Ōtaki Mail November 2022

ŌTAKI MAIL

Kāpiti Mayor ready for a fresh approach

BY ANN CHAPMAN

Janet Holborow is the new mayor for the Kāpiti Coast, and Shelly Warwick is the new Ōtaki ward councillor on the District Council.

The elections held on 8 October delivered a lot of new faces to the Council, including three Districtwide councillors, Otaki’s Rob Kofoed, Te Horo resident Liz Koh and Lawrence Kirby, who will be Deputy Mayor.

Congratulations to the mayor, ten councillors, and 20 community board members who will represent their communities for the next three years. Otaki’s Penny Gaylor was returned for a third term as the Kāpiti Coast representative on the Greater Wellington Regional Council. She again received over 10,200 votes, returning her with a strong majority of 2392. More election results on page 9.

New Mayor of Kāpiti Janet Holborow says the line-up of newly elected members and a new Chief Executive brings an opportunity to reset the council to address challenges ahead.

“This was a close result, we have many new faces, and the message is clear that our community wants a fresh approach, and I’m ready to bring that.

For Holborow bringing the council and community together on a shared vision will be the first step. “Over the coming weeks, elected members will set the direction for the next three years, focussing on building trust with each other and the community as we face the massive challenges ahead.”

“The biggest issues facing us are Climate Change and Three Waters”, says the Mayorelect. “When Three Waters happens Local Government will be thrown on its ear, and

we have the opportunity to create a future for local government which focuses on local issues and services.”

“It’s clear that the impacts of our changing climate are already with us. The recent flooding at Peka Peka and Raumati is an indication of what’s to come. It’s a top priority to bed in and put a climate change lens overall council business. I will create a Climate Change and Environment Committee to continue with the work already underway in our Climate Emergency Action Plan”.

“We have so many individuals and organisations doing incredible work in the climate space. It will be important to support these groups and work as a council to protect our environment and biodiversity.

Furthermore, Holborow says that the community boards need to be supported to connect with their communities and achieve their goals. “The community boards are stacked with talent, and I’ll ensure they’re better resourced to provide a stronger linkage into council decision-making.”

“We have such a vibrant and creative district. There’s so much we can do to support the talent which exists in our community, and I look forward to a council which works alongside the community to make the most of the people and opportunities in our district.”

“There is a lot to do but by working in partnership across the region, with Iwi, other councils, and with Central Government we’ll find shared solutions to shared issues”, adds Holborow.

Fresh in their new roles, from left: KCDC CEO Darren Edwards, Ōtaki Ward Councillor Shelly Warwick, Mayor Janet Holborow

Mayor Janet Holborow

Levin’s newest retirement village gaining traction

Levin’s newest retirement village gaining traction

Just up the road from Ōtaki a new retirement village is taking shape, with the Levin War Veterans Village show home expected to open in the coming weeks. The village will feature 59 villas and sits right next to Prouse Bush Reserve, with stunning views of the Tararua Range.

Villas in the first stage of the development are on sale now, with 12 villas set to be completed by January.

Village sales agents Murray and Sue Woodley say they are excited for people to see the show home and everything the village has to offer.

“The villas are brand new, the location is sunny and flat, and it’s close to Levin town centre – so shops, cafes, and community facilities are all close by.”

The two-bedroom villas are modern and spacious, fully insulated, and have a conservatory and a single internal garage.

The villas also have independent Lifemark 4 accreditation, which means they have been designed to be usable by people over their lifetime without the need for major adaptations.

Dogs and cats are welcome, as are garden pots for flowers or shrubs, to really make the villas feel like home.

A community centre will also be built at the village, giving residents a place to socialise and take part in various events and activities.

If there comes a time when extra support is needed, Enliven’s neighbouring Levin War Veterans Home will offer additional services such as meals, laundry, and short-term respite and health recovery care.

The well-known home also offers a full continuum of care – rest home, hospital, and dementia care.

To view the show home, call sales agents Sue and Murray Woodley on 06 349 1409 or 027 243 3657. Alternatively, visit enlivencentral.org.nz for more information.

BY FLEUR HOBSON

The only access to some properties is over part of another property. When the right to pass over the land is formalised it becomes a “right of way”.

A right of way is an “easement” listed on the certificate of title of the affected properties. That easement gives one property owner the right to pass and repass over a specified area of land that is owned by someone else. The access may be by vehicles, by foot or by machinery, and can also extend to domestic or farm animals.

The Land Transfer Regulations in 2018 spells out what a right of way is. The regulations state that: “A right of way includes the right to have the easement facility kept clear at all times of obstructions (whether caused by parked vehicles, deposit of minerals, or

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unreasonable impediment) to the use and enjoyment of the easement facility”. If you have use of a right of way, it is important to check whether this has been formally provided for. You can do this by checking your property’s certificate of title. This should state, for example: “Subject to a right of way over part marked A on Deposited Plan [plan number] specified in Easement Certificate [easement certificate number]. If you have a driveway that runs over another property, it is important to check –preferably with an experienced lawyer –that you have an easement in place.

Rights of way are becoming more frequent, often as the result of sections being subdivided. They are commonly used for driveways. Disputes over right of ways are not uncommon, however. They

most commonly arise over who should pay for repairs and maintenance, and also if one neighbour is obstructing the right of way, preventing access. The Land Transfer Regulations provide that costs in relation to a right of way are to be shared equally between all the parties that use the right of way. The Property Law Act is more general in its wording, however. It states that each party must make a “reasonable contribution” to the costs. If one party is responsible for any damage, both pieces of legislation say the party responsible for the damage is solely liable for the repair costs. That can lead to disputes over who should pay and how much they should contribute. There can, for example, be a dispute over who was responsible for damage to a driveway. Disputes can also arise over the use of the

land covered by an easement. Sometimes these disputes can be complex. That was highlighted in a recent High Court decision [Fuge v Wimax New Zealand Limited [2022] NZHC 1121]. A dispute arose after Wimax built structures, including retaining walls and pillars, over land included in an easement.The right of way easement was 6.2 metres wide with a sealed driveway along it that was 3 metres wide. The new structures did not impede access. After the Fuges complained, the dispute was heard by an experienced arbitrator – a former High Court judge – who decided only the sealed drive had to be kept clear.

The High Court disagreed, however, and granted the complainants the right to appeal. This highlights just how important it is to see an experienced lawyer if you have any questions or concerns about your right of way. We would be only too happy to provide you quality advice on rights of way and to help you generally.

Contact Fleur, Susie or Freya at Hobson Mills Law, 364 7190, 282 Mill Road –opposite Farmlands.Before deciding to become a guarantor, it can be useful to think about making an alternative arrangement. One example of an alternative arrangement is if your son or daughter wants to take out a loan, you lend them the money yourself, possibly from your own resources, or by extending your mortgage. If you are considering a guarantee we would be only too happy to provide you quality advice and to help you generally. Contact Fleur, Susie or Freya at Hobson Mills Law, 364 7190, 282 Mill Road – opposite Farmlands.

Murray and Sue Woodley

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Gold star for 25 years fire fighting

BY FRANK NEILL

Ōtaki volunteer fire fighter Graeme Rankin was presented a gold star for his 25 years’ service at a ceremony at the Ōtaki Fire Station on 22 October.

Ian King, the Ōtaki Volunteer Fire Brigade’s Chief Fire Officer, presented Mr Rankin with the medal.

Mr King was the brigade’s Chief Fire officer when Mr Rankin joined the brigade on 20 October 1987.

Gold stars are usually presented by a high-ranking official with the United Fire Brigades Association (UFBA). On this occasion “the UFBA has allowed me to make the gold star presentation,” Mr King said.

Gold stars are given to only about five per cent of those who serve as fire fighters, Mr King said when making the presentation.

“Out of thousands of people serving throughout the country, a lot don’t get anywhere near that.”

Mr Rankin “is the 21st gold star recipient in the history of the brigade”. It was also the 8,467th gold star awarded in New Zealand, Mr King said.

Mr Rankin was then presented a plaque marking the gold star award by Mati Soi, the President of the Wellington Provincial Fire Brigade Association. He made the presentation representing the United Fire Brigades Association.

“The pathway to leadership is through service,” Mr Soi said when presenting the plaque to Mr Rankin.

“Thank you for your service to the fire brigade and to Ōtaki.”

Mr Soi also thanked all the fire fighters for their service, thanked their families and thanked their employers.

The award to Mr Rankin represented a “significant milestone of service to the community,” Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s acting group manager for Wellington, Mr Steve Hudson, said.

“I think it is pretty special what we do,”

Mr Rankin told the Ōtaki Mail.

“It’s helping people.”

Mr Rankin gave an example when the brigade attended a medical emergency “and we brought the person back. They went on to live for another nine months.

“When you have gone to a call and you achieve what you set out to do, that’s a highlight.”

Volunteer fire fighting takes up a lot of your time, he adds. “Some nights we only get two or three hours’ sleep, and then we have to go to work the next day.”

But that is what firefighters do – they move “heaven and earth to service their community, and don’t get paid for it.”

At the same time “you get a buzz about doing what you are doing”. In addition, the fire brigade has a “great culture”.

“Ian [King] was the chief when I started and Brent [Bythell] was the deputy. Now I am the deputy,” Mr Rankin said.

Mr Rankin works for Farmlands, having been in the same industry all 43 years of his working life.

In the early days of his time in Ōtaki – he has lived here for some 35 years – he ran his own business, Willco Trading.

As well as the gold star presentation to Mr Rankin, a series of other awards were presented.

Dave McHattie was presented the 15 years Long Service Medal and the Queen’s (soon to be King’s) long service and good conduct award for 14 years’ service.

Eleven firefighters were also presented with bars to their medals for an additional two years’ service, with two being presented in absentia. The bars were presented to Shane Read, Rory McLennan, Moana Bond, Sam Paroli, Hoani Taratoa, Kieran Bloxham, Makanesi Kata, Simon Black, Blair Bregmen, Chris Temperton and Byron Williams.

Ōtaki teen wins national snooker title

BY FRANK NEILL

Blane Watson is the New Zealand under-21 snooker champion.

The Ōtaki player went into the semi-final ranked third and needing to beat both the top-ranked and second-ranked players to take the tile, contested in Christchurch from 14 to 16 October.

After comfortably defeating the topranked player, Christchurch’s Shayden McKenzie, 4-0 in the semi-final, Blane qualified for the final.

Blane and Hamilton’s Cody Unkovich produced a nail-biter, which went down to the last frame.

Blane stepped up in the final frame, however, to take out a 4–3 victory.

“It was really good to watch,” Blane’s father, Don Watson told the Ōtaki Mail.

“He’s come a long way.”

Blane has certainly come a long way since he began playing competition snooker five years ago.

Since then, he has risen to represent New Zealand in China in 2019 and 2020 – before Covid put a temporary stop to international competition.

He also finished second in last year’s under 21 competition, losing the final to a player who has now turned 21.

Unlike most competitive snooker players, Blane coaches himself, and completes a significant amount of training and practicse on his own, playing at the Ōtaki RSA and the Waikanae club.

“He has his own style, and is a pretty attacking player, which can be daunting for his rivals,” his father says.

With the New Zealand title under his belt, the 19-year-old Blane will represent New Zealand at the next world championships, to be played in Sydney in February.

Blane’s victory was the second top placing for family members in national championships this month.

His first cousin, Keira Johns, won a gold medal at the National Taekwon-Do championships on 1 October.

left: Ōtaki’s Chief Fire Officer Ian King congratulates Graeme Rankin after having just presented him with the gold star, pinned to Mr Rankin’s jacket.

bottom left: Ōtaki’s Chief Fire Officer with the recipients of awards presented on 22 October (from left): Ian King, Shane Read, Dave McHattie, Rory McLennan, Moana Bond, Sam Paroli, Graeme Rankin, Hoani Taratoa, Kieran Bloxham, Makanesi Kata, Simon Black and Blair Bregmen.

BY VIVIENNE BAILEY

Te Horo Hall fundraising event

The Te Horo Hall Society has partnered with Rotary International to fundraise for Ukraine’s displaced and injured families in the current war.

