Submission date extended on controversial District Plan
by Louise Parry
Inconsistencies in the draft District Plan and a lack of communication from Hutt City Council about the implications of the proposals for property owners have banded local residents together to fight what they see as unnecessary and arbitrary changes to property use rules.
The council extended the deadline for submissions on the plan. Cut off is now 5pm on 2 May 2025. The extension comes as residents grapple with understanding the implications of the draft District Plan, which now includes new residential zones and increased rules around slope hazards, natural hazards, the coastal environment, and sites and areas of significance to Māori (SASMs).
Muritai resident Andrew Robinson, who is involved in the property and development sectors, has been actively assisting locals in deciphering the draft plan. A key concern regards the lack of clear communication surrounding the proposed rules. "We've got a pretty resounding response from people saying, mate, we don't know anything about this. We're concerned." While the council’s website has functionality for address searches showing overlays of the various maps influencing land use, Mr Robinson says working out what that means for individual homeowners is complicated. "How do we find out what's the lay of the land? What does this all mean to us, in terms of the now, but also the future?"
Under the planned changes, subdivision rules are governed by the specifics of their site as pertaining to risks identified from its gradient, position in the coastal environment, risks of tsunami and other natural hazards, along with
Portable Heating Range
any significance of the site to Māori. SASMs can include sacred sites and areas, such as burial sites, urupā/cemeteries, battle sites, former kāinga/villages and pā sites, Māori reserves, significant maunga/mountains, nohoanga/ campsites and important mahinga kai/food gathering areas, including waterways. While this change has been flagged for some time, (see The Eastbourne Herald’s July 2024 explainer at www.eastbourneherald.co.nz), some developers are questioning why the provisions only apply to buildings that are larger than 200m2.
Legal advice has suggested the draft changes are a “bit of a trial, bit of an overreach, a bit of a radical kind of concept for a lot of these things, which are slightly untested,” Mr Robinson says.
He says the four areas of greatest concern to him include the Large Lot Residential Zone, which limits subdivision on large sites that include hills. Under the plan,“Medium to high density housing types, such as terrace housing and low-rise apartments, are only enabled where it can be demonstrated that the location is appropriate for more intensive development, including that the development can appropriately respond to existing constraints.”
Placing all properties in defined
geographical areas which are particular zones, regardless of the slope, is a huge inconsistency, he says.
“They're all kind of new rules which don't apply to the balance of Eastbourne from a starting point. Why is this kind of radical idea being applied to a few of the properties when the underlying zoning really should probably apply to the whole of the area. What's the difference?”
Mr Robinson says the concerns of the council are mitigated by sound engineering laws and standards, which ensure high-quality building takes place.
In 2023, in response to the National Policy Statement on Urban Development and an amendment two years earlier to the Housing Supply section of the Resource Management Act, HCC enacted Plan Change 56 to improve housing supply and affordability, resulting in fewer restrictions on development. Mr Robinson is asking why the rules around housing intensity have now changed in certain areas but not others. Mr Robinson is one of those questioning “why they suddenly added this new zone to Eastbourne when, under their plan change 56 which got approved back Continues on Page 2
No date for ferry's return District Plan review
From Page 1
in 2023, all these forms suddenly turned into a medium density kind of environment.
“The other thing we're trying to do, is understand what I call the system of systems, or networking networks - which is the overlay of all these things on top of each other - and how you navigate getting through all these different overlays, to actually come up with an understanding of what you can and can't do with your property.”
“The point is that we need the right information, and we need to understand how the council have approached this particular issue across these properties, and I don't think they've provided enough information. I think they've made it very, very hard for people to actually make a decision about whether this is a good thing or not.”
The draft District Plan, accessible at https://haveyoursay.huttcity.govt.nz/proposeddistrict-plan, serves as the "rule book for land use and development," aiming to manage infrastructure constraints, natural hazards (including landslide and coastal hazards), respond to climate change, and protect the environment and our historic and cultural taonga. It dictates which development is permitted where and what requires resource consent.
It’s been nine months since we last saw East by West’s electric ferry, Ika Rere, at the wharf in Days Bay. So it was a welcome news item on RNZ last week reporting that the ferry would be back in service in May.
East by West spokesperson Coralie Christian says the [RNZ] article that went out was “a relay of information put out a while ago” and didn’t have correct dates.
