Ōtaki Mail February 2022

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February 2022

Let’s Turn the Tide on Drownings The beach is New Zealand’s favourite playground, but it can also be a dangerous place. Learning about the risks and preparing yourself will mean you and your family can enjoy the sun, sea and sand and return home safely. We know preventative measures savelives.

This year early warm weather meant high numbers of people visited the beach before the holiday weekday patrols began.

Worryingly, lifeguards have already carried out record numbers of rescues in parts of the country this year, and tragically there have been several drownings.

The real tragedy behind every fatal drowning is that most, if not all, are preventable.

Preliminary figures from Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) indicate that the preventable fatal drowning toll for the official holiday period is 14, a 180 per cent increase on the five-year average.

We saw hundreds of people at the beach enjoying their first swim of the year on January 1st 2022. The surf was big and messy with multiple rip currents and holes appearing. Add to this the large numbers and it was “one of the busiest weekends the Club has seen in a while”, said Patrol Captain Rob Bigwood.

Bigwood said that Ōtaki Lifeguards performed a significant number of preventative actions over the weekend and an off-duty rescue on Saturday evening.

“The patient was very lucky that many of the clubbies were still in the building having a BBQ and debrief after the busy day. He was out of his depth and quickly got into trouble.

Without the quick actions of the off-duty lifeguards, and the follow-up first aid support, this event could have ended very differently.” Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving Club Chairman Graeme Lundie can’t stress strongly enough that “the best way to stay safe is to choose a lifeguarded beach, know your limits and swim between the flags.”

Other waterways are just as popular, and have tragically claimed their share of lives.

The Manawatū River has claimed 4 lives in recent weeks. A number of our Lifeguards assisted the New Zealand Police in the search and eventual recovery of these four victims.

Rivers often look benign, but can be more dangerous than the sea, and they don’t offer the security of lifeguards.

Again, we urge you to not take risks and to know your limits. Keep your kids within arm’s reach at all times in or near the water.

If you feel uncomfortable about getting into the water, go with your gut feeling and stay out. It’s better to be safe than sorry. There is safety in numbers. If you get in trouble in the water and you have your friends or family with you, you have instant back-up.

They can help you out or get help if needed!

Kori Kaumatua Page 6

Rongoā of the Month Page 9

Local sports Page 10, 11, 24

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Ōtaki Mail – February 2022 Sponsored content

Diversional therapist Samantha is part of the Reevedon Home family Looking for a job that would give her hours that would work around her four children and utilise her 12 years of casual caregiving, Samantha Hutchings spotted an opening at Enliven’s Reevedon Home.

“The opportunity gave me the push I needed to finish my diversional therapy training,” says Samantha. “Then I applied to Enliven.”

The subsequent job interview blew her away as it involved a process she wasn’t expecting.

“It was the interview with the Reevedon Home residents which set it apart,” says Samantha. “Of course, it makes sense in this close family context that the people whose home you are coming into, welcome you.”

Samantha felt welcomed indeed, along with her baby son, who accompanied her to the interview.

Now settled into her role in recreation, Samantha enjoys engaging the residents in all sorts of activities.

“I focus on things the residents enjoy.

We tend to do a little bit of everything and anything’s possible. I like to keep things flexible,” says Samantha.

With the weather getting better and new comfy cushions on the outdoor seating activities can take place outside on the deck.

“We started the quiz off outside one morning and it was nice and sunny, so the residents stayed out for lunch too,” she says.

Enliven is always on the lookout for great people to join the team. If you, or someone you know is looking for a role in aged care, visit www.psc.org.nz/jobs or email: recruit@psc.org.nz.

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What if there’s a problem with the house I’m buying

BY FLEUR HOBSON You’ve found the house you like and you’ve signed an agreement to buy it.

That agreement allowed you to get a builder’s report, which you have done, and the report shows there is at least one problem.

What happens now? The first step is for you to make an assessment of what you want.

The issue may be quite minor, and you really, really want the house. You may decide that you won’t take any steps about the builder’s report, that you will buy the house and then fix the problem yourself.

If you happen to know, or to suspect, that someone else also wants the house and is willing to pay more than you have agreed to pay, then doing nothing is an option worth considering.

You can, of course, go back to the seller and ask them to fix the issue. If it’s minor, that may not be a problem.

The issue may be quite a lot more serious, however, and you definitely want it fixed.

Or you may also be happy for the seller to reduce the price by the cost of a fix, and for you to organise a tradesman to fix it.

In either of those cases you or your lawyer will need to raise the matter with the seller or the seller’s lawyer.

As a legal contract is involved, as well as the practical issue of a problem needing a fix, you can significantly improve you chances of a successful outcome by asking your lawyer to handle this for you.

What if, for example, the seller’s lawyer insists on a replacement agreement for sale

and purchase. It is very important, if this happens, that the earlier agreement is properly cancelled. It is also very important that your lawyer checks out the new proposed agreement before you sign it.

Following the negotiation, you will either have achieved: • a lower sale price (but you will have to fix the problem); or • the seller agrees to fix the problem either by the settlement date, or by a later agreed date (as big problems may need a contract period extension).

Another outcome of the builder’s report is that it uncovers a problem which is so big that you want the contract to be cancelled.

When such a serious defect is uncovered, it is again very important that you get

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your lawyer to handle this.

One reason for that is that what constitutes a failed building inspection varies, and the seller may want to argue that the problem can be fixed.

Exactly what steps need to be taken will also go back to the wording of the agreement for sale and purchase that you signed, and that is why it is so important to have your lawyer look over it before you sign.

If you are looking to buy a house, or you have made an offer and the builder’s report has uncovered an issue, we would be only too happy to help you. Contact Fleur, Susie or Freya at Hobson Mills Law, 364 7190, 282 Mill Road – opposite Farmlands.

Ōtaki Mail For news and advertising contact: Penny Gaylor Editor phone: 027 664 8869, or email: otakimail@xtra.co.nz Printed by Beacon Print.

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Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Honoured for Māori education service

BY FRANK NEILL Ōtaki Beach resident Dr Kathleen Irwin was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her outstanding service to Māori education and educational research in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.

Dr Kathleen Irwin MNZM.

A “proud graduate” of Te Wānanga o Raukawa’s Poupou programme, Dr Irwin has been involved in research, training and development in the area of Māori education for some 30 years.

“I’m an absolute supporter of Te Wānanga o Raukawa. I love what they do,” she says.

Of Ngati Porou, Kakaipaaka (Ngati Kahunungu), Orkney Islands, Scottish and Irish descent, Dr Irwin says she was “astounded” to receive the honour.

“I see my work as a direct result of my grandparents’ legacy,” she adds.

Both her grandparents on her mother’s side were missionaries. Rev John Laughton came from the Orkney Islands.

From a very young age he decided to dedicate himself to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to dedicate himself to the Māori community.

“He is just an absolute icon for me – a role model who came to work in the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi” and who set up the first Presbyterian Māori mission station.

His wife, Horiana Te Kauru Laughton was born to a Mormon family in Nuhaka.

The Presbyterian Church set up the Turakina Māori Girls’ College in 1905, and the 15-year-old Horiana decided to change her religion from Mormon to Presbyterian so she could enrol at the school, becoming its 149th pupil.

She left her faith, her home and her whanau so she could attend the Turakina college, which she “absolutely loved” and where she was Dux in 1917. The next year, she took up her first teaching position.

“It’s a legacy based on hope, faith and love,” Dr Irwin says.

“That’s the home that I was raised in.

My father was a teacher and my mother was a teacher too.

“It had a profound impact on me, because I think they are right. I have absolutely benefited from their legacy.

“That’s what my life’s been about – following that same passion for education.”

After attending Palmerston North Teachers’ College and then teaching in primary schools, Dr Irwin was appointed a junior lecturer in Māori education at Massey University in 1981.

That began 20 years as an academic, moving from junior lecturer through to Professor. She joined Victoria University in 1988, where she was head of education.

While at Victoria University, she founded and led the university’s first Māori education research and development centre, He Pārekereke.

She then moved into the Wānanga area, joining Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi’s Awatope Campus in Wellington.

When Dr Irwin joined, the campus had NZQA accreditation to level 2. Within two years, Dr Irwin saw this increase up to level 8, and develop accredited masters programmes.

Her next career move was to Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust, where she worked for quite some time before joining Te Puni Kokiri as Chief Advisor Māori.

A series public service roles followed, at the Families Commission, Human Rights Commission, Accident Compensation Corporation, Office of the Chirldren’s Commisioner and her current role at the Retirement Commission, where she was appointed to lead Māori development and Māori research.

In addition, Dr Irwin has been involved at the governance level, including four years on the board of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa as the Minister of Education’s nominee.

Dr Irwin received the Ngārimu Victoria Cross and the 28th Māori Battalion Post Graduate Scholarship for her PhD research. She was the first Māori recipient of the Hodge Fellowship in 1994 and was the inaugural recipient of the Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi Post-Doctoral Professorial Research Fellowship.

Her research contribution has been made as a junior lecturer through to Professor across five institutions: Massey University, Victoria University, Christchurch College of Education, Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi between 1981 and 2008.

She has also served as Editor of Feminist Voices and of Toi Māori: worlds of Māori Women.

She has been a keynote speaker for several years, speaking at the First United Nations Permanent Forum on indigenous issues and the kōhanga reo model in 2003.

Her governance roles have included being a member of the Wellington College of Education Council, the Women’s Advisory Committee on Education, the New Zealand Association for Research in Education Council.

Dr Irwin is deputy chair of the Joint Research Committee Mana Wāhine Kaupapa inquiry.

“It’s been great,” Dr Irwin says.

“It’s all about education being a pathway to new futures. It’s all about being a pathway to change.”

Dr Irwin first came to Ōtaki to live in the mid to late 1980s. At the time, she was an academic at Massey University in Palmerston North and her former husband was an academic at Victoria University in Wellington. They came here to live as Ōtaki was half way between the two places of work.

She then returned to live in Ōtaki three years ago, mainly because her mokopuna live here.

Honoured for service to Kiribati people

BY FRANK NEILL Two decades of extensive voluntary work to enhance the well-being and the culture of Kiribati people living in New Zealand has resulted in Dr Rose Namoori-Sinclair being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.

The honour came as a total surprise for Dr Namoori-Sinclair, who moved to Ōtaki in 2014.

Dr Rose Namoori-Sinclair MNZM.

When the notification of her award arrived in her email, it was “unbelievable,” she told the Ōtaki Mail.

“It was really surprising. I’d never even thought about it.”

Dr Namoori-Sinclair was born in Kiribati, the small Pacific archipelago with a population of just under 140,000 which is

significantly threatened by sea level rises caused by global warming.

When she came to New Zealand in December 2001 there were only a few Kiribati families. Although the number is much bigger now, “we have such a small community”.

Although it is small, the Kiribati community is also very important to Dr Namoori-Sinclair, leading to her voluntary service to enhance the wellbeing and the culture of her people.

“I’m always involved in my community,” she says.

Her extensive voluntary community involvement includes facilitating the working group that established a Conceptual Framework for enhancing I-Kiribati wellbeing in 2015, This working group authored a document titled Boutokaan te mweeraoi.

Working with the Kiribati Conceptual Framework with the Ministry of Social Development led to Dr Namoori-Sinclair extending her voluntary work from the Wellington Kiribati community to cover Kiribati communities throughout New Zealand.

As a result of that project, she and the other Kiribati leaders established the Kiribati Federation Aotearoa (KFA), which she chaired from 2018 to 2020.

As chair, she ensured that KFA engaged with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples on including the Kiribati language in the Pacific Language Week Series.

In creating the KFA “our priority focus was to conduct training across the country to enhance community wellbeing based on our cultural values.”

That, she says, has been one of the highlights of her voluntary work for Kiribati people in New Zealand.

Dr Namoori-Sinclair helped translate all communications from the Ministry of Social Development into Kiribati and helped with translations and editing of the document.

She subsequently took the team lead role in writing the Maneaba Strategic Action Plan to implement the Boutokaan te mweeraoi framework.

She helped write a training manual based on Kiribati heritage and cultural values to address violence towards both women and men in the Kiribati community. She obtained funding for this training and four

courses were held in different regions around New Zealand.

She chaired the Kiribati Wellington Club in 2003 and 2004. She identified a lack of traditional dancing experience locally and with community agreement sourced an experienced dancing master from Kiribati to provide lessons.

Dr Namoori-Sinclair was an organiser for the 25th anniversary celebration of Kiribati independence held in Wellington.

Continued on page 7

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Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Te Horo flooding meeting Following the severe flood in December 2021, which left local residents at Te Horo Beach stranded for three days and several properties flooded, a public meeting has been organised to discuss ongoing issues with flooding on Te Horo Beach roads and management of the Mangaone stream.

The meeting is being co-ordinated by Friends of Te Horo Beach.

Elected representatives and staff from both KCDC and GWRC will give an update to local residents on the issues and options for resolving them.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday 2 Feb, 7pm at the Bus Stop Cafe.

Vaccine passes will be required.

Enquiries to Liz Koh lizkohnz@gmail.com.

BY VIVIENNE BAILEY

Drinks and Nibbles

The seasonal surplus stall and Te Horo Country Market

The monthly Te Horo community social catch-up on Friday, 4 February 5.30 pm at Te Horo Hall. BYO plate of finger food to share and something to drink.

All welcome.

Te Horo Country Market Plenty of goodies on offer at Te Horo Country Market, Sunday 6 February, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm at Te Horo Hall.

You’ll find local honey and olive oil, preserves, natural skin care, arts and crafts including mosaic mirrors, quilting, driftwood sculptures and bird feeders, linens and knits, and the seasonal surplus stall with a summer harvest of vegetables and fruit from community gardens.

The seasonal surplus stall has been part of the monthly Te Horo Country Market for eight years (baring a brief annual winter hiatus), the local community regularly bringing surplus from orchards and veggie gardens and receiving 80% of what it is sold for.

The remaining 20% is donated to local organisations such as the food bank although “some generous suppliers have foregone their percentage,” Jenny Gordon, stall organizer said.

