Waimea Weekly - 15 January 2025

Locally Owned and Operated

Wednesday 15 January 2025

3NZ for Shane Harwood

Dam cost finalised

MAX FRETHEY

Local Democracy Reporter

The final cost of the Waimea Community Dam has now been confirmed at $211 million.

Dam operator Waimea Water Limited (WWL) made the announcement on Monday after its disputes with the joint venture construction contractor were “amicably settled” and dispute proceedings had ceased. The dispute had been initiated by the joint venture contractor who had initially challenged decisions of the independent engineer and adjudicator.

The dam’s final cost is marginally down on the $211.3 million cost Tasman District Council was advised of in November 2024, but more than double the $104.4m forecast when it was approved in November 2018. The dam is funded by both the council and irrigators through a combination of equity and debt.

Much of the cost overrun was the result of unforeseen geotechnical challenges on the site.

WWL chief executive Mike Scott acknowledged that construction of the dam had been a difficult project during a challenging time but was important for Tasman.

“This has been a significant project for the region, and I thank the community and shareholders for their ongoing support,” he says.

“With construction now behind us, we can

Shane Harwood was the best of the local drivers claiming third in New Zealand at the Super Stock champs. Photo: Rebecca Connor Maling. Story on page 22.

Waimea Weekly

In light of the return to work, what’s the favourite thing about your job?

“I’m a teacher [at St Paul’s Catholic School] and my favourite thing about my job is my colleagues and also the students I get to work with.”

“The interaction with customers and the importance of having a good team, otherwise it’s hard to get up in the morning.”

“My role is a service manager with [Health New ZealandNelson Marlborough] and [the favourite thing is] being able to make a difference in our community.”

“I do shoe repair, key cutting and engraving and I’m crazy about my job, I work six, sometimes seven days because I love to help the customers.”

Waimea Dam cost finalised

put our entire focus into efficiently operating the dam to provide shareholders their water security.”

Mike says the project had several highlights, such as the contractor’s “impressive” safety record with no lost time injuries during the build.

Ben Hayward, representing the Fulton Hogan Taylors joint venture, says he is pleased to see the project completed and the dispute come to an end.

“The five-year dam project was demanding at times, but now that it has been completed, we can look back with pride on we have achieved and the flow on benefits to the region’s future prosperity.”

The dam was investigated after a severe drought in the summer of 2000-2001 highlighted water shortage issues on the Waimea

Plains. Water in the dam reservoir, named Te Kurawai o Pūhanga, is released to recharge the aquifers, fed by the Waimea River, from which the district takes much of its water.

“The dam is doing its job,” Mike says, pointing to when the dam did just that in March and April 2024 to avoid “significant” harm to the local economy and river health. “We released 20 per cent of the reservoir to avoid severe water restrictions that would have otherwise severely impacted residential water supply, shut down some industries, impacted our food production and exports.”

The dam is now fully operational, and its reservoir is full and ready to provide service to shareholders and the community this summer season, Mike adds.

Tasman Mayor Tim King says the dispute’s resolution and receiving the dam’s final cost were a “relief” and brought an end to an “ever-present issue” for the council over the last five years.

“It’s been a long and tortuous process to get this far.”

He thanked everyone involved for concluding the project so “we can focus on the other significant issues that the region faces”.

Tim says the decision to go forward with the dam was difficult and that he understood residents’ concern about the significant cost overrun.

The Waimea Community Dam is the first large dam to be constructed in New Zealand since Otago’s Clyde Dam more than 30 years ago.

Over that time, Mike says the country’s population has grown by almost half and a changing climate has exacerbated the need to store water.

“Over the medium to longer term, [the dam] will demonstrate that, despite a significant impact on ratepayers and irrigators … it will deliver value, both economically but also socially and environmentally to the region.”

“Water security for our communities, environment, and economy is important. Productivity and economic benefit require water security,” he says. “While I appreciate that the cost of this water security is a lot for our small community, we now have a very well-constructed contemporary dam that will benefit many generations to come.”

Asif Mansoori Richmond

Alesha Sims Richmond

Michael Holmes Wakefield

Lisa Parkes Richmond

At the mercy of the weather

ANNE HARDIE

Just nine hours of cloud can make the difference when it comes to winning the title for sunniest region, but Nelson and Tasman are still one of the best places to be if you want sunny days.

While wider Nelson chased at Marlborough’s heels to take second place with 2,760 hours and Tasman, which is recorded at Tākaka took fourth place with 2,665 hours, the combined regions consistently enjoyed the sun.

Regions may battle for the sun-

shine title, but increasing temperatures is more sobering.

NIWA’s annual climate summary revealed that 2024 ended up as New Zealand’s tenth warmest year since records began in 1909, with the nationwide average temperature ending up 0.51 degrees celsius above the 1991-2020 annual average.

Even more alarming is the fact that eight of the 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 2013.

NIWA attributes this to the ongoing warming observed both

ly and globally which is largely driven by human greenhouse gas emissions.

In Nelson and Tasman, 2024 threw in a drought and record temperatures.

In March, the Ministry for Primary Industries classified drought in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough as a medium-scale adverse event, which was then extended to parts of the North Island.

Tasman never quite made up its rain deficit and ended 2024 with below normal rainfall for the year.

NIWA climate scientist Gregor Macara summed up the year for

the region as overall, “a relatively warm, dry and sunny year”. Annual mean temperatures were up to 0.6 degrees celcius higher than average, annual rainfall was around 80 per cent of normal, and annual sunshine hours were around 105-110 per cent of normal. As the year came to a close, the country experienced its fifth warmest December on record and both Tākaka and Appleby recorded their highest temperatures for the month since records began with 31 degrees and 30.2 degrees respectively. Motueka reached 31.5 degrees,

which was its second-highest December temperature on record. Countrywide, the highest temperature for the year was 37 degrees recorded at Hanmer Forest in early February.

While the coldest point was minus 11.8 degrees at Lake Tekapo in early August.

In some regions it was particularly dry, like Dargaville and Whitianga which both observed their driest years on record, with other areas ending up with near-record low rainfall. The driest place to be was Alexandra with just 353mm for the year.

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The sun was hiding, but the region’s weather makes it more appealing to get out and about at Rabbit Island for Hannah Randall from Upper Moutere with her young horse, Remi, 4, and daughter, Freya, also four. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Dude, where’s my summer?

ELISE VOLLWEILER

Those of us in the Nelson Tasman region are used to boasting about our high sunshine hours, but this summer has not offered much cause for smugness.

MetService meteorologist Alec Holden says that we can expect more of the same for the next

couple of weeks, with the region sitting a little below its January average of 23°C. The month will be slightly wetter than normal, although only by one extra bout of rain. He reckons our underwhelming summer is due to the position of high pressure systems.

“Typically during summer, we get large ‘blocking highs’ that

form over the country, and keep areas of low pressure and their associated rainfall away. Winds also tend to be light under a high, which prevents southerlies and cooler temperatures from affecting us/Nelson. However, the highs have been weaker and not as slow-moving this summer, so rain and cooler temperatures

Best-dressed take the reins

GORDON PREECE

Forty stallions and stunners were on the home straight for the best-dressed prize in Sunday’s Fashion on the Field contest at Richmond Park’s Nelson Summer Races.

Murchison’s Annalese Hislop won the coveted sash for her

sunny Nelson-inspired outfit, with judge Jackie Gibbs lauding her “amazing” detail and combination of jewellery, footwear and accessories. The nursing student on a gap year was “surprised” to win among the “really lovely” competitors in her inaugural competition in Richmond, having previously competed at a

similar event in Hamilton.

“My aunt Elizabeth let me have [the dress] while she is unable to attend the races,” she says.

“She has won the best-dressed lady at Nelson on two occasions, so it was a thrill to win it as well.”

Richmond’s Sami Thomson, 14, claimed the title of best dressed Young Race Goer.

have been able to sneak in.”

He says that because Nelson is reasonably sheltered, the region is not getting as bad a time of it as other more exposed locations, “but it’s still not very ‘summery’.”

The forecast offers some good news, however. Alec says that New Zealand’s early autumns tend to be better than expected,

because our seasons lag slightly behind the calendar.

“We’re surrounded by ocean, which takes a while to heat up in the summer, so our Decembers tend to be cooler and our Marches warmer. So although we’re technically just under halfway through summer, there’s still time for good weather ahead.”

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Fashion on the Field best-dressed champion Annalese Hislop dazzled in her Sunny Nelsoninspired frock. Photo: Gordon Preece.

Richmond’s Sami Thomson, 14, claimed the best dressed Young Race Goer with a bow she designed herself. Photo: Supplied.

Sea lice warning after ‘horrific’ bites

KATE RUSSELL

“It just wasn’t worth it”, says a local boy after being bitten by what is likely to be sea lice at a popular beach.

Richmond’s Bodhi Sissons, 7, and his cousin Tully, 14, spent the first week of January battling nasty bites on their legs and feet after what was meant to be an enjoyable paddle at Mārahau on New Year’s Day.

Bodhi’s mum, Kate, is now warning others to be vigilant at beaches around the region after what she says was a “horrific” week.

“Unless he was sitting with his legs in cold water, vinegar and salt, he was screaming. The worst day was day six and we had three sleepless nights.

“And this is a kid who usually isn’t fazed when he gets itchy bites.”

