Eastbourne Community Board members have pushed back on claims that the relocation of the Eastbourne Bowling Club to Oroua Street is “inevitable.”
Eastbourne Bowling Club secretary Hugh McKenzie presented to the Eastbourne Community Board last week, describing relocation as “not our preferred option but eventually inevitable,” citing financial pressures, ageing facilities, and maintenance challenges.
The club’s membership fell to just 20–30 players in 2022, contributing to a $20,000 annual loss on top of deficits from previous years. “It became unsustainable and we had to act – both to protect bowls in Eastbourne and to try and turn around the financial losses,” McKenzie said.
Since then, the club has rebounded through initiatives such as community bowls nights and partnerships with Naenae Bowling Club over winter. Membership has grown to 137, and finances are back in the black. “If we had continued losing $20,000 a year, funds would have run out last year,” McKenzie said.
But while membership has recovered, the club is facing serious infrastructure challenges. More than half its members are over 70, and McKenzie described the club as “a vital source
of connection, purpose, and wellbeing.” Its large 400-square-metre clubhouse requires major maintenance, and the green itself may need to be relaid – a move that would force the club to close for a whole season, putting it at further financial risk.
Founded in 1907, the club has been part of Eastbourne life for 118 years. “It deserves to stay,” McKenzie said, stressing the need to be proactive about its future.
Since 2022, the club has been in talks with Hutt City Council about moving to a new site. An agreement in principle has now been reached to relocate to the tennis courts area, which also hosts basketball and skateboarding
Last Minute Father’s Day Gift?
facilities.
Concept drawings show a new bowling green replacing two of the tennis courts, while retaining some tennis facilities, the skate ramp, and a half basketball court. A walkway alongside the croquet club would be redirected.
Community Board members raised questions about the proposal’s impact on other recreational users.
Board member Frank Vickers acknowledged sympathy for the club but warned of the consequences: “This land is public for public use. If the bowling club takes it over, that’s exclusive use for a small number of residents.”
Continues on Page 2
EBC plan
From Page 1
He noted the loss of a full-sized basketball court – one of only two in Eastbourne – and questioned whether the proposed tennis court layout met minimum requirements. The "bare minimum required" space for a tennis court is 28m. "The space provided in drawing is 24m."
If the proposal for a 34m bowling green goes ahead, "then there's not going to be enough room to swing a tennis racquet".
A smaller 31-metre-square bowling green, he suggested, might be a more practical compromise.
Questions were raised about whether the club had considered alternatives such as selling its large clubhouse while retaining its current green. McKenzie said subdivision was not a realistic option.
He emphasised the plan is still at the concept stage and subject to consultation. “If we could find a benefactor with $400,000 to redevelop our current site, we’d stay,” he said.
2025
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
East Harbour Women’s Club Rooms, 145 Muritai Road
2pm, Sunday 21st September
Business includes approval of a new Constitution. Followed by guest speaker David Watt of Heritage New Zealand on the threats and opportunities of heritage.
“Eastbourne has enjoyed 118 years of bowls — it deserves to stay.”
Public consultation runs until September 8. https://haveyoursay.huttcity.govt.nz/ eastbourne-bowling-club-relocation
MURITAI TENNIS CLUB AGM
To be held at the Clubrooms - 356 Muritai Road
Sunday, August 31st at 12.30pm followed by shared lunch
S Summer Opening Day
Sunday, September 14th at 1.30pm
Any enquiries to Wendy: 027 562 8287
Details about the next public Eastbourne Community Board meeting will be announced after the Local Government Elections in October.
The five members of the next ECB are standing unopposed: Emily Keddell, Bruce Spedding and Murray Gibbons will be joined by Ben Hainsworth and Jeremy Chaston. They will be supported by Councillor Tui Lewis, who is standing unopposed for Harbour Ward.
Eastbourne Bowling Club proposal
We encourage residents to review the Eastbourne Bowling Club’s proposal to move to the ESSC and provide feedback before Monday 8 September. There is information at the library and online at eastbourne.nz and hutt.city/ebcrelocation
Youth Forum up and running It’s pleasing to see the support for the Forum by Eastbourne’s teens and young adults. Follow eastbourneyouthforum on Instagram or contact Emily Keddell for more information and meeting details.
Calling for summer pool volunteers
Local volunteers will be trained to support lifeguards and help ensure the pool can stay open longer. It’s encouraging to see interest from students, but we also need adult volunteers who are available during school hours. Contact Emily Keddell if you’d like to volunteer. Training will begin in October.
