Waimea Weekly - 27 March 2024

Fundraised target locks in head shave vow

Michelle Hunt kept her word but lost her hair on Monday after honouring a Relay for Life promise.

The Cancer Society Nelson Tasman centre manager promised she would shave her locks if this year’s Relay for Life raised more than $200,000. This was the equivalent from its inaugural event in 2004, which was $202,000.

As of Monday, more than $208,000 has been raised, with donations still open until the end of April.

Michelle says 14 people had braved the clippers and scissors at Relay for Life, which took place at Richmond A&P Showgrounds between 16 and 17 March, to boost their fundraising efforts.

“Like those other 14 brave souls who shaved their hair at [Relay for Life] to support those with cancer in our community, I too will join you… it’s not just about the hair, it’s about solidarity of standing by those affected by cancer in our community,” she says.

“I’ve seen firsthand, the resilience and the strength of many people out there in our community that have to lose their hair due to treatment…I had a client two weeks ago, a young mother, and [a head shave] was a big deal for her.

“She had beautiful long hair but with her treatment it was falling out and it was patchy, so she decided to own

SEE PAGE 2

Stopbank cycleway will cause ‘havoc’

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

A planned new cycleway along the top of a Waimea River stopbank would cause “bloody havoc” for the dairy farm that the stopbank runs through, the farmers claim.

The Waimea River stopbank runs through the land the O’Connor farm leases for its dairying operations. Cows can be driven over the stopbank in a mob up to three times a day during the spring calving season.

The stopbanks themselves aren’t leased and are public land.

A cycleway along the stop of the bank has long been signalled as part of Tasman District Council’s plans for the river and is now drawing

closer after years of “not very constructive” discussions.

Martin O’Connor says putting a cycleway on top of the 5-metre-tall stopbank is a health and safety issue. “To bring a mob [of cows] all along there and then a cyclist appears above, it just creates bloody havoc.”

The key problem for Martin is the height element.

“Someone’s up on the skyline, that’s where the issue really is.” Having someone appear suddenly above the cows while they’re being herded in a mob can scare the animals, creating a dangerous environment for farm workers, he says. “You can get run over. We’ve already had incidents down

SEE PAGE 2

GORDON PREECE

Cancer Society manager Michelle Hunt promised to shave her head when this year’s Relay for Life fundraiser hit $200,000. Insert: Michelle before her head shave. Photos: Gordon Preece

What is your Easter tradition?

us

“The kids

Fundraised target locks in head shave vow

to own it, and have it shaved off… there are people like that everyday who have to go through that.”

Michelle says that before Monday’s head shave, which was conducted by Atawhai hairdresser Dee Barr, she had also braved the clippers in 2020 for Cancer Society’s Brave the Shave fundraiser during the Covid-19 lockdown. She says she planned to own her new hairstyle until it grows back to its former glory in two months’ time. Visit: relayforlife.org.nz/o/nelson-tasman-relay to donate.

the bottom with cyclists.”

The situation makes little sense to Glenn Leys, who helps manage the farm.

“There’s a road there, it’s not like there’s not an alternative,” he says, referring to an old road that sits outside of their lease and runs parallel to the river.

The road is currently only accessible by four-wheel drive because it’s badly damaged, but fixing it would make the route available to a wider range of people than just cyclists, Glenn says.

If the cycleway is installed, they say that they would have to rethink the economic viability of continuing to lease the land on the other side of the stopbank and may scale back their dairy operation or cease working that land in the future.

However, the council’s environ-

“Relax at home, read books if it’s raining and watch TV… and have half a Hot Cross Bun.”

mental information manager, Rob Smith, was unperturbed when speaking to the long-running issue during an Environment and Regulatory Committee meeting.

He likened the stopbank crossing

to a regular road to which other farmers do not have unrestricted access. “They bunch them up, they open the gates, they walk them across, and shut the gate. There’s no reason why that cannot be done for these cows on the

“Church, Easter eggs, and hang out with family.”

stopbank,” he says.

“We can’t deny that animals are big, they have an obligation as a farmer to manage those animals.”

He added that kissing gates and signage, installed by the council for a couple thousand dollars, would slow cyclists down.

The old road that traversed the edge of the dairy farm was not able to be remediated easily, Rob said.

“The underlying material is a range from mud to gravel so would need a proper road base to be constructed. We are talking closer to hundreds of thousands rather than tens of thousands.”

But the concerns caused by the stopbank’s height remains for the O’Connor farm.

“They’re just dismissing our concerns totally,” Glenn says. “We’ve been farming it for that long, we know the issues that it’s going to cause.”

Roy de Hamel Wakefield

Jenaya Wilkinson Richmond

“Hot Cross Buns toasted in the oven with butter, and breakfast with my family.”

Siby Joseph Toi Toi

would have some Easter eggs and we usually go for a picnic.”

Alison Harnetty Richmond

The sudden appearance of a cyclist would create a health and safety issue for farm workers driving cows across the stopbank, claim dairy farmers Martin O’Connor and Glenn Leys. Photo: Max Frethey.

Continued investment despite Tasman’s economic challenges

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

There are no significant cuts forecast by Tasman District Council over the next 10 years, despite the rising costs still being seen across the country. Instead, investment is proposed to be directed into two main areas – essential services and community facilities.

“Navigating the next decade requires a balance between delivering important services and maintaining affordability,” said Mayor Tim King. So, what is the council planning for the next decade and how will it be funded?

Rates:

The council has proposed a 9.6 per cent rates increase for Tasman for the next financial year.

A 7.2 per cent rates increase would follow for 2025/26, though in the remaining eight years of the 10-Year Plan the average annual increase would drop to 4.6 per cent. The average rates increase across the country this year is 15 per cent.

“The reason we are probably… below the average is because our rates are already reasonably high and our debt is already up there, and that is because we have, over time, made conscious decisions to invest

in infrastructure and community facilities,” Tim says.

Infrastructure:

That continued investment in essential infrastructure is proposed to continue over the coming decade to prevent blown-out costs further down the road.

Three Waters infrastructure are especially being focused on, with upgrades planned for Redwood Valley and the Waimea Plains from 2024, Dovedale from 2025, Māpua and Seaton Valley from 2029, and new wastewater treatment plants for Motueka and Tākaka from 2030.

The council is also looking at “significantly” increasing its sealed road maintenance budget to get on top of deterioration across the road network.

Community facilities:

At the request of local communities, the council is also proposing to forge ahead with several community facilities, including new hubs for Brightwater, Wakefield, and Tapawera, the much-anticipated Motueka swimming pool, and an extension to the Murchison Sport, Recreation and Cultural Centre.

The bulk of the costs of these new facilities will be covered by Reserve Financial Contributions, or RFCs, and commu-

nity fundraising.

Because of how the facilities are funded, they will only have a small impact on rates during construction, though the facilities’ operations going forward will be funded by rates.

Options to reduce rates:

While Tim believes the council has “struck a good balance” in providing a starting point for community discussion about the future, he acknowledges that the proposed rates increase is still “not as low as many people would like to see”. Several additional cost-saving measures have been included in the council’s consultation document on its 10-Year Plan, though not recommended, in case they were favoured by residents.

These options include scaling back library opening hours to four days a week, reducing community grants, funding for economic development and parks maintenance, or selling assets.

Timeline:

Consultation on the council’s 10-Year Plan will open on 28 March and run until 28 April. The council will refine its plan through May and June based on public feedback before adopting a final version in time for the new financial year beginning on 1 July.

Carcasses, contractor waste dumped at rivers

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

Rubbish dumping along Tasman’s river berms has come under fire as council officers use CCTV to try and catch the offenders.

A council officer labelled the dumping as “slovenly”, with ratepayers bearing the cost for the clean-up.

“It’s just such terrible behaviour,” says Rob Smith, Tasman District Council’s environmental information manager.

While the Waimea River has seen the bulk of recent dumping, trash has had to be recently collected from the Lower Motueka River as well.

A range of material has been dumped, including mattresses, carcasses, furniture, treated timber, tyres, glass, flax, and household waste – some of which has also been burnt in bonfires on the riverbed.

It also appears that contractors are dumping fill and waste, with piles of material far larger than a typical trailer load showing up on the river berm.

Dumping waste on the river berm, particularly treated and contaminated waste, can allow pollutants to enter the river system above an ecologically important estuary.

“Some people think it’s okay to just back their ute up and biff it. It’s disgusting,” Rob says.

“We will try and catch them, there are cameras around there and we will do something about it.”

Staff in the council’s waste management and compliance teams are using CCTV cameras to try and identify the offenders.

“The ratepayer pays for this, which is just not fair,” Rob says. “We all know how to behave properly and have respect, so it is

unfortunate that this behaviour is not called out by those who know it is happening.”

The council blocked access to some dry beaches with rocks placed in strategic locations in December “with some success”.

Council communications officer

Tim O’Connell says the recent dumpings are a continuation of poor behaviour by some resi-

dents. Reports of fly-tipping and dumping occur at least once a month. “It’s blatant disregard for the natural state of the berm,” he says. “It shouldn’t happen at all.”