Bodhi also had a bout of diarrhoea and vomiting on the worst day – symptoms which are “unusual” for him, she says.

Kate initially thought it could have been hand, foot and mouth disease, or even chickenpox.

“The doctor was stumped –

even a second doctor looked and could not figure it out.”

They were given antihistamines which “took the edge off” and creams which “did nothing”.

“We tried everything... even a pet cooling pad… the only thing that really worked was water, vinegar and salt.”

The bites finally started feeling better by day eight, she says.

“We have a family bach in Mārahau and we’ve never had this happen. It’s horrible as a mum - for me it was worse than him being sick.”

Bodhi reckons it won’t deter him from swimming, but he will stay out of the ocean until he is all healed.

“It just wasn’t worth it,” he says.

NIWA crustacean biologist Dr Rachael Peart said this year’s warmer waters made for ideal conditions for sea lice and other “biting creatures”.

“The ocean is quite warm at the moment, so I feel a lot of people are actually swimming and hanging out in the water this summer.

“And also, warm water currents and wind patterns can also bring some of these or-

ganisms closer to shore.”

Rachael says it’s not necessarily an “influx”.

“We get heaps of reports around January and February every year… it’s a dual effect of more swimmers in the water, plus warm surface temperatures.”

There, of course, could be other creatures causing an itch or bite while at the beach, such as little black flies/midges.

Rashes can also be caused by nematocysts (stinging cells) of certain sea anemones and thimble jellyfish.

Rachael advises swimmers to rinse off with fresh water if they believe they might have been bitten or stung and avoid scratching, as this can increase the chance of infection.

She also urges people to not let the critters put them off enjoying a swim at the beach on a hot day.

“Most of the time it’s just bad luck, wrong place wrong time really. But they’re not sinister.

“These guys [sea lice] are primarily scavengers, so you might be standing next to a dead fish, or kina or starfish that they are feeding on and you get in the way.”

Advice to swimmers if you get bitten or stung

• Make sure you remove your swimwear after taking a dip

• Shower in freshwater straight away

• Do your best to avoid scratching

• Treat itches with antihistamine, calamine location, icepacks and time

The bites of Bodhi’s Australian cousin, Tully. Photo: Supplied.

Tophouse a top pub

The Tophouse Historic Inn in Nelson Lakes has been named as one of New Zealand’s best classic pubs by travel writer Peter Janssen. According to Peter, for a pub to be classic it must be built before 1967, have been continuously serving beer, and have some architectural integrity. “The Tophouse is beautiful. It’s tiny, and it’s made of cob, it was part of a chain of small cob hotels and ran through the middle of the South Island, and they were for drovers, people who were droving sheep,” he told RNZ. Peter has written a book about the country’s famous and beloved watering holes, called New Zealand Pubs

Funeral for Lyn Fleming

The New Zealand flag will fly at half mast across all government and public buildings this Thursday to mark the funeral of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming. Lyn’s funeral at the Trafalgar Centre will include a motorcade, honour guard, police piper, and flag presentation to her family. It will also be livestreamed on the police website. Nelson Cathedral will also be screening the funeral livestream at 1pm.

Taking a walk into the painting

ANNE HARDIE

At the entrance to Ross Lee’s Richmond home is a painting of a huge bull elephant; ears fanned out as it threatens to charge. It’s an impressive welcome to the home and tells the story of his life as a painter and also his memory of that elephant charging his vehicle in Africa on a journey long, long ago.

The 79-year-old award-winning artist continues to paint prolifically, with his paintings often sought out by New Zealand and international collectors. He refers to himself as a realist landscape painter and his focus is on light, the majestic feel of powerful skies and looming mountains.

He didn’t make a career out of painting until he was in his 30s and then it was selling his work on the streets to see how it would go. Until then he had been in the army, spent 14 years as a nurse and had even been a hairdresser in a women’s salon in Gisborne.

“That was the artist in me,” he says of hairdressing. “Just wanting to do something creative.”

The army was his first career, leaving school at 16 to join the regular force cadets which led to a stint at Buckingham Palace,

joining the guards inside the palace grounds to guard Queen Elizabeth 11.

“I was in the army and that’s where they told me to go. We were taught how to do the march, and we were part of the Buckingham Palace guard inside the palace grounds. She was a young queen then and she used to go up and down the line shaking hands.”

His army career took him to Vietnam in 1966 for nine-months as

a radio operator in the command post in the fight against the Viet Cong. That’s a period of his life he doesn’t want to dwell on.

By the 1970s, he had left the army and was travelling up through Africa, to Kenya with a group in two vehicles.

“We were the only people around in those days in the 70s and whole villages would come out to watch us. On the way, we went through the game reserves and that’s when

the bull elephant put his ears out and tried to go for the vehicle.”

In comparison with his younger self, his Richmond studio is a tranquil setting with paintings that bring places like Milford Sound to life. That’s the whole point of his art; making people feel they can step into the painting because it feels so real. Most of all, he says, it’s about peace, tranquillity and the beauty of nature that he has witnessed.

Ross Lee’s paintings capture the peace and tranquillity of nature. Photo: Anne Hardie.

App takes region back to the past

When the renovation of the old Wakefield Post Office is completed this year, an augmented reality (AR) app will be able to scan a post outside and bring its past to life.

Post Memory is the brainchild of local Sarah Arnold and a team of artists, designers and IT specialists who have voluntarily spent time creating an app that enables people to stand at a site and see the past come alive on the screen of their phone. She explains AR as a process of overlaying something on a phone screen that is not there but looks like it is right in front of you. In short, it’s a way of making the invisible become visible.

Sarah got the idea a couple of years ago because she’s a history buff and wants to tell the stories of the past in a way that is accessible to people.

“There are so many amazing stories from the past – their innovation and how they survived and the things they achieved – and I think it’s important to remember them, because without them, we wouldn’t be here.”

The app project is called Post Memory because they use recycled plastic posts that can be

scanned using the app. One is already erected beside the cycling trail on Lord Rutherford Rd South, near Brightwater, where Constable Charles Knapp’s house still stands in the paddock beyond.

On the app, Constable Knapp is

bank. She says they can create 3D models of items that were once used in the post office which can then be used on the app to recreate the scene of its former life.

“I think we’re going to create something pretty cool. It’s amazing what this new technology is going to do for heritage.”

Inside the post office, a walkin vault will have interpretation panels and Sarah is still working on having something that people can interact with, using the app. She says the apps’ technology is limitless and can be used anywhere to give an insight into history. While people can look up history online, she says it is far more accessible if they are at a site and see it brought to life and listen to the stories where they actually happened.

It will even be possible to take a selfie that looks like you were part of that bygone era.

brought to life with his talking parrot which was a hit with local children back in the late 1800s.

Sarah has been working with the owners of the Wakefield Post Office, Helen and James Cooper, who have been steadily restoring the building and are keen to have

two memory posts installed at the front – one for the post office and one for the former bank building that once sat beside it.

Now Sarah is seeking photographs and memorabilia for the old Wakefield Post Office, the telephone exchange, as well as the

The app will be launched at the same time as the opening of the restored Wakefield Post Office this year.

The app can then be downloaded and Post Memory intends to continue to add posts around the region.

Anyone with stories or photos to share can contact Sarah through the Post Memory website.

ANNE HARDIE

Sarah Arnold plans to make Wakefield’s post office past come to life on an app. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Inset: The post by Constable Knapp’s old house near Brightwater. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Memoirs of a week in a snow cave

ANNE HARDIE

More than 50 years after Paul Milsom spent a week huddled in a snow cave on the fringes of the Northern Patagonian Icecap with four fellow mountaineers, their story of survival without food or overnight gear has been published in a book.

A Week in Patagonia describes the freezing temperature, the hunger, the exhaustion of trying to keep the snow cave’s entrance open and the sheer desperateness of their plight when they knew no-one would be looking for them.

Catching up in a café is symbolic for Paul because he has been obsessed with food ever since he spent that week with little more than a few Smarties.

Today, Paul and his wife, Linda, live a self-sufficient life at Woodstock in the Motueka Valley with a ‘snow cave’ cupboard stocked with provisions to ensure they never go hungry.

Back in 1972, he was just 24 and Linda was his new girlfriend who had no idea of his ordeal until she received a letter from him weeks later.

It took weeks for the young mountaineers that included Tom Clarkson, Geoff Spearpoint, Dave Bamford and Ian Thorne, to simply reach the mountains of Patagonia in Southern Chile.

When they finally set up a camp at the bushline, they decided to do a day trek up to the 3,078m peak of Cerro Hyades to have a look over the ice cap.

It was 15 January and the weather looked good for the day trip. This was back in 1972, when there was no weather forecast and

“no decent map” to guide them because it was so remote. The day started well and it seemed straight forward, so no-one felt the need for a rope. That was until a snow bridge collapsed under one of their team and he fell about 15m into the slot, landing on a ledge where he was briefly knocked out.

But they were young and tough and after retrieving him from the crevasse, they carried on up. However, as the summit neared, the weather quickly deteriorated and after attempting to retrace their steps down the mountain, they were forced to find a place to hunker down.

“This storm roared in, and we were just under this mushroom tip at the summit. Everything turned to custard, and you couldn’t see your hand,” Paul remembers. “Whiteouts are quite freaky because you don’t know whether you’re going up or down.”

A crevasse enabled them to get out of the wind and the five cut blocks of ice to make a type of igloo within the crevasse to protect them from the storm.

