Waimea Weekly - 17 April 2024

Waimea Weekly

2000th bike rehomed

Wednesday 17 April 2024

Harold’s makeover

Forestry woes cause domino effect

ANNE HARDIE

Smaller forestry contractors are looking for other work and some have been forced to sell their houses to pay debt as the industry spirals down a dark hole.

Wakefield-based Brad Pyers, who owns Woodlot Harvesting, is now trying to find any work going to keep nine employees working at least two to three days a week after harvesting contracts dried up. Until recently he had 11 employees and work for two forestry contractors, and he is not the

only one feeling the pinch. He knows of contractors who have sold their homes to pay debt and one of them now lives with his family in a caravan.

“We’re parked up. We’re just out doing the odd trucking work or earthworks – anything I can

scratch up. From time to time some guys will only get two to three days a week. If they need more hours, I’ll try and find them more hours.

“It’s an unsettling time for me and the guys. It’s going to be tough.”

New Zealand Forest Owners As-

sociation’s communication manager, Don Carson, says the industry thought it would turn a corner about the Chinese New Year, but that did not happen. New Zealand is largely dependent on the

Wrap for Speedway season

Chequered flag for Speedway season: Nelson Speedway’s season was cut short after severe weather forecasts put the brakes on the final meeting. Nelson Speedway Association committee announced the decision to cancel Saturday night’s Queen of the Clay event on Thursday. “After thorough evaluation of multiple weather forecasting sources, it has been determined that it is not viable nor safe to proceed with this Saturday’s race meeting,” the statement said. The committee said the decision was made in the interest of competitors traveling from around the country, along with the safety of all participants, spectators, and staff involved. They instead held an end of season BBQ at their clubrooms. Pictured above from left are Ben Smith, Hepi Paul, Alex Hill, Shane Harwood, Adam Groom and Matt Rollo. Photos: Rebecca Connor Maling / File.

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Forestry woes cause domino effect

Chinese market to export logs and now demand remains weak while the supply of logs increases. “We have thousands of economists looking at it with a microscope, trying to decide if it’s a blip or long term. No-one knows,” he says.

Brad says the industry usually goes through a six-to-sevenyear cycle of highs and lows, but in the past few years it has been more unpredictable with two to three highs and lows in one year. He does not expect it to improve quickly.

“I don’t think there’s a quick fix to it. When the market is good, we pour the wood into China, but if you look at the figures, we’re one of the major exporters of logs to China and don’t do ourselves a favour. We get held to ransom at

times.”

He says the smaller contractors carry considerable debt due to expensive equipment which they cannot sell now because there is so much on the market.

“To get into this industry needs a huge amount of debt and a lot of people now are trying to get out, so there’s a lot of machinery for sale. These machines can be $1 million or more and second-hand gear at the moment isn’t selling and so people can’t afford to get out.

“You can have businesses operating insolvently because the value of their gear has dropped so much.

“As a business, we’re just trying to tread water until we can hopefully see good times and you just have to burn equity.”

Brad says the downturn has a domino effect on other business-

es associated with forestry such as logging transport and services. His team are now turning their hand to digger work, firewood,

gravel, retaining wall – “whatever we can get our hands on”.

“I’m doing everything in my power to hang on to them. It’s

hard to get good, skilled guys in the industry.”

He says the economy, with the high cost of living, makes it harder to find other work because people have tightened their belt and are putting off jobs that can wait until they have more money to spend.

That includes farmers who have been a good source of work in the past, but now face poorer returns and have curbed spending, he says.

Don says there is still a worldwide appetite for wood products, especially replacing concrete and steel with renewable resources such as New Zealand wood to reduce carbon emissions.

He says New Zealand has to develop its domestic processing industry, but to do that, it needs to do more to make it appealing for investment.

Brad Pyers is looking for digger work, firewood or just about anything for his forestry employees. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Rain eases water deliveries

ANNE HARDIE

The drought has finally broken, and it ends months of water deliveries to households that have run out of tank water, adding up to nearly 6.5 million litres for one tanker business. Since the beginning of November, Nigel McMorran and Michelle Payne have delivered the equivalent of three Olympic swimming pools of water to households in the Waimea and Moutere that depend on rainwater to fill their tanks.

Michelle says two other water delivery businesses would have each delivered similar quantities to the same area. Their own deliveries averaged 1.5 million litres a month this year, which is about double the amount they typically deliver through the dry summer months to households that are not connected to a water supply scheme.

“People don’t realise how much you need water until they don’t have it and that’s when they turn the tap on and

there’s nothing there.”

Michelle says their business, Hard Yards, works alongside the other two tanker businesses to deliver water when there is high demand, and this summer was one of those years. At one point they had 37 households waiting for water with some waiting up to four days just before Christmas due to demand. It meant long days, day after day, to deliver crucial water to homes in the region. Water was also delivered for stock and Michelle says one farmer bought water for the first time in 10 years, while another had to buy water after a bore ran dry for the first time in 40 years.

Michelle and Nigel started their business in 2019 – the year of the Pigeon Valley fire – and say they have delivered far more water through this season than that dry year. In the past, water deliveries have usually petered out in March, whereas this year they were still delivering well into April, when the rain finally came. It takes just nine seconds to fill a 13,000-litre tanker at the McShane Road filling station,

though when strict water restrictions were placed on the area the tanker had to head to Motueka to fill up. The water itself costs about $425 for households and Michelle says that when people ask her how many tanks to put on their property, she tells them to get four, five or “as many as you can put on”. She says it is a learning curve for many people on tank water for the first time and it takes a dry year to learn how to really conserve water.

“The people we deliver to one year, we generally don’t deliver so much the next year because they learn they need to conserve water in summer. Once you run out, it’s hard to get ahead of the game.”

Some household use their fire-fighting tank of water when the other tanks run out, but Michelle warns that can affect insurances and it is better to have sufficient tanks and conserve water.

Nigel McMorran has filled the tanker with close to 6.5 million litres of water through the dry months. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Five charged after deer struck with vehicle

Nelson Police have charged five people after their alleged involvement in an incident where a mob of around eight deer were targeted with a vehicle in Marsden Valley. A stag was allegedly struck by the vehicle and then killed by those involved.

A police spokesperson says the deer were hit about 3am on 30 March, while two vehicles were driving on the Marsden Valley Road in Stoke. Police allege the animals were targeted deliberately, while video of the incident was subsequently uploaded online.

Following a number of enquiries, police executed warrants at several Nelson properties and have arrested three men.

A 20-year-old Nelson man has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, reckless driving, reckless ill-treatment of a wild animal, and unlawful hunting.

A 19-year-old Nelson man has also been charged with unlawful hunting and reckless ill-treatment of a wild animal. Both are due to reappear in the Nelson District Court on 29 April.

A 21-year-old Nelson man has been summonsed to appear in court on 20 May, charged with unlawful hunting. Two 16-year-olds have been referred to Youth Aid. Police would like to thank the members of the community who assisted the investigation and brought the video to their attention.

Nelson charity rehomes 2000 bikes

Bike Hub Nelson has rehomed its 2000th bike. The milestone comes less than two years after the launch of the charity that fixes up donated bikes and makes them available to the community on a koha-basis.

The 2000th bike went home with Phalla, a refugee from Cambodia who has been resettled with his family in Richmond. The charity’s 2001st bike went to his wife Siem. Phalla and Siem arrived in New Zealand two months ago. They do not have a car and the bikes will be their main form of transport.

Bike Hub Nelson coordinator Matt Lawrey says Phalla and Siem were clearly “rapt” to get their bikes along with helmets and locks. He says the charity’s success is a tribute to the whole Nelson-Tasman community.

“What we’re doing is only possible because of people’s generosity. It’s all thanks to those individuals who donate bikes, our volunteers and our supporters, including local businesses, like NBS, and Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council. Without all of that awesome support, we simply could not do what we’re doing,” he says.

Bike Hub Nelson is based at Saxton Field. In addition to being open to the public, the charity works with a diverse range of social services and schools to get bikes to people who need them. Bikes are provided to refugees and other high need customers for free.

Red Cross spokesperson Ngaia Richardson says one of the first tasks that their “amazing” volunteers do to assist newly arrived refugees is to enable them to be mobile. She says Red Cross is “so grateful” to Bike Hub Nelson for helping to make this happen.

“Bike Hub Nelson is an amazing source of bikes for former refugees who otherwise would not be able to afford them. It enables them to attend English Language classes, to go shopping, visit the markets, socialise in the community and be present at settlement appointments – all whilst getting fit and exploring Nelson, and at no cost,” she says.

Matt says the list of benefits that come with Bike Hub Nelson’s work is a long one.

“We’re keeping bikes out of landfill, helping people to save money, increasing people’s opportunities to participate in society, helping to reduce con-

gestion and emissions, fighting obesity and giving people something fun to do,” he says.

Matt says Bike Hub Nelson’s impact is also being felt in the number of people using the region’s cycling infrastructure.

“We reckon we’re getting well over 100 new cyclists of all ages on the roads and cycleways every month,” he says.