It appears that some dumpers travel a fair distance to offload the rubbish at the Waimea River, with the council having found trashed mail linked to an address in Atawhai.

Cranking up the machinery show

GORDON PREECE

More than 1000 people passed through the gates at Higgins Heritage Park on Saturday and Sunday for the Vintage Machinery Show hosted by the Nelson Vintage Engine and Machinery Club.

The event, which saw young children get amongst the jigger and steam engine rides, and tractor and fencing displays for up to five hours, gave the public a snapshot in time to primary industry operations. President David Holmes says the club was thrilled by the attendance.

“There’s a rural life museum with lots of old kitchenware, and shop displays, and there’s comments like ‘Oh, I haven’t seen one of those in years’,” he says. David says the event was also about raising club funds for restoration projects and more shed builds, and to spark more interest from people to bolster the club membership, which currently sits at about 60. “Anyone who has got an interest in old machinery can come out on a Thursday and see if it’s something they are interested in, especially for retired people,” he says.

“I’m not sure if people are driving all the way out. I appreciate the effort, but it’s still unacceptable.”

Tim says that the council was looking at more CCTV options, but currently the council was still relying on “eagle-eyed members of the public”.

“But just given that people still feel that it’s absolutely fine to dump it wherever they feel, we may need to look at other methods, but nothing’s been nailed down as yet.”

He adds, the costs of cleaning up fly-tipping just over the past year “would go into the thousands.”

“That’s money that we shouldn’t be spending, it should be going to more worthwhile things, for the betterment of the community.”

Wet wipes cause sewage overflow

A blockage in a sewer pipe in Oxford St near Washbourn Gardens in Richmond led to untreated sewage flowing into the stormwater system on Monday. The blockage was caused by someone flushing wet wipes down a toilet. The stormwater system flows into the Waimea Estuary at Beach Rd, which means as a precaution, shellfish should not be collected from the estuary for the next 28 days and people should also avoid contact with the water in the area. Warning signs are in place and water testing will be undertaken.

Water restrictions change

From 25 March, people on council-managed water supplies in Wakefield moved to Phase C restrictions, Eighty-Eight Valley increased to Phase D, where Dovedale remains. Tasman District Council says the dry weather is continuing to put streams, rivers, and groundwater levels in decline.

A range of rubbish is being dumped on the Waimea River berm, including large amounts of waste that appears to come from contractors. Photo: Tasman District Council.

Nelson Vintage Engine and Machinery Club member Chris Turner lubricates a 1905 national engine which was used to power sawmills. Photo: Gordon Preece.

A vintage to savour

ANNE HARDIE

Wine lovers are in for a treat as local grape growers harvest a crop that is the “best in many years”, though there will be less wine bottled from a smaller crop.

Chris Seifried is a winemaker at Seifried Family Winemakers, and he says this year’s crop is the best he has seen since the 2019 drought due to the run of dry weather through the critical harvest period.

“The weather has been great right through, so it means we’ve got quite light crops but really concentrated and quite clean – no mould or mildew. It’s beautiful fruit which results in more distinctive varietal wines.

“The 2019 harvest was a stunning season and this is getting close to that. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are looking fantastic –they’re the two I’m most excited about.”

Harvest will continue until mid-

April, though the dry weather ripens fruit rapidly and puts pressure on machine harvesting, with two machines operating 12 to 14-hours a day.

“Everything is ripening quite rapidly and the harvest window is shrinking because the fruit is at its optimum. But we’re very excited and just hope the weather stays like this until the end of harvest.”

One of the challenges this harvest is protecting the crop from birds which have been more determined than ever to get a share of the fruit.

“There’s less food around in the dry for birds so we literally don’t take the netting off until the day before we harvest or on the day we are harvesting.”

While little moisture results in more intense flavour in the fruit, it does mean less quantity and Chris says the Brightwater block also suffered from frost at bud burst in October which destroyed

about 40 per cent of potential fruit on that site.

A smaller vintage does not necessarily mean higher prices for a bottle of wine though.

“It does have some influence on prices, but I don’t think it will on the domestic market. Competition in the wine industry means you’re compelled to hold prices as best you can. It is a real juggle

with increasing costs and not being able to pass that on. But there’s just so much wine around.”

This year the vineyard and winery has six young winemakers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France who join a team of permanent staff on the vineyard and in the winery. The Covid-19 pandemic put a pause on young winemakers travelling the globe

for work, but Chris says seasonal workers from overseas are back in numbers.

“There are more people travelling and there’s almost a pent-up demand from young winemakers to travel. Most of them come from vineyards or wineries and we get to hear what they’re doing as well, so there’s a great transfer of knowledge.”

Winemaker Chris Seifried says this year’s harvest is the best in years. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Conal rallies Wakefield runners

ANNE HARDIE

Two years ago, Conal Beban was recovering from a kidney transplant and began running for his health, but wondered how on earth people did it because it was just so hard.

Yet now as a regular runner, he is organising a weekly Wakefield running event.

A few months after Conal was donated a kidney from his good mate, Andy Bryant, he began running under the guidance of a retired friend, where he ran for a minute, then walked for five minutes and continued that for an hour. As someone who had never run more than 200m in his life, it was challenging.

“I thought, how do people run? This is awful. Anything under 200m I enjoyed, but everything over 200m I sucked in. I really didn’t enjoy it.”

The goal was a 5km run at the World Transplant Games in Perth last year which he completed with his kidney donor, as well

as a 10km leg of the Buller Marathon.

“Now, running is quite therapeutic and the only time you can pay someone back for a transplant is by taking care of it.”

Next is the Christchurch Marathon in April where he plans to run 10km and also fundraise for Ranui House where he stayed after his transplant operation. So far, he has fundraised close to $5,000.

After that, the next running goal is the World Transplant Games again which will be held next year in Germany and he plans to enter the 5km run and other events.

In the meantime, he has decided to organise a weekly running event in Wakefield. Most Saturday mornings he heads out on a 5km run along part of the Great Taste Trail and he started thinking it would be good to have a regular community run where people could run or walk each week.

“You’ll get a few regulars and some that pop in from time to time and hopefully

enjoy it,” he says. “Maybe people who haven’t run before and have a fitness goal will use it as a way to get them started.”

Conal says runners can participate in events every week in Nelson, but the only running event in Wakefield is the Wakefield Roaster in January.

He thought about a parkrun which is an organised event with timing and volunteers, but says the logistics of setting them up is quite challenging.

He prefers the idea of a casual running event where runners and walkers know that every Saturday at 8am there will be people at the starting point to head out along the trail.

If runners want to time themselves, there are plenty of apps they can use to do that, he says.

He has put his suggestion on the Wakefield community Facebook group and has received good feedback, so now it is a matter of getting the runs started.

He hopes it will be an event

for members

“If people are new to Wakefield and don’t know anyone, it might be a way of getting to know people.”

Conal Beban loves running now that he has a functioning kidney and wants others to join him. Photo: Anne Hardie.

of the community to get together and enjoy a run or a walk along the trail.

Teen whips up soft serve success

KATE RUSSELL

He may only be 17 years old, but Nelson’s new Mr Whippy is bringing back the nostalgic sound of Greensleeves to the region’s streets.

Caleb Thomson took over the ice cream truck business from Penny Toft, who hung up her cones in February after 19 years.

Caleb says he has been an entrepreneur from a young age.

“When I was about five or six, I was selling lemonade outside my house in Reefton. My dad always told me, if I wanted something, I had to buy it myself.”

He established his first business in Nelson at just 12 years oldSweet Azz Candy Floss.

“Dad loaned me $350 to buy a candy floss machine on Trade Me,” he says.

“I bought that and a table, and just used some stuff in the garage… then slowly worked my way up.”

He then delved into management at McDonalds in Richmond.

“I did a management course, then became the shift manager,” he says.

When Mr Whippy came up for sale, Caleb says it caught his eye

“more than a few times” and Penny reckoned he’d be a great guy to take the business forward.

He has now revved up the street runs again, which were paused back in 2021.

The truck will be visiting residential areas from Tuesday to Sunday

in Nelson, Stoke, and Richmond.

Many people will recall the street runs done by Laurie Goodale, who worked for Mr Whippy long enough to be remembered by several generations.

“I remember being at my nana’s house and hearing the tune… it’s

such a nostalgic part of it,” Caleb says.

“I’m trying to establish a regular thing… trying to get everywhere at least once.”

He says he’s had a “great response” from the street runs so far. “People are saying it’s bringing

the community together… people are coming out onto the street and talking to each other.”

To make it even easier to find him, Caleb has installed a GPS in the truck so you can live-track his location from a link on his Facebook page, ‘Mr Whippy Nelson Tasman’.

“I’m planning on buying another truck and I’m currently advertising for staff so I can expand to Wakefield and Motueka,” he says. The truck will still be based at Tāhunanui Beach at the weekends and he can also be found at events around the region.

Caleb says the menu will consist of all the classic ice cream flavours, but he will also be adding a weekly special.

“I’m trying to add an interesting new ice cream every week,” he says. “I’m currently working on a Milo ice cream.”