All they had were duvet jackets that were not waterproof, the remnants of their lunch, a few lollies including those Smarties, and the hope the weather would clear quickly.

But it took a week for the weather to clear enough for them to try a descent and no-one knew where they were.

As the storm continued, they took turns to clear the entrance, but as the snow built up outside, they were forced to dig out a new entrance which ended up several metres in length by the end of the

week.

At one point, they could not light a match and realised there was not enough oxygen in the snow cave.

Another night they woke gasping for breath and had to clear the tunnel.

At the same time, the roof of the

cave was continuing to sink, and their shelter was becoming smaller, while above them, they knew the mushroom tip was gathering more snow.

“We had a mushroom above us, and we could have disappeared without a trace,” Paul concedes.

“I would get the most uncontrol-

lable shivering, and the cave was getting smaller as the roof was moving down.”

He began writing lists of food on paper they had, with three of them keeping a diary throughout their ordeal.

Food made it into his dreams as well, or it may have been hallucinations, he thinks.

“I remember trying to go out and do the two-hour weather check and suddenly found myself emerging from a manhole in Willis St in Wellington and there was a supermarket just over the road. So, I wandered over and got all this food!”

Another of his party was “talking absolute gibberish” as they huddled together in ever-decreasing confines of their snow cave until finally, the storm passed and they were able to make their way down the mountain.

For Paul and another of his mountaineering buddies, it was a painful descent with trench feet –swollen “like balloons” from the wet and cold of trying to keep the entrance tunnel open.

Back home, it would be nearly half a century before the team was reunited at Paul’s Woodstock property where they remembered their week in a snow cave. It led to the book that includes excerpts from the diaries they wrote in their frozen shelter and reading it took Paul back to that snow cave.

“When I started to read the book, I started to shiver because it brought it all back.”

Copies of A Week in Patagonia, written and produced by Robbie Burton, are in both the Richmond Library and Te Noninga Kumu Motueka Library.

An independent commissioner has approved an updated application for a digital billboard to be erected at the intersection of Queen St and SH6/Gladstone Rd. Bekon Media’s updated billboard proposal would be visible to drivers travelling north along Gladstone Rd towards Nelson. The original design would have also been visible to drivers travelling east along Lower Queen St towards Richmond. The intersection is one of the district’s most crash-prone, but commissioner Dean Chrystal says the evidence “simply does not support” claims of decreased traffic safety as a result of the billboard’s installation. The application received 27 submissions, all in opposition. The updated design, which includes a parapet behind the billboard, resolved the concerns of Tasman District Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency staff. Photo: Tasman District Council.

Paul Milsom, right, with his mountaineering team when they left New Zealand for Patagonia. Photo: Supplied.

Linda and Paul Milsom have a ‘snow cave’ at home now; stocked with food so they won’t go hungry. Photo: Anne Hardie.

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Co-working space and innovation hub for Māpua

ANNE HARDIE

A bespoke co-working space and innovation hub is on the cards for Māpua this year as Mahitahi Colab expands into Tasman.

The not-for-profit organisation is a partnership between Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce, Nelson Regional Development Agency and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technololgy (NMIT) which has been running a space in Nelson for several years. It now has about 100 people using that space and innovation manager Nikki Neate says it plans a similar concept for Māpua.

“People may work from home with a great setup and want one day a week in a collaborative space. Or people can hire meeting rooms or innovation space.”

Individuals or small teams will be able to use the space for workshops and events as well as simply hire desk space. It might be a permanent space, or it might be a visitor from out-of-town wanting to hot desk.

The thrust of the organisation though, is to provide

opportunities through collaboration with others and access to the three groups in the partnership, which Nikki says will help develop innovation and also attract more entrepreneurial people to the region.

“Every business can be innovating. Someone has to have the ideas, and someone has to do it and someone has to tell people about it. Mahitahi is here to bring it together, so

we are totally connected.”

Nikki says Nelson Tasman tends to have a retirement village reputation and that can put off innovative people considering the region because they think there’s not much on offer if they have to look for work. One of Mahitahi Colab’s goals is to change that perception and show that it is a great place to start a business.

“It’s about catering for the re-

New Year’s resolutions

Is deciding not to make a New Year resolution, the only one you’ve successfully kept? One survey revealed less than a third of New Year resolutions last beyond January. Failure is often caused by how goals are set, or not adapting to obstacles.

For 40 years, CAB Nelson Tasman’s goals have remained the same: We help people find the information they need, and use insights gathered from our clients’ experiences to improve society for everyone.

Most cultures celebrate New Year by looking back, considering the present, and planning for the future. In NZ, New Year is celebrated by Maori with Matariki, early settlers brought European traditions, while newer arrivals have introduced Lunar New Year (Chinese), Diwali (Indian), Rosh Hashana (Jewish) and more.

New Year and a census are similar, because a census is also a kind of country stock-take, so government, businesses, and community organisations can plan for the future.

CAB takes stock constantly too, recording client queries, information shared, and noting demographics like age, gender, ethnicity, etc. This

helps us understand who uses our service, and any changes we need to make to remain relevant.

Last year, CAB’s national data showed the top 5 enquiries were about work, rental housing, relationships, legal services, and citizenship and immigration. We personally helped 336,155 individuals, and nearly 40% were aged between 30 and 49. While 54% of clients were NZ European, 17% identified as Asian and 13% Maori.

NZ’s 2023’s census, showed 30% of NZ’s population were born overseas, bringing traditions from well over 200 different birthplaces. More than 150 languages are spoken, and 4% of us can hold a conversation in te reo Maori.

In 2013, 74% identified as ‘European’. This dropped to 68% in 2023.

Acknowledging Maori heritage increased by 14%, Pacifica by 16% and Asian by 22%. India overtook China as our Asian newcomer’s country of origin, but Filipinos are the fastest growing group, increasing by 49%!

Tasman (pop. 57,807 ) has the country’s highest home ownership, and is the fastest growing region (+10%).

gion, but also attracting others to the region.”

The organisation already has a location in mind for Māpuaa, but it has yet to be finalised.

Nikki says there will be a Mahitahi Colab space in Māpua-Ruby Bay this year though and probably by winter.

Anyone interested in using the space can find out more on its website.

Nelson (pop. 52,584) grew by 3%. About one in twenty Kiwis identified as belonging to the Rainbow community, with most (11%) living in Wellington city. Numbers of males and females are almost even, our median income is $41,500. Just 10% of people living here earn over $100,00 per year, but 60% earn under $70,000.

NZ’s median age is 38years. Under 30s make up 36% of us, 30 to 64 year olds are 45%, and those over 65 make up 17% of our population.

If you’re looking for something new, keen to continue learning, want to discover more about your local community and enjoy working with people from all walks of life, make it your New Year resolution to join our team of volunteers! 2025 Training starts early March, so phone or email for an information pack now.

CAB Nelson Tasman: Paru Paru Rd Nelson, TDC Richmond, Motueka Community House. Email: nelsontasman@cab.org.nz; ph 03 5482117, www.cab.org.nz

Mahitahi Colab’s innovation manager, Nikki Neate, at the whiteboard with co-workers in the Nelson centre. Photo: Supplied.

Info requests up 44 per cent

Bureaucracy gone mad. Experts at prolonging any procedure and making it as expensive as possible. (Is this just too many staff/consultants justifying their existence?)

Liz Bentley

Personally I used LGOIMA several times after being refused answers from the council Facebook page, both publicly and through private messaging. This article implies that people are wasting resources by asking so many questions. The reality is it’s free to answer questions on social media, so if the council really wants to save resources, they could. But they don’t/ won’t. I realise for you this is all about keeping up appearances, but sometimes you just gotta reply to the hard questions or a LGOIMA inquiry will result. Sorry not sorry.

Troy HundyPlus Appleton

You don’t necessarily get sensible answers though. In fact some are quite bizarre and patronizing.

Carolyn Woolf

‘We’ve got you’ – Nelson stands with police

Wow, good luck Nate.

Laura Mckay

One of life’s good guys

Lyn was loved, honoured and respected. She did a lot for a lot of people. The police shouldn’t have to go through losing one of their own while they are out there protecting us. I just hope that Adam Ramsey is doing ok now.

Marion Maxwell

Nate nearing Young NZer of the Year

Eric is so genuine and lovely and funny. One of the good guys.

Judene Edgar

A great guy for sure. Always willing to help. Thanks ‘ Shorty’ Irene Steele

You are an absolute gem, Eric! I loved working with you when you volunteered for NZ Red Cross driving the community van and always love bumping into you

around Richmond every now and then. Thanks for all you do in our community.

Megan Riddell

Such a lovely man, always a genuine “hello, how are your boys” every time I see him. And, he is truly interested. A good bugger, alright.

Nicki Mcwhirter

This is one of life’s amazing humans. I would look forward to seeing Eric three times a week when I worked at the gym, we would chat about speedway V8’s, kiwis racing overseas, anything sports he loves. Eric, you’re amazing for 85 years young. I especially loved our Old School Friday Playlist and watching you interacting with some of our other amazing members. A true gentleman. I miss seeing your smile a lot, Eric.

Pip Stilborn

Have known Eric for more than 45 years. First met Eric when he called on my parents’ grocery store in Greymouth. Such a gentleman, honest and hardworking. My parents always held Eric in high esteem.