“We don’t have a current return to service date locked in for Ika Rere,” she says, “as it is contingent on a bunch of things, some of which are external factors.
“We’re hoping to see it back operating on our timetable in late May/June.”
The next public Eastbourne Community Board meeting is at 7.15pm on Tuesday, 10 June, at East Harbour Women’s Club, 145 Muritai Rd. Everyone is welcome.
ECB members will be available from 6.45pm to discuss issues and answer questions.
Gollan’s Valley Station purchase
The ECB is delighted that Greater Wellington Regional Council has purchased Gollan’s farm. The opportunities for recreation and conservation in our region are significant.
Thank you to everyone who supported the purchase.
ECB walkabout
Thank you to the Eastern Bays residents’ association members who met with the ECB and Cr Quentin Duthie during our annual ‘walkaround’ in March. The tour of the Bays to discuss issues and concerns is always one of the year’s highlights.
Local
Body elections in October
If you are interested in being elected to the ECB to represent your community and would like to know more about the election process and what’s involved, get in touch with any ECB member. Or come along to a public meeting – there are two more before October.
Now you see it, now you don’t…
by Ann Packer
There’s less than there used to be – but still no shortage of rubbish, says Sarah Pettus, who seven years ago took over coordination of the biannual April and November cleanup of the beaches south of Eastbourne, initiated many moons ago by the EHEA. “People feel they’re not collecting much but it adds up,” she says, with 20 bags collected this year.
The content changes – a reflection of topdown government policy, she thinks – fewer plastic straws, plastic-coated parking tickets from HCC and plastic bags but other things take over.
What she cannot believe is the “gobsmacking behaviour” of visiting family groups – about 20 percent of offenders – who not only don’t use the bins available but go to great lengths to shove their used disposable nappies and food waste into flax bushes. Not so nice to try and pull out.
The other 80 percent is what she calls unintentional rubbish – windblown, or abandoned through sheer laziness.
Sarah’s grateful for the support of all those who continue to come and help pick up rubbish – family groups on foot or on their bikes, all the way north and south of Burdan's Gate – and to HCC who supply bags, gloves and banners, and collect the bags from the road to Pencarrow the day after
She’s flexible as to the actual day – to fit in with groups such as Scouts – as long as it gets
done twice a year. From a supporters’ mailing list of 100, 30 to 40 turn up.
“But we’ll keep picking it up,” she says, “otherwise the whole beach would become a rubbish tip.”
"Ridiculous" fare hike averted
Belinda Moss (Chair) 029 494 1615
belinda.moss@huttcity.govt.nz
Murray Gibbons (Deputy Chair) 04 562 8567
Emily Keddell 021 188 5106
Bruce Spedding 021 029 74741
Frank Vickers 027 406 1419
Tui Lewis (Ward Councillor) 021 271 6249
A whopping 70 percent rise in public transport fares has been avoided, with Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) “staring down” central government following pressure to increase interim Private Share targets – the proportion of public transport operating costs funded from private sources, including passenger fares and advertising revenue. The remainder is the Public Share, derived from rates, taxes and nationally funded schemes including SuperGold and Community Connect.
GWRC councillor Quentin Duthie told the Eastbourne Community Board (ECB) meeting that increasing user pays and private sector
funding “in such quick order” would have led to huge fare jumps. “It would have been absolutely ridiculous.”
GWRC introduced interim targets of 23.9% in financial year (FY) 2024/25 and 25.1% in FY 2025/26, and include an indicative target of 25.7% for FY 2026/27.
This is in addition to fare increases agreed in February, which reduce the off-peak travel discount from 50% to 30% and raise all fares by 2.2% from 1 July 2025.
Meanwhile, the morning 81 route will have one extra service due to rising demand and most weekend 83 bus routes will be doubledeckers.
Ruth Young and son Max, 11, were among the 38 who turned out for this year’s beach cleanup.
One hundred not out – Eastbourne Scouts turn 100
Planning is underway for a celebration later in the year to mark the centenary of Scout activities in Eastbourne. And the stories are coming in!
Although there is some uncertainty about the earliest date when local lads first met under the label, it is 100 years this year since Eastbourne Scouts first took part in the community Anzac memorial service, on the road outside Muritai School. And the Eastbourne troop, or group as it’s now called, is currently one of the largest in New Zealand.