ʻAll funds raised will go directly to places inside Ukraine,’ said Te Horo Hall chairperson, Sharon Hurst. ʻWe have tried to stage the event at absolutely no cost – every hour and product has been given voluntarily by supporters.’

The line-up for the evening includes two Te Horo bands, Te Horo Beach Shed Band and Brooklyns, plus solo artist, Greg Christensen. Music will play continuously, and the dance floor will be open.

Speakers for the Saturday, 12 November event include Marilyn Stevens (Rotary International) and another who will talk about the situation and life in Ukraine.

To make the evening available to all, the event is BYO and bring-a-plate, ʻas we’re starting at 7.00pm, the plate is likely to be nibbles and finger food.’

To keep costs down no tickets have been printed, and entry price has been kept deliberately low to make the event affordable. Donations will be accepted at the door and throughout the evening (bring cash).

A list of donations will be on the Te Horo Hall Facebook page.

Christmas at Te Horo Te Horo Hall and surrounds will host the 2022

Christmas Market on Saturday, 4 December, 10.00am to 1.00pm. Back after two long years, there’ll be more than 50 stalls selling local products, Santa, sausage sizzle and entertainment. Further details in next month’s Te Horo Talk. To book a stall or for more details email tehorohallmarket@gmail.com.

Te Horo Country Market

Te Horo’s community market is on Sunday, 6 November 10.00am to 1.00pm at Te Horo Hall. More than 30 stalls will be selling a huge range of locally produced goods such as award-winning, organic extra virgin olive oil, honey, preserves and natural skincare, arts and crafts and lots more. The seasonal surplus stall will be there with heaps of locally grown, early summer fruit and veggies.

Drinks and Nibbles

Chill out at Te Horo’s monthly social gettogether on Friday, 4 November, 5.30pm at Te Horo Hall. BYO drink and a plate of nibbles to share. Catch up with your neighbours and meet new ones. All welcome.

Otaki’s boutique flower farm

BY VIVIENNE BAILEY

Recent spring weather has brought an abundance of pretty, gentle-hued blooms to Ōtaki’s boutique flower farm, the Gorge Road Flower Company.

Owner, Jess Vincent and her family bought the nine-acre property in 2018. Situated one kilometre into the totara tunnel in Ōtaki Gorge Road, the land is predominately bush, divided by streams. For a city-girl born and bred it was a giant leap.

ʻI was born in Auckland, living my adult life in Wellington,’ Jess explains. ʻI’d always hankered after a life in the country. I guess you could say I harboured a dream,’ she adds.

After a period of searching, the young family found Ōtaki Gorge Road and a 100-year-old homestead.

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We found a lovely spot in Ōtaki Gorge Road, high up, overlooking farmland, the old homestead surrounded by native bush and streams,’ Jess says.

Determined on a change of lifestyle they ʻtook the plunge and settled into the lovely community.’

The property was over-run with blackberry and weeds, particularly wandering willie, Jess recalls, although there were pockets of usable land with natural windbreaks.

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We started clearing bit by bit and basically making the most of what we did have.’

Although starting with a minimal flower growing background (but lots of time spent veggie growing) Jess began to discover the beauty and form of flowers.

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At the time I liked growing veggies better, they were practical, useful plants and edible. But having creative interests, like quilting and sewing, I began to see the beauty and appreciate the colours of flowers, and the possibility of a cut-flower garden.’

Cultivating the land was challenging, with stony soil conditions in some places, clay in others, and the actual area available for growing was limited by the bush reserve. However, Jess grows different varieties of plants in different locations, depending on soil requirements.

ʻIt just means I must plan carefully to utilise the areas,’ she says. ʻIt’s been a huge learning curve.’

Bulbs grown include tulips, anemone, and ranunculus, although Jess tells me the plants are prone to botrytis. Now belonging to a national network of commercial flower growers she has learnt the disease is common to ranunculus.

Jess also grows annuals such as larkspurs, straw flowers, bells of Ireland and dahlias, depending on the season. All plants are grown in the field using organic practises and with that sustainable focus Jess takes a no-dig approach to farm management, building soil structure with compost and mulch, and looking after soil biology such as microorganisms: ʻregenerative farming practice.’

Although Jess and family take a break over winter, ʻto get some big jobs done,’ spring bouquets started arriving early in September. Jess favours a natural, whimsical approach in her floral arrangements — ʻa little bit wild.’

In her third season — the long-term marketing plan a work in progress — currently Jess is selling romantic floral bunches from her home flower-stall, open weekends (weekdays by appointment) or Jess can deliver from Ōtaki to Waikanae. Gorge Road Flower Co: 676 Ōtaki Gorge Road, or check out Jess’s gorgeous new website: www.gorgeroadflowerco.com

Who Moved Te Horo?

voting purposes, as it “Does not have an identifiable Community of interest!” according to the faceless bureaucrats at the Electoral Boundaries Commission

The Dairy Factory was probably the identifiable Commercial Centre in the early days, The Te Horo Store and later The Red House Café probably served that purpose in recent years. Te Horo School really is the main ‘Heart of Te Horo’ now, along with Te Horo Hall? Then, you are proceeding up the new Ōtaki Bypass, you get to Ōtaki Gorge Road where the sign says exit here for Te Horo? But hold on, we just spent 6 km passing through all that didn’t we??

We like to think that the new Expressway cuts Te Horo in half, Coast this side, Hautere that side, but at a stroke, the Electoral Commission has cut Te Horo in half, School Road/Beach Road south to Waikanae, The rest Te Waka/ Ōtaki Gorge Road absorbed into Ōtaki!

Who IS this Putinesque bureaucrat? Where is the United Nations when you need them, will WE get missiles and air defence help to stop the annexure by Waikanae? Who is our Zelenskyy in this situation!!

Please support the ‘Aid for Ukraine’ Event at Te Horo hall on 12th November

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Seagrass Gallery pops up at the beach

Grant Stevenson has opened a pop-up art gallery to feature his own work. However, his first exhibition was for local artists, which he presented in partnership with Mahara gallery.

Grant has always wanted to be a painter. Now he has the time, he’s put his toe in the water and has prepared a small building at the back of his Ōtaki Beach property, lined it and started a gallery. His aim is to help and support local artists and to relearn how to paint himself. In this lovely environment it will not be hard to pick up the brushes and start.

He has spent some time helping Mahara with fundraising and this first exhibition at his gallery was a fundraiser for them. There were 17 artists showing their works and a third of the sales prices were to go

to Mahara to assist in the new redevelopment. This, his first exhibition showing the work of other locals, was open every Saturday during October.

Several works sold.

Grant's own paintings will be part of the Kāpiti Coast Art Trail and thereafter he will open every Sunday in the summer showing his own work. He is also planning to present more exhibitions to support local artists in the future.

Seagrass Gallery

38 Moana St, Ōtaki Beach

Open for the Kāpiti Coast Art Trail, 5–6 and 12–13 November

Open thereafter every Sunday in the summer months.

Scottish Loch, Grant Stevenson. Acrylic on heavy watercolour paper

Kids can struggle with long COVID

BY ANN CHAPMAN

There is now enough international evidence to show that kids can suffer from long COVID — about 25% of them. Long COVID (or post-COVID-19 condition) is used to describe symptoms that continue for more than 12 weeks after a positive test. In children, it describes a level of symptoms that impact their everyday functioning. Most medical bodies say it normally takes a few days or weeks to recover from COVID-19, and that most will make a full recovery within 12 weeks

But for those children who develop long covid it can be devastating as the illness can impact of school, on learning, on sport and social interaction.

The symptoms are pretty much the same as for adults. It is characterised mainly by extreme fatigue, with headaches and

difficulty in concentrating. They may also have muscle and joint pain, dizziness, chest pain, a cough and loss of the sense of taste and smell. Most troubling can be depression. Some may barely be able to make it out of bed.

Evidence from the first Italy study of long COVID in children suggests that more than half of children aged between 6 and 16 years old who contract the virus have at least one symptom lasting more than 120 days, with 42.6 per cent impaired by these symptoms during daily activities.

And the UK Office for National Statistics’ latest report estimates that 12.9 per cent of UK children aged 2 to 11, and 14.5 per cent of children aged 12 to 16, still have symptoms five weeks after their first infection.

Getting fit for summer

BY ANN CHAPMAN

If like me, you’ve been in hibernation for the past year, hiding from Covid, hiding from the world and the cold of winter, you may feel the need to move again now that the sun is supposed to shine. Getting fit for summer may feel like a slog for some, or an opportunity to rejoint the gym, or the world for others. It maybe that hibernation has put on a few kilos, stiffened those muscles, untightened those bellies. Whatever the motivation there are people to help and a series of activities to get you moving again. It’s best to balance with cardio and strength training. It’s the cardio which burns calories and the strength to reshape your body and is a key aspect of fitness training as it will build strength and endurance.

Why do it? Simply because it can be fun, it improves your health, you feel more energetic and it can have benefits for your mental health.

A key consideration when starting up a fitness programme again is to avoid injury. Start slowly, don’t rush like a bull at a gate, and build yourself up to a sustainable level. You don’t want to have to stop while an injury heals and slow down the momentum.

By Yourself? With Friends? At a Gym? Or a Personal Trainer?

Whatever method you choose it’s good to have a plan, even if it just keeps you motivated. Setting goals keeps you on track. Making dietary changes may help you reach your goals faster if your aim is

to lose weight. Whatever the reason, listen to your body, stop if there is pain but don’t give up. Start small. And starting with a warmup helps flexibility and blood flow and decreases the risk of injury.

Stretching

And I find the best way to start the day or an exercise programme is to stretch, arms, legs, buttocks and back. It loosens you up ready for the heavy stuff. It releases tension and soreness by lengthening the muscles, reducing the risk of injury, and improves posture.

Walking, Jogging and Running

By Yourself

Housework is exercise, Gardening is exercise, walking to the supermarket is exercise as is wandering along the beach looking at the changes nature gives us on our favourite playing ground. Walking the dog, walking the spouse limbers you up and clears the mind.

So what can you do?

• See your GP if symptoms persist beyond 4 weeks.

• Aim for gradual gains, like getting out of bed, gentle exercise and a slow return to school work.

• Have a routine in place.

• Help your child maintain social connections with friends and whānau. Patience is the best we can do for these kids, patience, understanding, rest. COVID has been tough on kids, even those who didn’t get it. To have long covid during the most important time of their young lives is hard. Their routine during lockdown, together with the absence of friends has caused difficulties which still remain. It’s tough on everyone.

(wet or fine). Walks start promptly at 10:00 am. Walks are confined to the Kapiti Coast District, from Paekakariki in the south to Ōtaki in the north. Generally, they are two-hour walks. The schedule of walks is drawn up by individual walkers and others take part at their own risk.

Gyms And Personal Trainers

A good way to get you going and keep you at it. You pay the money so feel you need to continue so it’s good for motivation. And a personal trainer can not only get you fit and keep you fit but can adjust your programme to fit your needs as you continue onward, but best of all, they can stop you hurting yourself by showing you how to use the machines correctly.

Sports Clubs

daily grind of ploughing up and down the pool, fast or slow it’s a solitary form of sport. If swimming is a part of your fitness routine, set a target for the number of laps you want to be able to do by the time summer starts. Alternatives are walking in the pool with a friend, (followed by coffee afterwards). Then there are the various form of aquafit at different times to suits any level of fitness.

Ōtaki Mail

For news and advertising contact: Penny Gaylor Editor phone: 027 664 8869, or email: otakimail@xtra.co.nz

Printed by Beacon Print.

Delivered to every house (urban and rural) at the end of every month.

If your paper doesn’t arrive, please tell us and we’ll sort it.

Groups

The Kapiti Thursday Walking Group is an informal group, who walk every week

Lots of them in Ōtaki. Not only to have fun, but keeps you fit and can be incredibly social.

Swimming

Ōtaki Pool is a great venue where you can swim or take aquafit classes. Only the most fervent of swimmers can handle the

Old School Beauty & Electrolysis

Very successful Discover China Day

BY FRANK NEILL

Around 150 Ōtaki College students took part in the school’s Discover China Day on 28 September.

Discover China Day was held during Chinese Language Week, an annual event designed to increase Chinese language learning and promote Chinese culture in New Zealand.

