 - enough to provide 300 tubs of food to 150 families this Christmas.”

Claire asks the community to give what they can to support this local cause. Donations can be made now through their Givealittle page: [ https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/hutthamper-elves] or by directly contacting Claire on 0275585641.

Carols on December 2

This year’s community carols service is being held a little earlier this year, on Sunday, December 2.

As in previous years, the Hutt City Brass Band will lead the carol singing, and choirs from San Antonio School and Wellesley College will add a special touch. There will be a retelling of the Christmas story, with the service led by St Alban’s vicar the Rev John Hughes, and Anne Manchester from St Ronan’s, with input from all three Eastbourne churches.

This year’s collection will support the Lower Hutt Food Bank. Children coming to the service are encouraged to bring gifts of non-perishable food to be placed around the giant Christmas tree. These will be blessed, then later delivered to the food bank to help needy families. Christmas treats would be especially welcomed.

Starting at 5pm, the service will conclude with the not-so-surprising arrival of a large bearded fellow in a red suit, and a sausage sizzle organised by Eastbourne Lions.

Hutt Hamper elves at Muritai School, ready to pack in more for the needy.

Rain can't deter bargain hunters

Faith in the Community

Stewardship, the ‘gratitude attitude’…

Despite the inclemency of the weather, the Eastbourne Lions club raised more than $8,000 at their annual auction this month: down on last year's total, says club president, Kevin Togher.

“Trade Me has certainly made an impact,” Kevin said. “We rely on these donations, but a certain amount of what would be normal local contributions are slipping past us. There just wasn’t really the amount of quality gear that we have had in the past.”

The amount raised is still substantial and will go to many benefactors throughout the Bays

and Hutt Valley that the Lions Club generously help provide for.

“All the Lions Clubs of the Lower Hutt region have been asked to contribute towards the Te Omanga Hospice rebuild,” says Kevin, “ and we will be making a donation of around $23,000 for curtains and blinds. We will continue to accord funds to our longer term associations, the likes of the Malaghan Institute and Life Flight,” he adds, “and presently we are paying 50% of the fees in helping St Ronan’s Church with their parenting course.”

Last week, Sacred Heart Church, Petone, hosted a Stewardship Retreat, a day for parishioners to reflect on the uniqueness of their lives, their faith, their giftedness and their journey to holiness. So, what is this stewardship…?

In essence it’s a spirituality, a way of life which calls us to be intentional about our discipleship, about what it is to be a follower of Jesus every day. It is both radical and life-giving and invites us to see and experience the whole of creation, our lives, as a gift from God.

Out of gratitude for all that God has given us, we are asked to grow our gifts and to share them generously, lovingly and in justice with others - especially with the poor. Thus, we help to be powerful channels of God’s love and redeeming presence in the world. In the end it is not something we do, it is about who we are as Christians. Also, whose we are and what our baptismal mission in the world calls us into.

A parish nurturing stewardship as a way of life, is mission-focussed, prayerful, hospitable, outreach-focussed, welcoming, celebratory, accountable and generous.

St Alban’s: • Men’s group, a drink and a bite, first Wednesdays, 6pm, RSA. • Women’s Group third Mondays, 10am, Hive.

St Ronan’s: • Parenting course (for parents of primary children, 5-9 yrs). Thursday evenings 7.15-9.30pm, weekly for six weeks from 18 Oct to 22 Nov. Next year, in Term 1, the course for Intermediate Years (9-12) and in Term 2, for Teenage Years (13-18). Details: www.stronans.org.nz Register: office@ stronans.org.nz

• This column of church news and views is sponsored by St Alban’s Anglican, St Ronan’s Presbyterian and San Antonio Catholic Churches.

Massive number of pests trapped in Eastbourne

by Carl McRae

Nearly 2,000 pests have been trapped in just over a year of the ERAT (Educating Residents About Trapping) predator eradication and monitoring scheme.

ERAT project manager Sally Bain says the numbers caught are rising daily.

The urban trapping network, combined with tracking tunnels for monitoring the location of pests is paying dividends for ERAT as they push on with their goal; to achieve sustainable predator control within the residential areas of Eastbourne, from Point Howard to Burdan's Gate and including the foreshore.

“I’m very happy with what’s gone on so far,” Sally says. “Only one bay has not achieved a trapline operator that communicates with their area regularly. But we are about to install the last foreshore traplines and that will go a long way to improving a more consistent catch rate across the Bays.”

With help from volunteer Rory McPhearson from GIS Mapping Services, catch heat maps and a break down of catches are readily available for the public to peruse on the ERAT page of the Mainland Island Restoration Operations website: http://www.miro.org.nz

A quick breakdown reveals the following statistics;

• 1,650 of the total pests caught have been rats or mice, Hedgehogs with 95, the only other animal of significance by numbers. The Victor rat traps in tunnels and the DOC200 traps have had the most success with, combined, 1,075 of the total catch.

• 1,367 have been caught since February this year, an average of 151 per month, with the highest individual month being April 2018, with 257. Most success has been achieved in York Bay with 285, Lowry Bay South (227) and Point Howard (198, including 9

Emergency communication method designed to reach us all

The man behind Waterbourne has turned his attention to a pressing concern for coastal communities - civil defence.

Bruce Spedding has been nutting out a way for people around the Eastern Bays to communicate in a disaster, such as a tsunami or earthquake.

Mr Spedding has developed a radio station using one of the two free radio bands available. The station will be able to be used by local organisations such as schools any time, but will come into its own in an emergency where information is needed around the Bays.

Mr Spedding had been thinking about developing a communication device that was self-sufficient and off-grid before he attended a start-up weekend. There, he met with a group of people who helped him develop the computer system to allow the project to take shape. Run off solar panels, the radio is relatively inexpensive; all that is needed is a

small computer, solar panels, and a box to keep it in. While Eastbourne is a perfect testing ground for the radio, Mr Spedding hopes it will be used further afield.