Scout parents Sue McDonald and Venturer leader Stephen Catchpole are heading up a group gathering information and anecdotes for a day of festivities, probably some time in November.
Many past activities are documented in an Eastbourne Venturers’ scrapbook, published after leader Luke Pardekooper left the community. Ali Carew of the Historical Society of Eastbourne has also produced a timeline based on available information.
The online archive Papers Past notes a mayoral presentation made to Domenico Tesoriero of Rona Bay in 1910, when “the local patrol of Boy Scouts presented their comrade with a silver medal in appreciation of his bravery” in rescuing a drowning boy – and there was also a troop for a couple of years at St Alban's church, under
acting vicar Rev’d Thomas Gardner. But 1924 seems to be the year when earlier arrangements were revived and formalised. Indeed, the Scout Commissioner of the day, Sir Alfred Robin, thought “each bay could have a troop”.
Troops and groups for Scouts, Cubs, Rangers and later Venturers came and went with surprising frequency over the years, with a shortage of leaders always the driving issue. A troop was formed at Croydon (now Wellesley) in 1924 and in 1928 a training centre, Wirihana, was set up for Scout and Cub leaders from around the country on 10 acres of land in Lowry Bay, with a bush chapel behind. This building is now a private residence, still in traditional creosote (black) colours.
In 2010, Eastbourne Venturers took on the classic route of the Coast to Coast race, from the West Coast to Sumner Beach in Christchurch. There were tramping, biking and kayaking sectors for the Venturers to complete.
In April 1996 Jenny Haskell was the first girl to join a local Cub pack – as recorded in a photo in the Eastbourne Herald.
Eastbourne’s first group met at the council chambers (where the fire station is now) then St Alban's and St Ronan's church halls, a cottage in Muritai School grounds, and the Rugby Club gym, before settling into their own Den at the end of Tuatoru St.
Much has changed over the years but some things remain. The Commonwealth’s top scouting award, is signed by the ruling monarch: Noah Kirkham, now studying at Canterbury University, is the only one to have received both the Queen's and King's Scout Award.
For more information about the centenary please contact: Sue_mcdonald@me.com
Eastbourne Karate Dojo
Eastbourne Karate Dojo will be starting a new beginner’s class for parents and their children in Term 2 and would like to extend this opportunity to all interested families. Children must be older than 9 (nine) years of age. Grandparents are welcome to learn too at a slower pace as long as their health allows them to. It’s good to know that learning martial arts can be beneficial for other sports, as it enhances skills like balance, flexibility, speed, agility and focus, which are transferable to various other disciplines. Training regularly also helps by keeping trainees engaged in a healthy activity and off the internet and couches.
Of interest, the Eastbourne Karate Dojo celebrated its 26th anniversary this year and is proud of its track record of having taught a few hundred locals over this period. Over recent years our dojo has challenged both parents and their children to train and enjoy a shared learning experience. This has proven to be very popular, especially among Mothers and Daughters, and Fathers and Daughters, as they have progressively learnt new skills and graduated to higher levels of accomplishment.
Karate instruction is provided at the Muritai School Hall on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 7pm during the school term.
Keep it Real, Keep it Moving
An Eastbourne student with an entrepreneurial streak – and a lot of tech knowledge – has set up his own company, selling pure cotton fleecy hoodies printed with his designs, from the website he designed.
Rona Bay’s Willoughby (Will) Greive, owner of Street Savvy Clothing, is no stranger to trading – he’s previously sold jibbitz, those charms for adorning your crocs, outside the Eastbourne pool, and also beaded bracelets.
Inspired by influencers who have their own clothing brands, the Year 8 HIBS student saved up his Christmas money and bought a heat press to print his brand, centred around “hip-hop dance, hanging out with friends and playing sports”, which are the things he loves to do. He’s part of Chilton’s hip-hop crew, Sour.
Will’s first gig, just three weeks after getting started, was at the Muritai School car boot sale in early March, when he sold eight garments from the boot of his family’s car.
With six designs currently available, in S, M and L sizes with puff printing an option available soon, Will sells on line, and through word of mouth (with a promo code and free delivery) at his school. He is also setting up shipping to Australia, where he and his family came from in 2018. His grandparents, who arrived later, are conveniently close by with space for his studio and distribution needs.