With around 50 volunteers, Bike Hub Nelson is also giving people an opportunity to pass on and learn new skills

“We’ve actually got a waiting list for volunteers at the moment. It’s brilliant the way all sorts of people want to be a part of The Hub. In fact, we regularly have three generations working on bikes alongside each other, which is particularly cool.”

Bike Hub Nelson’s Saxton Field base is open to the public on Mondays from 5.30pm to 7pm and Wednesdays from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

Bike Hub Nelson coordinator Matt Lawrey with the 2000th recipient of a bike from the charity, Cambodian refugee Phalla, the 2001st recipient, Siem, and Red Cross volunteer Melanie Ophoff. Photo: Tania Norfolk.

Filling the Kai with Love gap

ANNE HARDIE

The Brightwater Community Anglican Church is working on a proposal to bring the Hapori Fruit & Veg Box programme to the community to fill the gap left by Kai with Love after it closed.

Vicar Paul Milson says that at one point there were around 40 families receiving free weekly food parcels when the church partnered with Kai with Love, but the charity closed down in January. Now he is hoping the church might be able to partner with Hapori so Brightwater and Wakefield families can pick up an affordable box of fruit and veggies without having to travel into Richmond.

Paul says the Kai with Love service provided not just food, but a chance for people in the community to chat and sometimes share their problems. He hopes to resurrect that.

“It is a way of helping people financially in financially-difficult times and checking in with people. We set up a ta-

ble and coffee for people to sit around and chat. Sometimes there were tears and hugs and so it provided food and also a sense of connection.

“Not everyone was on the bones of their butt. Very few people were absolutely desperate.

“Most people were on single or double income where the cost of living with mortgages or rent, petrol and food meant that a box of food

gave them a little bit of padding.

“It gave them $20 to $40 they didn’t need to spend on food.”

Since Kai with Love closed down, he says the church has been looking at partnering with another food service and has asked Brightwater and Wakefield communities if they would buy Hapori fruit and vegetable boxes. So far, more than 60 families have expressed an interest in

buying the boxes if the service was offered in Brightwater.

“It means they wouldn’t need to travel into Richmond for fruit and vegetables. A Hapori Fruit & Veg Box is just $15 with a market value of between $23 and $30. That might mean savings that a family can use for their kid’s school trip.

“It helps put some fat in the system that wouldn’t be there otherwise.”

He says many families are struggling with the cost of living and are looking for ways to cut costs where they can.

“We aren’t going to die of hunger, but we’re a bit stressed out about how we are going to make things work.”

Paul says the church is not sufficiently resourced to offer the kind of service that Hapori could provide, so partnering with them would be a win-win for all involved – especially the local community. He says talks with Hapori are ongoing.

The five main protagonists of ‘As You Like it’, Miles Coulson as Orlando, Bridget Ogden-Bell as Rosalind/Ganymede, William Haywood as Silvius, Bella Goomes as Phoebe and Riley Houia as Celia, with their ensemble cast of sheep.

Sheep, Love, and Shakespeare

JACK MALCOLM

A Kiwiana take on a Shakespearean classic has seen Garin College take out the regional leg of the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival. Their 15-minute rendition of one of the scenes from ‘As You Like It’ saw the group win eight local awards and earn qualification to the national finals next month in Wellington.

Having to use Shakespear-

ean language throughout the play, the group incorporated a taste of Kiwi flavour by setting the play in a sheep farming community.

Directed by 17-year-old students and actors Bridget Ogden-Bell and Riley Houia, the troupe have been working on the play since the start of this year.

“Our play is set on a farm, so sheep felt appropriate,” Bridget says.

The pair were awarded the

best director for the regional performance while William Haywood won best actor. With a large portion in their final year of school, most of the group have been together throughout their senior years of school.

They say it’s exciting to be acknowledged for their hard work and wanted to give praise to their teacher and “conceptualiser” Annie Millard, who they say gave them the idea to build upon.

Teens named as victims of off-roading crash

Two teenagers have been named as the victims of a crash in Nelson last Monday. They were Joanna Lois Beach and Bondi Reihana Richmond, both 18 of Waikawa, Marlborough. They died following a crash on an off-roading track in Mount Richmond Forest Park. Police said they extended their condolences to the family and friends of the pair “at this difficult time”. “An investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing.” Earlier, police said a helicopter was used in the initial search to find the teens after they received a crash alert. Police with dogs also went into the forest on foot and found the vehicle down a steep bank. A search and rescue operation was then launched, involving LandSAR volunteers, to recover the bodies.

Services and Parades

Thursday 25 April 2024

Richmond Parade – 10.45 am from Sundial Square. Service – 11.00 am at War Memorial Gardens, Cambridge Street.

Brightwater Service – 9.00 am at Brightwater Domain, Lord Rutherford Road.

Wakefield Service – 10.00 am at the Wakefield Cenotaph, Whitby Way (Wakefield Village Hall if wet).

Motueka

Parade – 6.15 am from the Motueka Bowling Club car park, Pah Street, followed by breakfast at Motueka RSA.

Murchison

Laying of poppies – 6.30 am at the Murchison Cemetery. Service – 11.00 am at the Memorial in Waller Street (Murchison Sport, Recreation and Cultural Centre if wet).

Māpua Parade – 10.45 am, by the tennis courts. Service – 11.00 am at Māpua RSA Memorial Library.

Upper Moutere Service – 10.30 am at the Memorial.

Riwaka Service – 9.00 am at the Memorial Gates, intersection of School Road and SH60.

Tākaka

Dawn Service – 6.30 am at the Tākaka Memorial Reserve, Commercial Street. Parade – 8.45 am, leaves from outside Golden Bay Pharmacy. Civic Service – 9.00 am service at the Tākaka Memorial Reserve, Commercial Street.

Ngātīmoti

Laying of Wreath and Service – 10.30 am at St James Church, Waiwhero Road.

The plot of As You Like It is a lover’s triangle, following the story of Rosalind as she flees persecution, disguising herself as a man named Ganymede, and finds love, where identities are blurred and true feelings revealed. The group have been “fundraising like mad” but are looking for support to help get them to Wellington to perform. Anyone who would like to help can reach out to Garin College directly.

Tapawera Service – 9.00 am at the Tapawera Memorial Hall, Main Road.

Tasman Service – 10.30 am at the Memorial.

Collingwood

Dawn Service – 6.30 am at the Cenotaph. Civic Service – 11.30 am at the Collingwood Memorial Hall.

Lake Rotoiti Flag Ceremony – 10.30 am at the Lake Rotoiti Community Hall.

It was not a box of fruit and veges last week, but all food is good as far as Brightwater Community Anglican Church vicar Paul Milson is concerned. Photo: Anne Hardie.

Photo: Jack Malcolm.

Pizza sales donated to women’s centre

It has been a challenging first year in business for Eat Italy’s owner Cherif El Bakkali, yet to mark its first birthday he is donating all the pizza sales to Nelson’s Women’s Centre.

On the evening of 28 April, the money from every pizza sold will be given to the centre which closed its drop-in service this year due to a lack of funding and only takes appointments now for counselling sessions.

“They were facing closure and it’s important to keep their counselling available.

“I felt I needed to help because we’re not just here as a business but are a family that wants to be supportive.”

Jan Henderson is on Nelson Women’s Centre’s governance board and she says the restaurant’s fundraiser had come “out of the blue”, which was hugely appreciated. The centre is working on a strategic plan with the aim of seeking funding so that it can continue. Jan says it needs to be able to employ a paid manager again as it now relies on volunteers.

Counselling students from the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology provide counselling services by appointment which are offered at a minimal fee or what someone can afford.

The centre owns an old villa on Trafalgar Street in Nelson which was purchased on a rent-to-own agreement and Jan says one of the possibilities is to rent out some of its rooms for income.

While it is a women’s centre now, Jan says it is contemplating the idea of opening up to anyone who needs support and becoming a “wellness” centre.

Cherif says his offer to donate an evening’s pizza sales stems from his belief that it is important to give back to the community in some way.

He also wants to make the restaurant available for fundraising evenings, where groups can organise a pizza evening and take all the pizza sales for their charity or group.

“We need to remember to be kind to humans – keep kindness alive,” he says.

“Business here is very tough, but I want to keep myself connected with the community.”

Naughty dog: This is Bounce. He’s a retired working dog. A huntaway who has moved from rural Wakefield to suburban Nelson. At 13 years he’s doing well walking up to the Centre of NZ regularly, though slowly!! He’s always looking for food - just as well he’s active. A couple of years ago he managed to get the lid off an old paint pail we were using to store the chicken food. He consumed as much as his stomach could cope with - pooing grainy stools for days! Just like Togo he loves fruit. Just as the apples were ripening, he broke a main branch off a tree that’s espaliered along the fence while “picking” apples. That tree will never be the same. He’s figured out that quince don’t taste very nice (and I’ve now picked the low hanging ones). And now he’s moved onto figs - competing with the birds!! Email your naughty dog stories to sara@topsouthmedia.co.nz

Jan Henderson from Nelson Women’s Centre was grateful for the fundraising gesture from Cherif El Bakkali who holds his son, Milo, 3. Photo: Anne Hardie.