Local Government Elections, 11 October
Visit huttcity.govt.nz for information about the elections, key dates and events.
Lions Election Meeting: 7.30pm Tuesday 9 September at ESSC to hear from Hutt City and Regional Council candidates.
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
Judgement call
by Ann Packer
Days Bay publishing consultant and writer Don Long, one of the judges of the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, says the judges were unanimous in their choice of Ross Calman’s The Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year. “It’s a stunning addition to New Zealand children’s literature,” he says.
The awards, appropriately held at Pipitea Marae earlier this month, saw the winner of the Elsie Locke Non-fiction Award go on to be named the book of the year.
The shortlists for this year’s awards included books with elements of the Samoan, Tongan, Moriori, and Cook Islands Māori languages, as well as te reo Māori and English, and, in a year when the Treaty has been in the limelight, there was much discussion after the awards ceremony as to whether this might have been a political decision.
However, Mr Long, a 40-year veteran of publishing for young people, including publishing in Polynesian languages, is emphatic that it was the sheer quality of the writing and research that convinced the judging panels. “Both awards – non-fiction and Book of the Year – were awarded on the literary merits of the winning book.”
“Te Tiriti is an enormous topic,” he comments. “When you think of books like Claudia Orange’s The Treaty of Waitangi the sheer scope of the scholarly research and the sheer number of books about this topic, even before you consider all the strongly-held opinions, well, Ross Calman’s challenge was to condense this down into 100 pages without leaving anything essential out.
“He had to decide on the best approach to take, what to show in the illustrations, what to cover, and what to say about what he covered – if that’s not a daunting task, I don’t know what is.
“And he wasn’t just writing for one part of our society. I’m unbelievably impressed with what he achieved. He reaches out to all of us.”
Mr Long says readers of all ages in Eastbourne should first “read this as an extraordinary work of non-fiction … before looking through whatever political lens they choose to bring. If people read this book with an open heart and mind, they’ll discover some fascinating things they probably didn’t know before.”
He says it’s hard to take politics out of anything these days but notes there are people here in Eastbourne and the Eastern Bays who have direct family links to people in the Bay of Islands and the events that led to the signing of the Treaty there in 1840.
“The Treaty isn’t something that doesn’t affect us. It’s not long ago and far away – it’s part of our story … and it speaks to our lives right now. Though written for young people, Ross Calman’s book offers a wonderful way to start to find out more.”
The Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi by Ross Calman, Oratia Books.
The Treaty of Waitangi, Te Tiriti o Waitangi the complexity of our founding document is explained in an accessible way without simplifying or leaving out critical aspects. This is compelling and essential reading about something that has never been more important.” 2025 NZCYA awards’ citation.
ELECTION MEETING
Eastbourne Sports & Services Club
7.30pm Tuesday 9 September
Come and listen to our City and Community candidates for the Local Body Elections present their policies and reply to your questions.
Organised by the Eastbourne Lions Club
BRIEFS
Funding for Marine Drive road repairs is being finalised, but will only be temporary. The repairs will be “little bandaid-type repairs” to prevent damage to vehicles, said project manager, Rawiri Kennedy, who added that the roading will be permanently repaired once the shared path is completed next year.
The wooden section of the walkway fence at the south end of Whiorau Bay/Sorrento Bay is set to stay. The section, which sits between the rest of the metal fence, is part of the Bird Protection Area set up under the Tupua Horo Nuku Project for the protection of tōrea pango/oystercatchers. The use of wood and the other specifications of the fence are based on the requirements for suitable protection and the resource consent conditions of the project, Hutt City Council said.
A chance to hear from candidates standing for the Hutt City and Greater Wellington Regional Councils is being hosted by the Eastbourne Lions Club at 7.30pm on Tuesday, September 9 at the ESSC. Eastbourne Community Board, Harbour Ward and Mana Kairangi ki Tai Māori Ward seats have been elected unopposed, but the meeting will feature people in the running for the contested Mayoral, City-wide and Greater Wellington Regional Council seats.
This year is the first election in which Lower Hutt voters on the Māori electoral roll can vote for a Māori Ward councillor. Ironically, it also includes a referendum on whether to continue the Māori Ward in the 2028 local government elections, due to the Government requiring local body authorities to hold a referendum on the issue.