Colleen Huffam

Top bloke for sure. Another former Foodstuffs colleague here for 17 years. Always kind, helpful and smiling. Keep it up, Eric. The world needs more like you.

Sue Sara

Sole

providers call time on trust

Thanks so much for making such a difference in so many young lives.

Jacinda Stevenson

New chapter at Bridge Valley Adventure Centre

It’s been an absolute pleasure associating with James and his family at Kaiteriteri Beach. An amazing family guided by even more amazing parents. Good luck and best wishes James.

Barbara Kelly

Growing old disgracefully

Great article.

Judith Palliser

Sub-union defends push for clubs before college

In South Africa high schools take responsibility for coaching and managing rugby for their students. All students are expected to participate in sport and as a result most schools have up to five teams in each grade ie U14 A to U14 E. The interschools rivalry at all levels is intense and fosters a tremendous sense of pride in school.

Hector Urquhart

Why do guys from country areas chose to go NC? Are they offering something other schools are not?

Chris Harvey

Good news. Giving players a choice. Chris Bensemann

Wonderful charity! Thank you.

Tracee Neilson

Thank you for all of your hard work.

Rebecca Armstrong

How is it that Nelson College can dictate how age grade rugby is run when the vote was put to the delegates and is was overwhelmingly for moving the age grade rugby back to the clubs. Think the college need to take heed of what the majority are saying. The current course that Nelson c are proposing would end up with them having the only teams in the competition. Is this what they want and how is this to the betterment of rugby in Tasman. It counter productive to what the union are trying to achieve. Take it back to the clubs.

Waz Curtis

Local History

Richmond forms a brass band

ROBYN PARKES

In August 1906 a meeting took place at the Fire Brigade Hall to discuss the idea of forming a brass band in Richmond. The level of enthusiasm was good with outside help being offered.

Following the discussion, a proposal was made by G. Wearing that a brass band be formed with a minimum of 20 active members and the proposal was unanimously approved.

Officers of the band were elected with Mr A. Meyer appointed honorary secretary, J. Hunt treasurer, and committee members J. Cameron, J. Litte, G. Wearing, J. Papps, S. Coleman, D Pollack and Mr Sutton. Subscription was set at 2 shillings 6 pence on joining and then the same each month. To secure instruments, members canvassed the Richmond community and businesses for financial support. Next was a venue to hold practices, so a deputation

consisting of the new chairman and secretary contacted the A & P Association to ask for the use of the grandstand for band practices. This was approved with a generous offer of no charge.

The band began on 5 November, 1906, and, at that time, only four members had previously played a wind instrument. Quotes were received for new instruments, but they must have been too expensive as the committee decided to take steps to obtain secondhand instruments. In the end, the instruments cost £110 and another £20 for other equipment. Public subscriptions raised £50. In October, a set of 21 “Boosey” instruments were purchased from Chas. Beggs and Co of Dunedin. Mr J. Cameron offered to teach the members free of charge. Their first endeavour to present to the public was in early 1907 at Stoke. Under the control of conductor Cameron, the musical items were well received, and

the critique suggested that with more practice they could develop into a first-class band. Events were frequent with the 26 strong band playing at the Brightwater swimming sports, Richmond, Motupiko sports day, and Stoke and Wakefield Farmers Union field day. In September 1907, the band held a concert in aid of raising £108 for a uniform. The band, with uniforms, were invited to play at the A & P Show in November, this being the biggest venue and crowd they had played to, but received a critical report placed in the newspaper from an attendee stating that the band’s music was distinctly bad and the playing at times was painful to listen to.

This brought about a flurry of responses in the band’s favour.

In December 1908, practices shifted to the Oddfellows Hall two nights per week for a cost of £5 per annum. Cameron resigned as bandmaster soon after and

was replaced by Mr Berryman, (bandmaster of the Nelson Garrison Band).

A new set of Besson instruments were purchased in May 1910 and were displayed at May’s store for the public to see. A year later the band went into the doldrums.

The president, Dr Hamilton, had passed away, the secretary left the district, and the replacement

bandmaster had also resigned in November.

It was not until January 1911 that Mr Mayo filled the position of conductor of the remaining 20 playing members for around nine months when G. Mockler of Nelson took over. Mockler was able to turn the brass band around and reviews were very favourable.

Richmond Brass Band c1912. Photo: Waimea South Collection, Tasman Heritage.

Lookout for the Oriental fruit fly

ELOISE MARTYN

A single male Oriental fruit fly found in a surveillance trap in Auckland has triggered a biosecurity response to prevent the pest from establishing itself in New Zealand.

The discovery, made in early January, has raised concerns for the horticulture industry due to the potential economic impact of an infestation.

The Oriental fruit fly, native to Asia, poses no human health risk but can damage up to 300 types of fruit and vegetables, making them unmarketable.

ties affected by the restrictions and includes collecting checking traps, collecting waste from bins in the area for safe disposal, and inspecting fruit through a mobile laboratory.

Rachel Lowe, a fourth-generation orchardist from Brightwater, says she is keeping an eye on further developments.

The risk of the fly appearing is higher in backyard vegetable gardens, where pesticides and insecticide sprays are not commonly used, allowing the pest to thrive more easily.

In response to the find, Biosecurity New Zealand has placed legal restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the affected area to prevent the spread of the pest.

The controlled zone covers 1,700 meters and totals 5,668 proper-

“But, so far, MPI (Ministry of Primary Industries) and Biosecurity New Zealand have mobilised quickly to contain the threat under control, paired with a rigorous trapping regime it seems they have the situation fairly well in hand and the risk of spreading to our orchard in Brightwater is minimal at this stage.”

With 12 incursions of different fruit fly species in Auckland and Northland since 1996, all successfully eradicated, response organisations have developed robust, detailed operational plans to guide eradication efforts.

To date, no other flies have been found in surveillance traps in the area or from the 7,878 traps set nationwide.

How to identify the fly

Adult flies:

• are a little larger than a housefly (6mm to 8mm long)

• have a dark “T” shaped marking on the abdomen (the part behind the waist)

• usually have a bright yellow and orange abdomen (but can vary)

• have clear wings.

The female fly has a pointed “sting” to lay eggs inside fruit (but she can’t sting or bite people). The male fruit fly is a similar size but is reddish-brown.

If you think you’ve found the fruit fly photograph it, capture it (if you can), and call MPI on 0800 80 99 66

Distributed to 12,232 homes in Richmond, Hope, Brightwater, Wakefield and Murchison. 5000 rural properties including all farms and lifestyle blocks and small towns.

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Forest owners back levy renewal for industry growth

In a recent vote, forest owners across New Zealand have strongly backed the renewal of the forestry sector’s levy, with nearly 90 per cent of voters backing the proposed rate of 33 to 45 cents per tonne of harvested wood for the next six years. This result demonstrates the significant role the levy plays in supporting the country’s forestry industry.

The vote saw 191 eligible forest owners, covering a combined area of 610,357 hectares, endorsing shared industry initiatives such as biosecurity, mechanisation in harvesting, and building resilience to both economic and environmental challenges.

The levy’s focus has evolved over time to better address the needs of growers, placing greater emphasis on cost-saving measures, promoting forestry’s contributions to the economy, and exploring the potential of alternative species.

Steve Chandler, executive director of Tasman Pine Forests with over 50 years in the forestry industry, says the levy has been in place for about five years now and that before its introduction, the industry struggled to secure funding from the government or other organizations for research, sustainability initiatives, and biosecurity efforts.

The levy is paid by forest owners on every tonne of “harvested wood” — meaning logs destined for both domestic and export markets are all included.

“Everyone benefits from forest management and wood product improvement research and insights, so it’s essential that we invest in science projects to ensure we continue to be a plantation forest world leader,” Steve explains.

“The renewal and increase of the levy won’t have a major local financial impact on forest growers, as the levy rate is only a very small proportion of the revenue earned per tonne of harvested wood.”

Over the years, the levy has

helped improve biosecurity protection for New Zealand’s production forests, enhanced health and safety standards, and enabled the transformation of harvesting operations through mechanisation.

Additionally, the levy funds vital research and initiatives aimed at improving the sustainability and productivity of the forestry sector.

“With the nation producing around thirty to thirty-three million tonnes of harvested plantation forest wood each year, it’s crucial to have a way of funding research that benefits the industry and those involved in it on a national scale.

The levy has proven highly beneficial, and I fully support its renewal,” Steve says.

With the vote in favour of renewal, the levy renewal and cost increase will take effect from 2026 to 2031.

The levy rate will remain at or below 33 cents per tonne in the first year, before rising to approximately 45 cents per tonne.

Rachel Lowe

ELOISE MARTYN

The need for safe spaces for firearms training

ELOISE

MARTYN

For a nation with a large number of firearm owners, where recreational hunting and shooting are both deeply ingrained in the culture and essential for pest animal management, it is crucial to have safe, controlled environments for firearms training and use.

Richard Wells from the Nelson branch of the NZ Deerstalkers Association (NZDA), knows firsthand the importance of such spaces.

Having grown up in the Marlborough Sounds, where firearms were a part of daily life, he later moved to an urban area and found it necessary to join the local NZDA to access a good range.

“When I moved to Nelson, I needed a safe place to sight my rifle,” Richard explains.