Chinese Language week ran from 25 September to 1 October this year.

Ōtaki College’s Discover China Day “was a very successful day,” the leader of the school’s Mandarin programme, Destine Haeata Kuku, told the Ōtaki Mail.

Students in the college’s year 7 and 8 classes took part in five Chinese cultural events during the day.

Two of the events were dances, where the students had the opportunity to try their hand at the fan dance, and to dress in Chinese lion costumes for the lion dance.

Haibo Li visited the school to introduce the students to the fan dance, while Winsome Lam led the lion dance programme.

Fenxiao Mang not only gave a talk on martial arts, but also led the students in some martial arts action, while Shine Yang led the Tai Chi event.

Jessie Ling played the guzheng – a traditional Chinese zither that has a

an organisation dedicated to promoting Chinese language teaching and to fostering international cultural and intellectual exchange.

It is particularly appropriate that Chinese Language Week is celebrated in Ōtaki, given the long association of Chinese people with the town.

That goes back to before the turn of the 20th Century, when a number of Cantonese speaking Chinese arrived in Ōtaki, primarily from the Otago goldfields and from Wellington.

They leased land, as they were not permitted to own it, and they began market gardening for the Wellington markets.

By 1910, there were numerous market gardens operated by Chinese.

By 1988 Chinese families resident in this area for at least two generations include some very well-known names: the Moys, Hings, Chongs, Chungs, Wings, Youngs, Gows, Yungs, Wongs, Sues and Yees.

Some of the town’s street names reflect this Chinese heritage.

This includes Jean Hing Place. When Jean Hing and her older son Brian unveiled the street sign on 22 August 2007, they were unveiling the first bilingual street sign in New Zealand.

Jean Hing was the daughter of Jack and Sum Lai Hing, who came to New Zealand where they had nine children, who grew up bilingual and helped their parents in the family market garden and green

Help to shape the future

Ōtaki College students performing the lion dance during the school’s Discover China Day.

Ōtaki Update

Planning for new opportunities in Ōtaki

With the opening of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway only a few months away, it’s an important time to consider what changing traffic volumes might mean for the local economy.

Ōtaki will still be accessible via the expressway at both ends. This, along with improvements to the current road and retail strip area, provides exciting opportunities to create an attractive destination for shoppers, businesses and visitors alike.

That is why we’re supporting a new Retail and Investment Strategy for Ōtaki, currently being developed by Elevate Ōtaki.

Both businesses and consumers are encouraged to provide their thoughts on what they’d like to see for the area and ways in which we can attract people to Ōtaki.

 Help inform the town’s future direction by completing the survey at elevateotaki.nz

Meet your new Council and Community Board

Thank you to everyone who voted in the 2022 local election.

This year saw a voter turnout of 19,743, which represents 45.8 per cent of eligible voters. This is up from total voter turnout of 18,343 in 2019.

Shelly Warwick has been elected as Ōtaki Ward Councillor, and Chris Papps, Simon Black, Cam Butler and Jackie Elliott to positions on the Ōtaki Community Board. Induction of the new Council and community boards is well under way, and they will be sworn in at a formal inauguration ceremony tonight.

Get ready for the Kāpiti Art Trail

Calling all art aficionados! Assemble your crew for the Kāpiti Coast Art Trail 2022.

A jewellery junkie? A watercolour devotee? A pottery fiend? No problem – with over 120 amazing Kāpiti artists showcasing their work you can customise your Art Trail to your interests.

This year we are also joining with local businesses to offer rewards to Art Trail attendees. Get a rewards card stamped by 10 artists to redeem your reward at participating businesses.

This year’s Art Trail runs over November 5/6 and 12/13, 10am–4pm.

 Visit kapiticoastarttrail.co.nz to start planning your weekend.

Ōtaki splash pad open for summer

The temperatures are creeping up, we appear to be moving on from the wettest winter on record and the promise of a glorious Kāpiti summer is lifting spirits across the rohe (district).

So, it’s a great to have our splash pads up and running.

Both our Haruātai Park and Marine Gardens splash pads have been switched on for spring and summer.

If you’ve got antsy kids why not head out and let them enjoy some water play – it’s fun, free and both are situated in beautiful parks.

 Find directions at kapiticoast.govt.nz/ aquatics/splash-pads

Kāpiti local-body election results

BY LLOYD CHAPMAN

Six candidates sought the mayoralty, Janet Holborow (right) winning narrowly from Rob McCann.

Shelly Warwick and Chris Papps sought the position of Ōtaki’s KCDC councillor, with Shelly winning by a 422 margin. A Registered nurse and a tireless volunteer, Shelly was previously on the Ōtaki Community Board. By tradition, as Ōtaki’s KCDC councillor, Shelly will be appointed back to the Community Board.

BY SHELLY WARWICK

I would like to thank all those who supported me to be the Ōtaki Ward Councillor for this triennium; it is a privilege to be elected. It will be a pleasure to work with the Community Board and with Rob Kofoed, who was elected as a Districtwide Councillor; he will be a great ally around the Council table.

In my six years on the Community Board I was very involved in KCDC’s Cycleway, Walkway, Bridleway (CWB) Committee and also the Road Safety Advisory Group — two groups I would love to continue with as a Councillor. I have met with new Mayor Janet Holborow and new CEO Darren Edwards as well as the new councillors for this triennium — there is a lot of positivity around the table.

We have a lot of change coming to Ōtaki with the opening of the PP2O expressway and I will be advocating for this change to not adversly affect the heart and identity of our community; and that growth in population is matched with growth of our services and infrastructure. This growth also offers opportunities. One that is very exciting is the prospect of eco-tourism: utilising our CWB network and encouraging visitors to walk, cycle and horse-ride around our network and support our businesses while they are here.

This is the community that I grew up in and my children have grown up in, and it is the friend and family connections that make it special. I have spent many years on school and sports committees running fundraisers and the Ōtaki community is extremely generous both in financial and

personal resource/time contributions. We punch above our weight with regard to events organised and supported by our community.

I look forward to a positive triennium and being involved in new aspects of the community and meeting new people.

Shelly: 021 949 214

Ōtaki Architect and aviator Rob Kofoed stood districtwide. Congrats, Rob! He also stood for the Ōtaki Community Board, but as a districtwide councillor he probably would not be appointed to the board. The Ōtaki Mail is assured that Rob will actively represent the town’s interest at KCDC.

Rob: 0275 364 614

Simon Black said: ‘Ōtaki has been my home for over 6 years now, and I've always felt welcomed by our wonderful community. I'm a Senior Firefighter, and Secretary of the Ōtaki Volunteer Fire Brigade. This, along with my membership of Ōtaki Pottery Club and association with local Scouts and Keas, reflects how deeply my heart is linked to this community. As a successful local business owner, I know how to nurture small groups and teams to help them prosper. Ōtaki is full of incredible families, businesses and creatives, and I believe there's a desire here to be more self-sustaining. I can offer strong advocacy skills within KCDC, smart fundraising and project management skills to help our community grow and thrive’. Contact 021 674 323

For the past nine years Chris Papps has been an active and effective member of the Ōtaki Community Board. For six of those years she has been Chair of the Board, leading it through the positive and negative effects of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressway construction. In 2021, she also helped lead and coordinate the Board and community's fight against Council's proposal to abolish the four Kāpiti Community Boards.

Contact 0272 016 435

Cam Butler said: ‘I'm a Te Horo resident with my wife and two young boys (soon to be at Ōtaki College) and I would like to represent Ōtaki on the Community Board once more. There are some exciting and challenging times ahead for Ōtaki and it is important that the Ōtaki Community Board has strong representation, so that our community views can be expressed to the KCDC - this is why during my first term on the board I worked hard to ensure that the Ōtaki Community Board were retained. My no-nonsense attitude, strong community focus and ability to get things done, will be assets to the Ōtaki Community Board. I am the Chair of the Ōtaki Promotions Group, a passionate canoe polo player and sports coach in hockey and canoe polo’.

Contact 021 703 095

Jackie Elliot said: ‘The Ōtaki Ward has been my whanau’s principle place of residence for 16 years. My three triennium time as a Kapiti councillor started as an Ōtaki Community Board member in 2012. I am keen to bring the benefits of effective experienced lobbying, established Te Whakaminenga, council and community connections to enhance outcomes for our hometown.

Through my roles on many regional and community groups and as an RMA hearings chairperson I will continue to action sustainability with planned protection of our green spaces and waterways as Ōtaki manages unprecedented growth. It has been exciting bringing planned Papakeunga opportunities and lobbying to enable tiny homes through recent planning documents. My focus remains on connected train services, clean energy opportunities, access to timely health services and reducing the harm of gambling and addictions’.

Contact 021 0452 762

above: Ōtaki Ward Councillor Shelly Warwick (left) and Districtwide Councillor Rob Kofoed.

Energetic events

This month we’re plugging dates for the diaries: here are up-and-coming Energise Ōtaki events.

Mid-November we’re looking forward to celebrating the winning applications of the Whakahiko Ōtaki-Energise Ōtaki Fund. Details on these ‘energising’ projects will be on our website when they’re announced. The Whakahiko Ōtaki Fund is held annually, and made up of revenue from the Rau Kūmara Solar Farm. As with last year, it’s exciting to see the many projects about to launch and already underway to change our local energy systems for the better.

Your December diary may be filling up - but these are worth penciling in for its first weekend!

The Great Bike Giveaway is on Saturday, 3rd December, 10am-12pm…or until all bikes are gone. It’s first in, first choice, and Bike Space’s Kirsty Doyle says “the quality this year is pretty stunning”. That’s thanks to everyone who donated their bikes, and the volunteers who spruced them up. The Skatepark is your destination of choice (wheels).

The very next day…it’s the year’s final Ōtaki Repair Café. The Repair Café movement is growing across Aotearoa, with its focus on fixing instead of derelict-ing. Why throw something away when you can make it work again? Bring your beloved broken items and skilled volunteers will work on them with you. Even better, email in advance so we’re ready to go on the day: otaki.repaircafe@ gmail.com

Plus…1st January, 2023. While some of

us hope to wake up late, we’ll also be welcoming in new legislation to claim ‘carbon credits’ for native forests and forest planting. It’s money for trees, and we are working now on the legal template for an unprecedented joint venture to

Zero Waste Ōtaki Update

BY JAMIE BULL

We warmly invite our community to the Zero Waste Ōtaki AGM, being held in in the Supper Room beside the library, at 7 pm, Wednesday 30th November. All welcome

There will be a short business meeting including election of officers and then we will hand over to our Guest Speaker Mike King. Mike is an Ōtaki resident who is well known as a food foraging expert and founder of Finders Eaters.( Foraging wild plants in New Zealand)

Mike has established Aho Aho Adventures at Ōtaki College working with students on a funded project, and breathing new life into their horticultural gardens. He is also helping with an alternative education program.

Mike is renowned for his love of finding unusual botanicals and showcasing their flavour with ice cream.

He also works as a STEM Field based facilitator teaching teachers all around NZ about foraging and starting school gardens. STEM is an approach to learning

and development that integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Mike enjoys sharing his expertise with others and this is a chance to hear from Mike in person about his passion for growing and foraging.

We also welcome expressions of interest to serve on our committee. If you are interested please email: zerowaste.otaki@gmail.com

plant on private land. Revenue will go to landowners and Energise Ōtaki projects… and the benefits to all living systems. More news on this as it develops.

In other news ZWŌ had a strong presence at the Ōtaki Community Expo, and the popularity for bargain wood has resulted in some traffic jams on site recently. A good problem to have. So come along Wednesday Mornings 9.30- 10.30 am and the last Sunday of the month which is 30th October We are open all morning .

Keep up to date with our activities via our Facebook page; or email zerowaste.otaki@gmail.com to go on our mailing list; or visit zerowasteotaki.nz

below: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rito tauira (students) beginning their ngahere kai (food forest). This project received some funding from the 2021 Whakahiko Ōtaki–Energise Ōtaki Fund.

pictured, left to right: Jane, Leigh and Rose at community expo

left: Mike King, guest speaker

The Rongoā Space

BY JOANNE HAKARAIA

Rongoā of the Month TARATA

Tarata (Pittosporum Eugenioides) has yellow-green, lanceolate leaves with a strong lemon fragrance when the leaves are crushed. The yellow and cream flowers are highly fragrant and are in flower right now in Ōtaki. The flowers appear in spring and are followed by small green capsules that take about a year to ripen.