Two Eastern Bays residents have been elected as Companions of the Royal Society Te Apārani. Dr David Lillis’ career has centred on his interest in physics and mathematics, and as a teacher, lecturer, research evaluator, and statistician. He was elected for his long service to the Wellington Branch of the Royal Society Te Apārangi. Professor Sir Ashley Bloomfield KNZ was also elected as Companion for his sustained and significant contribution to public health in Aotearoa.
The recent second hand clothing sale raised more than $13,000 for St Alban’s, which will go towards the strengthening of the Ngaio Street church and hall, planned for next year.
A free expo is being held on Saturday, October 4 to increase awareness about how to decrease the use of fossil fuels and switch to an “electric home”. Exhibitors will be available to talk about electric vehicles, and alternative heating options for the home. For more information go to www. electrifythehutt.nz
Eastbourne Lions
Charity Book Sale
Sat/Sun 11th/12th October
Muritai School Hall
Eastbourne Lions are now taking donations of good quality books, games, puzzles etc for our next ‘Recycled Reading’ sale on 11/12 October at Muritai School Hall.
Donation box in Eastbourne Library foyer, or for collection/drop off for larger quantities text Gavin 027 488 5602
Faith in the Community
Whakamaru...
I recently had the opportunity to visit the new Wellington City Mission building, Whakamaru, on Oxford Terrace, Mount Cook and hear the City Missioner, Murray Edridge, talk about their vision. The building provides long term transitional housing comprising 35 apartments for either individuals or families, in a supportive community environment.
Within the building is a Social Supermarket providing food for people who need it in a manner that prioritises dignity and choice. There is also a Medical Centre, Ora Toa, providing a variety of clinical services for patients. Then, there are laundry facilities, showers and toilets available to all. There’s a crisis recovery café providing support for individuals and whanau suffering mental distress - this is open 24 hours a day. There‘s also a café for the community, serving high quality food and coffee based on a ‘contribute what you can’ model where those who can’t afford to pay can enjoy a koha meal while those who can afford to contribute are able to provide food and companionship to others.
I came away thinking this is providing a real humanitarian and non-judgemental communityfocused approach to those in need. It exemplifies true Christian values...
St Alban’s + St Ronan’s: 1st Sundays 9:30am monthly Shared Communion Services (alternating venues, leaders and preachers). 7 September at San Antonio church, 5 October 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
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: Vigil Mass, Sat 5.30pm. Sacred Heart, Petone: Mass, Sun 9.30am and 5.30pm. E:holyspiritparish41@gmail.com W:www.holyspirit.nz
Behind the Scenes at the fruit shop
by Ann Packer
Looking for Seville oranges? Tom Lai is your man. His marmalade-makers are not just locals – some come out from town because no one else these days can be bothered tracking down such specialized orders.
Whatever the season, Tom (pictured), who first worked at Eastbourne Fruit Supply as an 11-year-old, knows what’s coming and who will be asking for it. Damsons, greengage plums, those Seville oranges… He picks up unexpected bargains too, like the new variety of apples no-one’s buying at market – samples help to get them moving. Small and perfect for lunch boxes, these Candees taste as good as Rocket and cost a whole lot less.
It’s this personal touch that customers will miss come June 2026, when the Lai siblings close their doors for the last time and walk away from the business their parents established some 65 years ago. Jack Lai, who came to Seaview as a teenager in the 1950s from Canton (now Guangzhou), built the block in the early sixties. The family lived upstairs while downstairs there were three shops, the others housing mum Jenny’s fish and chip shop, and a milk bar.
Tom is a veteran of the Wellington produce markets. He’s the one who gets up at the crack of dawn and drives up the motorway to Grenada – no bidding auctions these days, you order overnight and hope you’ve got it right, he says, except for the flower market, which is sold by “Dutch auction”, with the price dropping with each bid.
The eldest of the three siblings still running the Lai family’s business has been making the trip out of the bays to the produce markets ever since he came back from an 18 month OE in 1982. After training as a primary teacher and teaching at Lyall Bay and Muritai – where younger sister Sandra was in his class – he headed off to Europe and across Canada, with a side trip to Hong Kong in search of his roots.
When he got back, he recalls walking down to the beach at the end of Rimu St and thinking it was still the best place in the world. His dad, then in his mid-50s, asked Tom to come to the
markets with him for a couple of weeks – then offered him the job. He got his HT (heavy traffic) licence and took over his dad’s role.