Red Cross has shown interest in the radio, which could be air dropped onto remote islands to keep people informed during an emergency.

“The advantage of Eastbourne is it’s not a remote island so it doesn’t need all the bells and whistles, such as satellite,” Mr Spedding says.

Presently, the signal, which is only produced on a 1 watt band, reaches as far as Days Bay in the north and Burdan’s Gate in the south. Mr Spedding says a better placement may be on Ward or Matiu/Somes Island, which overlooks the entire eastern Bay Area.

Mr Spedding applied for $700 from the board’s discretionary Community Engagement Fund to cover the cost of materials used for the trial radio.

possums), with Rona Bay (139) and Eastbourne Central (112) other areas to register in excess of one hundred catches.

Sally says that once the whole system is in place, the destructive environmental impact of pests such as rats, mustelids (stoats and weasels) and hedgehogs will be greatly diminished.

“Hopefully,” she says, “this will in turn, help the survival of many of our native species such as lizards and ground-nesting penguins and dotterels, who have had to cope with so much habitat destruction and disturbance already.”

Unfortunately, it hasn’t been a great season for the beleaguered Banded Dotterel, with all six nests on the Eastbourne foreshore having failed so far. There has been evidence of not only human interference, but a camera placed near a nest in early October has revealed a domestic tabby cat helping itself to a late night snack.

Parker Jones of the Mainland Island Restoration Oorganisation (MIRO) says that once it has developed a taste for the eggs, it could clean out every nest on the foreshore.

“We have no intentions of vilifying the cat or owners,” he says, “but we just want to make people aware of the facts and plead with locals to keep their cats inside overnight during the nesting season, September to January.”

“We would like to thank the dog owners and the ERAT program,” he added. “On the nest with the camera, only two dogs were seen off leads close to the nest, and there was no evidence of mustelids or rodents disturbing the nests.”

“We have gained permission from the Hutt City Council to fence around new, unmarked nesting areas, so people know where they can walk safely without bothering the nests.”

“We are having much better success at the Pencarrow Lakes, but will lose our Eastbourne Foreshore birds in the next few years if the current situation continues.”

All data is available here: https://gicnz. maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.ht ml#/4a2c1062f25f4111b6264633ce03be85

EASTBOURNE 11 Makaro Street Smart Townhouse, Smart Location!

EASTBOURNE 119 Marine Parade Waterfront, Village, Potential

In the heart of Eastbourne’s vibrant village and a few steps to the beach, this smart and sunny townhouse is an absolute rarity. On a north and west facing corner site it has a bright, comfortable interior with easy flow to pleasant outdoor spaces. With two bedrooms and open plan living the property is easy to care-for and offers a relaxed, homely environment. The garage has internal access and the bus stop is just around the corner. You’ll love the village lifestyle and being part of Eastbourne’s wonderful community. Down-sizers, investors and first time buyers, do not delay - view this treasure asap!

CONTACT: Kim Slessor 027 230 3328 kim@justpaterson.co.nz

TENDER: Tender Guide Upwards of $595,000

VIEW ONLINE: www.justpaterson.co.nz/JP1316

EASTBOURNE Fantastic Family Home

This enchanting three bedroom cottage is located a block from the village and just steps from the beach. Bring your imagination as there is plenty of potential, with wonderful character features throughout. Living rooms include an enclosed verandah that captures the sun from dawn to dusk and a large, inviting lounge with ever changing beach and water views. An open fireplace provides the spot for winter contemplation. A further living/dining room leads into the eat-in kitchen, where the first of the sun will pop in to greet you. With dual street access, this 536 sqm site offers shelter and an outdoor lifestyle, whatever the weather. The back garden is delightful and beautiful walks are right on your doorstep. A double garage has internal access. Much admired, and owned by the same family for 40 years, this is a very special home in a brilliant location.

CONTACT: Kim Slessor 027 230 3328 kim@justpaterson.co.nz

BY NEGOTIATION: Buyer Enquiry From $895,000

VIEW ONLINE: www.justpaterson.co.nz/JP1300

107 Muritai Road

This substantial property offers space, quality, style and value! In the heart of wonderful Eastbourne, it is close to the beach, shops, schools and cafes - no need to reach for the car keys! And a sociable, 20 minute ferry to Wellington’s CBD is just a stroll away. Your family will be part of a vibrant, close knit community and, yes, this is paradise. Extensively refurbished, this home exudes a warm, gentle charm with its blend of character and modern. High studs, central heating, double glazing, bespoke timber detailing and a neutral decor add up to a very soothing home. The living is spacious and extends via bi-folding doors to a large, immaculate deck. The fully fenced 809m2 section is perfect for pets, play time, the trampoline and enjoying the sunny outdoors all day long, year round. Of the four ground floor bedrooms, two are ensuite. Upstairs, the master commands its own floor with a shower room, walk-in-wardrobe, private deck (the perfect sunset spot) and lovely views to the hills and sea. And there is a bonus two bedroom self-contained flat too. Use it as an income stream or save it for your lucky guests. You will hardly know they are there! After 12 happy years the owners are reluctantly leaving the home they love, to pursue new dreams down south. They leave it in pristine condition for your family to simply move in and enjoy. Few homes offer so much so call me today to view and make it your own.

CONTACT: Kim Slessor 027 230 3328 kim@justpaterson.co.nz

BY NEGOTIATION: Buyer Enquiry From $1,650,000

VIEW ONLINE: www.justpaterson.co.nz/JP1302

The world through the eyes of a Pekinese dog

“Andrew the Pekinese is my hero and viewing the world through his eyes is a total delight,” says Eastbourne children’s writer Anne Manchester.

