Nelson Weekly - 20 March 2024

Wednesday 20 March 2024

GP crisis: Clinics close or merge

KATE RUSSELL

A lack of funding and staffing is being felt across Nelson’s general practice system, with some clinics either closing or merging.

Toi Toi Medical has permanently

closed its Stoke clinic, citing “significant staff shortages, difficulty recruiting, and ever-increasing outgoings”.

“This difficult decision has not been made lightly and reflects the current challenges facing general

practice in New Zealand,” they said in a recent statement. Full medical services will remain available at their Natalie St clinic in Nelson, and they have also engaged with other general practices, such as Stoke Medical, who

are enrolling in the Stoke community.

Nelson Bays Primary Health chief executive Sara Shaughnessy says the closure highlights the current primary health environment with “growing costs and stagnant

funding that is no longer fit for purpose”.

While one clinic has closed, others have merged.

South Link Health, which has

SEE PAGE 2

Tag, you’re it

MAX FRETHEY Local

Democracy Reporter

It’s been four months since Nelson’s first legal graffiti wall opened for use and the community had welcomed the new splashes of colour.

“The work that’s been done to date, it’s just lovely,” says Nelson Environment Centre chief executive Anton Drazevic.

The graffiti wall is located at the Environment Centre’s ReUse Shop on Vivian Place in Annesbrook.

“We’ve only had positive feedback,” Anton says. “[Visitors] actually think it’s commissioned

work.”

Six graffiti artists have used the wall since mid-December, with some travelling from as far as Blenheim and Christchurch to make their mark, though Anton hopes to eventually welcome artists from further afield.

“The word’s already getting out there, and what I’m secretly hoping is that we get international artists… and we get some more global work to appear on the wall.”

One of the artists will also do a mural of native birds on a new container dome the centre is building.

Anton says the Nelson Environment Centre plays an important role in the community, both in providing a place for residents to shop

SEE PAGE 4

Nelson Environment Centre chief executive Anton Drazevic says the graffiti wall is a safe secure place for artists to express themselves. Photo: Max Frethey.

GP crisis: Clinics forced to close or merge

FROM PAGE 1

across New Zealand, has

bined two of their Nelson

ics, Nelson City Medical Centre and Titoki Medical, into a single entity across two locations.

South Link Health chief executive Karl Andrews says the merger is due to the “challenges and pressures” faced by the primary healthcare sector and will allow them to better support staff and meet the needs of their 5,800 patients.

“The pressures faced by medical practices delivering primary health care continue to weigh heavily on practitioners, staff, and patients. Combining these two practices provides a greater opportunity for staff to share knowledge and lean on a wider collective for support.”

Karl says that one combined practice will allow greater choice for patients faced with increased waiting times – which has been a growing trend across New Zealand.

Sara adds that the growing population in Nelson doesn’t match the existing resources available, and of the 22 practices in the region, only six practices are open for full enrolments.

“Four practices are not taking on new patients, and 12 practices have limited availability. This means they may be accepting patients who are new to the area, don’t already have a local GP, and/or have a family member already enrolled.”

Nelson Tasman’s local GP spokesperson, Graham Loveridge, echoes Sara’s concerns, saying it is a “difficult environment” for the sector.

“It’s been hard to keep up numbers of GPs, nurses, nurse prescribers, and nurse practitioners. Most doctors are struggling with the clinical workload, let alone trying to run a practice.”

He says it has been “increasingly difficult” to recruit young doctors into general practice, which doesn’t bode well with a high proportion of the GP workforce being close to retirement age.

“It is seen as a complex specialty and not as financially rewarding as hospital medicine or some of the other specialties. It’s not as attractive for young doctors to go into, despite it being a really interesting and rewarding branch of medicine.

“A lot of the GP workforce are over the age of 60 … so if they begin to retire, that’s going to leave a big gap. We need to train

more GPs and expose them to the really interesting work that is done in general practice.” He says losing doctors to overseas and not being able to recruit overseas doctors to New Zealand is also a problem and if funding isn’t boosted, the situation will “get worse”.

“Funding has not increased for general practice, along with wages, rents, insurance, and medical supplies. The cost of running a business has increased but the funding has not increased proportionally.

“Everyone acknowledges that we’d do better in New Zealand if we have a good functioning general practice system, but no one’s been prepared to put their money where their mouth is –and that’s a continual frustration and disappointment for general practice.”

Bite of Connings planned for Nelson

GORDON PREECE

Nelsonians could soon be closer to a bite of farm-fresh produce from the Waimea Plains.

The Conning family has announced its first steps to bring a pop-up store that stocks fruit and vegetables harvested from the Connings Market Gardens to the central city.

Nelson City Council has agreed in principle to Connings leasing a council-owned site on Achilles Avenue for the pop-up store, with the option of buying 69-101 Achilles Avenue for the construction of a new Connings Food Market. The announcement comes after Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities announced in February that it was not proceeding with plans for a housing development on the site.

Co-director Simon Conning says 30 per cent of customers who visit Connings Food Market in Appleby were Nelsonians, and the company was “stoked” to bring its produce closer to them.

“While we get the pop-up store humming along, we can keep working on our plans for a beautiful new store – a Nelson Connings Food Market

with an expanded range of high-quality grocery products and artisan foods,” he says. Nelson Mayor, Nick Smith, welcomed Connings’ plans.

“A Connings Food Market in Achilles Ave is an exciting investment that will help revitalise the central city and showcase this region’s horticultural produce and artisan foods,” he says. “Connings is a well-respected local business with the expertise and experience from the successful Appleby food market to make this happen. “It’s better to bring Connings to town than having thousands of us travelling to and from Appleby.”

Council chief executive, Nigel Philpott, says the move by Connings was a massive boost

to the Bridge To Better project, which involves revitalising Bridge Street and building capacity for hundreds of city centre homes and businesses.

“This particular site is well suited for a commercial operation, but housing developers should note that council will soon be putting out, Expressions of Interest, for other sites in our city centre that are suitable for new housing.”

Council says it is proposed the pop-up store will be established later this year in the former Hunting and Fishing building, which is currently occupied by Community Art Works on a month-by-month community lease. Alternative venues are currently being explored for the art centre.

Ben Conning, Nick Smith, Simon Conning and Nigel Philpott.

Photo: Supplied.

Tag, you’re it – artists encouraged to try graffiti wall

FROM PAGE 1

sustainably and affordably, but also socially by helping to support the community.

The centre’s Kai Rescue programme, which delivers food to thousands of residents each week, is one way they support the community, but Anton says the graffiti wall is another social responsibility for the centre.

The wall is the first place in Nelson where graffiti can be done legally.

“It was a no-brainer to actually create a safe, secure place for artists to come and express themselves. It’s just beautiful,” Anton says.

“I’m disappointed we don’t have more spaces like this, because graffiti arts tends to be more youth-focused… and so when I hear from my kids ‘oh, there’s nothing to do in Nelson,’ that’s when I’m like ‘we need to change that’; it’s an amazing place.”

Anton encourages any local graffiti artists to swing by and give the wall a go – the only catch is that you have to bring your own spray paint.

“But come on down, we want to see what you’ve got.”

Thousands raised at ‘magic’ relay

GORDON PREECE

More than 600 people circuited Richmond A&P Showgrounds over 16 hours at the weekend’s Nelson Tasman Relay for Life fundraiser for the local Cancer Society branch. The event, which was held between 4pm on Saturday and 8am on Sunday, laced up after a six-year hiatus, and close to $180,000 had been raised for Cancer Society Nelson Tasman as of Monday, with donations still open for the next two weeks.

Cancer Society Nelson Tasman centre manager, Michelle Hunt, says the fundraiser was “magic” and the roughly 150 participating cancer survivors and their carers were “blown away”.

“Everyone was so committed to it...

“It has been mind blowing for [the cancer survivors and carers]… it was so much fun, and it was such an honour, and we’re just overwhelmed that we had so much support from the 50 teams.

Michelle says the fundraiser opened with the survivors and carers lap to celebrate those who have fought against can-

cer, before a candlelight ceremony was held later in the evening to remember those who had lost their lives to cancer. “Everyone got behind the survivors and their caregivers in the opening lap, we had the Nga Aho Rau kapa haka group perform to welcome them on to the start line. Our candlelight ceremony was so touching… and it was also a hard emotional time for some

people who had lost loved ones to cancer, and have people in their lives who are still fighting.”

Nelson Sambassadors brought the sound of Rio to Richmond and led the opening lap for the survivors and carers.

The band tied ribbons to their drums which had the names of people battling, survived or succumbed to cancer.

Band member, Shannon Cas-

sidy, says the band was “very honoured” to lead the “emotional” opening lap because some current members had survived cancer.

To donate to Cancer Society Nelson Tasman, visit: relayforlife.org.nz/o/nelson-tas man-relay#donate.

led the opening lap at Relay for Life for the cancer survivors and their carers. Photo: Rachel Moffitt. Right: reporter Jack Malcolm during coverage of the relay. Photo: Supplied.

More than 1000 people squelched, splished and slithered their way across the mud flats near Tasman School on Sunday, for the annual Muddy Buddy fundraiser. While figures were yet to be finalised, early reports are that more than $20,000 has been raised, which is to go towards a school playground upgrade. A white elephant stall, silent auction, grocery hamper raffle and head-or-tails competition for two brand new bikes, care of My Ride Richmond, kept the whole crowd – both clean and mud splattered - well entertained. The organisers say it was a fantastic day. “The weather turned out for us, the crowd came in their numbers and the estuary was at its muddy best! And the icing on the cake were the Black Falcons from the Royal New Zealand Airforce doing a flyover of the event en route to Nelson.” Photos: Chris Symes/ Shuttersport.

Celtic Pipe Band return with national title

SARA HOLLYMAN

Nelson’s Celtic Pipe Band have come home from nationals with the highest placing a pipe band from the Top of the South has ever received.

The band, based in Stoke, took over 50 members ranging in age from 10 through to 69 to the National Pipe Band Championships held in Auckland over the weekend.