Tarata (Pittosporum Eugenioides) has yellow-green, lanceolate leaves with a strong lemon fragrance when the leaves are crushed. The yellow and cream flowers are highly fragrant and are in flower right now in Ōtaki. The flowers appear in spring and are followed by small green capsules that take about a year to ripen.

You only have a short window of opportunity to catch it in its full splendour, so be sure to keep an eye out for it. The flowers are an important food source for our bee population. It is a buzz with bees and other tiny insects making this rākau a wonderful addition to regenerating forests.

You only have a short window of opportunity to catch it in its full splendour, so be sure to keep an eye out for it. The flowers are an important food source for our bee population. It is a buzz with bees and other tiny insects making this rākau a wonderful addition to regenerating forests.

extracted from the stalk and leaves which would eventually harden into a gum, then it would be mixed with the resin of Tarata. Chewing gum is an ancient rongoā used in most indigenous cultures around the world using their own native plants. The gum would have been an excellent remedy for treating oral hygiene. It also would have been used to ward off hunger and as a thirst quencher. Tamariki chewed the gum after it had been masticated by their elders. The gum was a taonga and sometimes passed from generation to generation. The antiseptic properties helped preserve the DNA in their saliva.

Traditionally, Māori used Tarata for its scent and would mix the crushed leaves and resin from the trunk with hinu or oil from bird fat to preserve it. Or a simpler way was to just crush the fresh leaves and rub over the body. Such a beautiful and natural way to perfume the body and surroundings by having highly fragrant trees accessible to use.

Traditionally, Māori used Tarata for its scent and would mix the crushed leaves and resin from the trunk with hinu or oil from bird fat to preserve it. Or a simpler way was to just crush the fresh leaves and rub over the body. Such a beautiful and natural way to perfume the body and surroundings by having highly fragrant trees accessible to use.

Tarata was also traditionally used to relieve toothache and bad breath because of the antiseptic oils in the resin. The resin was mixed with the sap of Pūhā to make a chewing gum called Pia. The sap of Pūhā was extracted from the stalk and leaves which would eventually harden into a gum, then it would be mixed with the resin of Tarata. Chewing gum is an ancient rongoā used in most indigenous cultures around the world using their own native plants. The gum would have been an excellent remedy for treating oral hygiene. It also would have been used to ward off hunger and as a thirst quencher. Tamariki chewed the gum after it had been masticated by their elders. The gum was a taonga and

Indigenous people observed their natural environment and paid attention to how the trees healed themselves and what their role was for taking care of Papatūānuku. The resin is the tree’s equivalent of a natural band-aid which forms a protective layering over cuts in the bark. It acts as an anti-septic while sealing the wound. For an oral hygiene practice, harvest a small stem and shave the outside bark until the stem is white. Use the shaved

stem as a breath freshener and for its antiseptic properties. The lemony scent lasts up to an hour. You can also use this fragrant stem to rub over the body for perfume.

SIMPLE RECIPE

You can make a simple syrup using a wairākau of the leaves and add to drinks, desserts and toppings.

Ingredients:

½ cup of sugar

½ cup of Tarata wairākau

1. Add the sugar and wairākau to a small saucepan over medium heat.

2. Stir until sugar is dissolved.

3. Add 3-6 crushed Tarata leaves and allow to steep

4. Let cool, strain, then pour into a glass jar and seal tightly with a lid.

5. This syrup will keep, refrigerated, for about one month.

Enjoy xx

Tarata was also traditionally used to relieve toothache and bad breath because of the antiseptic oils in the resin. The resin was mixed with the sap of Pūhā to make a chewing gum called Pia. The sap of Pūhā was

Frozen arriving in Ōtaki Ōtaki Players production of Frozen Jr is about to hit the stage in Ōtaki, 10–19 November! The cast of 30 talented young people (9–16yrs) from all over Kāpiti have been rehearsing since August on the one-hour stage show based on the Disney movie, Frozen. Featuring princesses Anna and Elsa, Olaf the snowman, ice-harvester Kristoff and his reindeer Sven, mystical Hidden Folk, the Wandering Oaken family and others, there are plenty of wonderful characters who will sing, dance and entertain you throughout the show. Ticket info in poster below.

“From my discussions during the walkover,” says Daran, “ I know there is clear support from the Ōtaki community.”

“The flood protection work of GWRC ensures the community is protected from the river, particularly with the impacts of climate change. And, furthermore, we’re seeing the potential of Ōtaki to become a real tourism experience, with cycling from the railway station along the river trail.”

And I want to add a thankyou to Barry Mansell, not just for his huge contribution to through his work with the Friends of the Otaki River, but also for the lamb he presented to me after we planted a tree together. It was a delicious taste of the Kāpiti Coast.”

Greater Wellington Regional Council’s annual Ōtaki River Walkover was held in October. GWRC Chair Daran Ponter says it meant he and his GWRC colleague Cr Penny Gaylor [pictured above] were able to report back to the Friends of the Ōtaki River the impressive amount of work that’s going on along the river corridor.

below: Daran Ponter with Barry & Sue Mansell

Annual Otaki River Walkover

Flower garden

Gardening with

Garden tasks for November

Mulch your perennials, trees and shrubs to help conserve moisture, using compost, bark and peat.

Complete dahlia and chrysanthemum planting, and stake those planted previously.

Tie up your herbaceous perennials.

Prune flowering shrubs, such as lilacs, philadelphus, and deutzias, as soon as blooming is over.

Keep sweet peas well watered, feed with liquid manure and remove faded flowers.

Take cuttings of pinks and rock plants.

November is a good month to plant new seasons hibiscus plants.

Plant your new roses, using plenty of compost. Water all roses thoroughly at least once a week.

Side dress roses with rose fertiliser and apply mulch to retain soil moisture over the summer months.

Plant your water lilies and other pond plants.

Plant out summer flowering annuals such as cosmos, petunias, lobelia, impatiens, marigolds, phlox, verbena, larkspur, alyssum, portulaca – and heaps more.

Sow seeds of flowering annuals directly into the garden: alyssum, Californian poppy, marigolds, cosmos, nasturtium and sunflowers.

Sow in trays for transplanting later: carnations, dahlia, livingstone daisy, petunia, salvia, gerberas, celosia, phlox and geranium.

Fruit and vegetable garden

Continue planting main crop potatoes. Mound up and stake peas, water if weather is dry.

Tomatoes will be growing quickly and need lots of water and feeding. Regular deep watering is best.

Dust cabbages and cauliflowers with derris dust to prevent white butterfly caterpillar.

Pinch out tips of early marrow and cucumber plants. Most warm weather veggies can be planted now. Plant out herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicums, eggplant, lettuce, sweetcorn, gherkins, spinach, spring onions, beetroot, celery and cabbage, using generous amounts of compost.

Sow seeds directly into the garden: beans, peas, pumpkin, courgettes, carrots, beetroot, parsnip, radish and sweetcorn.

Sow in trays for later transplanting: lettuce, cabbage, capsicum, eggplant, leeks, and spring onions. For continuous harvesting make sowings at three weekly intervals of lettuce, beans and sweetcorn.

Feed all citrus trees with citrus fertiliser, and feed other fruit trees with general garden fertiliser.

Hang codlin moth traps in apple trees to trap moths and prevent larvae entering fruit - also spray with lime sulphur and fungicide for black spot and ripe rot.

Plant out cape gooseberries.

Lawns

Apply lawn fertiliser when rain is due or water in. Spray with Turfix for broad leaf weeds and Prickle Weedkiller to control Onehunga weed and stop summer prickles.

Second thoughts

Repot orchids after flowering.

Increase watering of houseplants as weather warms up.

Focus on growing peas

Peas are a great vegetable for in-between seasons as they don’t need warm temperatures to germinate and grow –you just need to time planting, dodging frosts when they’re flowering, and while pods are starting to develop.

With a judicious selection of varieties (there is a huge range), and sowing at about fortnightly intervals, you can have a constant supply of green peas throughout the growing season.

Peas grow easily from seed and, as a bonus, boost soil nitrogen levels. They don’t need the soil fertility that gross feeders such as broccoli and cabbage do, but they do need friable, free-draining soil rich in humus – dig in plenty of well-rotted compost before sowing. Choose a sunny spot with reasonable air movement. Although peas like plenty of moisture, they’re not keen on day after day of rain – damp, cloudy weather makes them vulnerable to fungus disease.

Avoid hot or very humid weather when sowing. Sow after the last of autumn’s hot weather or at least two months before summer heat sets in.

Sow dwarf peas 4cm apart in rows about 30-50cm apart – allow more space for climbing peas (so plants get plenty of air and light), and to give room for picking.

Don’t over-water once the soil is fully damp after planting as it may rot germinating seeds.

Keep seedlings weed-free with weeding or hoeing and protect plants if birds are a problem – watch put for slugs and snails also.

Support plants so they’re not scrambling on the ground – they won’t develop properly and will also be more susceptible to fungal diseases. Growing tall types up a ring of stakes tied at the top; tepee style is a good option. Harvest when pods swell but don’t let them get too big and fat – the peas inside will get tough and starchy (shelling fresh peas is easily as satisfying as eating them, indeed it’s impossible not to eat them as you pop them out of their pods). Peas generally take 60-80 days to harvest from sowing.

Constant harvesting (daily picking) will lighten the vine and prolong harvest, and the younger you pick your peas, the better your plant will crop.

For shelling peas, the early dwarf heavy cropper

‘Earlicrop Massey’ is a good variety to try, and ‘Novella’, which produces its pods at the top of the plant, making for easy picking. ‘Alderman Tall’ is an American heirloom climber that produces masses of long pods.

For those who enjoy little peas (petit pois) there is ‘Petite Provencal, a quick-maturing French heirloom. Use the flat pods like snow peas or use as shelled baby peas – its tendrils are also sweet and tasty.

Mange tout peas include the snow or Chinese peas and sugar peas. Snow peas have flatter pods and are eaten at the flat-pod stage before the peas inside have started to swell.

Sugar peas have more rounded, fleshy pods, and are eaten when the shape of the tiny round pea is starting to show through the pod.

‘Goliath’ is a vigorous climbing snow pea, slow to get stringy, and ‘Climbing Sugarsnap’ produces fleshy pods that are sweet and crisp. ‘Dwarf Sugarsnap’ crops about 10 days earlier than the climbing variety.

Something different to try, especially for those who enjoy the taste of asparagus, is asparagus pea, a quickgrowing, weed-smothering plant that grows like clover, and has brilliant-red, ornamental flowers. Their tasty pods combine the flavour of asparagus and peas, and are harvested when about 3cm long, and used like mange tout peas (seeds are available from Kings Seeds).

the Ō taki Mail

BY VIVIENNE BAILEY viv.bailey@xtra.co.nz

A collector's garden

A plant that provides continued interest – one that has beauty, unusual appearance and rarity (although that is a relative thing) can appeal to the collector in us. Fancy double flowers and vibrant colours may provide initial attraction, but “beauty is more than petal-deep.” Perhaps it’s more an interest in a plant for its own sake, rather than as a garden specimen.

A collector’s garden is likely to have little in the way of design, but is filled with small treasures tucked into every corner. I suspect there’s a wee bit of “collector’s garden” in us all. A space used to the max, where efforts at garden design have been destroyed as the desire to squeeze in another half dozen plants takes over. Sound familiar? There may be pots scattered around - and be careful where you step. That may be an exotic rarity you’re about to put your foot on.

Rare natives can be a source of fascination. Pittosporum obcordatum is a divaricating pittosporum that retains this habit as it matures. It is an upright, twiggy shrub with tiny leaves, and will grow easily in average garden conditions. Pittosporum michiei is a delicate groundcover variety with delicate leaves in whorls on thin dark stems.