Caleb says he could “never get sick of” the creamy treat, with his top-rated cone currently being a sherbet covered ice cream which is then dipped in chocolate.

He says he is looking forward to bringing his ice cream to the streets of Nelson and Tasman.

“Listen out for the iconic Greensleeves tune near you.”

Seventeen-year-old Caleb Thomson has taken the wheel of the Mr Whippy Nelson Tasman truck.

Photo: Kate Russell.

Turning clay into art for Easter sale

ANNE HARDIE

A gallery of pottery, from bowls created on the wheel to pieces sculptured by hand, will form a diverse mix at the Craft Potters’ Easter Exhibition and Sale.

Ian Loten is one of the potters at the Ranzau Rd workshop and, five years after learning to throw clay, is creating a range of work that will be on show at Easter.

“I’m an eclectic thrower,” he explains. “I don’t repeat anything; it’s just for form and shape.”

He has a background in woodturning, so admits he already had the “form and shape” in his system when he took up clay which he works with for his own enjoyment.

“The number of variations in pottery make it an endless challenge. When you talk about clays and glazes together, you end up with this huge mix of possibilities. You never master it – it’s a bit like golf really. There’s always the next challenge.

“One tiny air bubble gets found out in the kiln. You only find mistakes when it comes out of the kiln, so its endless fun opening the kiln to see what you’ve got. The number of times I’ve put

glazes together and been unsure of what will happen and then you get stunning results. And obviously the reverse can happen.

“For me, it is very relaxing and very therapeutic; a real sense of satisfaction.”

This year is the club’s 50th anni-

versary and some members remember when it was called Zenith on Paton’s Rd. Committee member Margaret

Earney says the club and workshop is an amazing asset for the community.

“It is so good for our members’ mental health to be part of a group and be creative.”

Twice a year the club runs an exhibition and sale, being the Easter sale and one in November for Christmas shoppers.

“It showcases all the work being made in the club. People want handmade now and not mass-produced. Handmade is fashionable again and they buy a beautiful piece rather than 10 pieces. There’s the background story of the potter and their influence. You’re sort of baring your soul when you put a piece out to the public.”

Margaret says age is no barrier for pottery and the club has eight and nine-year-old children creating their own masterpieces during holiday workshops and there’s no upper age limit to working with clay. Members can work on their creations day or night, with 24hour access to the workshop.

The Ranzau Rd workshop will be turned into a gallery for the Easter sale which will run between 10am and 4pm on 30 and 31 March.

Ian Loten says working with clay is relaxing and therapeutic. Photo: Anne Hardie.

The cost of head lice

ELOISE MARTYN

Local parents struggling with the cost of living are finding that treatments for minor ailments such as headlice are unaffordable. Head lice are small insects that can live on the head. The lice feed by sucking blood from the scalp – these bites are the cause of intense itching.

There is no ‘season’ for lice and they are a common frustration for parents and kids as the itching associated with them can last months, and getting rid of them can be costly and time-consuming.

“We realised our daughter had lice one night, looking back she had said a few times that her head was itchy, but it wasn’t until she was intensely itching that we realised it was lice,” says a Brightwater mum who didn’t want her child to be identified. She says, at that time of night no pharmacies were open to buy lice treatment, but the supermarkets were.

“The next day we went to the chemist and got another lice treatment, a lice comb, and a special lice hair spray,” the mum explains. Treatments contain ingredients to kill both the active lice and the egg. One treatment costs between $19 and $32 dollars and it’s not uncommon to need to use three or four applications on one infestation. If other members of the household catch lice they also need to be treated.

“Fortunately, we are in a situation where cost was not a barrier, however, we knew one family that simply didn’t have the money to treat their child,” she says. “You can go to your GP, however if you discover your child has them late at night that isn’t much help and often there is a wait to get a doctor’s appointment.”

Wakefield Pharmacy chief pharmacist Hamid Johari says that the wet-combing method (wet combing with cheap conditioner and a finetooth headlice comb) is an effective way to find and remove head lice if done properly.

“Combing is key when dealing with lice,” Hamid says. “We have free self-care headlice cards to give to anyone, providing information and instructions on different methods.”

He also says that the number of treatments needed depends on the degree of infestation and how long the child’s hair is.

Wakefield pharmacist

Juan Reyes, left, and chief pharmacist

Hamid Johari say headlice are a common frustration for parents and kids.

Photo: Eloise Martyn.

Muddy Buddy

Lazara and Blaise Beach, Kura Anne

Takimoana and Tom Silk

Linca Hill and Georgina Hill

Lorcan and Sinead White, Courtney Clyne and Caden Powell - Clyne

May Armstrong, Scott Reid and Laura Paynter

Sophie Beattie and Lisa McIver

Wendy Hiha, Kevin Ulands and Feebee Newlands

White Ferns v England

Ian and Maureen Grage

Megan Rangi and Oliver Quinn

Hamish and Lysandra McKenzie

Jane Cronin, Willow Cronin-Cowlrick, 6, and Henley Cronin-Cowlrick, 8

The great Aotearoa meteorite hunt

ELOISE MARTYN

Have you ever found an odd-coloured rock, or do you have a heavy chunk of something that your grandfather told you fell from the sky? If so, you could possibly have a sought-after piece of a meteorite that local and national astronomers and scientists are hunting for.

A meteorite, a solid piece of debris from an object such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere, came through the roof of a house in Ellerslie back in 2004. It bounced off the couch, hit the ceiling and ended up on the carpet under the television. Apart from that, the Mokoia (Whanganui) meteorite which fell in 1908 is the only New Zealand meteorite to have been recovered soon after it fell.

“We had a meteorite turn up at our Golden Bay house,” says Waiiti International Dark Sky Park member Ralph Bradley. “There was a big hollow in the paddock so us kids had a dig and found an unusual rock covered in small holes and a bit burnt. It was used as a door stopper, however we left Golden Bay in the 1970s and I have no idea where it ended up but looking back it should have been tested.”

Ralph says that there must be a lot more out there and Fireballs Aotearoa says that there are quite

possibly meteorites on backsteps propping the door open or sitting on mantelpieces. The stone that grandpa claimed was a meteorite, or that out-of-place rock still sitting in the paddock.

Meteorites can tell us much about the formation of the solar system four and a half billion years ago.

“Meteorites provide us clues and help us find out more about the solar system and universe,” Ralph

says. “Found meteorites can be tested which will tell us what it’s made of and possibly some clues as to where it’s come from, they are valuable to research.”

Wai-iti International Dark Sky Park is supporting the Fireballs Aotearoa meteorite hunt and they have installed a dedicated ‘Fireballs’ camera on top of a house that faces south from Wai-iti.

“The camera takes night sky im-

ages every few seconds looking for bright streaks of light, shooting stars, as when a meteorite enters the atmosphere it creates light as it starts to burn before falling to the earth, or sea, and since they are burning, they land hot and hard,” Ralph explains. With the idea being that if multiple cameras capture the same meteorite from different locations, they should be able to narrow

down the geographical location of the fallen meteorite and go on a hunt for it. Ralph also encourages those walking along riverbanks to keep an eye out for any, he says a meteorite will look a lot different from a normal rock and is often dark with a bit of a glossy or melted crust. If you believe you might have a meteorite, get in touch with Fireballs Aotearoa at meteorites@rasnz.org.nz

Local History

The Sutton family of Richmond

ROBYN PARKES

It took great resolve and courage to leave your homeland to face the challenges of the unknown and unsettled land called New Zealand, but this is what many did, including the Suttons, led by George and his wife Hannah. The little village of East Meon was in the small hamlet of Frogmore where Thomas and Martha Sutton lived with their family. The couple had four boys – Thomas, John, William and George. Youngest son George married Jane Hibbard in 1822 who already had one son. In 1824, daughter Dinah was born. Jane died in 1828 and, needing a mother for his children, George married the widow Hannah Beams, nee Stillwell

in October 1830. Hannah had three young children to care for after her first husband had died around 1828. George and Hannah went on to have another four children. As a mere labourer George had little prospect of owning land himself, so when the opportunity came to forge out a new life in New Zealand George and Hannah accepted the challenge. In October 1841 they left their homeland to sail 12,000 miles to a new life on board the ship Bolton. With them were children Dinah, 17, Matilda, 15, (Hannah’s daughter by her first marriage), John, 11, William, 9, Henry, 7, and Harriet, 4. Another child James was born on the voyage. They arrived in Nelson on the 15 March, 1842, and their first night in

Nelson was spent sleeping under the stars. Dinah later married George Parkes and the Parkes family still live in Eighty Eight Valley.

George selected to live in the Maitai Valley as a squatter, joining the Eyles and Tidd families who were from the same villages in England. By 1852 George and family had left the Maitai and moved to Richmond where they set out to establish themselves as landowner farmers.