“Firearms are an essential tool in rural pest management. In the farm environment they allow control of animals like possums, pigs, deer, and

even smaller pests like blackbirds that eat plums. Obviously, they also provide an opportunity for food gathering.”

According to the Firearms Safety Authority, while the exact number of firearms in the country is unknown, due to unregistered firearms, they estimate that New Zealand’s 234,335 licensed shooters own around 1.2 million firearms.

“No one should go hunting with a rifle they are not competent and confident with. It’s about duty of care—not only to the animals but also to the broader community,” Richard states.

“A core part of Nelson Deerstalkers Association is ensuring access to certified safe ranges where firearm owners can practice on paper or clay targets to ensure their firearms are in good and accurate working condition.”

Hunting has long been part of New Zealand’s education system.

“Back when I attended Nelson College, ri-

fle shooting was part of the sports and activities curriculum. It was mainstream and normal, but I think it stopped around the 1970s,” Richard reflects.

“This highlights how integral firearms have been to New Zealand’s history and culture, and why safe, regulated shooting spaces are necessary to preserve that.

“They don’t seem to teach shooting in schools anymore, but we are still a nation of hunters and sports shooters and therefore still need competent, confident, and responsible firearms owners.

“And to become competent with your firearm, you need to use it regularly—not just once in a while. Certified, safe and accessible ranges, such as those operated by NZDA branches regionally and nationally, provide a space to practice, grow skills, and engage with firearms responsibly.”

Anyone wishing to connect can look up more information at www. nzdanelson.co.nz

Team

Richard Wells on a goat hunt in Marlborough’s backcountry. Photo: Supplied.

Tasman kiwifruit growers gear up for promising season

ELOISE MARTYN

It’s that time of year when Tasman kiwifruit growers and pickers are preparing for their busy harvest season, which usually wraps up by the end of May.

Early indicators and the latest forecast suggest that this year’s harvest is set to be a great one.

Zespri is the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit, selling in over 50 countries. With licensed growers in New Zealand, Australia, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, and South Korea, they are able to market fresh kiwifruit year-round, ensuring a steady supply for consumers across the globe.

Recently, Zespri released its forecast showing a positive outlook for growers for the upcoming season with strong demand and promising fruit quality.

“If the national market is performing well, local growers tend to do well too, as long as they have good growing conditions, and this season so far looks to be quite plentiful,” Steve Thomas, manager at Thomas Brothers Orchard in Riwaka, says.

As a third-generation kiwifruit grower and sixth-generation agriculturalist working the same land, Steve knows his stuff. Together, the team sort and ship around 65 million pieces

of fruit each harvest.

“Our main two varieties are green and gold kiwifruit, but this year marks our first harvest of the new red kiwifruit, which will be interesting.”

Steve says the team has been working hard on being more efficient with water in the orchard.

“Currently, it’s fairly dry, but we’re fortunate that water isn’t too scarce on this side of the bay. However, we’re being more efficient with our water use. We’ve switched from sprinklers to drip irrigation for the summer, which minimises water loss through evaporation and allows for better absorption by the roots.”

Drip irrigation also helps

to prevent disease by minimising water contact with the leaves, stems, and fruit of the trees.

“Zespri has outlined marketing and building demand in the industry for some years, and those indicators have been accurate the last few years. With a strong forecast and continued efforts to improve efficiency, we’re looking forward to a successful harvest season,” Steve adds.

As the harvest season gets underway, growers like Steve are focused on maintaining quality, efficiency, and sustainability, ensuring that this year’s bumper crop of Tasman-grown kiwifruit makes its way to markets around the world.

Steve Thomas, manager of Thomas Brothers Orchard in Riwaka, with his son Kimbe, who says they are looking forward to a successful kiwifruit harvest this season. Photo: Supplied.

Powering the region with expertise, innovation, and comfort

Locally owned and operated, The Electric Company has solidified its position as a leader in electrical services throughout the wider Nelson Tasman and Canterbury regions. Specialising in residential, commercial, and industrial projects. As registered Master Electricians, the team is dedicated to delivering superior workmanship, innovative solutions, and exceptional customer service.

“Our priority is to provide topquality designs, installations, and services that exceed our clients’ expectations,” says manager Ethan Johnston. “For over 25 years, The Electric Company has worked closely with homeowners, businesses, and award-winning local builders to create seamless project experiences that are completed on time and within budget.”

From house rewiring to lighting design and installation, the team ensures every solution is both functional and stylish, enhancing the comfort and value of each home.

From maintenance and power design to lighting, data communications, and electrical fault diagnosis for the commercial and industrial sectors, The Electric Company supports businesses with reliable and efficient solutions.

"We are also proud to support sustainability with solar panel installations," says Ethan. "Our service includes everything from an initial assessment to system design and installation, helping customers harness renewable energy and reduce their power bills.” With ever-changing weather, The Electric Company helps clients to feel comfortable all year round by offering air conditioning services. "We design, install, and service ventilation and air conditioning systems to maintain optimal indoor environments for homes and businesses. Whether it’s a hot summer’s day or a chilly winter evening, we’re here to ensure yearround comfort for our clients.”

Partnering with local businesses, “Our team of registered electricians and apprentice trainees brings a wealth of expertise and a commitment to quality. Whether you need a residential upgrade, commercial installation, or a sustainable energy solution, we’re here to assist every step of the way.”

Call 03 546 5029 today for a free, no-obligation quote or visit theelectriccompany.co.nz to learn more. Experience the difference of quality service with The Electric Company.

Dear diary, looks like the lawn mowed itself again today

Love not lifting a finger.

At Summerset, there’s no need to worry about the maintenance of your home or garden. That’s our job. Your job is to focus purely on doing the things you love. That’s what retirement is all about. Love the life you choose.

Relaxed retirement living at Summerset Richmond Ranges

Summerset Richmond Ranges is a modern, established retirement village offering a relaxing low-maintenance lifestyle, with a range of resortstyle facilities, and a renowned continuum of care (care is subject to availability and eligibility criteria).

We have a range of brand-new homes available with flexible pricing including our two-bedroom villas starting from $666,100 and our three-bedroom villas starting from $769,300.*

Open Weekend

Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 January, 10am - 2pm Summerset Richmond Ranges 1 Hill

Pop along to our upcoming Open Weekend and see for yourself why our residents love the Summerset life.

Plus, for a limited time, we’ll help you every step of the way with $10,000 cash back and a moving service package. Simply sign a sales application for a new villa between 01 January 2025 and 31 March 2025, and then settle by 30 June 2025.#

Love the life you choose.

Nelson College for Girls

Tēnā tātou e te whānau, Ki ngā uri o ngā maunga whakahī, ngā uri whakatipu o ngā moana me ngā awa tapu o Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Māui, kei te mihi, kei te mihi, kei te mihi.

Whether you are returning or joining us for the first time, nau mai ki Te Kura Tamawāhine o Whakatū - welcome to Nelson College for Girls. The whakatauki below is one we shared at the beginning of 2024: Manaakitia te tangata, ahakoa ko wai, ahakoa nō hea

Treat people respectfully, irrespective of who they are or where they come from. It still resonates with our way of being as a community and reminds us that at the heart of success lies a commitment to uplifting others. Our students, whānau, kaiako, and kaimahi all contribute to the strength of our community, and we look forward to continuing to develop relationships with each of you in 2025. There are many people at our kura who can support you with answering questions so

Fri 31 9:20am: All Year 7 and Year 8 students start school

please make sure you reach out if there is anything you are unsure about. We look forward to beginning a positive and busy 2025 with you all!

Start fresh this summer – NMIT

Take the leap into a brighter fu-

ture this summer and unlock your potential at NMIT. Whether you’re exploring your options after school, looking to advance in your career or simply keen to learn something new, we are here to help you make it happen. Every journey begins with one step, and we’ll be with you every step of the way. NMIT is

Head

Year 13 to the

Mezzanine

10:40am: Year

9 and ALL NEW students and staff assemble on the front lawn in preparation for the Mihi Whakatau 11:00am: Mihi Whakatau begins in hall 3:00pm: New students to buses

3:10pm: School finishes for all students 9:20am: All Year 9 and Peer Support Leaders arrive at hall 10:50am: Year 13s arrive 3:10pm: School finishes for all students

Mon 3 Nelson Anniversary Day (school closed)

Tues 4 8:50am: Year 9 students arrive to front lawn 9:15am: Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 to Hall for ‘Welcome Back’ 3:10pm: School finishes

Wed 5 8:50am – 3:10pm: Normal School Day

Thurs 6 Waitangi Day

9am–5pm | Sat: 9am–1pm | Sun: Closed 03 928 0757 | nelson@nzuniforms.com | www.nzuniforms.com

able, from certificate to master’s level. With 2025 applications and scholarships now open, there’s no better time to take that first step towards realising your own dreams. Let this be the year you say yes to embracing challenges, taking the leap and turning aspirations into reality.

Waimea College

more than a place to study – it’s a place to grow. Think flexible study options, real-world learning and a holistic support environment, all designed to empower you to believe in your potential and to equip you with everything you need to reach your goals. From business to winemaking, NMIT have over 100 programmes avail-

Waimea College is a vibrant and lively school. Our co-educational college has all the advantages of being one of the South Island’s largest secondary schools, whilst offering the warmth and encouragement of a smaller school. We ensure everything we do is aligned around our values of Manaakitanga (Caring), Whanaungatanga (Belonging) and Akoranga (Learning).