Elingamata johnsonii is a handsome, small tree with thick, leathery leaves similar to those of the karaka. It needs semi-shade to ensure deep green foliage. Like so many of our natives, male and female flowers occur on separate trees, so two plants at least are required for the production of the large, showy, red berries. Mention the name lotus and most people think of the

Bougainvillea brightness

Bougainvillea provide glorious displays of vivid summer colour and are possibly the showiest and most popular tropical vine in cultivation. The actual flowers are tubular, tiny and insignificant – it is the brilliant bracts surrounding the flower which give the flamboyant spectacle, often changing colour or shade as they age.

The vines originate from South America and are named (together with the South Pacific island) after Louis Antoine de Bougainville, a noted 18th century sailor and explorer.

These dry-climate plants are one of my favourites –they will survive in most soils and don’t need a lot of feeding (when given fertilisers they usually make a lot of growth and either flower poorly or not at all). The best displays are often produced from plants which are kept dry and starved, and they are well suited to growing in containers, flowering more profusely if confined (rather than over-fed and over-watered). Being mega heat-lovers, they prefer a sunny position, and look great on a warm, sun-filled wall where there is little colour competition. Warm soil temperature is almost as important as high air temperature so good drainage is a basic essential. Although requiring adequate summer moisture, they will tolerate considerable dryness once established.

A strong-growing plant that needs a sturdy support, bougainvillea responds well to pruning – prune hard and remove twiggy growth after flowering as the vine flowers on new wood. Although evergreen in the wet tropics they may lose leaves in a cold winter, the vine may even look dead, but then shoot away from the stems or the base as soon as the weather warms up. Propagate from cuttings in summer.

The hardiest, most cold tolerant bougainvillea is ‘Magnifica Traillii,’ which has a magenta-purple blossom. It is the biggest, strongest grower, and can develop into a dense wall of purple, so needs a large

area to spread – it also makes an excellent ground cover. ‘Scarlet O’Hara’ is one of the hardier and probably best-known bougainvillea. It produces large, pendulous sprays of a deep scarlet, but its colour can vary slightly according to growing conditions – the harsher the conditions the deeper the colour.

A vigorous grower and spectacular climber ‘Killie Campbell’ has reddish-brown bracts that change through to orange-scarlet and magenta-purple as they open. With all these colours appearing on one flowering stem simultaneously, the effect is awesome. It is exceptionally long-flowering, and has a distinctive weeping habit, which makes it great for pots on a sunny deck or in a planter.

Although an immensely tough climber, (it is widely used as a motorway plant in some countries), bougainvillea are thorny beasts with evil, sharp barbs – avoid planting near steps, play areas or outdoor dining spaces.

beautiful aquatic plant. However, that is only a common name – the aquatic lotus doesn’t belong to the lotus genus. The true lotus species are mainly spreading, ground cover perennials, of which the most impressive is L. berthelotii.

This plant looks great covering a dry, sunny bank, cascading over rocks in a rockery, or spilling forth from a hanging basket. Bright-red, sweet-pea-like flowers appear in spring and early summer, and are carried on top of the silver foliage. Apart from being frost tender, this is an undemanding plant.

Bromeliards are always distinctive plants. They are usually easily identified by their pineapple-top foliage. In spite of this apparent similarity of foliage, bromeliards display a wide range of flower colours and forms. One of the most striking is ochagavia carnea with flowers the size of a pair of cupped hands. Bright pink bracts enclose tubular pink flowers with golden pollen. In our gardens, the flowers open in autumn, but in a more tropical climate flowering is dependent on the arrival of rain.

In addition to its amazing flower head, this is one of the hardier bromeliards, tolerating temperatures down to minus two degrees, and also able to withstand short periods of drought. It likes to live in a gritty, welldrained soil, protected from hot afternoon sun.

These plants are sure to be the talking point in your garden, and growing and caring for rare flora, unknown by many gardeners, will help with their survival.

Ōtaki – Education Town

Giving our tamariki lots of aroha

BY FRANK NEILL

Providing children lots of love and catering for their uniqueness are both hallmarks of the Ōtaki Early Learning Centre.

“We love to give our tamariki lots of aroha and help them on their learning journey,” says the centre’s Head Teacher, Theresa Koot-Bohanna.

“We always like to make sure that we cater for all levels and for the fact that tamariki learn in different ways. We cater for the uniqueness of each child.”

As well as the support they give children, the centre supports parents wherever it can.

“We try to fit in with the parents’ needs and wants,” Ms Koot-Bohanna says.

“We are a friendly bunch, with lots of aroha,” she adds, referring to the eight centre staff, including herself.

“I enjoy working here. We have got a really good team. And we get lots of support from our management”

The learning programme at the centre is based on Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa – Early childhood curriculum, established by the Ministry of Education.

This curriculum encourages all children to learn in their own ways, supported by adults who know them well and have their best interests at heart. Covering infants, toddlers and young children, Te Whāriki positions children as 21st-century citizens, learning how to learn in a fast-changing and globally connected world.

The Ōtaki Early Learning Centre is performing very well within this curriculum, as evidenced by its very good evaluation by the Education Review Office in its latest report on the centre.

As well as the “mat time”, a valuable pre-reading experience for children, there are both indoor and outdoor play spaces, including water play and sand play.

Children’s play is their learning, Ms Koot-Bohanna says. “Whatever they do, they are learning through their play.”

Each child at the centre has a profile book, and every month a story about how they are going with their learning and where to next for them is added to the book.

Each day the children have a break from learning through their play for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.

Each child brings their own lunch box, with food for all three break-times. If a child does not have enough food, the centre supplies sandwiches and fruit.

Located at 177 Mill Road, the centre is licensed for 38 children.

It is open from 8am to 5:30pm, making the centre an excellent choice for parents who are working.

Another big plus is that the centre operates a free van service, and picks up children from Ōtaki Beach to The Plateau.

The centre is very popular, so much so that it has a waiting list.

“We don’t have any spaces until early next year,” Ms Koot-Bohanna says.

“Spaces only turn up when our tamariki turn five and leave for school, or if they leave the area.”

Before starting at the centre, children are offered the opportunity to visit before they begin, so that they get used to the centre.

The Ōtaki Early Learning Centre has been operating for four years and four months, having opened its doors on 18 June 2018.

Mat time at the Ōtaki Early Learning Centre with teacher Hannah Duffy.

The Ōtaki Early Learning Centre’s Head Teacher, Theresa Koot-Bohanna.

Ōtaki College News

www.otakicollege.school.nz

From the Principal Andy Fraser

The Battalion

This collaboration with Ōtaki College and Whakatupuranga Rua Mano features rangatahi and actors from Ōtaki, Porirua, Pōneke and Te Awakairangi in a moving performance about friendship, loyalty, madness and redemption. We had tried for some time to get a production of this scale underway in Ōtaki but always faced many barriers including Covid. Thanks to the work of Curriculum Leader of Performing Arts Joanna Devane, we were able to gain a Creative New Zealand grant to engage Jim Moriarty and Te Rākau Theatre Company to make this finally happen. During the performance rangatahi invoke the experiences of young members of World War II’s Māori Battalion with a sobering and insightful performance. Through their passion and aroha, the performers share a new perspective and the opportunity to heal the wrongs of the past. The play does reference the violence of war and sexual violence but in a manner that creates thoughtful discussion amongst whānau, teachers and students. This production is frequently performed in partnership with secondary schools, and features performers aged from 13 years old. The production has been praised for the high level of performance and the way it has touched the hearts, minds and souls of those who have attended. It is the most stunning example of the way in which performing arts can inform and capture students’ interest and engagement whilst

building a knowledge of Aotearoa Histories, Te Reo Māori, Hauora and a number of other areas of the New Zealand curriculum. Each student that has participated in this production has committed over 250 hours of their time and is a real testament to the talent they possess and the ability of Jim and his team from Te Rākau Theatre Company to unlock this. I could not be happier in terms of the positive outcomes this has provided participants and would suggest that the ability to build our capacity to allow larger numbers of rangatahi to experience learning through the performing arts needs to be explored in Ōtaki.

Students excelling out of school – past and present

It is always exciting to be able to acknowledge the successes of our students who are following their sporting passions. My sincere congratulations to Keira Johns, who is the Taekwondo National Champion,

Women’s Division 45-60 kilo, Grade 2-3. We wish her continued success as she climbs the ranks – locally, regionally and nationally.

I would also like to acknowledge former student, Blane Watson, who recently took the title of top Under 21 Snooker player in New Zealand.

Important Dates

Thursday 3 November, 7.00pm – Senior Prizegiving

NCEA Exams commence – 7 November

Teacher Only Days – 21 November and 2 December

Junior Prizegivings – Friday 9 December, Yr 9&10 10.00am, Yr 7&8 12.45pm

Last Day for Years 7-10 – Monday 12 December, Finishing at 12.50pm Andy Fraser , Principal

Spirit of Adventure

My experience of a lifetime!

On September 24, 2022, I had the privilege to board the Spirit Of New Zealand, thanks to my generous sponsors, Mary and Stuart Pritchard, who were able to fund my trip. I am also incredibly thankful to my College principal, Matua Andy for offering me such an amazing and eye-opening opportunity that I will never forget! The first day was awkward - getting to know the other trainees and failing to keep track of 39 new names

while I attempted to match them to the unfamiliar faces. The first milestone for me to get over was that I walked onto the ship terrified of the ocean and I was most definitely not a great swimmer, so hearing about the daily 6:30 morning swims did not ease my stress, yet I found myself in the waves at every chance I was given. My peers were extremely supportive and encouraged me to face fears that I had avoided and covered up for many years. I can gladly report back that the sharks did not find an interest in us mere humans and I survived my early morning submersions. From beginning to end, each new day brought new challenges and adventurous activities, allowing us to work collectively as a team as well as extending our leadership skills. Without doubt, these were THE 10 best days of my life and I couldn't have done it without the support I received! I have learnt many new things from this journey. I am grateful to have left the ship with new memories, skills, and friendships. I loved being able to be myself and face my fears head on. To be immersed in the surroundings of nature, living a life completely separated from the distractions of modern technology, has definitely reminded me to value and admire the natural world around us.

Karen Dai — Voyage: 850

Te Horo School Out-of-Zone Enrolment Places, Term 1 2023

The Board has determined that 5 places are likely to be available for Year 0-1 and 2 places in Year 7 and 2 places in year 8 for out-of-zone students for Term 1 2023.

The exact number of places will depend on the number of applications received from students who live within the school’s home zone. For students seeking enrolment within Term 1 2023, the deadline for receipt of applications for out-of-zone places is noon 25th November 2023.

Parents of students who live within the home zone and intend enrolling their child at any time during the next year should notify the school to assist the school to continue to plan appropriately.

Ballot forms are available from the school office office@th.school.nz or call 06 364 3071.

If the number of out-of-zone applications exceeds the number of places available, students will be selected by ballot. If a ballot for out-of-zone places is required for a Term 1 2023 start, it will be held on 28th November 2022. Parents will be informed of the outcome of the ballot within three school days of the ballot being held.

Enrolment at the school is governed by an enrolment scheme, details of which are available from the school office.

Students in the photo (full faces), left to right: Marea Winterburn, Oriwa Jury, Parearohi Edginton, Mareikura Kāka. Photo credit: Mark Coote

Ōtaki martial artist wins gold medal

BY FRANK NEILL

Ōtaki martial artist Keira Johns won a gold medal in the National Taekwon-Do championships, held at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua, on 1 October.

Keira’s victory came as something of a surprise, as her Auckland opponent was ranked higher, with a red belt compared with Keira’s blue belt, and also was much more experienced.

Yet it took Keira just two rounds to take the gold medal, as she won both the opening rounds in the best of three rounds match.

Following her victory “I was very excited and I was very tired,” Keira said.

“I was a bit surprised [to win] because she [her opponent] has also done more fights than I have.”

The 15-year-old Ōtaki College student was competing in her first national championship, winning the women’s 45-59kg grade 2 and 3 contest.

It was also the first gold medal of her career, having won silver and bronze medals at previous Wellington tournaments.

“We are very proud of Keira,” her father, Allan Johns said.

“She did an amazing job.

“She certainly proved that she can do it – that she can fight against the best.” Keira has been involved with Taekwon-

Two Ōtaki finalists

BY FRANK NEILL

Two members of the Ōtaki Purutaitama men's football team are finalists in the 2022 Capital Football Awards.