New life for Life Education classroom

GORDON PREECE

It was no tall order for a local furniture company to inject new life into a Nelson Tasman Life Education Trust mobile classroom.

Redwood Valley-based Learning Spaces Global prides itself in designing and manufacturing furniture to mirror the changing learning environments in kura (school).

Interior designer Beatrice Guy says she searched high for her next opportunity.

“We thought about the Harold trailer, and we thought it needed a good ol’ refresh… because that’s where students learn important life skills, and that must be a place they feel comfortable to learn.

“We started talking about it at the end of last year. We came up with the idea and contacted [Nelson Tasman Life Education Trust educator] Ingrid Kemp, and from there we visited the Harold classroom, and she talked about the fact that there is 30 kids in there… and they use the wall space too.

“So, we did a bit of design work around that and came up with a design, we did it in 3D and we presented the design to them and how we could facilitate that.”

Beatrice says the iconic Harold the Giraffe was at the forefront of the new designs and pieces for the mobile classroom.

“We did things like the door where Harold pops out, we’ve done a nice leaf engraving around there so it’s like Harold popping out from the bush.

“The trees on the wall represent the giraffe in nature.”

Nelson Tasman Life Education Trust co-chair Michelle Fitzgerald says some of the classroom elements were “old and worn” and she was delighted Learning Spaces Global had come on board for a revamp.

She says the classroom also features a wall whiteboard and a new seating area at the rear with a wharenui to represent the various cultures who are taught the life skills.

“The kids’ feedback has been great, they are really enjoying the space, the new colours, the trees and where Harold comes out.

“1698 kids have used the classroom already… we normally see

over 6000 kids a year in Nelson Tasman, and Ingrid’s classroom has so far been to Upper Moutere, Motueka, and the Riwaka area, before coming to Henley School.

“After Henley School, she’s mainly going to go around the Nelson region before the third term and then she’s heading over to Golden Bay.”

The Life Education programme, along with Harold, has become a highly visible and popular identity within the community since the trust was established in 2002.

Henley School students Charlie Riordan, 7, left, Brayden Mincher, 8, Ashton McAllen, 7, and Nyla Bibby, 8, interacted with the new mobile classroom fittings. Photo: Gordon Preece.

More trees for Richmond hills

ANNE HARDIE

More than 44,000 native trees will be planted on the Richmond Hills this winter and several thousand of those will be planted by Keep Richmond Beautiful volunteers. It builds on more than 62,000 trees that have been planted since the pine forests on the hillsides were harvested, with the mix including 15,300 of mixed-forest species.

The planting follows the Tasman District Council’s plan to eventually replace all the pine plantation on the hills with a mix of native and exotic trees, as well as improving recreational tracks for walkers and mountainbikers. This year’s plantings will take place in Lodestone and Jimmy Lee catchments and in 2025 a further 35,000 native trees will be planted, with the bulk of the planting done by contractors.

Keep Richmond Beautiful chairperson, Greg Pickford, has the hills literally on his back doorstep and any day of the week he is weeding or trapping pests to help get young trees established. He is part of a team of 29 volunteers who can turn up at working bees and says the group has a wealth of skills, including David

Burt who has made more than 80 of the wooden tables distributed around the region. Last year, the group’s work earned them an Environmental Services Award from Keep New Zealand Beautiful.

Vice chairman Ross Cullen says the group has a regular Wednesday morning working bee and this winter that will include planting trees on the Richmond Hills, which was renamed Kingsland Forest Park to signify the

change from a commercial forest to a recreational area.

Titoki Nursery near Brightwater is supplying native trees for Kingsland Forest Park and owner Tim Le Gros says about three-quarters of the plants are now in Ellepots, which are a biodegradable pot that can be put direct in the ground. They also only need to be planted 100mm deep compared with the longer root-trainer method.

Council communications officer,

Tim O’Connell, says the 2025 plantings will complete the planting of most of the recently-harvested areas on the hills. The remaining pine plantation above Reservoir Creek is expected to be harvested in 10 to 12 years and then the entire hill area will be solely recreational. The estimated cost to plant more than 50 hectares of land already harvested is about $1.1 million, he says, which is funded by the council, the Government’s Bet-

ter Off Funding and Trees That Count.

Through Tranche One of the Government’s Better Off Funding, $487,000 was provided on top of the initial budget which Tim says helped enhance the overall development plan. That included more planting, a new toilet, picnic table or seating, plus a water refill station.

Though the region has been through a drought, he says survival rates for the planting done to date have been encouraging, with areas of native regeneration coming through well.

Weed control is a bigger challenge, especially on the steep, rugged terrain and Tim says it will be an ongoing task for a number of years. Aerial spraying has been used pre-planting on harvested areas, but the best hope to battle old man’s beard, which can smother plants, will be the sawfly. The biological-control agent has been reintroduced at two release sites in the region and Tim says it will eventually have value in the Kingsland Forest Park. He says the council is aiming for a balance of species for their aesthetic value including various oaks, liquidambars and poplars on the list.

Ross Cullen, left, and Greg Pickford from Keep Richmond Beautiful will be planting trees grown by Tim Le Gros, right, from Titoki Nursery. Photo: Anne Hardie.

‘Underutilised’ council policy informational event

GORDON PREECE

A Lower Moutere resident is taking it upon herself to host an event for the community to have better information about an “underutilised” Tasman District Council (TDC) policy. Zola Rose says she is a community development and community engagement practitioner, and her event this Saturday at Riverside Community Hall - Cooperative Living Opportunities, Top of the South - sets out to explore the opportunity for the public to develop cooperative rural living in the district.

The Cooperative Living planning rule was written into the Tasman Resource Management Plan, and it came about through public submissions and Tasman District Council’s Plan

Change 60 in 2016, which proposed better policy support for co-operative living. The policy permits multiple dwellings on rural land without needing to rezone or subdivide, if the land and buildings are owned cooperatively.

Zola says, since the policy’s inception only one entity has made use of it.

She believes shortcoming public information about the policy from the council is the cause of the district’s rural areas making slow progress in more cooperative living.

“My question to the council was ‘why, after spending so much energy with your planners on the submission process and writing [the policy] up, has there been no dissemination?’,” she says. “I said to them ‘I’ll host an event, because I’m

a community-led development practitioner, and I like to let people know about policies that are useful to them’.”

However, Tasman District communication and change manager, Chris Choat, says Council did make specific effort to publicise the new PC60 provisions, including those related to co-operative living. He says they held a set of information dissemination meetings at rural venues around the district after decisions on the PC60 were made. “Also, at the time, a guide to the PC60 changes was developed and circulated. This guide is still on the Council website.”

Zola says iwi, community-based organisations, developers, builders, engagement professionals, council staff, elected members, stu-

dents, and general members of the public were invited to Saturday’s event. “I’m hoping that people pick up the policy and that those people who have either been under the radar doing this informally or have tiny homes on their property, actually use this policy,” she says. “I’m promoting regenerative development and opportunities for people to live in housing that best suits their needs, aspirations and their culture. So that we see more of these kind of developments springing up that are affordable and resilient.”

Cooperative Living Opportunities, Top of the South, 20 April, 4pm to 6:30pm, Riverside Community Hall, Lower Moutere. Register at.commonground.net.nz/ events.

Women from the Wāhine Outdoors Tapawera group from left, Tarsh Newport, Mela Jelinek, Josie Orr, Nara Lee Jelinek, Jada Jelinek and Hannah Newport recently raised over $1000 for the Cancer Society at Relay for Life Photo: Supplied.

Wāhine walk to raise funds for cancer

ELOISE MARTYN

Women from the Wāhine Outdoors Tapawera group are feeling a little tired but inspired after walking nonstop all night to raise funds for the Cancer Society last month.

Members Hannah Newport and Jada Jelinek organised the group of six to participate in the Relay for Life challenge, naming the group ‘Wāhine against Cancer’. The group raised just over

one $1000, which went into the fundraising pool, with the Nelson Tasman event raising a total of $205,471.79

Relay For Life - Te Ara Toiora is an inspiring community event that gives everyone a chance to whakanui (celebrate) people who have or have had cancer and the people who care for them; maumaharatia (remember) loved ones lost to cancer; and tū atu (fight back) by raising awareness and funds for the Cancer Society.

Maitai school at risk

I am concerned that more than a dozen high needs students at Maitai School will have nowhere to go next year as the much needed rebuild of the school is on hold.

The National Government must commit to the Maitai School rebuild, announced and committed to by Labour, to ensure students with disabilities from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn.

Maitai school is at capacity and has had to close its roll, which is putting pressure on local schools and creating stress for potential students and their parents. At a public meeting last week, parents and teachers were clear that the school rebuild is critical and should be a priority for the Government.

I am extremely concerned about the National Government’s lack of action for the disability community – which is now having an impact on our local community in Nelson and the entire top of the South Island.

Students with disabilities have just as much of a right to education as anyone else. It is outrageous to me that the Government would choose to fund tax cuts instead of a building project that will have such a positive impact on our community here in Nelson.

Zola Rose will host a cooperative living event this weekend. Photo: Supplied.