The band won the NZ Grade 2 Title after nine years of attempting to beat bands from around the country and Australia and came home with two other trophies.

“Our Grade 4a band also competed with class as well as our

Juvenile band which comprised of many new players competing in their first-ever nationals,” says pipe major Callum Gilchrist.

“Although there were no prizes for the Grade 4 and Juvenile bands - they competed with distinction and the Grade 2 win is a win for our entire organisation as we all work together as one band, helping each other thrive and enjoy the art of pipes and drums.”

He says, the band has been attempting to claim the top spot after winning the Grade 3 spot in 2015 and moving up to the higher level.

He adds that it cost around $50,000 to get the band to na-

tionals and they would appreciate partial sponsorship to help them defend the title in Invercargill in 2025.

Callum says there is a large learner programme with world class tutors based at Nayland Primary with classes on a Thursday evening.

“If anyone aged from 9-13 would like to take up the pipes or drums or just wants to find out more, they can reach us on our Facebook page.”

The band can next be seen at their Ceilidh, which will be held at Nayland College on 25 May.

For sponsorship assistance, the band can be contacted on Celticpb.nelson@gmail.com

Rocks road upgrade dropped

You may have seen the news that one of Nelson’s two major transport projects – an upgrade to make Rocks Road modern and safe, has been dropped from the Government’s list of transport priorities by the National Government. Labour in Government gave the green light to two projects to sort out Nelson’s transport network, to build the Hope Bypass and get work started fixing Rocks Road. Rocks Rd is the jewel in Nelson’s crown, but it is in need of some serious love.

Having a modern transport link along Rocks Rd is vitally important to our region, but on a practical level, having a space that we can enjoy a bit more, with proper infrastructure for walking and cycling – will be great for Nelson.

It is really disappointing that the National Government has scrapped this important project from their list of key transport projects, and as Nelson’s MP I’m going to be working hard to ensure that the Government hears the views of our community. My thanks to those who came to our public meeting at Yaza! café last week, where we discussed the need for Rocks Rd to be upgraded and made safe. If you’re concerned about the future of Rocks Road, please head to my Facebook page or visit my office or tent at the Nelson Market to sign the petition.

Nelson’s Celtic Pipe Band celebrate receiving top honours at the weekend’s national competition. Photo: Supplied.

Trailblazing the tarmac for first female firefighter

JACK MALCOLM

Nelson Airport Rescue Fire Service’s newest recruit wants to be a role model, showing the next generation of girls what’s possible.

Libby Hayday says it’s exciting to learn new tools of her trade as the first woman to be on the Airport Fire Service’s crew.

“When kids see the fire truck and a girl driving it, that representation. . . it’s a reminder that girls can do it too.

“We’re all part of the same crew and work just as hard, if not harder, to be at that same level [ of the men’s physicality].”

Growing up, Libby always knew that she wanted to be an emergency responder. She even started considering a career in the police force, having previously been a police authorised officer.

But it was in fighting fires where Libby found her passion, having joined Nelson Station’s crew as a volunteer. She’s still on the Richmond Volunteer crew, saying she lives close to the station because the first people to arrive are on the first trucks out of the station.

“It’s helping people. We often say it’s the worst day of someone’s life and usually quite a stressful situation.

“I definitely enjoy working under pressure.

“Someone’s gotta do it and if you can keep a level head, why shouldn’t it be you.”

She says once they’re called out, the mistake has already happened, and the job is to make sure they achieve the best outcome for everyone involved.

Now in a full-time position with the Airport Fire Service crew, Libby says it’s been an eye-opening deep dive into things she’d never done before.

“It’s a great place to learn a different side of firefighting.

“Obviously, it’s a lot different to urban and rural firefighting, and we’ve got a cool truck,” she says.

Libby Hayday says she’s seen female representation in firecrews grow, and it’s exciting to be at the vanguard of being a role model as the first woman on the Airport Fire Service’s crew. Photo: Jack Malcolm.

Nelson Tasman attach the appeal leash

GORDON PREECE

Local guide dog users are encouraging donations this week for the “significant” costs to raise, train, and maintain the canine improvement for those who are blind or have low vision.

Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dog Puppy Appeal week will take place nationally from 20 March, and street collections for the organistion will be at New World Nelson and Motueka on 22 and 23 March.

Blind Low Vision NZ says the annual event supports blind and low vision people by providing them with highly trained guide dogs to enhance their independence and navigate the challenges of daily life.

“The journey to becoming a guide dog is not an easy one, accompanied by a significant cost of approximately $175,000 to raise, train, and maintain one guide dog in service… the organisation receives no government funding towards this,” the organisation says.

“The impact of these trained guide dogs cannot be overstated; they open new possibilities and help their handlers live safer, more independent lives.

“With an average wait time of 552 days to receive a guide dog and 27 clients currently awaiting a match, the Guide Dog Puppy Appeal Week is essential in reducing this waiting list.”

Motueka guide dog user and appeal week coordinator for

the town, Sue Fraser, who has low vision, says it took about two years for her guide dog, Riley, to become available.

“When one actually came through it was wonderful, it opened my world into a bit more independence because the worst thing was losing my driver’s licence, and then I couldn’t read, so it was very challenging,” she says.

“With the help I’ve had from Blind and Low Vision has been amazing to help me become an individual who can now walk in the local community with my guide dog to help me along the way, he’s given me the confidence I needed.

“Hopefully people will be able to donate as much as they possibly can, anything would be helpful because guide dogs

cost well over $50,000 to maintain to be the dog they are.”

Māpua resident Steve Delaney, who is blind, says he was on the waiting list for his guide dog, Sally, for five years.

“I’m lucky to have the little girl Sally [the guide dog] I have now, Sally has made my life so much easier, they open up a world to people that they probably didn’t believe they could obtain,” he says.

“I’ve been a volunteer collecting for guide dogs in the past here in Māpua, very generous community, I think people associate puppies and guide dogs with something that is worth giving.”

Online donations can be made by visiting blindlowvision.org. nz

WICKED LITTLE LETTERS

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE

“Firewood at its best”

Low vision Motueka resident, Sue Fraser, says her guide dog gave her more independence. Photo: Elise Vollweiler.

Drought declared for entire region

It will not bring the rain any faster, but pronouncing the region’s drought as a medium-scale adverse event will take some pressure off farmers and growers. Last week, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay acted on an urgent update from the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) to put the classification on Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough. The announcement unlocks support for farmers and growers, including the ability to defer tax payments and access money if they have put it aside under the Farm Income Equalisation Scheme. It comes on top of $20,000 made available to the Top of the South Rural Support Trust last month to provide extra support.

The trust’s chair, Richard Kempthorne, says farmers from Redwood Valley and Wakefield to Tapawera and through the Moutere are running out of feed for stock in “bone dry” conditions and time is running out to grow grass for winter.

“They are having to use winter feed supplements which is going to cause some issues later on. They may well run short and have to buy more in winter and if it has to come from outside the area, the cost of transport is very expensive.

“They’re looking at this day in and day out, with no rain in sight. They need it to be moist now, going into April so they can get autumn growth and it looks like it is going to be too late.”

Sheep and beef farmers have been getting very low prices for stock, so profitability is also low, he says.

Q: How many shows are there in this year’s Fringe Festival?

There are 48 different shows, we have about 100 performances.

Q: How has the response been so far?

We’ve had some really, really strong responses, people are loving the shows, but it’s a fringe so there’s a huge variety, but we’re really happy. We’re heading into the last weekend, which we think is a really strong lineup, a huge mixture of music and comedy and theatre.

Q: Have you managed to see any of the shows so far?

I think I’ve seen nine shows. I love having international actors because we see so little international stuff. To have a kind of top class... they travel around the world doing this all the time.

Q. What do you like most about your role as director of the festival?

I think it’s giving people the opportunity. We’re incredibly short of a small performance venue in Nelson. It means that it’s very difficult to create work into show

work. And that’s kind of cyclic, because people are not seeing other people’s work, they’re also not creating their own, they’re certainly seeing art engenders other art. I think that’s a really important part of what I see in fringe and what I love about the fringe.

Q. What do you like most about the Fringe Festival as opposed to mainstream theatre?

The thing about fringe is there are kind of no rules. In some ways,

there isn’t a difference, some fringe shows grow, and just about every comic you’d ever heard of will have started in fringe and done various small festivals like that. It’s a launching pad for some people. But sometimes it’s a kind of alternative, it’s an opportunity for people to do things who wouldn’t be invited to do things in the mainstream festivals. It’s quite interesting, because all these lines are getting a little bit blurred now.

Q. If you could pick one high-

light of your career in the arts industry what would it be?

Well, I’m going to say one of the highlights is the opportunity it’s given me to go and see interesting things. Years ago, I worked just after the Civil War in Tbilisi, on the Georgia International Arts Festival. I mean, being in a culture that I’m not au fait with, and working there, but also the opportunity to see and work with artists from a completely different society. It was the arts that brought me to New Zealand.

Q. How do the workshops enhance the festival?

Yeah, it’s an interesting one. There are basically two different sorts of workshops. So we have a very practical one this year, we had Creative New Zealand come and talk about funding. Nobody’s idea of fun, but actually it’s incredibly useful. They’ve just changed their funding model so getting to meet the kind of advisors to that, and listening to them speak about how the funding model has changed. And then, the other workshops are more about people exploring new directions.

FAIRY GALA: Dozens of volunteers put on a Fairy Gala recently which raised thousands in funds as well as awareness for the ongoing war in Ukraine. Held in Mandy Olverson’s backyard, the gala saw the members of various local community groups, from Tautoko Ukraine to the Nelson College for Girls volunteer group, come together to support the cause and dress up for the young attendees. Pictured are, back row: Kate Mann, Faye Wulff. Front row: Claudia Strang, Rainbow Yuen, Mandy Olverson, Jordyn Olverson (9), Lyvbov Lawrance, John Glaisyer, Mary Glaisyer, Darrly Olverson and Wilson the Golden Retriever Photo: Jack Malcolm.