Isaac Cant is a finalist in the Horowhenua-Kāpiti league player of the year division.

After making the top 10 shortlist, Isaac was then named as one of the three finalists for the local player of the year

award.

Scott Easthope is one of the finalists in the volunteer of the year award.

The volunteer of the year award is decided by a public vote, and people can vote by visiting https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/NNTV7SD. Scott is one of five finalists for the volunteer of the year award.

Do since she was six years old and is a member of the Ōtaki Taekwon-Do Club, where she is coached by Master Jim Babbington – the club’s main instructor.

Master Babbington was not able to attend the national championships, however, so Keira’s coach for the day was Natalie Picco. Natalie is the Ōtaki Taekwon-Do Club’s assistant instructor.

Although Master Babbington was not able to attend the national championship, all Keira’s Ōtaki Taekwon-Do clubmates travelled to Porirua to support her.

With the gold medal under her belt, Keira now has her sights set on the next round of competitions.

“I’m hoping that I can get into the North Island championships and also do the national championships again,” she said.

When asked if she had longer-term objectives, such as representing New Zealand at the Olympic Games, “that would be pretty cool,” Keira said.

The Ōtaki Taekwon-Do Club is based at the Ōtaki College gymnasium, where the club trains twice a week.

left: Keira Johns with her coach for the gold medal day Natalie Picco.

Swimmers training for junior festival

BY FRANK NEILL

Nine swimmers from the Ōtaki Titans Swimming Club are currently preparing for the Junior Festival All Stars event, to be held at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre in Kilbirnie from 11 to 13 November.

Henry Waite, Ruby Rasmussen, Samantha Baillie, Carys Watkins, Lilah Edgar, Lucy Rasmussen and Deryn Watkins will all take part in the event, for swimmers aged 12 years and younger.

All nine Titans will aim to improve their personal best times, as well as make a podium finish.

As well as the individual events, teams of Titans will enter the novelty relays, flutter board race and flutter board relay.

Older swimmers in the Taniwha group have been training hard to prepare for the Trygve Trophy, which will be contested over timed races during training sessions on Tuesdays at the Coastlands Aquatic Centre, in Paraparaumu.

The Taniwha will also be entering the regional relays which will be held in early December.

The club’s younger swimmers – the Marlins and Dolphins – train on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 6pm at the Ōtaki Pool, while the older swimmers – the Orcas and Taniwha – train on Tuesdays and Fridays from 5 to 7pm at the Ōtaki Pool and from 7 to 8:30pm at the Coastlands Aquatic Centre.

left: Isaac Cant in action during Ōtaki Purutaitama’s match against Manakau Hui Mai on 27 August.

Ōtaki Purutaitama finished fourth in this year’s Horowhenua-Kāpiti Football division on competition and made the semi-finals of the Kāpiti Cup competition. The winners of the 2022 Capital Football Awards were announced at the awards night, to be held at the Petone Working Men’s Club on 26 October.

Stunning start to tennis season

BY FRANK NEILL

The Ōtaki Sports Club made a stunning start to the 2022-23 inter-club season, with all nine teams winning their matches on 15 and 16 October.

This is the first time, at least in the memories of current club members, that the club has opened the season by winning all its matches.

Not only did all nine teams win, but six of them also scored whitewashes, winning their matches 8-0.

Four of the five junior teams gained 8-0 victories, while two of the four senior teams also won all eight of their matches. In the senior competition, the A mixed team of defeated Newlands Paparangi 8-0.

The B mixed team beat Kilbirnie 6-2, the D mixed team beat Plimmerton 8-0, and the fifth grade men defeated Wellington 6-2.

This was the first game for the new Te Reo Māori tennis team, which played in the mixed B grade competition.

The new team of Monique Moore, Ema Moore, Emma Whiterod, Oriwia Raureti, Heitia Raureti, Pātaka Moore, Pereri Hathaway defeated Kilbirnie 6-2. That was, the Ōtaki Sports Club says: “He tīmatanga pai nei mō te whakataetae – a good way to start the competition”.

The Hit and Misses kicked off their junior B grade season with a whitewash, defeating Churton Park Mixers 8-0.

One of the club’s two junior C grade teams, the Aces, also started with an 8-0 victory, over the Waikanae Beach Back Handers.

The other junior C grade team, Ōtaki Kakama beat Waikanae Beach Grand Slammers 5-3.

Ōtaki Hihiko, playing in the Hot Shots Sunday league for junior novice under 12 years, defeated Waikanae Beach Smart Aces 8-0.

The five Ōtaki Hihiko members are Sam West, Isaac Bridge, Isabella McKenzie. Lila Porteners and Tai Mana Moeke.

The club’s other team in the Hot Shots league, Ōtaki Māhuri also recorded a clean sweep, beating Waikanae Beach Match Points 8-0.

right: Sam West (left) and Isaac Bridge of the Ōtaki Hihiko team about to take to the court at Haruātai Park on the season opening day.

Winterburn equals record

BY FRANK NEILL

Rāhui’s Joel Winterburn notched up a milestone on 15 October when he equalled the most number of representative caps in the rugby club’s history.

Covid-19 saw the Heartland Championship curtailed in 2020.

Joel debuted for Horowhenua-Kāpiti in 2011 and played nine games in his first season, playing at either lock or flanker. He did not appear again for the province until 2018, however, as he spent around seven years in Perth, where he played senior club rugby, He has played in the Heartland competition every year since then.

Joel has not only played in the Heartland rugby competition, he has also starred.

In 2020 he was named both the Horowhenua-Kāpiti Heartland Player of the Year and also the Horowhenua-Kāpiti Māori Player of the Year.

Rāhui seeking fourth title

BY FRANK NEILL

Rāhui has qualified for the final of the Horowhenua Kāpiti premier women’s competition after ending the round robin undefeated.

The Ōtaki-based team was scheduled to meet Levin College Old Boys in the final at Playford Park, Levin, on 26 October, after this issue of the Ōtaki Mail went to print.

These two teams were due to meet in the final round robin match on 19 October, however this encounter was cancelled.

With only four teams in the competition, that meant both the finalists needed to play two matches to qualify, and each won both of them.

In the season opener, at the end of the first half, Rāhui trailed Foxton 5-12.

They came out firing after the break, however, scoring four tries to Foxton’s one to clinch a 27-19 victory.

Big seasonopening victory

BY FRANK NEILL

The Ōtaki Cricket Club kicked off its 2022-23 season with a convincing victory over Weraroa at Haruātai Park on 22 October.

Playing a new format called a “T20 test”, each team had two innings of 20 overs.

After Ōtaki scored 135 for the loss of five wickets in its first innings, Weroroa notched up 93 for the loss of seven wickets.

Ōtaki socred 112 for the loss of eight wickets and then bowled Weroroa out for just 89 runs, giving the home team a 65-run victory.

Lucas Whiting top scored in Ōtaki’s first innings with 33 not out while

Michael Papps notched up 31 runs.

Lachlan Candle, who is just 15 years old, was Ōtaki’s top scorer in the second innings with 28 runs.

Tag season underway

BY FRANK NEILL

Joel was in the Horowhenua-Kāpiti men's team that played in the Lochore Cup semi-final, one of the two Heartland Rugby Championships.

This was Joel’s 39th cap, equalling the record set in the 1950s by Vic Ahipene, who debuted for Horowhenua in 1952.

It took an upset victory by HorowhenuaKāpiti for Joel to equal the record, and Joel played a role in that win.

He scored one of the teams six tries as they pipped Thames Valley 44-43, after leading 34-31 at half time, on 8 October.

Joel was not able to celebrate victory in his record equalling match, however. Following a closely contested match, East Coast defeated Horowhenua-Kāpiti 37-30 after they led 22-18 at half time.

Joel’s achievement in equalling Vic Ahipene’s record is the more notable as

The new season of Tag had it’s first round of games with 12 teams again competing, which is now held on Tuesday evenings at the Ōtaki Domain.

The teams this season are: Whiti Bros (new), Whiti Legendz, Ngati Nation (new), Hau22 , Ngati By Nature, Hearty Ngati (new), Eyes Up Footy (new), Mashup Usos (new)

Tatou Tatou, Wu Tag Clan, Fusion, and Kick Onz.

Terry says there was such a good vibe for the start of the season.

“Teams have been looking forward to Tag starting back. I must say there are lots more kids playing this year.

“Kick Onz and Whiti Bros are showing good early form. But it’s only Round one though so long season ahead,” says Terry.

Katarina Cooper scored two tries, while Huria Monika, Meia Cook and Phoenix Huriwai also dotted down. Phoenix added one conversion.

Unsurprisingly, Katarina Cooper was awarded three Most Valuable Player points, with Ariana Feite gaining two points and Phoenix Huriwai one point.

Rāhui had a bigger victory over Shannon in their second round match on 12 October, winning 37-17.

Tyler Bentley scored 22 of Rāhui’s points, with four tires and one conversion. Huria Monika scored two tries and Jasmine Ratapu also dotted down.

Tyler won three MVP points for her performance, with Huria Monika winning two points and Jasmine Ratapu one point.

Rāhui entered the competition for the first time three seasons ago and have won the title in each of the three years they have competed.

That means they have made the final every season they have played.

Hunter Topliff was the most successful with the ball inn Weraroa’s first innings, taking three wickets at a cost of 15 runs.

Two Ōtaki bowlers took three wickets each in the visitor’s second innings, with Cody Royal finishing with three wickets for 11 runs and Conrad Morehu three wickets for just seven runs.

above: Ōtaki’s young all-rounder

Lachlan Candle sends down a delivery. Lachlan bowled well, batted well and also kept wickets in the second innings.

left: Joel Winterburn delivers a pass while playing for Rāhui.

OTAKI in the NEWS: 1879

June, 1879

ROAD WORKS

Mr J. Cootes has completed the formation and metalling of some 22 chains of his contract on the Foxton Otaki Road, leading from the township, as we stated some time ago. The Maoris have stopped the work, and demand compensation before they will allow any more to be done. He has about 20 more chains to finish. Besides this, on another contract Mr Cootes has cleared and stumped about 20 more chains of road, which is now all ready to form. The part of the road leading from the township, which is metalled, has been executed very well, and reflects great on the manner in which Mr Cootes has performed his contract.

the Wanganui Education Board, for Otaki township. A site has been procured from the Māori’s, (for which we believe a sum of about £50 has been paid) a little to the east of the Post Office. Messrs Hadfield, Simcox, Bright, Rev. J. McWilliam, and some others, are taking the matter vigorously in hand, and it is hoped that by the end of the year Otaki will have a government school.

THE RACES

A meeting was held here on Saturday evening last, at the Telegraph Hotel, when there was a good attendance, to arrange about the coming races. It was resolved to hold them on the 22nd January (Anniversary Day). Subscriptions were started, and a good amount was subscribed. There were no races here last year, owing to the stewards not working amicably together, but it is hoped those for 1880 will be a success. I also hope our Foxton friends will support our local race.

THE APPROACHING JUBILEE

There is a little excitement here among the Māori in anticipation of the Jubilee to take place on the first day of January next, in commemoration of the first preaching of the gospel amongst them 50 years ago. They expect a large gathering from all parts. They will have a very plentiful supply of potatoes, etc, this year, as their crops are looking splendid. They have purchased boats to go to Kapiti for fish, bringing them here for curing. The visitors will therefore be well supplied with food.

THE NEW SCHOOL HOUSE

First Otaki School House

IINLAND ROAD

The Foxton-Otaki inland road is getting along slowly. About three miles of Hakaraia Bevan’s contract at Waikawa is nearly finished. Hema te Ao’s contract at Otaki is also just about finished. There is one mile of it.

I am afraid it will be a long time before we have an inland road from Otaki to Foxton.

Waikanae or Paikakariki [sic] now. The reason they have not taken them out is that £30 a year is too high.

PROGRESS

One of the latest signs of progress at Otaki is the erection and completion of a handsome and commodious shop for Mr Thos. Bills. It is nearly opposite the Telegraph Hotel. A large and wellfinished counter goes round the building, whilst one of the main windows has been fitted up for the display of articles. The fittings inside are well-appointed, and capable of affording every convenience. Mr Bills hopes to have his shop opened in the course of a month or six weeks, and we wish him every success in his venture.