Tom’s earliest memories of the markets that ran between Blair and Allen streets are of morning teas with his dad’s mates in one of the many tea rooms on Courtenay Place. “They were always the highlights, those morning teas, when Dad would say ‘help yourself’. Those cream buns…!”
It’s not only the marmalade and sauce makers Tom has on his watch. There’s a select group of blokes who’ve become regulars following the death of their wives – guys who have never cooked and find themselves having to – like the late Steve Gentry, one of the marmalade makers. As for those Seville oranges, though there were none last week, his supplier reckons there’s still 100 kg of the best citrus for marmalade left on his trees.
What happens to the leftovers? Tom rues the amount of waste expertly whacked off veges like last week’s frosted broccoli. Their scraps go to a farmer in the Wairarapa for his cows, but back in the day much of the produce remaining went to the zoo. “They’re not interested in anything less than first grade for their animals now,” he says.
A local developer will rebuild on the site, and it’s hoped a greengrocery may be included. Feeling stuck? Stressed? Just need someone to really listen? You’re not alone.
Mental Health first response
When it comes to first response, do you think Fire? Ambulance? or Police? You can add Mental Health to that list – not in terms of clinical professionals, but ordinary people, helping their workmates and friends.
“You don’t have to be a mental health professional to make a difference,” says Days Bay’s Bop Murdoch, who has been in the business of helping people help each other for nine years now. Her collective CoLiberate, co-founded with Sarah Tuck and Jody Burrell, offers mental health first response training to corporates, small businesses, and organisations such as Centreport, Land Search and Rescue (Landsar), Greater Wellington Regional Council and The Garage Project.
She says CoLiberate’s vision is that everybody in Aotearoa should have someone they trust to turn to when they’re not feeling well, mentally, or are having a hard day. Not professionals but ordinary people, who become an everyday part of the mental health picture…which may in turn become a bridge to professional support.
“It’s less about offering solutions, more about looking after ourselves,” says Bop, a social innovator with a degree in theatre and English. “About everyday people having everyday support conversations at the earliest stage possible. And it can be successful anywhere.”
The training is experiential, practical and hands-on, based on the “less is more” principle. A one-day group session results in certificated mental health first responders who can identify themselves in the workplace, confident at recognizing and responding well to anyone in distress. “It’s a key step in the process of turning workplaces into ecosystems of care,” explains Bop. “We partner with organisations to help them establish peer support networks of certified Mental Health First Responders –
Kidztalk
we help them set a new norm where everyday people play a critical role in keeping one another safe and well.
“So that what we think of as ‘the ecosystem moment’ is about having the courage to initiate a conversation – how to respond when you are concerned about someone’s wellbeing. Then you can activate the network within your workplace.”
It all started nearly a decade ago when Bop observed how theatre troupes often fell apart after a performance season closed, and some people got really depressed. She says the challenge was how to make the collective theatrical working model sustainable, and apply it in situations that while not creative, faced the same scenarios. She says current health and safety requirements mean there is pressure on businesses to provide such support – and doing something about it does get results. CoLiberate's stats back it up – her organisation has now worked with 412 organisations to train 3,390 First Responders. That’s resulted in a whopping half a million support conversations happening every year, and 100 percent of those taking part have felt increased confidence in their ability to support others, after training.
coliberate.co.nz
Pom-pom making has been an avid interest of our tamariki. It is a great way to be creative on a wintery day, and we can hardly keep up with the demand for wool. We have 2-year-olds who are just beginning to learn to wrap a pom-pom and some 4-year-olds who have made as many as 16.
Another great way to spend a cold day was our Teddy Bears Breakfast to celebrate our founder, Thomas Barnardo's Birthday, on 4 July. Dressing up in our onesies and enjoying toast, yogurt and fruit together was a great way to celebrate this.
Barnardos Aotearoa is the largest children’s charity working with tamariki and whānau to ensure every child in Aotearoa has the opportunity to thrive, no matter their circumstances.
We welcome all enquiries so contact us to book a visit https:// barnardosearlylearning.org.nz/eastbourne
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
News from our local early childhood centres
FROM BARNARDOS EASTBOURNE EARLY
Summerset Boulcott Open Days
Nestled in the sought-after Lower Hutt suburb of Boulcott, beside Boulcott’s Farm Heritage Golf Club, Summerset Boulcott offers stunning views of the surrounding valley and lush greens - the perfect place for those seeking premium retirement living.