George was a healthy, strong man and cultivated and grew fields of crops and raised stock to both feed his family and to gain an income from his labours. Against the foothills of Richmond, George, along with his son John, farmed the family property that became known as ‘Selbourne”, with the homestead

being built on the upper side of the street on what became known as 171 Hill St. In time George’s other sons also acquired land which extended from Champion to Harts Rds, taking in blocks of land both above and below Hill St. At the time of retirement George and Hannah lived at what became known as at 133 Queen St. George was known as a loving husband and a kindly man and was also a key supporter of the Methodist Church in Richmond. The pair were buried in the Richmond Cemetery, Hannah in 1891, with George joing her the following year. The Sutton family are celebrating their ancestors on Easter weekend at Teapot Valley Christian Camp with a book launch about the Sutton family.

Wai-iti International Dark Sky Park member Ralph Bradley is supporting the Fireballs Aotearoa meteorite hunt and the group have installed a dedicated ‘Fireballs’ camera in the hopes of catching meteorite falling in the local area. Photo: Eloise Martyn.

Have your say:

A third road for Nelson Tasman

There has been lots of articles and letters about the need for a third road between Nelson and Richmond. As someone who spends about an hour a week waiting for different buses and seeing the traffic that goes past, I can say that the gridlocks and congestions are made worse by the sheer size of most modern cars – some are just about like ‘sherman tanks’.

Anton Hyman

Thousands raised at ‘magic’ relay

Absolute champions.

Shaz Nicholls

Great work team!

Sarah Harvey

Fantastic. Great to see so many people coming together to make the world a better place. A great example of the power of people.

Wairua Warriors

NZ-first bioenergy plant one step closer

I didn’t know that 49 per cent of our emissions come from land fill. I’ve never seen any figures about that. The focus seems to be on cow farts and cars.

Sue Leov-Brunwin

Who’s paying for this unnecessary waste of money, better not be the ratepayers!

Hansi Nieveen

Think 90 per cent of Nelson would rather have the roads fixed than this rubbish.

Caleb Rogers

What’s On

Māpua Playcentre

Easter Egg Hunt Fundraiser

Thursday, 28 March, 10am

Kind of Perfect. Spot All proceeds going towards Māpua Playcentre. Coffee, pancakes, toasties, fluffies, sweet treats etc, all available to purchase. (If the weather is miserable on the day, the event will be cancelled). $2 per child.

Craft Potters Easter Sale

Saturday, 30 & Sunday, 31 March, 10am – 4pm Craft Potters, 202 Ranzau Road, Hope Annual Easter sale and exhibition. You can catch a glimpse of our talented club members mahi, browse our exhibition and purchase some of the handmade pieces we have for sale. Perhaps while you’re there, get some inspiration and find out more about our wonderful club.

Easter Extravaganza

Sunday, 31 March, 5pm

Nelson Speedway Association

Witness the roar of engines as our drivers hit the track, showcasing their skill and determination in a display of speed and strategy. From seasoned pros to newcomers, there’s something for everyone to enjoy on this special day! Tickets: https://nelsonspeedway.flicket.co.nz/

Looks interesting. Who knew “burps” were good for the planet?

Andrea Grocott

Honestly, there are way more important things within our community that we need before this. Seriously, listen to the people, it’s obvious.

Sierra Joy Clement

How about they fix our roading system first? Probably save the same amount of emissions.

Kevin Thomson

Soroptomist grant helps trainee teacher

Well done, Sara. Exciting future ahead of you.

Tony Lilleby

The Soroptimist group are absolutely amazing.

Lee Corlett

Well deserved, Sara.

Brenda Black

ing your story for a few years now and your mahi never falls short. All the best mate!

Puhi Ropitini

Trailblazing the tarmac for first female firefighter

Well done, keep striving for your goals. It’s amazing to see woman out there doing things like this. You’re awesome.

Jazziie Day

We have a granddaughter in the fire brigade in Maungakaramea in Northland.

Jan Wells

Venturers discover early Māori artefact

Amazing to find such a special part of NZ history. I believe it’s at the Nelson museum for everyone to see.

Scott Galletly

Cool to see kids in Scouts, good on ya, boys.

Clive Skilton

Well done Caleb! What a fantastic taonga to discover.

Lauren Lesser

Underwater world alive in Tasman homes

I so miss the Māpua aquarium.

Jennifer Malcolm

Nate joins global movement with scholarship

Awesome work, Nate! I’ve been follow-

Congratulations, Nate. Well done. I hope the scholarship is everything you dream of and more. Enjoy.

Jill Adams

Oh my gosh Nate, well done. A well-deserved and amazing opportunity.

Laura Mckay

That’s amazing! Congratulations Nate and have the best time.

Courtney Byrne-Collings

Congratulations, that’s awesome, turning your dreams into reality.

Sue Ketel

Wow Nate, what an amazing opportunity! I wish you all the best.

Kirsten Powick

Nice work, Nate.

Nic Brydon

Well done, Nate!

Fran Beullens

Well done Nate, you are awesome!

Hannah Bibby

Two paths but not at a crossroads for tennis star

What an amazing, inspiring and positive role model you are Alex Hunt! Great things are coming your way and we can’t wait to see what 2024 brings to your journey!

Nelson Bays Tennis Association

What an amazing ambassador for our sport! Well done Alex Hunt, an absolute legend!

Inspire Tennis

Struggling with mounting debt? Seek help

Debt itself isn’t a problem.

We often take on debts like mortgages or other loans without difficulty.

But it’s when we can’t manage the repayments that debt may cause us embarrassment, shame, anxiety, and depression.

Sadly, these feelings can stop us from doing the very thing that will help the most- seeking help. We may feel very isolated when faced with a problem that seems overwhelming and forget that we aren’t in it alone.

In fact, most lenders will want to work with us to help get us back on our feet.

They want us to continue paying back their loans. So, the very first thing is to contact the lender and

ask if they’ll help by changing loan terms to be more manageable.

For example, extend the length of the loan or reduce the payments, or enable us to take a repayment “holiday”.

Lenders don’t have to make changes to the terms of our credit contract, but they must act reasonably and fairly when problems arise and consider any unforeseen hardship applications.

Credit contracts include credit cards, hire purchase, overdrafts, vehicle finance, cash loans, and mortgages.

Because there are special conditions and time limits for making a hardship application, it’s really important to contact the lender

quickly if we find we can’t make debt repayments.

As well as letting the lender know we’re having difficulties, it’s also a good idea to speak to a budget adviser for practical guidance and support.

Because of increased financial stresses, the services of some organisations providing personal budget advice are in great demand.

However, there are many prac-

tical on-line tools and a special helpline to assist with debt-related problems.

The CAB website or CAB volunteers can help us find the ones most suitable for each situation.

Just as we’d tell someone who’s sick not to put off seeking medical advice, debts won’t go away by doing nothing.

Things will just get worse and debts harder to pay off.

Remember, help is available, and

no-one has to struggle alone.

CAB is a free service offering non-judgemental and confidential help to everyone.

CAB Nelson Tasman.

(Pau Paru Rd Nelson, TDC Richmond, Community House Motueka)

Phone: 03 5482117 / 0800 367

222,

email: nelsontasman@cab.co.nz, Website: www. cab.org.nz

Tasman Bay Plumbing - Serving the community for twenty years

For two decades, Tasman Bay Plumbing has been the go-to option for residents and businesses alike in the Nelson Tasman region. Established in 2004 by Chris Inglis, the Tasman Bay Plumbing team take pride in providing top-notch plumbing, gas fitting, and drainage services from The Glen to Kaiteriteri and beyond. “With a crew of 25 dedicated staff members we’re equipped to respond promptly to any plumbing needs,” says office manager Andree Schultz. “Whether it's the day-to-day things like leaking taps, blocked drains, and water pressure issues through to new home builds or renovations, we have the expertise and experience to handle it all.” Gas hot water, fire installations, drainage solutions and commercial plumbing are also among their specialties, as are full rural services including pumps, filters and wastewater management, and commercial installations for offices and hospitals. “We

even offer solar hot water maintenance and solar electrical services through our sister company NZ Solar. Our varied skillset enables us to undertake a wide range of projects including the new Master Valet Dry Cleaners, Silky Otter Cinema, Takaka Co-Housing, Arvida Waimea Plains, Nelson Hospice and Motueka Hospital though to providing commercial businesses with

instant hot water boilers, backflow and grease trap installations, servicing and BWOF requirements.” Tasman Bay Plumbing’s investment in the future includes training and upskilling apprentices, with ten currently undergoing qualifications at various stages. Holding a prestigious Gold Certificate from Site Safe, the team's commitment to excellence and safety is unwa-

vering. “We prioritise health and safety on every job, ensuring peace of mind for both our customers and our team.” Beyond business operations, Tasman Bay Plumbing is deeply invested in supporting the wider community. Sponsoring local sports teams like Nelson Bowls, college volleyball and Waimea combined rugby and contributing labour and materials for community projects like the Helicopter House and Mitre 10’s Helping Hands, they strive to give back to the community that has supported them. At the heart of the business is a dedication to customer satisfaction and quality workmanship, their goal is to exceed expectations every time. “When you choose us, you're not just hiring a plumbing service - you're partnering with a team of local experts who genuinely care about the community and the customers we serve. Trust us to be your ‘go to’ plumbers, delivering reliable solutions with a smile since 2004.”

helping Kiwis with their flexible home loans since 1862

Whether it’s your first home, moving to something bigger and better, building your dream house, or buying an investment property, NBS has the options to help get you there.