Anne launched her second children’s book at the SPCA in Wellington on Armistice Day earlier this month. A prequel to her first, published two years ago, Andrew Down Under: The story of an immigrant dog describes Andrew’s trials and tribulations as he makes the long journey from Palm Springs, California, to his new home in Eastbourne.

Her first book, Toughen Up, Andrew! is set in and around Palliser Bay. Reviewer Bob Docherty described this book as an “easy to read story of a coddled Pekinese dog named Andrew that will enchant any reader who is a pet fan”.

Andrew and his master, sculptor Colin Webster-Watson, were well-known Eastbourne identities 13 or so years ago, and still remembered fondly by many in the community. Anne has ensured the story of their lives continues, along with that of her son David Curtis who died on New Year’s Eve, 2004.

“My second book is longer and more ambitious than my first,” she said. “It’s a story I hope children who have gone through major changes in their lives, including moving countries, schools or homes, will relate to. Andrew has a great life in Palm Springs – he enjoys sunbathing by the pool or lounging on sofas with his Poppa, with only the occasional encounter with a prickly cactus or a smug cat to spoil his little paradise.

“Suddenly his world is turned upside down. He has to cope with the indignity of endless vet visits, seeing all his belongings packed into a shipping container, saying goodbye to all his old friends, then being stuffed in a nasty crate and travelling in the hold of a plane for hours and hours. The final insult is being confined in a bleak quarantine centre in Auckland.

“When he finally gets to Wellington, the palm trees and hot desert air have been replaced by people speaking with strange accents, he has a new family to get used to who offer him unfamiliar food, and there are wild stony, windswept beaches with threatening birds wheeling overhead. He struggles to feel at home.”

The book is aimed at six to ten year olds, particularly those with a love of animals, says Anne. Over its seven chapters, Andrew, who really wants to be good and admired by all, gets himself into some awful scrapes, largely due to his greedy and curious nature.

And will the Andrew sagas continue? Anne has one more Andrew book to write, she says. This will be a sequel to the first, tentatively called Andrew Goes Bush.

Andrew Down Under is published by the Submarine Imprint of Makaro Press. Photographs are a feature, along with illustrations by Wellington artist Fifi Colston. It is available from Rona Gallery in Eastbourne (retailing for $25) and all good bookstores or can be ordered online from www.makaropress. co.nz.

Shakespeare classic coming

As You Like It, Shakespeare’s much-loved pastoral comedy, will take a contemporary New Zealand political twist in this year’s Bard in the Yard summer production by the Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe.

The rightful leader of the dukedom/ Parliament has been usurped from the palace/ House by his scheming brother and is now holed up in the Forest of Arden/Ardern somewhere in the Tararuas. He is joined by other disaffected palace members, including his daughter, the relentlessly positive Rosalinda and her cousin Celia. A bit of gender blending serves to confuse the love-sick hero Orlando, and some of the local farmers and people from the nearby village (Otaki perhaps) are not faring much better. But Hymen, the god of marriage -- the local marriage

celebrant -- makes sure the right couples get together in the end.

Directed by long-term Troupe member Anne Manchester and produced by John Marwick, As You Like It will be performed at the Muritai School Yard from March 5-March 9.

The romantic comedy features music and dance, and a variety of whacky characters, from old to young. Auditions will be held on Saturday, November 24. To find out more or to book an audition slot email auditions.bctt@gmail.com.

Anne Manchester and Fifi Colston.

Mondays

• Retired Persons’ Assn meet 4th Mon, 10am St Ronan's Church hall for morning tea followed by a speaker - $2 entry. Transport can be arranged for these meetings on request, ph 562 7365 or 562 8387.

• “Baby Bounce & Rhyme” at the library 10.30am.

• Singalong 1st Mon, 2pm at St Ronan’s.

• DB Playcentre Mon, Wed, Fri 9-12. Andrea Jensen 02102797311.

• Pt Howard Playcentre. Mon 9.15 -11.45am. Caroline 021 072 1070.

• Historical Society of Eastbourne local studies room open above the library 2-4 pm every Monday. (Check Saturday).

• Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade training every Monday 7-9pm. Ph Ross Carroll Chief Fire Officer 562 7001 for more info.

• Toy Library 8-9pm. Elizabeth 021 08224664. www.eastbournemibase.com.au

• Eastbourne Karate Dojo junior and senior classes (children 8 year & older, plus parents) on Monday and senior classes on Thursday. Contact lindsaysensei@live.com, cell 021 844 873.

Tuesdays

• Pt Howard Playcentre Tues 9.15 -11.45am. Caroline 021 072 1070.

• Days Bay Playcentre Puddle Jumpers Tues 10:30 to 12 noon: Messy and Sensory play for children 2 years and under. Casual sessions, $3 donation.

• Muritai Tennis Club 9.30–noon. Merryn 562 0236.

• Eastbourne Homebirth Group 1st Tuesday of the month. Phone Kate 5627096.

• East Harbour Women’s Club Morning Tea & Chat Group 10am. Contact Glendyr 562 7181.

• Eastbourne Embroidery Group, St Ronan’s Church lounge 10am-12noon.

• Indoor Bowls Club 1.30pm, at the croquet club, Oroua Street. Jeanne 562 8555.

• Menzshed 9 till 12 , Williams Park, Mike 562 8688.

• Poetry group, every second Tuesday meet to read and enjoy poems old and new. Phone 562 8387.

• Toy Library 8-9pm. Elizabeth 021 08224664. www.eastbournemibase.com.au

• 9.30am Nia Dance Fitness Class (low impact - teens to 70+) Music Movement Magic - Muritai Yacht Club - call Amanda 021 316692 www.niainwellington.com

Wednesdays

• Retired Persons’ Assn meet 2nd Wed at

WHAT’S ON

Tartines for morning tea and socialising 11am. Occasional outings arranged. Ph 5627365 or 562 8387.

• Library preschool story time 2–2.25pm.