The community support during the eight years means a total of $2,994.30 has been gifted to the Te Horo Hall, the Ōtaki Foodbank and the Mirek Smisek Arts Trust.

Although the January 2022 market marked the end of Team Jenny and Sue (Smith), the stall will continue under the guidance of Helen Cook together with her team of willing helpers (from February 2022).

“Our thanks must go to the community for their loyal, ongoing support over the years. Due to that help, we’ve been able to make significant contributions to various local charitable organisations,” said Jenny. “We know you’ll give Helen and her team the same commitment and support.”

Kapiti Coast Market Passes Critical Test ‘Otaki a hotspot within a hotspot’

Otaki Gardens was released in mid-November, marketed for just three weeks, and prospective buyers were given a deadline of 8 December to enter agreements to purchase.

Throughout the COVID pandemic, New Zealanders have re-assessed their needs and frequently asked themselves whether they are in the right job, the right relationship, or the right house. Greater employment flexibility and the consequent trend of relocation has driven property prices to new records, all over the country, as Kiwi’s trade city lifestyles for new homes and new builds.

However, with CoreLogic’s December House Price Index showing nationwide values are still increasing, but that the rate of growth is slowing, some have speculated that the market may be near its peak, according to First National Real Estate Otaki co-principal, Travis Robertson.

‘The strength of the Kapiti Coast property market and Otaki in particular has been absolutely re-affirmed through the recent Otaki Gardens results’ said Mr Robertson.

‘At a time of year when most New Zealanders are thinking about Christmas, it’s an extraordinary result that gives us great confidence in the impending release of Stage Two, which will see another 40 sections brought to market,’ said Mr Robertson.

‘A majority of section sales in the past 18 months have been small subdivisions of between six to twelve sections, whereas Stage One of the Otaki Gardens release involved 44 sections being sold in one tranche.

So, this was considered a major test of the market’s strength and with 95% of the sections under contract, Otaki is definitely a hotspot within a hotspot.’

‘Prices being achieved are consistent with expectation, based upon the region’s property inventory sold in the past six months. And while a significant percentage of buyers are from Wellington City, as First National Otaki anticipated, we’re seeing buyers emerge from all over the North Island who regard the sections as highly affordable.’

Stage-Two of Otaki Gardens will be released in February and represents one of the region’s largest land releases in decades.

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Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Te Horo Beach community stalwart

BY VIVIENNE BAILEY Louise Hinton has been part of Te Horo Beach for fourteen years, her heart belongs in the small, picturesque settlement, and she is a person who likes to get things done in her beachside community.

“I moved to Te Horo Beach in 2008 and bought my property in 2011. I loved the beach vibe and the laid-back lifestyle,” Louise says. “It was also a great place to raise a family.”

With children attending the local Te Horo School, Louise did a stint on the ‘Home and School Committee,’ the school’s proactive fundraising group, and later joined the Residents’ Association (currently the Friends of Te Horo Beach), taking on the role of secretary and event planner.

“The Teddy Bears Picnic was one of my initiatives, and also the annual Te Horo Christmas in the Park which I started in 2012.”

Louise tells me she is most proud of the children’s park at Te Horo Beach with its unique wooden pirate ship, an enterprise she launched in partnership with KCDC (there is now an identical park in Ōtaki).

As well as driving the construction of

beachside toilets, Louise has organized school holiday games at the beach, a fair and parade in Levin, and a Woman’s Expo event ‘Pamper and Indulgence’ (2010) using Te Horo’s heritage hall.

More recently in 2018 Louise set up a Community Pantry outside her home, using surplus fruit and veggies from local gardens.

“Gardeners often sow seeds, plant seedlings at the same, they’re harvested all at once, so there’s too much at the same time.”

But event planning has taken a back seat for the present. Louise recently completed qualifications in law and psychology (for a career as a legal executive), and planned to sell her property, “a fresh start, new horizons,” and move to Queensland.

However, the appearance of COVID, lockdowns and social restrictions has obliterated that idea, and currently she is working as a local tutor with Star Jam, a not-for-profit organization which helps young New Zealanders with disabilities grow in confidence, discover musical and performance talents through dance.

It seems for now her heart remains with Te Horo Beach and its community.

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Te Horo Olives

BY VIVIENNE BAILEY The combination of a temperate and maritime climate with stony ground provides a perfect natural environment for award-winning Te Horo olive growers including relative newcomers to the industry, Sonia and Peter Blaikie. The couple bought Te Horo Olives, a property situated on State Highway One, between The Winemakers Daughter and Ōtaki Hydroponics Garden Supplies, in 2017.

“It was rather neglected and unloved, trees in the front paddock had been coppiced and it had been out of production for some years,” explains Sonia. “We needed to bring it back to life.”

With a combined background in communications and veterinary practice, it was “learning as we go” Peter says, acknowledging the huge practical help Peter Speedy, Sonia’s father, brings to the property.

Good use is made of their fox terrier, Max with his rabbit catching skills, black-faced Gotland Pelt sheep, and the

docile, hardy Shropshire, one of the rarest sheep breeds in New Zealand, has proven a cost effective, eco-friendly way to suppress weeds. Peter says the breed’s major attribute is an ability to graze amongst the trees without damage but anthracnose, a fungus disease which can attack olives during a cool wet spring (conditions ideal for spores to spread), causing fruit to shrivel, needs regular attention and control. However, with three young children the couple are exploring ways to reduce the use of chemicals.

“Olives New Zealand have been really useful, providing information on producing premium organic extra virgin olive oil, and local olive oil growers and producers, David Walshaw of Kapiti Olives, and Rob and Tricia Nobel-Beasley of Noble Estate Olives have been very supportive as well.”

Peter and Sonia grow 750 trees on the property although currently around 450 are harvested. Varieties include the herbaceous Koroneiki, a Greek plant known as the queen of olives, Picual (the name refers to the shape of fruit which comes to a pointed tip), the Italian variety, Frantoio, a fruity, grassy oil, and the smooth, buttery Barnea planted in the front paddock “not in production at present.”

The first press (using Leafyridge Olives in Carterton) was in 2019, followed by another in 2021. Sonia says they sell in bulk to outlets, many in Hawkes Bay, where the oil is blended, infused or sold as “pure olive oil.”

Te Horo Olives won a silver medal for their boutique medium-single varietal Te Horo Frantoio (2021) and took a silver for their commercial medium-single varietal Te Horo Koroneiki (2021).

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Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

By Ann Chapman

The Sun

Kori Kaumatua

The Good. The Bad. And The Ugly.

We all love the sun. It makes us well good. It warms our hearts, spirits and our bodies. It dismisses the cold of winter and we feel alive. We want to be in it for rest, for fun, to sit around in, to picnic, to play in, to go to the beach, or sail a boat, or to garden. But like most good things, the sun has a trick or two up its sleeve for the unwary. But firstly – the good.

The Good

The sun produces Vitamin D in our bodies. It is critical for bone health as it keeps bones, muscles and teeth healthy. It is so important that District Health Boards make supplements of Vitamin D available to rest and nursing homes when the elderly are unable to get out in the sun. Vitamin D is the regulator for the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. A lack of it can cause weakened bones, prone to breaking in adults and a condition called rickets in children. Its benefits include promoting healthy bones and teeth, supporting immune, brain, and nervous system health, regulating insulin levels and supporting diabetes management, supporting lung function and cardiovascular health, and influencing the expression of genes involved in cancer development. The amount of sun exposes differs with different skin colours and the time of the year. Aim to get 10-30 minutes midday sun a day.

Difficulties arrive however when we are encouraged to ‘slip, slop, slap and cover up’ to prevent sun burn. Sun screen lessens the effectiveness of absorption of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is also in fruit and vegetables and you can also buy supplements. Food rich in Vitamin D are: Fatty fish, like tuna, mackerel, and salmon, foods fortified with vitamin D, like some dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, and cereals, beef liver, cheese and egg yolks.

The Bad

Sunburn is nasty. It hurts. It can cause blisters and peeling. It can damage the cells in the skin. Sunburn should be avoided if possible, as even mild sunburn can damage your skin and increase the risk of skin cancer. Mild sunburn causes red, hot sore skin and can usually be treated at home. The fairer the skin the higher the risk of getting sunburnt.

However skin of any colour can be damaged by the UV radiation in the sun.

Even a few minutes may cause sunburn in the middle of the day when the sun is at its hottest. In severe cases of sunburn look out for blistering, swelling of the skin, chills, a high temperature and a general feeling of discomfort. Severe burns may produce symptoms of heat exhaustion such as dizziness, headache and nausea. Best to see a doctor then.

Balancing your need for well-being, and Vitamin D without getting sunburnt is difficult when you have to consider age, skin type and the joy of being out in the sun. Covering up and sunscreen are critical. When used correctly, sunscreen can help protect against sunburn and damage to skin from UV radiation exposure. When choosing sunscreen, look for a broad spectrum, water-resistant of at least SPF30.

In the short term the sun can cause sunburn. In the long term, it builds up and raises the risk of skin cancer and melanomas. Sunburn accelerates skin aging and is a leading cause in the majority of cases of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Sunburn is bad news, but the good news is that it’s totally preventable. It is not the burn itself which causes cancer, rather it’s the sun exposure associated with the burn. It’s the ultraviolet light absorbed into the skin which raises the risk.

Skin cancers can appear as a firm, red nodule, or as a rough, scaly, flat lesion that may itch, bleed and become crusty.

They mainly occur on areas of the skin frequently exposed to the sun, but can occur anywhere. Melanoma usually appears as a pigmented patch or bump.

So if you’re worried about a new lesion on your skin, see your doctor. It may save your life, as will using sunscreen.

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The Ōtaki Kori Kaumatua class has been making the most of the summer weather holding their classes down at the beach and to make the most of the cooler mornings class is now at 9.30.

There is exercise routines to music for 45 minutes, with kani kani (dance) at the end for those with still more energy.

The group has grown over the years to a peak of 40-50, with average attendance 25-35 with COVID-19 regulations, the majority of the attendees in their late 60’s to 80’s as well as a several younger ones. Leader, Ngawira Richards has been holding the Ōtaki class for nine years and another in Levin for about three years.

With an emphasis on balance and strengthening exercises, the class was originally started for the over 65’s and to get Ngawira’s mother exercising prior to joint replacement surgery.

Men and women attend the Tuesday and Thursday sessions, currently at the beach on fine days and a local hall if the beach is wet or too windy.

During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown Ngawira held classes on line and had people joining in for all round the country and overseas.

Come and join us at the beach if the weather is right, join in and have some fun. All welcome.

The Ugly

Old School Beauty & Electrolysis • • • • • • •

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Leader, Ngawira Richards, centre in white singlet, leads the wind down kani kani at the end of Kori Kaumatua class for those who still have some energy.

A warmup routine gets the Kori Kaumatua class ready for a session at Ōtaki Beach.

Lucy Feltham Physiotherapist General physiotherapy no ACC surcharge direct referral for ACC & private consultations shoulder courses manual & sports physio post-op rehab hand therapy 16 Dunstan Street Ōtaki feltham@xtra.co.nz ph / fax 06 364 7027 9am - 6pm Monday-Friday

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Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

From Coffee to Retro

BY ANN CHAPMAN When the Lean 2 cafe closed its doors at Ōtaki Beach, regulars knew without doubt that its owner, Rusty would reinvent himself somewhere else with the style and enthusiasm he is known for. Rusty had met Cherry as a customer and it quickly became evident that they were both highly creative people who had much in common.

It seemed inevitable that they would team up at some stage when the timing was right.

“We are really lucky to have tripped across each other and to have met Taki and Rebecca from River Cottage Cafe at a time when all the stars aligned, so to speak.

They have been remarkably trusting in our vision in offering us this lovely space within this beautiful garden.

And the coffee is great too!”

Gorgias George vintage and collectibles store is situated in the garden of the River Cottage Café on the corner of Riverbank Road.

Filled with a riot of colour and texture from the clean lines of a mid-century Danish piece of furniture through to an array of eclectic, quirky retro collectibles, the small store is a treasure hunter’s delight.

Both have a great eye, and their different tastes have blended in a curated space of anything and everything that takes their fancy.

Open for just over month, it is a place to browse, to chat, to recognise the nostalgia of Nan’s teapot and delight over beautiful glassware, made knew with a change in generation.

“It’s an easy relaxed merger of styles,” says Rusty.

“Our common thread is liking old stuff and it works because we have different ‘eyes’, different ideas.

Together we’ve put together a very eclectic collection.

We have a healthy respect for each other’s vision. It’s about fitting in the community, using spare space well, not throwing items of beauty away and having fun.”

Gorgias George is open from Thursday to Sunday from 10am – 2pm in the grounds of River Cottage Café on the corner of State Highway I and Riverbank Road.

Follow their updated stock on Instagram and Facebook.

The Bee Column – The Sting in the Tail

BY PENNY KERR-HISLOP “How the hell do they do it? Done one hive. I think I will have to do my other one another day”.

The heat is on. In more ways than one. There is so much to do at this time of year and if you have more than a few hives, it’s going to get hot out there clad in bee suit, boots and gloves. Add to that a few thousand irritated bees and it all becomes a hot mess.

I know a beekeeper who recently got so hot inspecting his hives that he abandoned his protective clothing and humming his waiata of peace and harmony (ko tēnei te wā being one of his favs), went out to inspect his bees.

That was all fine until he realised he had forgotten his smoker.

He needed to check for varroa destructor and to see if the spring mite strips had done their job at keeping the numbers under control. When necessary, he adds a strip of cardboard soaked in oxalic acid as an intermediary measure.

It’s not easy. At this time of year, the hives are 3–4 boxes high and the varroa treatment needs to be put in the

Everybody makes mistakes.

Forgot to close the cab doors.

brood boxes which are never the top ones. These top boxes are filled with honey and can weigh up to 45 kilos each. While checking for mites he also looks at the brood for evidence of any American Foul Brood. While this tends to rear its ugly head in spring, a basic principle is to check for it any and every time you open your hives.