NBS’ home loan products are designed with your needs in mind and the NBS team take pride in providing outstanding personal service to their clients, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience when purchasing or building your own home. When it comes to building your dream home, imagine being able to do it without worrying about interest payments during the initial phase of construction. With NBS’ build loan, you have the freedom to focus on creating the perfect space for you and your family with an 18-week interest free period.

Here’s what NBS clients Jessica and Nick had to say about their experience getting into their new home.

“We joined NBS to get a construction loan to build our first home in Collingwood. We live in a small community and heard really good things about NBS. Before joining NBS, the home loan process seemed daunting. It’s the first time we’ve ever got a mort-

gage or built a house, so it was all very new to us. We’ve had heaps of questions about the building process and the repayments – and staff at NBS have been fantastic explaining it all to us.”

NBS’ local team of experts are dedicated to

providing the best client service in the region. They understand that purchasing or building a home can be overwhelming, and that's why their team is here to support you every step of the way.

The NBS team will take the time to understand your unique needs, guide you through the home loan process and tailor a home loan solution that suits your budget and lifestyle. With NBS, you can trust that you're in good hands.

Take advantage of the NBS build loan with its 18-week interest-free period and experience the exceptional personal service that the local team at NBS offers.

Talk to Brent and his team in Richmond or Cheryl and her team in Murchison to help make your dream home a reality.

nbs.co.nz | Richmond: 03 543 9391

E: richmond@nbs.co.nz | Murchison: 03 523 1000 E: murchison@nbs.co.nz

Easter market a first for Wakefield village

ANNE HARDIE

Helen Cooper loves markets so much that she has organised Wakefield’s weekly street food market, a Christmas market and now the first Easter market in the village.

The markets are held on the site beside the old post office which is going through a major renovation under the guidance of Helen and her husband, James.

They are living in a caravan until the renovations are completed, but the post office has already become a meeting place since Helen organised the street-food market 18 months ago.

Tables and chairs are set out beside the post office, music and lights are added and locals are offered a selection of street food from the visiting food cart, Street Food on Washington.

“It just goes wild and we have up to 200 people. We’ve got a group of 10 ‘super seniors’ who dine here by candlelight and they absolutely love it. We’ve got to know a lot of locals.”

That led to a market just before Christmas with a few stands offering local wares and products, and she has 14 stands booked so far for the Easter market which will be held on March 30 between 10am and 3pm.

One of the stands will be her own

which includes French country-ware and upcycling, with an Easter theme.

She says the market is a chance to showcase local talent and products, as well as add more life to

markets. It’s a very vibrant community.”

Meanwhile, renovations on the 115-year-old post office are progressing.

Helen says they hope it will be open for business before Christmas with a store for her work and a café.

“It’s starting to roll and we should see something really rolling within the next month. Inside, we’ve divided the front and back to create a modern version of what it used to be.

“The biggest part will be the outside.”

When complete, customers will be able to look up at the cupola from within the building and at night the cupola will be lit up as a beacon for the town.

“We hope people will see it as a landmark again. It’s a grand old lady that is ready to be restored and I think the community wants to support us to get it back on the map.

“It’s got lots and lots of stories.”

The building was purpose-built as a post office and officially opened in 1910.

After its closure it slipped into disrepair, often sitting derelict until Helen and James bought it to renovate.

the village centre.

“We’re all about wanting to bring life to Wakefield and people love

The question now, Helen says, is do they paint the old post office pink again?

Helen Cooper is organising an Easter market in Wakefield beside the old post office building. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Nelson Bays Harmony's director scoops scholarships for US seminars

The usual sounds of a happy choir rehearsing in the hall at Club Waimea on Thursday evenings have just become even more exuberant.

Alex Charlton, co-director along with Eileen Smith, of the popular 44-memberstrong chorus, Nelson Bays Harmony, has hit a high note of her own by snagging not one but two scholarships to attend educational and professional development seminars in America in July. These accolades not only underscore her individual prowess but also highlight the excellence of Nelson Bays Harmony Chorus, who sing four-part unaccompanied barbershop arrangements. Alex is leading the chorus as they gear up for the upcoming Sweet Adelines New Zealand Regional Contest, scheduled to take place in May in Dunedin. The chorus, under Alex’s

guidance, is diligently honing their skills and finetuning their performance in anticipation of the event. As Alex says, “we are poised to make a significant impression at the competition, showcasing the talent and vibrancy of our local music scene on a national stage”.

Alex has been leading Nelson Bays Harmony, with passion and enthusiasm and her hard work is paying off. These scholarships aren't just a feather in her cap; they're a chance for her to learn new skills and ideas and bring them back home. She's all about sharing the love of music, and this opportunity will help her do just that.

However, winning these scholarships is just the beginning of Alex’s journey. Some serious fundraising is required, more than just busking on street corners. To make the most of

this opportunity, Alex has kicked off a Boosted campaign, a crowdfunding platform helping to get homegrown arts off the ground run by the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi. Through this campaign, Alex aims to raise awareness and gather necessary funds to cover travel expenses and registration fees. She intends to return home ready to pass on all she has learnt, not only to her chorus members, but to others around the country, thus helping to secure the future of barbershop singing within New Zealand. If you would like to help Alex and Nelson Bays Harmony Chorus – or you would like to find out more about the campaign, please visit https:// Funding for International Education and the future of Barbershop in NZ | Boosted | Crowdfunding Arts in New Zealand

HC Ladies

Blooming Baker

THE NEXT PROJECT

We are currently in the throws of getting tenders for our next project, the Richmond Room extension

This will square off the south eastern corner of the building, which in turn will enable us to cater for 100-120 people at a time, so weddings etc that the hall is just too big for. We are looking forward to this coming to fruition in a reasonable timeframe.

Keep watching for updates.

CLUB WAIMEA CAR RUN

Greg Di's Mach 1

Holdens

Pete Judi Mustang

Decontaminating flippers, checking water quality and building miniature waka were on the schedule for the 16 schools at the Tasman Mission last Friday. The annual event, held at Whenua Iti, was attended by environmentally savvy students from Nelson and Tasman, with each group competing to complete stations set up by local agencies such as Tasman Bay Guardians and the District Health Board. Tasman District Council’s education and partnership officer

CJ Webster says it was a marvellous event, with agencies being very creative with their stations.

HOSTED BY NELSON BRANCH NZ FARM FORESTRY ASSOCIATION

Presented with support from Te Uru Rakau

Alternative Forestry Species Field Day “FROM PROPAGATION TO MARKET”

10am, 20th April 2024 at Tunnel Creek Evergreen Forest

Visit Bevan Walker’s outstanding forest which includes over 40 Species of trees grown as alternatives to Pine Trees. Many have reached maturity. We will study the top 7 species which have proven to be the most commercially viable. Meet at the start of Tunnel road on the Northern side of Spooners.

10.20am Presentation by Bevan Walker Planting to Marketing. A brief history

10.40am Forest tour, Bring hardy footwear

12 noon Meet back at car park.

Presentation by Robert & Eric Appleton. Propagation to planting

12.30pm Presentation Justin Wells “logs to lumber” Milling & marketing exotic timber.

These field days are being held nationwide to promote alternative species Please

1pm Travel back to the Foxhill Hall for light refreshments

1.30pm Presentation by Matt Stuart. The ETS option

1.45pm Presentation by Te Uru Rakau. Changes from the top, future options

2pm Field day closure

Upcoming Talking Cafés

Tuesday, 2nd April, 10 am - 11.30am McCashin's Brewery, 660 Main Road, Stoke

Tuesday 9th April, 10am - 11.30am

Purpose HQ Café, Tapawera

Tuesday 9th April, 1.30 pm - 3 pm

Richmond Library, 280 Queen Street, Richmond

Thursday, 11th April, 1.30 pm - 3pm

NMIT Café Ake Ake, Student Centre (N Block), Nelson

Tuesday, 16th April, 10 am - 11.30am

McCashin's Brewery, 660 Main Road, Stoke

Wednes day, 24th April, 1.30 pm - 3pm

Halifax Café, 28 Halifax Street, Nelson

Top left: Appleby School’s Indie Lockett, Isla Kay, Violet Turner and Juliet Duke, all 10, with Motueka High School’s Jonah Bruce-Miller, 16

Top right: Mahana School - Amelia O’Connell, 8, Carys Roche, 9, Florence Logan, 8, and Vivian Sugar, 7. Right: Wakefield School’s Sabel Green, 8, and Ella Dolls, 8. Photos: Elise Vollweiler.

Murchison’s Mataki walkway

SARA HOLLYMAN

When Dot Charles ambles through the Mataki Willowgrove Walkway on her scooter, her heart is warmed. She remembers back to what the area was in 1968 following the Inangahua Earthquake – blackberries and gorse. Dot was instrumental in turning the area into what it is today – a hive of birdlife and native bush.