• Pt Howard Playcentre Wed 9.15 -11.45am. Caroline 021 072 1070.

• Scottish Country Dance. Merryn 562 0236.

• Bridge Club 7-10pm. Shona 562 7073.

• DB Playcentre Mon, Wed, Fri 9-12. Andrea Jensen 02102797311.

• “Steady as You Go” Age Concern sponsored Falls Prevention and Exercise Programme. Held 12 noon each Wednesday at Eastbourne Community Hall. Classes are held for 1 hour and costs only $2. Improve your strength and balance to reduce falls and injuries. Falls are preventable. Please join us! Pump Dance Hip hop & contemporary classes Wed afternoons in St Ronan’s hall 0274373508 info@pumpdance.com

Thursdays

• Menzshed 9 till 12 , Williams Park, Mike 562 8688. Women welcome.

• St Ronan’s Mainly Music, 9.30am10.30am, contact Cathy 027 213 9342.

• SPACE at Days Bay Playcentre. Michelle 971 8598.

East Harbour Women’s Club

New Members Welcome Card Groups (weekly)

- Bolivia 12.45pm

Contact Glendyr ph: 562 7181 - Bridge

1.00pm

Contact Heather ph: 562 7995 Guest Speaker (3rd week of month)

7.00pm - Drinks and nibbles provided Contact Diane ph: 562 7555

•Lions meet 2nd Thursday of the month at the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club, Tuatoru St 6.30 pm. New members and visitors are welcome. Graham 562 8819.

• Eastbourne Karate Dojo junior and senior classes (children 8 year & older, plus

parents) on Monday and senior classes on Thursday. Contact lindsaysensei@live.com, cell 021 844 873.

Fridays

• St Alban’s Pop in and Play, at St Ronan’s Church Hall, 9am-11.30am, contact Stefi 021 178 2099.

• Pt Howard Playcentre Fri 9.15 -11.45am. Caroline 021 072 1070.

• AA Plunket Rooms 7.30pm. Mark 566 6444/ Pauline 562 7833

• DB Playcentre Mon, Wed, Fri 9-12. Andrea Jensen 02102797311.

• Discovery Time for 4years+ at San Antonio School, 78 Oroua Street, 9.3010.30am. Office 562 7398.

Saturdays

• Justice of the Peace at the Eastbourne Community Library, first Saturday of each month 12pm-1pm.

• Lions’ rubbish bin last Saturday of each month.

• Croquet from 10.00am Muritai Croquet Club. Lyn 562 8722 or Val 562 8181.

• Historical Society of Eastbourne local studies room open above the library 11am - Noon on Last Saturday every month. (Check Mondays).

• Eastbourne Dune Restoration Group Meets at the dunes area in front of the Eastbourne Recreation Ground, on the first Saturday of the month at 9am. Contact Keena for more details on 562 0992.

Sundays

• Church services - see page 28.

• AA Plunket Rooms 10am. Pauline 562 7833.

Wahine mast to be painted original colour

Maintenance work will be carried out on the Wahine Memorial in November, including returning the mast to its original buff colour.

Hutt City Council is concerned at the appearance of rust and reports of water getting into the structure, which they believe could be damaging in the long run if left unchecked.

“In order to prevent this,” HCC reserves assets manager Janet Lawson says, “we want to seal these leaks and apply a coating to parts of the platform to prevent water getting in. At the same time we will re-paint the structure. We will be using a different colour to the current white. This is, we understand, the original colour and in keeping with the memorial over in Frank Kitts Park.”

Eastbourne Community Board member Murray Gibbons says he is very pleased that the mast is to be painted in its original colours.

“From day one people complained that it was just not right, especially people who had sailed on the Wahine. I think they painted it white so it would be more easily seen from the passing Cook Strait Ferries.”

Janet says council felt the opportunity was right to re-paint the mast, whilst there was scaffolding up and work already taking place.

“We know that the mast is important to the people of Eastbourne and Lower Hutt,” Janet said. “We wanted to reflect the significance of the site and properly honour those who were lost and others who had survived or helped out during the tragedy.”

Janet says the work will be fairly low impact, but there will be some scaffolding around the memorial while labour is being done.

Artbourne's trio of local artists

More than $145,000 worth of art and jewellery was sold as part of Artbourne this year. Thirty percent of artists' sales were donated to the Promising Futures for Boys Foundation which offers scholarships to students. Pictured are Suzanne Herschell, Hillary Tipping and Janet Andrews, whose work was part of the event.

Dignity comes first in business for people in need

by Louise Parry

Imagine this scenario: you are an ex-pat living and working overseas when you get a call from a relative to say your mother is struggling to care for herself.

She is unable to walk unaided safely, and is struggling to get in and out of the shower, and prepare meals.

Another case might involve a relative for whom residential care accommodation needs to be found urgently.

Where do you start? Who do you call - what do you need to look for in a care facility? This is where Eastbourne’s Hayley Roche (pictured) comes in.

Hayley formed Dignity First after her family was thrown into a situation involving an unexpected illness.

“All of a sudden you are thrust into this world and you don’t know anything about it,” Hayley says.

"Even if it’s gradual, it’s not a world you know - you’re just thrown into it, and there’s not a lot of help out there."

Hayley says many people spend countless hours on the internet and phone searching for people to answer questions about funding, home help, hospital and aged care facilities, and any other resources that are available.

A lot of people don’t know where to start and many of the agencies are only available during work hours; a problem if the person trying to contact them is working.

“There are several websites, but you still have to ring around yourself, and take the day off work to do so.”

Dignity First offers a range of services from drawing up a list of possible options for care, to calling around on someone’s behalf, to arranging visits to retirement villages.

Hayley says her aim is to take much of the stress out of a stressful situation. By doing the work for you and helping you to navigate the system, the process is so much easier.

“You hear some horror stories about people’s experiences with getting help organised, She says.