The morning’s work did not go as planned. There were some ugly scenes down at the hive. It could have worked but without the smoker, the bees just partied on the beekeeper’s face. Cheeks, lips, in the beard and on the ears. He was not happy. Lesson learned. Suffer the heat and avoid the stings.

All around the country beekeepers are starting to extract their honey. This image shows how it can go horribly wrong!

It seems to have been a pretty good few weeks with the honey boxes filling up rapidly. Clover is in full swing in this part of the country providing plenty of nectar. All those yellow berm flowers that seem to thrive in the heat and dry are very much utilised by the bees. Remember to put extra boxes on top if the hive is getting full. It’s hot too and the bees need a bit of space.

All around the country beekeepers are starting to extract their honey.

This image shows how it can go horribly wrong!

The Ōtaki Mail continued to spread Christmas cheer, right under the tree, with its Christmas issue.

Photo: Stewart Fraser.

Honoured for service to Kiribati people Continued from page 3 “It is quite a hard job doing work unpaid, but I feel rewarded when you can make a change for your community.

“I feel satisfied when I see things successful for the community. That makes me happy,” she says.

Dr Namoori-Sinclair first left Kiribati to travel to Fiji, where she studied at the University of the South Pacific and where she met her husband, who is Fijian.

After graduating, she returned to Kiribati, where she worked for government for four years before doing further study in Australia. She then returned to Kiribati before living in New Caledonia and moving to New Zealand.

After living first in Tawa and then in Porirua, she and her husband decided to move to Ōtaki.

“We were interested in looking for a lifestyle block,” she says. They found one in Ōtaki Gorge Road, which they considered “quite manageable” in terms of its distance from Wellington city, where she and her husband worked.

And they like living here.

Throughout her professional career, Dr Namoori-Sinclair has contributed to the New Zealand and Kiribati governments, ChildFund New Zealand, Secretariat of the Pacific Community and United Nations, working in senior advisory and leadership roles and undertaking consultancy work. In New Zealand, her first role was with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, then the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Department of Labour, Statistics New Zealand, Accident Compensation Corporation and the New Zealand Police.

Research has also been an important part of the contribution Dr Namoori-Sinclair has made to New Zealand.

She has a Master of Economics from New England University, Australia, and Master of Public Policy and PhD from Victoria University of Wellington.

She has recently extended the scope of her doctoral research to become involved in research for the Ministry for Pacific People, with particular emphasis on understanding the Pacific contribution to the economy and revitalising Pacific language and culture. She also engaged with the research team from Otago University Medical School, focusing on the impact of climate change and migration on mental health and well-being among I-Kiribati migrants.

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Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Zero Waste Ōtaki Update

Energise Ōtaki new planting prospect

BY JAMIE BULL

Every week brings something new and different on the Zero Waste site, and the current additional “ variation “ is a Mrs Pukeko who has chosen to nest in a small clump of yarrow in the middle of our various piles of wood. She was first spotted with two eggs and last seen with 4. She must hate Wednesday mornings when suddenly her quiet is shattered by people wandering around her home.

(We know they are a pest, but we are allowing her to nest if she can cope.)

Just recently, more bunds have been created by Composting New Zealand and now the whole area including our site has significant bunds encircling it and the weeds on site have been sprayed. 2022 is the year we plan to get the site and contents properly sorted – weather and person power permitting.

Last year we were donated 3 significant totara slabs, and Zero Waste Ōtaki has gifted one of these to the carving department at Te Wānanga o Raukawa.

There are two now for sale. POA Over the summer we have been receiving some really interesting items including lightweight aluminium panels, indoor and outdoor doors of all shapes and sizes. fencing wood, pickets, totara palings and various pieces of furniture. There has been a steady stream of wood and other items coming in. Our free box is overflowing, as is the firewood box. and now is the time to

think about firewood. for out door fires, BBQ’s as well as preparing for the winter. $30 a trailer load or $5 per bag.

And, we have an extensive range of rounds and planks ideal for building raised gardens, planter boxes and other garden projects. Our own plantings have taken a bit of a battering, and ongoing “gardening” support is always welcomed.

Along with support with other tasks. There is a lot of moving wood involved, and as they say “ many hands make light work”.

Please note if you’re planning on dropping off wood, we cannot take MDF, particle board or small pieces of tanalised timber.

If you do see items like this onsite it is because we have had unsolicited drops offs or it has been put in our skip at the transfer station, and all that means is our volunteers waste significant time putting it into a skip to be dumped. However you are always welcome to drop off good recyclable wood.

Our next Sunday opening is Sunday 30th January 9.30–12 and we encourage you to come and visit.

Cash sales or internet banking available.

Please respect this is an industrial site, so dogs and children must remain in cars, and visitors must wear shoes.

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

Energise Ōtaki, a registered charity, has a number of ambitious projects under way and in the pipeline for 2022. Ōtaki Bike Space – now based in a container at the skatepark in Aotaki Street – gave away over 50 refurbished bikes to Ōtaki kids last month.

Warm Up Ōtaki is coordinating a government project to improve Ōtaki’s housing.

The recent, sixth Repair Café gave locals a chance to give broken objects a new lease of life; clocks, electrical goods, damaged clothing, bikes and household goods found renewed purpose.

Curtain Bank has over the past three years supplied over 230 Ōtaki homes with 750 pairs of curtains.

And the $400,000 Rau Kamara Solar farm recently gave close to $20,000 in grants to Ōtaki community groups, from electricity revenue generated by NZ’s first community-owned solar farm.

Energise Ōtaki’s next ambitious project is to work with interested community groups to plant small native forests to offset the town’s carbon emissions.

The first possible project is on approximately 5 ha of surplus land between the new expressway and the railway line. With advice from Tane’s Tree Trust (a charity supported by the Tindall Foundation) Energise Ōtaki would first cover the ground with Manuka as ‘nurse plants’ while the native Totara, Rimu, Pohutakawa and Kahikatea trees

get established. Further discussions are needed with key stakeholders (particularly Ngā Hapu o Ōtaki) to gauge support and confirm whether the site is available and viable. Ōtaki currently needs about 32 ha of trees planted to absorb the approximately 16,500 tonnes of CO2 produced annually by the community’s consumption of energy, especially fossil fuels. Energise Ōtaki wants to make the town ‘carbonneutral’ to address our contribution to human-induced climate change,, which would mean more forestry projects on surplus or unwanted land. This long-term project will generate income, as native forestry qualifies for funding from Carbon Credits. Planting native forest also brings wider benefits.

If you would like to help Energise Ōtaki as a volunteer on any of the above projects, please get in touch via our website www.energiseotaki.net.nz.

Raroa Morgan, aged 6, happy recipient of a December 2021 Ōtaki Bike Space giveaway.

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Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

The Rongoā Space

BY JOANNE HAKARAIA

Rongoā of the Month

Taupata (Coprosma repens) is a robust little rākau that can withstand the strongest elements. In fact, it seems to thrive in extreme weather conditions.

Tāwhirimātea and Tangaroa are its allies in that they support Taupata to be stronger. It enjoys absorbing the minerals in coastal areas that Tangaroa provides and gains strength and hardiness from Tāwhirimātea. Much like the people who live alongside them. If you were to remove Taupata from the ruggedness of its allies, would Taupata change? If you removed a person from the ruggedness of what they have always known, would they change?

Taupata is very similar to its whanaunga Karamu (Coprosma robusta) except Taupata is a coastie. The topside of the leaf is shiny and waxy and is a good way to identify it. It’s waxy so that the sea-salt doesn’t get stuck on the leaf. On the underside of the leaf there are small pits (or houses) at the junctions of the veins called domatia. These domatia are

really interesting because they apparently house little insects like mites. These mites help to remove potential fungi on the leaves that might cause harm. It is believed that the plant has evolved to be able to produce these houses (domatia) specifically for the mites to shelter in!

Taupata has been traditionally used by Māori for kidney and bladder inflammation. It also helps to support gut flora.

Taupata grows everywhere on the coast.

It’s probably growing in your backyard!

If you know the whakapapa of the area that Taupata grows, harvest some leaves and make a tea. Make sure to say a karakia before harvesting. Taupata dries well so it can be stored in a paper bag or your favourite container. I usually dry mine in a kete or basket away from direct sunlight.

To make a Wairākau: 1. Place about 6 leaves (fresh or dried) in a teapot or coffee plunger.

2. Pour 250 mls of boiled water into the pot 3. Steep leaves for 5-10 mins.

4. Drink Taupata Wairākau has a mild pleasant taste. Remember that this wonderful sturdy rākau has many minerals and nutrients that revitalises the body.

Please make sure that you can confidently identify all plants before tasting.

Down on the farm

BY SHELLY WARWICK

HAYMAKING AND SUNSHINE

021 949 214 shellybeannz177@ gmail.com

It’s haymaking time on the farm, time to store some feed for winter.

After a late but big spring growth spurt, we are now pretty dry, so check your troughs and make sure your animals have enough food and shelter. If you have not made feed to store and you run a bit lean on pasture, you can contact Sims Contracting to get summer feed.

If you have sheep that are running with a ram you will have early winter lambs in about July or August. If you do not want winter lambs you need to separate your Ram from the Ewes and reintroduce them in about March or April.

If you are on flat easy country then winter lambs are manageable, hill country farms have spring lambs because that is when they have more feed available for the Ewes while they are feeding lambs.

Young Ewes who are only going to be 1 in spring next year are best kept separate form the Ram till about March or April as if they are too young when lambing they can often run into trouble with lambing.

Mostly, take care of your stock, if we are hot then so are they. Make sure they have all they need on these hot summer days.

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Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Ōtaki victorious in nailbiter

BY FRANK NEILL Ōtaki’s top cricket team edged Levin Old Boys by just one run following a nailbiting finish to its last game before the Ōtaki Mail went to print. Ōtaki batted first on a difficult Waikanae Park wicket after winning the toss on 15 January and scored exactly 100 in its 20 overs.

Fraser Imrie was the best of the Ōtaki batters, making 17 runs.

Fraser then performed outstandingly with the ball in the final over, bowling solidly to restrict Levin to 99 for nine wickets.

Fraser finished with two wickets for 16 runs from his four overs.

Levin looked to have the match within its grasp when they needed 12 runs from the final 12 balls, only to see the Ōtaki bowlers keep them in check.

Declan Prentice was outstanding bowling for Ōtaki, taking three wickets and conceding just 12 runs in his four overs.

Parinder Singh also bowled well, taking two wickets and conceding 27 runs.

Wicketkeeper Greg Selby had a hand in four dismissals, taking three catches and stumping another batter.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Fraser, Declan and Greg tied for Ōtaki’s player of the day.

This was Ōtaki’s second victory of the day in the Horowhenua Kāpiti third grade 20 over competition.

In the first game, Ōtaki scored a comfortable victory over Kāpiti Old Boys, winning by 28 runs.

Batting first after losing the toss, Ōtaki notched up 136 for the loss of eight wickets.

Vinod Kumar scored 38 from 33 deliveries, including four fours and one six. Morgan Edwin also made a valuable contribution with 35 from just 26 deliveries, including three fours and a six. Ōtaki then bowled Kāpiti Old Boys out for 108.

Man of the match Parminder began his impressive day with the ball by taking four wickets and conceding just nine runs in his four overs.

Declan took two wickets for 21 runs from three overs, and the remaining wickets were shared among the other bowlers.

In the last match of 2021 Ōtaki defeated Weraroa at Donnelly Park on 11 December.

Batting first, Ōtaki notched up 173 for the loss of seven wickets, with both Michael Papps and Vinod scoring half centuries.

Michael’s 50 came off just 23 deliveries, seeing him named man of the match.

In reply Weraroa made 164 for the loss of six wickets. The bowling of Inder Singh, who took three wickets for 32 runs, helped make sure Weraroa was unable to better Ōtaki’s score.

Parminder Singh in action.

He took four wickets and conceded just nine runs to be man of the match when Ōtaki defeated Kāpiti Old Boys on 15 January.

Pétanque’s new singles champion

Women’s pairs win a third title

BY FRANK NEILL

BY FRANK NEILL

Carolyn Graham is the Ōtaki Pétanque Club’s 2021-22 singles champion, winning the Brunton Cup. Carolyn comfortably defeated Barbara Smith 13-3 in the final of the competition, held on 16 January.

It was much closer competition earlier in the day, however, when the singles semi-finals were held. Carolyn beat Diane Brunton 13-6 while Barbara defeated the last man in the competition, Jon Grundy, 13-7.

With her victory this season, Carolyn repeated her 2019-20 success, when she also won the club’s singles championships. She came close in the 2020-21 event, when she made the final but was beaten.

The Ōtaki Pétanque Club continues to grow, and now has more than 30 members.

This month the club hosted 52 players from the lower North Island to a mêlée, with players coming from clubs in Wellington, the Hutt Valley and Kāpiti as well as Levin, Palmerston North and Whanganui.

In the mêlée, each game featured two pairs and each competitor played in a different pairing each game, with the pairings being drawn.

Michael Rocks, who has played Pétanque for New Zealand, emerged the winner of the mêlée, held on 8 January.

From the Khandallah Pétanque Club, Michael scored a highly impressive 50 out of a maximum 65 – well ahead of the rest of the field.

Pat Montgomery and Clare Hack are the Ōtaki Bowling Club’s 2021-22 pairs champions.

They won the title when they defeated Dorothy Harper and Jenny McClone 18-11 in the final on 19 December.

Victory came with an end to spare, as Pat (the skip) and Clare (the lead) had an uncatchable advantage with one end of the scheduled match still to play.

Pat and Clare went into the match already having won both the club’s four and triples championships. The pairs championship took them to their third title for the season.

Going into the competition Pat and Clare were the reigning pairs champions, a title they comfortably retained.

“We’ve had a very good season,” Pat said, adding that she didn’t consider she would be able to add the singles championship to gain a clean sweep of the club’s women’s titles.