Lucy Jennings, 14, Briana Sullivan, 14, and Charlotte Aynsley, 15

Anna Mae Angeles, Veronika Westerson and Nicky Borras

Annette Greenland, Ruth Copeland and Gay Northcott

Raylene Northcott and Marian Johnston Be Curtis-Sullivan, Toni Deas and Rowena McGregor

Aimee and Ryan MacDonald

Darren Bryce and Matthew Crawford

Jude and Alanna Yeoman

Marty Tunlea and Steve Collins

Shelley and Jarrod Illingworth

Local History

County for Hampden Riding

ROBYN PARKES

For many years Hampden Riding, Murchison, was included in the Inangahua County. But in May 1907 a public meeting of residents voted to separate from Inangahua and form a new county with local government. Such was the interest that many of those attending travelled long distances, with the greatest being 60 miles. Mr McKenzie, M.H.R. attended to support the plan and expressed his belief that their isolation and their growing importance justified the step. He was not satisfied with the way the Inangahua Council had treated them and considered that as they were so far from the centre of administration it would be better for them to separate. In support, McKenzie wrote up a Separation Bill proposing that the new county should come into existence on 1 April 1908. Residents were re-

minded that, in separating, they would be responsible for their pro rata share of the general debt of the Inangahua County. The meeting finished with a unanimous show of hands for separation. The Muchison County Bill was advertised and lodged in court. After successful readings, it was finally passed on 8 October 1908 and came into force on 1 April 1909. Elections were held on 20 May and the first Council meeting arranged for 25 May 1909. One of the first duties of the councillors was to negotiate the apportionment of assets and liabilities between Inangahua and the new county.

The newly-appointed acting clerk, V McNamara, and councillor Rait were sent to Reefton to undertake this task. The resulting agreement of these negotiations saw the punt and the ferry reserves at the ferry over the Buller River near Fern Flat

become the property of Murchison County. Also gained was the full sum of £481 14s 4d, currently in the hands of the Nelson Land Board, which had accrued due to the Inangahua Council prior to the 31st day of March 1909.

However, Murchison County was to pay Inangahua County the sum of £1328 and 6 shillings as its share of the debts and liabilities of Inangahua County as existing on the 31st of March 1909. They also had to pay the sum of £71,14s for moneys expended by the Inangahua County on the Hampden riding roads during the months of February and March 1909. Finally, the new county was to pay to Inangahua Council the sum of £43 3s 1d on or before the 28th day of January and July each year until the expiry of the term of the general loan (4 years) as a share of the interest and sinking fund in respect of a general loan of £5200 obtained by the Inangahua

Council from the Government. lnangahua County retained the whole of the assets of the Inangahua Council as existing on the 31st day of March 1909, with the exception of those mentioned above. At the second council meeting, the report and agreement of the apportionment of assets and liabilities between the two counties was read. Cr Rogers moved that the Council refuse to accept the agreement made by the

County delegates as it was unfair, and the provisions were against the best interests of the people of the Murchison County and that the delegates had no power to conclude a binding agreement on behalf of the new county. A vote was held with the majority in favour of accepting the agreement. The County Council’s permanent base of operations was built on Fairfax Street and completed in 1913.

Newton River Bridge works

State Highway 6 (SH6) Upper Buller Gorge, between the Murchison Limeworks and the Lyell Campground will be closed day and night from 6am Monday 29 April to 8pm Wednesday 1 May for repairs to the Newton River Bridge.

A detour will be in place in both directions via SH65 Shenandoah to Springs Junction; SH7 from Springs Junction, over the Rahu Saddle, and via SH69 Reefton to SH6 Inangahua. This detour will add approximately two hours to your journey with an additional 150km so plan ahead.

We appreciate the disruption this work will cause so we have planned this work after the busy summer season and school holidays, but before the cold, wet winter.

During the closure, contractors will remove the old deck sections before installing steel nosing and guardrail supports on a new deck currently being built. The old slab space will be filled, the road will be resurfaced, and the bridge’s guardrails and handrails will be reinstalled. This work is weather dependent and may be postponed at short notice. Two additional days (2 and 3 May) are planned as contingency days if required.

Lyell Campground

Limeworks

Work site

Westport

Inangahua

Murchison Springs Junction

Reefton

The new Murchison County Council building. Photo: Supplied.

What’s On

Art in the Park at Washbourn Park

Sunday, 21 April, 12pm

Washbourn Gardens

Be sure to bring your creative flare and artistic skills as it’s a day for Art in the Park! Be inspired by nature and bring the whole family to enjoy the sunshine.

Treasure Hunt at Ben Cooper Park

Tuesday, 23 April, 12pm – 2pm

Ben Cooper Park

Join us for an afternoon brimming with thrilling hunting fun that’s perfect for the entire family! Unleash your inner adventurer as you explore the park in search of tokens hidden throughout. It’s a treasure hunt that will keep you on your toes!

Murchison Pump Track Grand Opening

Saturday, 20 April, 11am

Murchison Sport, Recreation & Cultural Centre

Join us to see what the excitement has been all about and be the first of many to take a ride on this top quality pump track. As well as spot prizes, competitions and a sausage sizzle, we’ll also be announcing the official name of the track.

Kindy wheels in $4k

What an awesome community! Well done, Pinegrove.

Amanda Dasler

Well done, Pinegrove community.

Janelle Power

So cool, one of my fave kindies to visit.

Lee Corlett

Brightwater’s BMX track is open

Nice one, Matt Stuart, track is looking so good. Great to be involved with such a cool project in the community.

Aspect Contracting

Swing bridge injuries ‘ongoing’

Maybe cyclists should walk across if not confident. Easy solution.

Sue McMillan

Users need to be more considerate and patient while some are already using bridges.

Sheralee Taylor

The bridge is totally fine for competent cyclists. If people are not confident or competent then they need to walk. but quite seriously there are harder places to cycle.

Diane Chandler

The bridge is fine, don’t waste any ratepayers money on a report. Spend it on maintenance somewhere else on

Tasman’s Great Taste Trail! Rider error, not design error!!

Michael Watson

Can cyclists and pedestrians even pass on the bridge? Sounds like everyone should walk across.

Sue Wilson

If everyone would use common sense and courtesy, there would not be issues. For TDC to waste money on this is absurd. Come on people, we don’t need more signs, just start thinking please.

Kath O’Regan

and certainly does affect options when buying a house.

Chris Win

Queen St and Champion Road are now a dream to drive, cycle and walk downsafer for absolutely everyone. Hopefully Hill St next.

Carey Gary Street piano keyed for Connings

It’s actually a really good fit out there with the laid-back vibe.

Scott Donaldson

Deer video prompts complaints to SPCA and police

Good. Hopefully they are charged. All animals deserve to be treated humanely, pest or no pest.

Jessica Smith

Isn’t there a sign saying you need to hop off and push your bike across? I can’t remember. If not, it would be a simple and cheap solution rather than making structural changes.

Samantha Krukerink

Petition for removal of cycleways

Make it on one side if they must, but both is selfish. So many of the older areas don’t have extra parking within their section. This has taken away people’s right to live independently. limits visitors

Fantastic, I hope they all get what they deserve. Bunch of absolute muppets especially how they paraded around with it on the ute and posted all over their social media pages.

Nicola Pons

Throw the book at them!

Debbie Gardner

All aboard muzzled and leashed

Great incentive! Hope the rest of the country follows suit.

Rock’t McKenzie

Spectators welcome at Waimea Dog Trials

ELOISE MARTYN

The Waimea Dog Trial Club is getting geared up to host its annual trial this week and they are welcoming spectators.

“Saturday is likely the better day for spectators,” club secretary Sally Powell explains.

“As people can watch four separate events if they chose. The noise and vigour of big huntaways barking the sheep uphill, or the silent, careful skill of the heading dogs steering the sheep on their courses. Either way, it’s great family en-

tertainment, and it’s free to attend, although we hope people will support our fundraising efforts.”

The club, which is in its 103rd year, will be fundraising with sales of woollen dishcloths, ‘Farmalade’ - which is marmalade made on the farm from home-grown citrus - as well as a gold coin sausage sizzle at the clubrooms.

“Friday is a half day only, from midday, with heading dogs competing in the long head and the short head and yard.

On Saturday, both heading

events will run alongside the straight and zig zag events for huntaways,” Sally says.

Being the last trial for the district, competitors are expected to travel from as far away as North Canterbury to attend. It’s also the last chance to gain points towards qualifying a dog for the South Island Championship, which will be held in Blenheim in May.

The trials are being held on Friday 19 April from midday, and Saturday 20 April, 9am - 2pm, at 320 Higgins Rd, Wakefield.

Emma Eggers and dog Star competing in Tākaka. Photo: Supplied.

Slice of school holiday heaven

GORDON PREECE

Up to 40 Year 7 and 8 gastronomes will mix and mingle and get a slice of the food business at The Food Factory school holiday programme this week. The programme ran for the first time in April last year and served up a smorgasbord of positive reviews from parents.

The Food Factory general manager Olivia Martyn says the programme was designed to tickle students’ taste buds for a foodie career, and the main ingredient for its second course was ‘Scrummy Slices’. “The children will be split into four small groups, they’ll have a person to help them, and they’ll be given a recipe that has no name whatsoev-

er,” she says. “They then need to follow the recipe, make the product, and as they’re working through that process, they will see what kind of ingredients and they’ll start to figure out very quickly what the product is,” she says.