6 December,1879

OTAKI COURT HOUSE

SCHOOL FOR OTAKI

We are pleased to learn that steps are being taken to provide a school under

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SERVICES n c. HOR�WHENUA CREMATORIUM

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• Our company has been serving the families of our district for 98

Our two local carpenters, Pledger and Gordon, the successful tenderers for the new schoolhouse to be erected here, have arranged with the owners of the steamer, Osprey, to bring the timber from Foxton. We will be on the look-out for her safety in coming into the Otaki River.

Surveyors working on the Otaki to Foxton Road

LICENSING MATTERS

Mr W. Udy, of the Ferry House, put in an application for a license for Langley’s accommodation house, but was refused. He was refused last licensing day for the same house. A great number of the inhabitants do not think a second house is required, as one is ample for the wants of the district. I think if the Council gave a free license for the Ferry Hotel at the mouth of the Otaki River, it would be a great benefit to the travelling community. There is now no licensed house at

With November here, Christmas is certainly in sight!

Last year we were delighted to be part of Kiwi Christmas Books' scheme where brand-new books are given to children in need for Christmas. Customers were very generous in buying books from us; we were able to donate 75 books in total.

The Court House at Otaki seems to be a remarkable edifice. A few days ago, we learn from the Manawatu Herald, the Resident magistrate, noticing that the building was rather dark, requested the constable with quiet irony, “to draw up the blind.” A loud guffaw of laughter rang throughout the building when it turned out that the blind in question was an old sack, nailed up to prevent the wind from blowing through the broken panes, whilst instead of “drawing it up” the constable had to literally “tear it down.”

01 January, 1880

A circular in Te Reo has been printed at the office of the Manawatu Herald, announcing that the jubilee which was to have begun at Otaki on January 1st, 1880, has been postponed to February 9th, when it will be held. The jubilee is in commemoration of the preaching of the Gospel amongst the Maori. The circular also states that all persons attending the jubilee services are to wear white hats and coats, and are especially warned to abstain from drunkenness and all other evils during the celebration.

• Chapels in Levin, Shannon and Otaki

• Cemetry Memorials

•We own and operate Horowhenua

•

variety of Caskets

This year, we are doing it again with two nominated charities who will receive the books: Ōtaki Foodbank and Women's Refuge. We will have our collection box out in store from now on. We are having an exciting book launch on Sunday 27th November, at 4pm, of local customer–author Elena Mihaila's incredible story.

“With endless twists, turns and setbacks, this is one woman’s extraordinary true story of resilience and determination. Elena’s story began in communist Romania where tumultuous changes in her country and her own life forced her to flee, seeking greater freedom for herself and her children. In leaving, she risked not just herself but those she left behind, while encountering the worst and best in humanity. Her journey eventually took her to New Zealand. But instead of being a haven, it began a new chapter where things were not as they had appeared. Told with rawness and honesty, Elena’s story is one of struggle, hope and ultimately faith — that when fate deals us a bad hand, within us we can find the power to overcome even the harshest odds.”

Do join us at this special event.

Please RSVP to otaki@booksandco.co.nz, or phone 06 262 9158

PS If you want to buy books for Christmas, cut-off dates for our suppliers are not far away so do let us know if you are wanting a particular book. Check out our range of Advent calendars and gift-book ideas, which are arriving every week.

Join us on Thursday 1st December for a special "Christmas in the Bookshop" event from 6-8pm. Come and join us for Christmas refreshments, in store specials and a chance to shop in a relaxed way outside normal hours.

Road builders OTAKI (Own Correspondent)

Catherine Raven left home at 15, fleeing an abusive father and an indifferent mother. Drawn to the natural world, she worked as a ranger in national parks. She managed to put herself through college and then graduate school, eventually earning a PhD in biology. Preferring the outdoors and wild spaces, she built a house on a remote plot of land in Montana and, except when teaching, had little to do with people. Her deep understanding of this part of the world fills the book with eloquent and fascinating descriptions. One day, she realised that a wild fox that had been appearing at her house was coming by every day at 4.15pm. Her scientific training had taught her not to anthropomorphise animals, but as she considers his motivation in visiting her, she revisits contemporary scientific understanding of the nature of animals and human–animal interactions. This is an uplifting, true story about the friendship.

During the Second World War, Will, a young, naive wireless English engineer meets an Austrian refugee in Bath. Elsa Klein is sophisticated, witty and worldly and makes a wonderfull wife, until the newly married couple's home is bombed, and Will awakes from the wreckage to find himself alone. Disturbingly, no-one has heard of Elsa Klein, and there is no evidence that Will had ever been married. Seventy years later, social worker Laura is battling her way out of depression and off medication. Her new case is a strange, isolated old man whose house hasn't changed since the war. A man who insists his wife vanished many years before. Everyone thinks he's suffering dementia. But as Laura investigates the old man’s story, she begins to feel there may be truth in his story. This is an emotional novel about an impossible mystery and a true love that refuses to die.

For the Good of All by Ian J Ross

I originally picked this book up because of the cover; I thought it was a book about the police in Germany. However, this was an intriguing fictional read about a ex-journalist who has been given a diagnosis of Leukaemia and told he has a limited time to live. I have to say from the start, this is not a depressing read at all about dying; it is quite humorous and thought-provoking.

The real topic of the books is a ‘machine’ left over from the defeat of Germany in WW2. Think Area 51 in the US, or Porta Down in Britain, no-one seems to know exactly what this machine is or does, but it is kept ‘top secret’. So, add in some disillusioned scientists, bits about Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Liverpool, and a great friendship between two mates and this makes a good entertaining read.

Companion Piece by Ali Smith

Companion Piece belongs in the series of seasonal novels that Ali Smith has been writing since 2015, offering depictions of British life from Brexit to Covid-19. Each of those novels was written and published as soon as possible, taking place against current events. The same goes for Companion Piece , which is set in the early months of 2021 with the UK in the grip of the pandemic. It tunnels deep into the mood of the lockdowns, socially and politically, and as psychological spaces.

Narrator Sandy Gray is a single, queer artist in her mid-50s. Her father doesn’t approve of her occupation, but their mutual devotion is strong. Masked and gloved because of the virus, Sandy visits her father in hospital who is suffering heart disease.

The main themes in the book are glued together by a riddle posed by an unexpected phonecall from an old acquaintance of Sandy’s from university, museum curator Martina.

Guy Fawkes is coming up on the 5th of November and this will traditionally be a time when we experience plenty of fireworks. For some pets the unpredictability and the noise of firework creates concern. This can trigger a fight-or-flight response. Your dog may bark at the noises or try to run away and hide. Your pet may also show other signs of anxiety too, like restlessness, panting, pacing or whining. Most cats will simply run and hide.

Our dogs hear more than twice as many frequencies as humans, and they can also hear sounds roughly four times further away. Reacting to every sound would require too much energy, and so dog brains determine which sounds are significant and which can be tuned out. Most of our pets will be wired to avoiding a perceived threat, as a survival strategy, even when a threat does not turn out to be real, as is the case with fireworks.

This is a time that pets often go missing. Here are some ideas to reduce their anxiety and keep them safe:

* Take your dogs for a long walk while it is still light

* Keep anxious pets inside once it starts getting dark

* Close your curtains, windows and doors to minimise the noise and light distraction

* Turn on the radio/TV to a fairly high volume to help to mask the noise

* You should stay as relaxed as possible, play games and offer treats/ chew options for your anxious pets

* Create a safe space. Think about where your pet may go to hide if they were scared eg into a cupboard, under a table, into a crate etc. Cover the crate/table/other safe space with a

blanket, leaving a small entrance so that they can go inside (it maybe be a good idea to practice and get them comfortable with the area in advance). Encouraging them, using tasty treats is one way you can teach them to use this safe area. Some pets may choose to remain close to you over this time.

* Stay home - if you have an anxious pet, don’t leave them on their own

* If your pet is concerned by the noise, you can offer support by stroking, talking to them etc. Remember to remain as calm and relaxed as possible yourself. There are several additional considerations that help to reduce anxiety: Pheromone diffusers/sprays/collars,

herbal products, homeopathic products, safe essential oils, prescription medications, relaxation training, counterconditioning (trying to train the dogs not to be afraid) and the use of wearable pressure vests can all make a difference.

At-home counterconditioning is an effective way to reduce the pet's stress, just playing with your dog, giving treats and expressing positive emotions during the fireworks, can reduce their anxiety over time. The use of a noise CD can also be very useful in counterconditioning.

Have a chat to any one of the Ōtaki team for additional advice.

Fox & I by Catherine Raven

The Frequency of Us by Keith Stuart

Kia ora from the Ōtaki Public Library – Te Wharepukapuka o

Evolocity competition success

BY CHRIS GEORGETTI

On Wednesday 19 October, a small group of Ōtaki College students and myself travelled up to Palmerston North for the day to compete in the Manawatū–Wellington Evolocity competition. It's a competition where students,having designed and built an electric vehicle, then compete in various races with it. The students were (pictured, left to right, below) Witana Cameron, Louis Bevan,

Sam Georgetti and William Fogden.

It was another successful outing with ŌC being awarded the following:

- First place in the open class vehicle drag race (Sam)

- First place in the open class vehicle gymkhana (William)

- First place in the standard class cart drag race (Louis)

- First place in the standard class cart gymkhana (Witana)

- First place in endurance and economy for standard class cart (Louis and Witana)

- Engineering and Innovation Excellence award for the caretaker's cart (Sam and William)

- First place for overall performance for a standard class cart (Louis and Witana)

- Second place overall performance for an open class cart (Caretaker's cart - Sam and William)

- Third place overall performance for an open class cart (this vehicle had a DNF in one of the three races due to battery dying with one lap to go and almost a whole lap in front of the next vehicle).

Very successful employment workshop

BY FRANK NEILL

A very successful “Into Work” workshop was held in Ōtaki on 4 October.

The workshop was one of a series being held around New Zealand by National’s Social Development and Employment spokesperson Louise Upston.

The aim of this initiative is to connect local businesses looking for workers and local people seeking employment.

“In Ōtaki there are 1,542 people on Jobseeker. Almost 300 of these are under the age of 25.

“At a time with record low unemployment and businesses desperate for workers, these numbers should be much lower.”

The Ōtaki workshop looked at the barriers that currently exist between job seekers and job vacancies.

The two main barriers identified at the Ōtaki workshop were public transport and people being connected with the jobs that are available, Ms Upston says.

“One of the young men at the workshop was really concerned about people in his wider family who are seeking work but cannot find it.

“Some of them could be in jobs that are

available now.

“We want Work and Income to be more hands-on in connecting the two groups”, those two groups being job seekers and organisations seeking employees.

“Businesses across the country are crying out for workers.

“You cannot walk into a supermarket, café or retail shop without seeing a ‘Help Wanted’ sign.

“Despite record job vacancies, 177,000 people across the country remain on the Jobseeker Support – a weekly payment that helps New Zealanders while they look for work.”

To be eligible for Jobseeker, people must be over the age of 18 and be willing to accept suitable employment or take steps to find work.

“Jobseeker is supposed to be a temporary, short-term payment to keep people afloat while they look for a job. It’s not supposed to be a long-term income source for people who can work.”

When asked if the Ōtaki workshop was a success, “absolutely – very much so,” Ms Upston said.

If it’s not the computer, it’s the printer. If it’s not the modem, it’s the wifi. If it’s not the keyboard, it’s the mouse. If it’s not the online help chat-bot, it’s the provider’s call centre. If it’s the call centre, you’ll grow old waiting for one of their customer service representatives in Mumbai to be with you shortly. Please hold. Your call is important to us.

With digital technology, if it’s not one thing it’s another. Not a day passes without something going wrong in the digital space. This morning it was the Intermittent, as the Internet is called in these here parts. As provided by Vodafone, it is actually slower and less reliable than dial-up.

The cost to the economy of my productive output — lost as a result of internet failure — is rising faster than the rate of inflation in Brazil or the number of Tory U-turns in the UK.