Craig Howell and John Donoghue are the men’s pair champions after they defeated Paul Selby and James Campbell 10-4 in the final.

As with the women’s event, Craig (the skip) and John (the lead) secured their victory with one end of the scheduled match still available.

The pairs victory saw John gain his second club championship for the season.

John was a member of the 2021-22 fours titleholders, who also included Paul Selby, Ruffy Mollo and Neil Tunnicliffe.

Anyone interested in trying their hand at bowling is welcome to attend the club’s Waerenga Road greens on Wednesdays or Sundays from 1pm.

Bowls will be supplied, and those wanting to try their hand will need to wear flat soled shoes.

Michael Rocks, winner of the Ōtaki Pétanque Club’s recent mêlée, plays a shot.

Carolyn Graham with the Brunton Cup she won as the Ōtaki Pétanque Club’s 2021-22 singles champion.

Clare Hack (left) and Pat Montgomery who have added the Ōtaki Bowling Club’s pairs title to the fours and triples championships they won earlier in the season.

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Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Ōtaki junior tennis team a big hit

BY FRANK NEILL After totally dominating the preChristmas competition, the Ōtaki Sports Club’s top junior tennis team, the Hit and Misses, has won promotion for the post-Christmas competition.

The Hit and Misses finished the preChristmas Kapi Mana junior mixed C grade interclub contest undefeated and topped the table by a big margin of eight points.

The team now goes into the B grade for the post-Christmas competition, due to begin on 29 January.

The team of Pearl Glanville Hall, Elsie O’Sullivan, David and Samuel Leason, and Matthew Bird defeated the third placed Whitby Yellow 5-1 in the final 2021 encounter on 4 December. That was the same margin as their victory over second-placed Whitby Blue earlier in the season.

The Hit and Misses closest encounter was against the other Ōtaki Sports Club team in the competition, the Aces, with the Hit and Misses emerging 4-2 victors.

In their final game of the pre-Christmas competition the Aces were looking to move into second place on the ladder, as they were in third place and trailed Whitby Blue by just two points. However Whitby cruised to a 6-0 win in the match on 4 December and the Aces finished the round in fourth place on the table.

Although they are all still juniors, the Ōtaki Racketeers decided to move up to the senior grade this season, as they had been completely outclassing all the other junior teams in the Kapi Mana junior ranks.

They joined the Wellington men’s sixth grade competition and performed outstandingly for such young players.

The team of Callan Nikora, Archie O’Sullivan, Forest Glanville Hall, Nathan Sparrow and Thorsten Edginton won four of the five competition matches, losing to Wellington, and then only on a countback.

Wellington finished just one point ahead of the Racketeers on the table with Churton Park/Tawa a further two points ahead in first place.

Whether the Racketeers won promotion to the fifth grade had yet to be decided when the Ōtaki Mail went to press. Whatever

the decision, the Racketeers look to be a force to be reckoned with in the postChristmas competition, which begins on 29 January.

The Ōtaki Sports Club’s top senior team finished within two points of second place in the Wellington mixed A grade competition when the pre-Christmas play ended on 11 December.

The team of Adam Shelton, Tom Caines, Emma Whiterod, Monique Moore and Callan Nikora scored 35 points to finish in

fifth place, just two point behind secondplaced Waikanae Beach A in what proved a tight battle for the minor placings.

Vogelmorn dominated the competition, and handed Ōtaki a 6-0 loss in their encounter on 11 December.

The Ōtaki Sports Club’s second senior team finished third in the Wellington mixed B grade pre-Christmas contest.

In their final match of the round, Ōtaki defeated Johnsonville Two 5-1 on 4 December.

The victorious Hit and Misses tennis team (from left): Elsie O’Sullivan, Matthew Bird, David Leason, Samuel Leason and Pearl Glanville Hall.

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Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Gardening with Garden tasks for February Flower garden

Watson’s Garden Ltd Hibiscus rosa sinensis – Fijian – Cooperi Our stunning hibiscus have arrived in and were worth waiting for! Great for pots or they do well in coastal gardens. Requires a sunny, well drained, frost free position or close to a warm wall. Easy care and gorgeous flowers, we have a lovely range of colours available.

Rudbeckia (Echinacea purpurea) Artisan Soft Orange and Cheyenne Spirit A wonderfully vibrant perennial, excellent late summer flowering border plant and cut flower. We have a range of varieties and colours including red ombre, orange, purple, berry rose, yellow.

Gift vouchers, giftware, tools, pots, garden and pest products available all year round Monday–Saturday 9am–5pm, closed Sundays and public holidays.

Anemone, ranunculus, tulips and daffodils arrive in garden stores this month. Plant now, in flower beds and pots, so they can develop a strong root system before winter. By planting continuously through to autumn (choose a sheltered, warm spot for ranunculus) you’ll ensure a continuous floral display.

Perennials that have flowered can be cut back and fed with compost to build stronger plants for the coming year.

Stake tall plants such as artemesia, delphinium, lilies and sunflowers.

Continue to pick your flowering roses and remove any spent blooms.

Sow seeds of pansy, viola, primula, polyanthus, calendula, cineraria, poppies, lobelia, alyssum and snapdragon.

Plant out seedlings of aquilegia, cosmos, linaria, statice, cornflower, dianthus, stock, foxglove, Iceland poppy, sweet pea, verbena and carnation.

Fruit and vegetable garden

Pick tomatoes as they turn colour and place on a warm, though not sunny, window sill to ripen. This should ensure good sugar development and also protects your fruit from fungal disease.

Pumpkins can be lifted and stored, also kumi kumi, melons and winter squash. Pumpkins should be picked when their skin is dry and hard, but take care not to

damage skin as fungi can get in and cause fruit to rot – try leaving a small bit of stem when you’re cutting the pumpkin.

Pick vegetables such as peas, beans, eggplant, cucumbers and courgettes daily to encourage production, and water all veggies and fruit if conditions are dry.

Sow seeds of beetroot, leek, spring onion, turnip, Brussels sprouts, carrot and spinach.

Plant out seedlings of endive, lettuce, purslane (miners’ lettuce), radish, silverbeet, cauliflower, carrot, celery and broccoli.

Continue harvesting mid-season pip and stone fruit, berries and citrus.

Lawns

If you’re using seed to repair worn or thin areas in your lawn do it now or in early autumn, soil should be moist, but not yet cold. Soil should be lightly forked before any bare patches are reseeded.

Second thoughts

Make the most of your herbs and freeze for use during our long winter months. Whole sprigs can be frozen and transferred to freezer bags, or chopped and frozen in small tubs or ice cube trays.

Drying herbs is easy – choose a dry day to harvest and handle as little as possible. Herbs dry best in a dark, warm, airy place so your airing cupboard would be ideal.

Most take about a week to dry – then store in airtight containers until needed.

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Focus on growing quinces JACARANDA Stunning mauve-blue trumpet flowers late spring/summer.

THALIA “WATER CANNA” Beautiful hardy aquatic plant with handsome blue-green paddle shape leaves and purple flowers.

Good for breaking down pollutants in stagnant water.

BUDDLEIAS Great for attracting butterflies and good for picking. Fragrant!!

3 varieties to choose from. White, Pink & Orange Globosa.

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This golden-yellow fruit is widely known as an emblem of happiness, love and fruitfulness, and features strongly in the history and mythology of ancient Greece and Rome. It was for a golden quince Atalanta paused in her race against suitor, Hippomenes (Melanon), and the “golden apple” Paris awarded Aphrodite is believed to have been a quince.

Although having a strange “pear on steroid” appearance, this fragrant native of southwest Asia, notably Iran and Turkey, has the ability to fill an entire room with strong, sweet perfume if left at room temperature for several days.

The small, irregularly-shaped deciduous tree – they take on an unusual gnarled form as they mature – reaches a height of 5-8m, and a width of 4-6m, and is long-lived.

The large leaves, which turn yellow in autumn, are deep green, and densely covered underneath in fine, white hairs.

White or pink, showy flowers appear at the end of leafy shoots in spring, followed by the bright yellow fruit, which ripens in March and April. Although the fruit has very hard skin, which doesn’t soften even when ripe, the quince is hard to beat for size and colour in the autumn – they cling to trees for months on end.

Quinces are easy to grow, thriving under most conditions, and happy in a wide range of soils, though they prefer a fertile soil in full sun. They are more tolerant of wet soil than apples, and although droughttolerant, will grow and fruit better with regular moisture whilst getting established.

You will need a warm autumn to ripen fruit although they are relatively frost hardy and can tolerate low temperatures. Trees are pollinated by bees, and are self-fertile, though by planting more than one tree you will get more fruit.

Quince trees can be planted during early winter/winter and are available in garden centres as bare-rooted trees

in late June or early July, or as container-grown or bagged trees in early spring.

The fruit requires long, hard stewing to transform their hard, bitter-sweet flesh into ruby-red delectability, but they are a good source of pectin and vitamin C, and are great in marmalades, jams and jellies.

“Giant of Gascony” is a large fruiting variety with good aroma and a distinctive spicy flavour, and the earlyripening, hardy “Van Deman” has large, yellow-orange, oblong/pear shaped fruit with a good, spicy flavour – the flesh is pale yellow. My favourite is the popular “Smyrna,” a handsome, hardy tree with lovely pink blossoms and unusually large, elegant leaves. Originally from Turkey, the fruit (which keeps very well), is large to very large, furrowed, oblong/pear-shaped, golden-yellow and extremely aromatic. The flesh is light yellow, mild, tender and flavoursome.

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Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

the Ō taki Mail

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

Coping with summer dryness It is possible to have a lovely, flourishing garden during summer months without being water-greedy – and saving our precious water can also save time and effort in the garden.

Mulching keeps moisture in the soil longer, making it a top priority for water-wise gardeners. The most effective mulches have big pieces that let water through and into the soil. These chunky bark or stone-based mulches also absorb little water themselves, so they don’t take it from the soil. Finer mulches tend to soak up more water and can increase water loss from the soil.

There is an extensive range of plants able to cope with less water – proteas, succulents, grevilleas, leucandendrons, lavender, euphorbias and many natives.

Deep-rooting systems, small, waxy, greyish or hairy leaves, or the ability to store moisture are among the adaptations that make these plants efficient users of water.

Water wisely – droplets of water from a sprinkler can look pretty, especially lit by the setting sun, but it is probably falling in all the wrong places – pathways, leaves and plants that don’t need it. Water should be targeted only at the roots of specific plants (such as new plantings, vegetables and roses) and the best way to do this is by a relaxing bit of hand watering, either by hose or watering can.

Another idea is to partially bury a cut-off plastic bottle or flowerpot at the base of your newly planted trees or shrubs. Fill this when watering and the water will be directed straight to the root area.

Although you can occasionally throw water from the rinse cycle of your washing machine onto ornamental plants without a care, grey water should not be used on edibles, and with long-term use detergents can cause salt build-up in the soil.

You can improve the water-holding capacity of your soil by digging in plenty of compost. Light sandy soils, heavy clay and everything in between will benefit with improved structure and water retention.

Lawn grasses require heaps of water if they are to remain lush and green. During a dry, hot summer those big expanses of lawn become a high-maintenance luxury item.

One option is to bite the bullet and let the lawn go brown through the hottest part of summer – it will green up again in spring. Another alternative is to replace part of the lawn with hard landscaping materials, such as pebbles, gravel or paving, or a dry garden mulched with stones.

New plantings need more water until their roots establish – let the rain do the majority of the watering for you by planting in spring and autumn.

Small pots and containers dry out quickly so choose larger containers and fill them with drought-tolerant species. Water-retentive products such as gels added to potting mix help your container plants survive dry periods, and ‘re-wetting granules’ like Saturaid are designed to improve water penetration. They can be added to sandy, dry soil (especially good with new plantings) as well as pots.

Silver plants for summer heat Silvery plants excel in the summer months – their leaf colour is nature’s armour against drought, wind, and salty sea air.

They will bring light into dreary garden corners, and some are particularly suitable for growing in shade, such as our native Astelia chatamica ‘Silver Spear,’ and smaller growing, finer-leafed Astelia banksia. These plants look striking set against dark green groundcovers or combined with red or white flowers. The hardy perennial, Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’, is also lovely in the shade with silver-splashed leaves and dainty, blue flowers.

Silver or grey foliage plants with smaller leaves are great for making a tight space seem larger, and they’re also useful for hanging baskets and pots, able to withstand the dry conditions.

There’s almost no exception to this drought tolerance.

The plants’ silver leaf surfaces result from either a protective coating of fine hairs, or a waxy veneer (that disguise or soften the green colour of chlorophyll underneath). White velvety hairs reflect the sun, while

trapping moisture from the air, an advantage in scorching dry Mediterranean type climates. It’s also the reason why the downiest of silver plants, such as Stachys lantana (lamb’s ears), are inclined to flop, turning limp and miserable when conditions are too humid or wet. This low-growing perennial, excellent as an edging plant, is best grown in full sun with well-drained soil.

Silver is common among plants that have evolved near the sea, including many New Zealand natives.

Marlborough rock daisy is an excellent example – its soft green leathery leaves, felted white underneath, silvery-white new growth and bright white, spring flower buds are followed by white daisy flowers.

This slow-spreading, shrubby perennial is not for humid gardens – it demands dryness and plenty of light, and thrives in windy, coastal gardens.

Brachyglottis shrubs have similar foliage tones, but are more tolerant of average soil conditions, and make easy-care fillers. Brachyglottis greyii ‘Otari Cloud’ is a tidy, rounded native shrub up to 1.4m. Large-leafed

‘Leath Gold’ has a taller, more open habit. Both produce clusters of yellow daisy flowers in summer.

Silver sparklers from overseas include Cerastium tomentosum, otherwise known as snow-in-summer (this is managing to survive in my garden despite our current summer), and Teucrium fruticans, a blue-flowered, quick-growing, spreading shrub – a favourite for hedging. Snow-in-summer is a popular, silvery ground cover, with masses of small, white summer flowers.