"But the people I’ve met do their very best for their clients,” she says.

Dignity First 0800 4 dignity (0800 4 344 6489)

THE

Be inspired when you wake up to this amazing outlook, one of the prettiest harbours in the world! Pop down to the beach for a morning walk with the locals to breathe the sea air and enjoy some of what Days Bay offers you. redcoats.co.nz/RED9673 | Deadline Sale

Only occasionally does a home grace the market that will take your breath away with it’s innovative formatting, attention to detail and location. Deadline Sale closing at 28 Cornwall Street, 12pm Thu 1 Nov 2018 (will not be sold prior) redcoats.co.nz/RED18438| Deadline Sale

KARAMU BEACH HOUSE

This cedar gem is exceptional, having the qualities to enjoy the beach life with a 1 minute walk down to the water in Robinson Bay - one of Eastbourne’s top swimming spots. Auction at 28 Cornwall St, 12.30pm Thurs 22 Nov (unless sold prior) redcoats.co.nz/RED19763 | For Sale By Auction

Orchids : small but significant treasures in our park

Orchids are probably one of the least known species of the NZ flora. They are flowering plants with a wide and unusual range of forms. They are small and have, in most cases, exquisite, subtle little flowers, quite different to their showy tropical relatives. To discover a range of these orchids in EHRP, tuck a magnifying glass in your pocket and slowly browse the track edges; they are to be found with just a bit of perseverance both on dry clay banks as well as damp shady glades.

NZ has over 120 species of orchids and over 30 of these have been recorded in EHRP. Most flower in spring and summer, but a few can be found in flower almost any month of the year. They are found in a range of habitats from the coast to subalpine herb fields; from swamps to forests. Different forest types such as broadleaf, beech, kauri and even exotic pine have associations with particular orchids.

Their common names are evocative of their many and unusual shapes: Greenhood, Spider, Bamboo, Bird, Leek, Onion and Gnat being just a few of those. Mostly they are self-pollinated, the rest insect or wind pollinated. Hence their subtle colouring and size. Few are scented, but you are likely to detect the heady scent of Earina

Kidztalk

autumnalis before you see it. Commonly known as the Easter orchid, it is perhaps one of the largest in size and most prolific of the EHRP orchids, flowering around February/March. They can be terrestrial – growing on the forest floor or epiphytic perching on other trees, shrubs or rocks. Some are specially adapted to living high in the canopy, others on the damp forest floor.

Maori used orchids (Potato orchid) as a source of food, eating the roots and tubers, which were dried and cooked. Interestingly, Vanilla, found in tropical forests, belongs to the Orchid family and the pods and seeds are the source of vanilla flavouring.

Most of the NZ orchids are classified as rare or endangered. Their continued presence in our forests is not guaranteed. Threats include collectors, habitat loss, vegetation succession (especially weeds on track edges), and browsing by deer, possums and pigs.

The orchid population in EHRP will have benefitted hugely from predator control undertaken by MIRO (with the support of Greater Wellington) over the last 15 years, as possum numbers have fallen substantially over this time; but browsing by deer and pigs remains an ongoing threat.

- Gail Abel, MIRO.

- Photo credits Bob Watson

WELCOME TO DAYS BAY PLAYCENTRE

Summer seems to have arrived at Days Bay Playcentre which means lots of splishsplashing and fun in the sun. Our mud kitchen and sandpit water hose have been among the favourites in these beautiful days, but this term we are also focusing on contribution -- what we can give to each other and the community. Our tamariki will be preparing some songs to sing for the "Take a Break" session at St Ronans Church on 13 December, spreading some holiday cheer.

We will also be doing some fundraising at the Eastbourne Market on 9 December, come check out what we have to offer.

Spaces still available for term 4! Sessions run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, 9:15am-11:45.

Pop in for a visit or phone Andrea 021027973111 for more information.

Schuyler Dear, age 3, jumping in muddy puddles.

The Point Howard Association Committee warmly invites all residents to our Christmas Long Lunch. This will be held from 12pm on Sunday, 2 December at the Pt Howard Tennis Pavilion/ Playcentre. Bring yourself, your family and a plate to share with friends and neighbours. The committee will be providing tables, chairs, chilly bins (don’t forget your beverages!), a sausage sizzle and ice creams. A koha of $10 per household is much appreciated. A BBQ will also be available for you to throw on a sausage, shrimp or a steak. Please see the flyer delivered to your letterbox for further details or email pthowardassn@gmail.com. Please RSVP by 25 November to Kay on 566 3286 or to pthowardassn@gmail.com

Reminder to those residents affected by noise from Seaview:

• Port Road Drags will be held on Sunday. 25 November 2018

• Hutt Valley Motorsport Club Street Sprints will be held on Sunday, 20 January 2019.

Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to help paint the exterior of the Pt Howard Tennis Pavilion/ Playcentre. With the Christmas and holiday season soon upon us, it is likely that this work will take place in February 2019. We’ll provide an update in mid-January.

Finally, not only is it coming up to the season of goodwill and joy, but it also coming up to the season that brings out the opportunistic. Please don’t give them any rewards by leaving doors or windows unlocked, or valuables (presents!) on display in your vehicle.

pthowardassn@gmail.com

SPORT

International football and exams

by Steve McMorran

New Zealand opened its FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign in Uruguay on Wednesday against Finland and will face hosts Uruguay, probably in a stadium full of frenzied fans, at 11am on Saturday. Its final pool match, against Ghana, is at 9am on Wednesday and all three matches are at the Estadio Charrua, a 14,000seat stadium in the Uruguay capital Montevideo.

Father Peter Hahn has flown to Uruguay for the group stages of the tournament and mother Beena Hegde has watched the matches at home with Maya’s siblings.

While the family has been understandably excited to see Maya play for New Zealand at a World Cup, Maya herself has tackled the turmoil of the past few weeks in a typically unflappable manner.