Once a month Nelson Weekly has a yarn and some lunch with an interesting Nelsonian doing something interesting. This week journalist Gordon Preece chats with Giles Burton, The director of the Nelson Fringe Festival, at The Vic Public House. The stalwart of theatre shares his highlights of the festival so far.

Councils abandon plan aimed at encouraging townhouses

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

A proposal for an urban development entity that would help get high-quality townhouses built across Nelson Tasman has been abandoned.

The entity would have bought and amalgamated adjoining properties across the region before demolishing their dwellings and subdividing the land to sell as a package to developers, but wouldn’t build any homes itself. This approach was intended to de-risk medium-density housing projects for developers to make it easier to build high-quality townhouse complexes, diversifying and increasing the local housing supply.

The Nelson City and Tasman District Councils would have jointly owned and overseen the entity. However, elected members of both councils were told on Tuesday that such an urban development entity would be financially unfeasible.

The determination came from an independent strategic assessment which highlighted that the entity would be unlikely to recover its cost directly, with modelling revealing that between $175,000 to $358,000 could be lost for each

development site.

The development sites could each have had between 10-30 individual lots, depending on the site.

Council officers added that the entity might have needed “at least $20 million in seed capital” to establish.

However, the assessment also highlighted that “there may be a viable case for intervention” once the wider economic and social benefits of a coordinated approach to housing intensification

were quantified. Those benefits were meant to be quantified during a business case following the strategic assessment, however the business case wasn’t conducted because the entity’s financial unfeasibility had already been determined.

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith supported not pursuing the idea further and said Nelson Tasman doesn’t have the scale for an urban development agency.

“Setting up an urban develop-

ment authority would add very significant compliance costs to the development and are beyond the challenges that we quite appropriately have in the areas of housing.”

However, Nelson councillor Aaron Stallard drew attention to the fact that the wider benefits of the agency, and the detrimental impacts of continuing to approach housing in the same way, hadn’t been quantified.

While he agreed that the councils wouldn’t want to make “a large loss”, he pointed out that delivering space for 20 homes at a loss of $175,000 would equate to losing less than $10,000 per lot.

“That doesn’t seem like a huge amount.”

Nelson-based architect William Samuels was disappointed by the councils’ decision.

William chairs the Nelson and Marlborough branch of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects and co-founded the NelsonTasman2050 independent think-tank which advocates for sustainable urban environments.

He has advocated for establishing an urban development entity in the past.

“Our current status quo approach to housing is desperately broken

and is not delivering us the outcomes that we need,” William says.

“If we’re serious about addressing the housing challenges in our region we need to take bold steps, and direct intervention is clearly needed to make it more viable for the private sector to deliver desirable housing and community outcomes.”

He adds that the economic and social costs of continued urban sprawl “are potentially far greater” than the operational costs of the entity which would increase the region’s liveability and supply of good-quality housing.

“The direct costs associated with building poor-quality housing located in the wrong areas is significant and needs to be factored within the cost-benefit analysis of an urban development entity.”

While the two councils aren’t pursuing the entity any further, officers added that Kāinga Ora already possesses many of the powers that the entity would have and is exploring the possibility of using those powers in the region.

Made

Nelson-based architect William Samuels says the entity’s operational costs could have been outweighed by its wider benefits.

Photo: Max Frethey.

Bolton reunion anchors memories and paintings

GORDON PREECE

More than 120 descendants of passengers who travelled to Nelson 180 years ago on the emigrant ship Bolton gathered at Olive Estate on Sunday for a non-rigged reunion.

The Bolton was the sixth emigrant ship to reach Nelson’s shores when it anchored outside Nelson Haven on 15 March, 1842, after voyaging from Gravesend, England, on 29 October, 1841.

Reunion captain and Olive Estate resident, Val Trow, who descends from the Hopgoods, who were one of the 50 families onboard the ship, says her reunion idea set sail when fellow Olive Estate resident and marine artist Paul Deacon showed her his drawing of the Bolton.

“It got me thinking if there were any other descendants around from the Bolton,” she says.

Then, on a New Year’s trip to Okiwi Bay, she met a lady

from Tauranga who told her she had “deep roots” in Nelson, and her pioneer ancestors came on the Bolton with the first hop plants.

Val says this encounter put more wind in her reunion sails, and she proceeded to put a post on the Top of the South Island, New Zealand History Facebook group, where she received an “over-

whelming” response.

“The 125 descendants who came to the reunion were from the north of Auckland, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Picton, Blenheim, Christchurch, and Ashburton,” she says. “I had to turn 20 people away because of the numbers [due to space at the venue].

“The reunion was important because as we get older our

history starts to mean a lot to us, ‘how did we get here?’, ‘how did our olds come?’, ‘when and why did they come?’.”

Descendants shared stories about their connections to the Bolton families at the event, and two Paul Deacon paintings of the ship in Nelson harbour were also unveiled.

Flight costs increase

The NZ Airports Association is calling for the introduction of domestic airfare and airline performance monitoring to provide greater transparency for consumers, amid record high domestic airfares.

“This week’s data from Stats NZ shows domestic airfares were again adding to the cost of living crisis for Kiwis, increasing 7.4 per cent in February compared to January 2024,” says chief executive Billie Moore. “Air New Zealand has upped its domestic airfares yet again, as well as increasing the cost of addons such as bag check by $10. It’s flagged that other costs, like checking in your pet, could also be in for a future price hike.

Billie says it’s incredibly difficult for domestic and regional travellers who are already frustrated about flight costs.

Air New Zealand hiked its average domestic network airfares by $51 to $200 per one-way airfare for the year ending September 2023, a 34 per cent rise on the previous year. But some passengers will be forced to pay more than this. For example, a return airfare from Tauranga to Nelson this weekend can cost as much as $1,160 if you want to check a bag.

“With 86 per cent of market share, our domestic monopoly airline essentially dictates the price, routes and flight schedule available to regional New Zealanders.

“Things are likely to get even harder with Air New Zealand’s aircraft shortage and engine maintenance issues.”

Descendants of the Bolton: reunion organiser Val Trow, left, and Paul Deacon, with the Bolton paintings. Photo: Gordon Preece.

Note to readers

Dear readers,

In last week’s edition of the Nelson Weekly, we published a page advertising guns for sale. While Nelson Weekly does occasionally publish advertisements from lawful businesses selling sporting guns, the timing of it being published in the week of the anniversary of the Christchurch Mosque attacks is regretted.

Nelson Weekly has previously committed to not running gun ads during the week leading up to and after the attacks which makes the publication even more upsetting. I sincerely apologise to those who were upset at the publication of the advert. We will endeavour to do better in the future.

Sincerely,

Andrew Board, publisher.

‘We could have done better’: $400k for road damage

Thats a huge bill for running electric vehicles.

Edwin Pons

$59,000 PLUS the cost of the new road markings yet to be done. A flippant admission ‘we missed a trick’ ...

Robin Westrupp

NelsonRichmond gridlock, yet again

Wow, this is an everyday thing for Nelson. Think I’d rather walk to shop unless I really need to drive, not worth wasting my gas for sitting behind how many cars, for how long, stop, go, stop, go, by time get my location - fuel light lol.

Charmaine Marie

Most traffic goes into Nelson in the morning and back out in the afternoon, why not change the one way system to accommodate the peak hour traffic. ieopen Main Rd Stoke for north bound traffic in

the morning and for south bound traffic in the afternoon.

Angela Epiha

I’d be interested to know who those were who opposed this road? Clearly our representatives who are not in touch with reality?

Kelly Dalzell

Southern link from Nelson is what is needed. People have their heads in the sand saying not in my backyard. Been planned for decades.

Vanessa Rose

Not done on the weekend so as to not interrupt sport? But interrupting work and school is fine.

Vicki Scott

Start a petition … see how many people think a third road is a good idea ? I think we need one as when events happen, ie August floods, it shows how quickly it is needed.

Nick obviously is for it which is great but his council voted it down.

Lisa Bennett

Great - create more roads and avoid gridlock, said every Gold Coaster trying to get to work in the mornings along extensive motorway systems!

Carey Gary

For goodness sake! I thought we finally had a council who might do some logical good for Nelson. Please lobby your local Councillor to support this additional route - it’s total madness that it’s never been put in - a lack of route options is most of the reason Nelson-Tasman gets gridlocked at the best of times.

Dee Edge

What’s On

Nelson’s Model Railway Exhibition

Saturday, 23 and Sunday, 24 March, 10am4.30pm

Warnes Stadium, 206 Songer Street

There will be layouts from as far away as Rakaia, Christchurch and Blenheim, as well as Nelson. Light refreshments will be available as well as sales tables of railway models and scenic materials and buildings. Adults $10, children $2, family 2A 3C $20, W/E pass $15 per adult.

Love Orchard Stream

Saturday, 23 March, 10am-2pm

Orchard Reserve, Stoke

Learn about the health of the stream, have a go at testing the water and find out what bugs live in the water. There will be games, hands-on art, and water-themed giveaways.

Multicultural Festival

Sunday, 24 March, 11am – 4pm

Founders Heritage Park

Join us to celebrate “Unity in Diversity” together with young and old, new and established Nelsonians. Please bring cash on the day as not all stallholders will have eftpos. Gold Coin Entry

Nelson Family Beach Day

Saturday, 23 March, 2pm

Tāhunanui Beach

Family Beach Day with CAN PLAN. We’re calling all treasure hunters to search for prizes in the Crackerjack Toys Little Dig and The 0800 Digger Big Dig to win your share of a thousand dollars of cash and prizes!

Nelson Matters

Hon Dr Nick Smith

CONNINGS COMING TO TOWN

Council’s decision to lease, and provide an option to buy, the strategic RutherfordAchilles site for a Connings Food Market is good for the city, consumers and the environment.

Council bought the sites in 2011 but it has had years of uncertainty. The previous Council contracted to sell the properties to Kāinga Ora for a multi-storey State housing development in 2021 but Kāinga Ora recently concluded it was not financially feasible.