Olive trees are an evergreen silvery option, and the weeping silver pear Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’, popular in smaller gardens, stands out amongst deciduous silver trees.

Silver gums are mostly for large gardens, although E. pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’ is a sprawling shrub that retains its very silvery, round, juvenile foliage. This is a favourite with florists and best harvested often to encourage plenty of young plant growth. And that’s another reason to grow silver plants – they make ideal additions to your floral arrangements.

14

Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Ōtaki – Education Town ‘Absolute privilege’ to teach in Ōtaki

BY FRANK NEILL It has been an “absolute privilege being part of this community and being part of generations of children,” says long-serving Ōtaki College teacher Janice Brown.

Ms Brown retired at the end of the 2021 school year after more than 44 years’ service as a teacher. The vast majority of her time in teaching has been at Ōtaki College where she served for 38 years.

“I really respect the families here (in Ōtaki). I love them,” she says.

“I just feel it’s been a great honour to be a part of so many kids’ lives. I cherish these relationships that I have made with kids.

“It’s special.

“Kids keep you on your toes. They are straight up. You know where you stand with kids and I think I’m really that kind of person as well. I like to know where I stand.”

Although Ms Brown is now leaving a job she absolutely loves, it was not always that way. In fact when she was at school as a student, “I always said when I grow up I’m not going to be a teacher”.

That all changed, however, just after she left school aged 16.

“I was too young to go nursing. You had to be 17 and I thought I wanted to be a nurse.”

If you were a girl in those days “you were a nurse, a teacher or a secretary. That was it,” she says.

“So I applied for Teachers’ Training College and got in, and – thank goodness – I really loved it. And I still really love it.”

Trained as a primary school teacher, her first job was at Taradale School, teaching a standard two class (today, that would be referred to as year 7) in 1975.

In 1976 she moved to Tairangi School in Porirua East, where she taught for two years. During that time she was a member of the Porirua East Advisory Team, working with other teachers in the Porirua basin in 1977.

She then went overseas for three years, teaching for one of them before returning in 1981. She taught for one term at Ohau School and one term at Horowhenua College in Levin before moving to Ōtaki.

At the time her mother and father were neighbours of the then Ōtaki College Principal, Rex Kerr.

He talked her into joining the staff, which she did at first in a temporary role. After six months, however, Mr Kerr convinced her to become permanent, which she did.

Now, 38 years later, she says: “those were the best years of my life. I’m lucky. I’m really lucky.”

During those years she has taught English, Reading, Mathematics to Year 9, PE, Economics to Fifth Form (year 14) and Social Studies.

In 2000 Ms Brown took a year off to finish her degree in the United States. While there she came across research from the US which showed that you have to have three qualities to be a teacher.

Number one is a passion for children. If you don’t like kids, you’re in the wrong job.

Secondly you have to have knowledge of the curriculum you are teaching.

Thirdly you have to be able to get the knowledge across to different learning styles.

“This resonated with me. If you can do all three things I think you can be a successful teacher,” she says.

When Andy Fraser became Ōtaki College’s Principal, he used the impressive skill set Ms Brown possesses and they brought restorative practices from the justice system into the school.

This led to her being appointed the college’s Pastoral Team Leader, as well as being Dean of Year 9.

She became a highly skilled practitioner of a discipline known as Restorative Practices and Positive Behaviour 4 Learning.

The focus of this, Mr Brown says, is “having a culture of care, where kids have a voice.

“If a child, or a staff member or a parent is unhappy over something, there is a premise that things get sorted. The expectation is that they have restorative chats.

“I wish I had it when I was a parent (of young children) – the skill to be able to manage conflict in a much better way.”

Restorative justice is so important that “we try to ensure that every staff member here is trained in restorative practice. The expectation is that they will have restorative chats at the low level” so matters do not escalate.

Janice Brown, who has retired after 38 years teaching at Ōtaki College.

As a result of this emphasis on restoration “I don’t recall the last physical fight” at the college, she says. While not saying fights never happen, if they do it is very rare, and she certainly is not aware of one in recent times.

In fact when asked what has been the highlight (or highlights) of her teaching career, Ms Brown says “being in the position I’m in now”, with the focus on restorative practices and relational skills.

“So it’s a lovely way to finish this chapter.”

So what will her next chapter be?

Although she has no particular plans “I’m going to get out there and do what I want to do,” she says.

It’s time we put learners at the centre of education

BY JIM MATHESON The Education Select Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into school attendance.

The problem of truancy is as old as compulsory schooling but it is now time to rethink our approach. We need to focus on the learner, their needs and aspirations and how to engage with them. Better engagement means developing better relationships between families and schools along with creating positive and inclusive learning environments. It will involve upskilling educators to create these relationships and environments and investing in technology which can help place the learner at the centre of everything that happens at school and kura.

In 1877, the New Zealand parliament passed the first education act establishing schooling that was free compulsory and secular, for Pākehā children aged 7 to 13.

Education was seen as an important tool to build cohesion in the community and prevent lawlessness.

It was underpinned by a view of children that they were fundamentally unruly and required firm discipline.

Ill-discipline was addressed by punishments, including caning and fines. As part of imposing this discipline the 1877 Act established fines on the families of those who did not attend school regularly and established truancy services to enforce this discipline.

Now, more than 140 years since that Act was passed, there have been many revisions and developments. The age of compulsory schooling is now 6 to 16, all children now have the right to attend school and the curriculum has been broadened. There is also a wide range of support for learners, and caning children is now banned.

But what has not changed is the belief that punishment is

fundamental to issues of non-attendance. Families of students who do not attend regularly are still fined. Even if this is now done sparingly the belief that punishment is essential persists as a basic aspect of the Education and Training Act 2020.

Our current truancy officers and truancy services are shaped by this understanding of the world (although in practice many take a more holistic and supportive approach). Continuing to define and label truancy and the role of truancy services in this way continues to embed this punitive approach.

Our understanding of learning and of human development has changed. We know that the essential requirement for the developing brain is love – not punishment or discipline. We know that learning thrives in an environment of positive relationships. We know that all parents want to do best for their children – at times they don’t always know how – but the desire to do their best is there. Imposing fines, or the threat of fines, does nothing to promote learning.

Truancy is recognised as a component of the wider and more important issue of engagement in learning. We know that engagement in learning is influenced by family, by the school environment and by the effectiveness of teaching. The quality of relationships amongst and between families, schools, teachers and students is also crucial. Other factors include the agency of students themselves, and the systems and processes that sustain the system.

We now understand the critical role of positive relationships in learning. Neuro-science gives us an insight into how relationship and learning combine to build engagement and understanding. It is so important to the learning process that we need to upskill both our teachers and our young people in the skills of building

relationships and sustaining them. “… when there is an emphasis on social and emotional learning, with a special focus on positive adult-child interactions, children and young people do well” (‘The Power of Positive AdultChild Relationships: Connection is the key’ Dr Jean Clinton, 2017). We need to strengthen our support for families, helping them to understand child development and learning, so that they become more confident actors in supporting their learners. We also need to grow the capability of schools to work collaboratively with all families.

We know that young people make decisions based on their reactions to events at school or interactions with teachers. We need to explore further how to listen to young people and how to enable them to have a greater say in how they learn.

The groups most highlighted by the truancy data are the same groups that are disenfranchised by our education system as a whole. This led the review of Tomorrow’s Schools to conclude our education system is inequitable by design. So, if we are to see change, we need to redesign all aspects of the system that currently enable such inequity. We would design a system around the needs of the learners and away from one designed around the needs of the institutions. Away from a system based on punishment to one based on high aspirations, care and support.

The Waimate Daily Advertiser of 10 May 1900 reported that the South Canterbury Education Board had discussed the Truancy Report. The paper said, ‘the hope being cherished … [is] that a very much improved scheme will emerge’. But history has shown that hope to be misplaced. Hopefully this inquiry can lead the way to a better response to truancy which puts learners at the centre.

15

Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Ōtaki College News January 2022

www.otakicollege.school.nz

From the Principal Andy Fraser Ngā mihi o te Tau Hou, Happy New Year A very warm welcome back to all our current students and whānau.

We trust that you have had a fantastic holiday and look forward to your return to the 2022 school year.

To all our new students, we are looking forward to meeting and greeting you at the College pōwhiri on Friday 4th February.

We hope that this will be the commencement of a strong and positive relationship during your time at Ōtaki College.

All information concerning start-back details, uniform and stationery sales can be found on our website www.otakicollege.school.nz.

Any parents who have not had confirmation of enrolment by email should come to College on Monday 31 January between 10.00am and 2.00pm to meet with Year Level Deans and complete enrolment forms.

All parents and whānau should feel free to contact me on afs@otakicollege.school.nz at any time should you require further information about the school start-up details and/or any support you may require in the future.

Ngā mihi Andy Fraser, Principal

onday 31 January :00am–2:00pm Any new enrolments from Years 7-13 who have not received a confirmation email or phone call before this date need to come in to the College and enrol. All Year Level Deans will be available at this time.

hursday 3 February :00am–1:00pm Year 7 and new Year 8, 9 and 10 students please come to the College Library with your parent/ caregiver to meet with your Homeroom or Kaiārahi Teacher and the Principal for a short visit. No uniform required.

day 4 February ōwhiri and full school return but at different times, depending on Year vel. Correct uniform to be worn (female students must wear a skirt to e pōwhiri).

00am

RETURNING Students yr 8 and Yr 11–13 (assemble in the College Gym)

All Year 7 and NEW students/staff assemble on tennis courts

9:45am 9:30am

Pōwhiri All Year 7 and NEW students/staff assemble on tennis courts Following the pōwhiri new students and parents are invited for refreshments in the staffroom Pōwhiri

ŌTAKI COLLEGE Ōtaki College 2022 Student Return Dates ŌTAKI COLLEGE 2022 STUDENT 2022 STUDENT RETURN DATES RETURN DATES

ŌTAKI COLLEGE 2022 STUDENT RETURN DATES

ednesday 2 February 9:00am–3:00pm Year 11, 12 and 13 course counselling for students and, if possible, parents – individual appointment times will be emailed mid January. No uniform required. Year 8 Leadership Day - details will be emailed.

9:30am

9:45am

RETURNING Yr 9pōwhiri and 10s (assemble Gym) Following the new studentsinand parents are invited for refreshments in the staffroom 11:30am– 3:15pm Students in class, followed by a house event in theRETURNING afternoon - Yr students should bring ain change 11:30am 9 and 10s (assemble Gym) of Monday 31 January clothes for this event.

10:00am–2:00pm Any new enrolments from Years 7-13 who have not (Buses will run as for normal school day)followed by a house event in 11:30am– 3:15pm Students in class, received a confirmation email or phone call before the afternoon - students should bring a change of Monday 31 Januarythis date need to come in to the College and enrol. All open for for this chromebook and stationery sales clothes event. will be available thiswho time.

10:00am–2:00pm Year AnyLevel new Deans enrolments from Years at 7-13 have not The College Office will be before College starts as normal follows:school day) (Buses will run as for received a confirmation email or phone call before Wednesday 2 Februarythis date need to come in to the College and enrol. All Tue 25 Jan-Thur 3 Feb, 09.00am-12.00midday and 1.00pm-3.00pm (closed for lunch from 12.00-1.00pm).

The College Office will be open for chromebook and stationery sales 09:00am–3:00pm Year 11,Level 12 andDeans 13 course counselling forthis students Year will be available at time.

From Fri 4College Feb normal hours will resume: 08.30am - 04.00pm. before startsoffice as follows: and, if possible, parents – individual appointment Tue 25 Jan-Thur 3 Feb, 09.00am-12.00midday and 1.00pm-3.00pm times will be emailed mid January. No uniform Wednesday 2 February Chromebooks may be purchased outright from the College - for $535 (closed for lunch from 12.00-1.00pm).

8 Leadership Day - details be 09:00am–3:00pm required.

Year 11, Year 12 and 13 course counselling forwill students - Acer 4GB RAM. This price includes warranty, up to 3yr FromC311-C733 Fri 4 Feb normal office hours will resume:3yr 08.30am - 04.00pm. emailed. and, if possible, parents – individual appointment insurance (up to 2 repairs or 1 replacement) and a bag. times will be emailed mid January. No uniform Chromebooks may be purchased outright from the College - for $535 Thursday 3 February required. Year 8 Leadership Day - details will be The canteen will be4GB open fromThis Fri 4price Feb.includes The free3yr lunch service - Acer C311-C733 RAM. warranty, upwill to 3yr 10:00am–1:00pm Year 7 and new Year 8, 9 and 10 students please emailed. commence 8 February. insurance from (up toTue 2 repairs or 1 replacement) and a bag. come to the College Library with your parent/ caregiver to meet with your Homeroom or Kaiārahi Thursday 3 February is sold through Marlan Trading, StateThe Highway One, service Ōtaki. Marlan The canteen will be open from Fri 4 Feb. free lunch will a short visit. Noplease uniform Uniform 10:00am–1:00pm Teacher Year 7 and and the newPrincipal Year 8, 9for and 10 students Trading will befrom openTue for 8 College Uniform fittings Monday to Friday 9.30amcommence February. required. come to the College Library with your parent/ 4.30pm until 21 December and until 12.30pm on 22 December. Marlan will caregiver to meet with your Homeroom or Kaiārahi on Fri 14 January if theseTrading, hours don’t suit, ring Kirsten on 027Marlan 466 Uniform is sold through– Marlan State Highway One, Ōtaki.

Friday 4 February Teacher and the Principal for a short visit. No uniform reopen 3317 to arrange time. for If paying byUniform parent account Marlan will need to Trading will bea open College fittings Monday to Friday 9.30amPōwhiri and full schoolrequired. return but at different times, depending on Year the payment with College.

You will then need return the Marlan following 4.30pm until 21 December and until 12.30pm on 22to December. will Level. Correct uniform to be worn (female students must wear a skirt to verify day to collect your uniform –items. reopen on Fri 14 January if these hours don’t suit, ring Kirsten on 027 466 the pōwhiri).