“They need to think about what they would name the product if they wanted to take it to market.”

Olivia says each group is also assigned a local brand to incorporate into their slice name, which includes New World Stoke, NBS, Pic’s Peanut Butter and The Food Factory.

“They then get designing with a whole lot of paper and pens to bring that name and that brand to life visually, and they also need to decide what the serving size is.

She says the course teaches a range of skills.

“Each group will also be provided with the cost of the ingredients and figure out how much money it needs to make to cover the labour and the power, to put back into the business to make it sustainable.

“Then they have to come up with unique selling points [USP] so they could think about the marketing aspect of it, before cutting their slices and present them to a panel of four judges who are representing the brands.”

Olivia says all participants will leave the kitchen with a bundle of donated food items, the slices they made, and the recipe for their new product will be emailed to their parents to make at home.

Wakefield is set to host its first ever Rural Resilience Expo this Sunday at Higgins Heritage Park.

The expo aims to emphasise readiness and preparedness while encouraging vital conversations within households, neighbourhoods, and communities.

Many groups and organisations will be there with helpful information, such as Civil Defence, NZ Police, Fire and Emergency NZ, Tasman District Council, Age Concern, St John, NZ Defence Force, NZ Safety Blackwoods, Outpost Supplies and

Neighbourhood Support. Also on offer will be the mini shaky house, fun park rides, museum sheds and food trucks.

Throughout the day there will be talks on subjects like sanitation, safety and security, food resilience, AF8 (Alpine Fault 8), community planning, and business resilience.

The community bus will be running from Wakefield’s village green throughout the day and the schedule and bus timetable is available via the Focus Wakefield Facebook page.

When we work together, our communities are stronger.

Students from the previous course enjoyed taste-testing. This year they will create a new slice product as if it were to be sold on the open market. Photo: Supplied.

March 2024

NOMINATIONS OPEN 2024

Forestry is a significant part of our region, providing a range of opportunities to our people.

The Top of the South (TOTS) celebrates the Forestry Awards and look forward to recognising their top performers, the heroes of the industry in a range of sectors across the industry and the TOTS Skilled Professional of the Year.

Nominations close: May 2024

Awards Dinner: 19 July 2024

Keen and capable game bird hunter Caitlin Reid. Photo: Supplied.

Game bird season is almost here

FROM PAGE 1

ELOISE MARTYN

The first Saturday of May marks the start of the game bird season. Many hunters will have spent hours preparing maimais, touching up decoys, and practicing calling, to enjoy the great social hunting occasion we know as ‘opening weekend’.

Although May is the start of the game bird season, Fish and

Game New Zealand can assist landowners with bird control at any time of the year

“Gamebirds such as mallards and paradise ducks are highly valued by hunters, though at times can cause issues for farmers, especially over summer after the moult when large groups can congregate on emerging crops and grass,” Fish and Game officer Jacob Lucas says.

Pukeko are one bird that will be targeted as they thrive in the Tasman and Golden Bay regions, and regularly cause issues to crop and orchards.

They are smart birds, fairly territorial, and can be challenging to manage in certain areas.

viding immediate permits for bird control and can supply hunters if required. We also have several bird scarers available to loan which are an effective means to move birds off crop,” Jacob says.

Reid has enjoyed ‘opening weekend’ for more than three decades.

“I enjoy it all, the sport itself, harvesting meals, the comradery with mates, and helping farmers to control bird numbers,” Cam says.

Cam’s dad was into fly fishing, not hunting, but luckily as a youngster, Cam had a best mate whose father was a hunter and game bird shooter who took them on all kinds of adventures.

“Me and my mate grew up fly fishing with my dad and then hunting with his dad which worked out well,” Cam says.

have a young guy with us in the maimai, which will be great. It’s really important we encourage the next generation to come along and give opportunities to be involved.”

Cam understands the problems ducks can cause to farmers such as eating pasture seed and causing extensive damage to crop and grass, so for him, he says it’s good to be able to help with population management.

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“When issues arise with birds, we can help by pro-

“The key is to get in touch with us as soon as the birds turn up, the earlier this is done the better the outcome for your valued pasture or crop.”

Keen game bird hunter Cam

Now with three daughters of his own, Cam says it’s been fantastic to share the pursuit with his daughters, particularly Caitlin, who is now a very capable hunter.

“This opening weekend we will

Alternatives to Pine on your farm

Free field day

Want to grow some trees on your farm, but not pines? Come and see some great examples at free field day in Balclutha. Learn about the benefits of planting alternative species. NZ Farm Forestry members will share their experiences of what grows well and where, success and failure, costs and returns.

Date Thursday 14 March

Time 1.30-3.30pm

Location Balclutha

Enrol on our website nzffa.org.nz/events or scan this QR code if you want to attend the field day. It will take you to more information and the registration form. Everyone is welcome.

Jacob says that game bird licences and up-to-date information for Nelson/Marlborough can be found online at www.fishandgame.org.nz

“If you are unsure about anything, please don’t hesitate to contact us here at Fish and Game, we are more than happy to provide advice where we can, to get the best outcome for everyone.”

Newcomer to advocate for Rural Women

ELOISE MARTYN

A Murchison dairy farmer’s wife’s life took a rewarding turn when she stumbled upon the Rural Women group.

From being a tentative newcomer, Alana Clayton is now a fervent advocate calling for other Murchison women to come and be part of shaping lives and driving positive change.

Two years ago, Alana discovered Rural Women and has since become one of Rural Women Murchison’s strong supporters and advocates.

“I didn’t know much about Rural Women when I started coming along,” Alana says.

“But it’s a great opportunity to get out and meet new faces and socialise with people you don’t normally meet up with.”

The group has around 15 members and in the past 12 months they have been offering their services as caterers with the funds they receive going to local charities or events.

the school, helped some Murchison kids attend the Spirit of Adventure, as well as helped a Murchison girl at Nelson College for Girls attend a netball tournament.”

license instructor to come into the area, this would save so many families travel time and costs,” she says.

Alana and her family have some changes on the horizon and are soon to be moving to Little Wanganui.

“It will be really sad to leave,”

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“When we do a catering job, the money we receive goes towards something specific,” Alana says.

“Recently we donated baking to

Alana says that Rural Women groups all over the Top of the South have recently come together to discuss how they can influence change regarding the extensive time frame young ones are facing to sit their driver’s license tests.

“Due to the demand and hardships out there, Rural Women are looking at getting a driving

Alana says. “But the first thing I will be doing when we get there is connecting with their Rural Women branch. That’s one of the cool things about Rural Women, is there is a group almost everywhere.”

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Alana says that, for her, some of

the other benefits of Rural Women has been supporting the older generation who are involved and having an opportunity to take part in shaping some of the future for her own three daughters. She would like to see more Murchison women get involved in the group.

“I’ve enjoyed the social side of Rural Women, other ladies would love it too, so come and meet us. It’s a great bunch of ladies and if other people can come and give a few hours of their time each month then surely we can all do the same.”

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Alana Clayton with daughters Gracie, 3, Holly, 7, and Indi Cronin, 5. Photo: Supplied.

We can deliver or collect just about anything, including building supplies, gravel, fertilizer & stock. We also look after swing moorings.

Growing for the future

DANA CARTER

Bill McKinlay isn’t from around these parts. He grew up in Trentham and spent much of his life in Otago but came to Tasman a decade ago to be closer to his son and daughter-in-law.

Bill used to grow vegetables but then a few things happened to change his course. Hortons Nursery hosted an event several years ago that Bill attended. He needed a new hedge. And then along came Covid.

“Being in isolation gave me a lot of time to potter around and come up with new ideas,” Bill says. Now, four years on, Bill has a shade house and nursery containing 7,500 plants of over 20 species. He supplied 4,000 plants last year to local landowners wishing to plant natives on their land.

Bill’s nursery is mainly set up to grow coloniser species – species that grow reasonably quickly in a new restoration area and create a habitat for

other trees. The Dovedale Nursery is one of four community nurseries in the Motueka Catchment and Bill has hosted many events at the nursery with the community, including children from Dovedale School, with the help of his friend Debbie Win, Chair of the Motueka Catchment Collective Steering Group. Bill is an experimenter. He’s not just happy to do the same old things. He’s always testing new ideas in the hope of getting stronger, faster plant growth and efficiency of restoration. He grows plants in different sorts of containers to test growing speed and plant health. He also grows a few plants to at-

tract butterflies, including a native tree nettle which is host to the red admiral butterfly. He makes seed bombs using an old concrete mixer. He also builds wire cages for the root trainers, so they don’t have to be replaced so quickly. Some things don’t work out, some things do. The seeds Bill collects are from several areas around the catchment, but the majority are from nearby areas of bush including QEII covenants. He says he collected and sowed 10 - 20,000 beech seeds last year but most were infertile so only a dozen or so germinated – all part of the growing process. Bill is part of the Biodiversity and Restoration Thematic Group of the Motueka Catchment Collective. The positive effects on the environmental health of the Motueka catchment from the successfully thriving Dovedale nursery can’t be underestimated. And it wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for Bill volunteering his land, time, and skills.