These days the track meanders through regenerating bush which has been interplanted with native species including kowhai, totara and punga.

Living just “yards away” from the 500m loop track, Dot says she decided that the sides of the road could be tidied. She and others set about clearing and burning the pest plants.

Celebrating her 87th birthday earlier this month, she still loves being on the walkway.

“It is very soothing, the river sound is beautiful, it’s not deep, it just runs over stones the whole way. You’ve only got to read the visitor book down here to and there’s lovely comments from all over the world - to know how appreciated it is. “Next time I go to Nelson I want to go to Tasman District Council and take the book with me to show them.” She still refers to herself as the “caretaker” of the walkway and heads out

once a week armed with pikelets and bacon and egg pie to direct those undertaking community service on what work needs to be done for the day. On Monday, she was up at 3am to get underway on six batches

Mataki Willowgrove Walkway meanders through regenerating natives. Photo: Chris Conroy Photography

Dot Charles received a Queen Serivce Medal in 2019 for service to community. Photo: Supplied.

· TASMAN’S 10-YEAR PLAN 2024 – 2034

IT’S TIME TO CHOOSE YOUR FUTURE, TASMAN

Tasman’s future is everyone’s business – our 10-Year Plan guides how we invest. We have choices to make, not all of them are easy ones.

We need to invest in the things Tasman needs now and in the future, without breaking the bank.

Given Covid recovery, interest rates and the cost of living, we need to proceed with care and discipline – keeping rates balanced with our needs as you see them.

So, help your Council make the most informed choices.

Make a submission on Tasman’s 10-Year Plan now – it’s really important we know what the whole community is thinking.

YOUR CHOICES, YOUR FUTURE

There are four key areas we would like your feedback on:

• Financial sustainability

• Transport

• Climate change and resilience

• Investing in community facilities

OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS:

• Thursday 28 March, 7.30 pm, Tasman Church, 6 Williams Road

• Tuesday 2 April, 7.00 pm, Wanderers Club Rooms, 14 Lord Rutherford Road North

• Wednesday 3 April, 4.00 pm – 7.00 pm, Motueka Library Meeting Room, 32 Wallace Street

• Monday 8 April, 1.00 pm, Murchison Recreation Centre, 34 Hampden Street

• Monday 8 April, 7.00 pm, Māpua Community Hall, 72 Aranui Road

• Tuesday 9 April, 7.00 pm, Dovedale Hall, Dovedale Road, Upper Moutere

Come along to one of the opportunities listed below, or visit shape.tasman.govt.nz/10YP to find out more and have your say. shape.tasman.govt.nz/10YP

Loop the Lake signs off for good

It’s ‘all over rover’ for Nelson Events and their iconic Alpine Lodge Loop the Lake after the 29th and final circuit of Lake Rotoiti was run over the weekend. A sold-out 400-strong field of entrants was treated to an epic day circling Nelson Lakes jewel in the crown and a more than testing 25km course, with Callum Wilkie coming out trumps.

The 2019 winner planned to close in on Phil Costley’s 1:37.42 record and improve on his personal best by a minute and a half, but he fell short with a handy 1:43.19 in front of the largest crowd the event has witnessed.

Phils’ record, unchallenged since 2010, will be set in stone on the plaque soon to be placed near Kerr Bay rock, with DOC permission to be approved. But, it wasn’t a start-to-finish win for the former Nelsonian now based out of Christchurch, with local Hayden Squance shooting out of the blocks and powering his way up the Mt Robert road before being reeled back in. And while Hayden never gave up the chase, he also had to focus on Auckland’s Tommy Hayes, who was closing in from behind and finished a mere 16 seconds in arrears.

With almost half the field in the women’s category, Hannah Oldroyd came

up trumps after a hard day of racing. She powered through an elbow graze and was just 51 seconds from a subtwo-hour time, with Fleur Lattimore’s 1.54.50 record from 2012 remaining intact. Verity King and Sian Redman kept out the rest of the Kiwis for second and third respectively.

From the 1996 inaugural event with 57 runners and 10 walkers, Greg Fraine and John Murray returned to see the event out.

And while Greg admitted that “father time” made more than an appearance when it was time to put the foot down

on any homeward inclination, he still came home to take the over-60 honours. Full results can be found online at www.nelsonevents.co.nz.

Results:

Men: Callum Wilkie 1 (Christchurch) 1:43.19; Hayden Squance 2 (Nelson) 1:45.31; Tommy Hayes 3 (Auckland) 1:45.57.

Women: Hannah Oldroyd 1 (Kaiapoi/UK) 2:00.51; Verity King 2 (UK) 2:10.16; Sian Redman 3 (Nelson/UK) 2:18.05.

BATTLE

FOR THE BAY:

While everyone was a winner off the field, Golden Bay walked away victorious after this year’s edition of The Wholemeal Cafe Battle for the Bay in Takaka. With two days of action and 13 teams from across the Nelson region vying for victory, the mixed tournament also raised $3500 in funds for Hope is My Homeboy, a mental health and suicide prevention advocacy group, alongside GBAFC. Tournament organiser Phil Smith says the event is about more than money, the thing he’s learnt as a mental health survivor himself is the message that is spread. Pictured are The Richmond Bogans’ (back) Chey Habib, Jarrod Illingworth, Tim Kolk, Marcus Lovell, Hayden Bryant, Jason Callister, Flynn Reif, Ra Hippolite, Andrew Board, (middle) Anjulie Bahrjanyj, Sally Henery, Nicky Kolk, Shelley Illingworth, Sarah Board, (front) Carter Illingworth and Hugo Board.

Some cold river crossings marked the end of Loop the Lake, as Callum Wilkie (pictured) took the final title in the event’s history, having previously won in 2019. Photo: Simon Burge.

Photo: Gary Calderbank.

Chipping in for memorial Ambrose

GORDON PREECE

More than 40 golfers from as far away as Christchurch teed off at Totaradale Golf Club on Sunday for the fifth Ambrose tournament in memory of one of its club members.

Regan Tasker was a well-liked member at the Wakefield club for about 12 years, scoring two hole-in-ones, played off a 10 handicap, and tested his swing with his father, Ron, twice a week.

After his death at the age of 41 in 2019 after a battle with lung cancer, Ron established the annual Regan’s Anniversary Ambrose tournament, to celebrate his late son’s life.

“I brought this idea up five years ago because he was just one of those very keen guys who lived life naturally… and he loved the game of golf,” he says.

“As you can see by the [46-golfer] turnout today, he was a very liked person at Totaradale… we’re celebrating the sad passing of Regan.”

Ron says each participant also received a prize, which was donated by local sponsors.

Louise

Brad

Logan

Dave

Wolves go two-for-two

JACK MALCOLM

It took all but one over for Wolves (Wanderers/Motueka) to chase down another title as local cricket wrapped up over the weekend. After Stoke-Nayland earned their spot in The Car Company premier cricket one-day final with a 112-run 2v3 semi-final win over New World Nelson City Wakatu on Sunday, the visiting side were in top form as they chose to bat and put on a formidable 231/7 from their 50 overs. Led from the front by captain Dylan Eginton, who scored 93 runs on the Brightwater Domain pitch, the Stoke-Nayland squad posted a strong score they could bowl at. Hayden Ingham, Sean Neal and Joseph O’Connor all took two wickets, while Alex Brogan took one, but they did come at opportune times as Stoke-Nayland lost two wickets for four runs at the death. The Wolves also found inroads in the top order, dismissing opener Liam Clark for a duck and third-order batsman Joshua Smith for nine runs, which limited the scoring potential through the middle overs of the innings.

Darius Skeaping added a handy 44 for Stoke-Nayland, while Jonty Raxworthy made a patient 28 runs from 67 balls, with the Wolves bowlers unable to make the breakthroughs to end the innings early. In response, Wolves started their chase in dominant form, with an 84-run first-wicket partnership between Andrew Beatson and Joseph O’Connor.

With Andrew dismissed for 36, Joseph pushed on to make 92 runs in a match-winning performance. Justin Hobbs would tack on a handy 22 runs through the middle order, but that didn’t stop the dra-

After winning the two-day final the previous weekend (pictured), Wanderers/Motueka added another trophy to the cabinet by winning the one-day final on Sunday by two wickets over Stoke-Nayland. Photo: Evan Barnes/Shuttersport.

ma as Wolves made it home just in time.

At 190-5 midway through the 34th over, they used 87 of their final 93 balls to make the final 42 runs for victory.

A heroic 14 runs from Kyle Paki Paki at the tail end gave the home side the push they needed to get over the line, with Blake Hobbs not having to come out of the sheds at 11 in the two-wicket win.

The victory caps off an impressive year for the composite side, who made all three local finals.

After falling just short, having been favourites, in the T20 final to ACOB, the Wolves were out for redemption in earning the two-day title two weeks ago over Stoke-Nayland, before finishing off the season with one more trophy to add to the cabinet in the one-day final.

Having been the dominant team for a large part of the season, it was just a reward for the team of young players and experienced hats.