Friday 4 February 3317 to arrange a time. If paying by parent account Marlan will need to Pōwhiri and full school return but at different times, depending on Year will bepayment a second-hand uniform day College January from verify the with College.

You willatthen needon to26 return the following 9:00am RETURNING Students yrstudents 8 and Yr 11–13 (assemble Level. Correct uniform to be worn (female must wear a skirtinto There 10.00am-2.00pm. day to collect your uniform items. the College Gym) the pōwhiri).

11:30am

9:00am 9:30am

RETURNING Students yr 8 and Yr 11–13 (assemble in All Year 7 and NEW students/staff assemble on the College Gym) tennis courts

9:45am

Pōwhiri Following the pōwhiri new students and parents are invited for refreshments in the staffroom

11:30am

RETURNING Yr 9 and 10s (assemble in Gym)

Students in class, followed by a house event in the afternoon - students should bring a change of clothes for this event.

(Buses will run as for normal school day) 11:30am– 3:15pm

The College Office will be open for chromebook and stationery sales before College starts as follows: Tue 25 Jan-Thur 3 Feb, 09.00am-12.00midday and 1.00pm-3.00pm (closed for lunch from 12.00-1.00pm).

From Fri 4 Feb normal office hours will resume: 08.30am - 04.00pm.

Chromebooks may be purchased outright from the College - for $535 - Acer C311-C733 4GB RAM. This price includes 3yr warranty, up to 3yr insurance (up to 2 repairs or 1 replacement) and a bag.

The canteen will be open from Fri 4 Feb. The free lunch service will commence from Tue 8 February.

Uniform is sold through Marlan Trading, State Highway One, Ōtaki. Marlan Trading will be open for College Uniform fittings Monday to Friday 9.30am4.30pm until 21 December and until 12.30pm on 22 December. Marlan will reopen on Fri 14 January – if these hours don’t suit, ring Kirsten on 027 466 3317 to arrange a time. If paying by parent account Marlan will need to verify the payment with College. You will then need to return the following day to collect your uniform items.

There will be a second-hand uniform day at College on 26 January from 10.00am-2.00pm.

There will be a second-hand uniform day at College on 26 January from 10.00am-2.00pm.

16

Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Ōtaki Update January 2022

We’re preparing for a changing coastline Coastlines by their very nature are constantly changing – daily, weekly, yearly and over decades.

Those with lifelong connections to the Kāpiti Coast District will have memories of our coast both eroding and building up over the years.

It’s clear coastal communities like ours are facing more frequent, and more damaging natural hazards such as coastal erosion and inundation (flooding by the sea) due to climate change. This is because global warming causes polar ice to melt, ocean waters to expand and sea levels to rise.

It creates more frequent and extreme storms, and unseasonal weather.

Over time the increased frequency and significance of change to our coastline has become the ‘new normal’. This means some places are becoming more vulnerable to regular incursions by the sea.

Council’s primary concern is for community infrastructure and assets like roads, pipes and parks that are being damaged more often by increasingly

severe weather. Eventually, even ‘new normal’ high tides will cause regular damage. The cost of repairs falls on us all as they’re paid out of rates.

We need to figure out whether it’s worth continually paying for repairs or adapt in other ways. There are several options – more dune planting, seawalls, raised floors, relocatable buildings, or changes to where we build. There could be future technological solutions we can’t even imagine today. We don’t know yet which options we should or could take. But the longer we delay acting, the more constrained and expensive our options get.

In Kāpiti we have faced coastal hazards in the past and understand the issues very well – but there’s a saying: “You can’t manage what you don’t measure”. We need scientifically sound information about what is happening to our coastline and what changes we can expect in future.

Like other coastal communities around the country we are using local knowledge along with central government guidance and the latest national and international science to help us prepare to deal with coastal hazards.

More information will soon be available in a report we’ve commissioned called ‘Coastal hazard susceptibility and vulnerability assessment for the Kāpiti Coast District coastline’.

The methodology for the assessment was published on our website and included in LIMs (Land Information Memoranda) from June 2021. Read it at www.kapiticoast. govt.nz/coastal-science.

The assessment is by coastal engineering and environmental experts Jacobs New Zealand Ltd who have undertaken similar work here and internationally.

It was peer reviewed by Greater Wellington Regional Council and coastal engineering experts Beca Ltd. Jacobs also met with critics Coastal Ratepayers United (CRU) to discuss their views on the methodology in late 2021.

We’ve set up the Takutai Kāpiti project to help Council tap into community views and values before any decisions are made.

Community input and advice will be led by the newly established Coastal Advisory Panel (CAP), supported by but independent of Council. The process and the panel were co-designed by local and regional council staff, Tangata Whenua, and key critics of Council’s previous approach to planning for coastal changes – CRU and North Ōtaki Beach Residents Group.

The science report is just one input of many. The project will bring together good science, economic and social research, expert planning, indigenous knowledge, and community values. It involves identifying the problem and looking for solutions together. But there’s been a lot of disinformation circulating. Here, we give you the facts.

kapiticoast.govt.nz

17

Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Takutai Kāpiti coastal project is bringing the community on board We set up the Takutai Kāpiti project in 2019 to work with our community on coastal hazard risks and our options for adapting to coastal changes resulting from sea-level rise.

Council collaborated with CRU and others to co-design the independent Coastal Advisory Panel process for community input to the project. In 2021 a recruitment agency shortlisted several highly qualified local applicants. The final panel are all Kāpiti residents chaired by former Prime Minister Jim Bolger.

Like everything else, the panel’s activities have been delayed by COVID-19. They’re investigating how to work with the community in 2022. However they can, the panel will be engaging directly with the community to gauge and include your views.

The project and panel are publishing their meeting agendas, minutes, and presentations.

See these and sign up for regular project updates at www.takutaikapiti.nz.  Meet the panel at www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/coastal-adaptation.

We all pay for coastal damage Insurers and banks are taking a close interest in the impacts of climate change.

They want councils to be proactive and take a long-term view of how our communities should adapt to coastal changes.

Anticipating and planning for sea-level rise reduces costs and our collective risk.

We all pay through rates when Council repairs roads, pipes, or parks that are damaged by coastal hazards. Increased costs of repairing and maintaining services like electricity and gas are passed on by suppliers to customers. With frequent damage properties become uninsurable and banks refuse to lend. Premiums rise for everyone to compensate for increased claims.

For questions about property values, insurance or lending talk to a valuer, or your insurer and bank.  Read the Insurance Council’s position statement on climate change on www.takutaikapiti.nz.

Homeowners and buyers need to know about hazards

The facts about building

For much of the past decade, all land information memoranda (LIMs) issued

by Council have had links to information about natural hazards that affect the district, including flooding, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

If a property is identified as subject to natural hazards which can’t be mitigated for the building or the land, this is noted on the property title in the form of a section 72 notification. Council officers will only consider hazards that are likely to occur during the life of the building work covered by a building consent.

Since June 2021, LIMs have included a link to Jacob’s initial report on our website which outlines in detail the methods it is using to develop its assessment of our vulnerability and susceptibility to coastal hazards. Once the final report is released, we are required by law to include this information in newly issued LIMs. Prospective buyers and existing property owners are entitled to the full picture to do their due diligence pre-purchase or when deciding if they want to invest in new buildings or renovations.

Placing information on a LIM does not automatically change or restrict your ability to build on or renovate a property.

Many parts of our coastline already face restrictions on building and alterations.

‘No build’ and ‘relocatable build’ lines have been on Council’s GIS maps since 1999.

Look under the Operative District Plan 2021 GIS map on the Council website, tick District Plan Miscellaneous, and untick all sub-layers except for District Plan 1999 Features.  Talk to our Building team if you have any questions about a specific project.

18

Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

ABC – Authors Book Corner by Ann Chapman The Golden Road, My Journey with Spirit Bryony Roger’s is Ōtaki’s latest author to release her book at our rather special book shop, Books & Co on the State Highway.

On Sunday evening the shop was alive with people browsing while we waited for Bryony to talk about her latest offering.

Bryony is a writer, singer and occasional film-maker, originally from Lancashire who creates poems, songs and films expressing her deep love for the Earth and her appreciation of the joy that life invites.

The overriding theme of her books and her life is a focus on wellbeing. The latest book, called The Golden Road, My Journey with Spirit, shares some of her thoughts and experiences in the last few years. In it she explores her relationship with nature, the meaning of spirit and aspects of her healing philosophy. The delightful book is filled with poems, essays, and pictures. Bryony’s poetry and songwriting is an expression of her spiritual path of Nature and meditation;

it uses grounded detailed images of the natural world to describe experiences of freedom, expansion, connection, and wonder – and the discovery of peace and healing. Her poetry has won several awards and her books are also available as ebooks.

Her connection with nature is central to her work and the poems she read at her book launch expressed that feeling beautifully.

Her work is available at Books & Co in Ōtaki and at bryonytree@gmail.com.

Bryony shares her songs, sound and music creations in the Heartsong groups and ceremonies which she facilitates.

She also supports others in their creative and healing journey with her work as a voice coach and energy healer.

You can see more about all of this at www.songofawakening.com and on the following Facebook pages: ‘Bryony Rogers – Writer’; ‘Heartsong – Voice, Meditation and Healing’.

Let’s Talk About Me

The Songs of Andrew London

A paperback compilation of the lyrics of 75 songs written over the last 20 years. Purchase online at andrewlondon.co.nz. $30 with free shipping anywhere in NZ.

The Importance of Looking Right

BY HOWIE C. THINGS (RESEARCHED BY OLDILOCKS) My neighbour Oldilocks settled back in his chair and examined my proffered biscuit tin. Not surprisingly, he selected a gingernut.

“It’s an accident just waiting to happen, Howie,” he said dismally.

“Um, in reference to that tea-soaked

sodden biscuit?” I warned as he dangled it dangerously over his teacup.

“No, Howie!” he snapped, with a sigh of exasperation. “THIS subject could be a matter of life and death. I’m referring to the junction of The Avenue and the Marine Parade extension, regarding traffic returning north from the Ōtaki rivermouth and the southern beach.

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I’ve seen many drivers speed ahead without slowing and checking to ensure that a vehicle or cyclist or pedestrian might be emerging from The Avenue on the right.”

“Very true, my friend,” I nodded.

“I’ve also been concerned about that issue. It most certainly needs attention.

PROMPT attention. There should be a

warning road sign. Better still, a compulsory STOP.” “Prevention at an Intersection,” I quoted.

“Requires Immediate Attention!” rhymed my poetic friend.

KCDC – Please check this sight and do what’s right. Prompt Attention ensures Prevention.

Thank you. ‘Howie and Oldie’.

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steve@techman.nz

022 315 7018

Celebrating Lunar New Year The Year of Tiger at Paraparaumu Library Saturday 19 February 1–4pm Food stalls, family friendly crafts stations Mukume Taiko drummers and the grand dragon dance!!!

The event is free and everyone welcome Please note – Vaccination certificates are required for those aged 12 years, 3 months and over.

19

Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

This article was written prior to the shift to Red. We have a very robust COVID plan that we enact as necessary.

Māoriland to announce MFF2022 programme on Waitangi Day The annual Māoriland Film Festival is the largest Indigenous film festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Now in its 9th year MFF2022 will run from 16-20 March in Ōtaki. The MFF2022 programme this coming Waitangi Day, Sunday 6 February.

Despite COVID challenges, film production has continued across the world. Festival Director Libby Hakaraia says the MFF2022 programme reflects the human need to share stories.

“MFF2022 is a strong programme of intriguing and inspiring films from across the Indigenous world. Some have been made in really difficult pandemic environments and so the fact that they have been made is a cause for celebration in itself. And because most of us are confined to our homelands the MFF2022 programme enables us to travel to places and peoples As part of the MFF2022 launch there will also be weekend activities at the Māoriland Hub on both the Saturday and Sunday to mark Waitangi Day.

Are you a budding young filmmaker?

On Saturday 5th February, aspiring storytellers aged 12–24 are invited to take part in the first of the E Tū Whānau Rangatahi Filmmaking Workshop for 2022. In the two day workshop the participants will make short films about what it means to be a young person in Ōtaki. They will then present their films alongside the MFF2022 launch video, on the evening of Sunday 6 February.

A keen gardener or wanting to put your hands in the soil?

In the Māoriland Maara, Kaitiaki Parakore Elishka Graham and Tania Hakaraia will host a Working Bee, Seed and Produce Swap. This event is in preparation for the Film Festival, and an opportunity to regroup after a hot summer break.

Puppy Pre School Why should you attend:

Puppy Pre School is an essential start for all pups & their parents and helps to develop happy, well balanced and behaved adult dogs. Of equal importance, is to help owners improve their relationship with their pups and give them the best possible start through learning to understand and responsibly manage their behaviour.

What can you expect from the classes:

Socialisation and puppy play Classes are made up of up of 4–8 puppies and their owners so your puppy will be exposed to different people and dog breeds within a safe environment, all while not being over-crowded. Puppy play is supervised closely to ensure a fun and positive experience.

Basic training A wide variety of basic cues are taught using positive reinforcement training

Experience Māori art up close Come and enjoy some of the finest weaving work in Aotearoa at Māoriland Hub’s Toi Matarau gallery. Te Ringa Māhorahora showcases the work of Māoriland’s inaugural Ngā Aho Whenua Weavers with artists Sonia Snowden and Pip Devonshire. The exhibition connects threads of excellence with the innovative raranga created by the featured artists.

The challenges of COVID transformed and opened artists up to unexpected discoveries. ‘Hine Te Iwaiwa’ in the context of today is daring and bold, and creates new stories about time, space and reality.

A full programme of activities and registration details is available at maorilandfilm.co.nz/events.

Get ready for MFF2022 16-20 March 2022 We thank you for your own efforts to enable our community to gather together safely. Māoriland is committed to creating a safe environment for all our kaimahi and visitors. Any visitor to the Māoriland Hub must present a Vaccine Pass and scan the COVID-19 Tracer App, or complete a sign-in card. Masks must be worn at all times. If you have any symptoms of cold/ flu or COVID-19; if you’re awaiting a COVID-19 test result; or if you’ve been asked to self-isolate: please stay home.