Our goal is for every student to become a person who can deal with the demands of the modern world, showing resilience and embracing social and cultural differences. We are excited about changes to our pastoral system and further use of BYOD in

Nelson College for Girls

2025. These changes aim to support better student wellbeing and learning outcomes for all. We offer a broad curriculum, where all students can find something that sparks their natural curiosity and creativity.

No matter what your passion, our student-centred curriculum is rich and responsive to student needs, ensuring individualised learning to experience success in any field. Waimea College – Your Place to Excel.

Nelson College – Inspiring Young Men Through Education

Welcome to Nelson College, New Zealand’s oldest state secondary school, founded in 1856. With over 168 years of history, Nelson College has a proud tradition of providing boys with a supportive, purpose-driven environment to succeed academically, personally, and socially. At Nelson College, we specialise in boys’ education, tailoring our approach to meet the unique needs of young men. From our curriculum to our pas-

toral care, every aspect of our school is designed to engage boys in meaningful learning experiences that prepare them for life in a rapidly changing world. While we strive for academic achievement, we also want our students to be happy, stimulated, and engaged. By combining traditional values with modern teaching methods, we create an environment where boys can pursue

their passions and discover their potential. A sense of belonging is at the heart of our approach. Our boys enjoy a vibrant school life, with a wide variety of lunchtime and social clubs to join. We also prioritise the development of leadership skills through opportunities like peer tutoring, our academic committee, and a student council.

Our Student Leaders are role

models who embody the school’s values of manaaki-care, ponointegrity, and kairangi-success, setting a positive example for their peers. Our campus is a true highlight. With a combination of natural beauty and modern amenities, it’s a unique place for boys to thrive.

We frequently gain national attention for outstanding achievements in sport and music, plac-

ing us alongside the best schools in New Zealand. Our strength is our focus on values-based education, and a support system that provides every boy with the opportunity to overcome barriers to success and leave his mark. At Nelson College, we prepare young men for a future of success and resilience. When you join our community you’re joining a place of potential and possibility.

Nelson College

Real estate jersey donned

Veteran front-rower, renovator, retail business owner and now a real estate agent.

Harcourts Nelson’s new teammate Wyatt Crockett has entered the field of tackling property sales.

As a 71-test former All Black, the most capped Super Rugby player ever, an NPC title with the Tasman Mako and most recently co-captain of Stirling Sports Nelson and Richmond, the man they once called ‘Crocky’ has an unceasing dedication to succeed.

It is that strategy along with experience in Nelson property renovations and developments that he believes will give his clients

the advantage.

“My wife Jenna and I have done up quite a few properties and we’ve done a couple of small developments, so I know what it’s like being on the other side of the real estate transactions,” he says.

“For me that experience is gold, it sets me out well to understand what a client is looking for and what sort of service they require.

“It’s really exciting to get involved in the selling side of it and trying to help people with their real estate goals.”

Wyatt says Harcourts Nelson was also an ideal platform for his “growth mindset”.

“From early days trying to make it as a rugby player, I realised that I don’t have all the skills and knowledge, but what I do have is incredible hard work.”

“I love learning new things and how to be better, and we’re very lucky at Harcourts in Nelson with three agents with over 30 years of experience.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of lots of amazing environments with rugby, through our own business we’ve had an amazing team over the last seven years, and so to walk in the door [at Harcourts Nelson] and feel that same care and support, it’s amazing.”

Wyatt says Jenna will con-

tinue running both Stirling Sports stores, which the couple have co-owned since moving to Nelson from Christchurch in 2018 after Wyatt retired from international rugby. Originally from Golden Bay, Wyatt says his whānau, who also include sons Sonny, 15, and Emett, 13, were besotted in their Atawhai “dream home” which he and Jenna completed in April 2024. Since hanging up his boots in 2019 after his professional rugby swansong winning the NPC with the Tasman Mako at Trafalgar Park, Wyatt has also coached Nelson Rugby Club and Nelson College teams.

Quilts to go on display for Mid-summer exhibition

The Annual Mid-Summer Quilts in Motueka is to be held at the Tasman Church, Aporo Rd, Tasman from Thursday, 16 January to Saturday 18, January.

As well as quilts on display made by quilters in the Motueka and Nelson area, there will be quilts made by Wellington Quilters, the Guest Exhibitors.

A feature of the exhibi-

tion is tribute to the late Joyce Jones, a prolific quilt designer, inspiration to many quilters, teacher and author of Uncovering Traditional Quilts. She was well known in quilting circles within New Zealand and also overseas, particularly in the USA where she had close friends.

Several quilts designed by her will be on display.

They are made by members of her Richmond quilt group, ‘Undercover Girls’, and there will be some made by Joyce herself.

A Quilt title ‘Oaklands’ from Joyce’s book, designed by Joyce, made by the late Jill Raine and machine quilted by Bev Dyke will be on display.

All raffle proceeds will again be donated to

Motueka’s St John team. Refreshments will be available, a church fund-raising project arranged by women of Tasman Church.

Mid-Summer Quilts in Motueka/Tasman exhibition at Tasman Church, Aporo Rd, Tasman Thursday, 16 – Saturday 18, January, 10am to 4pm.

Former All Black, Crusader, and Tasman Mako, Wyatt Crockett is now tackling property sales.

Photo: Gordon Preece.

Olympic sailor headlines ILCA nationals

Fresh from competing in the Australian and Oceania ILCA Championships in Brisbane, Olympian

Greta Pilkington will be the star turn at the nationals in Nelson this week.

The 22-year-old Aucklander finished eighth and will back up in the ILCA 6 open grade, which has attracted up to 50 entrants, most of whom are youth sailors and female Olympic aspirants.

Greta and her family’s border collie puppy, Mickey, flew to Nelson on Monday, a day after her parents drove down from Auckland with three yachts and an inflatable RIB.

“They left at 2am to catch the midday ferry across Cook Strait. The conditions could have been a bit rough for Mickey, so he came with me,” says Greta.

It will be a family affair on the water this week as her 16-year-old brother Tom is also competing in the ILCA 6, while 19-year-old George Pilkington is in the ILCA 7’s.

“I wouldn’t call it sibling rivalry

as we are very supportive of each other,” declares the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron sailor. She started out in the Optimist class, enjoyed single-handed racing, and so graduating to ILCA big fleet competition was a nat-

ural progression for the recently graduated architecture student.

After finishing 34th in Marseille in her Olympic event last year, Greta is eyeing another huge season.

“Spain, France and then Chi-

na for the world champs before checking out the Los Angeles venue for the 2028 Olympics,” concludes Greta.

Her toughest competition at this week’s nationals could well come from former-ILCA 6 world

champion, George Lane.

The event was last held in the South Island three years ago, and ILCA.nz chairman, Nick Page, says total numbers of almost 100, across three classes, are on a par with that.

“Nelson is certainly shaping up to be another great contest. The ILCA class, formerly lasers, has undergone an international resurgence and continues to be far and away the most popular youth and adult racing dinghy in the world,” enthuses Nick.

The other two fleets are the ILCA 6 Masters and the ILCA 7 Combined Open and Masters. The first has about 20 competitors expected with ages ranging from 30 to 65 plus with at least half a dozen sailors.

The Nelson Yacht Club is hosting the five-day Scott Construction NZ ILCA Championship with first of the 10 races starting tomorrow. Tim Pitcaithly is seen as the best local hope.

The ILCA fleets will have company on the water with the Tasman Bay Cruising Club also staging its annual Nelson regatta.

Tim Trathen making habit of winning at Richmond

STEPHEN STUART

Former Richmond owner-trainer, farrier and publican Tim Trathen is making a habit of winning at his old stamping ground this time of year.

In January 2024, the now West Melton-based horseman produced the smart mare Ooga Chaka to win on the second day of the Nelson Harness Racing Club meeting and last week he went one better.

Trotter Nellie Doyle triumphed on Friday and again on Sunday after only qualifying to race two months ago. Making it even more satisfying, it was his 50th training success since he started out in 1990.

“I was raised in Richmond and as well as working with horses, I used to operate the Railway Hotel close

to the racecourse. It has since been knocked down,” says Tim, who moved to Canterbury about 20 years ago.

Tim was lucky to come by Nellie Doyle as a training friend, Kim Nyhan, broke a wrist and asked him to take on the royally-bred square gaiter and another trotter Night Life which won at just her second start for him in November.

“Me and some mates were then able to buy Nellie Doyle. It is so hard to find the right one,” says Tim.

Last Friday, the six-year-old mare led throughout and, in the hands of champion reinsman Blair Orange, defied her rivals to run her down.

“She has a good motor, and I knew if she did things right she would be hard to beat. She has done a great job,” enthuses Tim, who was being

roundly congratulated by fellow horsemen on his way back to the stabling area.

Nellie Doyle backed up two days later against a stronger field and this time sat behind the leader before pulling clear in the run home.

“It’s good to come here and even better to win at home. I used to live down the end of Queen St and Mum and Dad are still here.

All the family was on course, so it was a great day,” declares Tim.

Nellie Doyle is named after the wife of legendary Canterbury

trotting trainer Bill Doyle, who prepared horses for almost 50 years.

The latest winner dates back to some trotting superstars. It is a breed that rarely goes outside the immediate family, so she has broodmare potential as well.

Former Nelson horseman Tim Trathen with his latest winner Nellie Doyle at Richmond Park over the weekend. Photo: Stephen Stuart.