She has had to cope not only with the final preparations of the New Zealand team and with its assembly and departure but with critical exams at the end of Year 13 at Hutt Valley High School.

Others would have found the pressure of juggling academic and sporting commitments oppressive but Maya has taken it in her stride. She had to sit all of her mock exams in a week because she will not be at home when her classmates sit their final papers.

While the others will sit the exams over three weeks, with more time to study, Maya was forced to complete all of her exams, for which she will be graded, in a single week and with less study time.

Once again, she seemed not to find those demands too oppressive, nor the need to spend half of her recent school holidays in training with the New Zealand team.

“She’s extremely resilient,” Beena Hegde said.

“I’m really proud of her, of course. But I’m especially proud of her for being just so measured in her approach to everything. It’s always just one foot after another.

“She never lets herself get too high or too low, and of course there can always be highs or lows in sport especially but she seems to take everything in her stride.”

Maya was nominated for a local sport award in the week before her departure for Uruguay with the New Zealand team on November 3. But while she was pleased with the nomination, she didn’t allow it to distract her from the tasks at hand, neither becoming too focused on the nomination, or too disappointed to miss out on the award.

She worked through the pressure of her final exams without showing any signs of discomfort and has approached with the same steady tread.

Maya now has the chance to shine with her New Zealand teammates on a world stage. New Zealand beat Canada 2-1 in a warm-up match in Uruguay and goes into the tournament with confidence and high hopes.

Beena’s hope is that Maya’s journey to the World Cup acts as an inspiration to others.

“One of the great things is that Maya just started off playing as a young girl for the Eastbourne Football Club,” she said. “I hope that young ones out there who may be starting at that age look at what Maya has done and see that reaching that level is a realistic goal.”

BRIEFS

The Eastbourne men’s and women’s premier bowls teams have slipped to mid-table positions after three rounds of the Wellington interclub season. The women’s team, finalists last year, are currently seventh in their division but still in the running for a top-four finish in a tight competition. The men’s team, national champions in each of the last three years, are also seventh in a highly-competitive and rapidlychanging men’s premier division.

The America’s Cup, sailing’s oldest and most prestigious trophy, will visit the Lowry Bay Yacht Club on Sunday, November 18. Currently held by Team New Zealand, the trophy will arrive at the Seaview clubrooms at 4pm and will remain until 6pm. Team New Zealand member Richard Meachan will address club members at 5.30pm and there will be opportunities for photographs with the silver ewer. The visit is part of a national America’s Cup tour and its visit to the Lowry Bay club is made possible by the Sailability Trust.

News from Point Howard

Local breaks continue to entice surfers of all ages

by Carl McRae

Continuing a fine tradition, three Eastbourne surfers represented Wellington at the 2018 National Scholastic Surfing Championships at Makorori Beach in Gisborne last month. Considered the pinnacle of junior surfing in New Zealand, the five-day competition ended with Canterbury taking the title, Wellington finishing a respectable 9th.

Each region had twelve young surfers and the Eastbourne trio of Jack and Flynn Healy and Euan McLaren all made the third round before being knocked out, but did go the furthest in the competition of any Wellington competitors.

The three HIBS students were selected following the Wellington Regional U18 Championships a few weeks prior, originally to be staged at Lyall Bay, but transferred to Castlepoint owing to conditions not being favourable at the Airport Reef.

Flynn finished first, with brother Jack runner-up, while Euan’s seventh placing was enough to ensure his spot in the Wellington team also. 30 surfers from HIBS, Kapiti, Scots and Tawa Colleges took part in the competition.

“Conditions were challenging,” Jack says. “The waves were closed out, as we were judged on biggest turns and manoeuvres.”

The sport has a long history in Eastbourne and according to our longest riding current surfie, Phil Wollerman, has always had cult appeal, from "grommets" to national representatives. Phil, who began surfing as a seven year-old at Lion Rock more than half a century ago, says a lot of very good surfers grew up and honed their craft along the Pencarrow coastline.

“Eastbourne is a great place to learn to surf,” he says, “as it has a lot to offer in terms of gradients. Lions Rock provides the perfect nursery conditions and it’s right outside the door. The further you get out toward the heads and Cook Strait, the better and bigger the waves.”

“The great thing for Eastbourne kids is that they get to choose,” he says. “They can bike around the coast to the Pencarrow Lighthouse, or hang out at the Pipes, the best known and regarded local area.”

Jack Healy says the Pipes are popular with the young local surfers also and often has better conditions than the more recognised venues of Lyall and Titahi Bay’s.

“The waves are longer,” he says, “but the great advantage is that there are usually far less surfers in the water than those other beaches.”

“It’s a little known fact these days though,” says Phil, “that there was another point break called ‘the Web’. It was named after Walsh, Edhouse and ‘Spud’ Brown, a group who frequently rode Lion Rock when I was a kid. It now, of course, gives "surfing the web" a new

connotation.”

There are several breaks to choose from between Pencarrow head and Eastbourne. All left hand point breaks, they are largely reliant on big southerly swells for optimal conditions, and as this is not all that common, it acts as another deterrent for surfers from out of the region, who tend to head to the Wairarapa for bigger swells.

The New Zealand Surf Guide, Surf Seeker, is not overly kind regarding local points or conditions and gives both the quality and crowd level rating a 5/10. Local surfers aren’t too bothered about the mediocre rating or being as this also helps keep the crowds away. It implies that Eastbourne is more of a novelty spot with a soft close-out than a serious surf.

Phil Wollerman says that when conditions are optimal, surfers from the Wairarapa and as far up the line as Otaki are often known to make

“Surfing is as much about the individual as the sport itself,” he says. “For a start, you spend most of your time paddling and learning the art of self-sufficiency. You get to know your boundaries and keep pushing yourself, constantly in search of a rideable wave.”