The village offers beautifully appointed villas, apartments, serviced apartments, and a range of care and specialist dementia care living options.^ The village centre features resort-style facilities and a resident bar with picturesque views over the golf course.
There are a range of brand-new one, two and three-bedroom independent apartments available, with two-bedroom apartments starting from $751,000.*
Come along to our September Open Days and see why our residents love the Summerset life. Love the life you choose.
Eastbourne Scouts are all set for a warm weekend in their den in early September, to celebrate over a century of Scouting on this side of the harbour.
Susan McDonald, parent of a Venturer Scout (14 – 18 yrs), says in keeping with Scout tradition, hot chocolate and s’mores will be in abundance and the hall’s large fireplace will be blazing.
Although there’s been some confusion about when the movement first started in the former borough – Papers Past notes a 1910 bravery award – 1924 was when things became formalized; what is now one of New Zealand’s biggest Scout groups (“troops” no longer) first turned out in Eastbourne on Anzac Day in
& HAIR
BY APPOINTMENT PH 021 871 839 prueholdenbeauty.gettimely.com
1925.
A historian by training, Susan has enjoyed putting together photos by the decades, articles from papers, memorabilia and a timeline, with help from the Historical Society of Eastbourne. However, she says getting together actual badges and blankets – let alone scouts and leaders from the past – has been a little more difficult, as many people move away. Sir Ashley Bloomfield, Lydia Szapiro and Jeanette Churchouse will be among the former parents and leaders available for informal chats about what it was like back in the day.
This eight-strong Sea Scout contingent from Eastbourne was among 25,000 Scouts from over 70 nations that made it to the post-war jamboree in France in 1947, the first since 1937, and the first since founder Lord Baden-Powell’s death. From left: Back: Noel Hanton, Michael Willis, Clive Berry, John Rae, Tim Broad. Front: Michael Holland, Kevin Watson, Murray Press.
Unfortunately, former leader Luke Pardekooper will not be able to attend, nor Father John Rae – still living in Wellington –who is standing second from right in the back row of this photo of Eastbourne’s contingent to
the 1947 “Jamboree of Peace”, held in Moisson on the Seine in war-ravaged France.
There’ll be games, of course, and a centennial badge to buy, plus the unveiling of a memorial plaque to mark the occasion, to be held in the Scouts’ 1950s hall next to the yacht club on Saturday 6 September, from 3 -5.30pm. Anyone who’s ever been involved is welcome.
For more information contact sue_ mcdonald@me.com
OBITUARY
Steven Caverhill Gentry died in Lower Hutt Hospital on 6th July 2025, surrounded by son Dan, grandson Sam, and Gina, his daughter-in-law. He was born in Lower Hutt and called this valley home throughout his ninety-one year life of global work and travel.
Born in 1933, son of Bill and Lalla Gentry, war dominated his early life, living between here and England as his father's military career burgeoned. He and sister Sally learned resilience, love of nature and service from their parents.
Steve was an independent, resourceful and irascible child. Electing to go to Nelson Boys College to give his mother a break, he developed his intellect and only blew up one science locker with pilfered chemistry lab materials.
At College House in Canterbury he found his people - fellow engineering students, pioneering skiers and mountain adventurers. In 1956 a Masters scholarship to Berkeley in California was an opportunity for hitchhiking adventures across America and back.
Steve married Doff Gentry in Palmerston North in 1960. They raised three sons in Korokoro, then Lowry Bay, where in 1986 they built the home Steve lived in until he died. Philip, Matthew and Daniel were their absolute pride and joy.
The family holidayed at Hatepe, action packed summers waterskiing, camping, tennis, and voracious reading. Winter holidays were skiing. Doff and Steve encouraged their children and treasured grandchildren to be curious, thoughtful and considerate custodians of this beautiful planet.
Steve's fifty-year engineering career saw him distinguished as an international expert in freezing works, consulting throughout South America and the Middle East. He was the only New Zealander to be President of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers. On retirement from SKM (now Jacobs) he received an airline seat; legend had it he slept better upright in economy than in his own bed.
Retirement involved various boards, judging Engineering Awards, and publishing a book on NZ's Kermadec Islands. Steve skied until he was eighty-two.
After Doff's death in 2011, he conceded only to learn to cook curried sausages and marmalade. Thanks to family and friends,
local cafes and Eastbourne Fruit Supply, he survived. He badgered the butcher to recreate his favourite Bolivian sausage.