STEPHEN STUART

Greta Pilkington competing for New Zealand at last year’s ILCA 6 Women’s World Championship in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Photo: Supplied.

Shane Harwood back on the podium after epic super stock champs

JODY SCOTT

The DC Equipment NZ Super Stock Championship concluded on a sunny Sunday afternoon with 100 of the best drivers in the country battling it out for national supremacy at Milestone Homes Top of the South Speedway in Appleby.

The weekend’s racing began with qualifying races on Friday night to find 25 of the 26 cars to contest the title on Saturday, with one more going though after a last-chance race to make the final group.

Three local drivers qualified –former NZ Champion Shane Harwood,Alex Hill and Brett Nicholls.

The drama started on the first lap and continued throughout the qualifying night. A couple of cars ended up on top of each other along the back straight with the speed of the racing electrifying. The Championship night unfolded with a blockbuster final chance race. A regular visitor from Napier, James Buckrell, sneaked in on the final laps, and Palmerston North driver Scott Miers ended up on his side in the dying laps. The first championship race got underway and open club champion, Tim Ross from Gisborne, was the big mover. So was Shane, while Brett and Alex struggled on a dry track.

The rain came in as they were gridding up for their second heat and the rest of the meeting was put off until Sunday afternoon. It was another solid race for Shane as racing commenced on Sunday. Brett helped his club mate out by stopping a block car trying to slow Shane, while Alex ended up parked on the grass with a broken gearbox. Threetime current champion 1nz Ash-

er Rees was a target early in the race. He was caught sideways near the wall and the car ended up upside-down on a momentum roll. James couldn’t avoid the car and ended up putting it back on its wheels leaving the car too damaged to continue.

The race was full of huge hits as the Gisborne cars were pitted against the rest of the field. It was a battlefield from top to tail.

Brett and Alex did their best to support Shane as he made his way up from the rear of the field. With 11 cars failing to finish the race, this aided his chances as the hits kept coming.

The race winner, Ethan Levien, did enough to tie with points leader Todd Hemmingway from Tauranga, ensuring a run-off was needed to decide the NZ Championship.

Shane kept out of trouble to secure the 3nz spot, to return to the podium after winning the title in 2016. His retirement a couple of years ago was short-lived, to help the club secure hosting rights, and his third placing was great reward for his continued support of the club.

The run-off between the two former NZ Youth Ministock teammates ended with Todd grabbing

the lead from Ethan on lap two to win the four lap dash.

Todd is the first driver in 50 years to claim the title for the Tauranga Club and Ethan will defend the 2nz at his home track in Wellington next year.

The club did a sterling job hosting the championship over what turned out to be a very busy and challenging three day weekend. weather-wise.

Back from left: Dale McKenzie, Luke Higgins, Anthony McKenzie and Bryce Lindup. Front: Jake Stewart, 3NZ Shane Harwood and son Max, Jayla Lindup and Shane’s dad Charlie Harwood. Photo: Rebecca Connor Maling.

Sport

Rookie powerlifter makes big impression

STEPHEN STUART

It would be hard to compete with the special skill Nelson personal trainer Jacqui Stewart Ward brings to masters powerlifting.

One of her other roles is hypnotherapy which aims to heighten concentration and focus attention.

A perfect fit for her new sport, which the former netball player and umpire only took up last year.

“A club member at Fitness by CLM suggested I try powerlifting as I had started to get into strength and resistance training at the gym,” says Jacqui, after finishing her morning shift at the Richmond Aquatic Centre.

At 1.75 metres, her stature was ideal for the explosive disciplines lifting requires.

She joined World Powerlifting New Zealand, one of five federations, and importantly one that drug tests.

“The competitors are super lovely which I really like about the sport as well,” the 42-year-old enthuses.

Jacqui went to the World Powerlifting Oceania Cham-

pionships in Christchurch and recorded four personal bests as she overpowered her rivals in the over 40’s section.

She had a 120-kilogram squat, a 75kg bench and finished with a 145kg deadlift, her favourite discipline.

That gave the former human relations consultant a 340kg total, and not only the gold in her class, but silver in the female open category.

“It was an amazing day and such a lot of fun. I was in the zone,” declares Jacqui. So, what is her secret?

“I train five or six times a week and eat lots of carbs. Mass moves mass,” says the mother of two, who now has a coach as well.

“Amanda Stillwell is a real powerhouse.”

They don’t compete against each other, as Amanda belongs to one of the other federations.

Jacqui would like to see more women get involved in the sport and hopes her high visibility in the gym will encourage others.

“Just last week, I went to the first ever powerlifting retreat in Upper Moutere. It was run

by world champion Carli Dillen and it was wicked. So much fun.”

Providing entertainment is another part of her very busy life.

She is the vocalist and plays tambourine in the covers duo Jacq N’ Dean, and one of her recent gigs was at the Wakefield Hotel, not far from where she was born in Wai-iti.

“Plenty of Beatles songs that night.

“We specialise in rock and pop from the 1960’s onwards,” the former Waimea College student says.

This year is promising to be even busier, as she weighs up where to compete as well as juggling her P.T and office roles at the gym, hypnotherapy and singing.

The world championships are being held in Sri Lanka, the Oceania’s in Sydney, the nationals in Tokoroa and the South Island champs in Dunedin.

Jacqui is really keen to get to Dunedin, as that is where she went to Otago University and graduated with a Master of Business degree.

Nelson Regatta returns with five days of thrilling competition

Bringing an exciting competitive edge to our waters, the annual Nelson Regatta kicks off on Friday, January 17, sailing through to its event finale on Tuesday, January 21. As the biggest yachting event on the region’s calendar, fleets include Trailer Yachts, Sports Boats, Keelers and Cruising Boats. The Invitation Rum Race, open to all entrants, gets scheduling underway on Friday evening.

Day One of the Elliott 5.9 Southern Circuit and the Trailer Yacht Regatta take place on Saturday, with a practice day for the keelers and the cruisers while, also on Saturday, the annual Wellington to Nelson race will bring visiting keelers.

Sunday is Day Two of the Southern Circuit and Trailer Yacht Regatta and the start of the official Nelson Regatta which begins with three ‘Round the Cans’ races for the Romeo and Juliet divisions, and a coastal race for the cruising boats.

On Monday trailer yachts join the keelers and cruisers as they set off across Tasman Bay for two days of coastal racing which will include a night in Anchorage in the Abel Tasman National Park.

Tuesday sees the boats racing back to Nelson and the evening’s prize-giving is always a great time thanks to the generous sponsors. Hosted by

Tasman Bay Cruising Club (TBCC) Regatta Committee Chair, Alister Morison, says the event is open to members of sailing clubs affiliated with Yachting New Zealand, and their guests are all welcome to head to the club and join in the fun after sailing. There is a range of local and national entrants, says Alister, including those from Christchurch and Wellington, who come to enjoy the five-day event.

“The addition of the Elliott 5.9 Southern Circuit brings a good number of competitors to the region, and the

Nelson Yacht Club’s Laser Nationals from January 15 to 19 makes for a spectacular sailing showcase.”

The Wellington to Nelson race can be followed by using the Marine Traffic App or the RPNYC website, as many boats broadcast their position using AIS (Automatic Identification System). Registrations close at 4pm on Friday, January 17. For more information, contact Tasman Bay Cruising Club on 03 546 8251, email tbcc@xtra.co.nz, or visit the website tasmanbaycc.

The ‘Same Cafe’ crew, from left: NZ representative sailor Noah Malpot, Jacob Halliburton, Hannes Hilles, Irena Kennedy, Steve Foote and Alister Morison - chilling between races at the 2024 Evolution Nelson Regatta. Photo credit: Alex Pirie @apirie_photography

Jacqui Stewart Ward with the medals she claimed at her first international competition. Photo: Stephen Stuart.

Community Notices

MONDAY

DIVORCE CARE COURSE starting 3 Mar, 13 week course. For divorced or separated. Richmond New Life Church side Room 7pm - 9pm. 0274193035 Divorcecare.org Divorcecarenn@gmail.com

ELYSIUM WIDOW AND WIDOWERS GROUP meet Mon, 10am, Ginger, Richmond Mall, for coffee & friendship. New faces always welcome. Ph: Margaret 0272600748.

LIGHTHOUSE SPIRITUAL AWARENESS Mon, 7.30pm. Talks, readings, healing. Trafalgar St Hall. Ph/Txt: Carolyn 0272474644.

OSTEOACTIVE, Mon, 10am, Holy Trinity Hall, Richmond. Exercise class for participants with osteoarthritis. Seated and standing exercises. Exercise tips for osteoarthritis self-management. Ph: Nicola 0210788609. Koha $5-$8.

JUNIOR BADMINTON, Mon, 6-7.30pm, Badminton Hall. For School-aged kids. Racquets avail. Ph: Joe 0277834720 / e: joe@peak.co.nz.

SOCIAL EVENING BADMINTON, Mon, 7.30pm, Badminton Hall. Racquets avail. Bring indoor court shoes. Ph: Joe 0277834720. $5/night.

TUESDAY

SUMMER READING PROGRAMME Out and About with Richmond Library, Washbourn Gardens. Tues 21 Jan 10am - 12pm drop-in session. Fun family activities to discover.