What currently irks Phil the most is Centreport’s re-invigorated plans, having been paid out $170m in earthquake insurance following the Kaikoura quake of November, 2016, to dredge the entrance to Wellington Harbour, in an effort to allow bigger container ships to enter the port.

The plans have aggravated many, and among a myriad of claims (including damage to the aquifer that lies under the harbour which Continues next page

the journey to the eastern coastline of Wellington Harbour to ride the swell.

Jack Healy competing in the Wellington Regionals at Castlepoint in October.

From previous page

under-rated per se, provides Wellington with its drinking water, and destruction of microorganisms and natural underwater habitats), one is that it will wreck local surfing spots.

“Of major concern for local surfies,” he says, “will be an expected thirty percent reduction in wave height, which could ruin surfing in Eastbourne completely.”

“There is also a limit to the amount of shipping that passes through the Lower North Island,” he says, “based on the size of local industries, and on that basis, Wellington is already dwarfed by the highly productive ports of Hamilton, Tauranga, Auckland and Lyttleton in the South.”

Phil says that other organisations and individuals have questioned the wisdom of such a massive capital outlay, for fear that the project could become a white elephant, with money wasted on ships that will never come.

Dredging a 7km channel includes removing six million cubic metres of sediment from the harbour floor and dumping it into the sea off Fitzroy Bay, just outside the harbour’s entrance.

As this month's Herald goes to print, Phil is about to take up the fight again with Centrepoint regarding all issues as listed above and a few more he has up his sleeve.

“It’s a complex issue,” he says. “But there are enough detractors around who have expressed concerns and we will be trying to make the company see sense, rather than do the kiwi-thing and plow on, wasting money on impossible dreams. Watch this space.”

Yachties garner top results

Junior sailors from the Muritai Yacht Club, competing at their first major championships, produced top results at the North Island Opti regatta in Napier late last month. Felix Pummer was 25th and Seb Campbell 28th out of 56 entrants in the silver flight while Lola Campbell

was 4th out of 24 in the green flight. Lola finished in the top 10 in all but one of her races and was only a point behind the third-place finisher. Felix ended his regatta with a win in his eighth race.

The Wellington rep side which travelled to Gisborne for the National's; Jack and Flynn Healy (extreme right) and Euan McLaren (third left).

SMOKE SIGNALS

Fire Permits are now issued by Fire and Emergency New Zealand (www. fireandemergency.nz)

Open Air Fires:

• If you want to light a fire in open air, you will need to find out:

• what the current fire season is for your area; and

• Whether you need a fire permit.

• Fire and Emergency New Zealand has three types of fire season:

• Open: During an Open fire season, you don’t need a fire permit from Fire and Emergency NZ to light a fire in open air, but you do need the permission of the landowner and you’re still responsible for any damage the fire causes.

• Restricted: During a Restricted fire season, you must not light a fire in open air unless you have a fire permit from Fire and Emergency New Zealand. You must comply with the conditions of the permit and before you light the fire, you must check to make sure that a Prohibited fire season status has not been declared.

• Prohibited: During a Prohibited fire season, you must not light a fire in open air unless you have a fire permit from Fire and Emergency New Zealand, and you must comply with the conditions of the permit.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand can only grant a permit during a Prohibited fire season if:

• It considers that the permit is necessary to prevent, reduce, or overcome any hazard to life or because of any other serious emergency; or

• Weather or other conditions have temporarily reduced the fire hazard so as to make it apparently safe to light a fire.

No matter what the fire season is, you still need to comply with any Council bylaws and Regional Council requirements relating to smoke nuisance and discharges to the air, even if you are issued with a fire permit from Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

You are lighting a fire in the open air if you have a:

• Campfire

• Bonfire

• Cooking fire

• Brazier

• Hangi, Lovo or Umu

• Rubbish fire

• Controlled burn

• Prescribed burn

Fire and Emergency NZ have the authority to extinguish any fire it considers to be a danger to life or property, irrespective of whether a fire permit has been issued and also if they determine that the fire does not fully comply

with the conditions of the permit or is not being adequately controlled.

You can check the fire season status in your region through www.checkitsalright.nz .

For practical advice on Fire Safety visit www. fireandemergency.nz, or contact your local Fire Brigade.

Emergency Call Outs:

• 21 Oct 18 – Smoke in the area, Pencarrow Coast Road.

• 22 Oct 18 – Car vs Power Pole, Lowry Bay

• 01 Nov 18 – Lifting Assistance, Marine Drive

• 06 Nov 18 – Abandoned Cooking Fire, Lions Rock

• 07 Nov 18 – Damaged Gas Main, Lowry Bay

Garden Stuff with Sandy Lang

Mid November: Almost summer. Wind, sunand water rationing… Tough for gardens and gardeners alike… What to do…? Rescue shower and kitchen water. And what else…?

Conserve & increase: Get some free tree-chip mulch (bus barns). Tree-chip mulch reduces soil water loss and (slowly) increases soil water-holding capacity.

Incidentally - The mulch pile is a free community service - not a place to dump garden waste. There are a few sociopaths who do this and spoil it for everybody. If you see a green-waste dumper, email me their car rego (photo?), I’ll dob them in with HCC. Waste tipping carries fines of $400 (Litter Act 1979). Increase soil volume: More positively, what else can you do to increase soil water?

Answer: Increase the volume of soil accessed by your plant roots.

Top: Bare soil gets hot in day, cold at night. Roots don’t like this. A mulch blanket keeps the top 5 cm of soil cool in day and warm at night, so roots can thrive in this, air/nutrient/ water rich, upper layer.