ROUND 6 PTS

CRUSADERS V CHIEFS

WARATAHS V REBELS

DRUA V FORCE

MOANA V BLUES

HIGHLANDERS V HURRICANES REDS V BRUMBIES

The late Regan Tasker’s uncle, Selwyn Tasker, left, brother Clayton, mother Marilyn, and father Ron preparing for the tournament. Photo: Gordon Preece.

Community Notices

MONDAY

NELSON MALE VOICE CHOIR invites keen male singers to join us at rehearsals at the Reformed Church Nelson, Enner Glynn, Nelson Monday evenings at 6.45 pm. Contact John Foes-Lamb on 021 682776 for more details.

“SEEDS OF TIME” DOCO SCREENING. Richmond Library.

6:30pm Monday 22 April (Earth Day). Bookings are essential. Please phone 03 543 8500

PHILOSOPHY GROUP meets in Trafalgar Hall, 67 Trafalgar St., Nelson, on the 2nd and 4th Monday each month at 10am. All welcome. Text Zoe: 027-974-1758

NELSON 500 CARDS GROUP meets Mondays 1.30pm at the Hearing House 354 Trafalgar square. ph Barbara 0275606777

OSTEOACTIVE, fitness for those with osteoarthritis, seated/ standing exercises, strength and balance, dual tasking, exercising can help reduce pain, Mondays 10.00am at the Holy Trinity Hall, 27 Dorset Street, Richmond. Nicola 021 0788609

LIGHTHOUSE SPIRITUAL AWARENESS. Mondays 7.30pm (Except Public Hols). Talks, clairvoyance, healing. Trafalgar St Hall, opp Trailways. Ph Carolyn 0272474644

TUESDAY

LUNCH ON THE HILL. Come join us for hot drinks at 11am and lunch at noon on Tuesday the 2nd April. Koha welcome. 27 Dorset St, Richmond. Ph (03) 5448844

NELSON 50+ WALKING GROUP Tuesday April 2nd. Rabbit Island-Mapua. Meet 9.45am at the car park at the north-west road end of Rabbit Island. BYO lunch. Contact Raeleen 021 2053704.

TUESDAY MUSIC 10a.m. 2nd April Richmd Tn Hall Committee Mtg Rm. Features the Mariinsky Arts Centre Russia. Other items include the world’s largest assembly of male choirs. Don’t miss it! ph Christine 021 2486038

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ: 10am – 11.30am, Tuesday 2nd April, McCashin’s, Stoke. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection & finding out about groups, activities & services. www.

wellby.org.nz 03 5467681

HOPE INDOOR BOWLING CLUB. Playing Tuesday nights Hope Hall 7pm. All ages welcome.Wear soft soled shoes. First 2 nights free. Phone Bill 5449273.

RICHMOND TENNIS CLUB social tennis 6pm onwards. Open to club players, visitors & members of other clubs. FREE Contact 0274 872 480

BETTER BREATHERS: 60-minute series of guided exercises done seated or standing, specifically designed to help those with breathing difficulties. Club Waimea – 10am Tuesdays & Fridays. Contact Jess 027 546 7675.

STOKE TAHUNANUI MEN’S CLUB welcomes new members. Meeti 10am 3rd Tues monthly with guest speaker. 15 Burrough Pl, Enner Glynn. Regular outings & activities. Ph Ian 0211482580

WEDNESDAY

COMMUNITY SING A LONG Wednesday 3 April 1.30 pm Stoke Methodist Church lounge 94 Neale Ave. Afternoon tea. Gold coin donation for Nelson Hospital Chaplaincy. All Welcome.

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 for more information. Queries 027 673 1145

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ: 1.30am – 3pm, Wedn 27 March, Halifax Café. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection & finding out about groups, activities & services. www.wellby.org.nz 03 5467681

SPIRITED CONVERSATIONS Wednesday 27 March “Giving life to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. “ Don’t miss Julia Amua Whaipooti from the Human Rights Commission on this very topical issue. Yaza Cafe opens 6pm, speaker 7.30 pm. Koha. Ph 5486241.

BETTER BREATHERS: a series of guided exercises - seated or standing - to help those with breathing difficulties. Run by Nelson Asthma Society at Reformed Church Nelson, 1.00pm Wednesdays. Contact Jess 027 546 7675.

CENTRAL GARDEN CLUB, meets every second Wednesday of each

DEADLINE: MIDDAY FRIDAY - 30 WORDS OR LESS BY EMAIL ONLYPLEASE SEND TO: events@waimeaweekly.co.nz

month at the Methodist Church Hall , Neale Avenue Stoke. 1,30 pm, New Members most welcome. Guest speakers followed by afternoon tea. Enquiries phone Lynn or Bob 0275418448.

SING YOUR LUNGS OUT: A fun filled singing class for those with respiratory conditions. No singing experience is necessary. Wednesdays 10.30am, Reformed Church Nelson. Contact Jess 027 546 7675.

THURSDAY

‘BEST ME’ WORKSHOPS with Wendy Strawbridge from Health Action Trust. Richmond Library. Thursdays in March, 1.00pm2.00pm. 21 March: Connection – Let’s Join the Dots MOTUEKA LIGHTHOUSE SPIRITUAL GROUP, meets last Thursday every month 7pm-9pm. Motueka Community House, Opposite the ISite. Donation Appreciated. Everyone welcome. Thursday 28 March, Animal Healing & Communication. Contact angel3000.h@ gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/lighthousemotueka/ TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP & Info Session, this workshop run by Not Tech Savvy may provide you with some of the solutions to your technology challenges, 28 Mar from 9.30-12.30pm at Age Concern Richmond Office, 62 Oxford Street, Richmond, phone 5447624 ext 4 RICHMOND CREATIVE FIBRE Meets at Birchwood Hall, Richmond Showgrounds. 9.30am second,rd & 4th Thursdays of the month. Come & meet others who enjoy working with fibre.Ph 5445023 (Janie).

JUDO 20A Gladstone Rd (upstairs Waimea Old Boys Rugby) Juniors Thursday 5-6pm. Seniors/Competitive Tuesday/Thursday 6pm. Pee wees Thursday 4.30 pm. Contact Michelle 0275422254 NELSON CITY PROBUS CLUB welcome both men & women. Meet 2nd Thurs each month (Feb-November) at 10 am, The Nelson Golf Club, 38 Bolt Rd, Tahunanui. Contact the Secretary nelsoncitygroupgmail.com

WAIMEA COMBINED FRIENDSHIP GROUP meet monthly at 9.45am 3rd Thurs of month in Hope Church, Ranzau Rd for Friendship, Fellowship & Learning. Contact Denise on 027 765 000 or Rosalie on 027 249 1080.

RICHMOND WELCOME GROUP: Do you want to make new

friends join a friendly group for coffee and a chat.10am on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at Paragon Cafe Langdale Drive Richmond Ansley/Phillip 5410 350 or 0272212943

FRIDAY

PARLEZ-VOUS FRANÇAIS ? French conversation every Friday between 4-6pm at Honest Lawyer Stoke or Vic Rose Nelson. Alliance Française Contact Doug Hill 5446288

BET TER BREATHERS: a series of guided exercises - seated or standing - to help those with breathing difficulties. Run by Nelson Asthma Society at Club Waimea – 10am Tuesdays and Fridays. Contact Jess 027 546 7675.

WAIMEA LADIES FRIENDSHIP CLUB welcomes new members Interesting speakers, morning tea, dining out, outings. 3rd Fri each month 9.45am. Richmond Church of Christ, corner Croucher and D’arcy Sts. Ph: Bev 5441469

SATURDAY

VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT CLUB OF NELSON Concert Saturday 6th April 2pm Stoke School Hall, Main Road Stoke Admission $5 All Welcome Phone Wayne 0272049772 Robyn 5473231

CAKE DECORATORS hosting an all day workshop Saturday 20 April. Learn how to marble buttercream & create an Sea Themed 6 inch cake with rice paper sails. Suitable for beginners. Desiree 0276302359.

RICHMOND TENNIS CLUB social tennis 1.30 - 3pm. Open to club players, visitors & members of other clubs. FREE. Contact 0274 872 480 FREE GUIDED MEDITATION Meet Saturdays 3pm under the white pergola of Washbourne Gardens. Relax, unwind and enjoy inner peace & stillness. meditaterichmond@gmail.com for questions. Absolutely Free

SUNDAY

LEARNING FROM THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS and trying to follow/live as Christians. All Welcome. Waimea Intermediate School Hall Sunday’s 4:30 - 5:30 pm Tuesday’s 7:30 - 8:30 pm

SUNDAY MEDITATION - Chandrakirti Meditation Centre wel-

comes everyone 289 Sunrise Valley Rd, Upper Moutere 10am to 11.30 am every Sunday followed by free lunch.

REVERENT 1 HOUR SERVICES Christianity just like Jesus taught the New Testament. Venue Waimea Intermediate school hall. Sundays 4.30pm & Tuesdays 7.30pm. March/April. All welcome, No collection/koha.