His eighties were spent travelling between Lowry Bay, and Waikiki, falling in love with old Berkeley friend Mary Ann McCrea. His second book was on the Hawaiian island Ni'ihau. On his final trip to Mary Ann's memorial in 2023, his trusty travelling trousers had taken him to Hawaii twenty-nine times.
You may have seen him on his morning walks around Lowry Bay reserve amongst the yellow pohutukawas he and Doff planted, arms tucked behind his back, wearing a colourful hat. If he'd stopped to chat you'd have been assaulted by his cheeky humour, sharp knowledge and blue eyes. Recently housebound by health, he read his weekly Guardian, listened to RNZ and perfected being simultaneously grumpy and funny. His family miss him terribly.
Deepest thanks to the carers from Miranda Smith and Access, and to the outstanding Emergency Responders and Hutt Hospital ED department for their exceptional end of life care.
Rest in peace, Grandad Steve.
- Gina Gentry
Garden Stuff with Sandy Lang CHEMICAL WARFARE
Aug/Sept: Late winter/ early spring. Pruning done. New trees/ shrubs bought. Now go buy seeds. Smart toxins: Plants are at the bottom of all food chains and must defend themselves against predatory animals, insects, fungi, bacteria. One form of defence is toxins that interfere with the predator’s metabolism to deter/ kill. These toxins are selective –they distinguish between friend and foe to minimise collateral damage. The list of toxic plants depends on your species. A doctor will tell you those plants toxic to people, a vet those toxic to cats, dogs, budgies etc. The lists differ. Just about every plant is toxic to some animal and ok to another. Birds feast safely on many small fruits (ivy, karaka) toxic to us.
Poisons & passions: Interestingly, we are immune to some of the strongest plant toxins. We even enjoy them - coffee, chocolate, grapes, onions, garlic, tobacco, alcohol - all good for you, bad for cats/ dogs. You like chilli, birds can’t taste it, it’s lethal to insects. You like avocado, it’s poisonous to most mammals. A recent murder used Amanita mushrooms. Nice tasting, no symptoms for 12 h, by then it’s too late. Some squirrels and rabbits can eat these. 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate): Looks/ tastes like table salt. It’s in ‘poison peas’ Gastrolobium sp and a good many other W Australian plants. But many W Australian mammals are immune to it. An arms race is going on. Our native ‘Puha’ contains 1080, but not enough to harm you. Google 1080 wiki
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 Authorised
by Chris Bishop, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.
Laxative: Fruits function to disperse seeds, so they don’t all germinate under the parent plant. Birds swallow small seeds whole and later disperse them widely - unharmed and each with a little pile of fertiliser to set it going. Many small-seeded fruits attractive to birds contain laxative (figs, kiwifruit). This makes seeds pass through fast - slow enough to break seed dormancy, fast enough not to be digested. Try one per day...!
Human medicines: Because some plant toxins interfere with our metabolism many serve us as medicines. •Digitalin (‘foxglove’ Digitalis sp) is a cardiac glycoside. Small doses treat many heart conditions - congestive heart failure, arrhythmias. •Penicillin (‘blue mould’ Penicillium sp) is lethal to bacteria. We use it to fight bacterial infections. •Aspirin (‘willow’ Salix sp) is widely used to treat pain, inflammation, arthritis. It also lowers risk of heart attack, stroke and blood clot. slang@xtra.co.nz www.mulchpile.org
Heritage Gold
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Imperial Park, Unit 81, 41 Bouverie Street, Petone, Lower Hutt.
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Mon - Fri: 9:30am - 2:30pm Thursday: 9:30am - 6pm
Open Occasional Saturdays check at www.heritagegold.nz
Enter Imperial Park, turn right, go straight on to the end, and you’ll see us.
Wanted to Buy
Please come and see us instore with your items for an on-the-spot appraisal and o er. If you are in any doubt, please bring the items in for us to look over.
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Jewellery, Bullion, Coins and Banknotes, Silver and Gold items, and Watches. Fully licenced with over 50 years industry experience. Visit us instore or online at www.heritagegold.nz
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.
• 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.
• 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
WHAT'S ON
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. Wednesdays 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. Derek Wilshere 0274303596.