Church Services In Eastbourne

St Alban’s Anglican: Sunday Worship 10am at Wellesley College. Thursday Worship 10am - check venue with Parish office, 11 Ngaio St, Eastbourne tel: 562 6269

Children and Families Ministry: see www.stalbanschurch.nz

St Ronan’s Presbyterian: Muritai Rd, Eastbourne tel: Parish Clerk 562 8753

Sunday Morning Worship: 9.30am. Power Hour: 9.30am

San Antonio Roman Catholic: Oroua St, Eastbourne tel: Fr Marlon Maylon Parish Priest 970 8405

Saturday Vigil Mass: 5.30pm

Sunday (Sacred Heart, Petone): 9.30am & 5.30pm

Sub: There are few roots below 25 cm where the subsoil is too often waterlogged, compacted, anaerobic etc - nothing much you can do…

Mid: Most roots live between 5 and 25 cm down. In this depth-band a soil contains many natural channels (insect/worm burrows, spaces left by dead roots). These serve as air and water conduits. It’s not natural for a soil to be exposed to heavy wheel and pedestrian traffic. These collapse the air/water channels. The result - soil compaction.

A compacted soil contains little air, drains badly and waterlogs often. Few roots can penetrate a compacted soil or survive long there if they do - under a washing line, under a wheel track. Soil compaction recovers very slowly (years) - you must wait. Compacted soil contains water, but it is inaccessible to your water-starved plants because their roots can’t reach it.

Don’ts & dos: So, don’t make compaction any worse. Especially, don’t park on grass or under a tree. And don’t stand on your veggie bed. But do spread your weight over a bigger area than your foot. Make paths where you walk often (concrete, pavers, boards). And when in the bush, keep to the path. Why create new lines of soil compaction that limit access to soil water by our precious forest trees…?

Sandy Lang slang@xtra.co.nz

Cash for scrap - Copper, Brass, Aluminium, Stainless, Cars, Whiteware, Steel. Ingot Metals, 2 Port Road, Seaview. Ph 568 8300.

GARDEN WORKER for all weeding, tidying and garden maintenance contact Hamish on 022 3748453.

SONNY’S YOGA - EASTBOURNE CLASSESEnjoy a relaxing yoga class near the ocean. Every Wednesday 6.30pm at Muritai Yacht Club. Beginners welcome. For more info call Sonny on 021 800 512.

NEED A LOCAL JP? Bill Guthrie 027 247 5427.

ORGANIC GARDENER: BSc (ecology) beautiful gardens…naturally ph 562 8726 or txt 027 6939 323.

MALE ARTIST (55) SEEKS ROOM TO RENT in Eastbourne/ Bays area: Point Howard, Lowry Bay, York Bay, Mahina Bay, Sunshine Bay, Days Bay or Rona Bay. Before Nov 30, 2018. Non-smoker. Short-term/long-term rental agreement. Phone 022 374 8453.

WANTED TO RENT LONG TERM, Eastbourne

1 or 2 bedroom flat or bach in Eastbourne. Pref ground level. I’m an elderly gentleman in my 70s, clean habits, no pets, non smoker, and I have my own fridge, bed etc. I’m home from 6am-8.45am and any time after midday. Would be very grateful to hear from you. Thank you. Phone Peter on 566 0162.

Dan Reed lawn mowing, lawn and garden care. Contact 027 337 1360

Editor: Louise Goble

Stories: Carl McRae

Sports: Steve McMorran

Advertising enquires: editor@eastbourneherald.co.nz 562 7500

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

Classified ads cost 40c per word.

Email copy to: editor@eastbourneherald.co.nz or phone 562 7500

Email: editor@eastbourneherald.co.nz

Phone: 562 7500

Website: www.eastbourneherald.co.nz

• Small job specialists

• Full maintenance service

• Registered sub-trades

• Competitive rates

• Free quotes & advice

ph: Mark O’Rourke 021 027 61926 email: markorourke2014@gmail.com

ANT PROBLEMS?

We specialise in Ant Control AND this is the time of year when rodents move inside to nest in homes & work spaces. We offer eradication and prevention programmes.

939 0792

All Hutt Valley & Wellington Regions All Operators Are Fully Qualified & Security Screened

For All Your Pest Control Requirements

Commercial/Domestic Your Local Eastbourne Operator for 19 years

www.bestpest.nz

ACTIVE ELECTRICAL LTD Industrial Commercial Domestic

• Additions & Alterations

• Lighting Upgrades

• Garden Lighting

• Hot water Cylinders

• Heat Pumps 0800 AEL NOW (566 2273) email ael@xtra.co.nz

breakfast-lunch-fully licensed Bookings 021 909 074

Pete Collier

Pete Collier

p: 562 7115

p: 562 7115

m: 0275 426 512

m: 0275 426 512

e: p.collier@xtra.co.nz

e: p.collier@xtra.co.nz

SUNNY LOWRY BAY TOWNHOUSE

Located along popular Cheviot Road, this fantastic 160m2 two bedroom townhouse is ideal for small families and professional or retiring couples (possibly downsizing) looking for a lovely home. The living spaces are really generous for this kind of property. The gorgeous decor, spacious master room, sheltered sunny patio, new garage and easy-care section may be just what you are looking for.

Sinead Diederich

04 392 0001 | 021 02581960

CURRENT LISTINGS

PRETTY CHARACTER 1930S' COTTAGE & GARDEN

Sinead Diederich 021 025 81960 Duncan Povey 027 5971 080

This cute cottage, on an elevated section is close to school, kindy and handy for the ferry at Days Bay. A traditional home with lots of character, this cottage offers 2 bedrooms & a good sized lounge with open fire and good sized kitchen and bathroom. Recently renovated, including new kitchen and bathroom, with sympathetic neutral decor throughout. sinead@tommyshv.co.nz

Sinead Diederich

04 392 0001 | 021 02581960

35a Cheviot Road, Lowry Bay, Eastbourne Buyer Enquiry From $745,000

REF: THV02179

23 Rona Street, Eastbourne Buyer Enquiry From $595,000

REF: THV02218