Nelson Weekly Locally Owned and Operated
tuesday 14 February 2017
Babies met oldies
page 7
dempsters rule the court page 21
Saving whales ‘humbling’ Kate Russell Reporter
kate@nelsonweekly.co.nz
When Nelson woman Mary Seelen woke up on Friday to the news of the whale stranding in Golden Bay, she automatically knew she had to go and help.
PAGE 14-15
With a few days off before her teacher training course started, and her four kids at school, her husband said – ‘just go.’ And, it was the right decision - as what followed was a “life changing experience” for Mary and her 13 year old son, Brodie. About three-quarters of the
400 pilot whales that beached themselves on Farewell Spit on Thursday night died before rescuers arrived the next morning. Another 200 were found alive on a nearby beach on Saturday morning, with most making their own way back to sea at high
tide that night. Volunteers then successfully refloated the 17 that were still stranded on Sunday. Mary says that she lost count of how many buckets of water she tipped over the whales over the 10 hours she was out in the water on Friday. “Project Jonah briefed us on the
do’s and don’ts, such as that you never stand in front of the whales’ heads – it can make them stressed as that’s where their sonar system is.” Mary says that many of the people helping on Friday were
SEE PAGE 2
COLOURFUL START TO SCHOOL YEAR: Nayland College student leaders, from left, Sam Seelen, Indigo Levett, Vika Piukala, and Andre Castaing celebrate after the school’s annual House Day. The house day compiled best dressed, balloon, house poetry and pool competitions alongside chariot races and a gigantic tug of war. Nayland’s Draco house took out the day, followed by Phoenix, Aquila, and Pegasus. Photo: Brittany Spencer.
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