Will is currently working on a design for his granddad, a member of the local possum-busting bush ranger troop. Printed on dark blue, a new departure from all-white, it features a shrieking possum; he’s rather hoping Grandad’s mates might want one too. He’s also keen to get into hats…
For more details check streetsavvystore.com
Badminton and Table Tennis extravaganza
A badminton and table tennis exhibition event will be held at Muritai School Hall starting at 7pm - 10.30pm on Saturday, May 24.
The day will include matches featuring locals, as well as well-known sportsmen
Girls Years 1–13, Co-ed Preschool
pronents of their sports.
Following the exhibition matches, there will be fun games for everyone. Mr Dalziel says the day is designed to be fun for the whole family, and includes a DJ.
Entry is Gold coin donation to cover hall costs and donations to Muritai School to raise money for sports equipment. The event is to be filmed as a promotional event.
A thoroughly Eastbourne affair
After years of catering parties for Eastbourne residents and their friends, the owners of ESSC Eats celebrated their own event last month. Mark Nicholas and Rebecca McIntyre tied the knot at Porter’s Homestead in Martinborough on 7 February, some seven years after first meeting.
The couple, who have served up countless burgers, bowls and dumplings each Thursday to Sunday – not to mention wakes, weddings and milestone birthday functions over the last five years for customers at the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club (ESSC) rooms – became Mr and Mrs Nicholas.
Romance blossomed when Mark, who was working at Hive Café, sent a batch of their signature heart-shaped shortbreads along to Marmalade Deli one Valentine’s Day for “the youngest person working there” – Rebecca. The rest, as they say, is history.
The pair both have a background in hospitality going back years. Rebecca started working during summer holidays while still at school – including barista and front of house roles, in delis in Karori and Eastbourne, and for Trish Perrin’s Simply Food.
Mark began his career at a fish and chip shop before joining Reka at the Dowse, Marmalade and Hive.
He was overseas when Rebecca went to a rugby game at ESSC and thought the couple could probably do a good job at the venue, which was then offering only basic food and buying in some meals at the weekends.
“I didn’t expect it to come to fruition,” she says, “but working with Mel [Halford, ESSC manager] worked really well.” The couple held down two jobs for a while but went “all in” on ESSC in September 2019.
Then Covid struck. It was a test for their takeaway orders, which would become a huge part of their business – many in-house diners might not even be aware of that Friday night trade, but keeping a balance so those customers re well served is important too. As Mark says, it can be “crazy busy” at times, such as the closing
night of the junior cricket season last week.
The couple try to give each other time off for individual breaks – Rebecca went overseas with her mum for her 60th recently – but they say it works best for them as a duo. They also train a staff of local young people, many of whom stay on even when at university, commuting back at the weekends for functions.
They’re coming to the tail end of the summer season, which hasn’t been as busy as last year for functions, though the restaurant has been busier than ever, Mark says. “Overall it’s going great – the clubrooms are a good constant but there are not so many big parties as there were.”
April/May: Mid-, late-autumn. Past the equinox. Days shortening fast (3 min/day). Plants measure daylength (internal clock) to determine the season. The other weather variables (temperature, sunshine, rain, wind...) are unreliable indicators of season, but they do still affect plant behaviour.
Leaves: Autumn’s shortening days and cooling weather trigger leaf senescence in deciduous trees. The main function of leaf senescence is to mobilise leaf nutrients, so they can be transported back into the stem for re-use next year. When a leaf is later shed, it contains little of value.
Culture & tourism: Autumn leaf senescence is also responsible for the brilliant colours (yellows, oranges, fiery reds, purples, bronzes) so important to N Americans, Europeans and Asians. Here in NZ, there are few native deciduous trees, but many exotic ones planted in city parks and private gardens. Meanwhile, willows and poplars are common in rural areas for shelter, boundary markers and erosion control. We are used to autumn leaves but they’re not a part of our culture.
Unmasking: Leaves are green because of their dominant green pigment, chlorophyl (photosynthesis). Most of the year the chlorophyll masks the other pigments present, mainly the carotenes (orange) and the xanthophylls (yellow). As chlorophyl slowly breaks down in autumn, these other pigments begin to show through. In autumn, a fourth pigment group can also accumulate – the anthocyanins (red, purple, blue). It’s the changing amounts of these four pigment groups that create the range of autumn leaf colours we so enjoy.