Bill McKinlay

Grand Archive grandmaster aims to trump world’s best

JACK MALCOLM

Mani Gardwell has played card games competitively for over two decades and is on the cusp of battling to become a world champion.

As one of 16 players who have qualified for the Grand Archive trading card game World Championship finals in Las Vegas, he believes he’s in with a chance.

“The biggest thing from the weekend [qualifiers] was when we finished, it gave me a sense of relief to back myself and be competitive at the top level,” he says.

“There’s a legitimate chance I could be the first world champion of Grand Archive.”

Grand Archive is a trading card game (TCG) similar to Magic the Gathering or Yu-Gi-Oh, where players build a deck to battle against an opponent and defeat their champion.

With countless variations of strategy and play styles, Mani says the game has rapidly grown in the region since its release less than a year ago.

Before the game had been released, the company sent out a set of demo decks to Nelson’s Card Merchant, which Mani owns and operates, to host a tournament for people to give it a go.

Since then, he says the game has continued to grow in popularity with the club hosting Grand Archive game nights and welcoming in new players every Friday evening.

Previously, Mani had been playing the New Zealand-made Flesh and Blood TCG, but he says it dominated his spare time, spending upwards of 20 hours a week

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!

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playing and practising.

However, Grand Archive is more accessible, being approachable for new players while still maintaining the complexity and strategy that make a TCG unique.

“It’s taken over my time for playing cards.

“It just works for me. It’s a really fun game, even when it’s intense.”

And Mani has tasted the intensity,

qualifying for the World Championship by finishing second at the Oceania qualifiers in Melbourne. Having had goals of just making the second day of play, it was a welcome surprise as he slowly worked his way through his games with dominating form. He finished the tournament as the only player to beat the eventual champion, but flight scheduling

meant he had to rush through the final.

With their Uber arriving any minute and the F1 in town, he couldn’t rebook his flight for another four days.

“I didn’t have time to win, I just had to go all-in on one strategy. “It was a bit anticlimactic for both of us. But it was good, the top four went to worlds so we were both in and going to Vegas.”

On top of winning qualification, Mani’s second place also earned him travel compensation, $2500 USD as well as several rare promotional cards with unique stamps from the event.

With three Kiwis in the top four at Oceania and off to the World Championships, Mani says Nelson has also built a strong scene. “We’ve had about six regionals in New Zealand and Nelson has won a good number and made the top cut in every one we’ve been in.”

He welcomes anyone who’s interested to come in and give it a go, with starter decks available to use and people on hand to help out. They will also be at My Time, My Life on 27 April at Founders Park to showcase their hobby.

Mani says he appreciates the support and hopes he can make Nelson and New Zealand proud.

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Mani Gardwell’s experience in trading card games has seen him rapidly improve to be one of the best in the world at Grand Archive after it was released in April of last year. Photo: Jack Malcolm.

Hunting & Fishing unite under one roof

In the ever-evolving landscape of retail, change is not merely inevitable; it is essential for growth and adaptation. It is with great excitement and a tinge of nostalgia that the local Hunting &

Fishing team announce the merging of their two locally owned stores into a new flagship mega store at the Nelson Junction. Marking the beginning of a new era, managing director Mike

The team getting the new store ready for the Grand Opening this weekend. Back row; Kevin, Carl, Sam, Lance and Brad. Middle row; Aurum, Anna, Laura-Alice, Eiji and Nigel. Front row; Warrick, Cindy and Oliver.

Darling says their one-store strategy is aimed at elevating the customer experience. “We are thrilled to co-locate with national and Australian brands at Nelson Junction, seizing an opportunity that aligns with our commitment to providing top-notch products and expe-

riences.”

Locally owned and operated, the Nelson Hunting & Fishing store was originally established over 30 years ago as ‘Tony Entwistle’s Hunting and Fishing.

Michael Darling and his brothers David, Andrew and Pete acquired the Richmond and

Nelson CBD sites in 2017, with both stores thriving under their leadership. The creation of the megastore at 99 Cadillac Way in Annesbrook brings together two dynamic teams, uniting staff to work collaboratively at the new location. “This move not only ensures

embarked on a joint mission to seize control of the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey during the First World War, aiming to secure the crucial passage of the Dardanelles, leading to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. Landing under fire, these dedicated volunteers battled alongside other allied nations through harsh conditions for eight long months. By the end of the campaign, more than 130,000 soldiers had died. Among the dead, 2779 were New Zealanders. The combined Australian and New Zealand troops came to be known as ANZACS and were esteemed throughout military

While this date commemorates the Gallipoli landings, our nation honours the sacrifices of all who have served in the armed forces, including those wounded in action and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Anzac Day ceremonies take place at war memorials both nationwide and abroad, upholding rich traditions and rituals reminiscent of military funerals. The inaugural Dawn Service in 1923 marked the beginning of this solemn tradition, with the haunting notes of the 'Last Post' echoing as a poignant tribute to those who have completed their duty.

Honouring the sacrifices made by those in our community

Integral to our remembrance is the ongoing support and care for those presently serving these organisations today. The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Associations (RSA) prepare for the significant annual Poppy Day appeal, in which all funds raised goes into the RWRSA Welfare Bank Account and is dispersed to Veteran and Service members to assist with the cost of their medical bills. RWRSA secretary-treasurer, John D’Rose, has assisted president John

Llewellin with coordinating the Waimea Anzac Day and Poppy Day appeals for the last few years. For people wishing to make contributions and purchase their poppies in time for Anzac Day, volunteers will be out collecting on Friday, April 19, with sites located on Queen St, three in the Richmond Mall, one outside Kmart and one outside Raeward Fresh. On Saturday, April 20, there will be two tables set up in the Richmond Mall, one outside Raeward Fresh, Brightwater Four

From left: Padre Ralph Bradley, Rob McConnachie, RWRSA President John Llewellin, Councillor Kit Maling (rear), Pete Harris and Superintendent Tracey Thomson. Supplied

APRIL 25, SCHEDULING FOR PUBLIC

APRIL 25, SCHEDULING FOR PUBLIC RICHMOND-WAIMEA RSA ANZAC SERVICES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

RICHMOND-WAIMEA

RSA ANZAC SERVICES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

RICHMOND: 10.45 Parade from Sundial Square.

RICHMOND: 10.45 Parade from Sundial Square.

11.00 Service at War Memorial Gardens, Cambridge St.

11.00 Service at War Memorial Gardens, Cambridge St.

BRIGHTWATER: 9.00 Brightwater Domain, Lord Rutherford Road.

BRIGHTWATER: 9.00 Brightwater Domain, Lord Rutherford Road.

WAKEFIELD: 10.00 Wakefield Memorial.

WAKEFIELD: 10.00 Wakefield Memorial.

MOTUEKA: 6.15 Parade from the Motueka Bowling Club Carpark, Pah Street, Motueka.

MOTUEKA: 6.15 Parade from the Motueka Bowling Club Carpark, Pah Street, Motueka.

TAPAWERA: 9.00 Tapawera Memorial Hall, Main Road

TAPAWERA: 9.00 Tapawera Memorial Hall, Main Road

MURCHISON: 6.30 Laying of poppies, Murchison Cemetery

MURCHISON: 6.30 Laying of poppies, Murchison Cemetery

11.00 Memorial in Waller Street (Murchison Sport, Recreation and Cultural Centre if wet).

11.00 Memorial in Waller Street (Murchison Sport, Recreation and Cultural Centre if wet).

RIWAKA: 9.00 Memorial Gates, the intersection of School Road and SH60

RIWAKA: 9.00 Memorial Gates, the intersection of School Road and SH60

LAKE ROTOITI: 10.30 Flag ceremony at the Lake Rotoiti Community Hall, 22 Main Road St Arnaud.

Square, Edward St in Wakefield and on Tapawera Highway. “We have approximately 39 businesses and 73 individuals manning the collection desks on Poppy Day,” says John. “There are also 39 collection boxes located throughout the district from Richmond to Brightwater, Wakefield, Tapawera and St Arnaud, which went out on April 5, and will be collected on April 29.” For those wishing to donate via online banking, John directs people to the Poppy Trust account with Richmond-Waimea RSA: 03 0751 018 3119 02

Square, Edward St in Wakefield and on Tapawera Highway. “We have approximately 39 businesses and 73 individuals manning the collection desks on Poppy Day,” says John. “There are also 39 collection boxes located throughout the district from Richmond to Brightwater, Wakefield, Tapawera and St Arnaud, which went out on April 5, and will be collected on April 29.” For those wishing to donate via online banking, John directs people to the Poppy Trust account with Richmond-Waimea RSA: 03 0751 018 3119 02

Day organisation and they make it easy organising these events. The Brightwater Sprig & Fern Tavern is hosting a Quiz Night on April 24 with proceeds going to the RSA Poppy Appeal. We have had some very good raffle donations come in and we will be hosting a light lunch at Club Waimea, after the Richmond service. This is open to the public from 12pm onwards and we welcome anyone who wishes to attend.”