GENERAL GROUPS

RICHMOND LIBRARY EVENTS: Make Your Slides Digital. by appointment. Pop in or ph 03 543 8500 to book a one on one lesson in April! Glass Harbours: the miniature marvel of ships-in-bottles Display 21 March – 6 May during opening hours. Paul Deacon, Marine Artist, Exhibition. Penny Sturrock Exhibition Pop in & see Penny’s bright bold artworks. Free. Opening hours during March

MARCHING, come join a new Leisure marching team for Fun, Friendship and Fitness. Richmond. Ph: Margaret, 0272519009.

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

‘COLLECTIONS’ EXHIBITION R ichmond Library Come and see our staff’s treasured collections. Share yours too in May! Phone us on 03 543 8500 to register your interest.

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

WAIMEA MENZSHED - catering for the interests, health and well-being of men since 2010. The shed is open Monday - Friday at Richmond Park, 384 Lower Queen St. Inquiries: mens.shed. waimea@gmail.com 027 2820185.

RICHMOND TENNIS CLUB PICKLEBALL Gladstone Rd, Demo racquets & balls available. Call 0274872480. Monday 6 - 8pm, Tuesday 9.30am - 11.30am Wednesday 6 - 8pm, Friday 9.30 - 11.30am. Tuesday morning: 9.30 - noon. Social tennis at Richmond Tennis Club.

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

SITUATIONS VACANT

Semi retired couple, No pets, No smoking. A new build starting possibly May required us to rent for 5 to 6 months. Anything considered. Please Phone Margaret or Dave on 03 5448462 or 0221533451.

Campervan 1974 CF Bedford Campervan, 2.3cc, no WOF, Reg on hold, not running, no rust, needs renovating inside. $5000, in Richmond call Peter 022 323 7447. FOR

WANTED TO BUY

Looking for 2 wheel drive Tractor, 50-60hp, age 80’s to early 90’s. Text Paul 021 2040 702. Thank you.

SITUATIONS VACANT

DELIVERERS WANTED

Interested in fundraising for a club or social group?

THEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU!

We are looking for individuals or groups to deliver our award winning newspapers. Our runs can be done individually or shared amongst a group , as the famous saying goes. “Many hands make light work”

For further details please email: deliveries@thedeliveryguy.co.nz

Clean, screened firewood. TDC good wood supplier. Bay Firewood 0277 696348.

WANTED TO BUY

WANTED TO RENT PUBLIC NOTICE

Cash paid for old wristwatches Scrap gold & Silver. Old coins & Jewellery. Vintage / quality tools. Military & Firearms items. General antiques. Also buying estate & shed items. Collection & downsizing. Phone Tim Gladstone. T&B Vintage 0800 653 935 or 548 5235.

Your wanted ad here.

Phone 544 9037

FIREWOOD FOR SALE

Your For Sale ad here.

Phone 544 9037.

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

Your for rent ad here. Phone 544 9037

Your For Sale ad here.

Phone 544 9037

Your to let ad here.

Phone 544 9037.

BIRTH

LAWRENCE

Parker Jane Iris

Parents Larissa Muir and Alisha Lawrence and proud big sister Jordyn Johns  welcome their baby girl born on the 9/3/2024

HARVEY

Tony Stephen

Passed away on the 31st March one year ago.

Our hearts still ache with sadness and tears still flow.

For what it meant to loose you only family ‘friends will ever know.

Though your smile has gone forever and your voice we cannot hear.

The legacy you left with your kindness to help others will always be here.

With your cooking and lovely cheese cakes thank you.

So very sadly missed and loved.

From Mum, Debbie, Julie and Families.

you're looking to purchase a new projector or just wanting to upgrade old one the new SONY 4K Laser Home Cinema Projector will not isappointd with its taking-breath clarity, fabulously rich cinematic colours, smooth motion and spectacular contrast $24,999RRP

*Available in Black yonl

Christmas Specials – get your sounds sorted!

Buy this entry level Yamaha 108-YAS Soundbar which has won awards all around the world orf just $399 RRP$499

NEW IN

Come in and have a look at the new SONY 4K Laser Home Cinema Projector that has just been set up in our Demo room.

Yamaha Amplifier and Turntable Pack

Yamaha N602B-R Integrated MusicCast Receiver

Yamaha TTS303

Turntable

RRP$2,198

Pack Deal ,699$1

Come in and talk to the team at THE AUDIOPHILE for all your technology solutions

Come in and talk to the team at THE AUDIOPHILE for all your technology solutions

Team this Soundbar up with the Yamaha SW050-NS Subwoofer for just $249 RRP$399

If you're looking to purchase a new projector or just wanting to upgrade your old one the new SONY 4K Laser Home Cinema Projector will not disappoint with its clarity, fabulously rich cinematic colours, smooth motion and spectacular contrast RRP$24,999

Come in and have a look at the

Yamaha Amplifier and Turntable Pack

Were $799 NOW $599

Were

If you're looking to purchase a new projector or just wanting to upgrade your old one the new SONY 4K Laser

Christmas Specials – get your Projector that has just been set up in our Demo room.

NEW IN

Come in and have a look at the new SONY 4K Laser Home Cinema Projector that has just been set up in our Demo room.

Come in and have a look at the new SONY 4K Laser Home Cinema Projector that has just been set up in our Demo room.

Yamaha Systems: NOW ONLY $379

Christmas Specials get your sounds sorted!

Were $999 NOW $899

Yamaha R-N602B Integrated MusicCast Receiver

Buy this entry level Yamaha YAS which has won awards all around the world f or just $399 RRP$499

This silly price is available on the following colours only... Red / Dark blue / Yellow / Grey

Were $3,999 NOW $2,799

If you're looking to purchase a new projector or just wanting to upgrade your old one the new SONY 4K Laser

Yamaha TTS303 Turntable RRP$2,198

Yamaha Amplifier and Turntable Pack

If you're looking to purchase a new projector or just wanting to upgrade your old one the new SONY 4K VPL -VW760ES Laser Home Cinema Projector will not disappoint with its clarity, fabulously rich cinematic colours, smooth motion and spectacular contrast RRP$24,999 *Available in Black only

Home Cinema Projector will not disappoint with its breath-taking clarity, fabulously rich cinematic colours, smooth motion and spectacular contrast RRP$24,999 *Available in Black onl

Yamaha R-N602B

Pack Deal $1,699

Buy this entry level 108 Soundbar which has won awards all around the world for just $399 RRP$499

Home Cinema Projector will not d taking clarity, fabulously rich cinematic colours, smooth motion and spectacular contrast $24,999 *Available in Black only

Christmas

Integrated MusicCast Receiver

Yamaha Amplifier and Turntable Pack

Yamaha Amplifier and Turntable Pack

Yamaha Amplifier and Turntable Pack

Yamaha TTS303

Turntable RRP$2,198

Yamaha R-N602B

Pack Deal $1,699

YAMAHA

Yamaha R-N602B

Yamaha R-N602B

Integrated MusicCast Receiver & Yamaha TTS303 Turntable RRP$2,198

Integrated MusicCast Receiver

Pack Deal $1,699

Was

Integrated MusicCast Receiver

Team this Soundbar up with the Yamaha NS-SW050 Subwoofer for just $249 RRP$399

Yamaha TTS303

Specials –NEW IN Come in and have a look at the new SONY 4K Laser Home Cinema Projector that has just been set up in

Team this Soundbar up with the Subwoofer just $249 RRP$399

Yamaha Soundbar and Subwoofer Pack

Buy this entry level Yamaha YAS-108 Soundbar which has won awards all around the world for just $399 RRP$499

Buy this entry level Yamaha YAS-108 Soundbar which has won awards all around the world along with the Yam NS-SW050 Subwoofer all for

Pack Deal $1,699

*Available in Black onl

If you're looking to purchase a new projector or just wanting to upgrade your old one the new SONY 4K Laser Home Cinema Projector will not disappoint with its clarity, fabulously rich cinematic colours, smooth motion and spectacular contrast RRP$24,999

Yamaha Amplifier and Turntable Pack

Yamaha R-N602B

Integrated MusicCast Receiver

Yamaha MCR-B043 Bluetooth Micro

Grey

old Separately:

Buy this entry level

Yamaha YAS-108 Soundbar which has won awards all around the world for just $399 RRP$499

Yamaha MCR-B043 Bluetooth Micro Systems: RRP$499 NOW ONLY $379

Yamaha TTS303 Turntable RRP$2,198

Yamaha NS-SW050 Subwoofer

Yamaha MCR-B043 Bluetooth Micro System RRP$499 NOW ONLY $379

Yamaha YAS-108 Sound

Team this Soundbar up with the Yamaha NS-SW050 Subwoofer for just $249 RRP$399 B043

This silly price is available on the following colours only...

blue / Yellow / Grey

This silly price is available on the following colours only... Red / Dark Blue / Yellow / Grey

Yamaha MCR-B043

This silly price is available on the following colours

Bluetooth Systems: RRP$499 NOW ONLY $379

This silly price is available on the following colours Red / Dark blue / Yellow /

YAMAHA R-N1000A MUSICCAST NETWORK