Climate: The process of leaf senescence depends on the weather. A sharp temperature drop in autumn triggers a rapid and uniform leaf senescence - the leaves all change together - a dramatic visual result. However, a gradual temperature drop results in extended senescence - some trees and leaves change before others - a patchy visual result.
In continental climates, autumn temperatures usually drop fairly suddenly, resulting in dramatic autumn colours. But, in our maritime climate, the autumn temperature drops are more gradual and erratic, so we less often see the vivid colours which the same tree species may display in the N Hemisphere. Also, year-to-year differences in our autumn temperature drop rate explain why our autumn leaf colours are more intense some years than others.
slang@xtra.co.nz www.mulchpile.org
One of Eastbourne photographer Lucy Li’s special shots of the big day for ESSC owners Mark and Rebecca Nicholas.
Art competition honours fallen soldiers
Anzac Day sees the announcement of the winner and runner-up of a Anzac Day art competition, organised by Eastbourne RSA. The two successful artists, chosen by Kapiti Coast artist Julie Davidson, will be publicly named on ANZAC Day, at the traditional morning tea in the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club (ESSC), following the ANZAC Day Parade.
Visitors to the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club over the last week have been able to get up close to the three finalist art works from each school, displayed on screens in the restaurant area.
The competition, inspired by the recent installation, outside the ESSC, of Te Papa’s rusted steel sculpture, “A Memorial to our Departing Soldiers”, challenged students to create artworks reflecting the emotions and experiences surrounding this theme.
Senior students – Years 7 and 8 – from Muritai School and Wellesley College created work on the theme of departing and returning from war.
This replaces the annual RSA essay competition previously offered to local intermediate-aged students, and the winner will be awarded the trophy previously used for the ANZAC essay. All six finalists earned a book token.
Muritai principal Stu Devenport says the change to an art focus has seen an increased participation in the competition.
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Wellesley College student Angus McKenzie's work features words torn from dictionaries about love and loss.
"Hope and Grief", by Muritai School's Danika Stephenson.
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Servicing the Wellington region for 30 years
• Exterior painting: all aspects including scaffolding
• Interior painting: Complete service including plastering, wallpaper & paint
• Maintenance: Washdowns, carpentry repairs, epoxy repairs. We draw on a combined 80 years’ painting experience & use the latest technology to deliver a quality finish that’s environmentally friendly.
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 10.00am.
• Toy Library - 7.30-8.30pm.
EastbourneToyLibrary on Facebook. Kathy 0273551950.
•DB Playcentre Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings, from 9:30am to 12 noon. Drop in anytime to visit a session or email daysbay@playcentre.org.nz to arrange a visit.
• Pt Howard Playcentre. Mon 9.15 -11.45am. pcpointhoward@gmail.com
• The Historical Society’s Eastbourne History Room above the library is open 2-4 pm every Monday.
• Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade training every Monday 7-9pm. Ph 562 7001 for more info.
• Keas - 5:15pm - 6:15pm. Ed 021 738 699 Tuesdays
• Mindful Mummas group for Mums and preschool children. Childminder onsite. 1011.30. Text Emily 027 552 6119 to join or go to bemoreyou.co.nz for more info.
•DB Playcentre Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings, from 9:30am to 12 noon. Drop in anytime to visit a session or email daysbay@playcentre.org.nz to arrange a visit.
• Muritai Tennis Club 9.30–noon. Merryn 562 0236.
WHAT'S ON
• Eastbourne Homebirth Group 1st Tuesday of the month. Phone Kate 562-7096.
• East Harbour Women’s Club Morning Tea & Chat Group 10am. Contact Glendyr 0210303480.
• Indoor Bowls Club 1.30pm, at the croquet club, Oroua Street. Rosemary 562 7365
• Menzshed 9 till 12 , Williams Park, Barrie barrielittlefair@gmail.com 0204 1234511. Women welcome.
• 9.30am Nia Dance Fitness Class (low impactteens to 70+) Music Movement Magic - Muritai Yacht Club - call Amanda 021 316692 www. niainwellington.com
• Toy Library - 9.30am-10.30am.
Wednesdays
• Cubs: 5.30pm - 7.00pm, Ed 021 738 699.