Day organisation and they make it easy organising these events. The Brightwater Sprig & Fern Tavern is hosting a Quiz Night on April 24 with proceeds going to the RSA Poppy Appeal. We have had some very good raffle donations come in and we will be hosting a light lunch at Club Waimea, after the Richmond service. This is open to the public from 12pm onwards and we welcome anyone who wishes to attend.”

Many organisations continue to take part in recognising the ANZAC commemorations, says John. “The Tasman District Council has been extremely helpful with providing their services for Poppy Day and Anzac

Many organisations continue to take part in recognising the ANZAC commemorations, says John. “The Tasman District Council has been extremely helpful with providing their services for Poppy Day and Anzac

LAKE ROTOITI: 10.30 Flag ceremony at the Lake Rotoiti Community Hall, 22 Main Road St Arnaud. 027

Local volunteer, Jan Blackmore, who is a past-president of the Women’s Section of the RWRSA prior to its closure, has been involved with the annual Poppy Appeal for the past 15 years. Jan’s father served in WWII at Casino and her mother continued to wave the flag for the troops until her passing at 100 years

Local volunteer, Jan Blackmore, who is a past-president of the Women’s Section of the RWRSA prior to its closure, has been involved with the annual Poppy Appeal for the past 15 years. Jan’s father served in WWII at Casino and her mother continued to wave the flag for the troops until her passing at 100 years

of age. Jan has also played her role at Anzac Day services, reading the Roll of Remembrance. Recognising Anzac Day and donating through the Poppy Appeal continues to be hugely important, says Jan. “It is about remembering those sacrifices that were made not only by the troops but also by the wider community. Most families in New Zealand have been touched in some way. It is sobering to read the names on the memorials, especially the multiple family names, and it is important to remember not only the casualties but also those who were affected, and their families. It is not about glorifying war but acknowledging the sacrifices. There are still veterans in our community who need help. The funds raised each year go towards helping them out, and they deserve it!”

of age. Jan has also played her role at Anzac Day services, reading the Roll of Remembrance. Recognising Anzac Day and donating through the Poppy Appeal continues to be hugely important, says Jan. “It is about remembering those sacrifices that were made not only by the troops but also by the wider community. Most families in New Zealand have been touched in some way. It is sobering to read the names on the memorials, especially the multiple family names, and it is important to remember not only the casualties but also those who were affected, and their families. It is not about glorifying war but acknowledging the sacrifices. There are still veterans in our community who need help. The funds raised each year go towards helping them out, and they deserve it!”

Done once done right with Davey Builders

Established in 2022, the team at Davey Builders bring a wealth of expertise and a passion for excellence to the building industry. With roots in joinery, owner Graham Davey’s dreams of becoming a builder led him to establish his own company, driven by a commitment to delivering top-notch craftsmanship and superior service to the community. The motto, ‘Done once, done right,’ reflects his dedication to quality and customer satisfaction.

Working as a tight-knit team, Graham and wife Jo both hold a wealth of expertise in the industry and find motivation in their pride of workmanship and the stellar reputation they've earned from satisfied clients. Their unwavering commitment to high standards ensures that every project, big or small, receives

the same level of meticulous attention and care. What sets Davey Builders apart is the couple's willingness to tackle any job, from minor repairs to major renovations. Specialising in renovations, extensions, re-cladding, fences, retaining walls, decks, garages and carports, pergolas and concrete work - regardless of the project's size, clients can expect a top-tier service and competitive pricing. Their lean operation means lower overheads, translating to cost savings for their customers. In addition to their renowned building services, Graham and Jo also offer landscaping solutions, barking and stonework, providing clients with comprehensive property enhancement options under one roof. Both

Graham and Jo are qualified builders with Graham holding an LBP Licence, and Davey Builders also extends their expertise to project management, offering to oversee clients' projects from start to fin-

ish. Alternatively, they're happy to collaborate with clients who prefer a more hands-on approach, ensuring flexibility and personalised service tailored to individual needs. But Graham and Jo are more than just builders; they're trusted partners in turning clients' visions into reality. Their multifaceted skill set, commitment to quality, and clientcentric approach make them the go-to choice for all building needs. When you choose Graham, you're not just getting a building contractor; you're gaining a dedicated team of professionals invested in making your project a success. Offering free, no-obligation, honest and reliable quotes, contact Davey Builders on 027 249 1966 if you want your project done right the first time.

Touch community champion honoured for contribution

JACK MALCOLM

Jemma Taikato burst out crying when she was surprised with $5000 to spend on her touch community.

“I had no idea that I was nominated at all, no inkling, nothing,” she says. “I was told we had a [Nelson] Touch meeting at Sport Tasman, so I turned up at the meeting which wasn’t a meeting and there everyone was. That completely blew me away.” The money, which comes from Bunnings Home Ground Heroes in collaboration with Touch New Zealand, awards five local community organisers around the

country with $5000 to reinvest in their local community.

Jemma was one of the lucky recipients from almost 200 nominations who were acknowledged for their integral contribution to the game and who have helped to foster many New Zealanders’ first experiences with community sport.

“Touch is sort of a third or fourth job of mine, but it’s the one that takes most of my time and the one I’m passionate about,” she says. “Takes up a fair bit of time, but I love it. I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t.”

Alongside managing multiple representative teams across two

different national tournaments, Jemma runs three touch tour-

naments for juniors and is also heavily involved with weekly lo-

cal touch leagues. It all started with her sons’ involvement with the game, with all of her boys playing from an early age.

“It’s through a great bunch of volunteers that just give so much, and sometimes it’s for little reward. We love the game, we love the culture that we’re trying to get in Nelson Touch and we’re starting to see them pay off.

She is unsure how the $5000 windfall will be spent, with upcoming meetings now including a section on how they can best utilise the money into the agenda.

“That wish list that you have just sitting there, we can now start ticking some of those boxes.

Junior swimmers bring haul of medals against South Island’s best

JACK MALCOLM

Richmond Aquatic Centre was abuzz with activity earlier this month as over 100 young swimmers looked to make their mark. Representatives from 16 clubs looked to impress at the South Island Junior Swimming Championships, with four sessions and 33 events over the weekend of 6 and 7 April.

Swimming Nelson Marlborough was helped in the hosting by both Nelson South and Tasman Swim Clubs. It is a large swimming

event to be hosted in Nelson and hasn’t occurred in recent years as there are many larger swimming venues in the South Island. With a mix of individual events and medleys, there was also a kickboard team race which was fiercely contested.

Tasman Swim Club saw 16 swimmers in 139 races, with 10 golds, six silvers and 11 bronzes, picking up two additional bronzes in the relays. Charlotte Tuthill in the female 10&U category picked up all of the club’s golds as she topped the podium of every individual

event she raced in. Waimea Swim Club saw two swimmers earn a gold and two bronzes, while Motueka Swim Club took home two silvers from their two swimmers. On top of the podiums, a lot of local swimmers came away with personal best times.

Bunnings Home Ground Heroes Ambassador Peter Walters and local touch hero Jemma Taikato. Photo: Supplied.

Improvements evident despite loss

JACK MALCOLM

While the result wasn’t what Waimea Old Boys were after coming back from their byeround, there were still strong signs of positivity.

Despite a 36-18 losing scoreline at Sports Park Motueka, it was a case of the scoreboard not telling the whole story as Waimea Old Boys look to have taken several steps forward from previous seasons. With Kahurangi being one of the competition’s front runners, Waimea gave them a real run for their money until they lost their momentum and let the score slide.

The visitors were the first to get points on the board with an early penalty, but they found themselves behind after two quick tries. A Waimea try to Flynn Bainbridge and another penalty saw them claw themselves back to within one point, but a costly mistake from a seemingly nothing sort of kick which bounced and bobbled inside their 22, and a hospital pass and a slip saw Brodie Robinson glide through to score. The mistake, on the stroke of half time, saw Kahurangi take an eight point lead into the break with a message of keeping the momentum in their corner.

Kahurangi were also buoyed by pieces of individual brilliance, with Brodie Robinson scoring his second as he was floated a great

pass out onto the wing off the back of a chip and chase that put Waimea on the backfoot.

Waimea were able to respond by capitalising on a mistake by Kahurangi at the back, but it came after a penalty had extended the deficit and without enough time on the board to mount a comeback.

Kahurangi would then score again with another chip and chase which put the game well beyond doubt.

Waimea Old Boys captain Codey Grimes says he felt like they were in it through the first 40 minutes.

“Mistakes cost us pretty badly. We just couldn’t score when we had the opportunity, and left

Duane Whiting Contracting Ltd

those moments out there.”

But he was also proud of his team, saying it was one of those games where the scoreboard didn’t show the full picture.

From a team that struggled to get numbers at training last year, he says the coaches are now struggling to pick a team with a wealth of talent.

“Last year we were sort of battling to field a backline consistently. . . now there’s competition [for spots] at training.”

Kahurangi captain Josh Te Hira says the message at the break was as much about momentum as it was about making the little moments count.

“All it takes is one play.”

The influence of Sam Briggs at first-five has seen the Waimea Old Boys kicking game improve leaps and bounds, providing a strong base to attack. Photo: Chris Symes/Shuttersport.