Simon Conning emailed me last year wanting to invest in the city and I jumped at the opportunity. The agreement has the Conning family leasing the previous Hunting and Fishing building for a popup store to open later this year with the option to buy the full property including the current 4 Seasons building. There is no ratepayer subsidy and Connings will pay fair market price for the lease and land purchase. They propose building a new food market, similar to their successful Appleby complex at Old Factory Corner. The refillery store GoodFor is also coming into the city in August, in the adjacent RE/MAX building.

I thank Councillors for their unanimous support, Council staff, led by Nigel Philpott, for their can-do approach and Connings for their initiative. It will help revitalise Nelson and make our local produce and artisan foods more available to city dwellers. It also fits well with Council’s ambitious “Bridge to Better” plans to upgrade and modernise Bridge Street.

The development is good for consumers, giving them more choice with Connings offering fresh, healthy fruit and vegetables directly from the grower. Horticulture is Nelson’s biggest export earner, and this will showcase it in the heart of our city. It is good for the environment in reducing food miles. It will save thousands of Nelsonians, like me, having to drive out to Appleby, noting that 30% of Connings’ customers come from the city. I also love the reduced packaging from the refillery store.

This initiative is a great entrée for Council’s City Revitalisation Summit next Tuesday. My ambition is to harness Nelson’s smart entrepreneurs, creative thinkers and strong community spirit to help us build a vibrant, prosperous and sustainable city.

NZ-first bioenergy plant one step closer

MAX FRETHEY

Local Democracy Reporter

A bioenergy plant soon to be built in Nelson Tasman is hoped to eventually unlock the ability to reduce New Zealand’s total emissions by 5 per cent and save the country upwards of $1 billion. The project will be the end of multiple years of work by Alimentary Systems to get to this point and a first of its kinf for NZ.

“Nelson takes our patent from lab to pilot,” says co-founder Matthew Jackson. “The purpose of the project is to show that we can do zero waste, zero liquid discharge and zero emissions, and reduce ratepayers’ costs.”

The Bioenergy Resource Recovery Plant (BRRP, pronounced ‘burp’) is hoped to be commissioned on Bell Island, adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant, by mid-2026. The BRRP is a circular system that combines the carbon in organic waste and the nitrogen in wastewater sludge to create methane gas and a synthetic fertiliser replacement. The methane is then used to power the plant, with the fertiliser and any remaining gas then able to be sold for a profit.

“We’re trying to figure out a way where the system can extract so much value that we can change the behaviour,” Matthew says. He adds that the technology has been proven overseas and the Bell Island project is hoped to validate the methodology in a New Zealand context to unlock benefits for the entire country.

Regional benefits of the technology include delaying the need to build costly new landfills by diverting significant amounts of organic waste and sludge into the BRRP facilities.

In Nelson Tasman, a new landfill is currently budgeted to cost $42 million, though the existing landfill sites in the region have anoth-

er 80 years of capacity at the current rate of waste collection.

Organic waste also decomposes in landfills, releasing methane and significantly contributes to regional emissions.

About 59 per cent of Tasman District Council’s emissions come from landfill, though landfill emissions from Nelson Tasman’s York Valley Landfill are captured or flared.

Nationally, councils send 9000 tonnes of organic waste to landfills each day, and industry generates 363,000 tonnes of organic waste that must be managed in line with strict environmental standards.

If this waste is diverted to BRRP facilities, Matthew says New Zealand’s total emissions would decrease by 5 per cent annually.

The fertiliser by-product could then be sold to horticulturalists to decrease the country’s reliance on imported fertilisers.

“This is about how do we maximize the value of the organic waste stream to capture the energy, capture the nutrients, and then put them back into the system so that they can be utilized again.”

However, the project’s benefits

aren’t solely environmental and could bring massive financial benefits. New Zealand is currently on track to overshoot its 2030 climate emissions target by 114 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The cost of purchasing the offshore carbon credits required to offset that shortfall is expected to be about $3-24 billion, depending on the future price of carbon credits on the international market.

At the lower end of the Treasury’s estimates, each tonne of emissions would cost a minimum of $26.32. However, Matthew says that Alimentary System’s technology could lower that price significantly to around $15.07.

Given New Zealand’s shortfall

of 114 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, the savings could amount to $11.25 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent, or at least $1.28 billion by 2030.

The BRRP project on Bell Island has secured a three-year license from the Nelson Regional Sewerage Business Unit (NRSBU) to take sludge from the island’s wastewater treatment plant. General manager Nathan Clarke confirmed that the NRSBU had agreed to a non-exclusive licence to occupy a small part of Bell Island adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant. The plant will provide the BRRP with small volume of untreated sludge so Alimentary Systems can carry out its trial over the next three years.

“We were open to giving them access to the land as their goals around reusing resources like wastewater sludge are the same as ours. It can be hard to find land that is

suitably zoned and located so we were happy to help them out as the results of the trial will be useful for the industry as a whole.”

Alimentary Systems has applied for a grant from the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Minimisation Fund for up to $3.7 million. The result of their application is expected by July.

If granted, the funding will go towards the $8 million cost of setting up the BRRP with the remaining cost being covered by private impact investors.

Similar technology has been established in India on a much larger scale (modelled above) with input from Haarman Madon who has since brought his own patented technology to New Zealand. Photo: Alimentary Systems.

Matthew Jackson

Ltd

Domestic & Commercial Wiring | PV Solar Experts | Maintenance & Repairs

E: admin@rdelectrical.co.nz

P: 542 2328 rdelectrical.co.nz

Angelika and Blair Mant understand the need for sustainable living and protecting our environment. The operators of Kimi Ora Eco Resort say preserving an eco-resort is a true labour of love. The complex has been operating for 35 years and the team are committed to protecting the environment and using renewable resources, all whilst providing top-quality accommodation, an on-site restaurant, a Day Spa as well as pool and spa facilities. A 40kw solar panel set-up helps to keep the resort ticking over and Angelika and Blair work with EKOS, a New Zealand-based company that helps Kiwi businesses measure, manage and offset their carbon footprint. Kimi Ora achieved a Climate Positive Certificate, which means they are committed to offsetting at least 120% of their measured CO2 emissions.

It was important for Kimi Ora to find ways to reduce their emissions where possible but also acknowledging that some emissions may be temporarily impossible to eliminate. By offsetting, the business is able to reduce the climate impact it has by investing in forests that produce a range of environmental co-benefits.

At Rowan Dron Electrical they take pride in offering solutions to a client's energy needs across a range of products and services. Passionate about energy efficiency, owner Rowan says his team of certified electricians are also qualified solar installers who make it their mission to keep up-to-date with cutting-edge technology and products.

ENA Solar accredited, Rowan says that in light of recent weather events, people are wanting to know more about their backup options for electricity, especially when it comes to solar. “First, we need to find out whether your site is suitable for a PV installation. We are happy to provide a no-obligation FREE, onsite assessment at a time that suits you. We will put together a free quotation based on the correct system for your site and your power needs. Because we are electricians, we can advise on ways to maximise the savings from your system.”

Offering residential and commercial electrical work including LED lights, solar installation, smart ventilation and KNX smart control, get in touch with the trusted professionals on 03 542 2328 or email admin@rdelectrical. co.nz for more information.

Encouraging positive environmental changes in the region

Passionate about reducing their carbon footprint on the environment, Trafalgar Painting Company Ltd have begun initiatives to try and counteract the negative collateral footprint of their industry in the region. Working in the industry for over 28 years, co-owners Joe Szentpeteri, Mark Sellars and Nathan Towns are determined to encourage positive environmental changes within the workplace. Their trade-certified team offer a diverse range of paint application services across the North & South Islands. Based in Nelson, the main activities include marine, industrial, and commercial sectors. One half of the business is dedicated to painting and maintenance services while the other half focuses on more specialised work like testing of asbestos or toxic mould. They also offer a fully-licensed, compliant, and experienced team of dedicated removalists. Joe, managing director, says that as well as a strong emphasis on health and safety, another core principle of the company is that every person is entitled to live in a safe environment, free from harmful chemicals, compounds, and organisms. Twenty-eight years of working in asbestos abatement have made the company keenly aware of the damaging substance and its impact on the environment. This has long struck a chord with the team, and they are constantly looking for innovative ways to offset this. They also offered their employees the opportunity to purchase an e-bike and helmet at half price while the company paid the rest. “Get fit and reduce carbon emissions, it’s a start!”

The company has also purchased two hybrid cars to assist in the everyday running of the business. The first step to phasing out the diesel fleet. Joe’s love of the region is clear, and he is determined in his mission to help create a better environment and a better future for generations to come. They are actively involved in sponsorship and school-based initiatives, getting behind the community where they can.

“The rewarding thing about being locally owned and operated is being able to give back to the community, the same people that support Nelson business’s every day.” Trafalgar Painting Company Ltd employ a team of 35 skilled and diverse staff, with Joe’s wife Raewyn and oldest daughter Jess, all helping make it possible.

Region in for double dose of brass

KATE RUSSELL

A double dose of brass is coming to the region this weekend as the city’s oldest band looks to inspire and recruit more young members.

NBS Nelson City Brass is holding two free outdoor concerts on Saturday, 23 March - one in Nelson and one in Richmond.

B and president Daniel Wilson says that, as a community band it is important they are accessible to the public, and hopes the concerts will help to showcase the talents of the band and inspire people to take up learning a brass instrument.

“We have three groups running; our senior band with approximately 25 members, our smaller social band that gives a non-competitive pathway for players, and our youth programme that has about 15 students currently learning.”

Senior band members range in age from 14 to 70, with members from a wide range of occupations, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

Daniel says, before Covid they had a youth programme with up to 40 students, however, due to restrictions and young people

leaving for university, they are now rebuilding the programme.

“We would like to grow their

youth

active competing youth band. We offer free lessons and

instrument hire for the first year of tuition, and a small contribution thereafter.”

Lessons are held after school hours and are taken by musical director (and former conductor of the national band) Nigel Weeks, alongside other national champion players.