• Venturers - 7:15pm - 9pm - Ed 021 738 699.
• Library preschool story time 10.00 am.
• Pt Howard Playcentre Wed 9.15 -11.45am. pcpointhoward@gmail.com
• Scottish Country Dance. Merryn 562 0236.
• Bridge Club 7-10pm. Shona 562 7073.
•DB Playcentre Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings, from 9:30am to 12 noon. Drop in anytime to visit a session or email daysbay@playcentre.org.nz to arrange a visit.
• “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!
• EHock - Fun Stick and Ball game Girls and Boys 7- 13.Eastbourne Community Hall.
•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.
• Scouts 6pm-8pm - Ed 021 738 699
• Eastbourne Bowling Club casual summer bowls 5.30pm for an hour or so. Make up a mixed team of three. Contact Keith Turner ph 04 934 4142.
• Sing Eastbourne: 8pm, San Antonio.
Fridays
• Pop in and Play playgroup at St Ronan's Church Hall, 9am-11.30am during school terms. All preschoolers (0-4 years) welcome. Cath 027 213 9342.
• Pt Howard Playcentre Fri 9.15 -11.45am pcpointhoward@gmail.com
• AA Plunket Rooms 7.30pm. Mark 566 6444/ Pauline 562 7833
•Senior Residents: Lighthouse Movies - last Friday of every month. Pick up from 10am. Contact Celeste on 021 206 5713 for more information. Okiwi Services (Eastbourne Community Trust)
Saturdays
• Justice of the Peace at the Eastbourne Community Library, first Saturday of each month 12pm-1pm.
• Croquet from 10am Muritai Croquet Club. Lyn 562 8722 or Val 562 8181.
• Lions' Bin - cost effective rubbish and e-waste disposal. Last Saturday of the month (except December) by Bus Barns. Gavin 027 488 5602.
Sundays
• AA Plunket Rooms 10am. Karen 021 440 705.
• Days Bay Touch Rugby, by arrangement on Whatsapp group, text Xavier 027 249 3645 to join.
Connections to place celebrated in Kōrero Paki
by Ann Packer
Two copies of a special book with students’ artwork, and stories gathered during environmental field trips last year, were presented to Muritai students at an assembly recently by Hutt City Council.
Tumuaki/principal Stu Devenport says the pūrākau (stories) were the result of a project to discover the deep connections between places and their narratives, and heavily emphasised learning Māori myths and legends about the
APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS
Closing date: 15 June 2025
Applications from EastbourneBays groups are invited. Application forms are available on the website (see below).
Please refer to the following website for information on the Trust: www.ebct.org.nz
Contact: Gaby Brown 021 179 5311 or email: trustees@ebct.org.nz
local environment in order to foster a rich understanding of the area’s cultural heritage.
Using their creative writing skills, the students retold the pūrākau in their own words, demonstrating a remarkable grasp of storytelling, Mr Devenport says. Students also created artwork to visually represent their understanding of these narratives.
Through the school’s connections with the Tupua Horo Nuku team and Hutt City Council, they were fortunate to have the stories and artwork curated and published in a special book.
Muritai students were presented with two copies of the professionally printed book: one for the school library and one for the local Eastbourne library. The whole Muritai team were thrilled to see the students’ outstanding work come to life in print. The books will be a lasting treasure that connects the students to their local pūrākau.
APPLICATIONS FOR EASTBOURNE FREEMASONS’ SCHOLARSHIP
Closing date 15 June 2025
This $5,500 scholarship is available to students who have distinguished themselves during a minimum of three years tertiary study and who have lived in Eastbourne for a minimum of five years during their life. Application forms available to download from https://www.eastbourne-bayscommunity-trust.org.nz/ Applications to be emailed to trustees@ebct.org.nz (only electronic applications will be accepted).
Contact Gaby Brown : 021 179 5311
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the Eastbourne-Bays Community Trust will be held at 17 Hinau Street, Eastbourne Thursday 26 June 2025 at 8.30pm
TRUSTEES
In accordance with the Deed of Trust Appendix “B” Rules 3.2 (v), there are vacancies for two Trustees nominated by the residents of the Eastbourne community and ratified by the three Trustees appointed under subparagraphs (i). (ii) and (iii) of Rule 3.2. Gaby Brown and Sarah Rusholme’s latest three-year terms as the two residents’ Trustees have ended and they have indicated their willingness to stand for re-election. Nominations for the two vacancies close with the secretary at the following email address: ebct.trustees@gmail.com on 25 May 2025 and the election will take place at the Trust’s AGM on 26 June 2025.