If you are able to, please attend to your vaccine and booster shots. It’s an important personal commitment that helps to keep our community safe.

We ask that our guests and visitors to Māoriland respect the mana of all who you may encounter, in return.

Kia aroha ki te tangata.

Mauriora ki te iwi.

techniques such as walking on a lead, recall, leaving articles etc. Puppy parents will also receive guidance on managing their pups jumping up, mouthing/biting, destructive behaviour etc.

Introduction to the vet clinic As the classes are so much fun, puppies develop good memories of the vet clinic which makes future visits more enjoyable.

Information on puppy care You’ll receive comprehensive information about nutrition, wellness care, toilet training and much more.

The classes are fun and interactive and suitable for pups between 8-18 weeks.

When and where are classes held?

Classes are held at the Ōtaki Vet branch on a Thursday evening, running from 6-7pm. The classes are an hour in length.

The course lasts four weeks and costs $100.

How do I secure a place?

Contact Otaki.contact@tvg.co.nz or call the practice 06 364 6941 for more information.

Ōtaki Vets

Ōtaki 269Vets Mill Road

269 Mill Road364 7089 364 6941 364 6941 364 7089 contact@otakivets.co.nz

contact@otakivets.co.nz www.otakivets.com www.otakivets.com Come our friendly Come and and meet meet our friendly team te

20

OTAKI IN THE NEWS – 1860’s Selected from early New Zealand newspapers.

July 27, 1860 Six very fine pure Merino rams have been imported in the Constantine by the Ven. Archdeacon Hadfield, for the Otaki School estate. Notwithstanding the long voyage, they have been landed in first rate condition, and are some of the finest that have been introduced into the Colony.

March 12, 1861 By the overland mail we have received information of the arrival of a large number of Natives at Otaki, from Manawatu, Rangitikei, and Taupo. They had come down to attend a meeting which was to take place on the 12 inst., for the purpose of being present at the hoisting of the Maori King flag. The flagstaff has been erected. The lower mast is a fine totara spar, 18 in. in diameter, by 50 ft. 6 in. in length. The topmast, also a totara spar, is about 30 feet long, the total height of the staff being 80 feet. The length of the spar is about 40 feet. Our informant tells us that Mr Hadfield had been using his best endeavors to get the Maoris to fly a white peace flag, and send the King flag back.

It was his intention to have addressed the natives on the 8th inst. upon the same subject, but the meeting had been postponed in consequence of the weather.

March 15, 1861 As we intimated in our last issue, the Maori King Flag was hoisted at Otaki on Tuesday 12th March. There were about 500 Maoris present, (there being representatives from the whole of the various tribes in this part of the Island), and the greatest interest appeared to be taken in the proceedings. On the flag being raised, it was saluted by a party of about two hundred natives, who fired several volleys, marched around it, and went through various evolutions. The Queen’s natives, not to be outdone, obtained Mr Bevan’s flag-staff and erected it opposite the Otaki Church. Mr Bevan’s flag-staff is one of the masts of the Valentine Helicar, which was wrecked some time since on the West Coast, and is nearly equal, if not quite, in

Ōtaki Mail – February 2022 proportion to the staff erected for the Maori King flag. A great feast was provided by the Kingites, to celebrate the event, twenty bullocks were killed and a large quantity of flour, sugar, potatoes, fish etc. provided for the occasion. A war dance was to take place on Wednesday. The Maori flag is a pendant, or whip having a black ground, with three red stars and a cross. The Queen’s natives, not having a British Ensign, procured some calico, painted the Union in the corner, and hoisted it at the same time as the King Maoris raised theirs. The Queen’s natives have been very industrious, having accomplished their work in one night. On the idea suggesting itself to them they applied to Mr Bevan for his flag-staff, who immediately complied with their wishes.

The staff is about 70 feet long and notwithstanding it was eight feet in the ground, it was unrigged, taken up, carried a distance of 300 yards, and re-erected in one night.

March 2, 1863 The undersigned has now so far completed the arrangements at his extensive premises immediately opposite the Otaki Church, that he is prepared to accommodate his numerous friends, Country Settlers, and the public generally.

W.DAVIS July 18, 1863

Deaths:

At Otaki, Province of Otaki, on the 3rd of April last, at the hour of 6 p.m. Mata Riria, the beloved wife of the Rev. Riwai Te Ahu, aged 29 year. Her remains have been deposited in the Otaki cemetery, near the graves of her children.

January 9, 1864 As is usual at this gay and festive season, we have had our Rural Sports and Races, the former on Boxing Day and the latter on the Monday following.

Although the prizes were not of considerable amount, still they were sufficient to induce many competitors to enter the field to contend for them.

Many of the games created considerable merriment, and the aspirants for the “prize in the Maori haka” acquitted themselves in a most able manner, that is to say according to Matine Te Whiwhi, who is well able to decide, and who acted as umpire. I do not think it necessary to give you the names, weights and colors of the riders at the races, but en passant, I may remark that the course presented quite an animated appearance, seeing that the soldiers of the Maori King dressed in their new uniform, viz. blue jumper and trousers, with white lacing and caps similarly trimmed, were present with their color, (red and white, with a black crown) and at intervals favored the spectators with

an idea of their proficiency at drill, and I must say that they performed the several evolutions with remarkable precision and correctness. The utmost good feeling seemed to exist between the loyally disposed and the professed Kingites, indeed everything passed off very quietly with the exception of drunken squabbles occasionally.

October 22. 1864 The undersigned begs to inform the settlers of Otaki and the surrounding districts, that he has commenced business as Farrier and General Smith in Otaki and trusts through good workmanship, combined with moderate charges to merit their patronage.

WILLIAM SMALL. September 30, 1865

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT OTAKI – MR J. F. SCHULTZE’S STORE BURNED

We regret to learn that the premises of Mr John F. Schultze, storekeeper, Otaki, have been totally destroyed by fire. The intelligence, of which the following are the particulars, reached this office on Thursday evening.

The premises consisted of a building, comprising store and dwelling house, with a bakery and stables erected a little apart. The fire broke out on Wednesday night between 10 and 11 o’clock in the kitchen, which was at the back of the other rooms, and though immediately observed, made considerable progress before assistance could be obtained.

Once caught, the flames gradually but surely enveloped the wooden walls and shingle roof of the kitchen, and soon reached the sitting room adjoining. Mr Schultze, who had for some days before been unwell, raised an immediate alarm, and endeavored to save some of the property, an effort in which he was soon joined by the rest of the European settlers in Otaki, who promptly came to his aid. Major Edwards, R.M., Mr John Knocks, Mr Goodison, and his sons, beside other settlers, exerted themselves to the utmost in saving the contents of the building, fortunately not altogether without success. When the flames had reached the sitting room, it became evident that nothing could save the building, or even any portion of the furniture so attention was directed to getting the goods out of the store.

A copious supply of water from the wells and river was continuously obtained and thrown on the flames, so as to keep the store from catching, as long as possible, and while one party were thus engaged, another removed the goods to the adjoining bakery. This was accomplished in time, and nearly all the stock got out

Books & Co Happy New Year! Hope you are all enjoying the summer with lots of great reading. After a busy December seeing lots of books go out for Christmas presents, we are now restocking with new titles arriving every week.

Our staff all have different reading interests and we have all selected some of our favourites from 2021, which include excellent New Zealand fiction and non-fiction as well as international titles.

With so much to choose from, it can be a challenge to select books for our relatively small shop, but we enjoy trying to bring a good range of the best books we can find. We are always pleased to have suggestions from our

customers too, and mostly, we are able to order specific books, to meet the diverse range of reading interests within our community.

This year, we look forward to more book launches, with some of our local authors. We are also working with more schools to assist with bookbuying, and finding more ways to promote reading, especially for children. We carry a good range of dyslexia-friendly books and graphic novels, along with lovely gift editions of special books for children.

Do check out our website (www.booksandco.co.nz) to see what we have in stock. And follow us on social media (facebook and instagram) to keep up to date with what’s new.

We put out a newsletter every month or two and if you sign up as a customer on our database, you will also accumulate loyalty points which give you discounts on future purchases.

And lastly, if you are keen to join a bookgroup, do get in touch. One meets in the bookshop monthly, and we are looking at getting a second one up and running soon.

Happy reading!

Jacqui, Tracey, Bryony, Jessie and Bonny

and secured. Scarcely was this done when the store caught, the whole building became one mass of flames, and soon afterwards fell. The bakery and stables being some distance off, were prevented from catching fire and thus sharing in the general destruction.

Except the stock, some of which is damaged, nothing has been saved. The buildings and furniture as well as the clothing and personal property of Mr and Mrs Schultze, were all destroyed.

We understand that the loss is partially covered by insurance, but at the time the messenger left, it was impossible to estimate the exact amount.

January 20, 1866 STOLEN or STRAYED from Otaki on or about the 20th December last. A BLACK HORSE, branded Z on near shoulder, with a white spot on shoulder; shod when taken away. If strayed, £2 will be paid for any information that will lead to the recovery of the same; if stolen, £5 will be paid for information that will lead to the conviction of the person or persons. JOHN F. SCHULTZE March 8, 1866 We understand that arrangements are in course of completion, by which Cobb’s coaches will in future be run by Mr William Davies, of Otaki, that gentleman buying out the present contractors, Messrs. L.G. Cole and Co. Should the necessary transfer be effected, it is the intention of Mr Davies to run the coaches on the West Coast, three times a week instead of twice as at present.

March 17, 1866 The undersigned begs to intimate that he has taken those commodious premises known as Davis’s Accommodation House, at Otaki, and trusts by civility and attention to receive a share of public patronage.

Travellers on the West Coast will receive every attention, and find the establishment replete with every convenience.

F. MARTIN, OTAKI March 22, 1866 By the arrival of Cobb’s coach on Friday evening we learn that on Wednesday last Mr Dodd’s public house at Otaki was entirely destroyed by fire. From what we can learn of the particulars, it appears that Mr Dodds and his son were absent from the house when the fire took place, and that there were only two females about the premises at the time. The fire broke out shortly before noon, and before any assistance could be obtained the house was burnt to the ground. No property whatever was saved. The origin of the fire is not known. The premises were insured in the Northern Insurance Office for £300, but the furniture and contents were not covered by insurance.

21

Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Media Muse “All the world’s a stage.” William Shakespeare wrote that line for a character in his play “As You Like It” which he’s believed to have published about 1600.

Nearly four hundred years later the line was given new meaning when Ted Turner’s CNN (Cable News Network) launched the first rolling news channel in 1980, creating a global stage. That was followed a couple of decades later by the internet which extended the stage beyond television to video on laptops and mobile phones.

Shakespeare also wrote about the stage, having Macbeth say: “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale, Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.”

He could have been talking about the television news.

The first stage was the birthplace of drama and politics in Greek amphitheatres around 522BC. As tribes evolved into more sophisticated groupings, actors played out the more complex roles demanded of individuals in them. Tragedy and comedy emerged from the dialogue and plots as the characters explored their relationships with the gods and abstract concepts such as justice and power.

In this way the Greeks invented politics, as a form of democratic government which rapidly developed into a viable career opportunity for literate and articulate professionals with downstream spinoffs in lobbying, marketing, comms and consultancies with charge-out rates of up to 500 drachmae an hour.

The rest, as they say, is history. Or, more accurately, was history until 1972.

In the United States presidential election that year, the televised debates between the Democrats’ John Kennedy and the Republicans’ Richard Nixon were the first to have a significant influence on voters.

Handsome, clean-cut and articulate, Kennedy was judged the winner over sweaty, swarthy Nixon. But just listening to the audio of their debates today, it’s obvious that Nixon had by far the clearer policies and sounder arguments.

By Manakau’s Tom Frewen Televised leaders’ debates are now the cornerstone feature of election campaigns around the world. At the same time, television has narrowed the focus of political reporting on to the leadership of the parties. As a result a relatively trivial human error can have fatal consequences for a political party or government. A prime minister may fall for thoughtlessly attending a party while voters were in lockdown and his monarch was sitting alone mourning the death of her husband.

Appearance and perception, amplified by and on television, have become critical factors in politics and public life.

Political theatre took another big leap in June 1980 when CNN became the first television channel to provide 24-hour news coverage. Politics and politicians were the obvious source of news and talk to fill the channel’s infinite need for content. With the internet came the rapid growth in use of news web sites creating an even more voracious demand for content of all types.

Inevitably, politics became another form of the entertainment programmes on which broadcasters and publishers rely to attract advertisers and subscribers.

A 24-hour news channel in New Zealand would not appear to be a goer although, Glen Kyne, the chief executive of Discovery NZ, the new owner of Newshub which produces the evening news on Three, won’t rule it out.

He told The Spinoff website last November that while there were no plans for starting a 24-hour news channel in 2022, he thought it was “going to be an ongoing discussion for us as a company.”

“But I think the point here,” he continued, “is that the desire to consume news and analysis and opinion is higher and every year seems to get higher still. So I definitely think there’s a space in the market to find dedicated news and current affairs content to service that need.”

American satirist and father of gonzo journalism, Hunter S Thompson, wrote: “The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where

Kāpiti Coast District Council Creative Community Scheme 2022

NOW OPEN

Applications now open Kāpiti Coast District Council has funding available through its Creative Community Scheme to assist artists and community organisations establish and implement local art initiatives. The Scheme has $33,000 available for this funding round.

Applications for this round close at 6pm, Sunday 27 February.

The following projects may qualify for funding: • creative projects/initiatives for our local community • diverse arts and cultural traditions initiatives of our local community

thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason.”

Cultivating those shallow money trenches and walking down those plastic hallways, Mr Kyle trousers a goodly sum from so-called reality television shows such as The Block, Married At First Sight, Come Dine With Me and The Bachelor. It should not be surprising to learn that reality and television have the same relationship in his mind as they do on screen where they are distant second cousins.