TUESDAY MUSIC Tues 4 Feb, 10am, Richmond Town Hall. Another exciting variety of recorded items plus a dash of musical humour to start our year. You are welcome! Ph Christine 0212486038

MORNING TEA AND A CHAT Need some company and a chat over the summer? Come for morning tea and a chat to Holy Trinity, 27 Dorset St, Richmond, 10:30am-11:30am, Tuesdays in Jan. Bring any friends or neighbours who would enjoy some friendship and food. Ph 03 544 8844.

WINTER CARDS, EUCHRE, Tues, 1-1.30pm, Stoke Bowling Club, 18a Ranui Rd. Warm & friendly atmosphere, afternoon tea provided. All welcome. Ph: Lesley 0210407768

STOKE TAHUNANUI MEN’S CLUB welcomes new members. Meet, 3rd Tues of month, 10am, 15 Burrough Pl, Enner Glynn. With guest speaker. Regular outings & activities. Ph: Ian 0274281606.

CAN YOU HOLD A TUNE? Tues, 7.15pm, Club Waimea. Four-part harmony chorus seeks new members, male or female from all voice ranges. e: Tasmonics@gmail.com or Ph: Philippa 0275497713.

HOPE TENNIS CLUB SOCIAL TENNIS, Tues, 9.30am, Hope Tennis Courts, Hope Domain. All abilities welcome. Info Ph: 0211729257.

WEDNESDAY

SUMMER READING PROGRAMME Get Crafty! Richmond Library. Wed 22 Jan, 10am - 12pm drop-in session. Escape the summer sun with some crafts.

SING YOUR LUNGS OUT: Wed, 10am, Club Waimea. A fun filled singing class for those with respiratory conditions. No singing experience is necessary. Ph: Jess 0275467675 – Respiratory Support Nelson.

DEADLINE: 10AM FRIDAY - 30 WORDS OR LESS BY EMAIL ONLYPLEASE SEND TO: events@topsouthmedia.co.nz

THURSDAY

SUMMER READING PROGRAMME Lego Fun

– Choose Your Challenge Richmond Library. Thurs 16 Jan 10am - 12pm drop-in session. What will you make?

DO YOU WANT TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS join a friendly group for coffee and a chat. 1st & 3rd Thurs of month, Paragon Cafe Langdale Drive Richmond, 10am. Ansley/ Phillip 5410 350 or 0272212943

TAICHI Thursdays 9:30-11:00 during school term. Anglican Church community hall, Dorset Street. Learn qigong and taichi. Stillness, breath, movement. Contact Merrick, Ph:0210636620, email: taichi.internal.arts.aotearoa@gmail.com

RICHMOND CREATIVE FIBRE Meet, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Thurs of month, 9.30am, Birchwood Hall, Richmond Showgrounds. Come and meet others who enjoy working with fibre. Ph: Janine 035445023.

FRIDAY

RICHMOND/WAIMEA RSA Social gathering Fri 17 Jan, 4.30pm, Club Waimea. Ex Service personal and partners welcome. Restaurant opens at 5.30pm if you want to stay for a meal. Queries 027 712 7247.

WAIMEA LADIES’ FRIENDSHIP CLUB, meet, 3rd Fri of month, 9.45am, Richmond Church of Christ, cnr Croucher & D’arcy Sts. Welcome new members, interesting speakers, morning tea, dining out, outings. Ph: Bev 035441469

SATURDAY

JJBNZ SKILLS EVENT AND RALLY West Bay,

Lake Rotoiti, Sat 18 Jan, 10am. Spectators are welcome to come and watch as boats complete tasks in West Bay. Swimming, fishing and other boating will be restricted during this time for public safety.

QUALITY CRAFTS NELSON Richmond Baptist Church lounge, 123 Salibury Rd, Sat 18 Jan 8am-12pm. Unique local handmade crafts with something for everyone. Contact Kay 0275476777 kaypeterson147@gmail.com

FREE GUIDED MEDITATION, Sat, 3pm, under the white pergola of Washbourne Gardens. Relax, unwind, and enjoy inner peace & stillness. For info e: meditaterichmond@gmail.com. Free.

RICHMOND TENNIS CLUB SOCIAL TENNIS, Sat, 1.30-3pm. Open to club players, visitors & members of other clubs. $5 non-members. Ph: 0274872480.

SUNDAY

HIGGINS HERITAGE PARK 222 Pigeon Valley Rd, Wakefield museums open day Sun 19 Jan 10am - 3pm. Bring a picnic & enjoy a pleasant relaxing day, jigger rides, children’s pre-loved books. 0276316786.

SUNDAY WORSHIP You are warmly invited to attend weekly worship. Sun, 10am, Nelson Tasman Methodist Parish Church, 94 Neale Ave Stoke. Morning tea follows the service.

NELSON SPIRITUALIST CHURCH, weekly service, Sun 7-8pm, Cnr Tipahi and Motueka st. All welcome. Healing avail before and after service.

GENERAL GROUPS

COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS avail in Nel-

son or Richmond for people with CG/CSF (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), FM (Fibromyalga) or Long Covid. 0800224787 or e: nelson.ccisupport.org.nz for info.

BELLA REID ART EXHIBITION, Richmond Library. Opening hours during Jan. The inspiration for this series of paintings is from the Māori myth of “Kurungaituku” (the bird woman).

PICKLEBALL, Mon & Wed, 4pm, Tues & Fri, 9.30am-11.30am, Richmond Tennis Club. Bats, balls and coaching available. $5 non-members. Enq Ph: 0274872480.

NELSON TASMAN HOSPICE SHOPS need volunteers in their Nelson Richmond Motueka & Takaka shops. Volunteering is great & a good chance to meet new people, gain new skills & help your hospice. Ph: 035463912.

NELSON RAILWAY SOCIETY Founders Park. Check our Facebook page and Website for updates of our Train and Railcar Timetable for the school holidays. We will be running on extra days. GROW needing help. Use a Program and Method. We are here for your mental health. Ph: 035476120. BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP, Cancer Society Nelson, 102 Hardy St. Reg Ph: 035391137 or info@cancernelson.org.nz.

FREE TRAINING: NEW CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU VOLUNTEERS! Training starts March 2025. Qualifications Needed: Common Sense, Some Life Experience and Computer Skills, Enquiring mind! Info Pack available from Citizens Advice Bureau Nelson Tasman, Ph 03 548 2117, nelsontasman@ cab.org.nz.

Community Notices are free to community groups, schools, churches, gold coin donation events and fundraising. Due to the popularity of this column,while every effort will be made, inclusion cannot be guaranteed for free ads. If you want to place a business advert or want to advertise a course you are running, please call classified ads and public notices on 544 9037.

FENCING

FOR SALE

Samsung TV 12 months from new. 1660mm diagonal, 1450mm horizontal. As new. $600. Phone 021 235 2880.

Rural Farm and Rural Lifestyle specialists, any farm fences and gates, to swimming pool fences in town. High quality, well-built and strong, no job too big or too small, immediate start. Quick tidy worker Call me now. ASTIN KNOWLES FENCING. ANYTIME ON 021-022-11068.

STRAWBRIDGE

Bill (George Wilson)

9.9.1931 - 12.01.2025

Bill passed away surrounded by love in his own home, as was his wish.

Husband of Margaret (D), dearly loved Dad to Paula (D) John, Juilia Wendy and Deane and he was a respected Father-in Law.

• Richmond Mall admin counter

• Bayleys Real Estate, Queen St

• On the Spot, Berryfields

• Connings

• Club Waimea, Richmond

• Ewings Poultry Store, Hope

• Mapua 4 Square

• Upper Moutere store

• Tapawera 4 Square

• Brightwater 4 Square

• Wakefield 4 Square

• Hodgsons store, Murchison

• St Arnaud store

Family meant everything to Bill, and he was especially proud of his Grandchildren and their partners; - Adam, Martyn (D), Sally & James, Amelia & Louw, Rosie & Luke, Ella & Marc, Mark & Pam, Jared & Zoe, Sophie & Giulio, Todd and Kim. Bill currently has13 great grandchildren to carry on his legacy.

Please join us to celebrate Bills’ life. Club Waimea 11am Friday 17th January

A life well lived. A man well loved.

PUBLIC NOTICE

HEALING EXPO

Sunday 19 January 9.30am - 4.30pm

• Top South Media office Main Rd Stoke

• Bayley’s Real Estate, Trafalgar St

• Woolworths, Paru Paru Road

• Fresh Choice, Nelson

• Nelson Library

• Milton St Dairy

• Atawhai Four Square

• Raglan Cafe, Tāhunanui

• Tāhunanui Library

Motueka Memorial Hall 12 Pah St FREE ENTRY FREE WORKSHOPS

Charges apply at stalls

Experience a wonderful range of healing modalities, psychic/clairvoyant readings, tarot and natural remedies. Contact: angel3000.h@gmail. com

LEASE WANTED

0240 9317

• Tāhunanui Community Hub

• Stoke Bakery

• Top South Media office, Main Rd Stoke

• Richmond Library

• Richmond Mall admin counter

• Motueka Guardian office, Motueka

• Upper Moutere Store

• Mapua 4 Square

• Tasman Store

• Mrs. Smiths, Riwaka

• Tapawera 4 Square

• Fresh Choice, Takaka

• Takaka Library

• On The Spot, Collingwood

• Pohara Store

• Top South Media office Main Rd Stoke Nelson Weekly

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