Please refer to the following web site for information on the Trust: www.eastbourne-bays-community-trust.org.nz
Long-held dream comes true
by Ann Packer
A long-held dream was realised for FrenchCanadian Coralie (Coco) Foucher, when she opened a doggy day care centre in the village with her friend and business partner Aimee Henderson, a dog groomer.
Coco, who arrived here five years ago from Montreal with her Kiwi partner Tim Henderson (they met in Bali), now has a four-year-old daughter, Maxine, who goes to daycare at Barnados. But her two dogs had to stay behind for two whole years as Covid meant she could not travel to pick them up – she missed them so much she often cried herself to sleep at night. So she began walking other people's dogs.
Eventually, after two weeks isolation in Australia, pug-chihuahua Albie, 14, and Thomas, an elderly Australian Shepherd x Duck Toller, arrived on a charter flight carrying 150 dogs – and some birds.
“It was a very, very expensive process,” she laughs. (No quarantine is needed for crossTasman dog movements.)
The duo feature in her logo – designed by another family member.
The doggy day care and groomer occupies an entire Rimu Street house, which is divided into two separate spaces for smaller or larger dogs “to keep harmony”.
It's like a home to her daycare charges, who can play all day inside or out in a yard. At midday they go down to the beach for an hour of fresh air.
Coco, who also teaches yoga at Pause in Days Bay, keeps fit by walking thirty other dogs daily, in batches of ten, on the beach and at Burdan's Gate. She picks up from as far north as Lowry Bay to the end of the road, where she does an hour’s off-lead run on the beach.
“Dogs are very powerful in a pack,” says Coco, who is all in favour of a HCC proposal to issue dog walker permits, to keep public spaces safe for all users.
“That’s my goal anyway.”
A firm believer in the importance of dogs walking for exercise and for socialisation, she “interviews” all animals before taking them on; in five years she has only had two incidents, one of which was caused by an outsider dog.
Coco says she’s very grateful to the community for allowing her to realise her dream – and to her partner, local builder Tim Henderson, and his dad, who did all the building work needed to create the doggy spaces.
“I couldn’t have done it otherwise.”
Does she have any cats?
“I’m a bit scared of cats, to be honest…”
Tupua Horo Nuku Update
Cubs from the Maungaraki Scout Group visited Whiorau Reserve recently as part of an exploration evening to discover the exciting changes underway for Tupua Horo Nuku.
Tamariki eagerly observed life in the tidal pools, admired the new penguin hotels, and saw the growing abundance of native plants in the area.
Parents who joined also learnt how the project is reducing environmental impact while actively enhancing the natural surroundings along the Eastern Bays.
Project Ecologist Josh was a hit, sharing stories of working with kororā and other native species.
The enthusiasm shown by the Cubs for te taiao made it clear we have some passionate advocates for our environment!
Contact us: tupuahoronuku@huttcity.govt.nz
Dog walker Coco Foucher with dogs Albie (her pugchihuahua), Thomas and Luna, in the exercise yard behind Lonely Dogs Club in Rimu St.
And the winners are...
The sun was still shining as the certificates and trophies were handed out at the Eastbourne Swim Club race night. The family fun races were more popular than ever with a record number of families turning up for the relays. There were more width races for the younger swimmers in the main pool, reflecting the growing demand for younger swimmers joining the club. The club is the work of a volunteer committee and runs on Thursday evenings at Eastbourne Pool over the summer season during school-term time. We were blessed again with a fabulous coach line up so another big thank you to everyone who helped, we literally could not do it without you!
A big thank you to the ongoing support of Cameron and Grace at the Eastbourne Four Square, for their generous sponsorship of BBQ supplies, which helps us keep enrolment costs affordable. Lastly a massive thank you for the community's lobbying efforts which meant our pool season was two weeks longer than last year. This meant we could run a ten-week program, taking us back to how things used to be! If you would like to get involved in the club on the committee or as coach (lived experience is perfect) we would love to hear from you on eastbourneswimclub@ gmail.com.