Armageddon disc golf tournament tees off in style

JACK MALCOLM

It was a busy weekend for local disc golfers as the annual Armageddon Disc Golf Tournament doubled as the final competition for the New Zealand Disc Golf Elite Series.

Players from across the country, as well as three American pros, Avery Jenkins, Maverick Robertson and Ella Hansen, gathered at Redstone Golf Park for a practice day on Friday before three competitive 18-hole rounds over the weekend.

Avery Jenkins emerged as the champion, finishing with a remarkable -19 from his three rounds, a three-shot lead over Maverick and Christchurch’s Ashton Clark T3 on -16.

Anthony Rodgers was the top local finisher in the pro open, with his -7 good enough for a standalone seventh after consistent rounds of 59, 59 and 58, with locals Tom Strawbridge (11th, +8)

Sports results

and Angus McKenzie (15th, +26) also in the pro field.

Motueka’s Patrick Ludlow finished third in the mixed amateur 1 with -5 after three rounds, while Nelson’s Justin Kennedy finished second in the over 40s mixed amateur on +1.

For the first time ever in the national Disc Golf scene, the first tee off was from a raised platform

Giants NBS Nelson Giants 88 - Auckland Tuatara 84

Rugby Tasman Trophy: Kahurangi 36 - Waimea Old Boys 18

Central 15 - Marist 14

Moutere 8 - Nelson 5

Stoke - Bye

Football

Suburbs Men: Selwyn United FC 0 - Nelson Suburbs 5

Suburbs Women: Nelson Suburbs 2 - NW

United 3

Premier men: Smith & Sons Richmond 1 - FC Nelson Karenni 6

three metres off the ground and splitting the gap through a triple Mando (mandatory obstacles).

The disc golf fun didn’t stop there.

A challenging nine-hole putting course in the City of Purgatory paintball arena culminated in a fiercely fought final on Saturday evening. A Glow-in-the-Dark Hole-in-One from the raised tee-off saw a lucky West Coaster

Rangers 2 - Nelson Suburbs SPL Reserves

2

FC Nelson 3 - Sprig & Fern Tahuna 0

Golden Bay Mountain Goats 4 - Motueka 1

Premier women:

Get Cars FC Nelson Diamonds 0 - Golden Bay Shield Maidens 6

Motueka Angels 0 - Nelson Suburbs

Swans 9

Sprig & Fern Tahuna Breakers 0 - Hothouse Creative Richmond Foxes 7

Nelson Suburbs Women’s SPL Reserves 6

- Mapua Cougars 1

Netball premier promotion/relegation: Stoke 45 - Prices Waimea Pango 36

walk off with an unexpected $500 prize, and a skeet shooting opportunity saw just nine targets hit after 2000 paintballs were shot.

Top of the South sunshine, good food, great company, striking, event-specific Armageddon discs and awesome trophies sealed this event as a highlight of the Elite Series and disc golf in New Zealand.

Hayden Shore and his team from Disc Shop, together with local Nelsonian and assistant tournament director Tom Strawbridge, have once again shown the quality and competitiveness of our courses and the number of players is increasing with every tournament as the sport of disc golf continues growing in leaps and bounds across the country.

Grant Chaney

Michelle Westrupp

Louise Sangster

Brad Evans

Flynn Drummond

Logan Stewart

Shelley Illingworth

Peter Wilson

George Crosbie

A huge field of disc golfers from across the country, and America, were in town at the start of April to take on the Armageddon Disc Golf Tournament. Photo: Norman Hensley.

Community Notices

Havelock at 9.45. BYO lunch. Contact Angela 027 4441546.

TASMAN AQUARIUM CLUB Inspiration, advice and general chat about fish and aquarium hobby. Meet monthly first Monday at 7 pm - Next meeting 13 May, Ph Robin 027 5442518.

“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: 027-9741758

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

HOPE TENNIS CLUB Social Tennis every Tuesday morning from 9.30 a.m. at Hope Tennis Courts, Hope Domain. All abilities most welcome. Queries 0211729257

NELSON 50+ WALKING GROUP Tuesday April 23. Cullen Point Lookout. If carpooling meet at Kinzett Tce ( off Trafalgar Street/ QE11 Drive roundabout) at 8.45am. Alternatively meet at Slogan St,

SING WITH TASMONICS! Friendly mixed 4-part harmony chorus seeks new singers for our varied repertoire. Rehearsals Tuesdays 7.15 at Club Waimea, Richmond. For more information phone Philippa: 027-549-7713.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN: Get Crafty – Ocean Art Richmond Library, Tuesday 23 April, 10.00am –11.00am. Create an underwater scene with pastels and dye.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN: Whatever Floats Your Boat! Richmond Library, Tuesday 23 April, 1.00pm - 3.00pm. Build your very own boat. A great STEM activity exploring concepts such as buoyancy, weight, and properties of different materials.

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

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

PILATES IN RICHMOND Multi level Pilates classes suitable for both experienced and beginner students starting Wednesday May 1st 11:30am & 5:30pm $170 Enrolments essential Meeting-room, Richmond Town Hall, Cambridge St. Contact Sue sue@suewilson.kiwi.nz 0292 813 735 FaceBook Classical Pilates with Sue

WELLBY TALKING CAFÉ: 1.30am – 3pm, Wednesday 24th April, Halifax Café. Wellby Talking Cafés are about social connection & finding out about groups, activities & services. www.wellby. org.nz 03 5467681

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 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

SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN: Lego® Fun - ‘Under the Sea’ Richmond Library, Thursday 18 April, 10.00am – 11.00am or 2.00pm – 3.00pm. Help us create a beautiful ocean mural!

NELSON MALE VOICE CHOIR ANZAC Day concert at the Nelson Cathedral on Thursday 25h April 2024

at 2:30pm. Adults $35/Concession $28 under 18s $5; tickets www.ncma.nz or cash/ EFTPOS at the door

RICHMOND CREATIVE FIBRE Meets at Birchwood Hall, Richmond Showgrounds. 9.30 am every 2nd , 3rd & 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

FAMILY HISTORY FRIDAY at Richmond Library’s Research Room. Explore local and Family History resources with specialist library staff. Friday 19 April 10.30am – 12.00pm

French conversation every Friday between 4-6pm at Honest Lawyer Stoke or Vic Rose Nelson. Alliance

Française Contact Doug Hill 5446288

BETTER BREATHERS: see Tuesdays’s notice. 10am Tuesdays & 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

QUALITY CRAFTS NELSON Richmond Baptist Church 123 Salibury Rd, Sat, 20 Apr, 8am – noon. Walk through the Boot Market to the Church Lounge to find us. We have a wide selection of quality local handmade crafts with something suitable for everyone! Contact Kay 0275476777 for further details.

AMPUTEE SOCIETY OF TOP OF THE SOUTH holding a morning tea at Toad Hall on the 4th May -10am onwards for amputees and their carers.

SOCIAL DANCE at Mapua Hall 20th April 7.3011pm Live music, good fun, raffles. $8 plus plate. Everyone welcome. Motueka Social Dance Group. Enquiries: Lloyd 03 5289415

CAR BOOT MARKET Richmond Baptist Church, 123 Salisbury Road Saturday 20th April 8amNoon, open for stall holders from 6.30am. Heaps of bargains, yummy food and free coffee.

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.

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.

Advertising Sales Consultant Nelson Magazine

The Nelson Magazine is growing!

So we need another sales person to help take it to the next level.

Are you a people person with good communication skills, confident, flexible, and work well in a fast paced environment? Then this is the job for you!

Responsibilities include developing and maintaining relationships with advertising clients and increasing sales through new initiatives.

Full time, with the opporunity to also be part time. This role is results-driven, therefore you will be paid a retainer, plus commission.

If you’re ready to start a new career with a growing company, please email your CV to editor @ nelsonmag.co.nz by Wednesday 24 April.

SOUTH Douglas (Doug) Hosking 5.11.54 – 17.4.22

It broke my heart to lose you.

But you did not go alone. Part of me went with you. Wherever you may roam. Saluting you - The last Mohican. Eve South, Wakefield LLOYD Bella nee Arabella Neill-Fraser

Mercifully passed in peace and with no pain, close family were at her bedside during her last night, in the early morning of April 9, 2024 at the Nelson Tasman Hospice after many struggles with illness. Dearly beloved wife of Adam (for 35 years), mother and mother-inlaw of Phoebe and Danny, Olivia and Michael, Flora, and Leo and grandmother to Amelie, Henry, and Raya. A private nondenominational service will be held at the Hope Gardens of Remembrance Crematorium, on Saturday, April 27, commencing at 1pm.

Messages to the Lloyd Family C/- Marsden House, 41 Nile Street, Nelson, and if you wish, it can be included at her commemoration event which will be live streamed, link available on request please email support@ daysfuneralservices.co.nz

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Nelson Hospice: https:// www.nelsonhospice.org. nz/support-hospice/ donate-funds/” in Bella’s memory.

Investing in our future

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

Tell us what you think of our plans by 4.00 pm on 28 April 2024. Visit shape.tasman.govt.nz/10YP to find out more and have your say.

shape.tasman.govt.nz/10YP