NBS Nelson City Brass has been around in various forms for 167 years, making it one of the oldest community arts groups in the country.

In recent years, the band has had considerable competition success and consequently has been promoted very quickly from the ‘C’ Grade to the ‘A’ Grade - the highest level of competition in New Zealand.

“We are currently one of the top five bands in the country,” says Daniel.

“Our members give their time freely for rehearsals, public performances, attending competitions, and teaching our youth.”

‘Double Brass’ in on this Saturday, 23 March, at 11am at the top of Trafalgar St (1903 Square) or 2pm at Washbourn Gardens in Richmond. Both concerts will be a one-hour programme of contemporary and classic brass music.

number to once again have an

From left are Liam Heaphy, 17, Harry Reith, 15, and Jessica Playford, 17, who will be performing in two free concerts this weekend with NBS Nelson City Brass. Photo: Kate Russell.

Local business taking charge of your electrical needs

tant legacy.

“Duncan Air Conditioning was successfully run in the region, servicing and installing for a number of building companies which gave consistent amounts of work. Before Covid hit, Therese and Greg decided they wanted to sell the business, and Simon and I took the opportunity to buy it off them and carry on the name in the region.”

Simon and Greg continued working together as a two-man team which the couple ran from their home in Stoke.

Locally owned and operated, The Electric Company is a key player in the electrical services sector, specialising in residential, commercial, and industrial projects across the Nelson region and beyond. As registered Master Electricians, owner Marc Edgar says the business puts customer satisfaction and providing quality workmanship at the top of its priorities.

“We have been providing our clients with top quality designs, installations and services for 25 years. We take great pride in being able to provide quality workmanship and the ability to liaise well with our clients and complete projects to suit their timeline and budget every time. Our commitment is unwavering. At The Electric Company, our dedicated team, comprising registered electricians and apprentice trainees, ensures that every project is executed to the highest standards, meeting both timelines and budgets.”

Based in Richmond the team cater to a diverse clientele and specialise in commercial project design and installation, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to every job they undertake. “For residential clients, we offer a comprehensive range of services, from house re-wiring to lighting design and installation. Our registered Master Electricians are adept at tailoring solutions to meet the unique needs of each property, ensuring both

style and functionality.”

In the commercial and industrial sectors, The Electric Company excel in maintenance, lighting, and power design and installation, as well as data communications and electrical fault diagnosis.

“From project inception to ongoing servicing, we're committed to facilitating smooth operations for businesses. In line with our commitment to sustainability, we also provide solar panel installations to help customers harness clean, renewable energy and reduce their power bills. Our end-to-end service encompasses everything from initial assessment to system design and installation.”

Servicing and maintaining optimal indoor environments for homes and businesses, the team offer ventilation system design and installation, and their expertise also extends to heat pump supply, installation, and servicing, ensuring year-round comfort no matter the weather.

“Whether you require residential upgrades, commercial installations, or sustainable energy solutions, our licensed Master Electricians are here to assist you every step of the way. Call us today for a no-obligation, free quote and experience the difference quality service can make. At The Electric Company, client satisfaction is paramount.” Call 03 54 65029 for more information or visit: theelectriccompany.co.nz

Pumps and portunity as ity to grow quickly.”

Now a mum careers from in the office says Briar, but is relishing. customer service being with people. in the process ing the two companies, crew are comfortably their feet and rhythm going!”

opportunity for the family to continue an impor-

“Our family grew with the addition of newborn twins, Duncan Air was beginning to grow, and we were in a position that we needed to move to a bigger house and take on extra staff. After a couple of years, we were then approached to buy Nelson Heat

info@nelsonheatpumps.nz | 03 546 9928

23B Packham Crescent, Stoke nelsonheatpumps.nz

“We would mon’s parents us in this continual our great staff ers who have port us in such Simon and the to succeed in have a wealth in, as well as port our with providing and up-to-date heat and cool This is what our passion.”

Increased security in Tasman forests

ELOISE MARTYN

Applications are now open for obtaining a public hunting permit to OneFortyOne’s forestry, and like last season this season has some changes too.

Last season, changes were made extending the hunting season and areas, stateof-the-art security cameras and high-tech magnetic alarms were installed, and applicants needed to have a minimum of third-party vehicle insurance.

This season, additional changes include monitored electronic lock systems on forestry gates and some blocks only having certain entry and exit access points.

“We have some electronic locks in place already in the south bank area near Blenheim, by the time public hunting opens in April we will have the north bank and Rai Valley areas completed as well, before moving on the Tasman region,” R&M Security owner/operator, who took over OneFortyOne’s

forestry security a few years ago, Rob Crawford, explains.

The locks operate via a Bluetooth cellphone app.

“We are only a third of the way through our plan to have a better-secured forest and keep hunting exclusively for those who hold a permit, why should those who don’t pay or play by the rule get to use the forest, that’s not fair,” he adds.

Rob says that already they are seeing dramatically decreased unlawful behaviour as a result of security measures they have implemented.

He says that the likes of things being dumped in the forest, poaching, and theft or damage to forestry crews’ equipment and machinery have all decreased.

The majority of the land OneFortyOne manages is owned by local iwi Ngāti Toa, Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Tama.

“We work in close collaboration with our iwi landowners, who acknowledge

and support safe and sustainable activities on their land, including hunting,”

OneFortyOne NZ Forests general manager, Shaun Truelock says.

“The iwi are keen to build deeper connections with their land, and as part of this we are providing each iwi with their own hunting blocks on their land. This is a trial for this year and these blocks are separate to the public hunting blocks.

“The hunting permits available for the public this season give the permit holder access to 45,000 hectares in our Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough forests, this is just over half of our estate. We are probably one of the largest private land managers that give this type of access.”

Public hunting permit applications are open now, with public hunting commencing on 13 April, subject to operational and weather conditions.

Visit onefortyone.com for information.

OneFortyOne NZ Forests general manager Shaun Truelock. Photo: Supplied.

Billy’s head knock-related brain injury

DYLAN CLEAVER RNZ

Content warning: This story in cludes references to suicide.

Billy Guyton, the former Mako and New Zealand Māori halfback who died last year aged 33, had a brain injury likely to be connect ed with repeated head knocks.

The stunning diagnosis of stage 2 chronic traumatic encepahlop athy (CTE) was relayed to his family following extensive testing at Auckland’s Neurological Foun dation Human Brain Bank.

It makes Billy the first New Zea land-based professional rugby player to be diagnosed with the condition, following on from USbased Kiwi Justin Jennings, who died in 2020 aged 50.

The Guyton family this week received a report from the Brain Bank that confirmed the CTE diagnosis. It also noted Guyton had “background changes consistent with global hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy”, which is an umbrella term for a brain injury.

Guyton, who played more than 50 games for Tasman and had stints at the Hurricanes and Crusaders before joining the Blues in 2016, died by suspected suicide in Nelson after years of what his father John described as “cries for help”.

“I figured out Billy had CTE a few days after he died,” John said. “My wife and I were watching a documentary on it and I said, ‘F… me, that’s Billy. That’s what he had.’

“If I can work it out based on a documentary, what the hell were all those specialists Billy saw missing? I hope Billy’s death blows a lot of bulls… out of the water. Rugby is so keen to pass it all off as depression that they’re happy to ignore what’s obvious.”

In a written statement, New Zealand Rugby said it acknowledged the Guyton family for their loss and continued grief surrounding the passing of Billy.

“We share the family’s concern at his diagnosis. NZR is concerned about the possibility that repeated head impacts during participation in rugby may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases in later life.”

“These guys aren’t depressed, they’re sick,” John Guyton said.

“And there’s hundreds of them. I read that Carl Hayman described it as an epidemic, and he’s right.

“I believe Billy’s death was his final ‘f… you’ to all those who ignored the obvious when he tried and tried and tried to get help.”

The Guyton family requested Billy’s brain be examined and the coroner who inquired into his death directed it to be sent to Auckland to be independently examined by a pathologist.

The local pathologist noted the existence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in the brain.

“It was noted as CTE by the New Zealand-based pathologist,” said Professor Maurice Curtis of the Brain Bank. “It was sent to an Australian pathologist for a second opinion and it was he who gave it the Stage 2 designation.”

Stage 2 CTE is characterised by brain abnormalities that are broadly defined by collections of tau protein in the crevices of the brain, the sulci, mostly in the front of the brain along with an emergent spreading pattern. Maurice said that by Stage 3 it tended to spread to the hippocampus and memory centres of the brain and by Stage 4 tau is evident over the periphery of the brain.“There are a limited number of modifiable risk factors in this case, and concussions and head knocks are certainly one of them,” Curtis said.

A buildup of tau, which in a healthy brain protects the cells, creates tangles that inhibit brain function. It was historically associated with Alzheimer’s disease, though since discovery of CTE in the brains of hundreds of retired American footballers - starting with legendary Pittsburgh Steel-

er Mike Webster in 2002 - it has become synonymous with that disease.

According to work by Boston University scientists including Dr Ann McKee, who has examined hundreds of brains of former contact athletes, symptoms of Stage 2 CTE include irrational outbursts and severe depressive episodes.

John Guyton said his son’s behaviour fitted all-too-neatly into this description.

“The poor guy would spend hours in a small, dark cupboard because he couldn’t handle being in the light. Some mornings he’d just sit in the bottom of his show er tray crying, trying to muster up the energy to get moving.

“Can you imagine what was go ing on in that guy’s head?”

Guyton senior said he does not absolve himself from blame. He described himself as far from the perfect father and has spent the last year beating himself up over his son’s death.

At one point, not understanding what his son was going through, he tried tough love, something he regrets to this day.