• Tai Chi 9.40am Muritai Yacht Club Lyn 021 1428915
Thursdays
• Menzshed 9 till 12 , Williams Park, Barrie barrielittlefair@gmail.com 0204 1234511. Women welcome.
• St Ronan’s Mainly Music, 9.15am-11.15am, during school terms. Contact Cathy 027 213 9342.
• SPACE at Days Bay Playcentre. Michelle 971 8598.
•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.
Don't take our space!
We are worried about the Eastbourne Bowling Club’s proposal. Please don’t reduce the size of our beautiful tennis and basketball courts; they are a big part of the Eastbourne Community. It is very special to us since we live directly across the road, and it is vital for kids our age because it is a place to bike and scoot freely. Eastbourne won’t be itself without it. The bowling club already have a great area, why take away the kids’ enjoyment?
The Eastbourne tennis courts are not just sporting facilities but a favourite community destination. They are used by children, families, and individuals of all ages, providing an accessible and affordable way to stay active. Tennis and basketball are sports that encourage participation across generations, from young beginners to older adults. Reducing the size and number of courts would strip away opportunities for physical exercise, social connection, and youth engagement.
If the club's money is short, they should fundraise instead of taking a public space in hopes of earning more. Many other clubs in Eastbourne have to fundraise to cover their costs.
We go to the courts daily for fun and a quick passage to the RSA and the beach. We always stop for a play on the way there and the way back. If you decide to take it away, you must find a substitute area approved by the community.
Saturday 13 September St Alban’s Hall kitchen Ngaio St 1pm Cooking Demo - taste 3 fish recipes. $15 3pm Hands on class.
Where it all began
A vision by the late Viv Hextall to help protect the Eastbourne Kororā/Little blue penguin population started back in 1994. She saw that the Hutt City land next to the pumping station at the north end of Days Bay was a perfect location for a penguin nesting colony as it was on the sea side of the road eliminating any chance of roadkill. Hutt City agreed and paid for the initial remediation and installed special pipes the penguins could use for houses. Her vision came true as this colony has successfully produced 6 to 8 fledglings each year since then.
Fast forward to 2008 when Mike and Gail Rumble volunteered to take over the penguin study at Matui Somes Island, Mākaro Island and Eastbourne. They brought in Mina the specialist penguin dog who found 84 penguin locations between the Pencarrow lighthouse and Seaview Marina. You may remember Mike and Gail made international headlines when they translocated two penguins who were crossing the busy 4 lane Aotea Quay to get to a Sushi truck by the Wellington train station. Mike and Gail continue to advise both the Eastbourne and the Petone to Ngauranga shared pathways projects to mitigate any threats to the penguins caused by the works.
In 2013 a huge southerly storm destroyed the Days Bay penguin colony and also damaged next door neighbour Phil Morris’s house. Phil wanted to build a new tilt slab house, but with the power lines in the way, the only way to get a crane in was via the penguin colony.
Phil agreed with Hutt City and Mike and Gail to help remediate the damage at the colony in return for crane access, a win/win for all involved.
Phil organised his mate Roger McMillan to help design the water barrier and Roger brought in his digger and moved over 700 tons of rock to block future storms from damaging the colony. They contoured the land so the water would drain back into the sea. Phil, who owns Morris Metals, also designed and supplied the stainless fencing around the colony and the beautiful penguin gate you can see from the road.
Because of the damage, Mike decided to replace the pipe homes with wooden penguin nesting boxes. Mike contacted Placemakers, who supplied the wood at no cost, contacted the Days Bay Menzshed, who cut and drilled the wood into flatpacks, and Wellesley College students who put the nesting boxes together and installed them at the colony. Wellesley students continue to monitor the nesting at the colony on a weekly basis with Mike and Gail during nesting and school term.
The entrance to the nesting boxes are small to keep adult cats out and the nesting boxes
can be secured to the ground so dogs cannot bother the birds inside. The adult Kororā/Little blue penguin can easily defend itself from cats as they have a vicious bite as can be witnessed by the scars on Mike’s hands from catching and banding. However, cats are a threat to the chicks and eggs, so the nesting boxes are key to chick survival. One night, our camera caught a cat watching for over an hour while a pair were mating in front of their nesting box. The cat was too smart to try and attack them, but it was a bit disturbing to see.
Next time we will write about the life cycle and movements of the Wellington harbour tagged Kororā/Little blue penguin.
- Parker Jones, MIRO
Mina at the Days Bay Penguin Colony – Parker Jones.