I was going to write about satire being fiction’s short-cut to fact. Satirists use ridicule to remove clothes from emperors and expose the absurdity in ideas and situations by making them look ridiculous. An all-time master of satire in the English language was Jonathan Swift. His 1726 classic, Gulliver’s Travels, is about visiting islands where reality is upside-down and insideout and absurdity is the norm.

What if Gulliver visited New Zealand? He finds people glueing themselves to motorways. He’s seen some fairly ridiculous things on his travels, but nothing like this. He asks them why they are glueing themselves to the road. They describe themselves as climate-change activists, protesting at the lack of passenger trains which, they believe, will help slow global warming. He asks if they realise that they have caused a run on nail polish-remover by the police, causing a shortage aggravated further by the usual supply chain issues.

Investigating further, Gulliver learns that the

By Manakau’s Tom Frewen

protestors want passenger rail services restored to the way they were in 2000. He asks if they realise this would involve the demolition of the railway station at Waikanae.

It was at this point that I needed the Intermittent to check when electrification of the Kāpiti Line was extended from Paraparaumu to Waikanae. Deprived of access to Wikipedia and forced to rely on memory, I recalled the old electric multiple units, which had a seat across the aisle from the driver’s compartment, affording a view up the line going north and back down it going south. Travelling down to Wellington, you could watch the daylight coming through the entrance of the long tunnel at Tawa slowly dwindle to a pinprick. Just before reaching the other end at Ngauranga Gorge, the light flickered and went out.

It was the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. It was there all through the Rogernomic years of the 1980s Fourth Labour Government. Under this Labour Government, we seem to be heading away from it. The light’s still there, but it keeps getting smaller.

Sadly shaking his head, Gulliver walks further down the highway where he encounters a convoy of tractors driven by farmers protesting about having to pay for the gas emitted by their animals. They fear a new fart tax, as it is technically called, will drive them broke and force them to glue themselves to their farms.

Already angry they become incensed when they are held up by people who have glued themselves to the road. So great is their frustration that some rend their garments — not easy, as many are wearing oilskins. Behind them there are commuters, furious at being prevented from getting to work so as to earn money to pay their mortgages and taxes. Every minute they lose on the road is an hour

more they will have to spend fiddling their expense claims and public-holiday leave entitlements.

Venturing into the Capital, Gulliver visits Parliament where protestors have glued themselves to the doors, the steps and, further back, to each other. With their free hands they are waving signs calling for action on multiple issues — vaccinations, no vaccinations, gender equality, equal pay, animal rights, shorter waiting times, longer visiting hours, free Shakespeare festivals, longer life-sentences for terrorists, gaol terms for serious parking offences, fresh fish Fridays, a lathe in every basement, votes for fourth formers, affordable rest homes for retired working dogs. The list goes on.

Inside the Parliament, MPs are busy tweeting, Zooming, TikTokking, Instagramming and Facebooking. The Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee is livestreaming on Facebook, watched by three staff members in the next room and two close relatives of the chairman. The committee is hearing submissions via Zoom from thousands of vested interests unhappy with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s Stronger Public Media plan to have the entire population standing-by their phones and devices to watch live video of the prime minister’s policy updates.

Today it is the turn of Transport Minister Michael Wood to announce the solution to a problem no-one knew about until it was accidentally revealed by his ministry (Waka Kotahi, formerly NZTA) while researching the commercial and recreational potential of the thousands of large potholes that have developed on roads over winter. One proposal, already at an advanced stage and on the point of being put out for stakeholder consultation, is franchising ownership and branding rights to individual potholes by mobile mechanical repair firms. Addressing a small group of hungover video hacks and assorted comms people in Auckland’s Britomart railway staion, the

minister welcomes them in a linguistic buffet including Urdu and, to be sure of being totally inclusive and diversive, Swahili, but not English. He then unveils . . . drum roll, ta-rah-ta-rah . . . the NATIONAL TICKETING SOLUTION.

“This is a key milestone in the journey to grow public transport use by providing a single payment system and a range of easy-to-use payment methods, no matter where you are in the country,” he said.

“Our government is committed to making it more affordable, easier and attractive for Kiwis to use public transport.

“Through our investments we are delivering linked-up public transport networks across the country that help people get to where they want to go.”

Helping people get to where they want to go can’t be all bad (except, of course, when the road is blocked by people glueing themselves to it).

Wood proudly revealed that the NTS was the product of a contract between his ministry and Cubic, an American conglomerate that provides networked command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as realistic combat training systems, secure communications, operations, maintenance, technical and other support services.

So, hop on a bus in Auckland using your NTS card and hop off at the airport, catch a flight to Wellington paying through the nose, hop on a bus there using the same card and see how close you can get to Parliament before being brought to halt by people glued to the pavement.

Meanwhile, your travel movements will be constantly monitored by American and Chinese intelligence agencies so, should you happen to get lost, they’ll know exactly where to find you. Providing, of course, the Intermittent is up and running.

Handy folk to know

Helplines

ŌTAKI Secure Storage

ŌTAKI Secure Storage

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ŌTAKI Secure Storage

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• long or short-term

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• smoke alarms and security cameras

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• any size, from garden shed to house-lots

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13 & 19 Riverbank Road 0800 364 632 www.otakisecurestorage.co.nz

13 & 19 Riverbank Road 0800 364 632 www.otakisecurestorage.co.nz

13 & 19 Riverbank Road 0800 364 632 www.otakisecurestorage.co.nz

Ōtaki Churches welcome you

St, Sunday Eucharist: 9am

Church viewing hours, school terms: Mon–Fri 9.30am–1.30pm 364 6838 email: rangiatea.church@xtra.co.nz

Shannon no service

Whakarongotai marae, Waikanae 2nd Sunday, 11.30

Levin Ngatokowaru Marae Hokio Beach Road, 4th Sunday, 11am

CATHOLIC

Ōtaki St Mary’s “Pukekaraka” 4 Convent Road Weekend Mass Sunday Mass, 10am Christmas Eve Mass is 7pm and Christmas Day is 9am, vaccine pass required.

Kuku St Stephens No Mass until further notice.

Acts Churches The HUB 157 Tasman Rd, Ōtaki, Tel: 364 6911 10.15am Family service, 10.15am Big Wednesday

Small team of five do ŌSLSC proud

BY FRANK NEILL

a Covid-enforced absence, the first Surf Lifesaving New Zealand Pool Rescue Nationals in

to Sunday 9th October. Pool Rescue swimmers from across the country converged on the Sir Owen Glenn National Aquatic Centre to battle for the prized Paul Kent Memorial Trophy.

“It’s been a tough couple of years for everyone involved in surf lifesaving in New Zealand sports events,” Surf Lifesaving New Zealand Sport Manager Lewis McClintock says. “We’ve had to call events off, or restrict numbers, for Covid-related reasons so to be able to run a full programme Pool Rescue Nationals in Auckland was great. “We really enjoyed seeing everyone in one place and being able to enjoy some great quality racing.”

It is the first of many national championship competitions for the season. This event serves as an important development competition for our current and aspiring lifeguards as they continue to develop important lifesaving skills for the season ahead. The Pool Rescue Nationals is iconic for being the only competition that includes junior, senior and masters age groups in the same venue over three epic days of competition.

Despite only sending a small team of five athletes, Ōtaki shone brightly, placing a very impressive 11th overall!

Our only junior competitor Khendall Maxwell competed in the U14 age group with best results being 12th and 16th place.

In the senior category we had Neve Tassicker and Ella Drummond competing in the U17 age group, Abigail Prouty in the U19 age group and Sophie Irving contesting the Open Women. The four girls combined to race in the Open Women for relay events.

Sophie achieved the best results for the weekend with:

• 1st place in the 200m Obstacle race;

• 2nd place in both the 100m Manikin Tow with Fins and 50m swim with fins; and

• 3rd place in the 100m Rescue Medley.

She then joined Neve, Ella and Abigail in the Open Women’s Relays to achieve:

• 2nd place in the 4 x 50m Obstacle Relay;

• 2nd place in the Open Women's Line Throw, (Ella

Drummond & Sophie Irving); and

• 2nd place in the 4 x 50m Medley Relay.

The fact that we had two young women from U17 and one young woman from the U19 age groups competing up and achieving these results is fantastic.

Neve Tassicker’s best results in the individual events were 4th in the 100m Rescue Medley and 5th in the 200m Obstacle Race. These results were impressive considering this was her first time competing in this event with limited build-up time to master the skills required. This also applied to Ella Drummond, who also competed for the first time with limited practice for this event. Her best results were 7th in the 100m Rescue Medley and 11th. Abby was a complete novice so to have achieved her results was outstanding and very commendable. Overall, we’re super proud of our athletes — well done, girls, you did us proud!

In other news, we’re very grateful to have received a grant of $15,000 from NZCT for ten new paddle boards. We applied to NZCT for funding to increase the number of (and replace some old) boards available for the use of our lifeguards and coaches. The boards are invaluable for teaching members surf skills and will be used for stamina training and undertaking board rescues at Ōtaki Beach. With the additional boards, more members will be able to train at the same time to practice for their Board Rescue module, a standard set by Surf Lifesaving New Zealand. This means more members will have the skills to perform rescues as required, thus making the beach a safer place for the public.

Police nab ram raiders

BY FRANK NEILL

Police have apprehended and charged offenders responsible for four ram raids and one burglary and arson.

That was “a good result,” says Sergeant Phil Grimstone, the officer in charge of the Ōtaki Police.

In fact, Ōtaki Police have recently had “a few good months as far as taking active offenders off the street,” he says.

Two of the ram raids happened in Ōtaki. The first ram raid was on Super Liquor on 19 September and second was on the vape shop on State Highway 1. After Police executed search warrants a series of arrests were made relating to the two ram raids.

A 16-year-old young man was arrested and faced 10 charges, including charges relating to both ram raids, stealing four cars and being in a stolen vehicle unlawfully. He has been remanded in custody to appear in the Levin Youth Court on 25 October.

Another 16-year-old young man was charged with two counts of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and with dangerous driving. He was released on bail to appear in the Levin Youth Court on 8 November.

A third 16-year-old young man was charged with stealing

two cars, being in three stolen cars unlawfully and failing to stop for Police. He was released on bail to appear in the Levin Youth Court on 20 December.

A 14-year-old young man was charged with stealing one car, dangerous driving, failing to stop for Police and being in a stolen vehicle unlawfully. He was released on bail to appear in the Levin Youth Court on 8 November.

All four young men are from Ōtaki.

Following a ram raid on the Winecraft bottle store in Paraparaumu on 22 September, a 16-year-old young Ōtaki man has been charged with burglary. He was also charged with stealing two cars and being in a stolen car unlawfully. He was released on bail to appear in the Levin Youth Court on 8 November.

There is a group of offenders across the Manawatu, Horowhenua and Wellington districts who have been stealing cars and fleeing from Police, Sergeant Grimstone said.

As well as the young men from Ōtaki, Police have also charged associates from across the three districts.

Following a ram raid on Repco’s Paraparaumu shop Police executed a search warrant on an Ōtaki address and charged a 39-year-old man with two charges of receiving stolen property.

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One charge related to the ram raid. The other charge related to the theft of a trailer from Ōtaki School in June this year.

Ōtaki Police also arrested a man following the burglary and arson of Chaney’s Joinery on Riverbank Road on 25 August.

After the premises were set alight emergency services were called. The Ōtaki Volunteer Fire Brigade responded and extinguished the blaze, but only after the fire had caused extensive damage to the property.

A 35-year-old man has been arrested in relation to that incident and he also faced multiple other charges. He has been remanded in custody to appear in the Levin District Court on 16 November.

The Police were able to identify the offenders involved in the four ram raids, and the burglary and arson through both forensic identification – such as finding fingerprints which matched those on the Police’s computer system as a result of previous offending – and CCTV footage.

“This is a good opportunity to highlight the benefit of forensics and CCTV to resolve crime,” Sergeant Grimstone told the Ōtaki Mail.

left to right: Sophie Irving, Neve Tassicker, Ella Drummond and Abby Prouty at this year's Surf Lifesaving New Zealand Pool Rescue Nationals