“He started making some mis takes financially and rather than get in there and help him, I decid ed to give him some space to fig ure it out on his own. In my mind

I was trying to be a good dad, but he didn’t need space, he needed me there beside him.

hurtful messages from him and again my attitude was just to write it off as him being on something and to leave him alone. “For a long time after he died I felt disgusted with myself. But I didn’t understand about CTE. Now I do and eventually I have been able to give myself some John Guyton said the family remains wrecked by Billy’s death and find it difficult to rationalise the idea that the sport he loved so much and gave so much of his life to, “slowly tore his life to bits”. Billy received numerous concussions, the final big one coming in a club game for Waimea Old Boys when he received a knee to the side of the head. When he returned to Tasman Mako training following that concussion, the slightest bump would trigger symptoms again, so in 2018, at the age of 28, he made the gut-wrenching decision to retire. He told the Nelson Weekly at the time: “It was a bloody tough decision, I still don’t like that I have had to make it but I know it is the best thing for my health and family. Watching TV would bring on headaches, doing too many tasks, loud noises, some days I would need noise-cancelling headphones or I would feel nauseous and have blurry or double vision, it was not very fun.”

He had sought the advice of his best mate, Shane Christie, who was also forced from the sport after suffering multiple head injuries.

“The key thing for Bill was that he couldn’t understand why he was so up and down with his emotions,” Christie told RNZ

“That was the thing that was haunting him. He would see people and they would talk about concussion, but they would never talk about CTE. Managing concussion is a massively different proposition to managing a degenerative disease and I can’t say for certain, but I don’t think Bill had this information.”

Christie has suffered from many post-concussion symptoms and suspects he might have CTE himself, but needs the appropriate medical guidance to understand. “I can handle a diagnosis of CTE,” he said. “I can manage that, but first it needs to be acknowledged as a possibility by specialists provided by ACC. Rugby and the ACC can’t hide behind this line that you can’t be diagnosed until after death because if they don’t acknowledge that, people like Bill can’t get the proper care.

“There will be many more like Bill. These players need to be treated on a case-by-case basis, and not with broad statements.”

In its statement, NZR said it continues to prioritise player safety which reduces and mitigates against the risk of injury and the exposure of head impacts to participants at all levels.

“This includes the introduction of smart mouthguards, lower tackle height, contact guidelines, law changes, compulsory education for community coaches and many other initiatives.

Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.

Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357

“A couple of times I got random,

Former Mako captain Shane Christie gave an emotional speech, appealing for better assistance for players transitioning from the game. Photo: Evan Barnes/Shuttersport.

Billy Guyton in action for the Tasman Mako. Photo: Shuttersport.

Former local Jarrod Coutts was back in town last weekend after earning his spot into the Top Eight AC Invitational, held at Nelson Hinemoa Croquet Club this year. Having started playing croquet at Richmond Club, he says it was his first time with the “big boys” in the top grade, which saw him earn a career highlight win over the number five ranked player in the world, Paddy Chapman.

Volleyball spikes across the region

KATE RUSSELL

A spiked interest in volleyball has seen more than 200 teams across five leagues take the court at Saxton Stadium this term - one of the highest participation rates the sport has ever had in the region.

From the social to the serious players, from Motueka to Nelson, Volleyball Tasman operations manager Belinda Koloamatangi says 216 players are taking the court this season.

“The numbers are increasing for us. We especially have noticed larger numbers coming through the social scene.

“Participation in the region has always been good, but we have definitely seen the increase in popularity.”

There are 74 teams in the college league, 47 in the intermediate league, 36 in the primary league, 21 in the NVL League, and 38 in the open social competition.

Belinda says Nelsonians both young and old are enjoying the social aspect of the game, and she notes how all sports are finally gaining momentum again in the “aftermath of Covid restrictions”.

“People are here to have a bit of fun and enjoy time with their mates with-

out the serious aspect of winning so much. People are enjoying getting active in a fun way.”

Belinda says they’ve also had a boost with success on the competitive side of things.

“Our Tasman u19 IPC Girls took away the silver at last year’s IPC and Waimea College has had great success, with the senior boys placing second at Nationals, and the junior girls winning the South Island champs.”

Nayland College also won gold at the Australian School Championships in December last year.

“Over the past year we have had numerous locals selected in national teams as well as securing scholarships to universities overseas,” Belinda adds. Belinda says she would like to see the sport grow even bigger across the region.

“We would love to get ourselves out in the community more … being present around more schools to expose more youth to the fun sport of volleyball. “We currently host tournaments for our school teams but would love to get a community social weekend tournament running at some point for any team to be able to enter and have a fun weekend.”

Photo: Jack Malcolm.

Beach battles for sea swimmers

PETER GIBBS

It’s been a few years since the Rylock Sea Swim series was held in a location other than the Nelson Yacht Club, but that was the case last Thursday.

With the yacht club in full regatta mode, race 18 of the series was moved to Tāhunanui Beach.

A series of buoys marked out a 750m loop, with the short race taking on one lap, while the longer swim did two, with a short wade to the beach between laps.

Finn Bryant showed his intentions by turning up in a wetsuit. The dominant swimmer in the non-wetsuit category, Finn was interested to know how he’d go clad in neoprene.

Like a rocket, was the answer. Finn took on series leader Hayden Squance and pushed him all the way, conceding the win by 20 seconds.

Hamish Neill got slight revenge on Ben Marshall, the pair separated by a second at the finish. It was a bit of a grudge match, as Ben squeezed out Hamish in the season rankings by one point. In the best-of-twelve series, Hayden was the clear series winner from Terry Bone, Gus Marfell, then Ben and Hamish.

The third instalment of the annual Multicultural Football Festival saw the most diverse set of teams ever. With 16 teams represented from all over the world mixed in with a couple of local squads, it was a day of celebration of culture as Daniel Michel from the Vanuatuan team and Boereh Reh from the Nelson Karenni Victory team got stuck into the action. Organiser and Nelson City Council welcoming communities coordinator Bill Huppler says the day is about using football as an international language to make connections, with the day supported by NCC, Multicultural Nelson Tasman, FC Nelson and Health

Finn was the clear winner in the non-wetsuit series.

Lilly Claridge didn’t have to swim last night. She already has 13 wins so, like Hayden, gets her name on the winner’s trophy for the second consecutive year.

Nia Linyard took out the win in the women’s race at the beach, heading off her sister Keshia and

the cunning Christina Harris. In the season rankings, Keshia took second place ahead of Nia, with Christina close behind.

Christina is a former series winner from as far back as 2006 and is never far from the action. She had no trouble winning the F6069 age group competition from the non-wetsuit women’s cham-

pion Jude Vincent.

Liliana Perrett was happy to win the one-lap race on Thursday, cementing her place as the best swimmer in the short race series. Rob Sheridan didn’t swim in the final race, but he was the strongest male swimmer overall in the short series and also took out the non-wetsuit category. Matanga Marsden, 12, will be knocking on the door next season after a strong set of results. The whole Marsden family has been involved this season, with Aratai, 9, doing well and Tawera, 7, having his first dip last week. Father Eugene has been doing well in the long swims when not swimming alongside his young offspring in the short race.

Swimmers meet again on March 21 for a relay and celebration of the season.

Full results and information at nelsonseaswims.co.nz

It’s all on the app

Are you?

Action Trust’s CAYAD (Community Action on Youth and Drugs) programme.

Photo: Jack Malcolm.

Finn Bryant waa the clear winner in the non-wetsuit series and Nia Linyard took out the women’s race. Photos: Ruth Leckey.

White Ferns set to make Saxton Oval white-hot

JACK MALCOLM

Local cricket fans didn’t have towait long for the return of International cricket to Saxton Oval this time around.

The stage has been set for the White Ferns as they prepare for a double header of afternoon T20 games against England, starting from 1pm on Friday, 22 and Sunday, 24 March. With England ranked second in the world behind Australia in both T20 and ODI formats, the home side will have their work cut out for them if they want to kick off the tour on the front foot.

The games act as the second and third matches of a fivegame T20 series, which precedes a three-game ODI series

Dramatic finale in Speedway

JODY SCOTT

The PTS Super Stock Stampede dished up a dramatic final race, as a long-held rivalry came to the fore in the feature race.

New Zealand Champion Asher Rees and Jack Miers got caught in an epic tangle that sent the crowd into overdrive, with Asher clearly upset in an interview while clearing the cars.

Having led the final race, Asher was put up the wall by his longtime rival Jack, who had slowed so Asher could catch him, and started a wall ride in turn one which ended with Asher on his side halfway down the back straight.

Uncertain if the contact was legal, Jack was allowed to carry on the race with his wing hanging off his roof. The tussle cleared the way for a new race leader, 2nz Blair Uhlenberg, who stayed ahead of Wellington’s Dale Robertson and fellow Stratford driver Wayne Moss. Nelson locals Alex Hill and Shane Harwood rounded out the top five placings.

Rollovers featured throughout the meeting, with Rob Anglesey thanking his new roll cage for doing its job after taking the biggest shunt of the weekend in his classic stock car.

Super Stock driver Jake Berry was another who went tipsy, before Ben Taylor went over in the final race of the weekend. It was the second rollover in as many weeks for Roydon Winstanley, with the Ministocks also adding three more rollovers to the tally.

The Stock Car Summer Slam went the way of defending champion Riley Eathorne with his new part-

ner Wade Sweeting. Only having to survive the final 3-lap run off, there was plenty to talk about with EB Young and Kahn Wheeler holding off a couple of single pairs of Braden Lawton and Troy Cleveland, whose partners were unable to make the start line.

The drama escalated when Roydon was put on his side by Troy Currie after getting caught riding up the side of the Troy’s car, leaving Jack Rarity in the lead to earn the win.

There were some tense moments as damage to Roydon’s car was assessed, having to be let down from the tow truck to line-up for the final race. A four-way tussle off the start saw Riley hold Troy up the wall with a semi-broken Roydon chasing Wade.

Troy got off Riley, who retired to the infield, but he was unable to catch Wade, which gave partner Riley back-to-back Summer Slam victories.

The Mini-Stock Mania ran with 40 cars from around the country split into junior and senior sections. The points were kept hidden over the meeting until prize-giving, with Jack Anderton from Christchurch picking up the junior title ahead of locals Locky Martin 2nd and Easton Salter 3rd.

The senior section went to Meeanee’s Memphis Trengrove with Christchurch’s Kelan Keith 2nd and Connor Turner 3rd.