The actual daily demand for news on television is from, at most, one in five New Zealand adults. Around 800,000 viewers aged five-plus watch the two 6pm news bulletins. In summer’s longer twilights, the news audience shrinks by at least 100,000. TVNZ’s news attracts around three times the number tuned to Mr Kyne’s channel. According to Neilsen’s earlyJanuary ratings, the five-plus audience for TVNZ’s 6pm news was 566,000.

Added to the fact that mainstream commercial television channels are the least comprehensive and most sensationalist source of news and current affairs, New Zealand has no national newspaper of record, weak or non-existent local papers, limited or non-existent local radio news and one weekly news and current affairs magazine. But that’s another story.

More relevant than demand, real or imagined, for news its supply in New Zealand is patchy at best. Gaps on supermarket shelves during the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed previously hidden things called “supply chains”. Breaks in the local supply chain of news occur every year in summer and can last for up to two months.

News production ceases about a fortnight before Christmas when politicians, journalists, lobbyists and the ever-growing ranks of comms and PR flacks start packing up their SUVs with enough mountain bikes, kayaks, paddle boards, barbecue utensils, board games, digital devices and chargers to support a fullly diverse range of

recreational activities through to February.

When not on holiday, journalists, politicians and their comms staff all do essentially the same job and are bound by an unspoken and unbreakable agreement to take each other seriously. Journalists undertake to record and publish whatever politicians say and do. For their part, politicians are unstinting in keeping up their end of the bargain by issuing statements flat-out, tweeting, re-tweeting, getting jabbed, not getting jabbed, whatever will get them in or on the news.

In summer, when they go on holiday, the supply chain of political news ceases abruptly. Apart from occasional glimpses of them being vaccinated or posing in their gardens – the Speaker, Trevor Mallard, shown crouching amongst his vegetables wearing, believe it or not, white shirt and ironed jeans – politicians are nowhere to be seen on screen.

In summer, cynically dubbed the “silly season” by journalists, the news in New Zealand is reduced to a trickle of road accidents, drownings or “water-related incidents” as they are now called, anything COVID and hot and cold running extreme weather events of one kind or another.

Boiled right down to its bare essentials, there is only just enough real news in New Zealand to fill 10 minutes on television even on a busy day. Without Boris Johnson (a British prime minister), Novak Jokovich (a needle-shy itinerant tennis player) and Prince Andrew (an errant minor royal) there would have been nothing on the TV news apart from cute animals playing musical instruments, American shootings and hostage takings, pets miraculously reunited with owners after going missing for a long time, narrow squeaks involving sharks and runaway trucks, dash cam footage of motorway mayhem and, inexplicably, DNA testing of a big potato to check that it was in fact a potato.

It’s not called the silly season for nothing.

BE NATURE-INSPIRED ON KĀPITI ISLAND! Day tours or overnight kiwi spotting tours Fantastic birdlife Incredible bush & coastal walks Cabins & luxury tents

• projects/initiatives encouraging tamariki to participate in the arts • helping overcome COVID-19 related impacts on the local community.

More information about the Creative Community Scheme, eligibility criteria and application forms are available on the Council’s website at kapiticoast.govt.nz/CreativeCommunities or by contacting the team at creativecs@kapiticoast.govt.nz.

TO BOOK: 0800 527 484

kapitiisland.com

22

Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Handy folk to know Health Womens Health 364 6367 AA 0800 229 6757 Arthritis 364 6883 St John Health Shuttle 0800 589 630 Cancer Support 06 367 8065 Stroke support 021 962 366 Plunket 364 7261 St Vincent de Paul 21 1026 74188 Helplines Mental Health Crisis 0800 653 357 Depression helpline 0800 111 757 Healthline 0800 611 116 Lifeline 0800 543 354 Samaritans 0800 727 666 Victim Support 0800 842 846 Youthline 0800 376 633 Alcohol Drug Helpline 0800 787 797 Community Citizens Advice 364 8664 Budgeting 364 6579 Foodbank 364 0051 Menzshed 364 8303 Community Club 364 8754 Timebank 362 6313 Birthright 364 5558 Cobwebs 021 160 2710 Community Patrol 027 230 8836 Amicus 364 6464 Pottery 364 8053 Mainly Music 364 7099 Genealogy 364 7263 Bridge 364 7771 Museum 364 6886 Historical 364 6543 Let’s Sing 364 8731 Ōtaki Players 364 6491 RSA 364 6221 Rotary 06 927 9010 Lions 022 437 1275 FOTOR 364 8918 Transition Towns 364 5573 Waitohu Stream Care 364 0641 Energise Ōtaki 364 6140 Older People Age Concern 0800 243 266 Kids Scouting 364 8949 Toy Library 364 3411 Marriage celebrants Penny Gaylor 027 664 8869 Annie Christie 027 480 4803 Dean Brain 027 756 2230 Roofer Ryan Roofing 027 243 6451 JS Roofing 0800 577 663 Taxi Ōtaki Shuttles 364 6001 Vets Ōtaki Animal Health 364 7089 Commercial Cleaning Jamies Cleaning 027 738 7111

Auto Central Auto Services 368 2037 Ōtaki Collision Repairs 364 7495 SRS Auto Engineering 364 3322 Electrician Sparky Tom 027 699 3743 Concrete Work Bevan Concrete 0800 427522 Rasmac Contractors 0274 443 041 Koastal Kerb 027 554 0003 Estate Agents First National 364 8350 Harcourts 364 5284 Professionals 364 7720 Tall Poppy 0274 792 772 Property Brokers 06 920 2001 Funeral Directors Harvey Bowler 368 2954 I.C. Mark Ltd 368 8108 Kapiti Coast Funeral 04 298 5168 Waikanae Funeral 04 293 6844 Funeral Celebrant Annie Christie 364 0042 Insurance Inpro 364 6123 Nurseries 100&1 364 7084 Talisman 364 5893 Te Horo Garden Centre 364 2142 Watsons Garden Centre 364 8758 Kapiti Coast District Council General Inquiries 364 9301 Toll Free 0800 486 486 Ōtaki Library 364 9317 Ōtaki Swimming Pool 64 5542 Lawyer Susie Mills Law 364 7190 Simco Lawyers 364 7285 Locksmith Ōtaki Locksmith 021 073 5955 Mowers Mower & Engineering 364 5411 Plumbing About Plumbing 364 5586 Henderson Plumbing 364 5252 Ryan Plumbing & Gas 027 243 6451 Rest Homes Ocean View 364 7399 Enliven 0508 365483 Computers TechMan 022 315 7018 Sports Clubs To come, (when you let us know!)

Storage Ōtaki Secure Storage 0800 364 632 Windows Window & Door Repairs 364 8886

Your trusted local crash repair specialist using the latest up-to-date equipment and technology • • • • • • • • • • •

PPG Water Borne Paint System (Environmentally Friendly) Spray Booth 3D Measuring System Chassis Straightening Machine Inverter Spot Welder Crash Repairs Rust Repairs Plastic Welding Courtesy Cars All Insurance/Broker Work

It's your vehicle, you can tell your insurer who you want to use – Keep it local, call us today

Simon Taylor: Owner/Manager 3 Arthur St, Otaki Ph 06 36 47495

otakicr@gmail.com

www.otakicollisionrepairs.co.nz

Cobwebs Op-Shop Main Street Tuesday – Friday 10 – 4pm Saturday 10 – 1pm

MARRIAGE CELEBRANT

currently needing kitchen ware and bric-a-brac

Dean Brain Call us on 027 756 2230

or find us online @ wellingtonwedding.co.nz

For all Kerbing, Paving, Floors, Drives, Paths and Concrete Work FREE QUOTES Phone Nathan Howell 027 554 0003

Ōtaki Churches welcome you ANGLICAN

Ōtaki Anglican Rev. Simon and Rev. Jessica Falconer.

06 364-7099. All Saints Church, 47 Te Rauparaha St. every Sunday at Hadfield Hall, 10am Christmas Eve: 10.30pm Hadfield Hall.

Christmas Day: 10am Hadfield Hall.

For Hadfield Hall bookings, email office@otakianglican.nz Ōtaki Rangiatea Church Services 37 Te Rauparaha 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

Baptist Tel: 364 8540 Cnr Te Manuao Road/SH1 10am service Presbyterian Rev. Peter L. Jackson Tel: 364 6346 249 Mill Rd, Ōtaki Worship: 11am Cafe Church: 2nd Sunday, 10.45am

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

23

Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Hartley Electrical Contracting Ltd

Plumbing Gasfitting

Otaki

Caring for the Kapiti Coast • Preplanning consultations • Headstones & Plaques • Personalised services • Fully qualified staff • Grief support • Kaitawa Crematorium &

Chapel, located in Waikanae Cemetery

04 293 6844

info@wfhome.co.nz www.waikanaefuneralhome.co.nz

General electrical contractors for all your electrical requirements

• Wetbacks • Residental • Commercial • Woodburners • Solar Hot Water Systems

Domestic • Commercial Industrial • Farm

• New and re-roofing • Longrun coloursteel • P.V.C & Coloursteel Spouting • Repairs and Maintenance • Flashing Fabrication • Sheetmetal Work 0272 436 451 06 362 6595

Mobile: 021 418 751 After hours: 06 364 2070 Email: hartleyelectrical@gmail.com

Window & Door Repairs

I fix all Doors, Windows & Conservatories

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Roofing

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Call Mike Watson Free 0800 620 720 or Otaki 364 8886 Find me at: www.windowseal.co.nz Or like at: facebook.com/windowseal

ŌTAKI LOCKSMITH

RANCHSLIDER & KEYS cut WINDOW REPAIRS

RANCHSLIDER: Wheels & Locks - TRACKS REPAIRED

WINDOW: Hinges replaced & new catches fitted

KEYS: cut LOCKS: repaired or new locks fitted

Otalu SHUTTLE SERVICE

Phone Sam Whitt NOW

021 073 5955

Specialised repair No Travel Charge

Phone: 0274 443 041 or 0274 401 738

• Earthmoving / Aggregate • Drainage Site Works / Section Clearing • Drive Ways Excavation / Tarseal / Hot Mix • Top Soil / Farm Roads

06 364-6001 • 027 439 0131 SEVEN DAY A WEEK SERVICE UNTIL MIDNIGHT • • • • •

Ōtaki to Waikanae $35 Ōtaki to Paraparaumu $50 $10 + $5 per passenger between beach and plateau Further afield trips negotiable Airport and bus connections

Book online at otakishuttle.co.nz Please confirm by phone for weekend web bookings Evening jobs need to be booked

EFTPOS available in vehicle

ŌTAKI Secure Storage • Secure storage • long or short-term • smoke alarms and security cameras • any size, from garden shed to house-lots 13 & 19 Riverbank Road 0800 364 632 www.otakisecurestorage.co.nz

24

Ōtaki Mail – February 2022

Busy 2021 for Fire Brigade Raukawa Basketball

BY FRANK NEILL The Ōtaki Volunteer Fire Brigade had its busiest year for some time during 2021, Ōtaki’s Chief Fire Officer Ian King says.

The brigade finished the year with 237 call outs, an increase of 15% on its attendances in 2020.

The brigade attended 27 property fires in 2021. Incidents involving fires of rubbish, grass, scrub, trees, driftwood and similar saw the brigade called out 44 times.

The largest number of call outs was to motor vehicle crashes, with the brigade attending 46 accidents.

During 2021 there were 30 medical and ambulance assistance calls, 40 private and building fire alarms being activated and 13 calls to assist other fire brigades, either at incidents or standing by to cover their stations.

Special services, such as lines down, helicopter landings and other incidents

not fitting into the above categories totalled 28.

One call out category is “good intent”, which is where callers have reported an emergency incident, but where the brigade finds on arrival that it is not actually an emergency. There were nine good intent calls during 2021.

February was the year‘s busiest month, with 27 calls. December was also a busy month, with the brigade attending 24 call outs.

During December there were five calls for private fire alarms; four calls for property fires, for rubbish, grass and scrub fires, and for special services; three calls to motor vehicle accidents; and two calls for medical events and to assist other brigades.

Mr King said he could see no particular reason why the number of calls was so high last year. There were no particular standout trends, other than private fire alarm callouts being a bit high.

Ngati Raukawa Basketball club was set to field 22 teams this week at the now cancelled 2022 NZ Māori Basketball Nationals tournament in Rotorua.

The annual tournament was cancelled immediately after news of the latest changes event restrictions due to COVID. Coach Paxman Taurima says “a big mihi

from our Raukawa Basketball Committee out to all our coaches, referees, volunteers, and parents who have helped with all the preparation”.

Paxman also gave thanks to their sponsors through all of 2021, Concrete Doctors, Whakaaro Factory, All Area Scaffolding, Gardner Homes, Pritchard Group, and LandMatters.

Notice of removal of minimum parking requirements from the Operative Kāpiti Coast District Plan 2021 On 17 February 2022, and in accordance with Policy 11 and clause 3.38 of the National Policy Statement for Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD), the Kapiti Coast District Council is amending the District Plan to remove all objectives, policies, rules, or assessment criteria that have the effect of requiring a minimum number of car parks to be provided for any development, land use, or activity.

The parking design standards and minimum loading space requirements in the District Plan are not impacted by the NPS-UD and remain applicable to new development proposals that choose to provide on-site car parking.

As required under Section 55 of the Resource Management Act 1991, these amendments to the District Plan must be made without using a Schedule 1 process (the typical public submission process for plan changes).

The required amendments to the Operative Kāpiti Coast District Plan 2021 is being made on 17 February 2021.

This notice is given in accordance with Section 55(2A)(b) of the Resource Management Act 1991.

The Operative Kāpiti Coast District Plan 2021 is available on the Council’s website at www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/district-plan If you have any questions, please contact district.planning@kapiticoast.govt.nz Wayne Maxwell, Chief Executive Kāpiti Coast District Council Date: 17 February 2022

PB 60601 Paraparaumu | Ph 04 296 4700 | Fx 04 296 4830 | www.kapiticoast.govt.nz

www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/antenno www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/antenno

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