- Kaye Wilmshurst
Please contact my Lower Hutt office, my staff and I are here to help. Phone 04 566 8580 or email me at Chris.bishopMP@parliament.govt.nz
Faith in the Community
What about the eggs...?
Around Easter, Facebook often carries memes linking the bunnies and the eggs, to the pagan Goddess Eostre. Adrian Bott, writing in the Guardian Weekly states this idea is false, just a modern fabrication. “By asserting Christian appropriation of pagan customs” he says, “modern paganism could claim both precedence and wrongful treatment”. However, Wikipedia seems more reliable than Facebook when it comes to Easter eggs, also known as Paschal eggs. There you will find that although eggs were a traditional symbol of fertility and rebirth, in Christianity the eggs symbolise the empty tomb of Jesus, from which Jesus was resurrected. Apparently, the custom has nothing to do with Eostre but can be traced to early Christians in Mesopotamia. From there it spread into Russia and Siberia through the Orthodox Churches, and later into Europe through the Catholic and Protestant Churches, and now made ever so popular by the advent of chocolate and the power of supermarketing.
So, as you bite into your favourite type of chocolate egg, have no doubt that its symbolic origin is definitely Christian, and the only connection between Eostre and these traditional Easter (paschal) practices is that they sound the same! Technically known as ‘homophones’. I hope you enjoyed your Easter break...!
St Alban’s + St Ronan’s: 1st Sundays 9:30am monthly Shared Communion Services (alternating venues, leaders and preachers). 4 May at San Antonio church 1 June at St Ronan’s church. .
St Ronan’s: 1st Sundays shared with St Alban’s (see above). 2nd and 4th Sundays 9:30am informal, 3rd Sundays 9:30am traditional, 5th Sundays 12:00pm fellowship meal.
E:office@stronans.org.nz W:www.stronans.org.nz
E:holyspiritparish41@gmail.com W:www.holyspirit.nz Chris Bishop MP for Hutt South
St Alban’s: 1st Sundays shared with St Ronan’s (see above). Other Sunday services at San Antonio church at 9:30am. 1st Thursdays, communion at 10:30am at St Ronan’s church. Details www. facebook.com/StAlbansNZ
E:office@stalbanschurch.nz
W:www.stalbanschurch.nz
San Antonio: Easter Sunday Mass, 20 Apr, 11:00am. Vigil Mass, Sat 5.30pm (not on Easter Saturday).
Sacred Heart, Petone: Mass, Sun 9.30am and 5.30pm.
by Chris Bishop, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.
Bowling club's popularity helps it to stay put
The end of daylight saving brought to a close the popular Eastbourne Community Twilight bowls competition.
The Eastbourne Bowling Club was delighted with the awesome response from the community, which saw fifty community players filling the green on Thursdays with fun and laughter. "It was a delight to see the pleasure these players received and great to see their rapid improvement in bowling ability," club spokesperson Keith Turner says.
In a thrilling final night team “Born2bowl” comprising Alex Dennehy, Susie Costello, and Carolyn Mayston took out the trophy, with 14 wins followed by last year’s winners, team Rollers with 13. Teams the Young ones and McFlukes followed with 1 win each.
Subject to green conditions, the Club is looking to get the new season underway in about October 2026. "Anyone who would like to participate next season should register their interest early as places will again be limited”.
As for plans to relocate, Mr Turner says for now, it will stay put. "Provided the club continues to remain solvent it is our preference to remain at the current site. The support from the community has been very positive over the last couple of years, so relocating to another Council owned site is no longer urgent but remains an option the Club continues to pursue."
Pictured, members of the winning twilight bowls competition.
What a fun-filled term we had at East Harbour Kindergarten! We wrapped it up with a special visit from Kimberly Andrews who read her latest book ‘Giraffe the Gardener’. The children loved the story and had lots of fun for the rest of the day finding eighteen gnomes hidden around Kindergarten just like in the book. With the continued fundraising efforts of our Kindergarten families and the wider community we are very lucky to be able to purchase new good quality resources to add to our learning environment. This term we purchased some very comfortable playmats and a carmat with some of the proceeds from our Historical calendar sales and we purchased new swings with the proceeds from our annual Wheelathon. Thank you so much for continuing to support your local Kindergarten to thrive!