The Streetstocks ran their club champs over both days, the final race deciding the outcome, with a victory for 2nz Cody McCarrison, with Richard Bateman and Ryan Musgrove 2nd and 3rd respectively.

before the two teams do the dance again in the Northern Hemisphere in June and July. It will be the first time the White Ferns have played on the ground at Saxtons since 2016, when they won a one-off T20 fixture against Pakistan by 14 runs.

New Zealand comes into the game with a world T20 ranking of four, but they will be boosted by strong wins against England A in the build-up to the series.

Local hotshot bowler Claudia Green has also been in the action, picking up match-best figures of three wickets for 26 runs for New Zealand A in a 57-run loss to England.

Having missed out on the wider 15-woman squad that has been preparing for the tour,

Claudia’s performance will have definitely caught the eye of selectors.

However, with a deep bowling line-up, it has been hard to crack into the country’s top-playing XI, with Claudia having made her international debut in 2021 and been part of the Commonwealth Games bronze medal-winning squad in 2022.

Pace bowler Rosemary Mair and all-rounder Brooke Halliday have returned to the squad in the build-up to the series, with the team set to be captained by Sophie Devine.

Tickets start from $15 for general admission adults, which can be purchased online or at the gate.

ROUND 5 PTS HURRICANES V REBELS

BRUMBIES V MOANA

DRUA V WARATAHS

CHIEFS V HIGHLANDERS

BLUES V CRUSADERS FORCE V REDS

Eight years on from the last time the White Ferns played in Nelson, Sophie Devine is one of three players, alongside Melie Kerr and Suzie Bates, who are returning to Saxton Oval for New Zealand. Photo (File): Shuttersport.

GAINS:

Nick Foxley (Christchurch and Heartland rugby for West Coast), Blake Craddick (Nelson College), Daniel Baxter (King Country) and Matt Soper (Injury).

LOSSES:

Mataroa Maui (Perth), Tahquinn Hansen (Perth), Ioane Moorea (Rarotonga), Divan Lourens (injury), Greg Foe (Injury - expected to return midseason), Gus Taliaivao (Auckland) and Ryan Coxon (Western Force)

COACHES:

Head Coach: Gary Stevens, Forwards coach: Murray Scott, Strength and Conditioning: Nick Makea, Front row: Sakaria Taulafo.

Nelson coach Gary Stevens say it’s been a similar story to previous season’s for the build-up for Nelson. With a preseason game against Christchurch FC in Hamner, the team took some valuable learnings, but the team have found preseason tough with a lack of physicality at training because of how hard the ground still is.

Gary says there are a number of offshore recruits that the team is final-

ising the details of, with some added firepower expected in the team this season.

He says that they’re optimistic of their chances, with the goal of building consistency within the squad in terms of continuity of selection.

“A goal for 2024 will be to reach top four, come regular season end, something we haven’t achieved in some time.

“We look forward to celebrating Sakaria Taulafo’s 100 games in Round 2 vs Stoke RFC as the future of the club game will find it hard to afford such celebrations.”

Photos: Shuttersport

GAINS:

Eli Oudenryn (Feilding Ag.), Maloni Kunawave (Rotorua Boys), Solomon Wairau (Southland), John Paufolau (Auckland), Jason Ifopo (Nelson College), Sam Moimoi (Nelson College), Jamie Hampson (Nelson College), Jordan Newsome (Dunedin Sharks).

LOSSES:

Sam Liebezeit (Taranaki), Corey Mckay (Southland), Colm Hogan (Ireland), Finley Harris (Australia), Dougal McLeod (Australia)

COACHING STAFF:

Joe Kirker, Stephen Kerr, Tevita Kolomatangi. Manager - Andy Dwyer, Matthew Hassell. Trainer - Daniel Rogers. Physio - Chris Max

FOUNDED: 1947 | HOME GROUND: Greenmeadows

COACHES: Joe Kirke, Stephen Kerr, Tevita Kolomatangi

Stoke have had a strong preseason after kicking into gear in early February. With good numbers and a large contingent of new players in the mix, the team have been training a lot alongside their second division championship-winning squad. Coach Joe Kirker says they have been focused on picking up where they left off, but they do not want to jump too far forward with a young and new squad.

“We don’t see we’re rebuilding, we’re just rolling on. Winning the championship is definitely the number one goal, but getting to the semi-finals would be great because we haven’t in a few years.”

Joe says they’re hungry to start their season off on the right foot with a big first-up game against Marist, which is also played for the Baz Leary Trophy.

“It’s an important trophy for us and one we’ve never won.”

Photos: Shuttersport

GAINS:

Finn Kilworth (Nelson College), Brendan Thorn (Queensland), Quinn Harrison Jones (Southland)

LOSSES:

Cleve Barrell & Caleb Havili (Northland), Jake Wetere (Wellington), Sam Briggs (Waimea OB)

COACH:

Seta Sauira

After falling short of a finals spot with a tough knock out rugby loss to Kahurangi to end last season, Marist look to be better than ever as they look ahead to the 2024 season. Coach Seta Sauira says, while the goal is always a championship, their focus is on taking it one step at a time and the results will flow. The team will also be bolstered by the return of their captain and hooker Pino Maupese,

FOUNDED: 1945 | HOME GROUND: Tahunanui Field | HEAD COACH:

who missed last season due to injury. Seta says the team has been working hard in the preseason, with a number of the experienced boys coming into the season in better shape than last year. But Marist will also be missing some familiar and important faces as they lose significant powerhouse players in both the backs and the forwards. With prop Jake Wetere leaving town as well as Caleb Havili, the team will be looking towards their new crop of players coming through the ranks to fill in the spaces they have left behind.

“For us this year, it’s about doing the right thing at the right time,” says Seta.

“It’s just continuing to implement what we did last year.”

Seta Sauira

Wishing all the Marist men and strong wahine, young and old, a successful 2024 rugby season

Nelsons leading Concrete Supplier. Proud sponsors of Marist Rugby Good luck to all players and coaches for the upcoming season.

Photos: Shuttersport

TAKING GREAT PICTURES OF CLUB RUGBY IN 2024 Shuttersport brings you photographic coverage of the Nelson regions’ local sports events.

GAINS:

Flynn Bainbridge, Christian Ioane (St Bedes)

Hoani Herewini-Dygas (Feilding) Thoe Simone, Lucas Bartlett (Waimea Combined) Ben Cunningham, Tash Munjanganja (UK)

Sam Briggs (Marist)

Tyler Kearns (Kahurangi)

Ben Coman, Dan Hytongue, Jeff Lepa (Waimea War Horses)

FOUNDED: 1896 | HOME

GROUND: Jubilee Park | COACH: Scott McKenzie

LOSSES:

Tapuloa Uliano (Chch)

Von Richardson (Canada)

Juan-Pierre Keon (Retirement)

ONES TO WATCH: The Palmer brothers Jayde and Karl, their pace will be an attacking weapon. Joel Lauvale, 2nd year out of school, will be looking to stamp his mark upfront and prove he has the goods to match it with

the best of them. After a tough start last season with injuries and squad numbers, Waimea made massive inroads in the latter half of the season and will be looking to carry that late form in 2024. With a few

personal changes they will be looking at reviving that strong Waimea edge. Yet again the team is a young, exciting, talented side with a good mix of veterans. Coach Scott McKenzie says he’s confident the team will

gel well as a unit. “We should be amongst it come the business end of the season. Waimea will be looking to Codey Grimes, Sam Briggs and the likes to guide their pack round the park.”

Photos: Shuttersport

ART

Furniture, Rugs, Toys, Books, Paintings, Clocks, China, Glass, etc + The Unusual! Specials for "real people" who come in person!

"NEW STOCK JUST ARRIVED" - including a Toy Collection, Tools, NZ Books, Rare Clocks, NZ & English Paintings

Sell- Buy -Value (Over 30 years experience) @ Souchebys Antiques, 92 Bateup Rd (Adjoining McMillans/Alchemy Arts Pottery), Richmond.

Please Note the easy access & parking here at our new location.

Open Mon - Sat. ph 03 544 0723 or 021 417 413 www.antiquesnewzealand.co.nz

Do you love the thrill of a sale? Does the thought of working in a fast-paced industry sound exciting? Then we want to hear from you.

Top South Media is a locally owned and operated media company with offices in Stoke, Motueka and Blenheim. We’re looking for a sales person to join our Stoke-based team selling advertising into our publications which include, but not limited to, Nelson Weekly, Waimea Weekly, Nelson Magazine and Best Life magazine.

The right candidate will be tenacious, hard working, honest and not afraid to cold call clients. Experience in sales isn’t necessary but is an advantage.

If this sounds like you, we’d like to hear from you. Email andrew@topsouthmedia.co.nz

www.topsouthmedia.co.nz

DEATH

WILKIN

Colin Raymond

Born London 20 May 1935, passed away peacefully on Thursday 14 March 2024. Dearly loved husband and soulmate of Eileen and the late Janet. Dearly loved father of Pauline, Bev, and Alli. Also, stepchildren Gordon and Karen, and Janet (Australia). Much loved Grandad of 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. A service to celebrate Colin’s life will be held at Shone and Shirley Funeral Home, 164 Tahunanui Drive, Nelson on Saturday 23 March 2024 at 2.30pm. Messages can be sent to 11b Wensley Road, Richmond 7020.

ANNIVERSARY

Your announcement here for FREE

BIRTH

Your announcement here for FREE

DEATH BANNAN

Edith Carolin

December 7th, 1932March 8th, 2024

Family and friends are invited to an informal gathering to celebrate Edith's life on Sunday 31st March at Broadgreen House, 276 Nayland Road, Stoke at 1.30pm to 3.30pm. A small plate of food to share would be appreciated.

MEMORIAM

Your announcement here for FREE

BEREAVEMENT

Joyce Williams

Passed away 15th March 2024, residing in Invercargill. In her 92nd Year. Loved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. Loved friend to many in Nelson.

Messages to: J Baron & V Anderson. 166 Lord Rutherford Road South, Brightwater

CHURCH NOTICE

groups to deliver our award winning

Our runs can be done individually or shared amongst a group , as the famous saying goes. “Many hands make light work”

Community Notices

DEADLINE: 10AM FRIDAY

50 WORDS OR LESS BY EMAIL ONLY

SEND TO: myevent@nelsonweekly.co.nz

MONDAY

PHILOSOPHY GROUP Meet 2nd & 4th Mon of the month, 10am. Trafalgar Hall, 67 Trafalgar St. All welcome. TXT Zoe 0279741758.

ACTING UP DRAMA GROUP Mon, 10.30 -12pm. Whakatu Presbyterian Church Hall. 271 Songer St Stoke. New members welcome. Ph: Anne 035380400.

HAVEN QUILTERS Friendly group meets every Mon, 9.30am in Nelson. Bring hand or machine work. More info Ph: Lesley 0272954986. $5 per session.

TUESDAY

NELSON CREATIVE FIBRE GROUP Welcome you to friendly fibre craft meetings. Meet 2nd & 4th Tues each month. 9.30am, Nelson Golf Club, 38 Bolt Rd, Tāhunanui. Ph: Lesley 035765654. $2 for members, $4 for non-members.

STOKE CENTRAL COMBINED PROBUS welcomes new members. Meet 4th Tues of the month, 10am. Stoke Methodist Church Hall, 94 Neale Ave. Interesting speakers, outings, and lunches. Ph: Rosemary 039706872.

NELSON 50+ WALKING GROUP, Various walks every Tues. For info: Ph: Haydn 0272488064.

KICKBOXING CLASSES, Tues and Fri, 5:306:30pm, Tāhunanui Community Hub. Josh Clarke, with nearly two decades of martial arts experience, aims to create a space that promotes physical and mental health. The gym's classes are designed to be inclusive for all skill levels, helping people through the sport. $5.

BOWLS TAHUNANUI CLUB Tues, Thurs, Sat from 12.30pm. All year round. Mufti attire for club days. Come along and give lawn bowls a go. Friendly supportive club supplying free equipment and coaching for beginners. Gentle exercise, Vitamin D and social. What more do you need? Ph: 0211323990 / 035473151.

WEDNESDAY

POP-UP PSYCHODRAMA, Wed, 20 Mar, 7–9.30pm, Victory Centre, 2 Totara St, Toi Toi. Come along and experience this lively method exploring personal, political and community issues. Increase your spontaneity and find new ways to respond to old situations. No acting experience required! More info Ph: Ali 027 276 5992. Cost: Koha.

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ: Wed, 27 Mar, 1.303pm, Halifax Café. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection and finding out about groups, activities, and services. www.wellby. org.nz. Ph: 035467681.

SPIRITED CONVERSATIONS, Wed, 27 Mar, 6pm, speaker 7.30pm, Yaza Café. "Giving life to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. " Don't miss Julia Amua Whaipooti from the Human Rights Commission on this very topical issue. Koha. Ph: 5486241.

LA LECHE LEAGUE NELSON Last Wed of the month 9.30-11.30. Richmond Plunket, Oxford St. All welcome. Support and info also available by Ph/txt: Ruth 0272433469.

ISEL LADIES PROBUS CLUB Welcome to our friendly club, 4th Wed of the month, 10am. Baptist Church, Stoke (also coffee, lunch & book groups). Ph: Gill 035472134 or Sue 035486062.

THURSDAY

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ: Thurs, 21 Mar, 1.303pm, NMIT Café Ake Ake. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection and finding out about groups, activities, and services. www. wellby.org.nz. Ph: 035467681.

AFRICAN DRUMMING, Thurs until – 28 Mar, Victory Community Centre. Six-week course, Learn a West African rhythm in a fun & supportive environment. Ph: 021329069 or e: kim@inrhythm.co.nz for info. AGE: 12+. $90 for 6 weeks/$20 casual rate per week.

TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP & Info Session, Thurs, 28 Mar, 9.30-12.30pm, Age Concern Office, Richmond. This workshop run by Not Tech Savvy may provide you with some of the solutions to your technology challenges. Ph: 5447624 ext 4.

NELSON LIONESS - Seeking new members to join our service club. We are very social and active in our community. Meet 1st & 3rd Thurs of the month. Ph: Jillian 0272782743.

WAIMEA COMBINED FRIENDSHIP GROUP

Meet 3rd Thurs of the month, 9.45am. Hope Church, Ranzau Rd. For Friendship, Fellowship & Learning. Ph: Denise 027765000 or Rosalie 0272491080.

FRIDAY

WAIMEA LADIES’ FRIENDSHIP CLUB 3rd Fri monthly, 9.45am, Richmond Church of Christ. Welcomes new members. Interesting speakers, morning tea, dining out, outings. Ph: Bev 035441469.

SONGBIRDS LADIES CHOIR, Fri morning Rehearsals in Richmond. New female singers welcome. If you enjoy singing and can hold a tune, please give me a call. Ph: Mary 035448232 or 0211334805.

DROP IN AND OP SHOP Fri, 9am-1pm. St Stephens Community Church, 61 Tāhunanui Dr. Join us for delicious food, browse through our preloved clothing collection and stay for a chat.

CULTURAL SOCIAL ACTIVITIES Fri, 10-11am. Come along and share morning tea & a cuppa with Victory’s friendly multicultural roopu. Volunteer opportunities for all people to participate.

ART & CRAFT COMMUNITY GROUP. Fri, 10:30-12:30pm, Tāhunanui Community Hub. Among other activities, we engage in painting and craft. This is a social group where likeminded individuals come together to enjoy coffee, conversations, and creative fun. We look forward to seeing you there! Ph: 0210754575. $2.

SATURDAY/SUNDAY

NELSON DANCE ALONG, Sat, 23 Mar, 7.30 -11pm, Richmond Town Hall. Plate for Supper, Music by Warren Fenemor, Cost $6pp. Everyone

Welcome. Ph: Rosalie Winter 035380133.

NELSON REPAIR CAFÉ, Sat, 23 Mar, 10am1pm, The Habitat Hub, 166 Tāhunanui Dr. Our amazing team of volunteers can help you to repair small household items, including electrical appliances, clothing, furniture, and toys. Run by the Nelson Tasman Climate Forum, e: ntcf. resources.waste@gmail.com.

ARMCHAIR TRAVELLERS: Sat, 6 Apr, 7.30pm, Whakatu Presbyterian Church, Champion Rd. Willem Stein and Corri Droft present ‘Trekking in Nepal and Cycling in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia’. Your entry donations will support NZ Flying Doctor service. Supper.

VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT CLUB of Nelson Concert. Sat, 6 Apr, 2pm, Stoke School Hall, Main Road Stoke. Admission $5 All Welcome. Ph: Wayne 0272049772 | Robyn 5473231.

ADULT LEARN TO SKATE, Sun, 6.30pm, Tahuna Beach Skate Rink. Come learn the 101 of roller skating and then the art of roller derby.

$5 including pads & skate hire. e: angelayoungnz@yahoo.co.nz or Ph: 0274882296.

CALLING ALL FORMER WEST COASTERS

You are invited to attend a special Service. Sun, 19 May, 10am, Nelson Tasman Methodist Parish church, 94 Neale Ave Stoke. Ian Davidson ex Hokitika will be the guest speaker. More info contact Shona McLean e: shona.mclean138@ gmail.com or Paul Tregurtha P: 5464358.

COFFEE AND CHAT GROUP supporting people with Cardiovascular problems. Meet 3rd Sat each month, 10.30-noon. The Honest Lawyer. Ph: Lynne 0272603485.

GENERAL

ART EXHIBITION. During Mar, there is a stunning display of works by Virginia Watson, a local Nelson artist. Art Corner, Nelson Golf Club Cafe, 38 Bolt Rd, Tāhunanui. Her work features South Island Landscapes and Leggy, beaky, shore birds.This will be in the Open to the public daily.

QUILTS, LACE & EMBROIDERY will be on display, Thurs, 4 & Fri, 5 Apr, Melrose House. Watch ‘Victorian’ ladies working at their crafts and enjoy an exhibition of exceptional work. Koha entry, no booking required.

WAIMEA HARRIERS welcome all abilities to join us for social running and walking on Wednesday evenings from Club Waimea Richmond at 5.45 pm. See our website waimeaharriers.nz.

U3A – Interest groups and social activities for the over-55s. From quiz mornings to walking groups, digital photography to wine appreciation. Find like-minded inquisitive people who share your interests. www.u3anelson.org.nz

THE NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS supports families of refugees as they settle into a new life in Nelson. We are looking for volunteers who would like to be part of the team and make a real difference in somebody’s life. Full training provided and time commitment is very flexible. e: migration.volunteers@redcross.org.nz or TXT John 0272235972.

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP. Cancer Society Nelson, 102 Hardy St. If you have or have had breast cancer, come along to this friendly atmosphere. Register Ph: 035391137 or e: info@cancernelson.org.nz.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for our day programmes for the elderly. Serve refreshments, join in singing, games, chat or assist on vans. Phone Maaike 032655224, e: maaikef@psusi. org.nz.

FREE FITNESS FRIDAYS – PT in the Park. Bringing communities together for fun and fitness. Free fitness with your neighbours, family, and friends in a local park near you. Become active in our local parks. e: Nicola@bfit4ever. nz for dates and park locations or look on Facebook Bfit4everNZ.

RUTHERFORD ROTARY. New members welcome. Ph: 0211475357.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS are available in Richmond and Nelson each month for people who have ME/CFS(Chronic Fatigue Syndrome),FM(Fibromyalgia),POTS or Long COVID. Please Ph: CCI Support 0800224787 or email nelson@ccisupport.org.nz for info.

BLOOD CANCER SUPPORT GROUP meet monthly for more info Ph: Heather 0274444708.

STAMP GROUP - Mapua/Ruby Bay. Enquiries welcome. Old Stamp Collections evaluated, purchased. Ph: Nick 021688243.